Spotify or DJ for Your Wedding? (And How to Do Both—the Right Way)

So you’re getting married, and you’re wondering: “Do we really need a DJ, or can we just use Spotify for our wedding?”

Here’s the honest answer from a wedding DJ with over 14 years of experience: Yes — you can use Spotify.

But you need to know exactly what you’re doing.

For most weddings, a DIY Spotify setup is not recommended.

Let’s talk about the specific situations where Spotify actually makes sense… and why a hiring a professional wedding DJ can turn a decent party into a night that people will remember forever.

Hiring a pro DJ is nice for many reasons. Here's me making sure we nail the grand entrances at Orchard Restaurant! Photo by Bailey Simone.

When a Spotify Wedding Makes Sense

Not only can you do a Spotify wedding — it may actually be the best option for you, but only if you meet the following criteria:

✅ You’re mainly doing background music

✅ You don't care if audio doesn't sound perfect

✅ You’re not planning to have a high-energy dance floor

✅ You and your guests are happy with chill background music

✅ You have great playlists ready to go (I've shared 20+ hand-picked Spotify playlists)

✅ You’re comfortable trusting a tech savvy friend to handle everything for you (share this blog post with them first, haha)

If that sounds like you, then a Spotify setup can work.

The Gear You’ll Need

You can rent most of this from Long and McQuade.

Recommended setup (up to 150 guests, with dancing):

• 2× Yorkville YXL12P powered speakers

• 1× Shure BLX wireless microphone

• 1× small mixer (e.g. Behringer Xenyx Q802USB)

• XLR cables, power cables, speaker stands, and a power bar

• 1× Yorkville LP-LED 4X (compact, all-in-one dance floor lighting fixture)

  
  

💰 Estimated weekend rental cost: around $200–$300 total

For smaller weddings (no dance floor)

• 1× Yorkville EXM8 battery-powered speaker (light, compact, easy to move anywhere)

• 1× Shure BLX wireless mic

• 1× speaker stand and a power bar

• 1× aux cord with the right adaptor (I don't recommend Bluetooth can be silly)
  

💰 Estimated weekend rental cost: a bit less than $100

Note: if your location does not have power outlets, you can use a gas powered generator for longer parties, or a silent, lightweight battery station like the Jackery 300. Even if you use a battery powered speaker, most wireless mic recievers need power.

The Human Factor (Don’t Skip This)

Keep in mind that even if you're not paying a professional wedding DJ, someone still has to be in charge.

You — the bride or groom — should not be in charge of the sound at your own wedding. You should be having fun with your family and besties.

You do not have time to babysit (and potentially troubleshoot) a sound system for 6 –12 hours. That’s a huge job, trust me!

So you'll need appoint someone who really knows what they’re doing.

I've listed the equipment, but that's just the first step. You have to know how to use it, all the right settings, and what to do if something stops working.

The person you appoint needs to understand how to hook everything up, monitor sound levels, and keep things running smoothly all day. And most importantly — you need to trust them with that responsibility.

They can’t get drunk. They can’t get bored. They can’t disappear halfway through the night.

If they’re in charge, they’re in charge.

This also means that they won't really be able to relax, have fun, and fully enjoy the day. Unless they're built different, and prefer having a task rather than socializing. In that case, all the power to them!

Lighting: Take It to the Next Level

A little lighting goes a long way toward making a DIY setup feel intentional and professional.

You can rent wireless uplights from a few places in Calgary, like Starlite Rentals. They’re not cheap, but they’re far cleaner and quicker to set up than standard corded uplights.

Set them to warm, soft, ambient light during dinner. If you have a blank-canvas space with neutral walls, it will work wonderfully.

If your space is outdoors, or already has a unique decor with a strong identity, then uplighting may not be a good idea.

I know when upgrades like uplighting are worthwhile, and when it's a waste of money that will clash with the venue. Feel free to get in touch if you have any questions. I'm always happy to help.

About the Playlists

If you’re going the Spotify route, you’ll need really good playlists.

Good news — you’ve come to the right place.

I’ve published over 20 hand-picked Spotify playlists, and that number keeps growing.

They cover pretty much every vibe and moment: retro classics to get things started, millennial anthems, sing-alongs, group dances, slow dances, chill background music — all carefully curated for weddings.

These aren’t generic algorithm playlists. They’re built from years of actual wedding experience. You can find them all on my Spotify profile.

When It’s Time to Hire a DJ

Relax, let loose, and have the time of your lives with a professional DJ to take care of the music from start to finish. Photo by Court Amber, at Meadow Muse Pavilion.

If you want a dance floor that stays full…If you want smooth transitions between every part of the day…If you want someone who’s already handled hundreds of weddings…

Then it’s time to hire a professional DJ.

When you hire us, you’re not just hiring someone to press play. You’re hiring someone who knows how to:

• Read the crowd and adjust in seconds

• Nurture the energy through dinner, speeches, and dancing

• Balance volume levels so everyone’s comfortable

• Handle grand entrances, first dances, and all the key moments smoothly and confidently

• Make clear, well-timed announcements and fine-tune microphones so speeches actually sound good

• Coordinate seamlessly with planners, vendors, and venues

• Save the day with a backup plan if equipment fails or plans change on the spot

A great DJ doesn’t just play music — they know when to play each kind of song, and how to guide the flow of the night without ever making it feel forced.

And if you ever want to make a request mid-party? Please do. You can always come up and ask — it’s your wedding.

We’ll filter guest requests if you want, or stick strictly to the list you provide. It’s completely up to you.

In the End

If your wedding is low-key and more about conversation and connection, a Spotify setup can be a great fit.

If you want seamless flow, professional sound, and a dance floor that just doesn’t quit — if you want a party your guests will still be talking about years later — then let’s get in touch.

The music matters. It ties everything together: the ceremony, the dinner, the dancing, the memories.

No matter which route you choose, we hope your wedding is the best day ever.