Do it yourself!: Music

To band or not to band? To DJ or not to DJ?

Although the first question may not have a clear and distinct answer, for me the second one does. Not to DJ is the answer. Although I have been to many a lovely wedding with a DJ, there is much to do in booking a DJ to make sure certain things do not occur- see photos below (click image for source). It is possible to have a DJ and not these things, but what it really comes down to is that I don't want to mess with that.

 the rave/first dance                                                                         the purple prom glow                                                        the mass dash for the door?        

Another DJ issue is the inevitability that pasa lo que pasa one of the following will be played: the Chicken Dance, the Macarena, the Cotton-Eyed-Joe, Don't Take the Girl, or I can Love you Like That. While I know that it is possible to make a do-not-play-if-you-want-your-money list, you never know what bombshell might fall down from the sky and break into a thousand tiny little notes from Can You Feel the Love Tonight. I am not an "average bride", and while dress shop ladies and priests and invitation people understand that and even find it refreshing at times, DJs may be harder a harder swing vote to capture based on my "do not play Shania Twain" reception platform. Also, The flashing rainbow lights and sweaty, focused look on the over-caffeinated purveyor-of-all-things-crappy's face also do not appeal. Okay, that last part was unfriendly, but you get what I'm saying. DJ is out. 'Nough said.

As far as a band goes I have a brother, sister, cousin and some friends who are quite musically talented and probably would not mind getting up and strumming a few notes to liven up the festivities if necessary. Just look at that brother! Aint he better than a DJ? He he. I do not want to ask my loved ones to forego the fiesta by playing the whole shindig, though. After all, the party is for them too! (Need more synonyms for party? Here ya go: soireé, bash, affair, function, celebration, reception, hoopla.)

Solution: play as you like, friends and family, and the i-pod will be ready and waiting. While some may scoff, just hear me out. This ipod thing is a highly advanced piece of technology, folks. We can use Nick's ipod touch as a remote control, connect a computer to speakers and have full and complete control without having to go to the ipod to push pause or skip a song. This will take some planning and play list making, but I think it just may work. Plus, Costco has itunes giftcards for reduced prices in case we do not already have all of the music we would like played. This just seems like the most budget and personality-friendly option for us. It will ensure that we keep a little change in our pocket and that while some boogieing will go down, it will be some boogie type other than Boot Scootin' (the number 2 country song for wedding DJs according to this site).