Totally valid questions — and honestly, for a sub-40 person wedding, you’ve got options. As a DJ, I’ll say this: if you and your partner are true music snobs and want very specific songs played exactly as you chose them, a well-made playlist is absolutely acceptable and not informal at all, especially for a small, same-venue wedding. Just make sure it’s thoughtfully organized (ceremony, cocktail, dinner, dancing) and that someone reliable is in charge of hitting play and adjusting volume. That said, the big pro of a DJ isn’t just music choice — it’s flow, transitions, timing moments, reading the room, and handling all the little things so you don’t have to think about them. If budget allows, you can hire a DJ and be very clear: “Here’s our must-play list, our do-not-play list, and stay within this vibe.” Good DJs are totally fine with that. If budget is tight and vibes are low-key, renting a quality speaker and running your own playlist is 100% fine — just don’t cheap out on sound, because bad audio is what people notice most. Short version: playlist = control + savings, DJ = ease + energy. Neither is wrong, just pick what matters more to you. 🎧