How to choose a wedding DJ
HOW TO CHOOSE A WEDDING DJ
So you've already decided on choosing a DJ over a band. The question is how to choose a wedding DJ that will make your event one to remember.
Choosing the right DJ for your wedding is not a decision you should take lightly, and is about far more than price. For most engaged couples, entertainment is the #1 factor in determining the success of their event.
When it comes to wedding DJs, you’ll always be able to find someone who’s willing to do the job for pennies. But you really need to consider what kind of quality you are going to get? This is your big day and you only have one chance to get this decision right!
At MMENT, we’ve built our whole company on the amazing feedback from our clients (we have hundreds of 5 star facebook reviews). We want every couple to have the best possible wedding experience that they can look back on with fondness and excitement. So here’s our top tips for choosing a wedding DJ.
WHAT MAKES A GOOD WEDDING DJ?
Being a DJ is about way more than pushing “play” on an iPad playlist. Here are three qualities that set a good wedding DJ apart from the crowd.
1. PERSONALITY
If we could only give you one tip, it would be this!
Your DJ is going to be responsible for setting the tone of the evening. If you have a boring DJ…that probably means you’re in for a boring wedding.
Instead of relying on emails and texts, speak with your DJ in person or on the phone to talk about your vibe, needs, and favourite music. This will help you decide whether they can create the party atmosphere you’re looking for. A DJ’s personality is the most important clue you’re going to get into how they approach DJing your wedding.
2. COMMUNICATION
You know how important communication is. Well, working as a DJ is no different.
Playing music is only part of what a DJ does. The other half is talking. This includes everything from making sure you’re on the same page regarding the “do not play” list to making sure the photographer captures the cake cutting, wedding DJs need to communicate and they need to do it well.
This is why it’s so crucial to hire a wedding DJ that can confidently and cleary use a microphone and even be your master of ceremony if needed. Other than your wedding planner, your DJ is the one person keeping your day together! Do they use a microphone? Do they have a spare? These are definitely questions you should consider asking your DJ.
3. FLEXIBILITY
Any DJ who specialises in weddings needs to be organised. But when those plans go awry, they also need to be flexible.
An organised DJ should have a copy of the evening’s timeline so they can keep events on track. But if the bride and groom are an hour late, they should be able to adapt to the situation so that you and your guests are able to enjoy the evening without feeling rushed (with plenty of time for dancing).
HOW TO CHOOSE A WEDDING DJ
If you’re meeting with multiple wedding DJs, it can be hard to choose just one. Here are 13 questions you can ask to help you choose the perfect DJ.
1. DO YOU DJ FULL-TIME?
It’s not always easy to tell from a website whether a DJ is working weddings on the side or as their full-time work. Either way, you want someone who’s fully dedicated to making your day amazing and has experience.
2. ARE YOU INSURED?
DJ-ing doesn’t sound like a terribly risky job, but accidents can happen anywhere. Make sure your wedding DJ is licensed and insured. This will be more important to your venue, they will want to know that any suppliers attending your wedding have all the right paper work.
3. HOW MANY DJS DO YOU HAVE?
If your using a DJ company has a team of DJs, find out which one will be DJing at your wedding. You want to make sure you feel great about your choice of DJ and not just feel great about the person organising the DJ for you.
4. WHAT OTHER SERVICES DO YOU OFFER?
You probably will have other wedding items at your wedding and many DJ companies now offer venue mood lighting, photo booths and other add-ons to make your reception extra special. Many even offer wedding packages that make these extras a little more affordable.
5. DO YOU SPECIALIZE IN WEDDINGS?
Corporate events, nightclubs, and weddings might all have DJs in common, but the experiences are completely different. Make sure you find a wedding DJ, not just a DJ who’s willing to do weddings.
6. DO YOU HAVE A PREFERRED STYLE?
If possible, look for a wedding DJ who’s music style closely matches your own. If you love hip hop and your DJ listens to House, you probably won’t be able to rely on him for song suggestions.
7. WHAT DO YOU TYPICALLY WEAR?
You wouldn’t want you DJ to show up at your casual beach wedding in a full tux. Or show up at a ballroom wearing jeans and a t-shirt. Do they wear a company uniform or do they dress for the occasion?
8. WILL YOU BUILD A PLAYLIST?
Sometimes couples like to supply a playlist of music, we have seen lists with hundreds of songs on. Your DJ will be able to use this to organise your event to play the music in the best order. It’s also always a good idea to let your DJ guide you through this as this is their job any they should know what will work best
9. HOW DO YOU KEEP THE DANCE FLOOR PACKED?
One of a DJ’s most important skills is to be able to read a crowd, most weddings have a varied mixture of family and friends in to all sorts of different music. A good wedding DJ should be able to identify what songs choice will keep the majority of music tastes on the dance floor.
10. HOW DO YOU HANDLE SONG REQUESTS?
If you’d like guests to make song requests, ask the DJ what their method is. If they don’t take requests then this is a huge warning sign for you to avoid them at all costs.
11. DO YOU HAVE BACK-UP EQUIPMENT/DJ?
Anything can go wrong. Yes, even with a professional DJ! DJs get sick, equipment suddenly breaks, the venue’s sound system isn’t compatible with the audio set-up…you name it, it can happen.
But a professional wedding DJ will have a Plan B (and C) in case something goes wrong.
12. ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH OUR VENUE?
If a DJ has worked at your chosen wedding venue before, even better! Every wedding venue has different layouts, restrictions, loading times etc. If your DJ has dealt with your venue before, that’s one less thing for you and your venue to worry about.
13. CAN I SEE A VIDEO OF YOUR WORK?
Does your DJ have any video clips so you can get a feel of what they’re like “on stage.”
CONCLUSION
Hiring a wedding DJ is one decision that makes a huge impact on your big day. A lot hinges on the on the mood and atmosphere that a good DJ can create from the ceremony to the reception, the wrong DJ can easily kill that vibe with the wrong song selection, a misspoken word, or a missed opportunity.
A wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime event. Settling for someones mate or DJ’s part time could be the worst money you’ve ever saved.
Looking for an awesome wedding DJ? We’d love to meet you!
