If you’re in full-swing preparation for your wedding, you might still need to find a DJ. Don’t worry if the process feels overwhelming. Plenty of couples have been right where you are before! Finding a wedding DJ doesn’t have to be difficult. Just follow the tips below and you’ll be well on your way!
1. SET UP A MEETING
This meeting will allow you to get a feel for your wedding DJ’s personality and the atmosphere that he or she will bring to your reception. If you stick to communicating via email, you may end up with a budget-friendly option but not actually what you want. Wedding planning gets busy, and between wedding cake tasting, picking a dress, choosing a caterer, selecting a venue, and more, you may not want to schedule yet another meeting. However, know that this extra step can ensure that you end up with someone who helps make your day truly special.
2. PLAYLIST CREATION
You don’t want a one-size-fits-all wedding. Your wedding playlist shouldn’t be the same as the wedding your DJ played last week. When choosing a wedding DJ, you’ll want to talk specifically about playlist creation. How can your DJ help to create a customizable experience on your special day? How can you help incorporate your favorite songs and music tastes into the preparations? Even if you’re not a music person, this is an important piece of making sure your wedding is exactly what you want it to be.
3. CROWD INTERACTION
Wedding DJs are one of the largest pieces of creating a fun and enthusiastic atmosphere at your reception. Unless you want your wedding to appear like a middle school dance, then you need someone to get the party started. This is the role of the DJ, so ask him/her! DJs use all kinds of incentives that get guests onto the dance floor like playing a favorite throwback. Ask to see music demos or sample wedding performances to get a real feel for how the DJs performs. You never want there be a lull at your reception so keep that in mind when you’re chatting about crowd interaction.
4. SONG REQUESTS
If you’ve ever been in a room with a DJ, you are probably guilty of going up to request a song. We all do it! Yet, as the couple getting married, you’ll need to decide how you want to handle song requests because the DJ is bound to get them. Do you want to stick to the playlist that you create with your DJ, or are you happy to have the DJ take requests? If you’d like your DJ to take requests, then you’ll need to make that clear. If you want him to stick to the list, he should yield to your desires, while also being polite to your guests. Knowing how he’ll handle those situations and having a system in place is important.
5. COMMUNICATION
While your DJ won’t exactly be giving a toast at your wedding, you’ll want to make sure she or he is well-articulated. He/she have a major role in coordinating and announcing different aspects of your wedding. The DJ will be making sure that the right people like the photographer and videographer are in the room when it’s time for the cake to be cut. He or she will announce to your guests that the events will be happening. Communication is key and if they’re lacking the ability to create this flow then your wedding won’t go as smoothly as you’d like.
6. EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to ask what equipment the DJ uses because it’ll matter just as much as it would good musical instruments for a live band. Your DJ should be certified and know all the ins and outs of connecting the system he or she will use at your wedding. Be sure to ask about back-up equipment in case something breaks. He or she may play several weddings, but you only have one, so it matters if the microphone, mixer, or computer isn’t working on the day of the wedding. Lastly, ask if your DJ provides any other services like lights or video screens. Some couples like this added flare or like to see pictures from their childhood flashed across the video screen when they’re dancing to their first dance. If your DJ can provide all of it, then it’s an easy package deal.
7. DRY RUN
Finally, see your DJ has played at your venue before. If not, are they willing to make a trip out there to see it beforehand? A site visit may seem excessive, but acoustics are different in every room. The rules are different for every venue, staff often need to be involved, and these aren’t problems you want to deal with on the day of your wedding. A DJ who is willing to accommodate a dry run will help put your mind at ease.
