When searching for the right Wedding DJ, you might want to ask yourself, “How involved do I really want to be, in orchestrating the details and the flow, on the day of my wedding?”
If your answer was, “I should only worry about saying ‘I Do’, on the day of my wedding”, then you are on the right track!
DJs vs. Wedding DJs
There is a misconception that all types of DJs can work weddings. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Your cousin may spin records in his basement, from time to time, maybe Uncle Jim used to be a ‘KJ’, back in the 90’s, or maybe you have a favorite local club DJ. While these may be great for a house party, or get together, when planning your wedding, it is best to hire a professional.
What to Research
Now that we’ve established that you are going to hire an experienced Wedding DJ, which one is the best fit? Start by looking at reviews, preferably from specific wedding sites. From there, start making calls! Emails are fine; however, you really should try and get a little voice action going, so you can tell who sounds clear and confident. Any candidate, who is trying to sell you on their voice, will most definitely get your attention over the phone. An email just can’t do that! Once you narrow it down to a few, ask to meet them in person. You can tell a lot by a person’s body language, and by the way they dress, or walk into a room. After all, this could potentially be the person holding the mic and entertaining your guests, the entire night!
What to Expect From a Wedding DJ
Planning Believe it or not, your Wedding DJ will play a tremendous role in the success of your big day! One of the biggest reasons for this success is due to all the planning that takes place, prior to the wedding. In addition to meeting your DJ in person (if local), for face-to-face consultations, he/she will more than likely provide you with the convenience of online planning, and offer a massive music selection. You aren’t music savvy? Not to worry! You can rest assured that your experienced Wedding Pro will help with suitable music suggestions.
Day-Of Coordination For a Wedding DJ, seamlessly playing the right music, whether it’s for your Ceremony, Reception, or Dance Party (and everything in between), is just the tip of the iceberg. In addition to being your MC, many times they will become your onsite event coordinator, keeping the Bride and Groom, Bridal Party, and guests on schedule for all events and announcements, as well as keeping all other vendors informed of what comes next, on the timeline.
Music, Mood, & Memories Expect your Wedding DJ to have an impeccable sound system; complete with wireless microphones for speeches, toasts, and announcements. When interviewing, it’s important to make sure to ask your candidates if they bring back-up equipment. Should you need them for the ceremony, the DJ will also provide your officiant with a proper lavalier mic, usually by request. Ambiance for dinner and reception, usually involves some sort of lighting or decor. Sometimes a burst of color, on an otherwise drabby, white wall, can really set the mood for the occasion. Not all Wedding DJ companies provide this, but most will, as an add-on. Having a Wedding Pro, who knows the ropes and knows how to keep the guests happy, the bride and groom happy, and can work side-by-side with photographers and other vendors, who help to capture these moments, genuinely makes a world of difference!
Keep it Simple
Lastly, how do you want to remember your Wedding Day?
If there’s anything sensible to remember, when planning for the most important day of your life, remember this: You are only allowed this day ONCE, folks- no mulligans, no re-dos on the “I Dos”.
