How to find the perfect DJ to hire for your wedding
Your wedding is one of the most important days of your life. You will cherish this moment forever. This is why it's imperative (no pressure) that everything is well organised and of the highest quality so that this day goes perfectly. Choosing the right wedding hire can certainly make all the difference.
Arguably, one of the most important parts of a wedding is the music, and that's controlled by the DJ playing it. As the bride or groom, you should demand the best DJ that can play the right vibe and experience for what you and your guests want to hear on this special celebration.
A DJ should arrive on time or early
There is nothing worse than waiting and stressing for a DJ to arrive 10 minutes before he is meant to start. It is important that as hosts, a clear and prompt times for; setup, arrival, start and finish time are laid out. As the couple, it’s crucial for you to make it clear what time you would like your DJ to arrive. And this wouldn’t be a recommendation, but an expectation. This not only makes the expectations clear for both parties, but also allows pricing to be fair and up-front. A good arrival time should be around one hour before start time. This is important as any longer and he may become restless, bored and potentially drink too much. However, any shorter and there isn't enough time to understand the crowd and adapt his song choices accordingly.
2. The Setup
Every venue has its limitations, but this shouldn't be viewed as a negative, rather a way to highlight the venues benefits. Dance-floors, lighting and marquee hire should be considered in regards to space. Will the DJ bring his own equipment? It is important to know which items the DJ can provide and what items need to be sourced externally. Often DJ's have their own DJ decks and potentially speakers, however items such as; microphones, dance-floor and party lights will likely need to be sourced elsewhere.
3. Music
Music: the most important factor of a quality DJ. Making sure you and your DJ are aligned on music prior is super important. You should always ask wether your DJ takes song requests before the event as well. Some DJ's work purely of mp3s which have to be downloaded prior and are often an accumulated library over years. Other DJ's can use brand new software that allows them to mix in songs from streamed libraries. What is often overlooked by your casual party-goer is the timing of songs. No one really cares about a fancy transition, they care about hearing their favourite song from their childhood surrounded by their friends on their wedding day. It is just as important therefore to tell your DJ which are your all time favourites so he knows that when the night is getting late, he wont forget.
4. A DJ is the Master of Ceremony
Unlike at house parties or nightclubs, the DJ at a wedding also can act as a master of ceremony, directing patrons from certain parts of the wedding. A way to keep the DJ updated on when you would like patrons to start the dinner services is to provide a detailed itinerary of the times of each event.
5. Final song
Remember a DJ is a service, they will only play for the hours you have payed for. If you would like the DJ to stay, the party is going great, then pay them upfront and check with management of the venue if you're allowed to play overtime. Many times DJ's will prepare an encore set if they are asked to stay late, as everyone might have had to much to drink, no one remembers if the songs have been played too many times! A DJ will often announce last song as a last effort to get any stragglers to the dance floor. However when the last two or three have been played, they will want to head home.
6. Payment
DJs can have varying pricing methods; upfront payment, deposit and payment after the event. Make sure it is clear with your DJ when payment will be made so you’re both on the same page with everything. DJs can be priced between £300-£1000 for a night making it important you choose the right one.
Summary
This should provide you with a comprehensive framework for how to choose and prepare your DJ for your wedding. My only final note would be to not go for a lower price as this could potentially be reflected in the service you will receive on the day. Remember, this is a very special day for you and your spouse. It is much better to overspend than underspend on a day of this much importance.