Wedding Day Advice | Wedding Planning

With the serious (and nerve-racking) wedding service over, it’s time for you and your guests to let your hair down. Music is central to the celebration. Here are some tips on selecting the right musical act for your wedding reception.

Image Courtesy of Green Wedding Shoes | Photo courtesy of Jonas Peterson

1. Word of Mouth
   Personal recommendations tend to be best, so ask around – chances are somebody can give you the name and contact details of a decent DJ. This sort of informal investigation often allows you to get the inside track on an act; information that you won’t necessarily obtain from advertising media.
2. Experience
   An experienced DJ is able to read the guests and know exactly what to do to get the crowd on the dance floor, particularly in those awkward first moments when everyone seems to be waiting for someone else to make the first move. Don’t be shy to ask how many years experience the DJ has, or alternatively, how many gigs he plays a month.
3. The Playlist
   Regardless of his own age, a good wedding DJ should have a wide variety of music on his playlist. He needs to know all the traditional crowd-pleasers (those songs that automatically get everyone’s hips swinging), some golden-oldies and some current chart-toppers. Wedding guests tend to be a diverse bunch, in terms of demographics, and all their needs need to be catered for to make for a good party. Be sure to give him a list of your ‘must-plays’ as well as your list of ‘must-not plays’ to avoid disappointment on the day.
4. The Equipment
   It’s a good idea to meet the DJ at the reception venue prior to your wedding day so that he can scan the place and check that the quality and sound of his system is sufficient for the size of the venue, and prepare a list of required items for the day. The last thing you want is a frantic DJ trying to locate an extension cord or a plug point, while you and your new spouse are waiting to do your First Dance.
5. The Master of Ceremonies
   If you haven’t nominated a close friend or family member to be your Master of Ceremonies (MC), perhaps you might like to consider asking the DJ to do this duty for you. Discuss what’s required of him at your meeting prior to the wedding and make sure that all is clear, that he’s thoroughly prepared, by being aware of what will happen when, and that you’re happy with his style.
6. Flexibility
   You may have hired your DJ till midnight, but there’s nothing worse than the music coming to a dead halt while the party is still in full swing! Ask the DJ if he is prepared to be flexible and stay on if things are going well. Negotiate an hourly ‘overtime’ rate if needs be. Keep in mind, though, that a lot of venues only allow the celebrations to continue until a certain time.
7. Miscellaneous Details
   You need to consider all the finer details and have them written into your contract – is the DJ willing to travel, what is the travel cost, does his quote include his meal and drinks, will he bringing an assistant, until what time is he prepared to provide the entertainment, and so forth.

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