When it comes to your wedding, you want the best. The best weather, the best ceremony, and of course the best wedding DJ! There are a few things you need to keep in mind when hiring a DJ. First of all, hire a professional wedding DJ. Sometimes, invited guests will make suggestions for a wedding DJ. There have been times when someone recommends their family member or near and dear friend who wants to “give DJing a shot!” Sure, they may do your wedding for $250 and a few beers, but you don’t know what kind of trouble you might be setting yourself into. In other words, let a DJ’s qualifications, not your relationship, be the determining factor when choosing a wedding DJ. The average wedding DJ cost is around $1,500 for a 5-hour wedding.
1) Check Google Reviews. See if any previous wedding couples had questions about the DJ that may be answered in the reviews. Be cautious however, some of these reviews could be fake. Google doesn’t truly have a way of authenticating each one.
2) Ask your Facebook friends. Make a post and ask for area DJs that people used for a wedding near you.
3) Set up an interview with a DJ you’re interested in. Ask to speak by phone, or facetime, or set up a Zoom meeting. If the DJ only wants to text and email you, be wary of them. Also, if a DJ won’t make time for an interview, how likely is he or she going to make time for you during the wedding planning?
4) Make sure the DJ you’re thinking about doesn’t ask for a huge deposit. If it’s over 10%, I would rethink hiring someone else.
5) Make sure they have a “clean DJ” system setup. A Dj system that they’ve put up that is neat and clean, with wires hidden and with little to no clutter of equipment bags, etc for your guests to see.
6) Before the wedding, make sure the DJ can pronounce all the names of your wedding party. If they stumble over the names and their words, you should probably pass on to the next DJ you’re considering.
7) Ask about what other options they often have, like uplighting. Make sure they don’t make you feel like you are being given a tough sales pitch.
8) What does your gut tell you about them? You are going to be spending a lot of time with your wedding vendors and a DJ is going to be a major part of your reception. If you do not feel immediately comfortable with a DJ, then you should probably keep looking!
9) Make sure your DJ is willing to play your favorite music. Experienced wedding DJs will always require you to tell them what music you definitely want to be played and songs you don’t want to be played. In some cases, it can be even more important, since hearing a song you hate can be a huge turn-off for many people.