DJ'ing at Weddings

The Importance of a Professional DJ:

The DJ has a huge emotional impact upon the success of a wedding receiption. The difference between a mediocre and a great wedding experience depends more upon the quality of entertainment than anything else. A wedding planner wants the guests to look back upon their event with positive memories; planning for professional entertainment is the most important part of the entire process. I hope this page will provide valuable advice and crucial insights for planners and DJ's.

Weddings are the most difficult gigs for a DJ to play, due to the variety of ages and musical tastes of the audience. A professional DJ is well aware of the significance of a wedding reception. It is the event of a lifetime, and the service needs to meet that standard. These days, some couples choose to hook up a cell phone to a PA system, in order to save money. That certainly saves money, but is it worth the savings? Hopefully this page will give wedding planners a much better perspective of what's involved in having proper entertainment, and I also hope to give potential DJ's the background they need so they don't get in over their head.

As mentioned, some couples are concerned about the expense of hiring a professional DJ for their reception, and question the costs involved. Let's review the scope of this type of engagement. You're not just paying the DJ for five or six hours of music and MC'ing. You're also paying for set-up and break-down of a significant amount of equipment, having a DJ assistant on-site, music costs, and other incidentals. You're paying for twenty to thirty hours of preparation by the entertainer for each specific event, in addition to the time that they are setting up and working on the day of the event. You're helping to cover a small portion of regular business overhead expenses, which are quite extensive (purchasing and maintaining gear, owning and maintaining a vehicle, liability insurance, equipment insurance, accounting fees, and many other items). And finally, you're paying the entertainer for years of prior experience as a DJ in a professional setting. You want to book a DJ who brings their "A" game.

As noted, the time commitment required for a DJ to properly manage a wedding is substantial. DJ's participate in preliminary meetings, they help to plan special music selections, often need to purchase additional music, attend rehearsals, set up, perform, and tear down gear. It's not uncommon for a DJ to devote well over sixty hours in total to a wedding booking. The DJ's time is valuable, and this is why it can cost a few thousand dollars to hire a professional. Is it worth having an inexperienced DJ (for less money), who may not deliver the level of care and service you would like, or is it better to hire a professional who can provide top-notch service?

When considering who to hire for a wedding event, some couples try to save money by selecting a friend or family member who can DJ with a laptop and rented gear, but that person will probably have limited music selections and limited professional experience. If there's a short circuit in one of the XLR cords connecting the microphone to the mixer, will your DJ be able to instantly recognize and rectify the problem? It would really suck if your microphone suddenly stops working for the rest of the evening. If a recessed button on the back of the compressor gets pushed accidentally and half of the speaker system won't produce any sound, will your DJ instantly recognize what the potential cause might be? Will your DJ have access to backup equipment, in case a critical component fails during the evening? A/V equipment can be finicky to set up and maintain.

A DJ may have thirty thousand songs on their hard drive, but if they don't actually know the music, having all of those selections is not useful. Ideally, you will have a DJ who is intimately acquainted with (at a minimum) classic pop/rock, mainstream, and pop dance music as well as having familiarity with some country music, mainstream rap, ballads/waltzes, and classic oldies. Very few DJ's have this wide breadth of experience. If you're interviewing a potential DJ, investigate the depth of their musical knowledge. If you're a DJ, make sure you're familiar with popular songs in all genres of music, not just the genres that you personally prefer to listen to.

One inherent problem with finding a good DJ for a wedding reception is that the typical age range of the crowd is from about 14 to 74 years old. People getting married are often younger and want some current & relevant music. But if there are parents and grandparents in the crowd, is it wise to have a young DJ who ONLY knows hip hop and top40? Although such DJ's may be able to please a younger crowd, the older folks could be disappointed. Other DJ's may know their older mainstream, pop, and classic rock/oldies inside out, but might feel uncomfortable playing modern chart hits.

Here are some very interesting statistics that a bride should be aware of, based upon surveys taken by several wedding publications and related websites:
- During the planning period, brides say that their highest priority is the attire, followed by reception site and caterer, and that reception entertainment is among the least of their priorities.
- In surveys taken one week after their receptions, 78% of brides say that they should have made the entertainment their highest priority.
- 63% of guests do not remember what was served for dinner, but they remember the entertainment.
- 81% of guests say that the thing they remember most about a wedding and reception was the entertainment.
- After the wedding is over, 72% of all brides say that they would have spent more time choosing their reception entertainment carefully. This indicates a high level of dissatisfaction with the majority of entertainers booked.
- Almost 100% of all brides state that they would have spent more of their budget on entertainment.
- Even though bands are generally much more expensive than DJ's, many couples believe that a band is the best form of entertainment for a wedding. However, 65% of the couples that DID choose a band for entertainment said that if they were to do it over again, they would choose a DJ instead.

Challenges & Key Considerations:

Approximately fifty pieces of equipment (consoles, mixers, speakers, lights, players, power cords, microphones, signal cords, compressor, EQ, backup gear, etc.) are required to set up a professional sound and lighting system in a reception hall. The system needs to be strong enough to be heard above the crowd, and loud enough to dance to, but not so loud as to make socializing awkward. The younger attendees will prefer louder volumes. The older folks will sit in the background and complain that they can't hear each other. It's a delicate balance.

When it comes to lighting, be aware that strobe lights can occasionally trigger seizures in persons with epilepsy. You're probably sticking with modern LED-based lighting which can flash and draw patterns but without full "on/off strobe" effects. You'll probably want to avoid the use of smoke machines or fog-machines, as they can occasionally trigger fire detection systems in certain venues. Beyond those challenges, remember that lighting and visual effects are quite important for creating a positive ambiance. Many venues have flourescent lighting rather than warm lights with dimmer controls. Plan your lighting system to ensure that it complements the music and enhances the mood of the venue.

How much will the DJ be involved as a Master of Ceremonies? Will he/she be the main MC for the reception, or will they mostly be providing tech support to a separate MC that the bride & groom have picked?

As a working performer, it goes without saying that a DJ should have a policy of not consuming any drugs or alcohol prior to or during wedding events. The last thing that a bride and groom need at their reception is an intoxicated entertainer. Staying sober is just one small part of a Code of Conduct that a DJ should follow. If you're a DJ, think about your professionalism and presentation. Check with the client to determine the attire that they expect from you. Be punctual. Keep in mind that you'll often have many eyes upon you, throughout the duration of the event, and remember that your interactions with guests will contribute to everyone's perception of your performance.

The first step in determining the suitability of a DJ for a particular event is their availability on the day of the event. Professional wedding DJ's are often booked months in advance. Confirm the DJ's potential availability for your wedding date before you start moving forward with any other suitability checks and planning.

A wedding planner needs to know how to vet a DJ properly. Check references. Review videos of past performances. If the DJ cannot provide these items, walk away immediately. This is not the time to take a chance on an untested entertainer. The DJ's role is to keep the event flowing smoothly, far beyond just playing music. Discuss whether the DJ is willing to interact with the crowd beyond playing music. You may want the DJ to facilitate games or dance-offs, to keep energy levels high and to engage guests of all ages. Discuss these ideas with the DJ, and ensure that they are comfortable stepping into this multi-purpose role. Will it be appropriate to inegrate interactive elements like song-request apps or social media shoutouts during the event, to help personalize the experience for guests and encourage participation?

Cultural sensitivity and inclusivity can come into play. Some ceremonies and receptions can blend different cultures and traditions. If this is the case, the DJ will need to appreciate the importance of cultural sensitivity, and not do or say anything that might offend any of the guests or participants. The DJ may also need to be able to incorporate music from very diverse and unfamiliar backgrounds.

You've picked your DJ. What's next?

DJ's will require a non-refundable deposit at the time of booking. The remainder of the event fee is typically due 30 days before the date of the event. If there is a cancellation after that point, the entire fee will typically be forfeited, because it is almost impossible for the DJ to get a replacement booking in on such short notice. It is in the best interests of both the service provider (the DJ) and the client (the couple getting married) to sign a comprehensive contract for the engagement of entertainment services, which covers everything associated with the costs, the responsibilities of each party, and a detailed scope of what is required for the event. Here are some other key items that should be covered in your the service contract: Cancellation policies (or lack thereof), payment terms, venue location, contact info for venue management personnel who will be on-site during the event, access availability, performance times, and liability requirements. Both signatories to the contract should go through the entire contract in detail to discuss all clauses before signing it.

During the planning process in the weeks leading up to the event, the couple getting married should have a detailed sit-down meeting with the DJ to review planning in detail. The DJ will probably want to start to make notes about a lot of critical information, to get a better understanding of everything from the venue to the names and relevance of numerous key guests. At many receptions, the DJ will be expected to play specific songs for key moments, such as the first dance as a couple, the father-daughter dance, the mother-son dance, the final song, and so on. Are there any other songs that have special meaning to the wedding couple, which can help add a deeply personal touch? Equally important is having a list of songs that the wedding party specifically do NOT want to hear, general thoughts about preferred genres for the evening. Events are far less stressful for everyone when details are planned out in advance.

A wedding planner also needs to know that there are a lot of technical considerations that the DJ is responsible for. The wedding planner should not be completely "hands off." They should have an understand of what the DJ needs in order to have a successful event. Here are some specific points with respect to that:
- At what time will the DJ have access to the venue, to start setting up equipment?
- The speakers and other equipment needs to be set up in a manner that is conducive to optimal sound distribution. Very few people understand acoustical performance. In many venues, it can be very difficult to produce clear, high-quality audio. A venue with tile floors has a very different acoustic profile than a venue with carpet.
- Advance sound checks are critical. Guests don't want to wince at sudden high volumes, but they don't want to strain to hear a microphone either.
- Coordinate with the venue well in advance to ensure compatibility of their in-house equipment (if any) with the DJ's equipment and sound/lighting systems. The DJ needs to know if they need to bring any additional/special equipment.
- What kind of backup equipment is needed, and what emergency procedures would come into play for various potential technical failures?
- Are there any noise restrictions, emergency evacuation constraints, or municipal regulations that the DJ needs to be aware of? What happens if the fire alarm goes off, or if the power goes out?
- Completely unrelated to the music, but if you're a wedding planner trying to book a wedding, consider telling the venue that you want to rent it for a family reunion. At some venues, you'll get a much better price than if you tell them that it's a wedding receiption.

If you're looking for some insight into the cost of hiring a DJ, I typically charged $2000 ($CAD) when I was still accepting bookings. This was an all-inclusive fee which included my time, the time of my assistant, all gear and lighting, and other performance incidentals. The cost of food/lodging, when required, was not included in that fee. Here's a recent article which has information about fairly recent trends:  www.theknot.com/content/average-cost-wedding-band-dj

Picking the Music

It can be very challenging for a DJ to decide which songs to play during the reception. There is only one winning solution: Plan this out in advance, with the Bride. Schedule a meeting several weeks before the ceremony & reception. Come prepared with lists of suggestions (see below). The DJ should use their creative judgement in picking the music for most of the evening, based on their read of the crowd, but there are a number of key songs which absolutely should be agreed upon in advance. Once the Bride has shared her preferences with the DJ, the DJ should list all of these songs on a single page, and have the Bride sign to confirm. Do not lose this page! Take a photo of it so you have a backup. Start sourcing the appropriate songs immediately, so you have them well before the event. Download or purchase legitimate music. Do not try to stream anything live! Depending on where you sourced them from, preview each song in its entirety, to make sure the entire song is complete and uncompromised. This is critically important. At the last wedding that I attended (as a guest), the tech support crew in the church played a song which cut out thirty seconds into the song to play a YouTube ad. I kid you not.

Picking the right music for key songs such as the First Dance, Father/Daughter Dance with the Bride, and Mother/Son Dance with the Groom, can be difficult. You may want to review and have these lists ready for your meeting between the DJ and the Bride. I hope that these lists will have some useful suggestions as possible options for the various critical song choices!

First Dance, Husband & Wife

Unforgettable (Nat King Cole)
Can't Help Falling In Love (Elvis Presley)
Can I Have This Dance? (Anne Murray)
The Way You Look Tonight (Frank Sinatra)
It Had To Be You (Harry Connick Jr.)
What A Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong)
Endless Love (Diana Ross and Lionel Richie)
I Cross My Heart (George Strait)
I Swear (either John M Montgomery or All 4 One)
A Whole New World (Peabo Bryson & Regina Belle)
As Time Goes By, A Kiss Is Just A Kiss (Michael Feinstein)
When You Say Nothing At All (Allison Krauss)
Faithfully (Journey)
No Ordinary Love (Sade)
Here And Now (Luther Vandross)
I Can Love you Like That (John M Montgomery)
Power Of Love (Celine Dion)
Tonight I Celebrate My Love (Roberta Flack & Peabo Bryson)
Everything I Do, I Do For You (Bryan Adams)
When A Man Loves A Woman (either Percy Sledge or Michael Bolton)
All My Life (Linda Ronstadt & Aaron Neville)
I'll Be There (Mariah Carey)
On Bended Knee (Boyz II Men)
At Last (Etta James)
Don't Know Much (Linda Ronstadt & Aaron Neville)
From This Moment On (Shania Twain)
Our Love Is Here To Stay (Harry Connick, Jr.)
Unchained Melody (The Righteous Brothers)
More Than Words (Extreme)
Every Breath You Take (The Police)
With Or Without You (U2)
Heaven (Bryan Adams)
Lover Of Mine (Alannah Myles)
The Flame (Cheap Trick)
To Be With You (Mister Big)
All of Me (John Legend)
Perfect (Ed Sheeran)
Thinking Out Loud (Ed Sheeran)
A Thousand Years (Christina Perri)
Say You Won't Let Go (James Arthur)
Die A Happy Man (Thomas Rhett)
Love On Top (Beyoncé)
You Are the Best Thing (Ray LaMontagne)
Speechless (Dan + Shay)
Heaven's Knife (Josh Garrels)
Lover (Taylor Swift)
Marry Me (Train)
XO (Beyoncé)
Tennessee Whiskey (Chris Stapleton)
Beautiful Crazy (Luke Combs)
Beyond (Leon Bridges)
Best Part (Daniel Caesar feat. H.E.R.)
I Choose You (Sara Bareilles)
La Vie En Rose (Daniela Andrade)
10,000 Hours (Dan + Shay & Justin Bieber)

Father & Daughter Dance

My Girl (The Temptations)
Thank Heaven For Little Girls (Gigi)
Just The Way You Are (Billy Joel)
Unforgettable (Nat King Cole / Natalie Cole)
The Wind Beneath My Wings (Bette Midler)
My Dad (Paul Petersen)
Hero (Mariah Carey)
Butterfly Kisses (Bob Carlisle)
Times of Your Life (Paul Anka)
A Song For My Daughter (Steve Moser, Mikki Viereck, Ray Allaire)
Can You Feel The Love Tonight (Elton John)
The Way You Look Tonight (Frank Sinatra)
Have I Told You Lately (Rod Stewart)
Because You Loved Me (Celine Dion)
My Heart Will Go On (Celine Dion)
Have I Told You Lately (Van Morrison)
What A Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong)
Through The Years (Kenny Rogers)
Daddy's Hand (Holly Dunn)
Daddy's Little Girl (Kippi Brannon)
Daddy's Girl (Peter Cetera)
Lullabye (Billy Joel)
A Whole New World (Peabo Bryson & Regina Belle)
How Do You Fall In Love (Alabama)
Isn't She Lovely (Stevie Wonder)
Landslide (Fleetwood Mac)
Thank Heaven For Little Girls (Gigi)
Father's Eyes (Amy Grant)
Friends (Elton John)
In Your Eyes (Peter Gabriel)
Dance With My Daughter (Jason Blaine)
I Loved Her First (Heartland)
Cinderella (Steven Curtis Chapman)
My Little Girl (Tim McGraw)
Father and Daughter (Paul Simon)
Daughters (John Mayer)
Wildflowers (Tom Petty)
You Are My Sunshine (Jasmine Thompson)
Sweet Pea (Amos Lee)
Never Grow Up (Taylor Swift)
The Best Day (Taylor Swift)
Gracie (Ben Folds)
One Call Away (Charlie Puth)
God Only Knows (For King & Country)
Home (Phillip Phillips)
Butterfly Fly Away (Miley Cyrus & Billy Ray Cyrus)
Count on Me (Bruno Mars)
Stand by Me (Florence & The Machine)
Daddy (Beyoncé)
You Raise Me Up (Josh Groban)

Mother & Son Dance

Don't Know Much (Linda Rondstadt and Aaron Neville)
Butterfly Kisses (Bob Carlisle)
IOU (Jimmy Dean)
Moon River (Andy Williams)
Moon Dance (Van Morrison)
'Til The End Of Time (Perry Como)
Through The Years (Kenny Rogers)
Have I Told You Lately (Rod Stewart)
Because You Loved Me (Celine Dion)
Just The Way You Are (Billy Joel)
Unforgettable (Nat King Cole / Natalie Cole)
What A Wonderful World (Louis Armstong)
In This Life (Bette Midler)
You're The Inspiration (Chicago)
Wind Beneath My Wings (Bette Midler)
Friends (Elton John)
Wishing Tree (Sonia Dada)
Blessed (Elton John)
Hero (Mariah Carey)
In Your Eyes (Peter Gabriel)
A Song For My Son (Steve Moser, Mikki Viereck, Ray Allaire)
Sunrise, Sunset (Fiddler On The Roof soundtrack)
In My Life (The Beatles)
Ever I Saw Your Face (Roberta Flack)
Greatest Love Of All (Whitney Houston)
I Wish You Love (Natalie Cole)
Thanks Again (Ricky Skaggs)
Stand By Me (Ben E. King)
Mom (Garth Brooks)
Simple Man (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
Mother Like Mine (The Band Perry)
93 Million Miles (Jason Mraz)
Do I Make You Proud (Taylor Hicks)
The Perfect Fan (Backstreet Boys)
The Wish (Bruce Springsteen)
Letter to My Mother (Edwin McCain)
Sweet Child O' Mine (Sheryl Crow)
You'll Be in My Heart (Phil Collins)
Mom (Lucero)
Thank You Mom (Good Charlotte)
Mother (Sugarland)
Song for Mama (Boyz II Men)
Mama Said (Lukas Graham)
Moments Like This (The Afters)
Turn! Turn! Turn! (The Byrds)
Mother's Eyes (Allen Stone)
A Mother's Prayer (Celine Dion)
The Man You've Become (Molly Pasutti)

Bridal Party Dance Music

That's What Friends Are For (Dionne Warwick & Friends)
Can You Feel The Love Tonight (Elton John)
Friends In Low Places (Garth Brooks)
We Are Family (Sister Sledge)
Friends (Elton John)
Heroes and Friends (Randy Travis)
In Your Eyes (Peter Gabriel)
Celebration (Kool & The Gang)
Stayin' Alive (Bee Gees)
Stayin' Alive (Wyclef Jean Remix)
You're The One That I Want (Grease Soundtrack)
Hot Stuff (Donna Summer)
I Will Survive (Gloria Gaynor)
How Will I Know (Whitney Houston)
Dancing Queen (ABBA)
Superstition (Stevie Wonder)
Jungle Boogie (Kool & The Gang)
December 1963, Oh What A Night (Four Seasons)
Like A Prayer (Madonna)
Uptown Funk (Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars)
Shut Up and Dance (WALK THE MOON)
Happy (Pharrell Williams)
Cake By The Ocean (DNCE)
Can't Stop The Feeling! (Justin Timberlake)
24K Magic (Bruno Mars)
Sugar (Maroon 5)
Shake It Off (Taylor Swift)
Levitating (Dua Lipa)
Don't Start Now (Dua Lipa)
Senorita (Shawn Mendes, Camila Cabello)
Blinding Lights (The Weeknd)
Good As Hell (Lizzo)
One Dance (Drake featuring Wizkid & Kyla)
Dance Monkey (Tones and I)
Juice (Lizzo)

Music for Cutting the Cake

Cut the Cake (Average White Band)
I Wanna Grow Old With You (Adam Sandler)
How Sweet It Is (James Taylor)
Sugar, Sugar (The Archies)
Hit me With Your Best Shot (Pat Benatar)
When I'm 64 (The Beatles)
Recipe For Love (Harry Connick Jr.)
That's Amore' (Dean Martin)
Happy Together (The Turtles)
Pour Some Sugar On Me (Def Leppard)
I Got You Babe (Sunny & Cher)
Love & Marriage (Frank Sinatra)
Oh Yeah! (Yello)
Axel F (Harold Faltermeyer)
Peter Gunn Theme (Henry Mancini)
Marry You (Bruno Mars)
Sugar (Maroon 5)
Cake By The Ocean (DNCE)
Love On Top (Beyoncé)
Best Day Of My Life (American Authors)
Everything (Michael Bublé)
L-O-V-E (Nat King Cole)
You Make My Dreams (Hall & Oates)
Lucky (Jason Mraz & Colbie Caillat)
1, 2, 3, 4 (Plain White T's)
Accidentally In Love (Counting Crows)

Music for the Garter Toss & Bouquet Toss

The Stripper (David Rose)
Legs (ZZ Top)
You Sexy Thing (Hot Chocolate)
Oh Yeah! (Yello)
Macho Man (Village People)
Theme From Mission Impossible (Danny Elfman)
Wild Thing (either The Troggs or Tone Loc)
Let's Get It On (Marvin Gaye)
Bad Boys (Inner Circle)
Another One Bites The Dust (Queen)
Curly Shuffle (Jump n' The Saddle)
Kiss (Prince)
Do Ya Think I'm Sexy (Rod Stewart)
Gimme All Your Lovin' (ZZ Top)
Pretty Woman (Roy Orbison)
Freak Me (Silk)
Hungry Eyes (Eric Carmen)
Heaven (Bryan Adams)
U Can't Touch This (MC Hammer)
Shameless (Garth Brooks)
Single Ladies, Put a Ring on It (Beyoncé)
Pony (Ginuwine)
Blurred Lines (Robin Thicke featuring TI and Pharrell)
SexyBack (Justin Timberlake)
Man! I Feel Like A Woman! (Shania Twain)
Milkshake (Kelis)
Hot in Herre (Nelly)
Buttons (The Pussycat Dolls featuring Snoop Dogg)
Suit & Tie (Justin Timberlake featuring Jay-Z)
I Know You Want Me, Calle Ocho (Pitbull)
Candy Shop (50 Cent featuring Olivia)
California Gurls (Katy Perry featuring Snoop Dogg)
Worth It (Fifth Harmony featuring Kid Ink)
Talk Dirty (Jason Derulo featuring 2 Chainz)
S&M (Rihanna)

The Last Dance

Last Dance (Donna Summer)
New York, New York (Frank Sinatra)
Good Riddance, Time Of Your Life (Green Day)
From This Moment On (Shania Twain & Bryan White)
Save The Best For Last (Vanessa Williams)
Wonderful Tonight (David Kersh)
Could I Have This Dance (Anne Murray)
You're Still The One (Shania Twain)
Closing Time (Semisonic)
Unforgettable (Nat King Cole / Natalie Cole)
I've Had The Time Of My Life (Bill Medly & Jennifer Warnes)
How Your Love Makes Me Feel (Diamond Rio)
Goodnight, Sweetheart (David Kersh)
The Party's Over (Nat King Cole)
Goodnight Sweetheart (Spaniels)
What a Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong)
The Dance (Garth Brooks)
Truly, Madly, Deeply (Savage Garden)
Always And Forever (Heatwave)
Here For A Good Time (Trooper)
Now That We've Found Love (Heavy D and the Boyz)
When Love Takes Over (David Guetta & Kelly Rowland)
All of Me (John Legend)
Thinking Out Loud (Ed Sheeran)
At Last (Etta James)
Bohemian Rhapsody (Queen)
Let's Stay Together (Al Green)
Come Away With Me (Norah Jones)
Ho Hey (The Lumineers)
Grow Old With You (Adam Sandler)
I Don't Want to Miss a Thing (Aerosmith)
Perfect (Ed Sheeran)
Yellow (Coldplay)
Better Together (Jack Johnson)
Sky Full of Stars (Coldplay)
Can't Help Falling in Love (Elvis Presley)
One More Time (Daft Punk)
Make You Feel My Love (Adele)
This Will Be An Everlasting Love (Natalie Cole)
The Way You Look Tonight (Frank Sinatra)
You Are the Best Thing (Ray LaMontagne)
Forever Young (Rod Stewart)

Final Thoughts:

If you're getting married and you're starting to put together your budget, remember that Entertainment is one of the most memorable parts of your big day. It is critical that you choose a professional DJ who will be prepared to meet the standards you expect. You'll have to ensure that your DJ is prepared to do more than just play music - you'll be relying on them to create an atemosphere, raise emotions, and leave lasting memories. It is important for you to communicate these needs in advance. Now that you understand the amount of preparation involved, I feel more comfortable that you'll be able to budget properly for the cost of hiring a professional DJ, and equally importantly, to invest the necessary time to work with them to plan everything out carefully (well in advance).

If you're a DJ, and your previous experience in performing at wedding's and receptions is limited, check out the Mobile DJ'ing training resources that I have on this site. Work with another experienced DJ for your first several weddings, until you're comfortable acting as the lead entertainer with the help of an assistant. Build and maintain a comprehensive portfolio of your past work, including testimonials from previous clients plus photos and videos from past events. You should always be prepared to share this portfolio with your prospective clients - don't wait for them to ask. Also, remember that a person's wedding day is one of the most important days of their life. Be prepared to deal with stressed-out clients, and remain professional when the bride (or groom) presents challenging demands. As clients, they'll have high expectations, which is fair and understandable.

Most importantly, for both the wedding planners and the DJ, remember that your first "pre-planning" meeting is going to be an exploratory one. This will be a consultation meeting, before a contract is signed and before detailed planning is set to paper. Each party needs to be completely comfortable with the personality, needs, and expectations of the other party, before moving on to signing a contract.

I think that I've covered most of the important relevant topics associated with DJ'ing for weddings. If you can think of anything else that I should talk about on this page, send me an email! I'll leave you with a photo of myself, DJ'ing at a wedding for one of my close friends.

Training Link for Mobile DJ's: djbolivia.ca/mobile