The Art of Mastering Weddings
People usually hire a wedding DJ rather than a band because it’s easier and less expensive as well. But how do you choose the right DJ, especially when you have so many choices out there?
Seeking Referrals
You can always start by asking the reception venue for referrals. These people certainly know a few DJs from wedding receptions they’ve had in the past. And if you can find a DJ who actually knows the place and the staff pretty well, that could help make everything run more smoothly .
If you intend to work with a DJ company, go for their main guy – the owner usually – who is generally more experienced and more expensive, but often worth spending that extra money for. This should be clearly indicated in your contract, including a condition that prohibits them from making substitutions. In any case, whoever DJ you end up booking, make it a point to confirm a month before the wedding and then a week before. You can’t be too sure.
Another good way of finding a good wedding DJ is asking for referrals from people you personally know, like relatives, people at work, and so on. You can also approach your caterer, photographer, limo company and other wedding vendors you’re working with. These guys work in the same industry so they should know each other.
If you’re thinking about the cost of hiring a DJ for your wedding, be prepared to shell out anywhere from $300 to $3,000, depending on how experienced they are, what equipment they use, etc.. Wedding DJs often provide their clients several options, but in the end, don’t allow your reception to become amateur hour.
The bottomline consideration when it comes to choosing a wedding DJ is experience. There is a certain flow to wedding receptions that only experienced professional wedding DJs can handle. This usually includes unexpected events that can easily ruin the reception – for example, when food gets delayed – if not for a smooth and savvy DJ snatching the guests attention.
Of course, at the end of the day, you’ll want a DJ who can give you and your guests all the best memories of this most important day of your life. And you can only make that happen if they have great chemistry with the crowd. It’s important that this DJ will be able to develop a rapport with everyone at your reception.
In most cases, when people end up with the wrong wedding DJs, it’s probably their fault. And the best thing you can do to avoid this scenario is to start searching months ahead. This way, you will have enough time to come up with a good decision, perhaps change your mind for a better one, and then finalize.