Your wedding music is amongst the things that make your wedding memorable. And when it comes to wedding music, DJs are quite literally the life of the party. This then means that when planning your wedding, one of the important things that you must pay attention to, is hiring the right DJ. You do not want to hire a DJ that is unable to capture the attention of you and your guests. It could turn your wedding into a bore-fest and make everyone want to sneak away as soon as possible.
So, how then do you get started on the path of hiring the right DJ? Simple, you ask the right questions. In choosing the right DJ for your wedding, there are some important questions that you should ask and make sure that you get answers to. Here are 8 of those important questions to get you started.
- How Long Have You Been A DJ for?
One of the things that makes a good DJ is the years of experience that they have under their belt. An experienced DJ will be better able to anticipate and handle all the circumstances that arise when it comes to your wedding music. They will also have the confidence needed to get you and your guests motivated to dance.
- Are You Available on The Date That We’ve Chosen?
If they’re booked on the day that you’ve chosen for your wedding, they very well can’t be your DJ now, can they? This is amongst the first few set of questions that you must ask your potential DJ and get a satisfactory answer to. That answer should be: Yes, I am available.
- Can You Also Play the Role of Master of Ceremonies?
The answer to this question will let you know if you’d have to hire someone else to play the MC role or not. Ideally, your DJ should be able to help with announcements of events as they are about to occur and take on the role of MC at your wedding if you desire. But you can never be too sure so please ask.
- Why Should We Choose You Over Other DJs?
No couple wants a regular run of the mill DJ that will turn their wedding into a snooze fest! A good DJ should be able to choose songs for the moment by reading your crowd, make sure the songs flow seamlessly together (You don’t want dead-air between your songs), keep you and your guests engaged and make sure that the energy level on your dance floor stays high. Ask your DJ what they’re offering that you won’t get elsewhere.
- How Long Are You Going to Be There?
Most people hire their DJ for the duration of their wedding. That means about 6 hours. So, ask your DJ how many hours are included in their package. Typically, you’ll need your DJ to start pre-ceremony music about 30 minutes before the ceremony, about 30 minutes during the ceremony, during the 60-minute cocktail hour, then for your 4-hour reception. If you have another plan for ceremony music where you don’t use the DJ, you may not need him for that long. You could also have an after-party planned which means longer hours. The key is to ask and talk about it.
- What Type of Music Will You Have Playing?
R and B, Blues, Jazz, Hip Hop, Motown, Alternative, Country or Rock? Wedding music is varied and so are people's tastes when it comes to it. It’s usually best if you let your DJ do their job and select the type of music that they know will be appropriate at the moment but still, it doesn’t hurt to ask. It's best for the DJ to send a list to the Bride of all type of music they have and let the Bride choose.
- Do You Take Requests?
Requests are a fun way to get your guests to participate in the music selection at your reception. The more your guests can participate, the more enjoyable the experience will be for them. If you’re open to the idea of your guests putting in requests for particular songs, ask if your DJ will be too. Also it's up to the Bride if she want that played at her wedding.
- What Will You Wear on The Day?
Your DJ should be ready to comply with the dress code for your wedding. You can’t afford to have them showing up looking like a hipster when the dress code was formal! For wedding receptions, most DJs usually dress in a semi-formal way. Find out from your DJ how they’d be showing up to yours.
So, how does a photographer know all these about DJs you wonder? Well, my dad Mr. Sinclair Ray has been a DJ for over 25 years! In fact, I picked up my love for weddings while assisting him at wedding gigs. Neat right?
Here at Ray Wedding Services, our job is helping you preserve the memories of your memorable wedding pictures. We’re pretty good at it too so if you’re looking for a photographer to capture your wedding in and around Ridgeville and Charleston, South Carolina, you should reach out to us. Give us a call today!
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