Day # 7 of Planning Your Wedding – DJ’s and Musicians, the Soundtrack of Your Wedding

DJ Brandon at Hunt Valley Country Club, Lauren Myers Photography

Photo provided by C and J Entertainment

How do you want to remember your wedding? The best dance off you’ve ever been to, a classy affair with great people having great conversations, or somewhere in between. Music makes the memories and finding the right band or DJ for your special day is paramount. We are here to get the conversation started between you and your prospective music providers.

Here are 5 quick questions to get you and your musicians dancing the same steps!

How many weddings do you typically do a year?

Many musicians or DJ’s are not full-time and that is okay, but you want to find one that has varied and consistent work experience. The more that they have worked with varied crowds the better they will be equipped to streamline and even avoid mishaps on the wedding day. Make sure to consider that a full-time DJ can do more than 100 gigs a year. That means there is a good amount of information available to make sure he/she’s clients were satisfied.

Jen Narkevicius Photo by Sarah Marcello Photography

How can you provide music to mesh with our particular style?

Your wedding should reflect you as a couple. The music will underscore the day and you should know if your DJ/Band can provide the right “feel”. If you want a mild affair where the guests can focus on the chance to conversate and feel relaxed, the band shouldn’t be a “grunge style garage band” or a “big band” with lots of horns, and a DJ shouldn’t be focusing on getting people on a dance floor. Ask how they can provide you a way to hear them at their best. Are you able to see them preform or do they have a recent video? Bands will usually have a list of public performances you could stop into and DJ’s should be able to provide a mix to listen to or a video of a wedding they have worked. 

Have you worked at our venue before?  

Acoustics can change drastically from one end of a room to another and turning up the volume doesn’t necessarily make it better. You need your music and announcements to be heard and understood. Having a DJ understand the space is key. If they haven’t played the venue before, ask if they will set up a walkthrough. Not just the acoustics are important, the electrical outlets, fire codes and vendor restrictions vary greatly from space to space and this is vital to a seamless setup and execution.

Are you fully insured?

Check with your venue to see all insurance requirements for vendors before interviewing to make sure you meet them. Also, this question opens the door to ask about emergency contingencies. How they handle rain for an outside wedding, a last-minute flu for a member of the group or cancellation policies are key to have on hand. Get all these answers in writing and a copy of their insurance certificate for the venue.

Photo provided by Crow Entertainment

Do you have an event before or after mine?

This should help you to determine setup time and when your music will arrive. Also, follow-up with overtime costs, should the party go longer than expected. This should be added into the budget if you want a longer party. Give the musician/DJ the venues expectations at this time and let them know your timing for the day and set your expectations with them.

Finding that perfect background to make your day special can be overwhelming, but don’t let it become a burden or an afterthought. Not all DJ’s are created equal. Make sure to get the conversation started with these quick questions. Let us know which DJ’s made your day memorable and if you’re still trying to decide, check out our music maestros on our Music & DJ’s Listings Page.