DJ: a wedding guide

Your wishlist

Answer these before you meet anyone.

• Where do you want music covered?

• What should the dance floor sound like?

• How much MC / announcing do you want?

• Any must-haves in your DJ?

What to ask each one

• Where do you need the DJ?

• Overtime policy

How it’s usually priced

Usually priced as one flat amount.

Possible extras: Ceremony sound / mics, Cocktail-hour sound, Uplighting / lighting add-on, Overtime (per hour).

What you settle once booked

• Power / setup needs

• Key reception moments to announce

• First dance & parent dances

• Songs you want played

  Title and artist for each. Say which recording if a particular one matters.

• Songs to keep off the list

• The song for each moment

  One line per moment: the moment, the song and artist, which recording or version, and what cues it to start. The version is the detail that most often goes missing between the plan and the day.

• Names to announce, and how to say them

  Write each name the way it should sound, in the order they come in.

What to look over

Correct these details as needed.

• Music end time

• Grand entrance lineup

The day-of sheet

Confirm arrival, finish, who to call, access, a meal, and what is due.

Across the whole day

Choose which moments to include.

• DJ load-in & sound check
• Reception music
• DJ load-out