Things To Consider When Looking For A Wedding DJ

premierwedddev on November 15, 2023

Your big day is not too far away! However, there’s still something missing that might make or break the atmosphere of your wedding: music! This is where a looking for a wedding DJ enters the party. Choosing a wedding DJ that is best for you means that your reception will be a dance celebration that you’ll never forget.

Let’s face it, it’s not easy to find the perfect DJ. Choosing a wedding DJ who fits your taste and can keep the dance floor full might be overwhelming.

Do not worry, we’ll walk you through the specifics of choosing a wedding DJ who will get your guests dancing and make your big day memorable.

Looking for a Wedding DJ:

What is their experience?

Experience is one of the most crucial aspects to keep in mind. A run-of-the-mill DJ won’t cut it; you need someone well-versed in the art of wedding DJing.

A professional wedding DJ will know exactly when to slow it down and when to rev things up, keeping your guests thoroughly captivated and entertained throughout the event. It is important to remember to check out their portfolio of successful weddings and ask for references or reviews from past clients.

Looking for a wedding dj - wedding dj fist bumping bride while playing music

Do they have a good reputation?

It’s impossible to ignore reputation when looking for a wedding DJ. You need to make sure the DJ you hire is dependable, competent, and able to provide first-rate services.

How do you assess their reputation? Ask your friends for recommendations and search online for reviews to get an idea of the DJ’s level of customer service.

What kind of music will they play?

You need a versatile DJ to play an eclectic mix of music genres that caters to your needs. Your ideal DJ should be able to strike the right chords and keep the dance floor packed throughout the event. Therefore, it’s essential to communicate your music preferences to your DJ and share a playlist of your all-time favorites.

Moreover, consider your guests’ age and musical tastes and ensure the DJ is well-equipped to play music that resonates with everyone. A seasoned wedding DJ will be adept at crafting a playlist that blends the best of popular hits with some lesser-known tunes to keep the energy flowing and the spirits soaring.

What kind of equipment do they have?

Before you hire a DJ, take some time to inquire about their equipment and how they maintain its quality. A professional DJ will take the time to set up their equipment meticulously and conduct sound checks before the event to ensure that everything is working perfectly.

Looking for a wedding DJ with professional-grade equipment guarantees that your guests will enjoy the music and hear every sound and beat clearly without interruptions.

What is their personality like?

A music machine and a genuine people person are both things you want in a DJ. Look for someone who can liven up the event and make your guests feel welcome and happy.

A good DJ should be able to communicate with the audience, judge the mood, and change the music to fit. They should also be outgoing, have a sense of humor, and be very good communicators.

When interviewing prospective DJs, observe how they treat you and your fiancé. An energetic and personable DJ will contribute to making the event memorable.

Big crowd of people at a wedding dancing to music

What is their availability?

Availability is a significant factor to consider when looking for a wedding DJ. Finding a DJ who is available on your wedding day but is flexible and can work with your schedule is crucial. Booking a DJ early is recommended, especially if your wedding is during peak season, as they tend to book up quickly. Check their availability before hiring them to ensure they are free for the entire wedding.

If you have specific requests, such as playing music during cocktail hour or the ceremony, discuss them with the DJ to guarantee they can accommodate your needs. Picking an available and adaptable DJ will help ensure that everything runs smoothly on your big day.

How well do they communicate with you?

Communication is so important. You want a DJ who’s easy to talk to and responsive throughout the planning process. They should be quick to answer questions and keep you updated on your wedding playlist. Before hiring a DJ, make sure they’re cool with their preferred mode of communication.

Group of people dancing to music at a wedding

Make sure they have a solid contract.

Having a contract when hiring a wedding DJ is super important. It’s like a safety net for both you and the DJ.

A good contract should spell out the DJ’s services, fees, payment plan, and cancellation policy, protecting both parties. It’s essential to understand all the terms before signing it.

If there’s anything you need help understanding or have any concerns, feel free to ask the DJ to explain it to you. A professional DJ will have a clear and detailed contract that will ensure no misunderstandings or disputes, giving you peace of mind on your wedding day.

End Note:

Picking the right wedding DJ is a big deal, and giving it a lot of thought is essential. You want to be looking for a wedding DJ with the skills, reputation, music choices, gear, vibe, and schedule that work for you. Make sure to research and meet with potential DJs to get a feel for their style and personality. When you find the perfect match, you’ll be able to create a wedding celebration that everyone will remember fondly for years to come!

Music Selection and Customization Questions To Ask Your Wedding DJ:

Do you mix or blend songs together throughout the night?

Absolutely! This is a major component of being a professional DJ and keeping the energy up on the dance floor! Be sure to ask any DJ that you are considering if this is something that they do because not many Wedding DJs in the Pittsburgh area are skilled enough to do this.

Do you have a wide range of music in your collection?

All of our DJs have thousands of songs in our library in all different genres. We also have them downloaded to our actual computers. That means that we don’t need to be connected to wifi to be able to play them. We also only play the clean versions of all songs at any wedding that we DJ.

How do you handle song requests from the couple and guests?

wedding guests dancing on the dance floor of a banquet hall

We love taking requests from the crowd! In our experience, it is usually the people on the dancefloor that give requests and it helps me know which vibe they are looking for. A lot of current and potential clients ask us….How do we handle getting a bad request or something that might kill the dancefloor? We will be nice to the person and just tell them that probably isn’t going to fit in well tonight. Or just tell them that unfortunately, we don’t have that song in our library.

Can you create a do-not-play list based on our preferences?

Yes absolutely! We have a do not play section in our planning documents. It seems like most couples usually have a couple of songs that they just can’t stand for some reason. Be sure to let us know what those are and we will not play them at your reception.

Equipment and Setup Questions To Ask Your Wedding DJ:

Do you have wireless microphones for speeches and announcements?

Yes, we bring a minimum of 2 wireless microphones to all of our receptions and will coordinate with anyone giving any speeches throughout the night to make sure they know the best practices for talking on the mic.

male DJ speaking into microphone at the DJ booth

Do you bring subwoofers to every wedding?

This is an important question that most people probably don’t ask enough. We do bring subwoofers to all of our weddings and include that in our pricing structure. Most other DJ companies do not bring subwoofers with them to their weddings and will charge you extra if you want them. Be sure to ask any DJ that you are considering about this because any music is going to sound better with more bass!

Do you provide speakers and microphones for the Ceremony?

Most couples these days get married at the same location that their reception is at and will pay us to set up the speakers and mics for the ceremony. We do have an additional set-up fee if your ceremony is in a separate location from where your reception is for setting up in that second location.

The only time our clients might not use us is if they have some sort of live music for the ceremony like a violinist. However, if you have a live musician who wants to use our speakers to amplify their instrument or sing during your ceremony, we can accommodate that!

How much time do you need to set up and take down your equipment?

On average, we arrive 2 hours early to set up for a wedding reception but it can be earlier if the venue is more challenging to load in and out of. Most of the time we keep in touch with the venue to let them know what time we are planning on arriving and how long it will take us to tear down.

Logistics and Pricing Questions To Ask Your Wedding DJ:

Why isn’t your pricing listed on your website?

We don’t list our pricing on our website because we price out each wedding individually based on the date, location, and your needs. We offer substantial discounts for non-peak season weddings and Friday or Sunday weddings. On the flip side, our pricing is a little higher during the busy season. Listing a generic price on our website wouldn’t be accurate for every potential client.

We are blessed to be able to do what we love and make a full-time living from DJing Weddings and Events, so we want to book as many clients as possible! Because of this, we prefer to have a phone call with potential clients to learn more about their exact needs and provide them with the best possible price we can offer. On top of that, everyone’s budget is different and we like to learn more about your budget so we can be sure to give you a price that is as close to your budget as possible.

Contact us today so we can give you a customized price quote to get you our best possible price and give you more information on why we are the most popular Wedding DJs in Pittsburgh, PA!

What is your pricing structure and what does it include?

Most other DJ companies offer a “good, better, best” pricing structure and will try to push you into their best package even though it may include a bunch of things that you might not want or need. They will make it sound like the best package gives you the most bang for your buck, just to inflate the total price they charge you.

At Premier Wedding DJs, we price each wedding individually. We use an itemized price list, which allows our clients to choose and only pay for the items and services that they want. Most of our clients tell us that this makes our pricing structure less confusing and more affordable.

Do you require a deposit and when is the final payment due?

We typically require a 50% deposit when you decide that you want to book us. However, we are very flexible on this and set up any type of payment plan that will work best for you. Just let us know at the time of booking, and we can write that payment plan into the contract. We realize how expensive weddings can be these days and are happy to work with you to create a payment plan that works best for your needs.

Additional Service Questions To Ask Your Wedding DJ:

Premier Wedding DJ lighted booth set up at wedding

Do you bring a DJ booth or just set your equipment up on a table?

Most other DJ companies just set their equipment up on a folding table with cords and cables everywhere, and this looks really sloppy. We bring a lighted DJ booth to all of our events. The image above shows an example of what that booth looks like. We have had many Wedding Planners in Pittsburgh compliment us on our lighted DJ booth and tell us how much better our setup looks than most other DJs that they have seen. This is a great question to ask any DJ that you are considering!

What types of lighting do you offer?

We include dance floor lighting and a lighted DJ booth with all of our Weddings and Events. We have additional lighting options available at an additional charge including uplighting, cold spark fountains, and monogram lighting. Please visit the lighting tab on our website for photos and more information on these add-ons.

How many Weddings do you DJ each year?

At Premier Wedding DJs, Weddings are our specialty! Our company has been DJing over 150 Weddings a year for the past 10 years. Our company has become one of the most popular Wedding DJ Companies in Pittsburgh because we treat our clients like family and that shows in the reviews and awards that we have achieved. Serving the Greater Pittsburgh area, learn how we can make your wedding perfect!

Do you offer additional services such as Photobooths, Photography, and Videography?

My wife Sam is a professional Photographer and Videographer, and we offer substantial discounts when you book us together! Check out her Photography website to view her portfolio.

four people, two women and two men, posing with props in the photo booth

You can also check her YouTube page to view our most recent Wedding Highlight Films. We also offer photo booth rentals for $750 when added to our DJ Services. The photo booth rental includes custom photo strips, hundreds of fun props, an online gallery with digital downloads, and unlimited use for the night! If you’d like some more info on our booths, feel free to check out our website at www.perfectpicphotobooths.com.

Things To Consider When Looking For A Wedding DJ