Photo: brides.com
Photo: brides.com

I’ve written before about what to do if you land a gig DJing a wedding. The dynamics can be really complicated, to the point of hostile. Blood may be thicker than water, but when it comes to weddings, strong wills, expectations and dreams may all get in the way of a good time. As a client, you are completely in your rights to demand certain things from the DJ you hire. As a DJ, part of your job is to make sure that your client knows what to expect from you. Lay it all out clearly. It may not solve all the problems that arise throughout the course of the night, but laying out some of the ground rules will go a long way in making the music one of the best parts of the wedding.

Tell the DJ:

  • when to play the songs that are really important to you. Don’t assume that the DJ knows that you want “At Last” as your first dance number.
  • how to pronounce your names. Names are very important. Making the effort to pronounce names correctly is respectful.
  • to provide context. If “My House” was your friends’ favorite summer dance song, then ask the DJ to say a few words about it.
  • what songs NOT to play. The songs we don’t like are sometimes more powerful than those we do. Weddings are special, and most people want the playlist to contain only their favorite songs.
  • whether you want him to MC. Most people will want the DJ to announce the wedding party. After that, though, the bride and groom might just want the DJ to spin tunes.
  • whether you and your partner are comfortable with being the center of attention. Sometimes DJs will focus their chatter on the couple.
  • if there are music or language sensitivities. Are most of the wedding guests families with young children? Then chances are, the bride and groom will want the DJ to play the clean version of songs. They might even want the volume turned down a bit.
  • about negative family dynamics. Weddings include a wide variety of guests who, under normal circumstances, might bite off their own pinky finger before they ever speak to each other again. The DJ will need to know about those issues.

Over to you: What else do clients need to know in order to have the best wedding DJ experience ever?