Some Things To Consider When Hiring A DJ And Other Vendors For Your Wedding Reception:

The DJ is responsible for a lot more than just “playing music:”

A properly prepared DJ will be familiar with the style of entertainment you are looking for, and do everything within his/her power to create the exact atmosphere you desire.

In addition to playing music, the DJ will also act as Master Of Ceremonies and reception coordinator to make sure your event flows smoothly.

Of course you will find djs that do just 'push play', and this is an important factor to consider when making your entertainment decision, as this will play a major role in the price.

Depending on the style, amount of involvement and coordination, and any 'extras' that you are looking for in your DJ, you will find that there will be a wide price range.

The DJ can truly make or break your event, so it’s important to choose wisely.

There’s more than meets the eye:

It’s also important to realize that even though your reception may be 4 – 6 hours long, for example, the DJ will spend a lot more time than that in preparation for your special day.

A typical 4 hour wedding reception can actually involve anywhere from 12 – 20 hours of work for the DJ.

These hours include such things as pre-event planning and consultation meetings with you, music research, agenda preparation, contract/other paperwork preparation, travel time, set-up and tear-down time, and working with your other vendors to make sure they are all on the same schedule.

Also, depending on any extra options you may choose, such as photo montages, slideshows, or custom recordings, there will be additional time spent preparing these as well.

Assigning levels of importance:

It’s no secret that there is a lot of planning involved in making your wedding day dreams come true.  There are numerous decisions to make and vendors to choose.  In addition, all of this has to be done within your predefined budget, and sometimes this isn’t an easy task.

To help with this, it’s a good idea to assign a level of importance to each aspect of your special day.  For instance, write down everything you want to include in your wedding such as flowers, dress, caterer, entertainment, cake, etc.  Then assign a ‘rank’ to each item based on how important each item is to you.  Based on this, you can get a good feel of how much of your budget you should allot to each service or item.

This is a good way to help prevent you from second-guessing your choices during or after your wedding day.  You won’t have to say “we should have spent more on ‘A’ and less on ‘B’.”  You can be confident in your choices and have the time of your life!

Knowing what you’re getting for your money:

Above all, make sure you know exactly what you’re getting for your money.

How?  By asking questions.  Most wedding professionals won’t mind, and in fact, may even expect you to ask them all sorts of questions.  By doing this you will become well informed and won’t face any ‘surprises’ when the product/service is delivered.

And don’t forget to read all contracts before you sign them.  Know what you’re obligations are and what the vendor’s obligations are before you put the pen to paper.