From the music at your ceremony to the tunes at your reception, a D.J. can help make your wedding day better than you imagined with the songs that you love, avoiding ones that you don’t. Here are some important questions to ask prospective D.J. companies:
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN BUSINESS?
You want to feel confident that your D.J. has a solid reputation and understands the uniqueness of weddings.
HOW DO YOU CHARGE?
Rates are based on talent, experience, equipment, music knowledge, service and personality. A full-service D.J. company will normally devote 12-30 hours to your wedding, even though you are only paying for “four hours.”
WHAT IS YOUR RESERVATION AND CANCELLATION POLICY? Have your booking confirmed in a written agreement, including if you’ve requested a specific D.J. The standard deposit is 50%.
WILL YOU ANNOUNCE/COORDINATE EVENTS, LIKE THE CAKE CUTTING?
A professional D.J. should work closely with the other vendors to make sure things go smoothly on your big day.
DO YOU PROVIDE BACK-UP EQUIPMENT AND STAFF?
Make sure your D.J. has someone to back them up, should they become ill or have an emergency. Although equipment failure is rare, back-up equipment is also a must.
Reflecting back, many brides say they should have made reception entertainment their highest priority; it’s often what guests say they remember most about a wedding. It’s never too early to book a D.J., but often too late. Make sure you secure your first choice by being ahead of the pack.
Bonnie Hope is the owner of Music By Bonnie and Co. www.musicbybonnie.com.
