Posted on by Kathryn

Wedding Dj Budget Saving Tips

TOP TIPS FOR HIRING THE BEST WEDDING DJ

WHERE TO BEGIN YOUR SEARCH?

Just as there are hundreds of wedding bands in Ireland, there are also countless wedding DJs. As a couple seeking to book one of these suppliers you either want the very best premium wedding DJ or you’re on a budget and looking for a great DJ at a great price. You could start by submitting an inquiry with one of the many directories that list numerous DJs such as weddingsuppliers.ie, Mrs2Be, Wedding Journal, Weddings Online or Confetti.ie As the first port of call you should check with your band to see if they provide a DJ service. You could end up finding your premium DJ at a great rate too!

SHOULD YOU ASK FOR SAMPLES OF THEIR DJ WORK?

Some wedding DJs (not all) may be able to provide you with audio samples of their mixing style which can be helpful. Be wary though as it mightn’t always be obvious if the DJ in question has actually mixed the samples themselves. So who can you trust? Well, ask to see some verified five-star reviews from real couples (just like you!) They are the ones to trust. As a wedding band with multiple awards, PLAYLIST… your dream band! frequently receives rave reviews about our exceptional interactive premium wedding DJ service which you’ll be pleased to know is highly affordable compared to many standalone DJ suppliers.

GIVE YOUR DJ YOUR “DO” AND “DO NOT” PLAYLIST

It is extremely helpful to any DJ if you can provide a handy list of your musical preferences in advance of your big day. Nobody knows your wedding guests better than you, right? Remember to take into consideration the number of guests who will be in attendance and try and also factor in the variety of musical tastes in the mix. This is something your DJ will probably be in a better position to gauge. Avoid the temptation to get angry with your DJ if they don’t play all your requests – they’re just trying to keep the dance floor full… some songs no matter how amazing they are simply aren’t suited to dancing. Your DJ knows this (or at least they should!!) If you absolutely must have a particular song or songs played even if you know it will empty the dance floor then be sure to let your DJ know this – no credible DJ wants to intentionally spin a floor killer

ASK WHAT EQUIPMENT THEY USE FOR DJING

A good workman doesn’t blame his tools ? In a nutshell, it doesn’t really matter what the DJ is using to mix as long as it sounds great and the dance floor is full. You may not know this but it is actually possible to DJ using free apps on your smartphone – but just because the app is free doesn’t mean the person using it is a great DJ. As important as the decks is the sound and light equipment used by your DJ. Top of the range Pioneer decks going through a cheap PA system is pointless. Equally a dodgy laser or fit-inducing strobe light in the corner does not an awesome and memorable atmosphere create. Most reputable professional wedding DJs will have a coordinated programmed lighting show to complement their amazing song selection. PLAYLIST… your dream band! use the same high-quality top of the range sound and light equipment for our professional DJ service as we do for the band performance – excellence from start to finish.

Check Your Venue’s Policies and Resources

Many venues actually require a professional DJ, since they may not have their own sound equipment or simply have too much money tied up in their sound equipment to risk things to chance. Just think what could happen if your do-it-yourself DJ spilled a double whiskey and soda on your venue’s expensive soundboard. There goes your honeymoon couple’s massage. Nope–best to hire someone who has their own equipment and will travel.

In the event that you do provide your own music, remember that most people these days stream their music from a music service like Spotify or iTunes. The downside to streaming is that sometimes the sound files are of lower quality. Plus, they require a reliable internet connection, and just imagine if your venue’s WiFi decides to reboot in the middle of “Butterfly Kisses” or “Celebration.” Exactly–it won’t be pretty.

Consider What a Professional DJ Brings to the Table

One way to think of a DJ is as a host. After all, he’s the one with the microphone, the one all of your guests will be looking to in order to know what to do next. Is it time to eat? When do we dance? Are we going to catch the bouquet now? For this reason, you want to look for someone who’s friendly, presentable, and confident. The day is about the couple getting married, of course, but the DJ guides the evening and helps set the mood. We’ve all been to those weddings when the rap music started way too early and no one got out of their seat. A good DJ can read the room, get people involved, and waits until Grandma goes home before playing Sir Mixalot.

Secrets of Great Wedding DJs

Not to discount the importance of floral arrangements or an expertly roasted pork tenderloin, but at the end of the day, few things are as essential to the wedding experience as the DJ. Except maybe the bride.

Supplying musical lubrication for a multi-generational crowd requires a different skill set than any other type of DJing, so to learn the secrets that make grandmas dance like millennials and millennials dance like grandmas, we interviewed an anonymous group of experienced wedding DJs about the strategies they use to ensure the dance floor keeps moving. Read on and you’ll learn why the bride probably hates your chant for “one more song.”

Eighty-five percent of guests need to know the song

DJs get off on the deep cuts, but weddings aren’t the place for B-sides (or for DJs getting off, really). Even slightly less popular songs by famous artists will fall flat, so you can’t count on Michael Jackson’s “Wanna Be Startin’ Something” to actually start anything.

Songs work best when they transcend generations

It can be hard to find common ground between an 8-year-old kid and an 80-year-old aunt, but these intersections are the surest of wedding sure shots. “Gold Digger” is a perfect example because it features a Ray Charles sample for the older folks and the younger crowd would enjoy the vocals from that guy who knocked up Kim Kardashian.

The genre should change with nearly every song

The last thing a wedding DJ wants to do is give guests reason to request a song. By quickly moving through genres and time periods you cast a wide net, have the best shot at maintaining a critical mass, and create a shield against complaints. Some DJs subscribe to this philosophy so adamantly that they organize their music libraries by decade.

Cover the little details

Make sure you go over any and every little detail with the wedding party. I would suggest creating a standard questionnaire to expedite this progress, which you can do using a custom form on your website.

Here is a list of questions to get you started: 

  • What gear will be provided by the venue?
  • Do I need to bring a microphone for the wedding party to use? 
  • Do you have an itinerary or schedule? 
  • When do you want me to arrive? 
  • When do you want me to start playing?
  • Are there any cultural sensitivities I should be aware of?
  • Etc.

 Don’t be late

Being late is not an option. Let me repeat that for emphasis, BEING LATE IS NOT AN OPTION!

You’re a single piece of a very intricate event with lots of moving pieces. Do not be the reason things don’t go smoothly.

Lots of wedding DJs get hired by referrals, so keeping the wedding party happy is imperative. Make sure to know when they want you to arrive, when they want you to be set up by, and when they want you to start playing.

Be clear about what’s expected from you

The last thing you want is to show up and have all sorts of responsibilities that you’re not ready for. Also, be clear about how many hours you’re supposed to be there and how many hours you’re supposed to work. Offer overtime options upfront.

This means if the wedding goes a little late because people are having such a good time, there doesn’t need to be an awkward conversation at the end of the night about how much you’re getting paid.  

The Role Of Your Wedding Dj – What Do Wedding Djs Do?

A professional wedding DJ should provide you with some type of planning tool. You’re only going to do this once, so you’re going to need a little help. These tools will give your wedding DJ the information that s/he needs to create your wedding day just as you want it.

You should be able to choose the type of music you want played at your wedding and the type of music you don’t want played. Are you the type of bride that wants to boogie to the electric slide and cupid shuffle or have you done it so many times you never want to hear it again? Those are the types of things that you will go over with your wedding DJ before she even plays the first song. All of this information will be in your planning tools.

ORCHESTRATE THE FLOW + DETAILS – PLANNING SYSTEM

With your DJ , leading up to the wedding day, as you’re choosing your special songs, you’ll use the Our DJ Rocks online planning system. This tool helps keep us organized and provides details for your wedding from the special songs, the announcements, to little things like who is toasting and will there be a blessing. This will ensure that come wedding day,  we have absolutely everything we need to orchestrate things from start to finish. Our goal is for you and your fiancé to have an amazing time at your reception, letting us create the memories.

WEDDING CEREMONY MUSIC + SOUND

They arrive an hour and a half before anyone is present. As your guests filter in for your upcoming ceremony, we play light music to fill the air, as we all await the beginning of the procession. We place a wireless lapel mic on the officiant, so all of your guests can hear the ceremony. They then play a processional song for the honored guests to be seated and a special song for your walk down the aisle! The ceremony then takes place, and once pronounced a married couple, we play the celebratory exit song. These are all choices you make!

Following the ceremony, the music continues with the transition into cocktails while you take photos.

WEDDING DAY TIMELINE

Once we finalize all the details of your wedding day with you, we will send a copy of your final timeline to you and your planner/vendors. We backup all of your special songs on multiple devices, just in case! We typically arrive about 1-2 hours prior to our start time to set up all equipment so there are no awkward transitions. Everything is set and ready to go when it’s “I Do” time!

SAMPLE TIMELINE

  • 6:00PM – RECEPTION BEGINS + PHOTOBOOTH OPENS
  • INTRODUCTIONS OF BRIDAL PARTY – ♫ “CAN’T STOP THE FEELING” BY JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE
  • INTRODUCTIONS OF NEWLYWEDS FIRST DANCE [ON A CLOUD] – ♫ “KISS ME” BY THE FRAY
  • CHAMPAGNE TOAST + BLESSING
  • 6:20PM-ISH – DINNER
  • 7:20PM-ISH – FATHER/DAUGHTER DANCE – ♫ “HOW SWEET IT IS” BY JAMES TAYLOR
  • MOTHER/SON DANCE – ♫ “YOU ARE THE SUNSHINE OF MY LIFE” BY STEVIE WONDER
  • OPEN DANCING
  • 8:30PM-ISH – CAKE CUTTING – ♫ “HOME” BY EDWARD SHARPE AND THE MAGNETIC ZEROS
  • BOUQUET + GARTER FUN FOLLOWED BY OPEN DANCING
  • 10:30PM – LAST DANCE ♫ “GET LUCKY” BY DAFT PUNK

Notes: amber uplighting + custom monogram + white photo booth

WEDDING RECEPTION MC + MUSIC + VIBE

Upon arrival, we’ll greet the newlyweds and wedding party and prepare your guest of honor for introductions. We welcome everyone and progress with a fun, yet formal introduction of everyone in the wedding party, culminating with the introduction of the newly married couple. They encourage all of you to get somewhat creative with this event, as this sets the stage for the reception to follow!

As the cheers start to fade, we introduce the newlyweds, “dancing together for the very first time as a married couple,” followed by your chosen song. We then invite your guest of honor, (i.e. Maid of Honor, Best Man, Mom, Dad, etc.) to your head table as we transition into our toasts followed by dinner. Once the dinner and formal dances have been completed, it’s party time!!