So I realized during my two weeks off from blogging that I had shared some advice on how to select a photographer, but never continued with advice for selecting any of the other wedding vendors. And since sifting through the websites, online reviews, and personal recommendations can get overwhelming, I want to make sure to share a few considerations to make when selecting each of the wedding vendors. Starting today with the DJ.
One of the first things you'll want to decide before selecting a DJ is the "mood" you have in mind for your reception/dance. Do you envision a laid-back evening with casual dancing? Or do you want a wild and crazy dance party? Some DJ services specialize in the latter--lots of options for fun, rave-like lighting, lots of speciality sound-system features, and the DJ often assumes the role of "entertainer", interacting heavily with the guests and spending a fair amount of time on the mic. Perfect for some people, but probably not for everyone.
It's also a plus if your DJ is familiar with your reception site. They'll already know what they are and aren't allowed to do, where to set up, where the outlets and such are for them to use, etc. It's also likely that they would know the site manager, especially if they've done multiple events at the venue, which means they might take care of some of the necessary communication and not need you to facilitate everything.
Also, don't overlook the importance of meeting with your DJ a few times. It may seem tempting to dismiss meeting with the DJ to save yourself some time--after all, you can just email your DJ the list of songs you do and don't want him to play--but it's important for him to get a feel for you and your fiance. I was at a wedding where as the bride and groom were leaving the DJ decided to play "Let's Get it On"--perhaps cute and funny for some couples, but totally inappropriate for this particular couple.
Oh, and as I alluded to, make sure you give your DJ a list of songs that he is NOT allowed to play, as well as songs that you really want him to play. This is not only another way for him to get a feel for who you are as a couple, but also helps make his job easier, because he knows you'll be satisfied with the songs he plays. Most DJs will probably have a list of popular wedding dance songs for you to "yay" or "nay", but don't hesitate to add your own songs to the list (our DJ thought it was strange that I wanted Lonestar's "Amazed" on our do-not-play list, but trust me, I had my reasons).
Lastly, don't be afraid to be overly-thorough with what you expect from your DJ. This is true not only in terms of the general mood of the reception, but also in any "special" songs/dances you want your DJ to do. Be specific what song you want played for the garter/bouquet toss (or that you don't want either of those "traditions"), lay down guidelines for how many songs can be played during the dollar dance (and make sure he announces "last song" so people get rushed through the lines more quickly if there is a lot of them left), and make sure he knows whether or not he is allowed to let any of the guests use the mic (easiest way to avoid drunk Uncle Frank making an awkward comment? Make sure the DJ never gives him the mic). An example of something that ran afoul from personal experience: Darrell and I opted to do an Anniversary Dance at our wedding (basically inviting all married couples to the floor then slowly sending people off to find out which couple there had been married the longest), and afterwards wanted the couple to have a chance to share some marriage advice with us. Well, we weren't very clear about our vision for this, because after getting marriage advice from the longest-married couple, our DJ then went around the circle that formed and had each couple share a piece of marriage advice. And let me tell you, we had a lot of married couples at our wedding. But once he started going around the circle, it's not like we could really stop him.
The right DJ can really help create the perfect mood for your wedding reception, so don't be afraid to be picky and ask lots of questions. But also remember that most DJs are trained professionals, so don't be afraid to give them a little bit of leeway in allowing them to do what they see fit.
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