Music is the heart and soul of your wedding. It is what will keep everyone there till the late hours of the night. It seems like everyone has very specific thoughts on DJ’s and the music at their wedding.

Let’s break down some of the questions that most brides have about having a DJ at their wedding.

Question #1: Do I really need a DJ? Can’t my friend with and iPod just play fun music for everyone?

Answer: Sure they can. I have seen it done and if that is what your budget allows then it is a fine option.

HOWEVER

Let’s discuss the reasons why having a professional do it is a much better option. A DJ is the conductor to the train that is your wedding.

They are responsible for….

1. Keeping things running smoothly and on time.
2. Being the MC throughout the evening and getting everyone pumped up (This is a big deal).
3. But their main responsibility is keeping everyone out on the dance floor.

You may think this is easy, but I have seen too many bad DJ’s or friends with an iPod chase everyone off a packed dance floor in less than 15 seconds.

There is an art to the music that is played.

A great DJ knows what genres to play for the right times of the evening. They will get grandma boogieing early on and keep your groomsmen dancing late into the night. They also know when to slow the pace down and when to keep it ratcheted up high. I have seldom seen a friend with an iPod pull all of this off well.

Question #2: I went out with my friends and the DJ played good music at the club. Should I hire them?

Answer: In my opinion, NO.

There is a huge difference in the DJ’s that I see who are club DJ’s vs. Wedding DJ’s

A club DJ tends to play bump and grind songs–loudly–all night. This is great when i’m out with my friends, but not great for a wedding. You will chase a lot of people off early (older relatives, people with young kids, religious guests) when this happens. You want a great mix of a lot of different types of music and a DJ who specializes in weddings will do this well.

Most club DJ’s I see are also seriously lacking in the MC department. Since they will be on the mic all night doing entrances and announcements, it is very important to have someone with a lot of personality and character to get your guests excited.

Question #3: I found a great deal on a DJ. Should I just go with the cheapest option I find?

Answer: You get what you pay for.

Remember, they are the face of your wedding. There are too many ways to just download music on a laptop and call yourself a wedding DJ. Ask for references and do a lot of research. I have also seen quite a few DJ’s not provide legal contracts when you book them. ALWAYS HAVE A SIGNED CONTRACT. Not only does it protect them, it protects you as well.

To sum it all up.

At first glance it seems that a DJ might be one of the first items that you can cross off of your list when the budget gets tight. In my opinion it should be one of the last. No one will remember your cake, or the food as long as it doesn’t absolutely stink. The decorations can be simple and still be beautiful. But a DJ’s SOLE responsibility is making sure that your guests have an amazing time. You can have the most beautiful wedding in the world, but if your guests aren’t entertained and leave early then it is all for nothing.