You may have asked yourself “what does a DJ do at a wedding besides play music?”
There are many additional responsibilities that a DJ must perform well in order to make your wedding day amazing. We are going to cover all of these responsibilities in this blog.
What Does A DJ Do At A Wedding?
(Before The Big Day)
One of the most important duties of a wedding DJ is to assist the engaged couple in planning their music and master of ceremonies details.
This planning should begin before the DJ is even hired as they should listen to the couple about their wedding vision and share insight from their experience.
Once the DJ is hired, they will usually email the couple music and master of ceremonies planning forms.
These forms will help the couple record ideas for their music, special announcements and dedications.
The DJ should always be available to answer any questions the couple might have for their wedding.
About 30 days before the wedding date is the perfect time for the couple to send the DJ their planning forms.
Once the DJ receives this information, they will get in contact with the couple to review all of their music selections and MC information.
I always think it is a good idea to have this consultation at the wedding venue as it is helpful to look at the floor plan while reviewing all of the wedding details.
What Does A DJ Do At A Wedding?
Set Up Equipment In A Timely Manner
A DJ should never be seen or heard setting up equipment once the official start time of the wedding has begun.
I’ll take this one step further.
The DJ should have the equipment for both the ceremony and reception ready with music playing before the guests arrive.
In addition, they should have the entire DJ area clean and organized.
This means that all equipment cases, totes and anything else used to transport equipment should be out of sight before guests arrive.
Provides Wedding Ceremony Audio Services
A wedding DJ will provide ceremony audio equipment at the majority of the weddings that they service.
This includes speakers, audio mixer, wireless microphones, computer and music.
They will also operate the sound equipment to ensure the audio mix is clear and easily heard.
Provides Music and Equipment For Cocktail Hour
It is not uncommon for the cocktail hour at a wedding to be in a different area than the reception banquet room.
With that said, the DJ should always bring an extra speaker and digital playing device to provide music during this time.
You may also want to ask your DJ to prepare cocktail music that is specific to your tastes as many will be happy to do so.
What Does A DJ Do At A Wedding?
The Grand Entrance
After the cocktail hour, the wedding DJ will usually line up all of the members of the wedding party to prepare for the grand entrance.
While lining up the wedding party, they will do a quick review to ensure they pronounce everyone’s name correctly (also done weeks in advance at the DJ consultation).
He or she will give basic instructions to anyone giving a toast on how to hold the microphone and how to project their voice into the mic as well.
In addition, the DJ should use this time to review the order of upcoming reception events with everyone so they are prepared. For example:
- Grand Entrance
- Cake Cutting
- Toasts
- Blessing (if requested by the couple)
- Dinner
- First Dance
- Parents Dances
- Open Dance Floor
Finally, the DJ will make their way back into the reception area and cue the music for the grand entrance! Here we go!
Master of Ceremonies
After the grand entrance, the DJ will continue providing music and fulfill the role as the “Master of Ceremonies” in most cases.
This includes announcing all of the upcoming wedding events, introducing the guests giving toasts/speeches, occasional “story-telling” (just a few fun/brief sentences).
It is important that they speak with sincerity and refrain from making tacky jokes.
Although the DJ has the microphone, they must remember the wedding is about the celebration of the newly married couple.
DJs should never use this time to make the wedding about themselves. Too many of them do.
Get People Dancing!
(and keep them dancing)
We all knew this one was coming!
Yes! a wedding DJ must get as many people dancing as possible. I won’t go into all of the ways that a DJ can get people dancing in this blog.
(Click here for information on how to pack a dance floor)
However, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention they MUST interact on the microphone with the crowd.
It’s always nice if they occasionally get out from behind the DJ booth to take this interaction to the next level (they don’t want to over-due though!).
If the DJ doesn’t personally entertain in addition to playing music, then they are not doing their job in my opinion.
I will say some weddings have rowdier guests than others when it comes to dancing, however, the DJ must always take full responsibility for getting people to dance….it’s that simple.
Tear Down In A Timely Manner
Many banquet halls have vendor contracts. They especially apply to DJs during tear downtime.
Your DJ may need to sign a vendor contract or they may not be allowed to provide their services by the banquet manager.
Most wedding venues require DJs to have all of their equipment torn down and out of the building in less than an hour.
It is important that the DJ meets these terms as the banquet venue may charge the client, the DJ or both for this extra time.
Thank you for reading
What Does A DJ Do At A Wedding?
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Click the video icon below for more
Hello! My name is Tony Coppola and I’d like to take this time to tell you a little bit about myself and CC King Entertainment.
I began my musical journey when I was 12 years old as a singer and drummer.
Ten years ago, I built a home recording studio and named it CC King Studio. Shortly after, I DJ’d my first wedding and CC King Entertainment was born!
After DJing hundreds of weddings, my business allowed me to leave my 16 year career as an occupational therapist.
I ALWAYS go the extra mile to personalize my wedding services and have the honor to work with an amazing team of wedding DJs.
Contact Us
Best Wedding DJ Questions
We have all heard the saying, “Your DJ will make or break your wedding.” With that said, it’s important to ask the best wedding DJ questions to ensure you hire the perfect DJ for your big day.
So without further ado, I have listed below the top 10 questions you should ask the DJ during the interview process.
Best Wedding DJ Questions
1. Do you charge for set up and tear down?
Most weddings are about 6 hours long. A DJ may charge an hourly or flat rate.
However, depending on the number of services, your DJ and his or her staff may need about 2 to 4 hours to set up and 1 to 3 hours to tear down.
That is roughly 5 extra hours of service for set up and tear down that might be added to your DJ bill.
That could possibly be a large dollar amount or none at all. The main thing is to be sure you ask your wedding DJ about this possible charge so it does not come as a surprise.
2. Do you take requests?
The obvious answer to this question should always be YES. Can you believe that some wedding DJs don’t take requests?
This is a question that is often overlooked because most people assume that all DJs should.
You will also want to ask if there are additional fees charged to cover the costs of the DJ downloading your requested music.
It is very rare that a DJ will charge a music downloading fee, but it is still a good idea to ask.
If taking requests, your DJ will want to make sure they can get a Wifi connection at the banquet hall, just in case they need to download a song on-the-spot.
Your DJ should make these arrangements with the hall manager prior to your wedding.
3. Will you have a DJ assistant with you?
I personally do not like to have a DJ assistant with me for the entire evening.
They sort of “cramp my style” and I feel like they get in the way more than they help.
I do however recommend that wedding DJs have assistants to help with the setup and tear down.
This will ensure that all equipment is ready to go in a timely manner and torn down to meet the rules of the banquet hall related to closing time.
4. Will you invite prospective clients to my wedding?
This is one of the best wedding DJ questions to ask.
It addition to reading the DJs reviews, prospecting clients often ask if they can check out the DJ performing at a wedding prior to hiring them.
There is nothing wrong with people asking this because it’s a very fair and understandable request.
However, you will want to make sure that your DJ does NOT invite anybody outside of your specific guest list.
I have heard countless stories of a prospecting client swearing to “just peek through the wedding hall door” but somehow end up being a distraction to the DJ.
Yes, this does happen and the bottom line is your wedding is an exclusive event for your invited guests only. Your DJ must honor that.
5. Do you have videos of weddings you have DJd?
CAUTION: Videos can often be misleading. I personally love it when I see video footage taken from a smartphone that is under-produced.
Why? Because it’s an indication that you are viewing authentic video footage of the DJ performing at a wedding.
Beware of stock videos that were purchased or overproduced videos where everything looks scripted and rehearsed.
6. Can we meet our DJ prior to hiring him or her?
The necessity of asking this question may be of personal preference. I have booked several weddings via email without even speaking to anybody.
Personally, I think it’s important to meet your wedding DJ in person before hiring them. A DJ’s personality is such a HUGE factor in the art of DJing.
If you hold a meeting with the DJ, I would advise you to take note of a couple of things.
Do they talk too much? Why? Because this is often a red flag that they might talk too much on the microphone during your wedding.
Also, take notice of how they dress. Do they pay attention to detail? Are they a slob?
Always remember, if they look like a mess, then it a good chance they might make a mess out of your wedding too.
7. Do you have backup equipment?
This is another one of the best wedding DJ questions I am asked most frequently.
The obvious answer is of course YES. However, you should also ask if the DJ has a backup for EVERY piece of equipment?”
For some strange reason, a lot of DJs think backup equipment means throwing an extra speaker in the car. No, we also want back up mixers, microphones, computers, cables and amplifiers.
Your DJ should basically have an entire second DJ setup on hand because if any one of these components fails, it could spell disaster if they are not prepared.
I have DJ’d hundreds of weddings and I have had to resort to backup equipment many times.
I have always had what I needed because I have what I call a “backup for the backup.”
Make sure your DJ is one that is prepared to handle any and every unexpected equipment failure.
8. What will you be wearing to our wedding?
This is another one of the best wedding DJ questions you should ask.
Surprisingly, I have been asked this question only a few times. It is never to be assumed that your wedding DJ will dress in formal clothing for your wedding.
I have seen DJs wearing a T-shirt, tennis shoes and jeans while servicing a wedding.
Everybody has their own style, but I recommend you ask this question if you have a preference for what your DJ wears.
Furthermore, the standard wedding DJ attire should consist of dress shoes, dress pants, a vest or suit jacket and tie.
9. Will you drink alcohol while DJing our wedding?
The answer to this must be NO. The reasons as you can already imagine are countless, so I will just make this one short and sweet.
If the wedding DJ you are considering says anything other than NO politely say “Thank you for your time, have a great day and goodbye.”
10. Do you have DJ insurance?
The answer to this question must be YES. We have all seen the YouTube videos of wedding bloopers.
We also know that accidents are never planned.
The financial investments made to make a wedding a great success are massive.
You will want to protect your investment by making sure that ALL of your wedding vendors have insurance.
Most accidents occur when vendors are setting up and tearing down their equipment.
Furthermore, it is a great idea to have an appointed person be present at the banquet hall during vendor set up and tear down to keep an eye on things.
Thank you for reading “Best Wedding DJ Questions”
Click the video icon below for more
Hello! My name is Tony Coppola and I’d like to take this time to tell you a little bit about myself and CC King Entertainment.
I began my musical journey when I was 12 years old as a singer and drummer. Ten years ago, I built a home recording studio and named it CC King Studio. Shortly after, I DJ’d my first wedding and CC King Entertainment was born!
After DJing hundreds of weddings, my business allowed me to leave my 16 year career as an occupational therapist. I ALWAYS go the extra mile to personalize my wedding services and I have the distinct honor to work with an amazing team of Michigan wedding DJs.
Contact Us
Wedding DJ Cost on Average
I’m gonna cut right to the chase. The Average Wedding DJ cost is around $1000.
However, this figure means absolutely nothing!
Would you pay $1000 for a wedding DJ that has little experience, malfunctioning equipment and a terrible reputation?
Of course not!
Continue reading to learn all of the DJ qualities and services that you must take into account to avoid being overcharged by a wedding DJ.
Wedding DJ Cost On Average
How much Does It Cost For A DJ Per Hour?
The average wedding DJ’s cost per hour is around $150.
However, a DJ may charge less if they are performing at an event that is not a wedding. Most DJs charge around $100 per hour for “non-wedding” events.
It’s important to note that most DJs have a minimum number of about 5 hours that they require for booking.
For example, if a client needs a DJ for only 2 hours, there is a good chance the DJ will still charge the minimum rate for a full 5 hours at $500.
How Many Hours Do You Need A DJ At A Wedding?
The average number of hours that you need a DJ at a wedding is around 6 to 7 hours.
If you need their audio services for the ceremony, then that would add about one additional hour to their time.
Below is a basic example of a wedding timeline to help you calculate your costs.
Do You Really Need A DJ At Your Wedding?
The answer to this question really depends on the needs and interests of each individual couple.
It is possible to simply set up a speaker and hook it up to a playing device and you’ve got music for the entire night.
And that’s about it.
If you are looking for someone to coordinate, entertain and emcee all of the events to take place during your wedding, then you will definitely want to hire a pro DJ.
The other benefit in hiring a wedding DJ is he or she can read the crowd and play the most appropriate music at the best time to keep the dance floor packed.
They also take requests on the spot to keep the dancers’ momentum going.
Furthermore, a DJ should be hired if you are looking for someone to really motivate everyone to dance the night away.
Average Wedding DJ Cost
Factors To Assess For Pricing
A wedding DJ cost depends on several factors. There are many tangible and intangible qualities that must be considered to ensure you pick the perfect wedding DJ at the perfect price.
The price range for a wedding DJ can range from as low as $100 to $2000 or more!
I don’t want to put a price tag on anybody’s services other than mine, but I do want to cover the most important DJ qualities and services to consider when your assessing if a DJ’s quote is accurate.
These qualities and factors are listed below:
Personality
Determining if a wedding DJs cost is right for you also has a lot to do with the DJ’s personality.
One may ask, how can you put a price on a DJ’s personality?
The answer is, I can’t. But as the client, you can!
I often tell couples that if you don’t like your DJ’s personality, it’s going to be a looooooong six hours at your wedding.
So be sure to interview your DJ either on the phone, at a bridal show or at a meeting with your fiance’ to make sure you LOVE their personality.
Client Reviews
I believe client reviews are the most important thing to consider when selecting your wedding DJ.
What better way to get a true perspective of a DJ’s value than to listen to their past client’s stories about their experience working with that person.
You can often find a wedding DJ‘s client reviews listed on wedding vendor platforms such as The Knot.
I also recommend that couples read reviews from The Knot because they take several measures to ensure the reviews you are reading are from actual clients and not written by the DJs themselves.
Experience
Experience is usually at the top of any list when considering someone to provide a service, but I put it third for a couple reasons.
There are many DJ’s that have been in the business for a very long time, but if you don’t like their reviews or personality, then their experience won’t matter much.
With weddings however, I always recommend that the couple hires a DJ with a minimal of two to three years experience.
A couple’s wedding day is often the most special day of their lives.
On that note, it’s so important that their wedding DJ knows how to handle the extra pressure that comes with DJing a wedding as well as their client’s expectation for everything to be perfect on their most special day.
Equipment
Equipment should always be factored into assessing the value you are getting for your wedding DJ cost.
You don’t necessarily need to know all of the technical terms about audio and lighting systems, but it is important to ask the following questions:
1. Do you have backup equipment? 2. Can I see a picture of your DJ setup including your dance floor lights? 3. Does this package include subwoofers, microphone for toasts, dance floor lighting and set up/tear down time? 4. Is your DJ equipment in good condition free of dents, dust and scratches?
Wedding DJ Packages
We’ve all heard it hundreds of times in the TV commercials, “Bundle and Save!”
Although this phrase is often associated with cable, WiFi and cellular packages, it also applies to wedding DJ packages.
A wedding DJ cost on average will often go down a little bit when additional services are added to their wedding package.
Most DJs also offer uplighting, monograms, ceremony audio services and even photo booths.
I never advise a couple to hire separate wedding companies for each individual service.
This will significantly increase your total wedding bill.
Furthermore, this can often be avoided by hiring as many services with the fewest number of vendors possible.
Organization
I often remind couples that they are not just hiring a DJ, they are hiring a person who will be orchestrating all of the events throughout their wedding.
It is extremely important to make sure your DJ is a very organized person.
Look for noteworthy signs of personal responsibility like: Do they return my calls or emails promptly?
Do they keep their appointments? Do they dress professionally? All of these qualities MUST be considered when determining if the wedding DJ cost is accurate.
We want YOU
This wedding DJ factor is definitely one of the intangibles I had mentioned earlier.
An experience and popular wedding DJ knows that they can charge more simply by the laws of supply and demand.
They also understand that choosing a wedding DJ is a very personal decision.
It is very common for a couple to ask “If we hire your DJ company, will you be our DJ? We want YOU!!”
On this note, as long as the price is within your budget, I always recommend that even if you have to pay a little more, it’s worth having the DJ that like the BEST!
Too many couples compromise in this area to save a couple hundred dollars and it’s simply not worth it in my opinion.
DJ Prices for A Wedding
Extra Wedding DJ Costs That Are Unacceptable
There are many wedding DJ charges that make up a basic wedding DJ package price.
However, in my opinion, you should never be charged an additional fee for a service that is required for a DJ to perform the most basic duties of their job.
With that said, I’m going to cover the services that I think you should not pay extra for as well the services that should have additional fees attached to them.
Wireless Microphone
The first time I heard of a DJ charging extra for a wireless microphone, my jaw hit the floor.
Every wedding DJ should have a wireless microphone. Furthermore, I would NEVER recommend paying extra for one.
If the DJ says they are much more expensive than a microphone with a wire, I wouldn’t accept this response.
The average price of a wired mic is about $100 and the average price of a decent wireless mic is around $400.
That’s not a very big difference in price and I also don’t think it’s enough to justify charging their clients an extra fee.
Dance Floor Lighting
I’ve been to many weddings as a guest. I’ve seen great DJs and not so great DJs in action.
However, one thing they all had in common is they all had dance floor lighting. Why? Because if you are a DJ, ya gotta have it!
First, almost every venue wants to dim or turn the lights off once the dancing starts.
On that note, the room would be too dark without any dance floor lighting.
Second, basic dance floor lighting is not heavy and it takes very little time to set up.
There is no reason to charge extra for this very necessary service needed for all weddings in my opinion.
DJ Consultation
It’s important to note, that in order for a wedding DJ to deliver the best performance possible, they should have a consultation with their clients before the wedding day.
This can be done over the phone or in person. I personally like to meet the couple I am serving at their wedding venue for this meeting.
However, these consultations usually take only about 30 minutes to an hour and I don’t think there should ever be an extra fee for them.
Set Up and Tear Down Time
I hate to break the news to my fellow DJs, but they (or their assistant) must set up and tear down their equipment.
There is no way around it. Furthermore, if a DJ wanted to charge me an extra fee to assemble a basic DJ setup, I would refuse to pay it.
However, if they are adding services that are in addition to a basic setup, I think it’s perfectly acceptable to pay extra for their set up time.
Song Requests
An experienced wedding DJ will have a massive song library. If you hire a pro they will almost always have every requested song on-hand already.
It’s possible that during a wedding they may have to download a few songs to fulfill requests.
This might cost them a mere $5 per wedding. With that said, the average DJ’s upfront charge is about $1000.
For that reason alone, I would never suggest allowing a DJ to charge extra to download music.
The Subwoofer
This is one of the most frequently added expenses to a wedding DJ package and it makes me laugh.
First, most venues don’t need them.
Second, one subwoofer will usually provide more than enough bass, so you may want to question if you need to pay for a second one.
Finally, many wedding DJs will try to convince you that subwoofers are super heavy and take a ton of time to set up.
However, these speakers usually have attached wheels and roll across floors easily.
The DJ can also use a dolly to move the sub to the proper location. Plus it only takes a matter of minutes to set them up.
I should also mention, as a personal preference, I almost always use two subs.
For me to charge my client extra for me to use them would just be wrong in my opinion.
Meal Requirements
After DJing hundreds of weddings, I can honestly say I have always so kindly been offered a meal.
With that said, I’m beside myself when I hear some DJs add it in their contract that they MUST be served dinner.
I think this is completely uncalled for and it sends a very tacky message.
If the DJ is served a meal, it should be regarded as a kind gesture of appreciation by the client, not a clause in a contract.
DJ Prices for A Wedding
Extra Wedding DJ Costs That Are Acceptable
Travel and Lodging
Most DJs will travel up to an hour without charging an extra fee.
However, if the travel time is more than an hour you may be charged for travel expenses.
If it’s more than two hours the DJ may need to charge a lodging fee.
The reason for this is because they will be driving home in the middle of the night and may need to get some rest to make it home safely.
Multiple Setups
Some banquet facilities have separate areas for the ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner and dancing areas.
This may require a significant amount of extra equipment, set up and tear downtime.
It is perfectly acceptable for the DJ to charge a fee for each area within the venue requiring their services.
Novelty Items and Supplies
It’s always so much fun to add props and novelties to your dancing experience.
DJs may offer an option to add items like jumbo light sticks, party hats, and slip-on sandals for when your feet start getting tired.
The costs of these supplies can really add up, so this is a very reasonable extra wedding DJ charge.
Upgraded Dance Floor Lighting
As I mentioned earlier, every DJ should offer a basic dance floor lighting package at no extra charge.
However, certain venues and client requests may require more lighting than the basic package provides.
If a DJ needs to bring additional lighting equipment to meet these needs, there should be an extra charge associated with these services.
Just make sure to ask to see a picture of the basic lighting package before adding extra lights.
There may be a chance you won’t need to upgrade your lighting package and you can save some money.
Wedding DJ Cost On Average
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Thank you for reading – Wedding DJ Cost on Average.
Check Us Out!
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Hello! My name is Tony Coppola and I’d like to take this time to tell you a little bit about myself and CC King Entertainment.
I began my musical journey when I was 12 years old as a singer and drummer. Ten years ago, I built a home recording studio and named it CC King Studio. Shortly after, I DJ’d my first wedding and CC King Entertainment was born!
After DJing hundreds of weddings, my business allowed me to leave my 16 year career as an occupational therapist. I ALWAYS go the extra mile to personalize my wedding services and I have the distinct honor to work with an amazing team of Michigan wedding DJs.
Contact Us