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SA Weddings Home: Wedding Articles > 4 Great Tips On Choosing Good Wedding DJs
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4 Great Tips On Choosing Good Wedding DJs
When you're planning your wedding, one of the biggest parts of the day next to the wedding ceremony is the wedding reception, and aside from the food and drink, what can make or break the occasion is the music. Therefore choosing wedding DJs can be a little more complicated and certainly more important than you may have thought.
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Photographs: Hometown Productions
As anyone who has been to more than one wedding reception knows, employing a good DJ is paramount to the guests getting on to the dance floor and having a good time. Good wedding DJs know how to work their audience, can emcee, know traditions, and can ensure that the reception moves freely without any hitches.
The following tips should help you in your quest to find the right DJ for your special day:
Where to look for wedding DJs
One of the first places to look is the venue itself. Make enquiries to see if they can personally recommend a DJ. A DJ who has first hand knowledge of the venue itself, has worked it several times, and has a rapport with the staff, is going to be beneficial. Ask amongst family or friends to see whether the DJ who did such a great job at the last wedding they went to is available. Another option is to ask the caterer, photographer, limo company etc. whether they can personally recommend anyone.
Personality
Apart from experience you need your prospective DJ to be someone that you like and feel comfortable with. Someone who can interact well with your guests and form a rapport with them. It's always a good idea to phone prospective DJs first of all for a kind of pre-interview, where you can firstly ascertain if they are free for your date and secondly, how they come across to you. Once you've short listed two or three, then set up meetings with them.
What to ask and expect from wedding DJs
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Photographs: Hometown Productions
Okay, so you've decided on a DJ who is available, experienced and that you feel comfortable with, so what happens next? You will need to spend a few hours with him going over your plans for the reception to check that you're both singing from the same hymn sheet.
1. Check out his equipment
Ask about the quality and condition of his equipment. After all, you don't want to risk his equipment malfunctioning in the middle of your reception. If he does corporate events, then he will most likely have state of the art equipment.
2. Names of wedding guests
Give him a list of the names of the guests that you would like him to introduce at certain stages of the reception. Put a phonetic pronunciation next to any names that are a little tricky. Nothing is more unprofessional and uncomfortable than a DJ introducing a family member, and getting their name wrong.
3. Check out his music
Find out how extensive his music library is, whether he will be playing CD's or digital, and also how he will handle requests. Ask how he will select a particular song, because the last thing you want is him fumbling through a heap of CD's to find a special song. Don't treat him like a juke box operator though, because he should have the experience of knowing which songs to play and when to play them.
4. Plan your own special songs
Traditionally the first dance is always between the bride and groom so you need to tell your DJ which song you have chosen. There will other special songs during the evening, such as a dance with the bride and her father and the groom and his mother. So again, let the DJ know your choice or see whether he has any suggestions, if you're at all unsure.
Contract
Always sign a contract between yourself and your wedding DJ. This also applies to any wedding vendors that you are using, and is there to protect yourself and the vendor in case anything should go wrong.
Follow these tips when choosing wedding DJs and you should have an experienced DJ who can guide you through the whole process, leaving you to have a wonderful reception that will leave you with cherished memories for years to come.
SAWeddings is a dedicated wedding directory with all the information you need to plan your wedding in South Africa. Search listings of wedding DJs in South Africa, and get the best music for your wedding.
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