5 Reasons You Should Hire a Professional Wedding DJ 

For anyone who is getting married, their wedding is one of THE most important days in their life, and in most cases, has been in the works for years. Every detail has been scrutinised and planned to perfection. You have had innumerate meetings with your venue’s events organiser, tried so many wines you stopped making ‘real’ tasting notes and just wrote yes or no towards the end, eaten various potential meals for the wedding breakfast and tasted so many different cakes that you probably should go for another fitting of your wedding attire, but one thing that often gets left by the wayside is the entertainment and music on the big day. That is not to say, that everyone does, but it is usually one of the last things that people think about. Whether you opt for a live band, or other entertainment, more often than not people will opt for a DJ.

Now, most families have that one member or friend who thinks that they can DJ (and to be honest in a few rare cases they actually can), but when it comes down to it you cannot put a price on a professional. There are numerous reasons for this but the five biggest of these are as follows:

1. A special day requires a ‘specialist’.

You want your wedding to be special, and in all aspects of your planning you should be aiming to get the best you can and employing the right people for each job. Your DJ is no exception to this rule, if you get a professional, you can be assured that it will be a day to remember, rather than one to forget. A good DJ will know exactly what they are doing and will be able to read the room. They will be able to take your music requirements, songs, and genres, and blend them seamlessly with your guest’s inevitable requests. They will know how to build the energy on the dance floor, and keep people there, dancing all night.

They also know how to truly manage your event from start to finish with precision. They know how to manage changes in between speeches and more importantly how to set up the microphones properly and help the day blend from wedding breakfast background music to first dance, to cake cutting and then to party time!

2. Professionals are invested in their business, and in you.

A professional DJ cares about their business, and every single client is important to them, whether they are a sole trader or part of an agency, the most important way to garner business is via word of mouth. Both in person, and via online reviews, they need to be good at what they do to ensure future business, and as such they will do everything in their power to guarantee you have a great time, and subsequently leave a glowing review.

Another consideration around this, is that an amateur DJ will not include a site visit or speak to your wedding venue on your behalf. When you hire a professional DJ, you are not only paying for their services on the day, but their expertise in setting things up beforehand. They will literally spend hours planning the set and making sure the music is perfect all day and night long. On top of that they will usually get in contact with or even visit the wedding venue beforehand to work out what they will need to bring, where the power and connections are, and even test the whole setup well before your wedding. There is nothing worse than showing up to a venue unprepared and rushing around stressed, and therefore stressing out the wedding party.

3. A professional DJ will give you time.

Professional DJ’s will always take the time to get to know you, and what you want. They will always offer to meet in person (often the wedding venue itself), and it is always nice to put a face to a name, email, or phone number. They will spend time with you, going through the order of events on the day to make sure that it runs to perfection. They may even be able to offer tips on how to make your day even more special, with things they have picked up from the numerous other weddings they have played at.

A professional DJ will be a good master of ceremonies and direct people where they need to go, so they do not miss out on any aspect of your reception, they will understand your music choices and have a wide database of music to choose from. Open format DJs are invaluable, as they will be able to call upon almost any song that is requested and they WILL make sure they have all the songs you want to hear.

4. A professional will have professional equipment.

An amateur DJ will most certainly not have the best equipment. A true professional will have invested in the best that they can afford for their business and it will show. The sound will be perfect from their speakers, there will be no crackle from poor connections and their added extras will be a real boon. For example, they will have covers for their speakers along with special stands and supports to ensure that they are safe. They will have lighting and backdrops, hire-in dance floors, and will have contacts with other industry professionals, such as photobooth providers, lighting and decorating specialists and even other entertainers and soloists. 

On top of this, they will have all important backup equipment. There is always a risk of anything from a blown speaker or amplifier to a broken or faulty cable. Experience of these situations is what sets the professional apart, as they will not only be prepared for these eventualities but will have spares and contingency plans in place. By using an agency, you avoid these disasters as there is always someone who can bring in anything if, for some reason there are multiple failures, and the DJ’s backup fails. Even more importantly though, by using a professional agency you get back up DJ’s. Professional companies will have a roster of DJ who can be called upon if your DJ is sick, late, stuck in traffic or worse. They will make sure you are covered no matter what.

Lastly, a professional will have Public Liability Insurance. This often-overlooked point could be one of the most important aspect, and one you should always make sure your suppliers can provide. There are two reasons for having this insurance: firstly, it ensures that all the equipment used is PAT tested and therefore safe for use, and secondly (and most important of all) it ensures that you and your guests are covered from any accident caused by external equipment.

5. A professional will BE and LOOK professional.

The best professional DJs not only have the best equipment and the talent of understanding when to play the right song at the right time, but they have the technical know-how to give your party a great dynamic. They can cater to a wide range of tastes and allow for a diverse dance floor. The last thing you want is an amateur making mistakes or using your special day to practice new mixing or scratching techniques, and you certainly do not want them shouting over the microphone, as if they are in a bad club on the Mediterranean.

It is not just about being skilled and having the correct equipment, most wedding receptions will have a dress code – formal or fun the choice is yours. As such it is important that your DJ turns up in appropriate clothing for your wedding.