Our final in this “questions to ask” series talks about questions to ask your DJ or Band when planning your wedding.
We definitely know question number one needs to be wedding dates as we’ve discussed previously. Once you’ve decided on when and where you’re planning on nuptials, ensure that your vendors have those dates available to provide services to you. From there, you’ll want to know if they’ve worked at the venue prior, and if the specific DJ you are requesting will be available or if one of their team or staff members will be providing services to you instead.
If you and your future spouse are considering having a live band instead of a DJ, it’s also important to ask the band how long they’ve been playing together and how many weddings they have performed at. You definitely just want to be sure to get them to guarantee your wedding isn’t their practice gig!
Additionally, it’s important to ask them how many weddings they take on weekends as you want your DJ/Band’s performance to be energetic and lively, and this may be affected if they’re playing too many weddings or events throughout the week
Entertainment is one of the most important things to me personally at an event, and for your guests, it helps the flow and keeps everyone happy.
Because of this, it’s also important to ask if they have a demo, can provide videos or even play publicly somewhere so that you can see them in action. The more information you can gain from them, the more comfortable you’ll be with them providing entertainment for your guests on your wedding day.
Song choice is also a huge factor when deciding on a band or DJ. What genres, songs, and basic categories of music they provide can make or break your event, depending on what you were looking for. Some DJs prefer oldies and classics, while others provide multiple options for you to choose from. Another consideration is asking them if they allow you to choose the music for your ceremony and reception. Some providers prefer to customize your selection for you while others will allow you to provide a song list to be played during the event. If you are someone that does not mind a general selection to be made for you, this can make choosing a DJ or band very simple – but if you prefer to choose your own music, this is something I always inform couples to be wary of. Just as important, you may have a few songs you definitely do not want to play. Having these conversations upfront prior to hiring your music/entertainment provider can help put you at ease if you are particularly adverse to specific songs.
Another conversation to have is to ask them if they take requests from your guests. Some brides and grooms prefer this while others definitely don’t want this option at their wedding. It is all up to you, of course, but knowing this and being on the same page with your DJ is vital to your event’s success
As you can see, there are many similarities when it comes to conversations with vendors. What it really comes down to is communication and trying to confirm that you and your vendors are on the same page. Ultimately, your event will be a success if you are very upfront and clear about what you expect from your vendors. I hope this series has helped you understand what kind of conversations to have. For even more information on questions to ask and things to look for when choosing your DJ or Band, please contact me for a free consultation. I would love to help you create the wedding of your dreams!
Lexi
Featured image: A Flash Away Photography of The Bachekor Boys Band (with the bride and groom as guest performers!) at The American Visionary Arts Museum
Other images: tpoz Photography of Mixing Maryland (getting the wedding party ready to party!) at The Baltimore Museum of Industry and Frozen in Time Photography of Chris from MixMasters at Whistling Wren Farm.
