Firstly, excuse the bias, although you must admit to yourself that entertaining your guests is a huge deal. In terms of what is the most important element of a wedding, Where would you rank entertainment? Ask yourself if you want your guests to be entertained or see you arrive in a fancy car.
A DJ is easy to find however, like a bride's wedding dress, it needs to be the right fit and style. A great dress will also be able to adjust and be comfortable as the day progresses. I've seen bride's that need help all day to complete the simplest task like sitting down and even breathing!! Finding a good DJ like a dress is highly important in order to get it right on the day. Unless you are eloping or having a dinner party the ages of guests could span up to 80 years.
Music choice is much more than a playlist. For example. a great wedding DJ, for the dinner AND the dance portion of the night, will curate music and make adjustments on the fly so that the vibe is set and people get up and dance. During dinner, guest conversation does not need to compete with DJ speaker volume. During formalities, the DJ needs to be aware and precise to play music according to instructions and also liaise with the MC to keep the everything running smooth. When it comes time to dance, this will be the last impression on guests. Guests will not miss a wedding cake and to risk not having music to dance to or keep the vibe festive is a recipe for disappointment.
Small details add up to the big picture. A wedding DJ needs to be a considerate soul that is focused on customer service and a willingness to make your wedding an occasion to be remembered for all the right reasons. You want value for your money and a mature person who is courteous to you and your guests and has an operational mindset. This means they are willing to go above and beyond to make your event a success.
My greatest tip to getting it right is to be early and book the DJ well in advance. Ask the DJ what the back-up plan is. Hey, we DJs can get sick too. Emergencies arise but a professional will plan for it, just like you have a wet-weather plan.
Please tell me you have a wet-weather plan!!!
Gonz The DJ