The Ultimate Guide to DJing at Weddings: Advice, Tips & Tricks
As a DJ, you may choose to operate as a generalist – playing at any gigs that make themselves available – or develop a specialist tendency depending on your preference and skills.
DJing weddings may require many of the same technical skills that DJing at a club or music festival requires, but there are distinctions as well.
Wedding DJs are unique and the experience of bringing a couple’s special day to life with your music is a rewarding experience that does necessitate some unique considerations and skills as an artist.
In this guide, we will help you understand how to DJ a wedding and provide some best-practice wedding DJ tips to get you started in the right direction. But first, what is the difference between DJing weddings and DJing clubs?
Wedding DJ vs Club DJ
1. Versatility
This is not always the case but as a general rule, club DJs typically specialise in specific genres and may choose the club they perform at accordingly. As a wedding DJ one must be proficient in various genres to cater for the diverse age groups of the people in attendance as well as the musical preferences of the couple.
2. Personalisation
As a club DJ you are working according to the energy of the crowd. When DJing weddings, however, you need to also consider the preferences and requests of the married couple. They might want a tailored playlist to reflect their romantic story or have certain requests that need to be incorporated into your performance.
3. MC Duties
Some wedding DJs also serve as a master of ceremonies of sorts. They might be asked to make some announcements, whether housekeeping or otherwise, as well as coordinate with other vendors to ensure a seamless and free-flowing event.
4. Timing and Structure
Unlike DJing in a club, DJing at a wedding requires you to follow a specific running sheet to ensure that the key moments of the event, such as speeches, cake or first dance, are carried out on time. When you are operating in a club, there are not the same sort of demands on timing and/or structure allowing you to create and play your setlist with more freedom.
5. Atmosphere
This one might seem obvious but it is worth noting explicitly. Wedding DJs are focused on celebrations and love and need to be inclusive of all guests, while club DJs are focused primarily on maintaining a high energy on the dance floor at all times.
How to DJ a Wedding
Prepare for Every Wedding Gig Individually
The best way to set yourself up for DJing wedding success is to prepare. This means that you should be investing in reliable, high-quality and suitable equipment, as you will be expected to provide controllers, speakers, microphones and backup gear all on your own. But you should also focus closely on each individual gig.
Make sure you have coordinated with the wedding party regarding preferences and expectations, and the venue regarding power sources and space allocation so you are not caught off guard. Always leave time before the start of the wedding to set up and test your equipment thoroughly.
Put Together a Custom Playlist
Generic, recycled playlists won’t cut it for a couple’s special day. Always invest the time in getting to know the couple to discuss their musical preferences and must-play songs (and songs to avoid at all costs!). Without going into the gig with this prior knowledge, you could make avoidable mistakes when putting together your playlist, or may not be considering the different demographic of people in attendance.
Keep on Top of the Wedding Run Sheet
Not only do you need to know when the dance breaks are, but as a DJ you also need to know when the key moments of the event, such as speeches, are so you can tailor your performance accordingly.
Always ask for a detailed wedding timeline from the couple and coordinate with the wedding planner on the day to ensure you are across any changes.
Familiarise Yourself with the Wedding Plan
It is not just the timing of songs and playlists that is important. As a DJ, you are one – albeit an important one – part of a much bigger party. So familiarise yourself with the catering staff and photographer. This will allow you to coordinate your performance more easily but also allow you to more easily troubleshoot potential problems and procure the help you need.
If possible, also familiarise yourself with the venue and the layout so that you can set up your equipment in a way that has maximum impact. Do not assume that the event staff or even the couple have a strong understanding of how monitor and speaker placement can affect the efficacy of the music.
Wedding DJ Tips
Of course, being professional, flexible, punctual, and easy to communicate with is a must as a wedding DJ. Customer service will play a huge part in your success and the couple’s satisfaction with your performance.
Here are some specific wedding DJ tips, however, to help knock your next wedding gig out of the park.
- Always dress appropriately and ensure your attire matches the wedding dress code. (Personal branding is accepted but this should be discussed with the couple beforehand.)
- Practice your public speaking so that if you do need to make announcements you feel at home hearing your voice on the microphone itself.
- Manage songs tactfully and balance your guest’s preferences, your couple’s demands and the energy of the crowd.
- Be prepared for technical issues and always have backup plans and troubleshooting strategies as you may have to solve the problem independently.
- Practice your DJ skills to ensure that your technical proficiency has never been better.
- Stay organised when it comes to hardware, software and your set-up.
DJ City is here to help you DJ your next wedding
Wedding DJs are a special brand of musicians and their contribution can be absolutely invaluable in ensuring that the day is one to remember for all the right reasons.
Whether you would like more wedding DJ tips from our fellow music enthusiasts or are ready to browse our catalogue of equipment, make sure to reach out to the DJ City team today and make your next wedding performance your best one yet!
