Why Hire A Professional Wedding DJ?

Why Hire A Professional DJ For Your Wedding

12/22/2015

Why Hire A Professional Wedding DJ?
by Ben McMillen
McMillen Photography
Waynesburg PA

SO YOU'RE GETTING MARRIED!
I'm sure you have heard that your wedding DJ can make or break a wedding reception. This is arguably the most important and exciting day of your life. My name is Ben McMillen and I'm a wedding photographer. So why am I writing about wedding DJ's? Well I have a very unique perspective on the subject. First, I recently got married (2015) and planned my own wedding. And second, well, here is a little back story.

First, I started in the wedding business when I was 17 as a DJ. That's right. From the age of 17 to around age 29 I was a full-time wedding DJ. I always took pride in how much I respected what I was doing for my couples. I took it very seriously and wanted everything to be perfect. I never saw what other DJ's were doing. I just assumed that every wedding DJ put that pressure on themselves. I was wrong.

It took a few years but I transitioned to my true passion, wedding photography, around 2004. It was then I had the opportunity to experience weddings from a whole new light. I got to see a wide range of wedding DJ's in action. Don't get me wrong, most were great. There are a lot of amazing DJ's in the area. However, some were not so great. Some have been so bad I have no problem saying they ruined the wedding day for a few of my couples.

WIDE RANGE OF DJ PRICES?
So how much of the wedding budget should you dedicate to booking your wedding DJ? I believe if you're hiring a wedding DJ based solely on price you're off on the wrong foot already and could potentially make a really bad decision. I suggest put budget concerns aside and create a short list of a professional and experienced DJ's that you really like. Exclude the ones you don't. Do your homework. From that short list figure out which ones you can afford and go from there. I'm not saying you have to get the most expensive DJ. But this is not an area to skimp. You want the best you can afford.

HIGHER COST OF PROFESSIONAL DJ's?
So why do professional wedding DJ's charge so much vs some of the lower cost DJ's? What's the difference? Above all else, Experience. Anyone can say they have professional equipment and thousands of songs and as the client you have no idea what that even means or how it applies to your wedding. Simply put you're paying for experience. Experience to bring the right equipment to each wedding. Experience in prep and planning with the wedding couple. Being prepared for each wedding is one area a lot of new or part time DJ's fail miserably.

How about experience in song selection? Sounds easy right? DJ's just push buttons right? WRONG. If your DJ tells you that they will play every song you want in the order you want them... then why are you hiring them? You want a DJ who is comfortable telling you what works and what doesn't, all while making your wedding experience unique just for you. A great wedding DJ has the experience to manage the wedding couples wishes with guest request as well as reading the crowd to keep the wedding rocking all night. Also, you want a DJ who has experience in the flow of a wedding day so things go smoothly. You should be enjoying your wedding day. Not spending the night telling the DJ what to do.

MY POINT OF VIEW AS A PHOTOGRAPHER.
I won't tell horror stories or bad mouth anyone in the business. You can easily do a Google search for wedding DJ horror stories. From my point of view, I can't stress enough the experience and respect your wedding day deserves. Hiring a professional wedding DJ will give you that piece of mind that will allow you to truly enjoy your wedding reception. Most DJ's get into DJ'ing because it looks fun and you can make some extra money. No denying that. However, the DJ's that continue to do it year after year, keeping their calendars full of weddings from referrals, giving up their weekends all summer long instead of spending it with their families, are doing it for so much more than fun and money. The good ones love what they do. Those are the DJ's you want. Those are the DJ's I want to work with at your wedding.

Here is a list of professional DJ's off the top of my head I feel you should check out. I'm sure I will add more over time. All come highly recommended in no particular order.

DJ Steve Barrett
DJ Sean Nice
DJ Jonathan Mihellis
DJ Rambo
DJ Joe Costa
Pittsburgh DJ Company
TK The DJ
DJ Alex
DJ Dave Plavi
Knight & Day Entertainment
DJ Hollywood
DJ Jammin Jason
Lethal DJ services
BPM DJ's
Power Alley Entertainment
Party Time Productions
DJ Brian Oliver
DJ Stephanie Crooks
Sound Waves Event Group
All Pro DJ's
Rockin' Bob
DJ Gary

Have fun planning your wedding!

Know a good DJ? Comment below.

10 Comments

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Kenneth Gladman link

4/19/2018 07:29:02 pm

I like that you mentioned the details you can get down to when you hire a professional DJ, down to the order of the songs played. This would mean a lot to a bride that wants things done very specifically. My daughter is this kind of bride, so a pro might be the best option.

Hazel link

1/14/2021 02:08:26 am

Appreeciate this blog post

kate hansen link

6/3/2021 03:33:35 pm

It's good to know that you shouldn't hire a DJ based on price. My cousin was at my house last night for dinner, and she was telling me about how she and her fiancé are wanting to look into finding a DJ for their wedding, and that they want to make sure that they find the right one to hire. I'll make sure to pass these tips along to them as they search for a DJ that they can hire for their wedding.

DJ Lessons link

8/8/2022 08:21:25 am

When it comes to your wedding, you want everything to be perfect. This means that you need to carefully plan every detail of the big day, from the invitations to the food. One of the most important decisions you'll make is who will DJ your wedding. While it might be tempting to ask a friend or family member to do it, hiring a professional DJ is the best way to ensure that your wedding is a success.

Wedding DJ Chicago link

8/22/2022 06:46:46 am

When it comes to wedding planning, there are a lot of important decisions to make. One of the most important decisions you’ll make is who will be responsible for providing the music for your big day. While you may be tempted to save money by asking a friend or family member to DJ your wedding, we believe that hiring a professional DJ is always the best way to go.

Rodent Control Plantation link

9/9/2022 05:02:05 pm

Gratefful for sharing this

Eli Richardson link

11/10/2022 06:49:20 pm

It's good to know how an experienced DJ knows what your wedding party needs to be the best experience for you and your guests. We're getting married in the summer, and we're interested in hiring music entertainment, so we'll read your article carefully before making our choice. Thank you for the tips on professional DJs and why they're much more than a pre-made playlist.

DJ Hire Sydney link

2/17/2023 05:00:28 am

With a description of the audio, lighting, and DJ services offered for the event, this blog article provides a full account of a wedding ceremony held at Harvest Hollow Venue and Farm. The author gives some helpful information on wedding services and what to anticipate from a professional DJ. This is a fantastic post that sheds light on the role of the DJ at a wedding.

Victoria Addington link

3/6/2023 04:01:59 am

I'm delighted you included some considerations to make when choosing a DJ for a wedding, like their experience of actually doing an event like a wedding. The experience of preparing and planning with the couple to ensure that the song playing will fit your wishes and is appropriate for the event. This is something to keep in mind while choosing a seasoned DJ because I am assisting a close friend with planning her wedding. I appreciate you sharing! I'll be sure to let her know about this and ask around for a professional wedding DJ.

Lgbt wedding Djs link

3/9/2023 01:28:53 am

The value of having a DJ at your nuptials is emphasised in this article. The author has done a wonderful job of laying out the advantages of hiring a professional and the disadvantages of depending on a friend or family member to handle your wedding entertainment. Read this article if you're engaged and looking for some helpful advice on wedding preparations.

Why Hire A Professional DJ For Your Wedding