News article: Why hire a DJ for your wedding?
Hiring a DJ for your Reception is a Custom Job
By Jennifer Ponte Canning,
Boston Bride Magazine, Summer 2001
Who says it's not classy to have a DJ at your wedding? Today's tuxedoed disc jockeys can be an unobtrusive yet vital part of the proceedings, spinning a custom soundtrack to your celebration that accurately reflects your personalities and preferences. And with a virtually limitless repertoire and minimal manpower requirements, a DJ is by far the more economical choice for discriminating couples.
"A band just wasn't in my budget, as much as I would have loved it," says Allison, who recently celebrated her first anniversary. "But as it turned out, there were some advantages [to having a DJ]. There was something for everyone - everyone was able to make a request and find something they wanted to dance to."
Traci concurs. Like many brides and grooms, she too hired a disc jockey for her wedding reception. "My feeling is that with DJ's you get the versions of the songs that are true to what you remember, rather that somebody's rendition of it, which you may not like so much. And you can pick a wide variety of music that may be out of the repertoire of a certain bank," she says. "You get exactly what you want. You have more control with a DJ, in terms of playlist."
There are other advantages to hiring a DJ. Besides being substantially less expensive than a typical five piece band, they are also a fraction of the size - which means you have fewer mouths to feed at the reception. Plus, they take less frequent breaks.
"I've been to weddings where the band took a break and didn't put any music on. At 10 o'clock at night, that kills the wedding. You sit down, you get tired, and then you leave," observes Kirstin. She points out that a disc jockey provides continuous music, even during a sit down dinner. "I wanted to have classical music playing the background during dinner, which is one reason I chose a DJ."
Jockeying for Position
Once you're convinced that a DJ is the way to go, how do you find the right one? Much like auditioning bands, you should talk to a number of disc jockeys and try to hear them in action before making a decision. Word-of-mouth is a good route; talk to recently married friends and family about who they hired, and ask your reception hall for a list of recommendations. You may also try a booking agency that specializes in wedding entertainment.
You'll quickly find that you have a wide array of choices. Many companies provide mirrored balls and synchronized disco lights if desired. Most will introduce the wedding party and special dances, and will emcee the cutting of the cake and the tossing of the bouquet and garter. If all of this sounds like a nightmare to you, don't worry: a professional disc jockey will take the time to discuss your specific tastes, and most will be happy to simply play good music.
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