Booking a Wedding DJ: Everything You Need to Know

A banging wedding reception playlist full of crowd-pleasing tunes is the perfect way to make sure all your guests are up on their feet – and nobody knows what the people want more than a great wedding DJ.

But have you ever wondered what it’s like to be on the other side of the decks – and do you know how to go about booking the best wedding DJ for you? To help you in your search for a DJ for your wedding, we caught up with two of the UK’s best wedding reception DJs for their expert insight.

From DJ packages for weddings to where to find local DJs for hire, questions to ask, and a breakdown of wedding DJ costs, these tips will help you find the perfect pro in no time.

Booking a Wedding DJ: Everything You Need to Know 

Much like when it comes to booking any other supplier for your wedding, being armed with a list of questions and helpful tips will ensure you're booking the right kind of DJ for your celebration. Ready to dive in? Here's everything you need to know before you book:

How to Choose a Wedding DJ

You’ve made the tough decision between choosing either a live band or a wedding DJ – or having both. Now all you need to do is decide who would be the best fit for your wedding!

“Decide what kind of evening you want and find a DJ with online reviews that complement your expectations,” suggests Simon Clarke of Hampshire Event DJs. “Ignore sponsored posts and look for DJs recommended by Google organically – this is usually based on the strength of their reviews.”

“Websites like Hitched are a great place to start, but I’d also recommend looking locally, too,” adds Ross Kennedy of RK DJ. “Ask your venue, other wedding suppliers, and friends and family who’ve recently been to weddings for their suggestions – personal recommendations can be absolute gold.”

Once you’ve found a wedding DJ who aligns with your musical vision, it’s time to take the next step: “Do a bit of a deep dive,” suggests Ross. “Check out their website, socials, photos, videos and even their mixes – you’ll get a real feel for their style and vibe. Reviews are important, but you also want to see real examples of their work at previous weddings,” he adds.

“Think about the style of your wedding, too. If you’re planning a chic and elegant celebration, you’ll want a DJ with a setup that matches that look. If you’re dreaming of a full-on party atmosphere with glow sticks in the air, look for someone who can bring that energy.

“Your DJ will be a huge part of your day – you want someone who gets you, not just someone who can press ‘play’,” he adds.

How Much Does a Wedding DJ Cost?

How much your wedding DJ costs will vary hugely, depending on your location, their experience and what comes included when you hire them – but there’s definitely something out there to suit every budget.

“If you’re getting quotes, I’d suggest reaching out to two or three local DJs for hire to compare – but don’t base your decision on price alone,” says Ross. “You’re trusting them with a huge part of your day, so it’s about value, experience and finding the right fit.

“Most wedding DJs will include everything you need for the evening as standard, with a full sound and lighting set-up. However, some may only charge for the DJ service and charge extra for things like lighting or special effects, so it’s always worth checking what’s included,” he adds.

You’ll likely find some DJs with prices starting at around £500 for the evening’s entertainment, but Ross suggests more experienced, full-time wedding DJs will usually cost somewhere between £750 to £1,250.

“Some even offer extra services like hosting, ceremony music, uplighting or photo booths – these are often bundled into packages which can be a great way to get more and save a bit, too,” he adds.

Remember that a lot of DJs will tailor their quotes depending on your needs, so don’t be afraid to reach out to a wedding DJ you like the look of even if you think they might be out of your price range.

Wedding DJ Hire Tips

Remember to look beyond your wedding venue’s preferred suppliers list. While this can be an incredibly useful service, couples still have the option to choose someone else who is more aligned with their style and taste in music.

“There are many reasons why a venue might recommend a particular wedding DJ,” says Simon. “The quality of the experience you will receive isn’t always top of the list.

"It’s also important to check reviews from other venues and previous wedding couples – wedding photographers are also great for an independent opinion as they usually get to see the DJs in action,” he adds.

Include the option for song requests on your RSVPs. Your wedding RSVP is not only the perfect opportunity to gather info like dietary needs, but also the perfect space to get an insight into your guests’ music tastes, too.

Seeing requests ahead of time will really help a DJ to prepare and get the party going early on (not to mention protect your DJ from that ever-so-slightly-tipsy, over-enthusiastic uncle desperate to sway along to the words of Sweet Caroline).

“Be careful with your choice of language though,” adds Simon. “Asking them to suggest a song that the DJ ‘might play’ is better than ‘will play’, as it gives you the option to veto anything you don’t want.”

Give your DJ some guidance. A you a pop princess? A funk follower? Maybe rock ‘n’ roll is more your thing… whatever your preferences are, if there are songs or artists essential to your wedding playlist, make sure your wedding DJ knows about them!

Questions to Ask Your Wedding DJ Before You Book

First and foremost, if you’re on the cusp of booking someone, it’s important to relay your wedding plans and wants – the vibe you’re after, what kind of party you’re imagining and even sharing examples of weddings you’ve been to that you loved (or didn’t love!).

“Then listen to how they respond,” suggests Ross.

Feel like you need to know more? These are our 10 key questions to ask before you sign on the dotted line:

1. How many weddings have you played? Remember, other paid performances like birthdays or corporate events are very different to weddings, even if your DJ has a decade’s worth of experience under their belt.

2. How flexible are you with the music and vibe? “You’ll want a DJ who will build the night around you, not just play a standard setlist,” says Ross.

3. Have you played at our venue before? “If they have, great. If not, no big deal, but ask them how they’d approach it with regards to set-up, logistics, reading the room etc,” says Ross.

4. What happens if people aren’t dancing? “A good DJ should know how to read the room and switch it up without making things awkward,” says Ross.

5. If you’re unable to perform on our wedding day for whatever reason, do you have a replacement lined up? Ideally, you’ll want to know that someone else can step in, but if not, find out what their policy is.

6. What does your price include? Does it include things like the set-up and breakdown, and lighting or other special effects? Also check if there are any additional fees you need to be aware of, such as travel expenses or charges for special music requests.

7. What is your refund/cancellation policy? Should the worst happen, you need to know what will happen if you need to cancel or move your wedding date.

8. Are you insured? A possibly dull but essential question. Liability insurance will cover any damage that happens to either the DJ or their equipment.

9. What information do you require from us or our venue? For example, will your DJ require any special electrical outlets for their equipment? Will they require a certain amount of space – or even a stage? Cross-check all this information with your venue to ensure there are no problems setting up on the day.

10. How much time will you require to set up/breakdown? Timing is everything! Ensure you have this information beforehand so everything runs like clockwork.

Not sure which songs to include in your wedding day? We’ve compiled an edit of the most popular wedding day songs to inspire you.