POV: You are the DJ at a friends wedding. The speeches are underway. You have A Tribe Called Quest – Bonita Applebum cued up because they love 90s hiphop. First dance to come.
How to Set Up and Prepare to DJ at a Wedding
Here are my best tips for wedding DJs
Firstly, some great news—it’s easier than you might think!
Here’s why: It’s not about you. It’s all about the couple getting married and their guests. Your job is to make their special day unforgettable by playing the music they love and creating the perfect atmosphere.
Here’s how you can do it >>
Consultation is Key
- Understand Their Vision: The couple will usually have an idea about the music they want. At a minimum, ask them to forward some song suggestions. Here’s an example of a brief I received:
Vibe-wise we’re looking for someone who can play a bit of cool disco/jazzy house/hip hop… but get some good 80s-00s bangers in there too to keep the spirits high.
- Clarify Expectations: Confirm if they expect a dance floor. Ask if there are songs or artists they dislike and if they want you to take requests from guests. You might be surprised at the answers you get.
- Get the Run Sheet: This will give you an idea of the event timeline, including speeches, entrances, and special moments that may involve your music. Remember, weddings are ceremonies with structured schedules.
Pricing Your Services
- Equipment Costs: Each wedding setup will be slightly different. Calculate the cost of providing your DJ gear.
For a medium-sized room 2×12” subwoofers and 2×12” PA speakers works well. You will also want a foldback speaker to use as a booth monitor (10″ will be fine). Balance is key; overheating a subwoofer can be a problem when the dance floor is at its peak.
- Your Fee: Charge for your time DJing, as well as the time spent preparing, consulting, and setting up. If you charge too little, you’ll regret it because most of the work is in the preparation and setup. Charge over your normal bar/nightclub residency hourly rates by anywhere from 20-50% to account for all the preparation and accomodating changes that cost you additional time and resources.
Here is my most recent wedding setup. It included 2x QSC 12″ tops and 2x QSC 12″ subwoofers, 2x lasers (pictured at the front) and 2x splash lights.
Setting Up
- Arrive Early: Be set up before guests arrive so you can test the sound system and troubleshoot any issues. Allocate 1-2 hours for setup and testing.
- Meet the Event Manager: Introduce yourself to the event manager or person in charge. Clarify any noise restrictions or curfews. Test and calibrate your fog machine before guests arrive to avoid setting off fire alarms during the event.
Fastest way to clear the dancefloor? Set off the fire alarm. Make sure you know how it works and how to stop it if an alarm goes off. You don’t want to manage a fog machine while DJing.
- Do a Soundcheck: Play the most intense song you intend to use and slowly turn up the volume. Set a level and then move around the room to hear how it sounds. Take notice of how harsh or bassy it sounds. It will seem loud when the room is empty because the ambient volume (how loud the room is with nobody in it) but once the room fills with people and chatter the base noise level will be quite loud and you will want that headroom.
While testing the sound system, the venue staff were setting up a champagne tower right next to the dance floor. With 100 glasses precariously stacked near two 12” subwoofers, I was hesitant to turn the volume up to my ideal max, fearing the vibrations might topple the tower.
4. Bring an AUX cable: Always have one of these handy. I keep one in my DJ bag at all times. At a wedding it is especially important because you might get an urgent request from the couple. It’s also a piece of mind thing because it feels good knowing you’ve got backup options incase your gear fails or your laptop/USB dies.
Programming The Music
- Create Multiple Playlists:
- One with all the couple’s requested songs.
- Another with your best dance floor hits.
- A third for background music for periods such as dining or socialising.
- Additional playlists for specific genres (hip-hop, EDM, country) if relevant.
- Be Adaptable: Include a mix of classic tracks to ensure everyone, from all age groups has a chance to get down!
Weddings are about bringing families together, so your playlists should reflect that diversity.
Playing The Music
- Set the Vibe: During mingling and dining, keep the volume low enough for conversation but high enough to create a pleasant atmosphere. Look for signs like toe-tapping and swaying while people are talking to eachother.
- Hit the Dance Floor: Start with the couple’s favorite songs and blend in your best dance tracks. Make sure there are no awkward silences between songs. One complaint about wedding DJs is that they don’t mix songs well, so keep the flow smooth.
- Stay Flexible: Be prepared for last-minute changes.
For instance, I once played at a wedding where the couple decided at the last second not to do the first dance, which involved a delay. Stay adaptable and don’t take sudden changes personally.
Final Thoughts
Weddings can be incredibly fun to DJ and at the same time earn a bit more than a regular bar or club gig. You are an integral part of the event and you won’t regret putting in the extra effort to ensure that everyone has an awesome time.
Remember it’s not about you!
FREE WEDDING PLAYLIST
This playlist is full of mainly 2000s club hits. It is Hiphop and R&B focused but includes a few throwbacks for the old folks. Take note of the different tempos.
If you keep your mixes to about 2-3 minutes per song this playlist will give you about 30 minutes of dancefloor heat!!
| Track Title | Artist | BPM |
|---|---|---|
| Empire State of Mind | Alicia Keys | 87 |
| Umbrella | Rihanna Feat. Jay-Z | 87 |
| Gold Digger (Feat. Jamie Foxx) | Kanye West | 93 |
| It Wasn’t Me | Shaggy | 95 |
| Thrift Shop | Macklemore & Ryan Lewis (feat. Wanz) | 95 |
| Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It) | Beyonce | 97 |
| Mundian To Bach Ke (Beware of the Boys) | Panjabi MC Ft. Jay-Z | 98 |
| Crazy In Love | Beyonce & Jay-Z | 99 |
| Sorry | Justin Bieber | 100 |
| Thrift Shop (DJ Intro ReDrum) DIRTY | Macklemore | 100 |
| Party Up (Up In Here) | DMX | 101 |
| Ride Wit Me | Nelly | 102 |
| Be Faithful | Crooklyn Clan feat. Fatman Scoop | 104 |
| Jump Around | House of Pain | 107 |
| King Kunta | Kendrick Lamar | 107 |
| Downtown (feat. Eric Nally, Melle Mel, Kool Moe Dee & Grandmaster Caz) | Macklemore & Ryan Lewis | 110 |
| 24k Magic (DJ MARTIN B. INTRO EDIT) | Bruno Mars | 110 |
| Uptown Funk (featuring Bruno Mars) | Mark Ronson | 115 |
| Black Or White | Michael Jackson | 115 |
| Ice Ice Baby | Vanilla Ice | 116 |
| Treasure (Intro Outro) | Bruno Mars | 116 |
| SexyBack | Justin Timberlake ft. Timbaland | 117 |
| Bust A Move | Young MC | 118 |
| Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough (Regrooved by The Sly Players) | Michael Jackson | 120 |
| Celebration | Kool And The Gang | 121 |
| September | Earth, Wind & Fire | 127 |
| Pony | Ginuwine | 140/70 |
| Pump It | Black Eyed Peas | 154 |
| Valerie (Mark Ronson Version) | Amy Winehouse | 158 |
| Hey Ya! | Andre 3000 | 159 |