A study about 10 years ago in “Modern Bride” magazine said all couples really want from their DJ is for him to:
A. Show up; and
B. Not be a jerk.
That’s a pretty low bar, but consider the fact that, for some, the motivating factor that led them to get into the business is the idea that they can get paid and also get all the free drinks they want. Anyone can go out, spend a grand on equipment, illegally download a bunch of music and call himself or herself a DJ.
One look at Craigslist on any given day will show at least a dozen DJs who are willing to play for a wedding for next to nothing. Many of them are good, but how can you tell? Most of them can even provide references, but again, how can you tell if he’s good or just had a good night? As my friends in the South are fond of saying, even a blind pig gets an acorn from time to time. Ask for references from their last three events and call them.
A more recent article pointed out that the DJ has 95 percent of the responsibility for the success of a wedding. No one leaves an event and says “Man, that was a great fruit platter,” but nearly everyone will comment on the DJ.
Here’s the single-most important piece of information I give my brides and grooms: No matter how carefully you plan, something is going to go wrong. It may be something big or it may be something small, but something will go wrong. The only difference between it being something you laugh about and something that ruins your day is your attitude, so make a commitment to have fun, no matter what.
Also, remember: It’s your day. Everyone will tell you about traditions, or that this is how it’s done — or worse yet, — this is how “we” do it. As far as I’m concerned, if my couples want to get married, then change into shorts and T-shirts and dance the rest of the day, then that’s what they should be able to do. My advice is to do what you want and not listen to the hall, the photographer or even your parents.
There are two things more than any others that can help brides and grooms enjoy their day. The first thing is to get enough sleep, which can be difficult to pull off the night before your wedding, especially when you’re surrounded by out-of-towners who’ve come in to party. Remember, you’re getting married in just a few hours, and while your guests can sleep in, you probably won’t have that option. The other is to eat that day. Adrenaline, which you’ll likely be running on all day, only lasts so long. My experience is that grooms skimp on sleep, while brides forget to eat.
One more thing: Don’t be afraid to delegate. Give your best man or maid of honor a checklist and have them load important stuff into their cars the night before.