DJing a wedding?

Does anyone here actually do this? I have only ever played out at clubs/raves/parties but my boss recently discovered I DJ and has asked me to DJ her daughter's wedding.

I should probably get with the bride and groom if they have specific songs they want to hear. Also thinking I would probably want to have a request book available in case any guests want to hear something. If I don't have it, then I hope this place has fast internet! ha

The couple is pretty young too, like early 20's..

Anyone have experience or tips for DJing a wedding?

My first tip would be to pass on the gig. Weddings are not "simple" or "easy" or anything other than hard. Weddings are a high stress, high emotion, high stakes kind of event. Brides will often attempt some level of micro-management that can be difficult to accept with a smile. You will also have to manage the power dynamic between the mother of the bride (your boss) and the bride....that is tricky in the best of circumstances. Wedding guests range from kids to just under dead.

Unless passing is guaranteed to result in the loss of employment....pass.

I'd avoid this like the plague. I have a feeling that plenty of people around this forum will disagree (as it's happened in the past), but doing something like this isn't for a person with no experience.
First and foremost, you are working as the entertainment for what should be one of the most memorable days in a couples LIFE. If you don't have experience, getting it shouldn't be done as the head guy for such an event.
Secondly, it's your boss who wants to hire you. Generally, the average person doesn't realize the world of difference between a club DJ, festival DJ, and wedding DJ. If you don't know how to deliver as a wedding entertainer, this could severely sour your work relationship with your boss. If you hate your job, then maybe it's a good move.
Thirdly, you have to have the right tools for the job. Again, some people here might not agree, but having done it several times with a team of people I work with, I can tell you the wrong equipment can seriously cause uncomfortable moments and make you look bad... IE - cheap wireless mics can cut out and throw speeches off. That is on you. They also are a lot more prone to feedback.
Todays wedding DJ's have also become part planner for the entire reception. timing out and planning all the dances, speeches, etc. are all on you... at least that's how the good ones do it.
All that in mind, you don't have to do it all, but it's what is and should be expected of good wedding DJ's, and at the end of the day, do you really want to under-deliver for one of the most important days of a couples life... especially when it's your bosses kid?

Yeah, don't do it. If you have to do it, I think 15~30 minute blocks of different music eras is the best way to handle it. I go to a lot of weddings as I have a photo booth I rent out, and this is pretty much what they do. Ask the couple what they like, remember you need some jazz for the dinner, and you may need some music for the cocktail hour prior to dinner. Oh and you have to MC, it's not just about the music at a wedding. But in all honesty, do some more research on it, basically the whole "there's absolutely no re-do's (not that there is at a club, but I'm not gonna be spinning house here,) and bridezillas" scare the crap out of me. But you know, then again I spin deep house, Not really good for most weddings unless it's for like the cocktail hour. I would imagine hip-hop DJ's and club DJ's that play remixes of the top 40 and things like that would have a much easier time with these sorts of things, I personally don't even know what the hell is on the radio :bored:

Wow, I guess I will seriously reconsider this then. I'd be using my pioneer cdjs/xone mixer/laptop set up and the wedding chapel apparently has a PA system to plug in to.

On one hand, my boss is a pretty close friend of about 15 years and I grew up with her kids & went to the same high school/college as all 3 of them. We have a pretty lax work relationship. The subject of me djing was surprisingly something we had never really talked about though ha. Anyways, she was just like "hey you wanna dj (insert daughter's name)'s wedding? We were just going to throw a couple of mix CDs on for music" So it seems pretty lacking in the music region already for the wedding, but I really don't wanna screw up the night for them.

But on the other hand I really have no idea what to do other than talk with the bride & groom about what music they want. I really do not know the groom at all though, nor do I know his friends or family. And I don't know any of the bride's family other than her mom (my boss) and her siblings.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by FTW

I personally don't even know what the hell is on the radio :bored:

---

also this ha

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Maxy

Wow, I guess I will seriously reconsider this then. I'd be using my pioneer cdjs/xone mixer/laptop set up and the wedding chapel apparently has a PA system to plug in to.

On one hand, my boss is a pretty close friend of about 15 years and I grew up with her kids & went to the same high school/college as all 3 of them. We have a pretty lax work relationship. The subject of me djing was surprisingly something we had never really talked about though ha. Anyways, she was just like "hey you wanna dj (insert daughter's name)'s wedding? We were just going to throw a couple of mix CDs on for music" So it seems pretty lacking in the music region already for the wedding, but I really don't wanna screw up the night for them.

But on the other hand I really have no idea what to do other than talk with the bride & groom about what music they want. I really do not know the groom at all though, nor do I know his friends or family. And I don't know any of the bride's family other than her mom (my boss) and her siblings.

---

I dunno why there is so many people posting in this thread saying dont do it.. To me this is like free money, as you dont have to actually mix in any songs.. Just let one finish then play another.

If you have access to mics and such then you are already set. I say go for it and make some extra coinage!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by AllDay

I dunno why there is so many people posting in this thread saying dont do it.. To me this is like free money, as you dont have to actually mix in any songs.. Just let one finish then play another.

If you have access to mics and such then you are already set. I say go for it and make some extra coinage!

---

So...I have this club gig coming up...but I have never played in a club before. But...all I need to do is line up some Top 40 remixes in a playlist and use Traktor's Cruise Control to mix them together....it's like free money....right?

:thumbup:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by soundinmotiondj

So...I have this club gig coming up...but I have never played in a club before. But...all I need to do is line up some Top 40 remixes in a playlist and use Traktor's Cruise Control to mix them together....it's like free money....right?

:thumbup:

---

No cause in a club you would have to mix.. :/ Weddings are about your music collection and having all the oldies. If you have a tb hd like myself you can load it with top hits from the 50's and up and you will do just fine. Its finish one song, play the next. Anyone can really do it, it doesn't take much skill. More so just having the right equiptment.

To the OP his story sounds like it will be really chill regardless so...



I mean good try at trolling tho.

Is the reception in the chapel also?
1) Get a do and don't play list from the bride and groom along with preferred genres of music. Print out the list of songs they want and cross them out as you go. Also print the don't play list.
2) Write down the names of the party, parents, grandparents, etc. phonetically.
3) Start off to please the old heads then move into newer stuff as the night goes on.
4) Know the planner/head of the staff and get a general outline of the nights events and times they should take place.

I personally don't DJ (putting together a bedroom rig for home), but I've helped a friend of mine that makes his living off them many times. It's not about the DJ so no technical stuff unless they ask for it. Just be a jukebox and mix. If I could keep people dancing anyone can.

Wanted my first post be be my stuff setup, but this seemed like a good spot.

this is a rough spot, but i wouldn't dj my bosses wedding. definitely be honest with him/her to let them know you have never done a wedding and see if they are still interested. look at it this way: it's one of the biggest, most important days in their lives and it's not something to be taken lightly because you can make some "extra coinage" by simply playing a bunch of oldies and top 40 stuff. it's very serious and if you don't do well, there may very well be some consequences at your work since it's your boss we are talking about. there's a lot involved in consideration of gear, lights, vibe, the clients needs, etc. tread very lightly on this and don't jump in likes it's no big deal.

on the flip side, if you do very well there will likely be positives at work as well. it shows that you have the ability to go beyond your normal box and succeed, but again be very honest that it's not your standard area of djing. really think about this all the way through and weigh out the pros and cons of either decision and think about the worst case scenario and best case scenarios along with the amount of risk.

Pass on it. No one should consider a wedding without successfully DJing a Sweet 16 first.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by HighTopFade

Pass on it. No one should consider a wedding without successfully DJing a Sweet 16 first.

---

lol, what about a quinceanera? that has to count too.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by squidot

lol, what about a quinceanera? that has to count too.

---

Oh yeah. For sure. Same but different.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by AllDay

Anyone can really do it, it doesn't take much skill. More so just having the right equiptment.

---

I take it you have lots of wedding experience?

Personally, I've done over 100. Having once been a n00b wedding DJ, and having witnessed plenty of other n00b wedding DJ's, do NOT try one without shadowing a pro. Making it seem effortless takes quite a bit of money for the right gear and a lot of experience.

Not to mention this is for your boss. My advice? Pass on this one.

(Oh and I actually mix at every wedding)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by sss18734

Spoken like a true ignoramus that's never done a wedding before!

I've done over 100. Having once been a n00b wedding DJ, and having witnessed plenty of other n00b wedding DJ's, do NOT try one without shadowing a pro. Making it seem effortless takes quite a bit of money for the right gear and a lot of experience.

Not to mention this is for your boss. My advice? Pass on this one.

(Oh and I actually mix at every wedding)

---

I dont think anyone here read the second post where he states they were just gonna play mix cds and then found out he dj'ed. :/

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Maxy

The subject of me djing was surprisingly something we had never really talked about though ha. Anyways, she was just like "hey you wanna dj (insert daughter's name)'s wedding? We were just going to throw a couple of mix CDs on for music" So it seems pretty lacking in the music region already for the wedding.

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by AllDay

I dont think anyone here read the second post where he states they were just gonna play mix cds and then found out he dj'ed. :/

---

You're right, I missed it. In that case, go for it. I have attended more casual weddings where there was music throughout the reception with none of the traditional activities. Just to be sure, talk to the wedding planner.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by HighTopFade

You're right, I missed it. In that case, go for it. I have attended more casual weddings where there was music throughout the reception with none of the traditional activities. Just to be sure, talk to the wedding planner.

---

I read that part, but in reality if there's just mixed CDs they have no one to complain to about the music. If you're standing there being a DJ, you automatically assume all the responsibility. People will come up to ask for songs, and you might not have it and turns out it's like the song they repeat all day on the radio for the past week. Or you're playing something, and someone will come up to you and say "come on man play something we can dance to" (I've gotten this one before) even though you're playing something from the "dance" genre of music.

I agree with the comment of shadowing someone for at the very least 4 gigs in order to get a feel of what goes down. And all the wedding DJ's I've seen mix as well. Some much better than others, but they all have.

Weddings are a completely different beast than a club or rave, but you can certainly tackle one if you prepare correctly. Since it is something outside of your regular musical spectrum you really do need to prepare.

Hey dude, if you do it and it's something you enjoy doing you can actually become a wedding DJ, I know no one really ever thinks of this as their dream job but I've actually been thinking about it more and more. I think it would be a nice source of extra income. Everyone needs a DJ at a wedding.

Your just going to be an MC essentially with a jukebox function. Watch the mood and the people. Older crowd, play older music.

Ask the guests what they want to hear! In my experience some people will come and talk to you, interested in what a DJ does. Ask them.

Lastly, just play hits! Weddings are the easiest thing to DJ. Hit up the iTunes wedding charts. Thy have some good stuff for this. Just echo/delay out and transition in. No one cares about mixing.

Good luck!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by AllDay

No cause in a club you would have to mix.. :/ Weddings are about your music collection and having all the oldies. If you have a tb hd like myself you can load it with top hits from the 50's and up and you will do just fine. Its finish one song, play the next. Anyone can really do it, it doesn't take much skill. More so just having the right equiptment.

---

Mixing is not actually all that hard. I mean it does take practice, both to get and to maintain. But given 100 or 200 or 500 hours of practice....mixing skills will be reasonably solid. The time will vary according to where you are starting, and your personal standards for "reasonably solid."

Of all the skills needed to MC/DJ a wedding, playing music is probably the easiest (so, we agree on this). The people skills, the coordination skills, and the mic skills are all more difficult than the music skills. Given 100 or 200 or 500 hours of practice on EACH of those skills...they would be reasonably solid. This is the reason that DJing weddings is difficult - at least to do at the professional level - the breadth of skills required is quite large. The soft skills are where the real difficulty resides.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by AllDay

I dont think anyone here read the second post where he states they were just gonna play mix cds and then found out he dj'ed. :/

---

I did read that. I still advise against taking the event.

I will grant that it is trivial to be "one better than mix CDs." However, the expectations for a live DJ are never "one better than mix CDs." The moment there is a DJ, the expectations of everyone in the room will rise.

I did a few weddings and holiday parties last year and I can tell you that line dances will get people dancing everytime. Stuff like the wobble, cupid shuffle, cha cha slide & electric slide. Also make sure you have some old school (70's, 80's & 90's) Hip Hop, R&B, Pop & Rock music that was popular from then.

Mic Skills. Start practicing now.
Get names of the Bride and Groom as well as wedding party.
Be prepared to do some talking

I always give them a list of situations (such as introductions) to choose what music they want played. I also ask them what music do they prefer to be played (like mo-town or country).
I hope everything goes well!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TheRad

Mic Skills. Start practicing now.
Get names of the Bride and Groom as well as wedding party.
Be prepared to do some talking

---

This is probably the hardest part of being a wedding dj. But great advice OP start practicing!