Getting the music right is vital for any party so hiring a great DJ for your wedding is crucial; as the tunes he plays either gets everyone off their seats, shaking their booty or leaving a large empty space for uncle to punish your guests with his finest bhangra moves.

Selecting your DJ can be a tricky task and you want to get it just right, otherwise you’ll end up with an old school 80s ‘disco party’ with dodgy lighting, poor sound and cheesy music that’s enough to glue your friends to their seats for the evening.

The DJ’s job is to create the right atmosphere for your party, helping your valued guests to relax, come out of their shells and truly celebrate your nuptials. This is your chance to show you’ve really thought about their enjoyment and it’s not just ‘another wedding’ with some wannabe cousin DJ setting his iPod full of RnB to shuffle and flirting with your bridesmaids! The last thing you want is your most favoured guest leaving early complaining about the awful music that only your aunties or spotty teenage relatives danced to.

One thing that you must keep in mind is that the music played should be a combination of your favourite tunes as well as those of your guests. The last thing you want to do is offend your guests with overtly explicit material that many songs now include. Why not ask your friends and family for their top ten and incorporate as many of them as possible in your play list? That way you’ve selected songs that will appeal to everyone, ensuring that the dance floor is always packed.

Things to consider when selecting your DJ:

• Think back to a wedding you’ve attended where you’ve really enjoyed the music and ask the couple for the DJ’s details. Alternatively, ask around or have friends recommend one.
• Hire a DJ who is experienced in doing wedding receptions. Hiring a registered DJ (yes, a DJ Association does exist!) will give you the peace of mind of hiring a professional.
• These days it’s easy to do your own play list on your computer so why not pull together your favourite beats before you meet the DJ so you can drop a few titles into your conversation.
• When meeting the DJ, make sure you ask about the music selection, ensuring that they have a large and varied collection to keep your guests dancing. But don’t just take their word for it, give them a list of songs that you would like to hear and get them to make recommendations. Ask them to come up with a personalized play list so you can look over it and give it the go ahead.
• Also make sure that they have an up to date sound system to do justice to the music being played. You may also want to ask about lighting if you wish to have any effects.
• Find out if they are doing any other functions on the same night and if so, will it affect your reception? The last thing you want is your DJ leaving early to do another job just when your guest have started partying.
• Find out how much it’ll all cost (include travelling costs). Make sure the quote you have been given includes VAT. You don’t want any hidden costs that you haven’t budgeted for. 
• Finally, get everything you have discussed confirmed in writing.

Picking the right DJ will ensure that your guests have a wonderful time dancing the night away and will be talking about your reception for years to come.