Questions your Wedding DJ will ask during a consultation
This article is part of a series that dives deep into the details of a Wedding DJ.
Planning to reach out to a DJ in Chicago for your wedding?
If you’re anything like most of the couples I work with, you probably have a long list of questions lined up as you interview wedding DJs. That’s great. You’re already ahead of the game.
But here’s my top tip for telling whether you’re dealing with a true wedding professional capable of handling your wedding: the questions they ask you.
An experienced wedding DJ will show you they know their stuff right away. Pay attention to the quality of their questions because that usually reveals their level of experience, how detail-oriented they are and whether they are reliable enough for you to manage and host your wedding reception. (Conversely, it’s a red flag when DJs don’t have a lot of questions beyond the basics.)
These are the questions you should expect a DJ to ask you:
What’s your wedding date?
They need to check to see if they’re available on your big day! Depending on the day, some DJs may also have peak and low-season pricing options they’ll want to go over with you.
Do you have a budget set for a wedding DJ?
They should be able to provide you break down the cost of their services so you can see whether your budget and their rates align. You can see our DJ services clearly and transparently listed on our services page here!
Where is the wedding venue (and is it in Chicago)?
Many DJs charge extra to cover longer travel times outside of their standard area. If that’s the case, they should let you know at this point. We are based in Chicago and love doing local Chicago weddings (and all around Chicagoland!)
What’s the size of the venue and/or how many guests will be attending your wedding?
This helps gauge whether their standard lighting and equipment is enough to fill the room.
Are you booking a DJ for your reception or ceremony and cocktail hour too?
A typical DJ package is 5-6 hours, which tends to cover the reception party. If you’re not booking live music, your DJ can offer you a package that takes care of the rest of your event too. We cover our hours on our services page which is on our Wedding DJ page!
Do you plan to have a live wedding band or ceremony strings booked?
If you’re booking live music (strings) for your ceremony they may be able to help coordinate sound production and microphone handoffs with the officiant. You’re welcome to use a DJ for the reception only and also have them coordinate with any other musicians.
Are you working with a wedding event planner?
A good wedding DJ will want to touch base with your event planner to coordinate and finalize your schedule of events.
Who else is planning the wedding with you?
If your parents, friends and family members are involved in helping you plan the details of your big day, there are definitely going to be a lot of opinions in the room!
An experienced DJ will know how to handle your overly involved friends and family — including exactly how and when in the process to get them involved so they feel heard.
Who’s attending your wedding?
It’s always helpful to know what audience they’re playing to. Is there a wide range of ages? Are there a lot of folks coming in from abroad? Cultural sensitivities they should be aware of?
What’s the vibe of your wedding and/or reception party?
This gives you both a chance to see whether they’re a good fit for hosting your party!
Read to book a DJ for your Chicago wedding?
We’re ready to hear all about it!
