If you are thinking of booking your wedding DJ chances are you have already booked most of your other suppliers. Quite often the DJ is one of the last things to be booked and for many couples it is not one of the major decisions. However, the right DJ playing the right music can really help make the day.

What to consider when booking a DJ for your wedding The DJ A professional wedding DJ will be able to adapt to any crowd or circumstance and have the dancefloor busy all night. The music that a DJ has available to them is a big part of this but by no means the only important factor. The ability to pick when to play what, being able to read a crowd and the amount of interaction with the guests all play a part in the overall success of the disco. Some DJs let the music do the talking and interact only now and again whereas other DJs have a more energetic and talkative approach and regularly engage with the crowd. Again a good DJ will be able to adapt to your requirements. Sometimes the crowd will need some encouragement to get going and the DJ should be able to handle this. But at other times too much talking over and between the songs can be irritating. Talk to your DJ about what would suit you best. Playlists With such a diverse group of people at a wedding the band and DJ will have to cater for all tastes. Traditionally the band would cater for the older crowd and then the DJ would come on and cater for the bride and groom and their friends, etc. However, a good band and a good DJ will be able to cater for both. You don't want half your guests leaving when the DJ starts and you don't want the other half waiting for the band to finish. Many couples provide DJs with a list of songs to play during the disco. This is a great idea because it gives an idea of the type of music that the couple like. It should be remembered though that in a standard 2 hour DJ set after a band there will be time for approximately 35 songs. Asking the DJ to stick rigidly to a list of songs is generally not a good idea. If you have paid a professional DJ to play for you then trust them and let them use their knowledge of music and experience of weddings to keep the dancefloor busy all night. The ideal set will consist of the bride and grooms favourite songs, the DJs input, and requests from the guests. Cost Often the first question you would think of asking a DJ is how much they charge. While this is obviously important it should be put into perspective. If one couple pay €250 for their DJ after a band and another couple pay €400 it is often assumed that the first couple got a better deal. As is the case with all your suppliers you generally get what you pay for. Some DJs don't own their equipment and rent it for the night. They naturally go for equipment that will do a decent job but nothing more. Can you compare this DJ to one who has invested heavily in their own sound and lighting systems? Lighting is a big part of a DJs set up and can greatly enhance the atmosphere in the venue but some DJs don't bring any lights with them. Another point to consider is that a wedding is a formal occasion and everybody from the bride and groom down to the staff in the hotel are dressed accordingly. Then the DJ shows up in jeans and a t-shirt. Professional DJs will dress appropriately. Should you see the DJ before you book? As with the band the best thing to do is ask your DJ if you can see them at another wedding before you book them. If they have been recommended by someone you trust this isn't always necessary but it can be very helpful. All you should look for is the general atmosphere in the room, whether the dancefloor is busy and whether the DJ seems professional and confident with a microphone. The music isn't that important because it can be changed for your day. If you are booking a DJ for the whole night, in addition to seeing them at another wedding it would be advisable to meet with them in advance of the big day to discuss your requirements and expectations. Timing... Generally speaking the music at a wedding runs from 9 to 2, with the band doing 3 hours and the DJ doing 2 hours. Having been the DJ at hundreds of weddings I can say that a very small percentage of them run on time. There are so many things that can delay the schedule from the moment you get up in the morning so for the music to start on time is unlikely. And because, again generally speaking, the music has to finish at 2, and the band do their 3 hour set, it is then the DJ who ends up with less time. I have done wedding discos for 30-40 minutes after a band, and even that was a compromise. I have also been booked to DJ after a band at a wedding and the band couldn't start until 11:40, having arrived at 8 to set up for 9. If this happens I would strongly advise giving the DJ at least 60 minutes and taking some time out of the band. Should you book a DJ for the whole night and have no band? More and more couples are deciding to book a DJ for the full night. The majority of weddings still have a band followed by a DJ but for many the versatility of a DJ is appealing. There is no substitute for a great live band and a lot of the time it is "expected". But a DJ should have all the songs that a band would play and in their original versions. Does anyone want to hear an Irish guy put on a fake Scottish accent and sing The Proclaimers 500 miles song? Having said that if you do book a DJ for the whole night, he or she should have experience at not just DJing, but DJing at weddings. You are putting potentially 5 hours of entertainment in the hands of one person so they better know what they are doing. If you are looking for recommendations for a wedding band in Galway please contact me. Bands who offer a DJ service Because the band is often booked before the DJ many couples naturally ask the band if they would recommend a DJ. This has led to a lot of bands offering a DJ service themselves. If the band have a professional DJ that they work with who comes to weddings with them then this is fine. Most of the time though it is a member of the band who stays behind and puts on a few CDs while the rest of the band members pack up the gear. If the drummer was a DJ then they would be out DJing. A band will often encourage you to book their DJ service because that way there will be no delay before the DJ comes on. This is just a sales pitch and any professional DJ will arrive in plenty of time to be fully set up and ready to start as soon as the band say good night. A DJ will bring his own sound system and will also add disco lighting. Some bands also don't even give you a choice and insist that you book their DJ service. This is like your hotel saying that you have to buy your wedding cake from them. Put some thought and research into your DJ. A good DJ will mean that your day ends on a high, which is exactly how it should be.

"I just wanted to write you an e-mail to thank you for your session at my wedding in Ballynahinch. I loved all the music you played and I know you had very little to go on from me, but you played an absolute blinder and thank you also for staying on that bit later." Carolyn