You should be worried if your wedding DJ doesn’t ask for this basic wedding reception information.
Do Not Play List
Just as important as the songs you want played at your wedding reception (your ‘Must Play List’) is what you don’t want to hear. Craft a list of songs you absolutely can’t stand (we’ve listed suggestions for your ‘Do Not Play List’ here), but don’t go overboard. You hired the expert DJ (hopefully!-here’s how to tell a good wedding DJ from bad here); make sure you don’t limit them so much that they can’t play the songs that get your guests dancing. Proceed with caution if your DJ doesn’t ask about your song preferences; you don’t want a DJ who takes a one-size-fits-all approach and doesn’t customize the play list for your special day.
Name Pronunciations
Help your DJ out so they (and you!) don’t look like a fool. (You’ll never live it down!) Give your DJ the correct pronunciations of your parents, bridesmaids, groomsmen, ushers, and any other wedding VIPs.
Vendor Information
A good DJ is part of a wedding reception team. They make sure to coordinate your first dance with your wedding photographer so the photographer can be in just the right place for the perfect shot. Come to your wedding meeting equipped with any vendor contact information they might need—or get the deadlines from them when they need you to message them with that information.
Venue limitations
Your wedding venue should be one of the first wedding decisions you make—and one of the first wedding planning meetings you attend. Ask your wedding venue about any sound limitations (i.e. curfews, volume restrictions, etc.) and make sure to pass on the information to your DJ. It’ll save you a lot of headaches and help you avoid any penalties for breaking the rules.
Surprises
If you have a special surprise planned at your wedding reception—a spectacular entrance, dance lesson, confetti drop (more ideas here)—now is the time to confide in your DJ. Or, if you don’t have anything planned yet, ask. You hired for your DJ for their experience, so don’t be afraid to tap into their expertise.
Special requests
Sooner rather than later should be your motto during wedding planning. Don’t wait until the night of your wedding reception to spring your special request on your DJ. Mention any special requests earlier in the process so you and you’re DJ aren’t scrambling at the last minute to pull off a big idea—or looking like the dupes that couldn’t bring it together.