wedding reception with background dinner music

5 Things to Consider When Hiring a Chicago DJ for Your Outdoor Wedding

Hiring a Chicago wedding DJ for an outdoor wedding involves a few more steps, but it doesn’t mean you can’t find the DJ of your dreams. It does mean you should add these simple steps to your wedding planning checklist.

Permits and Curfews

Permits and curfews can play an important part in an outdoor wedding in Chicagoland. (After all, no one wants to get their festivities shut down because they didn’t follow local requirements!) Fortunately, you can get specific information from your local municipality about permits and curfews (i.e. event permits, volume limitations, curfews, etc.) that could affect your special day.

Electrical Requirements

Wedding DJ systems require an outlet—and not always a standard home outlet. When hiring a Chicago DJ, ask about any requirements when interviewing the DJ (along with these wedding DJ interview questions). Some outdoor wedding venues have already taken this into account and have set areas for an outdoor dance floor (with outlets perfect for a DJ). If your wedding is in a backyard or another area not normally used for events, make sure you choose an area with easy access to electrical.  (Plus, think about how to cover extension cords so they are not a tripping hazard!)

Reputation

While it’s very tempting to hire a “friend of a friend” for less, a high-quality Chicago DJ can be the difference between a memorable dance and a ho-hum reception. Researching a wedding DJ is a great way to select an experienced professional. Fortunately, the internet makes this step a bit easier; you can find information from couples who have used Chicago wedding DJs on social media and wedding review sites (i.e. Wedding Wire, The Knot, etc.)

“Extras”

If you are looking for any extras, such as lighting or a photo booth, it makes cents (pun intended) to choose a wedding DJ that offers package deals. Many wedding DJs offer “extras” as part of a package that make it easier for couples as they plan. It may also be cheaper to take advantage of a package deal as opposed to individually pricing the services out.

Cost

Cost is often a top factor for couples, but there is a note of caution that goes along with looking for the cheapest wedding DJ. Often, the cheapest wedding DJ is often an amateur that delivers sub-par services or has outdated equipment. Amateur DJs often use a standard play list for every wedding and don’t customize to suit the couple’s tastes. (Read more about making a list of songs you want played and don’t want played in this post about wedding DJ playlists.) Once you’ve determined that the DJ is experienced and has high-quality equipment, ask the wedding DJ whether they have additional staff and DJs in case of an emergency (i.e. equipment break down or illness). Honestly, finding the right Chicago wedding DJ is a bit like finding the “one,” but it’s worth the effort when everyone is enjoying themselves at your beautiful outdoor wedding.

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