Every couple has their wedding day regret: they wish they would’ve hired a videographer, spent less time worrying…the list could go on and on. One of the most common wedding day “we wish we would have…” we hear is about the DJ. A lot of couples we talk with wish they would have spent more on wedding entertainment—and good wedding entertainment. It’s easy to understand why; years later, most of your wedding guests remember the fun they had at the reception. So how can you and your fiancé avoid this common after-wedding regret?

Don’t hire a ‘friend of a friend’ DJ

As tempting as it might be to hire a friend or a friend of a friend who’s “really awesome,” resist the urge. If your friend is an amateur or hobbyist, chances are they don’t have back up equipment or another DJ to fill in if they have an emergency. Most hobbyist DJ’s don’t have modern equipment or the experience to coordinate with your venue and other vendors (like when you want that perfect shot during your first dance).

Don’t underestimate the importance of backups.

We know of one couple whose photographer passed away days before their wedding. Other couples can tell similar stories of emergencies that arose on their big day. While some of those last-minutes problems can interrupt your wedding day despite your best efforts, you can avoid the hassle of having to find another DJ last minute if your first choice can’t come. Hire a company that schedules a backup experienced DJ for every event—and back up equipment. You won’t regret making the decision; it’ll give you one less worry on your wedding day.

Don’t use price as the only factor.

Your wedding budget may be one of the most important factors in every wedding planning decision, but try to remember that you get what you pay for. Keep your wedding budget in perspective; though a hundred or few hundred dollars seems monumental, if that amount can get you a quality DJ for a small percentage of your overall wedding budget, consider the impact of your dollar. You and your guests are going to have a lot more fun, have less worries with a back up DJ and equipment, and talk about your memorable night for years to come.

Don’t forget to consider experience when making your choice.

Don’t gamble on your wedding reception entertainment. A rookie DJ isn’t going to have the experience to coordinate your special moments with your other vendors. We were recently talking to a couple who had this exact concern. It stemmed from an experience at a friend’s wedding. The DJ at the wedding cued the first dance for their friend without consulting the wedding photographer who was away from the reception. As a result, their friend did not have one picture of their very special first dance.

We’ve given you a million ‘don’ts’ of choosing a wedding DJ. Here are a few of the ‘do’s’ of finding the right DJ for your wedding day:

• Do research testimonials and online reviews to determine what other couples thought of the wedding DJ (if they’ve won awards, consider that a bonus!). Look at the amount of testimonials and what other couples had to say about the potential DJ.
• Do ask how many years of experience with weddings they’ve had.
• If you want “one stop” shopping, do consider a wedding DJ that offers extras (i.e. photo booth, lighting, etc.) so you can get all the wedding entertainment you need at one place.
• Do be wary of DJ’s who want to meet you at a restaurant because they don’t have a location where you can see their equipment (this is a sign of an amateur DJ).
• Do hurry up and contact potential DJ’s because the best DJ calendars fill up quickly.
• Do ask questions. Call your DJ, email them or ask your DJ questions on social media. If you want to see what they can do in person, set up a meeting with them.
• Do enjoy the fruit of your efforts: an awesome, memorable, fun wedding reception!