Questions to ask a wedding DJ, before and after booking

By Forever Farrah Published 2026-09-12.

The questions to ask a wedding DJ before you book and in the final planning meeting, what a good answer sounds like, and the contract details worth checking.

Before you book, ask whether they're free on your date, who exactly will be playing, how they handle your music preferences and requests, what equipment and backup they bring, whether they also act as MC, and what is and isn't included in the price. After booking, go through the timeline, the moment songs, the do-not-play list and the venue's rules in a final meeting a few weeks before the wedding.

Before you book

Availability and people

1. Are you available on our date, and for how many hours?
2. Will you be the DJ on the day, or someone from your company? Can we meet them?
3. How many weddings have you played? Have you played our venue before?
4. Can we see a video of you at a wedding, not just a highlight reel?

Music and style

5. How do you decide what to play? How much do you follow our lists versus read the room?
6. Will you play our must-play list and honour a do-not-play list, including guest requests?
7. Do you take requests from guests on the night? Can we turn that off?
8. Can you play clean or radio edits during dinner?
9. Can you handle the ceremony music and a separate cocktail hour area?

MC and running the evening

10. Do you act as MC (introductions, announcing dinner, speeches, cake)?
11. How do you work with our planner, photographer and venue coordinator on timing?
12. How do you handle names that are hard to pronounce?

Equipment and backup

13. What sound system and microphones do you bring? Wireless microphones for speeches?
14. What happens if equipment fails, or if you're ill on the day?
15. Do you bring lighting, and is it included?
16. How much space and power do you need, and when do you set up?

Money and contract

17. What does the price include, and what costs extra (ceremony, overtime, lighting, travel)?
18. How much is the deposit, and when is the balance due?
19. What is the overtime rate if the party runs late?
20. Do you carry liability insurance? Some venues require proof.
21. What is your cancellation and rescheduling policy?
22. Do you need a meal and a break? Many DJs working a full evening expect one, so check the contract (see feeding your vendors).

What good answers sound like

• On lists: "Give me your must-plays and do-not-plays, and I'll build the rest around the crowd." A DJ who wants a 100-song script can't respond to the room; one who ignores your lists isn't listening.
• On backup: a specific plan (spare equipment in the van, a named colleague who can step in), not "that never happens".
• On the contract: everything you discussed is written down, including hours, setup time, overtime rate and who will be playing.

After you book: the final planning meeting

Hold it a few weeks before the wedding, in person or on a call, with the timeline in front of you.

1. The timeline, minute by minute. Grand entrance, first dance, dinner, speeches, cake, open dancing, last dance, send-off. See the reception order of events.
2. Every moment song, with the exact version and where to start or stop it.
3. Names and pronunciations for the introductions.
4. Who gives speeches, in what order, and which microphone they use.
5. The must-play and do-not-play lists. How to write them so they get followed: must-play and do-not-play lists.
6. The venue's rules: noise limits, curfew, load-in time, where the DJ sets up.
7. Who the DJ goes to on the day with questions, so it isn't you.
8. Guest requests: on, off, or approved by someone you trust.

How many songs to give them

Fewer than you think. Your moment songs plus a dozen must-plays is plenty. The wedding song calculator shows how many songs the whole day takes, and how few of them you need to choose yourselves.

If you want guests to contribute, collect their suggestions before the day. With the Forever Farrah playlist, guests suggest songs from your wedding website, you approve each one, and your DJ gets a link to the approved list with your notes.

Frequently asked questions

When should you book a wedding DJ?

As soon as your date and venue are confirmed, especially for a Saturday in peak season, when experienced DJs are booked first.

What should be in a wedding DJ contract?

The date, venue, hours, setup time, who will be playing, what's included, the overtime rate, deposit and payment dates, backup plan, insurance and the cancellation policy.

Should the wedding DJ also be the MC?

Often, yes, if they're comfortable on the microphone. Ask to hear them MC, and agree exactly what they will announce.