After years of DJing weddings across Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire, one of the most common questions couples ask me is “what questions should we actually be asking when we meet a DJ?”.
It’s actually a brilliant question because it tells me you are serious about getting your day absolutely right. Your wedding day is one of the most memorable occasions of your life, and the right DJ can make the difference between a good reception and a truly unforgettable one. So here, straight from the other side of the decks, are the ten questions I’d want every couple to ask before signing on the dotted line, including any obscure questions or niche requests.
Are You Available on Our Wedding Date? Will it be you DJing?
Sounds ridiculous right? Not at all. Popular wedding dates such as weekends throughout the summer get snapped up incredibly quickly. We’re talking months, sometimes even years in advance. So before you fall in love with a DJ, before you’ve imagined them on your dancefloor and started mentally planning your first dance, make sure they’re actually free. It sounds obvious but you’d be surprised how many couples get their heart set on someone only to find out the date is already gone.
It will always be me behind the decks on your wedding night. Not a colleague, not someone from an agency, not a last minute substitute. Me. The only exception would be in the most unfortunate of circumstances, in which case I have a whole host of fellow DJs who I know personally and trust completely to step in and do your evening justice.
You’re not booking a company. You’re booking a person. Make sure you know exactly who that person is.
How long have you been DJing for? Do you have any reviews?
Every wedding I’ve DJ’d has taught me something new, whether that’s how to handle a nervous father of the bride on the microphone, how to seamlessly transition from a tearful first dance into a party atmosphere, or how to keep Nan/Grandma happy on the same dancefloor. That kind of instinct only comes with time and repetition.
When you’re on that call, don’t just ask how many weddings they’ve done, ask what was the most challenging wedding they’ve faced and how they handled it. Ask what they learned from it. A DJ with genuine experience won’t just have a number to give you, they’ll have stories. And those stories are what tell you whether you’re in safe hands on the most important evening of your life.
Ask the DJ if they have any reviews. If they don’t, why don’t they? What are they hiding? Are they even a DJ? I keep my reviews on Google and Hitched.
What does your planning process look like between now and the wedding?
After our first call, I completely hand the reins back to you. I know you’ll be sitting down with your partner to talk through your options, and I know you’ll probably be speaking to other DJs too and honestly, that’s absolutely fine. I’d actively encourage it. Choosing your wedding DJ is an important decision and you should feel completely comfortable with whoever you book.
If you do decide that I am the right fit for you, you may not hear a great deal from me for a few weeks or even a few months, and that’s completely intentional. I don’t believe in bombarding couples with unnecessary emails or check-ins just to appear busy. But what I can promise you is this: behind the scenes I am already working. I’m researching your venue, thinking about your timeline, planning your music, and making sure that when we do sit down together for your full planning consultation, I am completely prepared and ready to make your evening absolutely perfect. We’ll always have a call at least 2 weeks before the wedding to discuss final plans, music and timings.
Can we give you a must-play list and a do-not-play list?
Yes and yes. It’s your wedding. Do not let the DJ dictate to you what they want to play. You are paying them for a service to deliver music to your wedding, not a service where you have to listen to their music. On the occasion, I may make my own judgement if a particular song isn’t working and play something with a similar vibe but I will always ask on our call if that’s okay to do first.
Every couple I work with also gets full access to my online client portal, where you can build out those all important must-play lists… the songs that mean everything to you, the ones that will get your nan up dancing, the track that was playing when you first met. And equally as important, you can add your do-not-plays too. We all have them… the cringey ones, the ones that will clear the dancefloor faster than a fire alarm or the ones that you really don’t want to dance to in your wedding dress!
What equipment do you use, and what happens if something goes wrong on the night?
This question tells me straight away that the couple in front of me is thinking practically and that’s exactly the right mindset when you’re investing in one of the most trusted people for your wedding.
Don’t be shy about asking your DJ to walk you through their sound and lighting setup. You don’t need to be a technical expert to have this conversation, you’re simply looking for a DJ who can explain their equipment clearly, confidently, and with obvious pride in what they use. Professional grade sound and lighting makes an enormous difference to the atmosphere in the room, and any DJ worth booking should be able to tell you exactly what they’re bringing to your wedding and why.
But the question I’d really encourage every couple to push on is the backup plan. What happens if a piece of equipment fails mid-evening? What’s the contingency if something goes wrong at the worst possible moment? A professional DJ will always have spare equipment ready and a clear plan of action if something unexpected happens.
If you ask a DJ this question and they look at you blankly, or brush it off with a vague “don’t worry, it’ll be fine” please take that seriously. On your wedding night, “it’ll be fine” simply isn’t good enough.
Are you fully insured and PAT tested?
This one is non-negotiable, and in my experience every single venue I’ve DJ’d a wedding at has asked me for at least my Public Liability Insurance certificate before I’ve been allowed to set up. It should always be to hand and sent to you almost immediately. Make sure your DJ can produce it quickly and confidently, because your venue will almost certainly ask for it before your big day. Also – check the date it expires!
The same applies to a Portable Appliance Testing certificate, more commonly known as a PAT certificate. This confirms that all of the DJ’s electrical equipment has been tested and is safe to use. But here’s something most couples or venues wouldn’t think to check… don’t just glance at the certificate, look at it properly and make sure that the equipment listed on the certificate matches the equipment your DJ is bringing to your wedding. It sounds like a small detail but it’s an important one, and a professional DJ will have nothing to hide.
Have you worked at our venue before, or will you speak to them in advance?
This is a question that might not immediately spring to mind when you’re thinking about what to ask a DJ, but it’s one of the most practical and important ones on this list. Every venue has its own quirks such as noise limiters that cut the sound if the volume exceeds a certain level, strict music curfews, loading restrictions that affect how and when equipment can be brought in, or specific rules about where cables can be run. A DJ walking into a venue blind on your wedding day is a risk you simply don’t need to take.
It’s exactly why one of the first things I ask every couple when they book me is which venue they’ve chosen. Knowing that early allows me to get to know the venue, whether that means drawing on experience I already have from performing there before, or reaching out to the venue coordinator directly in the weeks leading up to your wedding to make sure I know everything I need to know before I arrive.
That relationship between your DJ and your venue matters more than most couples realise. A DJ who is proactive about making that connection, who asks the right questions and irons out any potential issues well in advance, is worth their weight in gold. And from your perspective, it’s one less thing to worry about which at that stage of your wedding planning, trust me, is priceless.
How do you handle guest requests on the night?
This is such an important conversation to have early, and honestly it’s one I always bring up myself on every call because getting this wrong on the night can really affect the atmosphere of your reception.
The truth is there’s no right or wrong answer here as it’s entirely down to you as a couple. Some couples love the idea of an open floor where guests can come up and make requests throughout the evening, and that energy can be absolutely brilliant when it works well. Others have a very clear vision for their wedding music and would prefer me to stick closely to a pre-agreed set, keeping the evening feeling curated and intentional. Both approaches are completely valid and I’m equally comfortable with either.
What matters most is that we are completely aligned before the night begins. The last thing I want is to be making judgment calls on your dancefloor that don’t reflect what you actually wanted. So whether you want me to welcome every request with open arms, politely manage them in the background, or redirect guests entirely, I’ll work exactly the way you want me to work.
One thing I will say from experience though is that it’s always worth having a conversation about how to handle the one guest who insists on requesting the same song three times. Because trust me, there’s always one.
What happens if you’re ill or have an emergency on the day?
This is one of those questions that can feel a little awkward to ask, but I have enormous respect for every couple who does ask it. It tells me you’re thinking seriously about protecting your wedding day, and that’s exactly the right mindset to have.
The reality is that life is unpredictable. Even the most experienced and dedicated DJ can face an unexpected illness or a genuine emergency. What separates a true professional from the rest is having a plan in place before anything ever goes wrong. I’m proud to say that I have a trusted network of fellow DJs I can call upon if the absolute worst were to happen. These are people I know personally, whose work I trust, and who understand the standards I hold myself to.
But here’s the thing, and I say this with a huge amount of gratitude, in all my years of DJing weddings, I have never once had to cancel on a couple or call in someone to stand in for me. Not once. That’s not something I take for granted, and it’s something I work hard every single day to protect.
If you ask a DJ this question and they dismiss it, laugh it off, or stumble over their answer, please take that seriously. It’s a red flag you don’t want to ignore. Every couple deserves a DJ who has thought about this, has a plan, and can answer with complete confidence.
What’s included in your package, and what are the payment terms?
Clarity and transparency are everything when it comes to booking any supplier for your wedding and your DJ is no different. Nobody wants a nasty surprise on their invoice a few weeks before the big day.
Every wedding DJ setup I provide is the same regardless of the venue… subject to space of course. What you see is what you get, and I’ll always walk you through exactly what’s included so there’s no ambiguity. If you’d like to enhance the evening with additional lighting, that’s absolutely something we can discuss and there may be a small extra charge depending on what you’d like, but that will always be agreed upfront and never sprung on you afterwards.
Payment terms are equally as important as the package itself, and this is something I’d encourage every couple to get crystal clear on with any DJ they speak to. Most DJs, myself included, will take a booking fee or deposit to secure your date as this protects both of us and gives you the peace of mind that your DJ is committed to your wedding. The remaining balance is then typically due closer to the date. Make sure you understand the payment schedule, the cancellation policy, and crucially make sure everything is backed up with a contract. A handshake and a text message is not enough. If a DJ is reluctant to provide a contract, walk away.