Before you go:

• Think about the party. Is your guest list a dancing crowd? Will they want to party all night long?
• How do you want your DJ to play a part in getting the party started? Do you prefer a more traditional emcee or a DJ who will get their groove on along with your guests?
• What is your budget for your entertainment?
• How much of a priority is your music?

Questions to ask:

• Does your DJ work with CDs or MP3s? If he does work solely from a laptop, what is his contingency plan should the computer crash?
• Is he or she a DJ by trade or is this gig a side job?
• How many weddings have they entertained?
• Does this DJ have a back-up in case of emergency, illness or a death in the family?
• What is their payment schedule?
• How many songs do they have in their catalog of tunes?
• Do they have an online resource to submit your must-play and do-not-play lists?
• Are they able to accommodate requests from guests?
• If they do not have one of your "must-play" requests, can you provide the CD or MP3 to play at the reception?
• How many hours of entertainment does the fee include?
• Does the fee include travel to and from your reception site?
• Does the fee include a light show or other flashy accompaniment?
• Does that total time include set-up and breakdown?

Don't Forget:

• Your DJ will help control the flow of the evening, making announcements about your major moments throughout the night.  Do you like his or her voice and demeanor?

• Most DJs base their rates on a four-hour reception. If your budget is tight, you could consider cutting the party to three hours or less.