Frequently Asked Questions

Here are questions that I get from couples just like you! If you don’t find your answer, feel free to email me here!

Photo by Aislinn Kate Photography

Aislinn Kate Photography

I want to make the process of hiring a DJ/MC as easy and stress-free as possible. Here’s the steps to expect when making your wedding a Highlight:

1. Discovery Call

Our initial 30-minute (or so) conversation helps you find out if I’m a good fit for your wedding event team. I really enjoy hearing your love story, how you became a couple, and what your likes/dislikes for weddings are! And, of course, you’ll want to ask me questions about my style and experience – and get to know me personally.

2. Booking

Once you’ve decided I’ll be a good fit for your wedding, I’ll send a contract and invoice outlining the services you’ve selected for your wedding day. Once the contract is signed and the initial 50% deposit is paid, CONGRATULATIONS! You’ve secured the entertainment for YOUR wedding. As a reminder, I won’t take ANY other weddings or events on your day. Now, I get to focus solely on making your wedding YOUR wedding!

3. Your Event Team

If you have any other companies or professionals to be your wedding event team, I’ll ask for their contact information. That way I can communicate with them directly and reduce the number of questions I have to ask you (your email inbox is filled up enough already). I’ll also regularly contact you to prepare for the next step in the planning process … The Creative Meeting.

4. Creative Meeting

No longer than 2 months out, I’ll contact you to schedule a Creative Meeting. We’ll go over the finer points of your day and make your wedding YOUR wedding. The cool thing about weddings is even though they often share the same elements, you get to choose everything about them! From the order of events to the songs chosen to how they are done, everything can be exactly as YOU want it to be!

5. Final Check-In

Two weeks before your wedding, I’ll follow up with you to see if you have any questions and confirm any elements of the wedding that were “to be determined” during the Creative Meeting.

6. Showtime!

Whether or not I’m a part of your ceremony, I always aim to arrive at the reception site at least 3 hours before your ceremony. This gives me time to be meticulous and set up in a clean and organized manner, soundcheck appropriately, and have enough time to be presentable and ready to make YOUR Wedding a Highlight!.

Questions to Ask a Wedding DJ

As promised, here are questions you should ask any wedding DJ you are considering hiring to be a part of your wedding event team — followed by my answers!

How long have you been in business and how much experience do you have?

I started my company in January 2020 but I have over 7 years and 80 weddings of experience!

How far in advance should we book?

The average booking window for wedding entertainment is roughly 6-9 months However, if your wedding date is set it’s best to book your entertainment as soon as possible. Since I only book one private event a day, once the date is spoken for, it’s no longer available to any other couple.

How much is our deposit?

The initial deposit is 50% if the event is booked more than 30 days in advance. If the event is booked less than 30 days out, full payment is required.

When is our balance due?

Your balance is due 30 days prior to your event. I have a system that will automatically send you a notification letting you know when it’s due, so you don’t have to keep track of it yourself!

Can we add additional hours?

Absolutely.

What is your policy on tipping?

Gratuity is never expected but always appreciated. If you decide to tip, the customary amount is 10-20%.

Does your pricing include setup and breakdown?

Yes. There are no additional charges for either.

What do you need from us for setup?

I have everything I need to setup. I also do not require you to provide a vendor meal. However, if one is provided by your venue, I’d rather it be a to-go meal. I don’t eat during the wedding reception because I don’t want to be distracted in case something happens unexpectedly. I also don’t think I’d look very professional eating behind my DJ setup.

Do you bring backup equipment when you DJ?

Your day is too important for me not to have extra equipment in case something malfunctions. I take pride in keeping my gear in excellent condition but sometimes things happen with technology. Here is what I will have with me at a minimum:

– Back-up speaker

– Back-up duplicate hard drive

– Back-up iPod with all requested music

– Back-up cables, etc.

If you're unable to perform for some reason, WHAT HAPPENS!?

I’ve never missed a wedding, EVER! But if I were unable to make it to your wedding because of unforeseen circumstances, I’d let you know as soon as I know – but no later than 24 hours before the event. I’d also let all your vendors know as well. I have a trusted network of professional DJ/MCs that I have no reservations about referring, so you won’t have to try and handle it yourself.

Do you carry liability insurance?

Absolutely. I carry a $2 million insurance policy.

What do you wear to an event?

I usually wear a black polo with either shorts or jeans for event setup. For your wedding, I try to wear colors that go with the colors the bride has selected and wear attire that’s very close to what your guests will wear. My goal is to look like I’m a part of the event.

How extensive is your music library or song list? What genres can you cover?

I have a catalog of over 10,000 wedding-appropriate songs. I can cover any genre you can think of — from the ‘20s to what’s current. I make sure that I only play clean edited songs. I don’t want to offend someone whether it be you, one of your guests, one of the staff, or someone that happens to walk by the venue as your wedding party is in full swing. I’m mindful of the impact I can have and don’t want to risk anything negative staining YOUR wedding.

Do you play requests?

What kind of DJ would I be if I didn’t? That is, of course, if you want me to. I’ll ask you to provide at least 10-20 “must play” songs for the dancing part of your wedding. This allows me to get a feel for your taste and use those requests as a framework to build the rest of your night around. I don’t put together a strict playlist beforehand, so it allows me the flexibility to incorporate unexpected requests as your night progresses.

Did you have any questions I didn’t quite cover? Email me here.

Good to go? Then let's get started making YOUR Highlight Wedding!