If you are hosting a destination wedding, meticulous planning is required to ensure your dream wedding goes without a hitch.... Sourcing a quality wedding DJ in a foreign country, that you can trust to make your wedding reception the unforgettable party you dream of can be difficult.....BUT not if you are planning a destination wedding party in Greece !!!
I know that my biggest fear for my DW was an empty dance floor. I wanted everyone to have a blast and the time of their lives. If you feel the same way, your music vendor(s) will be one of the most important hires you make for your destination wedding. So let’s break down the different options so that you can make an informed choice, shall we?
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The benefits of hiring a DJ are obvious. You pay a professional to mix some songs, energize the crowd and do what they do best, while you just kick off your shoes and dance the night away.
A great DJ can work the crowd and adjust their extensive music selection to make sure the dance floor is always full. This is usually the go-to option for U.S. weddings since it’s easy to find DJ’s that can accommodate any musical tastes.
But finding a great DJ abroad can get a little trickier because you probably won’t be able to meet them in person and won’t know what to expect until the day of the wedding.
You might start panicking (as I did) that a DJ in another country won’t be familiar with some of the popular music from your home city/country. If you’re planning a site visit to your destination, I highly recommend that you meet with the DJ in person and ask them to do a demo so you can get a taste of their style.
Another great way to ease your concerns is by asking the DJ to send you an audio or video demo from a past wedding. In the age of youtube, this shouldn’t be difficult.
And if you’re a bit of a control freak (like yours truly), you can do what I did and give your DJ a list of songs to play at your wedding. Months before my destination wedding, I started jotting down songs that my hubby and I both loved. But even more importantly we made sure that it was a balanced list that would appeal to the young and old, dancers and non-dancers alike. Songs that we knew were popular and would fill up the dance floor.
I handed the list to my DJ and told him to mix it any way he wanted to as long as he stuck to that list. And the end results were amazing.
Another fun idea is to ask your guests to send song choices on your wedding website or using a special hashtag on twitter or Facebook. You can gather all of their song choices and hand it to your DJ with full confidence that your guests will love the music selection.
Some people advise against this approach because “you should trust the professional do what they’re paid to do”. I agree that if you’re hiring a DJ you should trust him but if you have limited choices because you’re abroad and you feel the slightest hesitation, go with your gut.
This is your wedding and your money so if you’re worried that they’re going to play techno all night when you’re more of a pop music fan, then you have every right to give them a play and/or do-not-play list.
My friend, you can’t hit the rewind button and relive your wedding day all over again. So if this is one area that you can take some control over, I say do it. Just make sure your DJ is on board and comfortable with that approach from the start.
In my case, I had a full dance floor every minute of my 5 hour reception and I never had to worry about YMCA or the Macarena making it into my wedding playlist.
How do you find a good Destination Wedding DJ?
If you have a local DJ that you absolutely love and you can afford it, fly him in to your destination. There are some DJ’s, especially up and coming ones who will jump at the opportunity to get an all-expense paid trip to paradise.
But if like most, you’re on a tighter budget, you can start the search with your local wedding planner. They usually have a few trusted DJ’s that they work with and can recommend. You can also browse my vendor directory. Just type the search query “Wedding DJ” + your destination. For Example “Wedding DJ Aruba”. And when all else fails, you can always rely on good old Google!
Live Band
A live band is an awesome idea for a destination wedding. First of all, they bring a big presence and a dynamic to the reception that can’t be replicated. They can interact with your guests differently than a DJ can. Sure they tend to be a bit more expensive but it’s usually worth it.
I particularly love the idea of a local band for a destination wedding because it’s an awesome way to infuse the local flavor and culture into your wedding reception.
How cool would it be to have a salsa band at your Puerto Rico Wedding, a steel band in a Jamaican Wedding, or a Mariachi at your Mexican wedding?! I love, love, love the idea.
📷Finding a DJ for a destination wedding is one of the more difficult endeavors you will come across when planning your special day. Not only are the vendors thousands of miles away, selecting the wrong one will ruin your entire wedding reception.
In this article, you will learn how to select the right DJ for your destination wedding. Someone who is both reliable and reputable, providing you the necessary peace of mind before your big day.
Let’s start at the start.
Where to find a reputable DJ for your destination wedding?
No matter where you are looking to get married, finding dozens of DJs is not very difficult. The hard part is narrowing down all the choices so you are left with someone who you can count on to do a great job at your wedding.
The fastest and easiest way to get a list of reputable DJ’s in another city/country is to call the sales manager at your wedding venue and ask them for recommendations. They see dozens of DJs every year and can point you to at least a half a dozen that have proven to be reliable over the years.
If your wedding venue has no recommendations, then start looking online. Start by doing a simple search for a DJ on Google. As an example, if you are getting married in the Bahamas (Lucky you!), then search for the term “Bahamas DJ” and you will have dozens of vendors at your fingertips.
Once you have a few DJs to research, start digging a bit deeper.
Take a look at how big each DJs operation is (one man show or a team), what kind of music they play, their setup, and their overall demeanor. Check out their websites and see if they have any of their videos posted online.
Once you have done the initial research, select three DJs that you feel are best qualified and call each one to ask some questions.
Questions to ask DJs for a destination wedding
Are you available on my wedding date?
How long have you been a DJ? How many weddings do you do each year?
Is this a full time living for you?
Do you charge by the hour? Do you offer packages?
How many hours as your price include? What is your overtime rate?
Do you perform for more than one wedding a day?
Have you performed at my wedding venue before?
Do you charge any additional transportation fees to play at my wedding?
Are you comfortable being the emcee at my wedding?
How large is your music collection?
How much time do you need for setup? Resorts will multiple weddings run very tight so it’s better to know how long set up is so you can create a more accurate timeline.
How many hours can you play? How many breaks do you take and how long is each break?
Will you be the DJ at the wedding? Who subs for your if you can’t make it due to an emergency.
What will you be wearing?
Can you provide me a typical list of songs you have in your library?
Can I select music to play at the wedding?
Do you ask for special requests at the wedding?
Do you have videos (Youtube.com) that I can see so I can better assess your style?
How do you get people moving if no one is on the floor dancing?
What is your policy on drinking at the party?
Do you offer a written contract? Having one signals professionalism.
Can i have a list of references? Ask for brides specifically?
Do you belong to any professional trade groups?
What is your deposit? When the final payment due?
The answers to the above questions should help you narrow your choices down to two or three choices. To make a final decision, see how many of the following qualities they have.
The qualities of a good destination wedding DJ
There are at least a dozen qualities that a good DJ should have but no one has the time to assess all of them. Instead, we selected the top three qualities that will help you finalize the DJ that is right for your destination wedding.
Experience
How long have they been doing this? Are they new to the business or have them been around for five or ten years. The longer they have been doing weddings, the better job you can expect them to do for you. Plus, if they have been around that long, then they will have a certain level of professionalism and reliability that you may not see in less experienced DJs
References
Get at least three wedding references that you can call and ask questions. If the DJ cannot provide three wedding references, you need to look at someone else. Questions you should be asking are
Was the DJ on time?
Was he professional in his/her appearance?
Was he easy to work with? Easy to contact?
Was he able to get the party going?
Was the music exactly as he promised?
Was the billing correct or did you end up paying more than you expected?
Would you use him again?
Videos
No matter how many technical terms the DJ uses to sway your opinion, ask to see videos from past weddings. Seeing the event live will let you know immediately if this is the right DJ for you. Not only will you get a better sense of their style, you will also be able to see their music collection, and their demeanor. If the DJ is not able to provide a video, we would suggest looking elsewhere.
The wedding party is what most wedding guests look forward to when attending so make sure to take some time before deciding on the DJ for your destination wedding. By following the advice in this article, you will be able to select a good DJ that provides the right atmosphere, and the right balance of music to keep all the generations of your family on the dance floor.
Read more: http://grouptravel.org/destination-wedding/how-to-find-the-right-dj-for-your-destination-wedding/#ixzz5nBmpVOM4
If you are hosting a destination wedding, meticulous planning is required to ensure your dream wedding goes without a hitch. Sourcing a quality wedding DJ in a foreign country, that you can trust to make your wedding reception the unforgettable party you dream of can be difficult. Presentation, DJing style, equipment quality and musical selections can vary greatly from country to country. If you have a number of guests travelling abroad for your wedding, why leave anything to chance? As the popularity of couples getting married abroad grows, we have seen a rise in demand for our DJs to perform at weddings and events outside of the UK.
Max Marcus Events work with a network of international partners that are able to assist with all aspects of planning your wedding, from finding a venue to organising sound, light, and all things audio-visual. We understand the issues you can encounter when planning a wedding or event abroad and can offer intelligent solutions, making sure even the smallest of details are taken care of.
Top Destination DJs for your Wedding
Our DJs travel abroad frequently to perform at clubs, and festivals throughout Europe. They are available to private clients organising destination weddings and celebrations abroad. Planning in advance is vital to the success of your wedding. Your chosen DJ will travel to your destination at least a day in advance of the wedding, to confirm all the arrangements are in place, to reassure you that all will be perfect on the big day.
As destination wedding venues and locations become ever more exotic and remote, some couples choose to hold their celebrations outdoors or in settings not normally used for weddings. Don’t worry we offer vast experience working with sound and light for outdoor events, even in locations where a reliable source of power can be an issue.
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Destination DJs for Events and Parties
If you are planning a Wedding or party abroad, we are happy to guide you through the event planning process, utilising our experience, knowledge and industry contacts to take the stress out of planning your event. For more information on our destination DJ service, feel free to contact us here.
