Hiring a wedding DJ feels simple until you start comparing. Quotes never look the same, websites use the same phrases, and it is hard to know what to ask. If I were the one booking, these are the questions I would want answered. I have grouped them so you can work through them on a phone call or in an email, and any good DJ should be happy to answer every one.

Short on time? If you only ask five: Are you free on our date? Will you personally be the DJ? What exactly is included? How do you handle requests? What happens if something goes wrong on the day?

Availability and who actually turns up

  • Are you free on our date, at our venue? Ask this first. It saves everyone time. Also ask what actually holds your date, because an enquiry on its own does not lock anything in.
  • Will you personally be our DJ? Some businesses sell one name and send another person. Ask who will be performing and, if you can, meet or speak with them before you commit.
  • What is your backup plan? Illness, a car breakdown or a failed speaker can happen to anyone. Ask about spare equipment and what the plan would be if the DJ could not attend.

Music and how the night is built

  • How do you plan the music with us? A good DJ asks about you, your guests and their ages before talking about songs. Be wary of anyone who just says they play everything.
  • Can we give you must-play and do-not-play lists? The answer should be yes. Ask how strictly you want the do-not-play list followed.
  • How do you handle guest requests? Some couples want every request filtered, others want a looser floor. Agree your approach in advance so your DJ can politely say no on your behalf.
  • What do you do when the dancefloor is empty? This tells you whether they read the room or simply run a playlist.
  • What is your style? My own approach is open format, which means moving between eras and genres rather than sticking to one sound. Whatever the answer, ask for it in plain English and ask for examples.

Equipment, sound and your venue

  • What equipment is included? Ask about the speaker system, wireless microphones for speeches, and any lighting. Do not assume lighting or a second microphone is part of the base price.
  • Can you provide sound for the ceremony? Ceremonies need a clear microphone for vows and reliable music cues. If your ceremony is outdoors with no power, ask about battery-powered sound.
  • Have you worked at our venue, and will you visit beforehand? Familiarity helps, but a walk-through matters more. Power points, load-in access and the position of the dancefloor all affect the night.
  • What are the venue’s sound limits and finish time? Some venues cap volume or finish earlier than couples expect. Your DJ should ask you this too.

MC duties and the flow of the day

  • Do you MC, and what is your style? Some DJs announce entrances and cake cutting, others stay quiet. Read more in do you need an MC as well as a DJ.
  • Will you work from our run sheet? Your DJ, celebrant, photographer and venue should all know the timings. Ask how they coordinate with other suppliers.
  • How many breaks do you take, and when? A professional plans breaks around moments when music can run quietly, such as dinner.

The business side

  • What is included in the price, and how long will you play? Make sure quotes are compared like for like. My guide to what changes the cost of a wedding DJ explains the main factors, and you can see an indicative price at any time with the instant quote calculator.
  • What costs extra? Overtime, extra microphones, lighting and travel are common add-ons.
  • How do deposits, the contract and cancellation work? Ask what happens if your date changes or you need to postpone. Get everything in writing.
  • Can you provide insurance details if the venue asks? Some venues ask suppliers for proof of insurance, so it is better to find out early. I list public liability insurance, a Working With Children Check and a police check on my quote page.

Wollongong and Illawarra specifics

Local knowledge counts for more than most checklists admit. A few things I would raise for a wedding anywhere between Thirroul and the Southern Highlands:

  • Coastal wind. Oceanfront venues around Wollongong and the north can be breezy. Ask how microphones are protected during vows and speeches.
  • Travel. Berry, Kangaroo Valley and the Southern Highlands are well over an hour from some parts of the Illawarra. Ask whether travel affects the price and when the DJ would arrive. Our guides to Berry and Kangaroo Valley and the Southern Highlands cover drive times.
  • Heritage and rural venues. Ask about power, access and noise rules before the day, not on it.
  • Your wider team. I recommend a small group of local suppliers on my Illawarra DJ wedding partners page, including an MC, celebrant, photographer and sweet maker. You can see more on the Wollongong partners page.

Red flags

  • No written agreement or a vague list of what is included.
  • No interest in your guests, your venue or the timings.
  • Pressure to book immediately before you have had your questions answered.
  • Refusing to talk about the playlist, requests or do-not-play songs.
  • No answer on backup arrangements.

If you are looking for a wedding DJ in Wollongong, I am happy to talk through any of these with you.