Episode 30 - Some Wedding DJs Just Press Play!
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Episode Summary
The dancefloor can make or break a wedding, so who should be in charge of it? In this episode of our UK wedding podcast, Georgie is joined by co-host Carly Foxx, a London-based wedding and event DJ with nearly 20 years behind the decks, for an honest look at the music side of your wedding day.
They tackle the big question first: DJ, band or both? Carly explains why some weddings suit a band and others suit a DJ, and why the difference between a DJ who properly mixes and one who just presses play matters so much. They get into what a good wedding DJ actually costs, why a great wedding DJ needs years of experience reading very different crowds, how many planning calls to expect, why a long playlist of your favourite songs helps more than a strict must-play list, and why your dancefloor emptying for evening food or a chat absolutely doesn't mean your guests hate it.
There's reassurance for anyone dreading their first dance, the one ABBA song that rescues a dying dancefloor, the three things that guarantee a packed floor, and a Society question on how to keep older relatives and the uni crowd happy in the same night. Plus Georgie's case for buttonholes and corsages, and Carly's stories from life as a female DJ in a male-dominated industry.
Key Takeaways
If you can afford it, a band and a DJ together is the dream. Otherwise, choose based on your guests and the party you want.
A great wedding DJ reads the room and mixes between songs. Just playing one track after another isn't the same thing.
Book a DJ with plenty of wedding experience. Reading a mixed crowd of all ages takes years to learn.
Send your DJ a big playlist of songs you love, then trust them. Very rigid lists rarely work on the night.
Dancefloors ebb and flow. Nobody dances for five hours straight, and that's normal.
Keep the bar in the same room as the dancefloor, invest in good sound and warm lighting, and bring out the props after the first dance.
For a mixed crowd, start with accessible songs and remixes of classics, then get more niche as the night goes on.
Buttonholes are a small cost that makes key people feel special: think groom, best man, groomsmen, dads and granddads, plus corsages for mums and grandmothers.
Episode FAQs
Should I have a DJ or a band at my wedding?
Both can create a brilliant party, so the right choice depends on your guests, budget and the atmosphere you want. A live band brings a show and often suits more traditional weddings with lots of older guests. A skilled DJ can play a far wider range of music, keep the dancefloor flowing without breaks and adapt instantly to the room, which suits couples who want a club-style party. Many couples book a band for the main sets and a DJ to keep the music going in between.
How much does a wedding DJ cost in the UK?
Wedding DJ prices in the UK vary widely, from a few hundred pounds for a local or in-house DJ to several thousand pounds for an experienced DJ who mixes live and specialises in weddings. In London and other major cities, a highly experienced wedding DJ often starts at around £1,000. Check what's included, such as equipment hire, lighting, travel and set length, because many DJs quote separately for sound equipment.
What questions should I ask a wedding DJ before booking?
Ask how many years they've been DJing at weddings specifically, what types of weddings they usually play, whether they mix live or play tracks back to back, how many planning calls they offer, whether they take requests from guests, whether they speak on the microphone, and what equipment and lighting is included. Looking at real, unpolished videos of them DJing on social media is one of the best ways to judge their style before you book.
How do you keep the dancefloor full at a wedding?
The biggest factors are a DJ or band who can read the room, good sound, warm and considered lighting, and having the bar in the same room as the dancefloor, because guests who leave for a drink often don't come back. Avoid scheduling too many competing activities during the evening, hand out dancefloor props after the first dance, and get on the dancefloor yourselves, because guests follow the couple.