How to DJ your own wedding... 

an article by Nick Edser of NikNat Entertainment in QLD • June 8, 2019

Thinking of DJing your own wedding with a playlist or Spotify? Here are the secrets to how to do it...

STEP 1 – Appoint someone to take charge (Choosing music, setting up equipment and operating it)
 Someone will need to be responsible for the music. This can be a family member or friend that you have coming to the wedding.

You (as a bride or groom) don’t want to be stuck behind the decks all night! So find a family member or friend that really knows a very diverse range of music. They have to be someone that really has dedicated their lives to knowing and learning music from the 1950’s to today’s hits and across multiple genres.

This person is the “gate keeper” in effect. They are responsible for filtering the requests from guests so that only the good songs get played. The last thing you want is every requested song to be played, because (as a professional DJ, trust me) many of the requests guests make are either inappropriate for a wedding or just plain songs that won’t work.

Of course the downside of this is that the guest you choose will be working all night and not actually having a great time.

Maybe you are thinking “Hang on, I am not going to bug a guest. I am just going to set up a Spotify playlist and let it play”. . Ouch! TERRIBLE idea for starters, how could you possibly know what song is going to work at that particular time? A good DJ is CONSTANTLY assessing the situation and altering the playlist to be responsive to what is happening. Secondly, you will STILL need someone to stop everyone cutting each others songs and putting on songs that are not appropriate.

STEP 2 – Hire the right equipment
 This one is going to set you back at least $800 if you hire even half descent equipment.
As a bare minimum you will need –


  • 2 x quality JBL / Mackie / QSC speakers on stands
  • 1 x Mixer

(don't forget all the complicated leads and cables) and most importantly back-up gear incase something goes wrong.

And then probably a few dance floor lighting effects and perhaps a mic for speeches.

Remember to assign someone to pick them up from the place you are hiring from in the morning and drop back the next day. Many hire companies will also deliver, setup and collect again for a premium. If you choose this option, you will probably be looking at closer to $1200. (Remember this is just for the equipment, no operator and no music supplied).

Now maybe you are thinking “But the venue has their own sound system we can plug into”. I have been a full time DJ for over 10 years at the time of writing this and have yet to find a venue with even a half descent system you can plug into. 90% of the time, it leads to massive disappointment from guests and the couple that the system sounds terrible.
It might sound okay on venue inspection in an empty room, but fill it with people (whose bodies are 90% water and therefore absorb most of the sound) and BOOM a very underpowered and disappointing sound system. (Yay for science!)

STEP 3 – Get the music
Where are you sourcing the music? Spotify? The sound quality is terrible on streaming services and not 100% reliable. This should only EVER be a back up option.

A laptop with tunes on it? Are they encoded at a descent quality? 320kbs is preferred. Are they even legal? Is there enough of a range of options to keep everyone happy?

Then there is the question of the software you are playing it through to connect to the mixer. Are you using Serato, Virtual DJ, Traktor, Mixxx, Dee-Jay Pro?

Does the person you assigned the role of looking after the music know how to use this software? Not forgetting, this software is going to set you back a minimum of $80 if you gofor the cheapest one.

STEP 4 – Transitions and mixes
 Ensure the person in charge is familiar with transitioning and mixing to ensure the dance floor doesn’t die. This is quite a skill and takes years to master. Does the person you chose for the role of “DJ” REALLY know how to do this?

As you can see from this article, a DJ is SO much more than just a person that turns up and presses play. A professional DJ spends thousands of dollars not only on equipment, but on legally obtaining music, on their craft and hours and hours practicing and becoming an expert at giving people a great time through the medium of music.

Perhaps it would be just easier to let a professional do it?

After all, you don’t get a do-over of your wedding day. You have one shot.

Having a friend DJ as you watch your guests walking out the door early would not be a great feeling.

It’s your wedding. Make it count.

Trust a professional.

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What better time to celebrate the beautiful earth or make good on any of your eco related resolutions for the year than at your wedding. We have been inspired by the large number of companies taking a stance on environmental issues and embracing alternative products that do less harm to our world. With all that in mind, this month, in homage to our planet we have rounded up some top tips for you to have a more environmentally conscious wedding. Ditch your pen and paper and jot this one down on your electronic to do list instead. Say no to confetti Whilst it is tempting to have one of those Instagram worthy photos leaving your wedding venue while your guests shower you in confetti, it’s actually quite harmful to our environment and wildlife, not to mention you will be polluting your wedding venue with the tiny specs of confetti that are hard to get rid of. Confetti is difficult to tidy up and depending on how it is made it might not be biodegradable, and if left sitting in the soil the dye can be damaging to our environment. As an alternative insist the support of your most crafty friends for a day of DIY. Purchase a hole punch and rummage through your gardens for some leaves. Use your hole punch to make small circles in each leaf for an eco-friendly confetti. Alternatively, speak to your florist about doing confetti made from flower petals. Fancy a vegetarian reception? For anyone looking to be more conscious reducing your meat consumption is one of the first steps. Whilst some go completely meat-free others opt for an alternative like meat-free Mondays. Livestock farming is said to contribute to approximately 18 per cent of human produced greenhouse gas emissions. By having a meat-free reception not only will you be reducing greenhouse gases and encouraging your guests to take a stance, but you’ll also be making a small impact against deforestation, biodiversity loss and water degradation. Wedding favours with a purpose Have you thought about giving seeds as wedding favours? Not only are they gender neutral so you won’t have to worry about getting multiple types of favours, but they will also serve as a longer lasting memory of your wedding. Your guests will love growing their own plants whether they be flowers or herbs that they can add to a delicious home cooked meal. Say no to traditional favours made from harmful materials and in non-ethical ways and opt for a favour that won’t just be stored away after the big day. A conscious lead-up Bridal showers and hens’ parties, particularly those thrown from home can be a nightmare for anyone who is looking to be more waste free. At such large events plastic is often the go to for convenience but there are alternatives. Straws: No plastic straws for your cocktails purchase paper or stainless steel ones instead. Napkins: Plenty of stores stock cheap cloth napkins that can be used time and time again and are easy to clean. Look for cloth napkins made from sustainable cotton and to help offset emissions, shop locally or avoid buying products that are not made in Australia. They are far easier to find than you may think, Kmart even stocks them now in a variety of colours, so no excuses! Games: It might be hard to find plastic free alternatives to games you might play at these types of events so why not try your hand at DIY. Gather your closest friends and make some sustainable products instead, you could try make shampoo bars, deodorant and even have a vegan cook off! Go paperless Ditch the wedding planner and get app savvy! There are plenty of apps like ‘WeddingHappy’ available to help guide you through your wedding planning. They cover important things like your to-do list, budget, deadlines and can be shared with your partner or the bridal party.
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