Questions to ask a wedding DJ before you bookComing soonThis guide is the question list to take into your Entertainment Design Session, with what a good answer sounds like.
How-to guide
How to choose a wedding DJ.
The short answerTo choose a wedding DJ, decide what your night needs, then check the DJ's training, MC role, reviews, song handling, equipment and backup. At Elevate Entertainment, Elite, Exclusive and Artist DJs are chosen by name; on Premium, we match you with the right DJ from our big pool of Premium DJs. 4,000+ events, 20+ Elevate-Certified™ DJs, 18 awards, 9.7 NPS and 4.9★ across 1,058 verified reviews, as of August 4, 2026.
4.9(379)
4.9(218)
5.0(305)
5.0(156)
Photo: Integrity Hills, 2025, Jefferson May Photography · Maddie and Andrew at Integrity Hills
The method
How do you choose a wedding DJ, step by step?
You choose a wedding DJ in this order: decide what your night needs, check the DJ's training, whether they are also your MC, their reviews, how they handle your songs, their equipment and their backup, find out who picks the DJ, design the night before you book, keep it on one contract, then learn how you plan together and when you meet your DJ.
- Decide what your night needs from the person on the micWhat to look for: Before you compare names, decide what your night needs most from the person at the front of the room.How Elevate handles it: Premium: You want a full dance floor and a night that runs to plan, and you are happy for us to pick your DJ. Elite: Your night has a full run of show, and you want to pick the host who keeps every part of it on time. Exclusive: You already know whose name you want on your night, and you want that DJ to build it around your vision. Artist: The party is the reason your guests will remember the night, and you want a headliner running it.
- Ask how the DJ was trainedWhat to look for: Find out how the DJ learned to run a wedding, and who checked their work before their first one.How Elevate handles it: Every Elevate DJ trains in Elevate U and is Elevate-Certified™ before running a night for clients.
- Make sure the DJ is also the MCWhat to look for: Ask who is on the microphone at your reception: the DJ, or a second person.How Elevate handles it: At Elevate the DJ and the MC are the same Elevate-Certified™ person. One Elevate-Certified™ DJ runs the music and the microphone, so your night has a rhythm and a coordinator on the mic who makes everything flow effortlessly.
- Read reviews that name the DJWhat to look for: Look for reviews that name the DJ and say how the planning went, not only how the party felt.How Elevate handles it: 4.9★ across 1,058 verified reviews on Google, The Knot, Facebook and WeddingWire, and a 9.7 NPS, as of August 4, 2026. The couples’ reviews further down name their DJ, and you can filter them by DJ.
- Ask how your songs are handledWhat to look for: Find out how your must plays and do-not-plays reach the DJ, and how guest requests work on the night.How Elevate handles it: A 150,000-song library: must plays and never plays locked in, all loaded before the night. Guests send requests from their phones through JukeJuke™, free of charge and included in all of our bookings, and your DJ decides what plays and when.
- Check the equipmentWhat to look for: Ask what plays your music and carries your microphones, and what happens if a piece of gear fails.How Elevate handles it: The same state-of-the-art, premium-grade equipment at every level, with full system backups on every booking.
- Ask what happens if the DJ cannot make itWhat to look for: Ask what the booking promises you if your DJ is sick on the day.How Elevate handles it: Every Elevate DJ booking carries the Performance & Show-Up Guarantee: a matched backup DJ, full system backups and a 100% show-up record, and the guarantee is in your contract.
- Find out who picks the DJWhat to look for: Ask whether you choose the DJ yourself or the company assigns one to you.How Elevate handles it: Elite, Exclusive and Artist DJs are chosen by name. On Premium, our team assigns your DJ, matched to your crowd, your energy and your vision.
- Design the night before you bookWhat to look for: Look for a conversation that leaves you with a plan and an exact number.How Elevate handles it: Your free Entertainment Design Session: 60 minutes, video or phone, with the team behind 4,000+ events, without any pressure on the call. You bring the vision. You leave with a complete plan.
- Keep everything on one contractWhat to look for: If you add sound, lighting, live music or a booth, ask who provides each one.How Elevate handles it: Whatever you add to your DJ and MC, the sound production, the event lighting, the live musicians or the photo booth, comes from one team on one contract.
- Ask how you plan togetherWhat to look for: Find out whether you plan with the DJ who runs your night, or with someone else.How Elevate handles it: A planning meeting with the DJ who runs your night comes with every booking, and your DJ, as your MC, connects your vendors on the night.
- Know when you meet your DJWhat to look for: Ask when you first talk to the DJ, and how long before the night that is.How Elevate handles it: After you book, never before: there is no meeting with the DJ before booking, on any tier.
What does Elevate-Certified™ mean for my wedding DJ?
Elevate-Certified™ means your DJ passed Elevate’s own training. DJs train in Elevate U on the 12 core disciplines of DJing and MCing, for weddings and corporate events. The program runs four months, and experienced DJs move through it faster. Nobody skips it. Every DJ then passes evaluations and successfully DJs a first event, and then becomes Elevate-Certified™ and starts DJing for clients.
- 4 monthsin Elevate U
- 12 disciplinesof DJing and MCing
- Evaluationsand a first event, done well
- Certifiedthen booked for clients
What is included
What should every wedding DJ booking include?
Every wedding DJ booking should include the equipment, the music, a plan and the person on the microphone. When you book a Wedding DJ from Elevate Entertainment, every booking includes state-of-the-art, premium-grade equipment, dance floor lighting, a 150,000-song library, a planning meeting, the Performance & Show-Up Guarantee and your MC, and the DJ and the Wedding MC are one Elevate-Certified™ person. Everything below comes with every booking, on every tier.
Six things in every DJ booking
- State-of-the-art, premium-grade equipmentThe same state-of-the-art, premium-grade equipment at every level.
- Dance floor lightingIt comes with the DJ.
- A 150,000-song libraryMust plays and never plays locked in, all loaded before the night.
- A planning meetingWith the DJ who runs the night.
- Performance & Show-Up GuaranteeA matched backup DJ, full system backups and a 100% show-up record.
- The MCYour MC coordinates the night on the microphone, connects all of your vendors, and makes sure the whole night flows effortlessly and seamlessly for your guests. Your MC is your DJ: the same person, not an extra one.
Some couples skip a day-of coordinator. Your Elevate MC often fills that role, running the timeline, cueing your vendors and moving the night along.
Additionally, Elevate Entertainment serves every client, weddings and corporate events alike, with add-ons such as sound production, photo booths, event lighting, live musicians, the DJ-Band Hybrid and special effects. Here’s what our couples frequently book.
46% of our events
Sound production
Grandma can hear the vows. Mics on the officiant and on you, clean sound to the back row, and extra speakers wherever the room needs them.
Sycamore Creek Ranch, 2025 · photo Sheri Holloway Photography
30% of our events
Photo booth
The one favor guests actually keep: a print in hand, on every booth that prints. A second copy goes into the scrapbook that goes home with you.
Greenhouse Two Rivers, 2024 · photo Jenna Lynn Photography
Nearly 1 in 5 of our events
Lighting
The room in your colors, and your photos come back finished instead of flat.
Sycamore Creek Ranch, 2025 · photo Stem Visuals
Live musicians
Live players set your ceremony, and they can play cocktail hour too, added by the hour.
Integrity Hills, 2026 · photo Madison Thompson Photography
Special effects
Cold Sparks, Dancing on a Cloud and CO2 cannons, staged where they belong in the night.
The Bardot, 2025 · photo Jefferson May Photography
DJ-Band Hybrid
Live musicians play over the DJ’s set.
Greenhouse Two Rivers, 2025 · photo Kyla Taylor Photography
Tap any add-on to see how it works.
DJ or band
Should you choose a wedding DJ or a band?
Choose a wedding DJ when you want one person to carry the whole night, with no breaks and any song on the spot; choose a band when you want live players on a stage of their own. A wedding DJ also costs less than a live band for the same night, because one Elevate-Certified™ person covers the whole night, where a band brings several players and their sound. Couples who want both add the DJ-Band Hybrid: up to six live musicians over the DJ’s set, band energy with DJ coverage.
Picking your DJ
Can you choose your wedding DJ by name?
Yes, on three of our four tiers. On Elite, Exclusive and Artist, you choose your DJ, and we hold your pick for your night. We show you who they are through their profile and their reviews. On Premium, we match you with the right DJ from our big pool of Premium DJs: our team assigns your DJ about four months before your event, matched to your crowd, your energy and your vision, and you meet your DJ about 30 days before the event to plan it. On every tier, your free Entertainment Design Session is with our team, not with the DJ.
Booking your DJ
How do you book the wedding DJ you chose?
You book the wedding DJ you chose from Elevate Entertainment in three steps: see your price range above, design the night in one free conversation, and read the itemized number in your quote. A deposit holds your date. You can place it during your Entertainment Design Session.
Elevate EntertainmentYour booking, three steps
See your price range
Tap what your night needs in the estimator above. It sorts your running order and shows one rough range for the whole night; your exact price still comes from your quote.
See your price rangeDesign the night in one conversation
Your free Entertainment Design Session: 60 minutes, video or phone, with the team behind 4,000+ events. You bring the vision. You leave with a complete plan.
If you would rather build your night with a person than on a screen alone, or want more guidance on what to choose, you can do it together here.
Book your Entertainment Design SessionGet your exact number
A real, itemized quote for exactly what you choose. Or skip ahead and build your quote online any time.
Pricing
What does a wedding night with an Elevate Entertainment DJ cost?
Experiences begin at $1,500
Most couples spend between $2,500 and $7,500. Highly produced events can run up to $25,000. Where your night lands depends on how much of it you hand to one team: the DJ and MC alone, or the sound production, the lighting, the live musicians and the booth with them.
$1,500Experiences beginOne experience, done right.
$2,500 to $7,500Most couples spendA DJ who is also your MC, plus live music, lighting, photo booths and effects.
$25,000Highly produced events run up toEvery part of the night from one team.
Build your quote online
Build it online, or get your exact number in your free Entertainment Design Session. Klarna and Affirm financing are available.
Why couples chose us
Why did couples choose Elevate Entertainment as their wedding DJ?
One couple chose Elevate Entertainment after a friend’s wedding; others say their DJ answered every question and took the time to get to know them before the night. Filter the reviews by topic or by DJ, check whether we have played your venue, and read the rest on the reviews page.
Tap a question below.
Or pick a topic
Filter by DJ
Showing all 4 reviews
★★★★★“…From the very beginning, they kept us informed and answered all of our questions. We hopped on multiple calls to discuss details and met with the DJ in person before our big day. Kassie was our DJ and she did such a phenomenal job.…”
★★★★★“Overall, elevate was amazing. we had stefan as our DJ and he delivered a great night for our wedding! was easy to work with and very communicative over the phone. the detailed client portal was so thorough and easy to use as well. he took the time to get to know me and my husband. thank you!”
★★★★★“…From our first meeting to our actual wedding, Ian was phenomenal in catering to exactly what we wanted. He asked questions to get to know us and brought up many great points that we hadn’t thought of. The whole planning process was made so much easier with his assistance.…”
★★★★★“After attending a friend’s wedding DJ’d by Broc with Elevate Entertainment, my now husband kept Broc’s business card in his wallet for almost 3 years until we finally got to have Broc DJ our own wedding!…”
No review on this page matches that yet. Show every review
Related guides
What else should you read before you choose a wedding DJ?
Before you choose a wedding DJ, four other guides are worth a read: what a wedding DJ costs, whether you want a band, how the reception runs and how our pricing works.
How much does a wedding DJ cost?This guide explains what moves the price of a wedding DJ and MC: the hours on site, the tier of DJ you book, the date and the drive, and what a booking covers before a single add-on. Its estimator shows a rough price range for your night.Read the guide →
DJ vs live band for your wedding: cost, sound and the hybridThis guide sets a DJ and a live band against each other on cost, sound and range, and explains the DJ-Band Hybrid, which brings both.Read the guide →
The wedding reception timeline, hour by hourThis guide lays the reception out in order, from the entrance to the last song.Read the guide →
How pricing worksThis is Elevate Entertainment’s own pricing page: what a booking includes, what moves the number up or down, and the two ways to get an exact price for your night.Read the guide →
Questions to ask a wedding DJ before you bookComing soonThis guide is the question list to take into your Entertainment Design Session, with what a good answer sounds like.
Wedding DJ red flagsComing soonThis guide names the warning signs that show up before a booking goes wrong, and what to ask the moment you see one.
How far in advance should you book wedding entertainment?Coming soonThis guide explains how far ahead to book wedding entertainment, what the season does to availability, and how to check your date if you are starting late.
What should a wedding DJ contract include?Coming soonThis guide walks a wedding DJ contract clause by clause: what it should cover, what a backup promise should say, and what to read twice.Before you book
What do couples ask when they choose a wedding DJ?
Couples who choose a wedding DJ ask when to book, whether they can meet the DJ first, who the MC is, what happens if the DJ cannot make it, how their songs are handled and which questions to ask.
When should you book a wedding DJ?
Book your wedding DJ as soon as your date and venue are set. Peak Saturdays go first, and the DJs couples ask for by name go with them.
Can you meet your wedding DJ before you book?
No, not before you book. Your free Entertainment Design Session is with our team. On Elite, Exclusive and Artist, you choose your DJ, and we hold your pick for your night. We show you who they are through their profile and their reviews. On Premium, our team assigns your DJ about four months before your event, matched to your crowd, your energy and your vision, and you meet your DJ about 30 days before the event to plan it.
Is the wedding DJ also the MC?
Yes, at Elevate Entertainment your MC is your DJ: the same person, not an extra one. Your MC coordinates the night on the microphone, connects all of your vendors, and makes sure the whole night flows effortlessly and seamlessly for your guests.
What happens if our wedding DJ cannot make it?
Every Elevate DJ booking is matched with a backup DJ and backup equipment. That is the Performance & Show-Up Guarantee: we show up and perform your event, our show-up record is 100%, and the guarantee is in your contract.
Can you give your wedding DJ a must-play and a do-not-play list?
Yes. Every booking includes a 150,000-song library, with your must plays and never plays locked in and all loaded before the night. Your DJ decides what plays and when, guest requests included.
What questions should you ask a wedding DJ?
Ask a wedding DJ how they were trained, whether they are also your MC, who picks the DJ for your night, what happens if they cannot make it, how your songs and your planning are handled, and when you will meet them.
Your Event Made Perfect
How do I talk to a real person about choosing a wedding DJ?
You talk to a real person about choosing a wedding DJ by booking an Entertainment Design Session in the four quick steps here. One free conversation, 60 minutes, video or phone. You leave with a complete plan and an exact number, without any pressure on the call.
Complimentary · real numbers. A real person will text you within the hour.
Call or text(816) 477-4077
Step 1 of 4
Which event are we designing entertainment for?
One tap, then we check your date.
Pick the one that fits best and we’ll take it from there.
When and where is the celebration?
A rough idea is fine. Peak Saturdays go first.
Your date
Which of our locations is closest to your event?
Choose your closest market, and either a date or the no-date box.
Help us tailor your session.
Honest answers get you a sharper plan. There are no wrong ones.
Where are you in planning?
Which venue?
Optional. It helps your designer prepare for that room.
By when do you want to have found your best fit?
What do you feel is non-negotiable, if you had to pick one?
At its peak, how loud does the dance floor go?
Tap one answer in each row and you’re nearly done.
Tell us about the event.
Enough to bring the right ideas, nothing more.
What kind of event?
About how many guests?
Where is it being held?
Optional. The city is enough if the venue is not set.
When do you need this decided?
At its peak, how loud does the dance floor go?
Tap one answer in each row and you’re nearly done.
Tell us about the celebration.
Enough to bring the right ideas, nothing more.
What’s the occasion?
Where is it being held?
Optional. The city is enough if the venue is not set.
When do you need this decided?
At its peak, how loud does the dance floor go?
Tap one answer in each row and you’re nearly done.
Last step. Your details, so we can check your date.
Your designer reviews your answers before the session, so the conversation starts at your event, not at a blank page.
We need your name, a working email and phone, and the consent box checked.