DJ Advice
An Outdoor Wedding, Make Sure the DJ Comes Equipped!

As we continue to enjoy some wonderful fall/autumn weather in Northeast Pennsylvania, and as more and more brides continue to use Mother Nature as an unrivaled addition to their wedding ceremonies and reception both in terms of dramatic and stunning photographic backgrounds and unbelievable atmosphere for the bridal party and guests alike; it has become necessary for me to share with you all the importance of knowing what equipment a professional DJ should have in order to successfully maintain the tempo of your outdoor wedding. Many times, I have heard unparallel horror stories about DJ’s who have forgotten key components of an outdoor wedding, and likewise, equipment that they don‘t ordinarily use, resulting in a storm of upheaval to accommodate someone lacking the proficiency you [the bride] deserve.

So, when planning your outdoor wedding, and again on a slight sidebar, this is why you plan a wedding 12-18 months in advance, so that the stress of dealing with these small details does not overwhelm you. Moreover, when hiring a DJ, his/her presentation should emphasize his/her expertise, and thereby alleviate your need to fret the small things. For an outdoor ceremony and reception, your DJ should always have shelter in the event of inclement weather, two eight foot banquet tables, and a reliable power source.

We focus on the power source, because it is the most important. For the power source, a 10 or 12 gauge wire running from the circuit box is best. Avoid long runs of extension cords due to a drop in the AC Voltage and resulting disabling of the amplifier. Remember: The longer the run, the hire the gauge of wire required. And just to throw a wrench in the mix, the lower the number the higher the gauge, so 10 gauge is higher than 12 gauge is higher than 14 gauge! A standard set-up would be a 12 gauge wire run back to a 20 amp circuit breaker. After 80 to 100 feet of extension cord, you should switch to a 10 gauge wire. Caution: if your DJ has a big light show, you should have two separate power sources. Finally, always separate the power between the caterer and the DJ. Many times, when the caterer and DJ share power sources, electrical problems arise.