Your Wedding Checklist (& When You Should Really Hire Your DJ)

I really didn’t want to write this post, but over the course of two days this week I received five inquiries for the same date: October 20th. As many of my fellow wedding professionals know, it’s never easy to tell someone that you’re already booked. I’d love to be able to help everyone who contacts me, but there’s only one me. The early bird gets the worm… or in this case, the early bride gets the better DJ.

The timing of the inquiries I received was surprising – it’s as though five brides suddenly realized that they’ve got six months to go before their wedding day and they should probably secure their entertainment NOW. Unfortunately, now is too late, for me and most of the colleagues that I recommend. But after some quick polling among my Facebook friends and Twitter followers, something else came up – that a well-known and respected wedding website publishes a checklist for brides. And sure enough, six months before your wedding day, they tell you that it’s time to hire a DJ.

I won’t tell you that they’re totally incorrect and that you need to reserve your entertainment three years in advance (although getting my 2015 calendar filled early would be nice). What I will tell you is this: the wedding professionals who truly deserve your business are sometimes booked at least one year in advance. This is especially true if your wedding is taking place during the busy season (here in Southern New England, May, June and July are popular times, but the busiest months for me are actually September and October, when I’m usually booked 12 to 14 months ahead).

Checklists are helpful, and the wedding checklists provided online or in bridal magazines usually cover the basics you’ll need to think about when planning your ceremony and reception. Just remember that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to getting everything accomplished. In general, it’s best to follow suggested timeframes lightly, and secure most of your wedding vendors sooner rather than later. By doing so, you’ll be saving yourself from unneeded stress as your wedding day gets closer.