Couples who are having your ceremony/reception in the same place...

Our DJ is setting up during the ceremony or maybe ever so slightly before. Our ceremony won't be over 30 minutes and I want him ready to roll as soon as cocktail hour begins.

We are having violinists for the ceremony, so there's no reason why the DJ can't go ahead and prepare in the other area of the venue.

My DJ is also doing the ceremony, so she will be setup for the whole thing.

My DJ will definitely be set up and soundcheck done prior to the start of the ceremony.
My venue will have some tables behind a curtain that are prepared for the flip of the room. The DJ table will be behind the curtain as well.

My DJ will only do our cocktail hour and reception btw; which is why his table will be behind the curtain during the ceremony.

We are having our ceremony and reception at the same venue and having the DJ play music at both the ceremony and the reception

My ceremony takes place in the ballroom which is 1 flight of stairs away from the cocktail hour bar. We will have a violinist for the ceremony and cocktail hour, but a DJ for the reception which takes place in the ballroom. Our DJ will have time to set up during cocktail hour. Is your ceremony and reception occurring in the same room? Is there any change of location, like rooms, that allows for the setup time? Is the DJ doing the ceremony music?

If the DJ is doing ceremony musica dn reception, they'll need setup time.

Our DJ is providing music for the ceremony & reception. They will be setting up an hour before the ceremony starts. My ceremony, cocktail hour, & reception are in 3 different locations at my venue and they are covering all 3.

If you plan on using the DJ for ceremony you might want them there earlier anyways.
If you don’t then yes, you’ll want him to be already set up by the time ceremony starts. If you have a cocktail hour at separate room then this is a good opportunity for set up. Not sure if everything is in one room or the room is getting transform from ceremony to reception.

Our DJ is doing the music for ceremony. So, while we have cocktail hour, he is going to go up to reception area and set up during that time.

Our dj is doing both our ceremony and reception. Two setups, one in the garden, one in the reception area. Both will be set up before, then he handles music for ceremony, starts cocktail hour (preselected playlist), breaks down ceremony site during cocktail hour, then resumes cocktail hour.

Mine is setting up before the ceremony. This is mainly due to he is also providing the music for our ceremony so he needs to be ready by the time the ceremony begins.

Our DJ is doing the music for both or our ceremony and reception, so he is coming about an hour before the ceremony to set up and do a sound check.

Our DJ is coming 2 hours before our ceremony & setting up outside. He brings two sets up so he can do ceremony & cocktail hour outside, then reception inside.

We're doing something a little different! We're paying for Apple Music so we created a special dance playlist (first dance, father/daughter dance, etc.) and a separate reception playlist. Our venue has an AUX cord in their stereo system so we're just plugging it up. You can either put the songs in the order you want them or just hit shuffle. We plan on having a friend hit play and just pausing the music at certain times during the reception for announcements (cake cutting, grand exit, etc.) It's a lot cheaper and it lets you customize your reception and include all the songs you want!

View Quoted Comment We considered this, but FH decided he really wants a DJ.

This has been a nightmare for us. Our ceremony & reception will be in the same ballroom at our venue, so there will be a "flip" during the cocktail hour, where the venue employees reset everything for the dinner/dance. Our DJ didn't think he would have enough time to set up during the flip, so he is coming to set up before our ceremony. The only thing is that all of his equipment will be in the room during the ceremony, and at the start of the aisle. We had to buy a backdrop to help cover their equipment for during the ceremony so that any pictures of us walking down the aisle don't include their setup stuff in it. He didn't charge us any extra to have him set up 4 hours earlier, since he won't have to stay and work during that time.

I had my DJ handle both the ceremony and reception and they should set up both stations ahead of time. When the ceremony ended and we greeted our guests as they walked to the reception hall the DJ switched his laptop to the ballroom station that was already set up and the music was already playing s my guests were walking in. Speakers and such should be set up prior to the event and they just switch their laptops, if they're professional it should be a smooth transition.

Our DJ is also playing the ceremony so he'll set up before it starts and be ready to go.

View Quoted Comment This is what I’m afraid of.

Our DJ is also playing the music for our ceremony so he will set up before that... is there another area where you could have a cocktail hour to allow your DJ to set up?