What time should DJ start?

My question is if you can guarantee she will have time to sound check avoid any feedback while setting her laptop to the equipment provided? Is there going to be someone there responsible for the PA system that can help her go from iPad to keyboard with a smooth fade with out again the speaker popping in everybody's ear? Is there even a mixer or is she using a mixer program on her computer? If she is using a mixer program on her computer she will most likely abruptly stop the music playing when she switches in a moment of silence while she wirelessly connects. Alll of that sounds like a disaster.

I think you should consider having her come in during your cocktail hour if its a different place than the reception so your guest don't have to go through any changing of the guards. If they arent in separated places you'll likely have to set up a time for her to work all of that out prior to the guest arriving.

We have a lot of venues that built in total sound systems and the dj's just plug into them.

What about music for the ceremony? A mic for the officiant?

It really sounds disjointed to me, honestly.

Ceremony music is just one song for procession and another for the recession. Our DOC is more than capable of handling those. And FH will be providing mics no matter what the DJ situation is.

I can't see how the result is any more disjointed than having live ceremony musicians followed by an evening DJ. (Which would actually be cheaper than paying the hourly rate for the DJ over the additional time.)

Prob March 22

It depends but they should definitely set up before guests arrive. My dj is doing the ceremony too (won't be seen) so they will arrive at the venue about an hour before.

Well, it sounds like you've already made up your mind, so why post this question?

I don't think it is at all reasonable to call into question why I posted in inquiry. The question I asked was "what time should my DJ start?" I in no way had my mind made up on that subject ahead of time. I was hoping for answers like, "give people [0/30/60/90 minutes or whatever] for dinner and then start the party music."

I didn't really get much in the way of answers to my actual question, which is fine. People can post whatever they want, and I don't own the thread once I put it out into the world. And overall the responses were helpful even if they were not actually answers to what I had asked. Based on the overwhelming concern expressed here on start time versus setup time, I reached out to the DJ and asked her to clarify how much time she will need to get ready. I also plan on talking with FH about the transition from playlist to DJ and making sure that is smooth, although flawless sound design is a major part of his professional career so I am not worried about him not knowing how to do it, I just want to make sure the plan gets adequately communicated to anyone involved.

Thanks to everyone who took the time to answer.