Word-of-mouth is a great way to collect referrals and recommendations about local service providers. And the best part about message boards? You don't even have to leave your house. So, try logging on to a local town wedding forum to collect wedding DJ referrals from brides and recent brides right in your own city.
Try a site like the Canadian Wedding Bells (weddingbells.ca), which is extremely popular, but also offers a special Prairies section, devoted to brides in your area.
On a local wedding forum, you can obtain advice from women in your town rather than referrals for companies in New York or L.A. You can also find great advice on photographers, makeup artists and more.
Consult Your Photographer
A good wedding photographer will work at least one wedding a weekend - that's a lot of experience and interaction with wedding DJ companies.
So, if you trust your photographer, be sure to consult them on their recommendations. Alternately, if you already have a potential DJ in mind, ask them if they've ever worked with that person or company and what they think.
Go to the Bridal Expo
Edmonton is host to three major bride shows or wedding exhibitions. They are - the Edmonton Bridal Expo, a massive event that's held every fall and considered one of the best in the city; Bridal Fantasy, a twice-annual event that's held in both Calgary and Edmonton; and The Bridal Fair, a smaller event that's typically held twice a year.
While a Bridal Fair may be overwhelming, they can be a great place to not only check out multiple DJ and entertainment companies, but also to meet them for informal, impromptu interviews.
You can check out their gear, their music selection, their prices and their personalities. For many weddings, the DJ also performs as your informal MC, meaning you want to find someone that meshes with your personality and wedding style. So, instead of calling tons of companies or running all around town, you can get it all done in one place.
Stay Away From Do-It-All Wedding Factory Companies
There's a new trend for wedding "factory" companies. They do everything from transportation to photography, videography and DJ services. But, do they do it well, or are they instead simply churning out mass-produced weddings?
Ideally, you want a DJ that knows how to DJ and is going to do the job well. You wouldn't hire a photographer to cater your food or a florist to officiate your reception, so why hire a limo company to handle your reception entertainment?
Consult With the Venue
There are only so many wedding venue locations in any town, meaning the popular ones are often booked solid with weddings. And, like your photographer, they see a parade of wedding DJ companies week after week.
Because most venues host numerous weddings every year, they get to hear and see a wide range of DJ's - meaning they often know who is good and who might be better to avoid.
