Most couples leave music later than they should, then rush the decisions that matter most. This guide breaks it down month by month so nothing gets missed. Start at whatever stage you're at — it all still applies.
By Matt Rooney · 9 September 2026 · 4 min read
12–9 months out: book your DJ
The DJ conversation should happen shortly after you've confirmed your venue and date. Good DJs in Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Cheshire fill their Saturdays quickly, and many only take one booking per day — so the earlier you enquire, the more choice you have. This isn't a pressure tactic; it's just how the diary works. Leaving it until six months out is fine for some suppliers, but with DJs you risk finding that the people you actually wanted are already committed elsewhere.
When you speak to someone, ask them directly: are you the person who'll be there on the night, or does an agency allocate a DJ later? That answer matters more than any brochure or highlight reel. Ask how they handle communication in the run-up, what happens if they're ill, and whether they've worked at your venue before. Once you're happy with the answers, get the agreement signed and the deposit paid. A verbal commitment on either side doesn't mean much if something changes six months later. At this stage you don't need a song list — just a confirmed booking and a point of contact you trust.
8–4 months out: think about the shape of your evening
You don't need a full playlist yet, but it's worth sketching out the shape of your evening. What time does the room open for evening guests? When do you want your first dance? Is there a meal running late that might push the dancing back? Is there a ceilidh or a live band earlier in the evening that affects when the DJ takes over? These questions are much easier to answer now than in the final fortnight, when everything else is competing for your attention.
This is also a good time to think about the moments that matter to you — a specific song for the first dance, a track that meant something to a parent, a genre your crowd actually dances to rather than one you think they should. Jot ideas down as they come to you. If you're using an online planning portal, start dropping them in whenever you think of them. Talk to each other about the feel you want: a slow build through Motown and soul, or straight into nineties pop from the first track. Don't overthink the full list yet — that comes later. Right now you're just making space for the decisions, not making them all at once.
3–6 weeks out: finalise the details
This is when the practical side comes together. Confirm your running order with the DJ — ceremony end time, wedding breakfast, evening reception start, first dance, any planned speeches that spill into the evening. Your venue coordinator will likely ask for a confirmed schedule around this point, so having already discussed it with your DJ means you're not guessing when the email arrives.
Finish your must-play and do-not-play lists now. A do-not-play list is just as useful as a must-play — if there's a song that will genuinely clear the floor for your crowd, it's worth saying so clearly rather than hoping the DJ reads the room in time. Share any certificates your venue requires, such as PAT testing documentation or public liability insurance. Some venues ask for these weeks in advance, not the day before, so check with your coordinator early rather than leaving it as a last-minute chase. A good DJ will have everything ready and can send the documents directly to the venue without needing you to relay them back and forth.
The final week: hand over and let go
By the week before, your job is done. The DJ should be liaising with your venue directly about access times, load-in arrangements, setup space and whether there's a sound limiter in the room. You shouldn't need to be the go-between for those conversations. If your DJ is asking you to chase your own venue for basic logistical information, that's a sign something isn't working as it should — it adds unnecessary stress at a point when you have enough to think about.
Send a final message to confirm everything is in order — running order, first dance, any last-minute changes — and then step back. The decisions are made. What's left is for the people you've trusted to do their jobs properly. On the night itself, the DJ should be fully set up and ready before your evening guests arrive, not scrambling to finish as the room fills and people are looking for somewhere to put their coats. The sound should be checked, the levels balanced, and everything tested well before the first guest walks through the door. If you've planned ahead using this timeline, that's exactly what happens — and you won't give the music a second thought all evening, which is precisely the point.
Common questions
When should I send my must-play list to the DJ?
Aim to have it finalised at least two weeks before. That gives your DJ time to prepare properly and leaves a window to clarify anything — a song version, a specific edit, or a do-not-play you forgot to mention.
Do I need to tell my venue I've booked a DJ?
Yes. Let your venue coordinator know early so they can confirm setup space, load-in time and any sound limiter restrictions. Your DJ should then liaise with the venue directly in the weeks before the event.
How many songs should I put on my must-play list?
Around 10 to 20 is plenty. A DJ needs room to read the room and respond to what's working. A list of 60 songs is a playlist, not a must-play list, and leaves little flexibility on the night.
Thinking about your own evening?
Send Matt your date and venue and he’ll come back to you personally, usually the same day.