WE LIVE IN USA
The DJ usually doubles as MC: so they have to be able to pronounce your relatives' names
An American wedding DJ isn't only the person playing music; they usually double as the MCThey handle transitions, introductions, and announcements. That role setup has a direct impact on a Chinese wedding.
They have to read out a lot of Chinese names
A Chinese wedding involves naming: the wedding party, both sets of parents, elders giving speeches, and sometimes the order of elders at the tea ceremony. They can't pronounce a single one of them.
And mispronouncing an elder's name is worse than not saying it.
The fix: give them a pronunciation sheet in advance
Don't just give them pinyin.give an English approximation of how it sounds. Most Americans looking at Hsieh or Chuang can't produce anything.
The table looks like this:
Chen Mei-Ling / "chun may-ling"
Hsieh Wen-Hao / "shieh wen-how"
Mark which people will definitely be named, and at which point in the run of show.
Three things to ask before signing
1. "Do you also MC?"
Some DJs only play music and don't host. If yours doesn't, you need a separate MC. It's best to confirm this at signing, not two weeks before the wedding.
2. "Does the venue have a volume limit or curfew?"
Ask both the DJ and the venue. Many venues cut music at 10pm (see item 45 of the checklist).
That directly affects how full your run of show can be and which hours the DJ is charging for. If music stops at 10, dancing is only an hour or so.
3. "Will you honor a do-not-play list?"
Songs that must never play: an ex's song, one that upsets a particular relative, or simply ones you hate. People often forget this, but it is pretty important (see item 107 of the checklist).
DJ vs band
- DJ: typically $1,000–$2,500 💵. Unlimited repertoire, precise cueing to the run of show, doubles as MC
- Band: typically $2,000–$7,000 💵. Strong live presence, but limited repertoire, set changes take time, and they usually don't MC
For a blended wedding, a DJ is usually more practicalThat's because you need Chinese songs, and a live band is unlikely to play them.
Four segments to cover
- Ceremony: processional and recessional music
- Cocktail hour: background music
- Dinner: volume that allows conversation
- Dance floor
Make sure to confirm which parts the contract actually covers. Some quotes only include dinner and dancing, while the ceremony costs extra.
In one line
Confirm whether they also MC, then give them a Chinese name sheet with English sound-alikes. This sheet often shapes the elders' first impression of the whole wedding.