Are the white sand beaches of the Caribbean calling your name when you envision your dream wedding day? While we may have been married stateside, we’ve got to say…same! However, when it comes to booking vendors, there are more logistics than usual to consider—just ask Serena. This is as true of your destination wedding DJ as it is of your photographer or planner! That’s why we’re both chiming in today to share our top tips for booking this VIP vendor, plus real-life examples from couples Dominic has worked with. Without further ado, let’s press play!

Tips for Booking a Destination Wedding DJ

Book Experience, Not Just Good Playlists

Your destination wedding DJ should have prior experience packing up and flying gear. Ask them for references from other destination weddings they’ve worked on! Take it from Dominic—customs forms and generator hookups aren’t things to learn on the fly.

Get Crystal-Clear on Travel Logistics

Serena recommends including every flight, bag fee, hotel night, and per diem—in other words, every travel-related expense—in your DJ contract. Paying a flat “travel buy-out” will keep surprise costs off your plate when airfare inevitably spikes!

Confirm the Gear Game Plan

Your destination wedding DJ will have two options. They can either hand-carry their controllers and laptop onto the plane and rent speakers and lighting locally, or ship their full rig ahead via freight, which requires going through customs. Either way, list who’s responsible if something is delayed in transit. 

Demand a Rock-Solid Backup Plan

The Wi-Fi on a tropical beach can be sketchy! Your DJ should:

• Carry duplicates of all critical cables and hard drives
• Have offline copies of every special song
• Know the closest equipment rental shop to go to if a speaker fizzles

Check Power, Permits, and Noise Rules Early

Your specific concerns will relate to the destination you’ve chosen. For example, island resorts often cut the power at midnight, while European villas may require a municipal permit. Your planner (hi, Serena!) and DJ should call venues directly to receive the most accurate information, rather than relying on website FAQs.

Blend Local Flavor with Your Must-Plays

Dominic loves weaving in regional classics (think “Despacito” for Puerto Rico or soca for Barbados) with your personal favorites. This approach keeps your guests feeling like they traveled for something special!

Sync the Timeline with Your Wedding Time Zone

Sunsets hit earlier underneath the equator. Work with your DJ to cue key moments, such as your grand entrance, first dance, and last call, around the actual light and local vibe, rather than your hometown clock.

Protect the Party with the Right Paperwork

Looking forward to dancing all night long? Ensure there’s no red tape by getting the following ahead of time:

• Performance visas (if required)
• Proof of insurance, valid abroad
• Written green light from the venue regarding sound levels and curfews

Stream It (or Don’t) with Intention

If you’re counting on live-streaming the dance floor back home, budget for the proper upload bandwidth. Otherwise, focus on creating an epic highlight reel for those who couldn’t make it!

Budget for the DJ Like a VIP Vendor, Not a Plus-One

Because the music on your big day shouldn’t be an afterthought! Plus, every travel day is a lost gig day for your DJ. Fair play keeps great talent excited to go the extra mile (literally!) for you.

Inspiration from Real Weddings

Wondering how all these tips come together on the big day? Here are three real-life examples from couples Dominic has worked with on destination weddings!

Dena and Jimmy, The Island Resort, Fort Walton Beach

Bright blue water, white sand beaches, and an incredible ocean breeze, and still these two lovebirds were the highlight! Their ceremony music was extra meaningful.  The groom walked down the aisle to “The Good Ones” by Gabby Barrett, and the bride walked out to “Beautiful, Crazy” by Luke Combs. Then, their recessional song was the classic “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us” by Starship!

The most unique thing this couple did was play a song during their ceremony.  It wasn’t played as they did anything in particular; they weren’t pouring sand into a vase or planting a tree. However, it was a special song to them, and they wanted their guests to hear it during their ceremony and listen as the lyrics explained how much they mean to each other. We loved it and think more couples should do it!

Gracie and Adam, Cape Horn Estate, Washington

What a view! We danced high above the Columbia River with the Oregon Mountain range visible on the other side. Our bride chose her father-daughter dance song, “Gracie” by Ben Folds, as an homage to her childhood memories.  Her dad would sing the song to her when she was a baby. So, on her wedding day, he sang it to her again as they danced together—there wasn’t a dry eye in the room!

Faith and Justin, Toccoa Falls, Georgia

This ceremony site was not in the mountains or on a beach, but it was still the most dramatic ceremony site either of us had ever worked at before—right in front of a raging waterfall!  Raging. It had rained all day and night the day before, so the usually small stream was pouring tons of water mere meters from where these two tied the knot.  It was amazing—loud, but amazing!

The bride had sent Dominic a recording of her voice expressing her love for her groom.  He put that into her entrance song, and it made everyone cry (especially the groom) as she made her appearance and walked down the aisle to him.  The groom was a fireman in New England, as were most of his groomsmen, so we introduced them into the reception to “I’m Shipping Up to Boston” by the Dropkick Murphys!  No tears during that song, but beer was spilled due to a few chest bumps.

Members-Only Music Perks

Did you know? Inside the Wedding Duo Membership, our couples have access to curated playlists for every wedding day moment, plus guidance from a professional destination wedding DJ (our very own Dominic!) during weekly Q&As. Get started crafting your dream wedding soundtrack by joining today and getting your first month FREE!