First of all, here is a quote from one of the best National Wedding Disc Jockeys / Emcee in the industry... Peter Mary

"If your Wedding Reception is like the Love Boat, then your DJ/Emcee is it's captain.  Don't hire a Gilligan!

Now here's how to NOT hire a Gilligan...

THE DON'TS

Don't: procrastinate in your planning - hire all of your wedding professionals as soon as the date is set. The best wedding vendors are scooped up 8 - 10 months in advance.

Don't: hire your wedding professional until you have a working budget.  Know what you can afford and if you are pressed for money, budget more for the items that are going to matter the most and less for the non essential "frills".   

Don't hire someone that seems unenthusiastic about your Wedding and /or what they have to offer you.  If they do not project much competence or excitement during your initial meeting, rest assured it won't be expressed on your big day either.

Don't: hire professionals just because they're the cheapest - Like everything else in life, you get what you pay for.  Instead, look for the value.  For example: An unenthusiastic $400 DJ that cancels 5 days before your event or shows up 20 minutes late in his Blue Jeans and can't quite get the Reception energized  is hardly a value compared to an experienced energetic professional at $800 that everybody rants and raves about.  Remember, your hiring more than just a DJ, your hiring probably the single most important, certainly the most visible, person to manage the resources of your entire event.  As a rule of thumb, if a DJ is cheaper than the  majority of  the other real professionals, he's not trying to pull one over on you,  he is telling you outright  that he knows his services are not up to par and that he doesn't want to take responsibility for the success of your important day.  You may have saved $400, but it won't make up for an evening of dissatisfaction that you will remember for the many years to come. 

Don't hire the first professional you meet - check out a minimum of 3 for a proper comparison.

Don't: be afraid to ask questions. If you are unsure of something "ask". A lot of times wedding professionals assume that because they know what to expect at a wedding that the bride and groom know as well.  If you are unsure or uncomfortable with any part of your wedding plans, don' t wait until it's too late to ask questions.

Don't: assume anything! - get everything in writing. CONTRACT - CONTRACT - CONTRACT. 

Don't: invite everyone you've ever known. - weddings are expensive.

THE DO'S

Do: give yourself plenty of time to plan.

Do: outline a realistic budget and timetable. These are mandatory to keep you on track.

Do: organize all of the pieces of the wedding. A binder which includes separate tabs for wedding professionals, appointments, contracts, gown/dress swatches etc. is a great investment.

Do: prepare and follow a timetable of events, including appointments, deposits & payments, review contract terms, fittings, etc..

Do: coordinate every aspect of the wedding day. To ensure your wedding day is truly "your special day" every item must be coordinated. Do not leave important decisions to someone else. This is your day and you are in control.

Do: hire professionals that you are comfortable with. If you are not comfortable speaking with someone, or if it seems like your questions or inquiries are just brushed off, then it would probably be a good idea to seek out someone else.

Do: take breaks during planning. If you begin to get stressed or irritated, take a break, step back and work on something else for a while. Often times decisions made under extreme stress are later regretted.

And finally,

Do: enjoy yourself. This will be one of the most memorable times in your lives. Be sure to spend plenty of time with your friends, family and most importantly, your fiancé