Want a reception that's fun, lively and memorable? Flowing smoothly from moment to moment? Then seriously think about hiring a wedding disc jockey.

Now, don't cringe. If your only familiarity with DJs is the nightclub variety - sometimes hyper, loud, carelessly clothed, attended by sirens, lurid logos and flashing lights - you're not thinking of the right DJ at all.

"Just as a wildlife photographer should not shoot weddings," laughs wedding planner Amie Haakenson of Your Event Planner, "a club DJ should not play a wedding!"

Indeed, many club and radio DJs simply lack the experience of coordinating a wedding reception and communicating to a live audience face-to-face. Wedding experience counts.

A professional wedding DJ offers so much more than just playing music. They'll also act as the all-important master of ceremonies and smoothly guide your celebration from start to finish allowing you time to relax and enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime party.

Professional DJ Mike Harris, of M&M Productions, puts it this way: "(DJs) act as emcees to maintain the flow and coordinate all the ceremonial aspects. But the DJ should not be the show. The focus should be kept on the bride and groom."

Newlyweds Jennifer and Brian were pleased with their DJ experience: "You have more variety of music with a DJ."

A professional DJ "easily can carry thousands of CDs to accommodate the wide variety of people at weddings," says Harris of M&M Productions. "And he's a fraction of the cost of a band."

Peggy and David used a DJ at their wedding "because we could choose our own music, and because we didn't want the music to be so loud that it would be annoying."
In short, with a DJ you have control.

Finding your dream DJ

So how do you find one of these invaluable characters? First, get the names of several wedding DJs to interview.

The best way to do this, offers Mike Harris, "is to talk to industry professionals - catering managers, photographers, wedding coordinators, etc."

Ask your reception venue for recommendations. Get suggestions from friends, co-workers, and recently married couples. Watch DJs on wedding videos. Take notes at other weddings. Attend bridal fairs. And, of course, check out our Resource Directory listings (Click here for DJs).

Select three or four DJs and go as a couple to interview them. "First and foremost," recommends Harris, "see if the DJ is professional. Professionals will have high-quality equipment and plenty of experience in wedding protocol."

There are three essential things to check about each DJ, says Martin James of Alaska Professional Entertainment: "Are they organized? Do they ask pertinent questions? And, most important, do they take the time to listen to you?"

Harris recommends making sure there are no hidden costs. "A DJ should be prepared to disclose the entire cost, including sound, lights, setup, tear down, and any travel or lodging. The only variables should be extra hours and gratuity."

Be sure to sample each DJ's work by watching her on video or, if possible, seeing her in live action (without gate crashing!). Make sure you like what you see and hear - that she blends in well with the specific wedding, for instance.

Verify your impressions by talking to references, which should include couples, wedding planners and venue staffs. (If the DJ doesn't have any references, quickly move on.)

And finally, sign a contract that spells out your date, the exact services and the cost.

Now what?

Carefully choosing the DJ is only the first step. As in every aspect of planning a great wedding, there's much work to be done.

"Fail to plan, plan to fail!" says Harris of M&M Productions. "If your DJ does not have a plan to structure the evening, it will fail."

Many DJs provide couples with a reception planner to start their thinking and then schedule a consultation with the couple one to four weeks before the wedding.

If possible, go to your reception location with the DJ, introduce him to the staff, and discuss things on site.

Also make sure your DJ communicates with the other professionals you've hired. Martin James of Alaska Professional Entertainment is adamant about this: "I provide the timeline to the photographers, venue manager, caterer, maid of honor, and the best man. This keeps everyone on the same page so there are no surprises."

Eat, drink, laugh and relax ... your DJ is in control

• Finally, it's wedding day. After all that advance work in selecting a DJ, what's in it for you and your guests at the reception?
• Entertainment, energy and fun from start to finish.
• A warm, polished emcee who is almost part of the wedding party.
• Good sounds matching your taste, and your guests'.
• Great dancing for guests of varied abilities and interests.
• Seamless connections tying all parts of the reception together.
• A lively party that still keeps the focus where it belongs: on you.
• A much more relaxing time since your evening's in good hands.
• Many wonderful memories - for everyone.

Newlyweds Meghan and Jason say their DJ helped keep things like the cake cutting and garter toss moving along beautifully: "We didn't really know what we were doing, but he did!"

A good DJ rolls with the unexpected. Martin James emceed one reception where the wedding cake failed to arrive. Improvisation became vital. "I had to keep people entertained until the groom's mother raced to the grocery store and returned with a cake!"

Your DJ might even save the day. Mike Harris tells of a reception where candles set fire to wedding gifts, groomsmen doused the flames with pitchers of beer, and the fire marshal became an unwanted guest. The bride dissolved in tears, but when the inspired DJ played "Burning Down the House," everyone suddenly realized the humor of the incident. It turned into a fun and fabulous time. And very much a reception to remember.

Without a doubt, entertainment sets the tone for any reception. Years from now, your wedding guests will remember few details of your reception, but they'll certainly recall whether they danced, laughed and enjoyed themselves.

So, if you're currently dancing around a number of entertainment options for your reception, here's a final thought from Amie Haakenson of Your Event Planner: "With a wedding DJ, you get reliability, continuity, professionalism and value for your dollar."
Now, that just might be music to your ears.

Want more great ideas and advice? Pick up a copy of Alaska Bride & Groom on newsstands now. Alaska Bride & Groom is your complete Alaska wedding guide.