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Caribbean wedding DJ in Ottawa

5 min readUpdated October 24, 2026

I DJ Caribbean weddings in Ottawa as an open-format DJ. I mix soca, dancehall and reggae with current hits. The Caribbean is many islands, so I ask which music your families love.

Key takeaways

  • The Caribbean is many islands, and each one has its own music.
  • Soca and dancehall bring the energy. I plan when to let them run.
  • Your families help me build the list. I do not guess.
  • A friend or family member who knows both families works best for intros.
On this page
  1. What it needs from the DJ
  2. The music
  3. How I work it
  4. Building the playlist
  5. Questions

What a Caribbean wedding needs from the DJ

Caribbean weddings are about rhythm and joy. The music is big, the dancing is big and the family wants to move.

These are the moments I plan around.

Moments I plan around at a Caribbean wedding
MomentWhat happensWhat I do
EntranceThe couple and the party arriveSoca, reggae or dancehall, whichever your island loves most.
CakeMany families serve a rum-soaked fruit cakeI make the announcement and play a slow song while it is cut.
Soca waveGuests wave rags or napkins and jump upI play soca at full energy and keep it going while the floor builds.
Live musicA steelpan player or a band, if you book oneThey are booked on their own. I time the sets with them.
Which island?

Jamaican, Trinidadian, Haitian, Guyanese and Barbadian weddings do not sound the same. Tell me yours, and send me the artists your families love.

The music I mix

Here is the kind of music I mix in. Your families come first.

Music I mix at a Caribbean wedding
StyleArtists and songs
ReggaeBob Marley "Is This Love", Beres Hammond
DancehallSean Paul, Shaggy, Popcaan, Koffee
Soca and kompaMachel Montano, Kes, Bunji Garlin, Destra Garcia "Lighter", T-Vice, Carimi
Current hitsRihanna "Work", Top 40, hip hop and Afro house for the rest of the night

I am not the expert on your music. Your families are. I am the one who blends it with the songs your friends know, and keeps the floor moving.

How I work it

I move between the island music and current hits all night. A soca track can lead into a Rihanna song, and the floor stays open.

Slower reggae works well at dinner and the cake. Then I bring the dancehall and soca up later, when the energy is high.

The best nights also have a day-of coordinator.

How we build the playlist

I can mix anything. I just need your help with the playlist. Here is how it goes.

  1. Send me your must-plays and no-plays

    Even five songs each is a good start.

  2. Ask your families

    Ask a parent, an auntie and a cousin for their favourites.

  3. I sort it by time in the night

    I flag any gaps and tell you what I would add.

  4. We lock it on a call

    A final call the week of your wedding is there if you want one.

Questions people ask

Are you a Caribbean wedding specialist?

No, and I will not pretend to be. I am an open-format DJ who mixes soca, dancehall and reggae with current hits. Your families know the details better than I do, so they help me build the list. I read the room and keep the floor moving for every age.

Who should MC a Caribbean wedding?

A friend or family member who knows both families works best for intros and speeches, because they can say every name right. I handle the announcements so they are not working all night. If you want me on the mic all night, I will do that. The best nights also have a day-of coordinator.

Do you play soca, dancehall and reggae?

Yes. I mix soca, dancehall and reggae with current hits. Tell me which islands your families come from, and I will lean toward them. I also read the room, so if the floor wants more soca or more dancehall, I follow it.

Do you play Haitian kompa and Guyanese chutney?

I can, with your help. Kompa and chutney are their own worlds, and your families know the songs better than I do. Send me the artists and the tracks. I will build them into the night and mix the rest around them.

How do we build the playlist?

Send me your must-plays and your no-plays. Then ask a parent, an auntie and a cousin for their favourites. I sort everything by time in the night and flag any gaps. We can talk it through on a planning call, and a final call the week of your wedding is there if you want one.

What does a Caribbean wedding DJ cost in Ottawa?

I quote after a short call. I need your hours, your venue and how much of the day you want me to cover. Steelpan players and live bands are booked and paid separately. Talking to me does not need a deposit, and you get the quote in writing before you book.

Keep reading

Bring your families' playlists.

Check the live calendar and book a quick call. Talking to me does not need a deposit.

I keep my own calendar to a set number of weddings each year, so dates go fast.

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