Skip to content

Lebanese wedding DJ in Ottawa

5 min readUpdated October 24, 2026

I DJ Lebanese and Arab weddings in Ottawa as an open-format DJ. I mix dabke and Arabic pop with current hits. A zaffe group or live drummers are booked separately, and I cue the entrance with them.

Key takeaways

  • Dabke and Arabic pop sit next to current hits, so every age has a song.
  • The zaffe entrance is a big moment. I plan the cue with your group ahead of time.
  • 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 Lebanese wedding needs from the DJ

Lebanese and Arab weddings are about energy from the first minute. The entrance is loud, the dancing is big and the whole family is on the floor.

These are the moments I plan around. Yours will have its own order.

Moments I plan around at a Lebanese wedding
MomentWhat happensWhat I do
ZaffeThe couple's entrance, usually with live drums and hornsI cue the group at the door, hold my music until they finish, then play the next song straight away.
DabkeLine dancing, led from the frontI play dabke tracks long enough for the line to build. I do not cut them short.
SigningThe marriage contract is signed (katb el kitab)I keep it quiet and make the announcement if you want one.
Late nightAfter the formal partsArabic pop mixed with current hits, so the younger crowd and the aunties share the floor.
Lebanon is many families

Lebanese families can be Christian, Muslim or Druze, and each wedding looks different. Tell me what your day includes and what it does not.

The music I mix

Here is the kind of music I mix in. Your list comes first.

Music I mix at a Lebanese wedding
StyleArtists and songs
DabkeHussein El Deek, Assi El Hallani
Arabic popNancy Ajram "Ya Tabtab wa Dalaa", Amr Diab "Tamally Maak", Elissa, Wael Kfoury
ClassicsFairuz, Cheb Khaled "Aicha", Mohammed Assaf
Current hitsTop 40, hip hop and Afro house for everyone else on the floor

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 put dabke early, while the older guests are fresh. Then I bridge Arabic pop into current hits, so the line dance turns into a full dance floor.

I will not drop a song from a country or a language your family does not use. Arab music is not one thing. Tell me which singers your families love, and which ones to skip.

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 uncle 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 Lebanese wedding specialist?

No, and I will not pretend to be. I am an open-format DJ who mixes dabke and Arabic pop 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 Lebanese 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.

Can you work with a zaffe group?

Yes. The zaffe group is booked on its own, and I coordinate. We agree when they enter, how long they play and where my speakers should be. I hold my music until they finish, then start the next song so the energy never drops.

Will you play both Arabic and English music?

Yes. Most Lebanese weddings I plan have both. I start with the Arabic songs your families love, then bridge into current English hits so younger guests stay out there. You tell me the balance. I adjust it live based on who is dancing.

How do we build the playlist?

Send me your must-plays and your no-plays. Then ask a parent, an uncle 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 Lebanese 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. Zaffe groups, drummers and dabke dancers 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.

Check your date ▸