How I work, and the terms in plain words.
A 50% deposit holds your date, the balance is due 2 weeks before the wedding, and travel is included within 50 km of Ottawa. Cancellation, moving your date and what I do on every wedding are below.
My standards
These are the same on every wedding I play. If you want the person behind them, start with about me, then read what couples say in my reviews.
- Setup
- Setup takes me about 1 to 2 hours, and it is finished before your guests walk in.
- Backup
- I bring a backup setup to every wedding: backup laptops, mixers, speakers, mics and cables. If something fails, I switch to the spare.
- If I cannot make it
- If an emergency keeps me from your wedding, a DJ from my roster of equal calibre covers it, and you hear it from me first.
- Replies
- Email, text or WhatsApp me and I reply within 24 hours.
- Liability coverage
- I carry year-round liability coverage, not only in wedding season. My insurance and SOCAN page explains what Ottawa venues ask vendors for and how music licensing works.
- Planning
- After you book we have a planning call, and I write a run sheet for the night. We talk again whenever you need to, and a final call the week of your wedding is there if you want one.
- The music
- I build it from your must-play and do-not-play lists, then I read the floor live. My Ottawa wedding DJ page has the rest of how I play a wedding.
Booking terms
I quote each wedding on a short call, once I know your hours, venue and how much of the day is covered. The cost page shows what moves the number. Here is how deposits, balances, changes and travel work.
- Deposit
- A 50% deposit by e-Transfer holds your date. It secures the date for you only and locks your quoted price against later increases. The deposit is non-refundable.
- Balance
- The other 50% is due 2 weeks before the wedding, by e-Transfer.
- Cancelling 90 or more days out
- I keep the deposit and you owe nothing more.
- Cancelling 30 to 89 days out
- 75% of the total is due.
- Cancelling under 30 days out
- 100% of the total is due.
- If I have to cancel
- If an emergency means I have to cancel and no DJ from my roster can cover, you get a full refund.
- Moving your date
- Ask me first. Your deposit carries over to a new date I have open.
- Outside anyone's control
- If a venue closure, a government order or a natural disaster stops the wedding, we look at rescheduling first.
- Overtime
- I do not run an overtime clock. If the party runs a little late, I stay with it. If you want me booked for extra hours on top of the plan, I quote that ahead of time.
- Travel
- Travel is included within 50 km of Ottawa. For a wedding farther out, your quote has one travel line.
- Payment
- The deposit and the balance are both paid by e-Transfer.
- What is booked
- Your written quote and agreement list exactly what is booked. Read them before you sign, and ask me about anything that is unclear.
If this all sits right with you, check your date and I will reply within 24 hours.
Booking questions couples ask
These are the questions I hear most about booking. For questions about the music, the MC and the day itself, see my wedding DJ FAQ.
Is the deposit refundable?
No, the 50% deposit is non-refundable. It holds your date for you only and locks your quoted price against later increases. If you move your date, the deposit carries over to a new date I have open. The one exception: if an emergency means I have to cancel and no DJ from my roster can cover, you get a full refund.
What happens if you get sick or have an emergency on my wedding day?
If an emergency keeps me from your wedding, a DJ from my roster of equal calibre covers it, and you hear it from me first. If an emergency means I have to cancel and no DJ from my roster can cover, you get a full refund.
Can we move our wedding date?
Yes. Ask me first, and your deposit carries over to a new date I have open.
What if something outside our control stops the wedding?
If a venue closure, a government order or a natural disaster stops the wedding, we look at rescheduling first.
Do you charge overtime?
I do not run an overtime clock. If the party runs a little late, I stay with it. If you want me booked for extra hours on top of the plan, I quote that ahead of time.
Do you travel outside Ottawa, and does it cost extra?
Yes. Travel is included within 50 km of Ottawa. For a wedding farther out, your quote has one travel line.
Are you insured?
Yes. I carry year-round liability coverage, so it does not depend on the time of year your wedding falls.
When is the balance due, and how do I pay?
The balance, the other 50%, is due 2 weeks before the wedding. The deposit and the balance are both paid by e-Transfer.