The Best Wedding DJs in Sioux Falls, SD: How to Choose the Right DJ for Your Wedding
If you're searching for the best wedding DJs in Sioux Falls, SD, you’re probably realizing pretty quickly that there are a lot of options… And honestly, that’s a good thing!
There are some really talented DJs in Sioux Falls. But finding the right wedding DJ isn't necessarily about finding the person with the biggest speakers, the most Instagram followers, or the cheapest package. Your wedding DJ is going to have a huge impact on how your reception feels.
They're responsible for the music, but they're also helping guide the timeline, MC the reception, read the room, work with your other vendors, manage the dance floor, and make dozens of little decisions throughout the night that most guests will never even notice. So how do you actually choose the right wedding DJ in Sioux Falls?
After more than 1,000 events, years of weddings throughout Sioux Falls and the Midwest, and a whole lot of time spent watching what makes a great reception work (and what doesn't), here's what we'd tell any couple looking for their wedding DJ.
What Makes a Great Wedding DJ?
Before you start comparing wedding DJ packages, ask yourself a different question:
What do we actually want our wedding reception to feel like?
Do you want a packed dance floor all night?
Something more elegant and relaxed?
A DJ who is highly interactive?
Someone who stays mostly behind the booth?
A great MC who keeps the reception moving without making everything about themselves?
Maybe you want a combination of all of those things. That's why we don't think there's one single formula for the "best wedding DJ." The best wedding DJ for you is the one who understands your people, your music, your personality, and the kind of night you want to have. At Good Times Events & Entertainment, that's our entire approach. Your wedding is about you and your person. We'll absolutely treat your guests with professionalism and make sure everyone feels welcome. But at the end of the night, you're our celebrities. What you say goes. Our job is to take your vision and use our experience to make it happen.
1. Look for a Wedding DJ Who Actually DJs
This might sound obvious, but it's one of the biggest things we'd look for when hiring a DJ. There's a difference between someone who owns DJ equipment and someone who is actively practicing the craft of DJing. At Good Times, all of our DJs are required to club DJ throughout the year. Why? Because weddings aren't the only place we connect with your community.
Club DJing gives our DJs a place to experiment, stay current with music and trends, sharpen their mixing skills, and stay involved in the communities we're actually DJing for. Every wedding is different. Every crowd is different. And every dance floor reacts differently. Club DJing gives our team an opportunity to be creative and keep our skills primed. That experience translates directly to weddings.
We're constantly listening to new music, watching how crowds react, practicing transitions, learning what works, and figuring out how to move from one song or genre to another without killing the energy. You don't necessarily notice those skills when everything is going perfectly. You notice them when the DJ somehow takes a room that wasn't dancing and turns it into a packed dance floor.
2. Your Wedding DJ Should Know How to Read a Dance Floor
A wedding playlist can be perfect on paper and still completely miss the room. That's because a wedding isn't a Spotify playlist. You might give us 100 songs you love. That's incredibly helpful. But your DJ still needs to understand when those songs should be played and how much of the song is necesary.
Maybe everyone is ready for something high-energy. Maybe the dance floor needs a reset. Maybe your college friends are going crazy for throwbacks, but your parents and grandparents need to be tied in. Maybe you and flower girl really need a slower song played and we need to tie it in at a faster pace so it doesn’t kill the dance floor.
That's where experience matters. At Good Times, we're experienced in managing dance floors and bringing them to life while still respecting the music you've selected. We're not there to turn your wedding into our party. We're there to understand your taste, understand your people, and use our experience to make your music work.
3. Make Sure Your DJ Can Actually MC
Being a good DJ and being a good MC are two different skills. Your MC is the voice of your reception. They're announcing your grand entrance, introductions, speeches, dinner, dances, special moments, and everything else that needs to happen throughout the evening. And the way those announcements are delivered matters. Too stiff and your reception can feel overly formal. Too casual and it can feel unorganized. Too much personality and suddenly your DJ becomes the main character. That's not what we want.
At Good Times, we actually practice our MCing. We want your wedding to sound and feel like you imagined it. Every DJ on our team has their own personality, their own style, their own vibe, and their own way of MCing. That's intentional. Our owner, Logan Swanson, hand-selects and trains every DJ on the Good Times team. From there, each DJ develops their own style while still understanding the Good Times standard for professionalism, energy, communication, and entertainment. That means you're not booking a bunch of identical DJs. You're booking a team of individuals who know what they're doing and bring their own personality to your wedding.
4. Ask How Much Planning Happens Before Your Wedding
A great wedding reception doesn't start when the DJ turns on the microphone. It starts months before that. There are a lot of details that need to be figured out:
Ceremony music
Ceremony microphones
Grand entrance
Wedding party introductions
Dinner
Toasts
First dance
Parent dances
Special dances
Cake cutting
Announcements
Open dancing
Last song
Special requests
Do-not-play songs
Vendor coordination
Timeline changes
We have a thorough planning process designed to make all of those details easier. Our planning tools help couples organize their music and reception details, and we have a planning meeting to make sure everyone is on the same page. Your lead DJ is also available for questions leading up to the wedding.
That's important because you shouldn't have to wonder:
"Did we tell our DJ about that?"
or
"Does our DJ know we're doing this?"
The goal is for you to walk into your wedding day knowing the entertainment side of things is handled.
5. Choose a DJ Who Knows Sioux Falls
Local experience matters more than people sometimes realize. Sioux Falls has a lot of great wedding venues, and every venue has its own quirks.
Where does the DJ set up?
Where does the ceremony happen?
How much space is available for the dance floor?
Where can power be accessed?
What are the venue's rules?
What time can vendors get in?
Where do we load in?
Where do we park?
How does the venue staff prefer vendors to communicate?
What needs to happen before guests arrive?
Those details might not sound exciting, but knowing them can make your wedding day dramatically easier. Good Times has extensive experience with Sioux Falls-area wedding venues. We know the coordinators. We know the people running the show. We know how to get in and out. We know the rules. We know what to expect. We've worked at venues throughout Sioux Falls and the surrounding area, including beautiful barn venues, modern event spaces, hotels, and outdoor wedding locations. That local experience means fewer surprises for you. And fewer surprises are a very good thing on your wedding day.
6. Make Sure Your DJ Is a Team, Not Just One Person
This is one of the biggest differences between Good Times and a lot of smaller DJ operations. We're a team. And we think that's important. Our DJs support one another, help each other grow, share ideas, and continue developing their craft. But there's another reason being a team matters. What happens if your DJ gets sick? What happens if there's an emergency? It's rare, but life happens. If you're working with a solo DJ, the backup plan may be finding a random DJ at the last minute.
That's not how we operate. Because we're a team, we have DJs who already know our standards, our systems, our planning process, and how we operate.If something extremely rare happens and your scheduled DJ can't make it, you're not starting from scratch with a random subcontractor. You have a team behind you. That's peace of mind.
7. Your DJ Should Have a Personality — But They Shouldn't Take Over Your Wedding
This is a big one. You want your DJ to be fun. But you don't want your DJ trying to make your wedding about them. There's a difference. We believe the DJ should have personality. That's part of what makes a wedding memorable. But our focus on your wedding day is you and your person. You're the celebrities for the evening. Your DJ should know when to be energetic, when to make an announcement, when to get people excited, and when to get out of the way and let a moment happen. Sometimes the best thing a DJ can do is nothing at all. Let the first dance breathe. Let the speech land. Let the bride dance with her dad. Let the couple have their moment. Then, when it's time to turn the room into a party, that's where we go to work.
8. Ask About Ceremony Sound — Not Just the Reception
One thing couples sometimes overlook when comparing wedding DJs is ceremony audio. Your ceremony is one of the most important parts of the entire day. You need your guests to hear the officiant. You need the couple to hear their vows. You need music for the processional and recessional.And if you're having an outdoor ceremony, you also have to think about power, weather, microphone placement, speaker placement, and the logistics of getting sound where it needs to go. At Good Times, we approach ceremony sound as part of the overall wedding experience, not an afterthought. We want your ceremony to sound as good and feel as intentional as the reception that follows.
9. Ask How the DJ Handles Song Requests
This is one of those questions that doesn't have a universal right answer. Some couples want their DJ to take requests. Some don't. Some want guests to have some freedom while still keeping the DJ in control of the overall music. We think the answer should be based on your wedding. Our job isn't to force every couple into the same format. We'll take your preferences seriously and build the night around what you actually want. You know your people better than we do. You know the songs your friends love. You know the songs your family will sing along to. You also know the songs that will clear the dance floor. Give us that information. Then let us use our experience to put it all together.
10. Look Beyond the Price
Wedding DJ pricing in Sioux Falls can vary quite a bit. And when you're comparing DJs, it can be tempting to simply choose the lowest number.
We'd encourage you to compare what you're actually getting.
Ask:
How much planning is included?
Do I meet with my DJ before the wedding?
Is ceremony audio included?
Does the DJ MC?
How experienced is the DJ?
Does the DJ actively practice their craft?
Does the company have backup DJs?
Does the DJ have backup equipment?
How familiar are they with my venue?
Who will actually DJ my wedding?
How responsive are they during planning?
What happens if something goes wrong?
Are reviews from actual wedding couples easy to find?
Does the DJ have experience managing a packed dance floor?
A DJ isn't just a person standing behind a table playing songs. You're hiring someone to be responsible for a pretty significant part of your wedding day. The cheapest DJ isn't necessarily the best value. And the most expensive DJ isn't automatically the best either. Look for the combination of experience, personality, professionalism, planning, and trust.
So, Who Are the Best Wedding DJs in Sioux Falls?
That's ultimately up to you. Sioux Falls has several talented wedding DJs and entertainment companies, and every couple is looking for something a little different. The important thing is finding a DJ who matches your vision.
If you're looking for someone who can help plan your reception, confidently MC your wedding, read the dance floor, mix modern music, keep up with current trends, communicate with your other vendors, and make the entire entertainment side of your wedding feel effortless… that's what we built Good Times around.
Why Couples Choose Good Times for Their Sioux Falls Wedding
We're not a collection of random DJs. Every Good Times DJ is hand-selected and trained by our owner, Logan Swanson. Every DJ brings their own personality and style, but everyone on the team understands the standard we're trying to deliver.
Our DJs actively club DJ throughout the year so their skills stay sharp and they're connected to the communities we're serving. We practice our MCing. We take planning seriously. We know Sioux Falls wedding venues. We know how to manage dance floors. We know how to work with coordinators and other vendors. We're a team, which means you have more support than just one person behind a DJ booth. And most importantly, we remember who the wedding is actually about.
You.
Not us.
Not the DJ.
Not the playlist.
You and your person.
Our job is to take everything you've told us about your wedding and turn it into a night that feels like you.
What Should You Ask a Wedding DJ Before Booking?
If you're interviewing wedding DJs in Sioux Falls, here are some questions we'd recommend asking every company you're considering:
1. Who will actually DJ our wedding?
You should know who is djing your wedding, at Good Times we tell you and invite you to their community events. In a way, you’ll get to know your DJ before your big day.
2. Does your DJ actively DJ outside of weddings?
This can tell you a lot about how seriously they take the craft.
3. How do you approach MCing?
Ask whether they have a specific style or philosophy for announcements and reception flow.
5. How do you keep a dance floor full?
A good DJ should be able to explain how they read a crowd and adjust throughout the night.
6. What does your planning process look like?
You want more than a quick questionnaire a few days before the wedding.
7. Have you worked at our venue before?
Local venue experience can make a big difference.
8. What happens if our DJ can't make it?
This is an uncomfortable question, but it's worth asking. A good DJ company has a plan for even the rarest of occasions.
9. Can we choose our music?
You absolutely should have a say in the music at your own wedding.
10. What makes your company different?
This is probably the most important question of all.
Don't just listen for a list of equipment.
Listen for the philosophy behind the experience.
Frequently Asked Questions About Wedding DJs in Sioux Falls
How much does a wedding DJ cost in Sioux Falls?
Wedding DJ pricing in Sioux Falls depends on the company, the date, the number of hours, ceremony coverage, equipment, lighting, MC services, and other entertainment options.
Instead of choosing based only on price, compare what is actually included in each wedding DJ package.
How far in advance should I book a wedding DJ in Sioux Falls?
Popular wedding dates can book well in advance, especially during the busiest parts of the wedding season, like 2+ years in advance.
If you already know your wedding date and venue, it's worth reaching out early. This gives you the best chance of getting the DJ and package that fit your plans.
Should my wedding DJ also be my MC?
We think it can be a huge advantage.
When the person controlling the music is also responsible for MCing, they can connect the timeline, announcements, music, and energy of the room much more naturally.
Do wedding DJs take song requests?
Some do and some don't. More importantly, your DJ should understand how you want requests handled.
At Good Times, we work with each couple to determine what makes sense for their wedding.
Does Good Times DJ wedding ceremonies?
Yes. Ceremony sound and music can be part of your overall wedding entertainment plan, including outdoor ceremonies where power, speaker placement, microphones, and setup logistics require additional planning.
Does Good Times work at Sioux Falls wedding venues?
Yes. We've built significant experience working throughout Sioux Falls and the surrounding area, including a wide variety of wedding venues and event spaces.
What makes Good Times different from other Sioux Falls wedding DJs?
Our biggest difference is our team approach and our emphasis on you during your wedding. Every DJ is hand-selected and trained by Logan Swanson. Our DJs actively club DJ throughout the year, develop their own individual styles, practice their MCing, and work together as a team.
We combine that with a thorough planning process and extensive experience at Sioux Falls-area venues.
Most importantly, we believe your wedding should feel like your wedding. We use our creativity and training to compliment you on the biggest day of your life.
Ready to Find Your Wedding DJ?
Choosing your wedding DJ is a big decision. You're trusting someone with the music, the microphone, the timeline, the dance floor, and a lot of the energy of one of the biggest nights of your life.
Take your time. Talk to a few DJs. Ask questions. Read reviews. Watch videos. Pay attention to how they communicate with you before you've even booked them.
And then choose the team that makes you think: "Yep. These are our people."
If you think that might be Good Times, we'd love to hear about your wedding. Tell us your date, your venue, what you're envisioning, and what you want your reception to feel like. We'll take it from there.
Your wedding deserves more than a playlist.
You deserve Good Times.
