Live bands can be fun, but they come with limitations and logistics. Song selection is restricted to what the musicians can play well, and even then, you’re trusting them to reproduce a version of the song you love. With a DJ, you get the exact track, the same voice, energy, and emotion that made you fall in love with it in the first place (remixes excluded).

Bands also take breaks, need larger stages, and often require extra accommodations like green rooms, water, and even parking for a tour bus. A DJ, on the other hand, offers a seamless flow of music from start to finish, with a smaller footprint and simpler setup.

And if you still love the live element, we offer the best of both worlds, DJs who can perform alongside live musicians such as saxophonists, percussionists, and more. It’s the perfect mix of live energy and nonstop music.

Every DJ on our team goes through a proven, hands-on development process before ever performing a wedding on their own. Each one begins with The Waveform Agency, where they gain experience performing in bars and nightclubs. That’s where we get to know them personally, making sure they’re professional, reliable, and genuinely great DJs. (And truthfully, a lot of DJs don’t make it past that first step.)

From there, they move into private events, where they learn how to adapt their skills to a wide range of audiences and settings. Before leading a wedding, each DJ shadows our experienced wedding professionals, practices scripting and announcements, and fine-tunes every detail of their setup and performance.

By the time they’re handling weddings independently, they’ve already earned our full confidence, and yours.

That’s entirely up to you. In your Event Planner, there’s a section where you can let us know whether you’d like your DJ to take song requests from guests.

If you’re comfortable with it, our DJs are great at reading the room and filtering guest requests through your vision, balancing what the crowd wants with what you’ve told us you do (and don’t) want to hear. Client requests always come first, and your DJ will use their expertise to decide which guest suggestions enhance the vibe and which to politely skip.

Absolutely. We love it when couples share the music that’s special to them — it helps us create a soundtrack that feels true to your style.

Your Music Planner is designed specifically for your dance floor, where you can list must-plays, “play if possible” songs, and a do-not-play list. Music for other parts of your day — such as pre-ceremony, cocktail hour, or dinner — can be shared in whatever format is easiest, like a Spotify link or written list.

As you plan, keep your guests in mind. The best dance floors are built around familiar, high-energy songs that connect with your crowd. It’s totally fine to include a few personal favorites, but it’s worth deciding whether it’s more important to hear that song or to keep everyone dancing. Guests tend to lose momentum when they don’t recognize what’s playing — and we want your dance floor to stay full all night long.

We use only professional-grade, industry-standard gear to ensure great sound and a clean, polished look at every event. Our DJs perform on Pioneer and Rane mixers and controllers, using Apple computers with Serato DJ or Rekordbox software for maximum reliability.

For sound, our setups include high-end LD Systems, Electro-Voice (EV), and RCF column array speakers — all known for their clarity, balanced tone, and sleek design. Microphones are professional Sennheiser wireless systems, and our lighting setups feature trusted brands like Ape Labs, Chauvet, and ADJ.

Every setup is designed to sound amazing, look great, and integrate seamlessly into your event space.

Our DJs use industry-standard professional software — primarily Serato DJ and Rekordbox — to ensure the best possible sound quality and reliability. All music is played from high-quality digital files through professional-grade hardware, guaranteeing consistent, crystal-clear audio from the first song to the last.

For weddings, we recommend booking about 12 months in advance to secure your date — and up to 18 months ahead if you’re planning for a popular month or weekend. That said, if your wedding is coming up soon, don’t worry — we regularly accommodate short-notice bookings.

Our team handles hundreds of events each year, and our system is designed to make the planning process smooth no matter your timeline. The sooner you book, the more time you’ll have to collaborate with your DJ and fine-tune your music vision — but even if you’re just a few months out, we’ll make it happen.

Active Entertainment was founded in 2000, and for more than two decades, we’ve been one of the most trusted and experienced DJ companies in the region. What started as a small local team has grown into a full-scale operation providing entertainment for hundreds of weddings and private events each year — all with the same personal touch and professionalism that built our reputation from day one.

Our team provides DJ services for hundreds of events each year, from weddings and private parties to corporate celebrations and community events. Even with that level of experience, every couple and event gets our full attention. We take pride in giving each celebration the same care and focus it deserves — no matter how many are on the calendar.

All pre-booking communication is handled through our main office, so you won’t meet your DJ until after your booking is confirmed. Our team knows each of our DJs personally and understands their individual strengths, styles, and specialties. That means we can match you with the DJ who best fits your music vision and overall vibe.

Once your booking is confirmed, your DJ’s contact information will be shared with you, and both your DJ and our office team will be available throughout the planning process. Your DJ will stay with you from that point forward, reviewing your planners, holding your final consultation, and, of course, performing on your big day.

In most cases, yes, if the party’s still going strong, your DJ can usually stay later. Overtime is billed at $225 per hour, and your DJ will always check with you before extending beyond your contracted time.

While we can’t guarantee availability without prior notice, we do our best not to schedule events too close together so that extra time is possible when the night calls for it. If overtime is added the night of your event, it’s billed separately after the event date.

In over 20 years of business, we’ve never once had to cancel an event. We intentionally never book our entire roster on any given date, which gives us built-in flexibility if something unexpected ever comes up.

On top of that, we maintain strong relationships with a network of trusted local DJs and equipment providers, so even in a true emergency, we’re fully prepared to keep your event running smoothly and on schedule.

For weddings and formal events, our DJs wear suits. It’s our standard for maintaining a clean, professional appearance that fits the tone of the day. For other types of events, attire can be adjusted based on the setting or client preference.

And for themed events, we can even dress in costume when it fits the occasion! In those cases, we’ll discuss your vision in advance and confirm an approved budget for attire.

We try to keep payments easy and flexible. Your retainer fee is due at booking, and your remaining balance is due one week before your event.

You can pay by credit or debit card (Visa, Mastercard, Discover, or AMEX), check, or cash, whichever is most convenient for you. There are no additional fees for paying with a card, and all online payments can be made securely through our client portal here.

If you prefer to pay by check, please make it payable to Active Entertainment and mail it to:
P.O. Box 11, Wilmington, NC 28402

If your plans change, reach out — we’ll walk you through your options and do our best to help.

We completely understand that unexpected circumstances can arise. Your retainer fee is non-refundable, as it secures your date and takes it off the market for other couples.

If a cancellation happens within 60 days of your event, the remaining balance is still due. By that point, your DJ has reserved the date, turned down other opportunities, and begun preparing for your celebration.

We always do our best to work with you in these situations, and if there’s any way to apply a portion of your payment toward a future event or date, we’ll explore those options with you.

A live musician brings an incredible burst of energy to the dance floor. Picture your favorite songs, exactly as you know them — but with a saxophone solo soaring over the drop, or live percussion driving the beat while your guests go wild. It’s the perfect balance of polished sound and live performance energy.

Adding a musician doesn’t change your music selection or flow — it enhances it. Our DJs and musicians perform together in perfect sync, so you get the full impact of the songs you love, with the excitement and spontaneity of a live show. We handle all the coordination and sound integration so it feels seamless.