If you're looking for a great wedding DJ, keep reading for five great search tactics that are sure to find you the perfect entertainment professional for your event.

Consult a Local Forum

Word-of-mouth is a great way to collect referrals and recommendations about local service providers. And the best part about message boards? You don't even have to leave your house. So, try logging on to a local town wedding forum to collect wedding DJ referrals from brides and recent brides right in your own city.

Try a site like the Canadian Wedding Bells (weddingbells.ca), which is extremely popular, but also offers a special Prairies section, devoted to brides in your area.

On these forums, you can talk to other brides in your area, hear their experiences and get recommendations and referrals for a local DJ and event companies.

Ask Your Photographer

Most popular wedding photographers will do one or more weddings a week. Over the course of a year, that's at least 52 weddings. This means they've seen a lot of DJ companies, from the best to the worst.

A trusted photographer will often be able to give you a great recommendation or provide the real, inside scoop on a prospective DJ company.

Get to a Bridal Show or Wedding Expo

Edmonton is host to three major bride shows or wedding exhibitions. They are - the Edmonton Bridal Expo, a massive event that's held every fall and considered one of the best in the city; Bridal Fantasy, a twice-annual event that's held in both Calgary and Edmonton; and The Bridal Fair, a smaller event that's typically held twice a year.

There's a lot going on at a bridal expo, but if you're smart, it's a great opportunity to meet and greet a number of different DJ and entertainment companies in one place.

You'll get a real feel for their personality, which is important as most DJ's also serve as your MC. You can also do quick and easy price comparison while you secretly check out their equipment and song selections.

Avoid Do-It-All Companies

You'll often see wedding entertainment companies that offer massive packages which include your limo, videography, photography and DJ services. But, the question is - do you want someone that does everything fairly well or someone that does one thing with particular skill?

Ideally, you want a DJ that knows how to DJ and is going to do the job well. You wouldn't hire a photographer to cater your food or a florist to officiate your reception, so why hire a limo company to handle your reception entertainment?

Ask The Venue

There are only so many wedding venue locations in any town, meaning the popular ones are often booked solid with weddings. And, like your photographer, they see a parade of wedding DJ companies week after week.

Because most venues host numerous weddings every year, they get to hear and see a wide range of DJ's - meaning they often know who is good and who might be better to avoid.