Picture this: My husband and I are one month away from our wedding, which we had planned to be very low-key, and he utters the words: “I think we need a DJ.”

The event planner in me hit an internal panic button:

Where are we going to find a DJ one month before a May wedding?!
They’re going to charge us an arm and a leg.
A DJ is never going to understand that we don’t want “typical” wedding music.
What about the sound system in the bar?

Backing up a bit, our wedding ceremony was at the American Swedish Historical Museum in FDR Park, followed by a cocktail party with heavy hors d’oeuvres and dancing from 6:30pm-2:00am (yes, you read that right). The venue was our favorite bar in Old City, The Irish Pol, which had recently moved from a charming little dive bar space on 3rd street to a gorgeous, three-story venue on Market Street around the corner. Three floors, each with a different musical theme, was the plan - and then THIS discussion happened. We truly couldn’t use just “any” DJ for our wedding, and we wanted to make sure the one we chose complimented our style.

Thankfully, being in the industry helped a lot in this situation. I reached out to my friends at Hard Rock Cafe, who recommended their preferred DJ, Dan “Dilemma” Thomas. I - probably not-so-nicely - told my husband-to-be that the DJ was now his problem, gave him his contact information and hoped for the best.

I hadn't seen him DJ live in years, but if my friends & referral partners recommended him, he had to be good. In the end, I could never have asked for a better DJ. He sends a form prior to the wedding that asks specific questions regarding songs and artists that you like, dislike, what genres you like and dislike, and what songs you *have* to hear on your wedding day. I am not exaggerating when I say that he played the exact songs that we wanted to hear at the exact times we wanted to hear them. He made the party, and our dance floor was never empty for the entire 7 and a half hour event.

Little did I know, his body of work includes way more than just events. His extensive, impressive bio includes working as a producer with artists like Meek Mill, Black Thought, Bizzle, Ray J, Migos and Jazmine Sullivan on her GRAMMY-nominated project “Reality Show.” In addition to working with artists, Dilemma has also produced for television including TV One’s popular live performance show, “Versus and Flow,” and Fox’s brand new hit show “The Four: Battle For Stardom.” His music has also been featured on Good Morning America, VH1’s Basketball Wives, Love and Hip Hop and in films like “Waist Deep,” “Alien Covenant,” and “McCanick.”

Dilemma has appeared as the DJ/Co-Host on Fuse’s “The Hustle After Party,” traveled the country performing for multiple companies as well as hosting his own DJ performance show entitled #INRGI. This high energy set including live horns has been a feature act across cities including New York, Reading, Austin for SXSW and more. At his shows, you never really know what you are going to get, but you know that it will be an experience.

Whether he is DJing, producing or teaching students at The Village of Arts & Humanities, when you hear the “Hello World” at the top of the track, you know that you are now rocking with Dilemma and you are going to hear something that you won’t forget.”

Since our wedding, I've recommended him to several friends for their weddings, and to corporate clients as well, and he never disappoints. If you are looking to book Dilemma for your next event or to collaborate on projects, reach out via his website!

Vendor Spotlight: Dilemma