A newly married couple share a dramatic dip and kiss on the dance floor

Washington, D.C. Wedding & Event DJ

The Elegant DJ

Eat. Drink. Laugh. Boogie. Enjoy.

Serving Washington, D.C. • Maryland • Virginia — and traveling wherever the celebration calls.

Ed Witles, founder and lead DJ of The Elegant DJ, in a charcoal suit

18+

Years in the DC scene

About Ed

The DJ who reads the room before the room knows it needs reading.

Ed Witles has spent his career learning that a great wedding DJ is felt more than seen. He isn't the guy hyping up a crowd or forcing anyone onto the floor. It happens quieter than that: showing up early, knowing an enormous catalog of music, and reading exactly when a room is ready for the next song.

Every event starts with a real conversation about your families, your must-plays, your absolutely-nots, and the feeling you want the night to leave behind. Ed arrives early, sound-checks quietly, and treats your other vendors and the venue staff as partners he's there to work with.

He's played historic ballrooms, waterfront tents, and backyard receptions, and brings the same approach to all of them. Some moments call for elegance, others just call for fun, and either way, Ed stays out of the spotlight.

Off the clock, he's a father first. The same steadiness he brings home is what shows up behind the booth on your wedding day.

Years Behind the Booth
18+

Years Behind the Booth

Weddings & Events
400+

Weddings & Events

Five-Star Reviews
150+

Five-Star Reviews

Requests Denied
0

Requests Denied

What Ed Brings

Every detail handled, so the night just unfolds.

From the first processional note to the last dance, you're working with one person and one flexible plan. Ed has kept the same policy for eighteen years: never say no to a reasonable request.

Ceremony Sound

Wireless mics for your officiant and vows, a processional-to-recessional arc built around your walk down the aisle, and a sound check finished well before your first guest arrives. Nobody should notice the sound itself, just the two of you.

Learn more →

Cocktail Hour

Live-jazz-leaning playlists that keep conversation easy and glasses full. Ed builds this set for your actual room and guest list, rather than pulling from a generic wedding preset.

Learn more →

Reception & Dance Floor

Ed reads the room and adjusts in real time instead of working off a fixed set list, layering genres and eras so every generation at the table finds their song.

Learn more →

MC & Hosting

Introductions, toasts, and timeline cues, delivered the way a trusted friend would run the room, not the way a stage announcer would.

Learn more →

Uplighting & Ambiance

Wash lighting matched to your palette, set up hours before your first guest arrives, with the fixtures tucked out of sight so you notice the room, not the equipment.

Learn more →

Private & Corporate Events

The same tasteful, reliable approach applies to milestone birthdays, holiday parties, and corporate galas. It holds up in a room full of executives just as easily as it does at a family celebration.

Learn more →
Where We Play

Washington, D.C. • Maryland • Virginia

One elegant standard, wherever your venue sits in the DMV.

Washington DC Wedding DJ

Capitol Hill rooftops, Georgetown ballrooms, and every DC neighborhood in between.

Learn more →

Maryland Wedding DJ

Annapolis marinas, Eastern Shore beaches, and bay-front garden estates.

Learn more →

Virginia Wedding DJ

Old Town Alexandria homes, Arlington ballrooms, and Loudoun County estates.

Learn more →
See Ed in Action

A glimpse of the night, straight from the dance floor.

The Experience

Hear how a night with Ed actually sounds.

Three moments from a typical wedding day — sample each to get a feel for the range, from ceremony to last dance.

Ceremony Trio

4:03

Strings-forward processional set, arranged for an intimate walk down the aisle.

Cocktail Hour Blend

15:58

Warm and conversational: jazz and soul that never competes with the conversation in the room.

Open Dance Set

23:10

The full arc from first dance to last call. Ed builds it live, based on who's actually out on the floor that night.

From the Couples

Kind words, from people who were there.

“Ed never once made himself the center of attention, which is exactly what we wanted — and somehow the dance floor was still packed until the very last song.”
Sarah & James Clarendon Ballroom
“He asked questions in our planning calls that our venue coordinator hadn't even thought of. By the wedding day, nothing was a surprise to him.”
Emily & Connor Annapolis Maritime Museum
“Our parents are still talking about how tasteful the whole night felt. Elegant, warm, never loud for the sake of loud.”
Priya & Daniel Mount Vernon Inn Gardens
“We told Ed we never say no to a request, so he'd never say no to us either — and he delivered on every single one, gracefully.”
Rachel & Michael The Westin Dulles
“Ed was an amazing DJ! We are still receiving compliments about the music selection at our wedding. We were pretty confident based on other reviews that he knew what he was doing, so we sent him over a list of songs that we wanted played and told him to fill in the gaps. At the end of the night, he came up to my husband and asked what he wanted the last song played to be. My husband said ‘surprise me.’ Ed picked a great song and the reception ended with a bang!”
Verified Client Wedding
“Ed provided us with top notch service and was an absolute key in the success of our AMAZING wedding. We had the best time, and were given so many compliments by our guests. Our ceremony, cocktail hour and reception went off without a hitch thanks to Ed's impeccable song list compilations and timely MCing.”
Verified Client Wedding
“Ed was the DJ at my wedding and he was amazing. He provided services for my ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception as well as uplighting. On top of all of this, Ed worked with me ahead of time to work out a way for me to surprise my husband with a song during the reception where he provided a mic for me to sing and play my ukulele. He was so subtle about it and my husband was totally surprised, which was awesome.”
Verified Client Wedding
Good to Know

A few common questions.

Do you travel throughout Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia?

Yes. Ed is based in the DC area and regularly plays venues across the entire DMV. Most bookings in DC, Maryland, and Virginia don't carry an extra travel fee; venues further out are quoted individually.

How far in advance should we book?

Popular Saturday dates in this market are often booked nine to twelve months out, especially in spring and fall. If your date is sooner, it's still worth asking, since availability varies week to week.

Do you bring backup equipment?

Always. Every event runs with redundant sound gear and a backup power plan, indoors or out, so nothing ever goes down.

Can we give you a do-not-play list, or let you read the room live?

Both. Most couples do a mix of each: a short list of must-plays and absolutely-nots up front, and the rest of the night built live based on who's actually on the floor.

What does the booking process look like?

A short call or message to talk through your date and venue, followed by a written agreement and retainer to hold your date. Full terms are on our Terms of Service page.

Let's Talk

Tell us about your day.

Rates start at $1,500 and flex with your date, venue, and hours. Share the details below and Ed will follow up within one business day with a personalized quote.

Serving Washington, D.C. • Maryland • Virginia, with travel available for the right celebration.

Thank you — you're on the calendar to hear back.

Ed reviews every inquiry personally and typically replies within one business day.