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At no other time during the reception will your guests be more attentive
and focused on you, the newlyweds, than immediately before dinner. That
makes it the perfect time for formal toasts. Your DJ should provide a
wireless microphone to allow the toast to be given by the best man (and
possibly others) as he stands beside the bride and groom. Decide if you
want parents, family or friends to propose additional toasts.
Let your Catering Director know when you plan the toast to allow for timely
pouring of the chosen beverage. Also, consider welcoming your guests
following the toast. Your guests are still attentive and focused on you and
the microphone is available. This is an excellent but often overlooked
opportunity to share your thoughts and feelings and thank your guests for
attending.
and focused on you, the newlyweds, than immediately before dinner. That
makes it the perfect time for formal toasts. Your DJ should provide a
wireless microphone to allow the toast to be given by the best man (and
possibly others) as he stands beside the bride and groom. Decide if you
want parents, family or friends to propose additional toasts.
Let your Catering Director know when you plan the toast to allow for timely
pouring of the chosen beverage. Also, consider welcoming your guests
following the toast. Your guests are still attentive and focused on you and
the microphone is available. This is an excellent but often overlooked
opportunity to share your thoughts and feelings and thank your guests for
attending.
Is it your intention to have a DJ that will be proactive in getting the dance
floor full right from the beginning of the evening or is a more laid back
approach more your style for your wedding reception? Ask the DJ for a
consultation several weeks before the reception and go over your song
preferences with him in detail. Ask your DJ if he has a list of his music
collection and if he would object if you highlight a few tracks that you would
like him to play during the evening. A professional will take note of which
songs you want to hear as well as which songs you don't want to hear. You
will need to tell your DJ the wishes for special dances such as your first
dance, the father and bride dance etc. Ensure that your DJ knows the flow
of key moments throughout the wedding reception so that he can keep the
music in synch.
Usually DJs are willing to take requests from wedding guests on the night
but you should ask about this specifically beforehand. Ultimately you want
your DJ to be flexible but some DJs use pre-programmed music which
might make it difficult for them to accommodate your guests' requests.
floor full right from the beginning of the evening or is a more laid back
approach more your style for your wedding reception? Ask the DJ for a
consultation several weeks before the reception and go over your song
preferences with him in detail. Ask your DJ if he has a list of his music
collection and if he would object if you highlight a few tracks that you would
like him to play during the evening. A professional will take note of which
songs you want to hear as well as which songs you don't want to hear. You
will need to tell your DJ the wishes for special dances such as your first
dance, the father and bride dance etc. Ensure that your DJ knows the flow
of key moments throughout the wedding reception so that he can keep the
music in synch.
Usually DJs are willing to take requests from wedding guests on the night
but you should ask about this specifically beforehand. Ultimately you want
your DJ to be flexible but some DJs use pre-programmed music which
might make it difficult for them to accommodate your guests' requests.
Always ask about how they intend to dress on the day of your wedding.
Your DJ should always dress in a manner that is appropriate for the
occasion. Whilst this does not mean that he must wear a tuxedo you do
not want the other extreme of him turning up in shorts and sandals! The
DJ is a service provider on your wedding day so should always be neatly
dressed. If you are having a themed wedding make sure you have
informed your DJ so that they can fit in as best they can with the theme of
your wedding.
Your DJ should always dress in a manner that is appropriate for the
occasion. Whilst this does not mean that he must wear a tuxedo you do
not want the other extreme of him turning up in shorts and sandals! The
DJ is a service provider on your wedding day so should always be neatly
dressed. If you are having a themed wedding make sure you have
informed your DJ so that they can fit in as best they can with the theme of
your wedding.
A professional DJ will generally have spent over $10,000 on their
equipment and will be proud to discuss the technical side if asked. I
recommend that you ask them which brand of equipment they use – you
should look out for names including QSC, Crown, Denon, ElectroVoice,
JBL and Mackie as these demonstrate your DJ is serious about DJing .
The mention of names like American DJ, FBT, Gemini, MTX, NEXT,
Peavey Sound and Tech should make you a little more cautious because
they are poorer sound quality. By finding out the brand names of the DJs
equipment you will quickly be able to gauge the quality of their audio
equipment and this should help you to decide whether or not you want to
use their services for your wedding reception. Proper equipment will give
good sound quality that will not be disturbing for your wedding guests.
There is nothing worse than being seated next to a speaker at a wedding
that is producing poor sound quality. Like anything though the use of top
quality equipment does not guarantee that the DJ is a huge success, but
at least you will know that you will be listening to professional quality
sounds for starters!
equipment and will be proud to discuss the technical side if asked. I
recommend that you ask them which brand of equipment they use – you
should look out for names including QSC, Crown, Denon, ElectroVoice,
JBL and Mackie as these demonstrate your DJ is serious about DJing .
The mention of names like American DJ, FBT, Gemini, MTX, NEXT,
Peavey Sound and Tech should make you a little more cautious because
they are poorer sound quality. By finding out the brand names of the DJs
equipment you will quickly be able to gauge the quality of their audio
equipment and this should help you to decide whether or not you want to
use their services for your wedding reception. Proper equipment will give
good sound quality that will not be disturbing for your wedding guests.
There is nothing worse than being seated next to a speaker at a wedding
that is producing poor sound quality. Like anything though the use of top
quality equipment does not guarantee that the DJ is a huge success, but
at least you will know that you will be listening to professional quality
sounds for starters!
Everyone with one eye on their wedding budget wants to cut their costs
down, but make sure that you are not selling yourself short by drafting in
a bargain-priced DJ - you might be paying for what you are getting in this
instance! Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that you are paying over the
odds for your DJ because all that they are being paid for is to play music
for 4 hours! Professional DJs will have invested a lot of time in your
wedding prior to your actual wedding reception. Typically they will be
spending between 10 to 20 hours consulting with you, purchasing the
music, editing, preparing, setting up the equipment, packing up the
equipment and other administrative tasks.
DJ prices can vary enormously and it is important to realize that a lot of
couples say in hindsight that they wished they had spent more of their
wedding budget on the entertainment. Research shows that you can
spend between $400 and $3200 on a wedding DJ, but in general $1200
for 4 hours is the average for a professional DJ. You will generally pay
more if you hire a DJ as part of a wedding venue's package deal
compared to finding your own DJ and paying them directly.
down, but make sure that you are not selling yourself short by drafting in
a bargain-priced DJ - you might be paying for what you are getting in this
instance! Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that you are paying over the
odds for your DJ because all that they are being paid for is to play music
for 4 hours! Professional DJs will have invested a lot of time in your
wedding prior to your actual wedding reception. Typically they will be
spending between 10 to 20 hours consulting with you, purchasing the
music, editing, preparing, setting up the equipment, packing up the
equipment and other administrative tasks.
DJ prices can vary enormously and it is important to realize that a lot of
couples say in hindsight that they wished they had spent more of their
wedding budget on the entertainment. Research shows that you can
spend between $400 and $3200 on a wedding DJ, but in general $1200
for 4 hours is the average for a professional DJ. You will generally pay
more if you hire a DJ as part of a wedding venue's package deal
compared to finding your own DJ and paying them directly.
Normally the DJ will need at least an hour to set up his equipment at the
reception venue. Check with your DJ whether this will be sufficient for his
requirements beforehand and let the wedding venue know if he needs
more time. It is important that if you are eating your meal in the same
room as the dance floor, you arrange for there to be a time lapse
between the end of the meal and the tables being cleared to the
evening entertainment commencing. Usually guests are quite happy to
mingle in the bar area or stretch their legs outdoors after the meal.
reception venue. Check with your DJ whether this will be sufficient for his
requirements beforehand and let the wedding venue know if he needs
more time. It is important that if you are eating your meal in the same
room as the dance floor, you arrange for there to be a time lapse
between the end of the meal and the tables being cleared to the
evening entertainment commencing. Usually guests are quite happy to
mingle in the bar area or stretch their legs outdoors after the meal.
Before you even get into a conversation about lighting systems you
must be very confident that your DJ can deliver on the music front first.
Why? - because it is the music and the DJ’s emcee skills that are most
important! Once you have chosen your ideal DJ then you can discuss
the lighting with them.
Most DJs will be able to offer an intelligent lighting system which is
choreographed with the music. This is much more sophisticated than the
old days where a few flashing lights and a mirror ball constituted a lights
show! Typically most DJs offer a basic lighting system within their fee but
if it is within your wedding budget you could pay extra and upgrade. How
about an amazing light show that includes your names and those of your
guests projected in laser light on the wall as their names are announced
at the reception! That is a little over the top for me, but there are other
variations available with the lighting - discuss it with your DJ.
Undoubtedly he will have plenty of options he can tell you about.
must be very confident that your DJ can deliver on the music front first.
Why? - because it is the music and the DJ’s emcee skills that are most
important! Once you have chosen your ideal DJ then you can discuss
the lighting with them.
Most DJs will be able to offer an intelligent lighting system which is
choreographed with the music. This is much more sophisticated than the
old days where a few flashing lights and a mirror ball constituted a lights
show! Typically most DJs offer a basic lighting system within their fee but
if it is within your wedding budget you could pay extra and upgrade. How
about an amazing light show that includes your names and those of your
guests projected in laser light on the wall as their names are announced
at the reception! That is a little over the top for me, but there are other
variations available with the lighting - discuss it with your DJ.
Undoubtedly he will have plenty of options he can tell you about.
| Location - Pick a good one and soon. |
Not only is the location key to your guests finding the hall, but also key for
the layout of the room. Imagine a reception setting where half the guests
are around the corner or in another room. This would make them feel
disconnected to what is happening. When looking at a hall keep the
layout in mind. It is also nice to pick a hall where the bar is in the same
room as the reception dance. This keeps everybody together and makes
it easier to gather guests for special dances.
the layout of the room. Imagine a reception setting where half the guests
are around the corner or in another room. This would make them feel
disconnected to what is happening. When looking at a hall keep the
layout in mind. It is also nice to pick a hall where the bar is in the same
room as the reception dance. This keeps everybody together and makes
it easier to gather guests for special dances.
| Do your formal toast immediately before dinner. |
| Discuss your wedding song play list and look for flexibility. |
| How much time will your DJ need for setup? |
| Ensure your DJ knows the dress code. |
| Make sure your DJ owns quality audio equipment. |
| Does your DJ provide a lighting system? |
| How much will your DJ cost? |
