What makes a great wedding? I have always told clients that there are three things that people remember about a wedding when they attend.
1. The food – Not what they ate, but whether it was good or bad
2. Your dress – That vision of you in your dress will be on her mind
3. The entertainment: whether they had fun and stayed until the end or left shortly after dinner.
The reception room could be decorated like something out of a wedding magazine, the flowers and your dress could be stunning. You could have hired the best wedding photographer and your menu could be a “foodie’s” dream come true, but if your wedding entertainment is lacking, your guests won’t be in on the fun and your party could be a flop.
Many times a year we work with some of the best wedding planners in the area (doing custom wedding lighting design) and the client chooses to skimp on their DJ. Maybe it’s a family friend who cut you a great deal or the DJ at your local bar. Each time these couples don’t realize what they did until it’s too late and their wedding is less than they bargained for.
Here are some simple things to look out for when looking for your wedding entertainment.
1. The Master of Ceremonies – You should be able to watch a video or listen to an audio recording of your prospective DJ performing a wedding performance to see if this is the voice you want to announce all your special moments. Incorrect pronunciations, stumbling over your words, or a cheesy DJ/radio host voice – this is a quick way to rule out the “weekend warrior” DJ or “club DJ” who doesn’t have enough wedding experience. Playing music is only a small part of what your emcee will do for you on your wedding day. They keep the rhythm of the party. They coordinate all the things behind the scenes, like making sure your parents are in the room and your photographer is ready. They even cover when the meal has been taking too long by getting the guests dancing. A great MC is worth his weight in gold when it comes to the overall success of his reception.
2. The Gear: Is your cocktail hour outside? Do you have a fire pit and plan to use it later in the evening? Then you probably want a DJ with wireless speaker capabilities (the main system streams audio to a remote speaker placed outside or in a separate room for multi-room setups). Do you have more than 100 guests? Your DJ should bring the right size sound system for your venue and number of guests. That means bringing more than just a pair of speakers on stands. (Subwoofer or several pairs of speakers). On-site ceremony? Your potential DJ should have a completely separate system for this purpose, so you don’t move equipment around your guests during social hour, trying to reestablish equipment as part of your main system.
3. Reputation: Is your website up to date? Do they have blog posts or social media posts with recent weddings? Do they respond to your phone calls and emails in a timely manner? (within day) Do you have recent independent third party verified reviews? (The knot, wedding wire)
DJ prices can range from a couple hundred dollars to over $2,000 for 5 hours of service. I’m sure DJs know their worth and price themselves accordingly. So don’t expect a $500 Craigslist DJ to give you the same results as a $2,000 full-time wedding DJ. You will know the difference. Your guests will notice the difference. Choose your wedding entertainment wisely. A great DJ will keep your guests hooked and on the dance floor. A bad DJ can scare your guests in as little as 30 minutes after dinner is over. Who wants that at their wedding?
