Wedding Reception FAQ
REMEMBER........................"It's The Music They'll Remember"
All the planning is now behind you. You've made the walk down the aisle, you've proclaimed your love for
each other and exchanged glistening gold wedding bands... Congratulations ! You are now Man and Wife!!
Now it's time to relax, unwind and forget all the stress, and celebrate your day with family and friends!
Things to Expect...
First, your photographer may want to take a few more pictures at the church, or banquet facility. You
should allow for 3-5 minutes for each person being photographed. If you have 12 people in the Wedding
Party, including the Bride and Groom, then it will probably take 35 - 60 minutes for pictures.
Next, it's off to be greeted by all who have come together for your wedding day. Don't be surprised to
receive an enthusiastic congratulations as your Disc Jockey / Master of Ceremonies welcomes you... They
are about to have the pleasure of announcing your Grand Entrance, one of the things they enjoy the
most!! And for the next few hours, it will be their job to lead the festivities, play the music that is important
to you and your guests, and keep the reception running smoothly. Music is in fact, one of the most
important and memorable parts of a reception. Weeks or months later, reception guests seldom remember
the meal, but always remember if the entertainers have done a great job!! Why use a DJ instead of
live Music? Here are just a few reasons:
1. Price: Bands, even smaller ones, usually cost twice as much, or more, than a Disc Jockey would.
2. Quality: DJ's play the ORIGINAL Music, the way everyone knows it. Bands may play the same songs,
but they probably won't be as recognizable to you and your guests and, if they don't practice regularly,
they may not sound good at all. DJ's don't have to practice their music, it's from the original artist!
3. Quantity: DJ's have TENS of THOUSANDS of songs available spanning a wide variety of genres. I
,personally, bring over 28,000 songs to each event . Bands usually have a catalogue of less than 100 titles
and the variety is usually limited. Remember, you want ALL your guests, young AND old to have a good
time.
4. Requests: DJ's can accomodate requests from you and your guests most of the time. Most bands
don't take requests, except in advance, and cannot play them if they don't know the song.
5. Versatility: DJ's can play the music for your Ceremony, Cocktails, Dinner AND Dancing, including
those special songs you want to hear. They can also MC events, like Cake Cutting, right at the table using
wireless microphones. Bands have to learn those special songs and rarely go out into the audience.
6. Availability: Bands take breaks, usually 15 minutes every hour which means you may lose some
guests before all the important events are done. DJ's make sure the music never stops, so your guests
can keep dancing all night long and they mix in the events throughout your reception.
7. Non-Stop Music: DJ's play music non-stop, usually 'mixing' from one song to the next. Bands end
each song...... then pause while they decide which song to play next. This "kills" the dance floor after
every song.
8. Volume: DJ's periodically check the sound levels, from the audience perspective, so the music is
never too loud or too quiet. Bands usually end up playing too loud because they cannot perform
'in-the-audience' checks because they must stay onstage. In short, a Disc Jockey provides you with the
widest range of quality sound and music for a bargain price and they don't take breaks every hour!
9. Who Coordinates The Reception? The main reason wedding couples choose a Disc Jockey is
because the selection of music can span across a wide variety of ages and tastes. Your Disc Jockey will
also act as Master of Ceremonies and maintain the proper flow during the reception. Your Disc Jockey
coordinates with your photographer, to ensure you get the best photos for your wedding album; They
coordinate with your banquet staff to ensure that everyone involved with your event knows exactly what
is happening at all times. So, while you may be thinking of a Disc Jockey as some kind of "Human Juke
Box", it is important to consult with them a few weeks before your wedding day to discuss the desired
order of events such as blessings, toasts, the cutting of the wedding cake, and the bouquet and garter
toss. As your Disc Jockey will be introducing you and your wedding party, it is important that they know the
pronunciation of all the names. Your Disc Jockey will usually ask for the phonetic spelling of any
challenging names.
10. The Right Music... Having a Disc Jockey you can trust to handle all the important details, and be
your Master of Ceremonies is very important. Where your Disc Jockey should really shine is in knowing
what music will get your guests out onto the dance floor.
This is known, in the business, as "reading the room" . It is an art as well as a science . It takes experience
and a keen powers of observation to pull it off .
As a general rule, the guests will not dance until after the Bride and Groom have had their first dance. This
may be followed immediately by any other special dances you choose, such as the bride and her father
and groom and his mother, etc... In most cases your Disc Jockey will kick off the 1st dance portion of your
reception after these special dances. Your Disc Jockeys should also introduce themselves to your guests,
and assure them they will be more than happy to accept any danceable requests. This brings your guests
up to the dance floor, so they don't begin to feel left out.
11. Proper Planning...Proper planning for your wedding day should include giving your Disc Jockey a
guideline of the types of music (Dance, Country, Oldies) that you would like to be played. Keep in mind that
you would like all your guests to be satisfied, so be sure to tell your Disc Jockey the age ranges of your
guests. Also let your Disc Jockey know of any specific songs, or artist's you are fond of to be sure they
have them on hand. Enjoy Yourself!! Remember.... Your wedding day is a time to celebrate.... So relax,
dance, and enjoy yourself!! Your Disc Jockey is a professional, and should ensure all these details are
completed long before your special day.
I hope this brief summary has helped guide you in choosing your entertainment. If you have any questions,
please feel free to contact me at anytime...
| $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Pricing and the Value of aProfessional DJ: $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Master of Ceremonies...... A Professional DJ takes the responsibility for the formal introduction of the bridal party and all other announcements that need to be made such as the following: -Bridal Party Introduction -Grand Entrance of Bride & Groom -Start of the Buffet/Dinner -First Toast -Cake Cutting -Garter/Bouquet Toss -First Dance -Father/Daughter - Mother/Son Dance -Bridal Party Dance,etc.,etc.. A Professional DJ personally meets with you and helps you plan the details of your reception, giving suggestions and acting as a resource for wedding day etiquette, if you desire. You will also have the opportunity to meet with your DJ prior to your event, ensuring that everyone understands your needs. -Event Coordinator : A Professional DJ is the liaison between the banquet manager, the photographer as well as you so everyone is ready when it is time for something to happen. This leaves not only the bride and groom, but also their entire wedding party and family to enjoy the day that they have spent so long planning for. -Stage Manager : A Professional DJ will personally direct you, your bridal party and guests during most of your wedding day formalities, keeping in mind that you always have the final decision. Highly developed people skills allow this to be accomplished efficiently and professionally. -Sound Coordinator.......... Constant monitoring of the sound level and quality allows you to hear everything with clarity, from the introduction to the toast without being overpowering. Dinner music is set at an appropriate level for you and your guests and the festive portion of your reception will make you want to get up and dance. -Music Specialist...... A Professional DJ has extensive experience and is familiar with all genres of music to please all ages and backgrounds. Having and playing popular favorites is a must. We Make It Affordable..... The current national average budget for a wedding and reception is over $20,000. While the DJ is a fraction of the cost, usually less than most people will pay on their food tax, the expectations are far greater. "Your DJ can make or break your reception!" This is heard over and over when planning a wedding, and yet this is the area that most people try to save money. As you can see by the pie charts associated with wedding budgets, more emphasis is placed on everything but the DJ. When you take into consideration what is expected from a DJ, the price should be of the least concern. A year or more down the road , your guests probably won't remember whether the had the beef, chicken or fish entree . But they will remember the entertainment ! Your DJ will certainly wear many hats to ensure that your special day is just that - "Special." If you had to pay for each individual service that your DJ provides, you would spend well over $2000.00 as shown below : Wedding Reception Coordinator...$300-500 Master of Ceremonies............$300-800 Professional Disc Jockey........$600-900 Even with our unmatched service, our rates are comparable to, if not a bit lower than, other on-site music providers. Our Wedding Packages start at around $600.00 for a four hour event . We admit that we are unable to beat the bargain rates charged by moonlighters or assembly line DJs; but we will make your event memorable at a very reasonable cost. Some people select their event entertainment based solely on price. And there are some DJs with whom I simply can’t compete, in terms of price. My standards are high, and so are my operational costs. That’s how quality happens. I bring a backup system to each event, I'm fully insured and have the experience and know- how to practically guarentee a super successfull event. I believe that the entertainment will decide the success of an event. It’s largely how people will remember your special day. You only get one chance ! I won't cut corners at your expense. You shouldn't , either . |
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