When you hire a DJ for your wedding reception and/or ceremony, you are hiring a lot more than someone who can "play music and make some announcements." Unless you have engaged the services of a wedding planner/coordinator who will be present throughout your event, your DJ is the person responsible for ensuring the uninterrupted and successful flow of your event from before you enter the room to the time the last guest has left.
I ensure this flow by utilizing our planning materials, and by working behind-the-scenes with your other vendors and your venue staff to make sure everything goes off as-planned, and by making sure that unexpected changes do not adversely affect the overall experiences of you and your guests. I also work with your vendors such as photographers and videographers to make sure that everyone is ready for the next event. It's crucial that your vendors work together.
How your event flows for you and your guests is the single most important consideration of all on your wedding day. I'll make announcements as needed for your guests and work with you directly to make sure that everyone knows what is happening when, what's next, and what to expect as things move along or even as plans change on-the-spot. The last thing anyone wants at a wedding is down-time where nothing is happening, or folks not knowing what's next or what's going on. I'll make sure you and your guests are well-informed and led smoothly through the festivities from beginning to end.
No "micro-management" needed!
To ensure your wedding is all that it can be, I'll always keep you apprised of "where we are at" and "what is next" in-line, but you will never ever find us rushing your event like a boot-camp and (for example) pulling you away from your family and friends for the next big dance. You should never feel rushed, and you should never worry about whether or not the next part of your celebration is happening "on-time." If these things are going through your head all night, you're not enjoying your wedding day the way you should be (free from stress), and your vendors haven't done all that they can or should to handle key aspects of your wedding for you.
More important than "what time" all your events happen is the overall flow of the event itself, and that the transition between events is a smooth one for everyone involved. Because I understand this, I generally don't put times to events in the reception itinerary other than dinner, possibly cake cutting (if your venue has a preference or requirement... a quality, customer-focused venue will not), and the scheduled end of the reception. Some factors that may necessitate laying out a slightly more rigid time line include scenarios where your photographer or videographer are leaving early on in the night, or if we are working on a slightly more elaborate flow, or within a shorter than usual reception length.
All of your formalities including toasts, dances, tosses, special performances or highlights, etc. will be included in your itinerary in a smooth-running order that best suits you and your desired atmosphere, and will be prompted and executed throughout the evening at the pace that unfolds naturally as your event progresses.
By giving you updates and reminders from time to time, I let you determine the pace of your own wedding while still making sure we "get to" everything we had planned. Above all, this day is about you and those closest to you. A schedule on paper should never detract from your enjoyment of your special day, which is why I do my best to make sure you don't have to worry about a thing! A "perfectly-timed" reception can be just as stressful for you as an unplanned or chaotic one if a well-intentioned but overzealous DJ or wedding coordinator has to run you and your guests through a frenzied mill to reach the end. I don't work that way.
This balanced approach, which allows your wedding to unfold naturally, yet still be controlled, will ensure a fantastic and worry-free event for you and your guests!
Please note: If you are working with a professional wedding planner, I will work seamlessly with them both before & during your wedding to make sure that everything flows smoothly, and just as you like.
My planning process includes communicating with your wedding planner before your wedding day to make sure our schedules are in-sync, and that everyone is on the same page regarding every aspect of your celebration.
Also, I do have several great wedding coordinators that I network with that could provide you with excellent service, and even day-of wedding coordination. Just ask for a referral to one of these great professionals!
|
Flexibility is a must!
Having an itinerary developed before-hand helps in a lot of ways. Obviously it helps to ensure that we can "get to" all of the special events and points of interest that we planned before the event, but it can also help to ensure that all of your vendors are on the same page regarding your schedule. There are times, however, when deviations from the itinerary are either necessitated by unforeseen circumstances, or would simply benefit the overall flow of the event itself, and I'm keenly aware of when these kinds of changes might be beneficial.
If I ever feel your event might be better served by such small changes, I'll let you know on-the-spot and provide you with options, scenarios, and suggestions based on experience so we can decide together what might be right for you, your guests, and the moment.
Obviously, it is important that the DJ you choose for your event has the experience needed to establish the kind of mood you are looking to have at your wedding. Not so obvious, but just as crucial, is that this same individual has the experience and above all the flexibility to be able to maintain that atmosphere, even in the face of unexpected changes. Which brings us to our next point.
Proactive vs. Reactive
When you hire someone to help you develop and maintain a smooth flowing wedding, you want someone with experience who is going to be proactive and is going to take steps ahead of time to insure that unexpected changes are avoided, minimized, and if they do happen, that they do not effect the experience of you and your guests.
The planning process we'll use, borne from experience, will allow us to anticipate potential hiccups and plan for them. This approach makes sure that all the bases are covered.
A DJ who does not have as much experience, or does not use a detailed planning process can tend to be more reactive in nature, and might be seen "fumbling" their way through things that "just seem to happen" that could have easily been avoided had more care been taken ahead of time during the planning process. The overall result could be an adverse effect on the flow of your event, or on the experiences that are had by you and your guests.
My experience and flexibility will allow us to head-off these kinds of potential pitfalls, and to adapt quickly to ensure that any small bumps in the road do not become major hurdles or effect your celebration. Indeed, many small things will be taken care of efficiently and discretely between your DJ, your planner, and your other event staff without you ever being aware of it! And that's the way it should be.
Preparation, Experience & Flexibility
These three items are essential from the service you hire to help you create and execute your vision for your wedding day. Sacrifice any of these three in the name of "getting a good deal" on a DJ, and you may find you didn't get such a good deal after all. This day only happens once. Let me help!
Go with a service that can get it right when it counts... the first time. The only time.