Top Tips for your evening entertainment
(1) Depending on your venue, try to make sure the DJ is visible – If you and your guests can’t see us then we can’t see them! A major part of what we do relies on reading the crowd, to do this we need a clear sight line to you and your guests
(2) Your guests will be where you are. Broadly speaking you can split your guests into 3 groups
(a) the Party Animals -these are the ones you will always find on the dancefloor
(b) the Drinkers -nothing and nobody is going to risk them losing their space at the bar
(c) the Floaters -they will naturally gravitate to the group having most fun or where the happy couple are to be found so if you are on the dancefloor then your guests will be too!
(3) Don’t stress about your evening timeline no timetable should be set in stone, in fact don’t even call it a timeline more a guide– your venue may say they need specific timings but the best DJ’s are very flexible. My experience is that the only parts of the day that should keep to time are the ceremony and the meal.
(4) First dance? It isn’t as worrying as you imagine. By working with your photographer I will get them to give me the nod once they have some fantastic shots of you both (usually 60-90 seconds in) – I will ask the Wedding Party (parents, best man, ushers, and bridesmaids) to join you or I can just ask everyone to join you, this then takes the pressure off you. Alternatively, you can have the whole song for yourselves. It is your choice!
(5) When picking your music don’t go mad, 20-30 songs are more than enough. This will give us a skeleton to build upon, an idea of your taste in music and still have scope to take requests from your guests on the night.
(6) Choose songs for a playlist which are significant to you. It isn’t about choosing what you think other people will want – that is what we are there for, just like you we want everyone to leave at the end having enjoyed the party!
(7) Dancefloor Distractions – or other entertainment? This could be viewed as a forth group mentioned in point 2.
(a) Photobooths – If space allows try to have them in the same room as the dancefloor -you want to keep everyone together
(b) Fun Casino – the croupiers need to communicate with the punters so it’s best if they can be in a different area (not necessarily a different room)
(8) Do you have older guests? Try to make sure they don’t choose seating near the speakers – you want them to enjoy their evening too! Ideally if space allows the dancefloor should be between the DJ and any seating
(9) Leave your guests wanting more – a midnight finish is usually plenty and will mean that people will go home happy. You will have been up very early to get ready for your wedding and there is nothing worse than dragging the end of out because there are still four or five of your guests still stood at the bar. For more on this see my blog “the perfect finish”
(10) Cost vs Remembered, think about weddings you have been to as a guest and what you remember most about the day – chances are it’s the entertainment, don’t cut corners on it!!
Remember, this is all based on my 25+ years experience please feel free to take as much or as little from as you wish. I hope I have helped a little with your planning and I look forward to seeing you on the dancefloor very soon.
Mark G.
