A professional DJ does so much more than play songs during the wedding reception. They manage speakers and microphones, inspire the crowd with fun activities, facilitate communication between wedding vendors and set the pace of the event. It’s like having an extra wedding planner on hand who takes care of all the little details that never crossed your mind.
Here are the simple ways a seasoned DJ acts as a director for key parts of your wedding, making sure the day is a fun, seamless milestone:
Planning: A planning meeting with a DJ is about the songs, but more about the role music and sound plays throughout the day. A great DJ will spend time with you digging into the details and finding out what will work best for the experience you want to create. The planning meeting is like a mini-coaching session where you select music that sets the tone for the day and what type of music expresses the mood you want to convey. During a planning meeting you also review how the DJ will act as a master of ceremonies, making sure the days’ events stay on track.
Some things to think about before you meet with your DJ:
- What parts of the day need a specific song or music cue?
- Do you have song ideas for the ceremony, big entrance, key dances, toasts, etc?
- Are there special interests as a couple you want to include as part of the music or reception?
- Does the venue have lighting that can bring an element of elegance to the room?
- What is the flow of the day and what’s most important to you?
Master of Ceremonies:
A DJ keeps things moving throughout the wedding day, setting the pace for key events like announcements, toasts, important dances, dinner, cake cutting or whatever other special features you have planned. This way you can enjoy spending time with guests and getting out on the dance floor.
Ceremony: A ceremony venue can be beautiful, but might not have the technology capabilities you need. If you want to share your vows and emotional exchanges during the ceremony with all your guests, it’s important to properly set up the right type of microphones for the officiant, bride and groom. A DJ can provide speakers, microphones and offer insights on how to manage sound for an indoor or outdoor wedding, and the best ways to manage background noise.
If you have a friend or family member performing the ceremony (common in Colorado), a wedding DJ can also help with general ceremonial cues. This can include handling music for the procession and recession and adding in important context clues for key ceremony transition points.
Reception: One thing brides fear most is that people won’t dance or enjoy the reception. An experienced DJ keeps things light and fun by reading the room and taking cues from guests. They also pull together your music suggestions and throw in unique, creative ways to get people to participate. The goal of of any DJ should be to help craft a reception experience tailored to what you love in a way that also keeps the crowd engaged.
Lighting: The lighting at a reception may not be what you expect when you show up on your wedding day. That’s why it can help to have lighting accents to create a specific mood. Decor lighting brings a lot to a room, looks elegant and brightens or dims certain areas as needed. A little extra lighting also helps the photographer and quality of the pictures, while bringing out the best visual aspects of the venue.
At the end of the day, you could manage your own wedding music using a shuffle feature on a music player. But why give yourself a job to do instead of enjoying your wedding day experience and connecting with guests?
If you are interested in learning directly from couples in Colorado about how a DJ adds lots of valuable little extras to a wedding day, check out some of my most recent reviews.