Hiring a Wedding DJ Pt. II

(Looking for part one?)

In our post written roughly a week ago, we talked about how to hire a wedding DJ. Today, we're going to build on that post by talking a little bit about what to look for in your wedding disc jockey. You can't be too careful, after all, when you're hiring the guy (or gal) who will set the tone for your reception!

Experience counts
When you decide to hire a wedding DJ, you're going to have some questions. First and foremost on your mind should be how much experience the DJs you like have. You should look for a DJ who has experience working weddings. As much as you like the dance club DJ who was spinning at the party you attended last weekend, that disc jockey won't necessarily have what it takes to do weddings.

Ask yourself: Is the DJ familiar with wedding protocols and conventions, and does he (or she) understand the sanctity and sentimentality of the event? This is especially important if you expect the DJ to take on the role of MC!

Try to meet any prospective disk jockeys in person so you can lay out your requirements for the wedding reception. Watch videos of their performances if they have any. Most experienced and professional DJs will have some available, either on a DVD or on YouTube. This is a very useful way of pre-screening a prospective DJ. Then check his CD collection and see if it suits your taste. A large, diverse collection is best, but most disc jockeys will be able to find the music you'd most like to hear played.

Passion Is Key
Your wedding DJ should love what he or she does for a living! Most disc jockeys are music afficiandos and enjoy a good party. If you're hiring from a company, it will usually have a number of DJs on the payroll and those disc jockeys may not be as motivated as solo DJs. No matter who you ultimately hire, always get a written contract that details the DJ's responsibilities and your rights. It's there to protect both of you! Finally, it may be useful to choose a wedding disc jockey who is a member of a national DJ association like the ADJA or NAME. The DJs who take the time to join these organizations will usually be responsible professionals.

Ask yourself: Does the prospective DJ simply churn out music dispassionately or does he (or she) actively motivate the guests to dance and have fun? Or, if you prefer a more serene party atmosphere, does the disc jockey play the appropriate tunes? Make sure the DJ is open to requests and does not impose his own tastes on the event. Does your disc jockey include a package of other goodies such as backup equipment and lighting? Does the hiring cost include all the equipment? Is the equipment of good quality and suitable for the venue and occasion?

Time to Negotiate
Definitely try to negotiate the fees for a win-win deal. Never assume that the price listed is set in stone -- the worst a DJ can say is no! Keep in mind that well-known wedding disc jockeys will cost more than newbies, but that isn't necessarily an indicator of quality. Let your gut be your guide, and never choose a wedding DJ who rubs you the wrong way. Some DJs charge more to work on holidays and during the popular wedding months, i.e., June, July, and August. Lastly, make sure the price you are quoted includes everything -- hidden charges are bad news.

And remember, wedding DJs, like almost all wedding vendors, tend to get booked up well in advance, so start looking for yours as early as you can!


A Music Plus
Denver's Wedding Entertainment Specialists
Disc Jockeys, Live Wedding Bands, Event Entertainment Specialists
http://www.amusicplus.com/

Hiring a Wedding DJ Pt. I

So your wedding is just around the corner. Maybe you've sorted out most of the details, like your budget, ceremony venue, invitation list, wedding stationery, and vows. As the day approaches amidst chaotic delight, your thoughts and energy will naturally be directed towards the planning of your wedding reception. Of all the things that can enhance or detract from a wedding reception, the entertainment should be first and foremost in your mind.

The music
As we've mentioned in the past, your wedding reception music helps ensure that your guests are having a great time. Live band music is a cool option for a very entertaining wedding reception. Live bands do, however, come with their inherent parcel of issues, like the hassle of all the equipment, instruments, their set up and break down times, and the space they require. Live bands also invariably turn out to be rather loud. If you have no problems with these issues and you can afford the price tag, then a live band it is.

On the other hand, a wedding disc jockey can keep the party going without all the fuss...and for a lot less money. If your decision is to enjoy your reception the wedding DJ way, you'll need to secure the services of a professional disc jockey. If your cousin's best friend is an experienced wedding DJ, fantastic! If not, you're going to have to start looking for and interviewing DJs.

Hiring a wedding disc jockey
To start, you need to decide how the DJ fits into your reception plans. What role the DJ will fill? Will your wedding DJ just be spinning music or are you expecting him to be the Master of Ceremonies (i.e., the MC)? What kind of music you would prefer to hear during your wedding reception -- will the DJs you like be able to accommodate your tastes? Your choice of guests may also play a role in the kind of music you choose. Grandma may not want to hear gangsta rap even if it's your absolute favorite!

First, look at Yellow Pages listings if no one you know can recommend someone they've worked with in the past. Check with local dance clubs and radio stations -- they can often provide good leads. Bridal magazines and wedding web sites like Smart Wedding Planning usually have local listings for vendors. Checking with lots of sources will give you a broad picture of the prices wedding DJs charge and will also help you narrow down a list of wedding DJs that fit your budget. Remember that the most expensive wedding disc jockey may not be the right one for your wedding.


A Music Plus
Denver's Wedding Entertainment Specialists
Disc Jockeys, Live Wedding Bands, Event Entertainment Specialists
http://www.amusicplus.com/

Bridesmaids Gifts

Bridesmaid gifts shouldn't have to be a puzzle. While there's a tradition of giving things like jewelry or tote bags, there's no reason you can't just give your gals something they'd really like. After all, you wouldn't buy your best friend a Santa sweater just because it's Christmas, right? Right? Yes, you can gift your bridesmaids with generic stuff or you can charm your pals with challenging, mind-blowing bridesmaids gifts. Rather than giving a usual key chain or a pearl strand, think of each of your 'maids before buying anything. You know what they like!

If you're really pressed and can't think of a single thing they'd like, consider some of the gifts listed below.

Entertaining Gifts

__Tickets to a dinner or musical theater show
__Computer games or accessories
__Tiffany playing cards
__A purse size camera with a monogrammed case
__Subscription to magazines if she is an avid reader

Lavish Gifts

__Personalized stationery
__Designer makeup bag or clutch
__Monogrammed bath towels or washcloths
__A silk dress or cute shoes
__A gift certificate to a spa

Handmade Gifts

__Fanciful soaps
__Homemade candles
__Perfumed Bath salts
__Knitted woolen gloves with a matching scarf
__A personalized photo album

Unique Gifts

__Vintage ashtrays (for the smokers)
__Workout gear, if she is a fitness buff
__A travel kit embroidered with her initials
__A hot new cookbook and a cast iron pot
__New gardening tools and seeds from her favorite flower

The best bridesmaids gifts will always be those that reflect the personality of the individual receiving the gift. When you choose gifts your attendants will love, they'll be more apt to keep and treasure them for a long time. Can you say that about a paperweight? Only if the chick opening the package loves being a desk jockey!

Remember that your bridesmaids are special individuals who have probably taken a good amount of time out of their lives to help plan, decorate and be present for your wedding day. They should be appropriately thanked for those major contributions!


A Music Plus
Denver's Wedding Entertainment Specialists
Disc Jockeys, Live Wedding Bands, Event Entertainment Specialists
http://www.amusicplus.com/

Wedding Favor Trends

You know you've chosen a good wedding favor when there are none left at the end of the reception. While it's unusual for there not to be at least some leftover wedding favors, it's a noble goal to aim for! The wedding favors that get the most attention are usually those that are edible, though trendy wedding favors are also beloved by guests. Below you'll find some of the favors that are popular with today's brides...and today's guests.

Unusual Wedding Favors
One trend that we definitely see at events we DJ for is wedding favors that tend toward the unusual. The old classic wedding favor ideas -- think matchbooks and almonds -- have gone out the door because brides and grooms want to give their guests something unique that will be kept and remembered.

Exotic Wedding Favors
Pushing the limit is hot right now because brides and grooms love to inject a little creativity into their event. Items from exotic locales fit the bill because they aren't going to be something your guests just saw in a nearby shop window. For example, a small potted bamboo sprig from China is a popular wedding favor right now. Look for wedding favors from foreign countries or cultures.

Elegant Wedding Favors
Smaller and more elegant wedding favors are gaining in popularity. A single chocolate truffle or sachet of gourmet tea will delight your guests...and more than likely get used.

Personalized Wedding Favors
If you want your guests to remember your wedding, give them something with your name and the wedding date on it! Adding little personal touches like a picture of the couple to be married makes any keepsake more keep-worthy. Some brides and grooms are even adding the name of each guest to make their favors extremely personalized. This is a very nice gesture and one that your guests will love!


A Music Plus
Denver's Wedding Entertainment Specialists
Disc Jockeys, Live Wedding Bands, Event Entertainment Specialists
http://www.amusicplus.com/

Wedding Flower Checklist (Ceremony)

Whoever thought that flowers could equal stress? But naturally they can when there is a wedding involved! It's not that choosing flowers isn't fun -- rather, it's that you, as the bride (or possibly the groom) have never had to choose so many flowers in so many configurations! What, for example, is a boutonnière? Or a biedermeier? How about a tussy mussy? It's enough to make a bride-to-be tear down a greenhouse!

It's not hard to see why one of the more important wedding planning checklists is the wedding flowers checklist for the ceremony. First, there are the bouquets and the flower petals:

• Flower girl's floral basket and rose petals
• Maid of honor's bouquet
• Bridesmaids' bouquets
• Bride's toss-away bouquet
• Bride's bouquet

Then there are also wedding corsages to think about! These are optional, but they are a nice way to honor mothers and grandmothers who otherwise have no part in the wedding ceremony itself. If you want to mark this tradition, these are the individuals who should be included:

• The Bride's mother
• The Groom's mother
• The grandmothers of the Bride
• The grandmothers of the Groom
• Any other special women in your life

Boutonnières are yet another bit of floral finery you may or may not wish to buy. Boutonnières are for wedding attendants and honored male guests. These are usually nicely matched to the corsages that are worn by the ladies, as well as the bouquets that are going to be carried by the bridal party. These are the individuals that should receive boutonnières:

• The Groom's best man
• The ring bearer
• The ushers
• The fathers of the Bride
• The father of the Groom
• The grandfather of the Bride
• The grandfather of the Groom
• The Groom himself
  

It should go without saying that any remaining members of the wedding party can also carry or wear some sort of floral arrangement if you wish.

Remember that boutonnières don't have to be single roses and bouquets needn't come in little cones. There are many kinds of beautiful and elegant wedding floral arrangements out there waiting for your to discover them. Your florist may be able to help you decide if you'd rather carry a hand tied bouquet or an arm sheaf but they may not be familiar with ballerina bouquets or kissing balls, so do your research before committing to a specific style.


A Music Plus
Denver's Wedding Entertainment Specialists
Disc Jockeys, Live Wedding Bands, Event Entertainment Specialists
http://www.amusicplus.com/