WEDDING DJ RESPONSIBILITIES
It is important to first understand what responsibilities a professional DJ should have for your wedding. The foremost responsibility, as you might imagine, is to play music at your reception that will keep everyone involved and having a good time. However, there is more to this than you might expect. In fact, the most common mistake people make when choosing a DJ is to overestimate the ease of playing music that keeps a crowd on the dance floor.
How to Pronounce Names
First things first: Decide who is going to introduce the newlyweds and the entire wedding party for the grand entrance. If you decide to go with the DJ, definitely give your DJ a phonetic spelling of the names of the entire wedding party, especially if there any unusual names (first and/or last) in the mix.
Announcements
A good wedding DJ is responsible for way more than playing music. They also act as your MC.Of course, not every wedding DJ has experience as an MC. When you’re hiring a DJ, make sure you consider their personality as much as their experience. As your MC, they’ll be setting the tone for the whole night!
Vibe Check
Setting the right vibe and atmosphere is what sets wedding DJs apart from other types of DJs.Unlike a nightclub, which is usually a younger crowd, your wedding guests will consist of family and friends from all generations and walks of life. Finding ways of keeping all these people dancing can be easier said than done.
Covers up any hiccups
Things may go wrong on your wedding day, but fortunately, wedding DJs are pros at getting things back on track. Let’s say dinner is running slightly behind schedule. Your DJ can play an extra few songs so that guests are too busy dancing to care that the food’s not ready. Or maybe your dad is in the restroom when he’s supposed to be giving his toast. Your DJ can cover until he’s available. Your guests won’t notice any potentially-awkward mishaps when you’ve got a pro wedding DJ at the helm.
Can create mashups and song cuts
Worried your first dance song might be a bit too long? Your wedding DJ has got you covered! Want to start your father-daughter dance with a slow song and then surprise your guests by cutting into a Michael Jackson favorite? A DJ can create a custom remix just for you. Many wedding DJs are skilled at creating mashups, remixes, and adjusting song lengths to fit your needs—just ask!
Here’s what you can reasonably expect from any experienced pro.
Cocktail hour.While you and your bridal party and family step away for some group photos, your guests will enjoy cocktails and appetizers, and get acquainted with one another. Your DJ will provide your choice of cocktail music — whether it’s classical, background piano, light jazz, Rat Pack vocals, or something truly unique to the two of you. This is your opportunity to put some of your own personality into the evening’s music, by having your DJ play songs that may not be especially danceable, but still have a lot of meaning for the two of you.
Toasts and speeches. Your DJ will provide a wireless microphone for the Best Man, Maid of Honor, Father of the Bride, minister, or anyone else who plans special remarks. He’ll also introduce each person’s speech.
Cake cutting. Whether you’re cutting your cake before dinner, after the
salad, or after dinner, your DJ will make the announcement, so guests may take
their own pictures of you.
Special dances. Your DJ will introduce your First Dance, wedding party dance, bride-father and groom-mother dances, each with the accompanying song you choose. Some companies, like Fourth Estate Audio, like to have the First Dance and wedding party dance, then open the floor to the guests and leave the bride-father and groom-mother dances for a little later. That way, people who have just eaten a full meal won’t have time to get drowsy and think of leaving early.
Final song. Many couples want to pick the last song of the evening in advance, and your DJ will time the last few minutes of the party to hit that special song at just the right time. There will, of course, be calls for “One more, one more!” But if you’ve chosen the last song, it will indeed be the last song.