Last night, we had an amazing time providing entertainment for Rich and Kelly Doyle’s wedding reception! The wedding took place at Kelly’s mother and step-father’s ranch in Whitewater, Colorado. What a beautiful venue! Rich and Kelly had provided us with a large list of songs they wanted played for their wedding. It was a good list of songs from most genres. I had created playlists for the buffet and the reception. The buffet went longer than expected and I had to add many songs to the playlist, which turned out to be really great because people started to make requests and even a few people danced. We then started the reception festivities with a great toast given by the father of the bride, and then moved into Rich and Kelly’s first dance. I had the reception planned as well. However, as with all DJ gigs, you must be willing to change up any plans. I usually start out all wedding receptions with older music and then I progressively advance the music until, by the end of the night, we are playing hip-hop. However, requests came in for hip-hop earlier than expected and plans changed. We ended up playing hip-hop for most of the reception. The dance floor was full, and it was a great time. I had to think of songs on the fly to keep the party going and it was fantastic. The group of people at this wedding were just amazing and we all had so much fun!
If you hire a DJ for your wedding, please make sure he can read the crowd and keep everyone happy. Weddings rarely go as planned. A DJ must be able to play good buffet music with some variety that lets the people know that he has a good library and welcomes requests. I also recommend you let the DJ know that the goal of buffet music is that it can be heard in the background, but to make sure people can still talk comfortably without having to try to talk over the music. All receptions will be different due to the group of people at the wedding. The DJ must be easy going and have a go-with-the-flow attitude. We had a great time at this wedding, and when the plans changed we just went with it and everyone had a memorable time.
I truly love providing music for weddings, and it’s great to be there when two people begin their new life together. When done right, the entertainment is typically something everyone will remember from a wedding. If possible, I encourage you to meet with and discuss everything with your DJ at least a month before your special day, so that he is as prepared as he can be. Your DJ is usually the Master of Ceremonies (MC). As the MC, the DJ is responsible for more than just providing amazing music. For example, he will announce the newlyweds into the reception, direct the guests in regard to the buffet, announce the toast(s), direct the guests attention to specific dances such as the first dance and the father/bride dance, and much more. Most wedding receptions have specific events that are special and deserve everyone’s attention. The job of the MC is to direct the reception to make sure all of those special moments are immortalized. This is why it is important to meet with your DJ/MC to make sure he knows how you would like things to take place at the reception so that he is prepared with a good timeline. This ensures that during your special day, you do not need to worry about directing your guests. Leave that to the MC. If he is good, he will direct the reception as expected and be willing to change the timeline if needed. The day is about you and by meeting with your DJ/MC beforehand should hopefully reduce some stress about how the reception will flow. You have enough to worry about on the big day. Once again, remember it is your special day and the DJ should do everything he can to make your day as amazing as possible. If you are looking for a DJ/MC, you can reach us at www.merikmusic.com.
Once again thank you so much to Rich and Kelly! Congratulations!!! You, your family, and your guests are amazing people and welcomed us with open arms. It was a truly great experience and we wish you the best for years to come!
DJ Merik