An Unforgettable Wedding Party, and how to achieve one!
Every happy couple dreams of their totally perfect wedding day….dry and warm weather, excellent food and drink, a wonderful idyllic setting with friends and relatives enjoying the day and of course a totally banging wedding party to finish!
Over the next few paragraphs, I hope to give you some important pointers on how to make your evening wedding party hit the heights, and also help you with some tips on unique touches to leave your guests with long-lasting memories of a fantastic night!
Your Wedding Party DJ
I have written many, many blogs about the required qualities of an Essex Wedding DJ and I would certainly encourage you to have a read, but here I will outline the most important things you need to ask, to ensure quality and professionalism;
- Wedding Reception Experience – There are thousands of mobile DJs in the UK, and they are definitely NOT all the same! Hosting a wedding reception as a DJ is a whole different ballgame to playing in a local pub, club or village hall. For starters, this is pretty much the most important day of your lives, not to mention the most expensive! Your DJ needs to be fully versed in all the various traditions and ceremonies, plus they need to be incredibly flexible with their set list as the age groups at wedding parties go from 0-90! Pub & (especially) club DJs are used to playing one or two genres, whereas weddings require a very broad spectrum.
- Clean & Tidy Kit – No-one expects you and your guests to be experts in modern electronics and audio quality, but there is visual standard that needs to be achieved by the DJ before taking on a wedding party. Wires secured and tidied away, speakers positioned safely, lighting out of reach of inquisitive little fingers, that kind of thing. We’ve all seen the local pub DJ setting up on a wonky table with wiring hanging precariously and that’s definitely not something we want to see at your big day!
- Approachability & Accessibility – Obviously a quality that you’ll expect from all of your suppliers for your wedding, there’s nothing more attractive than helpfulness and understanding from your chosen DJ, particularly in the run-up to the day. They should be there at the end of the phone/email/video call to discuss any or all of your last-minute concerns. I hear untold stories of couples being ‘ghosted’ by their DJ for months on end prior to the reception…this is simply unprofessional and, understandably, quite worrying. The DJ will have their own thoughts about music and genres, and a great one will sit down with you and listen to your ideas before using their vast experience to suggest tracks in a similar vein or alternatives.
THE FUNCTION SUITE – How do you throw a good wedding party?
I am going to keep this part of the blog short and sweet! I have hosted wedding reception parties in hundreds of different venues, from grand country manor houses to tiny village halls and there is only one requirement I would 100% insist upon if it were my wedding party….the bar in the same room as the dancefloor. Or at the very least, an adjacent room where the music and announcements can be clearly heard and enjoyed. You would not believe how difficult it is (as a DJ) to try and fill a dancefloor when the majority of the guests are 20 yards down a hallway in a separate bar area! If you really value the party bit of your wedding day, give this some serious consideration.
LAST ORDERS!
There’s a famous old showbiz adage….”Leave them wanting more!” and that is definitely something to be considered for your wedding reception party. Don’t be tempted by adding on late licences at the venue, because a wedding day is a long day for everyone concerned, and in the vast majority of receptions, midnight is the limit of endurance! Over the years, I have seen many cases where the Wedding DJ is playing to an empty room for the extended hour as most have gone to bed! And it’s not exactly memorable to just let the day fizzle out with a drunken uncle swaying alone on the dancefloor! Finish your special day in style, with loads of guests on the floor, celebrating as one!
ADDED EXTRAS – How to make a wedding day memorable?
Everyone wants their wedding day to be unique, right? You’ve booked all the usual formal stuff and now you’re checking out the quirkier touches…here are a few additions you might have already considered and some you haven’t!
- Live band/singer – Even though I’m a DJ, there’s nothing I love more than seeing a decent wedding band doing their stuff. I was in a band years before I became a pro DJ, so I am lucky to have a deep appreciation of both sides. When you’re looking for your ideal live act, it’s always best to consider a few important factors; are they experienced in performing at weddings? Do they cover a wide range of popular genres? Does your venue allow/accommodate live bands? And most importantly…do they come with or recommend a pro DJ? This last point is very important, and not just because I’m selling my own services. When a band take a break or end their set, you’re left with a dead spot in the night. All the room’s energy disappears, and no pre-recorded mix tape is gonna bring it back. Always book a DJ to work alongside your live act, even if it’s just for one hour…you won’t regret it!
- Saxophonists & Percussionists – A relatively new thing in the wedding market, and completely inspired by Ibiza bars and clubs. If you and your guests love dance music, then booking one (or both) of these is a real crowd pleaser. The best ones will simply play over the top of the DJ’s dance set, and it really lifts the dancefloor to new heights! One to avoid however, is the solo sax player doing a 40-minute set of playing the vocal melody over a karaoke backing track. It’s interesting for the first two songs, then it gets rather dull and uninspiring.
- Silent Discos – This is such an unusual concept, but almost everyone I know that have used this service absolutely loved it! It’s simple…put on a pair of headphones, select the style you want to dance to (usually two separate DJs at the controls) and head for the floor. You’ll be throwing different shapes to your friends, but that’s half the fun! It’s ideal for wedding venues in Essex with strict sound restrictions or parties based outside under canvas. For onlookers, it’s definitely weird, but great fun nonetheless.
- Themed Music – It’s a brave call to narrow down the music genres at your wedding reception, but it can totally work brilliantly. I have hosted over 1000 wedding parties, and some of the biggest and best have been themed. Genres such as Eighties, Rock n Roll, Soul Weekender, Ibiza Anthems and even 1920s Jazz Club have been a massive hit with the guests. A genuine unique twist, a break from the old routine if you like.
- Pyrotechnics – I’m not just talking confetti cannons here…there’s a growing market in West-End stage show style effects. Starting with the low fog dry ice for the First Dance, you can now add 10ft high ‘sparklers’ timed perfectly with your big moves, CO2 cannons that launch a noisy and powerful jet of harmless steam high into the rafters, or what about real flames? Venues don’t like that one, but you’ve seen them at big football matches and concerts, and smaller examples are available. From personal experience, I still recall using an awful bubble machine in the 90s. It looked a bit pathetic in the corner and it left the floor dangerously slippy! Now however, the bubble machines are huge and the output is immense. Another great effect to consider!
In 2024, there is so much choice to make your wedding reception party even more special than ever before. I hope that I have been able to give you some honest pointers above, and as always I’m here to answer any questions regarding my services or my recommendations.
Here’s to your fantastic party, whenever that may be!