Making Wedding Memories: The Right Wedding DJ

Sure, you want the wedding DJ to keep it moving and play great tunes at your reception. Your DJ can do more than just play the Macarena, however. A good Disc Jockey can act as a master of ceremonies, or emcee, during your reception.  While a good DJ should blend seamlessly into the day's events, a bad DJ can ruin the event and leave a bad impression for a long time to come. 

Keep the Wedding Music Going

We all have music that holds special meaning to us. You'll want a DJ that understands this and works with you to make sure your preferences are honored. If you request specific songs or genres, he/she should be dedicated to making sure this music is played at your reception. If you are unsure about specific songs or need suggestions, he/she should be able to help with this as well. The DJ should have a good sense of the type of wedding music that works best for different components of the event and be able to make smooth musical transitions between them. Early in the wedding reception, you may want music played that will appeal to your older guests. As these guests leave and the party ramps up, your wedding DJ should be ready for this and able to change the tone.

Keep the Event Flowing

If you'd like, your DJ can make announcements throughout the event. He can announce the arrival of the wedding party, and introduce the bride, groom, and members of the wedding party. If you have the DJ during dinner, you'll want music that doesn't overpower the meal. Your Disc Jockey should be able to make these subtle shifts. While every reception is unique, there are certain events that many couples want included in their reception. These events could include the first dance, toasts, cake cutting, and the bouquet tossing. Your DJ should have a timeline that fits with the hours of your reception and be able to keep everyone on schedule. He/she should announce events like the cake cutting so the photographer and guests don't miss these important events. You'll be so busy on that day, you'll welcome someone keeping you on schedule. Otherwise you could end up missing a special part of the wedding.

Get Everyone Comfortable

The DJ can help break the ice and put your guests at ease. He should not only be able to read the crowd, but he should be able to build up anticipation and keep your guests engaged and involved. You don't want a bunch of people sitting at tables with their chins in their hands staring off into space. If you've decided to have interactive dances like the Macarena or the Electric Slide, discuss in advance with him when you want these to occur. You'll probably want organized dances after people have warmed up. Look for a DJ that gets people involved without having to cajole or coerce people. There are some guests that may prefer to watch from the sidelines, and that's fine, too.

The DJ you select for your wedding can set the tone and pace for the entire reception. He should not only be able to keep the party going, but he should be adept at winding the festivities down as well.