It should probably go without saying that as wedding photographers, Tabi and I go to a lot of weddings. Most flow smoothly while others sometimes suffer little hiccups and bumps. For a smooth, fun and carefree reception, consider your choice of DJ very carefully, especially if you don’t have a professional event coordinator at your reception. The reality is that this decision can make or break your fairytale experience. The DJ sets the tone of the evening with music and very often also acts as the Master of Ceremonies and event coordinator. Getting the right fit for your unique style is important for keeping your evening on track and popping.

A lot of factors contribute to why you choose who you choose, cost being a big one. The iPod has made the idea of not having a real DJ seem like a real option for some brides. While on the surface it seems to be a no-brainer, you run all sorts of risks that can dampen the flow of the evening or worse. Usually the best man or some other friend is pressed into service to make the introductions and act as emcee and the couple relies on him cueing play-lists to keep the music flowing. While it’s not always a bad idea to have a friend emcee, you need to choose wisely. This person is going to need to be extremely time conscious and must be willing to adhere to a prescribed schedule of events as well as deal with the unforeseen complications that sometimes come up. In reality, this is asking a lot of any friend and may keep your emcee friend from having a fun and carefree evening of their own. While we don’t recommend this arrangement, we have seen it done with great success. Last year Tabi and I shared an evening with a couple who had a friend act as emcee and it was fabulous! He was great and since he was a family friend he knew a lot about the couple. Bear in mind that they did have a professional DJ in control of the music and pacing of the evening and the friend only did the work behind the mic. Because he didn’t have to worry about music or timing, he had a great time as did everyone else.

Relying on an iPod playlist presents a whole host of problems you should be aware of. While a playlist may seem like a great idea, they are limited in that they can’t bring the energy of the room up or down as needed like a live DJ can. A DJ is the pulse of the evening, responsible for heating the dance floor up to get the party hopping and cooling it down occasionally so that the older crowd can work in a dance or two. The playlist can’t react to the mood of the room or take requests, a DJ can. Using an ipod playlist is really the modern day equivalent of stuffing a jukebox with quarters. While it’s better than nothing, it won’t likely make for a memorable evening and a pulsing dance floor.

This leads us to the next big pitfall, having a friend/relative DJ or hiring the DJ from the local club. While they might have great taste in music and know how to keep the beats flowing, they don’t necessarily know what works in a reception environment. A recent experience with a club DJ at a reception is a great example. He started to announce the wedding party when our ears were shattered by a burst of deafening feedback. Not a storybook beginning if you know what I mean. Then he didn’t announce the toasts and just handed the best man the mic. The toast started while the guests were still talking and the best man was about halfway done with his toast by the time many people realized what was going on and quieted down. This same DJ assaulted our ears during dinner with music at an ear-splitting level. It was so loud that people practically had to shout to ask the person next to them to pass he butter and salt. He really didn’t seem to have a clue that he was ruining people’s ability to socialize over the meal. A seasoned pro would have never done this.

Often times brides choose the wedding DJ based on recommendations from the reception venue coordinator. These can be fairly safe bets because they are professionals and have a positive track record with the venue. You do, however, run the risk of getting someone who doesn’t really click with your personality or style, so it’s important to do your homework before signing on the dotted line. You also have to watch out for the reception facility’s “house DJ’. He sometimes turns out to be the facility manager who really has no business running the show. We’ve now worked twice at a venue in one of Indianapolis’ far southwest suburbs who didn’t keep us informed of the schedule of events and the evening’s time-line. Every time we’d asked what was next we got little to no information and a dirty look. He apparently didn’t get the memo that we were all working for the bride and groom and that we needed clear communication to give them the best photos from their reception. This facility manager/DJ started events without any warning, leaving us to scramble for the perfect position to get the shot. We got the shots, no thanks to our man with the microphone. Less experienced photographers might have been caught off guard and missed the special moments. On the other hand, the house DJ can be a great seasoned pro. An example of this is Randy at Adaggios in Greenfield. His facility is great and so is his DJ/MC ability. Keep in mind that he is the exception and not the rule, so buyer beware!

The best way to be sure that your event will be a hit is to hire a professional DJ with extensive reception experience. Get recommendations from friends, family or other wedding professionals and then interview at least two to four DJs that work within your budget. Most important of all, be sure that you meet with the actual person who’ll be at your event. Some DJ services will have a likeable sales associate close the deal and then it’s a total crapshoot on who actually shows up at your event. After all of your effort planning the day you don’t want to leave this important detail to chance. Work up a play-list of songs that you definitely want worked into the evening and songs or music types that you absolutely do not want to hear. This will give your DJ a good idea of where you’re at musically and will help assure that your evening doesn’t go somewhere you don’t want it to. Also be sure to give your DJ a timeline of the evening so that he’ll know when to cue everyone to the special events. Remember, your photographers will be relying on your DJ to cue them on the timeline of events, as last minute changes often happen. If your DJ doesn’t communicate well with your photographers and videographers, you run the risk of having some of those special moments missed. In the end, it always pays to hire a pro.

Tags: wedding entertainment tips, Wedding Photography Tips, Wedding tips - DJ