It's the Music They'll Remember

By Jay Maxwell, through courtesy of Uptown Sounds

All the planning is now behind you. You've made the walk down the aisle, proclaimed your love, and exchanged glistening gold wedding bands. Congratulations, you are now man and wife. Now it's time to kick back, unwind, forget all the stress and celebrate the day at your reception.

What To Expect

First, the photographer may want to take a few more pictures at the church or wedding site. After that it's off to be greeted by family and friends who have come together for your wedding day. Don't be surprised to receive an enthusiastic welcome as your DJ/Master of Ceremonies announces your grand entrance. It's one of the things he or she enjoys most. And for the next few hours it will their job to lead the festivities, play the music that is important to you and your guests, and keep the reception running smoothly. Music is in fact the most important and memorable part of a reception. Reception guests seldom remember the meal or even the cake, but they almost always remember the music, especially if the DJ did a great job.

Who Coordinates The Reception

The main reason wedding couples choose a DJ is that the selection of music a DJ can play spans across all ages and tastes. But aside from music, your DJ will also act as your Master Of Ceremonies to help maintain the proper flow during the reception. Your DJ will coordinate with your photographer to get all the right pictures for your wedding album. So while you may be thinking of hiring a DJ just for the music, remember to consult with him or her a few weeks before the wedding to discuss the desired order of events, such as the cutting of the wedding cake, the toast, and the bouquet and garter toss. As your DJ will be introducing you and your wedding party, it's important they know how to pronounce all the names correctly. Your DJ will most likely ask you for the phonetic spellings of any challenging names.

The Right Music Mix

Having a DJ you can trust to handle all the MC duties is important, but where most DJ's really shine is when it comes to knowing what music will get the crowd on the dance floor. As a general rule the guests will not dance until after the bride and groom have had their first dance. This may be followed immediately by a dance for the bride and father and for the groom and his mother. If other special dances are in order, they would be done next. In most cases, your DJ will kick off the dance portion of your reception right after the special dances. This gets the guests up and on the dance floor so that they won't begin to feel left out. Other festivities such as a dollar dance, or the bouquet and garter toss can take place at appropriate times during the reception. Proper planning for your reception should also include giving your DJ a guideline of the types of music (Alternative/Modern Rock, Ballads, Big Band/Swing, Club/Disco, R & B, Country, Oldies, Rock, Beach) that you want to be played. Keep in mind that you want all of your guests to be satisfied, so make sure your DJ is prepared with a wide variety of music to suit all tastes. Also give your DJ a list of songs that you would like to hear during the meal. Just remember that your wedding day is a time to celebrate, so dance and enjoy yourself!