How to Hire the Best DJ

Dear Reader,

As a wedding florist and attend many weddings, including those of my clients and family members.  Arizonans tend to use DJ's more than live bands so most every Wedding I have been to used a DJ or provided their own music.

Please keep the following in mind when you consider a DJ.

A good DJ does a lot more than play music.  He or she is generally the MC, entertainment, director, announcer, spokesperson, dance instructor and sometimes the referee or judge.  Who you pick makes a big difference on how the party will play out or be remembered. I was so impressed with Chad with All American DJ, the DJ for my cousin's Wedding. He was fantastic, made the evening fun and honestly I was tired but ended up staying and dancing long after I planned on leaving.

That can be the real danger you pay thousands of dollars for the venue, food, flowers, photographer, etc. and people get board and want to leave.  That is why the DJ you hire is so important because they can take the temperature of the group and entertain while the Bride and Groom are doing things that they need to do like taking pictures and signing the license.

Our DJ Chad even made waiting to go to the buffet line fun.  He held a Trivia contest Q&A about the Bride and Groom, the winning tables got to go up to the buffet line for dinner. While waiting in line we were able to listen to other tables try and win their place.

He was also very good at gauging the type of music the group would like.  This is so very important, nothing will make people run out of an event faster that playing music that they hate or playing it to loud. He also played music that was a tribute to the Brides Greek heritage. That was amazing because everyone joined in and learned how to dance in the Greek family tradition.

So here are some tips to keep in mind when looking for the perfect fun DJ:

* Ask what he or she provides for the evening and see if he or she talks about entertaining the group while your busy and hosting games to make things fun. They should have a fun evening planned be able to talk them event by event.

* Ask what types of music he or she plays for the dancing. Make sure he or she has a full selection of music and not just one genre. Also make sure there are special music played for transitions and back ground play while various special events are going on.

* Find out how loud he or she plays the music and remember the loudness can chase away anyone who has any hearing loss or is older any hearing issue.

* Ask how he or she gets people up dancing.  Does he or she use a competition, ask for support for the bride and groom, or fun music that people like to dance to?

* Ask him or her how they will work the crowd or will they just stand behind the music stand. Will they teach people how to do different dances if need be?

* Ask how they prevent distortion and feedback from the equipment. Find out how much before the Wedding they set up and if they do sound checks.

* Provide your expectations to the DJ(s) and make sure they have it written down or you provide them with specific details on what you expect and want from them.  Your paying for it so you can even state your preferences for each event in the ceremony and reception, etc. 

* Finally do they have any fun props that they provide to add to the enjoyment of the evening.

Happy Planning and Enjoy.

Diane Gramze
Bella Dolce and Flora
belladolceandflora.com
Florist - Chandler, AZ

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Wedding Traditions and Options - Deciding What's Important

Dear Reader,

These days when planning a wedding it can be overwhelming to make all the decisions necessary in planning a big event.  Throw in the biggest day of your life, managing relatives, trying to make a good impression on new relatives, clients, friends, etc. being in the spotlight, managing vendors and changing everything in your life with a new one it is no doubt a huge undertaking!  Ad in all the little things that people throw in that you have to do. For example you might hear this...

Are you tossing the bouquet?  Throwing a garder? Giving away a thank you memento? Wearing blue? Eating dinner? It literally goes on and on.

So what to do...

Unless you are someone who greatly enjoys the whole tradition of getting married in America and have an unlimited budget it is a good idea to sit down and talk with your fiance and anyone helping plan and pay for the wedding and list what is important.

Start first with the bigger items and ask yourselves (If this did not happen at my wedding would I miss it?)  For example eating a meal, it is nice but would you enjoy the day any less if you did not?
Of course price has a lot to do with it but also time, planning and management of the whole process.
To some a honeymoon right away is the most important part of the whole wedding, their focus should be on the honeymoon an a simple wedding.

What really bogs you down will be all the little things that people will ask if your doing; throwing a bouquet, having a receiving line, giving a gift to your guests to your attendants, it goes on and on. So if you are not comfortable tossing a guarder and bouquet my suggestion is don't do it.

While you are sitting down write down what's important to you and then make a plan for your day of what you want to have happen and don't leave it to chance.  If you have no idea of what goes on with a wedding day most bookstores or the Internet have wedding planners to help guide you.  Rank the items one to ten with importance. Then write the most important ones into your big day.

Let me know if this helps!

Best,

Diane Gramze
Wedding Coach, Florist and Friend