Good music could be the difference between 3am dance offs, or people sneaking out just after the cake cutting. The musical choices that you make for your special day are really, really important. This may seem obvious, but it is often something that is neglected at weddings. Personally, everything can fall apart but as long as the food and music are good, I’ll have a good time.
- Think about it
Have a specific idea of the flow and style you want and think of songs that fit into this. Personal advice: don’t fear the musical cheese. Everybody from 20-80 can get down to a little bit of ‘80s pop, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
2. Shop around
Once you’ve decided on the musical direction you want to take, meet with potential DJs. Your DJ, and the selections they make, play a pivotal role in everybody’s enjoyment of the celebration so shop around before making a decision – don’t simply hand the reigns to a family friend’s nephew who has just started wedding DJing, or someone who saw your request for DJs on Facebook. When you find a DJ that you like, request a list of a few songs that he/she typically plays as a guideline to understanding their vibe. A lot of DJs have specific genres that they are most comfortable with so get the DJ best suited to your requirements.
3. References
Don’t be afraid to ask your DJ for references. Checking references are an integral part of any employment process so why should your DJ be any different? You don’t want some guy puking around the back and playing ‘90s techno at your suave 1920s themed wedding. Not all DJs are made equal.
4. Get together
When you’ve decided on a DJ, discuss your ideas for the evening and the more specific you can be the better. “Something dancy” means a lot of different things to a lot of different people. Having a nice selection of songs that you like gives the DJ a good idea of the type of music you are looking for.
5. Aisle song
Taylor Swift my might totes be your fav …but she probably won’t always be. Be smart. The best advice I can give is to choose something that won’t make you cringe when you think back on it 10 years from now. Avoid contemporary chart toppers.
6. Slow dancing
After the first dance, there really isn’t any need to make people feel awkward and out of place. That said, if you want to have the majority of your wedding party sitting on the side of the dance floor feeling alienated then spin the love tracks by the bucket load.
7. In DJ we trust
Most DJs don’t like requests but if they’ve agreed to play a wedding then it comes with the territory. That said, trust his or her discretion as to which requests to choose and when to play them. Being able to judge the flow and tempo of a dance floor is what makes a good (or great) wedding DJ. Again, this is why it’s important to meet your DJ beforehand – you need to feel confident in his or her ability. As a wedding attendee, remember that the bridal couple have booked the DJ they wanted, so don’t get too bummed when they can’t/won’t play your and your bestie’s song.
8. Consider all your options
The truth is that you don’t always need a DJ. Depending on the vibe you are going for and the nature of the people who will be attending your wedding, sometimes a well-constructed playlist or a user-generated playlist may offer better and cheaper alternatives. If you want someone else to take care of all the music needs on the night, a DJ is probably a good option.
It’s not difficult to make sure that the music for your wedding day is great, but it’s also not difficult to have it go horribly wrong. Put in the time and give it the appropriate attention and effort and you should be golden.
If you are looking for an amazing DJ for your wedding and would like to get in touch with DJ Fuego Heat who is famous for his love of 80’s funk, wit and charm, you can get hold of him here:
Facebook: DJ Fuego Heat
Email: djfuegoheat@gmail.com
If you enjoyed this article, you might also like Fitting the Music to your Wedding
The post Guest Post | Selecting your Music Man appeared first on Hooray Weddings.