July 12, 2019

Creatives

Wedding Vendor Love Series: DJ & Band Entertainment

Update: if you are new here and desire an explanation of what my Wedding Vendor Love Series is allll about – click that link! This week I’m chatting about working with DJ’s + Bands / Reception Entertainment !!

In my 7 years of doing this, every SINGLE vendor works his or her butt off! Along with the Wedding Planner / Coordinator + the Photographer / Videographer, the other vendor to probably have the longest day is the Entertainment. Most of my couples have a tendency to choose DJ over Band during the reception planning process – but to be honest, both are fantastic choices to run your event. And when I say run – I mean they will cultivate that energy and that process that makes your reception A RECEPTION. (And for this post I’m dictating more of the reception, but let’s not forget those Entertainment companies that come in for the ceremony music as well!)

But back to the point:

My advice as a fellow wedding professional? Respect the reception timeline, but also communicate WITH them – keeping EVERYONE in the loop! If I need the bride and groom to step outside for 10 minutes of sunset photos, you bet your butt I’m asking the DJ if that is okay. They are here to serve them as much as I am! I want to make sure they won’t play their favorite song while I have them frolicking in a vineyard.

My timeline is extraordinarily important, as is theirs. They have not only 300+ guests to entertain, but a dinner time to keep, speeches to get through *especially with alcohol involved* and then a party to start. SO working together on this is CRUCIAL. If I am only contracted to be there until 8pm, I will be doing everything I can to make sure we stick to the schedule. Helping corral guests from the Cocktail Hour to the Dining area, getting everything set up for the cake / reception entrance, keeping lines of communications CLEAR and to the point.

But I also like to suggest a reminder to have fun! Get excited with it – and make sure to dance a little. Show your couples that you are equally as excited about this party as they are. Capture it all – INCLUDING THE MUSICIANS! Give those in-the-moment photos a chance to shine so these vendors have images of them working their butts off!

I won’t give you the pros and cons to Band vs DJ – because to be honest, it’s truly the couple’s call, and which form of entertainment they connect with most. Both offer beautiful opportunities to celebrate a marriage and kick off a new adventure in style!

So some of my favorite NE Ohio Entertainment vendors? Welp, you best your bet I’m about to list them! Get ready to party your socks off!!