General FAQs
Centerpieces
Centerpieces can be lovely things, the problem is, when they get so tall or so wide that your guests can't see who they are talking to on the other side of the table. A lot of times....these arrangements get moved off the table thereby changing the look you wanted for your reception. Don't spend a fortune on large displays that will disrupt the table conversations by guest having to "peek" around them.
DJ Equipment
I don't normally talk about what I use but for this section, I'll just say, ask the DJs you are interviewing with for a photo of their setup. Is it clean looking? Does there appear to be any tripping hazards? Is his/her setup huge? The reason I ask is because during your formal dances, (first dance, father-daughter, mother-son) your photographer is going to be shooting a lot of pictures, and what is in the background is going to make a difference in how your final photos will look. A good photographer will aready work around this but sometimes "that shot" is going to come when you might be standing right in front of a speaker with a big JBL logo, or some other "big box" in the background. Not that other brands are neccessarily better or worse, just look at how well it goes with your decor.
Do you want this.....
.
Or this?
Lighting
Here again, what is the mood you are trying to set. A cozy intimate low light reception? A more energetic limited lighting setup but not so as to "steal the show" from you? Or, An all out club style event with many moving lights and a club type atmosphere?
We see a lot of clients that want no lights at all, some want very limited lighting and rarely do we see club lights. It all depends on what mood you want to create.
Along with "mood", there is something called "uplighting". This is where colored lights are placed around the room to give soft "color" to the walls and ceiling edges. You may choose any color imaginable and can be set up to your bridal colors easily and adds a soft elegence to your reception. Fees for single color uplighting is minimal as once the color is set, they don't have to be touched the rest of the evening. LED uplighting is a lot cooler and will not burn your guests that might touch one of the fixtures. The older bulb type can get VERY hot and should be kept away from tooling, fabric and your guests.
Uplighting can also be set up as club style lighting and change colors during dancing, making the whole room a dance of color. The fees for this type of lighting is not cheap as it consists of a lot of extra lighting, cabling and control programing. Check with your DJ for pricing.
Tips From a Planner On Hiring Your DJ...
Guest Blog by Rebecca Druckenmiller
"Hey DJ just play that song, keep me dancing... all night long"-Tips from a planner on hiring your DJ...
It's what we all want from our DJ at our wedding. We want our guests to have a blast and dance the night away. An experienced DJ will do that for you, you just have to find the right one for you! As an associate planner with Queen of Hearts Wedding Consultants, we're always guiding our brides in the right direction when hiring their wedding professionals so I'm happy to pass along some tips and hints you'll want to consider when hiring a DJ...
Timing - Don't leave hiring your DJ until the last minute. Really awesome DJs can get booked up quickly so make sure it's not the last thing you're booking. Book them shortly after finalizing your wedding date, ceremony and reception venue.
Unique Style - Every DJ has his/her own, unique style. Just because Aunt Peggy was thrilled with her daughter's DJ and recommends him to you doesn't mean you should automatically book. It's great to take recommendations from friends and family but always remember to meet with the DJ because you may find that your personalities or taste in music just doesn't mesh.
Specialization and Variety - Make sure your DJ specializes in the type of event you are throwing (wedding, bar mitzvah etc.). Weddings are unique events and will require knowledge as to the flow of the event and audience expectations. It's okay if they do other events as well but you really don't want your wedding to be the first that your DJ has done. An experienced DJ will know how your wedding will flow and how to keep your guests dancing all night! Also, when meeting with your DJ, check that he/she has a variety of music. Just like weddings are unique, each audience will have different tastes in music. You want your DJ to have a variety of music to play to appease all generations and music tastes at your reception.
Professionalism - Take note of how your DJ presents himself when you meet to discuss your event. You want to be hiring a professional so make sure he/she is acting like one. Also, if he/she is unresponsive when contacted with questions prior to booking then consider this a red flag.
Reasonable Expectations - I must defend our professional partners though and insist that you have reasonable expectations. Don't expect to send an email on a Friday night and hear back by Saturday morning. Most DJs will have events Friday and Saturday nights and many times Saturday and Sunday afternoons as well, so they may not even get to reading your emails until Tuesday as most wedding professionals consider Monday their "weekend" day off. Try calling before 2 on Friday, and try to stay away from calling around noon. LOTS of brides call during their lunch hour so you may not get in touch with your DJ.
DO YOUR RESEARCH! - Most entertainment companies will have showcases for you to attend and hear first hand how they will perform at your wedding. In addition to taking recommendations from friends and family, try to attend a showcase before hiring your DJ and also consider asking for references. It never hurts to follow up with any of their previous clients to ensure that you'll get what you pay for.
I hope this helps you in your search for your DJ! And of course, if all else fails a great wedding consultant will know plenty of AMAZING wedding professionals so don't hesitate to call us, (sorry for the shameless self promotion!)
Good Luck and Happy Planning!
Rebecca Druckenmiller
Associate Planner with Queen of Hearts Wedding Consultants
www.qohweddings.com
Rebecca Druckenmiller is a wedding planner with The Queen of Hearts Wedding Consultants, her mentor Mark Kingsdorf is one of only 50 Master Bridal Consultants in the world (and the only one in the greater Philadelphia area)....
Rebecca first started at The Queen of Hearts as an intern and worked her way up through the ranks as an assistant and Wedding Day Director. She brings with her a background in marketing, is a graduate of the Temple University Wedding Consulting program and is an active member of the International Special Events Society (ISES), the Society of Wedding Planners and The Association of Bridal Consultants.