Wedding Advice from a Top Philadelphia DJ

May 05, 2008

  As the quartet played, the flower girls carefully scattered every delicate rose petal evenly along the aisle.  The bride’s father shed tears while escorting his daughter to the altar.  The rings were exchanged and the vows were recited.  The couple then kissed before a room full of applauding friends and relatives.  A perfect ceremony was executed with flawless precision.  Now comes the hard part … conducting the perfect wedding reception celebration.

As many occasions as there are to celebrate – pool parties, picnics, sweet sixteens, school dances, proms, anniversaries, christenings, birthday parties, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs and wedding receptions – there are as many kinds of mobile DJs. DJing a wedding reception is a highly specialized service too important to entrust to a “Jack of all trades.”  Do yourself and your guests a favor – hire a master of the trade, the wedding entertainment director.

The role of disc jockey is one of the five specialties of a wedding entertainment director. A wedding entertainment director is also trained and highly skilled as an announcer, host, master of ceremonies, and event coordinator. The most critical (and most often overlooked) of these responsibilities is that of the announcer, for it is he who sets the tone for the wedding reception with the first words he speaks through the PA system.  Even though an event may be held in a glorious ballroom with vaulted ceilings, regal chandeliers, elegantly appointed tables and lavish floral decorations, the bridal party introductions will set the tone of the entire event.  It should be stylishly classy and delivered with perfect inflection, diction and pronunciation.  There are strict rules regarding decorum and etiquette that must always be heeded when presenting a bridal party.

Finding the right person to handle this pivotal role is the key to making sure your wedding reception fulfills your expectations.  It’s very important to meet the actual DJ who will be at your reception before signing a contract or sending a deposit.  I encourage prospective clients to, during a preliminary consultation, ask to see a DVD of the DJ in action at another wedding reception.  The video footage should show more than a crowded dance floor and should clearly demonstrate the announcer’s artistry in conducting the bridal party announcement, parent dances, cake cutting and bouquet toss.  Keep in mind that a DJ who invites you to actually observe him at another wedding reception (rather than watching a DVD) will also be inviting prospective clients to watch him at yours. Do you want uninvited strangers attending your wedding reception?

It’s paramount that you and your fiancé’s personalities “click” with your DJ’s and that your DJ has a clear understanding of your tastes, styles and preferences.  Naturally, you will want to ask for references that include the names and phone numbers of previous clients and the locations of their wedding receptions.  If you’re having an elegant reception at an upscale facility, and the DJ’s references are all from clients whose events took place at bowling alleys, pool parties and backyard barbecues, it’s unlikely that you have found a good match. If you are hiring through an agency, find out what percentage of the fee actually goes to the DJ.  For example, you wouldn’t want to pay $1,100 for a DJ who is only earning $400. 

As a bride-to-be, you probably have a vivid picture in your mind of your wedding day, and you may have dreamed of this day since your first crush.  It is essential that your DJ be capable of interpreting that picture and then bringing it to life according to your precise expectations. Don’t just hire a DJ. Hire a master who specializes in turning childhood dreams into wedding day realities. Hire a wedding entertainment director.

Frederick B. Hart is a PA announcer and voice over artist who became a professional DJ in 1989 and a wedding entertainment director in 1997.  He was selected by NBC 10 and V.I.P. Wedding Magazine to host and emcee the televised “Ultimate Wedding.” A resident of Cherry Hill, N.J., he is a U.S. Navy veteran who has conducted over 1,100 wedding receptions and is available for national and international travel. www.FHEntertainment.com

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