Leave Your Wedding Guests Wanting More, A Nashville DJ Gives Tips for a Great Wedding Reception!
Monday, April 8, 2013
Today's expert advice is provided by Brent, owner of Cosmo Creations. To learn more about the company's DJ, photo booth services, visit cosmocreations.com or call 931-265-2934.
It’s not often thought of, but most weddings end in one of two ways. Guests will stay until the end, anticipating the last dance along with the bride & groom send off. Or, guests will leave wanting more. There is nothing wrong with either option but, as disc jockeys, we prefer the latter…..leave them wanting more!
Photos by David Molnar Photography
Your decisions on the following will control the outcome:
• Length of reception
• Day & time of the reception
• Who is invited
• Food / appetizers
• Alcoholic beverages
• Transportation
• Venue policy and location
• Out of town guests
• Entertainment & music
There are many factors to consider, but deciding how long your reception will last is critical in the outcome. We see numerous 3 hour receptions where guest leave wanting more but we rarely see a 6 hour reception with the same enthusiasm at the end (although it’s possible). At the same time, we’ve seen 2 hour receptions at 2pm on a Sunday afternoon with no food/appetizers that seem to be about 1 hour too long. There are several factors that should be considered before planning a reception. Above all we think, entertainment is the most important decision when considering a +2 hour reception. Whether you choose a band or a disc jockey for your music needs, make sure you communicate your expectations and song selections before the big day.
Keep Them Entertained
DJ and Photo Booths are a popular choice for wedding entertainment this year! Both are great economical choices for providing your guest with the right atmosphere and fun things to do while at your reception. It’s important to make sure you’re purchasing quality entertainment too! Check out potential disc jockey’s references. Meet with them face to face. Ask questions about a “back-up” plan for gear and illness; will you emcee our event, dress attire, etc. When hiring a photo booth service, decide if you want an enclosure or open air back drop. Ask to see samples of photo strips for print quality and ask what’s included such as props, attendant, number of photo strips per person, viewing screen, and guest book. Entertainment prices vary, so make sure you’re actually getting what you pay for, and always remember if the deal seems too good to be true, it usually is. Please don’t stop the music!
If you planned a short reception and it looks like people are having a really great time, you may want to approach the DJ about extending the end time by 30 minutes to an hour. We like to check with the bride or wedding planner 15 minutes before the contracted end time to see if overtime is necessary. If you decide to keep the party going, make sure the DJ announces the new end time. Some guest may think that the party will continue to a time later than they can stay, causing them to leave early. Chances are, if you lengthen a short reception by 30 minutes to an hour, most of your guest will gladly stay until the end.
If you look around during your last dance and 90% of your guests are still there enjoying themselves with you on your special day, we say consider this a successful wedding reception!
Photo by Gray Photography
