WHAT WILL MAKE YOUR DANCE FLOOR MORE SUCCESSFUL?
1. Let the DJ do their job. The more you give them as "must play" or "do not play", the more you can hinder the success of your own dance floor. Some of your favorite bands may rock ... they may not be too "danceable". Let your DJ be the judge based on their experience at weddings.
2. Who's the DJ? Give the DJ a few songs you like, not your whole iPod playlist. Most weddings will have guests aging from their 20's to 70's. A Professional Wedding DJ knows what works for all generations, trust them.
3. Dance, Dance Dance. The more a Bride & Groom are on the dance floor, the more your guests will be on the dance floor. You set the example for the day.
4. Don't "major in minor things". Don't put added pressure on yourself or your DJ by wanting to enter the room at an exact part of the song or at an exact lyric. People are WATCHING you, not listening at those times.
6. Don't give your guests too many options. If you have a DJ in one room, a bar in another, a photo booth down the hall, etc ... don't be surprised if your dance floor is not full. Giving your guests other options, gives more reason why your dance floor won't be as packed as you want.
7. Leave it to the Professionals. Up until now, how many weddings have you planned? Exactly! Run all your ideas off your DJ or your Day-of Wedding Coordinator. The smoother your wedding flows, the more successful it will be. Trust the Professionals.
HOW TO HAVE AN EMPTY DANCE FLOOR IN 7 EASY STEPS!
1. Give your DJ 25+ songs
2. Tell your DJ what song to play and when
3. Pick obscure music
4. Make everything a "must play"
5. Make everything a "do not play"
6. Send your bridesmaids to the DJ advising "the bride wants to hear this next"
7. If the bride isn't on the dance floor, the guests won't be on the dance floor
Cape Tunes "Homework": If your wedding DJ is already reserved, here's some homework we ask Brides & Grooms to complete at least four weeks before their wedding day:
MUSIC CHECKLIST - This is so you can let us know what you like / don't like, etc.
NAMES CHECKLIST - This is so we can have the names of your wedding party before the big day and not spend vital time on your big day.
Home-based / tented weddings
From a DJs standpoint and from seeing it dozens of time every season … here are the things that home-based weddings commonly forget …
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Permits – check with Town Hall if there are any permits needed (for beach wedding, entertainment, etc)
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Noise Ordinance – check with Town Hall what the noise ordinance is. All it takes is one neighbor and your big day could end quickly.
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Power – Your DJ should be on their own circuit. Even a coffee maker on the same circuit can blow a fuse. Little lights around your tent draw more power as the night goes on. If your DJ is on the same fuse, when the dancing kicks in, everything turns off.
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Tables – It’s very common to forget enough tables … for your DJ, seating cards, gifts, cake, etc
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Rest Rooms – No one wants a parade through their house, always a better idea to rent portable rest rooms. Some are nicer that people’s houses!
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Parking – Check with Town Hall about parking restrictions, consider shuttling guests in, consider hiring a valet service.
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What we require for home-based weddings:
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Six foot table (covered or skirted to hide wires)
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To be within six feet of a power source
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To be under cover to protect equipment from sun, heat and/or rain
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If the weather is expected to drop below 60 degrees, the tent needs to have sides and/or a heater. Condensation can ruin equipment.
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After your wedding ... when you come back to reality ...
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Remember your vows ... take the "for better or worse" part seriously ...
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When it's "worse" ... be there for each other ... make it work ... it will be worth it
Don't get "Bride Brain"!
What is "Bride Brain"? Bride Brain is a phenomenon that affects almost all brides at one time or another. It is a condition that can strike at any moment, for some it is at the beginning of the planning process when the mind is bombarded with ideas about the big day, when, where, the dress, colours, flowers, music, the list goes on and on. For others is might be for no apparent reason in the middle of the planning stages. For most, symptoms wait to appear until closer to the date when the to-do list appears to get longer instead of shorter, it seems like everyone is pulling you in different directions and there simply aren't enough hours in the day.
Symptoms include, but are not limited to, rambling, scatter brain, memory loss, fatigue, panic attacks, short temper, crankiness and of course bridezilla-like-tendancies. Don't be ashamed if you begin to show signs of Bride Brain, it is natural for most brides to have a few or all of the symptoms, after all you are planning the biggest day of your life, most likely working a full time job, all while trying to maintain some sort of a social life.
There are ways to avoid Bride Brain; here are a few tips to help you in the process:
Get Organized
The most important thing you can do to maintain your sanity and keep from ripping your hair out is stay organized.
Get Things Done Early
We highly recommend following some sort of checklist to ensure no steps are missed in the planning process. When booking vendors, make sure you book all vendors as soon as possible.
Ask For Help
Most brides tend to take the bulk of the work on themselves, don't forget about your fiancé, and remember it is his wedding too, so give him a to-do list. Your friends and family are probably begging to help so take them up on their offer!
Hire Someone
Although family and friends can be a great help, some times it is best to hire a professional.