5 Wedding Logistics Tips from a Boston Wedding DJ
There are so many details to consider when planning a wedding, and since most couples are planning for the first time, it’s hard to catch everything you need to know to plan an awesome wedding. Take it from this Boston Wedding DJ, there are plenty of logistics to consider for your wedding reception. Here are five tips to help you craft your big day.
- Schedule speeches carefully
- Toasts are an enduring and fun part of weddings, and the exact timing of where they are can play a critical role in having the night move smoothly. Check in with your toast makers before to understand how long their speeches are. If they know they’ll be brief, scheduling them after introductions and before dinner is served can be an excellent option because it means everyone will be in the room, and they can easily get all the attention they deserve. If their speech is too long and they’re scheduled before dinner, they could annoy your guests by causing a dinner delay. I’ve also seen venues send staff out during long speeches to start serving. Imagine serving and placing silverware for 100 guests; that would cause quite the commotion in the middle of a poignant speech! If their speech is longer, schedule it when your guests already have their main course so they can deliver a rousing toast and not delay the program.
- No requests on invitations
- Everyone wants to have a good time on the dance floor, and song requests definitely play a role in that. I’d advise to let guests make requests at the actual event, and not sooner. Some events allow to guests to RSVP songs in advance, which seems like an awesome idea, but can be self defeating in practice. When songs are requested in advance a few bad scenarios can occur:
- Songs requested may no longer be popular or appropriate to play
- The requestors may not have ended up attended the event
- Songs may not work with the vibe of the event
- Everyone wants to have a good time on the dance floor, and song requests definitely play a role in that. I’d advise to let guests make requests at the actual event, and not sooner. Some events allow to guests to RSVP songs in advance, which seems like an awesome idea, but can be self defeating in practice. When songs are requested in advance a few bad scenarios can occur:
- All of these scenarios leave your DJ playing songs for a crowd that doesn’t want to hear them; the ultimate no-no. Your guests will enjoy your event less and you will wonder if you booked the right DJ services. The solution is simple; have guests make requests during the event and whether you’ve booked Wedding DJ services, or a DJ for a Prom or any event, your guests will have a great time!
- Dead time
- Nothing kills an event like dead time. This tip is straight forward; no matter what type of event you have, if you’re planning a schedule that advances towards a dance party, be sure that your program has something happening to keep your guests entertained. For example, if you’ve got a lengthy dinner service with nothing punctuating it, it’s very easy to lose a crowd’s energy and have the tail end of your event become a flop. When planning, just be sure to make a schedule that keeps the event moving.
- Assigned seating bottlenecks
- This is probably the most commonly overlooked logistical hurdle. At an event where there are assigned seating arrangements and all the guests will enter at the same time, be sure to have assignments visible to the guests before they reach the room. If assignments are at the door, you can easily end up with all your guests making a single file line and each stopping to review the seating chart. I’ve seen events delayed by 15-20 mins just because people didn’t know their spot in advance. Save your event from delay by avoiding this bottleneck.
- Sunday evening parties
- It’s pretty much impossible to party without party guests. Sometimes it may be unavoidable to schedule events on a Sunday night, but unless Monday’s a holiday, there can be pressure for guests to go home towards the end of the event. Even events as special as a wedding aren’t immune to a sudden migration from guests. I’ve seen numerous Sunday evening weddings where guests hit the door directly after dinner, leading to an empty dance floor. Keep your guests obligations in mind when planning your event so you can make sure your dance floor stays packed till the end of the night!
