ARE YOU MUSICALLY PREPARED FOR YOUR WEDDING DAY?
Author: Mike Connolly

The wedding planners and bridal magazines all give you a month by month checklist counting down the year preceding the big day. These checklists give you not only what to do and when to do it but who is supposed to do it, and who is going to pay for it. As most brides and bridegrooms will attest, these rules only seem to apply to the grand fairytale weddings of a perfect nuclear family.

While these checklists seem to be endless, they almost all leave out the details involving your entertainment. Being on the same page as your disc jockey or band is important; not only to assure the reception flows smoothly, but also to make sure every event is in the style and taste that you and your fiancee have chosen.

Here are some things you will want to discuss with the disc jockey or band leader before you walk down the isle.

• Give the D.J. a final list of the wedding party including parents and grandparents. Try to match up every person who will be announced into the room. It can be intimidating or embarrassing to walk into a reception alone. If the long walk is too much for someone in the bridal party, they should get an honorable mention from their table before the introductions.
  
  
• Inform the D.J. who will be giving the blessing and the toast. The best man usually handles the toast but it's very popular now for the maid or matron of honor or a parent to also toast the couple. If the clergy is not available to give perform grace, you can have a family member offer a blessing.
  
  
• Choose what kind of cocktail and dinner music you would like to hear. You should also choose the cake-cutting song and the music for the introductions. Explain to the D.J. what types of music you want to hear and when you want to hear it. It is also important to mention what type of music you do not want to hear.
  
  
• Pick out some special songs for the father/daughter and mother/son dances. There are many alternatives to "Daddy's little girl." It is also becoming popular to combine these dances and then add a second dedicated dance for the bride and her father-in-law and also the groom and his new mother-in-law. If a parent is not available, some bride and grooms will choose a sibling dance with one or more brothers or sisters.

Finally, make sure your D.J. has a complete agenda of the day's events. A good Master of Ceremonies will assure a smooth flow of events and keep everybody aware of what is coming up next. Just like any other business, you get what you pay for. Because the entertainment is such a crucial part of the reception's atmosphere, this is not an area where you want to cut the budget. Remember, do not hire the cheapest D.J. available, Hire the best D.J. that you can afford!

Last, but not least, make sure you and your fiancee feel comfortable and confident with your Disc Jockey. Trust your instincts. A wedding D.J. should have the knowledge and ability to run a reception from start to finish but be flexible enough to adjust to your needs. It seems like a lot of work, but keep in mind that this is your day and it was meant to be enjoyed!

See you on the dance floor,
Mike

Written by Mike Connolly, owner of Mike Connolly Sound Productions Disc Jockey Service in Southington CT. ©1997