Choosing the Right Wedding Entertainment

BAND OR DJ?

Booking entertainment for your wedding or event is a daunting prospect if you don’t know of a DJ or band already. If this is the case, ask your friends or venue for recommendations. Usually, they will know someone they trust to deliver a good evening of entertainment and be reliable. Professional entertainers will be able to offer Public Liability insurance and PAT test certificates for their equipment – I would avoid anyone who can’t.

Bands are great if you know what you want. They can create an energy that’s difficult to produce with a DJ alone. However, they usually have a setlist of songs, whereas a DJ can move between genres to find something the crowd will stay on the dance floor for. Try to avoid giving the DJ a ‘must have’ playlist of all your favourite songs, as this will stop them from being able to manipulate the music to suit the crowd. We find around 20 requests are plenty to tell them the sort of music you like and still lets them keep everyone else happy.

If possible, have the entertainment in line of sight of the bar. This helps entertainers engage with the crowd. It’s challenging to get people up and dancing when the bar is in another room. The more compact everything is, the more likely people will get on the dance floor.

ATMOSPHERE

This is a subliminal experience generated by all of your senses and is usually the measure of whether people enjoy an evening or not. DJs can use special lighting effects, smoke machines, and high-quality stereo sound systems to bring atmosphere to your evening. It’s a delicate balance as you want people to feel in the party mood without offending guests that might not like loud music or flashing lights. This comes with experience; a good DJ or band will be able to deliver a quality sound and lighting package without being over the top. If you find it is a bit much on the night, just ask, and most professionals will happily tone it down to suit.

EXTRAS

Effects like coloured uplighters or a large mirror ball can be a great addition to an event and have the ability to help the transition from a formal daytime or formal meal to a time for everyone to enjoy some dancing and relaxation. Video screens can work well to show family pictures, table plans, or even the wedding photos themselves if the photographer can facilitate this. Don’t forget you might need a microphone for speeches. We would recommend this if you have over 50 guests. It’s no good preparing a great speech if no one can hear it. Usually, 1 or 2 quality handheld radio mics and an active speaker is all it takes. Don’t be afraid to ask for help with speaking with a microphone either; there is a knack to it, and practice will make things perfect on the day.

THE FIRST DANCE

Some couples don’t look forward to the first dance and feel nervous; some cannot wait to get out there and show off their dancefloor skills– either way, being the centre of attention for those few minutes is the experience of a lifetime.

If you feel nervous, don't worry, that's normal - speak to your DJ or band and the ushers and ask them to get everyone around the dance floor before your first dance. After a minute or so (enough time for the photographers to get a few snaps), the rest of the guests can be asked onto the floor, so you are not left alone for the full rendition of whatever song you have chosen. Once everyone else is on the dancefloor, you can relax as that’s usually it for the formalities. 

Ultimately – you are planning one of the most important days of your life! You should feel comfortable with your choices and should have an open collaboration with whoever is providing your entertainment.