When planning a wedding you must decide what type of entertainment you want. Do you want a party where you hear “Dancing Queen” and “I will Survive” whilst the DJ talks about the “erection section” or do you opt for a more sophisticated approach? Many weddings are spoilt by the DJ. All the finer points have been deliberated over for weeks or months, the invitation design, brides favours and flowers, but when it comes to the party, a crucial part of the day, people often go for the cheapest option. A DJ that arrives with a moustache and bow tie with three lights in a box and a sound system that was purchased from Noahs Ark. Is that the right approach? Not if you want your party to be memorable. Being a good wedding DJ is not an easy job, Fat Boy Slim has stated that he is terrible at it.

So what makes a good wedding DJ?

Music, Music, Music.
A deep rooted love of all forms of music is the most important aspect of being a great DJ. Play the wrong track and you clear the dancefloor. If this happens a good DJ will know what to play to get the floor back again. It’s about playing music that appeals to everyone and not alienating guests. This is a skill that cannot be purchased from eBay. It’s about understanding music, the memories that it can trigger and the emotions it can generate. I once experienced a guest in tears when I played an Ibiza classic. It was her best friends favourite track that was played at her funeral and she hadn’t heard it since, she was unbelievably happy about the memory.

No Ego
A DJ that plays for the crowd and not their ego. Some DJ’s think that every crowd wants to hear the latest Goa Trance tracks with a bit of techno thrown in for good measure. They think that they are performing in the main room of the Ministry of Sound but does that appeal to great aunt Betty?

First Dance
The first dance is a vitally important part of the evening. It’s the moment that the party really starts as all the guests are in the room at the same time. A good DJ will use the opportunity to fill the floor once the first dance is over. I always start with some old disco classics that appeals to everyone. The timing is crucial if you want to make the party memorable. The worse thing for the party is when the photographer dictates the time of the first dance. Usually, it’s because they want to go home! You can’t expect your guest to go from the wedding breakfast environment of eating & talking straight into the party environment. They need to be warmed up.

Atmosphere
Memorable weddings are about great atmospheres. Get the atmosphere wrong and you will have guests leaving before the DJ arrives. There is nothing worse than sitting at a table with strangers where the conversation has run dry and there is nothing to entertain the guests. A successful wedding is one where the atmosphere has been worked on throughout the day. I now offer additional talent to clients to help the atmosphere and make sure the party goes with a bang. A successful combination might include a Salsa band playing after the service with a Crooner during the wedding breakfast and a DJ for the evening.

Requests
Requests can be a real issue. Increasingly, couples are including slips on their invitations for their guests music requests. The problem with this is that their guests expect you to play their track, even if it is an obscure psyco-rock extravaganza with a 15 minute drum solo from 1973. A good DJ will filter out the chaff and play request that fit in with the journey. I suggest to clients that if they are going to email a list of 300 tracks they want to hear they should use their Ipod rather than paying for a DJ. You employ a DJ to choose the music as that’s their job, it’s like asking a guest to act as the vicar!



Nigel Peirce owns and runs Stylish Wedding Disco.co.uk a creative entertainment company supplying DJ’s & Discos, Musicians, Equipment Hire & Decoration and themeing. They are the company of choice for exclusive venues including Baington House and Bradley House in Somerset and Wiltshire.


Stylish Wedding Disco