The modern toast to the bride comes from a very old tradition. Wine and other alcoholic drinks have been used for celebrations since ancient times. Wine was associated with vitality, health and fertility. The first toasts likely occurred in very ancient times but the first recorded toast happened in 450 AD at a feast in England.

Loud noises were believed to keep evil spirits away and the clinking of glasses helped to raise the noise level.

In early times the toast was part of the process of proving that the food and drink wasn’t poisoned when competing groups assembled. The host would drink and eat from the common food before serving the guests so they would know it was safe.

The term “toast” is derived from a popular practice of dunking toasted bread in wine to flavor it. The flavored wine would be shared by all the assembled guests.

The wedding toast to the bride and others at the wedding certainly derives from the same traditions of partying and welcoming guests as other toasting. As the tradition of toasting became more popular it also became more formalized with a strict order to the toasts. Today couples often hire a Master of Ceremonies to see that the toasts and speeches happen in a good order and no one gets left out that has something they want to say.

In the most common tradition the best man starts the speeches and finishes with a toast to the bride and groom. The actual toast is preceded by a speech where the guests and welcomed and thanked and the couple is praised and flattered. The actual toast consists of a wish for the wellbeing of the couple and asking the assembled guests to join in the wish by drinking. Everyone raises their glass toward the couple before clinking their glass with a neighbor and drinking.

After the best man speaks the groom is expected to give a speech thanking the guests for coming, saying something flattering about his family, his new in-laws and of course a declaration is his undying love for the bride.

Typically the bride speaks next followed by the maid of honor. The last speech and toast is often given by the father of the bride as he is nominally the host of the party. In some traditions the father of the bride is the first to speak.

Today’s nontraditional weddings often completely change the traditional order of speeches and toasting. While it is fun to follow tradition the fact is the wedding is for the couple and the guests assembled so whatever works best for everyone concerned is fine.

Giving a good wedding speech and toast to the bride is not easy and anyone needing to come up with a speech should put some effort into doing a good job. Many free and low-cost resources are available for learning the right way to toast to the bride.

About the Author

You do the research, buckle under and dive in. But you find your fiancé’s ardor for the event itself seems to have cooled. It’s not that he isn’t mad about marrying you; after all, he is a great guy, even if he can’t tell a Vera Wang from a Gunny Sack. It’s that his preparation style is hands-off, to say the least. And planning a wedding isn’t a job built for one.

So what to do? Here are ten ways to involve him without increasing both of your stress loads:

1) Delegate areas that have a prayer of interesting him.

The worst thing you can do is expect him to match your ten to twenty years of feminine wisdom on the relative merits of buttercream vs. fondant.

Here are some probable no areas when roping in a reluctant wedding planner:

• Selecting the cake frosting
• Choosing the favors or favor packaging
• Selecting the wedding colors or floral arrangements

Then there are the potential maybes, fraught with fewer hazards:

• Choosing the photographer
• Choosing the videographer
• Arranging the rehearsal dinner
• Arranging the all-inclusive honeymoon
• Renting big, tricky items like outdoor tents

These are probable yeses, well worth running by your guy:

• Selecting the DJ or the band
• Setting up and maintaining your wedding website
• Researching and selecting charities, if you choose to donate instead of giving out favors
• Setting up the carriage, limo or other transportation arrangements

2) If you ask him to help you choose vendors and styles, narrow down the choices first.

It’s a jungle of options out there, enough to give the most natural-born party planner pause. So if you want his opinion on photographers, invites, flowers or cakes, narrow down the options to three or four. He’s less likely to feel overwhelmed, and more likely to feel like an important part of the process.

At times, it’ll feel so good to share the load that you’ll be tempted to drag him into the buttercream debate despite your better instincts. At these times, take a deep breath, count to ten, and call your mother or your maid of honor.

3) Ask him directly for help. Let him know how important his input is to you, and that you can’t do it without him.

Guys like to be needed. Your frank request for help may be enough to pull him out of his comfort zone and onto your team.

4) Try the Art Director/Production Staff approach.

If you think your guy wants to help, but feels uncomfortable playing “art director,” give him “production staff” tasks. Have him make the payments, pick up the food or decor, handle the rentals, do online comparison shopping, or reserve the hotels and reception halls. These are all jobs that will take a load off your shoulders, while freeing up time for the aesthetic stuff you probably enjoy and he doesn’t.

5) Get a calendar and put all the planning in black and white.

Your fiancé probably doesn’t have the first clue in what goes into a wedding.

Get your wedding planner, write it all down, and show him. Once he gets over the shock, you’ll both probably be able to identify areas that interest him. Make lists of the things you’ve each agreed to do, and cross them off as they get done. At the very least, he’ll be far more supportive when he sees what you’re going through.

6) Weave his family heritage/ethnicity/traditions into the ceremony.

What did his parents do? He might be surprised at the question, but it could lead somewhere valuable. He might ask his parents about their wedding, and find your wedding consequently enriched. Look through their wedding album together. Are his ancestors German, Polish, Italian, Croatian, Asian? Incorporate some old-world traditions into your ceremony.

7) Don’t bring him in too early.

Treat your fiancé as a bit of a pinch hitter. Sure, you may be fully aware that you can shave 5K off your costs by starting your favor crafts and reservations 18 months ahead of time. But if he’s like most guys, the wedding won’t become real to him until it draws closer. Expect him to jump in about six months before the actual ceremony, and break into a (relative) frenzy of activity about one month in advance.

8) Talk about something besides the wedding.

Guys aren’t the only ones who complain about brides-to-be talking of nothing but upcoming nuptials. Sometimes, even girlfriends get overwhelmed by all the wedding chatter.

Spend some time alone chatting about anything but the wedding. See a silly movie, split a hot fudge sundae, or watch a basketball game. Do something spontaneous that reminds you both of why you decided to marry in the first place.

9) Check your subtext for hidden meanings.

Tempting as it might be, make sure you’re not using your fiancé as a coin-toss tool (ever noticed how people flip coins to find out what they really want?). When you ask for his opinion, take it seriously. And when you give him ownership of a task, don’t second-guess every step.

Imagine that your fiancé has told you he’s going to draft a dream team in his fantasy football league, and it’s going to cost him $20K to participate. Now imagine that he’s told you your help is supremely important to him.

You’d be a little hesitant to give opinions, right? Some of your ideas might sound feeble, even to your own ears. Hopefully he’d welcome your thoughts, however odd it felt for you to venture them. Now imagine your fiancé feels kind of like that when it comes to the wedding.

10) Remember that men become wedding experts by having one.

Chances are, your sweetheart will open his eyes to the wonder of a wedding by the time the rose petals are tossed. Forever after, he’ll be examining friend’s receptions with a practiced eye, and anticipating the next excuse for a Really Big Shindig.

So keep him around, and count on throwing a first-rate anniversary celebration ten years down the road. In a way, that’ll be the party that really matters, won’t it?

About the Author

Blake Kritzberg is the proprietor of: http://www.just-wedding-favors.com. Visit the site for easy, elegant, unusual, and affordable wedding favor ideas, wedding favor FAQ, and free wedding screensaver.

History of Favors

Today wedding favors have definitely evolved into very beautiful, unique and personalized keepsakes. They come in different shapes, sizes and colors. Wedding favors are the most popular and mainstream way to tell your guests thanks.

Should I make my own?
If you decide to make your own favors and have a huge guest list then realize how tedious this task will be. You will have to wrap, write and deliver. This is why many shops have taken advantage of this niche. These businesses will provide you with all sorts of wedding favors for almost any theme available. If you are choosing a local favor supplier than often they will handle everything for you. You just pick the favors you would like and they will set them up at your reception. If you are doing a search for wedding favors on Google then you can just type in whatever favor you are looking for and in a week or less you will have your favors.

How do I choose?
With so many different wedding favors around it is definitely hard to choose. First, think about your budget. If you are having 200 guests then the price will add up really quick. Second, have a good idea of how many guests and couples are coming to the wedding. If you choose to go with a more expensive favor then one favor per couple will do. Third, think of the theme of your wedding. If your having a Las Vegas style wedding then you would want to choose a favor that is related. Personalize your favors they make your guests feel more special and it makes it a great keepsake for your wedding. Remember favors will often reflect your personality and your gratitude so choose them wisely.

About the Author

Yolanda Nash is the owner of http://www.yolandasweddingfavors.com and wedding planner. She enjoys seeing all the different table decorations, flowers and wedding party favors on the wedding day.

First of all, we have the Brides breakfast. If you are hiring the services of a String quartet for the whole day, you may be able to arrange for one or two of the players to come along for this early stage of the wedding at reasonable extra cost. A single string instrument, such as the cello, can provide gentle background music with Schubert’s Ave Maria or the solo suites by Bach. It is considered good form to invite the musicians to have a meal with your guests, especially if there is a long interval between wedding stages.

Next follows the Prelude. This is the stage when your guests arrive at the actual venue where the ceremony will take place. This is often a different venue from where the Brides breakfast and / or Reception takes place. You should allow enough time for the musicians to arrive at the wedding venue before your guests! By this stage, the full quartet (all 4 players) will need to be on site for the main part of the ceremony, so it makes sense to take advantage of their presence and ask them to play for the Prelude as well. The Pachelbel Canon is an ideal piece of music for this purpose. As this stage is probably the longest (with exception of the reception), the quartet will need to have a substantial repertoire of peaceful arrival music in order to avoid repetition. Selections such as the Flower Duet from Delibe’s Lakme and The Swan by Camille Saint-Saens are perennial favourites. A good string quartet will be aware of these requirements, and should be able to assure you that their repertoire is varied, extensive and appropriate. Allow up to 30 minutes for this stage.

Now comes the big moment of your Wedding day, the Processional (walking down the aisle!) This is when you’ll be very pleased that you hired a String Quartet. The actual music for the infamous ‘Here comes the bride’ is the Bridal Chorus by Richard Wagner. If your prospective ensemble doesn’t know this piece (and it’s proper title), walk away! They most likely will of course. If you have your heart set on something else, you must make sure that the quartet either already has it in their repertoire, or has the resources to acquire it. More obscure musical requests may need to be written specially for quartet. Arrangements of most show tunes etc. should be within the grasp of the quartet musicians themselves. You should however, expect to pay an additional fee for this service. A good arrangement takes time.

The Signing of the register is the next stage of the Wedding which requires music. The Andante Cantabile by Tchaikovsky or Alexander Borodin’s Quartet no.2 are both very appropriate for this stage of the wedding, as they are relaxing and soothing pieces of music. Bach’s Air on the G string is also wonderfully effective. This allows everyone in the room to have a bit of a breather and will help to release any tension in the room! You should ensure that the quartet you have hired has the entire selection prepared, and not just excerpts, again to avoid endless repetition of ‘the famous bits’.

That’s it, you’ve done it, you’re married! All that’s left for you to do is to walk back down the aisle, the Processional. Unless you have very strong feelings about an alternative piece of music, it is advisable to stick with the Wedding March by Felix Mendelssohn. Everybody expects to hear it, it suits the occasion perfectly and is a fantastic piece of music perfectly matched to the sound of the String Quartet.

It’s party time! The reception follows the processional, and often takes place at a different location from the wedding ceremony. In order to ensure that the musicians arrive before the guests, it is advisable that you allow them to leave the ceremony immediately following the conclusion of the processional. There is a huge amount of very good Quartet repertoire which is suitable for a Wedding reception. It would be possible to satisfy the needs of your reception with the music of Mozart alone! Of course, an experienced quartet should have a balanced repertoire. Even so, It is worth checking that the musicians have certain pieces in their arsenal. Make sure that they have on hand all the well-known baroque and classical masterpieces by Mozart, Haydn and Handel, some light music classics, jazz standards, show tunes and arrangements of other popular songs. You should expect to hear Ein Kleine Nachtmusic (a little night-music) by Mozart, Boccherini’s Minuet and The ragtime music of Scott Joplin to name but a few.

About the Author

Warren Zielinski is a top Professional violinist and musician. As Chief co-creator of the comprehensive and useful musicians-anytime.co.uk website, Warren has an enviable reputation amongst live classical wedding music specialists in the UK and abroad. Musicians-anytime specialises in providing the best young professional string quartets and ensembles for all types of events, parties and ceremonies.
info@musicians-anitime.co.uk

In addition to the rules regarding the use of beaches, you will find there are many other considerations you will need to take into account when planning this type of wedding. Here are some additional questions you should answer when planning out your beach wedding theme:

• What time of day do you wish to have your wedding – sunrise, sunset, or early morning? I would suggest you do not have a beach wedding during the heat of the afternoon. Not only would it be uncomfortably hot for many people, beaches tend to be crowded during this period of the day. Remember, it also cools down a lot in the evenings when on a beach. Remind your guests to bring sweaters, jackets and some blankets just in case they are needed.
• What is the tide schedule? How high does the tide get at that particular beach? You will need to plan your wedding time around the tides. The last thing you need is having to suddenly pack up and leave because the tide is coming in and you didn’t foresee this.
• As you’ll probably be planning your wedding several months in advance, you’ll need to determine the type of weather that normally occurs around your wedding date. What will you do if it rains or if the day is unusually cold or extremely hot? You will need to prepare a back up plan for these situations. Be sure to supply this information on your wedding invitations so guests will know where to go if there is a sudden change in plans.
• On the same note, the day may be beautiful for the most part, and then a sudden storm may crop up. Where will you and your guests go? Are there any facilities nearby that you can use to continue with your wedding festivities?
• Make sure you take a trip to the beach at the time of day you wish to have your wedding. Check on the noise at the ceremony location. How loud is the traffic from the road? Are there a lot of seagulls around? What about the sound from the crashing waves? All of these can drown out the ceremony and speeches said at your wedding.
• Are there mosquitoes at that time of year and how bad are they on the beach area? How can you control them and other bugs?
• Some beaches smell bad during certain periods of the day or certain times of the year. Check to be sure that this is not the case during the time period that you’ve chosen.
• How windy is it on that particular beach? Does it get a gentle breeze or fairly heavy winds? A breeze is nice to keep the bugs away and cool guests off…a steady wind can cause many problems though.
• Are you thinking of setting up tables or just use picnic blankets on the sand? How will you keep sand and other debris out of your food? Will there be chairs set up at the ceremony for the guests? Who will you hire to do this? Who will you get to take everything down and clean up the beach after the wedding?
• How will you supply music for the wedding ceremony and/or reception? If there is no electricity available for use with microphones or musical instruments, what are your alternatives?

By answering the above questions and having a good plan of action, you will avoid many nasty surprises at your beach wedding. Many couples don’t realize all the work involved in planning this type of wedding. You may want to consider having just the ceremony on the beach with a few close friends and family, and then moving to an indoor location for the wedding reception. There are many decorations and ideas that you can incorporate to give the reception area a nice beach theme flavor, without having to be outside on an actual beach. Either way, beach theme weddings can be very romantic and memorable for both the wedding couple and the guests. Just be sure to plan well for all possibilities and you should have a wonderfully romantic wedding day.

About the Author

Rose Smith is the owner of Wedding Themes and More, a website designed to help you discover your perfect wedding theme. You can find more information, resources and articles about beach weddings at: http://www.wedthemes.com/beach-weddings.htm

Checking Rules and Regulations Regarding Beach Use

You will need to plan carefully for your beach wedding. There are many laws and guidelines regarding the use of beaches and each varies according to the location you are in. If it is just you, your mate and a marriage official, then there will be no problem for the most part. However, you can’t just trod out onto an area of a beach with a bunch of people and have a wedding. You will first need to get permission to use the beach (whether it’s a public or private beach) and then determine what is allowed. Here are some questions you should get answered:

• Have you checked to see if the beach you have in mind can be used for functions such as this? Is it a public beach or a private beach?
• Do you require a special permit to use the beach for a wedding? If so, where do you obtain one and how much does it cost?
• Are there any restrooms nearby that can be used? Keep in mind, most of the restrooms found on beaches are basically outhouses. Will your guests want to use such a facility?
• Are there any recreational buildings nearby that can be used for preparing food, washing dishes, restroom ruse, running electricity to the beach area, or can used in case a storm suddenly pops up.
• Are you permitted to erect large tents to be used as shade or to protect food from direct sun?
• What are the regulations regarding smoking on the beach and the serving of alcohol? Many public beaches won’t permit either. Private beaches tend to be more lenient provided you keep all cigarette butts in a container and make sure the beach is carefully cleaned after the festivities.
• Are you allowed to have a bonfire? What other regulations are there regarding the use of tiki torches, candles, lanterns, etc?
• Can you have a specific area of the beach designated for your wedding to keep other beach goers from interrupting your occasion?
• Are you allowed to serve food? Are there any waste cans available for garbage or must you supply your own?

The above questions should help in confirming what regulations are in force when using a beach for a wedding ceremony and/or reception. Of course, that is only part of the equation. There are many more questions that need to be answered and will be addressed in Part II of this article.

About the Author

Rose Smith is the owner of Wedding Themes and More, a website designed to help you discover your perfect wedding theme. You can find more information, resources and articles about beach weddings at: http://www.wedthemes.com/beach-weddings.htm

And in fact, that’s one of the forces behind the rising popularity of the Asian-themed wedding: how it turns things upside-down. In fact, in a Chinese-style wedding, white is bad (it’s the color of death) and red and black are good (they’re the colors of luck and prosperity).

You might wonder whether brides that plan Asian-themed weddings are Asian (or marrying someone who is). The answer is, sometimes. Surprisingly often, they aren’t, and the choice is purely aesthetic.

Today’s trends break down into two main types of Asian-themed weddings: the Japanese or "Zen" style, which values simplicity and nature, and the more riotous Chinese style, which bristles with bright colors and shiny fabrics.

Although either choice may surprise some older guests, the bride may find her personal values deeply expressed in the Asian-themed wedding. After all, the usual wedding is a certain kind of pageant: the couple pretends to be royalty for a day, and lavishly entertain a large party — seemingly without a care, though they rack up huge debt to do so.

Brides drawn to the Zen-style ceremony often want to avoid the "royalty pageant" and simplify the ceremony (ironically, this can result in greater elegance for the price tag). This type of bride might read "voluntary simplicity" books, care about the environment, enjoy an uncluttered house or apartment with a handful of Japanese accents (Shoji lanterns and screens, for example) and find herself attracted to natural materials. She may feel freed by a simpler wedding gown, and carry an unfussy bouquet of calla lilies. Her centerpieces might be lanterns surrounded by black and white stones. For favors, she might give out fortune cookies placed in take-out boxes and topped off with chopsticks.

Other brides find aspects of tradition stifling, so they mix up their ceremony with Chinese-style zest. This bride might dress her bridesmaids in glowing red (or slinky black!) Cheongsams, dresses with high collars and slit sides. She’ll hand them parasols instead of nosegays, and pass out chopsticks for their hair. Her own gown might be of gorgeous brocade in red, orange or gold. Perhaps she’ll wrap up the ceremony with a butterfly release and hand out lucky bamboo stalks as wedding favors. This bride doesn’t mind charting her own course in social affairs, and she loves the Chinese devotion to parents and children.

In either case, the Asian-themed wedding is a great way to tie your ceremony to your personal values. Perhaps the thought of such a wedding crossed your mind, but you thought you had to be Asian? The fact is, Asian traditions and trends have been shaping Americans deeply since the 1960s. Maybe it’s time to ask yourself this: which type of Asian-themed bride are you?

About the Author

Blake Kritzberg is the proprietor of http://www.just-wedding-favors.com . Visit the site for easy, elegant, unusual, and affordable wedding favor ideas, wedding favor FAQ, and free wedding screensaver. This article may be freely reprinted so long as this resource box and URL are preserved.

• Instead of purchasing or ordering a new wedding gown, check over the sample gowns used in the store for bride’s to try on. These are often marked down to 50% or more. However, look the dress over carefully for rips or stains, since they have probably been tried on many times.
• Check out your bridal boutique before ordering a gown. Ask around to find out the reputation of the vendor and if they are listed at the Better Business Bureau. Some bridal vendors will deliberately order dresses at a larger size, then charge you for alterations. Many a bride has also been disappointed when the gown that they ordered didn’t arrive in time because the vendor didn’t stay on top of things.
• Purchase a simple, plain bridal gown and enhance it with your own appliques and trimming, most of which can be obtained from craft stores. Just make sure that any appliques, lace or beading added is dry-cleanable.
• Consider making your own head piece and veil. They are fairly simple to make and many bridal craft books show you how to put one together. Making your own headpiece costs very little and can save you a lot of money, such as in the $70 – $100 (or more) range. A definite savings that can be used elsewhere.
• Consider your attendant’s financial circumstances when choosing their bridesmaid’s dresses. They will be more appreciative if you choose dresses that are stylish and that they can wear again. Usually, a simpler style dress that is bought in a department store will cost less than one that is touted as a bridesmaid’s dress and bought at a bridal boutique.
• Ask for a discount if you order all your bridal dresses and accessories from one store.
• Instead of using flower bouquets, consider carrying candles, books, bibles, a single flower trimmed with ribbon streamers, wicker baskets or a decorated fan.
• Use balloon bouquets instead of flower bouquets for decorations. Balloons and helium are a fraction of the cost of flowers, yet still look festive. They come in a multitude of colors and you can dress them up with ribbon streamers.
• Look for cake toppers in a craft store or grocery stores. They are usually cheaper than getting them directly from a cake decorating place. Also, if you are a crafty person or know someone who is, create your own cake topper. They are pretty simple to make.
• Reuse your pew markers to decorate doorknobs or other areas of your reception site.

About the Author

Rose Smith is the owner of Wedding Themes and More, a website designed to help you discover your perfect wedding theme. Find more great ideas, resources and articles on her Wedding Budgets page.

Although the unity candle seems to have been with us forever, in reality it’s only about ten years old. During those years, more "two-become-one" motifs have arrived to round out the theme.

Unification ceremonies are not only a symbol of togetherness, they’re also flexible elements of a wedding. These ceremonies can be "opened up" to include important family members, such as the bridal couple’s parents. Children from previous marriages can play a part, as can the entire congregation in a smaller wedding. Candle and rose ceremonies are common choices for adapting in this way.

Unification ceremonies can also be "stacked." It’s not unusual to find a wedding that includes a hand and water ceremony, for example, or a wine and rose ceremony. Some couples play music during these ceremonies and others don’t.

The timing of unification ceremonies varies by wedding, but they most often take place directly before or after the exchange of vows. These ceremonies may be especially important in non-religious weddings, which may end too quickly otherwise!

Let’s look at some alternatives to the Unity Candle ceremony:

Rose Ceremony

The rose ceremony is a flexible, informal ceremony especially suited to an interfaith or non-religious wedding, not to mention a garden wedding! In the rose ceremony, bride and groom exchange a single rose as their first married gift to each other. They are asked to recall this symbol of their love during the more trying seasons of marriage.

Hand Ceremony

In the hand ceremony, the bride takes the groom’s hands in hers, palms up. The officiant invites her to view his hands as a gift, and says: "These are the hands that will work along side yours, as together you build your future, as together you laugh and cry, and together you share your innermost secrets and dreams."

The groom then takes the bride’s hands, palm side up. The officiant says, "They are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness, as she promises her love and commitment to you all the days of her life."

Knot Ceremony

In the knot ceremony, the mothers of the bridal couple are given a cord, which the officiant later asks them to give to the bridal couple. The couple ties a lover’s knot, which they may save to look back on later.

Sand, Water and Wine Ceremonies

These are all mixing ceremonies suited to a Unitarian or interfaith wedding. The sand ceremony is said to arise from Apache customs, and is popular in beach weddings. In each case, the bride and groom pour sand or liquid from two separate vials into one. In the wine ceremony, they drink the mixed wine.

A nice touch is to have the bride pour white wine while the groom pours red. You can then serve rosé at the reception to remind everyone of the ceremony.

The Salt Covenant

The salt covenant is an ancient tradition, well-described in the Bible, and appearing regularly in Indian-national and Jewish weddings. Like the Jewish Huppah, the salt covenant (a mixing ceremony with ancient connotations of loyalty, protection and hospitality) is beginning to show up in non-Jewish weddings as well.

The Foot-Washing Ceremony

The foot washing ceremony (not to be confused with the Scottish bridal foot-washing ceremony, a raucous pre-wedding event) is a fascinating, solemn custom emphasizing the role of dual servitude in a marriage.

This short article hasn’t covered all the unification ceremonies: there are bread-sharing ceremonies, circling ceremonies, broom jumping ceremonies, and probably more ceremonies that are being invented right now.

However, if you feel a unification ceremony might make your wedding more meaningful and personal, consider these alternatives. Don’t forget that you can use more than one!

About the Author

Blake Kritzberg is the proprietor of: http://www.just-wedding-favors.com. Visit the site for easy, elegant, unusual, and affordable wedding favor ideas, wedding favor FAQ, and a free wedding screensaver. This article may be freely reprinted so long as this resource box and URL are preserved.

1. Who would be the DJ for your occasion? Many DJ companies are a multi-system operation. Be sure to have in writing of who your DJ will be at your event. I would recommend meeting your DJ before hiring the company at a neutral place, like a restaurant.

2. How many years experience does your DJ have with your type of function? Anyone can pretend to be a DJ. If you are having a formal event, does your DJ know how to organize a wedding reception or a grand entrance? The DJ should perform the type of show that you want!

3. Does the DJ get everyone involved dancing or do they just play music? You have to ask yourself if you want a DJ that will get everyone dancing? For example, will the DJ involve guests by playing and conducting motivational dances like the Chicken Dance, Hokey Pokey, Cha Cha Slide or just play music?

4. Will the DJ be dressed appropriately? Formal means tuxedo or dress. Semi-formal means dress pants, shirt & tie or slacks and blouse. Casual means polo shirt or company shirt. Be sure the DJ is dressed appropriately during set-up and takedown of equipment. Some guests do arrive early and stay late.

5. What is the DJ’s fee? How much is overtime? Is a tip included in the fee? Will there be an extra charge for lighting-what does the lighting include? How much is travel to your location? Are you ONLY paying for the time the DJ performs?

6. Does the DJ include a contract? Be sure to have all details of your function in writing. The DJ must know the date, place, and time! You must know each other’s names and phone numbers including the DAY of the occasion.

7. Is the DJ company professional? This may sound silly, but does the DJ have insurance? Accidents do happen. It’s better to be prepared. Also, is the DJ a member of a national DJ association like ADJA or NAME? If they are, then they care about what they do and are a better chance of being professional.

8. What kind of equipment does the DJ use? Typically, if a DJ is using a brand of equipment you can buy at your local retail store, then that’s what you will get. Excellent brand names include: JBL, Community, Denon, Gemini, QSC, Crown, etc. Always, and I mean always, ask if the DJ has back-up equipment WITH them for your function. Also, be sure the DJ brings the right amount of sound for the number of guests expected.

9. What music do you play? How many music selections will the DJ have WITH them? Be sure your DJ takes requests before and during your function. Also, give them a guideline of what you want played. However, this is what the DJ is paid to do. Don’t limit the DJ by saying you want all of one kind of music or a list of 100 songs they must play. The best scenario is to play any type of music that gets people dancing and having fun. By the way, it should be understood the DJ does not play any offensive music.

I hope this helps!

About the Author

Matt Campbell owned and operated DJ Express in Montana and now is the owner of WeddingMuseum.com. WeddingMuseum.com helps future brides and grooms plan, book and rate their wedding day. Come see us at http://www.weddingmuseum.com or email Matt, matt@weddingmuseum.com ©WeddingMuseum.com 2004