When are you having your DJ start playing? Timeline question

Re: When are you having your DJ start playing? Timeline question

• danieliza1127 member

  

  April 2010

  Be sure to ask your DJ all of these questions.  It's their job to help you figure this stuff out.  The DJ will probably want to come set up a couple of hours before the reception starts, you don't want him in there setting up equipment during dinner, so you do have to hire him for the entire event,  not just the dancing after dinner.
  
  Music should be playing as soon as people come into the reception, and throughout dinner.  Usually the dinner music is more low key and then the DJ will switch into more fun music after dinner to get people dancing.
  
  We did our first dance and spotlight dances after dinner, before cake.
  

  
  

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• quotequeen member

  

  April 2010

  You should definitely have some background music playing during cocktail hour and dinner.  (I am having a DJ who also plays his instrument during those times, then switches to DJ for the dancing.)

  Married 10/2/10

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• fallbride1109 member

  

  April 2010

  I had my ceremony musicians play the cocktail hour and had my DJ play background music for dinner.  Mostly light jazz type stuff.  He announced us and we did our first dance immediately.  (We didn't want to be nervous about the dance all through dinner!)  Then he played the dinner music and gradually increased the intensity and people just got up and started dancing on their own.
  
  Your DJ runs the reception for you.  You need to hire him for the entire reception from start to finish.

  Planning the Meal
  With All the Trimmings
  

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• kellyh1982 member

  

  April 2010

  I started my thinking the same way you did - expecting to have the DJ for the dance and through the rest of the night.  When I met with him last week, he offered his services for dinner (for an added, but discounted fee) and I signed him up for many reasons.  If he came after dinner he'd have to set up while people are finishing dinner, and that would be a bit awkward.  This way he will be set up and playing dinner music when people get to the reception.  He is going to introduce us when we walk in at approx. 6pm.  We'll eat dinner, and the dance is expected to start at 8:00pm, but if dinner ends earlier, then he'll switch to more dancing type music.  We're planning to cut our cake at 8:30, and then we're going to do our first dance, mother/son, and father/daughter dances.  I wanted to do it that way so when we're dancing people can be eating cake, since they won't be out there dancing.  Then after that he'll let us know when we're doing the bouquet toss and garter throw...and we're going to enjoy the evening!!    Hope this helps...

  

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