We’re sure you don’t want to go down in history as having the worst wedding reception ever. If you have already started your wedding planning, you may have time to fix your mistakes by avoiding these three things.
Waiting too long to book entertainment
The general rule of thumb is to book your venue first. We agree, but your entertainment should come shortly after. The best bands, DJs, and performance acts are sometimes booked two to three years in advance, which means you are competing with other couples–some of which may be getting married on the same date. It’s best to consult with your wedding planner or the venue about their “Preferred Vendors List.”
If you’re looking for entertainment yourself, it’s easy to find a few on Google, but you can also use social media to view clips of local acts to get a feel for what you want in a band. Just don’t wait too long–it would be a drag to end up with terrible entertainment during your most important day just because you waited a few months too late.
Requesting too many songs from the band or DJ
It may sound crazy, but it’s true. Many couples request way too many songs from entertainers, especially bands, which could bring performance quality down. If you book a great wedding band, it’s reasonable to request a handful of songs for the party or first dance selection; however, a band is not a jukebox–and most won’t play random songs on demand. The best bands take ample time to practice and perfect songs way ahead of your event.
When you inquire about a band, request the band’s song list. Having an idea of the band’s repertoire ahead of time will give you a general idea of what type of music the group can play, which will help you make the best decision on which band to book for your wedding.
What about DJs?
You can get away with requesting more songs from DJs but be sure to do this in advance. You might want to hear “Dancing Queen” because it’s your favorite childhood tune, but it could mess up the flow if you were just grooving to “Uptown Funk.” In other words, when in doubt, leave it to the professionals.
Trying to micromanage the timeline during the reception
You’ve heard the saying, “if anything can go wrong, it will.” Many couples avoid this by planning their day down to the minute. But you can never anticipate the best man’s speech taking 15 minutes (instead of five) or the limo driver taking a wrong turn. Small things may happen throughout the night that can throw off the timing of your event, but you should allow the professionals to clean up the mess. More than likely, they have more wedding and special event experience than the average person. That experience will help a band leader or DJ know how and when to adjust or pick up the slack to make your day everything you dreamed it would be.
There are several ways to ensure that your wedding reception goes off without a hitch. The main takeaways – work with a professional booking agent and remember to start early!
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