All posts by Mike Urban

5 Ways to Avoid Wedding Disaster on Your Big Day

April 13, 2017choosing a wedding dj, wedding emergenciesMike Urban

A torn dress, drunken toast, unexpected downpour…there are a lot of things that can go wrong on your wedding day. While you can’t avoid all of the emergencies that come up on your special day, you can take these steps to prepare for any “just in case” situations that could come up on your wedding day.

Have an emergency kit on hand for just in case.

Even if you planned every little detail and obsessed over the schedule a million times, there can still be emergencies (small and large) that interrupt your special day. Pack an emergency kit with sewing supplies, first aid kit, tissues, umbrella, stain remover, blister meds, medications, wet wipes, mints, snacks, and a paper with all of your wedding vendor cell phone numbers on it (often the office is not open on at night or on a weekend).

Try to get as much done before your wedding day as possible.

Don’t procrastinate on your last contact with your vendors before your wedding; you have enough to worry about in the days before your wedding. Instead, touch base with your vendors about a week before the wedding to confirm that all the I’s are dotted and t’s crossed.

Have a plan B before the day starts.

There are a lot of things that can come up on your big day: the weather turns nasty, you get a flat tire, your attendant gets overserved. While you can’t control all of those situations, you can have a plan B in case it storms, the temperatures drop, or the mercury in your thermometer swells (too hot!). Make sure your vendors do the same; ask your DJ what their plan B is in case the DJ gets sick or equipment breaks. Do the same with your other vendors as well: videographer, photographer, caterer, etc.

Hire quality vendors.

If you hire an amateur, expect amateur results. Make sure you hire professionals that come through when you need them; you can usually weed out these vendors based on their past testimonials (the couples they’ve come through for in the past!). There are two ways to find these reviews: social media and local review sites both give you a window into the work they can do for you and have done in the past.

Make your wedding day a team effort.

Recruit friends and family to help you on your wedding day with any issues that might come up so you can concentrate on what’s important. This is a great job for friends or family that you didn’t choose as bridesmaids or groomsmen but you would love to play a role in your special day. Ask these friends or family to get people out on the dance floor, help get people ready for photographs, and to help with anything (or anyone) that demands attention so your day goes off without a hitch.

Complete Wedding Entertainment Checklist

March 27, 2017fun wedding ideas, wedding entertainment ideas, wedding entertainment optionsMike Urban

The days of hiring one wedding entertainer for your wedding is over. Today’s wedding guests can look forward to so much more; you can meet (and exceed!) their expectations by choosing from this list of wedding entertainment options (or ask us for ideas!).

Main stage entertainment

____DJ (find a good DJ with these tips)

____Band

____DIY (here are the pros and cons of DIY wedding music)

Off-stage fun

____Photo booth (tips for finding a quality photo booth here)

____Glow-in-the-dark bowling (in the hallways?)

____Face painter

____Celebrity impersonator or mascot to circulate

____Fireworks (only if allowed)

____Interactive food table

____Foosball or pool table

____Yard games (especially at outdoor wedding)

____Photo stand-ins

Table entertainment

____Crossword puzzle using clues that tie into your theme

____Coloring pages (especially for young guests)

____Have guests make their own wedding favors

____Trivia cards

____Advice cards (for guests to give couple tips)

____Wedding-libs

____Hangman

Wedding Playlist: How many songs do I need for my wedding?

March 16, 2017wedding play list, wedding reception music, wedding reception playlistMike Urban

Your wedding playlist should be as uniquely you as the colors you choose and your wedding décor. You can make that happen (and all the dancing that goes with it) by leaving your wedding playlist in your DJ’s hands. If you fancy yourself a music aficionado, however, you may want to take more of a hands-on approach to your wedding playlist.

A “typical” wedding playlist (though every wedding is different) includes the following:

Ceremony

Prelude
Music for seating the parents
Processional music for attendants
Processional music for bride
Recessional

Reception

Dinner & cocktail background music
Wedding party entrance music
First dance
Father-daughter dance
Mother-son dance
Bouquet & garter toss songs
Dance songs

Once you’ve made a list of what songs you need, use these tips to craft the perfect wedding playlist:

Hire an excellent DJ for your big day.

If you want the best music for your big day, hire the best DJ. Use these tips to find an experienced DJ that can take your input and run with it. Avoid amateur DJ’s that may sound like a great deal, but can’t offer you necessities for an awesome wedding reception like state-of-the-art equipment (and back-up equipment), a back-up DJ, and all the extras that take your evening to the next level.

Make a list of must-have wedding songs you have to hear

One sign of an excellent DJ? A DJ that asks for your favorite songs. Do you have special song that means something to you and your fiance, songs you love to dance to, or a favorite of your parents or friends that you would all love to dance to? Put them down on paper. To make sure your guests hear all their favorite tunes, add a line to your invitations and ask for their requests.

Make a list of songs you DON’T want to hear

Do you have a song you hate with a passion? Let your DJ know that too (along with this other important information).

Be realistic about the amount of songs that can be played

Remember, there are only so many songs that can be played at your wedding reception. Usually that number is about 15-20 songs per hour, so don’t be upset if every song on your list can’t be played.

Don’t procrastinate! 4 Wedding Vendors You Shouldn’t Wait to Book

February 28, 2017wedding planning, wedding planning details, wedding vendorsMike Urban

We’ve all procrastinated a time or two (or three or a hundred times), but here are 4 wedding vendors you shouldn’t wait to book if you want a fantastic wedding reception.

Venue

Why you shouldn’t wait: Your wedding venue is THE biggest detail of your wedding day. You can’t hold a great party if you don’t have a venue to hold it in. Plus, you have a lot of other details that you can’t set in stone without having a venue.

How to find a good one: Once you’ve decided on the location of your big day (i.e. destination wedding, hometown, city where you met, etc.), narrow down your options by deciding on your style, budget, and the size of your guest list. Choose a venue that checks off all three boxes and any other unique wants and needs you want, such as a venue that allows you to bring in your own caterer or has no sound limitations for a fantastic late-night party.

When to book: Book your wedding venue about 12-16 months before your wedding date.

Caterer

Why you shouldn’t wait: You don’t want to leave your wedding guests with a bad taste in their mouths. If you wait too long, all the good caterers are going to be booked and you’re going to have to settle for ho-hum cuisine.

How to find a good one: Ask your friends and family for their recommendations or ask your venue for suggestions for a quality caterer. Back your research up by checking out local reviews on social media or review sites. Once you have a short list of caterers that are perfect for your big day, ask them for a quote and any other specific details you want for your big day. Make sure you set up a tasting with your preferred caterer to sample the actual dishes you want on your wedding day; don’t book a caterer until you’ve made sure they live up to your standards.

When to book: Sign the contract with your caterer 12 months before your wedding date.

Entertainment

Why you shouldn’t wait: Don’t book a great venue and confirm a wonderful caterer only to leave your guests bored after dinner.

How to find a good one: Decide whether you want a band or DJ (tips on how to choose the perfect wedding entertainment option here). Once you’ve decided which option is your first choice (for you and your budget), ask your friends or family for recommendations and check the local review and social media sites for other couples’ opinions. Make sure you ask these questions and look for entertainers that coordinate special moments with other vendors (i.e. photographer, videographer, venue, etc.) for wonderful memories that you can look at for years to come. If you want to offer more fun for all ages, book a photo booth or bring out yard and table games for an entertaining wedding reception.

When to book: Book your entertainers 14-18 months before your wedding date.

Videographer & Photographer

Why you shouldn’t wait: A bad videographer or photographer is going to leave you with less than stellar memories of the most important day of your life.

How to find a good one: Ask your friends and family for recommendations, visit local wedding fairs, and let your keyboard do the searching. Back your research up with review sites and reviews on social media sites to make sure you are booking the best. Ask your prospective videographers and photographers for samples of their work before you sign on the bottom line.

When to book: Book your videographer and photographer 12+ months before your wedding date.

6 Wedding Planning Mistakes Almost Every Couple Makes

February 16, 2017wedding planning mistakes, wedding reception mistakesMike Urban

Everyone makes mistakes, but no one wants to make mistakes about the biggest day of our life. We’ve been to a wedding or two (or three or hundreds), and we’ve laid out some of the most common wedding mistakes that we see almost every couple make when wedding planning.

Waiting too long

The old saying, “the early bird gets the worm” applies to a lot of situations, including wedding planning. If you want to get the best vendors at your wedding: the best caterer, DJ, band, venue, etc., you need to book early. Procrastinating too long during wedding planning is only going to get you whoever’s left after all the good vendors are booked, and your guests are going to see that when they’re stuck with your subpar vendors.

What you can do: As soon as you have the date and venue confirmed, get on the horn to your caterer and DJ. Use these tips to choose the best options for your big day. Don’t wait to book the best DJ so you can enjoy the fruits of your non-procrastination as you dance the night away.

Messing up on timing

Many a wedding has run way behind because the couple didn’t plan the timing of the dinner and dance right, leaving the guests bored or feeling rushed at your wedding reception.

What you can do: Lean on experience. Hire experienced vendors who can help you as you plan. Talk to your venue and entertainment staff to make sure that your plan for the evening is just right for your specific evening plans.

Thinking the cheapest is always the best

There are a lot of options out there for wedding venues, caterers, and entertainers. It can be incredibly easy to choose between the vendors based on the numbers.

What you can do: It’s easy to want to save pennies when you’re trying to stick to your wedding budget, but you have to be realistic about your budget. You get what you pay for, so make sure you don’t automatically choose a caterer or DJ solely on who’s the cheapest. Do your homework and choose the best DJ for your big day. Use these tips to save money and stay within your wedding budget.

Spending all your budget in one area

A wedding budget is like a marathon; you don’t want to put out too much energy at the end and not have enough left to cross the finish line. You don’t want to spend all your money on a dress and not have enough for the photographer or a quality DJ.

What you can do: To make sure you stay on track, make a lined budget plan with (realistic) amounts in each column. Stick to your budget as closely as possible, and save money on small areas (i.e. wedding favors, accessories, etc.) Try to select vendors that offers packages, so you can get services at a lower cost overall.

Not making a contingency plan

It’s really easy to plan out the perfect day, and think that everything is going to happen just as planned. In reality, as hard as we all try to get the perfect wedding day where everything goes smoothly, things happen. The weather doesn’t go as planned. Vendors get sick. Equipment breaks down.

What you can do: Choose vendors that have a plan B for those ‘just in case’ situations. For entertainment, contact a DJ that has back-up DJ’s and equipment that is easily available if an emergency comes up.

Too little communication

There are a lot of things to juggle when you are wedding planning, and it can be easy to try to get all your ‘ducks in a row’ without passing on important details. Make sure you communicate openly with your family and friends involved in your big day as well, and that everyone gets scheduling details, addresses, and important info.

What you can do: Make sure you are keeping in touch with your vendors, even beyond the initial consultation. Be clear about what you want and don’t want, and make sure they know about each other so the communication keeps flowing. For example, contact a DJ that communicates with your other vendors so they can coordinate pictures of your first dance and all the special moments of your big day.

10 Fun Ways to Spice Up Your Wedding Reception Dance

February 2, 2017wedding dance ideas, wedding night fun, wedding reception ideasMike Urban

Everyone’s been to the same old wedding reception dance. You dance, you drink, you sit around and talk. If you’re looking to up the ante at your wedding dance, and make it, well, fun (because isn’t that the point?), it’s time to add some spice to your special night so your guests are enjoying themselves.

Personalized song requests

If you want to involve your guests in your wedding play list, ask for their input before the wedding reception. Ask your guests for their requests on your invitation, and hire a DJ that can make their song requests a reality and get your guests out on the dance floor.

Photo booth

Nights of fun come and go but pictures from a photo booth last forever…and remind you over and over what an awesome night it was at your wedding. Use our list of fun photo booth props to make the night’s photos even more memorable. Make sure you rent a quality photo booth from a reliable company so you can follow through on your promise for a fun night.

Table games

No matter how great your DJ or band is, you’re always going to have lapses in the action—and guests who need entertaining. Create personalized table games for your guests (Mad libs, anyone?) that include clues related to the newlyweds or put out the classic board games at every table for a fun night.

Group dance

Entertain your guests with a surprise first dance, flash mob, or a pre-planned special dance with your wedding party. Make everyone take note when you and your bridesmaids start dancing on cue, or when your whole wedding party busts a move.

Late night fun course

Don’t just order a few pizzas at the end of the night. Entertain your guests with a late night course that’s fun and delicious, like gourmet pretzels, sliders, specialty fries, camp fire treats, or a fun feast served from a food truck.

Little people fun

Plan entertainment for the littlest people at your wedding. It’ll make their night (and their parents) a lot of fun, and give them something to do when they’re not on the dance floor. Put out crayons, coloring and activity sheets, and other fun games they’ll enjoy.

DJ Trivia

To get even the most table-happy guests out of their seat, ask your DJ to lead your guests in a night of trivia. Ask your guests to stand up and sit if they have birthdays in a certain month, are wearing red, etc., etc. Or have your guests answer questions about you as a couple and give out fun prizes (bingo?). To make it fun, hire a DJ that is as good of a game show host as an emcee.

Confetti

If your venue allows, a splash of confetti is sure to surprise your guests and give them something to remember (along with these other fun wedding reception surprises). Coordinate the confetti drop with your DJ so the confetti drops at just the right time during just the right song.

Special appearance

For a fun touch, hire an entertainer to get your guests talking. If you’re planning a vintage wedding, hire celebrity impersonators from the era to join your guests on the dance floor. For a magical evening, hire a magician to make a special appearance (again, coordinate it with your DJ).

Cue cards

If you want to spice up the normal wedding toasts, use these tips for a great wedding toast and cue cards to get the guests in on the act. Make up cue cards and have someone hold them up during the toasts or during another fun part of your reception.

4 Tips for Hiring the Right Wedding Reception Entertainers

January 20, 2017hiring wedding entertainment, wedding reception entertainment, wedding reception musicMike Urban

What do you remember from the last wedding you were at? Was it the favors, wine, or the fun time you had? Chances are it was the latter, and that’s what your guests are going to remember from your wedding reception. That’s why hiring wedding reception entertainment should be one of your top wedding planning priorities—and why we’ve put together tips that’ll help you hire the right entertainers for your big day.

Decide what kind of wedding entertainment is right for your big day.

Before you can decide who to contact, start by breaking down the most common wedding entertainment options: band, DJ, and do-it-yourself (we’ve gone into great depth on wedding entertainment options here). What is your first choice? Do you have a certain kind of music played by a band or would you rather have a variety of songs and a fun DJ?

Once you’ve decided what kind of entertainer you want, start contacting entertainers to find out what options fit in your wedding budget. Ask each wedding reception entertainer these questions so you don’t get any unpleasant surprises later.

Don’t (entirely) base your selection on price.

When asking questions, remember there are a ton of amateur DJ’s and bands out there willing to offer their services for close to nothing. When listening to their sales pitch, remember the old adage “you get what you pay for.” While price is an important part of your decision, a low-cost wedding entertainer is probably going to deliver low-quality entertainment with subpar equipment (not to mention they probably don’t have a backup in case of emergencies, leaving you without entertainment).

Book early.

As tempting as it may be to procrastinate on hiring a wedding entertainer, the best DJs’ and bands’ fill up fast. Twelve to eighteen months before your big day is optimal, but the reality of hiring wedding entertainers is the sooner the better. If you wait too long, you are going to get a crummy wedding entertainer (here’s how to tell if you hired a low-quality DJ) and all your guests are going to remember is a boring ho-hum wedding reception.

Think about what happens ‘just in case.’

Musicians get sick. DJ’s get sidelined because of a family emergency. Accidents happen, and the best bands and DJ’s have a back-up plan just in case; the amateurs don’t. Remember when you decide on the high-quality entertainer (band or DJ), you are also paying for a contingency plan that won’t leave you—or your guests—bored.

3 BIG New Years Resolution’s Every Bride & Groom-to-be MUST Make

December 29, 2016New Year's wedding, New Year's wedding resolution, wedding planning resolutions, wedding planning tipsMike Urban

If your holidays included one of those wonderful engagement stories we’ve been hearing about, it’s time to make a whole new New Year’s resolution: a wedding planning resolution. (Or a whole set of wedding planning resolutions!) Trust us: you’ll be glad you adopted one of these New Year’s resolutions when you’re enjoying the most important day of your life dancing the night away and loving every minute of it.

I will not procrastinate during wedding planning.

It’s so easy to see why this common wedding planning mistake happens: your wedding day seems far off, right? Don’t fall into the trap. Many a bride and groom has waited too long and missed out on booking their favorite DJ, caterer, or wedding venue.

How to fulfill this resolution: Don’t procrastinate when searching and hiring the wedding vendors that matter, such as the venue, DJ, caterer, and any other parts of your wedding that you really, really want (the best vendors’ calendars fill up fast!). Once you have your ‘must haves’ booked, use a wedding planning calendar to make sure you get all your wedding planning tasks done on time.

I will think about those ‘what if’ wedding day situations.

We see this happen when couples book DJ’s: they hire that friend of a friend that’s going to give them a killer deal—without thinking about what’s going to happen if their friend gets sick. The same thing can happen when they book an outdoor venue without a plan ‘B’ for the weather. The list of possible disasters could go on and on if you don’t have a contingency plan (or hire a vendor with a plan).

How to fulfill this resolution: Be aware that things can go wrong, and think through possible contingency scenarios. Have a plan B at your outdoor venue in case the weather goes bad. Hire a wedding DJ service so you have a back-up DJ or equipment available just in case. If you have any questions, ask your vendors about their plans for those ‘what if’ situations.

I will not just book the cheapest wedding vendors.

When your wedding budget is tight, it’s easy to feel that the cheapest is the best option. However, you’re going to feel that on your wedding day when the cheapest vendors provide service that feels, well, cheap.

How to fulfill this resolution: If you have the budget to do so, don’t just automatically book the cheapest vendor. Look for quality over cost. That doesn’t mean you need to book the most expensive, but it does mean to do your research and book quality wedding vendors that can give you top-notch service. If you want to save money on those quality vendors, use these tips to save money on wedding planning. In short, allocate more foods for the things that count: venue, entertainment, all the things that matter to you—and save money in other areas for a memorable night you’ll be glad you made a New Year’s resolution for!

Wedding Planning 101: Where to Start Planning Your Big Day

December 15, 2016planning wedding day, start planning big day, wedding planning startMike Urban

Congratulations on your wedding engagement! Once the excitement wears off from receiving the engagement ring (or if you’ve started wedding planning in anticipation of a wedding proposal), it’s time to tackle the wedding planning process. It’s normal to not know where to start; we’ve met many wedding couples trying to figure their way through the planning process. That’s why we’ve put together these tips for planning your big day (well).

Talk BEFORE you start planning.

Start your wedding planning with clear expectations so you don’t have to detour through the process. You don’t want to find out your fiance wanted mixed drinks after you’ve put a down payment on a bar that doesn’t include their request. Or have to back track when your parents make a request about the guest list after you’ve booked a cozy venue.

Sit down with your fiance and any important members of your family or friends to find out their expectations so you can initiate your planning with all the important “stuff” out in the open. You may find out the one thing your fiance has always wanted, or a request from your in-laws you didn’t know before the conversation. Ask them questions about their vision for the day (if you want it) and any financial input they may want to gift you for your wedding budget.

Set a budget & date

This is your big day, so try to picture what you want it to look like. Use that vision and the input you’ve received your fiance, family, and friends to start confirming the details of your special day. Start with your budget and wedding date.

You can either set the wedding date in stone or use open dates from your favorite wedding venue or vendor to come up with the perfect wedding date. For example, if you have a wedding venue or DJ you really want, and you know you want a fall wedding date, contact them and ask what dates are available. Choose the date that works for you, and start looking and designing wedding invites.

Contact ‘must have’ wedding vendors

The sooner you book your wedding details, the more likely you are to get the wedding vendors you want (and that are really, really good!) Don’t procrastinate. Book your venue as soon as possible, and your DJ at least 14-18 months in advance. To keep track of it all, use this wedding planning checklist for reference. You’ll be glad you have it on hand when you’re enjoying the wedding day of your dreams.

When should I hire a DJ for my wedding?

November 30, 2016hiring DJ, wedding DJ hiring, wedding planningMike Urban

This is a question we’ve been hearing from a lot of couples in the throws of wedding planning. If you’ve heard the saying “October is the new June,” you understand why: there are now many months of the year popular for weddings.

The answer to the question, “when should I hire a DJ for my wedding?” is 14-18 months. In reality, the sooner you contact and hire a quality wedding DJ the better. The best DJ’s calendars book up early, and you don’t want to end up with a bad DJ (here’s how to tell the difference between quality and wedding DJ horror story).

What questions do I ask a potential DJ?

We’ve already given you tips on how to find a good DJ (i.e. ask friends, check their social media pages, etc.). The next step is to ask the important questions that help you select the best DJ for your big day.

“Are you available on my wedding day?”
“What kind of experience do you have as a wedding DJ?”
“Can you give me references that I can contact?”
“Do you offer any other perks other than deejaying?” (i.e. lighting, photo booth rental, etc.)
“Can you do….(Insert special request here)?”
“How long can you DJ? What is cost of that time?”
“Do you charge overtime fees if our wedding reception runs late?”
“How much of a deposit is required and when will the balance be due?”
“Do you charge a travel fee?”
“What is your policy in case of an emergency or cancellation?”
“Can you provide me proof of your insurance?”
“How many meetings do you typically set up with clients? When are the meetings?”
“Can we do meetings over the phone or internet instead of in-person meetings?”
“Do you have back up DJs and equipment available for just in case?”
“How early do you arrive at the wedding reception?”
“What kind of electrical needs does your equipment require?” (for an outdoor wedding)
“What is included in your wedding package?”
“Do you provide dinner music as part of our package?”
“When do you need information from me?”
“When should I give you a list of my favorite songs and songs I do not want played at my reception?”
“Will your DJ be in formal attire?”
“Will the DJ act as Master of Ceremonies (MC) at our wedding reception?”
“How many years of wedding experience does my DJ have?”
“How do we contact you as we plan our wedding?”

How much does a wedding DJ cost?

This is one of the most difficult questions to answer online because the cost of your wedding DJ depends on so many factors, including what you need and want (i.e. lighting, photo booth rental, etc.) What we can answer here is a solid tip: don’t underestimate the cost of a quality DJ. Yes, you need to save money and stick to your wedding budget. However, hiring the cheapest or that “DJ friend of a friend” that can give you a killer deal has it’s downsides: sub-par equipment, no back-up in case of emergencies, no extras, crappy DJ horror stories…the list could go on and on. When vetting potential DJ’s, be selective and hire a quality DJ (we’ve listed what to look for in a quality wedding DJ here) so you don’t end up regretting your choice on your big day.