All posts by Mike Urban

Where do I find a good wedding DJ?

November 9, 2016choosing a wedding dj, search for a wedding DJMike Urban

Once you’ve started planning your wedding, the fun (and challenging part) begins: choosing the right…well everything. From the venue to the reception entertainment, hiring the right wedding vendors can make the difference between a memorable wedding and a wedding you spend years explaining to your friends and family.

One of the most important decisions is wedding entertainment. We’ve written about the pros and cons of your wedding entertainment options before; when you decide to hire a DJ (and for good reason), the initial challenge is finding a really good DJ.

Tips for choosing a good DJ

There is a difference between a high-quality DJ and an amateur DJ who uses the same play list for every wedding. A high-quality DJ is like a high-end product (without the price tag) versus the bargain that doesn’t last; they offer all the features that make it worthwhile to buy their product. In the case of a DJ, those features make your wedding reception a memorable night for you and your guests. To get a high-quality DJ with all the features, use these tips for choosing the best DJ for your wedding night.

The cheapest is not always the best.

When you’re trying to keep your wedding budget tight, it can be tempting to shop around for the lowest-priced DJ. This is one of those times, though, where the lowest priced is not always the best option and you get what you pay for.

As appealing as it is to save money, an amateur DJ often can’t meet your expectations (and the expectations of your guests). Though it may cost you a bit more, look for a high-quality DJ that customizes the play list specifically for your wedding. Ask about a back-up plan just in case their equipment goes down or your favorite DJ gets sick—as well as these questions you should ask every potential wedding DJ.

Don’t wait.

If you want to get a good DJ, don’t procrastinate. Once you have your venue booked, start shopping for a good local DJ that is available on your wedding date. If you wait too long, you’ll find that list of quality DJs very small—or you’ll have to settle for an amateur DJ.

They offer more.

If you’re looking for more than just a DJ to entertain your guests, look for high-quality DJs that offer package deals. It saves you time and effort so you don’t have to track down other entertainment vendors, and gives you other options such as lighting or a photo booth that puts your wedding reception over the top.

Ask to see their equipment.

Too many couples hire a DJ without seeing them in action or even knowing that they have the equipment they claim to have. A high-quality DJ should have no problem showing you their equipment or providing references of clients that have used their services in the past. To the contrary, if your potential DJ can’t provide references, listen to the warning bells in your head and walk away.

How to find a DJ

Use the internet

Obviously, if you’re reading this post, you’ve let your fingers do the searching. A list of DJs on Google is the first step; take the next step and contact local wedding DJs can keep your guests on the dance floor with excellent equipment and a back-up plan (both for equipment and staff)—along with these important questions you should ask every DJ.

Ask your friends

If you have friends who got married recently or stood up in weddings recently, ask them about great DJs at weddings. Who would they recommend? Why? Compile a list of the names they give you, and start contacting DJs (and setting up meetings) to see who is the right wedding entertainment for your big day.

Browse social media

If you want to see what other people say about your list of DJs, browse their social media profiles for reviews and interactions. Look for awards and special mentions to help you in your decision, and send a message to the DJs to set up meetings and ask questions.

5 Warning Signs You’ve Hired a Crappy DJ

October 27, 2016bad DJ, good DJ, hiring DJMike Urban

No one wants to admit they’ve wasted their money, but unfortunately when you’re vetting through wedding vendors, it happens. Like our friend, who hired a venue caterer only to find the caterer inebriated at the bar at her wedding reception. The same can happen to couples who are trying to hire a good wedding DJ, especially when they’re trying to stay within their budget.

The good news: it’s not too late to hire a quality DJ (here’s questions that help you choose the best wedding DJ) if you notice any of these warning signs that you’ve hired less-than-the best DJ for your big day.

They don’t ask—or seem to care—about what you want played

Everyone’s version of “good” wedding dance songs is different; it’s up to the DJ to ask what songs you want—and don’t want—at your wedding reception (more information on how to craft your wedding playlist here). If you are planning a vintage wedding, it’s not out of line to ask the DJ to play songs from that era. If they don’t, it’s time to move on, and find a DJ who cares about what you want played (and not just about reusing that same old playlist of songs).

Doesn’t ask about the other vendors you hired

The best DJs are social birds; they offer their couples more than just excellent dance songs and a fun dance floor, they also talk to other vendors to coordinate special moments. If your prospective DJ is not asking about your photographer or venue contact, it’s time to hire a DJ that’ll coordinate with other vendors to get you the best shots of your first dance and capture all those special moments.

Isn’t a one-stop shop

Anyone can rig up an iPod and play tunes all night. When you hire a DJ, expect more. Look for a DJ that can set the atmosphere with stellar equipment and extras that send your night over the top, such as lighting, sound, and fun entertainment options (like a photo booth)—and avoid DJ’s that only offer the basics.

Can’t give you a back-up plan

Life happens. In addition to our friend with the “belly-up” caterer, we’ve heard stories of wedding photographers who couldn’t attend, venues who shut down…the list of wedding horror stories are endless. Don’t let your wedding join the list. Ask your wedding DJ if they have a back-up plan for those “just in case” situations—and run away from DJs who can’t. Quality DJ companies can promise you a back-up plan that’s just as solid—and as quality—as the primary plan.

Doesn’t come with positive reviews or references.

If the DJ can’t get the guests dancing at another wedding, what makes you think your reception is going to be different? Don’t just hire a DJ without doing your research, like checking their reviews on social media and asking about reputable awards and testimonials. If you want to take it a step further, ask friends and family for recommendations for a DJ that did an excellent job of entertaining and keeping the guests dancing. Once you’ve done your homework, contact your DJ and book early. The best DJ’s calendars fill up quickly, and you don’t want to be stuck with a DJ that shows all the signs of a bad wedding DJ.

5 Things You Shouldn’t Forget to Tell Your DJ

October 18, 2016wedding DJ, wedding planning tipsMike Urban

We’ve seen a lot of wedding couples walk through the door in the Chicago area, and we have dealt with quite a few couples who came to our meeting ready to plan with documents and checklists. While a good checklist of questions to ask your DJ never hurts, it doesn’t take a book the size of an novel to hire a good wedding DJ and get a wonderful wedding reception—as long as you give your DJ this vital information.

Contact info for your other vendors

A good wedding DJ is not a one-man (or woman) show; they are actually part of a team that makes your wedding reception a memorable occasion. A good DJ works with your photographer, videographer, venue staff, and other key staff to make sure everyone is present for photographs and special moments. If your wedding DJ doesn’t think this is part of their job, it’s time to go back to the drawing board and find a new, quality DJ.

What you don’t want to hear

It is perfectly okay to come to your planning meeting with your DJ with a ‘Do Not Play’ list—or to compile a list at the meeting. Think of songs that bring back bad memories, songs you can’t stand, songs that your friends and family can’t stand, and any other songs that you don’t want to hear that night (it’s okay to not want to do the YMCA dance). Your DJ should be happy to get the list, because it helps them prepare a customized list for your wedding dance (if they don’t put together a special play list for you, warning bells should go off). If you want to make your list extra special, give your DJ a second list with the special meaning behind songs on your ‘Do play’ list.

How to pronounce everyone’s names

Don’t make your DJ guess how to pronounce your name, or your parents, or the names of everyone in your bridal party. Avoid any guffaws by giving your DJ a full list of special parties with pronunciations—even the names that should be easy to pronounce.

Volume restrictions

If there are restrictions on the volume of music or the length of your wedding dance, let your DJ know it. Some wedding venues or communities have restrictions (and legal repercussions) on loud music, so it pays to do your homework and let everyone involved in your wedding reception know it.

Special requests

If you have a special request for your DJ, don’t wait until the night before your wedding reception to do it. Mention any special requests at your initial consultation with your DJ, especially if they are above and beyond the “normal” DJ requests. Not all DJ’s may be able to fulfill your request, and it’s better to find out earlier in your wedding planning than later so you can find a quality DJ that can make your wedding dance vision reality.

5 DON’Ts for an Awesome Wedding Toast

September 28, 2016wedding reception toast tips, wedding toastMike Urban

We’ve all witnessed a horrible wedding toast: the father of the bride who won’t shut up, the best man who repeats a slurred “I love you man” every other sentence, the bridesmaid who clearly doesn’t have boundaries. As wedding DJ’s, we’ve witnessed quite a few (ahem) embarrassing toasts (both for the toaster and the couple) and compiled a few vital tips so you don’t botch your wedding toast.

DON’T bring up that embarrassing childhood moment without the couple’s permission.

If you want to bring up a funny moment from the past, clear it with the happy couple prior to the wedding day so you don’t end up with an angry bride and groom. As funny as it was in first grade when they peed their pants, they probably don’t want it brought up on their wedding night.

DON’T keep talking and talking and talking…

Make your wedding toast short—and to the point. Don’t go off on tangents. Write out the speech, or at least make notes, that guide you through without additions that can damage your message—and your relationship with the bride and groom. You don’t want to put the wedding guests to sleep with a long-winded speech with no end in sight.

DON’T bring up exes.

Let the dirty laundry stay in the closet. Now is not the time to apologize, or compare the bride or groom to an old boyfriend or girlfriend. Celebrate with positive thoughts scattered throughout your wedding speech, not with negativity. If you don’t have anything nice to say, let the bride or groom know, before the wedding day, that you are declining the chance to deliver a toast.

DON’T get overserved.

Watch your alcohol intake until after the toast. For now, delay and limit your alcohol intake for the sake of your toast—and for the sake of everyone in the room. We can count on one hand the amount of drunken toasts that went well.

DON’T wait until the last minute to plan your toast.

If you want to make a splash (like this bridesmaid’s awesome wedding rap), don’t wait until the last minute to plan your wedding toast. Consult the wedding DJ before the big day to coordinate your surprise toast. Practice your toast in front of a mirror or an audience so you’re ready to wow your real audience: the wedding guests.

15 Wedding Reception Surprises that WOW Your Guests

September 15, 2016wedding reception fun, wedding secret, wedding surprise, wedding surprise for guestsMike Urban

Very few couples we know try to plan a boring wedding reception; obviously if they come to us, they want to have fun. One way to up the fun ante at your wedding reception is to surprise your wedding guests by giving them something that makes them say, “WOW”—and keeps them talking about it through many of your anniversaries. Because every couple and wedding is different, there are a lot of surprises that’ll fit with your wedding—and make you happy you kept your secret.

Plan a surprise first dance with your new spouse (coordinate it with your wedding DJ)
Have confetti (or something else, with the hall’s permission) fall from the ceiling while the guests are dancing (ask your wedding DJ for the perfect song that works!)
Make your entrance into the wedding hall fun (i.e. confetti, turn the lights out, DJ plays song that you can dance as you enter, etc.)
Invite a surprise guest: hire an impersonator to stir up celebrity buzz
Set up dance lessons for your guests (ask your DJ for song suggestions)
Surprise photo booth where they can take surprisingly fun photos
Sing to your guests (ask your DJ for the song to sing with)
Three words: wedding flash mob
Hire a magician wow your guests during dinner (it’ll be a magical day!)
Have your favorite mascot join you on the dance floor
Let your guests make their own wedding favors
Surprise your family and friends by planning to have a family member or friend show up that they don’t expect
Plan a surprise and fun late night snack (i.e. food cart, popcorn, etc.)
Hire a face painter for your youngest wedding guests (and for anyone heading into the photo booth!)
Fireworks (if allowed, of course!)

Want more ideas? Ask your DJ for surprise ideas for your wedding guests. They can help you coordinate the perfect wedding surprise that’ll leave a very UNIQUE impression at your wedding reception.

Choose the Right First Dance Song with 7 Tips from the Pros

August 25, 2016first couple dance, wedding first dance, wedding reception first dance musicMike Urban

For some couples, choosing the song for their first dance together at their wedding is easy; it’s the first song they danced to, the song that was playing when they met, the song from their first date. For others, it’s not so easy. We’ve helped numerous couples set a play list for their wedding, and their first dance. Here are a few ways we’ve seen couples pick that perfect wedding first dance song—and tips we’ve given them to find the first dance song they both love.

Choose a song you can dance to

If you’ve spent the last few months in dance lessons, listen carefully to the songs at your lessons. Talk to your dance instructor for ideas or select the song that you both love to dance to. If you have a particular dance that you both enjoy, look through a library of music with the beat that fits with your favorite dance.

Find a song with family meaning

Choosing your first song can be a symbolic way of honoring your family legacy, or a family member who is special to both of you. Ask your parents, grandparents, or other special family members for the first song they danced to at their wedding or a song that has special meaning to them. You can keep the source of your special first song confidential, or ask your DJ or band leader to do a special announcement honoring your family member.

Choose a song that fits with your wedding atmosphere

Another source of first song inspiration is all that wedding planning you’ve immersed yourself in for the past few months. If you’ve gone to great lengths to plan a vintage wedding with touches from a certain era, choose a song from that decade that resonates with your wedding atmosphere and who you are as a couple. For a beach wedding or nautical-themed wedding, look for songs that fit with your décor, coordinated menu, and special memories together as a couple.

Ask your DJ

It’s your DJ’s job to know the perfect music to keep your guests dancing (note, your guests not just a general play list-here’s how to select a good DJ that does customize their wedding play list), so why not tap into their knowledge of good wedding dance songs? Don’t be afraid to ask your DJ for recommendations for a first dance song that fits your wedding and who you are as a couple; they’ll be glad to lend their expertise to your cause.

Find commonality

Have a conversation with your fiance to find a commonality: a genre of music you both like, a favorite shared movie (and movie sound track), music that you both enjoy together during a past time (playing sports, going to musicals, etc.), anything that may point you to a common song that has special meaning.

Go back to those special relationship moments

The song didn’t have to be playing in the background during special moments in your relationship; it can fit the feeling of the day you met, the nature of your blind date, or the moment you knew your fiance was the one.

Break the mold

If a sappy love song doesn’t fit who you are as a couple, don’t feel like you have to choose it as your wedding first dance song. Choose what first dance song fits you as a couple and enjoy it. This is your wedding day!

5 BIG Tips for a GREAT Wedding Photo Booth

August 10, 2016UncategorizedMike Urban

Pics of mustaches, feather boas, and well…we can’t talk about some of the photo booth pics we’ve seen. All this could be part of your wedding day if you include a photo booth into your plans for wedding entertainment—but not just any photo booth propped into a corner. Follow these tips for some guaranteed funny pictures from your wedding photo booth.

Think about location.

When you are shopping for wedding venues, or after you’ve chosen the site for your big day, think about where is the best location for your photo booth. Your venue manager may have suggestions. Try to choose a spot where your guests can easily get to, such as next to the dance floor or by the bar (you might get some really, really funny pics there). If you are worried about traffic to the photo booth, make a special sign that directs your guests to your photo booth location, such as on a chalkboard or in flashing lights.

Be wary of a DIY photo booth

With all the wedding bills piling up, we can see how tempting it would be to follow the trend and build your own photo booth. However, don’t jump onto this bandwagon until you’ve considered all the facts:

Price. Is the cost of your DIY photo booth more than the cost of a rental? Contact a photo booth rental company to find out (and ask about package deals to try and save money)
Time. With all that’s going on, do you have time to add one more item to your to-do list? Trust us, the days right before you wedding can be hectic!
Risk. What if something goes wrong with your equipment? Is that cheap camera you picked up really going to come through when you need it?

Choose a reputable photo booth rental company

Don’t rent a photo booth without researching photo booth rental companies. Check out their social media page reviews, and ask for references when you request information.

When you are contacting photo booth companies, ask for information about the photo booth you are interested in (there is more than one type), dependability of the equipment, and any extras included in the photo booth rental (i.e. An Enchanted Evening provides a scrap book and video messaging).

Be prepared for the “just in case.”

Ask your photo booth rental company if they have a back-up plan just in case something goes wrong with the equipment at your event. Break downs do happen, and that’s why it’s important to use a photo booth rental company with back-up equipment for your wedding day.

Have fun with props.

Once you’ve got your photo booth confirmed for your big day, customize your photo booth props (we’ve listed ideas for photo booth props here) with your date or name. Have fun with it, and your guests’ll do the same!

8 Tips That’ll Keep Your Wedding Guests on the Dance Floor

July 26, 2016great wedding dance, reception dance tips, wedding dance tipsMike Urban

A friend of ours recently attended a wedding (that we didn’t deejay!). She came back with a sad report: the activity on the dance floor was way less than stellar, and the bride was in a corner in tears because no one was dancing. If you want to avoid the same wedding reception fate (and tears) use these tips to keep your guests going until their dancing shoes wear out:

Hire the best

In addition to reporting on a crying bride, our friend also gave a full report of an “okay wedding DJ” who wasn’t able to keep the guests dancing at the wedding reception. If you want the best results, hire the best DJ for the job (one that doesn’t regard every wedding as the same); we’ve given you tips on how to select a top-notch wedding DJ for your big day in this blog post. Don’t wait; the best DJ’s calendars fill up quickly.

Create a dance floor that’s not too big and not too small

Be like the fairytale character Goldilocks: a small cramped dance floor is going to repel your wedding guests and so is a huge dance floor that always looks empty. The right dance floor size is dependent upon the amount of guests you are expecting; every guest should need 3-4 square feet for dancing. Remember, not every guest is going to be on your dance floor. Make sure your dance floor is close to drinks so your guests stay hydrated and ready to go.

Give your guests the chance to interact

As appealing as it may be to skip the cost of a DJ or band, don’t underestimate your guests’ need—and the success of the night—on the amount of interaction. As such, hire a professional to create an interactive evening where the guests can request and take an active part in the fun. Give them that chance early; ask your guests for song requests on your invitations—and choose a DJ that can honor those requests.

Get the dancing started

One the best ways to get everyone out on the floor: lead by example. As the bride, groom, or member of the wedding party, head out onto the dance floor—and bring others with you!

Don’t stop the momentum

Schedule accordingly. Once you’ve got your guests dancing, keep them dancing. Try not to interrupt the flow of the evening by doing a cake cutting or other activity that takes them away from the fun.

Be careful what you put on your ‘Do Not Play’ list

Another friend of ours told us about a bride with a looooong list of songs she didn’t want played at her wedding. Her list included some of the most common local dancing songs. When it comes to drafting a play list for your wedding, listen to your DJ. Hire an experienced DJ who can use their experience to draft a play list that gets—and keeps— guests on the dance floor. You don’t want your lengthy ‘do not play’ list to keep everyone from having fun.

Feed them

If you want to keep your guests on the dance floor, give them the fuel to do so. Talk to your caterer about a late night course (including drinks-you don’t want your guests to get dehydrated), order pizzas, or have a food truck pull up for a fun and delicious surprise. If your wedding has a theme, continue your theme by selecting late night food that fits with the theme (i.e. quesadillas for a Mexican-themed night, snow cones for a summer picnic, etc.)

Have fun!

Fun is contagious. Do everything you can to get your guests out on the dance floor, and have fun!

25 Entertainment Ideas That Your Wedding Guests’ll LOVE

July 12, 2016wedding entertainment ideas, wedding reception entertainmentMike Urban

No one wants their wedding to be remembered as the “boring one” with nothing to do—and not all your guests just want to stand around and talk. To ensure that every wedding guest walks away from your event raving about the good time they had at your wedding, use these ideas to keep your guests entertained from dinner until their exit from the wedding reception:

DJ (use these tips to hire the best!)
Band
Wedding video
Coloring books
Yard games
Trivia cards (about the couple)
Photo booth (with these cool photo booth props!)
Entertainers
Photo stand-ins
Wedding-libs (Mad-libs that fit your wedding theme)
Lanterns
Fireworks
Tic tac toe (yard, chalk board, or paper)
Hangman
Flash mob dance
Bowling (indoor or outdoor)
Sidewalk chalk/chalkboard chalk
Sparklers
Corn hole
Ring toss
Chess (large scale-indoor or outdoor)
Interactive food/sweets table
Pool table
Foosball table
Advice station (where guests can give you advice on cute little cards)

Last Minute Wedding Tips That’ll Make Your Big Day Smoother

June 27, 2016last minute wedding tips, wedding planning, week before wedding dayMike Urban

As much fun as it is to dream about your wedding, it’s the days before your wedding that can make those dreams come true. Use these tips to make your fairy tale wedding execution as smooth as the dream wedding you’ve imagined since you were small (or at least since you met your fiancé).

Make sure everything is set with your DJ

If you haven’t already met with your DJ (and you should be worried if you haven’t, the best DJs make sure they meet with their clients well before the wedding), now is the time to confirm your wedding schedules and share what songs you want—and don’t want. Follow these tips to compile the perfect wedding music playlist now, so you don’t have to worry about passing on a page of requests that night (and have fun dancing to your awesome DJ!).

Put together payment & tip envelopes

You don’t want to be writing out checks all day or worrying about where cash for your accompanist is. Put together envelopes with payment and tip money for your vendors, friends, and family that make your day fantastic. As long as we’re talking about showing appreciation, don’t forget to package your wedding attendant gifts as well.

Finish your vows

If you are writing your vows, don’t procrastinate until right before your ceremony. The days before your wedding are stressful enough; you don’t want to have to add worrying about your vows to the list. If you are worried about reciting your vows, find a trusted friend or family member that you can practice with.

Pack for the big day

Make sure you have a bag (or bags) packed with everything you need, such as make up, accessories, and emergency kit (stain fighter and aspirin, anyone?). If you have a separate dress for your reception, ensure that the dress is with a trusted party or in a convenient location for easy changing.

Check, check, and double check

Now is the time to be organized. Set aside time to go through the big day from start to finish, and do a final check with each vendor to make sure every detail is confirmed and ready. Send out a schedule of wedding day events to your wedding party. Contact your caterer about a final head count. Call your wedding venue to make sure every detail is ready. Double check with your ceremony site and anyone providing music or services during the ceremony to make sure you are ready to go.