Category Archives: wedding reception dj chicago il

couple at wedding reception in chicago

First Steps of Planning an Awesome Wedding Reception in Chicago

There are many steps of planning a wedding reception in Chicago (that’s why there is a long wedding planning checklist), and it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Where do you start planning?

The very first step of planning is to think about what you and your fiancé want at your wedding reception. Discuss these key wedding planning details:

  • what your style as a couple is,
  • where you want to hold your wedding reception (and whether you want an indoor or outdoor reception),
  • the right wedding date (or season),
  • your budget (with this wedding budget worksheet) and how you plan to pay for it,
  • how many guests,
  • anything else you really want at your reception.

Then, it’s time to jump into the first steps of planning a wedding reception in Chicago.

Location

Once you’ve decided to hold your wedding reception in Chicago, start sorting through this list of wedding venues in Chicago. (Use other couple’s reviews and information on wedding review sites like The Knot and Wedding Wire for references.) Look for wedding venues in your favorite location with your preferred style and guest capacity. Then, contact each wedding venue and ask for information about their availability, cost (what is included), cancellation policy, parking, local accommodations for other guests, and other key details. (Use this list of wedding venue questions to assist you with your search.)

Once you’ve got a “short list” of possible wedding venues, it’s time to set up tours with potential venues. You should never book a venue without seeing it in person and making sure it is the “one.” When you’ve found the perfect backdrop, ask to see their contract and review it carefully. If the fine print is acceptable, return the signed contract as soon as possible and move on to the next step in planning your awesome wedding reception.

Food

Once you’ve chosen the right location, it’s time to start thinking about refreshments. Even if you’re hosting a wedding reception in Chicago during a non-traditional time (such as in the afternoon or morning), it’s still a good idea to have light refreshments and drinks to keep guests fueled and comfortable. For a more traditional wedding, you should expect to provide hors d’vours during cocktail hour, a meal, and a late night course that keeps guests dancing.

Depending on the size of the reception, you can plan to make your own food or hire a professional. If you’re hiring a caterer, research Chicago caterers online or ask a trusted friend or family member for a recommendation. Just like with venues, make a “short list” and contact them with caterer questions. Many wedding caterers offer tastings where couples can sample dishes so they know what to expect on their big day.

Entertainment

The third major detail of a wedding reception in Chicago is entertainment. Do you want a band, wedding DJ, or to play your own wedding play list? If you decide on a band or wedding DJ, start researching your options and looking for recommendations and reviews. The next step is to contact potential entertainers with a list of questions (such as these wedding DJ questions). You can also make your decision using these pros and cons of band versus wedding DJ.

Once you’ve got your list narrowed down to a few, don’t hesitate to ask for videos, references, or schedule a meeting to hear more about their services. Be careful if you experience any of these red flags as you search for the right wedding entertainment professional. When you think you’ve found the right wedding entertainer, always review the contract before signing on the dotted line. While planning a wedding may take a lot of time and effort, remember to keep your eye on the prize: an awesome wedding reception and celebration.

newlyweds dancing to wedding first dance song at wedding reception

How to Choose the Perfect First Dance Song

Your first dance at your wedding is a special moment for the two of you, which is why it’s so important to choose the perfect first dance song.

Ways to Choose the Right Song

The good news is that it’s easy and fun to choose the perfect first dance song. After all, it’s fairly easy to listen to songs until you find the “one.” The bad news is that there are a TON of songs to choose from. But don’t stress. We’ve got a list of ways to inspire and spur your search for the right first dance song. (Don’t be afraid to ask your wedding DJ for ideas too.)

Choose a special song from your relationship

The song that was playing the night you met. A song that you both love to listen to together. The song that was playing when you said “I love you” or when you proposed. A song from a concert you were at together. Think back to those special moments, and don’t get discouraged if the song doesn’t have the right tempo for your first dance. Instead, look for other versions of the song online or ask a very musically gifted friend if they can record an instrumental version for you.

Ask a treasured friend or family for their first dance song

If you want your first dance to be a nod to a special couple, ask them if you can use their first dance song at your wedding. This could be a first dance song from your parents, grandparents, or close friends. Or for a twist, use an updated version of their song.

Select a song from your favorite era

Do you both love a particular era? Or is your wedding a vintage affair? If so, a hit song from another era may be the perfect first dance song for you—and it’ll be tons of fun finding it! Pull out your a-tracks or head to the internet to find a special throwback song that you both love.

Look for a song that speaks to a common interest

Your differences and commonalities brough you together, so why shouldn’t they play a part when you choose the perfect first dance song? Look for a thread that ties you together, such as a favorite music genre, activity, or dance you both love. If you don’t want a super-common song that everyone uses, look for a song online from a favorite group or do a search by topic.

How to Add Spice to Your First Dance

For a wedding first dance as unique as your song, use these tips to spice up your first dance.

Practice, practice, practice

If you want to pair a traditional dance with a modern song, head to a local dance studio for dance lessons. Make sure you choose a traditional dance that works with the music, and have fun.

Choreograph a routine

A choreographed routine is a bit more complicated, but definitely scores higher in the wow factor category. If you need inspiration, search online for videos of newlyweds that went over-the-top with a choreographed wedding first dance.

Get your wedding party in on the fun

If you want to create more of a flash mob effect, ask your wedding party if they want to get in on the fun. This is an idea with ton of possibilities, such as starting with a slow dance until your wedding party “crashes” with a fast song. Get your wedding DJ in on the fun. They can come up with cool song suggestions and build up to the moment. (Don’t forget to tell your photographer and videographer so they can get the dance on film!)

Add a confetti or balloon drop

Another way to make a wedding first dance momentous is to add an effect to the dance. This can be a surprise appearance by a celebrity or a confetti or balloon drop. Fortunately, there are tons of ways to surprise guests during the wedding reception; this is your chance to make your wedding first dance completely and truly your own.

couple on dance floor doing order of dances at wedding reception

Order of Dances at Wedding Reception (and How to Spice Them Up!)

Many couples ask about the order of dances at a wedding reception, but the real question is how to take a wedding reception to the next level. You can find the answer to both questions in this post about wedding reception dances.

Wedding Reception Dance Order

The traditional order of dances at a wedding reception is typically:

  • Introduction of Newlyweds
  • Newlyweds’ First Dance
  • Father-Daughter & Mother-Son (Or Parent-Child)
  • Wedding Party Introduction & Dance
  • Guest Dances

As important as traditional dances are, remember to allow for plenty of guest time on the dance floor. (A good Chicago wedding DJ knows exactly how to do this! Learn more about hiring a wedding DJ and wedding DJ costs in these posts.)

Tips for Making the Wedding Reception Better (More Fun!)

If you want to make your wedding dances—and reception—more fun, use these tips for making the event even more memorable.

Get an awesome Chicago wedding DJ.

A quality wedding DJ does more than just play wedding reception music. An excellent DJ entertains guests, keeps them on the dance floor, and customizes their play list to fit the couple’s tastes. It’s not always easy to find the best, but couples can use this step-by-step guide for finding and hiring a wedding DJ, wedding review sites, and a list of wedding DJ questions to find the “one” that’ll make the reception an awesome experience for everyone.

Plan a surprise—and keep it a secret!

A wedding surprise is a great way to make the reception memorable. There are a number of ways to surprise guests (i.e. arrival of a celebrity or mascot, choreographed first dance, confetti drop, fireworks, etc.), but the key is to keep it a secret! While you shouldn’t tell anyone else, make sure you tell the wedding DJ (and photographer or videographer) so they can make the surprise part of events and play it up.

Consider adding games to the order of events.

Wedding dance floor games are a hoot, especially when they are personalized to the couple. Wedding reception games like the shoe game are a huge hoot. Quieter games, like a table trivia, can be just as entertaining—especially when you include the wedding DJ in the fun.

Make your first dance memorable.

Your first dance can be a flashy dance, a hilarious routine, or a big ensemble with a flash mob. Whatever you want, this is your chance to make your first dance especially you! For a traditional, elegant dance, schedule wonderful dance lessons where you can bond and learn together. If you want to add a touch of comedy, choose a fun first wedding dance and add your own flair to the routine. You can also ask your wedding DJ for suggestions. An experienced wedding DJ can give you ideas that you can customize for your special day.

Think about making your parent-child even better.

If your parent is up to it, a memorable father-daughter or mother-son dance is a great way to surprise guests and make the reception even better. The “big” dance can be a choreographed routine, a dance with personalized touches, or even a special song that means a lot to both you and your parent. (Find more parent-child dance ideas here.)

Add other entertainment to the reception.

While a rocking wedding reception can be tons of fun, it may not be everyone’s idea of a good time. Consider adding a photo booth for extra photos, table trivia games, yard games, and other fun touches to make the evening enjoyable for everyone.

wedding dance floor with guests dancing to wedding theme songs

Your Guide to Hiring the Best Chicago Wedding DJ

For any couple drafting a wedding budget, the cost of a DJ may the top question, but it shouldn’t be the only question. Here’s a few more questions you should ask when finding the right wedding DJ—and the answers that connect you to the best Chicago wedding DJ for your special day.

What is included in a Chicago wedding DJ price?

Before you start finding and researching wedding DJs, it makes cents (pun intended) to understand what should be included in your wedding DJ’s price. Note the “should be.” All of these factors play an important part in providing quality wedding DJ services, but may not always be offered by an amateur DJ:

  • Experienced DJ (and a back-up experienced DJ, in case of emergency)
  • Equipment (and back-up reliable equipment, in case of breakdown)
  • Insurance
  • Play List
  • Time

When should I book my Chicago wedding DJ?

According to the Real Simple Wedding Planning Checklist, you should hire a wedding DJ at least a year before your wedding day—but there’s nothing wrong to being ahead of the crowd. The best Chicago wedding DJs’ calendars fill up quickly, so you should start researching wedding DJs and interviewing them once you’ve confirmed the major details (i.e. venue, caterer, etc.)

How do I research a wedding DJ?

Before you hire a wedding DJ, research local wedding DJs to ensure you are getting a high-quality, reliable professional for your big day. You can research wedding DJs on third-party sites, such as The Knot, Wedding Wire, and even social media. These are great places to read through reviews and get insight into the services of local wedding DJ.

Once you’ve done the research, it’s time to interview the top wedding DJs on your list. Ask every wedding DJ about their availability, how long they’ve been in business, their cost (and the length of time included in the cost), if they have back-up equipment and staffing, and a few other important wedding DJ questions.

How long should I book a wedding DJ?

A wedding reception typically lasts for 4-6 hours, and a wedding DJ is typically present for most of that time (especially when providing cocktail hour and dinner music). Some DJs do charge overtime fees for any extra time (ask the wedding DJ about this when contacting them), while other wedding DJs offer an unlimited package without any time constraints.

What other services do wedding DJs provide?

Some DJs offer “extras” that put a wedding reception over the top, such as photobooths and lighting. Many time these services can be included in the wedding DJ package, making these extras extra budget-friendly.

Wedding Reception Dance Planning Checklist

collage of pictures from epic wedding dancePlanning a big wedding dance party comes with a million decisions—and, luckily, a guide to get you the wedding reception of your dreams! This step-by-step guide can take you from the first wedding reception idea to dancing the night away with all your friends.

___Select a wedding date.

___Set a budget. (Tip: use this wedding budget worksheet.)

___Decide on a desired wedding atmosphere.

___Choose a wedding venue. (Tip: if an epic late-night dance is a priority, ask the venue planners about curfew times and volume limitations.)

___If the venue is outside, make a plan B in case of inclement weather. (Tip: if the dance is outside, make sure the venue meets your band or DJ’s electrical needs.)

___Set a timeline for the wedding reception and program (i.e. toasts, dinner, dance moments, etc.) (Tip: customize this sample wedding reception timeline and share with key vendors, such as the entertainer and photographer.)

___Choose the best wedding music entertainment: band or DJ. (Tip: When interviewing DJs, ask them these questions to weed out the sub-par DJs. A good DJ uses a custom play list that fits with the couple’s style.)

___Sign a contract with a quality band or DJ. (Tip: use these tips for navigating through the fine print.)

___Draft a venue layout with spots for the cake, interactive tables or tasting stations, and strategically-placed entertainment. (Tip: to keep the dance floor packed, plan for a beverage table or bar near the dancing.)

___Book other entertainment, such as a photobooth or one of these other fun wedding entertainment ideas.

___Plan out the logistics and location of any interactive tables or tasting stations.

___Set a wedding menu play list and coordinate important details (i.e. announcements, wedding party pronunciations, etc). (Tip: to avoid any songs that make you cringe, choose a wedding DJ who honors your ‘Do not play’ list.)

___Choose dinner & cocktail background music (Tip: if you don’t have major preferences AND trust your DJ, ask the DJ to choose songs.)

___Select songs for the traditional wedding reception dances (if included in the reception).

  • ___ Wedding party entrance music
  • ___ First dance
  • ___ Father-daughter dance
  • ___ Mother-son dance
  • ___ Bouquet & garter toss songs
  • ___ Dance songs

____Plan surprises if you want to add them to the wedding reception. (Tip: use this list of wedding reception surprises for inspiration and don’t forget to include your DJ in on the fun.)

___Purchase favors that fit with atmosphere.

___Enjoy!