THE TRUTH

Don't Let Our Present Economic Woes Keep You From Having A Great Wedding!

When times are hard as they are right now, it's difficult to spend any money on a wedding, yet, just because times are tough, it doesn't mean that you can't have a great one.  You just need to prioritize your expenses.  I'm about to tell you the truth about weddings, as I have personally seen them, in my 17 years of DJ'ing weddings.  Here we go!

There are only 4 items that people are going to remember about your wedding, and the next four questions, uppermost in the mind of your guests, could come as a shock to you.  These are the things you should spend your money on:

* How Did The Bride Looked?
Sorry Grooms.  While you might look quite dashing in your Tuxedo, everyone is there to see the Bride, especially all the women in attendance who are eager to see her.  With that in mind, your Hair, Makeup, Wedding Dress and Jewelry (wedding ring, necklace, etc.) play an integral first part on how your wedding will be remembered.

* Did We Have Enough to Drink?
This does not mean that you have to offer free drinks by hosting an open bar all night long.  You don't need to be responsible for someone getting drunk at your wedding and then getting into an accident later on.  The mistake that is normally made is NOT providing a Cash bar, because of that same reason.  Keep in mind that a venue makes lots of money on alcohol and when a wedding doesn't have a Bar, they tack on that lost revenue to their meals.  So, if you offered free soft drinks and perhaps wine during dinner (some venues will allow you to bring your own and add a small corkage fee per bottle), plus a Cash bar for Beer and Cocktails, your guests won't complain that you were skimping on drinks.  And since the guests paid for their hard liquor, they are responsible for their own actions!

* Did We Have Enough to Eat?
Most Weddings don't run on time.  Something always occurs that delay the proceedings and now that you know that fact, there's no reason to stress out should that happen to yours.  Most of the family members, plus a few close friends, usually attend the Wedding Ceremony; the rest of the guests go directly to the Reception's location and wait for you to arrive.  Imagine sitting there, with no food and no drinks (see above).  Minutes seem like hours and the longer the guests wait, the faster they will leave you after dinner!  Providing Hors D'oeuvres, plus the typical Cheese & Crackers and Fruit Bars goes a long way in keeping your guests comfortable while waiting, and could offer some cost savings by allowing you to select a less expensive main entree, since you had all that food at the beginning.  Years ago, locations got wise to Buffets and now their cost is nearly the same as a Sit-down dinner, so there's no savings there if you think a Buffet dinner is the cheapest way to go.  Also, make your Cake the meal's only dessert and that move alone will save you a ton of money!

* Did We Have a Good Time?
Here is where many Brides & Grooms make a fatal mistake: deciding to hire a cheap DJ, due to a lack of money, and this person proceeds to destroy their only chance of making their first steps together, a memorable one.  This is the spot where a professional DJ truly shines and when I say professional, I mean an experienced wedding DJ, who has and will play the music you want... that can engage your guests to enjoy themselves... and that can coordinate their services with the facility's personnel for a smooth and flawless celebration.  After all, isn't your Reception's party the time to celebrate your marriage and have fun?  Keep in mind that you won't have the chance to do it over, if it all goes bad.

You might be asking yourself: what about the rest?  Where do invitations, flowers, favors, location, etc., and other wedding vendors come in?  Those are all Bride & Groom's "wants" not "needs."  It doesn't matter if you splurged on the most expensive invitations, freshest flowers, delicious favors, gorgeous location, beautiful pictures and/or video, etc., because if any of the above 4 questions are not answered satisfactorily in your guests' mind, they'll recall your wedding as not being a good one.

Of course, I'm biased toward having a good time because I feel that's the icing on the cake of a great party.  If I strive to do the best job I can for my customers, they, and their guests, will remember that occasion forever.  I'm always honored when our clients tout my DJ services to others, years after their weddings have passed.  Do yourselves a favor and hire a professional!

In any case, now you know the truth about weddings and I hope that you wisely spend your money, in the things that family and guests will remember the most!