Small Weddings Still Need DJs

It’s no secret that smaller guest counts are popular and, in some instances, necessary.

“In regards to the COVID era, smaller guest counts can potentially allow for better social distancing if you wish to go mask-less and provide a more comfortable environment for all guests (depending on venue and municipal regulations of course!). Weddings were already starting to trend toward smaller but more elaborate, whether that be better take-away items for your guests, extra outings or family events for the wedding weekend, or just more luxurious touches for the day of, so this is very on-trend anyway!” – Bonny Bailey-Finck, P.S. I Love You Productions

It’s true that this trend started before COVID restrictions were introduced.  As of February of 2020- the average wedding had 124 guests.  According to The Knot 2019 Real Weddings Study, the average wedding size was 131.  In 2017/2018, the number floated at 136.

Another fad is the “micro wedding”.  A micro wedding is an intimate event, characteristically with 50 or fewer guests. They still feature customary traditions,  but on a much smaller scale.

A common misconception when planning a smaller event is that music entertainment will not be necessary.  “You might think that because you only have 20 people coming, that you don’t need a sound system anymore, and you really don’t need a DJ/MC  to make announcements or handle the music, you can just put on a playlist and be done. You also may think that because the festivities are now in your grandparents’ backyard, that it’s a lot easier than a regular venue for your vendors”, says Our Rocks DJ Company.  “While as DJs, we may not need a subwoofer to feel the boom on the dance floor, not much changes in what we do as Wedding DJs…special songs, any announcements, to little things like who is toasting and if there’s a blessing.”

This brings us to our reasons why small weddings still need DJs-

The music portion takes more planning and preparation than you may think.

• On average, it takes a DJ three hours for equipment set-up.
• It takes five hours to compile a playlist.
• A DJ will spend around 20-25 hours of organizing before an event, including preparing all the specialty music, meetings, organizing the final details, and communicating with the client and other vendors.
• Your wedding ceremony is going to have, on average, between 6 and 17 ‘cues’, which are specific moments that need to have specific music accompanying them.
• Your average ceremony will take around 1 – 3 hours to prepare for, not including your wedding prelude music (the music that’s playing when guests arrive, before the ceremony itself starts).

(Read More: https://bestdjmpls.com/2019/08/09/the-impact-of-a-dj/)

You shouldn’t assign yourself the role of a DJ as well as the host and the bride or groom.  Dedicate your time to soaking in the day and enjoying every moment, not working at it.  Take the stress out of the process by hiring a professional.  “Narrowing the (guest)  list means more (of the budget) can be allocated to the choosing of any DJ you like,” Says Misty Damico, Wedding Planner.  Find the DJ that best suits your style and personality.

The Entertainment  Leaves The Biggest Impression

• According to Modern Bride Magazine, only 4-6% of a bride’s budget is allocated for entertainment. HOWEVER, twice the number of guests remembered the entertainment choice above any other aspect of the reception.
• “The music entertainment that you select for your wedding or party is responsible for 80% of the events’ success and the memories you will have for the rest of your life.”- Martha Stewart
• 63% of wedding guests cannot recollect what was served for dinner, but they CAN remember the entertainment. –Modern Bride Magazine
• According to Modern Bride Magazine, After the wedding reception, 72% of brides reported that they should have spent more time selecting their reception entertainment.
• When asked, 81% of guests say the one thing they remember most about a wedding is the entertainment. -St. Louis Bride & Groom Magazine

“The three things to have at all weddings, regardless of size, are great food, music, and alcohol!” says Jove Meyer, Owner & Creative Director of Jove Meyer Events. “Weddings are celebrations, and people love to come together to share a meal and dance, so these three items are a must. Food is the base, alcohol loosens everyone up, and dancing makes it fun!”

Take these reviews, for example:

“We had a small wedding (55 guests) at the Bakken Museum this summer. We we’re nervous about the DJ searching process because we wanted to find a DJ that understood the scale, setting and mood of our wedding. Niki and Ran both assured us that they love doing both small and large events. They had a small event package that worked perfectly for our wedding and we received so many compliments from our guests about the music selection A Ran played throughout the evening. I was most nervous about the dancing part of our reception and worried that none of our guests would want to get out on the dance floor. Thanks to the encouragement they received from Niki and Ran and the awesome music they chose, our guests danced the night away!” -Jae M.

A Ran Music Service was very great at making our wedding day go smoothly! They were able to seamlessly transition from playing music cues in an outdoor ceremony, along with mixing live music, to having music for the reception and dance! Overall, they displayed professionalism and commitment to excellence throughout the whole day!- Peter K.

“We are so happy that we picked A Ran for our wedding. From the moment that we met them, we knew they were the right choice. Our friends and family are still talking about how unique and personalized they made our wedding day; from the music that was played during the ceremony, to our first dance, to the last dance of the night and everything in between.  We can’t thank them enough for helping us make our day amazing.” -Travis and Jeanne M.

Let us ensure that the day runs smoothly, the ambience is exactly what you desire, and each and every guest is celebrating and making memories with you.  Never underestimate the impact of music.  “A truly great DJ, just for a moment, can make a whole room fall in love.  Because DJing is not about choosing a few tunes.  It is about generating shared moods; it’s about understanding the feelings of a group of people and directing them to a better place…”- Author unknown

 

Featured Photo: Summit Manor, #elopeinstpaul #summit manor