Category: Informational

How to: An Inclusive Wedding Reception

A wedding reception works when every guest in the room feels like it was actually built with them in mind, not just the couple at the head table. That takes real planning, not a generic playlist and a hope for the best.

Music is where this shows up first. I build sets that blend genres, generations, and cultural touchstones instead of defaulting to one crowd’s favorites, and I ask upfront about anything that shouldn’t be played, whether that’s language, a specific song tied to a hard memory, or a genre that just won’t land with your guests. The same thinking extends past the dance floor: food and décor that respectfully reflect real family and cultural traditions matter as much as the music does.

Accessibility is part of this too, and it’s easy to overlook until it’s too late. A venue with real mobility access, dietary options that actually account for allergies and restrictions, clear signage, and a dance floor that isn’t built around one narrow age range or one style of music: those are the details that decide whether every guest can actually participate, not just watch from the side.

None of this is a checklist I run through once and forget. It’s the same planning conversation I have with every couple, adjusted for who’s actually going to be in the room.
Here are some helpful resources:

1. Resource for curating diverse and respectful playlists
How to Choose Inclusive Music for Your Wedding – Brides.com

2. Guide for making weddings more accessible for all guests
Tips for Planning an Accessible Wedding – Offbeat Bride

3. Directory for inclusive wedding vendors
Equally Wed LGBTQ+ Inclusive Vendor Directory – Equally Wed

4. Inspiration for honoring different cultures
Wedding Traditions From Around the World – The Knot

5. Tips for inclusive and allergy-aware menu planning
Planning an Allergy-Friendly Wedding Menu – Martha Stewart Weddings

Other Helpful Links:

1. See what a wedding with me actually looks like

2. Check my availability for your date

3. Read more about how I approach weddings

4. More wedding planning notes on the blog

5. See what past couples have said

April 11, 2025
Your Guide to Choosing the Best Wedding DJ for Your Special Day

Introduction

Choosing a wedding DJ is one of those decisions that quietly shapes how the whole night feels, whether anyone ever mentions the DJ by name or not. Here’s what I’d actually tell a couple to look at, not a list built around search terms.

1. Start With Real Referrals, Not Just a Search

Don’t just search “wedding DJ near me” and book whoever shows up first. Ask your planner or your venue’s coordinator who they’ve actually seen work a room. They’ve watched dozens of DJs up close, and most will tell you the truth if you ask directly.

2. Read the Actual Reviews, Not Just the Star Rating

A star rating tells you almost nothing. Read the text. Does it describe specific moments, or does it read like it could be about any DJ in any city? Vague reviews are worth noticing as much as bad ones.

3. Ask About Experience With Your Specific Kind of Event

A DJ who’s mostly worked school dances isn’t automatically wrong for your wedding, but ask directly how many weddings they’ve run, and in what kind of venues. Ballroom experience doesn’t automatically transfer to an outdoor ceremony with wind and a hard sunset cutoff.

4. Ask How They Handle a Mixed Crowd

Ask how they’d handle a reception where your grandparents and your college friends are on the same dance floor at the same time. A good answer is specific: reading the room and adjusting in real time, not a pre-built playlist they run start to finish no matter who’s actually there.

5. Ask About Equipment and Backup Plans

Ask what happens if a speaker fails mid-reception. A professional has backup gear on-site, not a plan to drive to a store. This is also where cheap and expensive DJs genuinely differ: professional-grade sound and lighting cost real money, and it shows on the day.

6. Look for a Real Planning Conversation, Not Just a Form

If the only interaction before your wedding is filling out an online form, take that as a signal. The DJs worth hiring want an actual conversation: what matters to you, what doesn’t, and what should never get played.

7. Watch How They Handle a Room, Not Just a Playlist

Ask how a DJ reads a crowd and adjusts on the fly, instead of running through a pre-set list and hoping it lands. That instinct, not the size of their speaker stack, is the actual skill that separates a real DJ from someone with a laptop and a streaming account.

8. Ask Who’s Actually Running Your Timeline

The best wedding DJs are also the ones cueing your reception’s timeline: toasts, entrances, the first dance, and the transitions between all of it. Ask directly whether that’s part of what they do, or whether that gets left to you or your planner to manage alone.

Conclusion

Choosing a wedding DJ comes down to one real question: do they treat your day like an event worth planning for, or like a gig to show up to. Ask the questions above upfront, and you’ll know the answer before you ever sign a contract.

August 15, 2023
Secret things you had no idea your wedding DJ should be doing

Is your wedding DJ just a DJ?.

Many years ago the wedding DJ was nothing more than a source for music when people couldn’t afford a live band. Oh how times have changed.

Keeps your reception flowing seamlessly

While your wedding planner or venue event manager may help you nail down initial details and a general day-of timeline, it is your Master of Ceremonies that coordinates all of the finer details such as what events will happen, in what order, and how each piece will be set up and transitions between such. Think of a wedding planner as a producer of a film . . . they help choose the location, the talent, the caterer and so on. Your Master of Ceremonies is like the Director. They are the ones in charge once it’s time for lights, camera, action.

Not all wedding DJ’s are created equally

Chances are you know who Kobe Bryant is. While most people can toss a basketball at a hoop, not many can do it like him. So just because two people can do “the same thing” doesn’t mean that they get the same results. Agreed? How things are done matter just as much as what is being done. Is your wedding DJ a true professional Master of Ceremonies?

Puts wear and tear on thousands and thousands of dollars worth of their own equipment for your special day

I will leave out my opinions on this brand .vs that brand but regardless of the equipment your DJ brings, if it’s professional grade then chances are that they are bringing over $10k worth of hardware to your event.

Your DJ is usually the first one to show up and the last one to leave

All that gear we just talked about needs to be carefully transported, loaded in, set up and tested before your event gets under way which usually takes hours. Then after the last song is played and your guests are on their way home thinking about what a great time they just had, your DJ is taking everything down, gently packing it all away, and transporting it back home, By the time your DJ leaves the venue chances are that your wedding planner, photographer, cake maker, florist etc. have all been sound asleep for some time.

Meticulously plans the finer details of your day

There is no such thing as being over prepared, and a true professional will spend hours and hours experimenting with different ideas, playing out would be scenarios, communicating with you and your other vendors so that your event is tailored just right for you, your new spouse, and all of your closest friends and family. I average countless hours of planning and preparing for each wedding I perform at.

Covers up mistakes

Often without anyone noticing at all. If your caterer or kitchen is running late with the food, your DJ can switch up the music somewhat or even introduce a fun game or activity if your guests are becoming antsy or hangry. Nobody else can cover that up for you. Missing bouquets for the toss, cutlery for cake cutting, father of the bride going MIA right before the father daughter dance? All of those scenarios happen and could cause your event to spiral downward quickly but a good DJ/MC will be able to remedy those situations without skipping a beat.

Oh yeah, dancing

A wedding reception is often full of people spanning multiple generations, cultures and ethnic backgrounds. This is NOT the ideal environment for a DJ. When we go to our favorite night clubs, we know what kind of music we are getting and those in attendance all have an interest in that type of music, so keeping a dance floor packed with 500 people in a night club is pretty easy. Try playing for a group of only about 50 people spanning from their early 20’s to their late 70’s in age. Keeping everyone entertained, engaged and excited takes real talent and skill.

These are just a few of the things that I have picked up along my journey. Thank’s for reading!

January 30, 2020
Tip: How To Choose a Mobile DJ for your event

Let’s be honest, even though your wedding day is all about you and your new husband or wife, the quality of that day and the memories that you and your guests take with you are in the hands of the DJ.
Did you chose your flower arrangement without looking at samples from your florist? Would you choose your cake maker or caterer without first doing a taste test? Or better yet, would you buy your dress or rent your tuxedo without trying them on? Of course not! Then why in the world would you chose a DJ without asking for an audition?
Any DJ that’s worth having will be willing to audition for you, show you their gear, and give you a sound sample. If they aren’t willing to do this, ask yourself, or better yet, ask them “why not“? Are they cutting corners on music or equipmemt? What else will they cut corners on? The DJ and their equipment will be the main sight and sound focal points of the evening and will be representing you on your big day. Wouldn’t it be nice to see and hear what they have to offer? What if that Tucson wedding DJ was great on the phone, nice in person, then when you walk into your wedding reception venue you see this . . . .

Yikes!!

In today’s world, technology has made it easier than ever for joe blow to pose as a DJ. Music is readily available almost everywhere, and cheap sound systems are a dime a dozen. Because of this, hobbyists buy some equipment and have driven the average price of wedding dj services down like crazy but because they have invested a little time and money they call themselves DJ’s or Dee Jays (DJ stands for disk jockey guys, if the call themselves a Dee Jay, well that’s another rant for another day) when really, they are just a guy with a music library and a couple of lights and speakers. Last I checked, just because I can go to the store and buy some tools doesn’t mean I have the right to call myself a mechanic, no more than buying some pots and pans gives me the right to call myself a chef. Well guess what, that’s what many “DJ’s” are doing these days.

Cheaper isn’t always better!

If the success of your day means anything to you, you should want to interview and audition your DJ. This will go much further than looking at a picture library because even though I can show you a picture of a Rolls Royce doesn’t mean that I have one. A DJ is an entertainer, not just a person that shows up to manage a list of songs. That’s what an mp3 player is for. A meeting or consultation is ok, but an audition is better. See and hear what you are about to pay for before you make a decision. Ask the DJ what they will do to prepare for your event. Ask him what his plan is incase there is a power outage, or if his computer malfunctions, etc. You will be glad you did. for live events like yours, there are no do overs. Know what you’re getting, and hire someone that will represent you well.

April 26, 2016