Once the band or DJ kicks things into high gear, you envision your guests having a blast out on the dance floor. It may seem like this is the part of the evening where things are less structured – the champagne is flowing and you are moving and shaking to Brown Eyed Girl with all of your favorite people. But I want to throw a little advice your way about a very important person – the emcee. Whether band or DJ, when interviewing your musical choice, please ask about their emcee abilities.

Once dinner starts, there are a number of special moments that happen – the wedding party announcements, the speeches, the first dance, parent dances, the cake cutting, the bouquet and garter toss, and sometimes the Bride and Groom send off. How will your guests know that a transition is being made from one moment to the next? How will they know to get those cameras ready for when you take your moment on the dance floor as husband and wife for the first time?

Michelle Wells Photography

This is where the emcee comes in. Finding a band leader or DJ who can command a presence in front of 10o+ people without taking the limelight away from the Bride and Groom is talent! Correct name pronunciation, timing, and being likable and suave without using the baseball announcer voice or being Mr. Big Shot is a skill. Let me jump back to timing. It is true – timing is everything! Depending on when and where throughout your reception you have speeches, for example, are different speech givers aligned with certain courses? Or is the First Dance immediately after your Bridal Party announcement? Timing is huge – and when planners and emcees collaborate it makes these special wedding moments simply flawless!

Here’s a little tip, Denon and Doyle, one of my FAVORITE DJ companies in the Bay Area every few months has a Showcase where you can watch different DJs perform. This way you can get a taste for each one’s personality and style under “wedding like conditions”. I have had so many Brides and Grooms thank me for sharing this tip with them! Good Luck!