The DJ Guy

Wedding at Laurel Manor today

2012-02-11T18:32:00.001-08:00

Congrats Ron & Cheryl

2011 Picture Review (Part 1)

2012-01-16T12:20:00.000-08:00

Not too many weddings take place this time of the year, so over the next few weeks I'll be posting some pictures from various weddings I did last year. Not all of them were complete enough to do a full review so I'll be posting images from several weddings and other various events here over the next week.

These pictures are from the Inn at St. John's in Plymouth. I've been there on several occasions and I've always been in the atrium. I was surprised to learn that they have several rooms there and this was one of them. Very nice room and elegantly decorated. This was from this past New Year's Eve.

These are from a small company Holiday Party I did at Crystal Gardens in Howell. They had quite a few activities at this party... Photo Booth, Flip Book and of course, The DJ Guy.

I did a few of my friends weddings this year as well. Here's some pictures Veteran's Day at Laurel Manor in Livonia. Don and Jessica both spent a lot of time in Iraq over the past few years and I can't think of a better day for them to tie the knot than Veteran's Day (11/11/11).

David's Bridal Spray Paints Dresses!

2012-01-03T09:00:00.000-08:00

Priscilla of Boston Wedding Dresses Destroyed in Dumpster: MyFoxTWINCITIES.com

This company is eating the cost of all these wedding dresses... guess how they make up for it? Yup, higher prices, passed on to the consumer.

Remember that when you shop for a wedding DJ. The DJ Guy does NOT do bridal shows. Why? They cost anywhere from $500 to $2000! The cost is passed on to the consumer. The bridal show is a high pressure sales pitch with little to no time spent with the bride to be and "special-one-day-only" price, which is actually a marked up, then discounted price. The DJ Guy does NOT play this game!!!

Call to setup a personalized appointment to book your event at everyday low prices for a multi-award winning DJ.

And if you need a dress, check out my last post for one that won't cost you an arm and a leg!

A wedding dress for under $300???

2011-12-28T11:13:00.000-08:00

Lets face it, these days a lot of people are on a budget. Second marriages, job loss and inflation have a lot of people cutting back. This isn't for everyone, but if the budget is tight...

What if you could find a dress for under $300?

One of the websites I frequent regularly sells wedding dresses. I'm not a fashionista by any means, but they look like a lot of the dresses I see at weddings every week.

I don't know about the quality or sizes, but I do know these are very inexpensive. I've purchased some electronic gadgets from them and the quality is usually pretty good on their products. The shipping time varies from less than a week to 3 weeks depending on where it's coming from. You'll most likely need to hire a local tailor to do any alterations so factor that into the cost.

If you do order one from them, please let me know what you think. Good luck and I hope this helps some of you!

Here's the link:

http://www.meritline.com/newsearch.aspx?subcategory=Dresses+for+Her%3EWedding+Dresses&SearchTerm=wedding+dress

The DJ Guy is the Best in Howell!

2011-12-13T13:36:00.000-08:00

The DJ Guy is the winner of the 2011 Best of Howell

Award by the US Commerce Association!

Call us now for all your entertainment needs!

The DJ Guy specializes in:

Weddings, Birthdays, Karaoke, Anniversaries, School Events and Dances,

Corporate Events, Bar/Bat mitzvahs, Athletic and Pageant Competitions,

Games Show Nights, Bar Nights and much more!

From Weddings to the Holidays...

2011-12-01T09:54:00.001-08:00

The 2011 wedding season is over and it's time to shift into the Holiday Spirit. This past November was the busiest I've ever had. Not one weekend went by without a wedding, birthday, anniversary or reunion.

Now that we're into December, it's time to cue up the Christmas songs and spread a little Holiday cheer. This weekend I'm kicking it off with two Holiday parties. If you or a company you know or work for is looking to have a Holiday party, give me a call and I'll be happy to get them a quote. Karaoke is available for all events too!

Need a Videographer?

2011-11-05T10:03:00.000-07:00

Last week, I had the privilege of working with an amazing videographer. Normally, I wouldn't suggest a videographer unless you didn't have a good friend with a video camera, as hiring one can be a big expense.

Craig Butler of Freakin' Awesome Photography and Videography did the impossible... He took video from the entire day's events (the bride's makeup and hairdresser, the guys waking up and trying to get ready in one small house, the ride to the ceremony, the photo shoot all around various Detroit landmarks and finally the grand entrance at the hall). Then some how, he edited this down into a brilliant high quality production during dinner and played the 8 minute feature (complete with music) on a big screen right after dinner!!!

Video editing is very time consuming and can take days to do, what he some how put together in just 45 minutes. If you want an emotional, funny and moving short film to play at your reception, give Craig a call or check out his website.

Craig Butler 734-560-3115 www.craigdavidbutler.com

Need to see his work? Here's what I saw... (that's me announcing them, but I don't think his mic picked up the sound that well)

Chris & Amber - Wedding Video Same Day Edit - Andiamo Warren, St. James Michigan from Craig David Butler on Vimeo.

Halloween Party!

2011-10-20T10:05:00.000-07:00

Come on out to Bennigans in Howell on Friday, Oct 28th for another great Halloween Party. The fun starts at 9 PM and goes until 2 AM. There will be food and drink specials all night long ($2 drafts I believe). There's also a costume contest with prizes! This year, it's all indoors (no tent), but there will be a hardwood dance floor (and no tables or chairs) in the section I normally DJ in every Thursday night.

Hope to see some familiar faces that night!

Zurecki Wedding - a reunion of sorts and a total blast!

2011-09-12T10:33:00.000-07:00

So last year, when an old friend from my days of going to the club and DJing at various clubs in Detroit and Ann Arbor approached me about doing his wedding, I was not only excited, but honored that he picked me. Jason (or JZ as we all called him), is good friends with several of the DJs that used to work at the clubs. As it turns out, there were several of them in attendance at the wedding and even a few in the bridal party.

I don't normally travel out to Shelby Township that often, so I'm not doing a full blown review on the venue. I will say that it was beautiful, the food was excellent and other than some conflicts with the adolescent valet kids, the services were top notch. The name of the venue is Cherry Creek Golf Club and it's located near 24 mile and Van Dyke.

Jason and his beautiful new wife, Elisa

What a great toast by the "dude of honor"!

First dance: Peter Gabriel - In Your Eyes

Bridal Party Dance: Depeche Mode - Enjoy the Silence

It was good seeing a LOT of old friends. This is possibly the most fun I've had working a wedding in a LONG time. Some of the night's songs included: Sisters of Mercy - Temple of Love, Dead Can Dance - The Ubiquitous Mr. Lovegrove, Assemblage 23 - Let Me Be Your Armor, Iris - Annie, Would I Lie To You, Covenant - Dead Stars, Apoptygma Berzerk - Kathy's Song and so many more!

Congratulations Jason & Elisa!

Venue Reviews are BACK! - American Spirit Center, Brighton, MI

2011-08-14T18:07:00.000-07:00

So you're probably all wondering "what happened to the venue reviews?" Summer is prime wedding season and just this past weekend I hit a milestone by having three weddings all at the same time. Myself, DJ Travis and DJ Dizzy (on loan from my friend's DJ company) all had extremely successful wedding receptions.

Today I volunteered my services at a benefit for a 13 year old girl with brain cancer. More on that in the next blog post.

Needless to say, it's been very busy and I'm finally catching up. So here it is... The American Spirit Center.

You might think a VFW hall wouldn't be so nice and usually "trashy, not classy" is what comes to mind. Well, let me tell you... you've never been to The American Spirit Center in Brighton, MI.

From The main entrance, you can tell, this isn't your typical VFW hall.

My wife and I had OUR reception here 5 years ago. It's gotten even nicer since then! I was surprised to see some minor updates to aging light fixtures and the obnoxious wall mount TVs (used for bingo) are now covered in boxes that look like wedding presents (a nice way to hide something that isn't going away).

Table and chair decor are up the client. In this instance, the couple opted for no chair covers and simple table decor. The white box (middle of picture) is a covered TV.

I'm not sure who's doing the catering there now. It used to be C&C Catering, but I'm not convinced this wedding was done by them. The food was good, but not 5 star. The staff seemed very attentive and did a good job. I don't know how the pricing is now, but at the time we booked this hall, it was a STEAL!

Overall, I'd recommend this venue to anyone looking to keep it classy without blowing the budget.

Cancer Fundraiser

2011-08-13T10:25:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow, The DJ Guy will be down in Westland at Vision Lanes on Ford Road from 6-11. This is a very special fundraiser to help Alysa, a 14 year old girl with brain cancer. Please come out and show some support for this family in their time of need!

Click on the image for a larger view

Wedding fun at the American Spirit Center

2011-08-06T18:22:00.001-07:00

Michael Jackson never fails to get em going!

YouTube Video

I'll post a full review of this venue later this week.

Congrats to Laurie & Paul!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Going Green!

2011-07-26T14:18:00.000-07:00

One of the biggest problems with doing karaoke, is that every time I add new songs, I have to print them on paper and add them to multiple catalogs so that guests can view my karaoke library. Quite often, these books end up outdated and need to be reprinted. The vast size of my karaoke library means that each time I do this, I use almost TWO reams of paper! That's nearly 500 pages! It's a big waste of money, time, paper, toner and the energy used to do it all. There had to be a better way...

Introducing The DJ Guy's
Online Karaoke Book
(accessible from any smartphone)

The DJ Guy will be rolling out this feature at the end of August. Books will still be available, but will only be updated once a year and only two books will be available at any given event. Request cards will have a QR code that will instantly take smartphone users to the Online Karaoke Book.

Just one more reason that NO ONE beats The DJ Guy for quality, features or price!

Happy 4th of July!

2011-07-03T16:10:00.001-07:00

Every party needs good music - Even on holidays.

Today, I'm rocking out a 4th of July Anniversary party on the lake.

The DJ Guy can setup anywhere there's power and shelter from the elements.

I hope you all have a safe and fun weekend!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Raftwood Dr,Commerce,United States

2011-06-22T17:42:00.001-07:00

Last year, out of 500 plus DJs, The DJ Guy came in at 13th place! PLEASE tell your friends, neighbors, Facebook buddies... TELL EVERYONE!

Go VOTE for The DJ Guy for Best of Detroit!

Here's the link:
http://ctvr.us/thedjguy

Be sure to share it on your Facebook!

Venue Review - Kensington Court, Ann Arbor, MI

2011-06-19T11:07:00.000-07:00

On May 20th, I had the honor of DJing for Ashley & James's wedding reception at Kensington Court. I've been here quite a few times in the past, but I've never reviewed this venue so I figured this would be a good time to do so.

Located right off of State Street and I94 in Ann Arbor, it's an easy location for guests to find and perfect for out of state guests needing a place to stay.

If you've ever been to a wedding reception at a hotel before, then you already know what Kensington Court looks like. It's a little nicer than most, but still very much the same in the ball room. The decor is nice and and the room looks elegant.

The food is usually very good here, but where they really shine is when they have a cheesecake dessert bar and also their phenomenal coffee bar with all the bells and whistles. The staff is friendly and very efficient at attending to guest's needs.

Congrats to Steven & Stephanie!

2011-06-18T14:17:00.001-07:00

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Wellers, Saline, MI

The weekend of bad potatoes...

2011-06-13T11:55:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was pretty busy. Thursday was another great night at Bennigan's in Howell. If you live in Livingston County and you don't already know, I DJ every Thursday from 9-1 for their dollar beer night. Friday morning I left early for Tappan Middle School's (Ann Arbor) graduation day celebration. It was pouring down rain and the festivities had to be moved indoors, but I think everyone had a good time regardless.

After the school function, I was off to Canton for Terri and Keith's wedding. Unfortunately, the rain forced their outdoor wedding indoors. Their reception was at Summit on the Park in Canton, MI. The Venue was very nice and the staff were both friendly and professional. The food was very good with one exception... the potatoes were way over cooked. Keith (the groom) is in a band called Spy Radio and they played a great set for one hour of the evening.

Saturday came and it was time for a barn wedding. The Ellis Barn in Oakland County had never hosted a wedding until Saturday. Sarah & Dennis' wedding was both simple and beautiful. The unique location created a memorable day for all. The caterer provided a pig roast with all the sides you'd expect... mac n cheese, baked beans, salad and... potatoes that were pretty much raw and uncooked. Regardless of the food, both the ceremony (I did the music for it) and the reception were great!

Venue Review - Crystal Gardens

2011-05-23T12:20:00.000-07:00

A few of you have been wondering... where are the reviews? Well, here's another one for you. This time it's Crystal Gardens in Howell. I do 6-10 events here a year. As it is close to home, I'd like to do more here, but they have an odd way of recommending vendors - it's about about who pays to advertise with them. You've already heard me complain about bridal shows being nothing more than a sales rally. Needless to say, I'm not listed as one of their "preferred" vendors because I don't do their bridal show.

Crystal Gardens at night

Regardless of politics, I have to say, Crystal Gardens staff is one of the most professional I've ever worked with. There are always plenty of staff members to take care of all your needs. When food is served buffet style, the food NEVER runs out. Someone is always there to replenish the pans before they're empty. The food is always good and pending what entrée choices were made, it could even be worthy of a five star restaurant. The hall is elegantly decorated, well kept and always clean.

If you're planning your wedding here I do have some tips for you...

> Make sure you book the hall for the full amount of time you'd like to stay. While I don't have a problem playing longer (hourly rates apply), they won't extend the time for you at the end of the night.

> The food ranges from good to incredible. Most caterers will allow a time for a tasting, I don't know if they offer this, but you should ask.

> The corner room with the corner DJ booth may look nice, but it doesn't accommodate a very large reception. Keep that in mind when booking.

This is the corner room setup for the wedding ceremony.

The view from the corner DJ booth. It's difficult for guests to make requests in this room.

Because the dance floor is in the center of the room, there isn't a good way to keep the sound aimed strictly at the dance floor. This can make it hard for non-dancing guests to talk later in the evening. In other rooms, the dance floor is at one end of the room.

While price may be a factor, Crystal Gardens does a VERY nice job and your guests won't be disappointed. Just keep in mind you CAN pick your own DJ!

Your day, starring... YOU!

2011-05-20T10:37:00.000-07:00

Have you thought about doing a slide show but just don't have the equipment, time or experience to pull it all together?

The DJ Guy offers a FULL slide show package! Simply send your images on a CD (numbered as 001.jpg, 002.jpg and so on). I'll put together a slide show, provide the screen and projector and run the slide show either as a one time showing done to the music of your choice OR as a continuous looped showing done during cocktail hour while guests are arriving.

When the slide show is done, the DVD will be yours to keep!

If you're interested in adding a slide show to your reception, simply email me at ed@thedjguy.info

There's a New DJ in Town!

2011-05-15T09:07:00.000-07:00

You may have noticed that I haven't been posting much lately. I recently took a few weekends off as my wife and I had a baby girl. She was born on April 29th. Here are some pictures... one from the hospital and one from her photo shoot.

And by the way, if you ever need baby pictures, contact Jennifer Hosking. She is EXCELLENT with kids and does the best work. Unfortunately, she doesn't do wedding photography.

Here's her link: http://www.jenniferhoskingphotography.com/

The Sad Times We Live In...

2011-05-15T08:55:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately, this is the truth we live with today. People are desperate and they'll steal from anyone. Please ask your bridal party and parents to keep an eye on your gifts and cards throughout the night. You never know when something like this might happen.

http://www.wxyz.com/dpp/news/region/wayne_county/man-crashes-wedding,-tries-to-steal-wishing-well

Happy Easter!

2011-04-24T17:47:00.000-07:00

Today I've got a little Easter Egg for all the brides planning their big day. I saw this on Yahoo and had to share it with all of you. It's an article on how to prevent fashion disasters on your wedding day.

The original story and text can be found here:
http://shine.yahoo.com/event/the-thread/how-to-prevent-wedding-day-disasters-2474840/

Hope you all have a great day and happy planning!

Lighting sets the mood...

2011-04-20T10:45:00.000-07:00

I mentioned last week that I had added some new lighting and I promised some video from an actual event. Well, here it is. This was taken at Crystal Gardens last Saturday. As you can see, the new lights are much more vibrant an the effects are great!

Venue Review - Chemung Hills Golf Club

2011-04-19T17:23:00.000-07:00

While it has great potential and a mostly classy look, Chemung Hills is starting to show it's age. Some minor repairs and attention to detail could easily make this the perfect spot for weddings. For now, it's a little rough on the edges.

What you can't see in these pictures is the chipped up pillars and the hole in the wall by the dance floor. Minor things, but it definitely detracts from the classy venue this once was. Regardless, it didn't stop the guests from having a great time on the dance floor!

The food was decent, but the service was quite an eye-opener. The caterers asked me to release the tables to the buffet, which I had no problem doing, but they waited almost 20 minutes to tell me this! Typically, it is the responsibility of the caterer to release tables as THEY know when the food is ready and THEY know when to hold up to replenish empty pans. I have done this before at small outdoor parties to help out when the caterer is a bit under staffed, but never in a hall with 6 or 7 servers just standing around. It just seemed very unprofessional on their part.

Lastly, I'm going to finish by saying I REALLY hope they can turn it around as I like the layout, location and atmosphere at Chemung Hills. It's only 5 minutes from home and has a lot of potential.

Is Your DJ "Livin On A Prayer"???

2011-04-15T23:26:00.000-07:00

Chances are, if you've been to a wedding recently and the DJ was using CDs or even worse: RECORDS, it's because he or she just doesn't care about their clients, it's all about the money for them. It's sad to say, but far too many DJs don't invest in their own business. Over time, equipment becomes outdated, damaged and worn out. If it isn't replaced, there's a good chance it could stop working or act up at your event!

The DJ Guy is CONSTANTLY upgrading, adding and improving equipment. Just this week we made the switch to ALL LED lighting! The final lights (our colored flood lights) were replaced with LEDs. They're more energy efficient, the colors are more vibrant, there are more colors and LEDs don't burn out like regular light bulbs. This also allowed a smaller, less obtrusive lighting setup. The entire lighting system is also wireless as well, so we can plug in anywhere there's power and turn various effects on and off from the other side of the room.

While it may not look like much, the effect is really incredible for the size. Below are two short sample videos. The first with just the lights hitting the wall, the second is with fog for effect.

I've had couples ask what type of lights I use in the past and what they look like. I'll post some event video in the weeks to come so that everyone can see what they look like in a wedding reception setting.

Venue Review - The English Inn

2011-04-13T13:59:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, I did a wedding at The English Inn. I've been there before, a few years back, but I don't do too many events in Eaton Rapids (about 15 minutes south of Lansing). The property is ideal for ceremonies and pictures. Unfortunately, the weather was a little on the cold side when I was there.

The inside of the hall was beautifully decorated and the food was very good.

I don't really know of anything else in the Eaton Rapids area, but I wouldn't hesitate to check out The English Inn if you're looking to have a wedding in that area.

Venue Review - River Birch Lodge / Thomas' Catering

2011-04-06T11:36:00.000-07:00

Looking for the perfect wedding? You can't do better than the combination of River Birch Lodge and Thomas' Catering!

River Birch Lodge is located in Hartland, MI and is run by Laura & Greg Palmer. Each weekend, they rent their 7 bedroom, 6.5 bathroom home (really it's a mansion) out to couples for weddings. Nowhere, will you find a more scenic ceremony location as well as rustic elegance for the reception. The location requires some flexibility on the part of the couple, but makes for a unique experience you can't find anywhere else. One of the unique features is the ability to stay there overnight. There's plenty of room for family members too!

http://riverbirchlodge.net/

Some of the pictures I am posting are from summer 2010 and some are from winter 2010, but NONE of these pictures can show you what an amazing place this is. It has to be seen in person!

Be sure to check out their virtual tour for even better images: http://www.palmerestates.com/VRBrochure.html

I do several events here each year. The last one I did in November was catered by Thomas' Catering. The food was amazing from the soup shooters to the potato bar to the 3 choices of pasta and sauce that was individually prepared to order. The catering staff is top notch and the food is five star.

http://thomasscatering.com

If you check out River Birch Lodge, be sure to tell Laura where you heard about them!

Venue Review - Howell Opera House / The Town Host

2011-04-05T12:36:00.000-07:00

Last Friday I did a wedding reception at the Howell Opera House. First of all, congratulations go out to Christine & Troy!

I've had the opportunity to work here on several locations and I appreciate the fact that it's only minutes from home, in downtown Howell. It has a very historical feel and is large enough to accommodate about 150 people. The front lobby serves as the cake, coffee and bar area. While I've never been up to the actual opera house, I've been told it's great for wedding photos!

The Howell Opera House does not have their own catering staff and I've sampled food from several caterers at this location. On this occasion, the catering was provided by The Town Host (Crystal Gardens off site catering). As Crystal Gardens is a larger company, I see them quite often and the food is ALWAYS good. The staff is very professional and efficient. Their menu must be very extensive because it's not too often that I have the same thing twice. Some of their dishes are better than others, but none of it is bad.

All in all, it was a wonderful night for everyone and I'd recommend both the Howell Opera House and The Town Host to anyone inquiring about a venue or catering.

http://www.theoperahouse.us/rentalinformation.html

http://www.crystalgardenslivingston.com

One of the things I do NOT like about The Town Host / Crystal Gardens is the way they recommend vendors. Vendors must advertise with Crystal Gardens in one form or another to be one of their "preferred vendors". This doesn't say much about whether the vendor is good or bad, but rather that they have paid for an endorsement. ALWAYS ask vendors for references and if they are unwilling to provide them, look elsewhere!

It's all about the GREEN!

2011-03-18T13:49:00.000-07:00

The St. Patrick's Day Tent Party at the Howell Bennigan's was a blast yesterday! Nearly 350 people at it's peak, the combination of festively dressed guests, live band and music from The DJ Guy, made this one of the BEST St. Patrick's Day parties ever!

All throughout the day and night, the Ice Luge was a hit!

Everyone loves the Cupid Shuffle!

Still going pretty strong at 2 AM!

St. Patrick's Day 2011

2011-03-13T23:17:00.000-07:00

Once in a while, clients ask me: "Can I come see you perform". While I don't think of it as a "performance", I don't allow clients to see me at other client's weddings. It's inappropriate on many levels. Any DJ that allows that sort of behavior is VERY unprofessional.

I do encourage those who want to see me in action to come to my weekly bar night at Bennigan's in Howell (or any other public event that I may do). This is typically a younger crowd and the crowd dictates the type of music I play in a bar setting. I also use a smaller sound system and very little lighting (it is a restaurant after all).

THIS Thursday is St. Patrick's Day and I'll have my full sound and lighting system in the (heated) beer tent from 12PM til 2AM. There is a $3 cover charge and a live band from 7PM to 11PM. If you are one of my clients or are or considering becoming one, please come see me and I will give you a special VIP PASS for $1 beers.

Hope you all have a great St. Patrick's Day!

Bennigan's St. Patrick's Day Tent Party 2010

A Gift For The Groomsmen...

2011-03-07T22:53:00.000-08:00

Want to get your groomsmen a gift they'll love just as much as you do? Get 'em a tie that doesn't suck! Cyberoptix Tie Lab can create incredible ties in your choice of color and pattern. They even offer discounts for wedding packages!

http://cyberoptix.com

Cyberoptix Tie Lab founder Bethany Shorb has applied her experience as a sculptor, couture, costume and graphic designer to transform a much maligned business necessity into a subversive object of desire with her witty hand printed neckwear.

And best of all, the ties are made in Detroit! So you can feel good about supporting a local business and get an awesome product at the same time!

I wouldn't support a business that I didn't believe in...
I personally own the "beer" tie!

Venue Focus... just the beginning!

2011-03-06T12:53:00.000-08:00

Over the next few months I will be reviewing various halls and wedding locations. I'll post pictures, give you tips about that venue, let you know about great photo opportunities, and even tell you who I think has the best food! I do an average of 80 weddings a year so you can get some great info from a true expert.

I don't have any schedule to follow, so if you're curious about a particular venue, drop me an email and I'll be sure to give that one priority.

Wedding Checklist

2011-02-26T13:11:00.000-08:00

Planning a wedding? Take a look at my timeline wedding planner. It should help you plan your wedding from start to finish and help keep your planning organized and stress free! There's a link at the bottom for a printable PDF version of this entire list.

If I missed something, please don't hesitate to send me an email and let me know!

Sixteen to Nine Months Before

ü Start a wedding folder or binder. Begin leafing through bridal, lifestyle, fashion, gardening, design, and food magazines for inspiration. Pick your wedding colors.
ü Work out your budget. Determine how much you have to spend, based on your families’ contributions and your own.
ü Pick your wedding party. As soon as you’re engaged, people will start wondering who’s in.
ü Start the guest list. Make a head count database to use throughout your planning process, with columns for contact info, RSVPs, gifts, and any other relevant information. (Want to keep costs low? It may be brutal, but the best way to do it is to reduce your guest list.)
ü Hire a planner, if desired. If you’re on a budget, this checklist can eliminate the need for a planner. Just do a little research on your vendors and follow the list.
ü Reserve your date and venues. Decide whether to have separate locations for the ceremony and the reception, factoring in travel time between the two places.
ü Book your officiant.
ü Research photographers, disc jockey, florists, and caterers. Keep their contact information in your binder.
ü Throw an engagement party, if you wish. But remember that your invitees should be on your wedding guest list as well.

Eight Months Before

ü Hire the photographer and the videographer. No need to talk specifics yet, but be sure that the people you hire are open to doing the shots that you want.
ü Book the entertainment. Meet with your disc jockey to get an idea of their personality. Don’t ask to see them at a wedding as a true professional will not be willing to take time out during one couple’s wedding to sell to another.
ü Meet caterers. If your wedding venue doesn’t offer its own catering service, look for one now and hire the service this month or early next. Ask to try their food so that you know what you and your guests will be getting.
ü Purchase a dress. You’ll need to schedule time for at least three fittings. Veil shopping can be postponed for another two to three months.
ü Reserve a block of hotel rooms for out-of-town guests. If possible, pick three hotels at different price points close to the reception venue.
ü Register. Sign up at a minimum of three retailers.

Seven to Six Months Before

ü Select and purchase invitations. Hire a calligrapher, if desired. Addressing cards is time-consuming, so you need to budget accordingly.
ü Start planning a honeymoon. Make sure that your passports are up-to-date, and schedule doctors’ appointments for any shots you may need. If you’re leaving the country, be sure you have a valid passport.
ü Shop for bridesmaids’ dresses. Allow at least six months for the dresses to be ordered and sized.
ü Meet with the officiant. Map out the ceremony and confirm that you have all the official documents for the wedding (these vary by county and religion).
ü Send save-the-date cards.
ü Reserve structural and electrical necessities. Book portable toilets for outdoor events, extra chairs if you need them, lighting components, and so on.
ü Book a florist. Florists can serve multiple clients on one day, which is why you can wait a little longer to engage one. Plus, at this point, you’ll be firm on what your wedding palette will be.
ü Arrange transportation. Consider limos, minibuses, trolleys, and town cars. (But know that low-to-the-ground limos can make entries and exists dicey if you’re wearing a fitted gown.)
ü Start composing a day-of timeline. Draw up a schedule of the event and slot in each component (the cake-cutting, the first dance).

Five to Four Months Before

ü Book the rehearsal and rehearsal-dinner venues. Negotiate the cost and the menu. If you’re planning to host a day-after brunch for guests, book that place as well.
ü Check on the wedding invitations. Ask the stationer for samples of the finished invitations and revise them to suit your needs.
ü Select and order the cake. Some bakers require a long lead time. Attend several tastings before committing to any baker.
ü Send your guest list to the host of your shower. Provided you, ahem, know about the shower.
ü Purchase wedding shoes and start dress fittings. Bring the shoes along to your first fitting so the tailor can choose the appropriate length for your gown.
ü Schedule hair and makeup artists. Make a few appointments with local experts to try them out. Snap a photo at each so you can compare results.
ü Choose your music. Start writing down ideas, but don’t finalize it yet. New songs come out every week and you may find one that’s better than the one you’ve selected. Keep a running list of what you want—and do not want—played. Finalize your list about 2 weeks before your wedding.

Three Months Before

ü Finalize the menu and flowers. You’ll want to wait until now to see what will be available, since food and flowers are affected by season.
ü Order favors, if desired. Some safe bets: monogrammed cookies or a treat that represents your city or region. If you’re planning to have welcome baskets for out-of-town guests, plan those now too.
ü Make a list of the people giving toasts. Which loved ones would you like to have speak at the reception? Ask them now.
ü Finalize the readings. Determine what you would like to have read at the ceremony—and whom you wish to do the readings.
ü Purchase your undergarments. And schedule your second fitting.
ü Finalize the order of the ceremony and the reception.
ü Print menu cards, if you like, as well as programs. No need to go to a printer, if that’s not in your budget: You can easily create these on your computer.
ü Purchase the rings. This will give you time for resizing and engraving.
ü Send your event schedule to the vendors. Giving them a first draft now allows ample time for tweaks and feedback.

Two Months Before

ü Touch base again with all the vendors. Make sure any questions you or they had on your first draft have been answered.
ü Meet with the photographer. Discuss specific shots, and walk through the locations to note spots that appeal to you.
ü Send out the invitations. The rule of thumb: Mail invitations six to eight weeks before the ceremony, setting the RSVP cutoff at three weeks after the postmark date.
ü Submit a newspaper wedding announcement. If you’re planning to include a photograph, check the publication’s website: Some have strict rules about how the photo should look.
ü Enjoy a bachelorette party. Arranging a night out with your girlfriends generally falls to the maid of honor. But if she hasn’t mentioned one to you by now, feel free to ask—for scheduling purposes, of course!—if a celebration is in the works.

One Month Before

ü Enter RSVPs into your guest-list database. Phone people who have not yet responded.
ü Get your marriage license. The process can take up to six days, but it’s good to give yourself some leeway. If you are changing your name, order several copies.
ü Mail the rehearsal-dinner invitations.
ü Visit the dressmaker for (with luck!) your last dress fitting. For peace of mind, you may want to schedule a fitting the week of your wedding. You can always cancel the appointment if you try on the dress then and it fits perfectly.
ü Stock the bar. Now that you have a firm head count you can order accordingly.
ü Send out as many final payments as you can.
ü Confirm times for hair and makeup and all vendors.
ü E-mail and print directions for drivers of transport vehicles. This gives the chauffeurs ample time to navigate a route.
ü Assign seating. Draw out table shapes on a layout of the room to help plan place settings. Write the names of female guests on pink sticky notes and the names of male guests on blue sticky notes so you can move people about without resketching the entire setting.
ü Purchase bridesmaids’ gifts. You’ll present them at the rehearsal dinner.
ü Write vows, if necessary.
ü Get your hair cut and colored, if desired.

Week of the Wedding

ü Reconfirm arrival times with vendors.
ü Delegate small wedding-day tasks. Choose someone to bustle your dress, someone to carry your things, someone to be in charge of gifts (especially the enveloped sort), someone to hand out tips, and someone to be the point person for each vendor.
ü Send a timeline to the bridal party. Include every member’s contact information, along with the point people you’ve asked to deal with the vendors, if problems arise.
ü Pick up your dress. Or make arrangements for a delivery.
ü Check in one last time with the photographer. Supply him or her with a list of moments you want captured on film.
ü Set aside checks for the vendors. And put tips in envelopes to be handed out at the event.
ü Book a spa treatment. Make an appontment for a manicure and a pedicure the day before the wedding. (You might want to get a stress-relieving massage, too.)
ü Send the final guest list to the caterer and all venues hosting your wedding-related events. Typically, companies close their lists 72 hours in advance.
ü Break in your shoes.
ü Assemble and distribute the welcome baskets.
ü Pack for your honeymoon.

Want to print this list out for your records? Download the PDF version HERE

The Google Wedding...

2011-02-25T10:07:00.000-08:00

Did you know that Google has all kinds of FREE tools to help you with your wedding planning?

It's true! Here's the link: http://www.google.com/weddings

Happy Planning!

TRULY Mobile...

2011-02-19T18:02:00.000-08:00

Over the years, The DJ Guy has been a leader in technology. I put together a clean, easy to use website and eight years ago, I was one of the first to integrate availability checking. Three years ago, I put my entire music database online for clients to search.

Today, I have added The DJ Guy mobile website. Get access to almost all the features of my website, right on your smartphone.

The image below is called a QR Code. Most smartphones have the ability to read this image in a split second and forward you directly to the website. This one will direct you to mine.

The new mobile site is located at http://www.thedjguy.info/mobi The site is optimized for mobile devices and will look strange from a regular computer.

When Should I Book My DJ?

2011-02-17T23:43:00.000-08:00

A lot of people seem to be confused about when they should book their DJ. I've had some wedding clients call me with only a month before their wedding and others call me three years in advance!

If you're booking a DJ for your wedding, 8-12 months in advance is best unless you're date is a holiday or special date (like 11/11/11). Wait any longer and you run the risk that the DJ you want won't be available. Don't contact a DJ three years in advance asking for rates and availability. There are so many things that can change in three years time and trust me, it usually does.

If you're booking a DJ for any other event, usually a month in advance is enough and sometimes even less is OK. It really depends on the the time of year and the day of the week. Winter is a little slower, so if you're throwing a birthday party in February, 2 weeks should be sufficient, where as a grad party in June might be easier to book a few months in advance.

Currently, The DJ Guy can handle two events on any particular day. Saturdays between April and October are the busiest days for us. If you're looking to book your event during that time, the sooner you contact us the better your chances are of booking us.

Ready for Valentine's Day?

2011-02-12T07:43:00.000-08:00

Everyone loves free stuff. Being a DJ, I had to share these links for free music. Whether you like the music or not, remember - it's free!

Click here to get your free album

Public Service Announcement:

2011-02-11T12:10:00.000-08:00

More Than Just Weddings...

2011-02-10T17:10:00.000-08:00

Did you know that only about 65% of my clients are for weddings? It's true, I do all kinds of events. You can find me every Thursday at the Bennigan's in Howell, MI. I also do birthdays for adults and the younger crowd. Sweet 16 parties are one of my specialties. I've done anniversaries, huge arena-sized cheer leading competitions, corporate functions, holiday parties, graduation parties and just about any reason you can think of for people to dance, I've probably DJ'd it.

Some people just want to be their own entertainment and sing. No problem. The DJ Guy has a huge karaoke selection with monitor and multiple microphones. Whatever the occasion, we've got it covered!

Why You'll Never See The DJ Guy at a Bridal Show

2011-02-09T21:57:00.000-08:00

So you're thinking about heading off to a Bridal Show? Maybe it's at a banquet hall or maybe it's at a big arena - either way, you're walking into a high-pressure sales event. I've got a few DJ friends who may disagree with me and maybe even hate me for exposing the secret, but I think you should know the truth. Bridal Shows cost money. You got in free? (or maybe not. The company that put the show on might just be greedy) That's great, but who do you suppose pays for the setup, clean up and facility rental?

Here's the secret: YOU DO! That's right. Each vendor has to pay between $250-$2000 to rent space at that "FREE" Bridal Show. How do suppose they can afford to do that??? By booking your wedding! Here's how the sale might go...

"We're running a special today - $200 off our normal price of $1200, but you must book today."

or maybe:

"We have 3 other brides interested in that date and we only have 2 openings. If you book today, we can guarantee your date."

The DJ Guy doesn't believe in tricks like that. Our prices are ALWAYS lower than the competition because we don't need to advertise. Our customers are our best advertisement. 75% of our new clients are referrals. We don't advertise in the Yellow Pages, we don't pay halls to be listed as one of their "preferred" or "recommended" vendors and we don't do bridal shows. We do run specials from time to time and we do advertise online, but at a fraction of the cost of just one bridal show!

Why be forced into a fast-paced high-pressure sale? Call The DJ Guy and we'll meet with you, on your time and give you a one-on-one private consultation - FREE!

It's not the Hokey Pokey, but here's what it's all about...

2011-02-09T20:43:00.000-08:00

Congratulations! You've decided to take a few minutes and read my blog. Well, I won't waste your time reading useless stuff, I promise. I plan to post some very useful information here for those planning weddings and other events. Sometimes the information will pertain specifically to The DJ Guy, but most of the time, it will help my readers make an informed decision when choosing the entertainment for their event. Thanks for stopping by and be sure to come back often as I'll be "blogging" often.