Wedding Checklist

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.

The Google Wedding...

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...

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?

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?

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

Click here to get your free album

Public Service Announcement:

More Than Just Weddings...

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

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?

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

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.