HIYA Wedding Entertainment

At this stage I think I have seen it all when it comes to weddings. Been there done that! Im a wedding DJ since I was 17. Thats 28yrs….. Scary.

I have entertained lots of couples at this stage. The one thing I’ve noticed is that people still play it safe in relation to entertainment. Band and DJ. That simple. There are so many more options. I always say people can hear most bands and DJ’s in pubs now and they can get a turkey or beef dinner in most pubs anyday they want to. So to make people remember your day you should do it different. It wont cost a fortune either but people will remember your day as being different and more entertaining that most of the other weddings they have been to.

Some options to choose from…..How about a fun “How well do you know the happy couple quiz show”  After talking with the couple before the big day I get some fun facts on them like, their first Job? First Car? Fav food? Fav Holiday destination, Their middle name, pets name, where they met, when they met, Fav song, fav colour , Fav Movie  etc etc etc. Once i get all the details I put together a fun quiz show which I MC during the meal at different intervals. Its hilarious. Especially when the winning table get their their often ‘cheesy prize’ from the newly married couple. This is the ultimate way to get people talking to people they may not have met before or in many cases may not meet again. Watch it, for the rest of the night people are meeting on the dance floor or at the bar asking “Well did you get number 6 correct”. A Super but simple way to to entertain people during the meal. The trick is however..A professional MC. If you get a person not used to doing it on the Mic, It could be a long dinner 🙂

How about Wedding Bingo during the meal.Nice and simple, very effective. Bingo book to everyone, Lotto machine in place and the MC calls the number. Great laugh, especially when the newly weds have to cough up extra euro if the winning number is their birthday or day they met etc. Again with right host Wedding Bingo during the meal can be hilarious.

Wedding Casino. You know that time when people get back from the ceremony and the couple are getting pictures taken, before the meal. How about a fun casino. Everyone gets their bundle of chips and gambles away for an hour and a half or so. Very interactive, very different and great fun. Later during the speeches the couple can announce the casino winners and give them a nice prize.

When booking a Wedding band there are so many options. The well established wedding bands are a safe bet. Make sure you speak with someone who had them before and get all the details off them. Go and hear them also. Never depend on someones word as we all have our own taste in music. If you are going to see them, go to see them at a wedding not any other event. It gives you a better idea of their wedding set list. Also to be fair to the band wait until they are at least an hour into their set before you listen to them at a wedding, reason being that some weddings are slow to get going no matter how good the band are, so you might just have a slow crowd and it makes a good band look average.

Another tip, try to get the band to set up during the day. Nothing as bad or unprofessional as a band or DJ dragging their equipment across a dancefloor, or in a draughty back door after the meal. Same with the DJ. Sometimes the band may have to travel a long distance so there may be a cost to get them earlier to set up. They may send one or two members to set up earlier. Its worth the little extra to have this done.

In relation to wedding DJ’s well this is where I started out, and I still do a quite a few weddings every year. In more recent years people are cutting costs and maybe not having a band at all just a DJ. This works well once you book the right DJ, get that wrong and your wedding can be destroyed. You need a well established DJ who can cater for everyone. One who can interact with the crowd and do a few games etc, not too cheesy but professional. The savings can be big and the atmosphere will be every bit as good once the right DJ is behind the decks. If your booking a DJ after the band again make sure he is well established. I have seen people cut corners here as they feel a DJ is a DJ, all the same. Wrong! This is the last two hours of your wedding and its crucial that the floor is full and people leave on a high. In recent years more and more people turned to becoming DJ’s as they think its handy money, they charge small money and quite often that’s all they are worth, again check with people who have used them before and if they tick all the boxes, go for it.. Some bands offer the disco for a small fee after the band and they simply throw on music as they clean up their band equipment, watch this! You need a separate DJ.The band have done their 3 hours and will have worked hard so now you You need a new sound, new energy new person, new voice on the stage playing the hits. Its like a new sub coming onto your wedding entertainment team 🙂

So many other options like Comedians, Musicians, Singing waiters, caricaturists, themed wedding etc to mention but a few

These are just a few tip for your big day, for any more info contact JAMES@HIYA.IE

Be a little creative and make your big day different. 🙂 Enjoy.