Your Wedding Venue and DJ…
There are several factors you will be looking for in choosing the right venue for your wedding reception in Chicago. These may include the decor, size of the hall, the quality of the food and bar, and location to your family and friends. You may also want to host your ceremony at the venue, so their outdoor accommodations may be important to you. Here are a few tip for you to be aware of in making your decision.
Reception Flow
The venue is not necessarily the one to orchestrate and move the evening along so that everything runs smoothly. This is the responsibility of your DJ, working along with your venue. Your wedding venue is there to provide a timeline of the evening and to provide the food, drink and ambience. Standard times are usually : 6 pm bar opens for cocktails : 7 pm dinner is served : 8:30 pm dessert table opens, etc. It’s then up to your DJ to make sure things move along properly at these times. Your DJ should be the single most important factor in helping make your wedding day stress free and fun.
Dinner
The most important time of the evening is when it’s time to serve dinner. It’s crucial your DJ be able to work with the venue to make sure bridal party introductions, cake cutting and toasts are done on time and will allow your guests to be served a hot dinner. This will also allow the evening to flow properly.
Also, a seasoned wedding DJ will make sure that they handle everything with the hall the day of your reception. This will allow you to relax and have a good time. I tell my couples to come directly to me that night for anything they may need. This will allow you to enjoy time with your guests, and not looking for a waitress. Brides and Grooms will always know where I am (and I have my eye on them the entire nite as well)!
Wedding Package Times
Venues usually offer wedding packages of 5 1/2 to 6 hours for a reason. It allows the perfect amount of time for all factors for a full reception. Example: (1 hour cocktail, 1 1/2 hours dinner, roughly 2 1/2 – 3 hours dance floor time). In three decades of hosting weddings, I have found this to be the perfect amount of time. Any less time may not be enough for you and any more time would mean your guests may end up leaving early or worse, having a little too much fun at the bar. Along with your ceremony, it will be a long day for you, your bridal party and family. I always want couples to enjoy every moment.
Preferred DJs
The venue may have a Preferred DJ that they recommend, but make sure to ask why the recommend them. That would be a good place to start, but make sure to meet with your DJ to make sure there’s a good fit for what you are looking for. If they offer an “Exclusive DJ” that you have to use, be careful! You only get one shot at the perfect reception!
Our wedding DJ service has worked with hundreds of venues in Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana and we are available to answer any questions you may have. We may also be able to provide pictures of those venues showing our DJ setup and the layout of different rooms at those venues.
Party All Nite! DJ is The Preferred DJ at 115 Bourbon Street, the largest Entertainment and Wedding Venue on Chicago’s Southside in Merrionette Park IL since 1999.
