A DJ with a timeline is not a wedding planner

I have lost count of the times I have heard a bride say “I don’t need a wedding planner at my wedding because the DJ has everything under control”. So for all you newbies out there be aware that many DJ’s are promoting themselves as a DJ, MC & Wedding Planner all in the one package. Don’t let your bride be fooled by this. A DJ is just that – a Disc Jockey who is there to play music and entertain the guests by choosing music that is appropriate for his audience. A professional DJ will work with the wedding planner to ensure that the evening’s music is a seamless production that has been organised prior to the day itself.

Many good DJ’s will have a timeline that they run to when they are working at weddings that don’t have a planner on board and this is certainly the mark of a good DJ. However, a DJ is not going to calm down the bride when Uncle Tony from the grooms side has made a pass at her, or  come to the rescue when one of the bridesmaids has put her backside through her dress – no this is the job of the wedding planner.

I have worked with many great DJ’s, but none of them carry a Wedding Kit for all those little emergencies and neither should they have to. None of them are familiar with the inner workings of both families, and they certainly aren’t going run around after the other suppliers who are involved in the wedding to make sure everything else happens on time and according to plan. This isn’t their job, it’s yours.

Most DJ’s will provide a basic timeline for the reception which will start at the time the guests arrive and finish when they leave. It will often include details of the first dance etc and is a very handy tool for those brides not using a wedding planner, however it will not take into account all those little details that are unique to each wedding. A typical DJ Reception Timeline would include the following:

18.00 - Guests Arrive
18:30 – MC Seats Guests
18:35 – Bridal Party Introduction
18:45 – Entre Served
19:30 – Main Meal Served
20:15 – Speeches
20:45 – Cake Cutting
21:00 – First Dance
21:05 – Dancing & Activities
23:00 – Bouquet and Garter
23:30 – Bride and Groom Farewells
12:00am – Reception Concludes