We are breaking into March with another awesome Q + A with Valley & Co! On the first Friday of every month this brilliant planning duo take over the SMP California blog bringing along their expansive wealth of knowledge and expertise. This month they speak up about whether booking a band or a DJ is best and the logistics of hosting a destination wedding.
They will be back next month to answer even more of your questions. Make sure you leave a comment below with your planning predicament and Aleah and Nick might just pick your question to answer!
Photo by La Luz Photography for Valley & Co.
A tie beaker! Please help us decide whether a band or DJ is best for our reception. Me: I want classic songs and an elegant setting. He: wants someone who can just play requests…is it me or should music go with the flow? Insight appreciated!
Ah. Well, we’re all about creating an experience with different elements, levels and unexpected twists and turns. Pending your budget think about utilizing both as they can have such a varying feeling that will set the tone for a totally unique musical experience. A band and a DJ can often play off of each other and they can plan ahead to work together so that the band can play along to certain songs the DJ spins. This sounds incredible and is totally unexpected.
What’s so great about this is that you both get what you’d envisioned but they’ll blend together well. It’s also not to say that by having a DJ you won’t have an elegant setting. Some of our most beautifully elegant weddings have amazing DJs. You just need to work with him or her to map out the musical ambiance you want to share with your guests. You can lay out a framework for the musical experience you want and your fiancé can have his request list primed and ready for the DJ. But also remember that it’s a DJs job and specialty to read your crowd and to play music that will keep them on the dance floor. Sometimes a request can kill the flow, so be sure to let your DJ do their job.
Music is a critical element in a wedding experience but also think about it in stages. You can incorporate live musicians in your ceremony with a harpist, guitarist, steel drummer, or a jazz trio who can lead you into cocktails and mingling. Then fuse into a DJ who will play mellow dinnertime music and then will meld into upbeat dancing beats – perhaps alongside a live musician. Keep in mind that if you request a band to play for only a small portion of your wedding {like cocktail hour}; they likely have a minimum as you’ll be their only gig for the night. So you may want to consider keeping a live musician on for dinner and dancing.
Whatever you do be sure to think of it as an important element and a unique experience for your guests.
My fiancée and I are thinking about a destination wedding. Somewhere tropical. Logistically what are the drawback and how can we make it easiest on guests so we get a good turnout??
Destination weddings can be a totally, utterly wonderful getaway for you and your guests, if planned properly. A destination wedding can also a whole bunch of work if you aren’t properly prepared.
Take a trip and visit and, if possible, stay, check out several venues in the location you’re interested in. Consider: price, any pre-set “packages,” if the venue if flexible with swapping out said packages, if they’ll offer discounted rooms for your guests, ease of access to and from the airport, and activities at the property for guests and families.
Sometimes the drawbacks with tropical resorts or hotels, especially abroad, are lack of flexibility and the potential for running into a few other couples tying the knot one the same day on site {though this can also happen stateside}. Ask them how many weddings they host each weekend or each day. Also ask about removing or swapping out pre-determined packages for items that you truly want. When planning a particular destination wedding in Mexico we took an initial trip with our couple and the venue really attempted to sell them on using their pre-set cake designs and flowers and their in-house photographer. It was as if the wedding came out of a box. Though that might work for some couples, it certainly doesn’t for most. We simply described and sketched out what our couple envisioned for these elements and flew in our own photographer {who our couple was able to meet with in person and take their engagement photos with} and details and they were able to add several extra hours to the wedding and some other bonus items given the swap. It never hurts to ask.
Now if you decide to move forward plan something out at least 6-8 months in advance so that you can give your guests ample time to plan and budget. Make it easy for them and answer questions before they ask them, like:
You can book air/hotel/transportation packages for $____ at this website or we’ve arranged for a room block at an all-inclusive property for $___ per guest.
Put pertinent information in front of them both on a website that you can update with activities but also on a save the date and an insert in your wedding invitations.
Make it really fun for them and plan out some off-site activities they can {but don’t have to} take part in like snorkeling or a scenic tour or zip lining. List costs associated as well so there aren’t any surprises. Offer pre-wedding and post-wedding dinners or activities as a group, and consider hosting them. Another drawback of destination weddings afar is that couples often initially think they’ll be inexpensive if a resort has pre-set wedding packages. Remember that there are other events that you should be hosting if your guests are traveling from afar.
The bottom line is to make preparing for your wedding fun and exciting for your guests. For many this could be their big vacation of the year so lay out the framework and make it easy on them. Give them a list of things to do, welcome totes that double as beach bags with maps of the city, snacks, sunscreen, and any other local items you can include. Have fun!
