Diana Ross and the Supremes Baby Love

Stevie Wonder  Part Time Lover

En Vogue  Don’t Let Go

Janet Jackson  That’s the Way Love Goes

Stevie Wonder  I Just Called to Say I Love You

UB40  Can’t Help Falling in Love

Beyonce and Jay-z Crazy in Love

Stevie B  Because I Love You (The Postman Song)

Mario  Let Me Love You

Diana Ross and Lionel Richie Endless Love

Al Green  Let’s Stay Together

Whitney Houston  I Will Always Love You

K-Ci and Jo Jo  All My Life

Alicia Keyes  Fallin

John Legend  All of Me

James Arthur  Say you Won’t Let Go

Maroon 5  Sugar

Archies  Sugar, Sugar

DNCE  Cake By the Ocean

Def Leppard  Pour Some Sugar on Me

Bruno Mars  Marry You

Frank Sinatra  Love and Marriage

James Taylor How Sweet it Is

Aerosmith  Sweet Emotion

U2  Sweetest Thing

Pat Benatar  Hit Me with Your Best Shot

Rihanna  Birthday Cake

Dean Martin  That’s Amore

Four Tops Sugar Pie Honey Bunch  

The Foundations  Build Me Up Buttercup

The Turtles  Happy Together

We talked about the microphones and it is time to pick the right microphones for the ceremony. I have heard other djs speak about they rely on the corded microphone for ceremonies. As a dj company, they can offer the different microphone choices. They can be able to work any of the 3 types of microphones. A professional always prepares for the unexpected. What happens with the battery dies? What happens if the signal drops?  What happens if someone trips on the cord? What happens if the microphone picks up another signal and heard through the speakers?

Providing the sound, the dj has to let the officiant and or groom know how to use the wireless microphone or the lapel. Typically, the dj puts the lapel on the officiant or groom with the microphone pointed up. Then the dj will tuck the cabling in the shirt or pocket so its not totally visible. 

I always bring a multi channel mixer when it comes to ceremonies. I hook up a wireless microphone, a lapel and a corded microphone to it and test them all before the ceremony to ensure they work. Batteries should be within reach in case one of the wireless microphones need them. Depending on microphone, it gives indications if the battery is running low on the receiver or on the microphone itself. 

Which one is the best? It all depends what the bride the groom wants. With technology, every microphone sounds better than ever. At the same time, a classic never goes out of style (a corded microphone).

A wireless microphone relies on a receiver and looks nice. They can be place on a microphone stand next to the officicant and one can be placed close to the couple so you can hear their vowels. A concern for wireless microphones is it may drop the signal. Wireless microphones can work well but there is always a slight chance of the signal dropping or the battery running out of juice. It can be tested before the ceremony and work well but with wireless technology it can drop at any moment. 

A lapel microphone is placed near the collar. One does not need to hold it with the hands so the hands can be holding a book or other objects. The speaker can talk normally and the sound is sent to the speaker. Since the lapel is wireless there is a slight chance that that the signal may drop. Also if the lapel is turned on early, guest may hear the groom say something before the wedding starts that can be embarrassing. With the wind, it can be heard on the speaker since the lapel is sensitive and there is a slight chance of feedback. 

A corded microphone may not look as fancy as a wireless microphone or a lapel but one does not have to worry about it dropping any signal. It can be put on a microphone stand so it does not need to be held. 

It does not matter what microphone you chose there is always a chance of feedback. It happens when the speaker moves in front of the speaker or standing in certain areas. It is the dj’s job is lower the volume of the microphone and gradually increase the volume.

For most people it is an easy decision depending on the state or time of year it is. But there are factors to consider when making a decision. 

Benefits of an inside ceremony:

There will be no worry about the rain or snow or temperature. There can be more options about decorating inside. And the inside ceremony can be done anytime during the year.

Negatives of an inside ceremony:

It maybe too small if couple has a lot of guests. 

Benefits of the outside ceremony:

There usually more room since there are not four walls holding everyone in. The photo shoot has more natural lighting for better pictures. There is less to decorate so it would not take as long to decorate. 

Negatives of the outside ceremony:

Bugs and the outside elements during the ceremony will not be fun. Some outside venues are blank slates so couple may need to rent furniture for the ceremony. Power maybe an issue since it is outside.

Before the decision is made, it is good to check if the venue has a back up plan in case being outside is not favorable. Also its good to check on the power source is close by and functional for the outside event so the speaker(s) will work for the ceremony. 

Good communication is key with your venue connection in case there is a sudden change and the outside ceremony has to go inside. Hopefully they can contact the couple a few hours before in case of the sudden change. Djs can set up a ceremony event in 20to 40 minutes so they have to be in the loop in case of a change.

Not every wedding in the same. There is not cookie cutter way to have a wedding. Bride and groom decide what type of wedding they want to share with their guests. 

  I met with a couple that wanted an early Sunday wedding. They let me know they did not want any lights since it was so early.  But I brought one just in case.  It was a cloudy day so it did create a dark room even though they had a lot of windows. 

  They had one of their bridesmaids officiate the wedding. It makes it a nice touch with someone knows the bride/groom officiates the wedding and talks about him or her.

The cocktail hour was held outside separate from the reception. During the cocktail and dinnertime, jazzy music was played so it gave the wedding a classy feel.

The grand entrance was only the bride and groom then it lead to the first dance. Soon after then it was the father daughter dance. After those dances, the bride and groom thanked their guests. 

What made this wedding so different was it was not dark outside and it was minus the bouquet toss and garter toss.  A wedding can be any which way. It is a celebration of passage of life and certain traditions do not need to be included. Wedding was a blast.  

The pluses of having an early Sunday Wedding is that guests do not need to leave the event early since it finished at 330. It would give guests an opportunity to get home at a reseaonable time in case they have to go to work the next day.

Happy by Pharrel Williams

Crazy in Love by Beyonce

One More Time by Daft Punk

Let Me Clear My Throat DJ Kool

This is How We Do It Montell Jordan

Hip Hop Hooray by Naughty by Nature

I Got A Feeling by Black Eyed Peas

Turn Down for What  by Lil Jon

We Found Love by Rihanna and Calvin Harris

Hey Ya by OutKast

Celebration  by Kool and the Gang

All I Do is Win  by Dj Khalid

Uptown Funk  by Bruno Mars

Bitter Sweet Symphony by the Verve

You Can’t Hurry Love by the Supremes

Don’t Stop Believing by Journey

 Typically at a wedding, I am the only source of music. There are some instances when that is not the case. On October 20th, I did a wedding with talented guests and it was one to remember. I brought my typical equipment plus an extra mixer with cabling. The young musicians delighted the crowd with their vocals and their keyboard and guitar skills. It did not take them long to set up since it was running through my system. For this set up, I included a Mackie 1402 analogue mixer. It had 14 channels  (and it was not complicated to work) so I can easily add 2 more microphones, 2 guitars and 1 keyboard. Also I had my own wireless microphone connected and with my controller was connected to the mixer. From the mixer out, the videographer was able to record everything that took place at the wedding with a recording device. 

   The best man told me he was nervous and wanted to do the second toast after the maid of honor. With that information, I introduced the toast and gave the microphone to the maid of honor. Later I was told that the best man would be doing the toast while a guitar was strummed and I relayed the information to him and he had a shocked look on his face. The best man started serenading the bride and groom and it surprised everyone. In reality, the best man was not nervous but it was an act. He had a good voice and sang a good song. Weddings can be creative especially when you have talented people.