From the first announcement to the last, wedding music planning  plays an instrumental role in making a wedding memorable. With many weddings under our belt, we understand how essential it is to have the perfect music plan on your special day. That’s why we want to give you with knowledge: the top 10 mistakes wedding DJs often make, so you can be confident in making the right choice for your wedding dj.

1. Bad Equipment Setup:

One of the most common mistakes is not bringing appropriate equipment. It’s vital that the DJ’s setup is professional, with backups for essential gear. You wouldn’t want the music to stop due to technical glitches. It can happen and the professional DJs know this. They are fully prepared and have backup equipment ready to go, just in case. I believe in back ups to your back ups.

2. Ignoring The Couple’s Playlist:

Every couple is unique, and so is their wedding playlist. A DJ should never ignore the bride and groom’s music preferences or play songs that have been on the doo not playlist. Many DJs will often ignore the playlist and play what they think works. This is only okay if YOU are okay with that.

Remember, this is YOUR wedding and you should be in charge of what is played on your big day, not the DJ. I know this may sound weird, but we truly believe this. Yes, we’re experts and know what to play to keep people dancing. However, we want to fulfill your vision of your wedding day, so we let you decide what we play. All pro DJs should do this (but they don’t).

3. Poor Volume:

Whether it’s blasting music during dinner or a too-soft first dance song, improper volume levels can mess up the mood. It’s crucial for a DJ to understand and adjust to the venue’s acoustics and adjust the volume throughout the evening. This is done with proper sound checks through out the night.

4. Lack of Interaction with the Crowd:

A good DJ and MC does more than just play songs; they engage with the guests. From reading the room’s energy to making announcements, an MC and DJ’s interaction can make or break the wedding vibe.

It’s important to note that, again, we believe that every event is about the couple, and not the DJ. So we’re never going to be obnoxious and talk too much on the microphone, or try to steal the show. You are the star of the show, not us!

5. Not Being Adaptable:

No matter how well-planned out things may be, weddings can be unpredictable. A top-notch DJ should be flexible, whether it’s handling last-minute song requests or adjusting to schedule changes.

A good DJ is also going to know exactly how to handle a situation where the schedule is off. They should be able to know what to do to get back on track and save time, as needed. Professionals should always look at your tentative timeline and see where adjustments may be needed, and suggest any changes that may be helpful. Some examples could be dinner being too long for the amount of guests you’re expecting, or starting the pre-ceremony too early, etc.

6. Playing Overly Explicit Songs:

Weddings typically have guests of all ages. It’s a significant misstep to play explicit songs, especially without the couple’s consent. Clean versions or more family-friendly tracks are always a safer bet.

If you want to hear the explicit songs, a good idea would be to perhaps wait until later during the dance, when the older relatives or those with kids are gone.

7. Lack of Professionalism:

Arriving late, dressing inappropriately, or being unprepared are signs of unprofessionalism. Couples should seek DJs who treat their wedding day with the seriousness and respect it deserves.

Your wedding day is every bit as important to us as it is to you. This should be the case for EVERY vendor you hire.

8. Not Coordinating with Other Vendors:

Your DJ should be in sync with the photographer, caterer, and event planner/coordinator. For instance, they need to know when it’s time for the bouquet toss or cake cutting to ensure they play the right song and create the desired ambiance.

We always make sure everyone is aware of what’s happening before it happens. This helps your vendors and you know what’s happening throughout the evening. Vendor communication is key.

9. Missing Pre-Wedding calls:

A pre-wedding consultation is essential. It’s an opportunity for the DJ to understand the couple’s vision, discuss song choices, and get a sense of the wedding’s timeline.

It is absolutely critical for you to talk with your DJ before your wedding. It can be online or in-person, but it definitely needs to happen. If you have a hard time reaching your DJ, or he/she is slow to respond, even before you book, be careful hiring this DJ!

10. Not Having a Diverse Playlist:

A diverse guest list means a variety of musical tastes. It’s not a good idea to stick strictly to one genre or era. A diverse playlist ensures everyone gets on the dance floor at some point.

Of course, if you absolutely want to hear only one genre, you can ask the DJ to do this and he/she should accommodate your request.

In a Nutshell:

Your wedding day is one of the most memorable days of your life, and the right music plays a significant part in that. By being aware of these common mistakes, you can make informed decisions and ensure that the music at your wedding is nothing short of perfect.

If you’re looking for a DJ who avoids these pitfalls and prioritizes your vision, Black and White Affair is here to help. With our years of experience and dedication to excellence, we promise to make your wedding soundtrack unforgettable. Call us today and let’s make it memorable.

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 We are having a heat wave during this month of September. Heatwave or not I always talk to the planner about having some sort of shade for my gear. With extreme heat, it can cause the speakers to shut off and also the computer will not play music.

  We were having a nice outside ceremony. Right before the ceremony everyone was trying to cool down in the bar area and were reluctant to go outside. The venue did provide some umbrellas spread out amongst the chairs.

 The ceremony had two officiants with some who specialized in the Jewish culture while the other focused on the Spanish component.

It was a nice blend of two cultures and the bride and groom left the ceremony with a festive Spanish song.

  For the cocktail hour, we played Spanish bolero music. Bolero is like slow tempo Spanish music. It was love themed. Again everyone was in the bar area and not in the reception area. We had to round everyone out to the reception area so we can do grand entrance.

 Bridal party came out to Big Energy by Latto while the bride and groom came out to Through the Fire by Chaka Khan. We had Spanish and English announcements. We had a bilingual emcee.

But we can tell everyone wanted to dance. And we gave them what they wanted: Lots of Salsa and Spanish hitters to get everyone moving. Of course Bad Bunny was requested and they got him. Bride and groom got a confetti send off which made an awesome picture.

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Brides article 

1 Food 2 Music 3 Décor 4 Bar 5 Dances 6 Entertainment 7 Couples Entrance

 8 Reception Location

There was an article put on on brides.com which got their info from Wedding Wire about what the millennial guest love about wedding receptions. I will touch on ones that the dj has their mittens on during the celebration. 

Food is number one on the list. Of course, the dj has nothing to do with selecting the food but I always recommend to the couples to always eat at the wedding. Most time couples get caught up in the excitement of seeing family and friends and taking pictures that sometimes they forget to eat. Make sure you chow down!

Music was marked number 2. I also believe it’s one of the most important factors of a reception. It sets up the vibe for the celebration. During cocktail hour, you want a good atmosphere while your guests are socializing with some upbeat music. Dinner time is not the time to put everyone to sleep, the dj can actually mix feel good music to keep the party going. At times right before dancing the dj can tease with some sing along to get folks in the dancing mood. 

Next on the list are things djs have nothing to do with: Décor, bar and drinks. I can give my two cents on these since I have been to a lot of weddings. Decorations do make a huge difference and is important. Bar and Drinks I have mixed feelings. I have been to some weddings where there was no alcohol and we had a good time. There were other times where they had open bar and it was a crazy good time. If you have beliefs in not having alcohol at your event then do not do it. But if you are ok with a bar then it is a good investment.

Dances are on the list on what guests’ value. The first dance is a monumental as the first dance as husband and wife. I have seen fancy dances mixed in with some modern choreography with a special dj edit. I have seen just a slow dance with the couple slow dancing and enjoying every minute of it. A good dj would not have his dance floor lights on since it does not do the photographer justice to take a good picture of the first dance. Dances also include parents dancing with the bride and groom. 

Entertainment was on that list. Will there be a photobooth? Some djs have their own booth or can refer a trusted vendor to provide that fun wedding service. 

The Grand entrance one of the most important moments of the night. The guests are seated then stand up when the guests of honor come in. On the speakers is a fun song while they stroll in. A good dj will coordinate to make sure everyone walking out is in order then will announce their names. Then when the bride and groom the djs switches up the song. That is when everyone stands up to celebrate the bride and groom. 

A dj does not have any say about the location of the reception area. Most times the couple picks the venue and has a date picked for the wedding. But a good dj would have venues they like and could suggest to the couple in case they are having a hard time securing their event. Just a heads up, these times Saturdays in 2022 are filling up fast and probably already filled. Be open to having a Friday or Sunday wedding if you have not secured Saturday 2022 wedding by now. 

What is a budget Wedding? These times I have seen weddings are not as big as they once were in California. I have been to a few events and there were less than 30 folks in the attendance. So, in essence weddings can be more budget friendly since less guests are actually attending these events. 

I recently got an inquiry asking for a quote and they really stressed having a budget dj. I liked how they were direct and to the point. But the word budget can throw off folks. Everyone’s budget is different. When I think of a budget dj, I think of someone who does not have the best equipment and does not have regular events. Do you want someone to be the host of your wedding with out experience? That is when a budget dj comes in. You do get what you pay for. If someone wants a wedding to remember make sure you hire a professional.

What is a professional dj? A professional dj has a music planner guide to help organize the music for the wedding. They make the music selection easy to choose from. They have a script to use to help guide them with announcements. You want someone who commands attention of the audience and want them to lead the audience in whatever needs to be done.  They have vast amount of good quality music at 320 kbps quality and did not rip music from YouTube at a low quality which is tacky and also illegal. You want them to be able to beat match so the songs do not end suddenly and want it to sound seamless. 

Professional djs have a backup system with the best equipment and have the experience to solve gear issues. I have learned to always carry multiple microphones so voices can be amplified. My wire microphones have always worked but once in Sacramento it was cutting out although it did sound fine in the sound check. With experience, I know to always have a wired microphone close by to handle any wireless issues. 

A good dj for a wedding will easily be over 1000 for just a reception. If you are requiring the ceremony and a reception a good dj will be 1500 to 2000. They can also bring up lights or have photo booths if you want more for the wedding. 

Hire a budget dj if you want some background music at a backyard BBQ. But hire a professional dj to do the soundtrack for one of the most important days of your life. Please look at the reviews of all the djs you and selecting and also keep tabs on how quickly they respond. It is important to have good communication with your dj. 

For your professional dj please call Black and White Affair Dj Services to help you plan your music and events for your big day. We serve the Bay Area and would love the opportunity to make your day memorable and stress free as possible. 

Finding the right dj is a crucial step for the perfect wedding. We all want the perfect wedding. To have a perfect meal you would need the perfect ingredients to make it perfect and having the perfect dj will make your special day perfect as possible. 

1: Don’t feel obligated to go with someone in your circle of friends and family. It should be based on their ability to do the wedding. If you know that they do good work and seen their work then go with them. A lot of djs are bedroom djs or night club djs and haven’t done a wedding before. Make sure they do have experience. A wedding is no joke and there is a lot of work that goes into it. At the same time too, if it’s a family member you would want them to enjoy the wedding and not stress about it. 

II: One of the first vendors that are booked is the venue and once that is secure, they can be your best ally is finding vendors. They usually have a list of vendors that they enjoy working with. They like djs that are professional and do quick set ups and quickly take the gear down. They also like them since they are easy to work with. They may give you a list of djs they prefer and you have a good start to find your dj. 

III: Go on social media and ask if they have any recommendations for wedding djs. This will help you with your list. Ask someone who got married recently and asked how their dj was and if they would recommend them. 

IV:  go under google reviews and yelp. You will be able to see what people said about the djs performance. The most reviews do not mean they are the best. There are companies that are called Mulit ops that have multiple djs so the reviews will be numerous compared to a single op. A single op means its one dj so all the reviews will be about that dj. 

V: Make a list of djs you want to interview. Let’s see how quickly they respond and if they have time to meet. If they are too busy to meet then it’s a good sign that they may be too busy to give you the time when prepping for your wedding. Once you speak with them and you feel that you can be comfortartable with them then you are one step closer with finding your dj.

VI: Ask about what kind of music they are comfortable with. Your future spouse and you like certain music and want to make sure the dj is familiar with it. Ask your dj if they beat match or do, they fade in and out the music. To Beat match is a skill some djs have not mastered and it does give the party a certain nonstop feel. See if they have a mix page with their mixes to share. You can get a good feel on how well they mix and see what songs that they use. If you are into Spanish music and check if your dj can tell the different between a cumbia or merengue song. 

VII: ask for pictures of their set up. You make to make sure it’s nice and clean for your wedding event. You want to look at their cabling of their gear and see their dance lights. 

 How much for a wedding dj? It all depends on where you are planning to get married. I hear some djs different parts of the country charging 600 for a wedding. The djs in California hear that and that is unheard of in these necks of the woods. I believe some folks get confused since when they google what price wedding djs are then they get these numbers from a national average. One site says the average cost is 780 to 1495 for a wedding dj. But if you google wedding djs in California costs then you get more of an accurate number and its higher than the national average. Prices may go up in case there needs to be multiple music set ups. People get confused on that what means. Let me break it down. Most weddings just require a reception set up and it has the dj set up which includes two speakers. Say the cocktail area is in a different area then the dj has to connect more speakers or set up another set up to play the cocktail music. Or perhaps there has to be sound for the ceremony. A dj can set up the sound for the ceremony and set up multiple microphones and play the music during the ceremony. This would require another set up. 

For a wedding, djs are going to charge more. There is more to a wedding that a dj just playing music. Doing a birthday party, a dj can just play music during dinner and the dance portion thus the rate would be lower. But a wedding Bay area Djs can charge 200 to 300 an hour. Some may see that as too much but they do not know what goes into a wedding. Djs have to meet with the bride and groom in person or virtually. They have to prep the order of events. They have to make sure they have the correct songs to play at certain times. They have to direct the guests multiple times during the night. There is about 15 to 25 hours of prep work before the wedding that people don’t see. 

Are tips mandatory? Tips are not mandatory but definitely appreciated especially if the vendor made sure everything ran smoothly. If vendor was hard to reach and did a subpar job, then they should not be tipped. But if vendor was easy to get a hold of and responded quickly and did a great job at the event then a tip would be nice. But for some reason if the budget does not allow a tip then a review on a few sites would be appreciated. 

The holidays are an ideal time for making memories with your new spouse that will last a lifetime, but the season can also be fraught with challenges. Courtesy of Black and White Affair DJ Services, here are a few ideas on how to handle your first holiday as a married couple--from making plans with families to making a combined wish list to carving out time for togetherness. 

The Families

Experts interviewed by The Grand Rapids Press advise taking some time early on to discuss where and how you’ll spend the holidays. Emphasize which of your own family celebrations and traditions are most important to you, and encourage your spouse to do the same. Practical considerations like time and travel will probably make it impossible to do everything you both want to do, nor will you be likely to please everyone in both families. However, a little compromise will go a long way toward a smooth seasonal transition that blends the wants and needs of both sides of the family.

Once you’ve made a plan, stick to it--and stick together. Don’t tell your side of the family that your spouse wanted to do something different or mention over dinner at your in-laws that you’re missing one of your favorite family events in order to be with them. And, if something in your holiday plan absolutely makes one or both of you miserable, you can always do something different next year. 

The Wish List

It might seem greedy to be thinking about a holiday wish list so soon after all those wedding gifts, but inevitably there will be things you didn’t consider when putting together your registry, particularly if you’ve moved since tying the knot or you got married months ago. 

Were you worried about your home’s security while you were on your honeymoon? If so, consider putting some smart home security tech on your list. Did you struggle through fall collecting colorful leaves with an ancient rake you found in the garage? Ask for some new lawn tools or a yard cleanup by a professional.

For newlyweds who’ve found themselves woefully underprepared for common homeowner hassles, consider adding an extension ladder and a basic tool kit to your wishlist. If you really want to create connections with family, ask your handiest in-law to help you take down this year’s hastily hung lights and offer suggestions on next year’s seasonal strategy over lunch. 

If you had a warm-weather wedding, odds are good that you didn’t think to include holiday decorations on the registry. If your home is looking a little bare this year, consider requesting ornaments to trim the tree or deck the halls, suggests WeddingWire. And, if you receive a keepsake piece from a family member, make sure to display in in a prominent position, even if it doesn't match the rest of your newly burgeoning collection of seasonal decor.

Finally, between your wedding, honeymoon, and preparing your home for married life, you likely haven’t had much time to shop for personal items. There’s no shame in including some creature comfort-type requests on your list. For example, you might include comfy loungewear, a warm blanket for the winter nights ahead, or some delicious wine for relaxing evenings in. 

The New Traditions

The holidays can be hectic, but it is important to set aside some time to create your own traditions as a couple. Mark a night on the calendar and say no to any other invitations. Spend the evening cooking dinner together and then write your holiday cards and make homemade ornaments. 

Alternatively, you could plan a cookie-baking session and package them as host-and-hostess gifts to take with you to holiday gatherings. There’s nothing like the smell of holiday baking to put people in a festive mood. Be sure to save some sweet treats for yourself and end the evening with a plate of cookies, a couple of festive drinks and a holiday movie or two.

The first holiday season can be magical and special. These tips will help you and your spouse make sweet seasonal memories of your first year as a family and will help you try out some new traditions to make your house feel like a home for the holidays. 

Lori and Tim had a fabulous wedding at Fortino Winery.  Weather could not be any better. What was a treat was with the shade installed on the grounds it was not hot for the ceremony and reception. Fortino Wineries has to be one of the best outside venues in the area since it has a lot of space and a good shelter from the sun. They had a nice ceremony in the grass area by the Officiant Frances. She did a fine job. They incorporated a Japanese tradition of planting a grape wine together. 

Grand Entrance consisted  of the bride and groom and mother of the bride with best man and maid of honor. 

Cocktail hour was only 30 minutes and the great food was served. Dinner had a good r&b vibe during the meal. 

A few toasts were made and one was made via recording that was very touching. The first dance was a special one. It started off as a country song then it turned into C + C Music Factory song with the lyrics Everybody Dance Now Looped 4 times. Folks were able to join the couple with their first dance. Right after dinner it started to get dark. So we arranged to get some uplights to add some color around the venue. Venue is already pretty but the uplights add accents. They were lined up with the trees and bushes. Uplights always add a nice touch. They are a classy touch and it gives the area a new vibe. 

Music was very diverse. It was a lot of old school throwbacks. It was a mix of 70s, 80s, 90s, and 00s.