DJ XTC Entertainment

The music played at your wedding is one of the most important pieces of the night. It’s the catalyst that gets your guests energized and ready to party. The music choices on your wedding day should be well thought out, organized, and executed to perfection.
 
Whether you are booking a DJ or live band, or choosing to MC the wedding yourself, pay attention to these common wedding music mistakes. One mistake, and it could affect your entire night.
 
Skipping the Sound Check
Since music is such an important part of the night, it is imperative to make sure that everything is working properly. And more importantly, checking this task off your list before the night of the wedding. Equipment such as speakers, phones, and sound systems are prone to technical difficulties. If it is not handled properly, or there is no professional to help with the fix, a problem like this could take hours. When you’re hosting a night where every minute is critical and time slips away from you quickly, you won’t have a few hours to spare. Getting this task squared away will secure a night full of fun and great times.
 
Opting out of a DJ or Live Band
Yes, I might be biased but honestly it might initially feel like a good decision to provide your own music, especially if you have a tight budget. But if you choose to put together your own playlist from your phone, you’ll likely have to spend time sorting through radio versions of songs. Since a lot of streaming services default to the original, or dirty version, making a playlist compilation can become a very huge task. Don’t write off a DJ or Live band simply because you think it is not in your budget. You may be surprised by the research you do. Plus, if why pay more for linens and chair covers rather than quality entertainment.
 
Not Asking the Guests for Requests
Yes, the average new DJ makes a big deal about requests but really, that's their job. There is going to be songs in mind that you’ll want played at your wedding. And this should definitely be discussed between you and your entertainer beforehand. But you’ll also want to consider your guests requests as well. An easy way to quickly curate an entire playlist for the night is to ask each guest for one song request on your invitation. Gather the results and submit them to your DJ. They’ll take care of the rest.
 
Playing the Music Too Loud During Dinner
It’s common to think that music should only be played when it’s time to dance. But really, music should be played consistently throughout the night. It creates an even flow, and helps you transition from event to event throughout the course of the evening. Guests want music to listen to, even when they’re eating dinner. However, the music during the meal should be played at a reasonable, lower volume. It’s not common for everyone at the table to know each other, and they may want to strike up conversation. But if they are competing with blaring music, it could lead to an extremely awkward, otherwise silent, dinner.
 
Not Meeting the Entertainers Before the Big Day     
This is especially notable if you’re choosing a live band. A recorded demo just isn’t the same as hearing them live. See if you can attend one of their performances to get a good idea of how they’ll sound on your wedding. If you’re going with the DJ option, organize a meeting for you all to sit down and chat together. Gauge whether he or she is good at commanding a crowd, if they’re open to requests, and if they have an outgoing personality. They are ultimately in charge of keeping the energy up during your night, and you’ll want an MC that you click with.
 
Forgetting About Sound Ordinance Laws
Not to be a stick-in-the-mud but this one is huge. If you don’t do your proper research, your music could get cut off as soon as the party gets going. If you’re planning on hosting a wedding that goes on until the wee hours of the morning, check with your venue about sound ordinance laws before booking. If they have a time restriction, or perhaps it’s near a lot of residential homes, it might not be the best fit. Plus, if you don’t do your proper research and are hosting your wedding in an outdoor area, you could get slapped with a hefty ticket.
 
Incorrectly Pacing the Music
This is also a hard achievement should you choose to go with your phone and a pre-made playlist. It has taken me years as DJ to perfect this so your not going to get it on your first try. Putting your playlist on shuffle makes it extremely difficult to pace the music correctly. Your night should be sprinkled with a good mix of slow, dances, and upbeat fun songs to rock out to. This is when a DJ would be especially helpful. It’s their job to ensure that the music is paced correctly and that everyone is having a good time.
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As you plan your wedding day, your engagement shoot is one of the most exciting milestones along the way! You get to spend a whole day celebrating your love — what’s better than that!?
 
Additionally, you’ll gain access to gorgeous photos that you can use for your save-the-dates, invitations, and wedding decor — not to mention social media. Naturally, you want those pictures to showcase your and your partner’s personalities. It is YOUR big day, after all. Your love story deserves to be in the spotlight!
 
Here are a few areas for you to get creative and design an engagement shoot that will capture your authentic selves for all to see.
 
Your AttireWhat’s an engagement shoot without a cute outfit or two? First off, speak to your photographer to see how many wardrobe changes they can accommodate in your allotted time. You’ll usually be able to fit in two to three outfits, so you can really let your fashionista out!
 
If you get to don a few outfits, focus on creating different looks with your partner. Perhaps you have your formal outfits, your casual outfits, and something right in the middle. If you only have time for one outfit, make it one that you feel 100% comfortable in — both physically and emotionally. Your authenticity shows through your smile, so you need to feel like yourself no matter what you wear!
 
Don’t forget about the accessories — add a splash of flavour with jewelry, scarves, sweaters, socks, and shoes. The possibilities are as endless as your love!
 
Your SettingChoosing a backdrop (or several) for your sweet engagement photos should be simple, but that’s not always the case. You could always go the easy way and pick a popular local attraction, like a botanical garden or state-of-the-art museum, to serve as your setting. Or, you could do an urban-style shoot and wander the streets of your city. Even still, you can find the smaller, hidden gem locales in your area — like a local park or riverside spot.
 
Whatever you choose, make sure it’s a place that feels meaningful to you and your partner. It could be the crest of your most-frequented weekend hike, the spot where you met or got engaged, or even just a destination you always wanted to visit. Take your pic(k)!
 
Not sure where to start? Consult with your photographer for ideas. They’ve shot couples and families all around your area, so they’ll surely have some great recommendations for you to consider!
 
Your “Props”We’re using the term “props” lightly here. From flying a rainbow, trans pride, pansexual pride or bi pride flag to inviting your beloved fur babies (or human babies!) into the picture, there are so many ways to make your engagement shoot your own.
 
Consider the elements that pop up in your love story: How did you two meet? What cemented your relationship? What are your similarities? Differences? At what point did you realize you were in love? How did you get engaged?
 
You get the gist. Maybe you met in the dugout for your local softball team or over old-fashioned at your favourite whiskey bar. Pick out the unique details that built your relationship and bring them to your shoot!
 
Remember: These are pictures that will last you a lifetime. You’ll want to look back on them in future years to see yourselves glowing in authentic beauty. The only way to guarantee that is to embrace your personalities and capture all that makes you two special!

Nobody likes a cookie-cutter wedding. After all, custom details that speak to a couple’s love are what makes a wedding wonderful! But, as a couple in the throes of planning, you might be wondering how you can design a wedding that is uniquely your own.

Rest assured, you don’t need to be a professional to build personalized elements throughout your wedding. (Although, the pros are certainly the ones to call on to execute!) Instead, all you need is a bit of creativity and a lot of inspiration from your one of-a-kind love story. Think about it: Nobody else shares your love story, so why shouldn’t your wedding be just as unique?

Consider adding extra-special touches to these four areas of your wedding to personalize your design and infuse your wedding with the elements that make YOUR relationship distinctly wonderful.


Welcome Area
Since the welcome area is typically the first stop for your guests, it’s the perfect place to set expectations for the festivities to come. Incorporate your wedding colour palette, framed photos, and other elements from your design scheme. But, don’t feel limited by wedding-only details! Don’t be afraid to bring in your prized jersey or a meaningful family heirloom that will put your love story on full display.

Bonus: You can repurpose your welcome area décor elsewhere after all of the guests have arrived. Move framed photos to the cocktail hour area, place floral arrangements around the reception space, and put up your fun memorabilia by the gift table, cake table, or other station at the reception.


Stationery + Signage
From ceremony programs and bar menus to directional signage, your wedding day will involve a fair amount of stationery and signage to let your guests know what to do and where to go. Bring some flavour to these elements with custom design!

A few fun considerations:

• Get custom illustrations of yourselves done in advance to promote your signature cocktails.
• Offer a mixture of pronoun pins so everyone can feel seen, accepted and celebrated.
• Have some fun with directional signage by incorporating some cheeky jokes.
•  Make your ceremony program an interactive experience with fun facts, icebreaker questions, and fill-in activities.​
• Turn your place settings into a scavenger hunt to encourage guests to mingle as they find their seats.

Hire a professional stationer to ensure all of these themed elements are consistent throughout your wedding space.


Place Settings
Most place settings include several different elements: chargers, china, flatware, glassware, linen napkins, seating cards, menus, and more. Of course, your place settings can include as much or as little as you want! Skip the china and let your caterers serve fully plated meals. Or, opt for table menus instead of individual menus.
You may also consider including a favour at each place setting instead of a favour table. Sweet treats and mints are always excellent choices but don’t be shy about incorporating a special token that captures your wedding theme.
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Plant parents can put a mini succulent at each place, sports fanatics may give out custom designed wedding “trading cards,” or a spiritual couple might pick out crystals for each of their guests. Have some fun brainstorming ideas with your partner!


Food & Beverage Menu
There’s no denying that food and drink choices are among the most significant elements of a wedding guest’s experience. Get creative with your menus when speaking with your caterer. How can you incorporate your love story into the flavours of the day?

Excited to showcase your multicultural heritages? Request dishes that remind you (and your families) of your homelands, whether it’s Moroccan tagine, Salvadoran pupusas, Thai curries, or Nigerian Jollof.

Passionate about protecting the environment? Opt for a plant-based, farm-to-table spread that describes each ingredient’s source on the menu.

Want the food to capture your Southern roots? Go all-in with freshly smoked BBQ, sweet tea, and bourbon.

In terms of drinks, it’s best to choose signature cocktails that complement your food. For example, margaritas are ideal for Latin-inspired cuisine (extra points for a beach wedding!). On the other hand, mint juleps or mules may pair better with shellfish or a lavish charcuterie display.

When in doubt, look to your caterer for guidance and inspiration. They are the expert when it comes to food + beverage pairings, as well as blending certain flavour profiles to ensure your wedding menu is as delicious as it is unique.

While your wedding team is here to execute and bring your vision to life, it’s up to you and your partner to get creative and find ways to infuse your wedding day with personality. Pull out your drink of choice and spend some time brainstorming — you discover the best ideas when you’re having fun!

We’ve been doing this for over three decades, giving couples in the Greater Toronto Area stress-free and exciting weddings. Contact us here today!