Wedding Reception Planning | Absolute Music DJing Since 1993 | 563-581-1030
Introductions, toasts and formal dances sit on both the music schedule and the photo schedule. Before you finalize your reception plans, put those moments on one timeline and talk through them with your DJ and photographer. A clear plan gives both vendors the information they need without making you the go-between during dinner.
Our wedding worksheet asks for your photographer’s name, email address and phone number, along with your introduction plans, dance songs and final itinerary. Use this checklist while gathering those details.
Write down when your photographer’s coverage ends, then decide which reception moments you want photographed. A first dance, parent dance or anniversary dance may need to happen earlier than you first pictured. Ask your photographer how much time to allow for those photos, and discuss the order with your DJ before the itinerary is final.
Confirm the wedding party’s arrival time, entrance order and name pronunciations. Decide whether the couple will enter to a different song from the wedding party. Our worksheet asks for songs in Artist – Song Title format and a YouTube link so the intended version is clear.
Absolute Music’s worksheet also explains that the DJ meets the wedding party before introductions to review names and entrance order. Let your photographer know where everyone will enter and where the couple plans to stop, pose or begin a dance.
List who is speaking, the planned order and where they will stand. For each dance, confirm the people involved and the song version. If you want a song shortened or a particular section used, discuss it while planning rather than relying on a last-second cue.
Before a planned announcement begins, make sure the people taking part are present and the photographer has time to get into position. Include your planner or venue contact in the timing discussion when they are managing dinner service or the reception schedule.
If you want sunset portraits or a few quiet minutes outside, ask your photographer where that break fits. Tell your DJ when you expect to step away and return. Avoid placing a toast, formal dance or other moment that needs the couple in that same window.
Leave some breathing room between planned moments. Dinner service, gathering family members and moving between spaces can all affect the pace. Your photographer, DJ and venue can help you decide what is realistic for your reception.
Use the itinerary section of our wedding worksheet for the final plan, rather than emailing a separate itinerary afterward. We ask for the complete worksheet as close to 30 days before the wedding as possible. If you need more time to finish it, email us before submitting.
Read the worksheet’s current submission and change terms before you send it. If a change becomes necessary after submission, contact Absolute Music by email with clear details. Do not assume an edited form or a conversation with another vendor has updated our copy.
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Talk with Absolute Music about wedding DJ services in Dubuque, Iowa and within 80 miles around Dubuque.