Create Your Music Timeline & Playlists

At All Events DJ we completely understand and respect a bride and groom’s decision to handle the music and entertainment of their wedding on your own. Many couples are opting for the "do-it-yourself" approach these days in an effort to minimize their wedding budget. Based on our experience in the industry, we’d like to offer you a few suggestions and tips if you decide to go with the DIY option.

1. Get Your Equipment In Order: First and foremost, check with your venue to determine what their sound system capabilities are and what equipment they have available for you to use. Note that your venue may charge a rental fee to use their equipment. If they do not have sound equipment, you will need to find a company to rent the equipment from. Many DJ companies will also rent their equipment, or you can search for “audio visual (AV) rentals” in your area. Remember that not all AV equipment is built the same, so for something as important as your wedding stick with trusted brands such as Bose, Yamaha, Pioneer, Mackie, Peavey, Rane, Numark, or American DJ. Also, make sure you consider having backup equipment or an AV technician available the day of your event in case any of your equipment fails or you have any unforeseen issues. Even we as professionals have a backup plan when it comes to our equipment because you never know!

HELPFUL RESOURCES: Fourth Estate Audio—Considering an iPod Wedding Instead of a DJ eHow—How to Rent Party Equipment for a Wedding Reception

EQUIPMENT CHECKLIST: Microphone/ Laptop with Itunes Amplifier Wireless Microphone iPod/MP3 Player/CD Microphone Cables/ Speakers Backup System Wireless Adapter Mixer/Mixing Board Speaker Stands Extension Cords Mixer to Amplifier Cables Effect Lighting Batteries Tape to Secure Cords

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2. Create Your Music Timeline & Playlists: A wedding timeline helps provide order to your event. A music timeline simply adds a description of what music you would like played during each specific event throughout your wedding. Please see our Sample Wedding Music Timeline on the last page for more detail. For special, highlighted moments during the ceremony or reception (i.e. first dance, father/daughter dance, etc.) we suggest that you make a separate playlist so that your MC doesn't get confused or play the wrong song at the wrong time. Additionally, when you create your Open Dance Music Playlist, you may want to consider having several different lists in that category since you may have open dancing at different times throughout the event. For example, you may want more generation neutral music played earlier in the event (i.e. music that will excite grandma, mom, bride and little sister to all get on the dance floor) and more generation specific music played later in the event (i.e. bring out the booty shaking music later in the event, after grandma has already called it a night).

Page 1 of 4 © 2012 by All Events DJ. All rights reserved This document has been provided courtesy of All Events DJ 702.348.6641 ■ www.alleventsdj.com HELPFUL RESOURCES: My Wedding Music—iPod Wedding Inexpensive Wedding—DIY Wedding Music Wedful—Be Your Own DJ With the WeddingDJ App

PLAYLIST CHECKLIST: CEREMONY RECEPTION Prelude Music Interlude/Cocktail/ Open Dance Music Champagne Hour Music Pre-Processional Music Grand Entrance & Cake Cutting Music Introductions Processional Music Bride & Groom’s First Dance Bouquet/Garter Toss Music Bride’s Procession Music Father/Daughter & Last Dance Music Mother/Son Dance Ceremony Music Toasts & Speeches Farewell to Bride & Groom Unity Candle/ Dinner Music Sand Ceremony Music Recessional Music

3. Designate an MC: Not only are you going to want to pick someone to monitor the music and to make sure the right playlist is playing at the appropriate time, but you are also going to want to make sure you have someone who can act as your Master of Ceremonies and can announce when things will take place. Make sure you pick someone who is technically versed and sees the responsibility as an honor and not a chore. It would be a good idea to provide your MC with a timeline of the events, outlining the order of all the activities and the exact times you would like everything to occur and the corresponding music playlist. You should also include the names of involved person(s) so that your MC can help keep everyone else on track for you. Again, please see our Sample Wedding Music Timeline on the last page for more detail on this. Additionally, to help make your MC feel more comfortable in their role, you may want to consider creating a short script for each activity you’d like them to announce.

HELPFUL RESOURCES: WeddingGirl.ca—Choosing Your Wedding MC The Wedding M.C. by Brian C. Lee CSP

MC CHECKLIST: Wedding Music Timeline Script for Father/Daughter Script for Bouquet/ with Corresponding Playlists & Mother/Son Dance Garter Toss Script for Bridal Script for Introduction Script for Cake Cutting Party Grand Entrance of Speech/Toasts Givers Script for Bride & Games or Activities Groom First Dance to get Guests Involved

Page 2 of 4 © 2012 by All Events DJ. All rights reserved This document has been provided courtesy of All Events DJ 702.348.6641 ■ www.alleventsdj.com 4. Schedule a Test Run: Make sure you test out your equipment at your venue…and NOT during your rehearsal or the day before because you will need plenty of time to make changes if you have any technical issues. You may also want to ensure that the company or person who you have rented the equipment from is available the day of your event just in case something unforeseen happens and you need help. You should also make sure you’ve backed everything up to an additional iPod/MP3 player or CD in the event you lose power or have a technical malfunction. You may also want to consider having battery powered speakers on hand.

5. Don’t Take Out Word For It: We know that taking on the responsibility of managing your wedding music and entertainment can be an enormous responsibility, which is why people often consider hiring a professional to reduce the stress and workload of planning a wedding. But we also know many couples are up for the challenge! We’ve thrown together some other helpful resources below to try and help make the process easier for you…we hope you find it helpful.

The Broke-Ass Bride—iPod Weddings BRIDES Magazine—Top Tips for Avoiding the Biggest DIY-Wedding-Music Mistakes Do It Yourself Weddings—Do It Yourself Wedding Music

On behalf of All Events DJ, we would like to extend our… Congratulations and Best Wishes! If you should change your mind about handing all the music and entertainment needs for your wedding on your own, please do not hesitate to contact our experts at All Events DJ. Our services can vary greatly in prices depending on your needs. We would be happy to schedule a quick, one hour consultation to discuss our services and prices.

SAMPLE ACTUAL PLAYLIST PEOPLE ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION/NOTES TIME TIME TITLE INVOLVED CEREMONY 5:15pm Prelude Guests arrive and are seated 5:45pm Pre-Processional Important guests are seated (parents and grandparents) 5:50pm Processional Bridal party entrance 5:55pm Bride’s Procession Bride’s entrance 6:00pm Ceremony Typically no music because there is speaking 6:15pm Unity Candle/ Sand Special moments when no one is Ceremony Music speaking 6:30pm Recessional Bride, groom and bridal party exit RECEPTION 6:45pm Interlude/Cocktail/ Down time between the ceremony and Champagne Hour the reception, typically when the bride and groom and taking photos 7:45pm Grand Entrance & When the bridal party and/or the bride Introductions and groom are announced to all the guests 8:00pm Bride & Groom’s Typically occurs immediately after the First Dance grand entrance 8:05pm Father/Daughter & Typically occurs immediately following Mother/Son Dance the bride and groom’s first dance 8:10pm Dinner Served 8:35pm Toasts & Speeches Typically the father of the bride and groom will give a speech or toast as will the maid of honor and best man; typically occurs after everyone has been served their food 8:55pm Dinner 9:15pm Open Dancing Typically the first open dancing session will include your guests of all ages 9:35pm Cake Cutting Typically occurs after all the dinner plates have been cleared 9:45pm Open Dancing 10:15pm Bouquet/Garter Typically occurs later in the event, but Toss before the event is winding down 10:30pm Open Dancing Typically the later open dancing will cater to people that are more interested in dancing 11:00pm Last Dance Typically a slower, more mellow song 11:15pm Farewell to Bride & Groom