Toronto Wedding Reception Planning

The average cost of a Canadian Wedding is $20,000 - $30,000 (source MyCanadianWedding) and could be higher in a major city like Toronto. The wedding reception itself will consume more than 50% of that. This will be the first time you receive your relatives and friends as a married couple. It can be one of the most joyous parties you and yours will ever host. A wedding reception is an event, like any other form of entertaining, should be planned with your guest’s enjoyment and comfort in mind. Don’t leave details and timing to chance and assume that all will work out well! It won’t, unless you plan properly, and budget correctly. Then you can sit back and enjoy your reception without having to worry about "what is next or what to do now".

The goal of the Master of Ceremonies and the Entertainment / Disc Jockey is to make your wedding reception run as smooth as possible, while engaging your guests and creating the fondest memories to last you a lifetime. Wedding receptions take planning, experience and talent. Be sure to hire a Professional who will use in-depth reception and music planners and you can rest assured your reception will be a great success!

Your reception is an entertainment driven event! Therefore the Master of Ceremonies needs to be able to get your guests attention, make announcements, and keep your event on track. A good MC (emcee) can add personality to your reception dinner while delivering well informed, tasteful, light humored introductions of your head table, speakers, and toasts. This takes advanced planning and research by the person you choose for this task. We can recommend a professional MC or offer your chosen MC valuable instruction through Tom Haibeck's award winning books.

The Disc Jockey / Entertainer must be able to please all your guests musical tastes both young and old, and not just the Bride and Grooms, they do this by grouping song styles together with party standards while incorporating guests requests and avoiding dance floor killers. Remember, they shouldn’t sound like a Juke Box. The DJ should be able to coordinate all your special dances, and possess good microphone skills. They should provide professional equipment ensuring good quality sound and lighting effects to help create energy and excitement on the dance floor.

Ask yourself this, what is the driving factor that will keep you guest’s attention?

Is it:
The limousine?
	The flowers?
		The venue?
The food?
	The cake?
		The photographer or video?

Have you ever been to a wedding reception where things were disorganized, no one knew anything, the MC is at the bar drinking liquid courage, writing his speech on a napkin, the DJ showed up late in jeans and running shoes, then the party ended early because no one was having fun or the music was too loud? YES? This happens all too often for a few reasons, the big one is not enough thought went into the reception planning and the guests enjoyment. The other common one is failing to set the right Entertainment Budget and booking a poor or hobby type DJ.

Your DJ is responsible for up to 7 or 8 hours of your reception. If anything unexpected happens, the DJ is the one everyone will look to for guidance or direction. The moment your guests arrive, the Disc Jockey/Entertainer will be the first person they see and approach with any concerns; from where is the coat check too it’s to hot/cold, when is the first dance, where are the washrooms, when does the party start, and so on. The Disc Jockey needs to play the right music at the right volume level throughout the entire reception whilst working with the Bride & Groom, MC, the Caterer, Venue staff and any other suppliers. They also handle guest inquires and music requests. If there is a Wedding Coordinator they will need to work closely with them until the Grand Entrance when the Disc Jockey / Entertainer takes over. Your Disc Jockey has a lot responsibility and they should be prepared to embrace it. The question is then, “do they know it”?

Setting the Wedding Budget is one of the first things you should do as you begin your planning. Although the economy is suffering, the entertainment budget is not the place to start cutting. A common misconception is, you only need to pay a few hundred dollars for entertainment. Professional planners know, you need to budget at minimum 5% of your total wedding budget for quality entertainment. Have a look at the following survey of newlyweds. The resulting chart was published by Modern Bride magazine. We believe, and we think you will too, that 5% of your wedding budget is a great value for 80% of the responsibility and success of your wedding reception.

There are a lot of Disc Jockeys in the Wedding industry, some full time, some part time. Some are new to the business, others are seasoned veterans. When looking at the services out there, don't just shop price as the levels of service and experience are not the same. Do some homework! It's not "how much does the music cost". It's the pre-planning meetings, reception experience and their personality and Talent that will make your wedding reception a success. You need to talk to them face to face about your vision, conduct a few interviews before you write a cheque. Make sure you are comfortable with the entertainment you are considering, and that they give you a sense of confidence about the services they are providing. For more information on finding the right Entertainment for your special day click here!

Ask Suzanne

Professional Bridal Consultant (PBC) & Wedding Planner (ABC)

Planning for your wedding day can be one of the most stressful tasks you will ever endeavor; Baker, Caterer, Venue, Photographer, Entertainment, Invitations/Announcements, Dresses, Hairdressers, Tuxedos, Gifts…

The list of tasks and contacts can be seemingly endless and a little overwhelming. Without careful attention to detailed planning your day might not go entirely as anticipated. Whether the cake will serve 40 or 240 is unimportant when ensuring the decorative icing is correct and that the cake is served on time.

A bridal consultant will work with you and handle as much or as little, of your wedding planning, as you wish. A bridal consultant is part of your budget, not an extra expense. In fact a bridal consultant can often save you money through recommendations and suggestions of affordable alternatives that still enhance your wedding.

Bridal consultants can assist with advice, coordinating and supervising, financial planning and, on occasion, act as a mediator. Your bridal consultant should be someone you can rely on to make the day as perfect as it can be while you relax and focus on your family and friends.

Etiquette Questions? Why not Ask Suzanne? Email her your questions, click here!

You have painstakingly planned your entire wedding, with or without assistance. Every detail has been thought of and all the players are in place. Congratulations!

From the ceremony, to photographs, to the reception, your Wedding Day Coordinator will work with your vendors and your bridal party allowing you to relax and enjoy your special day without worrying if everyone will be seated for your Grand Entrance, if the champagne glasses will be filled for toasts or if the cake will be served on time.

The Wedding Day Coordinator will work behind the scenes ensuring that all your careful planning is kept on track. Now you can focus on your partner, and the family and friends who have gathered to share in your joy.

Can you save money by playing your own music at your reception? Some say yes, however you need to consider the following;

Who will play the music at your reception? - your friends and family are your invited guests. Will the friend of a friend show up? What guarantee do you have? You will have to rent your own sound system - how much equipment do you need to rent? Who will pick it up, deliver it to the venue and set it up? Who will take it down and bring it back? What if it breaks down or you can't get it to work right - your reception has come to a screaming halt - now what? You will have to pay for replacing / repairing lost or damaged equipment.

Do you have all the music you need - maybe, however probably not! Your favorite tunes are not everyone else's. AVLA says you need a license to play copyrighted music in public, and using MP3 / iPod music downloads opens a bunch legal concerns. These are just a few of many considerations you should realize about the "MP3" style wedding. Liability Insurance, Experience, Knowledge and peace of mind are a few others.

OK - so you have everything covered, saved a bunch of money, its your wedding day and something goes terribly wrong. Not so sure saving a few bucks is worth it.

We offer unique and specialized services tailored to your wedding reception requirements,

Professional, Talented and Experienced Wedding Disc Jockey's with public speaking skills,

Now that's Great Service + A Great Price = We are your "Best Entertainment Value!"

"because the success of you reception depends on the quality of your Entertainment"

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