Our special Friday the 13^th guest blog… should only go to one fabulous professional in our industry! I’m so excited that we have Ray Grace, from Ray the DJ as a guest on our blog today and it’s such an honor to have the opportunity to share him with all of you! For starters—have you ever met someone you felt you could talk to all day? That’s Ray. He’s personable, relatable and on top of things. He not only knows his stuff, he makes you feel comfortable because he talks in easy-to-understand terms and is just that good at what he does! Let’s face it, he’s been successful in this industry for so many years where so many have come and gone—that speaks volumes!  Second, his wife is AHhhhh-mazing! Behind every great man is an even more special woman—and that is Barbara. I’m sure that she keeps him on his toes–but you’ll feel sunshine fill the room when you first meet her. She’ll smile at you from ear to ear and you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about! 🙂

The DJ plays such an integral part in a wedding day—but I’m going to leave this part to him to share. Without further ado—meet Ray Grace from Ray the DJ!

The modern DJ is much more than someone who plays music.

He is a wedding planner, a master of ceremonies, a vendor coordinator, music programmer, and a lighting technician all rolled into one. A good DJ is essential to the success of your wedding reception. Weddings are a mix of formality and fun. Whereas the ceremony is more formal, the reception is a chance to relax and let your hair down. For the reception, most brides prefer a combination of classic elegance and a straight out par-tee!

Here are 3 steps to finding a great DJ:

1. Determine your vision of how your perfect wedding reception would be – fun for all ages with lots of dancing, for example.

2. Get DJ recommendations. Ask your contact at the venue who they enjoy working with, someone who is familiar with their property, staff, and style of service. Photographers also have worked with many DJs and can recommend one whose personality matches what you are looking for.  Check wedding websites such as weddingwire.com to read reviews of DJs by the brides for whom they have played.

3. Arrange for a face-to-face meeting with the DJ you are considering. A good DJ will carefully listen to you, verify your vision, and offer suggestions and ideas that will help make it happen. A meeting will let you know if you are comfortable with him, confident in him, and can trust him with your reception.

Your DJ should work with you to create a timeline of events for your reception. Based on his experience, he can suggest the best timing for the Grand Entrance, First Dance, Toasts, and other key moments. He will then share this timeline with your caterer, photographer, and videographer so that everyone is on the same page. Being a team player and working well with your other vendors is an essential trait of a great DJ.

An experienced DJ knows how to create the right mood & level of energy at the right time. He does this by playing the proper music for the moment and by the tone and inflection of his voice. As master of ceremonies your DJ controls the flow of the reception, by announcing and coordinating the reception events. A pumping Grand Entrance of the wedding party calls for a high-energy song accompanied by a high-energy, enthusiastic DJ! Often, it’s hard to pick a song for the Father/Daughter or the Mother/Son Dance. Your DJ should be able to provide you with song suggestions for these and for every other wedding event.

To make sure you hear the music you want (and don’t want), you can help your DJ by making a list of songs and artists that you and your fiancé enjoy and by noting the favorites of your family and friends. Likewise, let your DJ know what the “do not play” songs are as well. No Macarena, no problem!

Lighting for the dance floor enhances the visual energy. Uplighting around the room, in a color of your choice, can give the room a beautiful ambience. Ask your DJ what lighting options are available, which are included in the package price, and which are not.

The music played at your reception is extremely important, however, it takes more than that to have the best wedding reception possible. Professional, top-of-the-line DJs spend their time planning all the details that combine for a successful, memorable wedding reception. Take the time necessary to find the multi-talented DJ that you truly trust to make your wedding vision a reality.

Ray Grace

Website: raythedj.com | Phone: 480-921-9665 | Address: P.O. Box 26040 Tempe, Arizona 85285-6040

Photography: Dreamcicle Studios Photography | Phone: 602-625-2006 | Facebook: Dreamcicle Studios Photography | Twitter: @DreamciclPhoto

About Dreamcicle Studios Photography: We’re a madly in love husband and wife photography team in the Phoenix-Scottsdale area that loves capturing love more than anything! We photograph new beginnings and completed souls; faces of anticipation, happiness, love. It’s wedding photography designed uniquely for you. We’d love to speak to you about photographing your dream wedding day! Contact us by clicking here.