Prioritizing the ENTERTAINMENT in your budget that is described below pertains to weddings. However, the following information SHOULD be considered for any "once in a lifetime" special celebration, because it truly is the entertainment that you prioritize into your personal budget that will either "make or break" the success that you hope for and of course deserve for your special day.

Picture this for your reception, YOUR BIG DAY, your once in a lifetime celebration.

Just a few hours before the ceremony was to being at one of my weddings several years ago, the location staff realized that the flowers had not yet arrived. They frantically made several phone calls, while word had began circulating that this particular florist had recently started pulling what is called "no shows" due to an alleged drug habit. Finally with no other option, the location staff went out to buy floral arrangements from several nearby grocery stores, after the wedding couple had already paid the "no show" florist $800.00 for their floral decorations. Of course the location staff did their very best however as you would imagine, the flowers were decidedly minimal and did not match the theme and colors that the bride had previously selected from her "no show" florist and decorator. However, when the night ended, most of the guest were still in attendance, dancing with the bride and groom. Once the reception had concluded, guest had lined up outside under the direction of the assigned DJ/MC to blow bubbles and give the bride and groom  big send off. NOT a single guest was overheard saying "it's too bad that their flowers didn't show up. Their wedding would have been a lot more fun."

I ponder to wonder what might have happened if their assigned DJ/MC hadn't showed up to provide the music and entertainment for their reception. What if at all possible in this situation, the location staff was able to find an iPod to play over the in house speakers, but it did not include the songs that the bride and groom selected prior to their wedding day for their customized ceremony and or reception. What if the location staff could find an iPod to hook up but it did not include the special first dance song for the bride and groom. What if most of their guest had departed early (after all that money spent) and only a handful of people were left to blow bubbles as they made their grand exit? Most importantly, what IF their reception ended up lacking any memorable moments filled with laughter, dancing and fun interaction because their hired DJ/MC had failed to show up and the had to depend om an iPod celebration. This is scary, but it happens all of the time, but not with Lake Sumter DJs.

TRY TO PICTURE YOUR RECEPTION WITH "KEY COMPONENTS" REMOVED, It can become quite clear which of those components will play the most important roles in making your once in a lifetime celebration one that will be enjoyed and remembered for a very long time.

JUST WHAT ARE YOUR PRIORITIES FOR YOUR BIG DAY?

Establishing your PRIORITIES well in advance will of course help you plan your wedding budget. THE BIG QUESTION TO ASK YOURSELF IS. "What facets of my wedding day are most important to me, especially when it comes to my reception?"

If your answer is your photographer, you might want to set aside a larger portion of your budget for securing a photographer whose style and experience will be a perfect match for your desires. This priority will most likely influence your choices of decorations, flowers and apparel, so that your photos will truly look their best. BUT don't overlook the impact that the entertainment will have by helping to create the fun, memorable moments that your photographer will be trying to capture.

If you say that food would be the most important component of your reception, you will most likely select your location based on the type of quality and food served there. You might then have less to spend on entertainment, so your guest may not linger around  much past the end of the meal. BUT at least when your guest do leave, they most likely will have enjoyed a truly memorable meal.

If you find yourself compelled to make the decorations the cornerstone of your reception, you might need to find a designer who can turn your vision into reality. When your guest first walk into the setting that you have created for them, they MAY find themselves gasping in awe. But when the meal is over and they have become accustomed to your beautiful decorations, what will keep them from becoming "bored" for the remaining part of your great celebration?

If keeping your guest involved, entertained and having a great time with or without alcohol is your highest priority, here are some facts you should consider before determining how much you can afford to invest in quality, personalized entertainment.

THE ROLE OF YOUR ENTERTAINMENT

Ask yourself  " How big of a role will the quality of the entertainment play in the actual overall success of my reception?"

In post-reception surveys tabulated by DJs who are members of various Disc Jockey Association Organizations from around the world and share ideas back and forth for creating better performances and improving their services for their clients, say clients who made their entertainment A HIGH PRIORITY for their receptions answered the above question by stating that the quality of their entertainment was 80 percent (or more) responsible for the ultimate success of their receptions.

For years, many have said, "The music makes or breaks the reception." But the TRUTH IS that the music is just one part of the overall services provided by professional wedding entertainment vendors to ensure a great reception - one that is continuously entertaining for all of your guests. The statement that would ring more true is: "The entertainment will make or break the reception celebration."

It's eye-opening to note that the popular wedding magazines, books and television shows will never give you advice on how to hire "film," because wedding photographers are ALREADY RECOGNIZED as professionals and artists with UNIQUE TALENTS, skills and personal styles. Yet those same bridal informational resources are constantly offering tips on HOW TO HIRE "MUSIC" for your reception. Like "film" to a photographer, "music" is only a tool and only part of the whole suite of services that a true professional wedding entertainer regularly provide. IF "music" were all that you needed to create an ENTERTAINING reception, your result would be an extended cocktail hour.

THIS IS WHAT GOOD-QUALITY WEDDING ENTERTAINMENT SHOULD BE:

The entertainment at a wedding ( whether you choose a DJ or a band ) also should typically serve as the master of ceremonies by announcing  the formalities in an appropriate manner.
The entertainment will help you plan and organize your personalized reception agenda to ensure the proper and desired pacing needed to prevent your guest from becoming bored.
The entertainment should communicate with you, your parents, your wedding party members, and all other vendors behind the scenes in an ongoing manner, keeping your reception agenda on track and flowing smoothly and professionally to your pre-approved customized desires.
The entertainment should brainstorm in advance with you to develop personalized moments that will leave you and your guests with lasting memories of your unforgettable celebration.
The entertainment SHOULD LET YOU CUSTOMIZE YOUR CELEBRATION TO YOUR DESIRES, while at the same time making suggestions upon request for a truly remarkable and very memorable celebration. In other words, IF the entertainment will not let you customize your day to be your way…..then stay far away.

TRUE QUALITY ENTERTAINMENT requires professionalism, artistry, and unique talent and skill. Don’t be fooled into thinking that someone who will “just push play” on a CD player or other music device playing the same set of songs that they play week after week, can make your reception fun and entertaining.

SOME FOOD FOR THOUGHT

In July 2003, St. Louis Bride & Groom Magazine surveyed many brides within weeks of their wedding. The brides were asked what they wished they had done differently when creating their budgets and hiring their once in a lifetime wedding day vendors. A shocking 78% said that they wished that they had given TOP PRIORITY to their decisions ABOUT ENTERTAINMENT and 72% said that they wished that they would have spent more time researching BEFORE SELECTING THEIR ENTERTAINMENT. That is a high percentage of wedding clients who appear to be looking back at their recent entertainment decisions with buyers’ remorse.

Nearly 100% of the brides said that, in retrospect, they would have gladly set aside more money from their budget in an effort to have had better quality entertainment. True, this might be because of the result of the current budget suggestions in bridal magazines and popular bridal books that recommend setting aside only 5 to 10 percent of your total budget for the purpose of securing “music.” Nevertheless, as said earlier, “music alone” CANNOT CREATE a successful reception ALL BY ITSELF. OVERALL, the entertainment service is what REALLY sets the tone, keeps your customized agenda or timeline flowing smoothly and MOST IMPORTANTLY maintains the ongoing interest of the guests.

Therefore it is suggested that spending more to secure the QUALITY OF ENTERTAINMENT that you desire for your reception is actually an investment in the overall success of your once in a lifetime celebration. HOW MUCH IS THE SUCCESS OF YOUR RECEPTION “REALLY WORTH?”

FINAL BUDGET THOUGHTS

If an entertaining reception is of highest priority to you (and it should be), keep in mind that there are many different aspects of your overall budget that can be easily trimmed without impacting the overall entertainment value of your reception in any way. It is known (and we have seen) that wedding clients spend hundreds of dollars on “favors” that usually are thrown out. Many spend over a thousand dollars on chair covers alone, and tens of thousands on flowers. If you have attended any wedding receptions lately, THINK ABOUT THEM. Were they fun and energetic? Were they enjoyable and memorable? Where they entertaining, or were they boring? The most lavish of weddings can still be disappointing if the guest are bored or restless and the entertainment is not doing a good job of entertaining, On the other hand, a low-budget reception with lovely (but less-than -lavish) flowers, no chair covers or celebration favors, and a nice but simple meal, can still be an incredibly memorable reception IF THE VALUE OF THE ENTERTAINMENT IS GIVEN HIGH PRIORITY.

Here at Lake Sumter DJS we offer one basic high quality entertainment package, which starts at just $395.00 and from this package, you can add several different options to meet your entertainment needs and more. The options are your choice, but the package that we offer our prospective clients is top notch and we are not just a “music” service. We are highly skilled and talented and we are sure to bring you the very best for your once in a lifetime celebration.