Thank you for your inquiry regarding one of the most important days of your life!
I have been coordinating, and playing music for weddings and reception for over 20 years. While I cannot advise you on what wedding dress to get or which caterer makes the best potato salad, I can give you the best advice regarding music, coordination of activities, timing, lighting, sound and “Party Management.”
Despite the best planning prior to a wedding and reception, too many weddings and receptions fall apart due to poor “Day of Event Management.”
Party Organization
Keeping things on track is so very important. You want to enjoy your experience, and not have to worry about whether everything is happening when it should. I have designed what I call my “Flow of Events Schedule” --- a carefully planned timeline of the events that are to take place during your celebration.
I work with the caterer, photographer, and any other key people you have involved in the coordination of the day. I will make announcements for the toast preparation, toast, cake cutting, first dances and what ever other activities that are to take place during the event. I will provide professional guidance while carefully remaining in the background, never disrupting or intruding in your special day.
Wedding Music and Coordination
Creating the musical soundtrack for your wedding can be both the hardest and most enjoyable part for brides in particular. After all, this is the moment that dreams are made of! I have great arrangements of all the standard wedding music for prelude, processional, bridal, unity candle and recessional, plus years of experience creating unique alternative soundtracks that really make your wedding special. I have a special “Wedding Detail Sheet” that we work together on to get all the musical information organized to ensure perfection.
Wedding Sound
First priority, I am never late. I set up completely, one hour before the scheduled wedding time. Doing sound for weddings is like flying an airplane. If you crash it, you don’t get a second chance.
Second priority, I like good sound. I am a professional sound designer and engineer and owner of Pacific Stage. So when it comes to weddings, I take a special approach based on years of experience to achieve beautiful audio. Wedding sound should never be done from only behind the seating area or some far off distant location because the DJ is either too lazy or incapable of covering large areas with balanced sound. At Pacific stage we are experienced in doing sound for large events where we spread speakers out over 1,000 feet, so when I design and lay out a system for a wedding, distance is no problem. Also, in most cases I like to mic the officiant, which will also pick up the bride and groom sufficiently in most cases. Most bride and grooms prefer not to have separate mics on them but, if you do, I can provide that also.
I also can provide mics for any other needs such as a reading, vocalists or musicians that may be performing during the wedding. If you are going to have live musicians playing during the wedding, I recommend setting up mics for them also. I like to make the sound even throughout the entire wedding. Acoustic instruments will generally sound a little thin when played outside without sound reinforcement.
I have been a professional sound engineer for over 20 years and do sound for large symphonies and many northwest and national groups so your musicians can rest assured they will be well cared for. If they have any questions, they can call me anytime.
Reception Music and Coordination
For your reception planning, we use the “Reception Detail Sheet.” With that, we work together and get all the musical details figured out. From the background music playing as guests arrive to the special first songs after the ceremony, requests dedications and any other theme music for special activities; your choices are laid out and clear for you.
I also have what I call my “Hot Music Check List.” It is a three page listing of over 400 artists divided into over 20 categories based on music style and decade. On this list, you can mark off your favorite artists and categories, and list any other specific songs you want played.
As an added touch, I also put out “Request Cards” on the tables and I have “Music Menus” that list well over 1,000 of the most requested songs that guests can look through for ideas. I always bring an extensive library of music, designed to please guest of all ages and tastes. From the 30’s to the 2000’s, if we do not have it, we will find it.
The request cards do carry the disclaimer “Request and dedications are included at the discretion of the DJ as the format permits” I always keep in mind what you want played at your reception first and include requests that work with what you like. In some cases request card are not preferred where the format of music is very specific.
The information collected from the “Flow of Events Sheet”, the “Wedding Detail Sheet”, the “Reception Detail Sheet”, the “Hot Music Check List”, the Lighting Design Sheet” and the “Request Cards” combined, creates an invaluable source of data that helps me do my best job for you.
Reception Sound
The quality of the sound system can make the difference of how many people dance or even how long they stay at an event. If it is too loud or bad sounding it can subconsciously drive people out of the room. We can enhance the sound system to adapt to your location - in large rooms where more low frequency cabinets may be required for a full rich sound or in locations where speakers are needed indoors and outdoors to properly address the event we can add at little or no extra charge. Good sound sets the tone for great things to happen in celebrations where music plays such a vital role.
As mentioned in the “Wedding Sound” paragraph on page one, because of my experience as a sound designer and engineer and, with the largest sound company in the lower Puget Sound area as my equipment supplier, my approach to putting together the sound system for a reception is not compromised for lack of gear or inexperience. While most receptions are fairly simple to accommodate, some do require special considerations base on size and layout of the room and overall desired sound levels in specific areas. Outdoor events also bring extra considerations when designing a system to best accommodate and please all your guests. Some larger system designs may require additional charges.
Reception Lighting
Proper lighting for your event plays an important role in creating the right atmosphere. Attractive lighting, particularly once the dancing begins, can make a big difference on how many people stay to dance and celebrate.
Some companies charge extra for even basic lighting. To me, that would be like charging extra for the wheels when you buy a car.
With my “Lighting Design Sheet,” we can go over light options and gel colors that match your wedding colors. Typically when lighting is requested for receptions, I like to do a general wash of color on the dance floor area. If the room does not have dimmable incandescent lighting and or fluorescent tube lighting, extra lights can allow us to control the level ourselves to create a more pleasant atmosphere that is more conducive to dancing. Also I like to include “Star Projectors” which is an improved, updated version of the old mirror ball effect without the tackiness and dizziness of a mirror ball. The star projectors put up multiple fields of slow turning stars on the ceiling only, that can be turned on to the surprise of all your guests just as I announce you for your first dance!
As the owner of Pacific Stage, I have a large resource of lighting and controls to put together extra dramatic lighting systems for your wedding and reception if desired. We do large concert lighting systems, so if you are looking for something extra special, we have the lights!
Electrical power requirements may be a limiting factor depending on the location of your event however, we can use portable generators for additional power. (Larger lighting systems are priced separately)
In the case of some daytime or outdoor receptions lighting may not apply. Also in some situations, special lighting may not fit the theme or atmosphere for the location or plan you have in mind.
References
Any DJ company that has been in business a couple of years can dig up a couple of good references. I can give you references from the last few months and references from people, companies and organizations that I have worked with for decades. I have built my business on providing excellent services, top quality sound and lighting gear, and an easy going yet very efficient and professional way of doing business.
Pricing (2010-2011)
You will notice that I do not play pricing games with my clients. No hidden costs or un-mentioned necessities that you would obviously want and now be charged extra for. I also do not play the deceptive numbers game that retailers and some DJ companies play by pricing things ending in 95, 98, 99 etc. This is a mental trick that makes your brain round down instead of up, thinking the price is considerably lower than a rounded off number to the closest 100 or 50. I do not believe for something as personal as providing a service for one of your most important days of your life should start of with an attempted deception in pricing.
Reception Coordination and DJ Only
My price for a full service wedding reception that includes unlimited meetings and consultation, perfect sound, beautiful lighting and up to 5 hours of music--------------------------------------------------$850.00
Wedding Sound and Coordination
I have been doing sound and coordination for weddings for over 20 years. If you are planning on needing sound, and micing for the officiant, musicians or readers and or special recorded music played at your wedding, the price is based on whether the wedding is located in the same space/location as the reception or if it is a separate location. My wedding prices include coordination meetings for music selection, up to two hours of time for the wedding, including all micing, playback of specified pre-recorded music and/or micing and mixing of live musicians.
Wedding (same location/sound system as reception)--------------------------------------------------$250.00
Wedding (different location/second sound system)----------------------------------------------------$450.00
If you have any question, please call me anytime. No wedding or reception is exactly alike, nor should they be. In my over 20 years of experience I have been involved in well over 2,000 weddings. I have seen a lot of great weddings and receptions. I have also have seen a few not so great ones, so I have some good ideas on what works well and what does not.
Thank you for your inquiry regarding my services. Best of luck on your very special day!
Sincerely,
David Sederberg
Pacific Stage, Inc.
