Looking for a wedding DJ who listens, prepares, and builds a dance floor that lasts all night? Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at how I helped make James and Kiara’s wedding one to remember.
“We had a blast and the music was one of the best parts! We also had so many people tell us that they loved how you mixed the songs and that they had never seen a dance floor so full until the end 😊” ~ Kiara & James
Detailed Preparation
We started with a planning meeting to go over the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception, and followed up afterward to make sure we were aligned on all the key details. I put together a custom cheat sheet with everything from the order of events to the specific song choices and got their sign-off on it. I also made sure to prep all the formalities, build playlists for each part of the day, and even created a short custom edit for their private last dance.
One thing that really helped was that Kiara and James shared a playlist of music they liked, along with a list of song requests from their guests’ RSVPs. Having both gave me a really clear sense of their style and what their guests would want to hear. It made it easier to prep songs that would work well on the dance floor—across genres, decades, and energy levels.
Kiara is a big Taylor Swift fan, so we worked in Love Story along with a few of her other high-energy tracks. Their list also included a lot of 2000s pop and dance hits, some crowd-pleasing ’80s throwbacks, and a handful of current pop and TikTok songs, which definitely landed with the younger crowd among Kiara’s extended family.
I spent time prepping the songs from their list and filled in with others I thought would complement the vibe. They also asked about remixes, which was exciting for me. After attending a few weddings recently, they knew which songs they liked and which had started to feel overplayed. Some tracks they wanted to hear with a bit more energy – something that still felt familiar but hit a little harder for the dance floor. I’m selective with remixes since the original version is often what gets people excited to dance – but I also have a lot of edits in my library that keep the core of the song intact while adding a little momentum.
They shared some of their favorites, and I went digging for the perfect versions. For tracks where I couldn’t find a remix that would land well, I planned some live mashups instead. Those made for some really fun moments during the party.
Once I had everything ready, I grouped the songs into short sets – 3 to 5 tracks that flowed well together – and saved those in my DJ software so I could stay flexible while keeping the energy where it needed to be.
Ahead of the wedding, I also called the team at the venue (Carleton of Oak Park Hotel) to go over the setup and timeline. Katie was super helpful in making sure everything was covered.
“We so appreciated your professionalism, attention to detail, communication, and more throughout the entire planning process! And Katie loved you too — she had amazing things to say about you and Kelly!!” ~ Kiara & James
Early Setup
This was one of the first weddings I played using entirely my own equipment, so I tested everything thoroughly at home beforehand. On the day of, I arrived very early and gave myself several hours for load-in, setup, and a full sound check with the officiant. We needed all that time to get everything dialed in, but I was glad we had it. I’m aiming to streamline that process as I gain more experience.
The ceremony went smoothly – we adjusted the lav mic to avoid feedback and make sure we could clearly hear both the officiant and the couple’s vows. There’s still some minor tuning I want to do on the wireless mics for future events, but overall it worked well.
For cocktail hour, we played instrumental jazz in the lounge while we flipped the ballroom. I added a subwoofer and brought in dance floor lighting, which required a bit of rewiring, but it was worth it.
A Packed Dance Floor
Once guests returned for the reception, I checked in with Katie and the photographer Aga, gave a brief welcome, then moved into introductions, cake cutting, and their first dance. The rest of the formalities happened after dinner, including a really sweet moment where Kiara dedicated her bouquet to her mother. After that, we pulled everyone in for a group photo and moved straight into dancing.
We started the dance floor with Signed, Sealed, Delivered – a guest request that felt like the right energy to kick things off – then moved into Uptown Funk and some other upbeat tracks. We played the Unwritten remix James and Kiara had picked out, then pushed the energy a bit with a custom Starships edit and Kiara’s must-play Love Story remix (a great sing-along moment).
Guests continued to get more comfortable and into the music as the night went on! I was surprised and delighted to hear the young people in the crowd scream every word to old-school hits like It’s Tricky, not just the current music that I expected them to like. This makes my job easy! We got to explore different types of music throughout the night and the dance floor stayed full. I found it difficult to bring the energy down when needed because these guests were right with me for banger after banger!
Later in the evening, I got a request from the matron of honor – she asked if I could play Pink Pony Club. It wasn’t on the couple’s playlist, but it fit right in with the energy of the night. The crowd had already loved Hot to Go!, so I trusted her request, especially coming from one of the bride and groom’s VIPs. It also felt like the right moment to change the tempo, so I dropped it in next. It hit great.
That transition also set up the perfect opportunity to bring in the Seeb remix of Delicate by Taylor Swift. James and Kiara had put it on their list, and I like that edit, but during prep I wasn’t sure if it would work with a diverse crowd. Seeing how their group stayed with me through each song gave me the confidence to go for it. I beatmixed it in, and they loved the energy!
We ended the night with a final group dance to Everybody Loves Somebody by Dean Martin, a sweet classic that James and Kiara had picked out. Then we lined up for the send-off as they shared a private last dance.
Moving Forward
I made a few small mistakes throughout the day and have already made some notes to smooth them out for next time. James and Kiara told me they didn’t notice anything and that they had a great time celebrating with their guests.
One of the best parts of working with James and Kiara was their trust and communication. Their thoughtful prep helped me do what I do best! I’m also grateful to have worked with great vendors. Ivory Light Studios was the photographer and did an excellent job, and The Carleton of Oak Park was a great venue to work with – responsive and organized.
If you’re planning your own wedding and want a DJ who will take the time to understand your music taste, adapt to your guests, and create a full experience from the first dance to the final track, I’d love to chat.