How to Spot a Phenomenal Wedding DJ

After several weeks vacation I am back and ready to blog. Of course, I have chosen to hire Complete Music and Video for my wedding. Oh, a band would be wonderful, but that comes with a serious price tag. The next best thing is a really good DJ. Anyone can push play, I want someone to lead my event and take care of my guests!
Looking for a Wedding DJ?

The Top 10 Things to Know and Look for in a Professional Disc Jockey


1. Expect a prompt return on all phone calls and emails: If you haven't received return correspondence in 24 hours it might be time to move on. However if you called on a Friday night, give your professionals until Monday morning. They were performing at events all weekend long.

2. Are they willing to meet with you?: You should meet with your DJ company, prior to signing the contract, whenever possible. Be sure there you may also meet and plan with your DJ a few weeks before your event. It is very hard to build a rapport on the phone or via email.

3. If the price is too good to be true, it is!: Sure, you can find a single DJ out there who is ready to DJ your event for $300. But are they good? Do they have someone on call in case of emergency? Can they guarantee a DJ if something happens to them? What if the equipment malfunctions? Are they playing pirated music? Do they know how to MC and coordinate with all your vendors? Do any of your other vendors know who they are?

4. What kind of DJ are they?: If you are having a wedding, make sure your DJ understands the ins and outs of a wedding. A Club DJ is wonderful at a club, but usually they have not been trained in wedding announcements, the flow of a wedding, appropriate dress, personality, and the communication it takes to work with all your other vendors.

5. Documents and Ethics of your DJ: Your DJ should be INSURED and use a contract to book your event. There should be no side deals and they should never drink or use illegal drugs while performing.

6. Wondering what Music will be played: You have every right to choose 100% of your music and the DJ will be able to guide you on what will work and what won't. Your DJ has to be a chameleon and be able to play the kind of music that will make your guests want to get up and dance! Make sure they have a music library you can look through and they will get whatever music you want as long as it is in print.

7. The Entire Package: Be sure to read the fine print and look at what is included in your package. Be sure they are not going to charge you for a wireless mic, lavalier mic, lights, or attaining more music for you. You will be paying more than what you thought and can blow your wedding budget.

8. Your DJ's Personality: While you want to make sure they have the equipment necessary, believe it or not, anybody can go out and buy the fanciest turntables. What makes a great DJ is not their equipment or lights, but their ability to entertain and work with the client and the vendor. They are not the star of the show, YOU are, and your professional DJ is working tirelessly to insure your event is everything you dreamed.

9. Motivating Your Crowd: Ask your DJ how they are going to motivate your crowd. Can they suggest icebreakers that you like, and work with the entire team of your your event, will they be the master of ceremonies?

10. Your DJ should be able to accomplish all of these tasks at your wedding: MC the event, light and sound technician, coexist and coordinate with all other vendors at your event, motivates your crowd, organizes and helps plan out your music carefully, seamless music without pauses unless otherwise stated, will be able to read the crowd carefully and picks the right music for the right moment, is flexible with abrupt changes, and above all else, follows the plan that you and your wedding professionals have created. (written by Tara Humphrey with Complete Music and Video)

I love photography. I can't tell anybody how to take a picture and I am not a photojournalist, but I love to look at photos and say words like 'cool' and 'pretty'. So when it came down to choosing a photographer for our wedding I was excited. I pored over several websites of my favorite photographers and struggled with who we should hire for our wedding.

There are so many photographers in Austin and with the digital camera age so many people think they know how to take a picture. The reality is, I have heard from too many brides and grooms looking for their wedding photographer so they can get their wedding photos back long after they were due. I had already narrowed my search down to the wonderful people I have worked with over the years, and after a long discussion, we chose Ron Parks Photography.

We chose Ron for a variety of reasons, but there were three deciding factors. I knew Ron would get along with my family members, he would be able to take wedding photos and still do an amazing job as an artist, and lastly, even if he can't be there, the photographers on his staff will do just as great a job.


I asked Ron if he could tell me what the top three most important things one should look for in their photographer and here is what he had to say.

1. Budget: Be sure the photographer is within your budget and be careful to budget enough money for a good photographer. Your photos will be one of the few items that will remain after your wedding is over.

2. Chemistry: The photographer's personality should add to your day's experience, rather than take away from your wedding.

3. Dependability: This includes everything from returning phone calls and emails promptly, to arriving on time, not leaving early, getting the photos back within a reasonable amount of time, and delivering all that is promised. The best way to choose a dependable photographer is to look for referrals, ask about any awards they have received, ratings on wedding websites, and by how long the photographer has been in business.

To Tip or Not to Tip - That is the Question

So after spending lots and lots of money and working with a budget, it is time to include the finances of tipping. As a DJ, when a bride asked me what to tip, I was honestly uncomfortable and now as a Bride, when I ask vendors to tell me what to tip, I watch them squirm.
So, I have scoured the internet, read magazines. and talked to my wedding coordinator, Kathie. Kathie was able to produce a Tipping List and I am relieved. I have to see all of my wedding professionals every day long after my wedding and I cannot appear cheap or withhold hard earned and deserved tips. Even if I didn't already call many of my vendors friends, I would still want to tip appropriately. I put myself through college by waiting tables and now the tables have turned. Pun intended.




Tipping Chart Guidelines

One of the most common questions asked to me is who to tip and how much to tip. I tell all of my brides, that tipping is not necessary, but it is a very nice way to say” thank you”, to the vendors that help make your day special. It is not so much about the amount, but that you acknowledge the vendors for the role they played in the days leading up to your wedding and on your wedding day. The following amounts are merely guiding suggestions; you’re free to give more to professionals who exceeded your expectations and really made your day special. And of course, I suggest that you include a beautiful thank-you note.

Event planner: 10 to 20 percent of your bill, depending on the terms of contract or a nice gift.

Officiants: $50 to $100 on top of any set fees. If they do not accept a cash gift, a donation to their place of worship is kind and appropriate.

Organists and ceremony musicians: $20 to $40, depending on length of service – Most of Musicians have their tip included. Ask you Event Planner if you have any questions.

Reception site manager: 15 to 20 percent of entire bill for the reception. check your contract to see if gratuity is already included. Waiters: $20 to $40 each, depending upon quality of service. If you saw that there were only a few waiters who worked their tails off, give them more ( in most cases this is already included in your final bill).

Valets: $1-$2 per car

Bartenders: 15 percent of liquor bill. Check your contract to see if gratuity is already included.

Coat check: $1 per coat

Limousine drivers: 15 to 20 percent of transportation bill (Check to see if tip is already included in the contract first! If so, then on-the-day tip may be smaller as a token for great service, or left out altogether)

Photographer and Videographer: A $50 tip is completely acceptable and they can split it with their assistant.

Entertainers: $25 to $30 each, more if they really exceeded expectations. Again, check your contract to see if gratuity is already included.

DJ: 10 to 20 percent of your total bill, if they do an amazing job

Beauticians and barbers, manicurists and makeup artists: 15 to 20 percent of beauty salon bill – don’t forget the shampoo person!

Delivery Drivers: A $10 tip for each delivery of flowers, linens, or cakes is a very nice gesture.

Altar boys or girls - $10-15.00 each

Baby-sitters: $30 to $40 each, plus a gift, in addition to their hourly wages; more if baby-sitter is putting in extra hours or caring for several children.

The Internet Wedding of My Dreams?

I love the internet, use the internet, shop the internet, and now I find myself browsing for the best prices on the internet. It is amazing how I can go to ten different websites and get 10 different costs on the exact same item and even the same brand. I spent hours last night until I figured out what I wanted and what I needed to buy.

I am happy where I, as a consumer, can get online and find precisely what I want and get what I need without leaving my house in the hot, Texas summer.

However, I am a little surprised with many of the cheesy and ugly wedding necessities people try to pawn off on brides. And if one isn't interested in frumpy lace, feminine hearts, or trendy polka dots, one had better be ready to pull out their fat pocketbooks to buy the ONE hip, elegant, attractive item ONE company offers. Weddings are brutal.

After a lengthy time staring at a computer screen, donning my carpal tunnel shield, I found a few buys that I am happy to have purchased.

The Beverly Clark Manhattan Collection pictured above at http://magicalday.com/ was the first thing I bought. Honestly, I am not sure about the flutes or the cutting pieces, but I can always use those as a gift for someone later. If there is a better set of wedding items, I couldn't find them and I tried.

The beautiful Interfaith Ketubah (Jewish wedding contract) from the http://ketubahstore.com/ was the least expensive I could find on the internet. And I love the artist Nava Shalom. I have seen her ketubahs sell for a lot more. The best Ketubah spot online!



I am still hunting for unity candles, still looking at registering, and still eying the debit card wondering what else do I need to purchase. Ahh, yes, I still need to find the perfect pair of shoes, but that is not a task for the world wide web. No, shoe shopping might take the full nine months until our wedding date. At the very least it will take several leisurely afternoons of sultry saunters and sighs. Until I can actually get to Neiman Marcus, it won't hurt to browse.

The Wedding DJ Makes the Worst Bride

When I got engaged I thought it would be so easy to plan a wedding. After years of seeing and participating in events, helping all my friends and acquaintances, and talking to wedding vendors daily, I thought I might know a thing or two. Maybe not.

After the past week and a half, I find myself overwhelmed and stressed. I realized on Monday that during my daughter's nap time: I was trying to juggle sales calls, a contractor for a bathroom on the fritz, a blog, writing thank you notes for Brides Against Breast Cancer, while frantically trying to do the last edit on my first novel because some wonderful agent actually wants to read the whole manuscript.

So, I hired a wedding coordinator. Kathie Millen and Amber with Austin Wedding Planners and Elite events. I didn't hire them fast enough. I was a crazy person at our meeting yesterday, holding up a magazine photo of flowers, saying "these are my colors. Can you do it?"



Kathie knows how I work and thank God for this. I had the list of vendors and contracts in my head and I couldn't even fill out her paperwork appropriately and on time. She was very forgiving. Kathie also knows the ins and outs of a Jewish ceremony and/or Jewish Interfaith ceremony. I knew she could be sensitive to our family's religious and emotional needs while respecting both myself and Brandt.

Did I also mention she has a warehouse full of wonderful items for decorations? And she said we could actually go there and pick items out?

She even asked me the kind of cake I wanted and she would order it for me from Michelle's Patisserie. I do love Michelle and would love to do a tasting, but I don't like cake except for carrot and German Chocolate and that is exactly what I ordered. I already have tasted those and I can't wait to eat them on our wedding day. Yes, I asked for a tres leches for the bottom tier, for the guests. I hear it is fabulous, but the only way I can keep the weight off in the wedding industry is to stay away from the cake. A little wonderful note: Michelle does not use fondant unless requested. (Big sigh of relief, my mother loves butter cream)



After all that, Kathie is taking care of writing up the budget I am tired of pouting over and happily accepts my snap decisions. She knows all I want to do is be a mama, be a wife, write, and decide on the music for my wedding. I said several times "Just surprise me"! And I know better! I know that the bride who doesn't give a lot of direction is the scariest bride of them all. All of her wedding vendors, praying during her event, they have met her veiled expectations. I am that bride now and Lauren at Vintage Villas and Kathie Millen are unfettered, calming all my concerns, so I can jump into the realm of a more balanced life.

To hire Elite or Austin Wedding Planners go to: http://www.austinweddingplanners.com

Here are a few other coordinators I love:

Keri Wootton owner of Leave the Details to Me keri@leavethedetails2me.com
Barbara Hearne owner of Barbara's Brides http://www.barbarasbrides.com
Tanya Posavatz CSEP owner of [clink] http://www.clinkevents.com

I Found the Dress

After a wonderful weekend volunteering for Bride's Against Breast Cancer, I have found my wedding gown. Yes, it is couture and 100% of the proceeds went to a wonderful charity. In fact, I am wearing the dress as I write this post. I love silk.

During the past few days I was reminded why I love working in the wedding industry. Not only were we able to raise $1000's of dollars for charity, but we had so many prizes to give away to brides. I was warmed by the many happy tears as other women found their dress or won a trip for two.

Shopping for a dress was new to me and watching other brides shopping for a dress was a part of the wedding process I have never paid any attention to and I was overwhelmed.

In order for me to prepare for Brides Against Breast Cancer and buy a dress I have spent so much time researching and learning.

Did you know:
The dress should be stored in a breathable cotton bag? (No plastic)
There is no need to pay for dress preservation? Just wrap dress with cotton muslin and keep it out of direct sunlight. Once a year pull the dress out, wash the muslin, and wrap the dress again.
Couture dresses run small? Sometimes even by more than one size? (cruel)
A dress can usually be let out by 1 size, but can be reduced by about 2 sizes?

It is only because of so many great vendors we were able to accomplish and create a spectacular event. My hats off go to The Renaissance Hotel, Elite Weddings, An Event to Remember, Men's Wearhouse, Dragon Fly Designs, Floral Renaissance, Ron Parks Photography, Ideal Heel, Bouquets of Austin, Premiere Party Central, and The Wedding Guide. Not only were they amazing, but so were all those fantastic volunteers. It was no small feat.

We are already getting ready Brides Against Breast Cancer in 2011!

Brides Against Breast Cancer

Untitled from Complete Music & Video Austin on Vimeo.

Not the dress I bought, but who could resist wearing an Angie Sanchez gown. After watching this video, I am realizing it is true, the camera does add 10 pounds to the figure.

Finding the Prefect Vendor

After years of paying for advertisements and years of working with the most amazing vendors, it is my turn to find them, hire them, and pay them. Here is the hard part: there are some vendors, I have only met briefly, seen at a bridal show, and otherwise do not actively work with during an event. I also don't have a clue to what they cost or what is appropriate. These are the things I know to do:

Step 1. Join the knot at http://theknot.com Great place for dresses and to chat with other brides.
Step 2. Get the Austin Wedding Guide and go to http://austin.texasweddingsltd.com/ I love to write in the time line area of the book.
Step 3. Ask for the list of preferred vendors from Vintage Villas Event Center and do not stray from that list. I repeat, do not stray from that list and if you must, ask your venue about the vendor you want to use.

Then another problem crept up, there are all these advertisements, even from people I have never met or have ever heard their company name. Then, I realized anyone can advertise. So how do I know who is great, that wonderful PREFERRED VENDOR LIST. All the wedding venues have them, use them, your professional wedding venue is telling you they are reputable.



Here is what I know to avoid:

Step 1. If other wedding vendors have never heard of the company, I am staying away.
Step 2. I make sure there is always somebody on call for that company. If my vendor is in a car accident, while I am deeply sorry for their pain, I still need a photographer to attend my wedding. I do not want to have to hire a vendor the week of my wedding due to an emergency. (I can tell you, we get at least one phone call every 2 weeks to replace a DJ who has canceled.)
Step 3. As much as I like my budget, if a vendor is really cheap, there is a reason they are really cheap. One will always get what they pay for.



Sadly, I want so many people to be a part of my wedding after I have worked with them for years, but I only have room for one photographer, one DJ, and one florist.

For a list of all my favorite preferred wedding vendors check out: http://www.cmaustindj.com/preferred-vendors/index.htm

Listen on the Austin Radio

Tune into several radio stations to hear Tara talk about Brides Against Breast Cancer.

Listen for Chris Sanchez of Inside Austin on Sunday.

6:00 am mix 94.7
7:00 am magic 95.5 and at
6:00 pm TALK RADIO 1370 AM

Interfaith Happily Ever After

Over the years, interfaith marriage has become more and more frequent. Of course, as a wedding DJ company in Austin, so many of the ceremonies we participate in include a wide variety of religions and cultures. (Maybe I do use that Anthropology degree) I have always enjoyed the creativity I have seen many couples use to tackle what can be a sensitive and divisive subject.

It is now my turn. I am Jewish and Brandt was raised Baptist who now enjoys dabbling in Buddhism, meditation, Christmas, and whatever else sparks his interest. Early in our courtship, we discussed our differences matter-of-factly, put our cards on the table, and promised each other our religion would not be an issue. What is that cliche? Ah yes..."easier said than done."

I know some people don't care, convert to their future spouses faith, or never had a life of religion, however, both Brandt and I were raised with heaping spoonfuls of religion every day. Never a meal without a prayer or a holiday without purpose. While Brandt and I have come to our own agreements that work for us, it is not without difficulty. There are times both of us, and our families, have to grieve the loss of our expectations and dreams.

I can honestly say that each person, on either side of our families, always wants and tries to do the right thing. I can see us all working so hard to be kind and respectful as we make a path into the unknown. All of us, are amending our prior biases and ready for the next hurdle spurred on by Brandt and myself. We are the ones getting married and creating a rather interesting union.

Our daily religious life is up to us and rarely a light shines upon it, but with the birth of our daughter, and now a wedding ceremony, we have to make decisions for all to witness. While Brandt and I can talk all day along about the music, when we get to the ceremony our conversation begins "Are you ready to discuss the particulars of the ceremony?" The next sentence is "How do we please and respect our families?"

We still don't know. We decide on one detail each time and one of us usually sighs and gives up. This is what we have so far: We will have a chuppah (Jewish tradition), we will have a unity candle (a Christian tradition), Brandt and I both will be escorted down the aisle by our respective parents, if they want,(Jewish and feminism) and no religious music. No religious music is mainly due to working in the wedding industry and hearing the music one too many times. I do not want to feel like I am at work on my wedding day. Our plan is to make one more decision a week until we can complete this overwhelming task. I am so relieve we can and do communicate. It is exhausting, but worth every bit of energy.

Now, all we have to do is find an officiant to handle all of our innovative requests.