Congratulations, you’re planning a wedding! Whether you are arranging a wedding for someone else or taking an active role in planning your own, here are some tips that will make the job of selecting your reception entertainment a little easier. Your choice of entertainment can mean the difference between a wonderful wedding reception and a celebration memorable for all the wrong reasons.

The first decision you must make will be ‘what kind of entertainment should I hire?’ There are three types of entertainers that traditionally perform at receptions; disc jockeys, bands, (including solo and duo entertainers) and karaoke services.

Disc Jockeys are probably the most common entertainment at wedding receptions for several reasons. A good DJ can provide almost any type of music; adding material for him is just a matter of purchasing CDs or downloading songs. A professional DJ will be able to adjust volume levels to suit the venue and event, and in most areas, it’s easy to find DJs that specialize in weddings. If you are using a wedding planner, he or she will certainly have a list of good wedding DJs. You could also check local Yellow Pages listings, log on to a wedding planning website or consult with your wedding photographer and caterer.

It’s usually a good idea to select a DJ who specializes in wedding receptions. He or she will probably be a little more expensive (remember, the most weddings are weekend events, the DJ has 2 days in which to earn the majority of his income.) The dance club spin-master who has been keeping the floor full at the local watering hole might be a little cheaper; he also might have a few problems satisfying the wide variety of guests who will attend your reception. Remember, the music that might make the groom ecstatic could easily drive Grandma out of her mind. The novice wedding DJ could also have a lack of understanding of expected protocol, have difficulty adjusting to the fact the focus of your event is on something other than the dance floor, or be incapable of MCing the event if you wish him to.

If you do hire a non-wedding oriented DJ, make sure he or she has access to a wide variety of music, including the bride and groom’s favorite slow dance songs and something to satisfy the older guests. You will definitely want to make sure your DJ knows that volume levels will probably be considerably less than he or she is used to. You also might want to specify what the DJ is expected to wear if you expect formal attire, (you should remember, he might be accustomed to very casual attire, so get that issue straightened out when hiring him). If you are expecting your DJ to MC the event, make sure to go over every detail, assign someone to keep the DJ informed of what’s coming next and specify he will provide an extra microphone for guest speeches and announcements.

Many people prefer live music; sometimes there is just no substitute for a band. Having live music at your reception does introduce a few complications. It is much harder to find a band that specializes in weddings in a small market. A live band will find it harder to adapt to various volume levels, and will probably have a much smaller song selection than even an average DJ. Still, there is nothing like a live band to bring excitement to a party, providing everything goes right.

Finding the right band is important. You could try the same sources for a band that you would for a DJ, hire a favorite band you’ve heard, or you could visit a local music store; some stores will provide you with band listings or have bulletin boards filled with musician’s business cards. If you are not very familiar with the act, make sure they have been together a while, and have references. Bands tend to break up and reform often; the last thing you want is to receive a call from the band leader the day of the wedding and told “we broke up last week, sorry.” Remember, many bands can only perform a certain style of music, if you hire a country band, don’t expect them to know the latest hip hop song.

If you hire a band that does not specialize in weddings, go over the same things you would go over with a club DJ. You will also want to make sure the band has a CD player and CDs for any special songs the bride and groom may request that the band does not know. If you want a band member to MC the occasion, once again, go over every detail with him or her, assign someone to keep the band informed and make sure they have a microphone available for speeches and announcements. Giving the bandleader some direction on expected dress for the band members as well might head off the unpleasant surprise of having them show up in sandals and tank tops, then explaining “It’s our image, man…”

One other thing; keep in mind a band will take longer to set up than a DJ, and will require a ‘sound check.’ Make sure when you book the band, it is understood and in the contract that all band members will be there for the sound check and it is finished well before the reception starts. There is nothing more disruptive than to arrive at a reception just to be greeted with a blast of feedback and 30 minutes of a band repeating loudly, “microphone check, 1, 2, 3…”

If you decide on having Karaoke as your entertainment, the number one thing you should insist on is that the Karaoke Company you hire will provide dance music as well as backing tracks for singers. The company should understand that their primary function is to entertain the reception as a whole, not just the singers. Karaoke can be quite fun, but it is an all too common situation for a few bad singers to dominate the stage, with the rest of the party wincing at the off-key cacophony and wishing the entertainment would ‘just shut up.’ You might consider having the Karaoke host mix the format so that guest singers alternate with dance tracks; this is a very good way to avoid this problem. You should also mention at the time you hire the company if you would prefer they not bring any of their regular singers with them. It is surprisingly common for a Karaoke host to show up at a wedding reception with 5 or 10 extra people and state, “they always sing with me...”

Irregardless of which kind of entertainment you decide on, a few simple procedures will help you insure the success of your reception. Always use a written contract. This should state the date, starting and ending time of the reception and the price. It should also include the times for setup and sound check, and state that all preparations will be concluded at a specific time (which should be well before the start of the reception.) There should also be a clause stating that the act will perform at a reasonable volume as determined by a specified representative of the wedding.

It’s a big job planning a wedding, so good luck and get to work! Make sure to follow these few simple hints; your guests will be commenting on how beautiful the bride looked, not, how bad the band sounded.