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Hooray! As your Charleston SC wedding DJ, I am so excited to be part of your big day. I know your wedding is one of the most special days of your life, and I am proud and honored to partner with you on that. Shane Griffin Entertainment has served hundreds/thousands of couples as they celebrate this milestone occasion.
Next Steps: Charleston Wedding DJ Roadmap
Here are the next steps in the Charleston wedding DJ planning process, so we can make sure the day is smooth and successful.
1. Review your contract
As soon as you’re ready to move forward in this process, I begin to draw up a formal contract for review. This is an essential step for any wedding vendor. Never hire a wedding DJ that doesn’t provide you with a formal contract. It ensures that both parties have a clear understanding of what will be provided throughout the business relationship. You’ll have the opportunity to review the contract, ask questions, request changes, and approve it before we move on to the next step.
2. Submit your deposit
After you’ve reviewed and signed the contract, I request a $250 deposit to secure your wedding date on my calendar. This can be paid through a variety of mediums, including Venmo, Cash App, check, PayPal, and credit card.
3. Fill out your Wedding Agenda Planning Form
When I’ve received your signed contract and retainer fee, I’ll send my exclusive Wedding Agenda Planning Form. This form is my creation, and I truly believe it helps keep the night running without hiccups.
The Wedding Agenda Planning Form is a 4-page Excel form that allows us to plan each portion of the day and collaborate on the flow of the evening. It includes both the ceremony (if applicable) as well as the reception. By mapping out the timing using the form, you can avoid any miscommunication, dead spots, or awkward pauses. I can also be prepared to introduce wedding parties or important individuals, MC, and DJ at the correct times.
I ask all couples to return this agenda at least 1 month before their wedding date. This gives me enough time to review it before we have a planning call to discuss everything together. Stellar communication about music, timing, and expectations leads to increased satisfaction for both couples and their guests.
4. Log in to DJ Intelligence
DJ Intelligence is the platform I use for my music library. I provide login credentials to all my clients to allow them to make music requests. Don’t panic if songs aren’t immediately coming to mind. You can continue to add to your requests over the weeks leading up to your wedding.
Additionally, you’ll be able to provide a “DO NOT PLAY” list in addition to making specific song requests. For instance, If you just can’t stand line dances like the Cotton-Eyed Joe, please let me know! I’ll be sure not to play it.
5. Schedule a planning call
As noted above, a 20 to 30-minute planning call is a must. This is when the couple and I take the time to walk through the Wedding Agenda Planning Form step-by-step to ensure we’re aligned on all facets of the evening. This may seem redundant now, but you’d be surprised how differently an evening can go when you forego a quick 20-minute call. Hopping on the phone to touch base truly makes all the difference!
6. Pay your final balance
It’s getting close! Your balance is due 1 week out from your event date with your Charleston DJ. You can also pay at any point up to one week prior. Similar to the deposit, you can pay via Venmo, Cash App, check, PayPal, and credit card.
7. Have a check-in on wedding week
The week of the event can be crazy, but it’s far less insane than the day of your wedding. For this reason, I typically reach out to clients in the days leading up to the event to touch base one last time. This provides time to confirm any last-minute changes and tie up loose ends.
Don’t be afraid to let me know if something has changed in your timeline, someone will no longer be in your wedding party, or you’ve had a change of heart about something. I’m always happy to modify. Couples will sometimes forget to notify me because they think I just handle the music. While I do a lot of music, I also handle a lot of announcements and general event flow. Even a small change can make a big difference, so mention it if you think it could be relevant.
8. Enjoy your wedding
We’ll have touched base the week of the wedding, so don’t worry on the day of the event. Shane Griffin Entertainment always arrives anywhere from 60 to 90 minutes before start time to sound and mic check. We want to double-check that all equipment is working properly before the start of the event and troubleshoot anything that may come up with your venue. This approach has ensured success with hundreds of venues, and it lets the couple relax while they’re getting ready. Better yet, all of this is included! Clients never pay for set up and tear down.
Final Thoughts
Now it’s time to sit back, relax, and let Shane entertain! As your Charleston wedding DJ, I’m here to make this a magical day for you and your partner as you start your forever. The last thing you should worry about is setup, breakdown, event flow, music choices, announcements, or any other micro detail.
You’ve already done the hard part — you’ve selected a wedding DJ that has everything you want. I’m flexible and accommodating so you’ll be able to create the exact vision you’ve been imagining all these years.
Visit here to get started if you haven’t reached out to me yet. You can check my availability, send me a message, or search my music database.