Jorge contacted me only a few weeks before his wedding. He had all his vendors lined up, including his DJ, but the MC they thought they reserved was no longer available. It had been a while since I have been hired to just MC a wedding, but I appreciated the fact that he and his fiancé knew the difference and realized their wedding reception would be lacking without one.
I quickly set up a meeting with them at their venue, a restaurant/banquet facility in Pasadena I have never been to. The venue was actually an old church that was now used for events. The restaurant, now attached to the church is a Mediterranean Restaurant, is called Eden Garden. We coordinated the wedding reception and got acquainted with each other.
On the night of the wedding, it was pouring rain. However, the weather did not put a damper on the celebration. The guests were treated to a Mediterranean feast, from the cocktails and appetizers, through the family style dinner. The ballroom looked spectacular, with a few purple up-lights and gorgeous flower arrangements on beautifully decorated tables. There was hardly room for a dance floor but that did not deter this party crowd from taking every inch of open space to dance. The speeches were heartfelt, with Martha’s dad doing his entire speech and blessing in Spanish. The formalities flowed perfectly, with a team of photographers and videographers capturing every moment. Martha and Mario were thrilled with the way everything turned out.
The term DJ is used to describe a variety of performers who play music. The guy at a bar, lounge, or club is called a DJ, the guy on the radio is called a DJ, and the guy who works a wedding is also called a DJ. However, each professional has his or her own skill set. Often times, brides & grooms are told to “hire a DJ” and let’s face it…everyone knows a DJ. But not everyone knows a Wedding Professional or an MC. DJ Rudy knew he was a club DJ and not a wedding MC. Martha & Mario knew they needed someone not just to play music, but to facilitate their wedding. They were fortunate enough to know the difference and I was privileged enough to help them run a smooth and organized wedding. If more DJs were honest about their skill set and not just out to make a buck, and more brides and grooms knew the difference, I would not hear as many horror stories about “bad DJs” at weddings they have attended. Most DJs are very talented and take years honing their craft, but we all have our limitations. When we are placed in a situation that is not what we have trained for, we may have trouble shining. If you are planning a wedding, make sure not just your DJ, but all of your vendors are wedding professionals. I always say the one vendor you are worried about is the one that will cause you trouble. If you hire the right vendors who put your mind at ease, you are far more likely to have the perfect wedding day.
Dave’s recommended vendors from this wedding are:
- Eden Garden (A beautiful and very unique venue with amazing food) – www.edengardenbarandgrill.com.
- Michelle Dawn Photography – www.michelledawnimages.com – cheldawn@aol.com – 909-534-7434
- DJ Rudy Rhythm (A great club/lounge DJ who can rock a wedding with great music, Spanish and English) – Rudyrhythm@live.com – 626-831-1437