One of the things I love most about doing both live music and DJ is getting to shape the entire arc of a wedding day. Going from an intimate ceremony to an epic dance floor is genuinely one of my favourite things about this job!
The Ceremony
The ceremony is the emotional heart of the day. Everything else flows from it. I always make the music feel intentional and considered - songs that create space for people to actually feel the moment rather than just observe it. Live acoustic music works beautifully in a ceremony because it breathes with the room in a way a recording can't. I usually play very relaxed acoustic love songs (or relaxed versions of songs) as guests arrive and leading up to the ceremony. During the ceremony itself, I can stretch a song as you take those last few steps down the aisle, hold a note a little longer, read the energy of the room and respond to it in real time. The aisle song, the register signing, the recessional - each one is a different emotional beat and I play in a different way for each moment, and at each wedding, depending on the couple and the day.
Cocktail Hour
Cocktail hour is where the day starts to exhale. The ceremony is over, you're married (!!!!), and everyone is relaxing into it. The music shifts from emotional to warm and social - acoustic covers, familiar songs with a fresh feel, something that makes people move their shoulders without realising.
Dinner Music
Dinner music is all about holding the room in a gorgeous moment. Conversations are flowing, the candles are lit, and everyone is settling into the best kind of evening. The music sits underneath all of that - present enough to feel, subtle enough not to interrupt. Depending on the vibe of the day so far, I might play a upbeat sets or keep it chilled. I also will often use my loop pedal for this part of the day to add a bit more texture and dynamics to the music!
The Dance Floor
The DJ set is built in real time - no pre-made playlists, no autopilot - just your music taste as the foundation and the room's energy as the guide. Every song is a decision. Every transition is intentional. I'm watching the floor, reading the crowd, knowing when to build and when to pull back, when to drop something unexpected and when to give the room exactly what it needs. I'm out there having a dance with you and your guests and it's always the best time!
