A Wedding Reception DJ Drops Truth

Face 2 Face With M & M

Wedding Reception - 4/20/2018

When it comes to weddings, the reception is almost as important as the ceremony. A good DJ or emcee can set the tone for your post-nuptial soiree. You need to know what you want that tone to be.

We talked with a veteran wedding emcee from Oklahoma City to get the down low on hiring a DJ for your reception.

Devin Long owns M & M Productions. M & M was founded in 1992 on the campus at Oklahoma Baptist University by a student. Devin began working as a weekend DJ for the company in 2001. He bought the company in 2016. He's seen a lot of weddings. The largest boasted 600 guests and the smallest, fifty. He doesn't just play music.

We act as emcees for every wedding which is like directing traffic., says Long. We handle the party, from announcing the arrival of the happy couple, to telling guests when to eat, when speeches will be made, all the way to the last song.

We asked Long which was most challenging, large receptions or small? His answer was quick. Small! He says, smaller weddings usually involve family members only, many of whom are older and not prone to tearing it up on the dance floor. Devin Long and his team are big on interacting with guests, but no matter what size reception you're planning, if you DO hire a DJ, Long says meeting with them face to face is a must. In fact, it's his number one piece of advice.

Don't base your decision off of price alone. Meet with your DJ face to face to make sure they understand who you are and you understand who they are. He suggests asking if you can listen to their music mixes on Sound Cloud or if they have video footage so you can see how they work with a crowd.

We decided to have a little fun with Long and ask him about this year's most popular tunes for wedding day dancing.

Most popular overall?

Oh, that's still Uptown Funk by Bruno Mars. It's a crowd favorite.

First dance for the bride and groom?

Ed Sheeran is hot, either 'Perfect' or 'Thinking Out Loud'

Bride and Father dance?

I Loved Her First by Heartland and My Little Girl by Tim McGraw.

Groom and Mother dance?

My Wish by Rascal Flatts.

What's the lamest song?

Wind Beneath My Wings

I can beat that. I had "God Bless the Broken Road" at my wedding.

Okay, that's worse than Wind Beneath My Wings.

But wouldn't you say whatever the bride and groom want is good?

NO! That's why you hire a pro! I go to a dentist and do what he or she says to take care of my teeth. I can take care of your entertainment. I'll steer you right.

Long says the difference between a great wedding emcee and a not so great emcee is experience. You have to decide if you want a DJ or emcee who talks more or talks less, but again, no matter what, meet the DJ face to face to be sure your styles mesh.

M & M will provide guidance and entertainment for weddings for a four-hour minimum at a cost of $1,000.00. They currently have 80 weddings booked for 2018, but with five experienced DJ's on staff, they can accommodate more than 100 more.

You can meet M & M Productions face to face at the next okBride Bridal Show this July 15th at the Oklahoma State Fair Pavilion in Oklahoma City.

Check out them out here OKCDJ.COM