The Best Weddings Make Room for Fun

By Staci Nichols,Revolution Weddings, San DiegoToday’s couples and planners focus much of their efforts on the aesthetics of weddings but shouldn’t neglect the fun. “Wedding receptions are, by definition, entertainment functions,” says internationally known wedding DJ and MC trainer, Mark Ferrell. Weddings are not luncheons, photo shoots, or fashion shows—they are parties. Yet wedding blogs and other sources continue to recommend that couples spend 10 percent or less of their wedding budgets on the fun stuff (DJs, bands, photo booths, soloists, and other performers).Give your couples the best experience possibleTo deliver the weddings that couples want, start by reading Peter Merry's game-changing book The Best Wedding Reception...Ever. Merry is founder of the Wedding Entertainment Director's Guild (WED Guild), the only place where a planner can find certified, verified wedding entertainment specialists. His book is the gold standard for planning fun and entertaining weddings. What will you learn in Merry's book?• Twenty to 30 percent of the wedding budget should be allotted to wedding entertainment.• Entertainment helps create the fun, memorable moments that photographers try to capture.• Spending too much in other areas might mean couples spend less on entertainment, so “guests may not linger much past the end ofthe meal.”• While décor is important, on its own its impact will not last but coupled with exciting entertainment it will contribute to the overall experience.Focus on the fun!To give your couples the weddings of their dreams and the guests an experience they will talk about for a long time to come, advise your clients to budget more for fun, help them plan an “experience” that creates lasting memories, and educate them on the importance of wedding entertainment.When you meet with new clients, make the first question you ask be, “What are the top three priorities of your wedding?” and plan accordingly. If fun is on their radar, keep them focused on their goals, and don’t let them get distracted by the latest Pinterest or blog post about trendy ideas. Direct clients toward the best DJs available, which includes those trained by Ferrell or WED Guild members. Finally, think of fun ways you can surprise the couple or incorporate thoughtful, unique twists at their wedding. For example, ask the groom if he'd like to order an extra bouquet to present to his mom during the mother-son dance, or pass along any quirky tidbits you learn about the couple during the planning to the band, MC, or DJ so they can further customize the wedding experience.Make your timeline entertainment-friendlyTo make sure the overall experience goes off without a hitch, ensure that the timeline and floor plan for the wedding are entertainment-friendly. For example, don’t leave guests bored for 30 minutes after dinner as the couple takes sunset pictures, and make sure that the cake is not positioned far from the dance floor. Ensure that cleanup does not begin until after the last dance or send-off as folding chairs and stacking tables signal to guests that it's time to go home, cutting the fun short.Taking steps to focus on the fun for your clients will boost client satisfaction, lead to increased referrals, and give you a niche in your local market.Did you know?• According to Modern Bride magazine, the average couple puts 37 percent of the wedding budget toward venue/catering, yet only eight percent of guests say this was the most memorable part. On the other hand, the average couple puts just five percent of the budget toward entertainment and 38 percent of guests say that entertainment was the number one thing they remember.• 77 percent of brides and grooms value their wedding fun over any other quality, according to wedding expert Liene Stevens of Think Splendid®. Think Splendid also reports, “Sixty-eight percent of brides and grooms want to see more real wedding planning advice—not styling—on wedding blogs and in bridal magazines.”• Modern Bride reports that, before the wedding, food is the top planning priority while entertainment is the lowest. After weddings, couples reported that entertainment should have been their top priority.• Based on statistics gathered by The Knot, the average plate of food at a wedding in 2013 was $66 and the average amount spent on entertainment was $7.50/guest, less than the price of a movie ticket.• The Wedding Planners Institute of Canada reported on Feb. 10, 2014, that wedding planners regret not spending more on entertainment at their own weddings.