Calabash Wedding DJ

DJs for Weddings in Calabash and Anywhere in the Carolinas

We offer the kind of quality you owe to yourself and your loved ones, for something as SPECIAL as your wedding. Yes, we are a service-oriented operation, and we gauge our success as your wedding DJ music director in accordance with how we surpassed the bride and groom’s expectations at our previous wedding. Music on the Strand’s DJ ENTERTAINMENT: Disc Jockey Entertainment that’s worth paying for!

We provide innovative Disc Jockey Entertainment throughout the greater Calabash area, and will help design and deliver your DREAM WEDDING—from the most elegant formal reception, to an exciting full-throttle celebration! Being YOUR wedding DJ is our full-time job. We are: well-prepared with extensive planning completed for YOUR event, fully-experienced serving brides and grooms for decades, well-equipped with new and modern gear all backed up on site, fully-insured providing you with complete coverage, members of the American Disc Jockey Association delivering what is promised and striving for perfection. Call us! We look forward to furnishing references and inviting you to visit one of our events.

Calabash, NC is the southernmost river town in the state of North Carolina and is a quaint salt marsh community that provides southern hospitality in its plethora of seafood restaurants. Calabash was named after gourds that grew in the region, which were used for drinking. Since the 1930s, Calabash has been known for its distinctive style of fried seafood, which has come to be known as “calabash style.” The town has many seafood restaurants and is often referred to as the “Seafood Capital of the World.” Calabash style buffets are also in many southeastern coastal towns. Myrtle Beach, SC is home to a great majority of these restaurants as the city is very close to Calabash, NC. Two of the most popular Calabash wedding destinations are the distinctive Seatrail Plantation and the exclusive Brunswick Plantation, both of which offer premium services for your special day.

The American Disc Jockey Association strongly recommends that you ask the following questions:

Are you insured? Can you supply me with proof of liability?
Many responsible business owners carry liability insurance to protect their businesses and the consumer. Many locations are beginning to require proof of liability. Ask for proof of liability insurance. Disc Jockey’s receive a Certificate of Liability which can be used as proof.

Will you be willing to play requests and discuss music ahead of time?
A versatile Disc Jockey is willing to listen to your suggestions, give you feedback and play from your desired song list. A professional Disc Jockey will also accept the fact you may not want certain songs played. A professional Disc Jockey cannot know everything about your musical preferences and entertainment needs without communication.

Do you use Professional Equipment?
Ask whether your prospective Disc Jockey works with professional audio equipment. If you are not sure, ask for their equipment list and check with a local music dealer or the A.D.J.A. to verify they are using professional-grade sound gear. Remember that professional gear does not guarantee an entertainer’s talent or service level, but is simply a tool for building an exceptional event.

Do you provide backup equipment at my event?
Although equipment failure is rare, do you really want your special occasion ruined because your Disc Jockey did not come prepared? It is also important to know if your Disc Jockey has a back-up plan in case of illness or an accident. Members of the A.D.J.A. have many resources available to them in case of an emergency. You may also reach our Hotline number to get a Disc Jockey when you have an emergency. The toll-free number is 888-723-5776.

Booking a reliable Disc Jockey is a very important decision for the success of your party. Selecting a Disc Jockey who is an active member of the American Disc Jockey Association will provide you with the confidence that you have selected a trained professional. A.D.J.A. members are more likely to be involved with other Disc Jockey’s who can help them out with an unexpected situation.

Does the Disc Jockey know the proper etiquette for your type of party?
A professional Disc Jockey will assist you with the planning of your special day. Most professional entertainers will coordinate, emcee and provide the music that you desire. Ask if they have experience with your type of event.

How much time do you allow for set-up?
Punctuality is a necessity. Most Disc Jockey’s arrive at least one hour prior to the start time you’ve given them. Your entertainer should ideally be setup and in-place before your first guest walks through the door.

Do you provide a written contract?
It is extremely important to have your booking confirmed in writing. Ask for a written agreement, especially if you are paying an initial retainer. The standard initial payment for entertainment services is 50%. If you are expecting a specific entertainer, make sure you get it in writing as well.

Will you be suitably dressed for our occasion?
Specify the type of apparel that your Disc Jockey is expected to wear for your occasion. Formal attire or coat & tie are the most popular forms of attire. If you are having a “themed” event, make sure your entertainer is informed.

Do you belong to a professional organization or trade group?
Although belonging to an organization or trade group does not guarantee the talent or professionalism of a disc jockey, it may indicate the companies willingness to network, learn and grow. Disc jockeys can learn through local chapter meetings, national DJ conventions and seminars geared toward the entertainment professional.

According to the A.D.J.A., Disc Jockey rates vary based on talent, experience, emcee ability, service, coordination, equipment needed, music knowledge, mixing ability and personality.

Rates for the DJ industry vary greatly, ranging from $350.00 to over $5,000.00 with an average of $1,200.00 for a 4 hour booking. The best price is not always the best deal, especially if you are planning a wedding. As a matter of fact, surveys conclude that nearly 100% of brides would have spent more money on their entertainment and made it their #1 priority in hindsight.

A full-service disc jockey company will normally invest 12 to 30 hours to your special event but it may appear that you are only paying for “4 hours”. Consultations, music purchasing & editing, preparation, set-up and tear-down, education and other business related endeavors add up to the overall success of your special occasion.

Tented Affairs
Adapted from an article written by Jeanette Hawkinson

The use of party tents for weddings is becoming more and more popular, mostly for at home celebrations or those held on grounds of historic mansions and parks or other outside locations. With big weddings back in style in the Calabash area and throughout the Carolinas, and space to accommodate them at a premium, people have looked to see what is new in tent technology, and they have been surprised, and delighted, at what they have found.

Want archways, pathways, or bridges? Chandeliers, parquet floors, or stained-glass panels? Ladies rooms, mens rooms, or air-conditioning? How about two or three or even more tents, all connected by covered marquees and color-coordinated, perhaps to match your wedding? These days, you do not have to settle just for a tent; you can build your own community with them.

Couples do not realize the possibilities tenting offers to create a truly individualized atmosphere. There seems to be more and more beautiful natural sites in all parts of the country, including the lawns and gardens of peoples homes. People want and should take advantage of them.

And they do-in every season. Todays specialists come with their own generators for heating, cooling, cooking, and dancing to DJs or live music. Tent suppliers seem to be able to do just about everything with a tent that you would find in a church or reception hall. When researching tent suppliers for our wedding, we were asked about dance floors, seating, lighted walkways and lighted decorations. They all seem to have everything. We got a basic 20×40 tent in blue to match our wedding colors for under $200, that included set up and cooling for the tent.

The cost of a tented affair will run about the same as a similar function in an established location, sometimes maybe even a little more, because of all the necessary items are rented, and priced separately. If you’re considering a tent wedding, here are some things you might need:

• At least one tent, 40 X 100 or 60 X 60 for about 200 people
• Any additional tents for the ceremony, cocktails, cooking, restrooms, or dancing
• Covered walkways or connecting marquees
• Generators for heating, cooling, lighting, cooking, or musical equipment
• Additional equipment for cooking or sound hook-ups; also, back-up generators or portable toilets
• A dance floor, hardwood flooring, or ground cover
• Chairs and tables
• Table linens and chair covers
• China, flatware, and glassware
• A complete staff, including any supervisory personnel required by safety codes
• Any permits required by local ordinance

Creating your own site can get very involved. Everything has to be obtained from a supplier, and somebody needs to be in charge of putting it all together.

How Are You Going To Get There?
Adapted from an article submitted by Jeanette Hawkinson

From a horse-drawn carriage to a London taxi, from a standard stretch limo to a classic convertible, todays transportation services can get you to the church on time in whatever style that suits you. More than 75% of all couples employ hired transportation for their weddings, and in Calabash as it is throughout many locales in North and South Carolina, the elegant white limousine is the conveyance of choice 85% of the time.

Wayne J. Smith, president of the National Limousine Association, the professional organization representing 1,300 member companies across the country, attributes the rise in hired livery service for weddings to both romance and reality. Couples seemed to be more sophisticated. They are aware that their choice in transportation can improve their overall wedding style. They are also concerned with the safety of themselves and the safety of those they love.

Besides being safe and comfortable, a special wedding-day conveyance is the ultimate luxury. Those with formality and elegance in mind will choose the traditional white, silver, or black limousines; those with a sense of romance might choose a nostalgic replicar. Sometimes the couple will hire one or two additional vehicles for their bridal parties and their paren’ts. This way all VIPs will arrive and depart in style and safety.

Wedding transportation is not a necessity, but it is an affordable luxury that alleviates some of your worry over getting everyone everywhere on schedule, especially with your wedding-day jitters. You will want to be sure that you deal with an established, reputable company, and that you inquire about more than price when comparing various services.

To avoid wedding-day disappointment you can follow these guidelines:
• Get word-of-mouth recommendations from people or businesses you know who have used a service before.
• Call the National Limousine Association for referrals at 1-800-NLA-7707.
• Set up a face-to-face meeting with the owner/manager of the company
• Verify the insurance protection and the qualifications of drivers.
• Be sure that the company is licensed by the appropriate licensing authorities; this is especially important if the vehicles will be crossing state or county lines during your wedding service.
• Check to see if the company is a member of the National Limousine Association; this is some clue of trustworthiness and service principles.
• Know what the liquor laws are in your area and do not expect any exceptions for your wedding. In many areas, the use of alcoholic beverages is against the law in vehicles, and that includes champagne.

During peak wedding/prom/party season, the demand for transportation, especially for exotic vehicles, can easily exceed the supply, so you will want to start interviewing companies far enough in advance to allow for sufficient choice and evaluations. Be wary of companies who rely solely on phone answering machines, or who do not respond promptly to your initial request. This could indicate poor reliability.

Finally, in the interest of romance, do not share your transportation vehicle from the ceremony to the reception with anyone else. These few minutes together are likely to be the only ones the two of you will have alone all day, and they are the first few minutes of your married life. Savor them, and keep them private.

To recap, here are a few questions you might wish to ask.
1. Are you fully licensed and insured? Are you a member of a professional organization such as the National Limousine Association?
2. How many and what type and size of vehicles will be necessary to appropriately transport our party and us?
3. May I select the exact vehicle or vehicles to be used?
4. How are your rates structured? Are there a minimum number of hours that must be committed?
5. What services/amenities are included in these rates?
6. What are your policies on tipping?
7. How will the drivers be attired?
8. What deposit is required, and when and how is the balance to be paid?
9. Do you take credit cards? (Most do)

May your Calabash wedding plans go smoothly. Music on the Strand’s DJ ENTERTAINMENT looks forward to being a part of your special day!