Today’s guest is DJ Mike Emrick of ‘We Bring the Party Events,’ a premier event entertainment company providing wedding and event DJ services in Middle Tennessee. Mike tells Danielle and Sara about using his expertise, knowledge, and passion to help couples make their event amazing while also easing their stress on the big day. He shares his story of launching ‘We Bring the Party Events’ with his wife, Ellen, in 2012 after a disappointing experience at their own wedding, beginning with a photo booth and since growing to offer reception DJ services, lighting, and pro audio. Mike shares his insights about having a fun wedding reception with or without alcohol, the pivotal role that couples play in setting the tone and energy for an event, and his process behind choosing prelude and ceremony music.

Danielle and Sara ask Mike about the importance of having an indoor and outdoor sound equipment setup, which questions couples should ask their DJ ahead of time, and his best tips and tricks to get the party going and maintain a fun atmosphere throughout the night. Mike talks about reading the room and choosing music accordingly, making sure he knows what level of “corniness” couples are comfortable with, finding the balance between audience requests and managing the expectations of the bride and groom, and which two songs are absolutely crushing it on the dance floor right now. Finally, they share their cringe-worthy wedding DJ horror stories, and Mike reflects on turning a bad catering situation around into one his most memorable events yet. To find out how Mike and his team can ‘bring the party’ to your event, visit WeBringThePartyEvents.com.

Make sure to follow Not Your Pinterest Wedding Podcast on Instagram, where you can ask questions, share stories, and suggest topics for future episodes. You can also check out Danielle’s Floral Design company at RuffledWillow.com, as well as Sara’s gorgeous barn wedding locale at BurdocFarms.com. Thanks for listening!

Episode Highlights:

• Today’s guest is Mike Emrick of ‘We Bring the Party Events’
• He launched ‘We Bring the Party Events’ with his wife in 2012 after a disappointing experience at their own wedding
• They started by offering a photo booth for weddings, which has since grown to include reception DJ, lighting, and pro audio for all different kinds of events
• Weddings can be fun without alcohol, and in fact, it can make the event a little too silly or messy
• With a dry wedding in particular, guests will look to the bride and groom to set the tone of the event and the focus will be on them
• Try to schedule events of the day to limit interruptions, as it’s hard to get that momentum back
• It’s important to be flexible and also listen to the professionals who are there to guide you
• ‘We Bring the Party Events’ provide references for playlists, top Father/Daughter songs, etc.
• Ceremony and prelude music
• Having an indoor and outdoor sound equipment setup limits downtime between transitions, and also ensures that backup equipment is always available
• A professional, reputable company should have an updated and current website/social media presence 
• Being able to read reviews, positive or negative, is very helpful
• Before you leave a bad review, make sure to reach out to the vendor first so they can address it and make it right
• Mike’s best tip for