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Learn more about Elite Weddings in Charleston, South Carolina.
I wanted to take a moment to thank you for visiting my website and give you some congratulations if you are recently engaged! Elite Weddings is located in Charleston, South Carolina, and specializes in weddings. As sole owner and DJ at Elite Weddings, I take pride in knowing that all events are given the care and attention it deserves.
While I do have a full time job in Charleston, SC at Blackbaud as a Customer Success Manager, I love to perform at weddings on the weekends! I've been DJing Weddings and Corporate Events since 2012, so for about 10 years. I've performed at over 300 events in total, and have seen many different types of weddings and parties. I bring that experience to all events that I perform at, and am very flexible with last minute changes that may happen.
Playing the right music at the right time has always been my focus at weddings. I want to give the Bride and Groom the best experience possible, while making sure to cater to not only their music tastes, but their many guests as well. Guests are a bit of a wild card when it comes to music choices, as there's a wide range of ages and music preferences. You should know that it is possible to keep everyone at the event happy! It's not a mystery, it just takes experience to know what the right song is, at the right time.
The other main thing that sets DJ's apart are their Microphone presence. Being able to interact with the crowd, while blending into the background ambiance at the event, requires precision. It's not ideal to be overbearing on the microphones, especially at an event like someone's wedding. Rather, knowing what to say, and delivering the message in a way that is clear and understood is most important. DJ's tend to play the part of MC's at weddings, especially in the case where a wedding coordinator is not present. Many weddings I perform at need additional planning and action. I'm happy to take on that task for many weddings. Having access the microphone is an opportunity to make sure that everything at the event moves smoothly and to be timely with microphone announcements.
I think a great trait of my DJ service, and myself as your DJ, is being able to interact and coordinate with the many different vendors at your wedding. This is a laundry list that includes Photographers, Videographers, Florists, Caterers, Event Venue staff, the Officiant, Wedding Coordinator, Bartenders, Rental Companies, Food Trucks, Live Bands or other forms of music, and Photobooth (luckily for you, Photobooth can be included with my services!). I perform constant check-ins with wedding vendors throughout the night to make sure we are on cue with what's coming next. For example, imagine announcing that dinner is ready to 200 guests, only to find out the caterers are backed up and the food won't be ready for another 30 minutes? Or we move forward with the cake cutting without giving the Photographers and Videographers a heads up to prepare their equipment? I always think it's a good idea to coordinate with the other vendors to ensure a seamless transition from one part of the wedding/event to the next.
Dance floor lighting and Uplighting is included with any event you book with Elite Weddings, free of charge! I don't believe this should come at an additional charge for events, because it is so fundamental to an event I can't imagine doing without. Now, there are some cases where bringing additional lighting just doesn't make sense - such as daytime events, events in a venue that's already accented, events on a boat (might affect navigation signals), near the beach and sea turtles nesting (I've seen it all). However, lighting affects our mood, provides clarity to things we can't see otherwise, and can affect your state of mind. Lighting that is inviting and well positioned can make you more apt to dance, laugh, and interact with others. Lighting that is not well positioned can also have negative effects... we won't go into those (once again, I've seen it all). Give your wedding or event the effects and accents to take it from great to spectacular. I handle all lighting for you at your venue and dance floor, you just need to book me as your DJ to make it happen!
Venue location is always a big topic among couples. In most cases, it's the most money you will spend for your big event or wedding. There are so many options to choose from, that is because there is so much land, buildings, special locations that a wedding or event can be held out. In some cases, it's just a field where all event materials are hauled in and hooked up to generators. These types of events are always more expensive than you think. Do yourself a favor, make sure the event you book at least has access to power (electricity). We are not comfortable without it, and it's going to be loud and smell like generator gasoline if all vendors are running off generators. Don't do it, unless that land holds some kind of special meaning to you, like the the dirt has magical healing powers.
Pick a venue that will have enough space for all of your guests. Period. If you pick a venue that is 20,000 square feet, and you're expecting 40 guests, it's going to be hard to make that feel cozy enough for a wedding. On the other side of the coin, if you pick a venue that has 10,000 square feet, and you are expecting 200 guests, it won't take long for every inch of that place to be cluttered with DJ gear, Caterer Tables, Bartender Coolers, Cake and Gift Tables, etc. You might be dancing closer to your family members than you would like. Honestly, it becomes a hazard and people tend to run out of chairs to sit down and eat dinner and people run out of room to exit in case something were to happen.
When picking a venue, ask them what they offer in house. Many venues have their own in-house catering, DJ Service (Elite Weddings), Photography, Bartenders, Chairs and tables, and more. You might save yourself some funds, and headaches, by having one place to consolidate your vendors. Venues with in-house services like the ones listed above tend to operate events more smoothly, and have better communication with these vendors. Once we have the basics covered, it's all about location, location, location. How close is your reception hall to your ceremony site? Can the ceremony be on-site (recommended)? What type of natural features can be used for the best wedding or event photos (water, mountains, trees)? Is there both an outdoor and indoor space in case of weather (plan b is covered)? Don't make this more complicated than it has to be, pick a venue not only based on your needs, but based on the needs of the hundreds of guests attending, and the vendors required to keep these hundreds of guests, and you, happy!