Wedding Professionals!

[soundtracker]

Had a situation Saturday night where despite having discussed and planned the evenings running order, plans were thrown awry by an arsey photographer.
I arrived at the venue as agreed at 6.30pm to set up during the turn around of the room, no sooner had I arrived, than the photographer was in my face, asking what time the first dance was going to be. I explained that we had fully discussed the running order and that I was going to play background music from the start at 7.30, whilst the evening guests arrived, aiming towards the first dance at 8.30pm ish! He obviously didn't like this idea, as it meant him hanging around for an hour. B&G came over and asked if it was possible to bring the 1st dance forward to 8.00pm as the photographer wanted to go home. My reaction was that this wasn't a problem, but IMHO 8.00pm was too early to be kicking off the dancing, when the night was going on till 1.00am, and also considering how much money he had been paid, he should fall in line with their requirements. I also tried to explain that the 1st dance was about leading the dancing, noy just creating a photo-op!.
Anyway, did as required, started off first dance, invited others to join , which they did in numbers, followed straight up withanother song of the same tempo- floor cleared- and there it was, first dance wasted- but never mind- the photographer, got his way, and could go home.
We got the buffet out of the way, and started the night off- but without that focal point to start- it sorta limped along, rather than burst into life.
So to counter this I'm now going to add a bit to my website and spiel at meetings, to ensure that B&G are aware of this potential pitfall, and that they handle it with the photographer beforehand - rest assured, its the last time I spoil an evening just so that a supposed "Wedding Professional" can swan off early with his fistful of dollars!

[ian8limelight]

I can concur with this as I've had the photographer, on a number of occasions, want to start the dancing 'earlier' to ensure he/she can get away.

On discussing the final details with the B&G a couple of days before their function (having already spent time on previous occasions) I now will include a question regarding the photographer and explaining why, in my professional opinion, the first dance doesn't need to be right at the beginning of the evening (e.g. evening guests arriving, opportunity to mingle first, time of buffet, etc) and why it should be the focal point of the evening and at the right time (and not because the photographer wants a quick away).

Mind you, I have found recently that a lot more photographers are staying beyond the first dance.

[rob1963]

I'm a bit on the fence with this one.

I agree that it was rather unprofessional of the photographer to moan about having to hang around for an extra hour.

As a professional, all WE can do in situations like this is to give our honest opinion to the bride & groom if they ask us to bring forward the first dance.

If they still decide to make the change after we advise against it, that's their decision, and if things don't run as well as expected, we have nothing to feel guilty about. After all, it's their special day, they are paying us and it's not very professional to say "no" to a clients request!

With weddings, we have to be flexible as things are always changing anyway. At mine last Saturday the first dance was meant to be at 8.00, but when I'd set up they said they'd have it at 8.15, and in the end it was well after 8.30!
There was also a toastmaster who told me he would introduce the first dance & then hand over to me. 15 minutes later he came up & said he'd been told he could go home, so he would leave it for me to introduce the first dance.

On the subject of arsey photographers who try & bring things forward so they can go home early, I wouldn't worry about it, and I wouldn't make any changes to my website either.

I've NEVER had that problem in 24 years, and it probably won't happen to you again, so I'd just treat is as a one-off experience & forget about it as soon as possible.

[flatliners]

i usually aet the b&g to do there first dance after the buffet then people have had a drink and will b on the floor dancing

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

i usually aet the b&g to do there first dance after the buffet then people have had a drink and will b on the floor dancing

And if the buffet is not until 10pm?

[spin mobile disco]

Noramlly I find buffet doesnt appear until 9pm or later, making 8:30 about the time I end up doing first dance.

[HightowerMusic]

I have my share of run ins with photographers. On several issiues not just the special dances. Coming to an agreement with them has been finacially benaficial for me as I have gotten several referals from photographers. If you become labeled as hard to work with even if you are not.

It can still hurt your business. I have seen it happen 2 times in my 17 years as a DJ. Included in my list of questions at the initial B/D meeting is who is their photographer and what is his schedual like? It really helps us plan everything out better. The first rule of thumb for weddings? They hardly ever go as planned as far as a time for special dances, cake cutting and toasts ect...

[PropellerHeadCase]

I've had people attempt to do the first dance between mains and dessert, in part for a photo-op, but also to fill in the time between mains and dessert. I always advise against it, explaining that the first dance is an excellent way to bring everyone's focus to the dancefloor and in that way get everyone up and dancing together, even if only for the first few songs... once people have been on the dancefloor once they are far more likely to get up there again.

Of course the last time I suggested this the bride and grom thanked me, followed my advice, and I STILL had an empty dancefloor for the first half hour. Unfortunately this is typical of Chinese weddings where the older more traditional guests are totally averse to dancing.