What You Don’t See: The Week Leading Up to Your Wedding with a Pro Musician & DJ

I often get asked: “What do you do all week?”

It's a common assumption that I don't work much during the week, then turn up for gigs on the weekend, however, when you book a professional wedding musician and DJ, you’re actually booking a full week of preparation, months of communication, and years of experience — all focused on making your day unforgettable.

I estimate that around two-thirds of the time I dedicate to each wedding happens before I even arrive on the day. So for a 7-hour wedding booking, I typically invest about 21 hours in total — most of it behind the scenes.

Here’s a look behind the scenes at what that really involves.

🗓️ The Week Before: Where the Magic Starts

The work starts well before wedding week. Months out, I’ll check in to start planning your key songs, run sheet and overall vibe. If you have custom song requests, I begin learning, arranging and rehearsing them early — so they’re performance-ready and tailored perfectly to your day.

The week of your wedding is then packed with:

✉️ Admin & Communication

• Finalising run sheets, playlists and venue logistics

• Responding to emails, adjusting timing, and confirming special requests

  
  

🎶 Music Preparation

• Running through live sets

• Rehearsing key ceremony and first dance songs

• Fine-tuning DJ transitions and setlists

  
  

🎸 Gear & Tech

• Restringing guitars, charging gear, testing everything

• Updating firmware, packing backups — no room for risk on the big day

  
  

📚 Refinement & Training

• Personal practice and skill development

• Researching new equipment and upgrading where needed

  
  

All of this happens before I even leave home.

📦 Load Out & Final Prep

The day before, I pack and double-check all equipment. On the day, I go into work mode around two hours before departure: final vocal warmups, reviewing key cues, and making sure everything’s ready. Travel can take anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours.

💼 On the Day: The Full-Time Difference

I arrive two hours early to set up, test and prepare multiple systems so the moment guests arrive, it’s seamless. Throughout the day I’m adjusting live to the crowd, syncing with your timeline, and making sure the right moment lands with the right song.

Once it wraps, it’s about 45 minutes to pack down, then the drive home — often making it a 12+ hour workday.

🎯 It’s Not Just Music — It’s the Feeling You Remember

Long after the cake’s been eaten and the flowers fade, what people remember most is how they felt. That first chord as you walk down the aisle. That moment when the dancefloor explodes to your favourite throwback. That perfect final song.

These moments don’t happen by luck — they happen because of months of prep, careful planning, and someone fully focused on getting every detail just right.

🙌 Final Word

Great entertainment looks effortless — but behind the scenes, it’s hours of midweek prep, years of experience, and a full-time commitment to delivering the best possible result.

Because I only take on one wedding per day, and a limited number each year, your day gets 100% of my time, attention and energy. That’s what you’re really booking — and that’s what makes it special.