wedding

Patrick and Kristen’s Dance Party - Bali Hai Wedding

Patrick and Kristen danced to Ray LaMontagne's "You Are the Best Thing" for their first dance. 

San Diego DJ, Justin Kanoya, with the Ereno's at the Bali Hai.

Patrick and Kristen sealed their vows at the Bali Hai in San Diego on June 10, 2016. What followed, as usual, was a dance party. But there was nothing usual about this dance party.

It was one of those nights. One of those nights, when during the dance party I wondered how this could be so fun? How can these people dance to anything and everything? One of those nights when at the end, I thought to myself, was this the best dance I’ve ever DJ’d?

It just might have been.

Even the photographers at Clove and Kin agree … here’s a screencap from their blog post. I’ll probably just screenprint this on a t-shirt and wear it 24/7.

By the way, check out their full blog post about this amazing wedding, including the beautiful photos - many of which are part of this blog post. (Did anyone else just read that in the voice of Stefon from Saturday Night Live?)

This party had it all, honeymoon dance, anniversary dance, tearful father/daughter dance, tush-push with the bride and her girlfriends and even an encore.

The setlist is below!

First Dance
Ray Lamontagne - You Are The Best Thing

Dinner

  • Toploader - Dancing In The Moonlight
  • Mariah Carey - Emotions
  • Luther Vandross - Never Too Much (Radio Edit)
  • Zendaya f./Chris Brown - Something New
  • TLC - Creep (Select Mix Remix)
  • Daya - Sit Still Look Pretty (Intro Clean)
  • Rihanna ft Drake - Work (Lost Kings Remix) (Dirty)
  • Omarion ft Chris Brown & Jhene Aiko - Post To Be (Dennis Blaze Remix)
  • Chainsmokers, Ashanti - Only U vs Roses (J. Espinosa Jumpoff Edit)
  • Mike Posner - I Took A Pill In Ibiza (SeeB Remix)  
  • Jackson 5 - I Want You Back (Flat Intro / Short Edit)
  • Prince - I Wanna Be Your Lover
  • Ray Charles - Ain't That Love
  • Beatles - Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
  • Tears for Fears - Everybody Wants to Rule the World

Kristen dances with her father at the Bali Hai in San Diego. 

Father/Daughter Dance
My Little Girl - Tim McGraw

Open Dancing - First Set

  • Al Green - Let's Stay Together
  • Frank Sinatra - The Way You Look Tonight
  • Joan Osborne - Heat Wave
  • K.C. & the Sunshine Band - Boogie Shoes
  • Bell Biv Devoe - Poison
  • Boyz II Men - Motownphilly
  • Beastie Boys - Brass Monkey (Select Mix Remix)
  • Usher - Yeah
  • Party Break - Montel Party Break
  • House of Pain - Old School Jump Off
  • Fifth Harmony - Work From Home (Select Mix Remix)
  • Ariana Grande f./Iggy Azalea - Problem
  • Earth Wind & Fire  - Sing A Song
  • Marvin Gaye - What's Going On
  • Gladys Knight & the Pips - I Heard It Through The Grapevine
  • Lionel Richie - You Are
  • Gavin DeGraw - Chariot
  • The Temptations - My Girl


Anniversary Dance
Diana Ross/Lionel Richie - Endless Love

Cake Cutting
Jack Johnson - Better Together

Honeymoon Dance

  • Jason Mraz - Lucky
  • No One - Alicia Keys
  • Michael Buble - Everything
  • Meghan Trainor f./John Legend - Like I'm Gonna Lose You
  • Ellie Goulding - Love Me Like You Do
  • Pentatonix - Can't Sleep Love
  • Charlie Puth - One Call Away (Single Edit)
  • Rudimental f./Ed Sheeran - Lay It All On Me
  • Corona ft AObeats - Rhythm Of the Night (Hotel Garuda Remix)  
  • Nelly Furtado - Say It Right (Foldcash Remix)  

Open Dancing - Second Set

  • Darius Rucker - Wagon Wheel
  • Zac Brown Band - Chicken Fried
  • Justin Timberlake - Can't Stop The Feeling!
  • Mark Ronson f./Bruno Mars - Uptown Funk
  • Vanilla Ice - Ice Ice Baby (Select Mix Remix)
  • Marky Mark & The Funky Bunch - Good Vibrations (Select Mix Remix)
  • Carly Rae Jepsen - Call Me Maybe
  • Tupac - California Love
  • Notorious B.I.G. - Hypnotize
  • Dr. Dre ft Snoop Dogg & Nate Dogg - The Next Episode (Dani Deahl & Jason Edward Remix)  
  • Drake f./Wizkid & Kyla - One Dance (Promo Only Quick Edit)
  • Notorious B.I.G. - Mo Money Mo Problems
  • Nicki Minaj ft Drake - Truffle Butter (Jester Remix)  
  • Beyonce - Crazy In Love
  • Britney Spears & Iggy Azalea - Pretty Girls (Promo Only Quick Edit)
  • Eastside Boyz - Get Low
  • Miley Cyrus f. Jay-Z - We Can't Stop (DJ Scooter Twerk Remix - Clean)
  • Miley Cyrus - Party In The U.S.A.
  • Bon Jovi - Livin' On A Prayer
  • Neil Diamond - Sweet Caroline
  • Jason Derulo f./Snoop Dogg - Wiggle
  • 2 in a Room - Wiggle It
  • LMFAO - Sexy And I Know It
  • LMFAO - Party Rock Anthem

Last Dance
Walk The Moon - Shut Up And Dance (Select Mix Remix)

Encore
Rob Base - It Takes Two

Vendor Team
DJ, Master of Ceremonies: DJ Kanoya Productions
Photographer: Clove and Kin
Coordinator: Kimberly Orias Events
Venue: Bali Hai

 

Other weddings hosted by DJ Kanoya at Bali Hai

Ashley and Chad’s Dance Party - Historic Cottage San Clemente Wedding

Chad and Ashley get married at the Historic Cottage at San Clemente State Beach.

San Diego DJ Justin Kanoya with the bride and groom, Ashley and Chad, after their wedding at the Historic Cottage

Chad and Ashley celebrated their wedding day, June 11, 2016 at the Historic Cottage located at San Clemente State Beach. It was my first time there, in fact my first time DJing an event in San Clemente. And now that I’ve gigged between Los Angeles and San Diego, it’s safe I’ve been just about everywhere along the SoCal Coast.

This was a great venue that was perched high up with an amazing view of the Pacific Ocean. It was also conveniently located for the couple's family and friends, a middle point between those that lived in the LA/Orange County and San Diego areas.

But truth be told, Chad insisted on the location because it was as far South from Orange County as the caterer would go … a little-known hamburger joint called In ‘n Out. Yep, it was Double-Doubles, Animal Style all around for their guests. I guess that’s what a Chad and Ashely wedding is all about.

In 'n Out catered the wedding with their famous burgers and fries. 


The night progressed into a fabulous dance party. Here’s a look at the setlist.

First Dance
Garth Brooks - To Make You Feel My Love

Dinner

  • Jason Mraz - Did You Get My Message
  • Anuhea - Higher Than The Clouds
  • Martin Page - In The House of Stone and Light
  • Craig David - Officially Yours
  • Eric Hutchinson - Back To Where I Was
  • Human League - Human (VM Edit)
  • Marvin Gaye - How Sweet It Is
  • Kygo f./Maty Noyes - Stay
  • Chainsmokers, Ashanti - Only U vs Roses (J. Espinosa Jumpoff Edit)
  • Omarion ft Chris Brown & Jhene Aiko - Post To Be (Dennis Blaze Remix)
  • Justin Bieber - Sorry (Mr Collipark Remix)  
  • Mariah Carey - Dreamlover
  • Ray Charles - Ain't That Love
  • Stevie Wonder - Uptight (Everything's Alright)
  • Mayer Hawthorne - The Walk
  • Tori Kelly - Should've Been Us (Lost Kings Remix)  (Radio Edit)
  • Mike Posner - I Took A Pill In Ibiza (SeeB Remix) (Select Mix Remix)
  • Gwen Stefani - Make Me Like You (Promo Only Quick Edit)
  • Taylor Swift - New Romantics (Select Mix Remix)
  • OMC - How Bizarre (Select Mix Remix)
  • Paula Abdul - Forever Your Girl
  • Sam Feldt & Kimberly Anne - Show Me Love (EDX Remix)  
  • Corona ft AObeats - Rhythm Of the Night (Hotel Garuda Remix)  
  • Pharrell ft Jay-Z - Frontin (Disclosure Mix)
  • DJ Cassidy f./Chromeo - Future Is Mine (Promo Only Intro Edit)


Mother/Son Dance
Perfect Fan - Backstreet Boys

Open Dancing - First Set

  • Frank Sinatra - The Way You Look Tonight
  • Al Green - Let's Stay Together
  • Mark Morrison - Return Of the Mack (Intro Clean)
  • Emotions - Best Of My Love
  • Cheryl Lynn - Got To Be Real
  • Carl Carlton - She's A Bad Mama Jama (She's Built, She's Stacked) [Hot Classics Remix]
  • Bell Biv Devoe - Poison
  • Boyz II Men - Motownphilly
  • Prince - 1999  
  • DNCE - Cake By The Ocean (Select Mix Remix)
  • Mariah Carey - Emotions (Select Mix Remix)
  • Usher - Yeah
  • Montel Jordan - This Is How We Do It
  • Eastside Boyz - Get Low
  • Dr. Dre ft Snoop Dogg & Nate Dogg - The Next Episode (Dani Deahl & Jason Edward Remix) 
  • Drake f./Wizkid & Kyla - One Dance (Promo Only Quick Edit)
  • House of Pain - Old School Jump Off
  • Michael Jackson - Wanna Be Startin' Something
  • The Chainsmokers ft Rozes - Roses (The Him Remix)  
  • Justin Bieber - Love Yourself (Renair  Uptempo ReDrum Edit)  
  • LMFAO - Party Rock Anthem
  • Black Eyed Peas - Boom Boom Pow
  • Quad City D.J.'s - C'mon 'N' Ride It

Cake Cutting
The Four Tops - I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)

Bouquet Toss
Beyoncé - Run The World (Girls)

Open Dancing - Second Set

  • Beyonce - Crazy In Love
  • Tupac - California Love (Original Version)
  • Meghan Trainor f./John Legend - Like I'm Gonna Lose You
  • Bob Marley - Three Little Birds
  • Rihanna ft Drake - Work (Lost Kings Remix)  
  • Fat Joe & Remy Ma f./French Montana - All The Way Up
  • The Game - How We Do
  • Jagged Edge - Where The Party At
  • V.I.C. - Wobble
  • Calvin Harris f./Rihanna - This Is What You Came For
  • Calvin Harris f. Ayah Marar - Thinking About You (Promo Only Intro Edit)
  • Zedd, Selena Gomez - I Want You To Know (Select Mix Remix)
  • Sam Hunt - House Party
  • Zac Brown Band - Homegrown
  • Darius Rucker - Wagon Wheel
  • Journey - Don't Stop Believin' (Live)
  • Tom Jones - It's Not Unusual
  • Natalie Cole - This Will Be an Everlasting Love
  • Charlie Puth - One Call Away (Single Edit)
  • Rudimental f./Ed Sheeran - Lay It All On Me
  • Andy Grammer - Honey, I'm Good (Select Mix Remix)
  • Carly Rae Jepsen - Call Me Maybe
  • Jason Mraz - I'm Yours (Live)

Last Dance
Black Eyed Peas - The Time (The Dirty Bit)

 

Vendor Team
DJ/Master of Ceremonies: Justin Kanoya, DJ Kanoya Productions
Venue: San Clemente Historic Cottage
Caterer: In N Out
Photographer: Michael Regala Photography 

 

 

 

Other wedding hosted by DJ Kanoya Productions

Mary and Peter's Dance Party - Darlington House Wedding

Peter and Mary's ceremony was held in the Darlington House garden patio.

Peter and Mary were married at the beautiful Darlington House in La Jolla on May 29. A gathering of 60 guests celebrated this great couple. I mostly worked with Peter during the short planning process and he was a great.

The two of them are starting a family soon and I wish them the best of luck. Here’s a look at their setlist.

Cocktail Hour

  • Yuna ft Usher - Crush

  • Janet Jackson - Let's Wait Awhile (Radio Edit)

  • Spyro Gyra - 2020

  • Waynan Tisdale - Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now

  • Kenny G - Alone

  • Ja Rule - Always On Time

  • Mindi Abair - As Good As It Gets

  • Ottmar Liebert - Barcelona Nights

  • Snoop Dogg - Beautiful

  • Notorious B.I.G. - Biggie Tribute Medley

  • A Tribe Called Quest - Bonita Applebum

  • Mystikal - Bouncin' Back

  • A Tribe Called Quest - Check the Rhime


First Dance
Adele - Make You Feel My Love


Dinner Music

  • Soul Ballet - Cream

  • Notorious B.I.G. - Crush On You

  • Mystikal - Danger (Been So Long)

  • Lauryn Hill - Doo Wop (That Thing)

  • A Tribe Called Quest - Electric Relaxation

  • Jack Johnson - Breakdown

  • Jason Mraz - Live High

  • Ingrid Michaelson - Boys Chase Girls

  • Echosmith - Bright

  • Ed Sheeran - Photograph (Felix Jaehn Remix Edit)

  • Coldplay - Adventure Of A Lifetime

  • Tori Kelly - Should've Been Us (Lost Kings Remix)

  • Mariah Carey - Emotions (Select Mix Remix)

  • Michael Jackson, Justin Timberlake - Love Never Felt So Good

  • Prince - I Wanna Be Your Lover

  • Chainsmokers, Ashanti - Only U vs Roses (J. Espinosa Jumpoff Edit)

  • Ed Sheeran - Thinking Out Loud

  • Katy Perry - Birthday

  • Marvin Gaye - How Sweet It Is

  • The Temptations - Ain't Too Proud to Beg

  • Adele - When We Were Young (DiscoTech 2AM Radio Edit)

  • Ellie Goulding - On My Mind


Dancing

  • Frank Sinatra - The Way You Look Tonight

  • Al Green - Let's Stay Together

  • Jackson 5 - I Want You Back

  • Justin Timberlake - Can't Stop The Feeling!

  • Mark Ronson, Bruno Mars - Uptown Funk (Select Mix Remix)

  • The Spinners - I'll Be Around (70s Classics)

  • Earth, Wind & Fire - September

  • Emotions - Best Of My Love

  • Maroon 5 - Sugar

  • Ella Henderson - Ghost (Oliver Nelson Remix) (Radio Edit)

  • Boyz II Men - Motownphilly

  • Bell Biv Devoe - Poison

  • Usher - Yeah

  • House of Pain - Old School Jump Off

  • Michael Jackson - Billie Jean

  • The Chainsmokers ft Rozes - Roses (The Him Remix)

  • Rihanna - We Found Love

  • Major Lazer & DJ Snake ft MO - Lean On (FUTURE LINES Bootleg)

  • Justin Bieber - What Do You Mean? (Select Mix Remix)

  • Meghan Trainor f./John Legend - Like I'm Gonna Lose You

  • Charlie Puth - One Call Away (Single Edit)

  • Natalie Cole - This Will Be an Everlasting Love

Last Dance
Jason Mraz - I'm Yours

Vendor Team
DJ/Master of Ceremonies: Justin Kanoya, DJ Kanoya Productions
Venue: Darlington House
Photographer: Fixated Concepts

Other weddings hosted by DJ Kanoya Productions

Brett and Ben’s Dance Party - Carnitas Snack Shack Wedding

Whoops forgot to smile. Ben and Brett are the coolest. Our shoes are even cooler. 

This was a wedding celebration I was looking forward to for several months. I would say it had to do with the location, the popular San Diego eatery, Carnitas Snack Shack, but it really was the couple ... Ben and Brett.

I met Brett in early 2015 when I DJ'd the Lululemon La Jolla store she managed. That moment led to more gigs for Lululemon all over San Diego, then Vancouver and Palm Desert when she opened the Lulu outlet store in Cabazon. So DJing just for her, her new hubs, family and friends was a great alternative to all those other events.

Brett and Ben's celebration on May 27, 2016 was truly "local San Diego." From the venue (the aforementioned Carnitas Snack Shack), local beers and even delicious sugary sweet Craft Donuts.

I adore this couple. Brett has been an amazing supporter of my "second career" and this party was the best!

Here's the setlist:

Cocktail Hour/Dinner

  • Daughter - Get Lucky (Daft Punk Cover) (Holtoug Deep House House Edit)
  • COMA - Lora (Robag's Fandara Qualv NB)  
  • Guy J - Nirvana  
  • Walk The Moon - Shut Up And Dance (Promo Only Intro Edit)
  • Colbie Caillat - I Do
  • Chachi & Paige - Land Down Under  
  • Tori Kelly - Should've Been Us (Lost Kings Remix)  
  • Ed Sheeran - Photograph (Westphal & Whyman Remix)  
  • Kygo ft Maty Noyes - Stay  
  • DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince - The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air (Le Boeuf Remix)  
  • Coldplay - Adventure Of A Lifetime
  • Avicii ft Zac Brown Band - Broken Arrows
  • Chainsmokers ft ROZES - Roses (Adam Foster Remix)  
  • Corona ft AObeats - Rhythm Of the Night (Hotel Garuda Remix)  
  • Ellie Goulding - Lights
  • Drake ft Majid Jordan - Hold On We're Going Home (Panic City Remix)
  • Mariah Carey - Emotions (Select Mix Remix)
  • Hall & Oates - Private Eyes (Select Mix Remix)
  • Wham! - Everything She Wants
  • Seinabo Sey - Younger (Kygo Remix)  
  • Gwen Stefani - Make Me Like You (Select Mix Remix)
  • Warren G ft Nate Dogg - Regulate (Destructo & Wax Motif Remix)
  • Pharrell ft Jay-Z - Frontin (Disclosure Mix)
  • Sam Feldt & Kimberly Anne - Show Me Love (EDX Remix)  
  • Janet Jackson - No Sleeep (Strobe Insomnia Bootleg)  
  • Wish I Was ft Cameron Walker - Cutting Ties  
  • Disclosure ft Lion Babe - Hourglass  
  • Ellie Goulding - On My Mind
  • Zendaya f./Chris Brown - Something New
  • TLC - Creep (Remix)
  • Disclosure ft Sam Smith - Latch (G Duppy Reggae Remix)
  • Who Is Fancy f./Ariana Grande & Meghan Trainor - Boys Like You
  • Timeflies f./Natalie La Rose - Worse Things Than Love


Open Dancing

  • Mark Morrison - Return Of The Mack (Select Mix Remix)
  • Brandy - Sittin Up In My Room (Select Mix Remix)
  • Queen - Under Pressure
  • Evelyn Champagne King - Love Come Down (Hot Classics Remix)
  • Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam - Head To Toe (Hot Classics Remix)
  • Discotron - Disco Ballin'  
  • The Spinners - I'll Be Around (70s Classics)  
  • Luther Vandross - Never Too Much
  • Jackson 5 - ABC / I Want You Back
  • Queen - Crazy Little Thing Called Love
  • Katy Perry - Birthday
  • Beyonce - Crazy In Love
  • Fifth Harmony - Work From Home (Select Mix Remix)
  • Usher - Yeah (Wedding Crasherz Break)
  • Montel Jordan - This Is How We Do It
  • Mariah Carey - Dreamlover
  • Taylor Swift vs Lauryn Hill - Blank Space (DJ Skillz Throwback Blend)
  • Lauryn Hill - Doo Wop (That Thing)
  • Ariana Grande f./Iggy Azalea - Problem
  • Justin Timberlake - Can't Stop The Feeling!
  • Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
  • Boyz II Men - Motownphilly
  • Vanilla Ice - Ice Ice Baby (Select Mix Remix)
  • Beyonce - Formation (Promo Only Clean Edit)
  • Beyonce - Naughty Girl
  • Jay Z ft. Kanye West - N***** In Paris
  • Fetty Wap - Trap Queen (Promo Only Clean Edit)
  • Rihanna ft Drake - Work (Lost Kings Remix)
  • Fat Joe & Remy Ma f./French Montana - All The Way Up
  • The Game - How We Do
  • Too Short - Blow The Whistle
  • Chainsmokers, Ashanti - Only U vs Roses (J. Espinosa Jumpoff Edit)
  • Drake f./Wizkid & Kyla - One Dance (Promo Only Intro Edit)
  • Digital Underground - The Humpty Dance
  • Meghan Trainor f./John Legend - Like I'm Gonna Lose You
  • Al Green - Let's Stay Together
  • Stevie Wonder - Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours
  • DNCE - Cake By The Ocean (Promo Only Clean Edit)
  • Justin Bieber - Love Yourself (RENAIR Uptempo ReDrum Edit)  
  • Carly Rae Jepsen - Call Me Maybe
  • Taylor Swift - New Romantics (Promo Only Quick Edit)
  • Taylor Swift - Shake It Off
  • Walk The Moon - Shut Up And Dance
  • Icona Pop - I Love It (Select Mix Remix)
  • Clean Bandit, Jess Glynne - Rather Be (Select Mix Remix)
  • Marky Mark & The Funky Bunch - Good Vibrations (Select Mix Remix)
  • C&C Music Factory - Gonna Make You Sweat
  • Rob Base, DJ E-Z Rock - Joy & Pain (Select Mix Remix)
  • Usher Mixalot - OMG Baby Got Back
  • Justin Bieber - What Do You Mean? (Promo Only Intro Edit)
  • Warren G - Regulate
  • A Tribe Called Quest - Bonita Applebum
  • DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince - Summertime
  • Paperboy - Ditty
  • Naughty By Nature - Jamboree
  • Omarion ft Chris Brown & Jhene Aiko - Post To Be (Dennis Blaze Remix)
  • Blackstreet - No Diggity (Mayeda Twerk Remix)
  • Mike Posner - I Took A Pill In Ibiza (SeeB Remix)  
  • Major Lazer & DJ Snake feat. MO - Lean On (Yaldah Remix) (Audio1 Edit)
  • Selena Gomez ft ASAP Rocky - Good For You (Caked Up Remix)
  • Nicki Minaj ft Drake - Truffle Butter (Jester Remix)  
  • Otis Redding - Sittin On The Dock Of The Bay (ReDrum)  
  • Bob Marley - Three Little Birds


Last Dance
Maroon 5 - Sunday Morning

 

Vendor Team
DJ/Master of Ceremonies: Justin Kanoya, DJ Kanoya Productions
Venue: Carnitas Snack Shack
Photographer: Venture and Vine

 

 

 

Other weddings hosted by DJ Kanoya Productions

Sweetheart Table vs. Head Table ... or Something Else

Just the two of us ... the sweetheart table only has room for two!

Deciding seating arrangement is a couples first order of business when it comes to reception table planning

Once a wedding reception venue has been secured and the expected guest is finalized, one of the first items wedding couples will need to address is the reception seating arrangement.

And this is not about who will sit with whom, or making sure a certain person doesn’t sit with another certain person. I’m speaking about where the couple will sit.

Generally speaking, there are one of three ways that wedding couples can seat themselves: sweetheart table, head table and, I’m not even sure what to call it , but let’s just say “sitting among the guests.”

As with any situation when you are faced with options, there are pros and cons to the above. Here’s my perspective on all three. And I’ll analyze both from a guest and a DJ’s perspective.

Sweetheart Table
This is a small table, generally a half moon, where only the newly wedded couple are assigned to. It is usually placed in an area of the room that becomes the focal point.

Pros: You and your “sweetheart” get your own spot. It will also be much easier for guests and venue and vendor staff to access you. Without having to work around several people at a head table, bringing the couple their food, drink, taking a picture, etc. is fairly easy with this set-up.

For me, I usually need to communicate with the couple a few times during dinner, so having the easy access is nice for me.

Another advantage is that since it is a smaller table it does not take up too much space. Once the dinner is over and it’s time to party and dance, you will not have a large vacant table looking unusually bare and in the way.

Cons: Having their own spot may be uncomfortable for some, as it can feel a bit awkward to be showcased in a room. I for one am not too keen on the idea of people watching me eat. Couples may also feel a bit removed from the party, especially if it is a very large room and their table has been placed far from other tables.

Head Table
This set-up assigns the wedding couple along with members of the entire wedding party. Depending on the size of the wedding party, it could be one long table, or a 8-10 person round table.

A long head table provides a canvas to create dramatic floral and decorative table art.

Pros: Your friends, family and whomever else you want, all hanging out around a table … what’s not to love about this? I would also imagine, from a service perspective, a long table is easier on the staff to serve those sitting at it.

The other positive element to a head table, is what decorators and florists can do. A large, long table presents an empty canvas that I have seen transformed into true works of art.

Cons: A large head table will soon be a large empty table just taking up important spac. During dinner, it’s common for the wedding couple to get up from their table and visit with the other guests. It’s also common for others at the table to get up, for whatever reason.

In some cases, if a member of the wedding party has family members sitting at another table, they may get up to visit with them, or maybe just check in with them (think of a bridesmaid who has a young child sitting with dad at another table.)

And even if everyone stays seated during dinner, nearly everyone will have vacated this table by the time the dancing gets started. What is left behind is a table with seating for 10,15, 20 etc. that is taking up prime position in the room. In many cases in an area that may have made better sense for me as the DJ and MC to be placed so I can connect better with the guests and dancers.

Couple sitting among all guests
This set-up assigns the wedding couple to a table among the “general population.” In essence, there is not a specific table designated for the couple or the wedding party.

Pros: The advantage of this seating arrangement is it eliminates all of the “cons” mentioned above. The couple will be sitting at a table with their friends or whomever else they choose. They won’t have to worried about being on display and since the table has been placed with the other tables, it’s likely not taking up space and interfering with the dance floor.

Cons: In the same way this arrangement eliminates the cons from above, it likely eliminates the “pros.” The couple will not have the own personal table or something exclusive for the wedding party. It may also feel a bit invasive and less welcoming for other guests to come up to this table and interact with you, since with a round table, you are always having to come up from behind the couple to get their attention.

Having the wedding party sitting among the guests is the best of both the sweetheart and head table worlds. 

Whatever you decide, be sure to consider the pros and cons presented above. My biggest suggestion would be to consider the entire evening. How easy do you want to make it for your guests to interact with you? Will an empty table be a hindrance later when the party gets going? Do you want to spend this meal time among  friends and family or primarily with your new spouse?

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Justin Kanoya is a wedding DJ based in San Diego. He has served as a DJ and host of more than 300 weddings over the past decade and is a recommended vendor at some of San Diego's finest wedding venues, including the Hotel del Coronado and the Lodge at Torrey Pines.