Each playlist for every wedding we do is custom-tailored for the couple and their one of a kind wedding day. If you had a request that is not in our 80,000 song repertoire, we will download as much as needed from iTunes before the event.

Music selection always starts with the bride and groom, and our process is geared toward making sure the music on their wedding day is exactly what they envision it to be. Whether they have a large list of must-plays or a large list of do-not-plays, or whatever; we will completely honor their lists.

We supply our clients with a song list that covers only about 400 songs, asking them to highlight what they’d like to be played, and encouraging them to write any additional songs they would like to hear.

image by Elaine Studley

Our cocktail/dinner playlists often include Frank, Tony, Dean, and Bobby, as well as Dinah, Etta, Ella, Billie, and Nina. Then there’s Van Morrison, Nat, Marvin, Ray, and James Taylor. Some newer music is also worked in, with tracks from artists like Ben Harper, David Gray, Sting, Dave Matthews, Regina Spektor, Coldplay, U2, Harry Connick, Michael Buble, and Eva Cassidy; but will certainly cater to your likes and dislikes.

By getting to know our clients and their style, when their wedding day arrives, our brides and grooms trust us to pull songs from their list, read the crowd, and play songs in an appropriate order from cocktails to dinner and dancing. With their feedback, we put together a perfect mix of new and old, a blend of eclectic yet recognizable, romantic, distinctive sounds that will always catch their guests’ ears!

images by Tec Peteja via Once Wed

Any vendor who is on site working at a wedding will tell you that one of the many exciting moments during the event is seeing the bride in her gown! Even after all these years of deejaying weddings and events in the DC area, it’s something I always look forward to.

Once something unusual, we’ve been spotting more brides changing into another dress for her reception. We’re all for a wardrobe change, especially when the intention is usually dance floor comfort!

What do you think of a wedding reception dress?

image by Featherlove via Style Me Pretty

images by Georgia Moxham via Once Wed

Dedicated to scientific discovery, Mr. Andrew Carnegie founded the Carnegie Institution for Science in 1902. Housed in one of those beautiful, neoclassical buildings that you pass by and wonder what might go on inside, it was a pleasure to provide music for an event there recently!

The Carnegie Institution for Science is a gorgeous space for a special event, with high ceilings and lots of gleaming marble. Setting up, we had to pay even closer attention than usual to the acoustics while also keeping our equipment from affecting the appearance of the event and the guests’ experience. I snapped a few images of the Carnegie Institution’s Rotunda set up for the event, along with our set up. See if you can spot our speakers!

image source

Its history and beauty make it a truly special museum and an exceptional venue for a wedding. The Belle Vue Room, where special events are held at Dumbarton House, is as elegant and gracious as the rest of the home, and opens to a lovely courtyard. There are also gardens and terraces perfect for cocktails and ceremonies.

With both outdoors and indoors being utilized for a wedding in a historic home, we have to be on our toes with our equipment set up! Our wireless Bose speakers become almost invisible, providing unparalleled sound quality as well as coverage both in the gardens and in the Belle Vue Room guests can comfortably hear every word during your vows and feel the music drawing them to the dance floor!

image by Elaine Studley

This past weekend, Chris Laich Music Services was at the Fairmont Hotel for Christina and Jason’s wedding.

They had a blast!

image by Elaine Studley

After the dinner concluded, we opened with the Tarantella, a traditional Italian folk dance and one of the bride and groom’s requests. With a big Italian contingent at the wedding, the floor filled up faster than we’ve ever seen with people ready to celebrate. Once they got there, they had so much fun they didn’t stop dancing until the end of the night!

image by Elaine Studley

image by Elaine Studley

image by Elaine Studley

One of my closest friends in the industry, Bob Mikolitch here at the Fairmont, did a fantastic job on the event as always. The service was absolutely top-notch and food was scrumptious! Janet Flowers created the gorgeous centerpieces and bouquets. WOW! It was such a great wedding with such a fun crowd. Elaine Studley covered the picture duties and the shots are breathtaking!

I grabbed a few quick pics to show our Bose wireless speakers set up for the ceremony and reception. This is a site where the DJ HAS to have additional speakers. 2 speakers cranked up is NOT a viable solution in the Colonnade room at the Fairmont.

If the weather is fine, there is plenty of space for an outdoor ceremony within the garden itself or on a patio adjacent to The Atrium. With all that nature, unenclosed space, and glass, setting up the music for a wedding at The Atrium at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens can be challenging.

However, over the years, we’ve perfected our equipment placement, and that expertise combined with our wireless Bose speakers means a perfect balance of nature, style, and sound!

At a recent event, we snapped a few images to show a few of the ways our equipment blends in with the environment while also providing excellent audio.

There are few more emotional moments in the relationship of a father and daughter than the father-daughter dance.

By nature, the father-daughter dance can be little bit sentimental, but it’s meaning and poignancy are something almost everyone can relate to.  There often isn’t a dry eye in the house!  Since the dance is so personal, you don’t have to choose the same song that your guests have heard at every wedding.

Here are a few traditional and non-traditional father-daughter dance songs from some different genres.   Remember, regardless of the song length, we can certainly fade it out smoothly at any point in the song to create a seamless conclusion to the dance.

“Sunshine of my life” (Stevie Wonder)

“Daddy’s Little Girl” (Michael Buble, Al Martino)

“Daughters” (John Mayer)

“Father and Daughter” (Paul Simon)

“Have I Told You Lately” (Van Morrison)

“I Loved Her First” (Heartland)

“Isn’t She Lovely” (Stevie Wonder)

“Kind and Generous” (Natalie Merchant)

“My Girl” (The Temptations)

image by Regeti’s Photography via Style Me Pretty

A veteran who also earned an engineering degree while at the U.S. Military Academy, Davis recently threw an intimate celebration for about 75 of his Army pals at his home in Maryland, and he asked Chris Laich Music Services to provide music. To ensure unobtrusive, seamless coverage, we set up our wireless Bose speakers in the tent around his pool and decorated in Army colors. As always, they blended perfectly with the event (see images) and delivered amazing sound though we were in an enclosed tent!

While Susan Gage Catering provided fabulous food for the “troops”, I spun ‘60s jams mixed with some tracks from the West Point Band and Chorus since, among other things, Davis had served on the faculty at West Point! I couldn’t have asked to work with nicer bunch of people!

There’s a big wedding and fashion event happening this Sunday, August 15 from 1:00-4:00pm at the Dewar’s Lounge at the Verizon Center! Along with a fashion and bridal show, there will be great wedding vendors to meet and delicious cakes and treats to try.

We’ll be spinning the music during the fashion show and for the entire bridal event, and brides that pre-register and buy tickets will be eligible to win some serious prizes like wedding bands and a trip to Mexico!!  After the event, watch the Mystics play, and then head out to any of the hot spots around the Verizon Center.

Visit here to learn more and register!

No, I don’t mean air guitar (unless you feel it is called for).  I mean a sweet, upbeat number from one of the best bands ever, Queen.  Just listening to it brings a smile to my face, and before you know it, you’re swaying to the harmony.

It’s every bit a love song as anything sung by Sinatra. In fact, “You’re My Best Friend” was written by John Deacon, Queen’s bassist, to his wife, Veronica…to whom he is still married!