What’s a “Phase 4” wedding like in Illinois?

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Weddings are back in Illinois! Well, sort of. Maybe. But what are those weddings like? The state moved to Phase 4 of its COVID-19 reopening plan right at the end of June. That means with our July 4 weekend plans (“stay home again”), all of us wedding vendors got a host of guidelines, rules and practices to comb through. Which means I can tell you, finally, what your wedding’s going to look like if it happens any time before the end of this pandemic. Is it pretty? I’ll be honest: No. So in this article, I’m going clarify exactly what you can expect if you’ve reserved a wedding DJ or musicians with Backthird in 2020 or in early 2021. I’ll tell you what “traditional” weddings look like now. You can decide if that sounds good to you. And if it doesn’t, I’ll give you a non-traditional approach to think about instead. […]

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Why we DJ weddings [VIDEO]

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Why be a wedding DJ anyway? We grabbed 5 Backthird DJs during our 2018 wrap party – and asked them that very question. Here’s a little video insight into Chicago-area wedding DJs, in less than 60 seconds. […]

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What should you do if your DJ has an emergency on your wedding day? (Answer: Nothing.)

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When the unthinkable first happened, it was early on a Saturday and I’d just woken up. “Benjie, it’s Nate,” the voice on my cell phone said. Nate and I were working an important wedding in about 8 hours. It was his last wedding with us for a while; we’d left a big hole in his work schedule this year because his wife was due to have a baby in 6 weeks. So I already knew exactly what Nate meant when he said what he said next: “The unthinkable has happened.” […]

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What your DJ must know before your wedding at the Haight in Elgin

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The Haight in Elgin has become an overlooked gem for Chicago-area weddings. With an urban loft look, an intimate “family dining” feel and a host of quirky features to discover (see below), a Haight wedding has a flavor all its own. But those quirky features mean some unique challenges for a DJ, too. Here’s what your entertainer can do to make sure your wedding at the Haight is all it ought to be. […]

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Two Brothers Roundhouse wedding? Here are 4 things your DJ must know.

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The Roundhouse is like a second home for our DJs; we’ve been working events there since the start of Backthird Entertainment. This downtown anchor is a hotspot of Aurora, Illinois, and a fabulous place to get married – provided your DJ knows how to make the most out of the Roudhouse’s unique spaces. Whether it’s the history, the architecture, or – let’s just be honest here – the fabulous craft beer that’s drawing you to a Two Brothers Roundhouse wedding, it will take more than that to make sure your guests stick around all night and have a stellar time. Here are 4 things your DJ can do to make your party unforgettable. […]

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For this couple, celebrating 7 years of marriage meant going right back to the start.

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Genis and Daniel had a Morton Arboretum wedding, right beneath a giant tree. I remember because I was there – the couple chose a Backthird pop strings ensemble to play their wedding ceremony and cocktail music, then one of our reception acts to cover dinner and dance times. That was 7 years ago. So last month, to celebrate 7 years of marriage – and 10 years since first meeting – they decided to go back to their wedding spot again. […]

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How we match you with a wedding DJ: Finding your reception style

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Which wedding DJ is right for you? At Backthird Entertainment, couples meet with their DJ several weeks before the wedding to go over plans and song requests in detail and get to know each other. All of our DJs are trained in ALL the skills it takes to make your party a success – but all of our DJs are humans, too! We all have our own personalities and our own preferred style. That’s why your Account Manager will match you with a DJ whose personal style is a natural fit for your own. How do we do that? We start by talking about your personal reception style. […]

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Stop worrying about your wedding and just do your job.

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At your wedding, you’ll have one job. Being perfect isn’t it. Trust me on this one. I’ve worked for a lot of couples at a lot of weddings: I was at the wedding with the butterfly release, when it was too cold outside for the butterflies to wake up so they just fell on the pavement and got trampled. I was at the wedding where the couple arrived late, and then the maid of honor passed out halfway through the outdoor ceremony. Then it rained. I was at the wedding where the bride and groom set up a tent in their backyard and threw a potluck instead of hiring a caterer, except nobody told the guests when they could eat so half of them went through the line and filled their plates during the cocktail hour while the bride and groom were gone somewhere taking photos. They arrived in time for dinner to find dinner had been eaten without them. I went to all those weddings. They were all fantastic. Why? Because in every case, the wedding couple knew their one job. And they nailed it. […]

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Wedding DJ or band? In Chicago, you’ve actually got 5 options.

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“Band or DJ for your wedding?” It’s the first question you might get asked as you start to think about your wedding entertainment. And it’s way oversimplified. I’ve been a musician, a wedding band leader and a DJ in Chicago’s wedding scene since 2003. Apart from an intimate knowledge of every hotel loading dock and country club kitchen in the city, it’s given me a decent working knowledge of what your choices really are. If you want a professional DJ or band for wedding entertainment, there are actually 5 different options you could take. […]

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3 Do’s and 3 Don’ts for your Herrington Inn wedding

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There’s a right way and a wrong way to throw a Herrington Inn wedding. Of course, the same could be said of any wedding venue – but this boutique Geneva, Illinois venue is literally across the road from Backthird’s office, and just as charming as they come. We’re partial to seeing as many successful events there as possible. Our musicians and DJs have been working weddings at the Herrington Inn since 2005. Here are a few tips from the Backthird team to make planning your wedding there easy. […]

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