In Conversation with Josh from Married To The Groove
When it comes to wedding beats, Josh from Married to the Groove is the master of subtlety and style. Forget the typical wedding playlist because Josh is all about curating an experience. Join us as we chat with Josh about his approach to making weddings not just an event but a vibe, and discover how Josh turns wedding days into an effortlessly cool symphony of love and good tunes.
Photo By Ashleigh Haase
“…I absolutely love it when my couples come up to me at the wedding with a huge grin on their face, just to tell me how good the tunes are and how all their friends keep coming up to them to tell them how good the DJ is. Best feeling ever.”
Can you start by telling our readers about your journey into the world of DJing? What inspired you to pursue this career path, and why weddings in particular?
In a nutshell…
I love music, and it’s so amazing to be involved in a celebration of two people's love!
The longer version…
I remember, as a teenager, being at a house party and seeing a DJ play live for the first time… I was hooked. The following week I had bought my first set of decks and was teaching myself how to DJ. Within two months I was playing my first gig, a friend’s 18th birthday.
Over the next decade, I viewed DJing as my side hustle. I recognised immediately my style and music taste (which is broad) suited private events more than the nightclub scene. So, for over ten years, I have been playing private events with diverse age ranges and mixing across all genres of music.
When COVID hit, DJing was still my side hustle. I was working as an engineer but not really loving it. Like many people, the pandemic was the catalyst for a big career shift. I knew I loved weddings so I decided to create my own brand within the wedding industry, and it took off way faster than I ever could have imagined. Now I have the best job ever!
What sets your wedding DJ services apart from others in the industry? How do you create a unique and memorable experience for each couple?
Three things come to mind immediately when I read this question.
1. The Look
I don’t care what anyone says. Looks matter… and Most Wedding DJ setups look like shit! I wanted my DJ setup to add to a couple's styling rather than be an eyesore in the corner of the room. I have invested more in my table and lighting than most wedding DJs have on their entire setup.
2. The Tunes & Mixing
Why does every wedding have to end with Horses by Daryl Braithwaite! I am all about mixing house disco and RNB tunes from across the decade, not just pressing play on pub sing a long tunes.
3. The Relationship
I am not an agency! There is no middleman booking agent. I get to meet with my couples, discuss their vibe and then it's me there on the day.
How do you work with couples to customise the music and ambience for their wedding day?
There are two main categories for music on your wedding day.
1. The Key Moments (like your entrance and first dance)
This is the benefit of not going through a booking agent. We will chat through these key moments when we meet via Zoom. Take the first dance, for example. I don’t just want to know what song you have picked. I want to know if you are feeling confident or anxious about it. Have you practised, or are you winging it? We can then come up with a plan! Maybe you will dance for only 45 seconds, and then we can fade it out and kick it straight into a party track, or maybe at the 1-minute mark, you want the wedding party to join you and then everyone to come onto the floor for a slow dance. Either way, it's more nuanced than just picking a song.
2. Everything Else
I ask for 3 things to get a music brief for the rest of the night.
A Must Play list – This is a list of up to 10 must play tracks for your dancefloor.
A Do Not play list – I want to know what tracks or genres the couple hates.
Longer Vibe list – this is not mandatory, and you are welcome to leave it up to me as your DJ. But you can provide Spotify lists to communicate the vibe you are after for cocktail hour, dinner, the dancefloor etc.
With all that said, the reason you are hiring a DJ with over a decade's experience in private events is because I can read a crowd! I guarantee I'll have everyone up. I never know exactly where the music is going to go until I start to watch your guests on the dancefloor.
Weddings can be incredibly emotional and high-stress events. How do you manage the pressure and ensure everything runs smoothly on the big day?
The boring, important stuff haha. Preparation ahead of time, organisation and backups. The big thing for entertainment is bumping in. I am at events 2hrs before I need to be set up, even though it only takes me 1 hour to set up. And I have so many backups.
Many couples have diverse musical tastes and guest lists. How do you handle a wide range of music preferences and keep the dance floor packed all night?
That is the skill of being a Wedding DJ isn’t it? It’s a hard skill to describe, and I truly believe that it can’t taught and can only be learned from how many hours you have had DJing to different crowds. I use the music brief I have discussed with the couple as a starting point and then read the crowd.
A well-organised music library helps a lot!
Can you share some of your most memorable moments or stories from weddings you’ve DJ'd?
I DJ'd one wedding on a private property and felt like a was DJing a festival. I was scheduled to play until 11:30, but we kicked on until 2am! I was exhausted by the end, but it was such an incredible night.
What advice would you give to couples who are in the process of selecting a wedding DJ? What should they consider when making this important decision?
Steer clear of agencies – you don’t know who you are actually getting.
Can they actually mix? Listen to their mixes online. If they don’t have example mixes online, then run the other way! This will also communicate what styles of music they enjoy mixing and whether it aligns with your tastes.
What does their setup look like?
In addition to DJing, do you offer any other services or packages to enhance the overall wedding experience?
I can also MC your wedding. I believe that being an MC is an organisational role more than it is a public speaking job. If I am your MC, we will schedule a separate meeting about 10 weeks out from your wedding where I can help you plan your runsheet. Then, on the night, the MC’s job is to make sure things run smoothly, not take up airtime on the mic telling not-so-funny jokes. So if speeches are scheduled to start in 10 minutes, I would check in with the venue co-ordinator, the photographer and videographer and the person about to speak to make sure they are ready. Then, 5mins out I announce to let people know that they should refill their drinks for any toasts. Then, bang on time, I will grab everyone’s attention and introduce your first speaker... Bang-on-time.
Lastly, what do you love most about being a wedding DJ, and what do you hope to bring to every couple’s special day through your music and expertise?
Taking weddings to the next level! What do I mean by that? Well, you can have the most beautiful ceremony and dinner going around, but come 9pm your guests will start to wonder whether the night is going to kick into another gear and whether they are going to dance. Having great entertainment puts the cherry on top of the best day of your life. Instead of your reception falling flat, you will be surrounded by your friends and family on a heaving dancefloor.
I absolutely love it when my couples come up to me at the wedding with a huge grin on their face, just to tell me how good the tunes are and how all their friends keep coming up to them to tell them how good the DJ is. Best feeling ever.
Married To The Groove can be found online at marriedtothegroove.com.au or on Instagram at @marriedtothegroovedj
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