Here’s our honest advice on this Newcastle wedding venue.

Info, packages, cost, parking, menu, directions & photos.

Merewether Surfhouse Wedding Reviews

Source: Google Reviews

“We had our wedding reception at the Merewether Surfhouse and it was absolutely amazing! We were looked after by Joh and we couldn’t recommend her and the team more highly. The whole process was fun, easy and relaxed and the service on the day blew us away! The food was epic and all our guests adored overlooking the ocean. Can’t thank Joh and the team enough for how epic the whole day and night was!”

Morgan Parsons (Merewether Surfhouse Wedding Reviews)

“Such a beautiful venue! Recommend for any reception or wedding in the area 🙂 there’s no view that can compare!”

Source: Kripa’s Korner (Merewether Surfhouse Wedding Reviews)

“WEDDING REVIEW
My wife and I recently had our wedding reception at the Merewether Surfhouse in Newcastle. From the beginning, the Surfhouse’s wedding and events coordinator Joh was amazing. She was extremely helpful and friendly each time we corresponded and met with her. On the night itself she was again extremely helpful, ensuring the bridal party was looked after on arrival before there big entrance to the awaiting guests, with refreshments and delicious starters. Throughout the evening the staff were great, and the night went off without a hitch. My only complaint, on an otherwise fantastic evening, was my two under 18 year old neices in attendance were told to leave when arriving at the bar in between the ceremony and reception. In the planning process prior to the day with the Surfhouse I was assured a table would be set aside for them during this period, however the staff were clearly not articulated this, and despite members of my family explaining the situation they were still told to leave. This meant my sister and two nieces were forced to sit in the café downstairs in their formal attire for two hours before they could be let into the reception area. The food was good, and can’t be faulted. The location is stunning. You will be hard pressed to find a better backdrop than this location. Overall it was a great experience, and we would recommend the Surfhouse for anyone searching for their future wedding venue.”

nick akland (Merewether Surfhouse Wedding Reviews)

What do we think of Merewether Surfhouse?

We’ve done a TONNE of weddings here.

It’s a Newcastle classic.

The view is pretty damn hard to beat! Plenty of room to dance, good food and friendly staff.

Just keep in mind that it’s not the BEST venue for photos. If you want to decorate your venue and get amazing photos, consider 48 Watt Street.

Despite this, Merewether Surfhouse is a must-see.

And, the acoustics are great. That’s because it’s a modern building. Whereas the sound in 48 Watt Street isn’t great.

Merewether Surfhouse Parking

There’s free parking throughout Merewether Surfhouse.

Get there early to snag a spot.

Merewether Surfhouse Location & Directions

5 Henderson Parade, Merewether NSW 2291

+61249180000

Merewether Surfhouse Photos

Merewether Surfhouse Cost, Menu, Pricing & Packages

Enquire here.

Merewether Surfhouse Videos

The post Merewether Surfhouse Wedding Reviews appeared first on Advantage DJs.

Here’s our honest advice on this Newcastle wedding venue.

Info on packages, location, directions, cost and parking.

48 Watt Street Wedding Reviews

Source: Google Reviews.

“The venue and staff were great. Initially we thought of the venue because of its aesthetic but found this was just the tip of the iceberg. 48 watt street was actually the most practical venue within the price range we were after and had the most inclusions. Being able to get married, drinks in between ceremony and reception(keeping everyone in the same spot) and have the reception at the same venue with the quality of the food and drinks that were on offer made it a pretty easy choice for us. Katie and the team made the lead up and the day relatively stress free and we couldn’t recommend them highly enough.”

Tom Lee (Google Review)

“I had SO much trouble finding a venue that had everything I wanted and pretty much in the eleventh hour, we struck gold. Apparently, they hadn’t been doing weddings for very long when I booked them; there were a few new members of staff and people were still finding the ropes a bit but I wouldn’t have wanted to go anywhere else! Everyone was SO friendly and accommodating! Special shout-out to Jonathon and Kate! They negotiated with us to match our budget and then continued to go above and beyond! Neither me nor my now husband drink wine so they gave us a couple of bottles to take to the wine-drinkers in the family so they could decide. Everything we wanted was up to negotiation, I’ve never heard of a more flexible venue. Having both a ceremony and reception venue on the same site made everything so convenient and since we had a winter wedding, it meant no travelling in the cold and the rain! The food was spectacular and the sound system was incredible which were the two most important things for my family! No-one was disappointed; thank you for making my wedding amazing!”

Michael and Tierney Parker (Google Review)

“Absolutely fantastic wedding venue. We were fortunate enough to attend a friend’s wedding and it was awesome … staff were friendly and attentive , meals were 10 out of 10 .. such a fabulous atmosphere!”

Janet Sandstrom (Google Review)

What do we think of 48 Watt St?

It’s one of our favourite Newcastle wedding venues!

Your photos will look great, plenty of space to dance and it’s located in the heart of Newcastle NSW.

Just be mindful that the acoustics aren’t great. Why? It’s an old church. So, the ceilings are high and the floor is timber. This means the sound can get a bit ‘washed out’.

Advantage DJs are experienced in getting a good quality sound at 48 Watt Street.

But, if you’re booking a band, it might sound a bit…messy.

This is because DJ’s are playing recorded music. But bands are playing live and raw. So they’ve got less control over the dynamics and overall mix (especially if they’ve got a drummer).

48 Watt Street Parking

You can park on Watt St.

Or you can choose any of these paid options.

48 Watt Street Location & Directions

48 Watt St, Newcastle NSW 2300

+61240497849

48 Watt Street Photos

48 Watt Street Wedding Cost & Packages

Find info on pricing, cost & packages. Enquire here

The post 48 Watt Street Wedding Reviews (Start Here) appeared first on Advantage DJs.

It depends. But this timeline is pretty common.

It covers the ceremony to reception.

This works really well if you want more value from your wedding entertainment. Especially if you’ve hired our DJ and MC services.

If you want a more detailed guide on planning your wedding timeline, check out this guide by Bryce Noone (wedding photographer).

Wedding Day Timeline (Ceremony to Reception)

• Ceremony
  • Guests arrive
    • Your DJ will play background music
  • The celebrant will encourage your guests to take their seats
  • The Procession (walking down the aisle)
    • Your DJ will play your song request
  • The Celebrant’s Welcome
    • A wireless microphone is provided for your celebrant
    • Your Celebrant will introduce themselves, maybe crack a joke and thank everyone for coming.
    • They will also state that they are duly authorised by law to solemnise marriages according to the law. This is a legal requirement.
  • The Monitum (The Warning)
    • The celebrant stresses to the couple the seriousness of marriage using these words:
      • “Before you are married in my presence and in the presence of these witnesses, I am to remind you of the solemn and binding nature of the relationship into which you are now about to enter.”
    • Followed by an explanation of what marriage means in Australia using these words:
      • “Marriage, according to the law in Australia, is the union of two people to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life.” (As of December 2017)
  • The Exchange of Vows
  • The Ring Exchange
  • The Pronouncement of Marriage
  • The Kiss
  • The signing of the Register
    • Your DJ will play your song requests. We recommend 2-3 songs.
  • Final Words
  • The Recessional
    • Your DJ will play your song request. Something upbeat and fun!
  • Ceremony ends

• Photos
• Canapés / Drinks / Cocktail Hour
• Guests arrive at the wedding reception.
• MC introduction and guests take their seats
  • A wireless microphone is provided for your MC
• Wedding party entrance (song request)
• Entrees
• Speeches
  • A wireless microphone is provided
• Mains
• Speeches
  • A wireless microphone is provided
• Cake cutting (song request)
• Dessert
• First dance (song request)
• Dance (song request): Father / Daughter and/or Mother/ Son
• Dancing
• Bouquet & garter toss (song request)
• More dancing
• Farewell bride and groom (song request)
• End

The post How to plan your wedding day timeline appeared first on Advantage DJs.

ThreeBestRated.com.au has ranked Advantage DJs as the best DJ service in Maitland NSW, next to Valley DJ.

See it here

According to the popular website, ‘All of our DJs face a rigorous 50-Point Inspection, which includes everything from checking reviews, ratings, reputation, history, complaints, satisfaction, trust and cost to the general excellence. Deadset the best!’

Three Best Rated said:

‘Advantage DJs’ is an expert in live music, entertainment, functions, and corporate events. They will supply you with a professional mobile DJ service for your wedding. ‘Advantage DJs’ has performed at over 500 weddings, and you can choose more than 40,000 songs. Packages available. Advantage DJs serves a variety of NSW locations, including Sydney, Central Coast, Newcastle, Hunter Valley, Southern Highlands, Blue Mountains, Port Stephens, Gosford, Terrigal, and more.’

Hire The Best DJs in Maitland

Check out our packages and request a quote.

We look forward to learning more about your event!

The post Announcement: Best DJ Maitland (Three Best Rated) appeared first on Advantage DJs.

We’ve reduced our booking deposit.

Plus, we can make your final payment due CLOSER to the event date.

If there is anything else we can do to help, please let us know.

Can we cancel our booking?

Yes, but you may not receive a refund.

We’re dealing with each client in accordance with Australian consumer law.

Can we postpone our wedding date?

Yes.

Please give us a reasonable chance to reschedule your event.

Otherwise, we might choose to terminate our agreement and not refund your payments.

Please provide at least 3 new dates

Consider choosing weekdays

Saturdays and Fridays are very busy

Please also consider that our DJs are currently experiencing financial distress. So, if you choose a popular date that we can’t do, they will not be paid. Many of our DJs are receiving welfare payments.

Finally…

Our DJs adhere to the guidelines provided by the Department of Health

We’re also communicating with each venue to ensure we comply with all health and safety regulations.

The post Coronavirus / Covid-19 Policy appeared first on Advantage DJs.

Including the average cost of a wedding DJ in Australia and wedding music.

Also, how much do DJs cost per hour?

Let’s dive in.

Average Cost of A Wedding DJ in Australia (Wedding DJ Cost)

Most wedding DJs charge between $750 to $1200 for a 5-hour wedding reception in Australia.

This should include lights, speakers, DJ table, song requests, a professional DJ and set up/pack down.

Anything below this price is considered ‘budget’. Proceed with caution.

For example, Airtasker and Gumtree are popular platforms for finding cheap DJs. Expect to secure a wedding DJ for $500 (or less).

According to our sources, some DJs charge up to $2500. (Hero DJs). While others put the top price at $3000 (Party DJ Hire Sydney)

Either way, there is no fixed fee for a wedding DJ. That’s why you should always look at what’s included in the package (and what’s not).

Also, remember that prices work on supply and demand. So, if your DJ is incredibly popular, expect to pay more.

How much do DJs cost per hour? (Wedding DJ Cost)

$80 per hour is the standard hourly rate for a freelance DJ in Australia. But, this can vary depending on experience, skills and availability.

Also, consider that hiring a DJ business can cost more than $80 per hour. But you’ll enjoy the conveniences of an established business.

Including replacement DJs in case your DJ gets sick, insurance, reputation, client reviews, etc.

How much does a DJ cost for 5 hours?

As mentioned earlier, most DJs charge between $750 to $1200 for a 5-hour performance. But this can vary depending on the type of gig, experience, skill, demand, experience, etc.

Prices can dip below $400. But be careful.

How much does a wedding cost in Australia?

Check out this helpful graphic by Nova DJs:

Advantage DJs Can Help

Get in touch if you’d like a professional DJ for your next event.

We have a perfect 5-star rating on Google and Facebook. These are real reviews from real people.

The post Wedding DJ Cost in Australia (Complete Guide) appeared first on Advantage DJs.

Let’s dive in!

Place Your DJ Near The Dance Floor

Have you ever been to a big outdoor festival and the sound was a bit…shitty? The closer you get to the stage, the better it sounds. This is despite the incredibly expensive and high-end equipment.

Have you also noticed the vocals have a delay? Especially at large outdoor political events. Once again, it’s not the fault of the sound man or the equipment, it’s the placement of your ears.

This is why I strongly suggest you allow your DJ to place their speakers near the dance floor, if possible.

The audio quality will be clearer with more bass. It’s really that simple.

I appreciate that some layouts can’t accommodate this. That’s understandable. However, if you have the means, let those speakers do what they do best.

Serve Dessert After The First Dance

I love a good dessert. Cheesecake is my favourite. However, it’s the least consumed meal of the day. This is why I suggest you serve it after the first dance.

The fact is that a lot of your guests won’t even touch their dessert. You might as well let them hit the dance floor. Chances are, they are more interested in partying than scoffing down a delicious plate of crème brûlée.

Pick A Venue Without Noise Restrictions

I have noticed a few venues are a bit reticent to disclose their noise restrictions. Whilst I feel for them, it’s a shame they aren’t more transparent. In fact, a few musicians and DJs are refusing to perform at a few of these venues. I won’t name anyone, just let it be known that it’s a ‘thing’ that no one is really talking about.

The main problem is that many of these venues have a device that cuts off the power when the sound hits a predefined level. I have seen the power cut out during the first dance. These devices are incredibly sensitive. In fact, they are often triggered by the guests! Yes, even a bit of drunken banter can trip the sound limiter.

Once again, it must be incredibly frustrating for the venue. The sound limiter is generally a requirement for their operating license. I can’t picture any sound-minded manager that would ask for such a device. It’s usually a compromise between the neighbours and the local council.

Advantage DJs is perfectly capable of working with these restraints. The point of this article is to help you get more VALUE from your entertainment. If you want to party the night away and enjoy some bull-busting bass tones, I suggest you pick a venue that can allow it.

The Takeaway

Please hit the share button if you enjoyed this article. It might help them get more value from their entertainment package.

Thanks for your support and hit me up if you have more questions.

The post Wedding DJ Tips: 3 Ways To Get MORE Value from Your Wedding DJ (Part 2) appeared first on Advantage DJs.

Designed to help you enjoy your wedding day, stress-less and manage your anxiety.

This article isn’t going to be judgemental.

Instead, it’s simply based on what our happiest clients have done.

Hopefully it helps.

#1 Manage Your Expectations

The most complex weddings create the highest expectations. It makes sense. After all, if you have invested a lot of time and energy, you are more likely to expect a greater result from your efforts.

The opposite is generally true. Less investment = less expectation.

This sounds a bit cynical. It’s actually quite a liberating thought.

Think about it this way – have you ever performed well at something with minimal effort? It feels great, even though you probably could have done a little better with significantly more investment. This is the law of diminishing returns. The point comes where the benefit doesn’t justify the cost.

I’m not suggesting that you shouldn’t have a lavish wedding. Many of my clients do!

Generally speaking: the clients that are satisfied with a jam-packed wedding schedule are naturally gifted at organising events.

The following assumptions about our clients are usually true:

• They are not experienced event managers
• Their wedding is the largest event they will ever organise
• They have other life commitments

This is why they keep it simple. Less is more. They manage their expectations and remain realistic.

This isn’t a high budget Hollywood movie. It’s a wedding between two people who love each other.

I encourage you to be honest with yourself. Do you want the added pressure and expectation? Or do you just want to enjoy the things that matter to you?

#2 Invite a good mix of friends and family

This is especially useful for keeping the dance floor full. The young people generally last longer. That’s why we usually save the RnB and hard-hitting bangers for later.

#3 Spend time on the dance floor

Get your socialising done before the first dance. Once the formalities are over, savour the final moments of your big day. If dancing is your thing, do it.

#4 Pick great wedding suppliers and trust them to do their job

RELATED: Best Suppliers in Newcastle and Hunter Valley

Do your due diligence and let your vendor do what they do best.

Read reviews and request recommendations from fellow vendors. I also suggest you search for red flags. Some of these include a terrible website, minimal social media presence and slow communication.

The best photographers can direct a photoshoot and suggest amazing locations. The best musicians can pick songs that you never would have thought of. The best venues will think of the little things that make all the difference.

On this note: our happiest clients usually let us pick most of the songs.

Creating a lengthy playlist isn’t usually worth the effort.

Why?

It’s virtually impossible to predict which songs will fill your dance floor. The general rule of thumb is: every crowd is slightly different. Our DJs are experienced in reading the room and accepting song requests from guests. This is the best way to keep the dance floor full.

Also, asking your guests for song requests PRIOR to your wedding day is also rather unproductive. Many of them will add songs ‘just for a laugh’ (e.g. SLIPKNOT! raahhhhh!). They’re not actually serious. However, on the night, many of your guests will request songs that they ACTUALLY want to hear.

I suggest you leave the heavy lifting to us.

Technology allows us to access an incredibly large library of music. Unless you’re a die-hard fan of African Metal or Pinoy Pop. In that case, bring a USB stick on the day.

Feel free to shoot through a few songs you love, a few songs you hate and let us pick the rest. This is the winning formula that works for our most satisfied clients.

#5 Delegate some of the wedding planning to friends and family

There is only so much time in the day. Ask for help. Don’t expect perfection. It’s really common for a client to delegate someone else to book Advantage DJs.

#6 Get Married For The Right Reasons (Not Social Media Stardom)

This last point is a bit risky but it needs to be said.

You don’t need to spend $30k – $60k to get some nice photos and 15 minutes of Instagram fame.

Have a good think about what marriage means to you guys. It’s simply not worth starting your marriage in financial stress if it was for the wrong reasons.

What You Can Do

We accept a large amount of responsibility to ensure you are satisfied with our service. In return, we simply ask that you go easy on yourself. Nothing ever goes entirely according to plan.

Create an experience that speaks to your values and you will receive a higher level of satisfaction.

Please get in touch if you want to chat further. We’re always happy to provide wedding useful tips and advice.

The post How To Enjoy Your Wedding Day (6 Tips) appeared first on Advantage DJs.

Trying to decide if you need a band or DJ for your wedding?

Read on.

I run a wedding DJ business (duh!) and I used to play drums in a wedding band. This has placed me in a unique position where I have seen the pros and cons of each option. If you’re struggling to make up your mind, this article is for you!

First, answer this question before you go any further:

Do you have a strong preference for electronic or guitar-driven music?

Don’t hire a band if you are a hip-hop head. Don’t hire a DJ if you are a country bumpkin. It’s really that simple.

Tip: look at the band’s song list. It should be available on their website. Do you like their vibe? Or do you want to ask a classic rock covers band if they will play a bit of Jay-Z? I can assure you that the band has picked the type of music that they are good at performing. Don’t try to fit a square peg in a round hole.

Are you a fan of numerous genres? Eclectic taste of music? Diverse Spotify play history? You sound like me. Let’s dive in!

Main considerations

Price

The general rule of thumb is that DJ’s are cheaper than bands. This is because you are paying for fewer people and less equipment.

Satisfaction

I think that nothing can beat a live band when everything goes according to plan. The drums are thumping, the sweat is dripping and the energy is primal. It’s the preferred option for artists like Eminem, Rhianna, Usher etc. Even though their recorded music doesn’t usually include live drums. It’s just better.

Risk

Bands usually have 3-6 musicians. This means that more things can go wrong (e.g. the singer gets the flu, the drummer’s car breaks down, the band breaks up etc). Murphy’s Law says: “Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong”.

Musicians are also rather unreliable at times. I suggest you hire an experienced band that has a good track record of showing up. Read their reviews and ask for recommendations from your vendors. They have seen it all before.

Note: DJ’s can get sick and still perform. Singers can’t sing at their best if they’re fighting a cold.

Music Selection

DJ’s can handle a wider variety of music and accept song requests on the fly. Bands are less equipped to deal with a random request for Cardi B’s latest top 40 hit.

Go through the band’s song list and figure out if you like the majority of their repertoire. This is the stuff that they are best at performing. If you love it, that’s awesome. They might be the right band for you. I said this earlier, but it’s worth repeating.

Extra considerations

Does your venue have noise restrictions?

If so, I highly advise against hiring a band with live drums. It’s just too risky. I have played at venues with tight noise restrictions. They usually have a device that will cut off the power when the volume hits a certain level. This is devastating and incredibly frustrating. These devices also HATE the drums. Fact: live music has a wider dynamic range. The loud bits are louder and the soft bits are softer. Recorded music is compressed. This means that the volume doesn’t change much throughout the song.

Do you have limited space?

Ensure that your band or DJ can fit in that space. Request measurements from the venue.

Does your venue have bad acoustics?

Concrete, tiles and really high ceilings. These are generally terrible for live music. It’s also bad for general conversation. The sound gets lost in the high ceilings and bounces off the reflective surfaces. However, an experienced band will know how to deal with this. DJ’s don’t have to worry about it as much because recorded music is already mixed to sound good through bad speakers and bad rooms.

What We Recommend

It comes down to what type of music you LOVE and how many risks you are willing to take.

I would probably hire a DJ for my wedding. This is because I can’t be bothered with the extra responsibility involved in hiring a band. It’s risky and expensive.

If you find a band that ticks your boxes and you are prepared for the risk, then I wish you all the best.

I truly hope it goes well and you have an amazing experience.

Recommendation: Janey’s Alibi.

Hit them up for a quote.

The post Band or DJ for Wedding: The Complete Guide (2020) appeared first on Advantage DJs.

The fact is, there are numerous factors that will influence how much value you receive from your wedding vendors. In this article, I’ll highlight three tips to help you squeeze every ounce of value out of your wedding DJ – without being a douche bag.

Key point: the clock is always ticking. Once room hire ends, the lights come on and the venue starts shutting down. Let’s dive in and see how YOU can get on the dance floor on time (or earlier!)

1. Put Time Limits On The Speeches

This might sound a bit brutal. After all, your wedding isn’t supposed to be a live TV interview or the Emmy’s.

I have noticed that the clients who place a time limit on speeches get the following benefits:

1. More people get the chance to do a speech. I have seriously witnessed a 40 minute speech. Whilst the speaker was having fun, the room was busting for a toilet break and a dance.
2. The speeches are more captivating. Why? The speaker is more likely to write, rehearse and focus on what’s important. Less rambling, less mucking around and more of the good stuff.
3. It eases the pressure. Lots of people stress out about delivering a long and meaningful speech. If they know everyone is subjected to a time limit, it reduces the expectations they place on themselves.

2. Split Speeches Between Entrees and Mains

The time between entrees and mains is typically the least productive time of the reception. Kitchens don’t always run on time and some of your guests will eat slower than others. This can seriously destroy your schedule.

I suggest that you allocate a few speeches once the entrees are cleared. Add the last speeches after mains are cleared.

Some clients even jump into the speeches BEFORE the plates are cleared. It’s up to you. I personally prefer speeches to take place once the tables have been cleared and the drinks filled up. It puts the guests at ease and makes the photos look more professional. Yes, your amazing photographer will take ‘reaction’ photos of your guests. They aren’t too keen on shooting empty glasses and dirty plates.

3. Cut The Cake, Then Do The First Dance

I strongly advise against having a ‘short break’ after the cake cutting. That ‘short break’ quickly turns into 30-45 minutes. The groomsmen pull out the cigars, the bridesmaids update their Instagram stories, and someone disappears off the face of the earth.

Enjoy your first dance and then do as you please. There’s plenty of time to catch up with loved ones and enjoy the evening.

The venues HATE it when the DJ plays over time. These are small businesses who have staff that expect to be paid extra for staying back. Let’s not forget the insane amount of noise restrictions that affect the majority of venues. It ain’t easy hosting live music. Do your best to stick to your schedule and you will have plenty of time to dance the night away.

Once again, it’s absolutely up to you. This is your wedding. If you need a break, take it.

Just remember: the clock is always ticking.

Note: Some people don’t allocate these two formalities back to back. For example, some clients cut their cake after the wedding party entrance. However, the majority of clients like to place the cake cutting and first dance after each other.

BONUS TIP: Don’t Place Your Elderly Guests Near The Speakers

It’s amazing how many times I have been asked to set up my equipment right next to the grandparents’ table. This is a common oversight and I don’t expect my clients to think of everything. That’s why I created this article!

Elderly people generally want to sit and talk. They also suffer from degenerative hearing. It’s especially difficult for them to hear the conversation in a noisy environment.

Arrange your seating so that younger people are closer to the music. This will allow your DJ to increase the volume during mealtime so the entire room can hear.

Wrapping Up

I hope you enjoyed reading this article.

It’s designed to provide value to YOU.

I want every one of our clients to feel amazing about their wedding night.

If you know someone that will receive value from this article, please share it.

All the best with your planning!

The post 3 Ways To Get More VALUE From Your Wedding DJ (Wedding DJ Tips) appeared first on Advantage DJs.