Surprise Wedding Tips & Advice

A Surprise No One Will Ever Forget

The Pros & Cons

The Pros and Cons of a Surprise Wedding

There are a heap of pros and cons when considering holding a surprise wedding.

The Pros

  • It is considerably less expensive than a traditional wedding.
  • You won’t have the expectation to invite that 3rd cousin that you met once when you were children.
  • There is less pressure on you and fewer formalities, this can also be a con if you wish to conduct all the traditional wedding formalities.
  • You won’t get bombarded with the typical wedding questions, such as ‘What are your wedding colours?’
  •  Surprising people is fun.

The Cons

  • Some guests may not attend thinking it is not as important as the actual wedding.
  • You may not receive wedding gifts. Unless you state it on the invitation that you have a wishing well.
  • Some guests may not arrive on time.
  • It might be difficult to ask for help unless you have included a small circle of immediate friends or family.
surprise wedding tips

The Cover Story & Venue

Finding the right cover story for your surprise wedding is really important and so is choosing the right venue.

  • You must use an event as a cover. We highly recommend using an engagement party as a cover for your surprise wedding another option is making it a surprise party. Both have their pros and cons, which will be detailed in the invitation section.
  • Picking a venue is the fun part. For your surprise wedding to really be a big surprise you will need one that might have a discreet section for the bride to get changed without guests noticing. A venue that will also allow the celebrant to blend in with staff is also important. If you can find one that blends in with the cover story of the event.
surprise wedding venue advice

Invitations Tips

Surprise wedding info

Sending invites, dress codes and ensure people arrive on time.

  • Getting your invitations out is very important especially when it comes to interstate guests who would come for a wedding but may not for engagement. Stressing the importance of the day may give away the fact it is a surprise wedding. Our tip is that you may, unfortunately, need to come up with a creative in an excuse to have them come. This might include some form of bribery or blackmail (we are joking unless it works). One tried and true method is requests guests to arrive early as a special guest is attending and they must be there for this guest. If this fails you may need to consider disclosing some details if they can be trusted.
  • Dress codes can be important, people do arrive to engagements and birthdays in a more casual dress. Stressing the importance of being formally dressed or dressed to impress can help resolve this. Having a prize or something similar for the best-dressed person can ensure people look their very best.
  • Stressing the importance of being punctual. The main drawback of a surprise wedding is waiting for important guests to arrive before the ceremony takes place. Making it a surprise birthday party can work well because this way guests will be more inclined to arrive on time or early. The drawback is that it is considerably harder to hide love decorations and the cake can be a big giveaway.  An engagement party can easily blend the decoration in but it will be harder to have guests arrive on time. Mentioning the attendance of a special and/or ‘celebrity’ guest arriving for a short time during the night might also help get them in the doors sooner.

The Trusted Few & Communication

Trust & Communication Is the Key To a Successful Surprise Wedding

Trust only a select few. We all have that one friend or family member who can’t keep their mouth shut. We recommend only telling people in your immediate circle. This may include only your best friend, parents and/or children. Your friends or parents can act a go to person with vendors to make sure everything goes smoothly. Discretion is the greater part of valour and getting help can ensure that guests do not clue on during the night.

Communicate with everyone and make sure everyone has the same run sheet. Run sheets are very important and yes, in 98% of circumstances you will run behind but this guide will make sure that everyone can work together to make it a success. It is important that the vendors keep their run sheet hidden from guests.

Final Tip

Have fun, enjoy the moment and celebrate your love.

If you liked our tips, please give us a like or follow.

Surprise wedding DJ Melbourne

Building A Team – Vendors

Elements needed for a surprise wedding

To have a successful surprise wedding you need the right team to make it happen. Experienced vendors or ones with great reputations and attention to detail are a must! We have a team of excellent vendors who will make your wedding a hit!

The DJ

Surprise wedding DJ Melbourne

Surprise wedding DJ hire in Melbourne

Music plays the most important role and choosing the right performer is important.

Hiring a band is a dead give away that something big is going to happen, that’s why a DJ is your best option.

It is very uncommon for anyone to hire a band to perform at an engagement or birthday party.

Hiring an experienced and professional DJ is your best option because this is the norm for the cover event.

What we do as a DJ, is to play upbeat music that will set the mood for a party or the theme of the event. Music sets the tone.

We strongly recommend against playing love music as this will almost ensure that your surprise wedding is given away because it sets the wrong tone for the night. If the DJ plays typical romantic music you would hear at a wedding, guests will become suspicious and query the DJ as to why they are playing romantic music when they should be getting the party started.

The Celebrant

Surprise wedding Celebrant

We have an amazing celebrant who we highly recommend for this type of surprise wedding DJ hire, Jane Austen. She is the warmest and bubbliest celebrant we have worked with and she will blend in with wait staff to completely fool your guests into believing she’s a member of the team.

Our DJ’s are experienced in performing at any surprise wedding DJ hire event and can complement the wedding ceremony. Our surprise wedding DJ hire can play songs for walking down the aisle, during the certificate presentation and the presentation of the married couple for the first time. This takes the pressure off the celebrant who can then focus on making the ceremony as fun and memorable as possible.

The MC

Wedding MC

Great Wedding MC’s & DJ’s Make Your Wedding A Success

Another amazing way to get your guests in early is to get a celebrity MC who can conduct your event.

We have teamed up with one of Australia’s best professional emcees John Deeks.  John is well has a wonderful reputation for being the ‘ultimate professional. He is obliging, flexible, personable, engaging and puts in 110% into anything asked of him.’ Naomi Smith Club Events – Sandringham Yacht Club

We can put you in touch with John, the voice of JB you’ve done it again as an MC for your wedding.

Whether we are MCing or you have an MC, our checklist will ensure that everyone is informed prior to any activity that is taking place. Request a quote with us now to get a copy and to find out why we are Melbourne’s best wedding DJ’s.

The Photographer

Surprise wedding Photographer

Our Partner Photographer and the Photographer for my own wedding in March next year is one who is highly skilled for surprise weddings. Adrian from, La Moment Photography. In his own words. ‘I would ensure that I capture the moment by being completely present on your wedding day. I always look to capture the in-between moments, the true emotion and connection you share. Through the use of the technical know-hows of my equipment and an attention to detail, I capture the moments that happen naturally & seamlessly. He also provides the option of a second photographer. ‘There are lots of advantages to having a second photographer. One of the main advantages is that a larger variety of images can be captured from different angles, giving you better coverage of your wedding day.’

Surprise wedding ideas

The Videographer

Surprise wedding Videographer

If executed correctly it will be a once in a lifetime moment that cannot be replicated. A videographer and a photographer working hand in hand can capture the very best moments of your surprise wedding. They can also use the cover that they are photographers working together and they are offering videography as a free extra as they are moving into that area.

Why choose Only DJs Melbourne for your Surprise wedding DJ hire in Melbourne?

  • We have a 5-Star Google rating. If our past clients love us, you will too!
  • You get one meet and greet with the business owner and head DJ.
  • We offer flexible payment plans with no setup fees! Click here for more information!
  • We will answer your emails or calls within 2 hours guaranteed.
  • You get the best all in one wedding DJ hire package in Melbourne, we include everything you need.
  • We have live tracking so you will know our ETA and see exactly where we are on the day.
  • Every console we use is made up of the same speakers, lights and music collection.
  • We have onsite downloading for last-minute requests.
  • We have a collection of 90,000 songs.
  • Light MC duties are included.
  • Live tracking on the day with live ETA.
  • Get free set up with every booking.
  • Unlimited email & phone call support.
  • We can take part in wedding rehearsals. Additional fees may apply.
chris ohare
Can’t rate James and only dj’s highly enough totally professional throughout the whole experience James was flexible with our timings and delivered exceptional dj and MC service throughout the evening top notch !
Tenille Chamclam
James was excellent from initial enquiry right through to pack up on the night. Professional, attentive and set a great mood for my daughter’s party. The quality of the equipment and sound was of a very high standard, we were in safe hands with James on the decks!! Thanks James will definitely have you back for our next event.
Kerri Parker
James DJ’d for a large school event with over 230 students and I thought at the time he was fantastic. His music choices and openness to requests was excellent. It was the following school day when the students commented how good the music was that I knew I needed to lock James in for future events. I would recommend him if you are looking to entertain a crowd of any size.
Emily Magri
Wow where to even start! We are incredibly grateful for choosing James as our DJ & MC for our wedding. From the very start communication from James has been phenomenal to say the least. The atmosphere he brought to our special day was amazing and so many of our guests are still raving about him and our Photo Booth. If you're looking for someone who knows how to bring the vibes and read the room then we HIGHLY recommend Only DJ’s Melbourne for your next event !! You will not be disappointed 😁
Amy Ong
James was our wedding MC & DJ. He was very helpful and responsive to our emails/texts. Everything was executed perfectly despite some very last minute changes. Thank you for a fun & memorable wedding!
Chris Atha
We had the absolute best experience with James from Only DJ’s Melbourne! From start to finish, he was professional, organised, and an absolute joy to work with. As our DJ and MC, he kept the night running smoothly, read the crowd perfectly, and had everyone on the dance floor all night! The photo booth was also a huge hit with our guests, adding so much fun to the night. James’ attention to detail and energy made our wedding unforgettable. We can’t recommend him highly enough—thank you for making our special day amazing!
Stephanie Axiaq
We recently hired Only Djs (jacob) for our family event, and they were fantastic! From start to finish, they created a lively atmosphere that had everyone dancing and enjoying themselves. Jacob was professional, easy to work with, and understood the vibe we were aiming for. They kept a great mix of songs that appealed to all ages, even taking requests on the spot and adapting seamlessly to the crowd’s energy. Our guests couldn’t stop raving about the music, and it added a wonderful, memorable touch to our celebration. Highly recommend for any event where you want a fun, engaging DJ!
Konstantina Kolovouris
James was the DJ at my engagement party and went above and beyond in all aspects, communication was very important to me and he was very communicative and supportive! James created a great atmosphere and I could tell how much he cares about his job, his attention to detail is incredible
Samantha Weir
We used James for a family fun day and he was brilliant! The service was fantastic, and the music was perfect for what we needed. No request was too difficult. Would definitely use again, and recommend to others.
Eug Ski
Best wedding DJ in Melbourne! Highly recommend the team at Only DJ's Melbourne, they rocked our night!
Ash Balassone
We hired DJ James to play music and provide a photobooth for our Year 10 Formal and it was the best decision ever. Our students and staff had the best time and did not leave the dance floor all night. The photobooth was also perfect and provided us with printed photos as well as GIFs that we could send to ourselves. It was absolutely perfect and we would book the services of Only DJs again in a heartbeat!
Jeremy Iredale
James DJ'd and MC'd at our wedding last night. His communication with us from the very beginning was absolutely impeccable.As an MC, he did a 5 star job, perfectly coordinating our night!As a DJ, we gave him the tough challenge of "read the crowd" and he definitely kept the party going all night long!Thank you so much James! It was a pleasure to have you at our wedding!
Camille Gonzales
James was a great MC and an asset to our wedding
Natalie T
A massive thankyou to James for being the most organised, approachable DJ/MC there is. Anything we needed leading up to our big day, James was there and had our back. His DJ/MC skills are a absolute 10/10!!! We would highly recommend having James as your DJ/MC, he definitely will not let you down!
daniel hastings
Having James help DJ and MC our wedding was an awesome experience. He really helped warm up the crowd and get them involved with all the activities we had organised. He is very organised making the entire process a breeze organising. Was an immense pleasure having him part of our special day.
James Tipping
James recent did our wedding on the 26/4/24 and was amazing from start to finish. From the communication, organisation, DJ and MC skills we couldn't be more impressed. He reads the room and plays exactly what gets the guests up and dancing. He kept us updated with the flow of the night and ee would highly recommend him in an instant. Thankyou James for making our night unforgettable not just for us but everyone who attended.
Nikita S
Good Dj service. Ticked all the boxes. Our night was magical with the music/ effects and photobooth. Thank you James. Highly recommend.
Toula Fragkos
Thank you James!!...you had the dance floor full all night at my daughters 21st party and it was a pleasure dealing with you from the booking process right to the end of night.👏👏🙂
Jordyn Coyne
James was an amazing MC/DJ for our wedding, he always checked up to make sure everything was what we wanted, adjusted the plan if anything changed. He brought great vibes aswell, always keeping everyone entertained and having a great choice of music / when to play what songs at the right moment. Highly recommend for any event!
Karlee Paterson
James was absolutely fantastic! From the initial contact all the way through to the event, James was extremely wonderful to communicate with. James gave us the very vibe we were looking for on our wedding night and really helped make it as magical as it was. Would recommend James to anyone! Thank you so much for making it such a perfect evening!
Kyriacos Pantopolis
James was a wonderful djmc for my son's wedding his fun antics really made the night as an MC and made it unforgettable we danced All night Long thank you again James
Alex Minoale
Very professional and amazing attitude. Great music mixes and sound quality. Read the room perfectly and played the most appropriate music. Love your work James!
Stavy Kouppa-Spiridis
Only DJ'S Melbourne is absolutely amazing. The entire night was packed with a lot of dancing and great music. James was polished and professional. James has great passion and talent throughout
Melanie Wilson
Great service, professional set up and perfect party games host. We loved the selfie booth too! James was absolutely fantastic
Vladislav Makarenko
Highly recommend this service! James was awesome, approached people asking for song requests and overall very friendly!
Eleni B
We were fortunate to have James as our DJ and MC for our wedding. Not only did he go above, but he also did an amazing job of engaging the crowd, making the night both fun and memorable. Thank you, James, for your efforts and meticulous attention to detail
Nicole Guy
James absolutely saved our event! He jumped in with less than 24 hours notice and absolutely made the night. The event was for a school formal and James had the kids dancing all night long. He was extremely professional and communicative. Thank you so much James, we will definitely be utilizing your services in the future.
Paps Manikhot
Thank you James for weaving your DJ magic for 50th. You got the crowd going and listened to what we wanted. Highly recommended.
Peter Constantinou
Best experienced DJ, highly recommended!
Dimitri Pantopolis
James has again expertly transformed another party with his experience and professionalism. It was a very easy process to book with him and he went out of his way to make the event memorable. The added dry ice and photo booth really engaged everyone and I'll be booking again as soon as I have another one!
Theo Dimitriu
James was our DJ and MC for our wedding and we could not be happier. The entire reception ran smoothly and the dance floor was always full of people enjoying themselves. Highly recommended and will absolutely reach out to him again if a DJ and MC is needed.In the lead up to the wedding, James was fantastic. He responded quickly to all our questions, gave us suggestions on how to make things run smoothly and really understood what we wanted and made it happen.During the reception, he guided us through the different formalities which was so appreciated (we were so nervous) and throughout the night he was able to read the room and make small adjustments to keep a nice flow of events. We really appreciated the small things he did, for example before speeches he made sure the tables looked clean, glasses were topped up for toasts, he made sure bridal party were ready and he made nervous speakers feel comfortable and supported to make speeches.We cannot recommend James highly enough. If you are looking for a DJ and MC who will make your event an unforgettable night, look no further.
George Gramnea
Great service provider and very professional
Adam Sabin
James was a professional host and very good at his job. He was accommodating and blended with the genre chosen. He had everyone dancing and thoroughly enjoying the night. Thanks James
Ashley Chrisanthopoulos
We can’t thank James enough for making our wedding so memorable. James did everything we asked, constantly checked in on us through the night, was attentive, read and engaged the crowd. Thank you James for everything 🙏🏼
Hannah Capsalis
Highly highly highly recommend James. From the very moment I enquired with him he went above and beyond. Replying always within a few hours the communication being so consistent led to me being a less stressed bride. Throughout our wedding reception as our DJ and MC he read the crowd perfectly ensuring everyone was enjoying the night, he regularly checked in with me the bride to make sure I was happy with everything too. The biggest stand out was how well he read the room and his expertise allowed us to have the reception of our dreams. So many guests complimented the layout of our reception which was guided by James.Also a special shoutout to the amazing setup he did as well, the equipment looked so gorgeous in the stunning room at Vogue Ballroom.
Nathan Elliott
We couldn’t have asked for a better experience with James! From day one, his communication was top-notch, and his pricing was very reasonable for the quality of service provided. He went above and beyond by also serving as our MC, making our wedding night even more memorable. His energy and professionalism really made the event shine. Highly recommend him for anyone looking for an unforgettable wedding experience!
Alexei Mitnovetski
Just did a wedding with James. He was helpful and very responsive during the whole preparations stage. When we wanted to change plans last minute or during the event itself, he was very flexible and made sure we were looked after. Great experience. Thank you James for making my night so memorable!
Justin Durrant
James was amazing, he knows his stuff, our wedding ceremony run smoothly and the reception so much more run. Great organisation and professionalism.
Ellie Osianlis
Huge thank you to James Ellis for being an incredible MC and DJ for our wedding. James was very accomodating- checking in with us throughout the night to ensure we were happy with the music/vibe, and making sure everyone was having a good time. Very professional throughout the whole process and was very easy to communicate with.
Zey Akgul
When I first contacted Only DJ’s, I expected a response to my query the next day at the earliest. Especially considering the hour I sent it in. Instead, I got a response in minutes.Thinking the speed of responses would be a novelty since I was a new client, my surprise at ongoing extremely quick turnaround was immense!James had been incredibly helpful, very quick in acknowledgment and diligent with his follow ups. The DJ of our night, Steven, was a godsend; he had such high energy and positive, easy going vibes, that it set the tone for the music, the dance floor and eventually our night.Both me and my partner had been extremely happy with our selection, and grateful that we came across these guys.I can, with ease of heart, highly recommend them.✨
Helen Zhao
James was great and even helped us control a very rowdy and difficult crowd. Very grateful for James DJ service at such short notice. Highly recommend him!
Ebony Tetlow
We had James as both our MC and DJ and he was amazing!! Very easy booking process and James was so fast at responding to any questions we had. He bought great vibes and knew how to engage the crowd. Can’t thank you enough James!!
Dimitrios Psyllos
I've seen James in action a number of times and he never fails to live up to the moment. His countless 5 star reviews do little justice as he is a true professional through and through. From his end to end communication, attention to detail and general enthusiasm to the role, Only DJ'S delivers a second to none service. Don't hesitate, make your booking today, Only DJ'S never disappoint. Thank you James!
Maddi Mason
James was the MC and DJ for our wedding at Dromana Estate in May 2024. We couldn't recommend James more!! We had a modern Greek-Australian wedding and James ticked all the boxes! As an MC, James was funny, engaging and kept the vibe light hearted throughout the evening. As a DJ James took the time to speak with us leading up to our wedding and played all our favourite songs plus got all our guests involved with some traditional Greek dancing and plate smashing! It was the most perfect evening and my husband and I couldn't recommend Only DJ's more. Every interaction we had with James was easy, keeping our minds at ease the whole time! Thank you!!
Liz Meletiou
Great night! It was a lot of fun! Thank you!
Elijah Ben
Can't recommend Only DJ's high enough! James was super friendly and just an excellent DJ who knew exactly what to do
Beth Ham
James was great as our wedding DJ.He continually checked in through the night and read the vibe of the room and was able to adjust to what we and our guests wanted over the night.Super friendly and very strong communication.Thanks so much James
Paula B.
Recently had James DJ at our wedding, couldn't have asked for a smoother experience!! Great communication and flexible with our requests on the day. Thank you James for your professionalism!
Angelina Spiropoulos
We hired Only DJ's Melbourne for our event, and they absolutely exceeded our expectations! The music selection was perfect, keeping the energy high and the dance floor packed all night. They read the crowd perfectly and played the right songs at the right moments.Super professional, easy to work with, and truly talented at what they do. If you're looking for a DJ who will make your event unforgettable, James is the one! Highly recommend it and will definitely book again!

Contact Us, Call Us 0424865326 or Keep on Scrolling For Our Planning Tips.

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surprise wedding dj hire Melbourne

Surprise wedding DJ hire in Melbourne

Is COVID19 causing you booking anxiety? We are offering hassle free rescheduling if you do need to reschedule your surprise wedding DJ hire. Click here for more information.

Our team of DJs has extensive experience for surprise wedding DJ hire in Melbourne. We pride ourselves on being one of the best DJ’s for surprise weddings. Our Google reviews back these claims and we always pack the dance floor at every wedding.

We will play the part in making your surprise wedding DJ hire a great experience for you and your guests. Music is a major contributing factor in fooling your guests into believing it is only an engagement party or birthday party. Surprise weddings involve careful planning and coordination for everyone involved.  We will work extensively with you, your celebrant and other vendors to ensure that everything runs smoothly.

Attention to detail is very important for your special day. Our comprehensive runsheet/checklist will make planning your surprise wedding simple and easy. Our all inclusive yet simple checklist and run sheet covers all the traditional activities that take place throughout your wedding reception.

Whether we are MCing or you have an MC, our checklist will ensure that everyone is informed prior to any activity that is taking place. Request a quote with us now te get a copy and to find out why we are the ONLY choice for quality surprise wedding DJ hire in Melbourne.

Surprise wedding dj Melbourne

Our DJ Console

We provide three types of gorgeous and elegant DJ consoles that include the best sound and lighting system package to wow your guests. With our expertise in music and creating an atmosphere resembling an engagement party, we should be your only choice for quality DJ hire. Our DJ consoles are designed to meet the sound requirements of guests expected. For further information click here.

For expected guest of up to 200, we recommend our Gold Record surprise wedding DJ hire package which includes:

  • Two Column speakers
  • Two 12″ subwoofer
  • One light bar with built-in laser
  • Wireless microphone
  • DJ Mixer

For expected guest of up to 200-250 with large rooms, we recommend our Diamond Record surprise wedding DJ hire package which includes:

  • Two  Column speakers
  • Two 12″ subwoofer
  • Two 12″ speakers
  • One light bar with built-in laser
  • Wireless microphone
  • DJ Mixer

For expected guest exceeding 250, we recommend our Platinum Record surprise wedding DJ hire package which includes:

  • Two  Column speakers
  • Two 12″ subwoofer
  • Four 12″ speakers
  • One light bar with built-in laser
  • Wireless microphone
  • DJ Mixer

Consoles are based on availability and may be replaced with previous DJ booths.

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