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.
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.
Invitations Tips
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.
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 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
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.’
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.
Vladislav Makarenko
Highly recommend this service! James was awesome, approached people asking for song requests and overall very friendly!
Simon Huynh
James from OnlyDJs was amazing to work with as a DJ and MC! He handled everything smoothly, from managing my crazy ethnic family (despite the language barriers) and keeping the party going. James read the room perfectly, played great music, organized fun games, and even offered some heartfelt advice. He kept everything on schedule and really boosted the vibe, especially hyping my dad during his speech. I highly recommend James and Only DJ's for any wedding or event - they're fantastic!
monique briard
We recently had James as our wedding MC and Dj and he was amazing. He responded extremely quickly to emails and nothing was too hard for him. He was able to understand the vibe we wanted and was able to read the crowd. We had the best night dancing the night away with our friends and family. I highly recommend booking James at your next event you will not be disappointed.
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.
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.✨
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.
Cherie Appleyard
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!
Ally Wilwood
James - you went absolutely above and beyond for us at our wedding, and catered to our every individual need. Thank you so much for the incredible job you did at not only being a very fun and charismatic MC, but also for providing us with great tunes all night and for incorporating all our Arabic music. We absolutely cannot thank you enough! 🥰❤️
Huang Hao
I would like to sincerely thank James for the services of the night. The DJ&MC service was an important part of the perfect reception and I heard positive feedback from my guests. Again, thanks James for bring such a great vibe to my wedding!
Bella C
On the 16/12/23 james was the DJ and MC for mine and my now husbands wedding! He went above and beyond in the planning process, had hundreds of songs to choose from and provided a plan that he finalised with us before the big day. the whole wedding reception he kept it running smoothly and communicated to us if we needed to do or change anything ! He was incredible and worth every dollar- it just shows you really do get what you pay for ! James thank you for making our wedding special and a night we will never forget!
Polico Construction
Best wedding I’ve been to was DJ’d by james
Vincent Chau
James was the epitome of professionalism and warmth. He worked well with our emcee to make our wedding night amazing. The dancefloor was packed, the Nutbush was banging, and the energy was fantastic. In the lead up to the wedding our emails were always responded to quickly and communication was great. Would recommend his services in a heartbeat. Thanks 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!
Ellen Vacouftsis
Great experience with James, he was easy to deal with and very attentive to what we needed for our event. Would highly recommend his services to anyone considering.
Eug Ski
Best wedding DJ in Melbourne! Highly recommend the team at Only DJ's Melbourne, they rocked our night!
Cariss Teh
M Kouts
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!!
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!
Sandy C
James was an amazing DJ and MC at our wedding!He really went above and beyond to ensure the night went well for us.Everything was planned extremely well and he gave some great recommendations to us to make the night even better.We highly recommend him to anyone who is looking for a DJ/MC at their wedding 🙂
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!
Berlin Hiu
James was SO amazing and made my wedding day so special! working with him was so easy, he is so helpful, responsive, and definitely knows what he’s doing! thank you so much again, my night could not have been as amazing as it was without you! 🤍
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!
Ellis Kolias
James is truly a gentleman and an expert at what he does.We were lucky enough to have him as both our DJ and MC on the night of our wedding and I can not recommend him enough. He was funny, entertaining and got a room with a mixed demographic to dance to multiple styles of music. It was no easy task but the dance floor was full the entire night.His dedication to his craft, his attention to detail and his transparency are nothing short of incredible.From day 1, he was incredibly easy to communicate with and was always willing to offer some advice to my wife and I.He made our big night one to remember. He made us feel comfortable and was in control of everything that was stressing us out.I will recommend him to all my family and friends and will entrust his impeccable work again for any future events.James - you're a superstar and a Levendi! 🇬🇷I will remember you for the rest of my life. 10/10.
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.
Natalie O'Keeffe
What an amazingggg experience we had with James!So friendly , organised and attentive!From the very first conversation with him, I knew he was the perfect DJ & MC for our special day! He also provides a very affordable Ipad photobooth that our guests loved using and sent us all the digital pics and gifs which we absolutely loved going through.He ensured our night ran as planned & he quickly adjusted to any last minute changes made and also made me feel that nothing was too much trouble!He had the dance floor going all night, he got all of our guests involved and he was so awesome with the kids!James, it was an honour to have you and to work with you and we appreciate you so much.You wont regret using Only Djs Melbourne!!Thank you so much James! Sending all our love to you and your beautiful little family xox
Shinay Dehommel
James was the best DJ, he is very professional and easy to deal with, nothing was to much trouble. If we ever have another event or someone is looking for a DJ he will be the guy to go to. Thanks legend for a awesome night!!
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!
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.
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!
Nikita S
Good Dj service. Ticked all the boxes. Our night was magical with the music/ effects and photobooth. Thank you James. Highly recommend.
Robin Fowden
10/10. James is a top professional, who you can rely on. I highly recommend you book Only DJ’s, they will go and above and beyond to ensure everyone at your event has a truly memorable time. They have been an absolute pleasure to work with.
George Gramnea
Great service provider and very professional
Ash Aakshi
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!
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.
Beck Louise
James is amazing. He is professional and organised. He is a hard working, kind and genuine individual, who you would be lucky to have at your wedding. We hired him for SFX, photobooth, dj, and MC. Having him provide so many services allowed the booking and planning to be so easy which is also a main reason why we decided to go with Only DJs. I highly recommend James to anyone, and if we require a dj again will would go with him.
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.
Shabnum Cassim
We had James DJ at our daughter's 5th birthday disco party over the weekend. He was a pleasure to deal with over emails and provided song lists and suggestions for games. He was very receptive to us providing our own music list too.During the party, he gave our music obsessed daughter an impromptu lesson on DJ-ing before the official event started, he was responsive and warm with all our guests and happy to pivot on additional games and timing as the party progressed throughout the afternoon.Highly recommended - thanks James!
Georgette Maria
My husband and I booked James for our son’s baptism celebration at the start of November, and we couldn’t be happier with our choice of DJ. He was excellent and met our every need, checking in with us as the night went on to make sure we were happy. Having a young baby can make it difficult to stick to a run sheet, but James was certain that he was flexible and smoothly worked with the flow of the night and the energy on the dance floor. He played a fantastic mix of music, including our request of specific Greek songs, and worked well with the Lebanese drummers to meet our varying mix of music on the night. James, thank you so so much, we couldn’t be more grateful and are super stoked we chose you for our event. You also received amazing feedback from many guests saying how kind, friendly and enthusiastic. We will definitely be using Only DJs for our future events 🙂
zozo georgiou
Can't thank you enough for your professionalism and for making my wedding day amazing x
Samantha Spiteri
We had the absolute pleasure of having DJ James at our event this past weekend, and it was nothing short of phenomenal! From start to finish, the energy was electric, and James truly set the perfect vibe for the night.
Craig Merlo
On Saturday night we had a joint 50th birthday, Only DJ'S Melbourne was amazing. Steve the DJ set everything up which included lights, which looked fantastic. We had ages from 17 to 78 years old's at the party, everyone got up and danced throughout the night. Thanks to James for the great, quick communication, which took the stress off us for the night, all your work was appreciated. We look forward to our next event, we will be using Only DJ's Melbourne!
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
Angelique Gabriel
James was super professional and responsive from my initial enquiry to the wedding day and everything in between. Would highly recommend for any event.
Mr T
James was the perfect choice for our wedding music. He responded quickly to our questions and requests, and paid attention to every detail. He made us feel relaxed and confident, even when we were stressed out by the wedding planning. He was not only a great DJ, but also a supportive wingman, a lively hypeman, and a skilled coordinator. He was a true professional and a joy to work with. We highly recommend him!
Mel Grose
We recently had DJ James and saxophonist Imre at our wedding. The whole night was so smooth thanks to James’ attention to detail. He went above and beyond, nothing was too much. He adapted so well when our timeline was running a little behind on the night and was full of great advice on the day. He was a calming presence and we honestly felt like he was a huge contributor in the success of our night! Also, his music was AWESOME and the dance floor was a huge hit all night. Highly recommend his saxophonist Imre aswell, who was also excellent. I would highly, highly recommend Only DJ’s
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.
Liz Meletiou
Great night! It was a lot of fun! Thank you!
Contact Us, Call Us 0424865326 or Keep on Scrolling For Our Planning Tips.
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.
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.
