In response to review of event 9/6/25

– Poor communication in the planning process. Evan uses a form that he created and assumes that is the end-all-be-all for the information he needs. The form is not comprehensive and required a phone call to review details. He only spoke on the phone when we requested but did not retain all of the information we discussed as it was not correctly implemented at the wedding. Example: we told him we had a playlist for cocktail hour on the phone and sent it to him via text. During the wedding, he did not play the playlist, and when confronted, said he didn’t have it. We told him we texted it to him and he did end up playing it.

In our contract, it is explicitly required that all instructions be provided in writing, either in our worksheet or supplemental planning materials. This is not an arbitrary preference but a professional safeguard to ensure accuracy and accountability. We do not rely on fleeting details shared in passing over the phone, as such information is prone to misinterpretation or memory lapse. Instead, after every discussion, we rehash and confirm details to demonstrate attentiveness and to provide our clients the level of service they deserve. However, those details must always be recorded in shared written media, as agreed upon in the terms.

The worksheet I provide functions much like a “flight manifest.” It is a structured, central tool that ensures the event runs smoothly. That said, it is not intended to be a “catch-all” for every single detail of the wedding. At your request, I worked with an additional document provided by your day-of planner, and I was more than happy to integrate that into my preparation. I also agreed to a phone call with you, and while I participated fully, I consistently reminded you at the close of those conversations to transfer any final details into either the planner’s document (excerpt below) or the agreed-upon worksheet so nothing would be overlooked.

Regarding the cocktail hour playlist: you sent the playlist by text message on Thursday of wedding week. It was sent by text AFTER our final conversation. Once the playlist was brought to my attention during the event, I immediately corrected course. It was incorporated within approximately 15 minutes, and from that point forward, your selected playlist was played for the remainder of cocktail hour. One interesting experience I had was that I was how he sounded frustrated over the phone that I didn’t have the coordinator’s schedule. He’d never forwarded it to me.


In short, my process is not meant to dismiss your requests but to ensure they are captured, confirmed, and delivered consistently. Written documentation is the safeguard that prevents misunderstandings and keeps your celebration on track.

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– Inconsistent communication as well. Example: we were told there would be a separate ceremony microphone, but our officiant was told there would not be. Also, he was unable to effectively direct our guests to where they needed to go. When it was time for guests to go outside for the ceremony, nobody could hear his announcements and the groom had to make the announcement himself to get everybody outside.

In our contract, we clearly state that audio coverage is subject to the physical limitations of the venue. While we do provide two powered speakers at our flagship setup, we cannot eliminate the natural echo of a large room, especially one holding 150–200 guests. Placement of our equipment is always at the discretion of the client or planner, and in this case, we were located where you directed us within the room.

Regarding the ceremony microphone, there was a single wireless microphone provided for the officiant, as is standard in our base package. At no point was a “separate ceremony microphone” guaranteed beyond what was contractually included. If any misunderstanding arose, it is precisely why we require all communication to be documented in writing so that expectations are aligned—verbal assumptions alone are not reliable.

As for directing guests, announcements were indeed made, but again, in a large room with natural echo, it can be challenging to corral a group that size with perfect clarity. That responsibility often becomes a shared effort between planner, coordinator, officiant, and even wedding party members. In this instance, the groom stepped in to assist, which is not unusual at weddings of this scale.

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– He did not collaborate well with the venue staff and other vendors. Example: one of our guests was seated right next to his speaker and music was blasted in his ear. Evan did not adjust and instead blamed it on the venue saying that he was forced to set up in that corner. The venue had also previously offered to let him use their built-in speaker system that plays throughout the barn and he declined to use it. Additionally, our wedding coordinator and photographer both told us he wasn’t listening to their instructions throughout the day.

With regard to collaboration with staff and vendors, the chain of command at this wedding was immensely circular. I arrived nearly three hours before the ceremony start, fully prepared to execute the event as planned indoors (which the weather strongly suggested). My lavalier mic was ready, and I had already set aside the toast microphone to ensure good reception for speeches.

However, five minutes before the ceremony, the coordinator made the decision to pivot outdoors after a sudden break in the clouds. At that moment, I immediately sprang into action: transferring the ceremony music to USB, charting the tracks, and bringing out my UHF transmitter with microphones. This transmitter requires charge prior to ceremony use, and the last-minute pivot left no time to fully prepare it for the ring warming ceremony — something that could have been seamlessly accommodated if the outdoor plan had been confirmed during the three hours of lead time I had on site.

During this shift, I worked directly with your coordinator, Ashley, and your photographer. We even spoke off to the side about the unusual planning pivots happening right up to the start of the ceremony. In fact, we were very efficient in going through the requested group photos: Virginia, Framingham, UCONN, CCMA, and Knights. (see doc on right below)

At no point was I offered use of the house system, nor did I receive any instruction to do so. Furthermore, there were no XLR or quarter-inch inputs anywhere near the setup location predetermined by the planner. I simply can NOT plug in without permission either.

Regarding the speaker placement complaint: the positioning was dictated by the space I was directed to use. In venues with echo, reflective surfaces, and limited space, some compromises are unavoidable — but I always strive to minimize impact on guests wherever possible.

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– He did not look presentable or professional at the wedding (as noted by a few of guests as well) wearing just a black t shirt.

With regard to attire, I wear a black short-sleeve dress shirt paired with tuxedo pants for my events. This is a standard service uniform across many industries, chosen for both presentation and practicality. In the past, I did wear full tuxedos and vests, but as an overweight man, this became a health risk in the summer heat—once nearly sending me to the hospital. For that reason, I adopted this uniform as a safe and professional alternative.

As the season changes and temperatures drop, I often supplement with a coat or jacket. This is the first time I have ever received a grievance concerning my attire, and I believe it reflects more a matter of preference than professionalism.

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– Contrary to our phone discussion about transitions between songs, full-length songs were played throughout. He played the entirety of Juke Box Hero which is a 4-minute song with no transition. He also went from playing Levels to Twist and Shout, which killed the dance floor and wasn’t even one of our requested songs. A number of our guests have noted how choppy the transitions between songs were.

With respect to transitions and song selection, I was indeed provided playlists in advance. In our final phone discussion, we addressed this topic directly, repeating several times: “You can have as many must-plays as you want, but it’s a judgment call based on a sliding scale, with interaction and engagement as the priority — as opposed to simply making sure every song is played in full, but it’s all based on your preferences.”


To clarify this, I prepared and shared a spreadsheet so that you could indicate must-plays. Additional songs were included, but not marked as required. I was also provided a do-not-play list, which itself indicates that I was expected to pull from selections outside of the playlist. If the intent was to only play from the list, a do-not-play list would have been unnecessary.

In preparation for the reception, I crafted a strategy to hit ALL of the MUST-plays, while incorporating some of the other songs which, in my judgment, would keep the floor active. We hit ALL of these selections through the course of the night (doc right).

When I did step outside of the playlist, Kate came over in haste to tell me to keep it refined to the playlist, at which point I immediately reverted to only the requested songs. Out of concern that shortening any more tracks might be viewed negatively, I allowed them to run at full length. This was a deliberate attempt to avoid further dissatisfaction and to honor your wishes once clarified. The groom actually requested the song you mentioned – “Levels” by Avicii… which was not on any provided list which further fueled my confusion.


It’s also worth noting that at no point was the dance floor empty — though, understandably, certain song choices slowed participation. That is a natural part of live events where music is curated not only to lists but also to the actual crowd response in the moment.

In terms of crowd dancefloor activity, the dancefloor was NEVER empty. The entire night carried as shown in the small video I took.

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– Finally, the most upsetting thing that Evan did was cut off our first dance song. We had prepared a choreographed dance and only got to perform half of it. We had worked incredibly hard on this dance and we were devastated. At no point did we communicate that the song should be cut early. We admittedly got very mad at him and during the wedding he texted us that he was “immensely remorseful at what was perceived as a mistake” and that in the worksheet, we had indicated to “invite couples halfway”. Not only did he not apologize, but our guests were already standing so this explanation did not make sense. He did leave his tip though.

With regard to the first dance, this is a very serious matter to address. The worksheet we use is our central planning tool—which you did indeed commandeer and employ—and it exists precisely to prevent these kinds of misunderstandings. While your planner’s document contained helpful elements, it left areas open-ended that our worksheet clarified.

On that worksheet, which was reviewed and confirmed, the instruction clearly stated to “invite couples halfway.” This is not a field we alter—those details are filled in and finalized as you, the couple, see fit. We did discuss this option on the phone at one point, but it was never revisited or changed on the worksheet afterward.



At the wedding, the song was approximately two-thirds complete when we prepared to follow your written instruction and invite the couples. Once it was brought to my attention that this was not your desired execution, I immediately expressed that I was immensely remorseful for what was perceived as a mistake. At no point was this intended to cut short your choreographed first dance, and I deeply regret that the written instruction and your expectations were not aligned.

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• I (Evan) have been doing weddings for 18 years, events in general, 23.
• I’ve done an average of 38 weddings PER YEAR since 2008.
• The only DJ companies in Vermont that have more experience are multi-op and many founders have retired.
• I have talked three brides down from panic attacks.
• I’ve improvised full reception celebrations without any power.
• I’ve had to play the planner when there was no organization otherwise.
• I’ve had to perform the Heimlich on a choking aunt. When the medics arrived she was on the mend.
• I’ve crafted world-class celebrations while suffering stomach bugs, fevers and during the loss of a family member.
• This year, I celebrated with a groom who remembered me from his childhood wedding role.
• I’ve gone to pick up 30 pizzas when the caterer didn’t show up.
• I’ve celebrated with SNL alums, Olympians, judges, police officers, EMTs, governors, ice cream gurus, local news personalities, the list goes on.
• I’m always ready to fill in the blanks.