A Christmas Letter From Your Wedding DJ: Why Family And Love Are The Whole Point
Every December, my world slows down just enough for something important to catch up with me.
It is not the gear, or the playlists, or the timelines. It is the faces.
I see couples standing under string lights or chandeliers. I see parents holding their breath during a first dance. I see grandparents in tears, friends screaming chorus lines, kids spinning in circles at the edge of the floor.
And I see my own family in all of it.
I am Jerod, owner of JAM Entertainment, a dad of four and a grandpa of two. A lot of the couples we serve are my kids’ age. When I walk into a wedding, I do not see just another event. I see a night that could belong to my son, or to a daughter, or to your kids one day.
That is the lens I bring into every reception. It is also the way I train our team. We talk about every wedding as if it could be our own family out there. For me it is my son or my daughters. For someone on our crew it might be their sister, their brother, or their best friend. When we step into your reception, we are not just working a job. We are protecting a once-in-a-lifetime moment for someone who could be family.
That is why I do what I do, especially at Christmas.
Why The Holidays Feel Different When You Work In Weddings
The holidays are loud.
There is joy, pressure, grief, expectations, and a constant stream of opinions about how you should celebrate. If you just got engaged, the volume goes up even more.
“Have you set a date yet?”
“Where are you getting married?”
“Did you book a venue, a DJ, a photographer?”
From the outside, people see vendors and checklists. From the inside, I see families trying to navigate real life. Blended stories, complicated relationships, tight budgets, old wounds, deep love that does not always know how to express itself well.
Some families are close and easy. Some are estranged. Some are trying to show up for each other even when there is history that still hurts. All of that walks into the room with you.
When I stand behind a DJ booth at a winter wedding, I am not thinking, “How do I show off what we can do.” I am thinking, “How do we create a space where this family, in all of its uniqueness and messiness, can breathe and be together for a night.”
Capturing the moment is great. Creating the moment is sacred.
To The Couples Who Just Got Engaged This Holiday Season
If you got engaged this month, first of all, congratulations. Take a breath and really let that in.
You do not have to plan your entire wedding this week.
Holiday engagement season, from Thanksgiving through New Year and into Valentine’s Day, is beautiful and overwhelming at the same time. Social media is full of proposals and perfect photos. Everyone has ideas about what you should do, how big or small it should be, and how fast you should move.
Here is what I would tell you, not as a DJ trying to get booked, but as a dad and grandpa who has watched his kids grow up and pictured them on their wedding days:
You are allowed to enjoy this moment without having all the answers.
The date, the venue, the DJ, the photographer, all of that will come. What matters most right now is that the two of you are together in this, honest with each other about what you want your marriage to look like, not just your wedding day.
When you are ready to move into planning, there are practical guides that can help you choose what to book first and how to prioritize. For now, if all you do is sit together with hot chocolate and say, “We really did this, we are engaged,” that is enough.
To The Families Around The Table This Year
If you are a parent, a grandpa or grandma, a sibling, or a close friend of someone who just got engaged, I want to speak to you for a moment.
I have been the dad in the background. I know what it feels like to look at your kids and realize they are building their own lives now. There can be pride, joy, fear, and a little grief all wrapped together. Sometimes the relationships are close. Sometimes they are distant. Sometimes you are still figuring out how to reconnect.
What I hope you remember this Christmas is simple.
Your presence matters more than your perfection.
You do not have to say everything right. You do not have to have the perfect relationship. You do not have to agree on every decision. A kind word, a hug, a simple “I am proud of you” can land deeper than any speech or gift.
When I am on the mic or behind the booth, I am thinking about you too. I am thinking about the parent who is nervous to give a toast. I am thinking about the grandpa who has not danced in years but might get pulled out for one special song. Those moments are not filler. They are the heart of the night.
How We Train Our Team To See Your Wedding
Inside JAM, we talk about one core idea over and over:
“This could be your family.”
If it were my son on the dance floor, how would I want him treated.
If it were my daughter giving a speech, what kind of room would I want around her.
If it were your sister getting married, how would you want us to handle the timeline, the announcements, the unexpected moments.
We train our DJs, photo booth hosts, and team members to make choices through that lens. It shapes how we speak on the mic, how we handle stress, how we adjust when something changes at the last minute, and how we interact with your guests.
We care about good mixes, clean audio, and beautiful photo booth images. But we care more about what the night feels like for you and your people.
The holidays bring that into focus for me. They remind me that every couple who trusts us is handing us one of the most important nights in their story. That is not a gig. That is trust.
For Anyone Feeling The Weight Of The Season
Maybe your family is tight. Maybe there is distance. Maybe there is loss. Maybe this is your first Christmas engaged. Maybe it is your first Christmas after a hard year.
Wherever you are, here is what I hope you hear:
You do not have to have the perfect holiday or the perfect wedding for it to be meaningful.
The people who love you, even imperfectly, are worth more than any decor or trend.
It is okay to set boundaries that protect your peace and your relationship.
It is also okay to reach out and try again with someone if you feel ready.
If our paths never cross and you choose someone else for your wedding, I still hope your day feels safe and joyful for you and your families. If we do work together one day, know that when I walk into your reception, I am walking in as a professional and as a dad and grandpa who takes your story seriously.
From my family to yours, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and thank you for letting us be part of your lives in any way at all.
– Jerod
Owner, JAM Entertainment
FAQs: Holiday Engagements, Planning, And What Really Matters
We just got engaged over the holidays. Do we have to start planning right away?
No, you do not have to plan everything immediately. It is wise to start thinking about your date, venue, and key vendors in the first few months, especially in busy areas, but it is just as important to slow down and enjoy being engaged. Give yourselves permission to celebrate before you turn on full planning mode.
What should we book first after a holiday engagement?
In most markets, your venue and date come first, followed by your DJ and photographer. Those choices shape the feel of your day and tend to book out the fastest. After that, you can layer in details like decor, enhancements, and other vendors. When you are ready for the practical side, you can pair this with your “what to book first” style planning guides so you are not guessing.
How do we keep the holidays and wedding planning from becoming overwhelming?
Start by getting clear together on what matters most to you as a couple. Then make decisions that protect those priorities. You do not have to attend every event, keep every tradition, or listen to every opinion. Simple, honest conversations about budget, boundaries, and expectations can make both the holidays and planning feel calmer and more connected.
What makes JAM Entertainment different as a wedding DJ and photo booth team?
We focus on the emotional flow of your reception, not just the playlist. We train our team to see every couple as if they were our own family, then build timelines, announcements, and dance sets that support that. We work closely with planners and venues, pay attention to family dynamics, and design an experience where your guests feel welcomed, not managed.
Can you talk with us even if we are not in Reno or do not have a date yet?
Yes. While our home base is the Reno, Lake Tahoe, and Napa regions, we often talk with couples who are still early in the process or exploring dates and locations. Even if you are not ready to book, you can reach out, ask questions, and see whether the way we think about weddings and family fits what you want.
