A moment with 'Midnight DJ's'

ABIA meets head deejay and emcee, Nader Elalfy, of this Melbourne wedding entertainment, planning and special effects provider

All images courtesy Midnight DJ's

Nader Elalfy was just a teenager when he first noticed what anyone planning a wedding soon learns — there are a lot of different services and vendors to coordinate and consider. So, when he began Midnight DJ's in 1995, he did so with the aim of offering a collection of wedding services to make the planning process easier.

“People love it when they hear that I can be their DJ as well as their MC,” Nader explains. “They get even more excited when I share with them that I can also provide ceremony music, a photo booth, dry ice and sparks for their bridal dance and venue lighting show.”

The convenience of these combined wedding services makes Midnight DJ's a popular choice with Victorian couples but, according to Nader, it’s his experience, personality and ability to connect with duos and their guests that makes the service really stand out.

We took to the dancefloor with Nader to find out more about his offerings, the latest trends and to discover why he always takes song requests.  

Tell us about your business and wedding services.

Midnight DJ's has been offering musical entertainment since 1995. As Deejay Nader I’m the master DJ and MC, and we also provide a range of specialist services for weddings and special events, including ceremony music, wedding planning, dry ice and spark effects, photo booth hire and venue light shows.

How did you get started in the wedding industry?

I performed at my first public event at the age of 16. I was actually in a band and soon recognised the need for other types of musical entertainment, wedding services and special effects, and the idea for Midnight DJ's grew from there.

Where are you based and what locations do you service?

We are located in Craigieburn, Victoria, but provide services Australia-wide.

What types of wedding entertainment and effects do you offer?

People love it when they hear that I can be their DJ as well as their MC. They get even more excited when I share with them that I can also provide ceremony music, a photo booth, dry ice and sparks for their bridal dance and venue lighting show.

At what point in their wedding planning should couples consider entertainment and special effects?

Once they have booked their wedding venue, entertainment and special effects are the next bookings I suggest couples consider.

What should couples look for in a good wedding MC and DJ?

I suggest they look for someone who has many years of experience working in different wedding venues, with all sorts of couples with various cultural backgrounds and musical tastes. The DJ and MC also needs to be well spoken, able to create a connection with guests and be a confident public speaker.

Why should couples consider including your photo booth hire service as part of their wedding entertainment package?

I believe having a photo booth at a wedding creates additional entertainment, fun and lots of memories for life.

Do you see trends in your industry? What’s popular with couples at the moment?

Currently, I’m finding a lot of couples are interested in DJs who can provide music in a range of languages, to cater to audiences of different origins and nationalities.

How did you become interested in entertainment and effects? Is it something you were into from childhood?

I absolutely loved Michael Jackson as a teenager. At both primary and high school I was always looking for a talent show to participate in, or attend, and I guess that’s where my fascination with entertainment and special effects began.

In your role as a wedding DJ, do you take music and song requests?

Yes, I truly believe this is so important to the success of any wedding.

When it comes to entertainment, what are the most common song and music requests?

The classics from the 80s are always a huge hit!

If a couple gave you 'free reign' regarding the entertainment and effects for their wedding, what would it look like?

I would begin by understanding what they love then, on the night, I’d get a feel for the vibe and their guests and adjust the music accordingly. Of course, I’d also take song requests and focus on getting guests involved as much as possible.

What makes your service stand out?

According to my wedding couples my knowledge and experience of running a wedding is a real point of difference. They also comment on how much they like my personality, and really value my interactions with them and their guests.

How would you describe the couples that you connect with the most?

The couples that trust me, are easy-going and are fun to be around.

What was your favourite wedding?

Most of my weddings are my favourite. I put a lot of effort into make sure that each one is “simply wow”.  

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