Chris Laich - Music Services

Amazing! Aaron was the DJ the day of our wedding and he was very professional and courteous to not only me, but every guest. My husband and I met with Aaron a few weeks before our wedding and it was very relaxed and informal. We selected a few "must plays" at the reception, but Aaron took our list and made it his own. He played music everyone enjoyed and the dance floor was never empty! The enthusiam Chris Laich has for music and making sure everyone has a good time is absolutely fantastic and I will definitely recommend them to other brides-to-be!! The value we received for their services was also spectacular!

Best DJ ever. Seriously... I'm so glad I didn't go with a band. Chris played all the songs we wanted and also had the musical prowess to get our parents, grandparents, and friends out on the floor... all at the same time! What a blast! I have been getting calls from friends and family ever since... everyone says it was the most fun they've ever had at a wedding and Chris had a TON to do with that. Perfect.

Chris was highly recommended to us by our venue and we were very satisfied with his professionalism and flexibility. Prior to the wedding we gave him a list of songs and artists that we liked and he mixed them all into a wonderful evening of music! We gave him the schedule of events and he kept the party moving right along. He was also able to read the crowd on the dance floor and quickly change the music (if needed) to keep everyone there.

We had the pleasure of having Chris Laich from Chris Laich, Music Services as our DJ for our January 2012 wedding. Chris was amazing! Chris kept in touch during our whole planning process, especially during the final 2 weeks and he provided suggestions for our schedule so that everything would flow. Chris started off with creating a wonderful atmosphere for our cocktail hour mixing in “traditional” music with more contemporary music. Our reception was an absolute party the entire evening. For our reception, Chris kept the dance floor packed all night! Chris started off the night with some oldies to get the dancing started and had a selection of music that progressed through the night to a full out party atmosphere by the end of the night! He does an amazing job “reading” the crowd and plays the music that the guests respond to. The result was a fantastic party! We received so many compliments from our guests, many telling us they “have never had so much fun at a wedding” or that they “ have never danced that much at a wedding.”

Chris is a very low key DJ he keeps announcements to a minimum and keeps the dance floor moving. He is very professional and very easy to work with. We were so lucky to be able to book Chris for our wedding; he even offered us a discount because our wedding was during the “off peak” wedding season. You will not regret the amount that you spend having Chris as your wedding DJ. He is worth every penny and you and your guests will have a fabulous time!! We would not hesitate recommending Chris Laich as your DJ for your wedding or other event.

Chris is the best DJ in town! If you want great music but also someone who’s good at the “flow” of the evening, Chris is your guy. He sat down and helped us plan the run of show for our reception, something I would not have known how to do. We wanted someone who knew how to please the crowd but that wasn’t talking throughout the night. He is high energy when you meet with him but at our event he only talked when necessary. I’ve gone to several weddings where the DJ talked WAY too much and Chris just is the opposite. He was one of the best parts of our night and I can’t imagine having anyone else be our DJ. A true professional.

We had Chris Laich DJ at our wedding and we couldn’t have been happier. He gave us exactly what we asked for. He promised to pronounce our bridal party perfectly, was very accommodating towards our needs, and provided insight on how to deal with sensitive issues regarding our family. He was energetic without being overbearing. Although we were worried that he was very chatty during our initial conversations with him, he was very professional during the wedding day. He exceeded his claims of being one of the best dj’s in the nation.

Chris and Ray are amazing. There is no cheesy music picked and they don't try to be the entertainment of the reception like a lot of DJs. Ray played all of the music we requested prior to the ceremony and really gave us some great suggestions. We also had some untraditional music choices for our ceremony and he had absolutely no problem going with the flow. They are worth the price!

Chris deserves all of the awards he has received. We hired him for our wedding and he earned the top ratings in all of the categories for the same reasons others have provided. But I wanted to add a few comments that were critical to our having a great experience, but unexpected when we hired him.

In planning the order of the reception, he suggested that we send it to him so he would be prepared for the music at the right time. We did and in return he proposed several changes which we adopted. Those changes were invaluable, and significantly improved the flow and feeling of the the reception. In addition, he told us one the order was done to simply enjoy ourselves and he and Festive Foods would work together and be flexible so that the reception would be great. And he and Festive did just that!! Chris completely assisted us during the reception so enjoyed everything and was flexible that enhanced everything. Our guests told us it was one of the best if not best wedding they had every attended and Chris was a major reason for it.

So with Chris, you not only get a great DJ, but you have a person who is part of your wedding team and is so much more. He is a gem.

I am so glad we hired Chris to DJ the after party at our wedding! He took the time to ask me what kind of music we wanted him to play, and read the atmosphere of the party perfectly. He made the after party just as good as the wedding!

When you first talk with Chris you know they are different. They are more expensive and Chris will tell you that right off the bat. But they provide an environment. Not just music. And really they are worth every penny!

Mike was our DJ. He was awesome! Great personality and easy to work with. We told him we wanted a party with people dancing all night long and he delivered. Simply Awesome.

I know it seems almost unbelievable to give a vendor a perfect 5 out of 5 but I could not be happier with my DJ services from Chris Laich. We were lucky to get Aaron as our DJ and I cannot say enough good things about him and this company. Not only were they easy to work with throughout the engagement process, our wedding went off without a hitch. Aaron pronounced everything perfectly, help the flow of the night without a hitch and from song #1 the dance floor was completely packed. My number one goal for my wedding was to make sure that all of my guests were up and dancing and there were never any lulls. Everyone had such a great time and the dance floor was certainly never empty! I would higher Chris Laich's Services a million times over! I can truly say I have not a single complaint.

Summary: Incredibly talented and kept the dance floor packed the entire night

Because our venue had a round floor plan and a domed ceiling, we wanted a DJ that had previous experience with our exact venue. Someone unfamiliar with our venue may have issues with sound management. Chris and team are some of the best and most experienced wedding DJ’s in the DC area. The booking process with Chris was extremely easy and straight forward. They may not be the cheapest in the area, but you’ll definitely get quality with them since a DJ pretty much manages the flow of the wedding right after the ceremony ends. Unfortunately Chris was already booked on the day of our wedding, but he highly recommended DJ Ross. We met with Ross in person twice before our wedding. First time was to gauge a fit and the second was to run through the details of the event. We immediately connected with Ross. He was extremely attentive to details and listened to our needs and preferences. In addition, he was able to offer thoughtful suggestions to enhance our day. We ended up booking Ross for both the cocktail hour and the reception. Ross was incredible at managing the flow of the wedding and kept the dance floor packed the entire night. We received so many compliments on the music and several guests contacted us after the wedding to request the play list. We highly recommend Chris Laich Music Services.

We had DJ Mike for our wedding reception. DJ Mike is very friendly and easy-going, he responds to email almost instantly and stays on top of planning. He played all the right music that my guests still rave about how my reception had the best music selection!

Chris was very professional and easy to work with as well. Thank you for making our big day an unforgettable event!

Chris was an amazing DJ and we are so happy we chose him for our wedding! He always available anytime I would call with questions leading up to the wedding, which really put me at ease. We got married in an outdoor venue and the sound quality and balance inside and outside of the tent was perfect. We were also very pleased with how he played the Greek music we gave him and were complimented by many of the Greek guests about that. He was very professional but at the same time really fun to work with. I would recommend him to any couple in the DC area looking for a great DJ!

Dominique Arvanitis

I was introduced to Chris through a friend who works in the wedding industry as well. I liked his style and how he wasn't showboating during the reception. I've been to a couple weddings were the DJ was cheesy and obnoxious. Not the case with Chris.

I was impressed by his unobtrusive speakers that provided both high quality sound. Music at the right volume when eating. I always am annoyed when I'm stuck under a speaker that's blasting in my ears. I loved how he was able to place them throughout the rooms so that everybody got the same music.

Another perk was his flexibility. There are always last minute issues for weddings and he assured me that I could add services if I needed them (i.e. speakers and mics for the ceremony).

I think if somebody didn't have a wedding planner he would be an asset as he helps you with the timeline. Of course if you have an idea in mind you should stick to your guns. He definitely has great advice and it was nice to have his experience to guide me.

Chris Laich Music Services is awesome!!! We had a meeting with DJ Ross two weeks before our wedding to review our playlist and announcements for our Ceremony and Reception. DJ Ross was very attentive to our needs and provided us with his expertise regarding the flow for our nuptial. DJ Ross was excellent playing the music selections and even added some twists to the music to keep our guests on the dance floor the entire night with old school classics to popular hits. We loved the seclusion of the Bose speakers during the reception; the speakers were heard and not seen providing an intimate atmosphere while eating. DJ Ross kept the timeline of the event very precise announcing and playing everything at the right moments. DJ Ross was phenomenal!!! Thanks DJ Ross for making our dreams come true!!! We highly recommend Chris Laich Music Services for your wedding event, Go DJ!

I absolutely LOVED working with Chris Laich and Aaron (my DJ). Aaron was extremely professional and fun. He played great music and made sure that everything flowed well throughout the night. I would recommend this DJ to anyone!
The quality of the music was also fantastic and although this service was not the cheapest one out there it was WELL WORTH IT!!!
Thanks Chris and Aaron for making our night an amazing and unforgettable one!!

Chris Laich is a sure bet - you will not be disappointed if you book him for your wedding! He was one of the first DJs I reached out to based on reviews alone and after speaking with him, I knew I was in good hands and didn't need to look further. He was so flexible and accommodating (even with a date change due to unforeseen circumstances), and even helped me to find some of my other vendors, all of whom were fantastic. I explained exactly what kind of music I wanted, and he delivered. He got guests out on to the dance floor and kept them there all night. Chris is worth the investment if you're looking to ensure that your guests have a great time!

Chris was great to work with! He was flexible and funny. He was a pleasure to work with during the planning and the wedding. I definetly recommend him!

We used Ross Anderson from Chris Laich Music Services and he was GREAT!!!! He met with us two weeks before the wedding gave us suggestions on what songs to play for our entrance, cake cutting, dinner time etc and he was completely professional!!! He has a great feel for the crowd and he chooses his songs based on what everyone is responding to. He played a little bit of everything and the music never stopped!!! Great DJ and great company to work with! Chris was extremely helpful when we needed him and he was always quick to respond!!!!

Aaron did an awesome job, kept the party going!

Chris was amazing! He was great to work with leading up to the wedding and even helped us plan our timeline for the night. But more importantly, he kept the dance floor packed all night! Chris really read the crowd and knew exactly what to play at all times during the night. The dinner music drew raves for its classy, sophisticated mix (and for not being too loud!), and countless guests said that they had never had so much fun at a wedding reception. All the credit goes to Chris who made sure we had a full-fledged dance party by the end of the night, while playing some oldies and Motown for the older folks early on (though our friends also loved dancing to Stevie Wonder and the Supremes!). Best of all, thanks to Chris's mix of music, he inspired some of our family and friends who never dance to stay on the floor til the bitter end. These are some of our best memories from the wedding.

In addition, Chris was a low-key presence during the wedding and kept announcements to a minimum. He is a total professional. He even picked up on our subtle cues when we were ready to end our first dance and father/daughter dance and transitioned the music so that the dances didn't go on too long.

Whatever Chris charges, he is well worth the cost. We wanted a great party and we got it. Book him while you still can! You won't be disappointed!

One of Chris's associates, Ross Anderson, was the DJ and our wedding - and it was a great fit! Ross was very easy to work with in the weeks leading up to our wedding and took all of our preferences very seriously. At the wedding, we heard from Ross Anderson exactly what we wanted to hear - all of the introductions and no excess chatting. And he did a great job of mixing the songs we had requested with other great songs that fit with our requested favorites. We were very very happy with Ross!

Chris is the BEST!! We told him what kind of music we liked and left it up to him and boy did he deliver! The dancefloor was packed the entire night! Thanks for an amazing and fun night Chris!!!

What can I say?? They aren't rated number one for nothing. Chris and his associates are professional, friendly, familiar with all styles of music and very accomodating. The B/G chose a "Dance-tro-duction" instead of the traditional entrance and Chris was able to put together that mix perfectly, in addition, the father/daughter dance was not a well known, traditional dance song (unless you're Irish) but he found the music we wanted and set up the "interruption" perfectly. Guests are still talking about the Entrance and the Father/Daughter dance. Thank you for everything!! It was perfect!

We LOVED having Chris and Aaron DJ our wedding! Not only was the music fabulous and what we asked for, but the guests danced so much that many were covered in sweat from shaking their booty all night. Chris was unobtrusive and didn't make any annoying comments, and everyone LOVED the music. He was responsive to any request I had, and took great interest in our day. Highly recommend him!!!

Chris Laich's Music Services was a phenomenal DJ service for our wedding. My wedding planner recommended Aaron Platt (Chris's associate) to be our personal DJ for the wedding and I couldn't have asked for a more responsive DJ. He gave us lists of song choices during our first meeting with him and those helped to give us a sense of the songs to choose for the various ritual dances. But the best service was ofcourse during the wedding... Aaron was impeccable in his ability to politely organize the crowd for the various activities such as ready them for the first dance or the cake cutting... We had a special dance for our parents after the traditional ones and then an unexpected moment where my husband's grandmother came to dance with him. Aaron was quick to put on an Etta James song that made it seem to everyone that we'd planned for such a dance. His song choices for the night of dancing were perfect with a Gaga compilation thrown into the mix that I'd never heard before but thought was amazing. He even ended on the songs "Living on a Prayer" and "Don't Want to Miss a Thing" that I'd requested.

I couldn't rank Chris Laich Music Services and Aaron Platt any higher. They are so easy to work with and they deliver what you want on the day of the wedding.

Michael was our DJ from Chris Laich's representative for our wedding and he was WONDERFUL! He eased our mind from the beginning...he knows what he is doing and does it well. My husband and I were able to enjoy the entire reception without having to ask for specific songs and he kept off the songs we requested on the do not play list. Michael kept the dance floor going all night! My 92 year old grandma was out on the floor dancing and enjoying the night - as was our 2 year old cousin and our college friends - he hit the spectrum of people who were at the wedding. The whole night flowed nicely and people said how awesome our DJ was. The only complaint was the night ended too soon. WONDERFUL COMPANY AND AMAZING DJ!!! Highly recommend Chris Laich's company and Michael!

Chris Laich was recommended to me by a coworker and what I found appealing was that the music would be fresh, upbeat and not what you generally hear at same old same old weddings. Ray Vanags, our DJ, was a pleasure to work with. We requested a handfull of songs prior to the reception and he played everyone. Even the polkas were mixed in with the playlist and sounded seamless. I'd recommend Chris Laich Music Services to anyone who wants people on the dance floor from the first song till the last song.

I was more impressed with Aaron Platt, an associate for Chris Laich, than I ever imagined I could be. He made the night spin, and boy did we spin. I basically never got off the dance floor and the rest of the room boogied with me. Even our 70+ year old relatives were out making moves and having fun.

When I phone Chris, I had already been cringing from other DJ I spoke with and feeling like I was not going to find someone that meshed with my vision for the evening. Despite Chris' eager style, I realized he had a laid back approach to DJ’ing and would provide the evening I wanted. His price was higher than many, but I thought this would be the place to "splurge" a bit. A DJ could break the night... and I did not want that! When I mentioned to my other vendors Chris Laich was the DJ Company, with Aaron running the show that night, they kept saying how lucky I was and what a great night it would be. They were right!

Aaron helped me define a playlist. I made a few unusual music requests.... namely some African music from our time living in Malawi and traveling/working in Southern Africa. Aaron was very accommodating in both weaving them in appropriately and keeping the pace going, almost despite my requests (in a good way).

We started the Nov wedding at 3, due to the change in day light savings. Aaron was early to set up on the outdoor hilltop (and his sound system sounded great up there). And he was a trooper to the end. Our venue allowed flexibility for the end time (we had the place for the weekend). I was not sure when I wanted to end the wedding... nobody wants it to drag on, but goodness knows I was ready to party all night. So Aaron remained flexible. When we neared our original possible end time, the dance floor was packed, so we decided to keep it going for another half hour. It was perfect! We had such a blast and Aaron was an integral orchestrator for making it happen.

If you are on the fence, let me help you off it. Aaron and Chris are terrific and well worth the cost. They were more than I would have anticipated they could be. They will guarantee you a great night, really!

Ross Anderson of Chris Laich Music Services is one of the best DJs in the Washington, D.C. area. As the DJ for our daughter’s and son-in-law’s wedding reception, he is extremely talented and professional. Along with Chris Laich Music Services, Ross thinks of every detail. When we first met with him to discuss our event, he was extremely well prepared and helped us plan a most successful evening. He announced the wedding party with great enthusiasm, the playlist he developed was excellent, and our guests danced all evening and had a terrific time. We strongly recommend Chris Laich Music Services and Ross Anderson.

Chris is awesome! He kept our reception on track and upbeat - exactly how we wanted it. His experience is invaluable. He was always very quick to respond to any questions, was more than helpful when asked for suggestions, and was fun to work with. To have Chris DJ is a little more expensive than his other employees, but he is the best - you get what you pay for! He's worth it!

Chris helped our wedding flow very smoothly. The music he played was always appropriate for what what going on, and he got all of our guests dancing. There was never an empty spot on the dance floor. Additionally, Chris was very responsive during the wedding whenever we had impromptu requests.
Chris was also very helpful leading up to the wedding whenever we had questions about timelines, structures, etc. He made himself available and he was a valuable resource to us.
After the wedding we recieved positive comments about the music and Chris's professionalism. His equipment is also top notch and the sound quality was great.

Chris Laich Music Services gave us the best DJ experience we could have asked for. Aaron did an amazing job and I would highly recommend him to any bride. Nothing beats the professionalism and friendliness of Chris Laich and his team!

There is a reason why Chris is known as one of the best in the DC area. If I had to pick one thing my guests commented on the most, it was Chris. He is a consummate professional, has an incredible knack for gauging the crowd, and is the farthest thing from a typical obnoxious wedding DJ. Music was one of the most important aspects of my wedding to me, and he somehow managed to play my must-plays while also adding in songs that kept people on the dance floor all night long. We also used his equipment during our ceremony (which was outdoors) and are so glad we did so all of our guests could hear without a problem. I would not hesitate to recommend him to anyone looking for a wedding DJ.

Cannot say enough great things about Chris! He was so accomodating to my schedule - having conference calls with me and my fiance sometimes at 10 pm a night after his kids went to sleep! He really tried to understand what we were looking for and talked us though all of our concerns patiently. We had some Arabic live music in our wedding and we wanted to make sure it meshed well with the music he provided - he was very thoughtful and prepared when the night came and the wedding was perfect! The dance floor was packed thewhole night!

Our on-site coordinator recommended Chris Laich to us for DJ services. He was the first, and last, DJ that I contacted.

The first time I spoke to Chris over the phone, he gave me a lot of information about his services, his experience at our venue, particular things to ask other companies about related to our site and to DJ services in general. I was a little bit concerned because he was extremely talkative, but he assured me that his DJ services were "exactly the opposite" - as few announcements as possible, no embarassing comments, and lots of music to keep people dancing.

Once you sign the contract, he sends each client a folder with suggestions of songs for mother/son and father/daughter dances, first dances, last dances, and even a few selections on a sample CD. The packet also includes an information form that you fill out listing your song choices, estimated times, etc.

At our pre-wedding meeting, Chris was really patient with us. There were a few things that we hadn't picked out songs yet for, and he was happy to make additional recommendations or to just pick some songs for us. He was also really flexible when my fiance wanted to "dedicate" a dance to his brother and mother because his brother had gotten married in Costa Rica and his mom wasn't able to be there to dance with him. Chris helped us figure out how to make it work, including letting my fiance explain to guests why he was making the dedication while he also opened the dance floor.

At the wedding, Chris was fantastic. He was there to let me know just when to get started, cueing all of us to go down the aisle. He played exactly the right music at all the right times. At the reception, Chris made great choices for the dinner hour. He played a special request for my father and my grandmother - and even played the song for my grandmother a second time with a special announcement because she hadn't heard it the first time. He kept us on schedule without ever stressing me out.

I would absolutely recommend Chris Laich - he was a pleasure to work with and made sure we had an amazing wedding. Thanks for everything Chris!

Sincerely,
Sarah Axelson & Fabio Villarroel
September 17, 2010

Chris was amazing and did a great job!! You can't go wrong with Chris!

Hiring Chris Laich to be our wedding DJ was the best investment that we made for our Big Day. Chris's music transformed the event from an ordinary go-through-the-motions wedding into an amazing party that kept people out and celebrating until well past 2AM. Here's why he's awesome:

1. Amazing music and read of the crowd; Great equipment. Chris's music really breathed life into the event. Chris had our crowd up and dancing at the first opportunity. Every song brought more people to the floor--everyone from grandparents/in-laws to little kids--and there was never a time when the party was lagging. Also important: Chris has awesome sound equipment. Rather than the typical big black speakers that blast music from one corner of the room, Chris has a sound system that was practically hidden, but projected equally throughout our event space. Everyone appreciated this acoustical set-up because it allowed for everyone to hear music and toasts easily.

2. Communicative, professional, prompt. Chris was great about communicating with me before the wedding about songs, timing for certain parts of the wedding (toasts, speeches, entrances etc). He had great ideas and suggestions and raised questions that I never would have thought about otherwise. He was very professional as well. On our wedding day, Chris and his staff showed up very well-dressed and set up everything very unobtrusively.

3. Incredibly knowledgeable. Calling Chris early in my wedding planning was one of the most helpful things that I did for myself. Since he's very familiar with the DC wedding scene, he pointed me toward good other vendors (even before I hired him!) and cautioned me about possible pitfalls.

My husband and I agree that we'd love to have another wedding--if only for the music!

Chris Laich Music Services and DJ Michael provided the services for our wedding. They couldn't have been more helpful and played great music that had the guest dancing all night. They also totally respected our do not play list. Great choice!

Chris Laich was worth every penny we spent for his music services. Our venue was difficult for a DJ since the dancing was separate from the bar and where guests were seated for dinner. A daunting task for most DJ's, but Chris was familiar with the venue, and was able to educate us on how to make the most of our day. Chris also worked closely with the venue personel to stretch some of the limitations the venue- an historic property. He was always responsive, professional, read the music tastes of our guests perfectly, and was fun to work with. Our fondest memory of the day was our last song- and that was all Chris' doing. He was, by far ,the easiest vendor I worked with

We hired DJ Aaron for our wedding reception. This was a service where we thought would be worth spending a little more to get a true professional, and we were right DJ Aaron was great! I was nervous about hiring him b/c he was the only vendor that we hired without meeting in person, but after talking to both Chris and Aaron on the phone, we did not want to risk someone else booking him.
We had very specific request of foreign music from both Japan and Brazil. We provided Aaron with the bossa nova songs we wanted played during the dinner portion of the reception and samba songs for our performers and the beginning of the party. We met with Aaron just a week or two before the wedding and gave him our CDs and a list of the songs and when it would be appropriate to play them. We also requested that the foreign songs be limited to those from Japan and Brazil, to which he politely and professionally complied when my mom wanted to play something in French (don't ask me why) and when one of our guests tried to give him a CD of Spanish songs during the reception. For the rest of the time he played songs that were sure to keep our guests dancing.
DJ Aaron used the mike sparingly for our introductions, the dancers' introductions and a few announcements that were needed during the reception (i.e. cake cutting). During the father-daughter dance, my dad commented that it felt strange to have so many eyes on him, I gave DJ Aaron just a slight nod and a look over my dad's shoulder which made him end the song a little sooner. This was actually something he had discussed during our meeting (something we hadn't anticipated but that he knew from experience) and something that my groom did as well during the mother-son dance.
Before the reception began, even though the venue is the one that recommended Chris Laich Music Services, the site coordinator said that Aaron couldn't put his wireless speakers (that have awesome quality sound) on the tent. Which is absurd b/c the wireless feature was a main reason why the events coordinator had recommended Chris' company in the first place. Aaron approached us with this slight set-back and even though he had placed the speakers on the tent countless times before (the site coordinator was just being difficult - to put it mildly) he came up with a quick solution and just placed them by the door, and since there were no wires there was no need to worry about guests tripping over them.
Finally, during the last song of the night my groom forgot the CD in the car, so when DJ Aaron announced that it was time to end the night and played another song from our list of requests instead my groom realized his mistake. Our awesome wedding coordinator rushed out to get the CD and once she came back DJ Aaron was flexible and played the song we wanted to end the night.
DJ Aaron did an amazing job: he anticipated any dilemmas we might have had; found solutions for those that we didn't expect; he accommodated our requests; was flexible when needed; he did not bring any attention to himself and kept the dance floor packed the entire time! Chris' company has high quality equipment and true professionals, worth the cost to make your wedding a fun celebration!

We had Chris Laich as our DJ for our June 19th wedding and he truely is worth every penny. Throughout the process, Chris was responsive and flexible. We played Arabic music as well and he did an amazing job. Chris is able to keep the dance floor packed all night. He knew exactly how to mix the Arabic music in and makes sure the night flows. Truely professional and GREAT overall. Not a single complaint. You are sure to have a great experience with Chris Laich!

Chris was amazing and kept the party at it's peak all night! My husband and I had an outdoor wedding in mid June in Leesburg, Virginia. Despite the fact that it reached about 90 degrees under the tent that did not stop everyone from dancing! The energy and experience that Chris brings is fantastic! The only complaint that we had from our guests was that the night went by too fast. We would definitely reccomend Chris. If you're looking for fun, professionalism and experience...he is the right guy.

Kelly & Ashkan
June 12, 2010

We worked with Chris Laich and were thrilled with the service he provided! Chris is the classiest DJ around, and does an incredible job at reading the crowd and picking the right songs to keep everyone dancing. Our guests were dancing up until the very last song at the end of the night! He was able to entertain and please guests of all ages with a great mix of oldies and current songs. No cheesy jokes, no cheesy anything.... just great, sophisticated entertainment. I highly recommend him!

Aaron Platt of Chris Laich DJ's provided Music on my wedding day. He MADE my wedding reception, playing the perfect song everytime! Before the wedding, he was responsive to my emails, met me in person, and didn't mind when I cried a few times during the consult (yep, I was that kind of bride!)
He was nice, polite and well dressed, didn't gab too much on the microphone and followed the schedule to a T- until I needed to change it, and then, he just went with the flow. He played ALL my must have songs, DIDN'T play anything on the do not play list- and kept the party going until the bitter end! If Chris himself isn't available, Ask for Aaron- he's the BEST!!
Chris was also great with the pre wedding communication, setting me up with Aaron, returning phone calls in a timely manner, and sending info to me when he said he would.

We went with Chris Laich because he has a more sophisticated vibe, and we ended up getting a DJ named Michael Tate. He was excellent, did a nice job of running the schedule and rolled with it when we completely changed segments of the reception on the fly. We gave him a very long list of "please play" songs and he added in songs that worked well with those.

My husband and I were extremely pleased with Chris Laich's service. When I spoke with Chris on the phone months before the wedding he was very helpful and asked many questions about what we wanted. He also gave us several very good suggestions. Aaron was our DJ and we were thrilled with how the reception turned out. Aaron played great songs and everything that we requested including an obscure song that he had never heard of during dinner. Aaron also made sure things moved along smoothly and kept us on our schedule. We would highly recommend Chris's company and Aaron. Thanks again!

It was a great pleasure to work with Chris. He went above and beyond to make our wedding day special.

Our DJ was one of Chris' associates - Aaron. He was amazing! We were so happy with the way Aaron ran the night and can't say enough about how his work created the perfect vibe for our wedding.

I highly recommend Chris Laich for your event. My daughter was married during the December 19th blizzard. While we were able to have the wedding, we had to scramble to reschedule the reception since the roads were impassable. All our reception vendors were willing and able to accommodate the new date except our original DJ. (They said all their DJs were booked the date of our rescheduled reception, January 2nd, and refused to refund any of my full payment.) Originally, Chris Laich was my daughter's first choice for her Dec 19th event, but he was already booked. With the reception rescheduled for January 2nd, on a whim, I called Chris, told him about our situation, and he was extremely sympathetic. He immediately committed to being our DJ at a very reasonable price.

I cannot overstate how pleased we were with Chris. He is the quintessential professional with a very personable, non-intrusive MC style, and an uncanny ability to read the crowd and play the perfect music for that moment. We are still getting rave reviews from the reception, primarily based on the great selections fueling the dance floor action. He has the smooth, calm presence of an accomplished and experienced MC and will work closely with you to prepare and execute the reception game plan.

Perhaps most importantly, Chris was there for us in our hour of need and delivered. He will be there for you, as well. We were extremely fortunate he responded to our call for help!

We were supposed to get married on Dec. 19 2009 but the snow storm forced us to postpone. The next day I had to call every vendor individually to find out whether they will be able to pull off the gig. Our DJ promptly dug his truck out of the snow, showed up, and did a great job.

I loved working with Chris and Ray for my wedding entertainment. They were both so helpful and did an excellent job at the reception. I could not have asked for a better DJ and I would highly recommend them.

Here is the exact email I wrote to him after our wedding. We had 2 unresponsive, awful DJs before him, some of which were recommended on theknot.com even:
Just want to let you know quickly how great your performance was.
Literally everyone could not stop talking about how perfect your song
transitions were and how you built the music up to keep the dancing
going. I have not been to a wedding that had that much participation
and happiness on a dance floor. I also heard of a few requests you
complied with and a few you didn't. The ones you didn't I completely
agreed with (one of which you asked me during the slow songs while
eating dinner if we could play fast music like someone requested,
which was a terrible idea, so thanks for that). You worked with the
slide show, my change of plans during the night, did everything you
could to keep my stress level at a minimum, much of which was not even
something you had to do as a DJ. I will definitely be passing you and
your company along to others. Your really bailed me out of a tough
situation. Let me know what I can do to post a glowing review or
positive feedback on a website or recommendation somewhere. Thanks
again!

Ours was a second wedding and we didn't want the raucous stuff. Chris did exactly what we wanted and made some good suggestions for us. I had an injury so he was able to shorten our first dance so as not to stress my knees out any further. He was great, low key and the music didn't injure anyone's ears!!

Chris Laich Music Services provided me with my ceremony musicians and my DJ. Chris was great to talk with on the phone. He let me know about his services, as well as why they do what they do. He is extremely responsive and helpful in working out the details of the wedding. Michael was our DJ and he was amazing. His tone was exactly what we were looking for. The dance floor was filled the entire night and I didn't leave it except to cut the cake. Everyone was absolutely wonderful!

Chris was amazing!! He played great music all night and everyone had a blast!!!

Exceptional! Chris is talented, creative and has a great sense of style. It was easy to relax and enjoy our wedding knowing Chris was in charge. He is also so easy and fun to work with...easy to communicate with and always responds quickly to any questions that may arise! Would love to work with Chris again.

Chris Laich was not only professional but very friendly and made a wonderful effort to make us feel comfortable in all parts of our wedding day. He has a great upbeat attitude! He was very thorough before the event and was patient without throughout the evening so that we didn't miss a beat! I would highly recommend him to anyone who wants to feel confidence without having to worry about things running smoothly! He kept the dance floor packed all night long!

Chris was great! He was able to recommend wireless speakers for our space which worked out really well to carry the sound and he did a great job of going with flow and making adjustments as need. Overall we were pleased with Chris and everyone said they had an awesome time at my wedding. He kept everyone going from my friends, to my parents friends to my in-laws friends and even the kids. My only suggestion would be to tell him which slow songs you want to dance to, a lot of our favorites we picked were played during dinner so we didn�t get to dance to them. Great DJ and we would definitely use him again!

Chris did an excellent job. He was very swift and efficient in all his communication and he made it a priority to meet with us when and where it was convenient to us. For someone who is in as high demand as he is, he made us feel just as important as any other client. Moreover, he provided great input as we made preparations and this gave us assurance and peace of mind.

On the wedding day he definitely made sure the music and the transitions were appropriate for us as a couple and for our guests. He fit right in with the environment and he did not try to draw attention to himself. We were able to enjoy our wedding because we knew Chris would handle the music, dancing and announcements. Chris was also very flexible in allowing us to change the schedule a little bit during the reception and his cousel in this regard was very helpful.

We would highly recommend using Chris because he will tailor his services to your wedding and he will adjust to your preferences.

Chris is FABULOUS. He made my daughter's wedding the party of the year. My daughter married a wonderful man from Peru so we had a wonderful mix of traditional rock, oldies, and Latino music. Chris put up with very last minute changes to our play lists with grace and good cheer. Everyone on both sides had a great time dancing the night away. He runs an elegant personalize affair that is also incredible enjoyable! I cannot recommend him highly enough!

Chris was so great to work with, and he set us up with mike, one of his associates.

Mike was incredibly professional, easy to work with, and had an amazing sense of how to keep people on the dance floor. It seemed like as soon as people started to get tired and drift back to their seats Mike would play one of those songs that is physically impossible not to dance to and the dance floor would be full again. I also appreciate that Mike respected our wishes and refrained from any cheesy "arena announcer" style intros or cheesy line dances. I would absolutely recommend Chris and any of his associates for any type of event!

I had one of Chris Laich's DJs (Ray!), and he added to our overall feeling for the wedding. I said I wanted an old, vintage, old world, international, Meditteranean and Italian-inspired musical palate for our cocktail hour and reception, and Ray came through. The moment the dance floor was open, he had folks of ALL ages out there dancing, and late into the evening! He listened to me when I asked that no "random" song requests be honored, nor did I want too much disco - everything I asked for, her produced, for a sound that was fairly personal to my husband and I. Perfect!

Amazing! Would use them again. Very professional. I highly recommend Chris Laich.

Michael was exactly what we wanted! He played all the great music we wanted. Was very professional. No annoying DJ chit-chat. Highly recommend.

Chris made himself available any time of day for help. He helped me pick out a number of vendors and went beyond what was expected. One Sunday he spend an hour on the phone with me helping me choose vendors and this is when I did not think that I was going to use his service. He is awesome!

Chris' services were excellent. He partners with a classical musician group you can hire for your ceremony, which made that part very easy as well. The classical musicians were wonderful. Chris played fantastic music during dinner (which received compliments by guests) and during the more upbeat dancing hours. Music was crucially important to me and I was pleased. My dancing friends had a wonderful time and those who didn't dance had a great time watching the rest of us dance our hearts out! Chris will be an excellent addition to your wedding.

Chris was fabulous! He paid attention to all of our requests - played all of the music that we asked and avoided the music that we hated! The music was appropriate and there were no cheesy announcements. He worked with us leading up to the event and on the day of the wedding, made sure that everything went smoothly at the reception. We received many complements from our guests on the music selections. You won't find a better DJ!

Chris was an amazing DJ! He took all the stress off when it came to music! I thought I was going to be one of those brides who gave the DJ a specific list of songs. But after talking to Chris I felt so confident that he would pick the appropiate music for our reception, and he did! We had a mixed bag of guest, kids, old people, adults, teenagers and everyone was dancing. People stayed on the dance floor the whole night. I have gotten tons of compliments about the DJ and his music selection! I would recommend him to any bride! He was fabulous!

Chris Laich is truly a professional and seems to love what he does! He was a DJ for my friend's wedding and I knew right away that I wanted him to play at my wedding! He was terrific from start to finish...from meeting me to discuss the details of the wedding to selecting song choices. He knew when to change the music/or what type of music to play at different points during reception. We got TONS of compliments from our guests. Chris definitely made the reception memorable..thanks Chris!!!!

Chris Laich was an excellent DJ for a wedding or any other event. He was professional, cooperative, and positive. The music was excellent - he worked with us to develop a great playlist. Our guests danced all night! In fact, we asked Chris to stay an extra hour because everyong wanted to keep grooving!

I would definitely work with Chris again, and I would highly recommend him to anyone who needs a DJ. Get ready to dance 'til you're sore!

Chris was very professional and even brought another DJ with him to our reception because he wanted the event to be perfect. He was willing to play the music that we wanted and took requests from our guests. He also worked closely with our MC to play music during the introduction and speeches. He was very accommodating and reliable.

We wanted an assortment of music, from classical to what was played on the radio at the time, and a DJ offered that flexability. However, we knew we did not want the stereotypical, cheesy DJ. It was in our search for a younger, more hip DJ that we stumbled upon Chris Laich and his DJ services. Chris was very responsive to my inquiries and put me at ease over the DJ search. He basically had me at "we don't do the chicken dance," unless you desparately want it. I found that Chris provided a professional service with a modern and tasteful flair. We went with a level 2 DJ and got Dan as our Man! He was fantastic in every way imaginable. We provided a must play list and he was more than accommodating. In fact, our guests were enjoying the dance floor soo much that night, that we ended up getting an extra hour onto our reception to keep the dance party moving! Dan spent 6 hours with us, was very professional, on time, and in such a great mood. We could not have asked for more.
We would recommend Chris Laich's services to anyone and in fact, guests at our wedding have inquired into Dan's services and those of Chris. They were fantastic.

--A. Smith

Great DJ!!! I have never seen people get up so fast to dance. He really kept everything going and everyone on the dance floor. Would recommend him to anyone!

We attended a wedding reception where Chris Laich had one of his DJ's and everyone was up dancing the entire five hours. We hired him for our daughters wedding and had the same response from our guest. The music selection was great and all ages were on the floor. All of our guest loved the event. I would highly recommend this music service and would use them again.

Chris was great to work with from the very first call that I made to him. He made me feel like my wedding was his first priority! He knows the wedding business very well. When I chose him to be my DJ, I felt like I didn't have to worry about anything else, music-wise. I knew he would take care of everything on the day-of and would provide great sound, and the right songs at the right time. All of which he did! He was always professional, fun, and easy to get in touch with!

We were very, very happy with this company. They were extremely professional, very responsive to our wishes, and they just did an amazing all-around job.

I HIGHLY recommend Chris Laich. We actually hired him personally to DJ our wedding and it was amazing. People can sometimes underestimate the importance of the DJ in ensuring the flow and harmony of the event, and from our first meeting with Chris we felt comfortable. He paid extreme attention to detail, getting to know us and our tastes and helping us to organize the layout of the entire evening which turned out to be great! Chris and his assistant created a wonderful atmosphere, from the ceremony through the dancing, and were never intrusive or trying to cast attention on themselves. The whole wedding was dancing by the end - a testimony to his ability to make sure everyone had a song they could dance to!

Should be anyone's first pick. Evident to why Washingtonian Magazine chose them as one of their favorites.

Simply AMAZING. Thank you!

We were really happy with Chris Laich as our DJ at our wedding July 12, 2008 at the Mayflower Hotel in DC. He was very easy to work with on the planning and understood right away what kind of music we wanted him to play. The dance floor was literally packed all night - and people were disappointed when the night was over and they had to stop dancing!

From the first song to the last song, ALL of my guests were dancing. We received RAVE reviews about our DJ :) 150% satisfied.

We hired Ray and he was AMAZING. I grew up dancing so it was extremely important to me to have everyone out on the floor. Mission accomplished. Working with them was very easy and they were the most professional. They are pricier - but to me it was without a doubt worth it because of how much fun everyone had. We even kept the party going longer than planned and Ray just rolled with the change (until it ended at 1am!)

AMAZING!! I can't begin to say enough about how completely professional and friendly Chris was to my husband and I. We originally spoke with Chris, and he was so accomodating and extremely thorough in his conversation with us. Aaron was the dj for our wedding and he was INCREDIBLE! We had over 200 guests and the dance floor stayed full the entire evening. We stressed the importance of mixture of class and fun for our music selection and Aaron delivered. He really did a spectacular job of assessing our guests and played such a fantastic variety of music that everyone could enjoy. I honestly can't say enough about this company...we even received a Christmas card from Chris (6 months after our wedding!). This dj company is a class act:)

We booked Chris's company only a few months out, after our flaky band cancelled on us. We couldn't have been happier with the professional, quick response from him and the talent and poise of the young DJ (DJ Bryan) he assigned to work with us. This is a fantastic company full of music lovers who know what people like to dance to and never fall back on the desperation pieces (i.e., the electric slide or chicken dance). Our DJ set up portable wireless speakers so that we could have music in the garden and house for cocktail hour and music in our tent for dinner and dancing, all controlled from a central DJ station -- an arrangement which saved us big bucks. I was hesitant to book a DJ, as I love the energy of a live band -- but our guests were happy and dancing until our venue cut the music off at the end of the night. A great find.

We used one of Chris Laich's associates, Michael Tate, as our DJ for our wedding, and we were thrilled with the services he provided. Chris himself was accessible and helpful every step of the way, from the initial planning to the final workbook, and the communication between Chris and his associates was seamless. We loved the music that Michael played; it set the perfect atmosphere for our occasion. We received a lot of compliments on everything from the cocktail hour music all the way to the last dance...when we had to kick everyone off the dance floor! Our guests had a fabulous time and we were supremely happy with the job that Chris and Michael did.

Top NOTCH!! We had Mike as our DJ. I've heard phenomenal things about Chris and that the people he hires are just as good. I have no idea what Chris is like but I give Mike top marks!
We met with Mike after our initial meet and greet a month before the wedding to discuss what kind of music we were envisioning. My husband and I have a vary eclectic and varied music preferance. After hearing what we liked and looking at the music list we had put together he knew what kind of feel we wanted. He was also EXTREMELY patient with me in getting him the father/daughter dance and first dance song selections.
The day of the wedding he MC'd the evenings events and wasn't the comedy routine of the night. He organized the music so the floor was packed the entire night, in fact we got the first dance done after being announced and some people danced during dinner.
I have heard so many compliments from our guests about the DJ I would highly highly recommend!!

Chris exceeded all of our expectations and kept EVERYONE (even the older guests) dancing all night long. He really listened to what we wanted and created a truly elegant and memorable wedding reception. But, most of all, it was a total blast! If you are looking for a DJ in the DC area, there is no doubt in my mind that he is the absolute best. You will not be disappointed!

Chris Laitch could not have been more responsive, helpful and provided a higher-quality DJ. Our wedding was a total blast. Everyone was on the dance floor all night and said it was the most fun wedding they'd been to. I went into the wedding with little expectation about the dancing/music and was really blown away. He made all the guests (from age 5 to 85) feel so comfortable getting out there and having fun!

I can't recommend this vendor highly enough. Worth every penny and more!

The next day I had to call every vendor individually to find out whether they will be able to pull off the gig. Our DJ promptly dug his truck out of the snow, showed up, and did a great job.I could not have asked for a better DJ and I would highly recommend them.

Chris came highly recommended from our venue, and pretty much every other vendor we talked to! He was a little on the pricey side, but music was very important to us so we splurged. We would have made a few changes to WHEN he chose to play some of the songs we requested but overall we were very happy! All of our guests had an incredible time and everyone was absolutely LOVING the music and the dance floor! We gave him some must-plays and an idea of the type of music we wanted played but he chose most of the songs, which were all great! He was very good at reading the crowd to see if he needed to change up the music and he definitely knew how to get the best sound in that space. We actually had guests comment on the fact that even though the music was playing they could still carry on conversations and such. If you can afford to spend a few extra dollars, we would recommend Chris!

Aaron was great - so personable, easy going and accommodating. He pegged our taste in music perfectly. During the reception, my groom took a break from dancing and noticed that every single person was on the dance floor - they are considered the best in the DC area for a reason!

We had a sunday day-time wedding...not prime getting drunk and partying til you drop time of day. Chris listened to us, even found my husband's weirdo Star Wars song to enter the reception room to, and our string version of Don't Stop Believing for our processional.

He was funny and fun and him and his association picked great music for the type of event we had pictured.

Recommended!

Aaron from Chris Laich Music Services was a great deejay and I would highly recommend him! I met with Aaron once before the wedding and he helped plan out all of the music from pre-ceremony to last dance. Without his expertise I would have been totally lost trying to orchestrate all the little elements that go into wedding music. Aaron was also extremely flexible when it came to coordinating the music. He had no problem working out the music with our pianist and did a flawless job during the ceremony. He responded to every request we asked of him and overall did an outstanding job. I couldn't believe how many times I stopped during the reception and said, "wow, he even remembered to play that one too!" Thank you Aaron!

Our DJ was Mike -- and he was AMAZING!! Really, people of all ages (from 3 to 70) danced all night long, which was exactly what we wanted.

My husband loves music so he has spent a lot of time thinking about the types of songs for the cocktail hour. upbeat, some american folk, some indie rock, etc... We met with Mike once to go through some of the songs we liked.

Mike is very likeable - low-key, relaxed, but completely professional. I loved that he took notes and sent several emails to follow-up. The only reason that I am not giving mike a "5" is that he also set up the microphones for the ceremony, which kept cutting out. I think that it could have also been because of the officiant and the angle he was speaking, but otherwise, the music was great!

Mike followed our script perfectly -- no ad-libbing, no cheesy dances, no cheesy "stage voices". He even ran interference on a few "requests" that were on our no-play list and cut our "first dance" short when we gave him the signal... (its awkward dancing out there for so long!)

Mike made it so much fun!! I would highly recommend him and Chris Laich services to anyone looking for a DJ!

They also provided the ceremony musicians who were very good too (I just didn't hear them as much...)

We just had our wedding this past weekend, and I cannot speak highly enough of Ray, our DJ from Chris Laich's services.
I met wtih Ray a few weeks prior to the event and have him some songs we both wanted and did NOT want played at the wedding, and all of those were attended to. He also did an excellent job keeping the evening flowing but was very much in the background, and did not come out and make a big deal out of his MC duties. Ray was perfect because he knew how to be in the background while also making the night's music and activities flow along.
The mixes he came up with for the dance sets were also fantastic! Our dance floor was full until the last dance, and everyone has complimented me on how much fun they had on the dance floor... I know that Ray had a lot to do with that:)

I was THRILLED with Chris. He was unbelievably excellent, and really was a huge part of why our wedding was so unbelievable.

A little about my search for a DJ: I'm in a Ph.D. program right now, and therefore did not have a ton of time to be dealing with the TON of things that go into a wedding. My husband and I had a pretty basic goal: to throw a great party. To us, what went into that was good food, open bar, and great music. So, among all of the things that you have to do for a wedding, the dj was a pretty huge factor for us (we knew we wanted a dj and not a band). That being said, because I knew I had so many other details to take care of, what I was really looking for in a DJ was someone who would be totally self-sufficient and I would NOT have to worry about at all during the party, and could trust would play the music we liked and that got the crowd really into it. Chris totally fit that bill.

Most of my correspondence with Chris was over email/phone, and then we met once before the wedding. He was always immediately responsive to any of my communications with him, and also unbelievably accommodating of my ridiculous schedule. When we met with him about a week before the wedding, I was incredibly stressed (about an impending dissertation proposal), and he put me completely at ease and I was really totally confident that I did not need to worry about the music part of the party at all, and that I was in good hands. I should also note that my dad's first love is music, and he was thrilled with Chris as well (no small feat). He was very impressed with his professionalism, knowledge, and expertise in how to throw an excellent party. When we had our meeting with him, I had thrown together a schedule of how I thought things would go at the reception, and Chris was able to very quickly and easily redirect me as to how he thought the party would flow better in the space we had, and he was TOTALLY right, and I am still so thankful for that input because it made the night flow flawlessly.

As for our party - it went perfectly. Cocktail hour was great with perfect (for our group, at least) music, a jazzy type feel. Chris set up all the speakers outside and inside, the volume was perfect, and really set the tone. I was able to totally enjoy myself, and when it was time for speeches (my dad first, then my husband and I, then our priest) Chris quickly found me and my dad, set us up with the mikes, and got everyone to gather around for us. That went without a hitch (and usually with microphones I feel like there can be various problems - ppl not being able to hear you, the volume being too loud, or that high pitched scream that sometimes happens - none of that occurred). Chris then invited everyone to dinner. I think the plan was then to have the dance floor open for a bit, and then cut the cake. But because the weather was so gorgeous, ppl were really still mingling outside, so Chris changed our plan and made the decision to do the cake cutting so some ppl would come inside. He invited ppl inside, we did the cake cutting, and then went to the dance floor - and that flexibility and thinking on his feet worked, and everyone then hit the dance floor. The rest of the night was full of great dancing and a really wonderful time. Chris had music for the dancing in the beginning that was appropriate for both our friends and our parents/grandparents etc, so everyone was out on the dance floor. Then, as the "adults" got tired and began going elsewhere, he switched more into fun, younger music...I love to dance, and I had a great, great time. I was so sad when we had to leave. Chris made the announcement that there was only 1 song left, and also announced where we would be going after the wedding. Oh and at some point in there were the first dances :) and those were great too...Chris invited everyone in, introduced each of the dances, did the fade out of the songs about 2/3 way through (our request) - that was perfect as well.

I'm sorry for being so long-winded, but my hope is to convey how very happy I was with every aspect of Chris's service. We had so many compliments on the music. He is a great, great DJ who I would most highly recommend to anyone - you're guaranteed to have a flawless event (at least as far as the music goes).

Chris made himself available any time of day for help. He helped me pick out a number of vendors and went beyond what was expected. One Sunday he spend an hour on the phone with me helping me choose vendors and this is when I did not think that I was going to use his service. He is awesome!

Chris Laich provided our wedding reception entertainment. Chris was a joy to work with. He did an incredible job. He set the stage for every moment at the reception. We were so happy with our choice to hire him. We recommend his services!

Chris Laich and all of his associates are a joy to work. They are professional, low key, classy, fun and brilliant at getting the party going. So many of the events that Chris has done with us have turned out to be the highlight of the season. Our couples come back and rave about their experience with Chris.
:) Elaine Studley - Hay Mckenna Photography

Chris is his own person and I love working with him!

Chris and his staff are top notch and always professional. We really enjoy working events with Chris or anyone on his team. They always keep the dance floor packed providing us great moments to capture for our clients.

Chris enhances the party by a great choice of music and fun presence- you can't go wrong!