5.0
Verified reviews from real couples
ENTICING EVERYONE TO HIT THE DANCE FLOOR!
Servicing the greater Minneapolis/St. Paul area
Travel area: Within 100 miles See details
Niki and the team were very kind and great to work with throughout the process. They communicated well and provided a solid night of dancing at our wedding.
Adam B.
5.0
We went with A Ran for our wedding and couldn’t be happier! Niki and Darrell were both really easy to work with, and we could tell they wanted to make the event personal. Niki was very communicative throughout the process and we never had to struggle to get ahold of her. The music was great and Darrell read the room and kept people dancing all night. We got so many compliments from our guests on the music and energy. There was one small audio hiccup during the ceremony but it was resolved very quickly and things kept moving along nicely. We would certainly recommend A Ran!
Jake C.
5.0
Niki Frost
EVENTS DIRECTOR
Typically responds within 24h
AWARD WINNER (5X)
Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot
At A Ran Music Service, we solve our clients’ biggest worry: “But, will my guests dance?”
We dance guests out! Even those reluctant “non-dancers” will be compelled to join the dance floor for the entire evening, never looking for their seat again, and “living it up” on that dance floor the entire night.
We’re music lovers and musicians- we know a thing or two about composing a captivating and irresistible playlist that incorporates personal song selections into your unique event.
Plan: We select songs that bring even the most varied groups of people together. The key is PERSONALIZATION and infusing songs that BRIDGE together different genres, no matter how opposite they may be. Songs effortlessly flow from one to the next- keeping your guests dancing without interruption.
Our Promise: Your event is of the highest importance. Our team of Platinum Level Professional DJs are ready to make your next event fun and memorable. We are prepared and in-tune with both our clients’ vision as well as the nuances of the venue.
Our Values: Integrity, responsiveness, respect, and full focus on you and your guests from inquiry to the last song.
Our Awards & Accolades: 'The Knot Best of Weddings Hall of Fame', ' The Better Business Bureau's Torch Award of Ethics Winner'- 2023, 'The Knot's Pick- Best of Weddings'- 2025, 2024, 2022 & 2019, National Business Man of the Year from U.S. Congress, A+ Rating with The Better Business Bureau, Preferred DJs for Summit Manor Reception House & Cannon River Winery, Nominated for 'The Twin Cities Family Business Awards' in 2025, 2018 & 2019
Details
Equipment
Sound Equipment
Music Genres
African
Bollywood
Celtic
Classical
Country
Dance
Disco
EDM
Flamenco
Folk
Hip-Hop
Indian
Jazz
Latin
Mariachi
Persian
Polka
Pop
R&B
Rock
World Music
Music Services
MC Services
Recorded Music
Sound Equipment
Wedding Activities
Rehearsals & Parties
After Party
Wedding
After Party
Ceremony
Reception
Awards and Affiliations
5-Time 'Best of Weddings'
2026.2025.2024.+2 more.
Best of Weddings
The Knot independently assesses vendors for this award—it’s never self-reported. We base it on firsthand experiences from real couples and guests, and they must have a 4.5-star average across 7+ reviews in the qualifying year.
Hall of Fame
Earned by winning 'Best of Weddings' four or more times.
Join couples who chose award-winning vendors for their wedding
Meet the team
Showing slide number 1 out of 4
- Niki FrostEvent Coordinator, Co-Owner, DJ, & MCShortly before my 18th birthday, I began training under my dad to become a DJ. During events, I began observing the way that dad would listen to a song and go back to the mixer to ensure that the levels were exactly right. I watched him scan the dance floor for the guests’ reactions, smile happily, and pick a song that would keep them dancing some more. When he wasn’t DJing a job, I spent time chatting with him about how he was creating a playlist and stringing together songs. He continued to have me type up the music library and as I became more and more educated about music, I started making playlists and providing my ideas for song pairings. He continued to encourage me. Next he taught me about proper delivery and microphone technique so that I would soon MC events, too. Shortly I knew that I wanted to get a degree in Business Administration and be a part of the company. I went on to get a degree in Business Administration and graduate with highest honors. I learned more about operating a business and soon took on the Event Coordinator role along with DJnig and MCing. With each wedding and event, I fall deeper in love with my job and I tell everyone I have the best job in the world.
- Ran RittmillerFounder, DJ, MC, & Sound EngineerIt all began with Ran hosting a music video television show and being a musician for multiple national performing groups. This led to Ran MC-ing and providing music for charitable events with organizations such as the American Cancer Society and United Way, resulting in raising more money for those non-profit events. Soon after it grew to equip these and other fundraising events with lighting. Eventually, guests and fellow volunteers asked Ran to DJ their weddings, conventions, and other milestone events. Ran is a man of high integrity that believes only the best will do. He’s invested much over the years because he is zealous about what he does. It has proven successful for him as he has received awards such as Business Man of the Year from Congress , an A+ rating from The Better Business Bureau, The Knot’s Pick- Best of Weddings, The Better Business Bureau's Torch Award for Ethics, and multiple nominations for the Twin Cities Business Minnesota Family Business Awards from Twin Cities Business Magazine. He is also the preferred DJ for Summit Manor Reception House in St. Paul- voted The Knot Magazine’s number one venue for wedding receptions. In addition Ran has taught classes in the art of DJing at Dunnwoody Institute. For more information, visit our awards page.
- Faylon RittmillerSound & Lighting Technician, Assistant DJAs a sound and lighting technician, Faylon enjoys working for the company because he is able to use his talents. Faylon has a keen ear for sound quality and creates exceptional light shows for events. He’s has always been creative and drawn to the arts. He began playing the bongos at the age of 3 with a natural sense of rhythm. Beginning in his early teen years, Faylon would draw ornate abstract drawings or pass time by painting. It isn’t uncommon to find Faylon sitting closest to or behind the sound and lighting booth at concerts and productions, as he’s always been fascinated by setting up and running sound and lighting systems. He enjoys discussing sound and lighting gear and he’s the go-to guy when it comes to deciphering what equipment to use based on the layout and acoustics of an establishment. Faylon started with the company in 2006 upon learning that his dad, Ran, was diagnosed with cancer and needed help with the business. As a musician, Faylon has always loved music, but took a special interest in the technical side of things. Ran is now fully cancer-free and both Faylon and Niki continue to work for the business alongside their father.
- Darrell PalmerLead DJWith years of experience and the motivation to keep you and your guests celebrating all night long, Darrell will read the room, personalize the experience, and create an event you'll never forget. Darrell is a seasoned DJ that knows both the musical and technical end of the business. He's a great asset to any event- bringing his expertise, experience, energy, love for celebrations, and contagious laugh that is just as fun as his personality.
Reviews
5.0
out of 5.082 reviews
Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help
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Review Summary
This AI-generated summary is a snapshot of this vendor's ratings and feedback.
This DJ team is highly professional, communicative, and flexible, making planning easy and stress-free. They delivered excellent sound, lighting, and seamless ceremony/reception coordination with personalized music (including cultural requests) and kept the dance floor packed. Reviewers praised their attention to detail and thoughtful keepsakes; only a minor audio hiccup was mentioned.Review photos
Showing slide number 1 out of 3
Tiffany C
Highlighted review.
5.0
5/30/2024
A Ran Music Service was an absolute delight to work with and it’s so clear that the DJs at this company are deeply passionate about music! Initially, for our wedding, I wanted to c...
ut costs by just having a spotify playlist running. However, after attending a few weddings with my now-husband , where the DJs were not always on their A-game, he insisted we absolutely had to hire a professional. Since we come from a Taiwanese background, I went on a deep-dive for DJs that could handle cultural music and making sure the dance floor was packed, when I stumbled upon A Ran. With a review below stating that they had honored another couple’s requests for Taiwanese and Korean music, I was sold.
Niki was so delightful to work with and so professional! Even when I was a little grumpy due to jetlag at one of our final meetings, she remained so kind, patient, and calm. She assured us that all we had to do on our big day was to just have fun, and they truly lived up to that! The sound systems were great the day of and the music was FANTASTIC! They went above and beyond in honoring our requests for Taiwanese music and did their due diligence to find the songs that I had sent to them, carefully comparing the Chinese characters in the song titles. As another example of them going above and beyond, my husband and I wanted to do a violin-piano duet and Niki graciously allowed us to borrow her personal keyboard for it, as the one we own is up in Canada. Finally, we were so worried that none of our friends and family would dance, but they again, lived up to their promise that the dance floor would be packed!! I saw my mom dancing, which I have NEVER seen before. Ran and Faylon were so lovely as well!
Hiring A Ran Music Service took such a huge mental load off of our minds and we are SO glad that we went with them instead of the spotify playlist! They excel at rolling with the punches and being flexible the day of, and the love that they have for their work permeates into the atmosphere of a wedding. I appreciated that they played the clean versions of songs, as we were worried that some songs may end up being too much or offending others, and they were so intentional in their song choices. We would highly recommend hiring A Ran Music Service for your wedding – you won’t regret the choice.
Response from A Ran Music Service on 05/30/2024
Tiffany- to say that your wedding was was a blast would be an absolute understatement!!! T...
alk about a perfect wedding for a perfect couple. This was it!!! 😍
From the personalized touches to the heartfelt and humorous speeches to the song selections and beautiful ways that you incorporated your heritage- it was all incredible. 🙌
We are beyond honored to have been a part of your celebration! Your wedding will be remembered by our team for many, many years to come!
Adam B
5.0
8/05/2026
Niki and the team were very kind and great to work with throughout the process. They communicated well and provided a solid night of dancing at our wedding.
Any questions?
Jake C
5.0
7/17/2026
We went with A Ran for our wedding and couldn’t be happier! Niki and Darrell were both really easy to work with, and we could tell they wanted to make the event personal. Niki w...
as very communicative throughout the process and we never had to struggle to get ahold of her. The music was great and Darrell read the room and kept people dancing all night. We got so many compliments from our guests on the music and energy. There was one small audio hiccup during the ceremony but it was resolved very quickly and things kept moving along nicely. We would certainly recommend A Ran!
Response from A Ran Music Service on 07/17/2026
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review, Jake! We are so glad to hear the plannin...
g process was smooth and stress-free, your guests stayed dancing, and everyone really enjoyed your celebration. It's also nice to know that when technology doesn't exactly go our way, we have the resources and back-ups to adjust quickly and keep things smooth. :) We appreciate your recommendation! Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your special day.
Debra S
5.0
7/15/2026
We used A Ran for our wedding. It was a second wedding for both of us so we really just wanted a party. They were so accommodating. Played music off our wish list and kept the ot...
her selections in line with our tastes. It was a lot of fun and we got a lot of compliments on our dj choice from our guests.
Response from A Ran Music Service on 07/15/2026
Debra- thank you for your kind words! It was an absolute pleasure working and planning wi...
th you. All of the fun little personalized details were *chef's kiss*. You're such a fun couple and we count it an honor to have been part of your celebration.
Megan S
5.0
7/15/2026
DJ Darrell was AMAZING!! He totally listened and delivered on exactly what we wanted for our ceremony and reception. Our friends and family were out on the dance floor until the ve...
ry end thanks to him. Niki's communication throughout the entire process made us SO confident in our decision choosing A Ran for our special day. Thank you SO much to all of the A Ran staff for making our wedding absolutely perfect. We are so grateful.
Response from A Ran Music Service on 07/15/2026
Thank you for the review, Megan! Darrell had a BLAST with you, your friends, and your fami...
ly. We're so glad to hear that we were able to bring your vision to life and that you felt confident and heard through the entire process. Cheers to continued love, laughter, great music, and happily ever after.
Christopher T
5.0
1/13/2026
We couldn’t have asked for a better DJ for our wedding! Communication was excellent from start to finish, and they were incredibly helpful throughout the planning process. The musi...
c selection was perfect, the energy stayed high all night, and they truly helped make our wedding the day of our dreams. We received so many compliments from our guests about how great the DJ was. Highly recommend!
Response from A Ran Music Service on 01/13/2026
Christopher- it was an honor to be a part of your wedding! The venue and all of your pers...
onal touches were so beautiful and memorable. We loved getting to know you two during the planning process and meeting your incredible friends and family the day of your wedding. The variety of music was so fun- from sentimental slow dances to club/pop hits, to sharing guitar rock faves with your college buddies and dad. :) Thank you for trusting us to be a part of your special day!
Amy B
5.0
11/05/2025
A Ran was kind and professional working with us. Niki was flexible with her time to meet with us just days before the wedding and even accommodated a first dance song change, reque...
sted 2 days before the big day! The music was not too loud and the company was open with their communication and expectations during the day. An added bonus we did not expect was that they gifted us a copy of all the music played at our wedding. Truly thoughtful group.
Response from A Ran Music Service on 11/05/2025
Amy- it was a pleasure working with you both! We are so happy to hear that the music was ...
at a comfortable level. We knew how important that was to you. We believe communcation is key and wanted to make sure to create a stress-free event that you could enjoy from beginning to end. Enjoy the gift! We hope it brings back all of the amazing memories of your special day.
Dariya K
5.0
10/12/2025
It was great to work with the whole team for our wedding! After so-so conversations with other services, talking with Niki felt like our vision was really being heard, that she saw...
us as a couple and was ready to bring all our music tastes to the party. Everything went smoothly with our ceremony, we loved the music throughout the evening, as well as the personal touch at the end of the evening ;) We’d be happy to work with them again!
Response from A Ran Music Service on 10/13/2025
Hi, Dariya! Thank you for your very sweet review! It was an absolute JOY to work with yo...
u and Jared! With an amazing theme and an impeccable taste in musical variety, how could we not be excited?! :) We greatly enjoyed celebrating with you both as well as your families and friends. We'd love to party with you all over again in the future! Call or email us any time.
Laura R
5.0
9/04/2025
We had the absolute pleasure of working with A Ran Music Service for our wedding, and they truly exceeded all expectations!
From the beginning, they were incredibly helpful and com...
municative, offering us multiple options to personalize our day and make it unforgettable. On the day of the wedding, three DJs arrived at our venue, each fully prepared and professional. Everything was set up on time, and the sound system was top-notch — perfectly calibrated and crystal clear.
They seamlessly set up two separate music areas for our ceremony and reception, ensuring there was never a moment without music. Their support extended beyond just DJing — they helped set up sound for our live musicians during the ceremony and coordinated music for a dance company performance during the reception. Their attention to detail and flexibility made everything run smoothly.
The team’s energy, professionalism, and passion for music were evident throughout the entire event. They read the crowd beautifully and kept the dance floor alive all night long. It’s clear they care deeply about making each event special, and their experience shows.
We’re so grateful for everything they did to make our wedding day perfect!
— Laura & Jason
Response from A Ran Music Service on 09/05/2025
Laura and Jason- thank you for your glowing review! You had BEAUTIFUL aspects of your wed...
ding that perfectly celebrated your heritage, family, and personalities. It was the utmost importance to bring those to light and share them during your celebration. We are so happy to know that we were able to make that possible in working together! Wishing you continued love and happiness! Thank you for chosing A Ran Music Service.
Jodi G
5.0
7/21/2025
A ran music service is amazing!!!! Absolutely loved their attention to detail and ability to read the room. Music was amazing and their kindness was even better. Book them NOW!
Response from A Ran Music Service on 07/21/2025
Jodi- thank you so much for the compliments and for taking the time to write a review! We...
love our clients and are truly passionate about what we do. We recognize that when planning events, the little things are the big things and we enjoy bringing those details to life.
Jordan O
5.0
7/02/2025
I could not recommend Niki and Auran enough. Besides being family friends for over 20 years to my family, they DJ our wedding with beautiful professionalism. They were prepared, go...
t everything set up on time, and I barely needed to talk to them and they knew exactly what was going on. We had meetings before the ceremony to ensure they had everything they need, and they gave us templates to make sure that all of these songs and timelines were done properly. It was done at a price that was unbeatable, and I couldn’t recommend them enough. If you are considering going with them, you will not regret it.
Response from A Ran Music Service on 07/03/2025
Jordan & Kimberly- you were an absolute joy to plan and work with!
DJs Ran, Niki, & Darre...
ll were super excited to service your wedding reception and loved your theme-disco or die! Wishing many more years of love, laughter, and dancing to you both.
Kate D
5.0
6/21/2025
We absolutely loved working with A Ran Music Service for our wedding! They made the entire process so easy and stress-free. From our first conversation to the last dance, they were...
professional, kind, and so easy to work with.
Response from A Ran Music Service on 06/24/2025
Kate- it was an honor to DJ your wedding ceremony and reception. The whole day was so won...
derfully personalized- just the way it should be! The process of getting to know you and Mason was so much fun and really helped us know how to cater your music choices for the prelude, cocktail hour, dinner, and dance. Thank you for chosing A Ran Music Service! Cheers to love, laughter, and happily ever after.
Jamie T
5.0
6/05/2025
A Ran Music Service knocked it out of the park for our wedding! Our DJ coordinator, Niki, was super friendly, professional, and easy to work with. I was initially very stressed abo...
ut the idea of planning music for the day, but A Ran handled everything, from pre-ceremony, ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner, the entire reception, and finally to the last dance. They picked music that was EXACTLY in line with what we were looking for — it was like they read our minds! We had an absolute blast at our wedding because of A Ran and would highly recommend them to anyone looking for a DJ for any event.
Response from A Ran Music Service on 06/05/2025
Jamie~
Thank you for your glowing review! The entire process of meeting you and Garrett, p...
lanning, and celebrating with you was all absolutely wonderful and fun. We're so glad that we were able to engage your guests all night and keep them dancing with you. Cheers to many more years of love and laughter. Thank you for chosing A Ran Music Service.
Selina D
5.0
12/22/2024
I would recommend A Ran Music Service for any event. From the very beginning Niki was in constant communication with us while we planned our wedding. She was professional and kind....
She knew exactly what kind of music we were looking for and put our vision to life. Her and DJ Darrell rocked. Everyone had so much fun. Thank you both SO MUCH!!! ❤️❤️
Selina & Alec
Response from A Ran Music Service on 12/23/2024
Selina & Alec- it was an absolute pleasure working with you both! You were clear about wha...
t genres of music were important to you and we we were so excited to mix songs based on that insight. It was an honor to celebrate with you two and your beautiful family and amazing friends. Cheers to love, laughter, & happily ever after. 💕
Makena E
5.0
11/07/2024
We found Niki and the A-Ran team through the knot, and the planning and booking process was painless. They were able to accommodate having a separate location for the ceremony and ...
reception without a problem, and coordinated with the venues on their own which was extremely helpful. They had a great playlist prepared based off our inputs, and were able to help MC the reception. Super easy to work with, and helped make the ceremony a ton of fun - they kept the dance floor full and engaged the entire night! Price was also super competitive - I would highly recommend working with A-Ran for your wedding!
Response from A Ran Music Service on 11/08/2024
Makena- your wedding day was PERFECTION!
The weather was beautiful and sunny for the outd...
oor ceremony and your godmother's words were so heart-felt- sprinkled with great humor! Dinner was magnificent! We loved seeing the dance floor packed from the first song to last song of the evening. It was a pleasure working with you both. You're an amazing couple and we wish you many more years of love and happiness together. 💕
Megan N
5.0
10/30/2024
If I could give A Ran Music Services 6 stars, I totally would!! They made the entire process so easy and smooth which was much appreciated as we live out of state and planning a we...
dding can have its challenges (even with living in the same state as the event)! They were the first and only DJs we met with and I would choose them again and again! Niki was EXTREMELY helpful throughout the process in getting to know us and what our tastes in music are. She understood that we were not looking for the typical wedding experience and that we just wanted our guests to have a good time!! Ran literally took our tastes, which were across the board, and “ran” with it! He hit every genre we asked for and the some! Faylon crushed the lighting! He even got the kids involved by having them control some of the different effects which really was so special! I could not have asked for a better group to help us celebrate! SIMPLY THE BEST!!
Response from A Ran Music Service on 10/31/2024
Megan~ thank you so much for your glowing review! It was so much fun working with you and...
Bill and getting to know you both as well as your beautiful little princess, Alice. It was amazing that we could collaborate on ways to personalize your event and then seeing it all come together was incredibly exciting. We encourage our couples to put their own personal stamp on their events, and you certainly did. It made for a very memorable wedding and we are beyond honored to have been your selected DJs. All our best to you and your beautiful family!
Karissa O
5.0
10/15/2024
I don't even know where to begin with how great A Ran Music Service was. Nikki and crew are extremely friendly and got along great with my husband and I. They were also able to fil...
l in songs we forgot that totally matched our style. Pricing was excellent (thanks for traveling so far!). They also had the initiative to reach out to the venue themselves. This saved us a bunch of time and mental effort.
Honestly, I am so grateful that we asked them to be a part of our wedding. I can't imagine the day going as well as it did with anyone else. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Response from A Ran Music Service on 10/17/2024
Karissa~ It was so much fun working with you and Travis! We loved incorporating the '80s ...
new-wave picks and other fun songs that you two wanted to include. We're so glad to hear that we made your day memorable and stress free! Cheers!
Janna D
5.0
10/02/2024
Hired A Ran as the DJ for my wedding. They were highly professional and knowledgeable about the industry. They guided me through music selection and created a flawless music transi...
tion from drinks to dinner and finally dancing. They played excellent dancing music and my guests stayed on the dance floor until last call. Extremely willing and able to assist with any questions or special requests.
Response from A Ran Music Service on 10/02/2024
Thank you for your review, Janna! Your reception was filled with so much fun, excitement, ...
and musical variety. We loved every minute of it and are honored to have been a part of your celebration. :)
Kalyn A
5.0
9/28/2024
A-Ran was so much fun to work with. They made everything go so smooth. It was awesome that they also did my in laws wedding 8-9 years ago.
Response from A Ran Music Service on 09/30/2024
Kayln and Connor- you're the sweetest and you truly made our day. Thank you for taking th...
e time to write a review. It was a pleasure to DJ your ceremony and reception and meant so much to us that we got to catch up with your family again. We were honored to be a part of your celebration.
Kayla G
5.0
5/21/2024
A Ran Music Service was easy to work with from beginning to end! They have a huge music library and were extremely knowledgeable and accommodating. We and our guests had an amazing...
time and we received several compliments on the DJ service and music selection. We also loved the lighting available. They were exactly what we were looking for and we're so happy with the service we received!
Response from A Ran Music Service on 05/22/2024
Hello, Kayla! Thank you for your glowing review! DJ Darrell had a really fun time DJing ...
your wedding (he loved the variety!) and I really enjoyed getting to know you two during the planning process. :) We're so glad to hear that we were easy to work with as we make it an aim to create stress-free events for all of our couples. Cheers to continued love, laughter, and happily ever after.
Maggie G
5.0
4/15/2024
The best to work with! Everyone we worked with at A Ran was knowledgeable, fun, and incredibly helpful. Our guests were so happy with music and the dance floor was full all night...
!
Response from A Ran Music Service on 04/15/2024
Maggie- thank you for your kind words and for taking the time to leave us a review. We ha...
d a BLAST DJing your wedding reception and consider it an honor to have worked with you, Zaijun, and your sister, Amanda. Cheers to many more years of love, laughter, and happily ever after.
Corey H
1.0
1/24/2024
I'm sure their quality of work is great & we really enjoyed meeting Niki and going over what them potentially being the DJ for our upcoming wedding would look like, but we were dis...
appointed with the professionalism following the meeting. When we met with Niki via zoom, at the end of the zoom she informed us that another couple had requested the same date as we had after we initially reached out to them for that date. She then informed us on 1/23/24 at 6:00pm that since this was the case, she would send us their proposal following our meeting and we had 7 days to review the proposal and let them know our decision before they would move onto the couple that had requested their services after we had. The following morning, my fiancé received a voicemail from her informing us that they had sent the couple that requested their services a proposal and they had signed it so they wouldn't be able to provide their services for our wedding. Less than 24 hours into our 7 day period they gave us to review the proposal, they pulled out, going back on every word that had been given the previous evening. Again, the quality of work is probably great, but I am glad that we are being forced to go in a different direction with this level of professionalism & for a family run business that prides itself on "trust" & "loyalty to the client base", clearly, we did not receive the opportunity to experience that. Very disappointed with our experience and for a time in most people's lives where every element of the wedding planning is stressful, Ran Music Service did the opposite of help us with our process. Simply wasted our time with false promises in a very unprofessional manner.
Response from A Ran Music Service on 01/24/2024
Hello, Corey!
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We understand that the pro...
cess of wedding planning can be very emotional and stressful. Yes, we had another couple inquiring about the very same date that you were requesting, as I mentioned during our meeting. This was a difficult decision for us to make, but we had to go with company policy.
I wanted to address a few of your misinterpretations. I stated that the proposal would automatically expire after seven days. There was no mention of holding the date for those seven days. Company policy is that the first client to sign the agreement and pay their retainer fee is awarded the date.
Upon completion of our meeting, you informed me you’d like to look over the proposal and did not book our services or submit payment.
The day following our meeting, 12:54 PM on 1/23/24 (our meeting was on 1/22, not 1/23), I received a message from the other bride stating, “If you have not already been booked for October 5, 2024, we are ready to book and put a deposit down.” I also want to clarify that I did NOT send this potential client a proposal ahead of sending yours. She asked me to send it because she was ready to book and put a deposit down.
This made her the first to sign the agreement and pay her retainer fee, therefore she was awarded the date. By the way, the job that we accepted was at a much lower price than your event. Reserving dates is confirmed by a signed agreement and retainer paid only. This is the fairest way to operate.
I also wanted to address your statement: “A Ran Music Service did the opposite of help us with our process.” Even for couples that we are unable to service, we work to help them find someone to help fill their needs. I left both a voicemail and an email giving you the name and contact information for another DJ company that we highly recommend and believe would be a very good fit. We hope that things go well for you and wish you the best as you continue to plan and prepare for your special day.
Mara L
5.0
10/27/2023
Highly recommend A Ran Music. They did an incredible job. Very professional and organized, and they understand how to read the crowd.
Response from A Ran Music Service on 10/27/2023
Thank you, very much, Mara! We loved the personal touches that you gave your wedding (fri...
ends officiating, the shoe game, the song dedication during the anniversary dance) and the wide variety of music that we were able to incorporate. It was a BLAST celebrating with your friends and family and we are honored to have been a part of that celebration.
Ryan W
5.0
9/12/2023
Niki, Ran, and Faylon at A Ran Music Service are seriously top notch! They countlessly and continuously went above and beyond to ensure our wedding day was a success (9.29.23). Beg...
inning with our initial consult appointment, Niki made us feel so comfortable and helped us build upon our vision for our special day, offering so many great pieces of advice to tie the whole event together. Niki also wore many hats on our wedding day; from helping our family line up for the processional, to queuing our 4 flower girls when it was time for them to walk down the aisle, and even helping dismiss tables for our meal. The music was fantastic, the service they provided was phenomenal, and the entire team was so easy to work with. We also really appreciated their thoughtful gift of a personalized card, a CD that had our wedding songs on it, and a flash drive with more songs from our dance-we’ll be able to enjoy this gift for years to come. If you’re looking for a talented, kind, and processional DJ service, look no further. I HIGHLY recommend A Ran Music!
Response from A Ran Music Service on 09/12/2023
Ryan- thank you for your kind words and for taking the time to write a review! It was an ...
honor and pleasure to be a part of your BEAUTIFUL wedding ceremony and reception. We wish you and April a lifetime of love, laughter, and happily ever after.
Brigitta Y
5.0
7/21/2023
My husband and I were looking for a DJ for our wedding (6/4/23) and were so happy that we chose A Ran DJ! We chose A Ran DJ based on their amazing online reviews and our wedding bu...
dget. Niki was very friendly, knowledgeable, and understanding during our first Zoom meeting, we felt that she really cared about making our day as great as possible. Niki was really good at communication and she was always on top of any last-minute updates and changes. We had Darrell as our DJ at our wedding and he was able to keep our guests on the dance floor from start to end, which is impressive (no awkward moments, no silent moments, just DANCE!). Overall, we're very pleased and happy with the outcome and we'd recommend A Ran DJ to couples who want their dance floors lit all night!
Response from A Ran Music Service on 07/21/2023
Brigitta-
Thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to leave us a re...
view. 😊 Your kind words mean a lot and we are so happy to hear that DJ Darrell was the perfect fit for you and your guests. He had a BLAST DJing your reception! Cheers to love, laughter, & happily ever after.
Mikayla N
5.0
6/26/2023
I booked A Ran Music Service for my wedding on 6/24/23 and they were phenomenal! From start to finish Niki was friendly and understood my vision. Even when I had to change a few ...
things up close to the day they pivoted and everything went so well.
I had a unique vision and they pulled it off beautifully! If you're looking for a DJ service that is reliable, quality, and thoughtful, choose them. Thank you for making my wedding day special!
Response from A Ran Music Service on 07/10/2023
Mikayla-
Thank you for your kind words. We LOVED working with you and your wonderful famil...
y. Your Disney theme was so fun to play off of! Cheers to love, laughter, & happily ever after. Have a great time at Disney for your Honeymoon!
Layla A
5.0
2/19/2023
We can’t recommend A Ran enough! Not only are they attentive and kind, but they are also incredibly talented! They played the best music, put on an amazing light show, and kept our...
guests engaged the whole night. The dance floor was never empty! We love this wonderful family and we definitely want to work with them again in the future.
Reilly T
5.0
2/14/2023
Working with A Ran Music was a fantastic and smooth experience from start to finish. If you need a DJ for your wedding, they take wonderful care in curating a playlist based off y...
our tastes that keeps your guests dancing!
They seamlessly integrated with our space and with other vendors, furthering the smooth experience and taking so much stress off of my Wife and I's plate. You can trust that A Ran will provide top-notch service and keep the party movin'. Bonus points for all the fantastic 90's dance hits!
Response from A Ran Music Service on 02/15/2023
Reilly~ Thank you for trusting us with your wedding celebration. We LOVED the challenge ...
of fitting in as many songs as possible and it was exciting to see how many you highlighted from our Music Library Sample List. :) You and your guests were an absolute blast. Working with the other vendors is something important to us. We're a TEAM coming together to deliver a successful wedding day. I'm so glad that your event was fun and stress-free! Wishing you a very happily ever after.
Caitlyn L
5.0
2/13/2023
Mine and my husband's experience with A Ran Music for our wedding was nothing but positive. Selecting a DJ was one of our toughest decisions during the wedding planning process (ou...
r friends and family love music and they love to DANCE). With this being said, as soon as I spoke with Niki on the phone, I knew they were going to be exceptional! Niki is personable and flexible. She was clear with communication, and went above and beyond to ensure our favorite genres and artists were included on our big day. Not only were the music selections a great facilitator to get people on the dancefloor, but Niki is a great emcee who grabs the attention of the room. In the past, we have attended weddings where we weren't even sure what was going on (and as a result, missed the father/daughter dance, first dance, etc.) because the emcee spoke quietly or didn't take charge. This wasn't the case with A Ran! Additionally, I loved their commitment to excluding any explicit songs during our reception (who wants to listen to WAP with their grandma in the room?). Overall, A Ran and each of their staff were wonderful and easy to work with. Their passion for music and what they do is clear, and I promise you that makes all the difference on your wedding day!
Response from A Ran Music Service on 02/15/2023
Caitlyn- It was an honor to DJ your wedding celebration! You and your friends were so fun ...
and we enjoyed the interactions. Having a vast taste in music really made it a success! Thanks for trusting us to play to the room and being so open to different genres. Wishing you a very happily ever after!
Kendra M
5.0
8/26/2022
They did a fantastic job of making the planning process virtually stress-free and brought the energy on the day of our wedding. Our guests were dancing all night long and it was an...
absolute blast thanks to A Ran Music.
Ashley K
5.0
8/15/2022
Niki, Ran, and Faylon were absolutely wonderful to work with. We had so many last minute pivots the day of our wedding due to the weather and they helped make sure everything went ...
smoothly. I specifically chose them for our wedding since we were blending multiple cultures together and I wanted a DJ who could bring people to the dance floor whether we were blasting a classic 2000s jam or top Bollywood hit. Such a great family who were just the nicest people to work with, I would hire them again in a heart beat! I strongly recommend using their services if you want a DJ who will work to capture your style into your big day and give you a truly special experience! Thank you all so much for everything!
Mai V
5.0
5/15/2022
Niki and her team are awesome. Don’t hesitate to go with them. They are so wonderful and amazing they made our special day even more special by going over and beyond. Our guests lo...
ve them so much… the music was great, they know what the vibes are and were able to make it so much fun.
Erin B
5.0
12/18/2021
If you are looking for a DJ for your event that will keep people going all through your event, A Ran Music Service is the way to go! We picked A Ran Music Service for our wedding r...
eception for several reasons, but the biggest reason was that, even through email, we could feel how personable and excited for our event they were! It is completely worth your time to at least reach out to Niki and her team! Niki was always so timely in responding to our questions, often within a couple of hours! There was very little stress involved with planning the DJ portion of the night because this team was so timely, responsive, and willing to work with different things that were brought up. We didn't want a DJ that felt like a "cookie cutter" DJ. My biggest fear for our reception was that music would be playing but people would not be dancing. We wanted a DJ that was going to truly care about the vibe we wanted for our reception and would be able to make the guests want to be on the dance floor and not leave. We got all of that and more with A Ran Music Service. After the reception ended, that was the first thing that many of our guests commented on, saying the DJ was excellent, played fantastic music, and they made such a great night and one of the best weddings they had ever been to. Do not count this DJ out just because they might have the number of reviews that other DJs do on. Take the time to reach out to this team. We would 100%, without a doubt, hire this team again if we had to do everything over, or even if we plan another event down the road. Thank you A Ran Music Service for making our night the best it could have been!
Tony V
5.0
11/16/2021
What an amazing group to work with. We can’t say enough good things about A Ran Music. From the moment we met til the moment the music stopped, Niki, Faylon and Ran worked hard to ...
make sure our night was as magical as possible. They worked with us to cater to our wide and eclectic musics tastes and even had some great suggestions we had forgotten about. If you’re looking for a DJ service that knows how to work a room while also keeping the spotlight on you, then look no further. We loved them so much we made them a part of the family from that day forward. They are sincerely just a great group of people, and their amazing DJ skills were just an added bonus!
Response from A Ran Music Service on 11/18/2021
Tony- your review made our day! Words can't express what an amazing experience it was to ...
not only DJ for your wedding ceremony and reception, but to meet and become friends with you, your amazing wife, and your families. Looking forward to getting together- hopefully in the near future!
Autumn O
5.0
9/01/2021
My partner and I were in a bind after our previous DJ ended up cancelling on us a couple of weeks before our wedding, and A Ran came through for us in a big way! Not only did they ...
travel up to Duluth, but they made us feel as if we had been working with them all along! Niki was so kind and helpful throughout the entire process. We really enjoyed being able to discuss our music tastes in detail prior to the wedding. Thank you so much A Ran!!!
Response from A Ran Music Service on 09/10/2021
Autum and Isa- you two are so awesome. With a gothic garden theme and a love of both meta...
l and EDM music, your wedding reception is one we won't forget! When we heard your previous DJ was no longer servicing your wedding, we were so glad that we were available! We felt a connection to you both and really enjoyed getting to know you during our brainstorming session. You deserved to celebrate BIG and we're so glad that we could be a part of that celebration.
Claudia S
5.0
9/01/2021
A Ran Music Service is something special! They have an amazing ability to read the crowd and keep the party going! I was especially blown away by the way they run their business. A...
s someone who hates feeling unorganized and unprepared, A Ran Music service was everything I needed in a DJ. I was always able to count on a quick response during the planning and on the day of they were able to seamlessly go with the flow whenever there was a slight change in plans. Thanks for a great time!
Response from A Ran Music Service on 11/18/2021
Claudia- it was such a pleasure working with you! From the initial phone call to the fina...
l dance, we are so happy that you chose our services and we we had the honor of celebrating with you. Thank you for your glowing review. Wishing you and your hubby love, laughter, and happily ever after.
Trent B
5.0
8/31/2021
Niki and all at A Ran were amazing to work with throughout the entire process. We came in with some eclectic music choices that we wanted to hear and they were able to meet all of ...
our requests. Niki even took the time to fill in the gaps with other song suggestions and make the soundtrack flow throughout the night. We appreciated the personal touch and the flexibility. Communication was great throughout and we owe a big thank you to A Ran Music Service for making our day so special. Highly recommend!
Response from A Ran Music Service on 08/31/2021
Thanks for the review, Trent! Being "music junkies", it's always fun for us when a couple...
has eclectic music choices. We are so glad that we were able to honor your requests and create a fun evening for you and all of your guests. Wishing you all the best!
Alex K
5.0
8/26/2021
We were blown away by the service from A Ran Music for our wedding! We hugely appreciated how flexible they were with changing our wedding date due to the COVID pandemic, and we we...
re so touched when they went above and beyond by working with us to incorporate Korean and Taiwanese music into their playlists, which was important to us to include our heritages on our big day. And of course once dancing started, they nailed the mood of the crowd and the dance floor was packed! Would definitely go with A Ran again if we had to do it all over.
Response from A Ran Music Service on 08/27/2021
Alex & Erica- we LOVED working with you! What an amazing wedding filled with culture, fun...
, family, and LOTS of dancing! Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your celebration. Wishing you both all the best for all the years to come.
Rachel Y
5.0
8/21/2021
A Ran are the best! We are so grateful that we found Niki, Faylon, and Ran to DJ our wedding in St. Paul in June. We originally booked them for a 2020 wedding and when we had to re...
schedule for 2021, they were so understanding and made rescheduling a breeze. They are knowledgeable about every genre of music and they have an incredible selection in their catalogue. We have a wide range of tastes in music and Niki spent the time to go through all our songs and our guest's songs requests. Niki talked through each song with us and really helped us pick songs that would fit best the vibe of the wedding and flow with the rest of the music, while still ensuring that our favorites and special requests were well represented. In addition we had live music performers during the ceremony and cocktail hour and A Ran were at the venue early to set up and test the audio equipment for the string quartet and a guitar/vocal performance. They also coordinated (in semi-secret) with the best man for a surprise musical performance during the toasts! A Ran are truly a joy to work with and they went the extra mile to make our wedding the most magical day. Throughout it all, they were attentive, kind, charming, and very generous with their time. You won't be disappointed!
Response from A Ran Music Service on 08/23/2021
Thank you for your very kind words, Rachel! It was SO MUCH FUN celebrating with you and C...
arl as well as your guests! When COVID forced you to reschedule, you were absolute champs. We knew that through working together and great communication, you'd be able to party after all. All the ways that you incorporated your styles, personalities, humor, family traditions, and heritage through music was wonderful, unique and exciting. We are so thankful to have worked with you!
Eric W
5.0
8/09/2021
Couldn't be happier! One of top vendors of the day. Niki was awesome to work with and dealt with our vague and weird music choices effortlessly (hopefully). Sound quality and sel...
ection was perfect. Thanks again for a wonderful night (the suprise at the end of the night blew our minds!!)
Response from A Ran Music Service on 08/10/2021
Hello, Eric! We are so thrilled that you consider us one of your top vendors! It was an ...
absolute joy and pleasure working with you and Teresa- ESPECIALLY since we were able to incorporate some lesser known bands and artists to give your event some of your personality and style. :) Cheers to love, laughter, and happily ever after. PS: Hope you enjoy your personalized gift for many years to come.
Kathryn K
5.0
8/08/2021
Working with Niki at A Ran set the standard for working with all of our vendors. She was so attentive to detail, super responsive, excellent overall communication, and really le...
d us through all the decisions on music. She made every effort to help us think through the music that would make our day special for the bride and groom and not just a generic playlist. On the day - she was just as lovely as I expected - professional and friendly. Was able to adjust with schedule and plan changes as they came up. She is one of those vendors you can absolutely count on, start to finish, and not have to worry at all. Honestly - you couldn't be in better hands.
She read the room throughout the night and catered to the likes of the crowd and created an excellent party vibe. We had music from the Rat Pack during cocktail hour, to strings during dinner, to a full on dance party that worked for the 20 something crowd as well as the 50+ crowd. Truly a great night!
Response from A Ran Music Service on 08/10/2021
Kathryn- working so closely with you and your lovely daughter, Claudia, was such a delight...
! Having such varied age groups present as guests made it fun for us- as we were able to play quite the variety. :) Thank you to you and your family for allowing us the honor of celebrating with you all. Wishing you all the best!
Doug A
5.0
7/21/2021
We had the most excellent time working with Nikki at A Ran Music leading up to our wedding! We had several date changes due to Covid, and she was flexible and gracious and worked w...
ith us to make our occasion better than we could have expected. A Ran handled everything flawlessly, from setting up a PA outside for the ceremony to finding just the right tunes for the dancing inside. Their enthusiasm for our party was most apparent, and they took such overt pleasure in seeing our guests enjoying themselves! At the end, they gave us a personal card, a CD of our wedding mix, and a jump drive with even more music they thought we'd like.
We can't recommend them enough!
Response from A Ran Music Service on 07/22/2021
Doug & Andrea~ It was an honor to be a part of your event! You two have the most amazing...
friends and family members and it was a joy to meet and celebrate with them as well as yourselves. Cheers to love, laughter, and happily ever after.
Annika K
5.0
9/23/2020
We loved working with A Ran Music Service! Very affordable and super professional. They are experts at reading the room so they can keep the dancing going through out the night. Th...
ey added personal touches too, for example, one of our toasts mentioned that we were Harry Potter fans, so they quickly found music from the movies and played it during dinner!
Response from A Ran Music Service on 09/23/2020
Annika and Lucas~ We enjoyed working with you both, so very much! It was fun to be able ...
to incorporate your interests, hobbies, and personality into your wedding. You're such an amazing couple and your wedding guests and families are amazing, too. Thank you for letting us be a part of your special day!
Rachel M
5.0
1/27/2020
Niki was great and easy to work with!
We had an excellent selection of music to choose from and she and her team were quick and efficient with set up and take down. The music was a...
s requested- not too loud and full of fun variety.
She met and exceeded all of our expectations!
Thank you!
Response from A Ran Music Service on 01/27/2020
Rachel~ it was an honor! It was a joy to celebrate with you, your friends, and your fami...
ly. We loved all of the interaction! It was so cute watching all of the young kids (and those who are young at heart) dance to 'Baby Shark' and 'Let it Go'. We will also never forget how adorable your Anniversary Dance was and the advice from the couple that had been married the longest: "Find someone with a giggle!" Thank you for letting us be a part of your special day!
Kyssie C
5.0
11/06/2019
Oh my goodness! I could not say enough great things about ARan! My wedding got delayed by 1.5 hours due to shuttle bus driver deciding to quit and not pick up my guests. Aran wa...
s so patient and even stayed an hour longer than they were supposed to. Niki is super organized and helps to keep you on track! They did such a great job - I would HIGHLY recommend!!!
Response from A Ran Music Service on 11/06/2019
Kyssie- it was our pleasure. We weren't going to let a late shuttle ruin the fun. :) We lo...
ved your $ dance of songs comprised of your family's first dances & seeing how close you two are to your families. All our best.
Missy R
5.0
9/03/2019
We LOVED working with Niki, Ran & Faylon from A Ran Music Service!! We looked at a few other vendors but once we sat down with Niki and Ran...it was no contest and we instantly kne...
w they were the ones for our wedding. We walked away from our first meeting thinking...wow they will be so much fun and they truly were. As most couples probably say...music and dancing was a very important part of our day. We wanted our guests to hear songs that brought back memories of years past mixed in with fun songs from today. Niki and Ran took this as a challenge to put together a wonderful mix of songs for the dinner and the reception. We had folks dancing through every song with smiles ear to ear. Such a fun night!
As far as appointments and planning, this was all easy and organized by Niki. She answered all emails within the day even within hours which was very helpful. They provide a large listing of music they have which allowed us to get ideas on formats and styles to choose from. We were given the option of free downloads with the package we had plus they have different lighting and sound (bigger speakers, etc) to choose from. They helped us choose the best package which was perfect for our venue. Just right for the size of our venue and not over the top like you see at some weddings. We had so many compliments on the music and walked with not only a great reception but also some new friends. Do not hesitate on making a decision to use A Ran Music Service....they will accommodate and make your day extra special!!!
Response from A Ran Music Service on 09/03/2019
Missy- we had a BLAST DJ-ing! Being able to mix songs from different eras and genres in w...
ith current music was a really fun challenge for us and, you're right, it brings back some really great memories for everyone. The epic dance battle has to be one of my favorite DJ memories. It was an honor to service your event and we are so happy to have made new friends with you both.
Jae M
5.0
8/28/2019
We had a small wedding (55 guests) at the Bakken Museum this summer. We we're nervous about the DJ searching process because we wanted to find a DJ that understood the scale, setti...
ng and mood of our wedding. Niki and Ran both assured us that they love doing both small and large events. They had a small event package that worked perfectly for our wedding and we received so many compliments from our guests about the music selection A Ran played throughout the evening. I was most nervous about the dancing part of our reception and worried that none of our guests would want to get out on the dance floor. But thanks to the encouragement they received for Niki and Ran and the awesome music they chose our guests danced the night away!
Response from A Ran Music Service on 08/28/2019
Jae~ with such a wonderful, historic venue, it was very important to us to respect the sp...
ace and ambience of such a beautiful place. We were so happy that we had the perfect package to accomodate! Your guests were so wonderful and we really enjoyed your wedding. They were all such troopers! One of the hottest days of the year and they still danced all night long. :) It was a pleasure and an honor to DJ your event.
Anna D
5.0
7/12/2019
These guys were amazing! Met with us a couple weeks before the wedding and really took our tastes into consideration with what they played. The dance was so much fun! Really on the...
ball, great communication, and just super friendly. Highly recommend!
Response from A Ran Music Service on 07/13/2019
Anna- it was a pleasure to DJ for your wedding reception! Both you and Brett had such a v...
ast knowledge of different genres and diverse taste in music, making it all the more fun for us to be able to mix it up and incorporate some songs that are truly hidden gems. Wishing you all the best.
Pat S
5.0
6/25/2019
A Ran did a great job for our daughter's wedding.; I would recommend them without any hesitation.
Niki was great to work with; she was patient, helpful, and flexible during the pl...
anning as well as on the wedding day. She and her colleagues were on-site and ready to go well in advance of when they needed to be.
I particularly appreciated the way A Ran worked with me for best use of the mic during my reading. They spent a fair amount of time with me to identify the best placement as well as to teach me the best way to speak into the mic. My initial test didn't go very well; however, as a result of their guidance, everyone was able to hear and understand everything I said during the ceremony.
Our daughter had a themed wedding and selected a song to match her theme. Niki searched and found additional songs to match the theme, just an extra touch.
We received several compliments from guests on the music.
Response from A Ran Music Service on 06/26/2019
Pat- it was an honor and pleasure to DJ for Mandy & David's wedding. We especially loved ...
the 'Alice in Wonderland' theme and all of the special details that went into the decorations. Your reading was a very personal and unique part of the ceremony. It was important that it was heard. :) We are always happy to assist and wish you and yours all the best.
Ana Maria G
5.0
2/05/2019
Absolutely PERFECT!
A Ran Music Service made my wedding service, cocktail reception, and dance exactly what I was envisioning - and on short notice! Niki provided a guide for me to...
fill out ahead of time with cues for music, speaking roles, ambiance desired during different parts of the day, etc. It made planning the ceremony a breeze! The day of, the crew was dressed professionally and were 100% prepared for all of their music cues. I was able to choose from a HUGE, but not overwhelming, library of songs and had a few added for when our guests were being seated and during the reception.
At the dance, which was at a different location from the ceremony, they were able to read the mood of the crowd perfectly and chose songs that kept the dance floor filled the entire night!!
At the end of the evening, they gave me a CD with all of the songs I had requested for special moments during the day. It was a wonderful token from them and I love listening to our wedding songs in my car!
I HIGHLY recommend A Ran Music Service. They are skilled, professional, fun, have affordable pricing, and are easy to work with.
Thank you for helping make my wedding perfect!!
Response from A Ran Music Service on 02/05/2019
Ana~ Thank you for your review. We are so happy to hear that we made your vision a reali...
ty. It was such a beautiful ceremony and fun dance. We loved all of the personal touches that were added and really enjoyed working with you during the planning and then watching it all unfold.
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A Ran Music Service
Niki Frost
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A Ran Music Service
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