Getting to Know William Ryan III

Husband, father of twins, boss with the biggest heart and man up for any challenge – that’s William Ryan! With many years in the wedding entertainment industry, he has built a team of DJs, lighting & photo booth crews that all have the same goal – to create dream wedding receptions! Read on for our Q&A with William!

How did you get started in the DJ business?

I was a kid who couldn’t even drive yet, but I was really into music and had inherited some DJ gear from a neighbor (who happened to be Jeremiah Brinkley’s dad) and I started playing music for smaller parties. Through word of mouth, small parties became bigger parties, including weddings and I grew to love doing this as a side gig.

Fast forward years later, I worked in radio as my career while still DJing on the side. My DJ side hustle grew, I got married, we had our twins, and when the twins turned one, I decided to leave my career in radio and pursue DJing full time. I started It’s Your Night as a DJ and lighting company over 20 years ago and grew the team to what it is today!

What’s your favorite part about DJing weddings?

I love just seeing a couple enjoy their wedding day! My love for people I get to work with is the reason I get up on an event day and am excited to go DJ a wedding.

What was the first concert you attended?

Johnny Gill… I won free VIP tickets from a radio station with a limo ride for me and all my friends to go!

What’s your favorite song to dance to?

September by Earth, Wind & Fire – a crowd favorite!

What’s your favorite movie?

The Greatest Showman

If you could go back in time to a certain decade, which one would you choose and why?

The 1950’s I think would be a blast to visit. It seems like it was a really fun era and the music was so upbeat and happy.  

Tell us a little about your wedding!

I married my wife Christy, a Pastor’s daughter, in 2002 and we invited the entire church. We tried to keep things as simple as possible since we had hundreds of guests attending – we didn’t even have a DJ or a dinner for everyone. It was sort of a cake and fruit punch wedding but several ladies in the church put together a spread of finger foods that made it even better! I just remember how it hurt to smile at the end of the wedding.

What is 1 unique thing about you that not many people know?

I host a syndicated radio countdown show, 20 The Countdown Magazine, that airs on over 1100 radio stations worldwide.

What is one piece of advice that you would give couples during the wedding planning process?

Trust the pros you hire to work your wedding. That way you can just trust them with the evening and relax to enjoy your big day. It will literally fly by so fast so you’ll have so many regrets if you can’t enjoy the wedding by worrying about all the details.

Let’s wrap it up with a quick round of this or that!