Posted by Michele Puopolo on Fri, Sep 25, 2009
Our newly-married Director of Operations Matt Berry weighs in on how he planned his wedding to stand out from previous weddings he had attended.
1. My wife and I chose a really fun song for our entrance into the room. Remember, you only do it once - why not make it memorable and special?!
2. We brought in up-lighting to accent the walls in our wedding colors, which was expected considering my job and all. BUT, we didn't turn them on until later in the night so it ended up being unexpected and was a nice WOW factor after the sunset.
3. We made a video montage with pictures of us from the last few years. We played it during our first dance so the attention was off my dancing (more on that later). We also did a montage of my wife and her parents and me with my parents. We played it during our father/daughter and mother/son dance.
4. We wanted to make sure our two photographers didn't miss ANYTHING! We went out and purchased a digital camera and it got passed around throughout the night. The next day we had 500 photos of friends and family doing crazy things in addition to great professional photos.
5. Get dance lessons!! I was lucky to have The Dance Academy next door so we took dance lessons and also had a choreographed first dance.
6. My wife and I went into the planning process with the goal of throwing a party first and foremost and then adding the formalities of a wedding. We brought in lots of lighting and turned the venue into a night club. We also got party favors which ever guest loved. When the last wedding you went to that every guest had sunglasses, a gangster hat, and glow necklace on by the end of the night?!
Posted by Wendy Schreider on Fri, Sep 25, 2009
by Greg Fernandes (MC/DJ and Sales Representative)
Selecting the right DJ for your wedding celebration is one of the most important parts of your wedding puzzle. The days of the “Wedding Singer” style MC in a tuxedo are long gone. People are looking for fun, hip, DJ’s that can get the people rockin’ along with a polished voice and presence to maintain elegance. Here are a few questions that you should ask your DJ/MC.
1. Do you have a reference that I can speak to that has similar tastes and requests?
This will give you the opportunity to talk with someone that has seen this guy in action. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and learn as much about your DJ/MC as you can.
2. How will you get my guests up on the dance floor if they do not seem to be into the dancing?
Every DJ/MC should have numerous ways to get people onto the dance floor. If your MC/DJ seems like they are thrown off by this question, RED FLAG!!!! This will let you know if these guys are the real deal or just if they are only there to collect a pay check.
3. Will you be bringing back-up equipment? What time will you be arriving?
This may be the most important question that you should ask. Back-up equipment and arrival time is vital and can be a huge let-down if your DJ is not prepared for the unexpected.
4. What kind of music will you be playing?
Remember, this is your event. Your DJ should be aware of your favorite party music. He should also be aware of your DO NOT PLAY list (one person's love song is another's break-up song!)
5. Will you be coordinating with the hotel regarding a timeline?
Your DJ should be in contact with your catering manager, hotel manager, and anyone else whose hands are touching your event. There should be a general timeline that everyone has to ensure that everyone is on the same page.
Posted by Michele Puopolo on Tue, Sep 15, 2009
by Greg Fernandes (MC/DJ and Sales Rep)
Being a DJ comes with great responsibility - it is so much more that just playing music. It is an art and should be approached with care and precision.
Recently I coordinated and entertained at a wedding in Jamestown, Rhode Island. The MOB (Mother of the Bride) was extremely nervous about the guests' enjoyment. She said there was an older crowd who would prefer to sit all night rather than be on the dance floor dancing.
I proceeded to tell her that this was a common concern and with the right planning and coordination, we will make the best out of any situation. Good thing DJ's come with a bag of tricks! With a fun game and thoughtful instruction, I was able to get the whole party on the dance floor, Grandma included, the entire night.
Here is what she sent me the morning after the wedding:
"Absolutely awesome job. You'll certainly get some future jobs from this. Everyone loved the trick you used to get us up on the dance floor and kept us there all night. I've never seen some of our friends dance that much!"
Posted by Michele Puopolo on Thu, Sep 10, 2009
by Michele Puopolo (Party Planning and Creative Assistant)
Need an idea for a Father/Daughter dance? I like this list of 20 most popular songs for Father/Daughter dances:
http://www.popular-wedding-songs.com/father-daughter-wedding-songs.html
Some of my other favorites that didn't make the list:
- How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You (James Taylor)
- Lullabye (Billy Joel)
- My Little Girl (Tim McGraw)
- I'll Stand By You (Pretenders)
- There You'll Be (Faith Hill)
- God Only Knows (Beach Boys)
- I Loved Her First (Heartland)
- You Light Up My Life (LeAnn Rimes)
- Forever Young (Rod Stewart)
- In My Life (Beatles)
- You'll Be in My Heart (Phil Collins)