Whenever I see something cool at a wedding that I am the disc jockey for, I feel the need to share. Are you looking for a fresh idea to dress up your tables at your wedding? Why not try jazzing things up with table sashes?
This new trend is an affordable way to really bring some color to your wedding reception.
I was the disc jockey at a wedding last week at The Franklin Terrace in Troy, NY and they had some really great sashes going on for their guest list of about 180 people.
Over black table clothes with dark pink napkin accents, their white table scarfs had black Oriental print running right down the center. This idea can really make your colors pop!
There is a new contemporary wedding advice decorating idea out there to “liven up” your wedding centerpiece, of late and the formula simply works like this… ADD FISH!
That is right. FISH!
Recently at a wedding in Mechanicville, NY, the bride and groom had fighter-fish in the same vase that the flowers were in for their centerpieces on the dinner tables.
Purchasing bowls rather than vases allows for the same decoration ability with a floral side to it, but also gives room for a fine-finned friend to enjoy the festivities.
The new man and wife had flowers that actually matched the fish in each bowl. It was incredible and a great conversation piece.
People also use goldfish too for their wedding centerpieces. With the countless different types of goldfish out there and the multiple different colors they come in, a trip to the petshop could really be worth it!
Stones, flowers, artificial gems and candles are all great accessories for the bowls. Check it out!
Want everyone to have a chance at ALL of the entrees? Thinking about having a buffet at your wedding? If you are, there is one thing you absolutely have to remember. Make sure you make your line is double-sided.
I have seen many many weddings get really tied up with time when the kitchen puts the buffet tables up against the wall. Not having access to both sides of the table from a guest’s stand point, means you will have double the wait.
This may not mean much in a small wedding, but if you have a guest list of 100 plus people, you will likely end up with half of the people done eating before the other half has even started.
A great way to set p the tables when possible is to put a double setting of each dish on the table back to back, so people on either side see the same dishes on the opposite side.
Believe me, if you set up your buffet line like this, there will barely be any wait and allow extra time for any even more fun evening.
Some brides remember drawing themselves with veils in crayon in preschool. Others remember practicing a new surname on the back of a a high school notebook. It seems that just about every bride-to-be has dreamed about getting married practically since they were little girls. They all seem to want the same quality; perfection. However, the reality is …dreams do not always unfold into reality.
Perfection. Can it really happen? Yes, but only with the right mindset. The only real way to be happy with your reception is if all the people around you are happy. The big question to ask, therefore, should not be “What do I want?” but rather, “What do I want for my guests?”
By asking this question every time you plan an aspect of your party, you are planning from the guests’ perspective. Planning using the “Big Question” instead of something more selfish and meaningful to only you, will spawn a number of sub-questions that go along with it like, “what do I want my guests to say when they sit down?” and also, “what do I want my guests to say when they walk out the door?”
People say location is everything, but I would argue there is another component to the equation. Demographics. Thinking about who is going to be there before you actually plan, will make your reception “the best wedding of all time.” Different people like different things and you have to have a happy medium of what they will like and what you will like too.
Be a good host and your party will be good. It is just that simple. Realizing that you are trying to accommodate all of your guests’ wishes from a great wedding reception is only the first step. Next, you have to do your research. Your homework is to find what really makes you happy, and also makes every guest attending happy as well.
Think how many weddings happen across America. Because wedding receptions happen everyday everywhere , it is safe to say thousands of reception options have been created and your answers are out there. You just have to find them. Using this planning philosophy can work in every area including food, entertainment, music and even the overall look & layout of the decor.
Be unselfish and be kind. Let’s apply this unselfish planning thinking from the guests’ perspective to one particular aspect of the reception: The Cake. While you may absolutely love the idea of a classy cream cheese carrot cake, Uncle Charlie may absolutely HATE IT. That doesn’t mean you have to be unselfish and not have carrot cake, it only means you have to think outside of the box.
If you really want to be happy, make those around you happy and your happiness will follow. Ask yourself questions from their point of view. What would my guests like to see in a cake? How can I make everyone happy? In this case, why not try WEDDING CUPCAKES. Have you heard of this? You tier up a wedding cake display with many different types of cup cakes, in displayed in the shape of a traditional wedding cake. Everyone, including you and Uncle Charlie is now happy.
I tell my clients that if you really want to have your guests look back at attending “the best wedding ever,” keep them in mind as much as yourselves. Happiness breeds happiness. Playing your favorite songs is important and fine, but remember to always involve some of your guests’ favorite songs as well-even when they might not involve the same types of musical tastes. Find the happy medium, it is out there.
DJ Kenny Casanova of Albany NY - When to chose a DJ or Live Band for Wedding Receptions
Two weeks ago at a hotel on Western Ave, I talked with a cool bartender who had been serving drinks there at weddings for almost twenty years. He said he remembered a time when everyone booked bands and has since seen the trend switched to the selection of the right DJ for the majority of reception entertainment. There are still great bands out there and sometimes they really make the wedding special. But we wondered, “What caused the switch of most brides & grooms these days, over to DJs?”
I think it goes without arguing that the music chosen can make or break any traditional or non-traditional wedding celebration. The food can be really “awesome” or totally “suck,” but it only lasts as long as it takes to eat it. Your musical entertainment is the heart and soul of the party and consumes 75 percent or more of the overall spotlight. The music selection and the dancing that this ensues it ultimately what will send your guests home with a smile or a frown. People remember a good meal, but people never forget a good time.
When people plan a wedding today, they have to really decide if you want a live band or a DJ. It is all personal taste. While both options are the main source of entertainment for a wedding reception, they both offer different things.
The main advantage of hiring a band is to create an impressive visual impression. A good band can really create a great deal of entertainment, as the guests can enjoy the music as well as watch different musicians interact and “put on a show.”
On the flip-side, while a band can bring tons of cool atmosphere to your party, it is safe to say that any band booked will lack the diversity of music that a decent professional DJ brings to the table. Simple enough, a good DJ can download a song before the reception to expand his collection in seconds, while a band has to practice for days to learn how to play a new track out successfully. The learning curve in music is not always an easy one, and bands usually charge when you request a song that is not part of their set.
In the age old debate of Band vs. DJ, there are a number of other important pro’s and cons for both to consider. Which type of entertainment you choose suits your budget personal taste, guest demographics, space allowances, and your dancing ability to bring forth the very best in killer dance moves. Keep an open mind, and consider the following issues:
Atmosphere
The music you select sets the tone. If you want a fast fun party with lots of dancing you will want a DJ or band that regularly accommodates this need.
Variety is the Spice of Life
Have you ever told someone “I like all kinds of music” when someone has asked your favorite genre? Whether you choose a live band or DJ, be sure they can play slow and fast, and old and new songs. If you want to involve everyone in the celebratory mix, then changing things up is the way to go. If you decide to book a band, it is important to make sure they are not only good at one genre or type of sound. You want to try and keep everyone happy.
Budget
In the price war, the DJ almost always wins. While prices vary depending on the band, no matter how you look at it bands will generally be more expensive than a DJ, since there are more people to pay. While there are exceptions to this rule, such as celebrity DJ’s, and bands trying to get their name out there, for the most part, the DJ will be cheaper.
Space Wanted
If your heart was set on an 12-piece jazz band, you really need to check with your reception hall, as the site may have restrictions on the space needed to accommodate such a request. There is also the consideration of electrical power supply needed and noise limitations, so make sure you stay in contact with your event planner at the hall so that you are not planning something that needs special accommodations that cannot be met.
Do Your Homework!
Finally, no matter which way you go, you really need to do your homework. It is best research reviews or to actually go and see a DJ or band, live and in action before you sign a contract, or give a commitment. Completing your homework will give you an idea of how they work the crowd and read the crowd. Ask for referrals from the last few weddings the band or DJ played. Consider your first-dance song a test. If the band doesn’t know it and is unwilling to learn it, or the DJ doesn’t own it and is unwilling to get it, move on!
We have all been to a wedding and know the deal. At some point, the disc jockey yells, “will all the single ladies come out on the dance floor?” Next, the DJ plays something like, “Girls Just Want To Have Fun,” and eventually, the bride throws her flowers back to a bunch of crazed daisey-hungry women who fight over them.
How Can You Plan For The Very Best Bouquet Toss Segment At Your Wedding?
As matrimonial legend goes, this ceremonial tossing of the flowers is symbolic. It promises to bring good fortune to the one lucky unmarried woman who catches the flowers. The magic of the flowers passes on to the catcher and suggests that she, will in fact, be the next lucky pretty bride to marry and live a long happy life, just as the bride before her.
As Ron Popeil always said… “But wait. There’s more!” To the victor go the spoils. That means, if you are an old maid hoping to catch the magic flowers so that you too, can get married soon, you do so with a price.
The lucky flower-catcher also has to take part in receiving the garter that the single male counterpart caught. And usally, when I have a say in it, this is not a quick drive-by moment in passing. Like many DJs love to do, this event is an embarassing ordeal albeit in jest, and quite often a sultry exhibition set to music.
You have seen this before, I am sure. And when done properly, it is often a fun moment that really makes everyone laugh. Except, however, for the the two involved! (LOL!) But how can you do organize this fun, time honored-activity, so that it comes off exactly how you want it to? Plan… Plan… Plan!
STEPS TO ACHEIVING A SUCCESSFUL BOUQUET-GARTER SEGMENT
BOUQUET SELECTION – Buy local! When you order from a national chain, they act essentially as a middle man. Therefore, you pay more for less flowers. If your wedding is in Albany, look for a reputable floral shop like http://www.centralfloristofalbany.com/, or head on out to a nice farmer’s market.
INCREASE AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION – One big thing to think about is the question, “who is my target audience?” As the leader of this activity, I have noticed that quite often there is very good crowd participation. Usually your wedding guests are all about jumping in there for a good time, especially when booze is a factor. However, there have also been many times, when you get the “meh” response and people do not move to the floor.
Bribe Your Audience, If You Must!
You know your crowd better than anyone, afterall, you invited everybody there except the wedding-crashers. If you predict a dull bouquet segment in looking at the roster of single volunteers to participate, and this is not what you want, there is hope.
If you really want to have everyone lining up for bridal bouquet & garter toss, and pray for a super picture, there is only one answer. BRIBE THEM.
It may even be funny and add to the moment to have that dead air silence, until the bribe is made. Have your wedding disc jockey hold up a prize that you have provided for people to participate. It is amazing what people will do for $20, or a bottle of cheap wine. (If you don’t belive me, ask my first prom date.)
After the proper group-appropriate bride-bribe, your bouquet-garter participant base will grow, and you will have great pictures and memories for years to come!
NOT ENOUGH SINGLES ON HAND – What if it seems everyone is married or has a significant other? If you feel that not enough of your guests are single and yothis will affect te amount of participants shown in that must-have bridal bouquet shot, fear not. Change the rules.
Many people throw away the single requirement, these days, and have the DJ request anyone to come particiapte. What I like to do is include all the single people and, “…or people who PRETEND they are single on a Saturday night.”
ELIMINATE THE KID FACTOR – Kids can blow the whole thing. Whenever there is some kind of contest, regardless of the prize, you know that children will want to take part. If you have invited couples and permitted children attending your reception, you may want a back plan. You won’t want them to partake in this activity, no matter how fun it may be to see them holding the flowers in a picture for the photgrapher. Nobody ever thinks about it when the cute little girl goes to catch the flowers in the bouquet toss line. It is AFTER the garter is removed and caught that the realization sets in.
I have seen a number of flower tosses where an unsuspecting little girl has caught the flowers, and an older man catches the garter. What happens next? As I DJ, I call this a “Deliverance Banjo Scene” in the making, or locally, “an outback Ravena, NY” moment. Tradition dictates that the old man then has to put the garter on a young girl’s leg. We were first shooting for a fun picture that all the bride’s friends will remember forever. Now, can you say, “creepy moment we want to forget?”
THE BRIDAL BEAR TOSS – One thing you can do to hold over the kiddies not participating in the bouquet toss is the classic “bait & switch.”
The Bride Teddy Bear – a distraction to keep the kids happy and away from the bouquet
To avoid the backwoods moment and keep the flower fun on the adult-side of up-and-up, you can have your DJ announce that all children under 16 are from not alowed to participate. But instead of just cutting them out altogether, before the actual wedding bouquet, you can always toss something else just for the kids. You could toss a stuffed wedding animal in bridal dress, or a teddy bear or even a special smaller bouquet of flowers just for this segment.
This family-friendly alternative will not only keep the kiddies happy, but also creates an additional photo opportunity!
