Category: Weddings

Having been the DJ for a number of events at 235 Hoosick Street, in Troy, NY, I an safely say that The Hilton Garden Inn  is a great place to have your wedding, in and around the Troy, NY area.

COCKTAIL LAYOUT – One thing that I really like as a DJ is the layout. The main event hall is perfect for a wedding with a cocktail hour at hand. A portion of the hotel is sectioned off so that there are no real issues of interaction with guests staying at the hotel not related to the wedding.

The event kitchen, the wedding hall and the bar for the cocktail hour are all removed from the room and hotel business.

As you enter the event wing of this newer hotel in Troy, NY, there is a long wide hall in front of the dining room. There is a branch off of the walkway perfect for horsderves, with a comfy sofa area that even has a large screen television. This area even has a private restroom area for events, separate from hotel guest use.

At the end of the hall there is another opening, which allows for additional entertainment in front of a full bar. This place is perfect for wedding vendors, or activities. One thing I have seen that works well is having a photo booth or magnet shoot in this area.

DINING ROOM – There are actually two rooms that can be used, with a folding divider partition down the center. What I have experienced as a disc jockey there is usually weddings with around 150 people or so in one section of the hall. (The use of half of the alloted space seems perfect for most weddings that I seem to take part in.)

The room is carpeted with a slightly-raised removable dance floor (provided by the hall). The acoustics are great for music and the tables always look sharp.

STAFF –  The event organizers do a great job. The wait staff is really funny, too. Setting up, they have a good time with each other and are good people. They even danced a little here and there while waiting on the guests.

FOOD – I’ve had both chicken and prime rib there. Both were very very good! No complaints!

OTHER GOOD STUFF – You are also looking at an ample parking lot for any crowd, The Recovery Room bar built into the hotel for an after-party (for those who want to keep the night alive when the DJ is done,) and even rooms to stay in when the night is over.

Without hesitation, I recommend The Hilton Garden Inn on Hoosick, Troy, NY to be considered for your wedding!

HOW TO THROW A SUCCESSFULLY SWINGIN’ COCKTAIL HOUR

One way to lighten the mood before dinner at your wedding is to have some nice music that encourages cocktail consumption. Who better to set this atmosphere than “Mister Martini” Dean Martin, or good ‘ole blue eyes Frank Sinatra, himself?

If you are planning a classic “Loungy” cocktail hour for the period of time before the dinner is to be served at your wedding reception, the possibilities are endless.

Try serving martinis with poker chips and and playing cards tossed around on the tables as decor. Sunglasses will also give tuxedo wearing guests that extra added “Rat Pack” feel. But what ever you do, you have to set the atmosphere with music.

THE BLEND – To really have that a great cocktail hour, think drink.  Create an atmosphere that encourages mixed drink imbibing. To so this, you need a great mix of just the right music.  Try a blend of Jazz , 40’s / 50’s Swing, Big band and Blues, along with some Island music (like Jimmy Buffet, Bob Marley, or “IZ” Israel Kamakawiwoʻole) and just a splash of modern soft rock, Motown, and Pop.

COCKTAIL HOUR MUSIC LIST

Here is a great list of songs to pull ideas from and create your own playlist:

DJ Kenny Casanova – is a professional wedding reception mobile dj and professional wrestling ring announcer out of Albany, NY and Troy, NY. You can email him at ken@theDJservice.com.

Our site… www.TheDJservice.com
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HERE IS A LIST OF WEDDING VOWS USED ALL AROUND THE WORLD

Planning a wedding ceremony near Albany or Saratoga Springs maybe? No matter what part of the world you are from, here is a list of different denominational wedding vows from various different belief systems & cultures, everywhere.

If you are interested in finding a “Denominational Wedding Vow” that means something to you for your special day, below is a list of different denominational wedding vows from various different belief systems & cultures.

Also, if you are interested also in booking a wedding DJ in or around Albany, Schenectady, Troy, Hudson, Saratoga, Lake George and the general Upstate area, call 518-506-3305. Thanks!

Baptist Vows – I, (Name), take thee, (Name), to be my (husband/wife), and before God and these witnesses I promise to be a faithful and true (husband/wife).

Episcopal Vows 1 – I, (Name), take thee, (Name), to be my wedded (husband/wife), to have an to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, ’til death do us part, according to God’s ordinance; and thereto I pledge thee my troth.

Episcopal Vows 2- (Name), I vow to be your faithful (husband/wife), understanding that marriage is a lifelong union, and not to be entered into lightly, for the purpose of mutual fellowship, encouragement and understanding; for the procreation of children and their physical and spiritual nurture. I hereby give myself to you in this cause, with my sacred vow before God.

Episcopal Vows 3 – In the Name of God, I, (Name), take you, (Name), to be my (husband/wife), to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until we are parted by death. This is my solemn vow.

Hindu Wedding Vows (7) –

Lutheran Vows 1 –  I, (Name), take you, (Name), to be my (husband/wife), and pledge thee my troth, so long as ye both shall live.

Lutheran Vows 2 – I, (Name), take you, (Name), to be my (husband/wife), and these things I promise you: I will be faithful to you and honest with you; I will respect, trust, help and care for you; I will share my life with you; I will forgive you as we have been forgiven; and I will try with you better to understand ourselves, the world, and God; through the best and the worst of what is to come as long as we live.

Lutheran Vows 3 – I, (Name), our miracle lies in the path we have chosen together. I enter into this marriage with you knowing that the true magic of love is not to avoid changes, but to navigate them successfully. Let us commit until death parts us.

Methodist Vows 1 – I, (Name), take thee, (Name), to be my (husband/wife), to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part, and thereto I pledge thee my faith.

Methodist Vows 2 – I, (Name), take thee, (Name), to be my wedded (husband/wife), to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part, according to God’s holy ordinance; and thereto I pledge thee my faith.

Methodist Vows 3 – I, (Name), ask you, (Name), to be my (husband/wife), as my friend and my love. On this day I affirm the relationship we have enjoyed, looking to the future to deepen and strengthen it. I will be yours in plenty and in want, in sickness and in health, in failure and in triumph. Together we will dream, will stumble but restore each other, we will share all things, serving each other and our fellow humanity. I will cherish and respect you, comfort and encourage you, be open with you, and stay with you as long as we both shall live, both freed and bound by our love.

Presbyterian Vows  – I, (Name), take thee, (Name), to be my wedded (husband/wife), and I do promise and covenant, before God and these witnesses, to be thy loving and faithful (husband/wife); in plenty and in want, in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health, as long as we both shall live.

Quaker Vows 1 – In the presence of God and these our Friends, I, (Name), take thee to be my (husband/wife), promising with Divine assistance to be unto thee a loving and faithful (husband/wife) as long as we both shall live.

Quaker Vows 2 – On this the Day, Month, in the year of our Lord, Year XXXX A.D., (Name) and (Name), appeared together, and (Husband Name) taking (Wife Name) by the hand, did, on this solemn and joyous occasion, declare that he took (Wife Name) to be his wife, promising with Divine assistance to be unto her a loving and faithful husband; and then, in the same assembly, (Wife Name), did in like manner declare that she took (Husband Name) to be her husband, promising with Divine assistance, to be unto him a loving and faithful wife. And moreover they, (Husband Name) and (Wife Name), did, as further confirmation thereof, then and there, to this certificate set their hands. (Husband Name; Wife Name) And we, having been present at the marriage, have as witnesses hereunto set our hands

Quaker Vows 3 – Whereas (Husband Name) of (Home City and State), son of (Father Name) and (Mother Name), and (Wife Name) of (Home City and State), daughter of (Father Name) and (Mother Name), having declared their intentions of marriage with each other to the (Meeting House Name) monthly meeting of the Religious Society of Friends held at (Town and State of Meetinghouse), their proposed marriage was allowed by that Meeting.

Roman Catholic Wedding Vows 1 – I, (Name), take you, (Name), to be my (husband/wife). I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life. Bride: I pledge, in honesty and sincerity, to be for you an obedient and faithful wife. Groom: I pledge, in honesty and sincerity, to be for you an obedient and faithful husband.

Roman Catholic Wedding Vows 2 – I, (Name), take you, (Name), for my (husband/wife), to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.

Zion Vows – I, (Name), take thee, (Name), to be my wedded (husband/wife). To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part. According to God’s holy ordinance, and thereto I pledge thee my faith.

Hope these help and congratulations!

Below are some Secular & Spirual vows written specifically to be used as Same Sex Wedding Vows /Gay Wedding Vows. You may want to use these vows for your special day.

If interested in a Same Sex friendly wedding DJ in the Albany, NY area with experience, drop us a line at 518-506-3305. Thanks!

Secular Vows For Gay Couples

I, (Groom’s name/Bride’s name), take you, (Bride’s name/Groom’s name), to be my (wedded wife/wedded husband). I promise to strive always to consider your needs in addition to my own; to be a source of strength for you; to accept your strength for myself; to share freely my thoughts and feelings; to listen when you share yours with me. I make these solemn promises, to keep in times of plenty and in want; in joy and in sorrow; in sickness and in health; from this day forward.

________, will you have ________ to be your (wife/husband), to live together as friend and mate? Will you live (her/him) as a person, respect (her/him) as an equal, sharing joy as well as sorrow, triumph as well as defeat. And keep (her/him) beside you as long as you both shall live?

________, is it your will to have this (woman/man) to be your spouse, to live together in the state of marriage? Is it your will to love (her/him), in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others to be faithful to (her/him) as long as you both shall live?

________, are you ready to take ________ as your (wife/husband), to live together with (her/him) in a growing marriage relationship? Will you vow with (her/him) to be partners in life in such a way that together you will meet every situation of life; the peaceful and the chaotic, the routine and the exciting, the sorrowful and the joyful, the threatening and the inviting. Will you love (her/him), affirm (her/him), and commit yourself to (her/him) in marriage relationship as long as you both shall live?

I, (Name), take you, (Name), for my (husband/wife), to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.

I, (Name), take you, (Name), to be my (husband/wife), I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life.

(Name), our miracle lies in the path we have chosen together. I enter into this marriage with you knowing that the true magic of love is not to avoid changes, but to navigate them successfully. I make this commitment until death parts us.

I, (Name), take thee, (Name), to be my (husband/wife), to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part, and thereto I pledge thee my faith.

I, (Name), ask you, (Name), to be my (husband/wife), as my friend and my love. On this day I affirm the relationship we have enjoyed, looking to the future to deepen and strengthen it. I will be yours in plenty and in want, in sickness and in health, in failure and in triumph. Together we will dream, will stumble but restore each other, we will share all things, serving each other and our fellow humanity. I will cherish and respect you, comfort and encourage you, be open with you, and stay with you as long as we both shall live, both freed and bound by our love.

I , (Name), promise you, (Name), that I will be your loving and loyal (husband/wife) from now on. I will share with you all of life’s joy and sorrow, pleasure and pain, until death parts us. 

Religious / Spiritual Vows For Gay Couples

________ and ________, having heard these words of instruction and admonition concerning love and marriage, do you now consent to be faithful to the obligations of this sacred relationship as long as you both shall live?

________, wilt thou have this (woman/man) to be thy (wife/husband), and wilt thou pledge thy troth (or trust) to (her/him), in all love and honor, in all duty and service, in all faith and tenderness, to live with (her/him) and cherish (her/him) according to the ordinances of God in the holy bond of marriage?

________, do you take ________ to be joined in wedlock, and in the presence of these witnesses do you vow that you will do everything in your power to make your love for (her/him) a growing part of your life? Will you continue to strengthen it from day to day and week to week with your best resources? Will you stand by (name) in sickness or in health, in poverty of in wealth, and will you shun all others and keep yourself to (her/him) alone as long as you both shall live?

________, will you have ________ to be your wedded (wife/husband), to live together in the covenant of faith, hope, and love according to the intention of God for your lives together in Jesus Christ? Will you listen to (her/him) inmost thoughts, be considerate and tender in your care of (her/him), and stand by her/him) faithfully in sickness and in health, and, preferring (her/him) above all others, accept full responsibility for (her/him) every necessity for as long as you both shall live?

________, will you have ________ to be your wedded (wife/husband), to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love, honor, comfort, and keep (her/him) in sickness and in health, in prosperity and adversity, forsaking all others, keeping yourself only for (her/him) as long as you both shall live?

In the Name of God, I, (Name), take you, (Name), to be my (husband/wife or spouse), to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until we are parted by death. This is my solemn vow.

I, (Name), take you, (Name), for my (husband/wife), to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part. So help me God.

I, (Name), take you, (Name), to be my (husband/wife), I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life. Amen.

(Name), you stand before God and this congregation to declare your intent. Will you have this (man/woman) to be your (husband/wife), to live together in a holy marriage? Will you love (him/her), comfort (him/her), honor (him/her), and keep (him/her) in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, be faithful to (him/her) as long as you both shall live?

Thanks for reading and congratulations on your special day planning. Again. if you are interested in booking a same sex friendly wedding DJ in the Albany, NY area with plenty of experience, give us a call at 518-506-3305.

Thanks again for looking!

Jeff Foley Photography in Mechanicville

Another good service for pictures of your wedding is through Jeff Foley Photography.

We recently worked a wedding in Saratoga with Jeff. He has a great eye for fine detail and does a really great job!

call Jeff at 518-879-8580.  Jeff Foley Photography, 3 Cambridge Court, Mechanicville, NY 12118.

 www.jefffoley.com

Do you want the wedding of your dreams, but don’t think you can afford it? Paying for a wedding can be really expensive, to really get everything you want. However, where there is a will, there is a way…

FOOD IS NOT CHEAP – No matter how you slice the wedding cake, your largest bill at a wedding will waht you pay to the caterers. If you will be feeding say 120 guests or so, by today’s industry stanards you are probably looking at $50 a plate, or more. Then, add $6,000 for meals to additional venue costs, and whatever package you are choosing for booze, and you will quickly come close to the $10,000 mark. If you are like many people in today’s economy, you may be asking yourself, “how can I pay for it all?

Breath easy. Aside from the most important way to save money (keeping your invite list down to save on catering), many brides & grooms have been same boat as you are in, and have come up with ways to still make their dream wedding happen.

ONLINE INCOME SOURCES – If you are like many people today and do not have a whole lot of time in your week to work extra hours, some customers have told me that offering a skill on Craigslist is a great way to pick up some extra work here and there to generate some extra income. If you do well with landscaping, carpentry, housekeeping, babysitting, or even bartending, you can go online to craigslist at any time and pick up some extra temporary work to supplement your income.

If you have a product you can sell, others tell me that Ebay and Amazon both offer storefont potential with no overhead. That means, if you have a product you can sell, you can do so on these sites and reach tons of customers, without having to pay rent or employees to man a store. If you don’t have anything to sell, some of my customers have told me that they make thousands by finding collectibles at yard sales and reselling them on Ebay/Amazon.

PART TIME JOB – However, I have found that a number of my DJ customers have decided to treat their wedding budget the same way as some families treat huge Christmas lists; by taking on a part-time job for a short period of time to make it happen. A part-time job really is a great way to pay for things, with the potential to just go back to your comfortable lifestyle, soon after the wedding kitty is full. Here are some good resources to use, in case you are thinking about taking on some side work, so that you can have the wedding of your dreams!

However, if you don’t mind throwing a few hours into the dream wedding kitty, a part time job with an additional hundred or two dollars of income for a few months may really be the way to go!

PROFESSIONAL RESUME – To get that extra little job, you really need to stand out from the rest in today’s economy. It is alll about packaging. If it is skill-based, bringing a portfolio to your interview with lots of great pictures is a good idea. But first of, you need to have a professional resume to get your foot in the door. Sometimes 100-500 people may apply to the same job, so you have to stand out from all the rest. Professional resumes are not just lists of dates and addresses, today they have finely crafted bullets with action phrases displaying what it is you did at a past work experience.

I am a succesful wedding DJ and have seen it all. Also being a certified English teacher in a Career & Technical school, I have some career resources that I would like to share with you, in order to help your dream wedding become a reality.

Resume Template <- Here is a link to a great RESUME TEMPLATE that I have created. TIP- make sure to make EVERYTHING uniform on your resume. This is your first impression to a potential employer. Make it count!

Resume Action Verbs <- It is always important to add ACTION VERBS under your work experiences. These will help the potential employer understand what kind of experience you have that may be a good match for them. This link is a list of those words that will better help them to visualize you working for them.

Resume Sample <- Here is a sample of what the RESUME might look like when you are done.

ADD A COVER LETTER – Don’t forget to add a COVER LETTER along with your resume, before sending it out. Here is a few links to some cover letter resources that I have created to help make your resume stand out from the rest:

COVER LETTER logic <- Here is a link to a list of things to think about when writing your cover letter.

Cover Letter Sample <- This is a sample of what a cover letter might look like when it is done.

Cover Letter Template <- Here is a template on how to write a cover letter.