Last weekend, I was the disc jockey for a fun tent wedding at The Clifton Park Elks Lodge in Clifton Park, NY. And once again, the bride and groom did something I had never seen before and am now compelled to share with you.
If you are reading this, maybe you are planning your wedding. Are you tired of the same old traditional guest book and want to add some personality to your wedding reception?
Well, if the answer is yes, then here is an alternative to the wedding guestbook, perfect for those who like to be creative and different.
This neat twist on the wedding guest book is one where each guest “leaves” a fingerprint as proof of attendance. The finished product is a beautiful piece of artwork.
Guests Sign Their Fingerprints
It is really pretty easy.
HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN WEDDING THUMBPRINT TREE
1) Provide a poster with a tree skeleton already mapped out.
2) Put out a number of lids of ink and also a scrap sheet for people to wipe excess ink onto.
3) You will also need colorful pens so that each guest can sign their fingerprint above their leaf.
4) Have the DJ announce the tree idea to guests throughout the evening.
To really make it colorful, provide different shades of green (or browns if you are going with a fall theme) so that the collection of prints will look even more like a real tree when it is done.
Karaoke at your wedding can be fun, but it can also be dangerous! As some of you true-believer people may recall, Spiderman once said, “with great power comes resposibility.” If you are considering adding a little karaoke to your wedding for a fun activity, realize that you really should also set some guidelines so things don’t get out of hand.
Voice is power. Handing a microphone over at your wedding to anyone is giving someone the power on your special day. If you lose power at your own wedding, it may not turn out in the end exactly as you had planned.
Therefore, with that being said and not trying to come off as a total buzzkill, know that you can have karaoke at your wedding, but it really works best when you spoon-feed the audience only in little bits. If you are going the karaoke route for your wedding, just keep in mind that you need to control it, and just do a little bit here and there, or it could spin out of hand and become, “Uncle Jimmy’s Drunken Karaoke Concert,” rather than what you had dreamed of for your wedding night.
To avoid giving away your entire wedding reception to karaoke-hungry mic-hogging people who want to sing “Love Shack” and “Paradise By The Dashboard Light,” create a few simple rules that you can live by and everything should be alright.
I dj’ed a karaoke marathon wedding once at The Franklin Terrace in Troy, NY, and also went to one in Albany at The Elks that had a few karaoke mishaps because the bride said, “anything goes.” Since then, I make sure to mention the following guidelines to anyone I hear is thinking about having karaoke at their wedding.
1) SET A TIME LIMIT – Let the DJ know you only want karaoke at the very end, maybe the last hour perhaps, so that it doesn’t scare away guests who do not like it, and it doesn’t overpower the whole night.
2) ONE SONG ONLY – If you have a load of people who want to sing but only limited time, you can control the onslaught of karaoke requests from taking over the whole night, maybe by making a “fairness rule” that a person can only sing once.
3) NO DIRTY SONGS – A wedding typically has people of all moral walks in attendence. Therefore, don’t allow your DJ to accept songs with suggestive lyrics, and you won’t upset certain other people at your party. Grandma my not want to hear, “Shake That @$$!”
4) THE BANNING OF CERTAIN GUESTS – This idea would be good, but it usually doesn’t work without hurting someone’s feelings, and the last thing you want to do is to offend a person who may have a few drinks in them. If you really don’t want certain people to sing, you may not want to do karaoke at your wedding. It is very difficult and seemingly unfair to turn someone down who would like to join in on the fun.
5) FLIP THE KILL SWTCH – If it is starting to suck, end it right away. Limit young children who can’t read fast enough, or drunk people who drone on out of tune by having the DJ switch right back to dancing at the end of a terrible vomit-inducing track. This will keep the guests around who put in earplugs.
Stay strong, home boy. Following a few simple rules like these could allow for just enough karaoke flavor to your wedding to actually add something to your special night, rather than to take away from it. Good luck!!!
Always your wedding around a chance of rain!Avoid Wedding Disasters Top 10 List
There are many little things that can throw your wedding off and perhaps classify it under a “Wedding Disaster” category. However, a number of these things can be avoided with no cost at all to the bride and groom. Here is a list of things to remember when you are planning your wedding, to avoid your own wedding disaster.
1) Avoid placing your wedding date on a holiday – selecting a holiday or special day for your wedding date creates a built in competition quandary for many guests. When brides and grooms choose these type of dates, they often find from their attendance that their top priority, their wedding, is not also everyone’s #1 priority, at the same time. Making your guest choose between your special day and their special traditions does not always work out in your favor.
2) Give plenty of time for the invitation – Some people see that up to 6 months before the event is a good heads up time to RSVP. Others say even more time is essential to the success of your guest list attendance.
3) Don’t force your lifestyle on your guests – If you are vegetarian or vegan, it may not be a good idea to only offer these dishes at your wedding. A good host tries to accomodate their guests desires in order to make them happy, not force something on them. This goes for food as well as music selection.
4) Try and always plan for Saturday Night Weddings – Fridays people sometimes have to work and Sundays people have no day to recover/travel.
5) Keep the invite list numbers as low as possible – Don’t invite just anyone. Your biggest expense is usually your venue/catering. Keeping your numbers down can save hundreds of dollars with only a handful of guests.
6) Seat older people away from the DJ – Even if Grandma has a hearing aid and can’t hear well, she sure will hear the DJ if she is placed right by the speakers. She will also want the music turned down to practically nothing.
7) Have Back Up Plan for outside weddings – whether it is the ceremony or the reception, have a back up plan in case it rains.
8 ) Be careful of allowing your photographer to overshoot – While you may like many photos as possible, shooting too many is pointless and will only make you miss your reception. Signs of Overshooting could include running longer than 45 minutes during cocktail hour, or being pulled out during the dance time of your reception.
9) Create a “Do Not Playlist” for your DJ – This will ensure there are no surprises.
10) Do “The Cake Cutting” as late as possible – While the hall may push for the cake cutting immediately after dinner, remember, many people leave right after the cake. The cake cutting also can slow down the flow, when you are trying to get people to dance.
A great list of ideas for your Country Western Theme party
The Hoedown Throw-down – Country Western Theme Party – Cowboy & Indian Theme Party – Western Corporate Event – Old West Theme – Old West Theme Wedding – Wild West Theme Wedding
Howdy, partner. I recon you are thinking about throwing a hoedown as a Country-Western theme party. Yeah, you can slap on a cowboy hat and put some straw in ‘yer teeth, but that and a mason jar of moonshine may not be enough!
If you really want to stike gold and find true success in your theme party, you really have to go all the way; close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. If you don’t look at the whole picture, by the end of the night, there may be no one left but tumbleweed.
This comprehensive list of party invitations, decorations, table settings, centerpieces, and fun ideas can help make your shindig be one that no one will forget.
Wanted Signs Make Great Invitations!
COUNTRY WESTERN RSVP INVITATIONS
At the get-go, round up your western theme party guests with something that screams country. Statistics have shown that the more time you spend on paying attention to fine details on your invitations, the better your turn out will be. Rustle up your people in the country spirit.
WANTED SIGN INVITATIONS – I am sure you have seen the old “wanted posters” from the old west movies where a villian is out there and a reward is being offered on their head, dead or alive. How about this format for your invitiation on parchment? If you don’t have the money for the fancy paper stock, dip it in coffee to age it or burn the sides. Roll the poster up with all of the party details on the inside, and tie it with some cheap twine, or maybe a bandana.
COME IN COSTUME – Before thinking about what decorations to choose, make sure to instruct your buckaroos to dress like the old west. This way, pictures of the night will look right in key with the tone of the theme. Tell them you are dressing the role and hope for the same. List out ideas for the uncreative and lazy guests suggesting such country fashion staples including: western bolo ties, leather fringed vests, spurs, cowboy hats, bandanas, cowboy boots, holsters, toy guns, toy horses, or whatever they can rustle up that fits the bill.
COUNTRY WESTERN PARTY ATMOSPHERE SETTING
Location is everything. If you hold your party in a place that already lends something to the country-western theme, then you are half way there. Let’s say you were holding the party in a very modern place. The fixtures and decor that is already set will work against you. However, a rented barn like The Pruyn House in Latham, NY, or the or ranch, this would be a great setting for all your favorite to gather at. If you can pull this off for your venue, you have a lot of your must-have decorations already built in.
SHUTTER DOORS – These are a “must-have” decoration to set up the old western bar shutter doors wherever you can. This will make your guests enter in style.
TOWN BANNER – Welcome your guests with a long banner at the entrance to the party that says something like “Company Hoedown” or some other creative title that follows the theme. This should look like what you would see in the movies when the town was celebrating something, with the Sheriff or town Mayor on a stage. HAY – Set the stage for your event with real hay bales outside the entrance. You can also put bales of hay around in the corners, and if possible, put handfuls of hay all over the place! If your venue will allow, cover the floor!!! This really sets the tone, when possible! ROCKING HORSE – Set these up for photo ops! People of all ages will have a blast rocking out! HOBBY HORSES – Get those cheaper horse heads on a stick and lay them around for fun! VARMINTS – Place rubber rattle snakes all around the ground, but fear not, your cowboys and cowgirls will surely be able to handle them. CACTUS – Get some real cactus plants for decorations. If it isn’t in the budget, try cactus cutouts. TUMBLEWEEDS – A number of large tumbleweed balls to kick around would really be a mood setter. SADDLES – Borrow or rent a horse saddle and put it somewhere like on top of one of the bales of hay. WASHBOARDS & WAGON WHEELS – These are also a great touch! COWBOY BOOTS – Western boot danglers are an easy and fun party decoration. Use them all over the room or highlight a special area, like the buffet. Either use real boots from a thrift store, perhaps, or cutout paper ones. WANTED POSTERS – Hang up silly wanted posters all over the walls with funny crimes listed under the mug shot. You can personalize the posters with the host/hostesses pictures or even ones of key guests. LABELS – Mark “Cowboys” and “Cowgirls” signs on your bathroom doors. LASSOS – Make giant lassos as wall decorations. XXX BOTTLES – Make ‘em think they are drinking that moonshine! NOOSES – While this may not be great at a children’s party, a properly tied noose may be a great conversation piece in a sick and twisted way! They are also great in case you need an impromptu hanging of a guest who had one to many drinks and is acting ornery. BAGS OF GOLD – Make prop bags of gold so people can stage shoot outs for photo ops, as well! INDIAN STUFF – Focusing on the cowboy stuff sometimes makes us forget… Don’t forget the Indian decorations. Hatches, head dresses, teepees, buffalos, war paint… this avenue opens up even more fun!
3) TABLE PLACE CARDS
There are many ways to show your guests to the chow line and still stay within the theme. One way to do this is with the selection of country western themed table place cards.
CUSTOM COWBELLS – Make a ringing impression with customized cowbells. Buy cowbells, paint the name of each guest on the outside and attach the seating details to the ringer inside. Country Western Cowbells can be found in bulk at novelty and craft stores, or discount mass merchandisers online. BANDANAS – Roll up and ribbon-tie a cowboy bandanna for each person as a seating card. Tie off the seating card with their name and table number and you have a party favor, too. HORSESHOES – Another idea for seating cards is plastic toy horseshoes. Print the name and table number of your guests on each one. GUEST ACCESORY TABLE – Set up a table by your place cards with a baskets chock full of bandanas and cowboy hats, Marshall and deputy badges, and bolo ties. Make sure this is near the front door so your guests can fill out any gaps in their costumes, or lack-there-of costumes. Putting your guests in the garb will allow them have the full country western theme party experience.
Bring The Fun to the Table
4) TABLE DECORATIONS
When it comes to rustle up some grub for the guests, make your theme hit the dinner table. While you don’t have to go too crazy, you should at least have something that barbeque sauce and cornbread goes well with. But what about the décor?
TABLE CLOTH / LINEN – Use checkered toppers over red linens for great looking tables, for a little more pizzazz. Denim table covers are another way to go, too. NAPKINS – Use solid red and solid white napkins, alternating for every other place setting. Another fun idea is to use metal sheriff’s badges as napkin rings, by pinning the middle of each napkin. If a badge is too costly, buy cheap twine and tie each napkin in the center. WESTERN THEME CONFETTI – Don’t forget to sprinkle western confetti around. Look this up online. They make all different shapes like cactus plants, cowboy hats, guns, sheriff badges and more. It’s a great finishing touch! COWBOY HAT NACHOS / CHIP AND DIP HOLDER – You can use a real cowboy hat, turned upside down and line with a check napkin or bandana to hold chips. You can place bowls inside the hats, too, if you are hesitant about napkins.
This is one sharp centerpiece!
5) CENTERPIECE IDEAS CACTUS – A real cactus will really drive the point home with your guests. To brighten up your centerpiece, tie red and blue bandanas around the clay pots that the cactus plants are in. You can also accessorize the soil by sticking mini-spurs in the plant soil, or maybe a cap gun. ANTIQUITIES – Re-create a “western setting” in the middle of the table using antiques. For a really creative centerpiece, use an old metal coffeepot, an old style colored bottle, a bandana-lined basket (that you can fill with just about anything), some old-style metal coffee cups, and/or several bottles of fancy barbecue sauce. Just arrange these all together in the center of the table. STRAW BALE – A mini bale of straw might be the way to go, accessorized just right!
For kids’ tables, try a cowboy play set as the centerpiece. Not only will it look inviting to them, but also they can entertain themselves as they sit and eat. POKER CARDS – Throw them around randomly, like a game just went wrong and the players are in the road engaged in gun slinging!
A Mechanical Bull is a must if you can afford it!
6) ACTIVITIES & ENTERTAINMENT MECHANICAL BULL RIDE – While this can be really costly, if it’s in your budget, this is the greatest thing you could add to your party’s entertainment factor! WESTERN BOOT PIñATA – Rustle up your guests all together and try to break the western boot piñata. Fill the piñata with candy and fun toys that go with the western theme. MUSICAL HATS – Play “musical hats” to keep everyone entertained. Make sure to buy authentic cowboy hats and American Indian headdresses though, or the game won’t be nearly as much fun. LINE DANCING LESSONS – Bring in a local dance instructor to teach line dancing. Then later on during the dance part of the party, have the guests show off their new learned steps! You can also hire a professional “line dance caller” to entertain you with authentic square dancing emcee. CARD GAME TABLES – Texas Hold ‘Em, Poker, or Black Jack tables would be great! Set up chips that you can cash in for fun prizes! HORSESHOES – games / tournament with a prize to the winner(s)!
7) MUSIC IDEAS DINNER MUSIC – During this time, set the mood and use the legitimate country music that you can’t really dance to. Have real Country Western playing. You might also play other classic country artists like Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, George Jones, June Carter Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings. COUNTRY MUSIC – Not everyone loves country music, but there are a lot of mainstream faster tracks out there today to keep the playlist somewhat in the theme. Check out artisits like Brooks And Dunn, Taylor Swift, Trace Atkins, Carrie Underwood, and Eric Church for starters. WESTERN THEME POP MUSIC – Do not be afraid to mix up the playlist. All country music tracks may kill a party where people don’t really like it. While typical country music isn’t the best for fast dancing, there are some alternatives you can add to the mix to keep with the theme. Here is a list of non-country music songs that follow the western cowboy theme:
Wild Wild West – Will Smith Wild Wild West – Kool Moe Dee Apache – Sugar Hill Gang Cotton Eyed Joe – Rednex Wanted Dead or Alive – Bon Jovi Where Have All The Cowboys Gone – Paula Cole I Wanna Be A Cowboy – Boys Don’t Cry Hoedown Throwdown – Miley Cyrus The Wild Wild West – Escape Club Rawhide – Blues Brothers The Good The Bad & The Ugly Theme Kid Rock – Cowboy Rhinestone Cowboy – Glenn Cambell Cowboy Take Me Away – Dixie Chicks Back In The saddle again – Aerosmith Rhapsody – Cowboy Lover
Thank you for taking the time to read this blog. It has been another one of Kenny Casanova’s “Massive Theme Party Checklist Editions”, much like his our 80’s Theme Party Blog, where we painstakingly share at great length the many things we have seen go well at certain types of parties. While you do not need to accomplish everything you see above, the more you can afford, the better.
…And it goes without saying, book an experienced DJ for your event, partner! And everything will turn out great. 🙂
Recently at the Holiday Inn in Albany, I was the disc jockey for a real fun, high-end, Asian-fusion-themed Sweet Sixteen Party. The party was formal, and also much like an Japanese-American themed Wedding I did recently, so I thought I would throw down some ideas to help others who are thinking about a theme for their special event.
It’s okay to be different. The birthday girl at the party I did was an African-American. If you love sushi and/or Chinese food and have a huge passion for the East, who says that you can’t have an Asian-themed wedding? If you are thinking of changing things up a bit for your wedding, it doesn’t matter if the bride or groom has Oriental roots or not, it really doesn’t matter. America is about diversity. How many theme parties have you been to where the hosts actually fit the mold in their daily lives, anyhow?
Anyhow, it could be difficult and limiting to isolate your event to just Chinese or Japanese culture, since they themselves draw from so many inspirations. The modern Japanese writing system itself uses three main scripts, and one of them, Kanji, is basically made up entirely from Chinese characters/letters. Since here in the west, we often group eastern ideas and cultures together, it may be interesting to have an Asian-Fusion Theme, so you can incorporate all the fun.
WEDDING CEREMONY – For the actually wedding ceremony, there are many different eastern traditions that can easily be researched. One interesting one has the bride and groom entering the room from opposite sides and symbolically walking together. Guests then wave paper streamers over the couple’s heads for purification to keep evil spirits at away. After exchanging vows, the bride and groom each drink a symbolic glass of sake. Finally, they trade glasses nine times to symbolize their new bond.
Formal Wedding Kimonos go for well over $20,000!
BRIDE DRESS- Typically, a bride in Japan wears a white silk kimono that can cost over $20,000, but you can get something much cheaper here in the states, or even have something made. The fun part for the bride in Japan is that she gets to act like Lady Gaga at an award ceremony all night. Normally, the Japanese bride changes into up to five different kimonos throughout the wedding day.
Japanese brides often wear a traditional Japanese wig as part of their regalia. These wigs are very fancy and decorated in golden barrettes, pearls, and beautiful artificial flowers,
GROOM CLOTHING- On the other side of the ying yang, a Japanese groom wears all black. A “haori” on the top and a “hakama” on the bottom are the official terms of the traditional matrimonial garb.
DRESS CODE – The wedding party also dresses in kimonos, usually in a color chosen by the bride. Depending on the atmosphere you are looking for, you may want to encourage fun eastern attire from the guests as well. Warning… be forewarned that Uncle Charlie could probably show up as a ninja.
The reception is where you can really pull in the Asian-Fusion theme. There are so many options with this that there is no excuse if you fall short.
ARRIVAL – Though I will admit I have not seen this, coming in pulled on a hand-pulled rikshaw would kick some major bonsai!
Paper Lantern Decorations will dress up any event!
DECORATIONS – There are so many options. Bonsai Tree centerpieces, Shoji paper lanterns with Japanese script, Chinese paper parasols, Lucky bamboo plants, Fancy sushi trays and dipping dishes, Cherry Blossoms, paper wall room dividers, hanging oil lanterns. Mini Sandy Zen gardens with tiny rakes. Polished river stones can act as paperweights for napkins.
PRINTING – For the invitations, print custom invitations on Japanese Fine artisan papers and make sure to include some Chinese or Japanese letters. You could also print programs on paper fans!
FAVORS – In Japan, a nickel is a beautiful cheap coin that has a hole in it. It is said to be good luck to wear this coin as a charm on a necklace. Therefore, why not give out Good Luck Japanese Nickel Necklaces? Also, every place setting could have a Lucky Red Takeout Box & Japanese Chopsticks, and Origami. You could also go with a keepsake Porcelain Chinese Takeout Box , Longevity Chopsticks in Silk Pouches, or even Personalized Japanese Wood Chopsticks. Also, fortune cookie with pre-printed fortunes, customized by the bride and groom would be a great hit!
DRINKS – Bowls of edamame beans at the bar, Sake, Wasabe Brew, green tea, or mango sodas.
APPETISERS – Sushi, sashimi, a full raw bar spread, dim sum, shrimp tempura, spring rolls, teriyaki or yakimore sticks and noodles dishes.
MAIN COURSE – Don’t even get me started.
No matter what you do, a theme wedding is the way to go. No one will forget! …And do not be afraid to play Carl Douglas’ “Everybody was Kung Fu Fighting” and The Vapors song “I’m Turning Japanese.” You know you want to!
So the ring has been given, now, what next? Is there anything important you need to think of when choosing your actual wedding date? How to choose a wedding date, is difficult and should not be taken lightly.
How to optimize the selection of the actual calendar date for your wedding is easy when you eliminate your competion.
When you are picking a date to throw a big event like a wedding, one should approach things with a good business mind. That means, KNOW YOUR COMPETITION. Like any other important date, be smart about selection. You should act like a real good planner and think of all the reasons your guests may not be able to come on that particular day. Believe it or not, people may not make your most special date their top priority.
You probably can understand that planning a wedding on Superbowl Sunday is probably not the best idea, if you have a lot of sports fans on either side of the family. So when do you plan it?
Choosing the actual day of the week is tough, but it is not the biggest battle. Most people will agree that a Sunday or a Friday is a good idea, but Saturday seems to be even better due to commute issues for your guests either before or after the ceremony and reception. If this is true, then what you really need to focus on is which Saturday on the calendar is best to choose? To figure this out, think about which Saturday will pose the least amount of distrations to the majority of your guests.
STAY AWAY FROM HOLIDAYS – Face it. Aside from your one uncle that farts a lot, and the one cousin who gets extremely drunk even at communion, for the most part, you really want your all of your friends and family to be able to make it. However, there is one mistake that a lot of party planners seem to make… PUTTING THE DATE ON A HOLIDAY, figuring that your guests have the date off anyway.
AVOID CAUSING A BREAK IN YOUR GUEST’S POSSIBLE TRADITIONS – Yes, at first, selecting a holiday as your wedding date seems like a novel idea; getting married on Christmas Eve, or The Fourth of July, perhaps. You probably figure that most people already have that date off, and it is fun to be able to say, “we are getting married and starting our NEW lives together on NEW Years Eve!” …or something to that effect. However, placing your special date on a day where other people may already have plans, or traditions is quite often a really bad thing to do.
For one, it sometimes can make some very important people in your lives have to pick between attending either their yearly plan/tradition, or attending your function. This can upset your guests or even you when you see what their decision is. It is a bad position to put people in on both sides.
I was the DJ for one wedding that actually fell on Halloween. It was also a “no kids allowed” wedding. This meant that some of their guests had to get babysitters and also, could not go trick-or-treating with their children. So what ended up happening? Many guest with younger children left way too early for the success of the wedding reception. When it came time to dance, a large portion of the guest list had left.
AVOID PLACING YOUR DATE ON A FUN DAY – Another reason chosing a fun calendar day for your special day is not a good idea is you may loose some of the fun people who might have attended that are not all that close to you. If they are not your very best friends, but you do want them to attend, it is possible that they may succumb to the temptation of your calendar date’s competition. That can mean less people you haven’t seen in a long time, or even worse, less of a good time overall.
A good example of this might be placing your wedding date on Saint Patrick’s day. While it is not traditionally a day that people may get off of work, it is a day that many other parties and events plan on.
An Irish Wedding theme can be great! However, choosing the actual Saint Patrick’s day date for your wedding will make some of your lesser important guests to have to choose between you, and that nice pint of green beer that is waiting for them down the street at their favorite pub. Again, as a rule of thumb, keep in mind that your most special day is not always going to be THEIR most special day. And you do not want to lose guests that you value simply because you picked one day, when you could have picked another. (For some ideas on Irish theme weddings check out my blog here.)
So think twice before choosing that holiday for your special day. If you create competion for your event by choosing a bad day from the start, you are only setting yourself up for potential heartache.
