Paper Lanterns are a nifty way of putting some light out there.
This past weekend, I did the DJ work for a great little wedding at The Bucksteed Manor in Washington, MA.
The Bucksteed was like a cross between a bed-n-breakfast and a mini-resort. It had a main eating hall, little cabins, a tent perfect for the reception, a barn gutted and turned into a full bar, and a nice gazebo for the ceremony.
The entire backdrop is wooded area surrounding a nice open field.
The massive tent had a line drawn up high in the center with large white circular paper lanterns, each with a soft glowing single watch battery-operated LED light. These lanterns provided a nice glow to light everything up with a ton of class.
Paper lanterns are now very popular for decorating all kinds of modern weddings. They do particularly well in providing the soft light needed for great wedding shots at indoor, outdoor, and event tent wedding receptions. There is a wide selection of our colors and styles of paper lanterns out there and the range from only $2.00 to $5.00 a piece.
You know the little cards that lead you to your table at the wedding reception… Well, people are really raising the bar now. It seems that place cards do not even need to be cards anymore. As I wrote in a previous blog about a month ago, I recently saw a couple use lit tea candles with their guests names printed on the candle holders. This isn’t the only alternative option out there, especially when a them is involved.
At a beach-theme reception, you can really have a blast. Seashells with names printed on them, perhaps from metallic ink pens are a novel idea, as are decorative stones. Other people may choose to actually decorate coconuts with their guests names on them, as well. Other ideas can include mini-ships in a bottle, messages in bottles (open slips of paper read through the glass), or other various sea-related statuettes.
A vegas theme could involve poker chips with names on them, or even large playing cards!
Music-friendly? Another neat idea includes cd’s (compact discs) with the couples names printed on them, with music for later listening. How about a 45 record with names on them for the older guests?!
It is really worth stopping by the dollar store and seeing what you can whip together! You will be surprised, and hopefully, so will your guests!
At This Willy Wonka Theme Birthday Party - Character Photo Opps Were Available!
First off, let me say my sister is nuts! So, when she recently called me and asked if I could draw an Oompa Loompa without a face on a foam board, it didn’t seem like an unusual request from her. I completed the task with ease. Little did I know that she was planning a ridiculously huge theme party for her two kids’ birthdays: WILLY WONKA STYLE!
Willy Wonka? You mean the creepy chocolate guy? That’s right, and it was a huge success!
Below is a valuable link to planning tips for her recent Wonka Birthday party that she threw for her kids – complete with invitations, Wonka Bars, the Contract, Games, Party Supplies, Coloring Pages, Cakes, Pictures, Music, Soundtracks, Golden Tickets, Lickable Wallpaper, Trivia, Wonka Decorations, Thank You Notes, Prizes, Pinatas, Wonka Candy of all kinds. You name it, and it is here!
Rather than to try and write up everything I saw, here is some of what my sister, Kathy Bechand, wrote up about it – with photos:
There are many ways to save for your wedding. One of the keys to our success is keeping prices affordable and ala carte so customers can customize and pay for only and exactly what you want. This has made us VERY busy this summer in the Albany – Troy – Schenectady area.
Here is a top 10 list of ways to really save money on your wedding:
1. FRUGAL FLOWERS – Some vocational schools have Floral Classes. Sometimes you can work with your local votec to turn your wedding decoration into a classroom assignment and only pay cost of the flowers. Also, check with the hall to see who else is having a wedding there that weekend. You may also be able to save on flowers by sharing.
2. THE WEDDING SET UP PARTY – Turn on the tunes and have your wedding party come over a few days before to put together favors, set up decorations and centerpieces, create flower arrangements and anything else that you would have to pay more for when it comes completely assembled.
3. AFFORDABLE DRESS – Buying your wedding dress online and even in thrift stores, can be a great resourse to save literally hundresds of dollars on the wedding dress.
4. DAY SELECTION – Booking outside your hall’s primetime definitions will really help you save. Typically, prime time is Fridays & Saturdays (sometimes Sundays) April thru October. 10. Ask for Help – Who do you know? Why spend a bundle on the officiant, musicians, photographers and even DJs, if one of your guests can make this happen for nothing.
5. CAREFUL OF WHO YOU INVITE – Don’t invite anyone you haven’t seen or even talked to in five years. Don’t encourage singles to bring a date. Avoid inviting work colleagues. And let your friends bring their children.
6. SAVE ON INVITATIONS – Online is totally acceptable now, so you can save a bundle on postage right there. If you do not want to go the e-invite route, at least shop your invitations online. Competition is fierce and you are bound to find a deal if you look enough.
7. CATERING OPTIONS – Always provide your own caterer when you can. If your hall does not allow this, ask where money can be saved. See if they’ll let you provide your own liquor, or if serving only wine and beer will be cheaper than a full bar. Also consider only having open bar open during your cocktail hour, then serving an inexpensive wine with dinner.
8. EBAY YOUR SPECIAL DAY – Anything you buy and whenever you can, please always check the eBay and Amazon first! You will find awesome deals, for sure!
9. DECOR FOR LESS, NOT MORE – You do not need expensive flower arrangements everywhere. There are countless ways to save on decorations. Sometimes, candlelight can be the most romantic and beautiful alternative to fancy centerpieces and decorations.
TOP 10 THINGS TO THINK ABOUT WHEN PLANNING YOUR WEDDING – A Checklist for success
As a wedding DJ, I have seen many things go wrong. These were little tiny problems to start and could have been eliminated easily, just with a little planning ahead of time. Here is a top ten list of ten important things to think about in order to plan a fun and successful wedding for all.
1. Think of EVERYBODY
I cannot say this enough. Even though it is your special day, you have to think about your guests and be a humble host, as anyone who throws a party should. After all, a good host puts others needs first. Do guests know what to expect? Are you planning your wedding for on a holiday that friends and family may have other obligations to? Are you a vegan and forcing your guests to eat food they are not comfortable eating to make a statement? Do you love hardcore music and do not care what the others think? Try your best to make everyone happy. 2. Be Yourself
If the couple is not all about classic music and being overly elegant, planning much of the reception as such may not be the right thing to do. You may want to go for more up beat fun stuff right from the get-go, during the cocktail hour. Also, some couples are now making the grand entrance into the cocktail hour to enjoy the festivities and then heading out for some pictures before they eat.
3. Waste Money
The wedding industry is a money making industry, with lots of avenues to indulge in. There is a lot of good advice out there, but remember, people will also profit from it. Shop around and do your homework! Budget means budget. If you have a number, stick to it!
4. Know who is running the show!
There are two people running the show. One is the officiate, the minister or justice of peace. His/her personality will come out in the ceremony. The other is your DJ/band leader, who plays a very important organizational role in whether the guests will say your reception was fun, or not.
Seating at Universal Preservation Hall
5. Seat Guests Effectively Your wedding is no place to try and mend broken bridges between guest. Forcing enemies to come together by seating them together is probably not going to work and not a risk you should try taking. Also, try and keep older people away from the DJ or band, as they often do not like louder volume levels. For more ideas on seating, see my other blog.
6. Lose Perspective
Don’t get caught up in so many small details and traditions that you don’t spend enough time on what’s important. Keep the big picture in mind. If something doesn’t go exactly as planned, this is okay. Nothing ever does! Just remember, it is a celebration. Make it work.
7. Heavy Party the night before
It’s not always a good idea to plan crazy bachelor/bachelorette parties for the night before the wedding, if people with important roles tend to get carried away. The last thing you need is to wake up with a headache, or upset stomach. Too much drinking the night before is not always a good idea.
8. Bride & Groom planning
Wedding planning can and should fall on the bride and the groom together. If one becomes too overbearing or selfish, it can make for an awful night for the other. Ask yourself, did I listen?
9. Be prepared for ANYTHING Having a backup plan for everything is KEY! Most people don’t want to believe that something could go wrong at their wedding, so they do not plan for it. If it is an outdoor wedding, make sure that you have an alternate location in case of rain. Keep phone contacts on hand for vendors and people with important roles.
Fun at Hunter Mountain
10. Don’t be afraid to be different
Traditional weddings are all the same. Don’t let your wedding reception fall into the regular pattern. If you do, your wedding will blur into the rest. Never be afraid to be different! A good idea is a good idea, even if it bucks tradition.
FINALLY…
This list used to be eight points long, but I just recently added TWO MORE… the last two. I cannot stress enough the importance of the last two on this list. You really need to plan for disaster at your wedding, so that you can better handle something in case the worst happens. Also, always be yourself and in the end, your wedding will be a success.
DJ Kenny Casanova Intergalactic Laser Light Show - Great for Sweet 16's and Modern WeddingsI tested out our new lazer show last night at a wedding at the Berkshire Country Club in Pittsfield, MA.
The research paid off.
The different laser projectors that I purchased were high-end Chauvet and, indeed, produced high-end effects.
Immediately on flipping the switch, hundreds of laser pin points flooded the massive room from wall to wall with an outerspace galaxy-effect, highlighted with a blue rolling LED. Then, trippy designs of laser blasts and shapes changed with the music over the backdrop.
This new package was totally it. After the first song, which incidentally I think was Just Dance by Lady Gaga, two people came up and asked for a business card!
