518-506-3305. Affordable Wedding DJs in Albany, NY with a huge library of new music & classics. Plus Digital Photography & Lights.
No clue what to do? Do you have a planning-nightmare of wedding or event coming up at, say, Crown Plaza or Westurn Turnpike Golf Banquet Hall? Do you think that you need top quality in music entertainment and disc jockey services for your party in our state’s capital, Albany, New York, due to the dance-crazed friends and family that you are inviting ???
Why settle for the rest of the cheesy Las Vegas-style gray-bearded Grateful Dead disc jockeys? Kenny Casanova is “The Bee’s Knees of all DJs and Emcees” & DJ Maria is the area’s #1 female DJs!
OUR SERVICES & WHAT WE CAN BRING TO YOUR PARTY:
Albany’s #1 wedding DJ Kenny Casanova is Mayor Jennings approved! LOL!
•200,000 song library
•DJ/MC experience since 1996
•Voted Capital Region #1 Karaoke KJ
•Radio Personality Experience
•Ring Announcer Experience: WWF / WWE
•Sports Broadcasting Experience
•Karaoke & with huge track library
•Huge Laser Show
•Professional Photography “The DJ Cam”
•Interactive events, dances, & activities
•Digital Slide Show
•Music Video Package
•Professional Gear Bose L1 Stick & Peavey
•Very affordable prices!!!
CONTACT US NOW FOR BOOKINGS IN AND AROUND ALBANY!
Drop us a line at 518-506-3305, or email us at ken@thedjservice.com. Providing affordable fun, experience, and great music for your special occasion!
Albany Weddings DJ, Albany Wedding Ceremony DJ, Albany DJ for Wedding Receptions
518-506-3305 – Albany Wedding DJ –Are you looking for a wedding DJ that really knows how to use the mic, but also knows not to chime in all the time with annoying remarks? Are you also looking for a wedding DJ that plays today’s best music with a mix of the classics that you want to hear, but not all boring old slow irrelevant tracks? “DJ Kenny Casanova & A+ The DJ Service” could be just what you are looking for!
Looking for the very best in mobile music entertainment for your event? As a wedding and party specialist, TheDJservice.com offers:
-CUSTOM MUSIC – Have a hand in creating the playlist ; new hits, throwbacks, & classics -GREAT LIGHTING – LEDs, Uplighting, Dance Lights & Laser Shows.
-DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY – Affordable Digital Photography available, burned to a disc that night
-DIGITAL PROJECTION –Slide Shows and/or music videos
-KARAOKE PACKAGE – Sing with a huge selection when you opt for our Karaoke Champion Package
-MUSIC VIDEO PACKAGE – each track is a music video on LED screens
-ACTIVITIES & ANNOUNCING – Guest Interaction, dances & activities
-EXPERIENCE – DJ experience from 1998 on (radio & WWF / WWE pro wrestling!)
-Affordable price,professional & fun!!!
ALBANY WEDDINGS ARE OUR SPECIALTY –CUSTOMIZE – Our Albany wedding disc jockeys meet with you to customize your special day so there are no surprizes. (That means The Chicken Dance WILL NOT HAPPEN unless you have requested it!) We will help you organize your perfect event schedule, so that you hear EXACTLY what you want to hear. We plan with every Bride and Groom, however you like; face-to-face, emails, skype/facetime, phone calls, and even text at 518-506-3305, so that the correct atmosphere happenes in the end at times all throughout the event.
AFFORDABLE FUN – If your wedding is set to take place in Albany, NY or somewhere in the Capital Region or beyond, we will provide everything that needs to happen to ensure great customer service so all flows from start to finish! We optimize your music selection, provide splendid audience interaction, and entertain by keeping your guests laughing, dancing, and singing along to create memories that last a lifetime. And most of all, we put the spotlight on the bride & groom… Not us.
-PLANNING – Planning your perfect event with you, provide song suggestion lists and worksheets -PLAYLIST POWER – Giving you the power of the playlist. We play your favorite music, take requests, or take care of the selections for you. We do not force music on you that you do not want to hear. No surprises! – GUEST INTERACTION – leading off group activities / dances with The Cha Cha Slide, Thriller, Staying Alive (Disco Lesson), Cupid Shuffle, YMCA, The Limbo, The Apache (Old School Dance lesson), The Twist, all your favorites and more! (The only one we hate is the dreaded Chicken Dance, LOL!) -CEREMONY MUSIC – Custom ceremony music, planning & organization
–PROFESSIONAL GEAR – State of the Art Bose Tower L1 Model 2 Sound Systems. (Always request Model 2. It is the best!) … and never messy wires! (The DJ who allows this is LAME!)
–DANCE LIGHTS – Laser & LED Dance Lights to create an amazing dance experience you will marvel at. -DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY – Offering an affordable “The DJ Cam” Digital Photography package available, ideal for weddings on a budget, with an image disc provided that night -CUSTOMER TESTIMONIES – We provide a long list of happy customer recommendations and reference contacts so you can feel sure about using our DJs for your Albany wedding. Here are a few recent photos from our customers:
DJ Kenny Casanova is Albany’s alternative to all affordable wedding DJs
THE BEST ALBANY WEDDING DJ
(518) 506-3305. Affordable Wedding DJs in Albany, NY with a massive library of new music & classics. Plus, now Digital Photography & Laser Lights.
Albany Wedding on your horizon? Are you looking for a real fun DJ who brings with him top quality in music entertainment at very affordable rates?
NEW HITS & CLASSICS: Listen up! We love old school, but we are not your oridinary cheesy lougey disc jockeys who only play 80’s wedding hits like “Celebrate” and “The Chicken Dance”… We have all the latest hits with a great blend of the must-hear classics that are still relevant today.
CUSTOMIZED PLAYLISTS: DJ Kenny Casanova & DJ Maria of TheDJservice.com will rock your party and let you have a hand in the playlist. We do not force songs or activities on you for your special day… it is your special day, afterall! Let us show you why Kenny Casanova is “The Bee’s Knees of all DJs and Emcees”, and DJ Maria is the Capital District’s #1 female wedding DJ!
As a wedding and party specialist, DJ Kenny Casanova and TheDJservice.com brings to you:
DJ Kenny Casanova – Albany Wedding DJ
•Very affordable prices for today’s economy!!!
•High Quality Professional Gear; Bose L1 Model 2 Tower Sticks & Peavey
•Ceremony Music
•Great Digital Slideshow Projection Package
•DJ/MC experience since 1996
•Complete song library (All Billboard hits from 1947 to current)
•Music Video Package
•Karaoke & with huge track library
•Huge Intergalactic Laser Show
•Professional Photography “The DJ Cam” Package All-Digital on Disc
•Interactive events, dances, & activities
•Voted Capital Region #1 Karaoke DJ
•Radio Personality Experience
•Ring Announcer Experience: WWF / WWE
•Sports Broadcasting Experience
LOCAL ALBANY COUNTY SERVICES: If you are looking for an affordable & experienced DJ for your wedding reception or party with countless local venue hall relationships, our local Albany County office serves customers from Albany, Alcove, Altamont, Berne, Bethlehem, Clarksville, Coeymans, Coeymans, Hollow, Cohoes, Colonie, Delmar, East, Berne, Feura Bush, Glenmont, Green Island, Guilderland, Guilderland Center, Knox, Latham, Loudonville, McKownville, Medusa, Menands, New Scotland, Newtonville, Preston Hollow, Ravena, Rensselaerville, Roessleville, Selkirk, Slingerlands, South Bethlehem Voorheesville, Watervliet, and Westerlo, all on a regular basis for music entertainment disc jockey mobile DJ services.
CONTACT US NOW FOR WEDDINGS AROUND ALBANY NY! Call us or TEXT us at 518-506-3305, or email ken@thedjservice.com. Check out www.theDJservice.com for more information!
Kenny Casanova is a great Wedding & Party DJ in Albany, Upstate New York, VT and Western MA. Here are reviews:
Looking for an affordable and fun wedding or party mobile DJ in the Albany, Schenectady, Saratoga, Lake George & Hudson area? Here is a compilation of some review emails and recommendation letters from our customers to help you make your choice. There are also email contacts, in case you are looking for references.
WEDDING DJ REFERENCES & RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE DJS ON THIS SITE
“Hi Kenny, I just wanted to send you an email letting you know how grateful I am that we picked you as our DJ at our wedding. A great DJ is one of the most important aspects of the wedding and you kept the party going at our wedding for almost seven hours. When I got back from taking wedding photos with my husband, a friend came up to me specifically to tell me that for the entire cocktail hour, the music had been awesome. You checked in when songs were could have ran too long (parent dances,) you played all of the songs we asked you to at the right times, and then you totally surprised us by throwing out glow sticks and getting the crowd amped up! I will give you a 5 star review on every website I can find. I was hoping for a good DJ and instead I got a great one! Thanks for making our wedding day great!” – Laura (lauramsilverman@gmail.com)
“We want to thank you! You did an awesome job! It was a no alcohol wedding and everyone STILL had a blast! Best regards, – The Cutlers” (dcutler1@nycap.rr.com)
“Hey guys, I am so happy you were a part of our wedding day! You truly made the night perfect. All I wanted to see was everyone dancing and everyone was! At one moment, I sat and watched and it was amazing that almost every table was up and moving. You did a wonderful job and highly recommend you! I can’t thank you enough for helping us throw an awesome party! Sincerely, – Mr and Mrs Lutz” (lmmarquit@yahoo.com)
“Kenny was great to work with! He made sure that everyone was on the same page and that things (activites) were done when we were ready to do them … not on anyone else’s schedule.” – Jill (murphy12180@yahoo.com)
Wedding DJ Reviews
“Dear Kenny… Thank you so much for DJ’ing our wedding! It was so wonderful to have you there; I still get comments from our guests who say that you were truly amazing– and I agree 😀 …Steve still says, “He played what I would have wanted him to play, even though I never wrote those songs down… It’s like he was in my head!”
“You seriously and beyond a doubt you are, by FAR, the best DJ I have ever been in the presence of! You blended my wishes seamlessly with my husband; Country, Christian, Rock, Celtic rock… (I am the girl who likes country who was marrying the man who hates it). I don’t think Steve stopped dancing until the reception was over. I think he would have KEPT dancing forever, frankly. Thank you SO much!!! You made a magical night even better! Even all of the event Staff from Christ the King said that this was the best music they had EVER had there (I think they get a lot more older, conservative, christian weddings). They literally thanked Steve and I separately at least once per staff person. Steve was ecstatic at the light show and the glow necklaces and, even though that sounds like a rave, it was still classy, elegant and wonderful.
Your energy is electric and wonderful and we can’t thank you enough. You truly helped to make a memorable night even more amazing for everyone– our guests being happy on the happiest day of our lives meant the world to us and you delivered in full force. Feel free to use me as a reference if you ever want to! – Sincerely, Anna and Stephen Rogers.” (purebredmutt@gmail.com)
Same-Sex Wedding Reference – “DJ Kenny Casanova and his assistant were GREAT!!! Super easy to work with, very friendly/approachable and tons of fun!!! They made the wedding happen with entertainment, laughs, excellent music and they even danced and interacted with the crowd!! Overall, absolutely enjoyable to work with and I highly recommend 🙂 ” (colleen.usaf@gmail.com)
“Kenny went above and beyond for anything we asked. He was even able to point me in the direction of his super helpful website/blog to get some great ideas for my ceremony music (which went off without a hitch). Our wedding was in NY but we live in VA so that was stressful enough, but this guy was responsive to every single e-mail/request/question I had within at least a day of me sending it, if not hours. He was receptive to everything we wanted, he came dressed for the occasion, always attentive to every detail, and just overall wonderful. I was skeptical as to how my wedding would flow, and he set my worries aside from the very get-go by providing the best flow…ever.
As far as value is concerned: Best value. Seriously. For the service and peace of mind he provided me, I would have paid him double. So very affordable, and full of flexibility: Kenny did whatever we asked for him, I had to make a few last minute changes at the end for our entrances, and he was right on point.
Also, DJ Maria came along with him to help. She was awesome. While he was working the microphone and stage, she was walking around, asking me if I needed anything and keeping things organized. We honestly have only great things to say about them, and my wedding day was hands down the best day of my life.” – Calie Magill (calie.magill@gmail.com)
Albany NY DJ Reviews
“My family and I have used Kenny Casanova numerous times in the past years. Kenny recently was the DJ for my wedding and he was awesome! I did not have to worry about anything when I got to the reception. Music is key at a wedding, music can make or break your wedding day! Kenny MADE our wedding day. All of our guest are still asking who our DJ was and thought he was amazing. We had 181 guest at our wedding and NOT one complaint, the dance floor was packed all night, the music was great all because of Kenny. I highly recommend Kenny Casanova! He will make your event for sure!!!! I am so happy we had him as our DJ and you will too! Drop him a line!” – Liz “Lizzard” White – (lizzie84g@yahoo.com)
“You were so awesome last night!!! Thank you sooo much, I received quite a few compliments on you as the DJ! Your photographers were also FANTASTIC! The pictures are beautiful! Thank you so much for making our day amazing! – Best of wishes with everything!” – Paige Vallo – (vallop@sage.edu)
“We used Kenny for our wedding. He was great, he knew how to get everyone up and dancing, he even got involved and showed everyone some dance moves. He met with us and asked exactly what we wanted and went above and beyond. He also helped out when we got a little lost in the shuffle of the events at the reception that night. We had guests weeks after the wedding talk about how good he was. We have sent many people to Kenny to use, and all have been very happy with the service. We highly recommend him. He will go above and beyond your expectations.” – Rick Russel – (rickruss84@nycap.rr.com)
EMERGENCY DJ REPLACEMENT – “We found DJ Kenny on a fluke after our previous DJ had double-booked for our date and dropped us! When we were freaking out about this we decided to look around and find people in our area and came across DJ Kenny. Immediately after meeting him my husband and I both said to each other that the other DJ backing out was a blessing in disguise. DJ Kenny was absolutely fantastic and made our wedding AMAZING! …He was awesome with the music, intros, and keeping everyone moving. Several people came up to me commenting on how great he was and how they had never been to a wedding with so many people on the dance floor. We had wonderful vendors all around but DJ Kenny was by far the star among them all! — Jen (busacker.j@gmail.com)
“I really want to thank you and your amazing wife for all the great music and pictures from your DJ Cam Package!! You both were amazing and really made my wedding a great time!! Everyone raved that you kept the party going! Also please tell your wife that I’m extremely sorry a seashell flew out of my bouquet and knocked her in the head, lol! Seriously, you both were beyond fabulous!!! I couldn’t have asked for more! FYI I loved the ring announcement entrance!! Perfection!!! I will be recommending you to EVERYONE!!!” — Marrissa Manzer-Lachar. (rissa_m812@yahoo.com)
Albany Wedding DJ Review
KARAOKE JAM – “We just wanted to let you know again what an awesome job you did at the wedding. The DJ plays such an important part and can make or break a reception. You absolutely made it!! Rob was right, you are very good at what you do and we were so happy that it turned out so wonderful. We appreciate all of your hard effort that lead to such a memorable night.” — Al & Sue Schulz for son Rob, The Groom. (rschulz@rochester.rr.com)
“Hello Kenny! Sam & I just wanted to thank you again for what a great job you did DJ’ing our wedding last Friday night! Everyone has been remarking about how great the music was and what a blast they had. Thank you! Please feel free to use us as a reference in the future. You’re The Best!” — Keira & Sam (hello@keiralemonisphotography.com)
THEME WEDDING – “Thank you for making our Halloween Theme Wedding exactly what we wanted it to be; fun! The music was perfect and we couldn’t have asked for more from you. Let us know without hesitation if anyone is looking for a reference.” — Pete & Michele Sefcik (sweetpetex@aol.com)
“Kenny provided DJ service for my wedding. He did a great job, played just the right mix of music, and kept the guests entertained. I got a lot of comments from our guests on how good the DJ was. Thanks for the great job Kenny and crew!” — Todd Bovair (hotbodtodd@aol.com)
“DJ Casanova was spectacular! He really set the tone for our reception. He was professional, yet a lot of fun! He even saved the night! We had a slide show playing during dinner on the reception hall’s video system, and low and behold the sound didn’t work! It was so uncomfortable for a few seconds as the guests watched with no sound. DJ Casanova ran over, asked which song it was supposed to be set to, and within seconds it was playing right along! He even looped the song to fit the show and nobody was the wiser! I would HIGHLY recommend him again!” — Leah Stiles (leah.stiles@navy.mil)
Albany Wedding DJ
“I just want to say thank you again, for doing such a fantastic job at my wedding this past weekend! Everyone had a great time…I am recommending you to anyone who needs a DJ!!” — Liz Flynn Manzi (scarlet_75@yahoo.com)
“Thanks so much for making our special day even more memorable. Everyone loved your music.” — Jackie Tremont (JTremont1@nycap.rr.com)
“I can’t thank you enough for the great job you did at our wedding. It actually came off better than we had expected. The music selection couldn’t have been better. It was really just what we wanted; classy, subtle and enjoyable…. Being able to pull through last minute (in less than two weeks) was incredible. Thanks again! …especially on such short notice.” – Khaye & Dustin F. (7thanvil@gmail.com)
“Just wanted to thank you again for the wonderful job you did DJ’ing Joe and Amanda’s wedding , From the dancing to the karaoke everything went so smoothly, Thank you again for helping us move the food tables so the line went smoother… You were very professional and understanding and made their day turn out the way they always dreamed it would.” — Kathy Sidusky. (kathysid1981@yahoo.com)
Hey Kenny! We just wanted to let you know that you did a great job and we will always keep you in mind for any future parties. Thanks again! –Linda and Otto (otto.haye1@gmail.com)
Party/Event Recommendations
PARTY & EVENT DJ REFERENCES FOR OUR DJS
“Thank You! We most definitely will be in touch for future. You did an amazing job and I will say this was the first year where almost all the girls were dancing it was wonderful and we believe that was because of you, the music selection and the contests! Thank you again! — Amy Atwood, Waterford-Halfmoon Middle School (amycakes624@aol.com)
“Thanks again for a wonderful party, Maria & Kenny! The kids had a blast and I would definitely recommend you!! Take care, Reva.” (rkinnally@nycap.rr.com)
“Hi Ken, I just wanted to thank you for a wonderful party your experience made the difference I was so impressed with your music and professionalism. My sister who ran the party will be contacting you, wondering about your Christian music collection or seeing if you have done any Christian events. Again Thanks for making my daughters Sweet 16 super special.” – Celeste (ccoleman@mildred-elley.edu)
Ken, I wanted to take a moment to thank you for another great party. I would be happy to recommend you to anyone I know that is looking for a DJ. You are reliably, professional and most of all fun. In addition I thank you for staying longer than the scheduled time. We look forward to using you again for the NEXT Graduation party… one by one, the kids are all flying the coup!! Should you ever need a reference please feel free. — Tina Weber (facebook)
“Thanks for helping to make our meeting a really fun event! I’ve got 29 years with Altria and I gotta say that this was one of the top meetings we’ve ever done. You were a part of that success and we appreciate it.” — Jim Hubbard, Operations Manager of Altria Sales & Distribution (James.L.Hubbard@altria.com)
“I love going down to “The Karaoke Crocodile Show” at Valenti’s. Kenny is a real pro at this: great mix of music, a huge song list of karaoke tunes, and just good times all around. He really knows how to keep the party hopping! I recommend his DJ services for anyone hoping to give their event or party a time to remember.” — Brett Williams (bewny21@verizon.net)
“The DJ Camera Package was well worth it! Your pictures came out even BETTER than our photographer’s did!” — Karen Satone
“It was the best party ever! Everyone was dancing.” — Michelle Jankowski
“Thanks so much for a great party. You were so awesome. I have many people asking for your name and number so I wanted to make sure its okay to pass it on. I’m thinking it is. Everyone who came was wondering where I found you because you’ve been the best DJ at the many parties we’ve attended. Thanks again” — Ellie Bartow
“I had a ton of fun. It was so cool. That was my favorite birthday party ever.” — Brittney Fowles, age 9
ARE YOU PLANNING A PIRATE THEME WEDDING OR PARTY? IF SO READ ON!
Pirate Theme Wedding DJ in Albany NY
Well blow me down! You are actually thinking of planning a wedding reception with a pirate theme? Arrrgghh! We have had our hand in a number of pirate parties in and around Albany, NY and think we may have some ideas for you!
Well, after all, with the huge box-office smash Pirates of the Caribbean , the pirate-themed reception has sparked new interest, of late. And by pillaging and plundering around, it will be really easy to steal yourself some great tips for your party!
IDEAS FOR YOUR PIRATE THEMED WEDDING
Below I have categorized each aspect of a wedding reception, through the eye patch of a pirate. They hit all the bases and will give you some ideas that maybe you haven’t even thought of yet.
Pirate Theme Wedding Invitation
INVITATIONS – For wedding invitations, live the gimmick. Print them up on antique looking paper-stock, or age the paper yourself by staining with in coffee (How to Antique Paper). For the intro, start with an eye-catcher like ,”Ahoy! Come walk the plank” or, “Shake your Pirate booty!” Chart a course to your reception with location, time and date in the form of a treasure map. If you want to be REALLY creative and can afford a little extra postage, go to the dollar store and put the map-like invitation into bottles with corks and mail them out!
Any Pirate reception invitation will look more authentic when printed on tan paper at the edges, and maybe made wet with coffee or tea stains. This is normal. You can literally dip each invitation into tea or coffee water and then let it dry to make each invitation look antiquated with age. The older they look, the more convincing they are! You can also add some sand and little tiny decorative seashells or gold covered chocolate coins to each invitation.
Pirate Wedding in Albany NY
COSTUMES – Guests in costumes… You gotta do it! Nuff said!
PLACE CARDS – On each of the place cards, you can opt to write each guest’s name by adding “Pirate” or “Buccaneer” before their name (for example: “Pirate Paul” or “Buccaneer Bob”). You can also make up Pirate-related sounding names like “Peg-Leg Pete”, “Captain Carrie,” “Long-Tooth Larry”, “Blind-Eye Barbie”, “Scarface Sammy”, “Dirty Dog Donny”, and so on and so forth.
GUEST BOOK – You can also have your whole guest population sign their good luck wishes in a book with a huge feather pen… Or how about on a real Pirate flag, posted to the wall. If it’s a typical Jolly Roger flag with the white skull and crossbones on a black flag, it’s best to use a white-out, fabric pen or one of those metallic silver pens for their writing. These can then be attached to feather sticks and left on the tables.
Pirate Theme Wedding Cake
DECORATIONS – To decorate your hall, you know what to do, matey. Think about sailing the sea! You can use anything from sand and sea shells, to bowls of live gold fish. Also, remember to hang pirate flags and fishing nets all around the reception, for that extra finishing touch.
And for that eerie atmosphere, you can take out some of your Halloween decorations (cobwebs, spiders, skeletons, etc.). Here’s a great selection of skeletons. On a skeleton you can put an eye patch around it’s head, a bandana and/or hoop earring, color a few of the teeth with a gold marker, and hang Mardi Gras necklaces around it’s neck.
GUEST TABLES
– It would also fun to disperse those gold foil-wrapped chocolate coins, plastic jewels, and a bit of sand and seashells onto your tables. You can also use fishing nets over any kind of tablecloth for your tables. Stick rubber fish, seahorses, plastic oyster shells, lobsters and crabs in the fish net.
PIRATE BOAT PICTURE BOOTH – Picture booths are HUGE at weddings now (awesome example). Now add pirate theme, and BANG! You have a Kodak moment in the making. Have each of your guests pose as a pirate at a ship wheel with some kind of mast or pirate flag in the background. (If Uncle Jerry didn’t come in costume, remember to have extra pirate hats or bandannas around.) Make sure to have each guest ham it up and say, “Aaaargh” while posing for the shot.
Pirate Theme Wedding Centerpiece
If you are creative, you can also make a whole Pirate ship out of cardboard. You’ll need a few refrigerator boxes. Use a hot glue gun and/or duct tape to attach everything together is probably your best bet. Paint it up nice. It won’t take much, just decorate the Pirate ship with a Pirate flag, a mast, a plank (just a piece of long cardboard) and you should be good to go.
MUSIC – Music will really help the atmosphere and set the mood to your pirate wedding reception. You can either have the DJ mix in music from any kind of Pirate movie you can think of, or throw in an occasional Peter Pan, Captain Bogg & Salty, Toucan Pirates, or Jimmy Buffet. (Just make sure to only do it here and there between good songs, to add to the flavor.)
GAMES AND ACTIVITIES – should be lots of fun for everyone, if many guests arrive in costume. You can add pirates to any line dance with instant success. Also, you can try some kind of pirate Scavenger Hunt, or something to do with walking a plank, or picking something up with a hook set to music.
CANDY TABLE – BOOTY BAGS –You have seen the candy tables, right? When the reception is over, thank your guests for coming with booty bags filled with goofy prizes pirate booty such as toy compasses, foil-wrapped candy coins, or other treasures.
FOOD – Good seafood, of course, needs to be at least one of the choices! Ask your caterer on this one.
BEVERAGES – Pirates love their bottles of rum. It won’t be a pirate-theme without beverages inside real sweet treasure chests. If you’re not up to making your own treasure chest, there are a few really nice Treasure Chests can be found online. You can, however, easily make your own. Take a Styrofoam cooler and paint it brown. You can use gold ribbon to trim the lid and the base of the chest. Then take craft foam and glue panels on to the center of the lid in the front and the other directly below to make the lock. Around the treasure chests, throw around your gold chocolate coins, gummy fish, starburst candies (they look like little treasures), colored beaded necklaces and whatever cool treasures you can find. Then add the ultimate treasure, beverage bottles that only pirates would like. (Maybe Pete’s wicked Ale?)
PUNCH BOWL – Serve your sea faring guests grog or bumboo, made with Caribbean coconut rum for the adults and make soda based for the kids, from the bowls marked with or without an “XXX”.
PIRATE LANGUAGE LIST – You should name your tables as such and have pirate language printed out for people to get into the spirit. Here’s a list of pirate phrases:
Avast! (Hey!)
Aye (another way to say – “Yes!”)
Ahoy, me Hearties! (just like saying – Hello, my friends)
Blow me down! (expression of shock, disbelief, strong emotion, surprise)
Booty (treasure)
Buccaneer (a Pirate)
Dead men tell no tales (expression indicating to leave no survivors)
Fair winds! (goodbye, good luck!)Thar’ she blows! (whale sighting)
Grog (generally, any alcoholic drink Pirate’s drink)
Grub (food)
Heave Ho (give it some strength and muscle)
Jolly Roger (a Pirate’s flag – one with a white skull and crossbones over black)
Lookout (someone posted to keep watch on the horizon for signs of land or other ships)
Swab the deck (to clean the deck)
Shiver me timbers! (expression of shock, disbelief, strong emotion, surprise)
Sea-dog (an experienced sea-man)
Me (my)
Me Hearties (a typical way for a Pirate to address his crew)
Shark bait (foes)
Sail ho! (I see a ship!)
Shipshape (well organized, finished, under control…)
Yo-ho-ho (something Pirate’s tend to say, whether it actually means anything or not)
Have fun with whatever you do, and don’t be afraid to be different. Non-traditional wedding receptions are the ones people always remember, and isn’t that the point?
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!
