This could have been a better wedding if...

Contain the party to a single room!

DJ April — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 21:35:33 +0000

There are many beautiful banquet facilities out there, but they’re not all necessarily ‘reception friendly’. When shopping for the location of your wedding day, try envision the evening. An ideal reception will have no more than three locations. The first location would be the church or beach where the ceremony is being held. The second location might be a cocktail hour outside of the main reception room. After the cocktail hour, the rest of the event should remain in one room.

Remember, you are the couple that everybody is there to see. Wherever you go, your guests will go.

Here are a few additional tips:

If the venue puts the bar in a completely separate room from the dancing, you can rest assured that your guests will get caught up at the bar and will forget that there’s music. If you’ve already selected a venue with the bar in a separate room, make sure that the bridal party refrains from hanging out at the bar. Get them back out on the dance floor by heading there yourself.
There will be smokers at your celebration. However, you don’t want the smoking area to be more appealing than the reception. As you shop, think about where the smokers will go and try to select a location where the guests will have their cigarette and come right back in for some fun.

Keep it on the dance floor and enjoy your special day!

Assign someone (not in the wedding party and not in the immediate family) to be the Gopher!

DJ April — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 13:28:01 +0000

Sometimes this happens in the church after the ceremony, when another wedding is scheduled to come in just a few minutes. Sometimes this happens when the bride and groom are waiting – as the sunset is going down!

Don’t let this happen to you! There are two things you, as the bride and groom, can do to make your wedding photography flow smoothly and seamlessly. First, talk to everyone in your family and wedding party and remind them of the importance of these pictures and that their cooperation is essential. Remind them that, after the ceremony, they will need to meet for photography. Tell them where the meeting point is – usually at the altar – but it can me anywhere, as long as they know and are reminded about it.

The second thing is to assign your “Gopher”. This person is a friend or family member not in the immediate family (and who will not be in most of the photographs). Let them know that they are responsible for tracking people down and rounding them up for their pictures. This will save you a lot of time when time is precious. This is a very simple, yet so very important thing to do. Remember to inform your Gopher about the meeting place after the ceremony and be sure they know who everyone is and where they have to be. This way, you family and formal photography will go according to your plans, without wasting any time, keeping you calm and giving you fantastic results.

Wedding Tips from Jack at www.CustomEyesPhoto.com

I wish there was more dancing

DJ April — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 17:34:02 +0000

The ceremony was beautiful, we had fun having our pictures taken with the photographer, dinner was delicious and our first dance was memorable. But after that…. nobody danced.

At any wedding celebration, you definitely want an experienced DJ. One that carries a wide variety of music so there’s something for everybody. A good DJ can read the crowd and create a playlist that’s perfect for the party.

However, every now and then, even the best DJ can struggle with getting the crowd off their seats. Why does this happen and what can be done to help?

First, it’s important for you to understand that if your guests simply aren’t dancers, there’s nothing the DJ can do to get them to start now… at your wedding celebration. If this describes your family and friends, then just enjoy the company and the great background music.

However… there is a way that you can help encourage dancing. From experience, I can guarantee that if the bride and groom and even the bridal party gets on the dance floor, the rest of the guests will follow. Guests want to be where the happy couple is. If you hang out at the bar, that’s where your guests will be. If you’re sitting in your seat, guests will want to sit and visit with you. But if you’re on the dance floor, your guests will get up there and dance the night away at your wedding!

So when your big day comes… put on your dancing shoes and have some fun!

Shopping for best price

DJ April — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 00:03:06 +0000

In these difficult economic times, planning a wedding can be very difficult. Bride’s have dreamed of this day for so long, but the cost of a wedding can be high if you’re not careful. Being a DJ myself, I often get calls from a bride and the first question is ‘how much do you cost’. While this is definitely an important question, be careful that you still shop for quality.

In the case of a DJ, you want to be sure that you hire somebody with wedding experience. When shopping by price along, you’ll probably end up with a DJ company that subcontracts the DJ that will perform at your wedding. While you can get lucky and end up with a terrific DJ, the chances are that you’ll end up with a DJ that has very little experience in weddings and will not help to coordinate the events of the evening. A quality DJ is not only responsible for the music, but they are also responsible for the announcements of the bridal party, the coordination of the first dance, the cake cutting, the garter/bouquet toss, the toasts and any other formalities that you plan for your evening. Coordinating these events doesn’t just mean making an announcement. A quality DJ will first make sure that all parties that are involved in the formality are available and ready. For example, you definitely don’t want your photographer to miss the cake cutting…. but unless the DJ tells the photographer it’s happening, you’ll get no picture.

So while you’re looking to cut some costs…. be careful where you cut them. A quality DJ can cost less than that cheese platter that you’re providing during cocktail hour. At the end of the evening, your guests won’t remember the cheese platter, but they sure will remember whether or not the DJ helped to make the celebration a great success!

When to Contract a Bakery for Your Wedding Cake

A Slice of Heaven Custom Cakes — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 22:04:56 +0000

The industry standard for a wedding cake purchase is clearly 3 to 6 months prior to your event. It usually is one of the last items that is purchased, however several things should be considered effecting the availability of one of these professionals. As a owner of a cake specialty bakery, I have noted some considerations that Brides and Grooms should think of.

Is it a novelty date? 7/7/2007, 10/10/2010, etc. These date book out sometimes over a year in advance.

When is the high season for weddings in this region. Florida has two high seasons, Oct/Nov and again in Jan thru May.

Do I really want a specific artist to do your cake. If so book a tasting, agree on a cost, and dont hesitate to contract them.

Have you contracted a venue and or caterer. Absolutely have your venue booked first before seeking a cake baker.

Our shop has has a policy not to book a tasting design session with Brides further out than 9 months, it is just to early for most.

Whenever you decide that you are comfortable contracting your cake artist, by all means check them out and only hire a professional that is skilled in exactly that. Custom Cakes…

I was able to relax and enjoy . . .

Adam Crown Photography — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 13:55:36 +0000

Some brides can be so nervous that they just don’t have fun on their happiest, special day. If you think you are prone to being somewhat nervous in stressful or unfamiliar situations, try some of these techniques to help keep yourself focused, on track and most of all, able to look back and say, “Wow, I really had a lot of fun on my wedding!” PRACTICE these techniques before your wedding so that you will have some level of assurance in using them BEFORE you really need them.

Breathing is something we do every day and we certainly don’t think about it. But when you start to feel stressed or nervous, remember this breathing relaxation technique. Simply stop whatever you are doing and close your eyes take a deep breath inhaling through your nose, with your mouth closed. Relax your belly so it bulges out when you are inhaling. Make it a deep breath, but not so that it is uncomfortable. Hold it in for just 2 or 3 seconds. Keep your eyes closed and exhale through your mouth with your lips forming the word “Oooo” (not “Oh”). Pause for 2 or 3 seconds and repeat one or two more times.

This, by the way, is the same technique used by Buddhists and cigarette smokers, so we know it works; although I don’t know about Buddhists who smoke – that data has not come in yet!

Visualization is also something that can be used by itself or at the same time as the breathing to increase the relaxation effects. Here are a couple of examples.

Quiet place visualization (easier):

While breathing (example above) imaging yourself on the beach, listen to the waves crashing over themselves, hear the gulls cawing, feel the sun and the warm breeze on your face, see the sun blazing, the clouds passing slowly by and the palms slowly waving. Make your visualization as vivid as you can.

Cleansing breath visualization (Buddhist derivation – more difficult, but better results):

While you have your eyes closed and you are breathing, imagine the air coming in through your nose; think of it as though it were hundreds of small colored dots, red, green, blue, orange. As you breathe in and you feel your belly bulge out, imagine these dots bouncing around and off one another and going down your wind pipe and into your lungs. Visualize them becoming oxygenated in your lungs and turning brightly colored. Now imagine them going up into your brain and attaching to all of your stressful thoughts. As you exhale, imagine these air-dots coming down from your brain, back to their original colors, and flowing quickly out of your mouth, taking a large part of the stress back out of you and flowing away in the breeze. Make your visualization as vivid as you can.

I hope this helps you get more fun out of your wedding!

Guestbook and Picture Signing at the reception

bradentondj — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 12:58:44 +0000

There are two items in particular that this post applies to:
your Guest Register, and some couples also have a large, matted picture frame that they want guests to sign.

After your wedding day, the last thing you need is a wedding guest book, or picture frame that’s half empty, and as an entertainer, I see this nearly every week.

Most couples place these items near the entrance, which seems perfectly logical. However, most of your guests will arrive at the same exact time, and may be more interested in finding their seats, and getting inside for the cocktail hour, rather than waiting in a line at the door just to sign in.

A better position would be someplace that your guests are likely to pass several times during the reception, such as near the Wedding Cake, or even near the service bar area.

Also ensure that the signing area is well lit. Many older guests that may not be able to see well in low-lighting situations like the reception, will be tempted to just skip signing altogether.

Additionally, ask your entertainer to make some periodic announcements reminding your guests to sign.

Another idea we’ve recommended to our brides, is to ask one or two of the attendants to go to each table during the reception (WITH THE GUESTBOOK, or picture in hand), to encourage people who didn’t sign on their way in to do so.

Finally, consider bringing the guest book or picture frame to the rehearsal dinner, or even to the ceremony so that your closest friends and family have extra time to sign.

With close attention to these details, you’ll both take away a priceless memento of your wedding day!

If only I positioned the card box in a better location

DJ April — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 09:22:27 +0000

Through the years, I have noticed many gift tables (including the card box) are placed outside of the main reception room. Maybe in the lobby where the cocktail hour is being held, or near the door right outside of the reception room. We get so caught up in our special day, we never consider that somebody might be tempted to lift a few cards in hopes to find some cash. Worse yet, when the gift table isn’t in a location where it can be watched, somebody can walk off with the entire card box.

When making your plans, don’t risk the safety of your gifts. Be sure to include a place for them in the main reception area. And don’t forget to give somebody the assignment of getting the gifts to safety after the reception.

Don’t risk a bad ending to your perfect day by thinking ‘it won’t happen to me’. Take precausions and enjoy!

If only I placed my DJ in a better location

DJ April — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 13:20:46 +0000

When deciding how to arrange the room where the reception will take place, many couples (and banquet facility managers) focus ONLY on the general appearance of the room, and fail to consider the practical impact as it relates to proper placement of the entertainment.

There are many suggestions online about the placement of the head table, and how to arrange the guest tables, but there are very few helpful suggestions regarding the positioning of your entertainment (which may have a serious, detrimental impact on your guests enjoyment of your reception).

As a DJ, there have been so many occasions that, when arriving at a facility, I am told “The DJ table is back in that corner…”, with tables between that corner, and the dance floor in the middle of the room.

While this setup may seem visually appealing, there are many reasons why it’s a bad choice:

The tables between the DJ and dance floor will have a very uncomfortable experience during the evening, especially in the case of a large wedding.
The DJ is faced with an awkward decision…. Either play the music soft enough so the tables in front of him can enjoy the evening, or play the music loud enough so that the energy can be carried through the room and the tables in the back can enjoy the music.
When a DJ is stuck in the corner, the visibility for the DJ to events that are happening during the evening is diminished. It’s very difficult to effectively Emcee the event, coordinating music and making announcements, when you can’t even see what’s happening.
A good wedding DJ is entertaining, and motivates the guests throughout the event by interacting with them, and servicing the many requests that are made. But from a corner location, the DJ is so much less accessible, and your guests will be less likely to request the songs that they really want to hear. When guests can’t hear the songs they want to hear, they’re likely to leave your reception early.
We make every attempt to raise our mid-range speakers up high on poles to attempt to focus the main sound levels over the heads of the guests seated at the tables between the DJ and the dance floor. However, for larger receptions, DJ’s typically use sub-woofers to create a better sound, and there is no way to redirect the output of these low frequency, yet powerful speakers when the dance floor is not immediately in front of the DJ.

With close attention to this major detail, none of your guests will complain or be annoyed because of a perceived loud presentation!

So for a successful reception with great dancing, proper sound levels, interactivity and maximum enjoyment for your family and friends, physically position your DJ immediately adjacent to the dance floor.

Welcome Brides & Grooms!

DJ April — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 12:42:34 +0000

We are professional wedding disc jockey’s that have performed at thousands of weddings through the years. We have performed at a lot of weddings that could have been perfect if only the bride and groom had some guidance. In this blog, we will post some thoughts and ideas that can help make your wedding day become a dream. Most of the posts will be simple thoughts that you, the bride and groom, just haven’t thought about since this is the first time you’ve ever planned an event. Weekly updates are planned for this site, so check back frequently!

Wishing you all the best as you plan your own unique wedding day!

Stephen & April
Bradenton DJ
http://BradentonDJ.com