Music is Like Food

If you offer only Sushi on your buffet, half your guests won't eat it. Same rule applies to song selections.

Large groups of people with varying ages need a wide variety of song types / genres. Brides and Grooms who choose to micro-manage their musical menu at their reception often make it difficult for their DJ to satisfy all of the guests. I tell all of my brides that they can best utilize our songlist by highlighting several thousand songs, even though a DJ can play only about 55 songs at a 4 hour affair.

The highlights give us many choices to choose from and tell all about their musical taste. I go on to tell them if there is a song they MUST hear they should put a checkmark by it. Any highlighted song with a checkmark becomes a MUST PLAY, however, if there are 25 or more checkmarked and highlighted tunes then the guests will be unable to make requests. This situation can be detrimental to the overall success of the party.

After all, music is what DJ's excel at and in 99 out of a 100 circumstances having the discretion to play what is necessary (within the guidelines of music types set forth by the bride and groom of course) will result in a more gratifying experience for the guests, which is usually the ultimate goal of the bride & groom. Music can make or break a reception. Celebrations DJ's

Do You Have to Give an Engagement Gift?

December is the most popular month for proposals, 16% of engagements happen during that month full of the holiday spirit. But, January and February are close behind.   Engagements don’t follow the stiff structure that they used to so I’m going to help lay down the new rules of engagement gift giving here, by answering the most common questions.  Read the full story here:

Two Peas in a Pod

Luckily we turned out to be two peas in a pod, and after three-and-a-half years of dating, we got engaged. True to form, Zack surprised me with a poem chronicling our relationship, turned into an artful book illustrated by Attic of Curiosities. The simple ring held the diamond that had engaged his mother and grandmother, which we later complemented with a 1920s setting.  Read the full story here:

Luscious Bridal Bouquets

Making a bouquet for the bride is a very rewarding, but intense task. The pressure is astounding — not only are you trying to give the her the perfect accessory, you’re working with very fragile and perishable materials. The hard part is not going overboard with things, and keeping the bouquet as tasteful as possible. My original concept used hydrangea and green mums, but I had a moment where Tim Gunn from Project Runway came into my head and asked me to “Use my editing eye!” I left out those flowers because, when I really thought about it, they made the bride’s bouquet look more like a birthday party arrangement. The final piece was the perfect complement to her beautiful, dreamy, colorful bridal style. 
Read the full story here:

Save the Date: DIY

Have you heard of the notion of tying a ribbon around your finger to help you remember something? Well, this save the date will certainly help your guests remember your special event — without any string on their own fingers.  Read the full story here:

Parents / Grand Parents

Bride's Father:  In the past a big responsibility of the bride's fathers dealt with the financial aspects of the wedding and surrounding events. Today many brides and grooms are more independent and take it upon themselves to pay for 1/2, if not all of the expenses themselves. * On the wedding day, the bride is accompanied to the church by her father. * The bride's father escorts his daughter up the aisle and gives her away during the ceremony. * If the couple plans on a wedding breakfast, the father will sit next to the bride at the main table during the wedding breakfast. * The bride's father makes the first speech at the wedding breakfast (this is when he makes a toast to the bride and groom.

Bride's Mother: The bride's mother helps her daughter with every aspect of the wedding that the daughter includes her in. Such aspects she helps her daughter with include but are not limited to; the wedding arrangements and decisions, compilation of the guest list, and sending out invitations. The mother should help in any way possible while keeping in mind that this is her daughter's day. * The mother of the bride not only stands proudly watching her little girl get married, but she also sees to it that all arrangements are carried out as planned. * The mother of the bride also stands in the receiving line to greet the guests, along with her husband. The mother of the bride sees to it that all arrangements are carried out as planned.

Groom's Parents:  Although the groom's parents are just as important as the bride's, there are no traditional roles that the groom's parents carry out on this special day. It is also important to make sure that the groom's parents don't feel left out of this joyous event. Today, it isn't unusual for the groom's parents to make a considerable contribution to the event, where as in the past, it was said that it should be a wedding obligation of the bride's family. As said previously it is even more common to see many independent couples who take it upon themselves to pay for 1/2, if not all of the expenses themselves. On the part of the bride, it is in great taste to ask the advice and approval of her future in-laws, and to make sure they are included in as much of the wedding preparations as possible.

Cutting Costs

Vendors: Ask wedding vendors you're dealing with for discounts. Are you or your future husband in the military? Sometimes there will be a discount for military. It never hurts to ask. (Where NOT to cut costs: These will last a life time, your photographer. (Letting your photographer go after the important events, will save you as well, ASK) - Music will make or break your day. If you hire a DJ, they will act as MC, organizer for the day and keep it moving. If they say they don't do that, find someone else, again, ASK)

Note: When hiring any vendors, get it in writing......READ the contract. If you have any questions, ASK. It never hurts to ask, at worst, they say no. Pay with a credit card. If any issues, you can call your credit card company, they will go to bat for you. Cut More Wedding Planning Costs Tips Here: