Wedding advice: Be open to ideas and expertise

He asked. She said yes.

Now what?

Once you announce your plans to get married, there's a good chance that people close to you will be ready and willing to dispense their share of advice. Some words of wisdom will be priceless, while others you can store away for another day.

When polling married couples, you will likely find they would change "this" or "that" about their weddings if given the chance to do it all over again. Here is some advice that you can choose to follow for your wedding day.

Tip #1: Trust your vendors

Couples often have unique ideas for their wedding day. It may seem tempting to spell out what you want in minute detail and insist on wedding vendors carrying out your wishes to a T. But the smarter idea may be to give vendors a little more free reign -- after all, they are the professionals.

"I had a vision in my head of what I wanted my centerpieces to look like," offers Jean M., Connecticut. "I gave the florist my suggestions and the 'feel' of what I was trying to create, but ultimately Ileft the finished product up to her. When I walked into the reception hall and saw my centerpiece baskets overflowing with fall-hued flowers, berries and twinkling candles, I was so excited I had left it up to the expert."

When deciding on particular aspects of the wedding, you can give your general ideas, but leave the finished product to the professionals. Don't list every song you want the deejay to play or micromanage all of the poses the photographer should take. After all, experienced pros have likely done this dozens of times in the past and could produce results you never dreamed possible.

Tip #2: Scale down

Unless you are planning on auditioning for the show "Over-the-Top Weddings," it might pay to make your wedding more about being personal and less about wowing the crowd with special effects and expensive treats. It's easy to be lured into extra dinner courses or be persuaded to release doves at the ceremony, but will these extras impact your relationship or the life you will be building together?

"If Ihad to do it all again, I would skip the dessert bar I had at my wedding," says Alice C., Ohio. "The spread of pies, pastries, cookies, and chocolates certainly looked impressive, but it cost me a small fortune. Also, people filled up on the dessert bar so much, they no longer had room to taste my special-ordered wedding cake."

~Request A Consultation ~

Tip #3: Don't overextend

Your wedding will hopefully be a once-in-a-lifetime event. Therefore, couples often plan to spend a good deal of money to ensure their special day is perfect. Weddings are still viewed as a high-priority expense and most couples save for a long period of time despite sluggish consumer spending reports. According to the market research and analysis firm IBISWorld, nearly 60 percent of couples go over their budgets when getting married. Some do so at the risk of being in debt afterward.

"It can be easy to get carried away in wedding spending," shares Deirdre H., Michigan. "I went way over budget when getting my wedding gown and a few other components of my wedding. My husband and I struggled the first year of our marriage trying to fix our finances and battling a bad case of money-related stress."

Try to stick to a budget as much as possible so that you can enjoy yourself not only on the wedding day, but also long after the honeymoon has ended.

Tip #4: Keep it in the family

Selecting members of your wedding party can be challenging because there may be so many special people in your lives right now that you want to honor. Choosing a best man and a maid/matron of honor is a large responsibility because these people stand out in the wedding. Although couples struggle with their choices and want to please everyone, your safest bet is to choose a family member.

"I ended up choosing my best friend over my sister as maid of honor," says Clara T., Arizona. "Although we were very close at the time, we've since grown apart due to work relocation. My sister and I, however, talk and hang out frequently. I regret not having asked my sister to be my maid of honor, considering hers is a friendship I know will last a long time."

Unless you don't have close family members or your relationship with your siblings or cousins is strained, choose a family member to serve as best man or maid of honor.

It is easy to be overwhelmed when planning a wedding, and couples can expect to be bombarded with advice. However, it could pay to heed the advice of couples who have already lived and learned from their wedding choices. SB127285

          

Disc Jockeys  |  Emcees  |  Entertainers

www.alexxus.com  |  563-590-5815

Dubuque / Galena

photo credit: ^@^ina (Irina Patrascu) via photopin cc

Creative Wedding Intro Ideas

Recently before one of our weddings we met with the couple just weeks before their big day. As we began to go through the itinerary the groom was getting confused. “No, he would say, that’s not how it’s done,” and he would look at his bride-to-be for reaffirmation, but she would say “Well yes, that’s how it is done HERE.” The groom was from Boston, the bride from small town Iowa and they were just discovering that different geographical areas of the country have a different protocol when it comes to order of events at wedding receptions. We did kind of a combination of the two cultures and I think it was refreshing for both our east coast guests and our Midwestern folks.

The point is though there is not only ONE WAY to do a wedding reception, and mixing it up can make it fresh and help engage your guests. Take just the introductions for example. You could have your wedding party lined up and announce each couple (bridesmaid, groomsmen) as they enter the reception hall.

Or-

You could introduce each one individually as they enter with a one line intro on how they fit into your wedding party puzzle

Or –

You could introduce just the bride and groom, hand them the microphone and let them introduce their wedding party personally

Or –

 You could let the wedding party be seated with all of the other guests as they prepare for dinner then have your DJ/emcee introduce each of them and ask them just to stand and be recognized from their table and then have the DJ start the song for your first dance, introduce the newly married couple and then enter and go directly into your first dance.

REQUEST A CONSULTATION

Or -

You could have the DJ/Emcee introduce your wedding party while still sitting at the head table at the conclusion of dinner, ending with the Best Man, which at that point he could hand the microphone over to him to begin the toasts

Or -

Well. You get the picture. The point is there are several different scenarios for this moment – and this is just the introductions. Your wedding does not have to be a rerun of others that you have seen in the past. Don’t be afraid to create your own.

What ideas do you have to make your wedding your wedding.

Until next time

~Mike

          

Disc Jockeys  |  Emcees  |  Entertainers

www.alexxus.com  |  563-590-5815

Dubuque / Galena

Guest Blog: Party Light

With the right lighting you add many emotions to your party and make

it an unforgettable experience for everyone present.

Take your time with party preparations and start experimenting a few days ahead of time, especially with the lighting. Color is a must for every party. If you do not have colorful walls or

accessories, at least a few of the lamps should emit colorful light. A party that is lit by white light only does not promise a great result. The exciting thing about hosting a party is that you

can stage your usual environment playfully and differently. It does not need to be perfect, since improvisation is exciting and there are many there to enjoy the results. If you are planning a themed party, be aware that the lighting should go along with the theme. If you enjoy setting up lighting, why not integrate it into your everyday life? In the winter, colorful party lighting can make your space feel nice and cozy with only a few minor adjustments.

Party Lighting for Mild Summer Nights

The setup of your backyard outdoor lighting makes your outdoor space accessible and usable at night and turns it into a stage for mild summer nights that are ever so different from what you see during the day. With a party it is not so much about practical light sources, but more  about the play between light and shadows. Create many islands of light, and avoid making large illuminated areas. Form magical magnets in your yard by adding seating arrangements and plants that are illuminated from the inside. Trees and bushes are excellent things to illuminate 

from behind. When having a barbecue, a few lantern-type lights, in addition to some lit up plants are more than enough. The buffet of course should be well lit, as you eat with your eyes first! For a warm environment full of atmosphere you can use candles and torches.

 LEDs have a Party

Especially well-suited for your outdoor party ambience are LED lamps. They can provide light in all colors, are programmable and due to their small size are barely noticeable. They are  very energy efficient, easy to maintain and take up a minimum amount of space. A bar can be decorated extremely well by providing back lighting to all the different colored bottles. LED lit accessories are also essential to any party. Bottle coolers, coasters and LED candles are only a few of the things that are available with built in LEDs. If it gets too cold as the night progresses and your guests are ready to take the party inside, you have to be prepared. Turning on the bright main light upon the accidental flipping of a switch has to be avoided so the good mood is maintained. The best way of doing this is to implement a programmable lighting control unit which can be set to a "party mode".

You can find more useful tips on lighting at the website of the American Lighting Association.


TIP: Not too bright

Ensure that your inside living space does not shed too much light on your yard during an outdoor party, as this will certainly kill the mood

About The Author: Ingo Schaer is the President and CEO of Interior-Deluxe.com He has been in the lighting

business for more than 20 years and is holding a bachelor degree in Electrical Engineering. He regularly blogs on

a variety of Modern lighting and Interior Design topics, often focusing on practical solutions. You can find him on Google+

Did You Know?

There are many different reasons couples opt to get married in a particular month. Warm weather and the best chance for good photo opportunities spurs many couples to tie the knot during the summer months. Although June has long been the most popular month for getting hitched, times are changing. Numbers from the American National Center for Health Statistics indicate that July and August have had more marriages than June for the last several years.

In Australia, the insurance organization Million Dollar Woman indicates that October is the most popular month for tying the knot. In North America, the most popular month to walk down the aisle is July, followed by August, June, May, September, October, December, November, April, February, and March. January has the least number of weddings.

~ REQUEST A CONSULTATION ~

Couples who are looking to save money or avoid competition for vendors with other couples can use this information when choosing a date for their weddings.

Filename	SB137317.TXT
Issue Date	July 2013
Edition	Summer Weddings
Category	Bridal/Wedding Did You Know

The Missing Ingredient

Have you ever been at a party and when it came to an end there was still a lot of people wanting to continue - so they coerced the bartender into turning on the stereo or they went outside and cranked up their car radio. Funny thing is twenty to thirty minutes later the party dies anyhow.

Why?

"People don't dance to the music, they dance to the moment," says Randy Bartlett, who is a Sacramento DJ and producer of a series of disc jockey training videos [The 1% Solution].

The same can be said about an i-pod wedding. If you have ever been to one of those you may have noticed that a song will come on, people will dance, but by the following song they are walking off the dance floor.

Again . . . why?

~ REQUEST A CONSULTATION ~

And the answer for both scenarios is that there is an ingredient missing, which is someone that is an expert in music programming and someone who can react to the moment. Songs need to be matched, either by beats per minute or by genre, but more importantly - to the moment.

Did the wedding party come in with all of the guys waving a beer in their hand and wearing cowboy hats or seed corn caps (Drink In My Hand/Eric Church or She Thinks My Tractors Sexy/Kenny Chesney)?  Did the Maid of Honor reminisce about growing up with the Bride, playing with Barbie Dolls before graduating to their Justin Bieber days, during her toast (Barbie Girl/Aqua & Baby/Justin Bieber)?

So as you began to put your music list together for your big day remember . . . . it's not about the music, it's about the moments. Find ways to create moments on your wedding day and we can match the music to enhance them!

Until next time,
~ Mike ~

photo credit: The U.S. Military Academy at West Point via photopin cc

How long should a party be?

Determining how long your party should be depends on a lot of different factors. Will there be  a dinner served? How many guests will there be? What are the demographics? A four hour prom with 100-400 attendees is considered just about right, but a four hour birthday party for five or six year olds may be pushing it.

"A party should end when it shouldn't end, not when it should," advises entrepreneurial coach and Michigan wedding DJ Dan Nichols. "Ending a party before it dies down leaves everyone with the impression the floor was packed all night. It just feels better when people are left wanting more versus being completely burned out. "


A good guide for a wedding would be:

• Under 50 guests:    four hours
• 50-250 guests:       four - five hours
• 250+ guests:          five - six hours

Keep in mind that the more guests you have the longer it will take to get everyone there and the longer it will take your staff  to serve them. In each case it is ideal tho allow at least two but no more than three hours after dinner for preliminary traditions and entertainment.

Too much of a good thing is not a good thing.

Until next time,

~ Mike ~

Message in a Bottle

We've purchased ten sets of our MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE and we're giving them away FREE to the next ten couples that book us for their wedding, starting today April 12, 2013.

How It Works

Set the bottles on your gift table or registry table and invite your guests to write you a special message and then deposit it into the bottle corresponding to the anniversary to be read when that date arrives. How cool will it be to break open the bottles and read well wishes from your guests five, ten and even twenty years after your wedding day!

You will receive:

• Paper
• Seals
• Pens
• Five bottles
• Poster

The first set will go to our Grand Prize winner at the A Bridal Affaire Sunday, April 14th, 2013 from 12 pm - 3:30 pm at the Grand River Center

Stop by and see us then.

Photo courtesy of Photographs & Memories

Design by Imagine That

GROOM SCHOOL

Brides, Send Your Groom to Class

 

For those of us that have been in the wedding industry a number of years we have heard or seen too many times brides frustrated with their groom for what they perceive as a lack of help through the wedding planning phase. The typical answers they hear far too often from their fiancés when seeking their opinion on such things as color schemes, décor or bridesmaids dresses?

“Oh, I don’t care.”
“Whatever you think is best dear.”
“It’s up to you.”

After a while these phrases are like hearing nails on a chalkboard to an over-burdened bride. Could it be that these grooms really don’t care or could it be that they are already trying to prescribe to that age old theory that a happy wife equals a happy life, it’s just best to let them have their way? Or is there something more plausible?
For years the bride has been dreaming of her wedding day, taking mental notes from other weddings and critiquing the fictional nuptials she has seen in the movies. Because of that marketers have zeroed in on her. There are bride magazines, bridal shows, wedding planning websites whose color schemes are designed to attract the bride and even a cable television channel that hosts such bride-centric shows as Say Yes to the Dress, Something Borrowed, Something New and Four Weddings.
Is it any wonder why a groom questions where his place is in the wedding planning process?

That's all beginning to change with the growing popularity of the Grooms Workshop. The first one ever in the Tri- States will take place in conjunction with “A Bridal Affair” on Sunday, April 14^th at the Grand River Center, Dubuque, IA at 1pm. It will be a no cost, completely free event.  In it grooms will learn:

·         Where they can best help in the wedding planning process
·         What they should NOT be doing or saying
·         Key elements of a great speech
·         Microphone Techniques
·         Ways to impress their bride and WOW the guests

This is a GUYS ONLY event, so brides send your grooms (and they are invited to bring along their best man or a groomsmen) to join us.
This is just another piece of the puzzle that will help make your day the wedding that you have always dreamed of.

Making A difference

Michael J. Lenstra
Reprinted from the Disc Jockey News
www.discjockeynews.com

Michael J. Lenstra

January, 2013 -  As a DJ I like to feel that our community is somewhat making a difference, whether it’s by enhancing someone’s special event by entertaining their guests and creating a memorable moment or by offering our talents and/or our equipment for a special cause. As a community of difference makers, the tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut, is both inconceivable and unimaginable to us.

 However, I think we can relate to the great people that rushed to the aid of the victims within moments after the first shots rang out. People like the first wave of law officers that arrived. “I have no doubt that because of law enforcement’s quick response many lives were saved,” said Connecticut State Trooper spokesman Lt. Paul Vance. “I wish we could have saved more.” Or the more than six dozen doctors and nurses that assembled in a matter of 30 minutes at nearby Danbury Hospital in anticipation of treating the wounded only to be disheartened to realize that after the initial three victims no more would be coming.

Other heroes included the group of volunteer firefighters who provided a safe haven for the children at the local fire station as they escaped from the school. Another notable figure was school neighbor and retired psychologist Gene Rosen, who discovered a half dozen small children at the end of his driveway just moments after the tragedy, although at the time he was not yet aware of the situation. “We can’t go back to school,” one of the children explained to him. “Our teacher is dead . . . .”  Rosen took them in, gave them juice and some stuffed animals, and made arrangements to reunite them with their parents.

In the days that followed that heinous act of violence, more random acts of kindness followed. Local resident Michael Craigin, a former special education teacher and volunteer firefighter, felt the need to do something to help so he gathered up his bulldog Truman, parked his SUV at a local donut shop, and erected a small sign that read “My bulldog gives hugs.”  More than 100 passersby stopped to take advantage of the offer. Truman was not the only canine offering support. A team of golden retrievers–the Comfort Dogs, as they are known—and their handlers were sent by the Lutheran Church Charities from as far away as Indiana and Illinois to be there to offer support and an ear to scratch.

Another need was filled when employees from nearby Panera Bread stores volunteered to work behind the counter and in the kitchen at Newtown so that their company colleagues could attend memorial services for the victims.

Help was not contained to the local area. Writer Tom Cavanaugh from Los Angeles called the local coffee shop and donated $125 for 100 cups of coffee to be given away just to make a difference. The store’s owner, Peter Leone, thought it was such a good idea that he offered free coffee to everyone for the day. And the Wahlert Foundation in Dubuque, Iowa, along with other volunteers, teamed up with the monks of Trappist Caskets to offer free caskets to the families of the young victims.

The entertainment world was also quick to react in their own way. Many celebrities tweeted out their messages of support. Radio stations, both in the area around Newtown and nationwide, pulled songs like Ke$ha’s “Die Young” and Foster The People’s “Pumped Up Kicks” due to titles or lyrics that were deemed inappropriate, swapping them for classic inspirational songs like Bette Midler’s “Wind Beneath My Wings,” Eric Clapton’s “Tears In Heaven,” and even USA For Africa’s “We Are The World.” The studio behind the new Tom Cruise movie “Jack Reacher” delayed their premiere, as did the new Billy Crystal movie “Parental Guidance.” TV shows like “Haven” and “Family Guy” pulled their new episodes, and the Discovery series “American Guns” was canceled outright, as the networks felt the content in these shows could be viewed as insensitive so close to the shooting.

And maybe that word—sensitivity—is the way I as a DJ can make the biggest impact. Maybe a second look at some of the songs in my playlists or requests that I get might be in order over the next few weeks while the memories of that terrible day are still in people’s minds. Even an upbeat song like David Sanborn’s “Bang Bang,” with no connection to the events, might nonetheless need to take a little vacation simply to avoid an awkward introduction. Alice Coopers “Schools Out” might be another song to avoid at those end-of-the-year school dances.

The way I see it, for every one of these tragedies that occurs at the hands of a single person or two, thousands of other people show up almost instantaneously to offer help and support. Although they may not be the ones who the media focuses on, these people may be more representative of who we truly are as Americans rather than the perpetrators of these horrific crimes.

Michael J. Lenstra is a twenty-one year veteran of the Mobile Disc Jockey Industry, a full time entertainer, and owner of Alexxus Entertainment in Dubuque, IA and a monthlu columnist for the Disc Jockey News, a monthly national trade magazine based in Gey Eagle, MN

Disc Jockeys  |  Emcees  |  Entertainers

Dubuque / Galena

www.alexxus.com  |  563.590.5815

      

  

GUEST BLOG: Choosing a Successful Wedding Planner for grand wedding

As couples, start considering their marriage. They are often puzzled over deciding the budget, the guest list, food and other arrangements. With unique concepts, innovative designs, stylish fashion, & different cuisine, the fashion and nuance of marriages has been redefined. There will be a lot of questions about anything and everything from the venue, theme, meal, music and the wedding gown.

With the service and support of a professional wedding coordinator it is now possible to conduct luxurious marriages, without the added stress. The role of a wedding planner is that of a arbitrator, money administrator, artist and constructor of dreams.

Helpful Hints

·                    Do not be hesitant about approaching different wedding planners; this is a very special day in your life and it’s you who is going spend money hiring someone, hence make sure you are satisfied with the person you hire.

·                    Check the list of services they offer and prices.

·                    Ask them for the list of vendors they work with.

·                    What is their professional appearance (cards, brochures, website)?

·                    Ask them for references  and any testimonials from past clients.

·                    Tell them the idea of your theme and ask them their views on how to decorate within budget. Understand their creativity.

After you select an adviser that you like, notify them that you and your partner are willing to employ them for a certain package. Make sure you set up another meeting right away at the first moment possible. This is enough time to evaluate your contract and ensure that they do perform by contract. You should be able to understand the contract, comprehend it and keep in mind never, never sign anything unless you comprehend it. If there are any factors you don't consent with, get them changed by discussing it with your planner.

A marriage coordinator must be able to stay relaxed in the experience of hardship. Of course, he or she must be friendly and be able to work with you in a courteous and professional manner.

Therefore, by choosing a wedding coordinator you can make sure that your marriage becomes a amazing event and to the top of it all, you can spend your interest on the wedding vows rather than the preparations.

Author Bio: The guest post was contributed by Lucy, financial guest blogger from Manchester, UK. Wrote many articles on ppi claims . Find out more about her blogs @financeport.

The Right Banquet Hall

Think you'll be getting engaged this Holiday Season? Guest blogger Marcelina Harrdy has some tips on finding the perfect reception hall for your wedding day.

Choosing the Right Banquet Hall for a Wedding

When you first start planning a wedding, you’ll likely find there are many banquet halls available. Choosing the right one for your wedding can be difficult for this reason. However, knowing what you need can help you make the decision.

The Number of Guests

Choosing a banquet hall that is too large for the number of guests that you are expecting can be detrimental to your event. It will look like no one showed up to your wedding. A banquet hall that is too small may create excess heat and your guests will be uncomfortable. When searching for banquet halls, ask the owner of the establishment how many people will comfortably fit in the hall.

Décor Capabilities

Some banquet halls are so beautifully constructed that they don’t need many decorations to make it a perfect wedding reception location. Others need a bit of help from wedding flowers and more. Consider this when renting a hall because the expense of using a lot of decorations in a hall may end up costing the same or more as renting another hall that doesn’t need as much help.

Logistics of the Room for Furniture Arrangement

When you first look at a hall, it’s good to think about the placement of tables, head table, and where the DJ/Band will end up. Some halls are shaped in a way that only allows the entertainment to be in one location, which means the tables can only be in another location.  Other halls may have a bar in a separate room thus “splitting” your guests into different locations. This might be a problem if the dance floor in an awkward location or if you want a head table and there’s no room for one.

Grand Entrance Possibility

At most receptions, DJs or Emcees typically announce the arrival of the bridal party and newly married couple when they enter the hall. After the announcements, everyone usually gathers around the dance to take photos and/or the bride and groom have their first dance. Think about how this will play out with the banquet hall you are considering. Have they allowed enough room for your Grand Entrance?

Acoustics in the Hall

Some banquet halls are better acoustically than others are. The best person to ask for this advice will be a DJ or band that has played there several times. You may also be able to visit the hall when another event is happening to hear the music and judge the quality of the sound.

Think of What You Want and Then Find It

When you go out searching for a banquet hall for your wedding reception, first envision what you would like your reception to be like. Think of the décor, table arrangements, DJ placement, dance floor as well as costs and food service. With these thoughts in mind, go out to search for a hall that allows you to have all that you want. This is your wedding and should be just the way you want it!

www.alexxus.com  |  563.590.5815

Freelance writer Marcelina Hardy wrote this guest post. She has years of experience booking banquet halls for various events. She often teams up with fellow DJs a holiday party DJ San Antonio and New Year’s Eve DJ San Antonio company for her parties because of their flexibility and experience.

photo credit: brennan.v via photopin cc</

Video Highlight

More Quotes

I just spent a few days in Minneapolis at the DJ Conclave 2.0 produced by John Young and the Disc Jockey News. Besides the great information I picked up I also got some great sound bites, and although they are not from famous celebrities or public figures like those quotes that I had posted in an earlier blog, I found them inspirational and humorous none the less:

· “You want them to get that you care.”

· “If you don’t have anything to say—don’t say anything.”

· “We had a memory coach here last year. Ironically I can’t remember his name!”

· “If you’re getting nowhere with your e-mail, do something different.”

· “We have to get people to dance! We have to get white people to dance!!”

· “Wealth is not what you make, it’s what you keep.”

· “It’s not about what you do the best—it’s about what they want the most.”

· “We sell happiness.”

· “Telling someone they’re not your ideal client is like breaking up with your girlfriend. It’s not easy.”

· “Being the best is not a destination—it’s a journey.”

· “Don’t be noise, be purposeful.”

Until next time . . .
~ Mike ~