Did you know . . . More on Toasts

 In our last entry, we talked about toasts and how they can be one of the key moments of a wedding celebration.

Over the years I have seen some great toasts - and some that have made me cringe - but, when done right, they can set the tone that will carry the vibe for the rest of the evening (provided your emcee/entertainer/DJ is good enough to pick up on that vibe). The following is a collection of some of my favorite toasts that I have had the honor and pleasure of witnessing:

From Amy and Trent’s wedding, their Best Man told the story of astronaut Jim Lovell and his early days as a navy pilot. He was flying a mission off of the coast of Japan when he became separated from his squad. As he began to make his way back to his aircraft carrier the lights in his instrument panel went out. Suddenly he found himself flying alone, in complete darkness with no navigation system. It was like flying in the middle of a bowling ball. He seriously began to consider ditching the plane but that’s when he saw it: a shimmering tail of green on the sea below him, and anyone with maritime experience knows that that shimmering tail is phosphorescent algae that is left in the wake of a ship, so Lovell followed that trail which led him straight back to his aircraft carrier.

“So the moral of the story,” Amy and Trent’s Best Man concluded, “ Is that when you seem to be in your darkest hour, when all hope may seem to be lost, don’t give up, keep searching for the light that will take you back to right here where your journey began.”

On the lighter-hearted side was the toast from Lynn and Bryce’s wedding. Their Maid of Honor, Meghan, is a school teacher and this is an excerpt from her speech:

“I look forward to watching you two grow together, not only as a couple but as a family. If I’ve learned anything from your relationship, it’s that a love like yours can handle anything thrown at it. But just in case you ever feel overwhelmed as a new bride or groom, I asked my first-grade students to come up with rules for a happy marriage. To everyone here, please take note. These are great rules for any relationship. I think you’ll appreciate what the 1st graders had to say:

1)      Be quiet while someone else is talking.

2)      Give nice kisses.

3)      Don’t say hurry up. (Apparently, this student knows that Lynn and Bryce are always 15 minutes late).

4)      Stay calm during a fire.

5)      Say “I want you. No one else but you.”

6)      Hug each other before you go to work.

7)      Dance

8)      If you are allergic to something, eat something else.

9)      Have fun

And the most important rule:

10)   Keep hands and feet to yourself!

Let’s raise our glasses to toast Lynn and Bryce!”

And finally a snippet from Jessica and Alex’s wedding and their Best Man Christian:

“We are here to celebrate these two and the connection that they have. Jess, I'll be honest, I don't know you all that well, but I know Alex, I know the look he gets every time he talks about you, and when he and I hang out he talks about you often. Know that the love, the excitement, the nervousness, and maybe a little of the fear that you two are feeling right now is good, build on those feelings nurture them grow them together, make each other your one and only, be perfect for each other, push one another.“To quote Robin Williams in Good Will Hunting,’Find the little thing in one another. People call these things imperfections. They’re not, they're the good stuff. And then we get to choose who we let into our weird little worlds.’ You're not perfect, Alex. And let me save you the suspense, this girl Jess, she isn't perfect either. But the question is whether or not you're perfect for each other? That's the whole deal. Be perfect for one another To the bride and the groom: to finding the little things and to finding perfection in the imperfections To Alex and Jess …”

Sacramento wedding DJ Randy Bartlett likes to say “people don’t dance to music, they dance to moments,” and the toast is one of the key moments to create a moment on your wedding day.

Questions? click the pic ↓

~ QUESTIONS / CONSULTATION ~

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Did You Know: Winter Wonderland Not a Christmas Carol

Seasonal Song

The song "Winter Wonderland" has become a staple of holiday radio. Much like "Jingle Bells," "Winter Wonderland" was not intentionally written to become a Christmas carol, but evolved into one over time

The song was published in 1934 by composer Felix Bernard and lyricist Richard B. Smith. Smith resided in the town of Honesdale, Pennsylvania, and was inspired to write the lyrics of the song after seeing Honesdale Central Park and his own childhood home blanketed in snow. Smith actually wrote the lyrics while being treated in the West Mountain Sanitarium in Scranton, Pennsylvania, for tuberculosis.

~ REQUEST A CONSULTATION ~

Many singers have performed the song throughout the years, so much so that it is often a standard song on artists' holiday compilations. Some of the better-known and earlier versions were made by The Andrews Sisters and Perry Como.

"Winter Wonderland" has evolved into one of those songs that inspires visions of snowy splendor. Original lyrics feature a portion of the song mentioning young lovers being married spontaneously by a traveling "parson," a Protestant minister. Some thought those lyrics sent the wrong message to children, and another version was written with a circus clown, instead. The song has been sung with either bridge in place and even both in lengthier versions of the tune.

          

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Dubuque / Galena

Unique reception touches

Over the course of their lifetimes, many people will be wedding guests on several occasions. During the height of wedding season, weddings can run into one another, as the format and the festivities are similar at various ceremonies. Couples interested in setting their nuptials apart may want to enhance the wedding reception with a few unique ideas.

Who hasn't attended a wedding that seems formulaic? The couple enters, they do their spotlight dance, there's food, a bouquet toss and then the cake cutting. Guests may actually be able to predict what's coming next. While it is often customary and easy to follow tradition, that doesn't mean you cannot buck with tradition and offer a few creative ideas to make your event stand out.

Here are several ideas you can introduce into your wedding to add something special to the reception.

* Skip the big entrance. Those who were kind enough to attend the ceremony have already been introduced to the newly minted happy couple. Instead of spending the cocktail hour in the isolation of the wedding suite, mingle with your guests from start to finish. So much time is spent posing for pictures or being out of touch with guests, the cocktail hour can be a great time to sit and chat. Being with guests during the cocktail hour means you don't have to make that big entrance from behind closed doors. Guests will have all eyes on you when you step on the dance floor for your first dance together.

* Dance to an upbeat number. Guests are expecting a slow, sappy tune. What they may not expect is an upbeat song that shows you are willing to have a little fun. If you haven't mastered the waltz but enjoy a little quick step now and again, feel free to choose a tune that shows your excitement and love for each other.

* Encourage couples to dance together. It's often customary for the bridal party to join the bride and groom on the dance floor midway through the first dance. However, that leaves spouses or significant others waiting in the wings while their dates tango with groomsmen or bridesmaids. Instead, don't have assigned partners. Rather, encourage your bridal party members to dance with whomever they choose.

* Swap the garter/bouquet toss for something more meaningful. If you're part of a couple who feels the garter and bouquet toss has become trite, there are other ways to create special moments in your celebration -- ones that don't single out the singletons who haven't yet found their special someones. Use this time to present a small gift or token of your affection to someone on the guest list who has served as a mentor or source of inspiration.

* Choose one special component as an extra goodie for guests. Some couples feel the more they offer the better guests will view their wedding. Spending more money doesn't necessarily mean guests will have a better time. If you want to go above and beyond the ordinary, find one thing that you absolutely love and offer that at the party. It could be a flambe presentation, a chocolate or candy bar, a carving station with your all-time favorite food (even if that's PB&J), or a carnival-inspired automatic photo booth.

* Let them eat ... cookies? Some people just don't like cake. Therefore, why should a couple have to cut a seven-tiered white confection? Towers of different types of treats can be created from just about anything and serve as the perfect backdrop for that classic cake-cutting photo. A pyramid of cream puffs, stacks of brownies, a cookie castle, or cereal-cake concoctions can work. Some bakeries will decorate a "dummy" styrofoam cake, and then you can serve apple pie a la mode, if you desire.

* Stage a costume switch. Let's face it, dancing all night in a long gown takes some stamina. As the bride, have a more comfortable cocktail dress available to switch into for the latter part of the reception. It will also add some variety to your wedding photos. BR121621

Should You See Each Other Before Your Ceremony -- Or Not?

The following is a guest post from from NYC photographer G.E. Masana

Sure, it was an ancient superstition that bad luck would soon follow if the groom saw the bride in her gown before the wedding. And in today's modern world some couples still wrangle over the question whether to see each other prior to their ceremony -- but mostly for other reasons.

It's safe to say that most of the world's weddings couples already see each other as part of the wedding day process. In many cultures and religions, couples meet before the ceremony for rituals such as tea ceremonies, ketubah signings and garland ceremonies... and bad luck doesn't necessarily follow (upon further investigation it turns out if bad luck does follow it's always because of something that happened when the bride and groom saw each other after the wedding, not before. But I digress).

Yet other brides weigh in on the question citing tradition or talk about wanting to keep the mystique. Still, meeting earlier for photos does get you to your party sooner.

But there's one even bigger aspect to seeing each other prior to the ceremony that never seems to get talked about although it makes the biggest difference to the couple. And it's not about making more time for a cocktail hour or having "that" moment when she walks down the aisle.

No, it's about something bigger than all that. Something far more meaningful to the couple. Two things, actually. So let me show you what they are.

Even though I've photographed hundreds of weddings (I stopped counting at about 1,000) I've seen this over and over again. Here at this particular wedding (shown below), the bride and groom weren't going to see each other prior to the ceremony because they wanted to keep to "tradition" and they wanted to make that moment when they first saw each other, special.

But at the very last minute they had a change of heart.

That change of heart came because the time they had scheduled for photos after their ceremony was restrictive and also conflicted with their cocktail hour. And they wanted to have sufficient time to create great images. And they wanted to enjoy their cocktail hour. So they went ahead, somewhat reluctantly, and planned to do a "First Look."

By the way, I've often noticed that while many times people schedule their portrait session at the same time as their cocktail hour, no two other events of the wedding day are ever simultaneously scheduled. So let me propose we start now a new trend where the ceremony and the cocktail hour are scheduled for the same time. I believe guests may enjoy a cocktail or two and an appetizer while watching you two get married. Don't you? So please run this idea past your wedding coordinator and even if he or she says no, ignore them and let's get this thing going! Be the first one on your block. Be a trendsetter.

Back to my story. This couple met up earlier on their wedding day for their "First Look." And so they got "that" moment, in fact they were immersed in that OMG moment in a way they couldn't have been if the ceremony was happening. They enjoyed this alone time more privately away from the crowd, were free to enjoy sweet sentimental moments together... all good. Which by the way also makes for some special memories. And photo opportunities.

In fact you can see how high their emotions ran right here in the seconds before their First Look:

Obviously, meeting earlier free from the needs of the ceremony gives you more personal moments and experiences, adding memories to your day. Good stuff.

Everything that happens during the First Look is a unique experience you wouldn't have had if you didn't take that opportunity to be with each other. And that's the first plus I wanted to tell you about.

But now, afterwards, when it came time for their ceremony -- do you think the time they spent together earlier took any shine off the magic?

Well I need to tell you, it sure didn't.

Though he had spent an hour with her already, here's the photo I took when his bride made her appearance at the top of the aisle. Check out the expression on his face:

His eyes are tearing up. His lip is quivering. He's feeling it. And since I was there taking that photo I can tell you when she turned the corner and came into view -- these two immediately locked eyes on each other. They were beyond riveted with each other.

It was as if there wasn't a single other soul in the crowd -- despite the fact there was a huge throng of guests packed between them. Didn't matter. His eyes were only on her. And hers were only on him. 

You could literally feel their energy.

Now you may think that the moral of my little story is "and so Dear Reader, having a First Look doesn't take away the magic later" and that is the second point I wanted to tell you about. But it isn't.

This is:

I realized spending that quality, personal time together earlier on in the wedding day ramps up and fuels the emotions for when the magic moment finally comes when you see each other at your ceremony.
It can add more anticipation, electricity and passion to your ceremony. Because it adds it to your heart first.
All of which gives you many more unique moments of your day to experience, more emotions for you to bask in -- and many more memories for you to cherish.

ABOUT G.E. MASANA

Probably the only wedding photographer in NYC coming from the art world, G.E. Masana's (gemasana.com) roster of wedding clients have included, among many others, Vanessa Penna (Beauty Editor, ELLE), Kelly Keskes (Model, BRIDAL GUIDE), Jen Chapin (daughter of legendary singer-songwriter Harry Chapin), Barrie Gillies (BRIDES magazine), Gaines Peyton (SEARS-PEYTON GALLERY, NYC), Evan Galbraith (son of E. Galbraith, Ambassador to France), Craig Kanarick (CCO, RAZORFISH), assorted art directors, actors, opera singers, cinematographers, fashion designers, graphic artists and photographers.

He's been seen in BRIDES, BRIDAL GUIDE, TOWN & COUNTRY, NEW YORK MAGAZINE, STYLE ME PRETTY as well as other magazines and blogs. He currently writes about weddings for HUFFINGTON POST and served on "The List" of contributing photographers for MARTHA STEWART WEDDINGS.

He's been interviewed by the two leading international professional wedding photography journals, RANGEFINDER and STUDIO PHOTOGRAPHY. Recently he was awarded by the INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS for his wedding documentary photography. You can see more of his work at GEMASANA.COM

Did you know?

How much money a couple spends on their wedding depends largely on where they decide to tie the knot. While couples across the nation spend an average of roughly $27,000 on their weddings, the cost of tying the knot is considerably higher in major cities such as New York and Chicago. According to TheKnot.com, the average cost of a wedding in New York City in 2011 was a shade under $66,000, making the Big Apple the most expensive city in the country to get married. That's considerably more than the runner-up, the Windy City, where couples spent just more than $53,000 to get married. Couples who wince at those figures should know that there are more affordable places to get married. The state of West Virginia, for example, is the least expensive place to get married in the United States. Couples who tie the knot in the Mountain State spend an average of $14,203, nearly 80 percent less than their counterparts who walk down the aisle in the Empire State. BR131844

Did You Know?

 

For decades the month of June held firm as the most popular month for weddings. But statistics now indicate that there may be shifting preferences in the time of the year for marriages. According to The National Center for Health Statistics, July and August are now the most popular months for tying the knot in the United States. September and October have also gained momentum as premier months. Explanations for this shift vary, but it may have something to do with changing weather patterns and warmer weather now arriving later in the season than in the past. Also, getting married later in the year may make it easier for couples to secure their first choice of wedding venues.  BR131775

Everybody Knows Best

I think it was Ann Landers who coined the phrase “Everybody knows better than anybody” which of course means if the majority of people are giving you the same advice, it’s pretty valid.

We have been fortunate enough to receive many great testimonials from several of our past clients, which is enlightening for us to see and hear. We also have received several great comments from many of our fellow wedding professionals in the area. And the thing that pleases me most about those testimonials is that these come from vendors who are involved with weddings on a nearly every day basis and they, more than anyone, can recognize who is good at their craft and who is not.

Here are some of those comments:

“Mike is wonderful to work with and very professional!” Seeley Photography

“Professional, reliable, fun company. [It’s] always a pleasure to work with the Alexxus crew!” Grand River Center

“I have worked with Mike many times and he always knows how to keep the party fun and exciting. Mike's experience is his key to your successful wedding reception.” JMStudios

Does this mean our egos have gotten bigger and we want a raise? No, it just means that we are recognized as being one of the best in the service that we provide, that we are doing something right and we will strive to continue on that path.

Until next time

~ Mike ~

www.alexxus.com

What's the Difference?

A few days ago I was approached by someone who was planning a New Years Eve Party. They were leaning towards using an i-pod for their musical entertainment but thought that they would check out a DJ as well just to get an idea of the cost in case they decided to go that route.

Truth is this is a no brainer if cost is the deciding factor. There is no way I can compete with an i-pad that’s already paid for and full of music, but again, that’s only if cost is the determining factor.

If you’re looking to take the party to the next level of fun though this again is a no brainer. An i-pad cannot compete with me.

The difference is an i-pad can play all kinds of music. We program it. An experienced DJ knows what to play to get a crowd going, the key time to do an audience participation song, how to play to the demographic that is currently on the dance floor, how to get the demographic that is not on the dance floor involved and when to slow things down. Every DJ has their favorite ’sets’ of music to play - which is a combination of three or four songs that we group together for maximum affect. Only someone that has done this for years knows what those sets are.

A professional DJ also has the capability to react to the crowd, or play off of a situation, make key announcements and inform all of the guests of the itinerary so the hosts of the party can enjoy it themselves.

If you want background music, fire up the i-pad. If you want fun, call me. 

photo credit: Dan Diemer via photopin cc

50? Get my Dentures

so I’m listening to sports talk radio today, the day after the Super Bowl, and they’re dissecting the game and then they announce that they’re waiting for Eli Manning, who is expected to call in. While the hosts are killing time until then they begin to talk about the halftime show and Madonna, and they immediately begin to grill her. After hammering her on the lip syncing (which may be a good thing after enduring to the Black Eyed Peas performance during last year’s game) they turn to her age. She’s old, they surmise, she looks old, and she almost fell on those steps. Why didn’t they have a ramp instead of steps, especially for someone her age!  And they continued . . .

Madonna is 53, hardly someone ready for the retirement home, a nursing facility or social security.

 I’m no fan of the Material Girl, but I think I see a bit of discrimination here. I don’t remember The Boss, Bruce Springsteen, facing any age questions when he played the Super Bowl, and he was 59. Tom Petty was 57, Paul McCartney and Who members Roger Daltry & Peter Townsend were in their sixties, yet there was no criticism that they were too old too be hip or cool that I can recall. Why is this?

“I'm sure there is some gender double standard, but that's always the case,” says my good friend Chris. “Think about the "wardrobe malfunction": Who actually ripped the clothes off Janet Jackson's breast? Justin Timberlake. Who got the majority of the blame? Janet Jackson. Whose album sales and singles rocketed after ‘nipplegate?’ Justin Timberlake. Whose career, which to that point had consistently delivered top 10 hit songs, crumbled to the point she could barely make the Top 40 anymore? Janet Jackson.

“To be fair, Madonna has always relied on her looks and sex appeal, so it probably is more noticeable that a 50-year-old Madonna doesn't move like a 30-year-old Madonna, something you wouldn't notice with someone like Springsteen.”

I think it was Glenn Close who once said that an actresses career was pretty well over when Hollywood deemed her unf%^&*able. I could not find that quote on a web search but she did say “It is very difficult for girls. They're told to look one way, but to act another.” Amen Glenn. The same criteria does not need to be met for, say, Clint Eastwood, Harrison Ford, Robert DeNiro, Tom Hanks, and so on.

Maybe at 50+ myself I’m a little more sensitive to this. We have come a long way in our battle against discrimination, whether it be religious or race. I would hope that we would add age to it as well.

And in a “a-ha, you deserved that” moment Eli never did make the call, leaving the hosts hanging to fill time. I don't know, maybe at only 31 Eli is still too young to know how to use a phone.

End of rant. Now back to our regularly scheduled program.

The Christmas Orange

Passed on to me from Rick Brewer of Marketing to Brides:

The Christmas OrangeIn the very early 1800′s, a young boy about 14 years old named John lived in an orphanage in England along with several other children. Orphanages were dreaded. Orphan meant unwanted and unloved. The orphanage was administered by a master and his wife who were results of meager backgrounds themselves and were short on love but high on discipline. No childlike play, no expression of compassion, no understanding.
Every day of the year was spent working. They worked in gardens, cleaned, sewed, and cooked sometimes for wealthy children. They were up at dawn and worked until dark and usually received only one meal a day. However, they were very grateful because they were taught to be hard workers. John had absolutely nothing to call his own. None of the children did.
Christmas was the one day of the year when the children did not work and received a gift. A gift for each child — something to call their own.
This special gift was an orange. John had been in the orphanage long enough to look forward with delight and anticipation of this special day of Christmas and to the orange he would receive. In Old England, and to John and his orphan companions, an orange was a rare and special gift. It had an unusual aroma of something they smelled only at Christmas. The children prized it so much that they kept it for several days, weeks, and even months — protecting it, smelling it, touching it and loving it. Usually they tried to savor and preserve it for so long that it often rotted before they ever peeled it to enjoy the sweet juice.
Many thought were expressed this year as Christmas time approached. The children would say, “I will keep mine the longest.” They always talked about how big their last orange was and how long they had kept it.
John usually slept with his next to his pillow. He would put it right by his nose and smell of its goodness, holding it tenderly and carefully as not to bruise it. He would dream of children all over the world smelling the sweet aroma of oranges. It gave him security and a sense of well being, hope and dreams of a future filled with good food and a life different from this meager existence.
This year John was overjoyed by the Christmas season. He was becoming a man. He knew he was becoming stronger and soon he would be old enough to leave. He was excited by this anticipation and excited about Christmas. He would save his orange until his birthday in July. If he preserved it very carefully, kept it cool and did not drop it, he might be able to eat it on his birthday.
Christmas day finally came. The children were so excited as they entered the big dining hall. John could smell the unusual aroma of meat. In his excitement and because of his oversized feet, he tripped, causing a disturbance. Immediately the master roared, “John, leave the hall and there will be no orange for you this year.” John’s heart broke violently wide open. He began to cry. He turned and went swiftly back to the cold room and his corner so the small children would not see his anguish.
Then he heard the door open and each of the children entered. Little Elizabeth with her hair falling over her shoulders, a smile on her face, and tears in her eyes held out a piece of rag to John. “Here John,” she said, “this is for you.” John was touched by her youth and innocence as he reached for the bulge in her hand.
As he lifted back the edges of the rag he saw a big juicy orange all peeled and quartered. . . and then he realized what they had done. Each had sacrificed their own orange by sharing a quarter and had created a big, beautiful orange for John. John never forgot the sharing, love and personal sacrifice his friends had shown him that Christmas day.

May your Christmas season be filled with the thought of abundance and blessings we enjoy. It is our goal to be reminded to share with another and to keep in mind that while perhaps there were challenges in the past year, the best is yet to come!