Why are you getting married? Remember the why of weddings : From the WeddingWire Forums
Ali writes:
I thought I would share this quote with all of you from the book: A Practical Wedding by Meg Keene that I am currently reading, and I needed to hear…
“Weddings are about hope. Weddings are hope for the future, hope for a new generation, and the hope that love and family can win over everything else. Weddings are not more important than life, nor do they stand apart from life, but they represent something bigger than us, something larger than the dress we wear or the flowers we carry. So on the days it seems too hard to go on, too hard to pick out flowers in the face of deep pain, remember the why of weddings. When life leaves us a puddle on the floor, weddings allow us a reason to hope and give us a brief, shining moment in the sun. They allow us to celebrate who we love with the people we love, which is always, always necessary.”
That is one of the most heartfelt testimonials that I have ever heard when it comes to weddings. In reading it a second time, I think it carries a lot of different meanings. If you’re in the midst of planning your wedding or possibly nearing the end, these are great things to keep in mind.
1. Remember why you are celebrating your wedding. A wedding is the union of two people for the rest of their lives. That is a momentous occasion that most certainly requires celebration. How you celebrate is up to you.
2. Don’t sweat the small stuff. With all of the moving parts that go in to producing a successful wedding celebration from the dress, to the yes, and the ride home from the venue, it’s a lot to conquer. In addition to all of the basics, there is still quite a bit to consider when it comes to making your wedding a unique experience that fits your personality and taste. But how much is too much? Don’t bite off more than you can chew and ask for help when you need it.
3. Make the end result your priority. At the end of the day, YOU’RE MARRIED to your best friend, partner, and soulmate. No matter what you choose for decorations, attire, or accessories, you’re going home with the ultimate prize, your spouse.
HOW TO AVOID BAD SONG REQUESTS AT YOUR WEDDING:
Music. It’s the life blood of any party. It makes you laugh or cry. It makes you dance or sing. Each song carries purpose and had a time and a place. Weddings are a melting pot of ages, personalities, music preferences, and dancing styles. Your grandparents may have cut a rug back in the day with some Glenn Miller. Your folks may have rocked out to The Doors or grooved to the Temptations. And if you’re in your 30’s, Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears were the soundtrack of your youth.
With every genre and every album ever made, not every single is a winner on the dancefloor. Nobody wants to hear bad song requests at your wedding. So where do people draw inspiration from to dance? It’s gotta have a hook, a memorable melody, and a bassline that just makes you want to tap your feet. If you are an avid indie rock fan, chances are, your tastes differ very much from the mainstream music scene. But worry not, there’s hope for your genre yet. Indie music is excellent for things like cocktail hour and dinner because it’s great for listening. It might be a bit folky for the dancefloor but it has it’s time and place.
But what if you’re not into top 40 music? Consider this. If you’re inviting 150 of your friends and family, they are going to want to dance. And the more smiles you see the day of your wedding, the better. People will dance to what is familiar. Your DJ might toss in some classics for good measure that guests young and old will remember. Timeless music that you grew up listening to in dad’s truck or mom’s van on the way to soccer.
Those are great opportunities to fill the dancefloor as it appeals to the masses. But there is always one guest who likes to test the waters musically. He’s the guy that you warned us about. The one you said, “If he comes up to you, DO NOT PLAY HIS SONG!” You know your guests better than anyone else and know their personalities just as well. Be sure to be very clear with your wedding dj on the type of environment you’re trying to create for your special day. What works for one, might not work for another. If you’re looking for a knock down drag out dance party, top 40 is your go to for crowd pleasers and upbeat tunes. If you’re a rocker, the 80’s and early 90’s are a great place to be. Likewise, we want to make sure that we aren’t playing any songs that might stir up bad memories or are inappropriate.
Looking for something different in the Groomsman Gift department? In a sea of monogrammed money clips, bottle openers and flasks, grooms are definitely at a disadvantage when it comes to original keepsakes for their bro crew. Off The Cuff Collection offers a classy but cool gift option that the guys can wear on their wedding day and beyond.
Made of upcycled, often vintage, bottle caps, each pair of cuff links is hand crafted by artist Anne Corsak in her home studio in Shelton, CT. Some of the favorite beer brands are Pabst Blue Ribbon, New Belgium Fat Tire, Guinness, and Miller Lite. Non-drinkers are also drawn to the iconic logos of Pellegrino, Diet Coke, Dr Pepper, and Pepsi.
If your groom-to-be is more of a craft beer lover, OTC specializes in custom orders as well. In addition to the bottle cap brands, the finishes are also customized – with a choice of shiny silver, antique silver, antique brass and pewter.
Word on the street is that in addition to the classic cuff link designs, Off The Cuff Collection will be adding vintage inspired tie tacks and pewter rings and earrings for ladies! Shop the Etsy link below and check off “guy gifts” from your wedding list today!
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A Stress Free Wedding Day – The Importance of a Pretrial
As a new bride, there are a lot of details that need to be worked out before you walk down the aisle. When it comes to your look – the dress, the shoes, the jewelry, and the hair and makeup have to be just right. When deciding to get your makeup and hair professionally styled, a pretrial is a must have. Pictures on Pinterest or The Knot might inspire you for a certain look, but trying out these ideas ahead of time will insure you look exactly the way that’s right for you. Can you imagine trying on a wedding dress the day of your wedding without slipping it on ahead of time! Hair and makeup are no different!
Doing a pretrial also lets you live in the look, allowing you to see how long the makeup wears throughout the day. We recommend booking your pretrial on a day that you are going out and if possible dance the night away as you would on your wedding night. When you visit us for your pretrial expect to spend at least an hour with us so we can go over all the details of your big day such as colors, themes and dress style so we can create a perfect look to capture your vision. Once we have applied your make up and styled your hair to your loving we will then have records of all the details. We also go over our arrival time and location to insure all of the details are settled before the big day. If after your make up and hair is done and you decide on a tweak or two, we encourage you to reach out to let us know before the actual day. We want to make sure your day is a stress free as possible! It’s better to make these decisions ahead of time so changes and adjustments can be make with no surprises.
Taking the time to meet your stylists is a great way to talk more about the schedule of your wedding and also to determine the logistics surrounding your bridal party and others that may also be getting services done. A prepared bride is a happy bride!
Booking your pretrial well in advance makes the most sense as the season fills up quickly and popular dates are reserved on a first come basis. On the day of the pretrial, we recommend that you come with your face freshly cleansed, toned and moisturized to make sure the PH balance of your skin is at its best. Please wear something white or as close to the color of your gown as possible. Bring your inspiration pictures and we can go through and see what looks and colors will match up with your features the best. Feel free to bring any swatches as well.
Think of your pretrial as a fun way to pamper yourself and to be confident about wearing your beautiful bridal look. Maybe you can even convince your husband-to-be to join you for your night on the town so he can fall in love all over again with gorgeous you! Call 203-929-6024 or email makeupbyss@gmail.com to schedule an appointment! A Touch of Color Make Up Studio, 194 Leavenworth Road, 2nd Floor, Shelton, CT 06484
Wedding Wire Award Winner 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015
Pryme Tyme Entertainment wants YOU!
Part Time – Paid Entertainment Apprenticeship
Think you have what it takes to be a PTE DJ? Pryme Tyme Entertainment is currently looking for talented individuals who want to take their career to the next level. We LOVE what we do and have a passion for entertainment. Are you currently an experienced mobile DJ who is looking to join a team? Just starting out as a DJ in high school or college and want to take your passion to the next level? Have a specialty or a strong cultural background in music? Let us know! We pride ourselves on being able to entertain the most diverse of guests. Prior experience is a plus but not necessary. Training is available.
Our mission is to create a fun and engaging atmosphere at our events by fusing our love of music, drive for perfection, and thrill of helping our clients celebrate some of the most memorable times in their life. From weddings to schools and corporate to non profit, Pryme Tyme Entertainment is there.
So if you’ve got a fun personality, a can-do attitude, and a passion for events, contact Aaron@PrymeTymeEntertainment.net with your resume or call 203-437-7047 to set up an interview. Competitive pay. Formal attire, reliable transportation, and a strong work ethic required. We look forward to meeting you!
Getting Over the Fear of Choosing the Right DJ for YOUR wedding.
2016 has been a great year for us at Pryme Tyme Entertainment. Hundreds of couples looking for Connecticut Wedding DJs have come in to meet with us to tell us about their plans for their special day. And in many cases, tell us some wedding horror stories of their own. We love that. With each meeting, every couple is a little different from the next. Each individual couple has their idea of what the perfect wedding would look like. And some, don’t have a clue and are counting on those who are more experienced (parents, friends, co-workers and more) to help them make informed decisions. And in all of the cases, one thing holds true… The one thing that they all remember most about the weddings they have attended was the DJ. Did they dance or not? Did it take too long for the party to get rolling or was the night flawless?
Meeting with so many different couples is really great for us because, it’s as much a learning experience for us as it is for the couple sitting on the other side of the table. When they share their experiences, we take notes to see if there is anything we can do to be better at what we do and improve the client experience for all of the future events that we do. That is so important to us because you, the client, are what keeps us in business.
One of the most common items that we discuss is personality. At nearly every meeting we have with our clients, undoubtedly the question, “What kind of DJ are you?” comes up. That is a great question to ask your DJ when you’re sitting down with them. What we do is highly personality based. If you’ve been to a wedding and the DJ and guests didn’t click, that’s a sure fire sign that the wedding DJ isn’t paying attention to the room and is pre-occupied with their own agenda. Or quite possibly, they took on a wedding that they weren’t comfortable with just to book it. All of which is a very risky proposition for not only the couple but the DJ as well. If he doesn’t perform and knock the socks off of his clients, it’s a memorable reflection on him. And vice versa.
So when you’re at your meeting with your DJ, pay attention to the body language. If they seem nervous, over talkative, or seem to be trying to flood your mind with equipment specs, chances are, they aren’t the right DJ for the. job. You tell them what your goals are and they tell you whether or not they are qualified for the task at hand.
Another thing that many of the clients that we meet with comment and compliment us on is our attention to detail and responsive communication. And as your mother always told you about marriage, communication is the key to any successful relationship. That’s what this is. The relationship between you, the couple, and your wedding dj. After reading a few entries in the WeddingWire forums, I saw a few that talked about the lack of communication that some couples were facing with their wedding djs. This is especially distressing for the couple who has invested so much time, effort, and money into their wedding day. When there’s money on the line and the phone stops ringing or the emails stop coming, it’s cause for concern.
And let’s face it, in this day and age, everyone is connected 24/7 and also very busy for one reason or another. So allowing 24/48 hours for a response isn’t unacceptable. But if you send your DJ an email a month before the wedding to set up a final meeting to go over all of the details and they don’t respond for a week, try again. Email them, call them, whatever it takes. And don’t worry about being “That Bride”. We have a standard here at Pryme Tyme Entertainment. “Treat the client like they were your ONLY client.” It is an honor to be considered to help you celebrate one of the most momentous occasions in your life, the least we can do is return your calls.
Money can also be an intimidating factor when planning a wedding. Yes indeed, things cost money and weddings are no different. But like anything else, you get what you pay for. A wedding DJ has many responsibilities that far surpass hitting play on an itunes playlist and walking away. They guide the flow of your day and are the keeper of the keys when it comes to your wedding timeline. Choosing the right wedding DJ for your wedding is the difference between a fancy dinner with background music (which you can get at your neighborhood italian restaurant) and a lifelong memory of the happiest day of your life with an amazing celebration. With all of that responsibility and one shot to get it right, that comes with a price.
Now we understand that everyone has a budget that they have to fit into but, this is where prioritizing comes into play. Ask yourself the question of what is more important to you? If you want to dance all night and have a seamless wedding, the DJ is definitely something to splurge on. But if it’s not that important, there are many low budget options available. The best piece of advice I could give you would be to plan on between $1000-$3000 for your wedding DJ in Connecticut. This is the market standard for professional wedding djs in ct. This will allow you to cherry pick who you want from the top of the pile (much like your dress) and you won’t have to settle for anything less than what you want for your wedding. Many DJs offer flexible payment options to help you book their services.
Follow these tips and get over the fear of choosing the right DJ for your wedding.
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Weddings are a cause for celebration and there’s no better way to celebrate than to let loose on the dance floor. And along with the dancing, there are many ceremonious events from parents dances and bouquet tosses that often occur during the course of a reception. One of the unfortunate things we hear from time to time are stories from couples who have recently attended a wedding and spoke of how long they were waiting to get to the dance floor. A lot of that can be attributed to the amount of events that take place during a reception and trying to jam as much into 5 hours as possible. So what are some great wedding time savers to help you maximize your time?
This is where a good master of ceremonies really shines. Your master of ceremonies is the keeper of the keys to keep things moving and on schedule. They are the voice of the celebration to help you and your guests get the most out of your special day. But in addition to hiring a professional wedding entertainer, there are a few things that you can do to save some time during your celebration.
HERE ARE 5 WEDDING TIME SAVERS TO GET YOU TO THE DANCE FLOOR
1. BE ON TIME
This is a big one. We’ve all heard of the wedding that runs late. Things happen from time to time. Maybe makeup and hair took a little longer than it should or a bridesmaid had to use the restroom just moments before the processional at the ceremony. It happens. But being prepared is key to the success of any event especially when it comes to weddings. Arrive to the ceremony location or venue at least an hour early to ensure that you and those who are a part of the ceremony are present and accounted for and start the ceremony right when it’s supposed to happen. Every minute counts and lost time adds up and ultimately delays the festivities.
2. GET YOUR PHOTOS DONE BEFORE COCKTAIL HOUR
If you get your formal photos done prior to cocktail hour or at the very least, the majority of them, this will allow you and your bridal party to enjoy cocktail hour with your guests as well. It also gives your photographer more time to get you the shots you are looking for and there is less pressure to get to the venue. If you go over a little bit, no worries, at least you’ll be on time for your introductions and your dinner will be ready when you arrive.
3. HIRE PROFESSIONAL TRANSPORTATION
This is one of the best investments you can make with time saving in mind. A limo or transportation company is in the business of travel and know the roads better than most because driving is what they do. They know where the venues are and shortcuts to get you there faster. Not to mention, you can sit back and relax with a glass of bubbly while your chauffer handles the cross town traffic and gets you to the reception on time.
4. KEEP IT SIMPLE
Pinterest is great for inspiration in weddings. But be careful not to load up your 5 hour celebration with too many trends. The more you try to jam into your celebration, it may complicate things to the point of taking time away from you and your guests enjoying time on the dance floor. Timing is everything so be sure to keep your wedding dj, venue, and photographer abreast of any details you would like to put into your special day.
5. USE VENDOR REFERRALS
A wedding team that works well together is a sure fire way to get the most out of your wedding. When the venue, photographer, and DJ are familiar with each other, they work like a swiss watch and can work around any unforseen circumstances that may arise. We’re all here to help you enjoy your special day.
You may be tempted to buy a shiny new treadmill or head to the gym for a membership you can’t afford but before you do, hear me out.
In the last few meetings with brides, many of them had been frustrated by the end of the wedding planning process for one reason and one reason only. They were worried about fitting into their wedding dress. Ladies, I feel your pain. When my wife and I go shopping for clothes for her, she too is easily flustered because no two designers are the same. A size 16 at Wal-Mart fits much differently than a size 16 at Old Navy. So what are you to do?
I’ve been in the entertainment industry for over 20 years and the majority of what we do is very intensive labor. Moving heavy equipment, crouching in uncomfortable places to tape down cables, and last but not least, standing on marble floors for 6-10 hours at a time during wedding season. With all of this physical labor it really takes its toll on the body. Especially if you’re overweight like me. At my heaviest I was 360 lbs. That’s a whole lotta weight to toss around. How did I get that big? Life on the road and 2am drive thru meals.
And if you’re a new parent, you know that your days of eating sensibly are all but gone. You run by your child’s plate of hot dogs and grab a handful and move on to the next thing. Late at night when the kids aren’t around, you start a movie and grab that bag of chips and before you know it, the bag is nearly empty. It happens. We’re all human.
My wife and I are workaholics. Me with my business and her in executive management. It’s easy to forget about yourself when the world is demanding your undivided attention 24//7. We had tried many diets. We tried juicing, shakes, miracle pills, wraps, and fasting. We’d lose 10 lbs in a week and after 7 days of eating nothing but the quivalent to V8 Juice, we grew tired and caved on a pizza and wings because it tasted good. We purchased ellipticals, treadmills, and gym memberships that we never used that ended up costing thousands and ended up as something to hang our laundry from while we got ready for work. Does this sound familiar to you?
In January of this year, my wife and I decided to make a change for the better and get healthy and as a last ditch effort to lose weight, we started nutrisystem. Now ladies, I will tell you… I am not a paid spokesperson for that company, but I will tell you that it WORKS. It teaches you how to eat again and form good habits. We’ve been told since kindergarten to eat well, eat small, and eat often. Why do you think kids are hungry all the time? Because they burn those calories faster than they consume them. I am proud to announce that since January 7th, I have lost a total of 69lbs and my beautiful wife has lost 38. Who would have thought that in 4 months time you could lose 40lbs? Here is the formula that got my wife and I back in shape, feeling great, with more energy, and smaller jeans.
Eat 6 small meals per day between 150-300 calories in 2-3 hour increments.
Breakfast and then a snack 2 hours later. Lunch and another snack. Dinner and yes, another snack. Eat as many fiber rich vegetables as you would like and drink 72 oz of water per day. Cut out those sugars and bad carbs and you’ll be a calorie burning machine.
Follow these easy tips and you’ll need to call the tailor to take in that dress by your wedding day. GOOD LUCK and happy snacking!
2016 has been a hard year in the entertainment industry. We have lost many legendary talents this year and in the last decade. One of a kind entertainers that will never be replaced. But this one really hurts.
Prince Rogers Nelson was one of a kind. His rock/funk/pop infused music was simply magical. In looking at the current state of music, there is very little quality musicianship to choose from. And with that, it is getting more and more difficult to find music that really packs a punch much like Prince’s did.
My first experience with Prince was in the 90’s. Well after his highest sold record Purple Rain hit the shelves. I was watching MTV (yes, when they actually played music) and heard “Cream” Not only was the music catchy but the video was pretty easy on the eyes as well. I remember the vibrant colors, deep in the pocket drum track, and playful guitar along with his sultry voice as one of the most memorable tracks of all time. It had everything that a song should to move and groove a dancefloor. Not too over the top but very full and tasteful.
But more than just this song, I remember the image ingrained in my head of his anything but watered down style. His signature yellow guitar didn’t just hang between his knees as he strummed along. It was a part of his body and moved with him. Prince had such amazing soul when he rocked out a solo and embellished his vocal parts. His appearance in general was anything but ordinary. He was in a league of his own. A quirky, sexual, creative genius with a hair style that rivaled Little Richard.
It was after my shock and awe Cream experience that I went to a wedding with my family as a child and I remember at 10 years old what the DJ played to get people dancing. It was the time of Def Leppard, Billy Idol, and Stevie B. And even though all 3 of them got people dancing, it wasn’t until Let’s go Crazy came on that the floor erupted. It was the first time I experienced anything like it and one of the things that shed some light on what I wanted to do when I grew up. I enjoyed the reaction so much that I couldn’t help but dance along.
And who could ever forget the BEST Batman movie ever made with Jack Nicholson and Michael Keaton? And who better than Prince to provide the sound track. The erie and very torqued soundtrack was right up Prince’s alley and much different than his funk and pop music offerings. This proved once again just how diverse of a musician and producer he really was.
All in all, Prince was a gift to music. We will be honoring his music in the next few events that we do and I am sure that just like the wedding I went to at 10 years old, the floor will once again be moving to the groove of the purple one more time.