backyard wedding, diy wedding

Planning back yard weddings | The Pros and Cons

Planning back yard weddings | The Pros and Cons

It’s that time of the year…Engagement season is in full swing. For many brides, they will be wearing a new diamond after Christmas and will start planning the day they have been dreaming about for years.

The first thing to do is pick your venue… Most people elect to find a wedding venue but some like to think outside the box and have a destination or backyard weddings. If you read the bridal forums online, you’ll see lots of different ideas for your wedding. But let’s talk about this for a moment.

There are pros and cons to both.

Lake of Isles @ Foxwoods Resort and Casino

The Wedding Venue
The Pros:
Convenience. Everything that you need is in one place. You have your catering, in some cases a bakery, a top shelf bar, ample restrooms, tables & chairs, linens, a dancefloor, electricity, and last but certainly not least, service. Your wedding venue will protect your special day from any inclement weather and is climate controlled for you and your guests comfort. There is ample parking for all of your guests. From start to finish, everything is taken care of so all you have to do is enjoy your special day.

The Cons:
Wedding venues come with a premium. You pay for those conveniences. You may also be limited to certain dates and times depending on the time of the year, day of the week, etc. You are also limited to the menu of the caterer at the venue. Decorating the venue depending on your choices may be challenging depending on the ambiance of the room. For example, if you want a country wedding, it’s hard to emulate that against an imported marble backdrop.

 

Backyard Barbecue Wedding

Back yard Weddings or Tent Wedding
The Pros:
You have a unique setting for you and your guests to enjoy. Because it’s ‘home’ for you, you have that sense of familiarity and can enjoy the comforts of home on your special day. If you are going for a more casual affair, the swimming pool is always a blast during a reception along with some tasty barbecue. Fun picnic games are always an option at an backyard wedding and it’s typically not as stuffy as a formal wedding. Depending on where you live and the noise ordinance in your area, the dates and times aren’t as much of a limitation as with a venue. Instead of the option of a top shelf bar, you can order a few kegs and some wine and keep it simple. Backyard weddings are exceptionally great for weddings with children as they have the ability to run and play and be kids.

The Cons:
You can plan a pretty picnic but you can’t predict the weather. Although a tent may keep your heads dry, there is always the possibility for high wind, ground soaking downpours, lightning, humidity, snow or any other kind of soggy weather. Because the majority of weddings happen in the late spring/early summer, it can get quite sticky, and smelly. Unless you have a closed tent with a rented air conditioner for the tent, you’re really at the mercy of the elements.
The cost of renting tables, chairs, linens, tents, etc is quite expensive. In addition to that, you or your family would have to set up and tear down which is very labor intensive.
Restrooms for guests is also tricky. A home septic system was never intended to handle 100 guests worth of waste in a short period of time. If you decide to rent chemical toilets, those are also an added expense and can be a messy and smelly endeavor.
Electricity. Your caterer will need a lot of power. Enough for refrigeration, cooking, coffee, microwaves, etc. In addition to that, you’ll need some lighting for under the tent and your climate control if you rent fans or air conditioners. And lastly, your wedding entertainment. If you go with a band, they’ll need about 5 dedicated circuits just for them. If you go with a DJ, it can be 3 circuits or more depending on the options you choose.

All in all, there are pros and cons to both. The important thing to remember when planning your special day is, think about everything as a whole and make informed decisions. There is a wedding for everyone out there. The choice is up to you.

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seating chart, wedding seating chart, wedding seating arrangements, wedding arrangements, wedding decor

WEDDING PLANNING : How to get the most out of your seating arrangements

Seating arrangements at a wedding.

One of the most overlooked details during the wedding planning process is seating arrangements. Now if you’ve chosen a wedding venue specifically, they can help you with your table arrangements. But, in some cases you are at the mercy of the square footage of the room and slight adjustments need to be made.

Here’s a couple things to consider… If you’re in a smaller venue and the dance floor is important to you, consider a sweetheart table in leiu of a large head table. A head table can easily take up 20 feet of real estate in a wedding hall while a sweetheart table is a romantic table for two that only requires about 5 feet of space in total. You’ll enjoy more personalized service and have the opportunity to spend some quality time with your new spouse in an intimate setting.

Depending on the room you choose, it’s a good idea to ask the venue whether a buffet style or sit down dinner works best. Buffets are a much quicker option when there is enough space and  when it can be cleared from the dancefloor or placed in a dedicated area. However, sit-down meals are great for smaller wedding parties as your guests can sit back and relax.

But that’s just the dinner service. When it comes time for dancing, where you put your DJ is very important. Your DJ should be front and center or at the very least accessible to the dancefloor. Not because we want to be the center of attention but because we want to be able to address your guests when needed and also so that when it comes time for dancing, the volume won’t be offensive to those who want to sit. If your DJ ends up in a corner behind tables, he will have to make the sound twice as loud to be heard on the other end of the room than if he was in the center.
But most importantly, during things like intros, first dances and parent dances, it is important for you to have the ability to have eye contact with your DJ. During those times, many guests may stand to take pictures or video and the DJ’s vision will be blocked.

So when you’re sitting down to plan your seating arrangements, keep these helpful tips in mind. Your guests and your DJ will thank you.

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wedding dj, what does a wedding dj do, dj button pusher, bad dj, awesome wedding dj

What exactly does a wedding DJ do?

What exactly does a wedding dj do?

From the WeddingWire Forums:
Dani writes:
I know that the DJ is there to play music, but when do they usually start and what else do they do other then play music after dinner?

My dad used to work with a guy that does DJing and it would be cheaper… but he would come in to set up then leave and be back after dinner to start working… isn’t there usually music during cocktails and dinner?  I have the opportunity to go to an open house of my venues preferred DJ tonight but wanted an idea before I go of what services I should be looking for.
Wedding planning is something that most brides have never done before and many questions can come up during the planning process. This short list should give you an idea of what the responsibilities of your wedding djhttps://www.prymetymeentertainment.net/weddings/ are.
We meet with you to learn about what we can do to take care of your needs.
We will create a time line for your wedding to ensure everything runs smoothly
We will coordinate with your wedding vendor team to ensure that you are getting everything that you require on your wedding day.

We might stage photos for your photographer so that they capture every precious moment.
We might assist you/instruct you cutting your cake

By coordinating with your catering staff, and event manager, we ensure that your guests are served a hot meal and do not wait longer than necessary,
We provide music and entertainment for you and your guests to enjoy
If you choose to utilize lighting effects, we design the lighting that best suits the enhancement of the venue you’ve chosen.

Depending on your needs, we may set up 2 or 3 sound systems for your ceremony, reception, and cocktail space.

We calibrate the audio so that the music is at a comfortable level throughout your reception and important moments like toasts and speeches can be heard by everyone in attendance. In addition, We provide wireless microphones for toasts, etc.

We interact with your guests to create a fun and festive experience.

We take requests and blend them seamlessly throughout the evening

We read your guests and adapt the music so that there are no low points during dancing

We spend anywhere from 1-2 hours after you leave breaking down, packing, and loading the equipment necessary to make your wedding day a success.

 

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vendor meal, wedding vendor meal, should i feed my dj, should i feed my photographer

Wedding Planning – Where and when should your vendors eat?

Wedding planning – Where and when should your vendors eat?

You just finished your ceremony, formal pictures, and introductions. It’s time for dinner service for you and your guests. If you decide to be generous and offer your vendors a meal, that raises a few questions with your caterer. Where and when should your vendors eat?

In most venues, they ask that your vendors be served last after all of the guests have been served. Sometimes, in a vendor area down the hall or in another part of the venue is reserved for your wedding team. This ends up being rather tricky for your vendors as it is important for them to be with you for your reception.

From a videographer or photographer’s point of view, their job is to capture memorable moments. Some of these moments may happen during dinner. A family photo, or maybe you and your new spouse leaning in for a kiss at the head table. Either way, it’s important for them to be there so that you reap the benefits when it comes time to receive your wedding photos & videos.

From your Disc Jockey’s point of view, it is also very important that they stay with you. If for some reason a song during dinner service comes on a little louder than it should or maybe you have a request, or god forbid something happens with the sound system or lighting that requires immediate attention, your DJ will be right there to make sure everything is taken care of.
And last but not least, your parents dances, bouquet toss, cake cutting all come after dinner. And in order to keep the flow going, you want to make sure your DJ has enough time to get through their meal so they can keep things moving without unnecessary delays.

You are our number one priority on your special day. We want to have every opportunity to make your dream wedding come true!

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wedding factory, all inclusive wedding vendor, multi op dj

Cheap Wedding Djs – The Big Box Wedding Factory

Looking for Cheap Wedding DJs?

You’ve got your ring. You’ve got the date set and your venue picked out. Now it’s time to find the rest of your wedding team to make your dreams come true. So you begin googling all of the services and come across an ad up top that says, “WEDDING DJ PACKAGES $395″

Being the thrifty shopper you are you click on the deal of the day and begin reading. You see hundreds if not thousands of reviews from past brides are available and stock photos of model quality couples having a good time are on the website giving you the best case scenario. It seems too good to be true.  How could something so perfect cost so little?

Here’s how it works. You put your information into a form with your wedding date and location and the company calls you. You tell them you are looking for a DJ for your wedding and they tell you they have one available and get your credit card information. $395 and you’re good to go. You hang up the phone feeling proud that you just saved a ton of cash and that you can check one more thing off your to-do list for your wedding.

On the other end of the phone, the person you just talked to pulls out their list of DJs in your area. He picks one and sends them an email telling them that they have a GIG  on your wedding day. The DJ puts your date in the calendar and that’s the last time he thinks about you until your wedding.

Let’s back up for a moment. Your wedding, the day you have been dreaming about since you were a little girl is now in the hands of someone that you have never met, never talked to, never seen their work or any references to their ability to make your dream wedding a reality. What could go wrong?

There are dozens of videos of news stories with cheap wedding DJs who are a no show, or if they do show up, they are dressed inappropriately or did not take the time necessary to see to it that their client’s needs and desires were met. And the one thing in common with ALL of those news stories was the video clip of the tearful bride who paid $400 and was promised the world.

When it comes time to take the next step in the planning process, take your time. Meet with as many wedding professionals as possible. And make an informed decision. Make sure the person you are meeting is the person who will be taking care of your wedding. Quality entertainment is not expensive, it’s priceless.

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plan a wedding, wedding appointments, meeting with wedding vendors

Wedding Appointments – It’s all about convenience

 

The secret to tackling wedding appointments.

As anyone who has gotten married before, they will tell you, MEET WITH YOUR WEDDING VENDORS. But if you’re like me, your schedule is jam packed with little time to spare. You and your fiance may work opposite shifts or maybe a Monday evening at 7pm is your night to get grocery shopping done for the week. Either way, setting aside time to meet with your wedding team is very important.

Wedding vendors are typically available Monday through Thursday and Friday afternoons. So why is it so hard to meet with your wedding vendors on weekends? Saturday is the busiest day of the week for wedding vendors with Friday evening and Sunday not far behind. It’s when weddings and events happen.

There are many opportunities to get to know your wedding team. If you google Connecticut Wedding DJs for instance, you’ll find a long list of entertainers. You can visit their websites and read about what they can do for your special day. If you hit up WeddingWire, you’ll get to see what other brides just like you said about your DJ on their wedding day by reading reviews. This is an exceptionally great tool as it really gives you a bride’s perspective so you’re not just relying on such a broad search on the internet. Believe it or not, YouTube and Vimeo are also great resources. This gives you a birds eye view how your DJ will perform at your wedding. It’s like a test drive. Try before you buy. Social media like Google +, Facebookhttps://twitter.com/prymetymeenter, and Twitter are an excellent way to keep up to date with your wedding teams. Wedding vendors will share their work continually on social media and again, you’ll get a taste of what they are all about. Photo sites like Pinterest are exceptional especially when looking for wedding photographers because much like YouTube and DJs, you can try before you buy and choose a photographer that best reflects your style. Speaking of convenience, bridal shows are a very important part of meeting your wedding team. You can meet with HUNDREDS of wedding vendors offering everything from Disc Jockey Services, Photography, Videography, Photo Booths, Justice of the Peace, Bakers, Caterers, Limo Services, and more.

Once you’ve sifted through all of those options and narrowing down the selection,  how can you meet your wedding team if there’s just no time? Technology has improved efficiency for many years and meetings are no exception. Pryme Tyme Entertainment offers easy and convenient appointments via SKYPE right from the comfort of your own home. Of course we’d love to meet you in person over a cup of coffee to chat about your special day but, in the end, it’s all about you.  What’s better than taking care of business in your slippers?

When you’re ready to take the next step, Pryme Tyme Entertainment is at your service.

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2013 Brides Choice Award | Pryme Tyme Entertainment

2013 Brides Choice Award | Pryme Tyme Entertainment

For two consecutive years, Pryme Tyme Entertainment has won the WeddingWire Brides Choice Award!

Pryme Tyme Entertainment has been rated 5 stars by WeddingWire, Project Wedding, Martha Stewart Weddings, Brides Magazine, Weddingbee, Best Hartford Weddings, The Wedding Aces, Bridal Buds, & GayWeddings.com.

For the last 2 years, Pryme Tyme Entertainment has won the coveted ‘Brides Choice Award’. This award is given to the top 5% of wedding professionals nationwide. To be a part of such an exclusive group of our peers, it is truly an honor and a humbling experience. We truly love what we do and will continue on our mission to provide the best wedding entertainment services to our clients.

To our past clients who have been so kind to share their experiences on weddingwire, we thank you from the bottom of our heart. Without you, there would be no Pryme Tyme Entertainment. To our team partners, vendors, and colleagues, thank you for all that you do.

To read some of our reviews, please visit http://www.weddingwire.com/reviews/pryme-tyme-entertainment-winner-of-the-2012-2013-brides-choice-award-prospect/e3910f841d8badbd.html

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bridal shows in ct, bridal show ettiquite

How to get the most out of visiting a bridal show

How to get the most out of visiting a bridal show


Alrighty ladies, the time has come to start looking for vendors. With CT’s bridal show season officially underway in January, there’s a few things to know before you head out in search of the perfect wedding team.

While walking down the aisles, you’ll see wedding professionals of all types. Be sure to stop at as many as possible. Every wedding vendor has something unique to offer that could potentially make your special day amazing.

If you see a vendor you are interested in, be sure to give them your contact information so that they can set up an appointment with you. The vendors get a list of brides and grooms attending but, it helps us as vendors to know who is interested in us so we don’t bother you if you already have the services you need or are interested in another vendor.

Use things like dot stickers on promotional materials that you get so that you remember which vendors you are interested in. You’ll be more than likely carrying around a bag FULL of cards, brochures, and other promotional material. This will help you sort through the pile quickly and find your wedding team.

While speaking with the vendors at the show, ask for referrals to other vendors who they recommend. This could help you save time and give you some great references when choosing your wedding team.

As you’re waiting to speak to a vendor (chances are there will be a line), be sure to pop onto their website on your smartphone or tablet. This way, you can learn a little bit more about the company and have time to ask questions more specific to your special day.

After you’ve met with all of the vendors, go to a wedding site like WeddingWire or TheKnot and read their reviews. This will give you an even more in-depth look at what your wedding vendor can do for you.

Carry a bottle of water with you. You will be doing a lot of talking & walking. Stay hydrated.

Have a light meal before you come. Don’t miss out on meeting the right vendors on the account of going hungry. Visiting a bridal show can be exhausting. Carry a snack with you like protein bars to keep your energy up.

Follow up with your favorite vendors immediately! The good ones get booked quickly. Keep in mind, the majority of weddings in CT happen in May, June, September, October, and November.

Visit multiple shows. You might meet the right vendor for you after the 2nd or 3rd show. Smaller to medium sized shows typically offer the best experience because you have more time to chat with the vendors.

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The DO NOT PLAY list

While on the Weddingwire forums this afternoon, I came across a post labeled ‘DO NOT PLAY LIST’
I was especially eager to see what brides thought about this and how varied the answers would be.

As expected, there are some standards and floor fillers that happen at almost every wedding you’ve ever been to. Things like Love Shack, Cha Cha Slide, and a few others.

What does the fox say, was another one that made the list. It’s pretty cheesy. Not sure where it would fit into a wedding but, hey… who am i to judge?

HIP HOP & Top 40 – It’s no secret, the music of today continually pushes the envelope when it comes to raunchiness. At a wedding, you typically have everyone from grandparents to kids there so, it’s important to have music that is at the very least PG13.

Don’t Stop Believing – This is the #1 song most requested at weddings. It has been for the past 5 years running. Such anthems are great for sing alongs and air guitar enthusiasts.

Miley Cyrus – Enough said.

Carrie Underwood – Before He Cheats – For a wedding? Really?

And these are just a few. What songs would you omit from your wedding celebration?

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Heavy Metal Wedding

A VERY HEAVY METAL WEDDING

A VERY HEAVY METAL WEDDING

If you’ve ever been to a wedding, you’re probably used to hearing some of your favorite pop tunes, classic throw backs, and some oldies for good measure. But a HEAVY METAL WEDDING? Well that just ROCKS! Music is one of those things that is not only a universal language but also a very personal experience. It’s up to the songwriters and musicians to create memorable sound tracks and push the envelope in terms of how someone might react to it. Music is an immersive experience and with metal, the music can take you just about anywhere. From cutting teeth on a shredding guitar and  flamboyant drum line to the most subtle vocal characteristics of a heavy metal ballad.

So get ready to rock and grab the aqua net, eyeliner, some acid wash jeans and your best black concert t-shirt and watch this VERY HEAVY METAL WEDDING INTRO.

Bride and groom celebrate wedding with guitars by storyfulviral

Video from Daily Motion

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