Ending Your Reception on the Right Note

After planning the date, finding the venue and arranging all of the other details needed for a great wedding, you may have thought about the last song you would like to have played at your reception. In my experience it can really put an exclamation point on the end of a terrific night. However, deciding the last song of the night before your wedding day has even arrived can be like calling the last play of a football game before it is has even started. You don’t know what is going to be happening at the end and who will be there. It might be good to have a couple of options.

Ending on a slow song

If there are a lot of couples left at the end of the night and everyone is pretty tired out from the long day of partying, ending the night on a slow song can be fitting. It is usually wise to pick something that all generations will know. You want everyone there together dancing at the end.

Sing Alongs

Playing a group favorite that’s easy to sing along to can be a fun way of ending the night. Once again bridging the generation gap can be essential if you want to have people from all age groups dancing ‘til the end. Some suggested sing-along songs are “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond, and “Friends In Low Places” by Garth Brooks and “Piano Man” by Billy Joel.


They’ll Leave Wanting More

If you have a crowd that is just tearing it up at the end of the night, there is no sense in putting ice in the boiling water. It is best to just let it flow and end on a very high note. It could be your favorite club song that everybody knows. “The Grease Megamix” by Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta is always a fantastic song that your guests will be singing all the way home.



I Just Don’t Know

If you cannot think of anything to have played at the end, the disc jockey usually has something good in his back pocket to finish the night. That is what he gets paid for. Experienced disc jockeys have played hundreds of weddings and know how to finish it right due to their years in the business. Many times there is a great song that a guest had requested that just did not fit in earlier and yet makes the perfect last song.
So, my suggestion is that if you want to pick a final song, have a couple of options. But if you don’t pick a final song the disc jockey will have you covered. You never know, the perfect song could pop into your head at the end of the night and you can request it then. The mood at the end of the night should dictate what the last song is going to be.

Ford Field Wedding Shoot

All of you Detroit Area brides love your city and many of you want to highlight it in your wedding photography. Many of my clients like to get pictures on the Detroit Riverfront with the skyline in the background, in front of Fox Theater, or at Comerica Park with the tiger.

But one of our recent couples got the ultimate photoshoot backdrop. were big Lions fans, and that got the most amazing bridal photo shoot to capture their love for each other and Detroit.

Check it out:I love this shot!
How cool for that whole bridal party!

Definitely a once in a lifetime opportunity.


Is there anywhere you brides would love to take wedding shots?

Sharing the Love and Your Old Dresses

Spring is just around the corner, and that means Prom Season is too. Going to Prom is part of growing up, a right of passage if you will. It is one night of a young girl's life when, no matter what their background or future may be, they get to get dressed-up, glammed out, and treated like a princess. Or, at least it should.

The economy has been hard on all of us in Southeast Michigan, but it breaks my heart to think of the girls who miss out of this opportunity because of finance hardships. That's where you brides can help.

Hope Closet is a non-profit organization working to provide young women with the opportunity to attend special High School events with a dress of their choice regardless of financial constraints or limitations.

Nearly all of you brides have bridesmaids, and truthfully so, most of them will never wear their bridesmaid dress again. Instead of taking up closet space, encourage your bridesmaids to donate their dresses to Hope Closet. Just think of the lucky girl who gets a beautiful dress to wear to a Prom she wouldn't have been able to go to otherwise.

The Hope Closet is looking for formal dresses that are clean, gently used or new and in current fashion. They are especially looking for plus sized dresses 14W and larger.

If you and your bridesmaids can't stand to part with your dresses, there are other ways you can help. The Hope Closet accepts:

• Formal accessories (jewelry, shoes, purses, and wraps)
• Dry cleaning services
• Financial support
• Rolling dress racks
• Plastic garment/dress bags
• Printing services
• Shopping bags and dry cleaning bags (used at boutique giveaways)
• Storage facilities
• Transportation services (to get the dresses to and from drop-off sites, storage facility and boutiques)

Check out Hope Closet on Facebook by clicking here.

6 Alternatives to Clinging Glasses (to get the newlyweds to kiss)

If the custom of clinging glasses gets on your nerves during receptions, there are other ways guests can entice kisses from you and your groom. Each has its own charm and possible drawbacks. None of these work for everyone. Pick one that appeals to you, or create your own.

1. Ring Bells. Place a hand-held bell on each dining table. Choose a collection of bells that sound pleasing, as you’ll be listening to them repeatedly through the night. While you can probably find brass bells at any discount store, those made of glass or silver add a touch of elegance. Tie a colorful ribbon to each.

2. Sing Love Songs. Guests at each table stand up and sing love songs, as they have for years, to prompt the happy couple to kiss. This carries on a lovely tradition but guests are occasionally reluctant.

3. Kiss "this" Way. A guest approaches the head table with his or her significant other, and they demonstrate the way they want the newlyweds to kiss. Be prepared for some outrageous suggestions.


4. Putt for a Kiss. Great for golf enthusiasts! Place a small putting green in front of the head table or on the dance floor. If a guest gets a hole-in-one, then the couple must kiss.

5. Kiss to a Song. For couples who wish to share one long kiss, instead of multiple kisses, the DJ will play “This Kiss” by Faith Hill. The newlyweds will then kiss throughout the entire song. Warning: 3:15 is a LONG time to kiss. If you prefer another song about kissing, your favorite could also be appropriate.


6. Play with Hula Hoops. Even though this may be a bit "cheesy", it can be a big hit! Have three hula hoops ready at the dance floor. To make the newlyweds kiss, your guests have to use the hoops in creative ways while standing, jumping or gyrating on the dance floor. (Most guests are more interested in watching the hula hoop “dancers” than they are in watching you kiss). It can be a total laugh fest and is the perfect diversion during a long, sit-down dinner.

Ladies and Gentlemen Please Direct Your Attention to the Dance Floor...

So, you've seen the YouTube videos and you saw it at your friends' reception, but can you pull it off: The Choreographed First Dance? dun, dun, dun..

You don’t have to be on "ABDC" or "Dancing with the Stars" to enjoy your first dance together as husband and wife. Use these tips…

1. Choose a meaningful song. Select a song you both love and one that keeps an easy beat, especially if you’re beginning dancers. When your song lasts longer than the usual three minutes, ask your DJ to fade the ending. Remember: frazzled dancers don’t dazzle.
2. Take a couple of dance lessons. Group lessons can be intimidating, but private lessons remove the pressure of dancing for an audience. Your instructor will teach you according to your ability level. With private instruction, beginners can quickly master the basics with confidence. Dancing, like music, lifts the spirit and is so much more enjoyable when shared with your significant other.
3. Decide who leads and who follows. Gender no longer has anything to do with your decision. Choose the pattern that makes you comfortable. There’s nothing wrong with following a simple lead. The object of dancing is to enjoy the dance! Being able to follow the leader creates confidence in the follower and makes a more pleasurable dance for the leader, too. If you’re feeling brave and brassy, create a dance that switches leads once or twice during the routine.
4. Learn a couple of exciting steps. A pre-planned (choreographed) dip or a twirl makes a splashy statement without the tricky toe work of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. These moves are not only easy, but they offer impressive photo opportunities for still shots and videographers. When you look at them in the future, your photos will take you back to these moments with pride and a satisfied chuckle.
5. Plan your entrance and your exit. Will you clasp hands and kiss before you begin your dance? Will you sashay in from the left and leave to the right? Whatever you decide, be sure to tell your camera operators where and in what direction you will start and finish your dance, as well as any choreographed moves you plan to make. That way, they can prepare to capture the moment in its best light and with the correct angle.
6. Familiarize yourselves with the dance floor. Check out the floor you will dance on. Make sure you know its dimensions. Some styles of dancing (like Foxtrot) require a bigger space. Other styles like nightclub two step don't require much space. Have a good idea of the size and shape your wedding reception dance floor will be so that you can practice and get used to dancing in that amount of space.
7. Practice, practice, practice. Practice on a busy dance floor in a public place. You can also practice at home, of course, (preferably in front of a large, floor-length mirror), but you also need the experience of dancing in front of an audience. Practice your routine at least a couple of times per week, for several weeks, until your feet seem to move without much help from your mind. Concentrate on having fun during your first dance, and your guests will jump to join you on the dance floor.

11 Signs of a Reputable DJ

You wouldn’t hire just anyone to cater your party or photograph your wedding. At best, you want to be personally familiar with their work or know another who is. At a minimum, you would ask for customer references.

Knowing that your entertainment choice will impact your entire wedding reception, it’s even more important to hire a company with a proven track record. Since your DJ is responsible for providing the fun, you need to hire a company you can trust.

As you begin your search for a reputable and experienced wedding DJ, use the following 11-point checklist to help you make your decision:

1. Hire a DJ from a full-time company with a full-time staff. Professional companies will answer the phone when you call and will be there to guide you through the planning process.
2. Office Location. Hire a company that has a physical office location. There are a lot of "basement DJs" that are "here today and gone tomorrow" (often with your deposit in hand!). The Better Business Bureau suggests that you should only hire companies with a physical office presence. That's good advice.
3. Hundreds of brides recommend the company’s services. Can the company show you written evidence of happy clients? Has the company won any awards? Ask to speak with past clients and then actually call them!
4. Wedding industry professionals refer the company. Wedding professionals regularly see DJs in action and they know who the best company's are. Ask them who they would endorse.
5. Hire an established company with a successful track record. Find out how long the company has been in business. Most new companies fold in the first two years. A DJ should have a minimum of three to five years of wedding experience. Check to see if his company has a professional website with meaningful content that is intended to educate visitors about their services. Also, make sure the company hold any necessary business licenses, is fully insured and offers a written contract.
6. They aren't desperate for business. Signs of desperation include using high- pressure sales tactics, “trash talking” other DJ companies or dropping prices on a whim. Great DJs are overbooked and prefer to work with clients who want to work with them. They will answer all of your questions, trust you to make up your own mind and respect your decision.
7. They talk about their talent, not their gear. If a DJ is showering you with information about his exceptional sound system and fabulous lighting, he’s missing the point. A DJ’s job is to service his client. He’s has experience reading the crowd and spinning songs that make guests dance, and is skilled at coordinating the night's events. He has a caring attitude -- evidenced by the amount of time he spends asking you questions, not talking about his high-tech gadgetry.
8. Back-up DJs and equipment. A conscientious DJ service is prepared for life’s curveballs. People fall ill and equipment breaks down. The savvy company will provide a plan for such contingencies in its contract with you. Stand-by equipment will be tested and ready to go at the site, not packed in the van; and on-call DJs will be ready to go in a flash.
9. You get what you pay for. The cheapest DJ will almost ALWAYS be the worst, but the most expensive isn't always the best. Price is important, but you should be more concerned with getting a lot for your money, rather than getting the cheapest you can find. Many couples spend thousands of dollars on hall rental, décor and meals and fail to budget properly for the most important element…FUN! (or how their guests will be entertained). Hiring a DJ with budget leftovers will usually result in a crummy DJ, a boring party and a premature ending -- because people will leave. Prioritize your wedding entertainment….because your guests will!
10. They accept major credit cards. A professional DJ service will offer the convenience of a variety of payment methods, including the ability to accept major credit cards. Doing so shows the company is serious about its business and is willing to accept some recovery risk.
11. They offer a money back guarantee. Most importantly, only consider a company that will stand behind its promises by offering a money-back guarantee. DJs can talk a great game - that's what they do - a professional that you can trust will be able to back up his word and shouldn't feel apprehensive about doing so. Do not hire a DJ company that does not offer a money back guarantee!