Friday, December 12, 2014

Cake Cutting Songs

Some of the most commonly used songs have a sweet title - “How Sweet It Is” by James Taylor and “Ice Cream” by Sarah McLachlan to name a few.  But many couples opt for something short and upbeat like “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” by Queen or “Better Together” by Jack Johnson. 

Here’s a list of 40 songs to consider for your wedding cake cutting.

  1. “How Sweet It Is” - James Taylor
  2. “Sugar, Sugar” - The Archies
  3. “Pour Some Sugar On Me” - Def Leopard
  4. “Sweetest Thing” - U2
  5. “Love and Marriage” - Frank Sinatra
  6. “You’re My Best Friend” - Queen
  7. “Better Together” - Jack Johnson
  8. “Ice Cream” - Sarah McLachlan
  9. “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” - Queen
  10. “Rhythm of Love” - Plain White T’s
  11. “Grow Old With You” - Adam Sandler
  12. “When I’m 64” - The Beatles
  13. “Sugar Pie Honey Bunch” - The Four Tops
  14. “L-O-V-E” - Nat King Cole
  15. “Smile” - Uncle Kracker
  16. “Happy Together” - Turtles
  17. “Candyman” - Christina Aguilera
  18. “What a Wonderful World” - Louis Armstrong
  19. “You and Me” - Dave Matthews Band
  20. “Eat It’ - Weird Al Yankovic
  21. “That’s Amore” - Dean Martin
  22. “Honey Bee” - Blake Shelton
  23. “Marry You” - Bruno Mars
  24. “Love You Madly” - Cake
  25. “I Do” - Colbie Caillat
  26. “At Last” - Etta James
  27. “Good Life” - Onerepublic
  28. “Today Was A Fairytale” - Taylor Swift
  29. “Is This Love” - Bob Marley
  30. “I Got You Babe” - Cher
  31. “Lips Like Sugar” - Echo & the Bunnymen
  32. “Silly Love Songs” - Paul McCartney
  33. “Say Hey, I Love You” - Michael Franti
  34. “Candy” - Mandy Moore
  35. “I Want Candy” - Bow Wow Wow
  36. “Cut The Cake" - Average White Band
  37. “Lucky” - Jason Mraz & Colbie Caillat
  38. “Accidentally In Love” - Counting Crows
  39. “Little Moments” - Brad Paisley
  40. “Love Me Tender” - Elvis Presley

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Wedding Reception Songs To Start The Party

PICTURE THIS. IT’S YOUR WEDDING DAY.

Your ceremony was perfect. A room full of people that love you sit at your wedding reception, having just finished an awesome meal, as they wait for the opportunity to celebrate your marriage with their feet and dance the night away. The special dances come and go. Then the moment finally comes. “The dance floor is now open,” your wedding DJ announces. He throws on the Kenny Loggins classic, “Footloose”. No one moves. The momentum of your perfect day has come to an awkward halt. Why aren’t they dancing?
More than likely it’s the same problem that plagued your high school prom. No one wants to be the only one on the dance floor, everyone’s waiting for someone else to be first, and so the awkward moment continues.
How to solve this problem before it starts? Have your wedding DJ start the night with a classic slow song, and announce, “Now that our newlyweds and their parents have shared some special dances, they would like to invite you to join them for one more special dance.” Everyone always gets up. The dance floor is packed. Now when “Footloose” come on, the easiest thing to do is “cut loose” and “kick off your Sunday shoes.”

10 slow songs that start the night off right:

1 “Let’s Stay Together” Al Green
2 “Let’s Get It On” Marvin Gay
3 “Wonderful Tonight” Eric Clapton
4 “At Last” Etta James
5 “Unchained Melody” The Righteous Brothers
6 “Can’t Help Falling in Love” Elvis Presley
7 “Have I Told You Lately” Van Morrison
8 “Into the Mystic” Van Morrison
9 “When a Man Loves a Woman” Michael Bolten


10 “Unforgettable” Nat King Cole

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Forgotten Wedding Registry Items

Other than your wedding, there aren’t too many opportunities to scan your way through a store selecting gifts for your wedding registry.  (Check out these registry tips.)  But sometimes couples only realize later that they might have missed a few key items.  Here is a list of somethings you might want to add.


For the kitchen.  
Fine china.  Sure you might be okay with paper plates and pizza boxes now, but family dinners and holidays in the future might call for something special.  And wedding china is perfect to pass on to future generations.
Stylish dinnerware.  It may be the practical choice to stick to a classic white design, but this is a registry so have some fun!  Select a full stylish set or a few funky pieces to mix things up.
Extra wine glasses.  If you are registering for wine glasses, consider registering for more than you need.  Wine glasses are easily broken and you don’t want to find that your set of 4 is now a set of 3.



For the home.
Decorative pillows.  Textures and colors can add so much to a room, but they often come at a steep price.  Add some decor to your registry.
Artwork.  Of course you’ll want to add wedding photos to your walls, but if you have a favorite local gallery, many offer gift registry options.
Photo albums.  Most couples opt to get a professionally designed photo album from their wedding photos, but you’ll probably have some candid prints too.  Protect those memories by registering for some archival quality photo albums.
Tools.  A basic tool kit and a cordless drill will get you through most household projects.
Everyday items.  Don’t overlook everyday household items like towels, blankets, lamps and other essentials.  Take it a step further and include safety equipment like fire extinguishers and carbon monoxide detectors.



Outdoors.
A grill.  As more brides and grooms are having couple’s showers instead of bridal showers, it’s becoming more the norm to add a few things for the guys to the list.  Depending on the style you like, a grill can be quite expensive.  Maybe his friends will pitch in and get him grilling.
Patio furniture.  There are many stylish and still affordable options that go beyond the resin chairs.  If you want to create an outdoor living space, consider adding patio furniture to your registry.
Outdoor work.  If your new home together will need lawn care, add a lawn mower, trimmer and leaf blower.
Outdoor play.  Bocce ball, horseshoes, bean bag toss and more outdoor games can be added to the registry.  These items can often be personalized with your new monogram or wedding colors.

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Choosing Your Wedding Reception Venue

Each couple looks for the perfect wedding reception venue.  But what makes it perfect is different for each couple.  So what should go into the decision?
Start by talking before making any visits.  It’s important that you talk with you fiancĂ© about the vibe you want for your wedding reception.  If he likes the idea of a laid back barn wedding and you crave a posh party downtown, you’ll need to get on the same page before visiting venues.
Church or civil wedding? If you are considering a civil ceremony, you may be able to save money by selecting a wedding reception venue that has a location for your ceremony.  If you will have a church wedding, you might want to consider a venue that is nearby for the convenience of your guests and to best use your time.
Decide on a budget.  Wedding catering and alcohol will be a large portion of your wedding budget.  You should have a good idea about your budget and guest list before visiting reception venues.  Their sales director can present options for you to consider when she understands your budget.
What’s best for your guests?  If a large number of your guests will be traveling for your wedding, you might want to consider venues with lodging or near to hotels.
Your wedding date.  Prime dates book quickly – sometimes years in advance.  When considering a venue you’ll have more options if you are flexible about your wedding date.
For questions to ask potential wedding venues, click here.

Monday, September 29, 2014

Wedding Reception Music For A Great Party


Music sets the tempo for your wedding reception.  It lets guests know what to expect, communicates the tone of events and can accentuate the theme of the day.  So how do you use music to weave your ideas together, check out these tips.
Consider your guests.  When thinking about the songs for your wedding reception, consider the age and personality of your guests.  While much of your play list will include Top 40 and dance hits, remember that guests have some favorite songs that they like to dance to at weddings as well.  If you’re getting married near a particular holiday or season, consider adding music for that time of year as well.
Create playlists, but don’t go overboard.  When thinking about the songs for your wedding reception, it is helpful to think of them in three groups; “Must Play”, “Try To Play” and “Do Not Play”. These lists are very helpful in letting your wedding DJ know the types of music you do and don’t want to hear at your wedding reception.
Trust your DJ.  While you will likely attend a few weddings this year, your  wedding DJ will be performing at numerous events.  Allow him to use his professional skills to guide you towards songs that he knows will pack your dance floor.  After all, you do want guests to dance.
Let your DJ take requests.  Talk with your wedding DJ about the type of party you are hoping for.  Do you want music as the background for visiting or do you want a dance party?  Allow the DJ to take requests and suggest alternatives that will keep the party flowing.  A professional DJ can read the crowd and play the best song next.
Every guest request isn’t a good request.  While it’s become trendy to ask guests to submit songs in advance, it is highly suggested that you don’t ask guests for requests in advance.  If you do collect requests, make sure that you discuss with your DJ to make sure he is screening requests to make sure they match your vision.  You don’t want to create a party for one person.  If you receive 100 requests of songs averaging 3 minutes, that is 5 hours of music programming.
Music Set The Tone.  The music for your wedding reception gives your guests a cue on what kind of event you will have.  This starts with your Grand Entrance to the wedding reception.  Choosing a fun song for bridal party introductions can help get the crowd ready for your big moment and give your guests a preview of what is to follow.
Cocktail hours can rock!  The formality of the ceremony is over and guests are ready to have a good time.  The music for your cocktail hour is a great way to share your personal tastes so anything goes.  Consider acoustic artists, crooners, reggae, love songs through the ages or any other genres that fit with your wedding theme.
Keep Dinner Upbeat.  There is no rule that says you must play soft jazz during dinner service.  Coldplay, Mumford and Sons, Dave Matthews Band, Radiohead, Mat Kearney and artists of similar nature translate well to the dinner hour.  Your wedding DJ can also play songs that pickup the tempo as you get closer to the dancing portion of the evening.
Keep It Flowing.  Nothing kills the flow of a dance floor more than constant interruptions.  Work with your wedding DJ to establish a timeline that takes care of the traditional wedding events early in the reception and allows you to open the dance floor.
End It On The Right Note.  Ending your reception on a high note gives your guests a final, lasting impression.  Whether a special slow song for the romantics, or a sing-a-long for friends, give some consideration to  your last song of the evening.

Friday, September 26, 2014

Wedding Flower Colors and Their Meanings

With the change in seasons, we are thinking of all the beautiful flower options.  The color of wedding bouquets and reception centerpieces has a history of traditional meanings.  What do the colors of your wedding day colors represent?

Blue.  Whether pale and delicate or bold and deep, blue wedding flowers traditionally represent peace, serenity and new beginnings.  Popular choices for blue bouquets often include delphiniums, hydrangea, roses, orchids, and statice.

Pink.  Pink wedding blooms are thought to represent happiness and grace.  Pale blooms can be used to convey youth and innocence while bolder tones invoke fun and energy.  Think pink and you think of grace, gentility, and happiness.  If you think pink, consider garden roses, carnations, tulips, lilies, gerber daisies, peony and orchids.

Purple.  Long associated with royalty, purple weddings represents dignity, creativity and success.  It has also been the most popular choice for wedding colors for several years.  Some popular purple blooms include hydrangeas, roses, carnations, tulips, orchids, lisianthus, and iris.

Red.  Is there any color more associated with love?  Red weddings represents passion, desire and long lasting love.  While red roses are traditional you can also use mums, orchids, peruvian lilies, daisies and calla lilies.

White.  White wedding flowers offer the simple beauty associated with innocence and reverence for the occasion.  Some popular blooms include lily of the valley, roses, lilies, phlox, amaryllis, carnations, dahlias and hydrangeas.  

Yellow.  Yellow wedding flowers are the color of happiness and sunshine.  Often used to create a feeling of joy, popular choices for wedding bouquets include daffodils, roses, tulips, orchids, lilies, dahlia and sunflowers.

Orange.  Orange wedding flowers symbolize confidence, enthusiasm and optimism in life.  Roses, alstroemeria, daisies, craspedia, peruvian, asiatic and calla lilies, and tulips are popular choices for the bouquet or centerpieces.

Green.  Symbolizing good fortune, harmony and health, green wedding bouquets are growing in popularity.  Consider blooms of carnations, roses, dahlia, hydrangea, lisianthus or pom flowers.


Thursday, September 25, 2014

15 Date Night Ideas

Date nights can be tough when you’re on a budget, especially when you are saving for your wedding budget.  But that doesn’t mean you have to stop dating!  Check out these ideas for free and low cost dates.

Game Night.  Invite a few couples over for a low cost game night.  Working together as a team is a great bonding experience.  Guys against gals is great for a little competition to make things interesting, just be sure not to be too competitive.

A Different Kind of Game Night.  Is your fiance a sports fan?  Take a break from the details of wedding planning and spend time on an activity he enjoys.  Whether it’s taking in a game from the cheap seats, or hitting the links yourselves, getting involved in one of his passions, at least for a day, shows you appreciate who he is.

Go To A Show.  Whether it’s a concert, performance or a day at the movies, matinees are great for a day out, but still budget friendly.

Explore The City.  Most large cities are great for festivals, free concerts or great scenic walks.  Spend an afternoon exploring the city.  You can even use the day to scope out locations for your wedding day Romantic images.

Visit Your Favorite Restaurant.  While dinner out might seem like a big splurge, using coupon sites like restaurant.com, can save you a few bucks.  And who doesn’t love a day without cooking?!

A Day At The Beach.  Surf, sun and sand make for a perfect day without a large expense.  Most MetroParks offer an annual pass, making it affordable year round.

Visit The Zoo.  When wedding planning is turning you into a bear, drop what you’re doing and go visit the real thing!  A day at the zoo is great for a leisurely stroll, watching the animals play and some downtime with each other.

A Day At The Orchard.  Whether picking summer strawberries or fall apples, orchards are a great place to spend the afternoon.  As a bonus, you’re spending the day picking fruits which are perfect for your pre-wedding diet.

A Night Under The Stars.  Grab a blanket, a bottle of wine and drive away from the city nights.  Spend the evening watching the stars and talking about your plans for the future.  Check out http://www.space.com/skywatching for stargazing highlights.

Go Back To School.  Did you attend school together?  Spending a day on campus, reminiscing about your time there, or cheering on your alma mater for a game can provide some relief from the wedding planning process.  If you didn’t attend school together, this is a chance to show your fiance where you have been.

Get Involved.  Look for opportunities to serve your community together.  Clean up a park, serve at your church, or work with a charity close to your heart.  Working together to make the world better will bring you closer as a couple.  To see how Mike Staff Productions gives back, click here.

Visit Museums.  If you haven’t been to a museum since your fifth grade field trip, it’s time to go back!  Visiting the museum as an adult allows you to truly appreciate all they have to offer.  And as a bonus, on a hot day they are great for an air conditioned activity.

Go Ice Skating.  Cold temps don’t have to force you inside.  Visit a local ice rink for some winter fun and finish the day with cocoa!


Have A Picnic.  Pack a basket lunch and head to the park.  Swing on the swings to bring back the happy times as a kid.

Sip, Sip, Enjoy… Go wine tasting. Check with any specialty wine stores in your area; some offer free (or really cheap) wine-tastings.  Grab your favorite bottle and head home to relax the night away.


Wednesday, September 24, 2014

5 Time Management Tips Every Bride Needs


Planning a wedding is a big undertaking.  So what’s the secret to getting it all done?  Time management and prioritization!
First Things First: List Your Priorities.  It sounds simple really, but can be a challenge.  Rather than focus on each task that needs to be done, decide the priority items for your wedding day.  When you think about your wedding, what comes first?  Is it a gathering for friends and family, a celebration of you as a couple, a lavish affair?  Decide on the story you want for the day and the priority elements required to make that vision a reality.  Once you decide what’s important to you, the challenges of budget, guest lists, small details and big decisions will be dictated by the priority they are.
Manage The Details To The Goal.  Now that you have your priorities lined out, set the goals for your wedding day.  List the major items needed for each of your priorities.  These could include the wedding budget for the item, ideas that you have, who will be helping with each.  Be as specific as possible with each goal and its details, but don’t get hung up on each.  As you move through the planning process, you’ll probably get more ideas.  Once you have your goals set, decide when each should be accomplished and make a note.  (For a typical planning timeline, click here.)
Tackle That List.  Making a list is a great first step, but it’s a first step.  Once you know what you need to do, break apart the plan in manageable and achievable chunks.  Consider highly sought after things, such as your venues, DJ, photography, videography and dress as items you should tackle early.  As you plan your task calendar, be sure not to leave too many things to the end.  You don’t want to work on seating plans at midnight the day before your wedding!
Leave Margin.  Real life continues when you are planning your wedding.  Schedule time for some wedding free relaxation.  Designate a wedding free weekend once a month so you can still take part in the things you enjoy.
Let Go Of The Small Stuff.  The great thing about your priority list is that it helps you focus on what really matters.  Sure personalized notes to each of your guests on their place cards is a great touch, but it’s pretty time consuming too.  If it isn’t a big priority for your wedding day, consider cutting three things from your list immediately.  You’ll feel less stressed over the non-essential elimination, and can get back to what really matters.

Monday, May 5, 2014

Kid Friendly Receptions


If you choose to invite children to your reception, here’s some ideas to make the event fun for them too.
Milk and cookie bar. Milk and cookies make everyone smile. Consider having a milk and cookie bar for your dessert. You can have white, chocolate and strawberry milk and a variety of cookies for dunking.
Signature “kid” drinks. Remember when you thought a “shirley temple” was a special treat. Ask your venue to offer kid friendly drinks, but be sure they are presented in a different glass to avoid confusion!
Coloring books and crayons. Any family friendly restaurant knows that occupied children make for more enjoyable dining. Consider presenting your younger guests with coloring books and crayons as a guest favor. Mom and Dad will thank you for your thoughtfulness!
“Kid” table. Conversation at the adult table during long dinner service can get pretty boring for a nine-year-old. When creating your seating arrangement, consider putting older children at a table in the middle of their parents. They’ll have a fun time interacting with kids their age while mom and dad talk to adults.
Finger food. While the audits will appreciate filet for dinner, children would be just as happy with chicken fingers. See if your caterer has kid friendly options – this could also be budget friendly.

Thursday, May 1, 2014

What You Need To Know: The First Dance


There is nothing that strikes fear in the heart of most grooms and some brides than the very thought of the first dance. All eyes are on the two of you alone in the middle of a big room. You don’t have to be worthy of “Dancing With the Stars” to nail the first dance! So, what can you do to take the pressure off? Here are a few ideas:
Keep it simple. Do something that both of you feel comfortable with. If its just a slow shuffle around so be it. Or…..
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.



Keep it short.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Relax! The people watching are on your side even if they kid you.

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Wedding Reception Exit Strategy


You’ve had a beautiful ceremony and an amazing wedding reception, but the night is over. Enjoy your wedding day a little longer by leaving the end of the night activities to someone else. Too many brides make the mistake of forgetting to hand these tasks off to a trusting friend. (Want to know the other mistakes brides make? Click here)



Gifts
This is a job that you can give to your most trusted friend. At the conclusion of the reception, someone should be tasked with collecting the boxes, bags and envelope holder. Decide in advance who this person will be and where they will place the items. Often the gifts are placed in the couples hotel room if at the same venue or given to the parents of the couple. This is particularly important to decide if you are departing in the morning for your honeymoon.


Decor
If you have rented any items for your decorations, you may need someone to not only collect them at the end of the evening, but also to return them to the vendor. Some companies will pickup the rental items, but there may be a fee for doing so.
Floral arrangements may be given to guests as they part, donated to a hospital or nursing home or disposed of by the venue. Be sure to check with the venue to see what items can be left on site at the conclusion of the evening.





Fees and Gratuities
Typically, most fees are paid prior to the wedding day, but it is possible you will have some due that evening. One of the best man’s duties is to handle any fees or gratuities for the couple. Prepare and label envelopes in advance so he can handle those tasks for you.
We’re ready to help. Email us or call 248-689-0777