Monday, July 16, 2012

Wedding Reception Music Planning


Every bride and groom wants their wedding reception to be remembered as a great party, good times, good friends and great music and dancing. When thinking about the songs for your wedding reception playlist, think of them as three distinct groups.
Must Plays.  These are songs that you absolutely must hear to make your night complete. These are the songs that have special meaning to you as the soundtrack of your life. These are the songs you want to hear no matter what, regardless if you are the only one dancing! Your DJ will play all of these “must play” dance songs. It is recommended that you keep this list to 5 – 10 songs. Additional songs should go on the next list …
Try to Plays. This list is usually the longest and should include many of your favorites, plus those you think your friends & family will enjoy. Your wedding DJ wants your guests to dance, and this list is a great starting point. This list is for songs you would like to hear, but only if people will dance to them. Your DJ will naturally try to play as many of these songs as possible, but only if they are working to motivate people to dance & party.
DO NOT PLAYS.  These are songs that you simply do not want to hear at your wedding reception. Songs on this list may include songs such as the Macarena, Chicken Dance & Hokey Pokey.  If your goal is for people to dance at your wedding reception, it is recommended that you keep the DO NOT PLAY list short and allow your DJ to use his experience & expertise to “read the crowd” and respond accordingly.
Some couples don’t want to hear “typical wedding songs” like Love Shack or YMCA.  Believe it or not, there will be people at your wedding reception who will be waiting to hear “Old Time Rock n Roll”. Unless it will ruin your night to hear some of these songs, it is recommended that you do not place these songs on your “DO NOT PLAY” list.
The reason they are “typical wedding songs” is because they practically guarantee dancing.  Below is a list of 50 of the most requested songs by wedding reception guests.
Email us or call (248) 689-0777.
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Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Long Distance Wedding Planning


When you’re planning your wedding from out of state, there are a few extra challenges to wedding planning.  Whether you will have a destination wedding, or return home for your nuptials, here are some tips to help:
Ask For Help.  Planning a wedding from a distance makes it necessary to ask for additional help.  When asking for help, make sure that you are clear in what you need – someone to collect data, make objective recommendations, visit vendors, etc.  You will place a great amount of trust in this person and their opinions so it is important to select someone with your best interest at heart.  A parent or sibling in the area makes a great deal of sense.
Look For Vendors That Consider Your Convenience.  While an in person meeting with wedding vendors is a great way to learn about a wedding vendor, this should not be the only option.  Look for wedding vendors with informative websites, updated blogs and social media presence, teleconference options and extended office hours if there is a time difference to overcome.  Anyone you work with for your wedding day, should make it convenient for you.
Establish Your Budget Early.  Planning a budget for the wedding is one of the first tasks engaged couples need to complete.  While the bride’s parents traditionally paid for the wedding costs, this is less common now.  Most couples contribute to their wedding and both families assist if able.  Have an honest conversation with both families to see what they are willing to contribute so that you’ll have a starting point to build from.  Discuss what level of decision making they think their “gift” buys them.  If you will travel to the wedding city for planning meetings, be sure to build in the cost of each of these trips, including travel, lodging and food expense.  You’ll also need to include wedding day travel in your budget as well.
DIY For Budget And Connection.  When your wedding is taking place in another city, it can be hard to feel connected to the process.  Look for ways to get involved by DIY projects.  Can you design your table number markers, assemble the invitations, or other tasks that allow you to be actively involved in your plan?
Choose Your Bridal Party Wisely.  Your bridal party has important roles to fill on your wedding day.  Make sure that they understand those roles before committing to be in your wedding.  If you will ask them to help with tasks in your absence, be sure to communicate that with them in advance.  You don’t want to rely on someone that doesn’t have the time to give.
Work With A Wedding Planner.  A wedding planner can be a life saver for a busy or long distance bride.  By working with preferred vendors, maximizing discounts, providing advice and handling tasks, a wedding planner can save you money and time.  Click here to read more about working with wedding planners.
Use One Location.  Using one location for both your ceremony and reception is not only budget friendly, but it reduces the number of choices and details you need to be concerned about.  A single location requires one set up for decorations, less transportation needs, and may be more convenient for out of town guests.  For more information on wedding ceremony locations, click here.
Combine Your Wedding And Honeymoon.  To save some money, consider having your honeymoon in the same location as your wedding.  This will reduce your travel costs in general.
Save The Date.  If attending your wedding will require many of your guests to travel, sending save the date cards early allows your guests to plan accordingly.  If you are concerned that travel constraints might prohibit guests from attending, be prepared with B list invitations to meet your minimum requirement numbers.
Email us or call (248) 689-0777.
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