My advice to people is, when you know you’re going to be married soon or will be planning a special event, check with a few dj’s, get on their mailing lists, call them up, visit their web site and start building a relationship.  That way, when the big day comes, you’ll have someone you can trust.

The same advice holds true of a photographer or any wedding or entertainment vendor.  Build a relationship early and you’ll feel good about your choice.

Nothing is more disconcerting than to have to hire someone quickly and not feel confident in your choice because you were forced to rush to a decision.

A little advance planning goes a long way!

Columbus DJ is a division of Preemo DJ and Entertainment owned and operated by Sal Cioppa of Columbus, Ohio.

Well, sometimes it gets confusing.

But the one thing I hear over and over from my clients is that they hire me because they like me and feel comfortable chatting with me.  As with all relationships chemistry is important.  How many relationships have stuttered because, although a person is wonderful witty …  there just doesn’t seem to be that chemistry happening.

It’s no different when hiring a DJ, photographer or other vendor or performer.  You have to choose someone you like — someone you feel comfortable with when things are going well and when they start to fall apart.

My advice is:  When you find that special dj or other vendor who is easy to talk with and with whom you share that special chemistry — that’s the one you should go with as long as their cost is in the ballpark.

More than one person found out too late that their “bargain” dj or vendor just wasn’t a bargain after all.

For more information on DJ and entertainment services visit Columbus DJ, Columbus Photographer and Columbus Entertainer.

Some couples use a theme for their wedding.  Oftentimes the theme is an area where either the bride or groom is prominent and other times it reflects a shared, common interest.  For instance, at one wedding the theme was auto racing because the groom had won several NASCAR sponsored championships and the bride was his biggest fan and member of the pit crew.

At another a ballet theme was used since the bride had come to this country from Russia and was a prominent and highly accomplished ballerina.  The groom danced with her even though he had … well, a couple of left feet.  But it was the hit of the wedding and something no one will ever forget.

At yet another wedding the bride and groom where very active in a popular and competitive marching band.  The whole band attended and performed with the bride and groom both inside and outside at the wedding before the DJ opened the dance floor.  The guests loved it.  It was fantastic.

All three were great in their own way and reflected something special about the bridal couple.  A theme can be anything you want it to be.

One couple had a strolling magician during their cocktail hour walking through the banquet hall, on the patio outside and wherever guests were congregating and was entertaining them in small, intimate groups with amazing feats of close up magic.  It was perfect because the bride and groom were off being photographed after the ceremony and this afforded a wonderful sparkle of life to the reception before they arrived.  It was a very sophisticated touch of class.

Another idea would be to have a small, personalized vase of flowers on each table engraved with something special on them that one lucky guest at that table would get to bring home as a keepsake.  For weddings on a budget, as many are these days, a special idea doesn’t have to add much, if anything, to the wedding budget.

One couple, right after dinner, had a trivia contest where they strolled table to table and asked questions of the guests about the bride and groom’s childhood years, interests and family life with the winning table getting a bottle of wine to share.  The whole contest took only about 15 minutes and it loosened all the guests up, had them laughing and joining in and moments later, when the dance floor opened, it had no lack of eager participants.

These are just a few examples, both simple and elaborate, of what you might choose to do.  With a little thought you can come up with dozens more.  Ask friends and family for ideas.  Brainstorm together and you may be surprised at what you come up with.  Here’s to a great wedding.

For more information please visit Columbus DJ.

Because your wedding day is one of the most personal and cherished days of your life, your ceremony should be just as special. Every aspect of it, from readings to music to symbolism, should be a reflection of you and the bond that you share, making this day truly your own, rejoicing in everything that makes your union unique. You can express yourself among family and friends through a personalized ceremony. Additionally, when the ceremony is great, the tone is set for a wonderful celebration. Here are some ideas to make your ceremony unique:

Tell your personal story . Share the story of how you met and why you fell in love. What were the first words you said to each other? Where was your first date? How did the proposal happen? What actions of the other say I love you? What does your partner do that always makes you laugh? Your celebrant can include these words in the introduction or elsewhere in the ceremony.

Honor the Presenter. If one or both of you will be presented in marriage, take this time to reflect on what this relationship means to you. Have your Celebrant include words of homage, amusing stories, and thanks.

Celebrate Your Heritage. Make a list of your respective ethnic, cultural or religious backgrounds. Research wedding rituals, poets and music from these traditions and create a distinctive blend of words and symbols. Honor both your backgrounds and the ceremony will reflect your unique partnership.

Something New. Borrow freely from the rich wedding customs around the world. You don’t need to belong to a particular culture or religion for its rituals to have meaning. Such rituals have been performed for hundreds or thousands of years because they resonate with universal truths about marriage.

Interfaith Weddings. Over 25% of marriages are between partners of different faiths. A good officiant will help you honor each faith tradition in a way that pleases everyone.

Involving Children & Stepchildren. When children are involved, your wedding reflects not only the joining of husband and wife, but the creation of a new family or stepfamily. There are many ways to reflect family unity in your ceremony.

You may have found the perfect spot for your wedding ceremony, but are unsure of how to find a minister, rabbi, clergy, or other officiant. You can have a ceremony that reflects your values, and the joy of your wedding day, and a Celebrant may be the answer. Celebrants are people who are trained to officiate at, compose and perform the highest quality personalized ceremonies. I studied at the Celebrant USA Foundation in Montclair, NJ. and I officiate in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. It is a joy and pleasure to be able to provide couples with meaningful ceremonies in just some of the ways I have explained. I hope I have inspired you towards a creative approach to your wedding ceremony.

- Lois Heckman ( www.LoisHeckman.com ) is a Certified Celebrant ( www.celebrantusa.org ) in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania, and beyond.

Your lovely fiancée has chosen her ‘maids, and now you’re stuck with the task of finding just the right number of family and friends to pair them with. How do you decide who makes the cut?

The Usual Suspects

Remember: No matter what your family or friends say, there aren’t people who “must” be in the wedding party. Select buddies you’re close with-not guys you feel obligated to ask. If you’re unfamiliar with wedding etiquette, however, here are the “usual” rules for including groomsmen in your wedding party.

Brothers-yours and your bride’s-come first. Unless there are strange circumstances (if you don’t speak to your brother, for instance), your brothers and her brothers are automatically in the wedding party. Next come your closest friends (some may be relatives) who are responsible-and let’s get real here-financially sound. Being in a wedding, especially if travel is involved, is expensive.

The Best Man for the Job

We’d like to advise you to ignore anyone who offers input on choosing your best man, but we know this isn’t entirely realistic. We will say, however, that you’ll want to choose the male who is closest to you and has been there for you. Whether he’s a blood relative or close friend, you’ll be glad when your wedding day arrives that you picked your best friend.

Great Expectations

When you begin asking your friends to stand up in your wedding, be sure to explain what’s expected. The basics include:

Travel and accommodations
Attend the rehearsal and dinner
Renting tuxedo and shoes
Attend tuxedo fittings
Help plan and attend the bachelor party
Seat guests at the wedding
Walk down the aisle with a bridesmaid (maybe)
Dance with same bridesmaid
Wedding gift (unspoken requirement, of course!)

If this is manageable for your buds, you’re in business.

Who Doesn’t Make It

Keep in mind that a lot of money (whether it’s yours is inconsequential) and effort are being spent on the biggest day of your life. You don’t want to start your lifetime commitment with the following burdens (trust me, I’m a wife): friends who get too drunk, who are late for everything, and who have a reputation for not showing up for important events. These guys are not the best choice for groomsmen. If there’s any doubt about whether your skiing buddy, “GanjaDaddy,” will fulfill his duties, you probably shouldn’t ask him. We suggest, based on horror stories we’ve heard and witnessed, that you choose your most responsible friends for this very special day.

This doesn’t mean you load your wedding party with a bunch of stiffs. You know what we’re saying. Keep it reasonable.

About the Author
Jennifer Baumann is editor of Wedding Gazette, the resource for real-world wedding planning that’s packed with info on how to plan your budget, how to avoid killing certain family members, exhaustive theme ideas, plus tons of resources on finding favors, necessary accessories, gifts for your groomsmen, and much more.  You can visit her web site at www.weddinggazette.com.

We’ve all flipped through well-worn wedding albums of parents, aunts and uncles, and even grandparents, chuckling at dated hairstyles, handlebar mustaches, peach taffeta bridesmaids dresses, and powder blue tuxes. Wedding photojournalists might contend that these photos wouldn’t seem so out of style (hideous wedding gowns and bad male perms aside) if more emphasis had been placed on the un-styled, un-planned moments of the wedding day, rather than the prescribed agenda of highly organized groups of people staring at the camera.

On the contrary, naysayers insist wedding photojournalism is merely a trendy, passing fad that disrespects the venerable traditions of the classic posed shot. They point out that tradition, and true photographic quality, is often sacrificed for grainy, natural-light candids that claim to be “art.”

Peggy Bair

Others scoff at the idea that tears and laughter recorded forever will soon be going out of style. “When real life goes out of style, we’re all in trouble,” says WPJA award winner Peggy Bair. “When is that ever going to go out of style? Real moments – you can’t fake them.”

Bair argues that when people look back at their wedding photographs, they’d like to remember what they felt at the time, not just what they looked like, which is surely to be out of date 20 years later. What really matters, she says, is the actual experience the photographer is documenting.

“I think people want to experience real life as it happens. They want to remember their wedding day, without someone asking them constantly to move or stand a certain way,” she says. “They don’t want to remember the photographer making him dip her back like that. They want to remember the spontaneous moment – the real moment.

“Then they can say, ‘That’s what I look like when I’m really living my life. That’s who I really am,” she says.

STAYING AWAY FROM TRENDY

Bair adds that there are trendy photos out there posing as wedding photojournalism.

Today’s “trendy” wedding photojournalism happens when a photographer takes photos that have become expected in the genre. “Someone decided that it was photojournalistic to take a photo of the dress hanging on a hanger. Now every photographer takes a photo of the dress, and it’s not [wedding] photojournalism anymore,” muses Bair.

PERSONALITY

Other, au currant photo poses to be wary of: dipping the bride; the jumping bridal party; tilted horizons (“tilting photos does not make you a photojournalist,” she says); and close-up detail shots. “Don’t just take a picture of the shoes, and then say, ‘OK, I got that.’”

“We can look back at the 70s and 80s and say, ‘Oh that’s so passé,’ but we’re doing it again, just with a different set of pictures,” Bair notes.

TREND VS. STYLE

Brides and grooms need to understand the difference between real wedding photojournalism and the trends some photographers are buying into, according to our experts. If you are adamant about documenting your wedding in a photojournalistic style, make sure you communicate your wishes to your photographer, so he or she doesn’t feel pressured to get those canned shots, and can instead focus on the real moments, happening organically, without direction or interruption.

Joe Milton

WPJA award winner Joe Milton says since none of the popular styles – traditional, portrait photography or wedding photojournalism – is going anywhere; that it’s more about understanding the differences so you don’t get caught up in the fads.

“Usually my clients have looked at several photographers, and they’ve looked at websites – and they’ve picked me, specifically saying they don’t want those posed shots that they’ve seen in everyone else’s album,” he says. “They don’t want those cliché photos – the groom dipping the bride in front of a mountain, the brides veil thrown over the groom’s head. They already know that they don’t want the experience of the photographer being in charge and directing the whole day; they want someone to record it.”

Advice to brides and grooms: do your research, and then ask yourself some questions – and be honest. Do you want your wedding photographer to have control of how you look? Do you want him or her to be directing you during the day? Or are you the type of people who would rather not worry about the photographer, but instead have someone who is there to document the day as it happens, free from interference? Are you confident enough to let the moments speak for themselves, or do you already know how you want the photographs to look, and you simply need a photographer to help you set them up and capture them?

Another WPJA award-winner, Marc Climie, maintains that there’s more to picking a photographer than simply picking a style; that each photographer brings characteristics to the job that will influence the photos. “The traditional photographer is more apt to mingle with the crowd, talk to people, and interact. It’s his or her personality,” he charges. “The documentary photographer is more of an observer, watching people react and interact.”

Marc Climie

It’s that observing eye that captures the reality of a wedding – the real moments that you’ll remember years later when flipping through your photos. Does he think that’s a trend? “I believe there is beauty and art in reality,” he says simply.

“It is a fad no more than a mother standing back in awe of her daughter’s beauty is a fad, no more than a tearful father walking his daughter down the aisle is a fad, no more than life is a fad.”

by Meghan McEwen for The Wedding Photojournalist Association

We all know the saying,  ”You can’t please everyone”!  While that may be true, these types of guest criticisms are easily avoided by careful planning — and addressing them now will make everyone’s memories of your wedding day so much nicer.

1. The DJ was obnoxious or played lousy music. Find the best wedding DJ available using recommendations from other brides and the advice of wedding industry professionals.

2. The music was TOO LOUD. Again, hire a great DJ who is experienced and focused on creating a fantastic overall experience for you and your guests. Other suggestions to avoid this common complaint: Move tables and chairs away from speakers and seat older guests further from the sound equipment.

3. Speeches were TOO LONG and we couldn’t decipher the words. Keep speeches under five minutes. Ideally, they should last between two and five minutes. A good DJ will spend a few moments with each person making a toast or speech, teaching him or her how to correctly operate and speak into the microphone. He will also use a quality microphone!

4. We didn’t know anyone at our table. Take the time to carefully plan your seating arrangement, placing guests at tables with others they know. They don’t have to be fast friends, just acquaintances or people with some kind of connection. Try to seat out-of-town guests, who aren’t likely to know anyone, with others having similar interests.

5. I resented paying a dollar to dance with the bride. Unless it’s a long-standing family tradition, and you will offend someone if you break the ritual, the dollar dance is best forgotten.

6. We stood forever in the receiving line. The bride & groom, and their parents are the only required greeters. Better yet, couples should instead consider visiting individual tables during or immediately following dinner. (See #10 below)

7. We had too much time to “kill” between the ceremony and reception. Out-of-town guests are often at a loss for ways to fill the time between a two o’clock wedding and a six o’clock reception. Try to keep the down time to a minimum. When it isn’t possible to hold the events within an hour or so of each other, ask the hall if it will open its doors early for your visiting guests (and ask them if there’s a charge). Other options include asking relatives or close friends to invite them to their home for a light snack, or arranging a hospitality suite for them at their hotel.

8. The centerpiece was so large that I couldn’t see or talk to guests seated across the table. Smaller, shorter arrangements are best. Your centerpiece shouldn’t be the center of attention (or main topic of conversation) at the table.

9. I was offended that I had to pay for drinks. Open bars are the accepted norm. If your budget is tight, offer wine and beer only — or limit drink choices to “call” brands. You can also close the bar during the dinner hour to save on costs.

10. The bride and groom didn’t stop by to say hello. Make the rounds of guest tables at your reception, but don’t spend too much time at each. A quick greeting, thank you or compliment will suffice.

11. I was never thanked for my gift! Share this task with your husband. Divide your list, write your notes at the same time, and make a pact to finish a certain number every night until they are finished. Dangle a carrot in front of your noses. When the last note is FINALLY written, reward yourselves with a special bottle of wine or dinner out. It is customary to mail thank-you notes within three months. You don’t want to wait that long for your carrot anyway, do you?

By Mike Staff
Mike Staff Productions
© Copyright 2007.

If you have a small, informal reception, you may not feel you need a plan. However for larger numbers, or a sit down meal, both you and your guests may benefit from a seating chart. Guests are saved from a mad panic of trying to find a seat on a table with their friends/family and you can place people where they’ll be happiest! The wedding meal may last for 2-3 hours and is a significant part of the day. If your guests are sitting with people they get along with, it will make a big difference to their overall enjoyment of the day.

There are a number of options for the seating plan:
No plan at all – best for stand up buffets or small and informal events.
Assign guests to tables – you allocate guests to tables but the choice of seat is theirs.
Assign guests to seats – you specify the seats at which each guest will sit.

If you remember only one thing…
Do what you think would make you and your guests most comfortable.

The Head Table Dilemma
While the traditional head table  (Bride and groom seated at a long table flanked by the wedding party) is still favored by most, alternatives are often being used. The traditional layout is as follows:

Groomsman – Bridesmaid – Best Man – Bride – Groom – Maid of Honor – Groomsman – Bridesmaid

There are alternative arrangements – such as including parents/godparents or clergy on the table. Or you might want to include partners of the bridal party. Alternatively, you may want to avoid the top table altogether and have a romantic table for two.

Top Tips for Other Tables
1. Seating tables with just one family group will let them relax, but won’t do much to encourage mingling. However, a table where no one knows anyone else might be a bit daunting for most people! Try and arrange a mix on each table – so everyone knows a few people. By thinking about guests’ ages and interests you can make sure that each table is likely to get on and have fun!

2. Where to sit singles can also create a dilemma. On one hand you might want to try out a little matchmaking, but on the other, this could be rather uncomfortable and awkward for your guests (it might be very obvious too!). Certainly avoid a ‘singles’ table but generally do whatever you feel is best for your guests.

3. If you are using round tables, the general etiquette is to seat males and females alternately around the table. If you are using long tables, seat couples opposite one another and then alternate male/females along the table.

4. The tables closest to the Bride and Groom should be reserved for the closest friends and family.

5. Give each table a name or number. Table names could be themed – for example people, objects or places that are relevant to you as a couple. Names also remove the perceived hierarchy of tables. You should create a name card for each table (your venue may do this for you) so that guests can easily find their table.

6. If you are assigning guests to specific seats you should create name place cards. These could also show menu choices (if you are offering them) or indicate vegetarians. The waiting staff will really appreciate this and it will allow them to give a more seamless service. You should also give a paper copy of your plan to the venue so that they can see where people are seated.

Creating the Chart
Start arranging your seating plan early. You can start doing this before all your RSVPs have come in as most of your close friends and family will probably be definitely attending, even if they haven’t formally replied yet.

To begin creating your arrangement, get a general idea from your venue how tables will be arranged in the room, determine whether you’ll be using round or long tables or a mixture of both, and work out how many people you can sit at each table.

Arranging the chart can take a long time and might involve numerous revisions. Many people cut up pieces of paper for each guest and table and use these to try out different layouts. Thankfully, over the last few years software (web-based, for download or even Excel spreadsheets) has become available to make the task simpler. It can save you not only hours of your time but also reduce the stress in the lead up to the big day by simplifying last minute changes.

Written by Adam Leyton
http://www.toptableplanner.com/

Please use this article as a learning tool, and a way for you to choose who will best suit your needs.  Use these questions to help you select the wedding limousine company of your choice.

1.  Don’t rely on price quotes over the phone. Go see the Vehicles and make sure that is the Vehicle coming that day. (Avoid False promises and Information)

2.  Ask how many years the vendor is in business and if they are a member of the Better Business Bureau or Consumer Affairs?

3.  Does the wedding vendor provide their own vehicles, or is another company providing the vehicles?

4.  What is the year of the Vehicle you will be using, and are they properly licensed and insured? (e.g. in New York, any vehicle over 15 passengers should be licensed with the Department of Transportation.  A D.O.T. sticker should be displayed on the window. Also, make sure that the operator is properly licensed to drive that size vehicle. He/She should have a CDL license and a 19A certification from D.O.T.)

5.  Are the Vehicles equipped with GPS Navigation System?

6.  Make sure the contract includes all necessary information, and that the company does not require a large deposit. Once the company has your money, there is not much you can do the day of your wedding if they do not show.

7.  What are the contingency plans if a Vehicle breaks down that day?

8.  What beverages are stocked in the Limousine?

9.  What are the vendor’s hiring practices for screening Chauffeurs? Are they professionally trained?

1. Do the Chauffeurs coordinate the activities with the Bridal Party, Guests, and Photography Personnel?
2. Are the Chauffeurs attired for the wedding?

Please print this out and take it along with you on your quest for the wedding limousine company of your choice. I hope that I was of some help to you. Good Luck & Congratulations on your Special Day!

by Tony Savarese
All Star Limousine Service Ltd.

A wedding of your dreams does not have to be in the popular wedding months. A winter wedding can be quite spectacular and there are significant financial advantages.

While the summer months remain the most popular time of the year to say “I Do”, many couples are choosing to have a winter date for the “big event.”  According to the Society of American Florists, 13 percent of weddings take place in the winter, with 11 percent of those being Christmas weddings. Summer weddings account for 35 percent, spring weddings 29 percent, and autumn weddings 23 percent.

Décor that appeals to the senses is important when trying to pulling off a romantic winter wedding. “Choose colors of rich jewel tones such as purple, forest green, and navy. Sapphire blue, ice blue or powder blue, silver and white can be used if you want to steer clear of the traditional Christmas colors”, suggests Lynette Gamble, senior coordinator of Affairs of Grandeur.  The glow of candlelight will add warmth and ambiance to your ceremony and reception site.

Iridescent or frosted glass balls and pine cones can adorn your guests’ tables.  Snowflake ornaments and glittery ribbons may be placed on the food tables or hung from the ceiling. For a simple touch, only decorate with red and white Poinsettias. Since many locations will already be lavishly decorated, your décor budget will be minimal.

To keep floral costs to a minimum, use flowers that are already available during the winter months.  Some flower choices are: poinsettias, roses, amaryllis, and lilies.  Evergreens are popular choices for decorations while holly branches and other plants with red berries are ideal for use in floral arrangements.

A cozy cottage or bed and breakfast is an ideal location for your wintry wedding theme.  Your guests may warm themselves in front of the fireplace while sipping hot chocolate or wassail during the cocktail hour. A view overlooking a partially frozen pond will add to the ambiance.  Imagine your guests delight as they get a glimpse of a deer drinking from the pond just outside the reception room window or a family of rabbits scurrying over the freshly fallen snow.

To add a little creativity to your dinner menu, ask your bridal party to submit traditional family recipes for your caterer to make for the reception.  If you don’t want to serve the traditional Christmas fare, ask your caterer for alternatives and create a unique meal for your guests.  As for favors, Gamble recommends candles of course. “Cinnamon Apple, Pumpkin Pie, and Vanilla are all pleasant scents that remind you of being a kid in your grandmothers’ kitchen and they’re nice this time of year”, says Gamble. “Spiced teas, coffee mugs, snow globes and Christmas ornaments imprinted with the couples name and wedding date will also make great favors.”

Want a memorable getaway? Give out mini bells and have them rung as the two of you make your way to a horse-drawn sleigh.  Decorate the coach and harness with Christmas foliage and chiming bells and ride off into the evening.

By Lynette Gamble
Affairs of Grandeur
Senior Coordinator
240-281-5608
www.affairsofgrandeur.com