Congratulations to Online Exclusive Real Wedding couple Rachel & Cory Iwan who were married on June 25, 2011 at Arden Hills Resort Club & Spa.

Click here to read their story, see their slideshow of photos from Christopher Kight Photographers, meet their wedding dream team and more!

Photo courtesy of Christopher Kight Photographers.

Check out the Real Weddings Contest Page! Great bridal loot for real Sacramento-area brides!

Subscribe to the Real Weddings Magazine Blog!

The Couple:  Monica Alcala and Nicholas Kreig

Wedding Date:  October 9, 2010

Photography by Chuck Roberts Photography

Tell us a little about you and your beloved:  We met at work in June of 2004, where we had a mutual friend who would jokingly suggested that we should go out with each other. Shortly afterward, we became friends and have been together ever since.

In December 2004, Nick surprised me with a trip to Lake Tahoe where he proposed to me on the beach. I found my best friend and life partner, the person who loves me for me. Fast forward six years later and we are married!  He’s my friend, my soul mate, the person who completely understands me and loves me for me, and I love him.

What was the most amazing part of your day?  Sharing this special memory with our family and friends.

What else would you like to share about your big day?  The vendors we selected were great to work with and their services were above and beyond what we expected: delicious food, great music, beautiful floral arrangements and amazing pictures.

Ceremony and Reception Site:  Croatian American Cultural Center

Photographer:  Chuck Roberts Photography

Cake:  Shelton’s Wedding Cakes Designs

Flowers:  Ambience Floral Design

Favors:  DIY

Wedding Dress:  De La Rosa’s Bridal and Tuxedo

Bridesmaid dresses:  David’s Bridal

Hair:  San Francisco Street Salon

Makeup:  Stacy from Arden M.A.C. store

Invitations:  Chuck Roberts Photography

DJ/Entertainment/Band:  Creative Memories Entertainment

Honeymoon location:  Oahu, Hawaii

Any other of your wedding vendor(s) you’d like to call out?  A very special thanks to Liz and her staff at De La Rosa’s Bridal and Tuxedo who went above and beyond what I expected.. Liz and her entire staff were very friendly and very helpful.

Mike at the Croatian American Cultural Center for being very detailed orientated at the small details and making our wedding very special.

Katie Edwards at Ambience Floral Design for her beautiful arrangements and for being flexible when we had last minute changes.

Mike Anderson from Creative Memories Entertainment made our choices much easier and even was kind enough to bring the football for the garter toss, we owe you.

Mike Shelton for a delicious wedding cake.

Also, another special thanks to Paulette from Forget Me Nevers. She does beautiful custom floral preservation. I have received so many compliments from friends and family telling me that my bouquet looks just as beautiful as the day I carried it.

First Dance Song:  ”Then” by Brad Paisley

Any advice you’d give to our readers who are planning their weddings right now?  Be patient, be organized and be open minded. And, start as soon as possible selecting your vendors and paying off purchases. (So it’s not so overwhelming with one huge bill in the end).

Anything that you would have done differently if you were given the chance?  Being on time and prepared (ladies make sure to have your stuff together and ready to go). I forgot so many little things but was able to pull it off with the help of the great vendors, family and friends.

Photo courtesy of Chuck Roberts Photography.

Check out the Real Weddings Contest Page! Great bridal loot for real Sacramento-area brides!

Subscribe to the Real Weddings Magazine Blog!

Congratulations to Featured Real Wedding couple Danielle & Jeffery Hutchings who were married on September 25, 2010 at Wine & Roses Hotel, Restaurant and Spa.

Click here to read their story, see their slideshow of photos from Lisa Richmond Photography, meet their wedding dream team and more!

Photo courtesy of Lisa Richmond Photography.

Check out the Real Weddings Contest Page! Great bridal loot for real Sacramento-area brides!

Subscribe to the Real Weddings Magazine Blog!

Congratulations to Featured Real Wedding couple Ashley & Aaron Dosh who were married on September 19, 2009 at David Girard Vineyards.

Click here to read their story, see their slideshow of photos from Lisa Richmond Photography, meet their wedding dream team and more!

Photo courtesy of Lisa Richmond Photography.

Do you have the new Real Weddings Magazine iPhone and iPad App?

Subscribe to the Real Weddings Magazine Blog!

Your email:

 

This week, we highlight the all around great guy, Mike Anderson from Creative Memories Entertainment. We’ve been lucky enough to work with Mike on several different occasions, and he’s always at the top of his game — and he’s just one really nice guy.

Take it away Mike!

Creative Memories Entertainment

Specialty? Providing Music and MC Service to the best weddings in California

When did you establish your business? Creative Memories Entertainment was established in 2003 but I have been providing wedding entertainment to Northern California since 1995.

What sets you apart from your competition? I think that it’s because I get just as excited about the wedding as my clients. I know that I only have one chance to give them everything I have to help make their wedding the best.

Where do you find inspiration? I try and look for clients who will inspire me. The ones who share their love stories with me and get excited about planning really get me motivated. I use this inspiration to come up with new and creative ideas for their wedding.

When you opened shop, what was your promise to your customers? “I know this is one of the most important days of your life, I promise that it will be the same for me.”

Do you have any hidden talents? I can break dance. There are a few moves that are a little harder to do these days like the splits, but I still have a few good moves left.

What color(s) gives you the most joy?  Red and white. I think about the moment I first laid eyes on my wife April in her wedding dress and it made me look like a little girl whose ice cream had fallen off the cone. It was the most joyful days of my life.

What song is the soundtrack to your business day (or at least to how you feel right now)?  “I Gotta Feeling” by the Black Eye Peas. I love the feeling of excitement the day before a wedding or the drive to an event when I know the surprises that are in store for the evening.

What is your favorite flower?  UMMMM – the kind I give to my wife to make her smile …..usually tulips.

Do you regularly blog? What’s your blog site?  I love to blog and share the stories of events on my site. There are so many great memories that I get to share from the events.

What’s your favorite local restaurant?  Round Table Pizza – I have a thing for the simple….Love my pizza.

What’s your favorite local charity?  I have been actively involved with the Shriners Hospitals for Children and in 2009 was a part of the American Disc Jockey fundraiser where we were able to raise $10,000 dollars for the kids.

If you weren’t in the wedding industry, what would you be doing?  On Air Radio – I loved my jobs at the stations. It was the coolest feeling when you could reach out and talk to thousands of people and hope to bring a smile to their face.

What three things are you most grateful for in life?  My Wife, My Career and My Family.

If you were to plan your own wedding, or re-do your wedding, what element would be most important to you?  I am biased on this but two years ago when we were planning ours, I wanted to make sure the guests had a great time that night and so we made sure the evening had the best entertainment.

What is the best advice you can give to brides and grooms getting married today?  Make the process fun, don’t feel like you have to select the vendors for your wedding, but that you get to select the vendors for your wedding. Every step you take is going to make this day better and better and know that in the end you will get the chance to enjoy the work you put into it. Have fun with it and get ready to smile.

Find out more about Mike on his Web site:  Creative Memories Entertainment for yourself. Call him at 916-344-7000.

Also, be sure to check out his profile and video on Real Weddings Magazine Web site.

And, be sure to check out Mike’s expert advice posts right here on our blog:

Expert Advice:   Spicing up Wedding Introductions

Expert Advice:  Finding the Right DJ

Expert Advice:  Searching for the Right Wedding Entertainment

Subscribe to the Real Weddings Magazine Blog!

The Couple:  Jesika Muller and Clay Pelley

Wedding Date:  October 3, 2009

Photography by Chuck Roberts Photography

Tell us a little about you and your beloved: Clay and I met through mutual friends in high school. I was 16 and he was 17. We developed a great relationship and friendship while having to grow up and go through our late teens and early 20’s together. We had set goals for ourselves before we could even think about marriage. After accomplishing all of our goals and 9 years into our relationship, he proposed at the same spot where we shared our first kiss. We are truly best friends and couldn’t image our lives without each other. We were blessed to become husband and wife just a few days short of our 12 year anniversary!

What was the most amazing part of your day? Walking down the aisle with my Dad was a very special moment for me, as I am Daddy’s little girl. But most of all was seeing my soon to be husband waiting for me to become his wife. It was an amazing feeling that I will never forget.

What else would you like to share about your big day? We had been planning our wedding for over a year, and to finally see it all come together was more than words could describe. Everything from the venue, flowers, decorations, linens, DJ, and the photographer were perfect. So many friends and family pitched in to lend a helping hand, and creative advice. Even though I was glad not to have to worry about what goes here, what goes there and what color this should be, I do miss it and would do it all over again in a heartbeat.

Ceremony and Reception Site:  Orchard Creek Lodge

Photographer: Chuck Roberts Photography

Videographer: We decided not to hire a videographer because our minister (who is part of the family) took video of the day. It turned out amazing. We are so lucky to have these special moments captured.

Cake: Divine Desserts

Flowers: Fleurs Du Jour

Favors:  DIY by Bride

Wedding Dress:  David’s Bridal

Bridesmaid Dresses:  David’s Bridal

Hair:  Avalon Day Spa & Salon

Makeup:  Avalon Day Spa & Salon

Invitations:  Jon Millman

DJ/Entertainment:  Creative Memories Entertainment

Honeymoon location:  Kona, Hawaii

Any other of your wedding vendor(s) you’d like to call out?  Mimi & Co. They made our reception beyond gorgeous with their selection of linens and chair covers.

First Dance Song: “Can’t help falling in love”  by Elvis Presley

Any advice you’d give to our readers who are planning their weddings right now?  “Step back and take a moment to soak it all in.” That was the best advice any could have given me. You hear all the time that the day goes by so fast, as it does. I did just that and I am so glad that I did because that was the moment that I realized this was everything and more that I had been dreaming about since I was a little girl. It really was the perfect day.

Anything that you would have done differently if you were given the chance? Nothing!

Subscribe to the Real Weddings Magazine Blog!

Your email:

 

Just when we thought Michael Anderson, Wedding Entertainment Director™ at Creative Memories Entertainment had shared all his valuable tricks of the trade, he’s come at a third time with another great tip. This time, he grabs the microphone and discusses..drumroll please…reception introductions!

“You both said ‘I DO,’ the photos are done, now it’s time for the party to begin! We have all been to countless weddings where the wedding party gets introduced with nothing more than their first names and a song in the background, if they’re lucky.

The truth is that this celebration is more like a family reunion for the first time. Although everyone in the room will know who the two of you are, not everyone will know who the wedding party is and why they are so important as to be picked to be in the wedding party.

One way to ensure a great start to your reception and create a lot a fun is to incorporate a custom introduction with the help of your emcee.

A personalized biographical introduction is a great way for your guests to get a glimpse into the memories you have had with the members of your wedding party. You can include information about your relationship to each (relative, friend, how long), where they live, their occupation and /or educational status (i.e. college student, high school student), their relationship status (single/engaged/married), etc. Also feel free to include such information like, what they would be most famous for or most likely voted likely to do in life. The size of your wedding party should determine how much detail you will go into. You don’t want it taking too long or it will lose its appeal. Inside jokes will never come off well as it will leave most of your guests in the dark about the true story behind the story.

If you do choose this style of introduction, it is extremely important that your entertainment vendor fully understands how to do this properly so it won’t be presented poorly. Ask to see video footage of them doing this style of introduction to see what the guests reaction is and how well they present the beginning of your wedding celebration.”

Thanks Mike for the great advice!

Stay tuned to Real Weddings Magazine for more guest bloggers with expert tips!

For more information on Creative Memories Entertainment, visit them at www.creativememoriesdj.com or call 916-344-7000.

Also be sure to check out Mike’s profile on Real Weddings Magazine and check out his blog!

Blog Post by Always a Bridesmaid Columnist Darren Elms.

Photo courtesy of Mike Anderson, Creative Memories Entertainment.

Subscribe to the Real Weddings Magazine Blog!

We’ve got some more great advice from Michael Anderson, Wedding Entertainment Director™ at Creative Memories Entertainment.

We think Mike’s got some pretty fantastic answers on wedding entertainment…so, Mike, how does a couple find the perfect DJ?

“This is a common question, and I would guess that 90% of brides think to themselves ‘Ok, what am I supposed to ask? I know, how much do you charge?’ Although this is an important question, it may be more important to ask, ‘Are you available for my wedding date?’ Let’s face it, regardless of how cheap or expensive a service is, you are not going to want to book them unless they are going to provide you with the experience and service you want for one of the most important days of your lives.

Below are some great questions to ask to get the ball rolling and find out if the service is right for you.

1. How many years of experience do you have in weddings, and how many weddings do you perform at each year?

2. What will you do to ensure I will have a good time at my wedding?

3. What are some of the unique things you have done in the past for your clients to make their day extra special?

4. Will I get to meet my DJ before I sign a contract and will his name be listed on the contract?

5. Do you have any references of past clients and other wedding professionals who have worked with you?

6. When can we meet to find out more about what you can do for my wedding?

Please keep in mind that you can only learn so much on the phone about a particular company or DJ. It is so important to take the time to meet the DJ in person to make sure their personality, service, and creativity will be a perfect accent to your wedding celebration.”

Thanks Mike!

Stay tuned to Real Weddings Magazine for more guest bloggers with expert tips!

For more information on Creative Memories Entertainment, visit them at www.creativememoriesdj.com or call 916-344-7000.

Also be sure to check out Mike’s profile on Real Weddings Magazine and check out his blog!

Blog Post by Always a Bridesmaid Columnist Darren Elms.

Photo courtesy of Mike Anderson, Creative Memories Entertainment.

Subscribe to the Real Weddings Magazine Blog!

Leave it to the pros to offer up the best advice…take Michael Anderson, Wedding Entertainment Director™ at Creative Memories Entertainment. We asked Mike to offer up some advice of the subject of wedding entertainment, and naturally, he was a wealth of knowledge. Here’s the first of a few tips he sent over, this particular one on the art of the search for the right entertainment vendor:

“Ok, you have started the search for wedding entertainment and you realize, you have no idea where to begin. The first thing to do is accept the fact that you have no idea where to begin. The last time you were involved with booking a DJ was back in high school, and you were in the pep club. (Don’t worry, your secrets safe with me.) The truth is that that it may have been ok to book simply by price for a high school dance, but this may not be a good idea when it comes to a once in a lifetime day such as your wedding.

The first thing to know is that there are professionals out there who specialize in weddings. Think about it, there are a lot of traditions and events, and most likely, at your wedding, your guests age will range from eight to 80. When you start your search for the perfect entertainment for your wedding start by asking vendors whom you have already booked and see who they would recommend. Don’t be afraid to ask them one of the most important questions when getting a referral, ‘why do you recommend their services.’

Interesting statistics: After their wedding, 72% of all brides say they would have spent more time choosing their reception entertainment. When asked, 81% of guests say the thing they remember most about a wedding is the entertainment. These stat were published in 2003 and the sources include Simmons, 2001; USA Today, 2002; National Bridal Service, 2001; The Knot, 2002; and Brides Magazine 2001.

This makes you think a lot about the entertainment for your wedding day. It’s not that the entertainment is the most important part of the wedding, but most would agree that it can have the most impact on your wedding. One of the main reasons for this is a famous quote from the movie The Wedding Singerstaring Adam Sandler. ‘I have a microphone, so you will listen to every word I have to say.’”

Thanks Mike!

Stay tuned to Real Weddings Magazine for more guest bloggers with expert tips! 

For more information on Creative Memories Entertainment, visit them at www.creativememoriesdj.com or call 916-344-7000.

Also be sure to check out Mike’s profile on Real Weddings Magazine and check out his blog!

Blog Post by Always a Bridesmaid Columnist Darren Elms.