Posts Tagged ‘Wedding Reception Ideas’

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.

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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!

Welcome back Real Weddings Magazine brides to another installment of The Recessionista Bride Blog Series by our guest blogger extraordinaire Kate Miller of Kate Miller Events. 

This week, she addresses the topic of maximizing limited venue space. Take it away Kate!   

“One thing to consider when exploring wedding venues is that some venues may need to charge you a separate fee for each space – one fee for the ceremony space, another for the cocktail room and another for the reception room.

If you’re set on your dream venue, but have a limited budget, minimizing the number of spaces you utilize within the venue might be a quick and easy way to pare down your budget. With the help of excellent venue staff, you, like our Recessionista Bride Stevie, can easily create a one room wonder to host multiple events in one room.

Stevie and her groom Blake booked the beautiful seventh floor Terrace at The Citizen Hotel for their wedding – and with some creativity (and some tough decisions), we were able to make their wedding event a One Room Wonder.

First up…Stevie and Blake needed to edit their guest list. They paired it down to just their nearest and dearest (coming in at about 100 guests). They felt this was the perfect number to be able to host both the ceremony and reception in one room – it just took some careful planning!  Here’s how we did it:

By placing the dance floor before we set the ceremony chairs, we were able to layer the space to minimize the time spent on turnover between the events. Immediately following the gorgeous ceremony, guests were drawn to the back of the room for hors d’oeuvres and drinks while the lovely Citizen staff quickly removed the chairs and expose the pre-set dance floor. The ceremony table became the sweetheart table and voila! We had a reception.  

Be prepared, if you feel the removal of chairs during your cocktail hour would be too much of an eyesore, then this concept may not be for you – but if you’re willing to offer your guests a 10 – 15 minute distraction, you can easily move 100 chairs during that time. Some other ideas for you to consider to accomplish your One or Two Room Wonders:

• Hide your reception behind screens, draping or a removable wall – this is a great way to create drama for the reception reveal!
• Offer a cocktail reception in another area while venue staff flips the room from ceremony to reception.
• If your venue has the space, drape the room and hide the pre-set tables behind the draping, once the chairs are removed, the tables can be brought in – leaving the table decor a surprise!”

Are you planning a One Room Wonder or a similar room transformation?

Tune back in to the Real Weddings Magazine blog on March 6th for the next installment in the Recessionista Bride Blog Series: The Dessert Table 

About Kate Miller Events (in their own words):

Kate Miller Events offers full-scale event and wedding planning of extraordinary detail for the bride and groom looking for that extra-special touch. We will keep you organized, on or under budget, and stress-free while designing the wedding of your dreams. We are committed to making sure your day goes off without a hitch — except for the hitching part of course!

Kate Miller Events offers new technology to keep all avenues of communication open and organized. Our excellent online client planning tools include customized checklists, payment calendars with email notifications, appointment tracking, online idea boards, and contract filing with easy access for all members of your wedding party. Our top-notch organization enables us to be your liaison to all of your vendors – we worry about the details so that you don’t have to.

All of our packages are unique and completely customized to fit your budget so that you only pay for the services that you need. We offer a wide range of planning services from Day of Coordination to Full Coordination/Design and everything in-between.

Be sure to check out Kate Miller Event’s Web site and Kate’s blog or call her at 888-808-KATE.

Photos above of Stevie & Blake’s wedding, one of our featured real weddings in the current issue of Real Weddings Magazine, by Sarah Maren Photography. Kate Miller from Kate Miller Events worked with Stevie & Blake to achieve their perfect day. To read more about Stevie & Blake’s wedding and to view more photos from their wedding, pick up a copy of the current issue or click here.

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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.

Ok, so your reception is truly a party to celebrate your big day! So you have to make it unique, fun and most of all, it should reflect your personal style.