Music To Your Ears

We all know that the musical score of a movie can have huge influence on our perception of  that movie. From the pulsating terror achieved in films like Psycho and Jaws, to the triumphant victories in Star Wars and Pirates of The Caribbean, it’s hard to think about a great film without also being influenced by that film’s score. Your movie is your wedding  and it needs to be carefully ‘scored’, paying close attention to the theme, time of day and number of guests.

Consider this:

There should be no point in time from the moment the first guest arrives until the last guest leaves where there is no music. As the guests arrive, have a harpist  gently playing at the front of the church.

Music is such an important aspect of life that it is impossible to over-emphasize it’s importance. If there is a lull in the music, guests can get fidgety and cranky.

During cocktail hour, have a string quartet playing near the bar. This way people will be  less likely to notice if there is a line at the bar or diminishing appetizers.

You can have a band and a DJ. Having both will give your guests an even wider array of listening pleasure and trading off can give the band a much needed break. However, if  you choose only the band make sure you have music playing while they take their break.

When you have your wedding video edited, make sure you have the proper ‘soundtrack’ as well.. Having just the right music and editing will make it more like an actual movie and less like a home movie.

Since the music is such an  important aspect of the day, don’t leave anything to chance, make sure you check the references and credentials of every music professional that you interview and ALWAYS have a backup plan just in case.  

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

 

The Most Common Wedding Etiquette Mistakes

The purpose of good manners is to make other people feel comfortable. For centuries, manners have been dictated by society’s standards of conduct and this has worked out pretty well. Unfortunately some people never got the memo. In order for your wedding guests to feel comfortable, try to avoid these ‘most common etiquette mistakes’.

 1) Watch – I know that being late to your own wedding may seem inconceivable but, sometimes outside forces take over and you can’t control them. However, there should always be a plan in place to avoid being late. If something unforeseen occurs, make sure you are in contact with someone at the ceremony site to make an announcement at the time the wedding is supposed to start and give updates until you arrive. Being late for no other reason than you can’t keep track of time is rude in any situation, especially your wedding.

2) Save the Date – Sending someone a “Save the Date” card means they are also invited to the wedding. Both lists should be in sync. If you make a mistake and send someone a Save the Date and do not invite them, call them once you find out you have erred and apologize. If you send them an invite but had somehow omitted them from the Save the Date list, a call would be nice. In reality, Save the Date cards are a relatively recent custom so there is nothing that says you have to send them. Although nice, they are  not completely necessary so dont fret if you choose not to send them.

3) Invitations – Send the invitations 6- 8 weeks before the wedding. Sending the invitation two weeks before the wedding is rude and it makes the guest think they were an afterthought. If the invitation you sent came back to you for any reason, call the invited guest and explain to them what happened.

4) Church – Having a boombox instead of live music (strings or organist) is a huge mistake. This small expense will ‘class up’ your affair by leaps and bounds. Having boxed music at the ceremony seems a bit tacky, no?

5) Thanks – Sending Thank You Notes in a timely manner shows that you care. It shows that you are aware of your guest’s gift and you appreciate it. Waiting for nearly a year (or more)  to send out a Thank You Note is completely inconsiderate.

6) Gifts – Never list where you are registered in the invitation. You can put this information on your website if you have one but listing on the invitations is like saying “Come to my wedding and bring a gift.”

7) Flow – Make sure you have a qualified, trained and experienced DJ to keep things running smoothly during the reception. The last thing you need is to have  people introduced incorrectly or, even worse, not at all. The DJ  should have a script to work from and be well-versed on your specific wedding customs as well. A great DJ will almost certainly ensure a great reception.

The best thing you can do for yourself and your guests is to ‘forecast’ problems and plan ahead. A good wedding planner and a checklist will help. If all else fails, pick up the phone and ask for help… or forgiveness, whichever you feel is in order.

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

 

 

 

 

The Importance of your Wedding DJ

Can you imagine what would happen if the DJ announced that the couple was about to have their first dance and the couple was nowhere to be found? Maybe they were in the bathroom or maybe they were outside of the ballroom for a few minutes talking to guests. Either way, they definitely could not be found and there was this  moment where there was dead silence and you cold almost hear crickets… AWKWARD!

Many couples don’t realize that  someone has to be in charge of the flow of things throughout the entire reception. Since it is  impossible  for them to stop every five minutes and organize the next step or to line everyone up for  announcements, toasts, dances and cake cutting – who will take charge and make sure things run smoothly? Actually it is the DJ. Surprised?

This is not the kind of thing you want to learn by trial and error since there is no trial and no room for error. You have one chance to make things right so you and your DJ need to be on the same page from the very beginning.

A good DJ will make sure things run smoothly throughout the entire evening but,  a great DJ is one that will go the extra mile and make it fun. and know how to get the guests on the dance floor.

Make sure you get to meet with the DJ who will be at your event.  This  is important since you will want to get a handle on their  their appearance and overall demeanor so that it is a good fit for your wedding. Of course there could be an emergency so ask about a backup DJ and meet with him or her as well.

Ask how long he has been working for this company or how long he has been working as a wedding DJ. You want to ensure that your DJ has been around long enough to understand wedding protocols, timing and the needs of  your wedding.

Ask about a playlist. If you specifically request ‘no chicken dance’ then you should be guaranteed there will be no chicken dance. Go over the playlist based on your music preferences and don’t be afraid to be specific. You may want to have a lot of Elvis, more Tony Bennet, or (God forbid) no disco. This is your wedding, make it clear up front what kinds of music you like and a good DJ will be thrilled that you are so thorough.

Make sure your DJ is willing to accommodate your individuality. If  he comes across as skeptical or unenthusiastic, look elsewhere.

Both the bride and the groom should meet with the DJ and agree this is the person they want representing them at their wedding. This is one of the few parts of the wedding planning that  I feel you MUST do as a couple.

Do not be talked into signing a contract before you are ready and don’t fall for high-pressure sales scare tactics. This is a red flag in any situation – not just hiring a DJ.

Do a little background check, ask for references and get everything in writing. This is one of the most important parts of your entire reception and you don’t want it ruined by a non-professional DJ who refers to Grandma Rose as a ‘hot chick’ …. or worse. Ask to ‘attend’ another one of their events to see how their style measures up. There you will see the DJ in action and be able to assess if he or she is the right choice for you.

Bridal Expo has the best DJ companies in Chicago exhibiting and performing at each and every one of our shows. Call 847-428-3320 and get  tickets to a show in your area so you can see for yourself what everyone is talking about.

Wacky & Tacky – Good weddings gone bad!

I don’t know when it happened but a while back someone decided that weddings were a good time to make bad choices. Almost as if masses of people simultaneously had the same thought “Let’s turn our wedding into a sideshow!” and then it spread like wild fire.

I am not talking about some of the god-awful wedding or bridesmaids gowns or even the ridiculous theme weddings that some people think are clever and unique. Generally these folks know exactly what they are doing and are trying to make a statement or prove something. More power to them for decimating a somber moment. I am referring to weddings that appear to be  tasteful and then – BOOM! The tacky shows up and has no where to hide.  

After having watched one of the most tasteful weddings in my lifetime on BBC America, I thought it was a good time to cover the other end of the spectrum.

Eleven tackiest things you can do at your wedding:

#1-  Brides do not smoke in their wedding gown. Invest in nicorette.

#2- It is not acceptable to have the wedding cake look like anything other than a cake.

#3- Wedding gowns with logos on them are  advertisements and unless the owner of the logo is sponsoring your entire affair – leave the patches on your windbreaker . Either way it is completely tacky. The only thing on your gown should be lace or beading.

#4- Keep shoes on during the reception.  No one wants to see your feet. It is also a safety issue since there may be the chance of broken glass. If your feet hurt, buy a second pair of lower heeled matching shoes and wear them. Or better yet – buy a pair of shoes that are comfortable to begin with.

#5 – Buy a gown that fits. Exposing too much cleavage does not make you sexy or more attractive. Having rolls of back fat spilling over a strapless gown is not appealing. Wearing a dress so short that you  need to invite your gynecolgoist is not a good idea, either. This is not a money issue, brides will spend thousands of dollars on designer gowns and then even more money to have them altered only to look like a Vegas Showgirl.

#6- Garter removal. I get it – you guys are married  and in love and you want everyone to know that you get to ‘do it’ tonight. But, for the love of God –  someone please get rid of this awful wedding ritual. No one uses garters anymore and the whole pulling up the dress thing is downright creepy, especially when it goes just one tiny bit too far.

#7 – Toasting should be a time for raising glasses and spirits. The best toast can bring the guests to tears of joy in two sentences. The worst can last forever and mention things that are way to personal.

#8 – The first dance or any dance is a bad time to crank out a tacky tune.  Boyz II Men, “I’ll make love to you” comes to mind. Check and re-check your playlist and try to save the make out dance party music for another time.

#9 – No bare midriffs for bridesmaids, guests or (heaven help us) flower girls. You have your entire life to show everyone your smokin’ body and I think gramps could live a little longer without life support not having to worry if his 4 year old great-granddaughters nipple is showing.

#10-  Cash Bar. You heard me. A cash bar says “I really only care about  me and not you”.  If funds are low, have a smaller affair. If you can only afford a small amount, restrict it to bottom shelf liquor or wine and beer. Or wine only. Or just have the reception at Olive Garden with the immediate family.

#11 – Having any conversation with any guest about the cost of the wedding. This is prior to the event, during the event or after the event. Unless said guest is one of your nearest and dearest, they don’t need to know firsthand how much your nuptials set you back. Before the event it makes you appear to be asking for money, during or after it is bragging and both are unacceptable. Let everyone speculate about your lavish affair and smile, knowing it was well worth it.

Whether your wedding budget is $10,000 or $10,000,000 you can avoid most of these mistakes by using reputable professionals. At each and every Bridal Expo you can rest assured that our vendors have your best interests at heart.  Take their advice and use their ample experience to avoid being featured on a tacky wedding website!

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago