Wedding planning – The Wedding Timeline

The Wedding timeline are essential to keep everything running smoothly. There are so many working parts that have to come together in order to make sure that everything that you want for your special day happen where and when they are supposed to. So, how do you begin to plan the events of the day?

Your Master of Ceremonies/DJ will have the responsibility of a ‘wedding director’ of sorts making sure that every event during your reception will happen seamlessly. From your introductions to dinner service, parents dances and so on all the way to the last dance. It is important to be very detail oriented when planning out the timeline.

For instance, the order of events pertaining to parent dances, toasts, etc all happen in conjunction with dinner service. Your introductions will come first followed by a first dance. While that’s happening, your catering staff are getting salads ready to be brought out to your guests. Once your first dance is over, a toast is done. This will get your guests seated and allow the waitstaff to serve salads. After the toast, dinner begins. After your first course, your father/daughter dance will happen. With everyone seated, the tables will be cleared and prepared for the next course. Then the mother/son dance will happen and the 2nd course will be served. You return to the table and enjoy your meal. Soon after that, a bouquet toss will happen and again, the waitstaff will clear the tables once again and get them ready for wedding cake.You’ll be instructed to head to the cake table for a cake cutting and many guests may get up to take pictures of this fun moment. Soon after, the cake will be served and open dance begins. With everyone on the floor, the desert is cleared and the room is in party mode.

While all of these events are going on, your DJ will be communicating with your catering staff, photographer, videographer, and any other people in your wedding team to make sure that they get set up for important moments in your reception and in the end, giving you not only the best reception in regards to food and entertainment but photos and video to remember for years to come.

There may be differences from venue to venue but, a good Master of Ceremonies will be able to adapt seamlessly to any changes they need to make to make your reception the one you’ve always wanted.

Planning back yard weddings | The Pros and Cons

Planning back yard weddings | The Pros and Cons

It’s that time of the year…Engagement season is in full swing. For many brides, they will be wearing a new diamond after Christmas and will start planning the day they have been dreaming about for years.

The first thing to do is pick your venue… Most people elect to find a wedding venue but some like to think outside the box and have a destination or backyard weddings. If you read the bridal forums online, you’ll see lots of different ideas for your wedding. But let’s talk about this for a moment.

There are pros and cons to both.

Lake of Isles @ Foxwoods Resort and Casino

The Wedding Venue
The Pros:
Convenience. Everything that you need is in one place. You have your catering, in some cases a bakery, a top shelf bar, ample restrooms, tables & chairs, linens, a dancefloor, electricity, and last but certainly not least, service. Your wedding venue will protect your special day from any inclement weather and is climate controlled for you and your guests comfort. There is ample parking for all of your guests. From start to finish, everything is taken care of so all you have to do is enjoy your special day.

The Cons:
Wedding venues come with a premium. You pay for those conveniences. You may also be limited to certain dates and times depending on the time of the year, day of the week, etc. You are also limited to the menu of the caterer at the venue. Decorating the venue depending on your choices may be challenging depending on the ambiance of the room. For example, if you want a country wedding, it’s hard to emulate that against an imported marble backdrop.

 

Backyard Barbecue Wedding

Back yard Weddings or Tent Wedding
The Pros:
You have a unique setting for you and your guests to enjoy. Because it’s ‘home’ for you, you have that sense of familiarity and can enjoy the comforts of home on your special day. If you are going for a more casual affair, the swimming pool is always a blast during a reception along with some tasty barbecue. Fun picnic games are always an option at an backyard wedding and it’s typically not as stuffy as a formal wedding. Depending on where you live and the noise ordinance in your area, the dates and times aren’t as much of a limitation as with a venue. Instead of the option of a top shelf bar, you can order a few kegs and some wine and keep it simple. Backyard weddings are exceptionally great for weddings with children as they have the ability to run and play and be kids.

The Cons:
You can plan a pretty picnic but you can’t predict the weather. Although a tent may keep your heads dry, there is always the possibility for high wind, ground soaking downpours, lightning, humidity, snow or any other kind of soggy weather. Because the majority of weddings happen in the late spring/early summer, it can get quite sticky, and smelly. Unless you have a closed tent with a rented air conditioner for the tent, you’re really at the mercy of the elements.
The cost of renting tables, chairs, linens, tents, etc is quite expensive. In addition to that, you or your family would have to set up and tear down which is very labor intensive.
Restrooms for guests is also tricky. A home septic system was never intended to handle 100 guests worth of waste in a short period of time. If you decide to rent chemical toilets, those are also an added expense and can be a messy and smelly endeavor.
Electricity. Your caterer will need a lot of power. Enough for refrigeration, cooking, coffee, microwaves, etc. In addition to that, you’ll need some lighting for under the tent and your climate control if you rent fans or air conditioners. And lastly, your wedding entertainment. If you go with a band, they’ll need about 5 dedicated circuits just for them. If you go with a DJ, it can be 3 circuits or more depending on the options you choose.

All in all, there are pros and cons to both. The important thing to remember when planning your special day is, think about everything as a whole and make informed decisions. There is a wedding for everyone out there. The choice is up to you.

Timeless Music – A DJ’s secret weapon

Timeless Music is the key to any packed dance floor.

Recently, we’ve been doing some late night mixes in preparation for New years Eve. The playlists have been ranging from today’s hits all the way back to 80’s club mixes. One of our listeners had said, ‘WOW! this really takes me back. I feel like a teenager again boppin’ around on the couch

That’s exactly what we were going for. As a DJ, our job is not just to have the latest and greatest but to fire up the memory time machine once in a while and take people back to those thrilling days of yesteryear in their youth. When you have a dance floor full of people of all ages, it’s important to engage the audience as a whole.

When you’re playing a set and you hit that one gem and mix it in perfectly, you see people’s eyes light up with joy. They’re instantly transported back to the age of 16. That, ‘AH HA!’ moment keeps people coming back for more and more every time.

When it comes to entertaining, there are no rules. If the beat’s alright, they will dance all night.

Tower Ridge Country Club Bridal Show 2014

The Tower Ridge Bridal show is coming sooner than you think. You’ve got your wedding band now grab your calendar and mark the date!!!
Come visit us for our first bridal show of 2014. Pryme Tyme Entertainment in Prospect, CT will be at the Tower Ridge Country Club Bridal show on January 4th 2014 from 12 noon to 3pm. Tower Ridge is located at 140 Nod Rd in Weatogue (Simsbury), CT.

Come and visit with dozens of wedding vendors and start planning your dream wedding all in one convenient afternoon. There will be a tasting at Tower Ridge Country Club at  the show so make sure you visit www.towerridgecc.com and get your tickets and reservations for this show.

We hope to see you there!

WEDDING PLANNING : How to get the most out of your seating arrangements

Seating arrangements at a wedding.

One of the most overlooked details during the wedding planning process is seating arrangements. Now if you’ve chosen a wedding venue specifically, they can help you with your table arrangements. But, in some cases you are at the mercy of the square footage of the room and slight adjustments need to be made.

Here’s a couple things to consider… If you’re in a smaller venue and the dance floor is important to you, consider a sweetheart table in leiu of a large head table. A head table can easily take up 20 feet of real estate in a wedding hall while a sweetheart table is a romantic table for two that only requires about 5 feet of space in total. You’ll enjoy more personalized service and have the opportunity to spend some quality time with your new spouse in an intimate setting.

Depending on the room you choose, it’s a good idea to ask the venue whether a buffet style or sit down dinner works best. Buffets are a much quicker option when there is enough space and  when it can be cleared from the dancefloor or placed in a dedicated area. However, sit-down meals are great for smaller wedding parties as your guests can sit back and relax.

But that’s just the dinner service. When it comes time for dancing, where you put your DJ is very important. Your DJ should be front and center or at the very least accessible to the dancefloor. Not because we want to be the center of attention but because we want to be able to address your guests when needed and also so that when it comes time for dancing, the volume won’t be offensive to those who want to sit. If your DJ ends up in a corner behind tables, he will have to make the sound twice as loud to be heard on the other end of the room than if he was in the center.
But most importantly, during things like intros, first dances and parent dances, it is important for you to have the ability to have eye contact with your DJ. During those times, many guests may stand to take pictures or video and the DJ’s vision will be blocked.

So when you’re sitting down to plan your seating arrangements, keep these helpful tips in mind. Your guests and your DJ will thank you.

What exactly does a wedding DJ do?

What exactly does a wedding dj do?

From the WeddingWire Forums:
Dani writes:
I know that the DJ is there to play music, but when do they usually start and what else do they do other then play music after dinner?

My dad used to work with a guy that does DJing and it would be cheaper… but he would come in to set up then leave and be back after dinner to start working… isn’t there usually music during cocktails and dinner?  I have the opportunity to go to an open house of my venues preferred DJ tonight but wanted an idea before I go of what services I should be looking for.
Wedding planning is something that most brides have never done before and many questions can come up during the planning process. This short list should give you an idea of what the responsibilities of your wedding djhttps://prymetymeentertainment.net/weddings/ are.
We meet with you to learn about what we can do to take care of your needs.
We will create a time line for your wedding to ensure everything runs smoothly
We will coordinate with your wedding vendor team to ensure that you are getting everything that you require on your wedding day.

We might stage photos for your photographer so that they capture every precious moment.
We might assist you/instruct you cutting your cake

By coordinating with your catering staff, and event manager, we ensure that your guests are served a hot meal and do not wait longer than necessary,
We provide music and entertainment for you and your guests to enjoy
If you choose to utilize lighting effects, we design the lighting that best suits the enhancement of the venue you’ve chosen.

Depending on your needs, we may set up 2 or 3 sound systems for your ceremony, reception, and cocktail space.

We calibrate the audio so that the music is at a comfortable level throughout your reception and important moments like toasts and speeches can be heard by everyone in attendance. In addition, We provide wireless microphones for toasts, etc.

We interact with your guests to create a fun and festive experience.

We take requests and blend them seamlessly throughout the evening

We read your guests and adapt the music so that there are no low points during dancing

We spend anywhere from 1-2 hours after you leave breaking down, packing, and loading the equipment necessary to make your wedding day a success.

 

Wedding Planning – Where and when should your vendors eat?

Wedding planning – Where and when should your vendors eat?

You just finished your ceremony, formal pictures, and introductions. It’s time for dinner service for you and your guests. If you decide to be generous and offer your vendors a meal, that raises a few questions with your caterer. Where and when should your vendors eat?

In most venues, they ask that your vendors be served last after all of the guests have been served. Sometimes, in a vendor area down the hall or in another part of the venue is reserved for your wedding team. This ends up being rather tricky for your vendors as it is important for them to be with you for your reception.

From a videographer or photographer’s point of view, their job is to capture memorable moments. Some of these moments may happen during dinner. A family photo, or maybe you and your new spouse leaning in for a kiss at the head table. Either way, it’s important for them to be there so that you reap the benefits when it comes time to receive your wedding photos & videos.

From your Disc Jockey’s point of view, it is also very important that they stay with you. If for some reason a song during dinner service comes on a little louder than it should or maybe you have a request, or god forbid something happens with the sound system or lighting that requires immediate attention, your DJ will be right there to make sure everything is taken care of.
And last but not least, your parents dances, bouquet toss, cake cutting all come after dinner. And in order to keep the flow going, you want to make sure your DJ has enough time to get through their meal so they can keep things moving without unnecessary delays.

You are our number one priority on your special day. We want to have every opportunity to make your dream wedding come true!

Cheap Wedding Djs – The Big Box Wedding Factory

Looking for Cheap Wedding DJs?

You’ve got your ring. You’ve got the date set and your venue picked out. Now it’s time to find the rest of your wedding team to make your dreams come true. So you begin googling all of the services and come across an ad up top that says, “WEDDING DJ PACKAGES $395″

Being the thrifty shopper you are you click on the deal of the day and begin reading. You see hundreds if not thousands of reviews from past brides are available and stock photos of model quality couples having a good time are on the website giving you the best case scenario. It seems too good to be true.  How could something so perfect cost so little?

Here’s how it works. You put your information into a form with your wedding date and location and the company calls you. You tell them you are looking for a DJ for your wedding and they tell you they have one available and get your credit card information. $395 and you’re good to go. You hang up the phone feeling proud that you just saved a ton of cash and that you can check one more thing off your to-do list for your wedding.

On the other end of the phone, the person you just talked to pulls out their list of DJs in your area. He picks one and sends them an email telling them that they have a GIG  on your wedding day. The DJ puts your date in the calendar and that’s the last time he thinks about you until your wedding.

Let’s back up for a moment. Your wedding, the day you have been dreaming about since you were a little girl is now in the hands of someone that you have never met, never talked to, never seen their work or any references to their ability to make your dream wedding a reality. What could go wrong?

There are dozens of videos of news stories with cheap wedding DJs who are a no show, or if they do show up, they are dressed inappropriately or did not take the time necessary to see to it that their client’s needs and desires were met. And the one thing in common with ALL of those news stories was the video clip of the tearful bride who paid $400 and was promised the world.

When it comes time to take the next step in the planning process, take your time. Meet with as many wedding professionals as possible. And make an informed decision. Make sure the person you are meeting is the person who will be taking care of your wedding. Quality entertainment is not expensive, it’s priceless.

Music Requests for the Partygoer – Hey, can you play that song. You know the one. Yeah, you know…

 

Making music requests for the party goer.

We’ve all done it. We’ve all heard that song on the radio that we love. We even know the name of the song, most of the time. But do you ever have that song title that’s on the tip of your tongue but you just can’t figure it out?

DJ’s are no different. We carry a massive song library with tens if not hundreds of thousands of music. It’s IMPOSSIBLE to remember each song, how it goes, the title, artist, and record label. But there is hope for you yet. If you’ve got a smart phone, pop onto your app store and download the latest version of SHAZAM!

Shazam is an incredible piece of software. Those songs that are on the on the edge of thought are all on there. All you have to do is hit the Shazam button and your phone will listen to the song you’re listening to and come back with the artist, song, and year it was recorded. This also works well at a party or wedding when you DJ pulls out a song that you love that you’ve never heard before.

So the next time you have a request, give Shazam a shot. You and your DJ will thank you. :)

Wedding Lighting – Dancing under the stars

Not sure what wedding lighting will work for your special day?

Pryme Tyme Entertainment is adding dazzling new lighting effects for weddings and events. From architectural uplighting and custom monograms to club and concert style lighting effects, we can take your event to the next level.

If you have never done it before, you need to experience dancing under the stars. If you already have danced under the stars, you know what a beautiful moment that creates. Our newest lighting offering is Dancing under the Stars. Thousands of laser beams are paired with a liquid sky effect bringing your dancefloor to the northern lights.

Imagine a
This dazzling and romantic effect is perfect for evening weddings.

Ask your wedding DJ about this amazing celebration enhancement for your next event.

wedding lighting, dancing under the stars