Whats your music mood telling you?

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Whats your music mood telling you?

Music has a funny way of telling you about yourself. It’s something that connects us all. Music is a universal language. The difference between a major and a minor chord and drastically alter someone’s mood. And how those chord changes happen tells a story. Music exudes emotion. Think about a song that means a lot to you. The tonal quality, the lyrics, and most certainly the beat…. all speak to you in some way, shape or form. You listen to different types of music depending on your mood and to alter the mood that you may be in. This is part of the psychology that DJ’s use to pack a dancefloor.

What kind of mood are you in?

1. Endless Love – Luther Vandross – Falling in love or feeling loved.
2. SHOTS – LMFAO – Party animal looking to tie a good one on.
3. Standin on Top of the World – Van Halen – A great sense of accomplishment
4. Walk – Pantera – Anger
5. Birthday Cake – Rihanna – Feeling scandalous.
6. Locked Out of Heaven – Bruno Mars – Frustrated
7. I’ve got my Game On – Trace Adkins – Confident
8. Great Balls of Fire – Jerry Lee Lewis – Excited
9. I’m Every Woman – Whitney Houston – Liberated
10. Circus – Britney Spears – On a pedestal.

Heavy Metal Wedding

A VERY HEAVY METAL WEDDING

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A VERY HEAVY METAL WEDDING

If you’ve ever been to a wedding, you’re probably used to hearing some of your favorite pop tunes, classic throw backs, and some oldies for good measure. But a HEAVY METAL WEDDING? Well that just ROCKS! Music is one of those things that is not only a universal language but also a very personal experience. It’s up to the songwriters and musicians to create memorable sound tracks and push the envelope in terms of how someone might react to it. Music is an immersive experience and with metal, the music can take you just about anywhere. From cutting teeth on a shredding guitar and  flamboyant drum line to the most subtle vocal characteristics of a heavy metal ballad.

So get ready to rock and grab the aqua net, eyeliner, some acid wash jeans and your best black concert t-shirt and watch this VERY HEAVY METAL WEDDING INTRO.

Bride and groom celebrate wedding with guitars by storyfulviral

Video from Daily Motion

Will your song requests make the final cut?

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Dancefloor science – Will your song requests make the final cut?

Everyone has their favorite tune or band that they listen to. But how well do they translate to the dancefloor? Think about your ipod playlist or the radio station you listen to. What do you listen to while you’re at work, in the car driving home, or in the bar on a Thursday night?

Every song has a purpose. If you’re hanging out at your dad’s bar, he might be listening to the Bob Dylan or George Thoroughgood. If you’re in the car, maybe some uptempo rock or top 40 is in order. If you’re at work, more than likely your employer tunes into the ‘safe at work’ station that has the word ‘lite’ attatched to it.

But what about the dancefloor at a wedding, school, or corporate event. Chances are, you know what to expect from each. At a wedding, there are some standards that almost always get played. Things like Love Shack, Build me up Buttercup, and the YMCA are all time tested and proven floor fillers. Why? They just work. But what if you’re not into the standards and you want to hear some Manheim Steamroller? Chances are, it’s probably not going to happen. For no other reason other than, a DJ’s purpose is to play for the masses and their job is to pack the floor and keep it full.

Now, what if you’re the bride or groom? Does being the client give you any clout? Absolutely it does. You trust your DJ to make the right decision. After all, this is what you hired them for. Your favorite song may not lend itself to dancing. So where does it fit in? During cocktail hour or dinner service. Dinner is a great opportunity to ‘LISTEN’ to some great music. By playing some of your requests that aren’t danceable during dinner, this allows your guests to share in the joy of a personalized music selection by you. There’s no law that says, ‘KENNY G must be played during dinner.” It can be just about anything you want, within reason of course. Sepultura is probably a little difficult for some folks to digest. But, you get the idea.

So don’t worry about spending days on end thumbing through all of your MP3’s and creating a 5 hour long mix for your DJ to play. Trust your DJ and help them help you take the pressure off your shoulders. Give them a few suggestions that will tell them enough about your taste in music and like a tenured sommelier, they’ll be able to pair the perfect music for every occasion throughout the evening.

It’s our job to entertain. It’s your job to enjoy your special day. It’s all about you.

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How to hire a wedding vendor team that works well for you and each other.

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How to hire a wedding vendor team that works well for you and each other.

Let the planning process begin!

By now you’ve just recently got engaged and all of those things you’ve dreamed about for years are about to come true and planning for the big day begins now.

There’s so many pieces to the wedding puzzle, it can be quite overwhelming to think about all at once. Start slow. Get the big things out of the way and use a checklist to help keep organized. So, where do we begin?

THE VENUE: Make sure you visit lots of venues. Every venue has something unique to offer in the way of dining, atmosphere, and service. Pick which one best fits your personality and taste. While you’re at your final meeting with the venue you have chosen, ask for some references for DJs, photographers, videographers, florists, and anything else you need to make your dream wedding a reality.

Venues see many different vendors pass through their doors and know who works best with them to make your experience as a bride the best possible.

THE DJ: Once you’ve gotten your venue squared away, and you’ve met with your DJ, ask them for references as well. The DJ serves as your master of ceremonies and works seamlessly with the rest of your staff to make sure that the events of the day are in place and on time. Your DJ will be able to tell you who they have worked with and who they work well with.

As your list of ‘to-dos’ turns into ‘dones’, keep asking for those references. When you have a wedding team that works as a team, you will have the confidence in knowing that all that you ask for will be taken care of and you and your new spouse can just enjoy the day.

2013 Hawks Landing Country Club Bridal Show

Hawks Landing Country Club: Vendor Spotlight

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Hawks Landing Country Club : Vendor Spotlight

Hawks Landing Bridal Show, Hawks Landing Weddings, Bellavista weddings, bellavista at hawks landing

Hawks Landing Bridal Show

2 Years ago we did our first wedding at Hawks Landing Country Club. Now when you think country club, the first thing that comes to mind is golf. But at this central Connecticut gem, there’s so much more. Hawks gives you all of the amenities that you would expect from a larger wedding facility and offers a cozy and classy atmosphere.

Jamie Albert and the staff at Hawks Landing have raised the bar when it comes to country club weddings. Their spacious and inviting Bella Vista room comfortably seats up to 200 guests and just next door, the Fairway Room is great for up to 50 guests or can be used as a private bridal suite.

From a catering perspective, their food is hearty and full of flavor. Jamie’s down to earth personality and service first crew will ensure that all of your guests are treated like royalty.

If you would like to learn more about Hawks Landing Country Club and how they can make your next event amazing, call Jamie at 860-793-6000 or visit them on the web at www.hawkslandingcc.com

 

Father Daughter Dance

A very special father daughter dance.

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Break out the tissues and watch this very special father daughter dance.

One of the most difficult parts of planning music for your wedding is finding songs for the father daughter dance. Think about it. Can you think of any song that really personifies the relationship you have with one of your parents? But as you will see in the video, finding the right song was the furthest thing from this bride’s mind.

Almost every wedding video shows a bride dancing with her father but for this particular bride, her experience was different than most. Her father had passed away before her wedding day. Thanks to her big brother, she was treated to a big surprise.  It’s moments like these that make what we do so rewarding. Seeing people fall in love time and time again never gets old. We are part of some of life’s most memorable moments. And that is fantastic.

Bride’s Special Dance

Crosby High School 2013 Homecoming Dance

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On November 15th,  we were invited to be a part of Crosby High School‘s 2013 homecoming dance. Over 200 people attended the friday night bash dressed in their best red carpet style.

Take a look at some of the pictures from last night’s event.

 

Vendor Spotlight – Mike Ross Photography

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Vendor Spotlight – Mike Ross Photography

 

I had the pleasure of meeting Mike at a wedding we did together a couple years back. It was Lauren & Jeremy’s special day at the Lilly Lake Inn in Wolcott.

Having never met Mike before, i viewed him as ‘The photographer in the room’. I didn’t get a chance to chat with him until he approached me to find out when the father/daughter dance would be. We took care of the formalities and the wedding went as planned.

Later that evening, I popped on his website, www.MikeRossWeddings.com to see who this guy was. When I saw his portfolio, I was awestruck. Not only does Mike do weddings but, is a phenomenal photojournalist. He had pictures of ladies shoes that he had taken in different locations, lighting, and atmospheres.

Now you’re probably thinking, Shoes. You were wowed by shoes.
Yes. I was. Mike has mastered the art of observation. Those shoes that he shot were some of the most magnificent shoes I had ever seen in a picture. The detail was incredible. Everything about them was perfect.

If Mike can do that for a  pair of shoes, just imagine what he could do for your special day. Trust me. You can’t go wrong with Mike Ross.

Connecticut Photo Booth Rental, Photo booths in ct, ct photo booth rental, wedding photo booths

Photo Booths – Know the difference…

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Photo Booths – Know the difference…

Photo booths have become increasingly popular for weddings and events in the past couple years. What was once a ‘special’ item has now gone mainstream. Lots of vendors from DJs to Photographers have gotten on board with photo booths. The key is choosing the right photo booth for your event that suits your needs.

That being said, there are many different styles to choose from and many different options.

Our photo booths take on more of a traditional approach. Walk into our booth and have a seat on the comfortable bench. Within 60 seconds of hitting a single button, 4 high quality photos will be taken and printed for you to share with friends. It is the highest quality and the fastest in CT giving you more pictures per hour and the instant gratification of getting your photos right on the spot.

Other photo booths may include the ability to share your photo session on social media or get sent right to your smart phone. Although a neat idea, this process slows down the experience for the user and often causes traffic jams giving you less pictures per hour.

Another alternative that we’ve seen is the photo studio in a tent. Basically, it’s a pop up tent with some curtains with a photographer inside. You’ll be posed for portraits and group shots and be able to purchase prints online. You may get some great poses but, it takes away from the private experience of a photo booth plus adds the additional cost to you and guests of having to purchase prints.

Last but not least, there’s the digital photo station. This is a popular option where space is limited. The photo booth components (camera, screen, & button) are present without the privacy curtain. This is also a great addition if you have a lot of group shots that you want to take.

There is something out there for every taste and preference. Now that you know what is available, you can make an informed decision when selecting a photo booth that’s right for your next event.

DJ Aaron DeMarest

DJ Aaron DeMarest – The loveable badass..

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When I asked a fellow colleague of mine where he thought I fit into the marketplace in terms of mobile entertainers, he had this to say.
“Aaron DeMarest, you’re the loveable badass.”

Taken back by that statement and finding it quite humorous, I thought about it for a while.  He hit the nail on the head. Now before you back away with caution, let me explain what he meant…

Your impression of what a DJ is or should be may vary greatly depending on personal experience or what others have told you. What most people perceive a wedding DJ to be is the mid 40’s salt and pepper haired guy with the polished smile and a gold microphone that’s got a voice like Michael Buffer (Let’s get ready to rumble) and swaggar like the Most Interesting Man in the World. (Dos Equis)
And for the most part, based on my experience attending weddings, I’d have to agree.

But what if that’s not what you want? What if you’re looking for something different? Music trends have gotten edgier and edgier as time has gone on. The sombreros and inflatable instrument schtick that your parents enjoyed at their wedding in the 80’s and early 90’s has been laid to rest and new trends like intelligent lighting design and the dancefloor is where it’s at. .So, where does the loveable badass fit in to the equation?

When I do a wedding, it’s a highly personal experience for me and far from cookie cutter`. My Brides and Grooms are the center of my world for those 5 hours and I make sure they know it. It’s all about 2 people in love coming together as one. That’s the loveable part. I’m very passionate about what I do. I want my clients to have an experience that exceeds their expectations.

While most DJs fit the mold of the description you read about above, the badass is the big guy standing at 6’3″ tall you see wearing black & purple sporting a goatee. He’s in control and with a cool and confident smile let’s his clients know that they’re in good hands. A protector of sorts making sure that nothing stands in the way of the client and their ability to enjoy their special day.