Hawks Landing Wedding – Steve & Laureen

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Last weekend PTE had the pleasure taking part in the celebration of Steve & Laureen’s wedding at Hawks Landing Country Club in Southington, CT.

The first thing that I noticed when I arrived is the very down-to-earth, cozy atmosphere that Hawks Landing had in the room. Seeing as it was the first wedding of 2012, this was a very welcoming experience to ring in the new season. I was greeted by the  event coordinator, Jamie. Jamie is new to Hawks Landing and was recently promoted to her new position. She handled the wedding VERY well. She has a passion for what she does and made Steve & Laureen’s guests, wedding professionals, and most importantly the bride and groom very comfortable. That is a DREAM for every wedding vendor. When the venue takes into consideration every little detail from a services perspective, the wedding is an absolute success.

The afternoon started at about 4pm with some light refreshments and conversation. The music that Steve & Laureen had picked out was not your typical “Weather Channel Kenny G“, instead they wanted a repertoire of classic rock, and some familiar songs that everyone likes to sing along to. Sweet Caroline was a big hit during dinner and it was clear how many Red Sox fans we had in the room.

Steve and Laureen elected to skip some of the typical formalities and get right to heating up the dancefloor following cake. The first song out of the gate was ‘It takes two’ by Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock. Although there were MANY different genres played that evening, most of the requests came from the late 80’s through today. We played motown, funk, new age, hard rock, hip hop, r&b, techno, and threw in a polka for good measure.

By 8:45, people were starting to wind down a bit. But they weren’t getting away that easy. We ended the night with a killer mix and sent the people home to ‘The Time’ (Dirty Bit) by the Black Eyed Peas. By this time, the suit jackets were off, the heels are nowhere to be found, and the guests who were wearing their Sunday best looked as if they had hit the treadmill at the gym.  It was then, when both the bride and groom came to me with open arms and said, “Thank you Aaron. This was perfect. You were amazing. It couldn’t have gone any better.”

Congratulations to Steve & Laureen on their marriage. We are so happy we were a part of one of the happiest days of your life. Cheers!

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The Evolution of the Wedding

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The Evolution of the Wedding

An interesting topic came up in a Disc Jockey forum on facebook today. The topic of photo booths at weddings. Is it a trend that’s here to stay or will it fizzle out?

Thinking about weddings in general, weddings have evolved and changed a great deal in the past 20 years. 20 years ago, it was very common to see 200-300 people at a wedding. Everyone dressed in tuxedos and evening gowns. And all the formalities you could jam into an 8 hour period.

Now we see everything from the classic and conservative to the wild and crazy club atmosphere, to the backyard barbecue and everything in between.

Instead of a formal 8 course meal, we’re seeing more buffets or multiple food stations with all sorts of food that we crave. Instead of cookie trays and pastry tables, brides are electing to have candy bars and jelly bean buffets.

And when it comes to entertainment, we have gotten away from the Mexican sombreros, blow up instruments, and the cheesy rendition of Tom Cruise in Risky Business or the Blues Brothers. Now we have glow necklaces and funky sunglasses and people singing, “I’m sexy and I know it.”
The demand for extras is at an all time high. Everything from uplighting a room to match the colors of the wedding, custom monograms to put the couple’s name in lights, and photo booths to send the guests home with a commemorative piece of history from their friend’s wedding.

So what’s next? Pinball machines? Virtual Reality games? Pyrotechnics? Any way you slice it, trends will come and trends will go. I’m just curious to see where we go from here.

Wedding advice, experiences, and concerns.

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Wedding advice, experiences, and concerns…

When a newly engaged couple begins planning their wedding, often times they will seek out wedding advice from parents, aunts and uncles, friends and others to learn about the wedding process. But this is 2015 and with the power of the internet, couples can find the wedding advice they are looking for with the click of a mouse. Weddings have evolved over time. And the modern wedding is happening right now as we speak.

In todays world, we have been able to network with the world with a single keystroke. So, because of this the wedding industry has been able to put engaged couples together to discuss their thoughts and ideas on their wedding day. This has proven to be a great tool for most in assisting with the planning and grand design that is your special day.

Take a moment to visit the weddingwire bridal forums. There you will be able to find brides just like you to share your experiences and ask questions and advice on what you should do to make your wedding day a fun, memorable, and STRESS FREE affair for all to enjoy.

Check it out by clicking the link below. And don’t forget to visit us on WeddingWire. Enjoy!
http://www.weddingwire.com/wedding-forums

PTE Press Release (Brides Choice Award)

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Pryme Tyme Entertainment wins the Brides Choice Award

Hartford, CT – January 23, 2012

For immediate release:

– WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding Marketplace, is excited to announce Pryme Tyme Entertainment has been selected to receive the prestigious WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2012 for their excellence in entertainment & customer service.!

The esteemed annual awards program recognizes the top local wedding vendors from the WeddingWire Network who demonstrate excellence in quality, service, responsiveness and professionalism within the wedding industry. While many industry awards are selected by the organization, Pryme Tyme Entertainment was selected based on its stellar reviews from past newlywed clients.

Pryme Tyme Entertainment is recognized as part of the top five percent of wedding professionals in the WeddingWire local vendor community, comprised of over 200,000 wedding professionals throughout the United States and Canada. The Bride’s Choice Award recognizes the best local wedding vendors across 20 service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers, based on their overall professional achievements throughout the past year.

“WeddingWire is thrilled to honor the success of the top-rated wedding professionals within the WeddingWire Community,” said Timothy Chi, CEO, WeddingWire. “Since the launch of the Bride’s Choice Awards™ program four years ago, thousands of outstanding wedding professionals have been recognized by the bridal community for their supreme service and dedication to the wedding industry. It is with great pleasure that we congratulate Pryme Tyme Entertainment for their continued professionalism and commitment to enriching the wedding planning experience for engaged couples.”

We are happy to announce that Pryme Tyme Entertainment is one of the very best entertainment firms within the WeddingWire Network, which includes leading wedding planning sites WeddingWire, Project Wedding, Brides.com, Martha Stewart Weddings, and Weddingbee. We would like to thank our past clients for taking the time to review our business on WeddingWire. Thanks to their positive feedback we were able to receive the WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ for 2012.

For more information, please visit our WeddingWire Storefront today at http://www.weddingwire.com/biz/pryme-tyme-entertainment-winner-of-the-2012-brides-choice-award-prospect/e3910f841d8badbd.html.

To learn more about the Bride’s Choice Awards™, please visit www.WeddingWire.com.

About WeddingWire, Inc.
WeddingWire™, the nation’s leading marketplace serving the $70 billion wedding industry, is the only online wedding planning resource designed to empower both engaged couples and wedding professionals. For engaged couples, WeddingWire offers the ability to search, compare and book over 200,000 reviewed wedding vendors, from wedding venues to wedding photographers. WeddingWire also offers a comprehensive suite of online planning tools for weddings, including wedding websites and wedding checklists, all at no charge. For wedding professionals, WeddingWire is the only all-in-one marketing platform for businesses online and on-the-go. WeddingWire offers one simple solution to build a professional network, improve search visibility, manage social media and reach mobile consumers. Businesses that advertise with WeddingWire appear on WeddingWire.com, ProjectWedding.com and other leading sites, including MarthaStewartWeddings.com (NYSE: MSO), Brides.com and Weddingbee.com.
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LGBT Wedding on the Cape – Allie & Melissa

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LGBT Wedding on the Cape… Allie & Melissa

I had the pleasure of meeting this super couple earlier this year at a Starbucks in Springfield, MA.

One of the most important factors when I meet a couple is to make sure that we are a good fit for them. From the moment that Allie had told me their plans for a fun LGBT wedding reception at sea, I knew I wanted to be their entertainer. We chatted a little about some of the additional features we could provide and booked the date.

Fast forward to the big day!

Initially my assisant Jarrod and I were supposed to drive to Provincetown, MA (That’s a 4 hour drive) and meet the ship “Tails of the Seas” at the docks to get set up for the reception. Luckily, after a few conversations with the folks at Captain John’s Whale Watching Tours, we plotted a course to Plymouth to meet the Tails of the Seas and set up on the beautiful ride across Cape Cod Bay.

We set up a basic sound system on the stern of the ship on the sun deck and added a dash of purple and blue with our custom lightscaping along the sides of the vessel. It was a beautiful sight to see…

7 O’clock came and we pushed off and started our journey around the bay. We started the evening off slow with some easy going island music as we watched the shores of Provincetown disappear. The sun was setting, the sea was as smooth as glass, and the fragrant smell of saltwater was in the air.
We hit the lights just as the sun hid behind the horizon and kicked it into high gear. At least 50 people piled up on the back of the ship and didn’t leave until we returned to the docks at 10. People of all ages danced that night under the stars.

Jarrod and I were treated to a very relaxing voyage back to Plymouth where the crew had helped us disembark and send us off back to our home here in CT. It is experiences such as these that make what we do here at Pryme Tyme so rewarding.

You can read Melissa’s review of us by clicking the link below…
http://www.weddingwire.com/wedding/UserViewProfile?wid=43df20cc563d8618

 

Weddings, Entertainment, and You

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Weddings, Entertainment, and You

Just over a year ago a bride called our company inquiring about services for her special wedding day.

She is looking to make her wedding the perfect day with every detail. From the perfect facility ($15,000), the perfect dress ($8,000), open bar for 200, a 7 course meal. You get the idea.

So, when she found out what it would cost for me to entertain her and her guests, she  simply gasped and said, “WOW! That’s a bit more than I wanted to spend” Once I explained just how much goes into the planning and customization that goes into her special day, she understood and decided she wanted even more.

Let’s think about what just happened there. With all of the other expenses incurred by the soon to be bride, the entertainment was simply an after thought. I asked myself a few questions after this consultation. “How many weddings have I attended? What did I remember the most? Did I enjoy myself? What made the experience enjoyable and memorable?” Was it the $8,000 dress? Or the $600 centerpieces that will eventually end up in the hands of the Maitre D’s girlfriend.  No, what I remembered most was the entertainment.

In most instances only 5% of the total budget for a wedding is spent on entertainment. Yet it is the #1 part of the reception people remember the most. So how should you hire your entertainment for your special day?

#1 Ask questions!

A well seasoned wedding professional will know weddings inside and out and will ask you what your vision is for making your day a great experience.

#2 Look for organization.

If the DJ you are interviewing looks disheveled on your first meeting and doesn’t have a well thought out presentation for you, stop and ask yourself, “I wonder what he will be like on my wedding day.” A professional will come prepared to speak with you about your day and inform you of all of the options he can provide you to make your reception a success.

#3 Ask for a proof of insurance.

State and Federal law requires companies to carry liability insurance. Noone plans an accident. But they do happen. You wouldn’t drive without auto insurance would you?

#4 Ask to see a copy of a contract before you book with your DJ.

A contract is a legal agreement that ensures that your DJ will serve you and that you will pay for services rendered.

#5 Ask  your DJ what they will do should there be an emergency?

Most mobile entertainment companies always have a backup dj should one be required. Backup equipment is also a must.

#6 Ask for testimonials and references.

Nothing will tell you more about the DJ you are about to hire than his previous customers. Check sites like weddingwire, theknot, and more for references and reviews.

#7 How much experience does your DJ have?

Most professional wedding  entertainers go through training with other seasoned veterans before their first wedding. This prepares them for anything from how to read a crowd to equipment operation and everything in between.

#8 Don’t settle! Shop around.

You are making a large investment in the perfect wedding. Make sure you feel comfortable with your DJ. The most important factor in finding the right DJ is making sure they are a good fit.

#9 Find the best value.

Remember the old saying your parent’s used to say… “You get what you pay for”
Just like vehicles, tools, and appliances, the same rule applies to entertainment. Value is perception in the eye of the beholder. This being said, think of your entertainment is an investment not just music.

#10 Call your DJ frequently before your big day!

DJ’s need to  know about changes sooner than later. This enables your DJ to make sure that your day runs smoothly as possible.

Follow these 10 simple steps when hiring an entertainer for your special day. And always remember, great entertainment makes for great memories.  I hope you enjoyed this article. We look forward to hearing from you!

TAX DEDUCTIBLE WEDDING

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Did you know that you can write off your wedding? It’s true. Take a look at tax deductible wedding.

From: FOX NEWS

Sabrina Rivers – Wedding Planner and Author of The tax deductible wedding

Can you really write off this wedding?

“Yes you can. Some of the four points that I like to talk about is location. Most people don’t realize that if you have your wedding at a museum or a historical house, zoo, or botanical garden, that is tax deductible because these places are considered non-profit. A lot of them have the 501-C3B designation by the government to be tax exempt.”

So in other words, the money you pay for your wedding reception is considered a charitable contribution?

” You may not be able to deduct all of it, but you will certainly be able to deduct a huge part of it.”

Now what about food? If the facility supplies the food and flowers, that can’t be tax deductible can it?

“Well, food and flowers can also be deductible. Different food banks have different restrictions but, you can certainly donate your food to a shelter, and your flowers can be donated to a children’s hospital, a Ronald McDonald house, or hospice. I am a hospice volunteer and people donate flowers all of the time. ”

“And also, some people don’t usually think about this but, what are you going to do with your dress? A lot of people decide to save them for later, or you can also donate your dress to charities such as brides against cancer, or the salvation army, and even goodwill. That is also a tax deduction. “

“Now here’s another idea. Have you ever thought about your honeymoon being tax deductible? You can take a volunteer vacation. There are global volunteers, Habitat for Humanity, the Sierra Club… You’re helping others and you’re getting a tax deduction. ”

“Some people, in lieu of wedding gifts, make charitable contributions. Everyone feels differently. You might get a few people who think it’s cheesy, and some others may be very very comfortable about helping others. There are lots of charitable places like the I Do Foundation located in Washington DC.”

– To get your copy of Sabrina’s Book click on the link below.

http://www.amazon.com/Tax-Deductible-Wedding-More-Less-Fret/dp/0762750863