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2021 wedding planning, pandemic wedding, covid wedding, covid bride, wedding planning panic, freaking out wedding planning, don't freak out,

The Covid Bride Guide. I’m Freaking Out about my wedding!



Amidst the pandemic that we’ve all come to know and love are a plethora of challenges that come with events great and small. We’ve grown used to the idea that it will be quite some time before we see the all too familiar summer concerts, sold out pro sports events, and theatrical events. But within all of the restrictions there is a silver lining. Over the last 8 months, we’ve gone through a series of transitions from completely quarantining to being able to have 150 people inside and then back to 25. But with all of this back and forth, it’s nerve wracking. Especially for those covid brides planning their nuptials.

I prefer to look at the long term. Progress is slow and steady. You remember the story of the tortoise and the hare? The tortoise won the race. We’ve been in the entertainment business for a quarter century. We’ve seen massive technological changes, the desires of our clients shift from traditional to outside the box and highly personalized service. This is no more than a transitional phase for us. We’ve been able to roll with the punches and keep growing during periods of uncertainty. This too shall pass. (hopefully sooner than later)

Here’s what we’re planning for in the 2021 wedding and events season. I suspect that during the holidays we will see restrictions increase to prevent the spread and lower the numbers of infection. But once that happens, some leniency should happen during the spring as it will be much easier to host events outdoors. The venues that prepare themselves for more of a mobile setup with catering, seating, and yes…. dance floors, are going to be in a much better position than the places that solely rely on the interior of their venue. As to the restrictions of social distancing, dancing, and foodservice, the wedding industry is taking their cues from the restaurant industry as they are the closest cousin to hosting events on a medium scale.

We anticipate that many couples may decide to privately hold their weddings on their property or in smaller locations that can comfortably accommodate a lean guest list. Think of it like private vs public school. The benefits to private education is smaller classrooms and more individualized attention. The same can be said for weddings. Having a smaller boutique affair will be able to give you the gusto you’re looking for but on a more manageable scale. Hiring a planner is paramount to make this happen. We recommend Nightingale Events & Pink Olive Events to our couples. Both teams are extraordinary at what they do and create magic every where they go.

When it comes time to dance, I’m reminded of a wedding that I hosted over the summer at Water’s Edge. The ceremony was held on the beautiful CT Shoreline Beach and the party was tented just outside the main ballroom on the patio with 75 guests. And even though, a formal dance floor was not present, guests danced between tables in their groups with the tables offering the social distancing required to keep guests and staff safe. Staff was required to wear masks through the duration of the reception and most guests adhered to the rule as well.

All in all, where there’s a will there’s a way. We’re in the business of fun. And that’s what we do.

To book our services, click the link below to check your date!

https://prymetymeentertainment.net/book-us/

COVID-19 & Events UPDATE!

It’s been a long spring and summer with the pandemic lingering over head. Many of you have postponed your events until next year and for that, we thank you for not cancelling. But even with the moving of events comes the anxiety of not having any answers to tell our couples that did decide to hold out for their date this year. Many couples are holding off planning their wedding because they do not know when things will get back to normal.

A month ago, we joined the Events Industry Coalition of CT and had a virtual town hall meeting with Governor Lamont. During this call, hundreds upon hundreds of event professionals joined to hear what he had to say and to offer suggestions to the state on how we can re-open safely. We didn’t get all of the answers we had hoped for but we did get a few. Released today, were the new requirements for indoor and outdoor events. Those guidelines can be found here.

The short version is this.

Indoor events up to 25 people (STAFF INCLUDED)
Outdoor events up to 100 people (STAFF INCLUDED) **This number will increase barring there are no increases in COVID cases.
If a tent is used, only one side of the tent can be down. Guests must maintain a social distance of 6ft.
Passed hors devours are allowed but only if the staff passes it directly to the guest while wearing PPE (masks, gloves, etc)
Buffets are allowed but only if the staff serves the guests while wearing PPE (masks, gloves, etc)
During times of food service, guests must wear masks.
DANCING IS ALLOWED however a 6ft space must be maintained between guests that did not arrive together. (Couples are fine, but no large groups)
Audiovisual staff will disinfect shared use equipment such as microphones, stands, etc in between uses.
Your DJ must wear a mask at all times.
Vocalists are not permitted to sing indoors.

Today, July 22nd, 2020,

We have self certified with the State of Connecticut in accordance with the Re-Open CT regulations and standards during the pandemic. This means that we will be maintaining and following safe practices during our events to help slow or eliminate COVID19.

We are also reviewing the new guidelines for events on a daily basis to ensure that we are compliant and that the safety of your friends and family as well as our associates at our events comes first. Stay tuned for more updates.

food truck weddings, taco truck wedding, food truck wedding, wedding food truck, offsite catering

Food Truck Wedding

Tacos. The most important part of any nutritious meal. Who doesn’t like tacos? And with food truck weddings on the rise, we’re seeing more and more tact truck weddings every weekend.

Weddings are nothing what the used to be. A wedding used to be an all day celebration with friends and family and people worked hard at keeping up with the Jones’. Maybe her dress had double the thread count that her bridesmaid dresses did. Or perhaps her cake was one tier taller than her sisters and was in a nicer venue. But taking all of those competitive wedding trends out of the equation, we’re now planning for outside the box weddings.

It’s true, wedding trends come and go and with the millenial crowd taking the reigns from their Gen-X counterparts armed with a can do attitude living life in the fast lane, the temptation to go simple is here to stay. According to Lisa DiBenedetto (owner and planning guru) from Nightingale Events, 90 percent of her wedding clientele for 2019 is not having their wedding in a “traditional” wedding venue. Instead, we’re seeing a lot of barn weddings, and out-doorsy type stuff. And of course, taco truck weddings.

So what are the benefits of having a food truck wedding?
For one, you’d be hard pressed to find someone that doesn’t enjoy tacos. We’re not talking the elementary school lunch program tacos either. There’s beef, chicken, pork, steak, and shrimp tacos to name a few. Food trends are also changing. Many food trucks are getting into fusion and taking two different cultural cuisines and marrying them. Making even the simplest of taste pallets salivate with anticipation.

Food truck weddings don’t have to stop at tacos. There’s pizza trucks, hot dog carts, grilled cheese trucks, and a whole lot more to choose from.

It’s great to plan your wedding outside the box with something trendy. You’re getting exactly what you want and aren’t limited to the options that only a traditional wedding venue can provide. But, with switching things up also comes a risk.

Here’s a few things that you might want to ask your taco truck wedding vendor before hiring them for your once in a lifetime celebration.

1. Have you ever catered a wedding before?
2. Have you ever worked with a wedding planner or scheduler before?
3. How can you ensure that you won’t run out of food in the middle of dinner service?
4. How much time do you need to prepare for 150+ guests or more?
5. What is your most popular item?
6. Do you offer vegetarian/vegan options for our non carnivorous guests?
7. Do you need permits to cater a wedding and if so, do you have them?
8. Are you insured and are all of your employees over the age of 18 and permitted to work in the united states?
9. Are you insured?
10. Have you ever worked at my venue before?
11. Do you offer bus service (clearing of tables, changing place settings)

It sure seems like a lot of questions to ask but, the end result is worth it. The one benefit that the traditional wedding venue has over the food truck weddings is that they have a system set in place and the facilities to make it all happen. This is what they do. It’s all they do. And they’re good at it.

hiring a dj, wedding djs in ct, connecticut wedding dj, wedding dj prices, cheap wedding dj in ct

Should I fire my wedding DJ?

Taylor writes:
“I found an independent dj who has done multiple events at my venue in New Haven, CT in the past. On his Instagram he has photos and videos of his work and my fiance and I were impressed and booked him. Before we booked him he moved to LA to further his career in DJ’ING and dance.
On the phone he assured us that he’d love to do our event and his family lives in CT still so he’d definitely make it out here for our event. He did not ask for any traveling fees just the cost of doing the event and uplighting ($2,000.)
We signed the contract and sent in the deposit at the end of December. Since then I’ve emailed twice about a receipt for the deposit and I haven’t heard back. Today I reached out to him via text message and he claims he didn’t get any emails and expressed a very lackluster attitude about my event. I know he is an independent DJ but I did expect some customer service and some urgency about my event. Am I over reacting or should I start looking for a new DJ?”

Hey Taylor. You’ve just touched upon one of the points that I make at meetings with clients. And that is, making sure your wedding DJ is a good fit. Besides lighting and other dazzling addons, realistically speaking, what matters is the end result. There’s a lot left to chance in this particular situation. Now of course, there are always exceptions to the rule. After all, there are plenty of local DJs that do destination weddings and work outside of the US as well. But, this is a different situation. The DJ you hired, moved to California. And even though they have a commitment to you, there is a likely hood of a delayed flight, the acquisition of gear to pull it off, and a lot of other behind the scenes stuff that needs to happen to pull off a successful wedding.

The red flag we see here is that the lines of communication are failing. If you haven’t spoken to your DJ in some time and they’re not returning calls, there’s a good chance they aren’t going to. The fact that your questioning whether you made the right decision tells you all you need to know. Find yourself a sure thing. Ask your vendor team for suggestions and they will be able to help you. After all, they see DJs week after week and know the difference between a great DJ and a not so great DJ and also can help you find someone that might be a good fit for your personality based on your interactions with them.

It’s up to you.

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Getting over the fear of choosing the right DJ for your wedding

Getting Over the Fear of Choosing the Right DJ for YOUR wedding.

 

2016 has been a great year for us at Pryme Tyme Entertainment. Hundreds of couples looking for Connecticut Wedding DJs have come in to meet with us to tell us about their plans for their special day. And in many cases, tell us some wedding horror stories of their own. We love that. With each meeting, every couple is a little different from the next. Each individual couple has their idea of what the perfect wedding would look like. And some, don’t have a clue and are counting on those who are more experienced (parents, friends, co-workers and more) to help them make informed decisions. And in all of the cases, one thing holds true… The one thing that they all remember most about the weddings they have attended was the DJ. Did they dance or not? Did it take too long for the party to get rolling or was the night flawless?

Meeting with so many different couples is really great for us because, it’s as much a learning experience for us as it is for the couple sitting on the other side of the table. When they share their experiences, we take notes to see if there is anything we can do to be better at what we do and improve the client experience for all of the future events that we do. That is so important to us because you, the client, are what keeps us in business.

One of the most common items that we discuss is personality. At nearly every meeting we have with our clients, undoubtedly the question, “What kind of DJ are you?” comes up. That is a great question to ask your DJ when you’re sitting down with them. What we do is highly personality based. If you’ve been to a wedding and the DJ and guests didn’t click, that’s a sure fire sign that the wedding DJ isn’t paying attention to the room and is pre-occupied with their own agenda. Or quite possibly, they took on a wedding that they weren’t comfortable with just to book it. All of which is a very risky proposition for not only the couple but the DJ as well. If he doesn’t perform and knock the socks off of his clients, it’s a memorable reflection on him. And vice versa.

So when you’re at your meeting with your DJ, pay attention to the body language. If they seem nervous, over talkative, or seem to be trying to flood your mind with equipment specs, chances are, they aren’t the right DJ for the. job. You tell them what your goals are and they tell you whether or not they are qualified for the task at hand.

Another thing that many of the clients that we meet with comment and compliment us on is our attention to detail and responsive communication. And as your mother always told you about marriage, communication is the key to any successful relationship. That’s what this is. The relationship between you, the couple, and your wedding dj. After reading a few entries in the WeddingWire forums, I saw a few that talked about the lack of communication that some couples were facing with their wedding djs. This is especially distressing for the couple who has invested so much time, effort, and money into their wedding day. When there’s money on the line and the phone stops ringing or the emails stop coming, it’s cause for concern.

And let’s face it, in this day and age, everyone is connected 24/7 and also very busy for one reason or another. So allowing 24/48 hours for a response isn’t unacceptable. But if you send your DJ an email a month before the wedding to set up a final meeting to go over all of the details and they don’t respond for a week, try again. Email them, call them, whatever it takes. And don’t worry about being “That Bride”. We have a standard here at Pryme Tyme Entertainment. “Treat the client like they were your ONLY client.” It is an honor to be considered to help you celebrate one of the most momentous occasions in your life, the least we can do is return your calls.

Money can also be an intimidating factor when planning a wedding. Yes indeed, things cost money and weddings are no different. But like anything else, you get what you pay for. A wedding DJ has many responsibilities that far surpass hitting play on an itunes playlist and walking away. They guide the flow of your day and are the keeper of the keys when it comes to your wedding timeline. Choosing the right wedding DJ for your wedding is the difference between a fancy dinner with background music (which you can get at your neighborhood italian restaurant) and a lifelong memory of the happiest day of your life with an amazing celebration. With all of that responsibility and one shot to get it right, that comes with a price.

Now we understand that everyone has a budget that they have to fit into but, this is where prioritizing comes into play. Ask yourself the question of what is more important to you? If you want to dance all night and have a seamless wedding, the DJ is definitely something to splurge on. But if it’s not that important, there are many low budget options available. The best piece of advice I could give you would be to plan on between $1000-$3000 for your wedding DJ in Connecticut. This is the market standard for professional wedding djs in ct. This will allow you to cherry pick who you want from the top of the pile (much like your dress) and you won’t have to settle for anything less than what you want for your wedding. Many DJs offer flexible payment options to help you book their services.

Follow these tips and get over the fear of choosing the right DJ for your wedding.

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dj playlist, wedding playlist, wedding music, wedding dj, club dj, connecticut dj, wedding djs in ct

Why Professional DJs Don’t use playlists

Why Professional DJs Don’t use Wedding Playlists:

Playlists. They are the new DJ replacement according to some. What’s better than your own customized playlist for an event? Nothing! But, a playlist made by one person only caters to one person. If you’re having a wedding for example, that would mean that there would only be one or maybe a handful of people in the room who might enjoy your playlist. But being realistic here, the average wedding is around 150 guests.

That’s 150 different personalities, age ranges, music preferences, and dance preferences and thousands of possibilities for what will help guests to the dance floor to celebrate. This is why professional djs don’t use wedding playlists. A professional DJ is a master of observation. Every moment of every event we do, we are constantly scanning the room with our eyes to see who is in attendance and look at the demographic as a whole. Then we throw out a few tests to see what kind of an audience we have. Once we get the reaction we are looking for, we can then customize what we play on the fly seamlessly to ensure that all of your guests, young and old are able to enjoy the music and have fun.

It’s a speculation but, by all of the stories that are heard at meetings and events themselves, I can understand why some people are steering towards the playlist over having their DJ do their own thing. And that’s a matter of preference. But you have to go beyond the typical DJ stereotypes. When I do a wedding, it’s not the Aaron show. It’s all about the celebration. It’s my job to make sure that the people in attendance know that and are able to enjoy themselves as much as possible. But if you’ve ever experienced a DJ who wasn’t quite up to snuff who played only what their preferences were and did not fit the environment, that’s the equivalent to making your own wedding playlist. It’s the same result just driven by different means.

It is for this reason that it is so important to really choose the RIGHT dj for the job and not just the cheapest one that you found on Thumbtack.

Still not convinced? Here’s an example.

2 years ago I was helping a couple celebrate their wedding in Simsbury and the bride was VERY specific as to what she wanted played at her wedding. She was a huge fan of hardcore hip hop. Not the light and fun stuff you’d hear on the radio but, underground and pretty heavy duty hip hop. She handed me a wedding playlist at our last meeting and said, “Play these songs in this order from start to finish. Do not derive from this list you are not to take any requests. This is MY day, it’s not about them. It’s about me.”

That’s a pretty bold statement. And when you make that statement, you take 100% responsibility for the success of your wedding. The DJ becomes no more than a jukebox or ipod at that point. Because I always put my best foot forward to make my clients happy, I obliged her demands and during the wedding, started playing her list from start to finish. Besides the dirty looks I was getting from the audience, it was only her and 2 friends on the dance floor. Everyone else sat and just watched with a look that burned a hole in my stomach. I felt bad because I wasn’t able to do anything for her guests and my hands are tied.  A few songs into it, she ran up to me and said, “Why aren’t they dancing? Make them dance.” I reminded her of our conversation and she simply replied, “They should be dancing, this is good music.”

When she left the room for the safety of her bridal suite, I snuck in a few favorites and like magic, the guests ran to the floor to dance but when she returned, she demanded that I not play anything except for her wedding playlist, so we went back to it and everyone sat down and began to leave early in groups of 5 and 10.

Remember, what one person’s favorite song may be, might be someone elses least favorite. Think about your guests and the outcome. 2 things that a guest will remember most about your wedding are if the food was any good and if they danced.

hipster wedding music, hipster wedding, non conformist wedding, offbeat bride

Wedding music for the non-conformist

Wedding music for the non-conformist couple.

Manly beards, craft beer, and daisies. Enter the hipster.

2015 was the year of the hipster. It was a non-conformists paradise. And with that came the rise in wedding music that was anything but typical. From childhood superhero theme songs like “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” to “Gold on the Ceiling” by the Black Keys, no stone was unturned and all bets were off.

Many wedding djs found themselves in a challenging position because we tend to play it safe with what wedding music we know works. But this past year, I loved the challenge. It really forces you think outside the box and really LISTEN to the music to find a place for it.

What we found was a treasure trove of ideas that really focused on a concert like experience rather than the chicken dance, electric slide, and YMCA which just proves… you don’t always need a knock down drag out dance party for the wedding to be successful. Maybe you really enjoy sing alongs and power ballads. Some of the most memorable music makes a cameo on a goof in a movie.

Here’s some non-conformist wedding music that we played this year. There are no rules to have a good time. Just let your wedding music move you.

Black Keys – Gold on the Ceiling

Foreigner – Juke Box Hero

Ben Folds – I am the Luckiest

Reel Big Fish – Beer

The Who – Teenage Wasteland

Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody

Dropkick Murphys – Shipping up to Boston

Hozier – Like Real People Do

Rose Ave. – You and Me

Tim McNorris – Overwhelmed

Annie Lenox – Walking on Broken Glass

Harry Belafonte – Banana Boat Song

St. Motel – My Type

 

 

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

Pryme Tyme Entertainment at 2016 Hawks Landing Bridal Show

Pryme Tyme Entertainment at 2016 Hawks Landing Bridal Show

For the 4th year in a row, Pryme Tyme Entertainment has been invited to Hawks Landing for their bridal show. If you’re not familiar with Hawks Landing, you should really give it a look. Hawks Landing is a country club located in Southington, CT. The Bella Vista banquet facility is their reception hall. Located just 3 minutes off of Queen Street in Southington, it’s in the perfect central CT location for weddings and other events with easy access off of I84.

But more than just convenience, Hawks Landing offers a cozy atmosphere for up to 250 guests. The hardwood ceiling, regal white walls and french doors are very quaint and charming. Their 25X45 dance floor is great for weddings as you can get a ton of guests out on the floor without it feeling too cramped but still very cozy. The seating is very well laid out so that guests can comfortably sit and move around the room with ease.  And let’s not forget about the food… Let’s just say, it’s deceptive at best. You wouldn’t expect this kind of flavor, variety, and quantity at a golf club but, your guests will LOVE the cuisine and noone will go home hungry.

Photographers LOVE the greens at Hawks for it’s rolling hills and beautifully landscaped greens and fountains and the sunsets are just gorgeous near the weeping willows down by the pond for pictures.

All in all, Hawks is one of our favorite venues to frequent and we have been on their preferred vendor list for 3 years. The staff is very warm and welcoming not only to guests but vendors as well and work as a well oiled machine to see to it that everyone is comfortable and enjoying themselves. You are going to love Hawks. But don’t take my word for it. Come visit us THIS SUNDAY and see for yourself! Meet with events manager Jaime and all of the vendors there. While you’re there, stop by and try out our FUNTASTIC Photo Booth!

We’ll see you at the show!

wedding dj referrals, pryme tyme entertainment reviews

Ask your venue and photographers for referrals

 Ask your venue and photographer for wedding dj referrals. You’ll be glad you did.

The freedom of choice. We love having the independence of having choices at the tips of our fingers thanks to the internet. With over 400 listed DJs in CT, it’s over-saturated at best. But, with that many choices, there is something for everyone out there.  But how does one choose a wedding DJ? The same way someone might choose their favorite bar, restaurant, or vacation spot. Sure you can spend a lot of time and money on trying everything but, when someone says to you, “You’ve GOT to check this out. You’re going to LOVE it!” it sets a precedent. If someone else was so passionate about their experience, wouldn’t you want to check it out?

Wedding DJs are no exception. You’ve got tons of choices out there and not all the time in the world to give each one a good look. That’s where the experience of your venues, photographers,  really come in handy. These vendors see HUNDREDS of wedding djs every year. They have a huge basis of comparison. And because of their extensive experience, you are the ultimate benefactor of all of that experience.

What does a venue or photographer look for in a quality wedding dj? Based on what venues like Hawks Landing, Grand Oak Villa, Wood Acre Farms, & Tower Ridge tell us, they look for wedding djs who immerse themselves in the entire experience and put their best foot forward always. From their presentation when they show up to the venue to set up for a couple’s wedding to the efficiency of their departure once it is all over and most importantly, how well the wedding flows with their catering staff.

For photographers like Fritz Photography, Stephen Wang, & Get the Picture ; they have told us time and time again that they enjoy wedding djs who are understanding of their need to capture as many great moments as possible and give time to them to get their job done as well as create happy moments for them to shoot.

When you’ve got a team that works well together, it’s a well oiled machine that stops at nothing to give you the best experience you could possibly imagine.

10 things a smart bride never says

10 things a smart bride never says

10 things a smart bride never says:

“It’s all what you make of it.”

You’ve heard your parents, grandparents, teachers, and friends say that phrase before. It sounds like a meme you’d read on facebook but, it’s short, sweet and to the point. When it comes to weddings, this statement couldn’t be anything closer to the truth.

While many people will tell you that weddings typically cost 5 times more than the average party, they’d be correct. There’s a reason for that though. When you lay your money down on the table for something, does it meet your expectations? Was it everything you wanted and more? What is the most important feature that you want for your wedding? And how do you get the most value from it? It’s all a matter of priority.

We hear many stories from once bridesmaids turned bride on what their experiences and the experiences of their friend (the bride) had at their wedding. Some are full of happy memories and some not. Here are the 10 things a smart bride never says.

1. Aww man, I wish I could have done this instead of that.

2. I had a buddy of mine take care of (insert assorted wedding service here) because he was cheap and available.

3. We really wanted a photo booth for our wedding because they were so much fun but we figured, people are just gonna take selfies in the bathroom anyway so, what the hell.

4. Thank god we opted for the chair coverings and chocolate fountain. It really made the wedding more amazing than I had hoped.

5. I didn’t allow my DJ to stray from my playlist and as a result, I loved the music. Nobody was dancing though, that DJ sucks.

6. It’s my wedding. The guests are there for me. They should be happy to get a free meal.

7. I spent $10,000 my dress that I will wear for exactly 14 hours in my lifetime and now I don’t have enough money to buy all the things that Pinterest told me that I need for my wedding.

8. I am going to wear these 5 inch heels if it kills me.

9.  My DJ never showed up and he kept the $300 we paid him even after he promised he’d do my wedding.

10. My wedding SUCKED!