Long Distance Wedding Planning

October 28, 2015/in Wedding/by Aaron

Long Distance Wedding Planning for the BUSY couple.

2015 was the year of the long distance wedding. On average, 1 out of every 15 couples we met with were from out of state and some were from as far away as California and Arizona. So that begs the question, how does a couple plan a wedding from across the country?

Google and other search engines have become a huge help when it comes to long distance wedding planning. For instance, a California couple just has to do a search for Connecticut Wedding DJs and Pryme Tyme Entertainment will be in the search results. But beyond looking at search engine listings for Wedding DJs in CT, what about meeting with your wedding vendors. Can you afford to hop a plane to come to Connecticut for an hour consultation? Some couples plan ahead and set up a tight schedule and plan a weekend trip to visit wedding djs, venues, photographers, etc. And some don’t have the luxury of time of income for a cross country trip. So what is a couple to do?

As many of our couples will tell you, the pinnacle factor when choosing their entertainment was that we were a good fit for them. That’s why it’s so important for engaged couples to meet with their potential wedding vendors before hiring them for their wedding day. Their personalities have to click and there has to be a connection that is comfortable to both the couple and the wedding dj. But if a face to face meeting can’t happen, many resort to sending emails, texts, and facebook messages back and forth. Sure, typing out a list of demands is a good way to send information back and forth but, there is no personal connection. You never know if that wedding vendor got the message or is fully invested in you as their client.

But there is hope. Whenever I get a call from an out of state or long distance wedding couple, I offer them a face to face meeting using SKYPE. SKYPE is a great tool for meetings because nearly every communication device, whether it be a laptop, smart phone, or tablet comes with a webcam and microphone and the couple can easily do a face to face chat with their wedding dj right from the comfort of their own home, thousands of miles away.

In addition to meeting their wedding dj, they can also send live screenshots showing their dj what they are looking for by showing them examples of pictures, videos and the same in return.

So if you’re partaking in long distance wedding planning for your special day, worry not. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Happy planning!

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Why are brides afraid to hire DJs for their wedding?

January 27, 2014/in Wedding/by Aaron

This year has been quite intense as we have been working at a feverish pace and participating in 7 Bridal shows in the first quarter. We have met with well over 200 brides in the 5 shows we have done so far and the one thing that seems to come up in conversation with brides is the fear factor while trying to hire djs.

It wasn’t the lighting. It wasn’t the music play lists. It wasn’t even the DJs chosen attire for the day. It was the entertainment itself. We heard MANY horror stories from weddings that these brides had attended about DJs who were so wild and crazy that they were a nussainse to the guests. Jumping on tables to play a make believe saxophone to the Blues Brothers, constantly talking through songs while the guests were trying to dance, and just tomfoolery in general.

This as a DJ is very distressing because it affects our industry as a whole. The expression, one bad apple spoils the bunch is brought to the forefront on this topic time and time again.

Let me start off by saying, there is a DJ for everyone out there. From the wild and crazy to the quiet and conservative. It’s up to the bride to choose what they would like to have for their special day. But, as we all know, a wedding for most is a once in a life time experience. There are so many factors and moving parts that all have to be taken care of to make sure that a bride’s dream becomes a reality. That’s where your master of ceremonies comes in.

When a bride asks me, “What do you do? What kind of DJ are you?” or tells me a horror story I only have one response. I tell them that this is not the Aaron show. I am not there to take the spotlight off of you. This is YOUR day. My job is to make sure everyone knows that and celebrates your special day with you.

Expect more from your entertainment.

LBGT Wedding of Rose & Faye

July 10, 2013/in Wedding/by Aaron

LBGT Wedding on the Fourth of July

July 4th 2013 was a glorious day! In addition to being the 237th anniversary of the Declaration of Independance, it was also a very special day for 2 brides. Rose & Faye were married in West Haven and Pryme Tyme Entertainment was a part of their LBGT wedding celebration!

After a brief ceremony on the shores of Long Island Sound, guests landed at Westwoods Italian American social facility. Over 160 guests were treated to a radiant and colorful ambiance complete with lanters, hawaiian leis, and tasty barbecue by Johnny Z’s catering.

The music for Rose & Faye’s wedding spanned the ages. From classics like Elvis Presley to the brand new hit ‘Blurred Lines’ by Robin Thicke. Guests young and old danced the afternoon away as they celebrated Rose & Fayes love.

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4 tips for a successful Wedding Celebration

November 2, 2012/in Wedding/by Aaron

4 tips for a successful Wedding Celebration

Whenever I meet with a newly engaged couple, I always give them the 4 tips for a successful wedding. Most couples only do this once in their life and don’t have the experience of planning a wedding from the bride and groom’s point of view.
So here we go!

Tip #1 – Eat your dinner

All too often, the bride and groom will spend most of dinner going from table to table greeting their guests and thanking them for attending their special day. Although you want your guests to know your appreciation for being a part of your wedding, they understand that this is your big day and they want you to enjoy. That being said, make sure you take time for yourself and get some nourishment. At $50-$100 a plate, you want to make sure that you get what you are paying for and be able to enjoy your reception by energizing yourself with food and drink.

Tip #2 – Have your cake and eat it too

The cutting of the wedding cake is not only ceremonious but for your enjoyment as well. The sugar boost you get right before you hit the dancefloor for the evening will leave you feeling perky and ready to party!

Tip #3 – Take off those shoes

After standing in heels for an hour at your ceremony, being posed for hundreds of pictures by your photographer, and with friends, your feet take a beating. Bring flip flops or flats for the reception. This way you will be able to relax and dance the night away comfortably. And speaking of dancing…

Tip #4 Dance like noone’s watching

This is the most important tip of all. This is your special day. It should be a fun and memorable experience. After all is said and done, most guests will not remember the cheese tray or the bows on the backs of the chairs but they will remember if they danced. And you will too! Throw caution to the wind and dance. Do your best Michael Jackson impression or play the air guitar for that band you always wanted to see growing up.

All in all, if you follow these 4 steps, you too can have a successful wedding celebration!

Have the time of your life…

Elm Court Estate Wedding – Constance & Austin

September 20, 2012/in Wedding/by Aaron

Elm Court Estate Wedding – Constance & Austin

September 15th 2012 marks the day that Connie Chace and Austin Neudecker joined hands in matrimony.
Over 200 guests were in attendance for the vows at the Vanderbuilt Family’s ‘Elm Court Estate‘ in Lenox, MA. The newlyweds spent their 9 year courtship travelling the globe from country to country seeking out adventure and experiencing the different cultures around the world.

The wedding was non-traditional to say the least. An hour and 15 minutes of vow exchanging, stories, and rememberances followed by another hour and a half of blessings, poetry and song. The food was eclectic and featured dishes from the places that they had visited around the world including India, Japan, Italy, Germany and others. The imported wine and beers from around the world also made an appearance for this marathon wedding reception. After a 2 hour dinner and a video narrated by the newlyweds, the dance floor was open to all to enjoy. For four straight hours into the early morning, the music room of the estate was transformed into a nightclub atmosphere complete with colorful uplighting to highlight the already beautiful architecture of the mansion. It was a heart pounding, fist pumping all out dance party that left even the most conservative of guests jumping for joy.

By 12:30 am the majority of the guests were pretty tired after the high end swaray but found one more burst of energy for the last song, “The Time (Dirty Bit) by the Black Eyed Peas” came on and the words “I’ve had the time of my life” could be heard throughout the estate. It was a wedding of epic proportion and one that noone would soon forget.

Party in Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel

September 17, 2012/in Events/by Aaron

In June, Pryme Tyme Entertainment rolled in to the Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel in Poughkeepsie, NY for the Valencia Sweet 16. We entertained over one hundred guests for an intimate Sweet sixteen party. Parents, kids, and grandparents alike enjoyed fabulous cuisine and a posh lounge atmosphere. There were a few of the guests that could have been taken for music royalty. And when I mean royalty, who else but the Jackson five. Well, in this case, the Jackson 4.

After dinner the room erupted into a full on dance club atmosphere that would leave five boroughs worth of New York City club jumpers green with envy. Friends and family of all ages danced the night away until the late evening and went home exhausted and soaked with perspiration. It was the perfect end to an already perfect evening. Poughkeepsie, YOU ROCK! We’ll see you on the road… Thanks to the Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel for being fantastic hosts!

Proms, Proms, Proms

June 1, 2012/in School Events/by Aaron

Proms, Proms, Proms!

May was a fantastic month for proms here at PTE. We kicked things off with New Fairfield at the beautiful Ethan Allen Hotel in Danbury CT and rocked over 250 students. The whole night was a high energy Hollywood themed atmosphere.
Wanna see a video? Click the link below to check it out.

New Fairfield High School – Prom 2012

Next up we had an EMERGENCY PROM for Mercy High School. We loaded up 10,000 watts worth of sound system and a basic light show and headed to the Aqua Turf. All within an hour. Phew! It could not have gone better. I don’t think I saw so many smiling faces when I arrived and started playing. The energy of these kids was INSANE! They danced and sang all night long till the last song at 11:30. As Frankie Valli said, “Oh what a night” The students and faculty enjoyed themselves so much in fact, they scratched their junior prom dj the following week and asked PTE to entertain the junior class.

Check out the highlights by clicking the link below.
MERCY HIGH SCHOOL – PROM 2012 – Highlights

I assisted with a photo booth for a friend of ours and had a nice relaxing night at the Aqua Turf just a few weeks after Mercy High School’s prom and ran a photo booth. The students at Litchfield High School were some of the best kids I have had the pleasure of working with so far this year. The photo booths were JAMMING from the time the doors opened till 5 mins after the prom ended. **If you would like a photo booth for your next event, call and reserve yours with Pryme Tyme Entertainment!**

The last and final prom for the season was for Oxford High School. We headed to the Aqua Turf one last time and set up “CLUB PRYME TYME” The intelligent light show, fog, and killer sound system using our new MAXX STAXX brought the house down. Our videographer was there to capture it all on camera. CAN’T WAIT TO SEE IT! You would have thought we were at a concert. The dancefloor was PACKED all night long! One of my fondest memories of that evening was as people were leaving, a young man asked that I play just one more song for he and his girlfriend to dance to. I dimmed the lights and just left a single spot in the middle of the floor on them. It was a picture perfect moment. Two hearts coming together right before my eyes. That moment will last a lifetime and I was happy to be a part of it.

A big thank you to New Fairfield High School, Mercy High School, Oxford High School, Robert and Don @ the Aqua Turf for a fabulous Prom Season! You guys are the reason why I love what I do. Keep rockin, and we’ll see you next year…

Pryme Tyme Prom DJ to the RESCUE!

May 28, 2012/in School Events/by Aaron

Pryme Tyme Prom DJ to the RESCUE!

I was sitting home on the first Friday night I have had off in quite some time. The house was quiet and my wife had taken my son to Pennsylvania for the weekend. I was sitting in my office contemplating what I might have for dinner when suddenly the phone rang.

It was one of my fellow colleages, Mike.

Me: Hello?
Mike: Hey guy! How ya doing?
Me: Not too bad. What’s up?
Mike: Hey, whatcha doin’ tonight?
Me: Nothin’. Why what’s up?
Mike: Feel like doing a prom?
Me: Ummmmm. Yeah! Sure. Why not. Give me the details.

Mike had told me that there was a school at the Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville who’s prom DJ was a no call no show for their prom. The students were arriving and sitting down to dinner when he had called. He said, “Ya better get movin. How long till you can get there?” “An hour” I replied.

I loaded my van faster than I ever had before and raced off to the Aqua Turf. Mike and Don (Assistant Manager at the Aqua Turf) helped me load in as quickly as possible and in 15 minutes flat, we had a 10,000 watt sound system and a simple color wash light show for the prom. Here is a video from that night…

I had found out a few weeks later that the prom DJ who was supposed to do the prom had closed his business and didn’t tell anyone. The school could not be more thankful and had invited PTE back the following week for their Junior Prom.

I had gotten a call just a few days after the junior prom from yet ANOTHER school who had paid their DJ in full and they had not heard from the company after countless attempts to contact them. I remember the adviser telling me, “One of our teachers saw your EMERGENCY PROM video on Facebook and said that you were able to save the day. If I can’t get a hold of this guy, can you be ready at a moments notice?” I happily replied, “I am at your service.”

Their DJ did eventually get back to them 24 hours before the prom and the show went on as scheduled. Both schools had chosen the bargain basement prom DJ for their prom and paid them in full. In the first instance, the school lost their money and now had to pay PTE for their Senior and Junior proms. And both schools were not met with the professional courtesy of open communication.

When choosing your entertainment for your next event… Be it a wedding, a prom, a sweet 16, or any other occasion, just remember one thing. You get one shot. Make it count. No one has ever left an event with the memory of chair covers and matching bows for each chair, the dinner rolls, or the chocolate fountain. They will however remember if they danced and enjoyed the evening. Your Prom is a once in a lifetime experience. Don’t you deserve the best?

Hawks Landing Wedding – Steve & Laureen

April 21, 2012/in Wedding/by Aaron

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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