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Katerina’s Sweet 16 Party

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Last night, we headed up to the Pond House Grille in Glastonbury, CT for Katerina’s Sweet 16 Party. Despite the blizzard like conditions, everyone wade it safely. After a white knuckle ride up to Glastonbury, we beat our setup record. With just an hour to spare, we had the entire ballroom at the Pond House uplit in purple, a color changing, cascading waterfall, dancing under the stars, and audio ready to go for when guests arrived. PHEW!

60 of Katerina’s family and closest friends danced the night away with an eclectic mix covering several decades of music. The Funtastic Photo Booth was a big hit as guests dressed up in their favorite charachters for a fun photo. Check out some of the pix from last night’s Sweet 16.

Daryll Hall – Daryl’s house

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Daryll Hall – Live from Daryl’s House

I’ve recently picked up on a new obsession in music. Iconic musician Daryl Hall (Hall & Oates) has brought something very special to music with his new show “Live from Daryl’s House“. Shot and recorded just over an hour from our office in Prospect, CT, Daryl has had some of music’s best jamming along side of him at his home in Millerton, NY. Guitar great Joe Walsh (Eagles), Thomas DeCarlo Calloway (Cee-Lo Green), and Smokey Robinson just to name a few.

During the epic jam session, daryl and his guests along with his band take part in preparing a meal with some of the northeast’s greatest culinary talents. It’s a laid back atmosphere and you can really see the camaraderie between musicians and the magic that happens in live music up close and personal in this intimate show.

This show is free to watch and can be seen at www.LivefromDarylsHouse.com

Have a sneak peak of Daryl playing his No 1 hit with Cee Lo Green – No can do (I can’t go for that)

wedding toast, writing a wedding speech

WEDDING TIP: How to come up with a great wedding speech.

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Writing a wedding speech for someone’s special day is an honor. Your friend’s wedding is one of the most memorable days of their life and you’ve been called on with the duty of speaking on their behalf to their family and friends. A spokesperson of sorts.

Even if you’ve never written a speech before, it’s easier than you think. What should you say? What will it sound like? Will you get choked up?
Don’t worry about stage fright. It happens to everyone. When you see grown men and women with that lump in their throat, you know that they aren’t faking emotion and it makes the speech that much more meaningful.

KEEP IT SHORT AND SWEET: Put yourself in the seat of your audience. Hollywood has mastered the art of the acceptance speech in keeping it at a conservative minute and a half. As much as you might like to host the Comedy Central Roast of your best friend, keep in mind, it’s their special day. They have invested months of time, effort, and money for this one day that they will remember for the rest of their life.

SPEAK FROM THE HEART: You’ve known your best friend for a long time. There are many life experiences that you’ve shared over the years so choose dialogue that is both entertaining as it is heartfelt. Remember, you’re not writing a script for a made for TV movie. You’re talking about your best friend

WARREN, DON’T BE SUCH A SAP: Heartfelt speeches are a beautiful thing, but keep those tears happy. Keep your content positive. Weddings are a joyous occasion. Keep the mood upbeat.

SMILE: When you smile, your audience reacts positively with encouragement. And when the audience you’re speaking to smiles back, it will help to instil confidence and you’ll have a great speech.

PROPER MICROPHONE TECHNIQUE: You’ve wrote a speech about your best friend for all to hear. Make sure that they hear it. Hold the microphone towards your mouth about 2 inches away and speak from the diaphragm. Also, never stand in front of a speaker when you have the microphone. The feedback will melt your face off.

Uptempo First Dance Songs

Upbeat first dance song ideas

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Upbeat First Dance Song Ideas

Jess & Sean are a fun and energetic couple. They were seeking something a little out of the box for their first dance song. Here is what we had to tell them…

Hi Jess & Sean!
Congrats on the engagement! You guys sound like a fun couple. I love working with couples like you. :) I see you are looking for some uptempo first dance song ideas. One of the hits of this past year was ‘Marry You’ by Bruno Mars. It’s an uptempo song that is also very sweet. Another hit at high energy weddings this year was the ‘Fake out’ first dance. That’s where you have 2 songs. The first being a slower and romantic song which is interrupted by a party anthem like LOW by Flo-Rida or Party Rock Anthem by LMFAO.
Both of these methods work great and will make for a memorable first dance. Good luck and happy planning!

hiring a dj, negotiating with wedding djs, wedding dj prices, wedding budget, bad wedding dj

Why are brides afraid to hire DJs for their wedding?

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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.

First Dance Songs

Find the perfect first dance song | Wedding Music

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Find the perfect first dance song | Wedding Music

Weddings are a once in a lifetime celebration. Choosing the perfect first dance song for your special day is not something you’ve ever thought about and it can be mind boggling. Check out this great blog from Brides.Com on the Perfect First Dance Songs for ANY wedding.

Christina Perri – A Thousand Years

Chantal Kreviazuk – Green Apples

Ben Rector – When I’m with You

Ray LaMontage – Hold You In My Arms

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mk9wK8CC0fQ

Bright Eyes – First Day of My Life

Adele – Make you Feel my Love

Greg Laswell – Sweet Dream

Mazzy Star – Into Dust

Ben Howard – Only Love

Sade – By Your Side

Greg Laswell – And then You

Nine Lashes – You Are The Light

http://www.brides.com/blogs/aisle-say/2014/01/perfect-first-dance-songs-wedding-reception.html

2013 Hawks Landing Country Club Bridal Show

2013 Hawks Landing Country Club Bridal Show

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2013 Hawks Landing Country Club Bridal Show

We’re still recuperating from the last 2 shows but, we’re not slowing down. If you’re looking for a great venue, some awesome wedding services, and of course, the wedding of your dreams, you’ve gotta stop by and MEET THE DREAM TEAM at the2013 Hawks Landing Country Club Bridal Show at Hawks Landing Country Club in Southington on January 19th 2013.

Stop by and say hello! Find everything you need in one convenient visit! We’re looking forward to seeing all of the newly engaged couples in 2 weeks! It’s all happening at HAWKS LANDING COUNTRY CLUB!

Visit them at www.hawkslandingcc.com!

For more information on which connecticut bridal shows we’ll be attending, stay tuned to our facebook page at www.facebook.com/discjockeysinct

wedding centerpieces, uplighting, pinspotting, lighting design

Give your wedding centerpieces some POP!

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Give your wedding centerpieces some POP!

In the WeddingWire Bridal forums, Kelly writes:

“I’ve been pretty set on my colors for a while now. Purple (like a royal purple, deep but bright) and blue. Lately, though, I really like the color blush and think it would help soften things up a bit. Our wedding is rustic themed and both the ceremony and reception spaces have lots of dark wood in them so I don’t want everything to be too dark.”

Great question Kelly!
Centerpieces and floral arrangements are a big part of the decor for your reception. But, what if your favorite color is at the darker end of the spectrum? There’s a solution!

One of the great ways to get extra POP out of deeper hues is to light them up. We use a method called ‘Pinspotting’ for this very situation. By incorporating a small focused beam on your dark centerpieces, they will stand out against the darker hues of the natural woods and stone of the wedding venue. Here’s an example of what pinspotting does.

Burr Homestead Wedding – Lauren & Jon

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Burr Homestead Wedding – The wedding of Lauren & Jon

Last night was a wedding for the ages. The marriage of Lauren and Jon took place at the Historic Burr Homested in Fairfield, CT. Lauren, Jon an guests were from the greater NYC area. That being said, their expectation of what a wedding DJ from CT was probably a lot different than what you’d expect. The fancy tuxedo, the golden microphone, maybe some mexican party hats and a few blow up instruments. But on this night, the music took them on a journey through the 5 boroughs. From the sounds of Frank Sinatra and the rat pack at  Radio City Music Hall, to the hip hop capitol of the world, Brooklyn, NY.

After a two and a half hour cocktail hour and Mediterranean influenced smorgasbord of delectable food, guests also enjoyed a candy bar that would even leave WIlly Wonka himself in awe. Every tasty treat from childhood from cotton candy, candied and caramel apples and even a smores station were featured.

Once the guests had their fill of champagne and sugary confections, the estate turned full swing into a house party. This wealthy, white collar town was shaken to it’s core when the music started. After a 4 hour marathon of dancing and singing, it was time to bring this party to a close. The night ended with a hug and a smile from the newlyweds and it was time to head back to the office.

Check out some video from last night’s wedding,.

Elm Court Estate Wedding – Constance & Austin

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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.