Posts

A guide to wedding toasts

For those who don’t know me: A guide to giving wedding toasts

For those who don’t know me, I’m Aaron and I am a wedding dj in CT. For the last 28 years, I’ve hosted over 2000 weddings. For the most part, no two weddings are the same but one thing that takes place at nearly every wedding I host is a wedding toast to the happy couple. I’ve seen some really great wedding toasts, quite a few hilarious toasts, some rather uncomfortable toasts, and everything in between. And with nearly every toast spoken, they start out with, “For those who don’t know me.” So, what are you supposed to say? How do you write the perfect toast?

First things first. Remember why you are there. Your friend or family member chose you to offer a toast on their wedding day because they love you. You have been their rock and their person. Perhaps you have shared many wonderful memories together or have gone through some challenges together. Either way, you are a very important person to them. It’s an honor to be asked to toast a couple on their wedding day.

Second, the couple’s wedding day is a celebration of them. Always keep that in mind. This is an opportunity to show gratitude for your person and the couple. To be their cheerleader and support system aiding them in a successful and happy marriage.

Last but not least, remember that weddings are a melting pot of people. There may be grandparents, parents, extended family, bosses, fellow parishioners or clergy from their church. Try to keep it PG13 if possible. Your toast is a direct reflection of representation of how you and others see your friend or family member. Keep it light and fun if possible. Recall a funny moment you shared together to bring a bit of levity, and honor your friend with dignity.

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.

djs in ct, connecticut dj, wedding djs in ct, pryme tyme entertainment

2017 Wrap Up and Moving Forward with Weddings

2017 was a whirwind year here at Pryme Tyme Entertainment. After tallying up all of the events we did, we came out at a very reasonable 97 events for the 2017 calendar year. Our best year yet in over 24 years.

We’ve entertained in some of our favorite venues like Wood Acres Farm, Aqua Turf, Aria, Lighthouse Point Park. And we’ve visited some new ones that we’ve never been to before like Roia in New Haven. But all in all, the goal was the same with each event we did. To create and provide a great experience for our clients and guests.

We’ve moved temporarily to Naugatuck and are conducting appointments via SKYPE and meeting at Starbucks but, the plan is to get out of the valley as soon as possible. Where we’ll end up in CT is unclear and we are currently researching our options to find a new home.

We’d like to thank all of our clients from 2017 and congratulate all of our 2018 couples that have entrusted us with one of life’s most momentous occasions. We look forward to helping you celebrate with your family and friends.

Here’s to a terrific 2018! We’ll see you on the road.

reach foundation, shop with a cop, crazy bruces liquors, petit foundation, miss connecticut, target stores, connecticut post mall, photo booths in ct, mike connolly sound productions, mike connolly photography

Pryme Tyme & The Reach Foundation. It’s about people helping people.

2016 was a tremendous year for us at Pryme Tyme Entertainment. We were blessed with so many wonderful clients and events this year. It seemed as if the phone wouldn’t stop ringing. And for that, we thank you. But with good fortune comes great responsibility. From the very beginning, we’ve partnered up with some great non-profits both national and local to help our community. For many companies, it’s an opportunity to promote their business, but for us… It’s all about people helping people.

The last 2 weeks have been some of the most rewarding weeks of my career. We followed the REACH FOUNDATION to 4 Target stores in South Windsor, Enfield, Southington, and Milford at the Connecticut Post Mall for their SHOP WITH A COP campaign. We provided photo booth services for the Reach Foundation and their guests of honor and sponsoring officers were treated to a photo with Santa that they could take home to commemorate this wonderful event.

The children that were a part of this are disadvantaged youth that could use a hand and we were happy to answer the call. When it comes to our youth, there is nothing better than putting a smile on a child’s face. Most of these youngsters were completely selfless and weren’t shopping for themselves but looking for presents for their siblings and family. It’s really a humbling experience to see the good in people at work.

So many wonderful people came to these events including Reach Foundation Founder and owner of Crazy Bruce’s liquors, Mark Wilson, Dr. William Petit of the Petit Foundation, Miss Connecticut 2016, Tiffany Teixeira and more!

Check out some of the great photos from this event courtesy of Mike Connolly at www.TheReachFoundation.org

Thank you to the Reach Foundation for giving us the opportunity to serve our communities! We look forward to a continued partnership in the years to come!

company holiday parties, office christmas party, corporate holiday party, christmas parties, connecticut dj, corporate events dj, hawks landing country club, pryme tyme entertainment

Holiday Party at Hawks Landing Country Club

If you thought you needed to have 10,000 employees to have a holiday party, you’d be wrong. Come and join us on Friday December 16th at Hawks Landing Country Club for their annual Small Business Holiday Party! This is a great opportunity for small businesses who may not have the capital to throw a big gala and still want to celebrate the holidays with their team. Guests can expect to enjoy many tasty selections, a full top shelf open bar with dancing to follow. It’s a great night so be sure to tell a friend and head over to Hawks!!! For more information visit www.hawkslandingcc.com

cheap djs in ct. cheap prom dj, prom djs in ct, school dance dj ct

Why your school dance budget is unrealistic – A business owners perspective

Cheap DJ in CT 
It’s November and schools are well into their first period before the holidays. And now is the time you’re looking for your school dance dj for the dance next week. Next week. You’ve been given the task of rounding up the lowest bidder to give the students something to do on a Friday night in the gym to help raise funds for the athletic department, yearbook committee or prom.

Logic tells you that you need to keep costs low in order to maximize profit. That makes sense in most cases. Unless you’re talking about entertainment. And here’s why. Have you ever gone to a show, a concert, or event where the promoter had skimped out on a few things? Guaranteed you have. And you’ve noticed it right away. You walked away second guessing the decision to purchase that ticket because of the lack of quality in the show that you had hoped to see.

Maybe the PA was too loud or the lighting wasn’t that captivating. OR, maybe the folks on the stage just weren’t up to par that night. Then you recall that time you saw this other show that blew you away. The tickets were more expensive but it was an experience you’ll never forget. Sound familiar? This same scenario can be applied to school dances. Your goal is to make money on the event. You can DOUBLE your money with the right entertainment. And as every savvy business owner knows, you’ve got to spend money to make money.

The youth of today are very tech smart and picky individuals when it comes to entertainment. There’s not a whole lot that impresses them. Which is why if you want to have a successful event, you really need to step things up a couple notches. To have the english teacher bring his band gear from the 70’s and play Uptown Funk or the chicken dance just doesn’t work any more. Music is more accessible today than it ever was and if your DJ doesn’t have the latest music, he won’t have the opportunity to win them over and ensure a series of successful events for your school thus, earning more income for the school.

The sound also has to be on par. If you’ve ever been to a school dance where your ears rung after, chances are the $400 or less DJ you hired didn’t have the proper equipment for the job. He might do small kids parties or have a bar gig. But when you’re in a gym with 300 students, it’s got to be heard and felt. It’s gotta be exciting and mind blowing. Teenagers are in such a rush to get to the club scene in college and you can create that same atmosphere when you book your school dance dj.

Lets talk about lighting for a moment. Again, going back to the giuse of students being hard to impress. If you’ve gone to the bowling alley on a Saturday night for glow bowling, you’ve probably noticed that there aren’t many teen students there. As fun as it is, the atmosphere is very stale. There is nothing to capture their attention other than a few twinkle lights and glowing pins. Bowling alleys are closing up shop in record numbers because they just aren’t getting the draw that they used to. Same can be said for school dances.  If you invest in your DJ and they can deliver a performance and atmosphere that will blow your students away, they are more likely to attend another dance or buy a $100 prom ticket in May.

But beyond the lighting, sound, music, and performance, there’s one other VERY important necessity for school dances. Insurance. When you book with a PROFESSIONAL DJ, he will have insurance to protect both his and your investment. He will have a 2 million dollar commercial liability policy ready and waiting to send to your administration as proof to them that they can not be held liable should damage to the school by the Dj or their equipment occurs. It also covers personal injury as well. Those two reasons are some of the MOST important when it comes to booking your school dance dj. And if you’re looking at a cheap prom dj, chances are, they don’t have insurance. What they might have is a stolen catalog of bootleg music with all of the 4 letter words and obscenities you can choke down.

And last but not least, the contract. Contracts are a necessity for hiring your dj for school dances and proms. We no longer live in a society of hand shakes and atta boys. If your school is going to invest in an event, you want your entertainer to show up. Early, prepared, and ready to go. In the last 5 years alone, Pryme Tyme Entertainment has been called by various schools in CT who have gone the cheap dj route only to have them not show up. This is not only a devastating blow to the event, but to your reputation as well. The school will look at this as you dropped the ball.

So ask yourself this question, do you roll the dice on a $400 bet? Or do you make the investment that is a sure thing? The choice is yours.

CT bridal show, bridal shows in ct, connecticut bridal shows, bridal show pop up, corey lynn tucker, corey tucker photography, pryme tyme entertainment, parrot delaney tavern, new hartford ct

CT Bridal Show Happy Hour Pop Up in New Hartford, Connecticut

CT Bridal Show Happy Hour Pop Up in New Hartford, Connecticut

Brides, grab your tribe and join us for a wedding vendor extravaganza at the historic Hurley Building (former Ovation guitar factory)! Meet our talented artisans in their craft. Get to know them and check out their wares. Parrott Delaney Tavern will be offering signature cocktails and hors d’oevres and is also available to host your parties and events as well as catering.

Beat the rush of the holidays and save time meeting everyone all in one location while enjoying a night on the town with your friends. This is a FREE event, stick around and have dinner or drinks in the restaurant afterwards.

The Corey Tucker Photography studio is right around the corner as well as several other artists and businesses under one roof at Hurley Business Park of New Hartford

saltwater farm vineyard, weddings in ct, connecticut wedding djs, wedding djs in ct, connecticut dj, pryme tyme entertainment

Saltwater Farm Vineyard Wedding – Aubrey & Bob

Saltwater Farm Vineyard in Stonington CT was the perfect location for Aubrey & Bob’s wedding this past Friday night. Connecticut is home to some of the best waterfront wedding properties in the nation. Saltwater Farm Vineyard certainly did not disappoint. From the ivory crushed stone and winding driveway to the very modern looking steel barn, everything about Saltwater Farm Vineyard is aesthetically beautiful.

The interior decor is what you would expect from a vineyard full of rustic charm, steel kegs and massive wine barrels lining the walls. On the exterior, the vineyard features hundreds of rows of local grapes that will eventually be turned into a delicious New England vintage wine. With a spacious interior and charming landscape, its the perfect setting for an October Wedding.

Aubrey and Bob Wright were married on the back lawn in front of the vineyard on a perfect Friday evening. With the threat of hurricane Matthew far from us, the day could not have been more perfect. Bright blue skies, a gorgeous sun set with a slight breeze and eye popping foliage starting to make an appearance past the grapes.

The one thing that i remember from Aubrey & Rob’s ceremony was their vows. So heartfelt, comically amusing, and delightful. It was no secret. These two were in love. I even began to tear up as Aubrey read her vows to Rob. That’s a rarity when you can get your DJ to tear up at a wedding. After all, it’s our job to remain professional at all times. But moments like these are just another reminder of why we love what we do.

Following the brief ceremony, guests enjoyed wine and cheese on the patio just outside the winery. Soon after they were invited inside the winery for introductions. Each couple was introduced paired with a song that fit their personality. Everything ranging from the classics like Nat King Cole all the way to Fergie and everything in between. The introductions really set the tone for the rest of the wedding.

After introductions, we were treated to a beautiful first dance by the newlyweds and a sumptuous meal followed by hours of dancing, delectable dessert and smores by the campfire outside. It was a wonderful night with Aubrey & Rob.

Venue: Saltwater Farm Vineyard

Photography: Fritz Photography

DJ: Pryme Tyme Entertainment

A Stress Free Wedding Day – The Importance of a Pretrial

A Stress Free Wedding Day – The Importance of a Pretrial

As a new bride, there are a lot of details that need to be worked out before you walk down the aisle. When it comes to your look – the dress, the shoes, the jewelry, and the hair and makeup have to be just right. When deciding to get your makeup and hair professionally styled, a pretrial is a must have. Pictures on Pinterest or The Knot might inspire you for a certain look, but trying out these ideas ahead of time will insure you look exactly the way that’s right for you. Can you imagine trying on a wedding dress the day of your wedding without slipping it on ahead of time! Hair and makeup are no different!

Doing a pretrial also lets you live in the look, allowing you to see how long the makeup wears throughout the day. We recommend booking your pretrial on a day that you are going out and if possible dance the night away as you would on your wedding night. When you visit us for your pretrial expect to spend at least an hour with us so we can go over all the details of your big day such as colors, themes and dress style so we can create a perfect look to capture your vision. Once we have applied your make up and styled your hair to your loving we will then have records of all the details. We also go over our arrival time and location to insure all of the details are settled before the big day. If after your make up and hair is done and you decide on a tweak or two, we encourage you to reach out to let us know before the actual day. We want to make sure your day is a stress free as possible! It’s better to make these decisions ahead of time so changes and adjustments can be make with no surprises.

Taking the time to meet your stylists is a great way to talk more about the schedule of your wedding and also to determine the logistics surrounding your bridal party and others that may also be getting services done. A prepared bride is a happy bride!

Booking your pretrial well in advance makes the most sense as the season fills up quickly and popular dates are reserved on a first come basis. On the day of the pretrial, we recommend that you come with your face freshly cleansed, toned and moisturized to make sure the PH balance of your skin is at its best. Please wear something white or as close to the color of your gown as possible. Bring your inspiration pictures and we can go through and see what looks and colors will match up with your features the best. Feel free to bring any swatches as well.

Think of your pretrial as a fun way to pamper yourself and to be confident about wearing your beautiful bridal look. Maybe you can even convince your husband-to-be to join you for your night on the town so he can fall in love all over again with gorgeous you! Call 203-929-6024 or email [email protected] to schedule an appointment! A Touch of Color Make Up Studio, 194 Leavenworth Road, 2nd Floor, Shelton, CT 06484

Wedding Wire Award Winner 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015

Pryme Tyme is HIRING!

Pryme Tyme Entertainment wants YOU!

Part Time – Paid Entertainment Apprenticeship

Think you have what it takes to be a PTE DJ? Pryme Tyme Entertainment is currently looking for talented individuals who want to take their career to the next level. We LOVE what we do and have a passion for entertainment. Are you currently an experienced mobile DJ who is looking to join a team? Just starting out as a DJ in high school or college and want to take your passion to the next level? Have a specialty or a strong cultural background in music? Let us know! We pride ourselves on being able to entertain the most diverse of guests. Prior experience is a plus but not necessary. Training is available.

Our mission is to create a fun and engaging atmosphere at our events by fusing our love of music, drive for perfection, and thrill of helping our clients celebrate some of the most memorable times in their life. From weddings to schools and corporate to non profit, Pryme Tyme Entertainment is there.

So if you’ve got a fun personality, a can-do attitude, and a passion for events, contact [email protected] with your resume or call 203-437-7047 to set up an interview.  Competitive pay. Formal attire, reliable transportation, and a strong work ethic required. We look forward to meeting you!