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Highlights from the Riverview & Torrington Country Club Bridal Shows

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This weekend was AMAZING for bridal shows!

On Saturday, January 25th, Aaron & Mark from Pryme Tyme Entertainment headed on over to the Riverview in Simsbury for the WeddingSteps bridal show. There were well over 50 vendors there for brides to come and check out. The WeddingSteps had some great incentives for brides and gave away an all expenses vacation to the Caribbean for one lucky couple. Many of the brides who we met with on Saturday (probably 40 or 50 WOW!) were starting their wedding journey after being newly engaged over the Christmas holiday. We got to meet with a few of the couples that we had seen at previous shows as well which is always a treat. Over all, a great show.

On Sunday, we headed over to Torrington Country Club for their bridal affair. It was a much smaller show than the Riverview but, we STILL met with over 30 brides and will be contacting them to set appointments to talk about their special day. While we were there, WZBG‘s Amy Ferarotti interviewed Pryme Tyme Entertainment owner and Master of Ceremonies, Aaron DeMarest.Thank you to Amy and WZBG for such a great interview and telling Litchfield county all about Pryme Tyme Entertainment.

5 shows down. 2 more to go. 2014 is going to be an excellent year! Thank you to all of the brides and vendors who came to see us this weekend! We look forward to meeting with you again to start planning your special day!

wedding dj, connecticut wedding dj, wedding dj styles, boring dj, edm dj, club dj, wedding dj, prom dj

What kind of Wedding DJ are you?

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“What kind of Wedding DJ are you? What style DJ are you?”

Besides, “How much?” or “what are your wedding dj prices, these are the two most common questions I hear at wedding appointments. I thought about it one day and tried to find a solid answer to this question and really came up short. It doesn’t really seem like that hard of a question.

The image and sound of a DJ is a bit of a stereotype. Back in the 80’s it may have been the mullet wearing rocker playing ‘Old Time Rock N Roll’ or the guy dressed in Adidas, gold chains and a Kangol cap playing Run DMC. Today we’ve got the trashy hipster EDM guys and then there’s Pauly D from the Jersey Shore.
In terms of Wedding DJs, the mid 40’s salt and pepper guy with swaggar like Dos Equis, a bright smile and golden microphone is what you might think of.

I am happy to announce that I am none of those things. I don’t fit into a stereotype. But that still begs the question, what kind of DJ am I? So here goes.

I wear many hats as a business owner, an audio and lighting engineer, an entertainer, and as a wedding planner.

From a business perspective, I’m all about service and taking care of the customer. Like Harold Webster Smith (founder of Webster Bank) had said, “If you take care of the customer, everything else takes care of itself.”

As an audio & lighting engineer, my job is to make things look and sound their best without being obtrusive to the surroundings we are working in. Noone enjoys a headache but people do appreciate good sound and tasteful lighting at an event. You won’t hear any feedback or eardrum shattering music at a Pryme Tyme event. But you will be able to talk to your fellow guests comfortably while still feeling the music in your chest when you want to.

As an entertainer, it’s simple. I am whatever you want me to be. If your event is more conservative, I can blend very easy into the background. If your event is  high energy and unbridled showmanship is what you’re after, that can also be accommodated. If I were to describe my style in one word it would be, “versatile”.

From the wedding planner point of view, it’s much like the entertainer. Versatility is very important. There are so many venues who do things a little different from the next and you have to adapt to any changes to make sure that everything goes according to the couple’s wishes.

I hope this answers this common question. I look forward to being the entertainer that YOU want me to be.

-Aaron

What DJ style are you?

 

backyard wedding, diy wedding

Planning back yard weddings | The Pros and Cons

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Planning back yard weddings | The Pros and Cons

It’s that time of the year…Engagement season is in full swing. For many brides, they will be wearing a new diamond after Christmas and will start planning the day they have been dreaming about for years.

The first thing to do is pick your venue… Most people elect to find a wedding venue but some like to think outside the box and have a destination or backyard weddings. If you read the bridal forums online, you’ll see lots of different ideas for your wedding. But let’s talk about this for a moment.

There are pros and cons to both.

Lake of Isles @ Foxwoods Resort and Casino

The Wedding Venue
The Pros:
Convenience. Everything that you need is in one place. You have your catering, in some cases a bakery, a top shelf bar, ample restrooms, tables & chairs, linens, a dancefloor, electricity, and last but certainly not least, service. Your wedding venue will protect your special day from any inclement weather and is climate controlled for you and your guests comfort. There is ample parking for all of your guests. From start to finish, everything is taken care of so all you have to do is enjoy your special day.

The Cons:
Wedding venues come with a premium. You pay for those conveniences. You may also be limited to certain dates and times depending on the time of the year, day of the week, etc. You are also limited to the menu of the caterer at the venue. Decorating the venue depending on your choices may be challenging depending on the ambiance of the room. For example, if you want a country wedding, it’s hard to emulate that against an imported marble backdrop.

 

Backyard Barbecue Wedding

Back yard Weddings or Tent Wedding
The Pros:
You have a unique setting for you and your guests to enjoy. Because it’s ‘home’ for you, you have that sense of familiarity and can enjoy the comforts of home on your special day. If you are going for a more casual affair, the swimming pool is always a blast during a reception along with some tasty barbecue. Fun picnic games are always an option at an backyard wedding and it’s typically not as stuffy as a formal wedding. Depending on where you live and the noise ordinance in your area, the dates and times aren’t as much of a limitation as with a venue. Instead of the option of a top shelf bar, you can order a few kegs and some wine and keep it simple. Backyard weddings are exceptionally great for weddings with children as they have the ability to run and play and be kids.

The Cons:
You can plan a pretty picnic but you can’t predict the weather. Although a tent may keep your heads dry, there is always the possibility for high wind, ground soaking downpours, lightning, humidity, snow or any other kind of soggy weather. Because the majority of weddings happen in the late spring/early summer, it can get quite sticky, and smelly. Unless you have a closed tent with a rented air conditioner for the tent, you’re really at the mercy of the elements.
The cost of renting tables, chairs, linens, tents, etc is quite expensive. In addition to that, you or your family would have to set up and tear down which is very labor intensive.
Restrooms for guests is also tricky. A home septic system was never intended to handle 100 guests worth of waste in a short period of time. If you decide to rent chemical toilets, those are also an added expense and can be a messy and smelly endeavor.
Electricity. Your caterer will need a lot of power. Enough for refrigeration, cooking, coffee, microwaves, etc. In addition to that, you’ll need some lighting for under the tent and your climate control if you rent fans or air conditioners. And lastly, your wedding entertainment. If you go with a band, they’ll need about 5 dedicated circuits just for them. If you go with a DJ, it can be 3 circuits or more depending on the options you choose.

All in all, there are pros and cons to both. The important thing to remember when planning your special day is, think about everything as a whole and make informed decisions. There is a wedding for everyone out there. The choice is up to you.

Wedding Introductions

Wedding Introductions

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Wedding Introductions

One of the most important jobs we have at weddings is introducing loved ones of the bride and groom. This may seem trivial to some but, it is one of the highlights at many wedding receptions. It also sets the tone for how the rest of the reception will be carried out.

But what if you’re someone who doesn’t like to be the center of attention?  Or maybe it’s the exact opposite and you like the idea of all eyes on you. It’s ok. Your wedding is all about you. There are many different styles of wedding introductions. You can find most of them on Youtube from DJs across the country. Every DJ’s style is a little bit different and brings something special to the table depending on the tastes and preference of the bride and groom.

Here are a couple of examples…

The Conservative: A conservative intro would have a classic feel. Not over the top energy but more or less, a simple announcement of the bridal party with very little embellishment.

The Average Joe: A little more upbeat than the conservative but not a showstopper. Your guests will undoubtedly know you’re there but, it’s a more laid back approach to introductions.

The Grand Entrance: This is reserved for doctors, lawyers, and elected officials who’s title is very important to them. You’ll hear more of a presidential announcer quality to the voice and lots of Dr, Senator, and Esquire mixed in.

Let’s get ready to rumble!: Use your imagination. This is probably the favorite among radio DJs gone mobile. They love to be the center of attention and really put on a show for your guests.

The Comedian/Chris Berman Special: This is reserved for bridal parties and guests who have both a good sense of humor and like to take part in Cosplay to emulate their extroverted personality or favorite fantasy character. You might hear the best man introduced as Dan ‘THE MAN’ Johnson and the maid of honor, Princess Layla Jones.

THE ROCKSTAR: When you are looking for the most energetic introduction to make you feel like a rockstar, this is the one you want. You might hear something like, “You wanted the best, you got the best. The hottest couple in CT. BOB & JANET!!!!!!!!!!!!”

No matter what your preferences are, there is a DJ and an intro for every personality. A seasoned pro will be able to switch from one to the other seamlessly depending on your taste.

Last week, we had the pleasure of entertaining Lauren & Chris and 200 of their closest friends and family at the Lake of Isles @ Foxwoods Resort and Casino. Here is an example of one of the many introduction styles we offer.

Wedding Disc Jockeys in CT – Lauren & Chris @ Lake of Isles – Pryme Tyme Entertainment