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seating chart, wedding seating chart, wedding seating arrangements, wedding arrangements, wedding decor

WEDDING PLANNING : How to get the most out of your seating arrangements

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Seating arrangements at a wedding.

One of the most overlooked details during the wedding planning process is seating arrangements. Now if you’ve chosen a wedding venue specifically, they can help you with your table arrangements. But, in some cases you are at the mercy of the square footage of the room and slight adjustments need to be made.

Here’s a couple things to consider… If you’re in a smaller venue and the dance floor is important to you, consider a sweetheart table in leiu of a large head table. A head table can easily take up 20 feet of real estate in a wedding hall while a sweetheart table is a romantic table for two that only requires about 5 feet of space in total. You’ll enjoy more personalized service and have the opportunity to spend some quality time with your new spouse in an intimate setting.

Depending on the room you choose, it’s a good idea to ask the venue whether a buffet style or sit down dinner works best. Buffets are a much quicker option when there is enough space and  when it can be cleared from the dancefloor or placed in a dedicated area. However, sit-down meals are great for smaller wedding parties as your guests can sit back and relax.

But that’s just the dinner service. When it comes time for dancing, where you put your DJ is very important. Your DJ should be front and center or at the very least accessible to the dancefloor. Not because we want to be the center of attention but because we want to be able to address your guests when needed and also so that when it comes time for dancing, the volume won’t be offensive to those who want to sit. If your DJ ends up in a corner behind tables, he will have to make the sound twice as loud to be heard on the other end of the room than if he was in the center.
But most importantly, during things like intros, first dances and parent dances, it is important for you to have the ability to have eye contact with your DJ. During those times, many guests may stand to take pictures or video and the DJ’s vision will be blocked.

So when you’re sitting down to plan your seating arrangements, keep these helpful tips in mind. Your guests and your DJ will thank you.

wedding stress, wedding nightmares, wedding invitations, mother in law, my wedding

Wedding Stress: Who’s wedding is this anyway?

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Wedding Stress: Who’s wedding is this anyway?

As I sit here and read the WeddingWire forums this morning with my coffee, I notice a few posts about overbearing parents on the B&G’s wedding planning. As a wedding vendor, I’ve seen this very often.

As a parent myself, I can sympathise with the parents’ desire to want to help their children make the best decision for their special day. It’s a big investment of time, money, and commitment. Parents who have been married have the experience that their kids don’t and want to make sure that they don’t miss out on opportunity. That’s very admirable. But just as parents remember from their child’s teenage years, the kiddos grow up quickly and start becoming their own person and making decisions for themselves. Sometimes, hard lessons are learned from and sometimes not. Either way, they live and they learn.

Now it’s time to plan their wedding and you want to help. You as the parent have ideas and experiences of what YOU feel a wedding should be. You also know that the world around you is changing. Traditions change. Society changes. And you’re still, YOU.

Offering advice to a bride and groom for their wedding is a touchy subject with most. This is their day and they want to make it all about them. Their wedding is all about 2 hearts coming together as one and the reception is all about their friends and family sharing in that beautiful wedded bliss. So, how do you help your children plan their wedding? How do you keep them from making mistakes and forgetting something? It’s easier than you think.

You remember when you were a newly engaged couple. Your wedding was a year away and you were overwhelmed with planning this affair. Where should it be? What decorations should you use? What kind of cake should you get? Should you wear your mother’s dress that she wore in the 1930s or should you get something that is more fitting to your style? Should you use the family friend who DJs on the side or the 12 piece Brian Setzer tribute band? I’ve got news for you, they are going through the same thing. You also remember the tremendous pressure that your parents put on you by wanting to invite everyone they knew and brushing your guests aside so their boss’s nephew could attend. Don’t make the same mistake.

Your kids have grown up. They know what they like and what they don’t. If you want to help them, ASK them what they want for their special day and help them get it. Your wealth of knowledge can help them this way without being obtrusive. Help by making phone calls and offering to drive them to appointments. Help them by mailing out invitations or getting lists of vendors to choose from. But always remember, ultimately, they have to be happy with the decisions they’ve made.

It’s their wedding. It’s all about them…

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.

wedding flowers, wedding bouquet, bouquet toss, garter toss

The Wedding Bouquet Toss & Garter Toss – Keep it or ditch it?

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The Wedding Bouquet & Garter Toss – Keep it or ditch it?

From the WeddingWire Forums
Katie Writes:
Having a bouquet but no garter toss?

I’ve always loved the idea of a bouquet toss since I was a little girl, but never could understand the garter toss. I don’t want FH taking one off of me in front of my family and there’s no way I would want whoever caught the garter to put it on who caught the bouquet. Have have two issues, there aren’t going to be many single ladies at my wedding and we’re stringing lights over the dance floor. Did you do the bouquet toss? If not, what did you replace it with?

Katie, those formalities have been tradition for many years. However, this is your wedding. You know who you are inviting, whether they’re single, and the personalities of your guests. To your point, you should be comfortable at your reception.  It’s up to you which formalities you want to keep and which to omit.

Concentrate on the things that matter to you and your spouse and what will create a fun and memorable day for you and your guests. Talk to your DJ about some fun alternatives to the traditional bouquet and garter toss. They’ll be able to point you in the right direction.

 

If a DJ sounds too good to be true…

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If a DJ sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Interesting phone call tonight with a potential couple for this summer.

When Matt was looking for a DJ, he had thought that DJs were all created equal. When I had said, “You’re getting so much more than just a couple hours of music. Everything from start to finish, from introductions right up until the last dance of the evening is taken care of your emcee. I will coordinate with your matre’d to make sure that your dinner arrives when it should. That your dances, speeches, and formalities go smoothly and on time to allow you the time to enjoy your special day. Matt, I want you guys to be able to enjoy each other, your friends, and your family. My job is to see to it that it happens.”

Dumbfounded, he thought I was reading from a script. He did in fact ask me, “So, have you practiced that line? Sounds like you’ve got that routine down pat.”

To which I replied, “No Matt, that’s just me and what I think a wedding should be. A celebration of 2 lives, 2 hearts, 2 families coming together. That can’t be scripted. You have to experience it…”

grand oak villa wedding, kate & chris

Kate & Chris at Grand Oak Villa

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Kate & Chris at Grand Oak Villa

On August 9th, 2012 –

Kate Fasano and Chris Keller sealed the deal and began their journey as husband and wife. Pryme Tyme Entertainment was fortunate enough to be a part of the festivities. After a lovely ceremony at First Congregational Church in Watertown, the Kellers, family, friends and guests made their way down to Watertown’s wedding destination, The Grand Oak Villa. Kate had known Aaron (President of Pryme Tyme) since grade school and after finding him on facebook asked if he could be her wedding DJ for her special day.

With over 4 weddings in the Fasano family this past year, the Kellers had seen many different DJs and were anxious to see what a Pryme Tyme Entertainment wedding would be like. The newlyweds and guests enjoyed an energetic party atmosphere and danced late into the night. Pryme Tyme Entertainment’s funtastic photo booth was also in attendance and was a big hit with guests and brought out the kid in everyone.

Thank you to Mr and Mrs Keller for choosing Pryme Tyme Entertainment for their special day at the Grand Oak Villa. We wish you many happy years to come and hope to see you again soon!