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Wedding Photography Ideas – Timing makes all the difference

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Wedding Photography ideas are as trendy as tik tok dances. With so many creative ideas from funny poses and superimposed wildlife to the traditional bridal party shots, there’s no shortage of really cool photos to be taken. And as cool as that is, it’s very easy to lose track of time. One thing’s for sure. You’ve spent so much time, effort, and money to pull off the most amazing day in your life. And we don’t want you to miss a moment of it. Here’s a couple suggestions to maximize your time at the party and still get all the shots you want.

1. Spring for a 2nd photographer. By having a second shooter, you’re going to have so many more photos to choose from because essentially, the team is taking 2 times the amount of photos. A wedding could easily yield 5-8000 shots per photographer. And although that’s a ton of shots, each shot is part of a 3 shot technique to make sure everything that needs to be in the picture is and of the best quality. The other benefit is, by having a second shooter, they can also split up and capture some really amazing candid moments during your wedding ceremony, wedding reception and other formalities during the day. More shots means more options for the photographer to offer the best collection from your day following the editing process.

2. Do your formal shots BEFORE your ceremony so that you can enjoy cocktail hour too! Sure, this means you’re going to have to get up a little earlier and be on time to get out of the house and over to the wedding location but, it’ll be well worth it in the end. When you’re done posing for hundreds of pictures, you’re going to want to relax and mingle with friends. By giving yourself more time to mingle during cocktail hour, this gives you more opportunity to enjoy the meal that you paid for and your introductions will be on time and ready to go. If you’ve ever been a wedding guest, you know what it’s like to wait for the newlyweds to emerge from the bridal suite. If you need a few minutes to freshen up before your introductions to look your best, bustle your wedding dress, or just take a moment, getting your formals out of the way gives you more time.

3. Sunsets are amazing. Get your cake cutting done right after your first dance. Who doesn’t love a good sunset? The beauty of the sunkissed sky with so many colors and that deep blue off in the distance with the perfect couple enjoying each other on their special day. Ahhhhhmazing! Getting your cake cutting done before you sit down for toasts and a blessing does 1 of 2 things. First, it gives the caterer time to take the cake to the kitchen to be plated right after dinner service. Your guests will appreciate it because dessert will promptly be served following dinner. They’ll also love it because if you have a packed dancefloor, nothing kills the vibe and your packed dance floor better than shoving a formality smack dab in the middle of dancing and having your guests sit down. Also, if the cake is out of the way, you can run out really quick for those gorgeous sunset photos undetected and we can keep your party going until you come back!

4. Group shots during cocktail hour and also right before a slow song. Were you a part of a fraternity or sorority? Maybe you invited your highschool band to attend your wedding. Either way, group shots are a fun way to commemorate the life that you’ve shared with your guests over the years. And if they’re timed at the right place at the right time, you’ll get the shots you want without taking away from the rest of the reception. Cocktail hour is a great time for formal group shots with family, friends, and groups of people. Right before a slow song is an excellent opportunity to get that crazy frenzied group shot with all of your guests because they’ll already be on the floor.

5. Parents dances during dinner service. You’re the guest of honor. You will get served first. This mean’s you’ll finish first as well. Having your parents dances during the dinner service accomplishes a few things that people rarely think about. First, your guests will be seated during your parents dances because they’re eating. This is great because the likelyhood of having a hundred people with cell phones on the floor with you during that tender moment with mom or dad is minimal. You’ll have some great unobstructed shots of you and your parent. It also keeps us from having to sit everyone down during open dancing for a formality.

6. Feed your team before your guests. If you’re offering to feed your vendors (which is so appreciated because we’re working a 10+ hour day with zero breaks) please tell your caterer to feed them right after you are served. This will allow your photographer and other members of your wedding team to be ready to go when everyone is done with their meal to get back to work, back to dancing, and back to the party.

Please share with friend who’s getting married. You’ll thank us later when you’ve danced all night long, enjoyed your meal, and have the best shots imaginable!

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Do I really need lighting at my wedding?

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Do I really need lighting at my wedding?

Weddings are a very personal experience for many couples. The majority of couples that we meet have the same goal when it comes to their entertainment. Make my guests dance.
But in 2015, the role of wedding djs has evolved into more of an events production approach and that’s where lighting comes in to play.

If you’ve been to a wedding at The Riverview, Waterview, Aqua Turf, or Aria this year, you’ve probably seen uplighitng in the ballroom. Come to think of it, the majority of Connecticut Wedding Venues has installed uplighting as an option for couples to take advantage of and give the room a dash of color. Because these wedding venues have installed permanent uplighting, you can rest assured that the lighting that they have installed will compliment the room and enhance what is already there. Uplighting is a great option as you have many different color combinations available to create a vibrant environment.

But what about other types of lighting?

If you’ve ever been to a wedding where the room is very bright, you notice that it is more difficult to get people to let their guard down and head to the dance floor. Nobody wants to be the only one out there and especially in plain view of the other 150 guests attending the wedding. So, when the house lights are dimmed, it helps to lose those inhibitions and head to the floor to move, shake, and sing. But turning the lights down only goes so far.

Intelligent lighting is an enhancement that excites as much as it’s soothes. We’re not talking about the type of lighting that you’d see at a roller rink or bowling alley but more like a theater, concert, or nightclub. Computer controlled and motorized lights (moving heads) are the tool of choice for professional entertainment companies like Pryme Tyme Entertainment. With these very powerful lights, you can add new dimensions to your wedding. Imagine for a moment dancing in the center of the dance floor for your first dance as a soft white light follows you around the floor. It’s an intimate moment that can turn your first dance from ordinary to extraordinary. And with the same type of lighting, it can also be used to enhance an otherwise blank ceiling during dinner service by projecting patterns and colors. During dancing, these moving heads will dazzle your guests and create an exciting environment to help them to the dance floor.

Pinspotting has become a very popular option as of late. By focusing a beam of light on certain objects such as centerpieces, the wedding cake, or sweetheart table where the couple sits, it creates a tasteful contrast in the room. When uplighting is used on the walls, the middle of the room becomes dark and everything turns into a silhouette. Especially if cool colors like the very common blue and purple uplighting you see at nearly every wedding. Pinspotting centerpieces  ensures that your investment in wedding decor doesn’t get missed out on and makes them stand out.

Image projection is another very dramatic effect. From a simple monogram of the couple’s names in lights being projected to a fully patterned wall, image projection gives a 3 dimensional look to a plain wall, ceiling, or floor. Stencils or “gobos” are used in front of the light source to project just about any pattern or stencil of your choosing.

Dry ice or “Dancing on a cloud” is an old favorite. Some of the great features to using this theatrical effect are a bride’s white dress that seems to stretch to the far reaches of the dance floor during a first dance and paired with intelligent lighting makes for a very beautiful and dramatic effect. The other benefit is that the fog stays low to the ground and will not set off smoke detectors in the venue and is non-toxic.

Atmospheric haze is the best way to enhance all of these lighting effects. When a light is refracted (and reflected) off of a small amount of haze, it creates a beam. If you’ve ever driven through a fog and have seen headlights, you’ll see the beam. Although haze makes for an incredible lighting display and is safe to use, many venues do not allow this effect unless a fire marshal is hired to supervise and ensure that the venue’s smoke alarm won’t falsely alert the fire department.

When it comes to weddings, lighting is a great enhancement that can help you create an exciting and beautiful environment.

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Long Distance Wedding Planning

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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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D.I.WHY? – DIY Weddings – Hiring a professional costs less in the end.

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Mason jars, candy bars, grandma’s sewing machine, and cookies.

Sounds like fun doesn’t it? For the every day crafter, it sure does. But for the rest of us, it’s a whole lotta work. So why is it more and more couples are turning to DIY weddings? The answer is simple. It all boils down to money. A proper budget is one of the hardest things to overcome when planning weddings. In the days of old, the bride’s parents would foot the bill for their little girl’s wedding and at times even re-finance their house just to give their daughter the wedding of her dreams. No expense was spared and she had the best of everything at her fingertips.

Today in 2014, jobs are scarce and money is tight. REAL TIGHT. So DIY weddings naturally become a popular option on the guise of saving money. But think about this for a moment… How many people do you know fix their own car, build their home from the ground up,  do their own plumbing, or god for bid, perform their own surgery? There’s just some things that are best left in the hands of a professional. Now I’m not saying that DIY weddings aren’t possible and that they are all bad. The truth is, there are some really great weddings that we have been a part of that were 90% DIY. But that’s just it. It’s 90%. There are still some things that even the most crafty and thrifty couples saw the value in hiring a professional.

We’ll start with the venue. Why is having your wedding at a venue a great idea? Think about it! You need to do NOTHING except ENJOY your wedding. All of the food is taken care of and is cooked to perfection. The climate, furniture, restrooms, parking, and reception space are plentiful, tidy, and perfect. Some if not all venues have countless referrals for photographers, videographers, DJs and more on speed dial that are proven to be the best option and the wide variety of these vendors gives you, the couple, the ability to choose the right vendor based on your personal preferences.

And while we’re on the topic of photographers, let’s dive into that a bit. Why are good photographers so expensive? There’s a reason for that. Supply and demand. Your wedding photos are going to be on your wall and the walls of your family’s house for decades. You’ve spent a ton of time, effort, and in most instances money, on making sure that you, your bridal party, the ceremony, reception, and everything that comes with it looks it’s absolute best for your wedding day. Why wouldn’t you want to preserve that beauty in the perfect photo to remember for years to come? As tempting as it is to have your friends, snap away with out of focus with quick enhanced valencia or xx pro coloring on instagram for free, wouldn’t it be nice when you’re holding hands with your spouse at 83 years old to look at your wedding photo in your hands and just smile because he still takes your breath away? You can’t put a price on that feeling. It’s the best feeling in the world.

Let’s talk about music for a second. You might be able to make one hell of an itunes playlist but, not everyone enjoys the same music you do. Not every song was made with the intention of facilitating dancing. Music has a purpose. It’s meant to create an emotional response and picking the right song at the right moment could be the difference between celebration and awkward silence. A good DJ will be able to honor your musical tastes and keep your guests happy and entertained. And since we’re talking about DJs, almost everyone knows a DJ these days. The fraternity brother from college who still spins for fun at the local bar, your 13 year old cousin who’s parents bought him consumer grade equipment at Wal-Mart who listens to nothing but EDM and hip-hop, your brother Steve who is in a classic rock band that owns some PA gear and has a MacBook pro with lots of Steve Miller, Eagles, and Frank Zappa for those epic 20 minute orchestral oddities that everyone loves. Yes, they’re all out there and you know at least one of them. But why chance the day you’ve been dreaming about for 25 years to half working equipment and unpolished emcee skills? This is your wedding. There is no UNDO button. It’s a one shot deal and it’s gotta be PERFECT.

Now with all of this considered, there are some things that are great for DIY. Centerpieces and Invitations for example. Flowers will grow and flowers will die. Candles will be formed and they will melt. Invitations will be printed and will be discarded. Neither you or your guests will EVER remember your invitations or centerpieces as the star of your wedding. What they will remember are the memories that were created that will live on forever. Your beautiful smile, how happy you and your spouse were that day, the dancing, and of course, those beautiful photos.

Ask yourself, what is most important to you. And then decide if DIY is the right choice.

The Backyard Wedding – Is it really less work?

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Backyard weddings. Once thought of as cheap and tacky, these weddings have been the butt of many jokes. But as of late, more and more couples are embracing the ‘Country’ atmosphere. While many wedding venues offer 5 star service, breathtaking architecture, prime rib, chicken picatta, and filet of sole, backyard weddings serve up something different from the norm. A relaxed atmosphere.

So what kind of couple does a backyard wedding? Every couple! From the wealthiest couples to the bluest of blue collar, backyard weddings have one thing in common. Family. If you love the atmosphere of a close encounter with your closest family and friends, this is a great option for you. But it’s more than just slapping up a $50 canopy from Wal-Mart, plugging in an iPod, and your drunk Uncle John burning meat on a grill.

There are a TON of things to think about before your backyard wedding.

1. The Weather. Mother nature does what mother nature wants. If you’re planning your wedding in July, expect a few surprises. High humidity and thunderstorms are very common during the mid-summer months. This is where solid shelter can make all the difference. If you’re going to rent a tent, spare no expense. A proper events rental company will have everything you need to make sure that your guests stay dry and comfortable.

2. Dinner on the rocks. Backyard weddings are typically a little more casual than weddings held at a wedding venue. But don’t forget tables & chairs! These rentals could get costly depending on how many guests you invite.

3. You’ve got the POWER. Hiring a DJ, or wedding band? They need LOTS of power. Be sure to have plenty of dedicated and easily accessible power readily available for your entertainment. If you’re having your wedding catered on site, they will need power as well because they are bringing a mobile version of their commercial kitchen with them.

4. Not so fine china. Disposable flatware has come a long way. You can purchase strong disposable flatware from your event rental or party vendor that will give you just the right amount of class while making clean up a snap!

5. Get TRASHED. Make sure you have enough trash receptacles for the amount of guests you are inviting. Put them in obvious places such as the bar and around the tent to make sure that your property stays looking clean and tidy.

6. Find your inner green thumb. With all of the effort you’re putting in to shelter, seating, food, drink, and entertainment, don’t forget about your wedding photographer. Having some nice flowers and landscaping to use for your photos is a must.

7. Restrooms. Homes are typically built for families of 5 and under. Make sure your home can take the extra people. If you’re not sure, renting portable toilets might be your best option.

8. Bugs really bite during a wedding. If you live in a highly rural area, you might consider treating your property with a bug repellant. Head to your local home improvement store and ask what will work best for your needs.

All in all, you get what you put into it. A backyard wedding is a lot of work but, if you do it right, it can be AMAZING!


The backyard wedding of Ali & Aaron

 

 

Backyard Weddings: The wedding of Ali & Aaron

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On a beautiful New England Summer afternoon in July, Ali & Aaron were wed at Ali’s childhood home in Cheshire, CT. It was the perfect day for Mr and Mrs Stubbs as they and 50 of their closest friends and family from around the globe celebrated their special day.

Backyard weddings are generally more laid back then your typical wedding. The atmosphere is very cozy and homey. Which was great for this wedding. Aaron and his family are from Australia. As you can imagine, a 23 hr flight can cause some serious jet lag. But the Stubb family wasn’t going to let a little trip half way across the planet get in the way of enjoying themselves.

Guests were treated to margaritas and sweet tea along with a barbecue style dinner. Perfect for the 4th of July weekend. And then there was the dancing. This was especially exciting for me because it was a challenge. 50 people, jet lag, backyard wedding, in the heat, with a late sunset and a groom who PROMISED that he was not a dancer. And yet with all of those factors thrown into the mix, 50 people danced the night away until 10pm. We even got Aaron out on the floor! YAY!

After the party came to a close, Ali’s uncle treated guests to an exciting aerial fireworks display that lit up the skies. It was the per

fect end to a perfect day.   Check out some of the BEAUTIFUL photos at www.FritzPhotographyCT.com for more breathtaking photos!

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Wedding Throwbacks: Show your ‘O’ face at your wedding.

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Wedding Throwbacks: Show your ‘o’ face at your wedding.

Wait. What?

Yes, you read that correctly. Showing your ‘O’ face at a wedding has a little different meaning than one might think. It’s the face you make when you hear a song that brings back a memory. Typically followed by the phrase, “THAT’S MY JAM!” Maybe it was a high school dance with friends or that song you and your girlfriends used to sing together in college using hair brushes and curling irons as microphones. What ever it is, it was a great time in your life.

What not a better way to commemorate those glory days with a guilty pleasure song. So what’s your guilty pleasure song?

In the 80’s it may have been Mony Mony.
If you were a 90’s kid, it was probably a boy band like New Kids on the Block or Backstreet boys.
Either way, the songs that you publicly shame and secretly love are a great way to get people up and moving. So the next time you are thumbing through your wedding playlist, add a guilty pleasure to the mix and watch your guests making the ‘O’ face. If they do, it’s their guilty pleasure song too.

 

Wedding Checklist

The go to Brides Wedding Checklist

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THE GO TO BRIDES WEDDING CHECKLIST

WEDDING PLANNING
There’s a lot to think about on your wedding day. It can be overwhelming. Here are the 10 most important things you need to do on your special day.

1. Spend time with the folks: Your wedding is a very big day for them too. They’ve taken the journey from marriage to parenthood and this is the moment where they watch all of their hard work and dedication pay off.

2. Keep it clean: Assign clean up to someone. You’re going to be getting your dress on, your makeup done, and your hair done. This takes nothing short of a broadway costume and makeup team to execute. The cleaning up the aftermath ensures that nothing gets left behind and you look your absolute best!

3. Pass a love note to your soon to be hubby:  With everything going on around you, the thoughts and memories of your relationship are probably running through your mind. Send a courier or one of your BFFs to hand deliver a love note to that special man. It’s guaranteed to make his day on the biggest day of his life.

4. Set your mp3 player to FUN mode with a happy and fun playlist: While you’re rushing about getting yourself ready, crank up the tunes and enjoy the pampering experience. Music helps keep people moving and motivated and is sure to keep the spirits high so when it’s time for your nuptials, you’ll have a smile that lights up the room.

5. Happy Feet, Means a Happy Bride: Ditch the heels. You’re going to be roaming about in heels for a minimum of 6 hours. Just short of a solid work day from the ceremony, through pictures, and your entrance. Those beach flip flops sure do come in handy. Don’t worry about how it looks. They’ll be under your dress and your guests will be focused on your radiant glow.

6. Polish your ring: Your ring should shine like your love for one another. Give it a quick polish so that your diamond matches the glimmer in your eyes.

7. Grub it up: Don’t forget to eat breakfast and lunch. This is the happiest day of your life. Feel good in every way you can. Make sure that you have sustenance to keep you fueled up for the reception.

8. Get Water Logged in your dress: Be sure to drink PLENTY of water. Champagne and wine are great for flavor but they’ll dry you out. If you’re doing an outdoor ceremony, you’ll more than likely be in direct sunlight. Unparch yourself with spring water.

9. Throw your phone on the charger until it’s time to leave: If your wedding party or a vendor needs to contact you, it’s very important to have a way to communicate with the people making your dreams a reality.

10. Who doesn’t like yoga pants: After all is said and done and you’ve taken off your dress and wiped the sweat from your brow,  be sure to have your favorite yoga/sweat pants and t-shirt handy. You’ll be comfortable and happy.

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The Theater Wedding of Meghan & Alex

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Theater Wedding of Meghan & Alex @ the LBD Performing Arts Centert at Westover School in Middlebury, CT

On June 14th 2014, we headed back to one of our favorite places. The theater.
But this time, it wasn’t for a play or a concert, it was the wedding of Meghan and Alex. The LBD Theater at Westover School in Middlebury was transformed from a performing arts center to a lavish and romantic wedding venue where 200 guests enjoyed an upscale wedding.

The LBD features a solid hard wood floor that was PERFECT for dancing, which was exceptionally important for Meghan and Alex. Meghan is a dance teacher at Westover and her new hubby Alex is a professional ballroom dancer. Nearly all of their guests shared their love of dance and joined in the festivities with many different styles ranging from the classic foxtrot to the modern twerk and everything in between.

The atmosphere was truly magical with white lanterns that cascaded above the theater floor which made up the dancefloor and reception area. The stage acted as the bridal party head table with the VIP’s looking down at their guests. With a soft red backdrop, break up patterns on the floor, paired with a color rich dancefloor and the aurora borealis projected on the ceiling, and finished with shimmering stars, romance was in the air.

For 3 hours, the dancefloor was PACKED with guests young and old helping Meghan and Alex celebrate their new journey together.
Congratulations to Meghan & Alex on their marriage!

 

Dancing down the aisle at a wedding

Wedding Ceremony – Dancing down the aisle

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Jill and Kevin LOVE to dance anywhere, any time. And their wedding ceremony was no exception. Watch as Jill, Kevin and the rest of their bridal party rock this church with the BEST WEDDING INTRO EVER! Their bridal party moved, shook, and dropped down the aisle to Chris Brown’s 2007 love infused hit “Forever” from the album “EXCLUSIVE” This fun and happy song is a favorite amongst couples for introductions but as you can see by the video, it really set the vibe for the rest of the reception.

Which just goes to show you, you don’t have to wait til you get to the dance floor to have some fun on your wedding day. So put on your dancing shoes and then head to the church to ask permission from your pastor about foregoing hearing “Here comes the Bride!” on a bombastic pipe organ rattling from the rafters and instead playing secular music in the church. If the church does not have an adequate sound system for music play back, be sure to ask your wedding disc jockey if they would be willing and able to lend a hand by upgrading to a ceremony sound system for the church. GOOD LUCK and DANCE DOWN THE AISLE!

Visit www.jkweddingdance.com for more information or to donate towards violence prevention.