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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!

To book with us, please click here to check your date!

READ: What hand does a wedding band go on?

Take control of your wedding – Hire a professional

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It’s your day. And you’re the boss.

You’ve taken creative control of the decor, the bridesmaids dresses, the menu, what shots your photographer needs to take, and have written a minute to minute schedule of events that must be adhered to or there will be hell to pay. Sound familiar? It happens every day.

With so many things to think about to ensure that your $20,000, 6 hour celebration goes off with out a glitch, it is understandable that you want to ensure that things go to plan. It’s also easy to understand that with making that kind of investment, theres some stress that comes along with it. You and your soon to be spouse have made a commitment to throwing the best party that world has ever seen. But this is different than setting up a veggie tray and some chips & salsa on the counter at your home.

A wedding is very much like a theatrical production.
(Cue the house lights, fade to 50%. Enter bride, stage left)

Because your wedding has so many moving parts to make it perfect, you must rely on the expertise of trusted professionals to orchestrate your vision down to every last detail. And when it comes to hiring professionals, it requires an investment of not only money, but trust as well. You’ve picked the venue of your choosing, the photographer that you feel will capture you at your best, the hair and makeup team that will enhance your natural radiant beauty and hide the imperfections that you stare at in the mirror for hours, and a wedding planner that has your vision in the front of their mind from start to finish. But beyond all of that, it all comes down to the DJ.

If you’ve been reading this blog for a while now, you know that it’s a pro-DJ sentiment. And why is this?

At every meeting that we conduct with new couples like you, we always ask, “What do you remember about the last wedding you attended?” Suffice to say, 9 out of 10 couples say the same thing. They talk about the food and they talk about the entertainment. It’s what is remembered the most. We also often hear stories about how the DJ couldn’t quite get people dancing and after thinking about it for a moment, many times we hear that the couple had complete control over the music being played and furnished the DJ with a playlist.

Now there’s nothing inadvertently wrong with playlists. I mean let’s face it. You like what you like. BUT, your guests may not share the same tastes in music as you. What may get you shaking your ass on the dance floor might be your grandmother’s version of kryptonite. And what might be your spouse’s “JAM” might clear the floor. And we know, line dances aren’t everyone’s cup of tea. They are typically the first offenders on the DO NOT PLAY list.

So this begs the question, how do you ensure that you and your guests will enjoy your celebration? Hire professionals. Invest in what is most important to you. And TRUST the professionals you hire to put their best foot forward for you. Take the time to meet with and interview your creative team. Communicate with them often, and breathe.
You’ve got enough on your plate and we know that.

Investing in your celebration means more enjoyment for you and your guests, and less stress for you.

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Should I fire my wedding DJ?

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Taylor writes:
“I found an independent dj who has done multiple events at my venue in New Haven, CT in the past. On his Instagram he has photos and videos of his work and my fiance and I were impressed and booked him. Before we booked him he moved to LA to further his career in DJ’ING and dance.
On the phone he assured us that he’d love to do our event and his family lives in CT still so he’d definitely make it out here for our event. He did not ask for any traveling fees just the cost of doing the event and uplighting ($2,000.)
We signed the contract and sent in the deposit at the end of December. Since then I’ve emailed twice about a receipt for the deposit and I haven’t heard back. Today I reached out to him via text message and he claims he didn’t get any emails and expressed a very lackluster attitude about my event. I know he is an independent DJ but I did expect some customer service and some urgency about my event. Am I over reacting or should I start looking for a new DJ?”

Hey Taylor. You’ve just touched upon one of the points that I make at meetings with clients. And that is, making sure your wedding DJ is a good fit. Besides lighting and other dazzling addons, realistically speaking, what matters is the end result. There’s a lot left to chance in this particular situation. Now of course, there are always exceptions to the rule. After all, there are plenty of local DJs that do destination weddings and work outside of the US as well. But, this is a different situation. The DJ you hired, moved to California. And even though they have a commitment to you, there is a likely hood of a delayed flight, the acquisition of gear to pull it off, and a lot of other behind the scenes stuff that needs to happen to pull off a successful wedding.

The red flag we see here is that the lines of communication are failing. If you haven’t spoken to your DJ in some time and they’re not returning calls, there’s a good chance they aren’t going to. The fact that your questioning whether you made the right decision tells you all you need to know. Find yourself a sure thing. Ask your vendor team for suggestions and they will be able to help you. After all, they see DJs week after week and know the difference between a great DJ and a not so great DJ and also can help you find someone that might be a good fit for your personality based on your interactions with them.

It’s up to you.

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Saltwater Farm Vineyard Wedding – Aubrey & Bob

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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

Eolia Mansion at Harkness Park – Pryme Tyme Entertainment

Pryme Tyme is HIRING!

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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 Aaron@PrymeTymeEntertainment.net 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!

Wedding Reception with no DJ?
How to hire a wedding vendor team that works well for you and each other.
Should I hire a DJ for my wedding?

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Getting over the fear of choosing the right DJ for your wedding

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Getting Over the Fear of Choosing the Right DJ for YOUR wedding.

 

2016 has been a great year for us at Pryme Tyme Entertainment. Hundreds of couples looking for Connecticut Wedding DJs have come in to meet with us to tell us about their plans for their special day. And in many cases, tell us some wedding horror stories of their own. We love that. With each meeting, every couple is a little different from the next. Each individual couple has their idea of what the perfect wedding would look like. And some, don’t have a clue and are counting on those who are more experienced (parents, friends, co-workers and more) to help them make informed decisions. And in all of the cases, one thing holds true… The one thing that they all remember most about the weddings they have attended was the DJ. Did they dance or not? Did it take too long for the party to get rolling or was the night flawless?

Meeting with so many different couples is really great for us because, it’s as much a learning experience for us as it is for the couple sitting on the other side of the table. When they share their experiences, we take notes to see if there is anything we can do to be better at what we do and improve the client experience for all of the future events that we do. That is so important to us because you, the client, are what keeps us in business.

One of the most common items that we discuss is personality. At nearly every meeting we have with our clients, undoubtedly the question, “What kind of DJ are you?” comes up. That is a great question to ask your DJ when you’re sitting down with them. What we do is highly personality based. If you’ve been to a wedding and the DJ and guests didn’t click, that’s a sure fire sign that the wedding DJ isn’t paying attention to the room and is pre-occupied with their own agenda. Or quite possibly, they took on a wedding that they weren’t comfortable with just to book it. All of which is a very risky proposition for not only the couple but the DJ as well. If he doesn’t perform and knock the socks off of his clients, it’s a memorable reflection on him. And vice versa.

So when you’re at your meeting with your DJ, pay attention to the body language. If they seem nervous, over talkative, or seem to be trying to flood your mind with equipment specs, chances are, they aren’t the right DJ for the. job. You tell them what your goals are and they tell you whether or not they are qualified for the task at hand.

Another thing that many of the clients that we meet with comment and compliment us on is our attention to detail and responsive communication. And as your mother always told you about marriage, communication is the key to any successful relationship. That’s what this is. The relationship between you, the couple, and your wedding dj. After reading a few entries in the WeddingWire forums, I saw a few that talked about the lack of communication that some couples were facing with their wedding djs. This is especially distressing for the couple who has invested so much time, effort, and money into their wedding day. When there’s money on the line and the phone stops ringing or the emails stop coming, it’s cause for concern.

And let’s face it, in this day and age, everyone is connected 24/7 and also very busy for one reason or another. So allowing 24/48 hours for a response isn’t unacceptable. But if you send your DJ an email a month before the wedding to set up a final meeting to go over all of the details and they don’t respond for a week, try again. Email them, call them, whatever it takes. And don’t worry about being “That Bride”. We have a standard here at Pryme Tyme Entertainment. “Treat the client like they were your ONLY client.” It is an honor to be considered to help you celebrate one of the most momentous occasions in your life, the least we can do is return your calls.

Money can also be an intimidating factor when planning a wedding. Yes indeed, things cost money and weddings are no different. But like anything else, you get what you pay for. A wedding DJ has many responsibilities that far surpass hitting play on an itunes playlist and walking away. They guide the flow of your day and are the keeper of the keys when it comes to your wedding timeline. Choosing the right wedding DJ for your wedding is the difference between a fancy dinner with background music (which you can get at your neighborhood italian restaurant) and a lifelong memory of the happiest day of your life with an amazing celebration. With all of that responsibility and one shot to get it right, that comes with a price.

Now we understand that everyone has a budget that they have to fit into but, this is where prioritizing comes into play. Ask yourself the question of what is more important to you? If you want to dance all night and have a seamless wedding, the DJ is definitely something to splurge on. But if it’s not that important, there are many low budget options available. The best piece of advice I could give you would be to plan on between $1000-$3000 for your wedding DJ in Connecticut. This is the market standard for professional wedding djs in ct. This will allow you to cherry pick who you want from the top of the pile (much like your dress) and you won’t have to settle for anything less than what you want for your wedding. Many DJs offer flexible payment options to help you book their services.

Follow these tips and get over the fear of choosing the right DJ for your wedding.

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5 Wedding Time savers to get you to the dance floor.

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Weddings are a cause for celebration and there’s no better way to celebrate than to let loose on the dance floor. And along with the dancing, there are many ceremonious events from parents dances and bouquet tosses that often occur during the course of a reception. One of the unfortunate things we hear from time to time are stories from couples who have recently attended a wedding and spoke of how long they were waiting to get to the dance floor. A lot of that can be attributed  to the amount of events that take place during a reception and trying to jam as much into 5 hours as possible. So what are some great wedding time savers to help you maximize your time?

This is where a good master of ceremonies really shines. Your master of ceremonies is the keeper of the keys to keep things moving and on schedule. They are the voice of the celebration to help you and your guests get the most out of your special day. But in addition to hiring a professional wedding entertainer, there are a few things that you can do to save some time during your celebration.

HERE ARE 5 WEDDING TIME SAVERS TO GET YOU TO THE DANCE FLOOR
1. BE ON TIME

This is a big one. We’ve all heard of the wedding that runs late. Things happen from time to time. Maybe makeup and hair took a little longer than it should or a bridesmaid had to use the restroom just moments before the processional at the ceremony. It happens. But being prepared is key to the success of any event especially when it comes to weddings. Arrive to the ceremony location or venue at least an hour early to ensure that you and those who are a part of the ceremony are present and accounted for and start the ceremony right when it’s supposed to happen. Every minute counts and lost time adds up and ultimately delays the festivities.

2. GET YOUR PHOTOS DONE BEFORE COCKTAIL HOUR

If you get your formal photos done prior to cocktail hour or at the very least, the majority of them, this will allow you and your bridal party to enjoy cocktail hour with your guests as well. It also gives your photographer more time to get you the shots you are looking for and there is less pressure to get to the venue. If you go over a little bit, no worries, at least you’ll be on time for your introductions and your dinner will be ready when you arrive.

3. HIRE PROFESSIONAL TRANSPORTATION

This is one of the best investments you can make with  time saving in mind. A limo or transportation company is in the business of travel and know the roads better than most because driving is what they do. They know where the venues are and shortcuts to get you there faster. Not to mention, you can sit back and relax with a glass of bubbly while your chauffer handles the cross town traffic and gets you to the reception on time.

4. KEEP IT SIMPLE

Pinterest is great for inspiration in weddings. But be careful not to load up your 5 hour celebration with too many trends. The more you try to jam into your celebration, it may complicate things to the point of taking time away from you and your guests enjoying time on the dance floor. Timing is everything so be sure to keep your wedding dj, venue, and photographer abreast of any details you would like to put into your special day.

5. USE VENDOR REFERRALS

A wedding team that works well together is a sure fire way to get the most out of your wedding. When the venue, photographer, and DJ are familiar with each other, they work like a swiss watch and can work around any unforeseen circumstances that may arise. We’re all here to help you enjoy your special day.

Getting the most out of your wedding dj

No time to plan a wedding

Here comes the bride. 38 Wedding Ceremony Songs You’ll Love.

Wedding floor plan: Where should I put my DJ?

Keeping the dance floor full – Story of a mind reader
How to make your wedding reception feel like you

wedding industry secrets

Wedding industry secrets you should know about

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Wedding industry secrets you should know about.

You’re a 20 something bride. Just graduated college and now you’re engaged and looking at starting your new career, purchasing your first home, and lastly but certainly not least, planning your wedding. The a fore mentioned life milestones are some of the most stressful times in a person’s life. You’re just a handful of years out of highschool and now you’re ready to hit the ground running by starting your new life. With all of these life changes takes a serious amount of money. You’ve invested in your college education and are left with a diploma and a mountain of debt. A new house will set you back a couple hundred thousand dollars, and to top it all off, the average wedding costs 37,000 dollars. It’s ok, we understand. We’ve all been there at one time or another in our lives.

About 2 years ago, 20/20 did a show called Wedding Confidential – Secrets the wedding industry doesn’t want you to know. It took one tough look and a lot of misleading journalism to cook up the 30 minute show that would fire up an entire industry painting them as shady car salesmen that prayed on emotional brides. And if you’re planning your wedding, let’s go back one more time and take a good look at the facts.

FACT: The average wedding in the Untied States costs about $37,000.

It’s true, the average wedding costs about as much as a medium sized sedan with some nice amenities. But like the car, what are you getting? Are you getting the bare bones minimum? Or are you getting something that is reliable, a good fit, and fun? When it comes to weddings, one of my favorite comparisons is, “Nobody ever walks onto the Mercedes Benz lot looking for a crasher for their kid.”

When you look at wedding venues alone, the majority of wedding venues in Connecticut offer breathtaking views, architeture, and a beautiful backdrop for your wedding photos. Not to mention, the food. Wedding venues hire 5 star chefs who are the best at their craft and at the top of their game to give your guests a culinary experience like they’ve never experienced before. And with that experience, they have to make each of the 150 individual meals absolutely perfect for your guests. And the reason for the $90-$150 per plate price is exactly that. You’re getting the best of the best.

FICTION: If you don’t spend that much, you’re not going to be happy with your wedding.

Every wedding is different from the next. You have your style and tastes and so does the next person. That’s why it’s important to find the wedding services that best suit your needs. If a Mercedes is not your thing and you want a Dodge, go for it. It’s your prerogative, and there is NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT.

FACT: Wedding DJs charge on average $700 more for a wedding than a party.

20/20 pulled a bait and switch in their wedding industry secrets expose and had actors call DJs in the area to get pricing. When they asked their wedding djs what they would charge for a wedding, it was right around $1300 on average, but when they called that same DJ for prices on a private party, the price was exponentially less. And when the jig was up, the DJ was thrown to the wolves and accused of price gouging. As the DJ attempted to explain, “Brides are not just getting a DJ. They are getting a wedding director.” a quick video edit later, the host replied, “I don’t want a wedding director, we were JUST looking for a DJ.” Hold up. Wait a minute.

Like the venue, the expectations and the stakes are ALOT higher at a wedding than at a party. And here’s why. As a DJ, your responsibilities don’t start and end on the dancefloor. They start with the meeting with the DJ when you tell them about the environment you wish to create for your wedding. All of the timing of events, music programming for each event, and introductions of friends, family, and loved ones are handled by the wedding DJ.

When it comes to the introductions, we have to rehearse everyone’s name so that even though this is our first encounter with them, make sure that we say their names properly as if we’ve known them as long as you have. In addition to that, ensure that the music played during those introductions is played in the correct order and at the correct volume. But it doesn’t end there, we have to help guide your guests and other vendors through the events of your reception to ensure that food is served on time, guests are informed of any important happenings, and that your photographers and videographers don’t miss an opportunity to take the photos you want like your dance with your new hubby, your dad, and cake cutting.

And after all of that is said and done, we have to entertain all of your guests from the youngest to the oldest and give them an experience that will be remembered as the best wedding they have ever been to. Talk about PRESSURE! We’ve got exactly one opportunity to do it right. We do not have the opportunity to give it another shot. It either works or it doesn’t. With that kind of guarantee not to mention the investment in professional equipment at the cost of tens of thousands of dollars, access to hundreds of thousands of songs for every occasion, and continuing education and training, in retrospect, it’s a small price to pay for the experience.

FICTION: All DJs do the same thing. The price should be the same.

Not all DJs are created equal. Like anything else in the world, you have varying levels of experience, personalities, and technical accumen not to mention the types of equipment used and how well the DJ can use it. If all DJs were created equal, that would mean that every bride would be the same. But because you and your guests are individuals and every person’s ideal reception is different, so are the choices in wedding entertainment professionals. Furthermore, the full time entertainment professional does this for a living. There are no “day jobs” and they need to afford a liveable wage to have a roof over their head, a vehicle to get to your wedding, and go to the doctor just like you do. Your wedding isn’t just a side gig for fast cash. It’s equally as important to the DJ that your wedding is a success because their lively hood depends on it.

FACT: Florist Charge more for flowers for weddings.

Like the venue and the DJ, they too have a massive responsibility on their hands. If you have 150 guests sitting at 15 tables of 10 guests each, the centerpieces on those tables need to match near perfectly. No two flowers are exactly the same and trying to create a look that is identical and consistent using naturally unmatched materials is a work of art. Each color, height of the stem, and arrangement of the centerpieces has to be handcrafted, chosen, and expertly placed to get the best result. And as any guy knows on valentines day, roses go from being $12 a dozen to $50-80 a dozen because of supply and demand paired with the additional little touches that make your valentines bouquet even more special.

FICTION: Anyone can arrange flowers to make it look like the pictures I saw on Pinterest.

If you’ve ever gotten a bouquet from the 7-Eleven and a different bouquet from a florist, there is an obvious difference. Your gas station flower has been sitting in the same water for 2 weeks and is one temperature change from wilting. But the florist ensures that their flowers are kept at a steady temperature, humidity level, and fed to make sure that your floral arrangements look vibrant, rich, and healthy for your special day.

WEDDING INDUSTRY FACT: Your wedding vendors want the best for you.
Your wedding vendors want the very best for you and it is our pleasure and honor to be considered to help you celebrate one of life’s big moments. We all have a passion for what we do along with many years of experience and acquired knowledge that we will put to work for you. We love what we do so much that we have thrown caution to the wind with the security of a “day job” to put all of our resources, talent, and reputation on the line to give you a celebration you will never forget.

 

It’s all about the dj equipment.

Average Cost of a Connecticut Wedding

PTE Press Release (Brides Choice Award)

Bidding to get the best price DJ

How To Know When You Chose The Right DJ

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Why Professional DJs Don’t use playlists

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Why Professional DJs Don’t use Wedding Playlists:

Playlists. They are the new DJ replacement according to some. What’s better than your own customized playlist for an event? Nothing! But, a playlist made by one person only caters to one person. If you’re having a wedding for example, that would mean that there would only be one or maybe a handful of people in the room who might enjoy your playlist. But being realistic here, the average wedding is around 150 guests.

That’s 150 different personalities, age ranges, music preferences, and dance preferences and thousands of possibilities for what will help guests to the dance floor to celebrate. This is why professional djs don’t use wedding playlists. A professional DJ is a master of observation. Every moment of every event we do, we are constantly scanning the room with our eyes to see who is in attendance and look at the demographic as a whole. Then we throw out a few tests to see what kind of an audience we have. Once we get the reaction we are looking for, we can then customize what we play on the fly seamlessly to ensure that all of your guests, young and old are able to enjoy the music and have fun.

It’s a speculation but, by all of the stories that are heard at meetings and events themselves, I can understand why some people are steering towards the playlist over having their DJ do their own thing. And that’s a matter of preference. But you have to go beyond the typical DJ stereotypes. When I do a wedding, it’s not the Aaron show. It’s all about the celebration. It’s my job to make sure that the people in attendance know that and are able to enjoy themselves as much as possible. But if you’ve ever experienced a DJ who wasn’t quite up to snuff who played only what their preferences were and did not fit the environment, that’s the equivalent to making your own wedding playlist. It’s the same result just driven by different means.

It is for this reason that it is so important to really choose the RIGHT dj for the job and not just the cheapest one that you found on Thumbtack.

Still not convinced? Here’s an example.

2 years ago I was helping a couple celebrate their wedding in Simsbury and the bride was VERY specific as to what she wanted played at her wedding. She was a huge fan of hardcore hip hop. Not the light and fun stuff you’d hear on the radio but, underground and pretty heavy duty hip hop. She handed me a wedding playlist at our last meeting and said, “Play these songs in this order from start to finish. Do not derive from this list you are not to take any requests. This is MY day, it’s not about them. It’s about me.”

That’s a pretty bold statement. And when you make that statement, you take 100% responsibility for the success of your wedding. The DJ becomes no more than a jukebox or ipod at that point. Because I always put my best foot forward to make my clients happy, I obliged her demands and during the wedding, started playing her list from start to finish. Besides the dirty looks I was getting from the audience, it was only her and 2 friends on the dance floor. Everyone else sat and just watched with a look that burned a hole in my stomach. I felt bad because I wasn’t able to do anything for her guests and my hands are tied.  A few songs into it, she ran up to me and said, “Why aren’t they dancing? Make them dance.” I reminded her of our conversation and she simply replied, “They should be dancing, this is good music.”

When she left the room for the safety of her bridal suite, I snuck in a few favorites and like magic, the guests ran to the floor to dance but when she returned, she demanded that I not play anything except for her wedding playlist, so we went back to it and everyone sat down and began to leave early in groups of 5 and 10.

Remember, what one person’s favorite song may be, might be someone elses least favorite. Think about your guests and the outcome. 2 things that a guest will remember most about your wedding are if the food was any good and if they danced.

Are you creating a wedding playlist?

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Hawks Landing Tasting Event

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The Hawks Landing Tasting Event

is the perfect opportunity for engaged brides and grooms to get a taste of exactly what Hawks Landing has to offer. Bring your family, friends, and bridal party to help you pick out the perfect menu for your wedding or special event!

Enjoy food, fun, dancing, our photo booth and experience what some of CT’s best wedding vendors have to offer.

The tasting is from 6pm to 10pm at the Bella Vista Banquet Room this Saturday, February 13th 2016. It’s just $25 per guest and groups of 8 or more guests will receive $10 off of their total table.

Call Jamie at 860-793-6000 ext. 8 or email jamie@hawkslandingcc.com to purchase tickets! We’ll see you tomorrow at HAWKS!