I used to think that there wasn't much to consider when hiring a DJ for a wedding. I hadn't been to many weddings growing up, just a few cousins here and there. So I figured there was nothing to it - play some good music, keep people entertained and dancing - easy stuff.
For our wedding, we booked our DJ, Sam Sevener of Sevener Sound, on the recommendation of a family friend. We met with him once, discussed a few things, and he seemed pretty cool, so we hired him.
He did an absolutely fabulous job. He was timely and professional. He introduced the wedding party with energy, played nice dinner music and a great selection of dancing music. He also kept the events of the reception fast-paced so no one became bored and restless, which I've come to learn is very important.
My sister-in-law's wedding, in March 2006, was the same. Her DJ played great dancing songs, and even brought "village people" costumes for the groomsmen to dress up in and dance to the YMCA, adding a fun element to the reception.
Since her wedding and our wedding though, I have been paying more attention to DJs and have found that some really, well, suck.
We attended one wedding where the DJ actually started to karaoke by himself to a slow song that was playing while people were dancing. He also played every "group" song in the book. I'm cool with the YMCA or Cha-Cha Slide, but when you're pulling out the Macarena, Electric Slide and more all at one event (in 2006 no less), it's complete overkill.
At another wedding the DJ couldn't even keep people out on the dance floor because he didn't have activities and didn't play "dance-able" music. And we attended one wedding where the DJ let the reception drag on before guests were finally able to get up and dance.
So picking a DJ is actually harder than you might think, and more important to the reception that you might realize. Going off recommendations from friends is a great way to choose a DJ because they can tell you whether he was entertaining, played a good selection, and what his cost was, among other things.
When planning your wedding, you need to keep in mind a few things that your DJ should do. Your DJ should:
-Ask for and stick to a "do play" and "don't play" list.
-Get a schedule of events and be at the reception before guests arrive, ready to start playing
-Introduce you and the wedding party with style and energy.
-Keep the reception moving at a good pace, with little lag time in between the traditional dances and other activities.
-Engage the guests, get them on the dance floor and keep them there.
-Play a couple of slow songs every now and then, as well as songs for a variety of age ranges.
-Play songs that are not only great songs, but easy to dance to. Some songs may be good to listen to on the radio, but it's hard to break out dance moves to them.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
St. Lucia
After I posted on Sandals St. Lucia, several people have told me that they either are planning to go there or are interested in checking out St. Lucia as a possible honeymoon destination. So I thought I'd share some of my favorite pictures from the trip because it really is a beautiful place...
Monday, January 28, 2008
Bridal Show Review
I checked out the Everything Weddings bridal expo yesterday at the Orr Building, and found it to be small but useful.
It seemed like there weren't many vendors until I realized that the Orr Building is a huge space, so to fill it would be pretty hard. There seemed to be an abundance of florists, catering services and photographers/videographers there, and many of them, I had not heard much about, so it was nice to talk to them and get their contact information. (which I have update on the vendors list at Simply Weddings).
Since I went during the last hour and a half of the four-hour expo, and after the bridal show, the expo wasn't too crowded, but it did allow the vendors to spend time with people coming by their booths. I imagine that there were many more brides and mothers-of the bride scouting out booths at the beginning of the expo and then sitting through the bridal show, which was at 1:30.
The next bridal expo will be held in August at Secret Recipes Reception Center, so be sure to mark that on your calendars if you're interested!
It seemed like there weren't many vendors until I realized that the Orr Building is a huge space, so to fill it would be pretty hard. There seemed to be an abundance of florists, catering services and photographers/videographers there, and many of them, I had not heard much about, so it was nice to talk to them and get their contact information. (which I have update on the vendors list at Simply Weddings).
Since I went during the last hour and a half of the four-hour expo, and after the bridal show, the expo wasn't too crowded, but it did allow the vendors to spend time with people coming by their booths. I imagine that there were many more brides and mothers-of the bride scouting out booths at the beginning of the expo and then sitting through the bridal show, which was at 1:30.
The next bridal expo will be held in August at Secret Recipes Reception Center, so be sure to mark that on your calendars if you're interested!
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Wedding? Calm? HA.
Planning a wedding just might be one of the most nerve-wracking and stressful experiences. Even if you have an extremely small wedding, there is just so much do DO!
My wedding was indeed not small with about 350 invited guests. And although I do not consider myself high-maintenance when it comes to things like this, I was stressed to the max. Actually I think it makes it worse when you don't have your wedding planned to the last detail by the time you're 12. Because then there is the same amount to get done, but you haven't given much thought to it and frankly don't really care, but it still needs to be DONE.
For me and Evan, the church and the guest list proved to be the biggest stressors. Luckily we figured out the church thing fairly early on. The guest list was a different story. (People responding with more attendees than were invited...need I say more?)
But for some unknown reason, about the time that Stress Mode kicks into high gear - one month til the Big Day - I actually began to relax. It was so bizzare. I started to see things in perspective and realized how lucky I was to get to be marrying the greatest guy I could ever imagine. Sounds cheesy maybe, but it was true. I realized how much God had blessed me to be able to walk down the aisle and marry Evan with all of our loving and supportive family members and good friends there to celebrate.
The rest of the month flew by and the pre-wedding activities culminated with an amazing rehearsal dinner at Bella Milano. I was happy and tired, but that night, I didn't sleep a wink.
I finally just got up around 6 or 6:30 in the morning on the day of the wedding and took a walk around my neighorhood, the one I'd lived in since I was two years old. I couldn't have imagined a better wedding day morning and felt completely revived.
So brides who are driving themselves absolutely crazy: the best thing I can say to do is to take some time to relax and put things in perspective. Everything will work out in some way or another, and instead of worrying about what's going to happen next, the highest priority of your wedding day should be reveling in the moments as they come as you share your special day as husband and wife!
My wedding was indeed not small with about 350 invited guests. And although I do not consider myself high-maintenance when it comes to things like this, I was stressed to the max. Actually I think it makes it worse when you don't have your wedding planned to the last detail by the time you're 12. Because then there is the same amount to get done, but you haven't given much thought to it and frankly don't really care, but it still needs to be DONE.
For me and Evan, the church and the guest list proved to be the biggest stressors. Luckily we figured out the church thing fairly early on. The guest list was a different story. (People responding with more attendees than were invited...need I say more?)
But for some unknown reason, about the time that Stress Mode kicks into high gear - one month til the Big Day - I actually began to relax. It was so bizzare. I started to see things in perspective and realized how lucky I was to get to be marrying the greatest guy I could ever imagine. Sounds cheesy maybe, but it was true. I realized how much God had blessed me to be able to walk down the aisle and marry Evan with all of our loving and supportive family members and good friends there to celebrate.
The rest of the month flew by and the pre-wedding activities culminated with an amazing rehearsal dinner at Bella Milano. I was happy and tired, but that night, I didn't sleep a wink.
I finally just got up around 6 or 6:30 in the morning on the day of the wedding and took a walk around my neighorhood, the one I'd lived in since I was two years old. I couldn't have imagined a better wedding day morning and felt completely revived.
So brides who are driving themselves absolutely crazy: the best thing I can say to do is to take some time to relax and put things in perspective. Everything will work out in some way or another, and instead of worrying about what's going to happen next, the highest priority of your wedding day should be reveling in the moments as they come as you share your special day as husband and wife!
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Springfield Bridal Show!
If you, your friends or family members are getting married within the next year, you should definitely check out a new bridal show taking place on Sunday, January 27!
The event will be at the Orr Building on the Illinois State Fairgrounds from 12 to 4 p.m., complete with a style show from local formalwear companies from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Admission to the event is $3.
When I was planning my wedding last year, I attended both the Decatur bridal show and the Springfield Wedding Extravaganza at the Crowne Plaza to get ideas for the Big Day. Decatur's, since it has been up and running for a while now, was much more comprehensive than Springfield's, but hopefully as we get more organized here, more vendors will start attending the shows.
Regardless, both proved to be great resources in learning the names and information of local vendors, what options are out there, gathering ideas about colors and styles, and more. If you're in the area, check it out!
The event will be at the Orr Building on the Illinois State Fairgrounds from 12 to 4 p.m., complete with a style show from local formalwear companies from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Admission to the event is $3.
When I was planning my wedding last year, I attended both the Decatur bridal show and the Springfield Wedding Extravaganza at the Crowne Plaza to get ideas for the Big Day. Decatur's, since it has been up and running for a while now, was much more comprehensive than Springfield's, but hopefully as we get more organized here, more vendors will start attending the shows.
Regardless, both proved to be great resources in learning the names and information of local vendors, what options are out there, gathering ideas about colors and styles, and more. If you're in the area, check it out!
Monday, January 14, 2008
"A Moment Like This"
I think everyone has seen those Sandals commericals with the gorgeous couples relaxing in the clear-blue water with "some people wait a lifetime, for a moment like this" playing in the background.
Well, Evan and I decided to be one of those gorgeous couples on our honeymoon :)
We chose Sandals because we knew we wanted an all-inclusive resort, and we had seen in many places that Sandals had been ranked #1 for honeymoon destinations. We checked out Jamaica, St. Lucia and the Bahamas, and decided to go with St. Lucia, mostly because of the "Stay at One, Play at Three" policy they have (which we did take advantage of, by the way...English Pub at the Grande= amazing) and the pictures also looked unreal.
Now, don't get me wrong, we had an amazing time, and it was a completely fabulous honeymoon. We layed out, played on the beach, hung out at the swim-up bars, went on an excursion that involved a volcano, botanical gardens and snorkeling, and generally de-stressed from all the wedding planning.
BUT would I recommend Sandals to a friend? Probably not.
I think the reason for this is that compared to another all-inclusive resort we had been to in Mexico, the two places were very compatible in terms of service, amenities, food and drinks and cleanliness. The cost of Sandals compared to Mexico's IberoStar resort...FOUR times as much.
If I am going to be paying thousands and thousands of dollars, I think it should completely stand above any other place I've ever experienced in every possible way. It was a great resort, but not out-of-this-world, and I think a honeymoon could be done for cheaper with the same fabulous experience. That is really the only beef I had with Sandals.
Oh, and the lady that checked us in at the Sandals Regency St. Lucia was completely rude and vague when trying to explain things to us. I felt like she kinda wrote us off when we arrived.
Other than that, the staff was unbelievably friendly, especially the guy who made me and Evan burgers and fries every night around midnight. Shoutout to him.
How has everyone else's experience with Sandals been?
Well, Evan and I decided to be one of those gorgeous couples on our honeymoon :)
We chose Sandals because we knew we wanted an all-inclusive resort, and we had seen in many places that Sandals had been ranked #1 for honeymoon destinations. We checked out Jamaica, St. Lucia and the Bahamas, and decided to go with St. Lucia, mostly because of the "Stay at One, Play at Three" policy they have (which we did take advantage of, by the way...English Pub at the Grande= amazing) and the pictures also looked unreal.
Now, don't get me wrong, we had an amazing time, and it was a completely fabulous honeymoon. We layed out, played on the beach, hung out at the swim-up bars, went on an excursion that involved a volcano, botanical gardens and snorkeling, and generally de-stressed from all the wedding planning.
BUT would I recommend Sandals to a friend? Probably not.
I think the reason for this is that compared to another all-inclusive resort we had been to in Mexico, the two places were very compatible in terms of service, amenities, food and drinks and cleanliness. The cost of Sandals compared to Mexico's IberoStar resort...FOUR times as much.
If I am going to be paying thousands and thousands of dollars, I think it should completely stand above any other place I've ever experienced in every possible way. It was a great resort, but not out-of-this-world, and I think a honeymoon could be done for cheaper with the same fabulous experience. That is really the only beef I had with Sandals.
Oh, and the lady that checked us in at the Sandals Regency St. Lucia was completely rude and vague when trying to explain things to us. I felt like she kinda wrote us off when we arrived.
Other than that, the staff was unbelievably friendly, especially the guy who made me and Evan burgers and fries every night around midnight. Shoutout to him.
How has everyone else's experience with Sandals been?
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Got...Back?
Speaking of non-traditional weddings...
I first saw this after my friend, Geri, emailed it to all of my college friends to take some chances in persuading those with upcoming weddings to partake in similar festivities. It's been making its rounds; I think I've received it from two or three other people since.
It's pretty hysterical every time, though...
To Have and To Hold...Or A Personal Version?
I knew from the moment Evan and I began wedding planning that I absolutely did not want to write my own vows.
Personally, I wanted a completely traditional wedding, from the music to the order of the ceremony. And as for the vows, I wanted to say the words "I, Courtney, take you, Evan, to be my lawfully wedded husband" and end it all with "I Do."
These days, though, it seems traditional ceremonies are becoming the minority as brides and grooms are stepping outside the lines to add in their personal touches and flairs to the ceremony and reception.
I had never been to a wedding where the bride and groom recited their own vows until I went to my friend Renee's wedding on Saturday, December 29. She and her husband Tyler each made their declarations of love that they had pre-written. And you know what? It was absolutely WONDERFUL.
Renee talked about how the love for Tyler had grown over the past eight years they had dated, and Tyler told Renee what marriage meant to him and that he hoped the past eight years would turn into 80 more years together.
Though I wouldn't change how I did my own wedding, after hearing Renee and Tyler's wonderful words, I think personally-written vows can be a beautiful touch on a wedding ceremony. If you are considering writing your own, you should definitely keep a few things in mind:
*Make sure you and your fiance are on the same page. If you don't want yours to be emotional and sentimental while his are light-hearted and humurous, you should communicate what you are both expecting of each other's.
*Keep them simple and stick to the point. Create a theme, such as what his or her love has meant to you, what you are looking forward to in your lifetime together or when and why you first knew that she or he was "The One." Or perhaps take a line from a favorite song or favorite love quote and build your vows on that.
*Don't wait until the last minute to write your vows. Do this at a time when your stress levels are low, and you can take some time away to relax and think. If you need inspiration to help you start, nothing is probably better that perusing photos of the happy times you have spent together as a couple.
*If you don't want to stray too far from traditional vows, but still add a personal touch, consider altering the traditional vows. You could recite something like, "I take you to be my best friend, my soulmate and my partner in life. I promise to support you no matter what, encourage you and help you to become a better person, just as you make me a better person..." and so on.
*Also, don't forget to check with your wedding officiant about the rules of using your own vows.
*Above all, make your vows meaningful to you and your life together. This is a promise made to each other, not a speech given to the congregation, so create something for each other that you will forever remember.
Personally, I wanted a completely traditional wedding, from the music to the order of the ceremony. And as for the vows, I wanted to say the words "I, Courtney, take you, Evan, to be my lawfully wedded husband" and end it all with "I Do."
These days, though, it seems traditional ceremonies are becoming the minority as brides and grooms are stepping outside the lines to add in their personal touches and flairs to the ceremony and reception.
I had never been to a wedding where the bride and groom recited their own vows until I went to my friend Renee's wedding on Saturday, December 29. She and her husband Tyler each made their declarations of love that they had pre-written. And you know what? It was absolutely WONDERFUL.
Renee talked about how the love for Tyler had grown over the past eight years they had dated, and Tyler told Renee what marriage meant to him and that he hoped the past eight years would turn into 80 more years together.
Though I wouldn't change how I did my own wedding, after hearing Renee and Tyler's wonderful words, I think personally-written vows can be a beautiful touch on a wedding ceremony. If you are considering writing your own, you should definitely keep a few things in mind:
*Make sure you and your fiance are on the same page. If you don't want yours to be emotional and sentimental while his are light-hearted and humurous, you should communicate what you are both expecting of each other's.
*Keep them simple and stick to the point. Create a theme, such as what his or her love has meant to you, what you are looking forward to in your lifetime together or when and why you first knew that she or he was "The One." Or perhaps take a line from a favorite song or favorite love quote and build your vows on that.
*Don't wait until the last minute to write your vows. Do this at a time when your stress levels are low, and you can take some time away to relax and think. If you need inspiration to help you start, nothing is probably better that perusing photos of the happy times you have spent together as a couple.
*If you don't want to stray too far from traditional vows, but still add a personal touch, consider altering the traditional vows. You could recite something like, "I take you to be my best friend, my soulmate and my partner in life. I promise to support you no matter what, encourage you and help you to become a better person, just as you make me a better person..." and so on.
*Also, don't forget to check with your wedding officiant about the rules of using your own vows.
*Above all, make your vows meaningful to you and your life together. This is a promise made to each other, not a speech given to the congregation, so create something for each other that you will forever remember.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
The Pressure of Wedding Photography
On Saturday, January 5, Evan (my husband) and I attended the wedding of one of my good college friends/pledge mom in my sorority, Katheryne, and her true love, Aaron, whom Evan and I both absolutely love. They are a great couple, and we are looking forward to visiting them in their new home in Savannah, Georgia.
Anyway, several weeks before the wedding, I asked Katheryne if I could take some photos for her alongside her professional photographer. I had just gotten a new camera (Canon Rebel Xti) and flash kit, and I am slowly pursuing more photography ventures.
Katheryne was excited, and since their pro photog wouldn't start shooting until the wedding party arrived at the church, I showed up at the hotel, where the girls were getting ready to shoot some pre-wedding shots.
The lighting was weird in the hotel room but after some adjustments with my flash, I finally started getting some good shots. Later on, both my flash battery and camera battery died (lesson learned to not continually turn them off and on), but thankfully it didn't really matter because the pro photog was there at that point and taking all of the formal shots on the altar.
The experience was great, and I'd definitely love to shoot parts of a wedding again as an "assistant", but it also helped me to greatly appreciate the wonderful photographer Evan and I used for our wedding, Dave Blanchette of Studio 131 in Springfield. He couldn't have been more efficient, talented and professional, and though many take it for granted, wedding photography is extremely hard work!
For me, the photos were of utmost importance during my Big Day. Really, that is all you have to look back and remember everything that happened in the big blur, and it was great to be able to go back and see photos that I didn't even know had taken place, like of the little kids dancing, our family members talking and laughing, etc.
Some brides and grooms are on a tight budget, so they ask a friend or family member to take the photos. There is nothing wrong with this, and someone who doesn't have much experience but is very talented can definitely get some great shots.
But just remember, it's especially true with wedding photography that you get what you pay for. And for one of the most important days of your life, sometimes it's just worth having an absolute professional there for you.
Anyway, several weeks before the wedding, I asked Katheryne if I could take some photos for her alongside her professional photographer. I had just gotten a new camera (Canon Rebel Xti) and flash kit, and I am slowly pursuing more photography ventures.
Katheryne was excited, and since their pro photog wouldn't start shooting until the wedding party arrived at the church, I showed up at the hotel, where the girls were getting ready to shoot some pre-wedding shots.
The lighting was weird in the hotel room but after some adjustments with my flash, I finally started getting some good shots. Later on, both my flash battery and camera battery died (lesson learned to not continually turn them off and on), but thankfully it didn't really matter because the pro photog was there at that point and taking all of the formal shots on the altar.
The experience was great, and I'd definitely love to shoot parts of a wedding again as an "assistant", but it also helped me to greatly appreciate the wonderful photographer Evan and I used for our wedding, Dave Blanchette of Studio 131 in Springfield. He couldn't have been more efficient, talented and professional, and though many take it for granted, wedding photography is extremely hard work!
For me, the photos were of utmost importance during my Big Day. Really, that is all you have to look back and remember everything that happened in the big blur, and it was great to be able to go back and see photos that I didn't even know had taken place, like of the little kids dancing, our family members talking and laughing, etc.
Some brides and grooms are on a tight budget, so they ask a friend or family member to take the photos. There is nothing wrong with this, and someone who doesn't have much experience but is very talented can definitely get some great shots.
But just remember, it's especially true with wedding photography that you get what you pay for. And for one of the most important days of your life, sometimes it's just worth having an absolute professional there for you.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Welcome!
Welcome to the premier site to learn about wedding planning in the Central Illinois area, read about my personal experiences with planning a wedding and attending the 837294453 weddings my husband and I will be subjected to over the next few months and years, and generally just be entertained!
I was married on October 6, 2007, with no experience with, or even much interest in, weddings. But after all of the great experiences and the realization that most wedding Web sites are focused on Chicago-area weddings, I decided to provide some of my own sage advice and thoughts. So here I am today, coming to you from Springfield, Illinois to blog about my wedding, my friends' weddings and just weddings in general!
Enjoy.
I was married on October 6, 2007, with no experience with, or even much interest in, weddings. But after all of the great experiences and the realization that most wedding Web sites are focused on Chicago-area weddings, I decided to provide some of my own sage advice and thoughts. So here I am today, coming to you from Springfield, Illinois to blog about my wedding, my friends' weddings and just weddings in general!
Enjoy.
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