Wedding Uplighting Trends

Uplighting is the newest & hottest trends in reception enhancements. If you are looking to add a splash of color to accent your room with a lounge-like look, then Uplighting is for you!

Great before & After Photos: http://picasaweb.google.com/craigthedj/Uplighting

Info from the experts at The Knot: http://wedding.theknot.com/wedding-planning/wedding-reception-planning/articles/wedding-reception-lighting-basics.aspx

Call me for more info on Uplighting your celebration.

DJ Pricing

You're planning to spend a lot on your cake, dress, venue, invitations all to look great. Don't skimp when it comes to the entertainment. The DJ will is one of THE most important elements of your big day.

According to Modern Bride Magazine, only 5% of your overall budget will be spent on entertainment, yet over twice as many guests will remember the performance of your DJ or entertainer, over any other aspect of your reception.

The cost of entertainment at your reception is only a small portion of your overall budget. If you're spending thousands on an once-in-a-lifetime dream event, does it really make sense to save a few dollars by hiring second-rate entertainment?

Price can sometimes be what many couples are initially focused upon when they contact me, but really couples should be looking at style and what value a DJ brings to the wedding. Not all DJs are the same. The main consideration must be priority, you need to ask yourself how important is the entertainment and how much of your budget you shall allocate to this area.

The last thing you want are surprises, just by opening the Yellow Pages you can find many part time DJ’s and entertainers with sound systems and music, but lack the credibility of a full time pro with the years of wedding experience necessary to take charge and run a flawless evenings entertainment, specifically tailored to your special day.

Beware...don't allow a wannabe DJ or a friend of the family (no matter how sincere his heartfelt intentions) to jeopardize something so special. In the worst cases this has even led to real family tensions long after the wedding day! You’d be surprised how many enquiries I get where the bride & groom thought a friend of a friend would be the DJ only to discover at the 11th hour that they’ve been let down.

A slighting different music Vibe

I was recently contacted by two different brides, Ginger & Crisette that were interested in doing something slighting different with the dinner/cocktail music as well as dancing. They wanted a Contemporary Urban type vibe without it being too strong.

The style of music that works well for this is known as neosoul and its perfect for weddings. I actually loved neosoul back in my clubs days and I will jump at chance to integrate this type music genre into a wedding.

Here are few songs that will make for a great Urban Contemporary wedding sound track:

The Roots & Eryka Badu - You Got Me
Mos Def - Beauty in the Dark
Jill Scott - Long Walk
Jill Scott - Golden
Eyka Badu - Love of My Life
Common -I Want You
Floetry - Say Yes
Goaple - Closer
D'Angelo - Crusin
Les Nubians - Makeda

Mix the above up with some oldschool R&B songs like Surface, Al Green, Jodeci & Marvin Gaye and you will have the perfect mix that is cool, upbeat, and soulful.

I try to make each event unique based on the input from my clients. The music is really not about the DJ but about the couple and the vibe they want for their wedding. I good wedding DJ will always customize the music selections for each wedding through planning & good communication.

When planning your wedding think about the type of music that will help personalize your sound track to your reception.

Tips on Table Names

Personalize your wedding day and make your guests feel special by offering more than just an insignificant table number.

Whether you are assigning seats, reserving tables, or not, you can still name your tables. Your guests will have a sense of belonging, team spirit, and connection with everyone at their table. Group dynamics are improved, and your wedding will be that much more fun. Name your tables by:

Places you have visited while dating
Places you will visit during your honeymoon
Popular honeymoon destinations
Names of famous married couples,
Names of your favorite sporting teams
Names of your favorite songs, albums, artists
Names of your favorite movies, actors, stars
City \ State \ Country names where guests have traveled from
Romantic words - Love, Joy, Cherish, Serenity

My favorite! Names of famous beaches & surf spots in Hawaii. Be sure to put your ”party animals” on the” Banzai Pipeline” table.

If you must do numbers, use numbers with significance, and you can even make a game of it -

452=Number days you dated before the proposal
2=Number of dates before your first kiss
6=Number of pets
2381=Bride's birth date

Game idea: Using just the table numbers only, ask the guests to guess what their table number represents!

For more ideas on how to make your wedding fun, unique & entertaining visit my blog at: http://troymichaeldj.blogspot.com/ or call or send me an email anytime.

Happy wedding Planning!

Tips to Make Your Reception Unique & Personalized!

Chances are you and your guests have been to many wedding receptions in the past. Troy Michael will work with you to express your style & personality into all aspect of your celebration. Here are some easy ways to make your reception stand out.

Don't Just Enter, MAKE an Entrance-
The difference can be subtle or more pronounced but it is important that you, in some way, visually acknowledge your guests as part of your Grand Entrance. This can be done by simply pausing to let them get a good look at you while they snap a picture, waving back at them or perhaps taking a bow or giving high fives. Now you have included your guests in the joy of the moment by making them PART of your entrance!

Pick a Unique & Personalized Entrance Song-
Your favorite sport team’s theme song, A song from your favorite movie or TV show, A favorite dance or love song.
Come up with an Entrance Song that is personal to you as a couple. One rule of thumb is- the higher the energy of the song, the better. This applies whether it's Classical, Rock, R&B, Hip Hop, Swing, Top-40, etc.

Saying "Thank You & Welcome”-
Most couples say their thank you speech at the end of the reception but the best time to do this is really at the very start of the reception. A simple "thank you" & “welcome” speech to your guests right after your entrance can really set the tone for the rest of the evening. It the perfect time to do this as everyone attention will be focused on you both of you, You will be “in the moment” an so will your guest. Publicly expressing your appreciation & love for each other and your guest is one of the classiest and most heartfelt things you can do.

Change The Order-
Often the First Dance comes after the dinner. But there's no rule that says you can't do it right after your entrance. The Best Man's toast can be at the beginning of the meal... or later, towards the end of it. Just because you throw your bouquet doesn't mean you have to do the garter toss. There are no rules when it comes to the formalities of a reception.

Choreograph Your First Dance-
A choreographed First Dance is always a special treat for you and your guests. A Waltz, Aswing danc, Tango or even a Hip-hop routine is a great way to personalize your reception. You may need to take some lessons prior to your "performance". The pay off is creating an unforgettable moment for you and your guests. A moment that never fails to get a great response from all in attendance.

That Sounds Different-
You have an opportunity to create a unique experience for your guests from the time they first step foot in your reception. It is important that your cocktail/dinner music have it's own "sound’ that will set the right tone and atmosphere that will reflect your style & personality.

Use Creative Lighting-
The right lighting can add color and depth to any room. Colored beams of uplighting on the walls, or a monogram projection on the dance floor are some ways to create a special atmosphere. Well planned lighting has a dramatic effect on the look and feel of your reception.

Avoid Musical Cliches-
Party songs that have been played at every wedding can be replaced with more inventive & tasteful choices. Those played-out tunes like "The Electric Slide", "Chicken Dance", "YMCA”, & "Celebration” can be avoided to create a more distinctive musical atmosphere that reflects your style and personality.

Sunset Pictures

Sunsets in Hawaii are incredible. Many couples will want to have pictures taken at sunset. Make sure you plan this out with your photographer, coordinator and DJ so that the sunset pictures do not impact your timeline.

To help plan this out look up the sunset time of your special day at:
http://www.sunrisesunset.Com/calendar.asp. Make sure you add the sunset pictures as an event to your timeline so that the reception will be smooth flowing and on time.

Troy Michael's Top First Dance Songs:

I got ask to help a bride pick a first dance song so I thought I would share some of my all time favorites here on my Blog. Troy Michael's Top First Dance Songs:

• Better Together - Jack Johnson
• All I Want is You - U2
• By Your Side - Sade
• The Way You Look Tonight -Michael Buble
• At Last - Etta James
• Lost in this moment - Big & Rich
• Keith Urban- Memories of us
• This very moment - K-Ci & Jo-Jo
• More Than Love by Los Lonely Boys
• Spend My Life With You - Eric Bennet
• All I Want is You - U2
• By Your Side - Sade
• It Had to Be You - Frank Sinatra