All About Weddings

That is the smell of romance in the air.  It’s that time of year when the world falls in love, every song you hear seems to say…

“I Love You”, and as the poem states…first comes love, then comes marriage, then comes the planning…

What? You have no idea where to start?

HELP IS HERE!!

“The Exclusive Wedding Guide”

This book is filled with 98 pages of valuable info. Budget charts, checklists, wedding party duties, glossary of wedding terms, types of venues, questions to ask and more.

This is valuable information that you won’t find on the web, because this guide is compiled from real life scenarios that take place every week and behind the scenes of weddings.

I walk the walk and know the tips and tricks of the trade.

Visit http://www.ExclusiveWeddingGuide.com and while your there click on “Free Gift”  for a comprehensive Wedding Checklist” which if you only use this, will save you plenty of time and money!

Click here to have this book in your posession in minutes….   http://www.ExclusiveWeddingGuide.com

Tony Laub is the author of Exclusive Wedding Guide and has been a professional Master Of Ceremonies and Wedding DJ for over 20 years.

I’ll bet this is you first marriage right? For most of you this is your first marriage, wedding and everything that goes with it such as: Planning, meeting vendors. I’ll bet a year ago you didn’t even know the word vendor.

You have so much to learn…it can be overwhelming…and to add to your anxiety…How do you know which vendor to choose?

 Information is power. You need to attend an expo, but you need to know the right way to do this.  Make the Expo work for you.

Visit this site for valauble and FREE info on what you should do at an expo and the mistakes most people make.

http://www.SOS4Weddings.com

I’m sure this does not apply to you, but there are people out there who wait for the last minute to find a venue and

vendors (photographer, catering, entertainment, officiant etc)  That being said, don’t fret!  You just have to think out of the

box!  And it’s not a terribly difficult dilemma.  Here are some tips for you last minute revelers:

1. Almost every venue has an events booked on Saturdays from now till 2012. Once you come to this realization you will start saving money.

2. Almost every venue will have availability and  a reduced fee on every day except Saturday.

3. So book your event on a Friday or Sunday or even Thursday. Get creative and look for Holidays that land on a Friday (Veterans day, Independence day falls on a Friday) or a Monday (Presidents day, Labor/Memorial day, Martin Luther King Day).  No work on a Friday means you just turned your Friday night into a Saturday night!

4.  Vendors will almost always accept a reduced fee on “Off Days”. Don’t expect them to disclose this. Ask them.

www.SoundProEntertainment.com

Having a wedding in your backyard is a great way to celebrate your big day. However, don’t set yourself up for failure.

The number one obstacle is the sound level.  The last thing you want is the police crashing your party.

Here is a tip: Make sure you invite everyone who is within “earshot” of your party.  Remember, kill them with kindness. 

Friends don’t call the police, and if they’ve been invited, they will be more sensitive to the celebration.

http://SOS4Weddings.com

Church Ceremony

When you want your ceremony to be in a church, you will often have to pay for the rental and the priest or minister to perform the ceremony. Some churches will decorate for you while others will not. If this is an issue, be sure to ask first. How much money you will pay for the ceremony will vary and will depend on how the policies of the church.Here are some tips on how you can save money on a church ceremony.

· Look for a church that offers complete services or all inclusive packages rather than separate fees · Try to bargain deals for outdoor weddings

· Have your services on a day where there are no church services because it may be cheaper · Decorate the church yourself

· Offer to volunteer at the church for awhile in exchange for a discount· You can save some money by hosting your ceremony in the church basement rather than in the worship center. Churches will often offer more inexpensive prices if you are a member of the church.

Outdoor Ceremony You can save a great deal of money by hosting your ceremony outside like in a beautiful park, at the beach, on a hilltop or even in your yard. Of course, having the ceremony in your backyard is the cheapest. Here are some of the formalities that go with having an outdoor ceremony that can save you money all around.

· The best way is to have the service in your backyard (if you are on a really tight budget, or at a friends 3 acre park-like yard)

· Choose an open public forum that does not generally have a great deal of people trying to access it, and get the right permits etc. beforehand

· Opting for an ordained minister rather than a priest etc. is often cheaper. Just be sure to check that whoever you choose can legally perform wedding ceremonies in your area. · You can forego the chairs and have the guests standing as long as you host a short ceremony. A nice white or themed linen on the ground for guests to stand on is an elegant touch

· When going with outdoor ceremony, people often opt for the portable arch because it is easy to transport and just as elegant· Of course, you can always host your ceremony at city hall and save your money for the reception. Record the ceremony and host a viewing during the reception.  

Outdoor Ceremony

Outdoor ceremonies open the door to many themes that can greatly reduce the cost of your wedding and reception. Hawaiian themes and beach themes can help you save money on formal wear, and decorations etc. because people having an outdoor wedding are often casually or island dressed.It makes the ceremony more comfortable for the guests too because they are also dressed casually.Outdoor ceremonies can immediately switch from ceremony to reception which saves some extra money on travel fees too, such as limos etc. The Hawaiian theme will be a great way to have a luau or pig roast reception. You might want to consider a theme that lets you have a picnic for your reception party or a beach party or bonfire, but I will get into themes in more detail in a later section.

The Entertainment

What is a wedding reception? By definition, it is an Entertainment function. What do you remember about the last wedding you attended (good or bad)? Was it the…food? Maybe. Was it the atmosphere? Could be. Or maybe it was the Entertainment. Whether good or bad, the entertainment is what will make or break your wedding day.

What is your purpose for inviting guests? To feed them? Of course, but the main reason is to celebrate with you and how do we do that? Entertainment.

Usually the entertainment is treated like the red-headed step child. Always last on the list of things to do and least budgeted for or you’ve run out of money.

Maybe it’s time to re-prioritize.

What’s really important to you? Let’s make a list:

1. The Venue/Catering- Gotta feed and put a roof over their heads. $75-$150 a head (do the math)

2. Your Wedding/Engagement ring, you probably bought that awhile ago, but still part of the budget. $3000-$15,000

3. Your Wedding Gown- Yikes! Pretty pricey unless it’s a hand-me-down. $0-$5000

4. Your Photographer/Videographer- Need them soon for engagement shots. $3000-$10,000

5. Your Honeymoon- Unless you are headed to Blythe or Beayef Egypt, this will set you back a few bucks. $3600.00

6. Invitations- Have you priced these lately? Holy Cow!

7. Gotta have those little candy coated chocolates with your names and wedding date on them. $475.00

8. How ’bout those cute little bells for guests to ring. $275.00

9. Venue says that if you’re going to do it right you’ll need another pan of those Swedish Meatballs, oh, and one more veggie tray. $480.00 (tax & gratuity added)

10. Hey let’s not forget the rehearsal dinner, and tux rental, limo, officiant, center pieces. $3000-$9000

All right! You’ve got everything in order and you came in on budget! Oops! Forgot the entertainment…

You might have read wedding guides that discuss ways to save money by using an mp3 player or boom box for your reception. Bad idea.

Want to know why?

Here are some of the services a a DJ who specializes in weddings can offer:

* The music- Ceremony and Reception
* Ceremony and Reception planning and execution
* Master of Ceremonies- Directing and motivating your guests.
* Event Planner- Creating the itinerary and developing a timeline of events.
* Counselor- Offering advice and tips
* Coordination- Implementing and execution of the timeline. Communicating with all vendors and reception staff and informing them of the days events.

A DJ who specializes in wedding receptions will be 80% responsible for the success of your wedding ceremony and reception. This is a production and should be treated that way. You’ve got one shot at one of the most important days in your life. Do you want an mp3 player controlling your big day? Do you want an inexperienced DJ who is a friend of your fiances roommate?.

Hire an “Owner/Operator”.

They are passionate about each and every wedding and customise and personalize each wedding.

When calling on a DJ, do not ask for prices. Meet with that individual and inquire about their services, because you will get what you pay for.
Remember…A DJ is a personalized service, not a commodity. If a DJ gives you a price over the phone, they are “cookie-cutting” every wedding which means your wedding will be no different than the previous or future weddings.

Excerpts from, http://www.ExclusiveWeddingGuide.com
Free wedding articles http://www.SOS4Weddings.com

Anton is a DJ and Master of Ceremonies who specializes in Wedding Receptions and Ceremonies. He has performed hundreds of weddings and has authored a comprehensive guide to planning a wedding.

There is nothing more emotionally charged, more beautiful or exciting than getting married.  What do you remember about that special day?  For those of you  married once, and still are, was that special day glorious?  Maybe it’s hard to remember because you were very young, very drunk or very nervous.  Maybe it was perfect and still is.

For most brides and grooms, that special day can be very overwhelming due to finances, parental pressure, early pregnancy and immaturity.

I have seen too many instances where the parents control the entire event or couples are thrown into a commitment of marriage for the wrong reasons.

Their intentions are admirable and they want a picture perfect wedding with all of the accoutrements.

Here comes the 64 thousand dollar question…

“If you had to do it all over again (with the same person, or just over again) would you??

I believe the answer for many would be, “NO”.

The reasons are many,
*  Too young, highschool sweetheart.
*  Pregnant
*  Friend or family member got married and you got caught up in the moment and proposed.
* Marriage was an escape from ?
* Pressured into marriage

Unfortunately most end in divorce and the general consensus is never to get married again!

But then you meet someone.  You get those butterflies and heart palpitations you haven’t felt for years.
You’re older now, sometimes 10 or 15 years older, more mature, in a better financial situation (sometimes) and the “W” word pops up.

Logically this doesn’t make sense. “I’m too old or mature to go down that silly path again.”
Emotionally it makes total sense because your heart is still 17 years old.

And then it happens. You become engaged and start to plan another wedding. YIKES!

But i’ts your second wedding and you feel funny about doing all of those things at a wedding that now seem a little silly.

Just because this isn’t the first time, don’t think it won’t or can’t be as special as your first time.  In most cases, the second or third time can be a charm.

Yes you were married before- but not to this special person.  Make it special!
For most, the second time is more fulfilling, more meaningful and less stressful than the first time.
You’re older, wiser, and know your expectations and priorities. You are born again!

Be creative and have fun with it!

* Get the kids involved- Your children will feel more part of the new family when they   participate (ring bearer, flower girl, ushers, best man and maid of honor)  It might be a nice touch to give each child a ring to signify the union of the family

* Do what you want- Forget about your previous wedding. That was in the past. This is a new chapter in your life. This new relationship is special and you want it to last. Do what makes you happy. Ignore what others might say or think.  Where a white dress or denim pants with matching Hawaiin shirts and make this day as large or small as you want.<br>

* You are in control and that is a good feeling.

For more information on planning a wedding visit http://www.ExclusiveWeddingGuide.com
Free wedding articles including “Boot Camp For Brides” visit http://SOS4Weddings.com

Some Brides and Grooms will trust the DJ to play appropriate music for the Ceremony & Reception. Thank you

Others will try to program the entire night for the DJ (why don’t you just get an mp3 player?)

Others “wish” songs into the cornfield. 

Respect the musical decisions of your professionals.  We do this for a living. Yes we need to receive input from the Bride and Groom but be careful to cut out the “cheesy” songs as you will finds this can be detrimental to the dancefloor.

A wedding reception is not a “Nightclub” nor is it the time and place to prove to your friends and family that you’re into obscure music.

You have got a lot of friends and family from all over and all ages that want to have a good time.

Remember….”What happens at a Wedding Reception; Stays at a Wedding Reception”

www.SoundProEntertainment.com

Global Warming Is Caused By The Sun.

I should to start a service that rents little ring bearers and flower girls.

If you have a kid that you’ve been trying to push through the modeling circuit, here is your chance to make some money.

Rent a little tux or white dress, take a snapshot of the little tike and off we go!

OR…we do a mini mock wedding at the reception. A little floor show!

Let me know what you think.