Check out the article below. And for more information about local vendors and wedding ideas and trends, be sure to pick up the Fall/Winter issue of Brides Philadelphia.
-Becky
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Brides Philadelphia Magazine
Brides Philadelphia Magazine, recently asked Matt for his input on a music story for their Fall/Winter 2009 issue, which hit newsstands on July 28. Matt was also asked for his input for a music story they ran in their Spring/Summer 2009 issue, you can see more about that here.
Check out the article below. And for more information about local vendors and wedding ideas and trends, be sure to pick up the Fall/Winter issue of Brides Philadelphia.
-Becky
Check out the article below. And for more information about local vendors and wedding ideas and trends, be sure to pick up the Fall/Winter issue of Brides Philadelphia.
-Becky
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
“… you were on our Recommended Vendor list …”
There are many different factors that come in to play while planning an event. Some vendors will make the cut, and others will fall short for one reason or another. As a bride-to-be, it is important to have the utmost confidence in every decision you make. The feeling of being absolutely convinced that a vendor will do everything possible to make your wedding day a success should be a key factor in making your decisions.
Since most brides have no experience planning an event, or dealing with vendors specific to the wedding industry, it can be difficult to decipher who really is good and who isn’t. How you search for potential vendors can play a part in the type of vendors you find. A search through the phonebook may produce different results than searches of the internet, magazines or recommendations from friends and other vendors.
Most clients and potential clients I speak with go off of the “Recommended Vendor” list they receive from their reception facility. Here are some things to keep in mind when looking at these lists.
-Ask your contact if they have ever worked with the "recommended vendor" personally, that way they can give you their personal opinion of them and their work.
-Be sure to inquire how long that vendor has been on the list for. This is important because a vendor that has been working at a facility for years may have more insight into the best ways to set up the equipment, the layout of the room, the typical flow of a reception there, etc.
-Most importantly, make sure you find out how the recommended vendor list was put together. Did the facility do it themselves or did a publication company compile it for them. This will tell you if the vendor made it to the list because of their consistent good work, or if they paid to be a part of it.
Remember, just because a vendor is on a recommended list does not mean they are the best fit for you. Some vendors will pay to be in a book in order to acquire as many leads as possible. Most of these vendors do a great job, but there are a few who do not. Each facility/vendor has their own methodology when it comes to creating a list or getting on one. These very intentions will tell you a lot about the vendor you are looking into. The only way to feel completely confident in your decision is to meet the vendor and speak with them in person.
The wedding industry is filled with great people who will do everything possible to make sure you have the best wedding day imaginable. These are the people that will work hard day in and day out to be a part of the list based upon their good work, as opposed to their advertising budget.
-Matt
Since most brides have no experience planning an event, or dealing with vendors specific to the wedding industry, it can be difficult to decipher who really is good and who isn’t. How you search for potential vendors can play a part in the type of vendors you find. A search through the phonebook may produce different results than searches of the internet, magazines or recommendations from friends and other vendors.
Most clients and potential clients I speak with go off of the “Recommended Vendor” list they receive from their reception facility. Here are some things to keep in mind when looking at these lists.
-Ask your contact if they have ever worked with the "recommended vendor" personally, that way they can give you their personal opinion of them and their work.
-Be sure to inquire how long that vendor has been on the list for. This is important because a vendor that has been working at a facility for years may have more insight into the best ways to set up the equipment, the layout of the room, the typical flow of a reception there, etc.
-Most importantly, make sure you find out how the recommended vendor list was put together. Did the facility do it themselves or did a publication company compile it for them. This will tell you if the vendor made it to the list because of their consistent good work, or if they paid to be a part of it.
Remember, just because a vendor is on a recommended list does not mean they are the best fit for you. Some vendors will pay to be in a book in order to acquire as many leads as possible. Most of these vendors do a great job, but there are a few who do not. Each facility/vendor has their own methodology when it comes to creating a list or getting on one. These very intentions will tell you a lot about the vendor you are looking into. The only way to feel completely confident in your decision is to meet the vendor and speak with them in person.
The wedding industry is filled with great people who will do everything possible to make sure you have the best wedding day imaginable. These are the people that will work hard day in and day out to be a part of the list based upon their good work, as opposed to their advertising budget.
-Matt
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Philadelphia Wedding Project
Our good friend Jenn Childress, Jennifer Childress Photography, and five other area photographers (Joy Moody, Pete Malone, Ryan Estes, Sofia Negron and Geoff Horowitz) have gotten together to provide one couple an amazing photography package for their wedding day, via the Philadelphia Wedding Project.
The Philadelphia Wedding Project will provide one couple, who is getting married in 2010 or early 2011, with a package including an Engagement Session, Boudoir Session (if desired), All Day Wedding Day Coverage, A Custom Designed Album, Two Parent Albums and an Online Proofing Gallery. The photographers are looking for a deserving couple who makes a difference in people's lives, has perhaps overcome great odds, gives selflessly to their community or has a unique love story that should be shared.
As part of the Philadelphia Wedding Project, we are offering the selected couple a $2500 DJ and Lighting package for $1300.
For more information on the Philadelphia Wedding Project and the photographers, check out their website. To submit your story email them at stories@philadelphiaweddingproject.com.
-Becky
The Philadelphia Wedding Project will provide one couple, who is getting married in 2010 or early 2011, with a package including an Engagement Session, Boudoir Session (if desired), All Day Wedding Day Coverage, A Custom Designed Album, Two Parent Albums and an Online Proofing Gallery. The photographers are looking for a deserving couple who makes a difference in people's lives, has perhaps overcome great odds, gives selflessly to their community or has a unique love story that should be shared.As part of the Philadelphia Wedding Project, we are offering the selected couple a $2500 DJ and Lighting package for $1300.
For more information on the Philadelphia Wedding Project and the photographers, check out their website. To submit your story email them at stories@philadelphiaweddingproject.com.
-Becky
Thursday, July 23, 2009
When is a good time to call you back?
As the person in the company who handles all of our DJ clients, it is imperative that I contact them in a timely manner. But what is considered a timely manner?
Last week I had a conversation with a potential client who is planning her wedding and just started her search for entertainment. She told me that on Tuesday she had reached out to four different DJ companies in the area looking for more information. Being at work, email was her only means of communication, and in each email, she clearly stated that she was unable to talk on the phone during the day.
To her disgust, two of the four companies called her cell phone within 10 minutes of her email. She wasn’t sure if the vendors who called were displaying great customer service or an act of desperation. We traded emails over the course of a couple days and set up a convenient time to chat on the phone about entertainment for her wedding.
I asked her what her feelings were on how long a vendor should wait to call her back and her view was that a vendor should not call immediately, but that they shouldn’t wait three days to contact her either. Her biggest issue was that she specifically stated in her email not to call during the day, and two of them called anyway. As we spoke in more detail I started thinking to myself just how important the length of time a vendor waits to call a prospective client back is.
There are a ton of factors that go into selecting entertainment for a wedding reception; with each client prioritizing the factors differently. A word of advice for brides-to-be; make sure you state in your emails to vendors when a good time is for them to contact you. As a vendor there is nothing worse than bothering you with information when you’re just about to sit down to dinner, or walk into an important meeting. We all have different means of getting you the information you need to make the important decisions while planning your wedding, whether it be via the phone, email, or snail-mail, each piece of information you get helps you decide who will make the cut and who won’t. Ultimately your team of vendors is going to make or break your wedding day. The relationship you build with them is very important - the end result can depend on it - so it’s always nice to start off on the right foot.
-Matt
Last week I had a conversation with a potential client who is planning her wedding and just started her search for entertainment. She told me that on Tuesday she had reached out to four different DJ companies in the area looking for more information. Being at work, email was her only means of communication, and in each email, she clearly stated that she was unable to talk on the phone during the day.
To her disgust, two of the four companies called her cell phone within 10 minutes of her email. She wasn’t sure if the vendors who called were displaying great customer service or an act of desperation. We traded emails over the course of a couple days and set up a convenient time to chat on the phone about entertainment for her wedding.
I asked her what her feelings were on how long a vendor should wait to call her back and her view was that a vendor should not call immediately, but that they shouldn’t wait three days to contact her either. Her biggest issue was that she specifically stated in her email not to call during the day, and two of them called anyway. As we spoke in more detail I started thinking to myself just how important the length of time a vendor waits to call a prospective client back is.
There are a ton of factors that go into selecting entertainment for a wedding reception; with each client prioritizing the factors differently. A word of advice for brides-to-be; make sure you state in your emails to vendors when a good time is for them to contact you. As a vendor there is nothing worse than bothering you with information when you’re just about to sit down to dinner, or walk into an important meeting. We all have different means of getting you the information you need to make the important decisions while planning your wedding, whether it be via the phone, email, or snail-mail, each piece of information you get helps you decide who will make the cut and who won’t. Ultimately your team of vendors is going to make or break your wedding day. The relationship you build with them is very important - the end result can depend on it - so it’s always nice to start off on the right foot.
-Matt
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Synergetic at the Phillies game
Last night the entire Synergetic Company went to the Phillies Game. It was a great game that ended with a Jason Werth 3-run walk-off homer. The rain held off and we got a great night!
We even got our name up on the board! (Sorry it's so blurry, but I'm not a photographer and the sign was clear across the stadium).
We had such a great time and I'm so glad we could get just about everyone together to go. Thanks to Jason for taking us all and to Matt for picking such an awesome game! Here are some more pictures - can you tell we had fun?
Kyle, Brian, Cara, Kyle, Pat
Kyle, Matt, Jon and Shawn
We made it on the Jumbotron - thanks to Kyle's amazing dance moves!
Getting the wave going
-Becky
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Kari and Esteban
Kari and Esteban live in South Africa, but had their beautiful wedding at Esteban's parents house in New jersey. The house and land is absolutely beautiful, as was the attention to detail. The couple and their guests danced the night away to Fantasy, a Barry Herman band. We were so happy to be a part of their big day. We did all of the lighting in the tent, and thanks to Geri Nelson Photography, we have some wonderful pictures of it!
Kari and Esteban, we wish you all the best!
-Becky
Kari and Esteban, we wish you all the best!
-Becky
Thursday, July 16, 2009
A Wedding for Alex
I'm sure most of you have heard of Alex's Lemonade Stand - a national foundation that evolved from Alexandra "Alex" Scott's (1996-2004) lemonade stand to a nationwide fundraising movement. Since 2000, Alex's Lemonade Stand has raised over $25 million towards finding a cure for childhood cancer.
Last year, "A Wedding for Alex" was put together - The Omni Hotel at Independence Park came together with a number of other Philadelphia area vendors to auction off a $50,000 dream wedding package on eBay. The package includes a rehearsal dinner, ceremony, reception, rings, a custom wedding dress, hair and make up services, photography and videography, a DJ, flowers, invitations, bridesmaid dresses and tuxedos, and a luxurious, all-inclusive honeymoon in Mexico.
Katie McIntyre and Sean Mooney bid $34,100 on this dream wedding and won it. Every penny of that $34,100 will go to Alex's Lemonade Stand and the fight against pediatric cancer.
Katie and Sean's big day is this coming Saturday and we are so thrilled to be a part of it!
To see a clip of the happy couple talking about their decision to bid on the wedding and all of the things included, go here.
-Becky
Soiree in the City
Join us for an afternoon of cocktails, fabulous food, style fashion and fun! And enjoy it all while supporting a great cause! September 20, 2009, 2:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.
Power Plant Productions
230 North 2nd Street, Old City Philadelphia
Tickets available now through http://soireeinthecity.eventbrite.com/
The first “Soiree” in January was such a success, Laura Eaton and the other vendors behind it decided this new event had to be bigger and better! Power Plant Productions will be hosting the Soiree in their fabulous rental space.
The first “Soiree” in January was such a success, Laura Eaton and the other vendors behind it decided this new event had to be bigger and better! Power Plant Productions will be hosting the Soiree in their fabulous rental space.
The space will be transformed by the talents of christofer +janesson - detail +design and the lighting and sound of Synergetic Sound and Lighting.
The following vendors will be participating:
Laura Eaton Photography
Kristel Closets - Style Consultants
Darcy Law Couture
Queen of Hearts Wedding Consultants
Monyemah Handcrafted Jewelry
Maron Chocolates
Scarlett Alley
Taste Catering by Bill Beck
The exclusive Beauty Lounge will feature:
Béke Beau - Makeup Artist
Dar Clinton Hair
Tierra Mia Organic Nail Spa
… with more vendors coming soon!
Tickets are just $10 and include access to the exclusive beauty lounge, fabulous food & tempting desserts, the sought-after goodie bag, cocktails and much more! The “best of the best” in Philadelphia style, fashion and bridal will be available to show you the latest trends, answer your pressing questions and generally help you and your event be just that much more fabulous!
Go directly to http://soireeinthecity.eventbrite.com/ to purchase your tickets now!
A portion of each ticket sold will be donated to the Women’s Resource Center -a community outreach program for women in Philadelphia.
-Becky
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Videographers at Weddings
Many couples I talk to are 50/50 when it comes to hiring a videographer for their wedding. They want to put most of their money into pictures and don’t feel that having a videographer is really worth it. I think a videographer is completely worth it and always give them a few reasons why they may want to reconsider.
1. If I had the chance to show you your grandmothers photo album or a DVD of your grandmothers wedding what would you be more interested in seeing?
2. There are a ton of BAD videographers out there. And many times, that is what they're basing their opinions on - bright lights, big cameras, cheesy editing and late turnaround times. The truth is, with today’s technology, if you choose the right videographer, you won’t even know he or she is there and you will get a professional, customized video.
3. This will be something that you will watch for years to come. It is also something you can share with your kids. It will be worth it, trust me.
So, now that you may be reconsidering, let me give you a few tips on what to look for.
-Book a videographer that will cover your wedding day the way you want it to be covered. If footage of you and your bridal party getting ready and your ceremony are most important to you, then choose a package that will cover that. If you would prefer just your ceremony and reception covered, then keep that in mind when choosing a package. However if you want the whole day covered from start to finish then make sure you discuss that with your potential videographer. Decide what parts of your day are the most important to you and make sure they will be covered!
-Ask about editing time. A normal video should take 1-2 months to get back to you. Some higher end companies might take 2-4 because the editing is very intense. Waiting 6 months or more for you video is a bit much.
-Ask to see a video they did for a past bride to get a good feel for their work. Even better, ask to see a video of a wedding that happened at your reception venue.
-Most importantly, make sure you are clear with your videographer in what you're looking for from your finished video. Make sure they know what is important to you and they will be sure to capture the right moments so your video is everything you want it to be.
-Just like any other professional you will hire for your wedding, videographers come in all different price categories. Do your research, find someone you are comfortable with and trust.
Here are some videographers we recommend:
Steve at All Occasion Video Productions, Dave at DVideography and Drew at Tangerine Media Group. Check them out when you have a chance!
-Jason
1. If I had the chance to show you your grandmothers photo album or a DVD of your grandmothers wedding what would you be more interested in seeing?
2. There are a ton of BAD videographers out there. And many times, that is what they're basing their opinions on - bright lights, big cameras, cheesy editing and late turnaround times. The truth is, with today’s technology, if you choose the right videographer, you won’t even know he or she is there and you will get a professional, customized video.
3. This will be something that you will watch for years to come. It is also something you can share with your kids. It will be worth it, trust me.
So, now that you may be reconsidering, let me give you a few tips on what to look for.
-Book a videographer that will cover your wedding day the way you want it to be covered. If footage of you and your bridal party getting ready and your ceremony are most important to you, then choose a package that will cover that. If you would prefer just your ceremony and reception covered, then keep that in mind when choosing a package. However if you want the whole day covered from start to finish then make sure you discuss that with your potential videographer. Decide what parts of your day are the most important to you and make sure they will be covered!
-Ask about editing time. A normal video should take 1-2 months to get back to you. Some higher end companies might take 2-4 because the editing is very intense. Waiting 6 months or more for you video is a bit much.
-Ask to see a video they did for a past bride to get a good feel for their work. Even better, ask to see a video of a wedding that happened at your reception venue.
-Most importantly, make sure you are clear with your videographer in what you're looking for from your finished video. Make sure they know what is important to you and they will be sure to capture the right moments so your video is everything you want it to be.
-Just like any other professional you will hire for your wedding, videographers come in all different price categories. Do your research, find someone you are comfortable with and trust.
Here are some videographers we recommend:
Steve at All Occasion Video Productions, Dave at DVideography and Drew at Tangerine Media Group. Check them out when you have a chance!
-Jason
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Shairie and Ka-Jaun
Shairie and Ka-Jaun had a beautiful ceremony and reception at Pen Ryn Mansion. The weather was perfect and there were so many beautiful details incorporated into their special day. Mark and Chris kept the dance floor busy all night and Jessica kept the room looking great with her lighting designs. Along with the techno beams Jessica controlled throughout the night, we also up lit the ballroom in pink and draped out the dancefloor - such an elgeant addition!
Thank you so much Shairie and Ka-Jaun for allowing us to be a part of your special day! We wish you all the best!
Thanks to Julie of Sweetwater Portraits for the beautiful images!
-Becky
Thank you so much Shairie and Ka-Jaun for allowing us to be a part of your special day! We wish you all the best!
Thanks to Julie of Sweetwater Portraits for the beautiful images!
-Becky
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Lighting Factors
A few months ago we posted some tips for choosing lighting for an event, you can see that post here. To take those tips one step further, below are some important factors to take into account when you're planning out the lighting for your event.
Time of year:
The "right" lighting for your event will depend on a few factors. Time is one of them. If you are planning an event from 5:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. in June and your venue has a lot of windows, we would give you different ideas than if your event was from 5:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. at the same venue in February.
Venue:
From above, the time of year and the amount of windows will always play a part in choosing the right lighting options. Ceiling height, room color, tent vs. ballroom, and floor plans are also important factors to consider when choosing lighting.
Your options:
With lighting you sometimes have to be careful not to overdo it. Some people just want too many options for their venue and in some cases, less is more. In other cases, the more lighting you have, the more richer the venue and the theme will look. Once you know your venue and date, going over all the options is the next step. And don’t forget the details. Do you have a special sign-in area you need lit? How about a bare wall that needs something to draw attention to it? Or even the outside of the building or a hallway that would benefit from some interesting lighting or draping? A good designer will show you all of your options and then let you pick what fits you the best.
Inspiration pictures:
Perhaps the most difficult part in the planning of lighting. Since each venue is different, it is hard for a company to turn your venue into exactly what you have seen elsewhere. Pictures are good for showing us the “feel” you are going for and they help give us a visual of what elements you would like to incorporate. Just understand, lighting is designed for the room, so if your venue doesn't have proper lighting supports or as long of a wall as the venue in your picture, it won't look exactly the same.
Your budget:
Know what you want to spend. You might come in with a budget of $1500 for lighting, but bring with you an image of a $5,000 lighting job. We can't possibly turn a $5000 job into a $1500 job - but we can give you a number of suggestions for what you can do within your budget. But so you're not let down, try and keep your expectations for lighting execution on the same page as your budget.
-Jason
Time of year:
The "right" lighting for your event will depend on a few factors. Time is one of them. If you are planning an event from 5:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. in June and your venue has a lot of windows, we would give you different ideas than if your event was from 5:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. at the same venue in February.
Venue:
From above, the time of year and the amount of windows will always play a part in choosing the right lighting options. Ceiling height, room color, tent vs. ballroom, and floor plans are also important factors to consider when choosing lighting.
Your options:
With lighting you sometimes have to be careful not to overdo it. Some people just want too many options for their venue and in some cases, less is more. In other cases, the more lighting you have, the more richer the venue and the theme will look. Once you know your venue and date, going over all the options is the next step. And don’t forget the details. Do you have a special sign-in area you need lit? How about a bare wall that needs something to draw attention to it? Or even the outside of the building or a hallway that would benefit from some interesting lighting or draping? A good designer will show you all of your options and then let you pick what fits you the best.
Inspiration pictures:
Perhaps the most difficult part in the planning of lighting. Since each venue is different, it is hard for a company to turn your venue into exactly what you have seen elsewhere. Pictures are good for showing us the “feel” you are going for and they help give us a visual of what elements you would like to incorporate. Just understand, lighting is designed for the room, so if your venue doesn't have proper lighting supports or as long of a wall as the venue in your picture, it won't look exactly the same.
Your budget:
Know what you want to spend. You might come in with a budget of $1500 for lighting, but bring with you an image of a $5,000 lighting job. We can't possibly turn a $5000 job into a $1500 job - but we can give you a number of suggestions for what you can do within your budget. But so you're not let down, try and keep your expectations for lighting execution on the same page as your budget.
-Jason
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Up Close and Personal - The importance of a DJ's placement in the reception room
This past Saturday I walked into the beautiful Dolce Valley Forge Hotel in King of Prussia to DJ John & Jennifer Falvo’s wedding and was greeted by Katie Kienle, the hotels Catering Manager. It was the first time I had been in Dolce since the renovations and they did a marvelous job. I kept hearing about how nice the ballroom looked when the sun sets, and I finally got to experience it myself. It’s amazing the way they strategically placed the windows in the ballroom to capture the sunset.
After greeting Katie I began to unload my equipment by the “assigned” DJ table as I normally do. To my surprise I was placed all the way in the corner, which was a far distance from the dance floor. I knew logistically I was fine, being able to run the speakers to the dance floor, but my concern was being able to read the crowd and feel their energy during dancing.
To me, one of the most important aspects of being a DJ is experiencing each song with the crowd as the night progresses. It is nearly impossible to feel their energy when we’re placed so far away. Katie was gracious enough to allow me to move my table closer to the dance floor. This ultimately played a vital role in the reception because I could tell when one genre of music was working and one wasn’t. Some say that reading a crowd is counting how many people enter and exit the dance floor when a new song comes on. I personally believe that the DJ should be able to read the crowd before they leave the dance floor. At that point it’s too late.
From the first course to the last song the dance floor was packed. Thank you Katie for allowing me to move closer as it made the reception 100% better.
-Matt
After greeting Katie I began to unload my equipment by the “assigned” DJ table as I normally do. To my surprise I was placed all the way in the corner, which was a far distance from the dance floor. I knew logistically I was fine, being able to run the speakers to the dance floor, but my concern was being able to read the crowd and feel their energy during dancing.
To me, one of the most important aspects of being a DJ is experiencing each song with the crowd as the night progresses. It is nearly impossible to feel their energy when we’re placed so far away. Katie was gracious enough to allow me to move my table closer to the dance floor. This ultimately played a vital role in the reception because I could tell when one genre of music was working and one wasn’t. Some say that reading a crowd is counting how many people enter and exit the dance floor when a new song comes on. I personally believe that the DJ should be able to read the crowd before they leave the dance floor. At that point it’s too late.
From the first course to the last song the dance floor was packed. Thank you Katie for allowing me to move closer as it made the reception 100% better.
-Matt
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