We're up for best Philadelphia DJ again this year. Please head over to myfoxphilly and vote for us!
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
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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