“A recent survey said that before the wedding, the entertainment usually fell to the bottom of the budget priority, and was considered one of the smallest expenditures, yet after the wedding, most brides wish they had spent more and made entertainment one of their highest priorities.”
I totally agree brides don’t spend enough time and/or money on their disc jockey.
The ADJA also recommends your disc jockey 10 questions.
I won’t even both to list the questions, because how does one verify that you are getting truthful answers.
Some key points I think a bride should know:
Price is a good indicator, but it doesn’t always guarantee a good disc jockey.Some large disc jockey services charge $800 for a dj, but only pay the dj about $150. So the truth of the matter is you are getting either a $150 dj, or you are getting the owner.
The best way to find a disc jockey in my humble opinion is to ask your family and friends. Just make sure you get the same dj, because quality can even vary for dj for the same company. One thing to remember is they want your business…so ask and you shall receive.
Another good way is to ask vendors. They see the other vendors, and know how they work.
Also talk to your prospective dj in person. Many independent disc jockeys are willing to meet with prospective clients before they buy. I love to meet, and many of my competitors think I am crazy for doing so. However, it is also a good way for me to find out if the brides expectations are beyond any djs capabilities. That way I keep my great work history.
The last thing I would say is spend the time. You may have your own method of shopping that works for you, like you would for other items or services.
Contributed by Grand Rapids DJ, Rich Kosty of Encore Music.
September 17, 2008
Questions for Your DJ
March 31, 2008
Pre-Marital Credit Counseling
You’ve heard of Pre-Marital Counseling, but credit counseling? Do you know what each other’s credit scores are? Your credit reports will teach you a lot about each other, your attitudes toward money and paying bills. This is very important in a relationship to help decide who will take responsibility for the money. Usually it’s one spouse or the other. Sometimes, you’re both adept at handling your money so you’ll do it together.
What are your plans for large purchases? A new home? An Automobile? Even that really cool HD Television? If you visit a qualified mortgage professional, they can help you with your financial plans so everything that you’d like to achieve together becomes possible.
Purchasing a home today takes planning. It may be a short term plan, say in the next 6 months. But most likely it’s a long term plan, that can be 1-3 years out. There are so many things you can do to optimize your credit score, this will help with not only purchasing a house, but also will help your car insurance rates, your credit score will determine a path for your future.
Only a qualified mortgage professional with special training in credit score optimization can help you achieve the highest credit scores possible. There will be a new credit scoring model that comes out in June of 2008 called FICO 08. This will again change the way credit scores are calculated. Putting emphasis on different types of credit. If the person you’re talking to hasn’t heard of FICO ’08 run, don’t walk from their advice! They will not be up to date on the changes in credit scoring.
Unfortunately even some of Suze Orman’s advice could be incorrect once the new scoring model goes into effect. Find a mortgage professional that is up-to-date and make an appointment. Even if you don’t plan to buy a home for 5 years. Get a plan in place that as a couple you work on together!
Contributed by Grand Rapids Mortgage Pro, Deb Laakso, COE of The Mortgage House and member of Grand Rapids Dream Weddings
March 26, 2008
Honeymoon Planning
A honeymoon should be a celebration all on its own; not an afterthought. You spend countless hours, days and sometimes weeks planning for your “Big Day.” But when it comes to the honeymoon, it’s sometimes done without the planning. This is your dream vacation and the time to celebrate your life together.
So here are some things to consider:
Budget: So how much do you plan to spend? Be realistic but don’t shortchange yourself. Which do you think you’ll remember more in ten years – the candles on the table at the reception or the private candlelit dinner on the beach?
Hire a Travel Agent: 85% of all honeymoon couples use a travel agent. Why? Because they take all the worry out of planning this all important trip. Look for an agent that specializes in honeymoons and destinations weddings. Be prepared to share your budget and possible destinations with the agent. The agent will then be able to research and fine-tune this information to get you the best package to meet your dreams!
Contributed by Grand Rapids Travel Agent Anna Kruse of Dolphin Vacations.
March 18, 2008
How to Work with Your DJ
When I do a wedding the bride is my boss. My job is to make her event a success and I will do whatever I have to do. A bride and groom always want their guests to be able to make requests, but problems usually arise when those requests are in direct conflict with what the bride and groom are looking for (ie, the Chicken Dance may be on the "DO NOT PLAY" list).
Some DJs ask that you make your requests online, before the event. At Encore Music, we want to meet with the bride and groom to discuss what they are looking for on their wedding day. I feel this is the only way I can find out what the bride and groom are looking for on their wedding day.
DJs who ask for requests online puts them in an awkward position. For example, if a song such as "Metallica" is requested online, the DJ does not have the ability to let that person know that "unfortunately, it doesn't fit the tempo of the evening right now, but could I suggest this song..." If this person requested the song at the event, I can always suggest another song, the bride stays happy and the person who requested the song is happy because his music is going to be played! It's win-win all around.
So, if a DJ asks that you only make music requests prior to an event, ask why they prefer to work that way. At Encore Music we want to make sure your event runs smoothly and are constantly adjusting the music we are playing during the actual event, not just working from a list of "pre-chosen" music.
Contributed by Grand Rapids DJ, Rich Kosty of Encore Music.
March 10, 2008
New Ideas in Flowers for your Wedding Day
After selecting her wedding gown, a bride usually next turns her attention to her wedding bouquet. As every professional floral designer knows, the bridal bouquet is typically seen as the focal point of all the wedding flowers, and today's brides are taking advantage of that fact as they plan the flowers for their weddings. Wedding gowns are becoming more glamourous, featuring striking silhouettes and elegant detailing, and wedding bouquets are following suit (if you want to know which wedding dress styles will be popular, just watch the annual telecast of the Oscars or the Emmy Awards and observe the gowns that the stars are wearing). This year, the trend is toward mermaid-style gowns; usually strapless, tightly-fitted at the waist and knees, and having a broad trumpet flare at the hemline. Naturally, such a dramatically-tailored dress calls for an equally stylish bridal bouquet to be carried as the perfect complement.
Thus, the current trend in wedding bouquets is to keep them small, compact and tasteful, using exquisite types of flowers and gorgeously-detailed accents. The bridal bouquet should reflect the character of the gown, and must not compete with or overwhelm it. Customization is the key. Just as all the wedding flowers are an expression of the bride's taste and personality, so is the bouquet designed to be uniquely hers. And just because a wedding bouquet may be small doesn't mean that it has to be ordinary.
For example, today's wedding bouquets are more likely to be colorful instead of white. The custom of carrying a bridal bouquet of all white flowers is said to have originated with Queen Victoria's wedding to Prince Albert in 1840, when she wore orange blossoms and carried snowdrops (Albert's favorite flower). Even then, wedding fashions were influenced by the choices of those in the public eye. Now, warm colors are in, and a stylish bridal bouquet may be composed of flowers in varying shades of red, including those hues that harmonize well with it. Exotic types of flowers, such as deep purple callas or yellow and crimson gloriosa lilies, might be combined with more familiar blossoms like burnt orange tulips and scarlet red roses, creating a very eclectic assortment. In such a bridal bouquet, it is the impact of color that makes the statement. White would not be included in the assortment because its presence would dilute and diminish the effect created by such a bold color harmony. Furthermore, colorful flowers show up beautifully in the wedding pictures, documenting memories that last a lifetime. White flowers are more difficult to photograph effectively, especially against a white dress.
Texture is another important element of contemporary bridal bouquets. The detail of texture is enhanced by mixing different types of flowers, such as waxy hypericum berries or fluffy sprigs of heather, with the velvety surfaces of rose petals or the frothy appearance of seeded eucalyptus. Delicate spray orchids may be combined with the bolder outlines of lilies or gerberas to create dramatic contrasts in texture. Or, the wedding bouquet may be composed of numerous blooms of just one type of flower - stephanotis, for example - so that the smooth, creamy texture of the blossom is not overpowered by the presence of any others. Texture in a bridal bouquet, just like color, can be emphasized either by contrast or by
Another current trend in wedding bouquets is the inclusion of non-floral accents. Ribbons are making a comeback as accessories to bridal bouquets, not in the form of big candy box bows, but as dainty and understated streamers, or wrapped 'ballet slipper-style' around the clustered, natural flower stems. Extra-wide ribbon (4" or more) is often used as a decorative band around the stems of the bouquet, providing a beautiful fashion statement, as well as a luxurious place to grip the flowers. Following the trend toward bigger and brighter bling, pearls, beads, and faux jewels are appearing quite often as embellishments to the flowers, sometimes strung on slender, reflective wires dancing over the surface of the bouquet, threaded onto thin strands of grass and left to dangle, or even glued inside the petals. Such flourishes bring the magic and sparkle of light to the wedding flowers as they're carried down the aisle.
More and more, flowers are appearing in the hair of brides and bridesmaids. While perfectly suitable for the most extravagant affair, this trend is especially popular with less formal weddings when the flowers may be worn instead of a veil. The blossoms in the bride's hair should match or coordinate with the ones in her wedding bouquet, and may be affixed to a comb or barrette, worn on a headband, or inserted individually into a flower-friendly hairstyle. Hair flowers aren't the only popular floral fashion accessory for members of the bridal party. with you, and let your floral designer create the kind of wedding bouquet that dreams are made of.
Contributed by Grand Rapids Florist Bob Brewer of Brew's Creations in Floral.
February 20, 2008
What Do I Ask My Caterer?
Well first thing is first, make sure you interview them! Do Not hire them over the phone or because someone says "yeah, they did a great job for me!". Food at a wedding is usually either not favorable, or it's so good that guests can't stop talking about it! Catering will be more than likely one of your largest expenses, so you will want to have a caterer that you have confidence in.
Make contact with potential caterers and ask their availability and general price range. When you have found a few you seem comfortable with, make appointments and arrange to have an interview. Ask the following questions and this will help you determine if you are working with a professional and help you avoid any wedding day surprises.
- Are you licensed? (This means they have met health department standards and have have liability insurance)
- What are some of the menu items you would suggest given the style, time and date of my wedding?
- What would the cost-per-person be?
- How many other weddings will your company handle that same weekend or day?
- Does the cost-per-person just cover the food, or are charges such as staff, rentals, and linens included?
- What services are included? What costs are additional?
- Will you be the person handling my wedding day? If not, what is the name of the person who will and when can I meet them?
- Will you provide food for the photographer, videographer, musicians and other "day-of" vendors? If so, is there an extra charge?
- What deposit do you require to hold the date? When will the final balance be due?
- How much time will you need for set-up and clean-up?
- Do you provide a tasting?
Once you've compared and shopped around, the next step is to decide on who you would like to trust your wedding day to. I would suggest contacting Grand Rapids Caterer, Center of the Plate Catering, to find out how Chef Bill Simon can make your day go smoothly!
Contributed by Grand Rapids Caterer Center of the Plate Catering and Chef Bill Simon.
February 1, 2008
The "Three P" Approach
Over the past few months, I've been trying to figure out how I can put together a "guide" for couples looking for photography on their wedding day. I've been doing a ton of reading and have been able to put together a systematic way of looking at photography. Here is what I've come up with:
Portfolio
You MUST love a photographers portfolio if you they are going to photograph the most important day of your life. In 2007, Tiberius Images photographed 28 weddings - that's more than one every other weekend! Some of our best work can be seen by visiting the following links:
- Dan and Alisha at Frederik Meijer Gardens
- Jeff and Lindsey in Kalamazoo
- Nick and Jen at Noto's
- Ray and Lauren at HBA of Grand Rapids
Personality
You must LIKE the photographer you hire. They must make you comfortable and keep your wedding day on track. To help with the wedding day, I would encourage you to visit my "Plan Your Wedding in 30 Minutes!" webpage at www.tiberiusimages.com/plan-your-wedding-in-30-minutes/ Here you will see the detail and effort I place upon each wedding I photograph.
Price
The last aspect of your photography search should focus around PRICE. Once you've decided you like a photographer's portfolio and who he/she is, then you can begin discussing price. If you simply begin by asking "What do you charge for a wedding?", it's like asking the mechanic "How much is it going to cost to fix my car?". The mechanic, every time, will say "I have to figure out what's wrong with it first...". In the same way, the best way for us to properly quote a wedding is to have you visit www.tiberiusimages.com/plan-your-wedding-in-30-minutes/ and fill us in on the details of your day. In general, wedding packages around $1495. Obviously the larger the package the more options you have, but with all the packages you receive our services for the entire day, a digital proof book with all the edited photos from your wedding day and personal website where you and your friends can view your wedding photos over and over.
Contributed by Grand Rapids photographer Tiberius Images.