April & Jason's Wedding Dawsonville, GA

I had the pleasure of DJ'ing for April & Jason's wedding at Crystal Falls in Dawsonville, GA yesterday.  What a lovely location for an event, especially one as special as a wedding. I also want to comment on how great it was to work with Cathie Waddell who oversees the event planning and catering, she is awesome!  Before I left another couple came up and told me they are getting married at the same place in 3 weeks and that they were interested in having me DJ for them too.  Luckily I was open on their date too...  so I get to go back there very soon.  Enjoy the photos I took from the DJ Booth.  ~ DJ Sheri :)

We Want to Play Your Most Important Songs, But You Have to Do Your Part

I was just remembering a party I DJ'd several years back and what happened that to me had an impact on the entire evening.  In planning the event the client just gave us an unbelievably LONG list of songs they like.  First off, we would never been able to play all of the songs on the list because it was anywhere from 7-11 hours worth of music and the party was only to be 4 hours long.  But what the client failed to do was give us a timeline or any notes indicating special songs.  I wanted to bring this up because it really makes a lot more sense to let your entertainer know about special dances before the event and to limit your song lists to indicate your absolute musts.  So you might already be guessing what happened.  Since the client failed to inform us of the special song, we didn't know how important it would be to them and since they gave us such a long list of music, we were not able to know ahead of time which songs they absolutely needed.  If the party is only 4 hours long, we don't need a list of songs that would take you into the next day.  It would have been better to say, "This is our special song that we want to dance to, do you have it?"  Nothing like being put on the spot and expecting an entertainer to play that special song at a moment's notice.  So it turned out I didn't have the song they needed but they didn't communicate in advance and they refused to use our online song request forms which would have made things more organized for everyone involved.  

If you are planning an event with us, we have all of the tools online including timelines, must play lists, do not play lists, special dance lists, etc.  Oh and the great part, our planning forms add up the length of the songs to give you an idea of how much music you need or have gone over.  If you put in more songs than we are able to play because of time constraints, you have not done us any favors because now we have to pick and choose which songs get played and because of this your favorite songs might not end up in the play list after all.  

Of course you do have to take into account the musical tastes of your guests as well as your own. If you want everyone to dance, take the time to consider what kind of music is going to get your guests up and dancing.  Many times the songs they want are songs you might not have ever thought of, so you might have to rely on the experience of your DJ to choose some of the songs and of course to consider the song requests of the guests.  If you take a little time to do this properly, your party will be everything you ever dreamed of, your guests will have a great time and there will be a lot less stress all the way around.  

So You Want Everyone to Dance?

We continue to add information to help your event be the success you envision it to be.  Today I will share more about music choices.  Remember while you may have your preferences, your guests may have music preferences that differ from yours.  You might not want to play all kinds of music since you don't want to scare off the grandparents right from the beginning, but there are ways to work with your entertainer to mix it up and have a little variety of different kinds of music that almost everyone of every age can dance to.  If you are not sure, please feel free to ask us about this.  The last thing you want is everyone sitting around staring at each other because they don't care for the music you have chosen.  We have loads of experience in entertaining guests of different ages and music preferences.

Where to Place the DJ at Your Wedding Reception

Many times we see that the DJ table or DJ area at a wedding reception venue is in an odd place and we wonder to ourselves, "How is this going to work?" So coming straight from a few wedding DJs is our best advice where we can do the best job for your special day. One of the most important things is that the DJ can see "the crowd" and "read the crowd" since this is how we get a feel for whether people like the music we are playing. We get our cues from the wedding guests by watching them and how they respond to the music we are playing. If we are put in a place where we cannot see the crowd, it basically causes a huge disconnect with the audience. If you have a designated dance floor area, it would be best to locate the DJ as close as possible to the dance floor. If you want everyone to have a great time and get up and dance during your reception, please take the time to discuss this with your wedding venue coordinator because this is something that can make a big difference.

Wedding Reception Seating Arrangements for Your Wedding Guests

As you plan your wedding, there are some things to consider. Keep in mind the area closest to the DJ, like right near the DJ's speakers, is going to be the loudest spot in the entire room. With that being said, it is best not to seat your older guests, like grandparents, in an area near the DJ. We say this because they will be the first to come up and ask us to turn the music down. If you want to be able to hear the music when you crank up the dance floor, you want to seat them as far away from the DJ's speakers as possible. In turn, the older wedding guests should be more comfortable.

At a recent wedding reception, they had me located off in the back corner of the room. We didn't even get things rolling yet, at this point low key background music was playing, and as you may have guessed it, an older lady came over and asked if I could turn the music down and at this point it wasn't even loud yet. Many times people don't think much about this until it is too late, so just use a little bit of common sense as you design your perfect day and discuss these concerns with your venue because many times they don't think about this stuff either.

Questions to Ask When Hiring a Wedding DJ

Sure there are plenty of wedding websites out there that give you a list of questions to ask as you interview with your potential wedding DJ. Just remember as you ask questions, use a little bit of common sense and ask questions that are important to you. The latest question that came today was how long would we hold the date while the bride and groom-to-be interview other DJ's. The answer is "We don't". We will not hold your date for you until you make a decision to hire us, and your date is not put on our calendar until we receive your retainer fee, which is non-reundable. We also require a contract, it is between the two of you and us. Please know this is normal amongst wedding entertainers.

Atlanta Wedding Reception Entrance Video

We are so excited to share this wedding reception bridal party entrance video with you.

Carl House Wedding

The Carl House is a top notch wedding venue located in Auburn, Georgia. I can't say that all venues in the Atlanta are on top of their game like they are at Carl House. As a wedding vendor, I am impressed with the facility, the staff and the food.... oh my gosh! It was fabulous! And Daniel & Ariel were such a sweet couple. Their friends and family were great too! They danced all the way up till the last minute and I know we could have partied together all day if we had more time. I almost forgot... in the morning is was raining and misting, and then right before the wedding, the sun came out and the skies turned blue with fluffy white clouds. I just know God was smiling on us all with this miracle.

Amazing Bride & Groom Exit

DJ Tony is super stoked about some of the images he got from this wedding. I have been teaching him a little bit about photography and he is learning to use a new camera slowly but surely. I can see why he loves the image he is excited about. You will have to check them out to see how the bride and groom left the wedding reception.

Another Wedding First Dance - YouTube Style

We had a bride and groom that wanted to do something a bit out of the ordinary for their first dance at their wedding reception and we love doing these. Their guests gave them a standing ovation at the end. Atlanta Wedding DJ

DJs are People Too

I continue to be amazed at how people think even when it is really cold outside that they can have an outdoor party and expect their entertainer to remain outside in the cold, windy weather for four to five hours at a time. Are we not human? Sure the party guests can go inside and outside as they please, but the entertainer has to stay wherever the DJ booth is set up.

Other things to consider when planning a party. If you are playing loud music outside there are other people to consider....your neighbors. Sure you think they don't care, but when you want loud music, they may not. If they complain and call the cops, you are forced to either turn the music down or even off. The police do have the authority to shut your party down completely and it has happened. Also it would be good measure to know the sound ordinances for your location, because it is your party, you are responsible for the legalities of it all.

Many times it makes more sense to rent a venue for the evening and eliminate all of these issues. There are venues out there that are extremely affordable if you check around. You can have a real dance floor and plenty of room for everyone and decorate to your heart's content. And the great part about having a party somewhere other than your home is not worrying about your guests tearing up your house or stealing your stuff when you are not looking.

Wheeler High School Homecoming

We had the honor of providing the music for the Wheeler High School Homecoming Dance in Marietta, Georgia.... Over 500 students & dates in attendance. Go Wildcats!

More Wedding Favor Ideas

I am always interested in ideas for parties and events that people can use that I think are unique, affordable, ultra-creative, etc. and I think this one totally qualifies for all of the above. These are "celebration bubbles" that have been adorned with full color labels with the bride & groom's photo along with the wedding date and name overlaid on the image, very nice. It's printed on a high gloss label, they may have had the labels professionally printed. These were handed out to the guests as they were leaving the reception to see the bride and groom off. So there were lots of bubbles for them to walk through on the way to their "getaway car".

Our First e-harmony Wedding Couple - Atlanta, GA DJ

As we ended our evening of doing weddings at separate locations in the Atlanta, GA area, we were comparing notes of what happened with the evening. I was sharing with DJ Tony about all the great dancing I witnessed at the wedding reception I did in Douglasville.

Then DJ Tony shares with me how his wedding couple met..... you guessed it..... e-harmony!!!! So anyway that was really exciting so I was glad to hear about the wedding and reception he did for Frances & Curt in Roswell.

I am sure we will hear about more e-harmony couples in the future.... so there you have it. You never know where you will find true love.

DJ Tony & Military Balls

DJ Tony has been doing military balls for several years now for JROTC at schools all around the metro Atlanta, Georgia area. He really loves deejaying at these events. He just did another one this past Saturday at Union Grove for their ROTC Military Ball and he got some great pictures.

Affordable Do It Yourself Wedding & Party Favors

The helpful tips keep coming....so here is one that surfaced at a recent wedding that I thought others might appreciate because I thought it was SO cute. These are wedding favors that are easy to make and it involves chocolate.

The first one is super affordable and easy enough that anyone can do it. To make one you need a plastic spoon, 3 Hershey's Kisses, a tulle circle, an 8" piece of ribbon, tag that is hole punched and reads "A Spoonful of Kisses From the Mr. & Mrs."

Okay, the next wedding or party favor idea may require more of an investment, but it is very unique. These are custom molded chocolates. We can make your custom chocolate molds with your names and your wedding date along with a graphic of your choice. The custom boxes are also available or you can wrap them in clear cellophane candy wrappers. It is simple enough to make the chocolate bars, especially if you use Wilton candy melts, you simply melt, pour, tap out the bubbles on a countertop, then put on a baking sheet and place in freezer till the chocolate hardens, pop them out and do another batch. It would be fun to gather the gals and make these together. If you take good care of these molds they will last you many years or decades. I have chocolate molds similarto these that my mom has owned for over 25 years and they are as good as new.

Evolution of Dance - Groomsmen Edition

We had a blast last night at Cody & Beth's wedding in Cornelia, Georgia. Cody and his groomsmen decided they wanted to do a special dance called "Evolution of Dance". After he shared the music with us, we realized we had heard it before and after a quick bit of research trying to find the songs that were mixed (a total of 31 songs!), we realized that this is a huge sensation on youtube....so we asked if they would like us to video tape them and put their video on youtube also.... and the answer was "yes!"




There are more videos, you can see them here.

10 Things to Consider When Buying Bridal

Top Wedding Dress Searches
By Molly McCall
Fri, January 18, 2008, 6:43 pm PST

He proposed. You accepted. You're so happy. Now, though, you're deep in the muck of planning the wedding, and the big white gown is proving to be an elusive creature. The hunt for the perfect wedding dress transforms some blushing brides into fire-breathing bridezillas. But it doesn't have to be that way.

Thanks to the huge number of lookups for "wedding dresses" and "bridal gowns" flowing in at this time of year, we have a pretty good idea of the greatest concerns and most fashionable inclinations of searchers seeking nuptial attire online. And we're happy to pass it along to you, noble gown-hunter. Here are the top 10 things we've learned from the season's bridal buzz:

1. It's fine to be frugal. After general lookups for "wedding dresses" and "wedding gowns," demand for "cheap wedding dresses" is far and away the most popular query.

2. Vera Wang reigns supreme. Searches for "vera wang wedding dresses" not only outrank every other designer, but they're one of the most popular queries for the big white dress.

3. Gleaming white is classic, but what about a creamier tone? Buzz for "ivory colored wedding dresses" is surging. Eccentrics could always go for another popular color search—"black wedding dresses." We're not kidding.

4. Nothing beats saying your vows on the sand. Demand for "hawaiian wedding dresses" and "beach wedding dresses" is huge. Mahalo!

5. The strapless style may be losing its grip. Interest in "long sleeve wedding dresses" is on the rise.

6. Many brides are finding inspiration in earlier times. We've logged spikes for "renaissance wedding dresses," "vintage wedding dresses," "old fashioned wedding dresses," "grecian wedding dresses," "gothic wedding dresses," and "18th century wedding gowns."

7. Couples inclined toward concealment might consider the eyebrow-raising results for "camouflage wedding dresses."

8. Most popular fabric request: "lace wedding dresses."

9. The greatest idea for what to do with the dress once you're a happily married lady: "wedding dress quilts."

10. Finally, the most popular celebrity gown in Search: "britney spears wedding dress." But we don't recommend going down that aisle.

Source: yahoo buzz

Sweet 16 Party....Again

I just got back from doing another Sweet 16 party. I know some people might not think spending their entire evening entertaining teenagers would be fun, but I have to tell you, I really enjoyed myself as I DJ'd for this group of teens. I know you might not get it, but because of what I do, I just have a real good feel for what they want to hear. I guess you can say I am a very versatile disc jockey because you can give me a room full of teens, adults, kids, and no matter what I can find their groove. The party I did tonight was with no prior song requests, which is not necessarily normal protocol, but nevertheless, we had a great time tonight. The plus for me was I was also able to stay closer to home. I absolutely love doing parties in Cumming, Alpharetta, Milton, Roswell, Dawsonville, Sugar Hill, Buford, Suwanee and Johns Creek area. Why? Because I can spend more time entertaining and less time driving. Nothing like being back home in less than an hour from the time the party is over. I have another 16 year old birthday party to do next week, but that is on the opposite side of town. Of course, we will have a great time..........but there will be more driving involved.

This is a time of year to be careful on the roads. On my way back from the party I did last Thursday, I almost got hit on the connector by a car that sped by so fast, I couldn't even tell what it was.

First Birthday Party Disco Style

A few years ago the big trend of teen and Sweet 16 birthday parties became very prominent thanks to MTV's Sweet 16 shows. We've done our share of Sweet Sixteen parties, 13 Year Old birthday parties, etc.

Now we have an entirely new category to add to our "portfolio" of unique parties.... the First Birthday Party. If you aren't sure what we are saying here, this is for a baby's first birthday. Yes! You are inviting all of your friends and family of all ages (families) and you want to have something for everyone.

Now of course you could choose different music, but the party we did in Alpharetta, Georgia yesterday choose a disco theme complete with the disco ball and party lights for the dance floor to create a very upbeat party atmosphere.

There were also other fun things for the young ones to do like jump in the inflatable house, color, puzzles, movies and of course lots of treats and party favors.

Of course the parents loved the music since it reminded them of days gone by. Parents danced with their kids and had fun together. And of course the birthday boy made it to the dancefloor on daddy's shoulders.

We eventually mixed in some music to encourage some fun line dancing for guests of all ages and we even taught them a new dance.

We look forward to doing more family parties like this one.