Weddingbee PRO
I get asked this question so many times from my clients. This is what I'm hearing from brides today about the pros and cons of both options:
First, the classic reasons not to have a DJ or to definitely hire a band:
1. I want the crowd to really get into dancing so I have to have a band. A DJ just won't cut it.
2. DJs are so cheesy — they have props and light shows.
3. My guests expect a certain level of sophistication from us, so we have to have a band.
4. Live music just kicks things up a notch.
5. My guests want to be entertained throughout the night, and a band is just the thing!
Now the reasons why a band is not selected or why people love DJs:
1. I just can't afford a great band; I'm playing it safe and going with a DJ.
2. I want a lot of originals to be played- no one can sing like Michael Jackson!
3. There isn't a lot of room at my reception venue, and I don't want the band to take up too much space.
4. I want a lot of current music, and I know a band doesn't know all of those songs.
5. We have a very diverse group of guests, and I want to be able to have music for everyone to enjoy!
There are a lot of points I agree with here, but I want the experts to tell you their side of the story. That's why I'm going to be posting interviews from DJs, bands and ceremony/cocktail hour musicians, to tell us why they should be hired and what the pros and cons are of their individual industry.
Stay tuned over the next few weeks to learn a bit more about one of the most talked about aspects of a wedding!
Three new PROS in 3 days! Please help us welcome the wildly talented up-and-coming baker Melody Brandon of Sweet & Saucy Shop. Melody will not only share awesome pictures of her baking process, but she's also opening up a custom dessert studio in Long Beach within the next two months. Of course we're all going to follow along on the ride! 
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After two years of going out on my own, I am blessed to say that I am getting a bakery storefront of my very own. We are currently under construction, but should be up and running within a month or two. I am so excited for this opportunity to share my passion for desserts with all of you and look forward to many fun blogging posts to come!
Here are some of my past creations to inspire you! And if you have any questions at all about me or wedding desserts, please feel free to ask!
Today, I wanted to answer a question received by a lovely Weddingbee PRO reader. She wrote:
As an aspiring wedding coordinator, I'd like to know what the best approach to take is when building those first relationships with vendors. Also, how did you know what to charge for your services when you were a “newbie?”
Thank you for your question! I am more than happy to give you my take on the issue. 
When I first started out as a wedding planner, I made the conscious decision not to join any industry organizations or associations. This was a personal choice that I still uphold to this day, but one many might disagree with. Although I opted not to join any of these organizations, I do hear from some industry peers that they used their memberships to jump-start their networking in the industry. When you start your business, you want to put your name out there as much as possible. This means making vital connections with other vendors, getting links and mentions on wedding blogs and generally creating a “buzz.” When you join an organization, you gain access into networking events, seminars and mixers that will allow you to meet a variety of vendors. Access leads to opportunities to build relationships. Relationships lead to buzz!
With all that said, I still decided to forego joining those organizations. My networking path was unique because I chose to build personal and purposeful relationships with individual vendors on my own. I started with the vendors I worked with on my first weddings. I made sure to go the extra mile in terms of communication and service to them. I also would follow-up with emails after the event, thanking them for their work. Often times there would be an instant “click” with the vendor while working on the event, and I knew that we'd be fast friends from that point on.
My initial experience with Nate and Jac of The Image Is Found is the perfect example. I worked with them for the first time in the fall of 2006. We were an ideal vendor match in terms of style and target clientèle. We naturally wanted to work together as much as possible after that, so we began to get together for lunches, email back and forth and build our relationship. When we refer each other to our clients it comes naturally, because we already have such a strong foundation with each other. I know and love them and their work, and I think it goes both ways. It just works out!
Read more…
I stumbled across Amy Salinger's website and blog and immediately knew that I must meet her! Our websites are nearly identical in content -with our blogs, videos and practical advice for real people!
It is a little spooky that her avatar is similar to mine -seriously. I sent her an email and was elated when she responded. We met up for coffee, and we were off talking a mile-a-minute like we were identical twins who had just found each other. We are practically separated from birth (except that she has brown hair and eyes, was raised on the East Coast and is Jewish). But, we are style sistas -and that is all that matters.
Amy has these fantastic videos that show you how to work with items that you most likely already own. There are videos on how to work with belts (great safety pin secret!), organize your closet, find the perfect jeans and much more. Her blog is a must read, as she combines great tips with a sense of humor that will add a little levity to your day. It is like having a BFF that is your own personal stylist! She's also had some great posts for brides here on Weddingbee PRO.
Amy and I are putting together some fun and fabulous posts on style. So if you have any questions or concerns that you would like addressed, please leave us a comment below!
In addition to printing our own letterpress wedding invitation designs for couples, we are also more than happy to print custom designs upon request. Sometimes that will entail printing a design created by the couple, and other times that will mean working with them to create a design that is inspired by their ideas. Either way, it's a fun opportunity for us to print something truly unique and personal to a couple, which we absolutely love.
Designing for letterpress is a bit different than designing for other printing methods. So I wanted to share some tips for creating your own invitation design in a letterpress-friendly way, if you're looking to go with letterpress invitations, but still looking to add that DIY touch to your design.
This year has been running full speed ahead, and I realized several months ago that I would not make it to 2010 without hiring an employee.
I knew I was overworked, but I wasn't seeing any easy options for hiring help. I didn't want to employ someone out of state because that is a huge time and money sink, but I was wary of casting my line out in the Omaha job market because I didn't want to hire a stranger who I didn't trust. I started this business in 2005, and I feel like I am finally receiving some press and developing a reputation among my industry peers. I didn't want to waste my time training someone who isn't as passionate or motivated as I am, or was only here waiting for something better to come along.
Then Hollie Nicole e-mailed me.
Let me tell you a little bit about her.
I shot this engagement session of the lovely Kaitlyn + Jordan a few weeks ago down in Corona Del Mar. Kaitlyn is yet another cousin of mine, and I was delighted that she and her handsome fiance wanted to hire us to photograph her engagement session and wedding!
I was particularly happy with not only Kaitlyn + Jordan as subjects to capture, but with the awesome natural light that was available that day - it was super warm…loved it! Here are some of my favs from the day:
This question is from reader swt. Swt asks: I love the idea of attaching orchids (or other flowers) onto curly branches. Do you have a tip for keeping them in good shape? How early can I do this so they don't wilt?
Well swt, I absolutely love the look of orchids attached to branches. Take a look at this orchid tree that we did for a client's wedding:
Photo by Sherman Chu
You can also hang votives, crystals or garlands of flowers from the branches.
I usually use manzanita for the branches (because it's strong) and cymbidiums for the orchids. When we assemble our orchid trees, we make sure to attach the orchids to the branches prior to the event. We don't assemble the trees in advance, because transporting them is very difficult. Can you imagine how tall our trees are? Plus, most of our trees won't fit into our minivans (or even the cargo vans) because they are so tall. And to be honest, when we put a tree in our vans, we can't fit anything else!
Read more…
We’re so excited to welcome yet another member into the PRO Hive, the fabulous wedding and floral designer Kate Parker. Kate creates some of the most elegant New England affairs, and even planned our own Emilie Sommers’ St. John nuptials. She has tons of advice and inspiration to share, so please help me in giving her a warm hive welcome!
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Hello Weddingbee PRO readers!
I am so excited to be blogging with such a fabulous group of wedding vendors! I hope I can provide some inspiration and insight into the wedding industry to help you plan your weddings. Now for a little bit about KPW and me….
Kate Parker Weddings was founded officially in 2003, and we started as a small boutique day-of coordination firm. After our first and only 2003 NYC client, we realized that most brides looking to New England as a destination wedding location needed much more than day-of coordination, so we started offering full coordination only and the company grew and grew. We now offer full floral and event design services, paper products, welcome baskets, rentals, lounge furniture, lighting and music entertainment services. Sort of a one-stop shop really. I actually graduated from UNH with a degree in voice performance - go figure.
So with my experience on the operatic stage from college, I thought “brides can’t be any worse than sopranos” , and the business was launched soon thereafter. I absolutely love the wedding industry, helping brides navigate through the stress and come out with a beautiful event to celebrate the joining of two people. Doesn’t really get any better than that.
I hope you enjoy our blog posts and photos! Here are some pictures from a recent event on Great Diamond Island!
This is post one of two - this is how to get music into your ceremony.
You've probably talked to your DJ or band about the music you want for the important parts of the reception (your first dance, your entrance, cutting the cake…), but have you thought about putting the music together for your ceremony?
There are a few key parts of the ceremony to include music in. And, as always, you shouldn't be afraid to think outside the box when it comes to the music for your ceremony. If you have songs that are special or have meaning to your relationship, but aren't really great dance songs, this is a great place to include them.
The Prelude:
The prelude the music that will play as your guests are seated, read through the programs, chat with each other and wait for the ceremony to begin. When I did theatre in college, we called it the “Pre-Show” music - the music that played as the audience came and sat down before the show started. We used it to get people “in the mood” for the show, to expand on the theme and idea of what people were going to see. You can use your prelude music in the same way.
If you're having a musician or performer beforehand, you can have them sing or play music as people enter. If you're using a DJ or having recorded music, it's a great place to include some classic love songs or other special music you love. For example, when one of my couples Lindsey and Ben got married, they asked their friends (and one of the groomsmen!) to perform a medley of show tunes to greet their guests. As Lindsey and Ben had met while working on a show together, it was especially appropriate.
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