The WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards® recognizes the top five percent of local wedding professionals from the WeddingWire Network who demonstrate excellence in quality, service, responsiveness and professionalism. Unlike other awards in which winners are selected by the organization, winners of the WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards® are determined by recent reviews from over a million WeddingWire newlyweds.
Toronto’s Own DJ XTC Entertainment Services Wins a WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Award® 2016 Toronto, Ontario – January, 2016 – WeddingWire, the leading global online wedding marketplace, named DJ XTC Entertainment Services as a winner of the prestigious WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Awards® 2016 for DJ's in Toronto! The WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Awards® 2016 recognizes the top five percent of wedding professionals in the WeddingWire Network who demonstrate excellence in quality, service, responsiveness and professionalism. The esteemed awards are given to the top local wedding vendors in more than 20 service categories, from wedding venues to wedding florists, based on their professional achievements from the previous year. While many industry award winners are selected by the host organization, the WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Awards® winners are determined solely based on reviews from real newlyweds and their experiences working with DJ XTC Entertainment Services. Award-winning vendors are distinguished for the quality, quantity, consistency and timeliness of the reviews they have received from their past clients. “We are thrilled to celebrate such a high-caliber, committed group of professionals for the Couples’ Choice Awards’® eighth year,” said Timothy Chi, CEO, WeddingWire. “We are proud to continue to serve as the industry leader, with over 2.5 million consumer and peer reviews, and feature award-winning merchants such as DJ XTC Entertainment Services who understands the impact reviews have on their successful businesses.” As a Couples’ Choice Awards® winner, DJ XTC Entertainment Services is highlighted within the WeddingWire Network, which is comprised of more than 400,000 wedding professionals globally. DJ XTC Entertainment Services is proud to be one of the top DJ's in Toronto in the WeddingWire Network. We would like to thank our past clients for taking the time to review our business on WeddingWire. We value all of our clients and truly appreciate the positive feedback that helped us earn the WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Awards® 2016. For more information about DJ XTC Entertainment Services, please visit our WeddingWire Storefront today. To learn more about the Couples’ Choice Awards®, please visit www.weddingwire.com/couples-choice-awards. About WeddingWire, Inc. WeddingWire, Inc. is the leading global online marketplace connecting consumers with event and creative professionals. Operating within a $200 billion industry, WeddingWire, Inc. hosts 10 million monthly unique users across its mobile and web platforms. Consumers are able to read over 2.5 million vendor reviews and search, compare and book from a database of over 400,000 businesses. Globally, it provides these businesses the technology they need to serve their clients through advertising, marketing and business management tools such as websites, payment processing, invoicing and contracts. Founded in 2007, the WeddingWire portfolio of sites serves couples and businesses across 14 countries in North America, Latin America and Europe, making it the worldwide leader in weddings with brands including Bodas.net, Casamentos.com.br, Matrimonio.com and more. The company employs more than 650 and maintains global headquarters in Washington, DC and international headquarters in Barcelona, Spain.
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A perfect wedding isn't only beautiful, it's personal. It has carefully selected details that are meaningful to you and your fiancé. Here are some very simple ways to add your own subtle, unique touches to your ceremony and reception:
Write your own wedding vows. It doesn't have to read like poetry; the important thing is that it comes from your own heart. Print it out on an index card and keep it handy during the ceremony. Compile a CD with songs that symbolize your relationship or how it evolved. Play this during your reception or even burn a copy and distribute as souvenirs. Insert a small piece of paper explaining why you chose those songs. Instead of tossing your bouquet, present it to your mother (or a dear friend or mentor) during your reception. You can also have an additional bouquet made for your partner to also present to someone at the same time. Compile in a scrapbook. Guests often have free time on their hands during their reception. In the centre of the table, place several pens and small pieces of paper in a pretty basket. Ask them to write their wishes, prayers, or advice for you and your fiancé. Most wedding reception programs revolve around the couple: friends give speeches. Do something for the guests. Make a video of you and your fiancé talking about the people who've taught you what true love means. Mention friends who've demonstrated real loyalty, or family members who made great sacrifices for you. Intersperse your video with their photos. This is your chance to say thank you to all of them. If you have a close friend or family member who passed away, make him or her part of the occasion by inserting a small photo in your bouquet, or lighting a tribute candle at the ceremony. If you have ethnic roots, incorporate a marriage ritual from your culture into your ceremony or perform it during your reception. Wear an heirloom. For example, you can use your grandmother ís veil, or wear a locket that belongs to your mother. This is an excellent way of creating a sense of continuity between generations, celebrating your own family even as you go on to begin your own. Prepare an audio-video presentation that will be played during the parents dances. This can be just a simple montage of childhood photos. A guaranteed tear-jerker! If you have kids, help them feel like they're part of the new family by asking them to stand next to you as you say your vows. Add little elements that say something about your relationship as a couple. For example, if you're giving away picture frames, insert a poem that you wrote or a copy of your wedding vows. If you met at a beach (and would rather not have a beach-themed wedding) incorporate shells into your table centrepiece. I would love to hear your thoughts. Please feel free to comment below. Stop by and check us out on www.djxtc.net Facebook Twitter Pinterest Instagram
I had the pleasure of being the DJ/MC of a wedding that included music for the ceremony, cocktails and of course the reception. All the facets were at the same property but in different rooms. When it came time to transition from the cocktail area to the dinner/reception hall I asked the wedding party to get ready for the receiving line. I was met with a dozen blank stares. The what?
It looks like through my planning and coordinating with the wedding couple no one informed the rest of the wedding party that this was happening. Not only that but most of them were unaware what a receiving line even was. I understand that more weddings are putting tradition aside but I just assumed this was a gimmie. There are a few pros and cons of having a receiving line as opposed to the wedding couple doing table visits during the course of the night Pros - It is a great opportunity to greet and thank every guest for coming to your wedding. - Tradition dictates that if you are having more than 50 guest that it is warranted. - You guarantee that every guest will get at least a minute of actual face time with both you and your partner. - You can have the opportunity to have your photo taken with every couple before they enter the reception hall. Cons - If your guest count is a large one you could have an enormous line throughout your venue. - You have to allocate a large amount of time which could in turn delay major aspects of the reception timeline and could hinder the plating and/or preparation of food. - They may not be enough room to line up 200 or more guests at your reception venue. - Parents , Step-Parents , Grandparents , Wedding Party and Wedding Couple may have issue with being included/not included. At the end of the day whatever you and your partner decide just try to keep the above points in mind. We would love to hear your thoughts. Please comment below, stop by and check out www.djxtc.net Facebook Twitter Pinterest Instagram
10/29/2015
Avoid Wedding Rip-offs
Planning a wedding can be a stressful event. The last thing you need is to be ripped-off by an unscrupulous wedding vendor or planner. Here are a few tips to help avoid this problem.
Make Your Wedding Arrangements and Bookings As Far In Advance As Possible Most facilities, vendors, and planners can be booked more than a year in advance. If possible, take advantage of this window of opportunity. Should something go wrong, it will provide you with more time to make alternate arrangements. Also, be aware that some vendors will actually charge you more if you order or book things at the last minute. Shop Around and Deal With Trustworthy People Before booking anything you should shop around and get an idea of current prices for each category of your wedding. Don't just hire the first caterer you meet with. Ask around with family, friends, co-workers, etc. and get their recommendations about services they may have used. If you want to be extra safe in this regard, you could also call your local Better Business Bureau. They can provide you with any problem information they may have received regarding a particular company. Get Everything in Writing It would seem obvious to do this, but a lot of couples tend to go on "faith" of what a vendor says, then are shocked with the vendor doesn't follow through. Get everything, down to the smallest detail, in writing and be sure both you and the vendor agree on all points before signing any contract. Include exact descriptions, such as if you are ordering flowers: how may bouquets, the exact type and colour of the flowers, etc. Be Aware of The Fine Print Read any contracts over very carefully. Pay particular attention to their cancellation policy. You want to make sure it includes a provision for a refund of the deposit if you cancel or change your wedding date by a certain time period before your wedding. Of course, reasonably, you would not get a deposit back if you cancelled two days before the wedding. Be sure to also include a written statement on the contract that you will not pay for services and will expect a complete refund on any deposits if the company does not deliver exactly as specified in the contract. A reputable company will respect this clause. Regarding Photographers and DJ's When booking these services with a company, often you may wish to have a particular photographer/videographer and DJ for your wedding because you have seen their work or heard their play style and really like it. Make sure this is detailed on the contract with the person's name. Again, also include the clause that if that particular person is substituted, you will not pay for the service and will receive a refund on all deposits. I would love to hear your thoughts. Please feel free to comment below. Stop by and check us out on www.djxtc.net Facebook Twitter Pinterest Instagram
10/27/2015
What People REALLY Feel Before A Wedding
The flowers, the dress, the suit, the caterer, the guest list. Our focus during engagement is obvious - the ever so important details in planning the perfect wedding. Yet if we can manage to tear ourselves away from the 5th revision of the seating chart for just a moment, we realize that engagement is one of the most significant psychological transitions in our lives, packed with an assortment of tangled emotions and conflicting feelings. Inside the newly engaged couple often lie fear, anxiety, sadness and loss. It is these important internal details, so largely ignored by conventional wedding guides and planners, that an engaged couple must face and confront if they ever hope to arrive at the altar fully prepared to enter into a healthy marriage.
Feelings of loss? There is no other time in your life when you are truly giving up one identity for another. The transition is more complex than simply taking a new last name, a literal change of identity and a decision that brings with it its own set of questions and anxieties. You are also giving up your symbolic identity as a single person, even a child. Couples often worry, "I'm losing my youth," or, "I won't be able to relate to my single friends." A stage in your life, the only stage you have ever experienced, is ending, and many people experience feelings of loss as a chapter closes on their lives. What if As one chapter closes, another begins. A chapter of commitment and togetherness. This new stage brings forth feelings of joy and excitement, but fear and uncertainty are also involved. You are entering into a partnership with another human being, causing your future's happiness to rely so heavily on the actions of another. Needless to say, this realization can expose feelings of fear. What if our marriage doesn't last? What if there is cheating ? What if the passion fades and we grow apart? What if something terrible happens to either of us ? These questions can penetrate the veneer of even the most outwardly joyous couple. Am I making a mistake? Popular culture and society seems to conveniently ignore these questions and uncertainties. As engaged person, we hear a barrage of "congratulations!" and "what will your dress/suit look like?" when we announce the big news. Even those closest to us neglect to recognize the importance of more internally probing questions and advice during our engagement. As a result, many people begin to question their readiness for marriage. Any feeling less than euphoric is deemed as indication of making a mistake, as we have been conditioned to believe that anxiety and confusion are a reflection of "not being ready" or choosing the wrong partner. Thus, instead of accepting and discussing these feelings, we distract ourselves with the wedding planning and ignore our internal emotions. Harness and Accept your feelings! In reality, these thoughts could not be more normal. In every other major life transition, simultaneous feelings of loss and gain are not only expected, but encouraged. When you graduated high school, when you graduated college, when you moved away from your hometown, when you left your first job for a better opportunity, those around you understood and sympathized with your conflicting emotions. But did those feelings of sadness and loss hinder you from taking that next step and succeeding with flying colours? Of course not. You allowed yourself to address and analyze your thoughts, and then you proceeded with the change. This is exactly what you need to do during your engagement as you prepare for your journey to the altar and marriage. Realize that feelings of sadness and anxiety are normal, allow yourself to feel these feelings, and discuss and analyze them with those around you. Don't allow your friends and family to focus on the wedding planning process to the exclusion of your internal struggles. The engagement stage involves more than simply planning a big party. It involves introspection and emotional analysis. It involves open communication with your fiancé, family and friends. It involves acceptance of fear and sadness. Once a couple realizes the complexity of this transition, they can address their emotions and move forward in planning for both a fabulous party and a successful next chapter in her life. I would love to hear your thoughts. Please feel free to comment below. Stop by and check us out on www.djxtc.net Facebook Twitter Pinterest Instagram
10/14/2015
Wedding Rings
Many people have broken with tradition when it comes to wedding rings these days and often they will only get the one ring that serves both as a wedding and an engagement ring.
This is purely up to the individual and also, as with everything else in the wedding arrangements there is the limiting factor of finances that will determine to some extent what type of ring or rings are purchased. Depending on the type of ring that you prefer you will usually find that there are vast differences in the prices that the various jewellers will charge so time taken getting prices can save you a lot of money. Many men don't like to wear rings and this is a personal preference that will need to be discussed between the bride and groom. There can be many reasons why men don’t like to wear a ring and the upside of that is you can afford to spend more on your own ring. With men there are often other practical factors that need to be taken into account with their decision whether or not they will wear a ring. With certain professions it is actually dangerous for the man to wear a ring that could get caught in machinery or similar circumstances. If you and your partner have differences as to what should be expected with the ring selection then take your time and discuss all aspects of this and treat it as a process of improving your communication skills while allowing each other to enjoy the freedom to still be able to express their own personal preferences even though there is now another person to consider in their life. The rings are merely a symbol and not as important as the true feelings and the trust that you have for one another. I would love to hear your thoughts. Please feel free to comment below. Stop by and check us out on www.djxtc.net Facebook Twitter Pinterest Instagram
10/14/2015
Wedding Cakes A wedding cake can be as simple or as extravagant as you like and accordingly can be relatively inexpensive or enough to break the bank. The reason wedding cakes are often so expensive is due to the intricate work that is involved and the many hours of labor that are required to create the decorations. For some people this is an expense that they feel is unnecessary and a simple cake or alternative form of 'symbolic food' such as a favourite dessert or something similar can be used. More often than not however people prefer a traditional wedding cake and in keeping with the rest of the theme of the wedding it is generally decorated in colours similar to those of the flowers and any other decorations at the reception. Certainly by reducing the size of the wedding cake it can help to keep the costs down and also by keeping the cake less intricate in its decorations you can save yourself a lot of money. You can also use your flower arrangements or other forms of decoration that are more cost-effective to enhance the look of the wedding cake and keep the cake itself relatively plain and simple. It really is a case of weighing up the expense with the importance that you put on the style of cake that you prefer and whether you can save money elsewhere to get the cake you desire. Once again do your research and get some prices from various different suppliers of wedding cakes and also consider asking your friends and family if they know anybody who does cake decorating as many people do it for a hobby and will be only too willing to help out on the special occasion. Often you can get somebody to create your cake for the cost of the materials alone and this can be their gift to you for your wedding rather than paying for something else. One important thing that you must remember however is to check their work to see if it is up to a standard that you would be happy to have at your wedding and don't feel obliged to use their services if you aren’t satisfied.
10/13/2015
Your Wedding Vows
You should take your time when deciding on your wedding vows and personalize them to suit you and your partner and not be influenced by what other people expect you to do.
This is one of the most important parts of the wedding because it is after your vows that you will be officially married. More and more people are becoming very creative with their wedding vows and this adds a personal touch that represents what you and your partner believe your marriage means to the both of you. It is a chance for you to both express your true thoughts on why you are getting married and what it will mean for you in the future. Here are the typical wedding vows Ö I [your name] take you [your partners name] for my lawful [partner] to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part. Many people use these traditional vows as the foundation that they will modify to suit their needs by adding personalized touches where they like. Some people find the traditional vows a bit too formal and the wording no longer appropriate to get the true meaning of their care for one another across. If that's the way you feel then changing them is the right solution for you. These words are more important than all the wedding speeches combined so it is well worth spending as much time as necessary to come up with something that is really special. Get ideas from the internet , books , poetry and songs. Bounce ideas off one another and you will soon know when you have hit the perfect combination that will lead you into your married life. Just remember to never stop having fun because that's what it's all about , getting the most happiness in your life by sharing it with someone you love. I would love to hear your thoughts. Please feel free to comment below. Stop by and check us out on www.djxtc.net Facebook Twitter Pinterest Instagram Wedding Dance Around the globe couples celebrate their unions with a wedding dance of some sort. Most religions, with the exception of those who still frown upon dancing, have some sort of wedding dance that is a part of this joyous event or the celebration of this event. This is much more than a simple dance. It is the dance that will begin your life as a married couple. For this reason alone, many couples spend a great deal of time and effort choosing the perfect song to symbolize their love for each. Once decided, this is the song that is to be played for their wedding dance. Your wedding dance is one of the few memories of your wedding that you will have forever. Most of your wedding day will go by in such a blur that there will be few moments that stand out above the rest. Your wedding dance however, is the one time during your wedding reception that you and your spouse are truly alone within the crowd. All eyes may be on you both but this is your moment together and no one else in the room should matter at this moment. This is the reason that most people will remember their wedding dance long after they’ve forgotten other details about their wedding. Some couples take wedding dance lessons in order to make sure that nothing goes wrong during their wedding dance. Others don't and maybe they should have. Many instructors often suggest that you use the shoes you will be wearing for your wedding as well as a skirt that is very similar to your wedding dress in order to actually get an honest feel for how you will be dancing on your wedding day. It is amazing how much of a difference the height of your shoes and the length of your skirt or train can make when it comes to dancing. These classes are very important for couples that truly want to have the fairy tale wedding experience though not necessarily practical for couples that are already working at the end of their budget constraints. Ballroom dance lessons will often suffice for wedding dance lessons and in many cases are much less expensive if you can take them at a local community centre rather than taking private lessons. Group lessons are almost always more economical and can be a great way for you and your future spouse to learn to dance together in time for your big night and your wedding dance. If budgets won’t even allow for this indulgence to make your wedding dance a little easier to handle you can always opt to purchase an instructional video or DVD. It would be great fun to practice your wedding dance together before the big night and it is a great way to have fun together as a couple even after the big night. You can find videos and DVDs that teach all manner of dance steps that you may find appealing. Otherwise you can always wing it. Pick a song you love, a dance you like and have fun without worrying about getting it perfect. You are beginning your new life together as a couple and who really needs the pressure of dancing perfect, right? It is also your day and that is one thing that far too few couples really realize when getting caught up in the pressure of creating the perfect wedding within a limited budget. The thing to remember when planning your wedding and your wedding dance is that you and your spouse to be are the most important people in the process. Do not allow yourself to feel pressured into something that you don’t want in order to appease others. Make your wedding day and your wedding dance completely your own if you are not interested in or comfortable with the idea of taking lessons from someone else. You and your partner will be glad that you did what was right for you when all is said and done. Just dance like no one is watching. We would love to hear your thoughts. Please comment below, stop by and check out www.djxtc.net Facebook Twitter Pinterest Instagram Looking for money saving advice ? Subscribe to our mailing list. Situation 1. Martha was about to get married. On the wedding day, she, her mother, her bridesmaids and her father’s partner went to the beauty parlour to have their hair done. Upon arrival, they have learned that only one stylist was present. The situation created a commotion. The father’s partner, being so vain and inconsiderate was the first to manage her hair done. Of course, the mom and the bridesmaids fumed in anger. Situation 2. Albert was a groom. His father has a current partner. The partner was almost Albert’s age and is obviously just after fun. In short, it was apparent his father’s partner and his dad are just having a fling. Should the partner be invited to the wedding? There you go. Wedding situations can sometimes get really petty. If you are a couple's father’s new partner, consider your position. Do not ruin some people’s precious moments. Do not settle to steal wedding thunders. Adopt a mature stance even just for the wedding occasion. Dilemmas The usual dilemmas couples encounter involving their father’s new partner and their moms will be discussed in this section. Let us consider this situation. Dory’s father has a partner. He threatens that he will not attend or show up at the wedding if his new partner is not be invited. In short, the father wants to display his sexual prowess by tagging along his partner in the wedding. Inviting them both will never be a problem, Dory thought. But the situation got complicated when Dory got to talk to her mother. Telling the mom of her father’s demand, the mother, of course, got really really angry. There will be no way she can be at the wedding if her father will bring along his new squeeze. The world seems too tight for the three people. What should Dory do? It is like asking her who she loves more, her father or her mother? Adhering to the wedding etiquettes, Dory should not choose one. She should instead strategize to avoid being made to choose. As a wedding etiquette, fathers and mothers should be in the wedding. For Dory’s case, she just told her mom and dad that they would not want to ruin the occasion just because of a tiny dispute. It worked. Of course, the mom, the dad, and his new partner will never get along, but Dory made sure the three will not meet face to face during the occasion. That way, the wedding moved smoothly. No cakes were thrown and no one screamed at each other. What if the father’s partner's long-term? Couple's father’s partners are not always on the downside. Sometimes there are those who are meant or intended to be long time partners. If that is the case, wedding etiquettes have it that the partner be invited to the wedding. Anyways, she will be a part of the family soon so she should start her function early. Make sure the ex-wife and the current partner of the couple's father know that each other would attend so both of them will not be surprised. Remember, it is during surprising moments that hot-tempered people act impulsively. Short-term or flings If the father’s partner is apparently just a fling or just a short-term relationship, and if the father’s divorce with the mom is not yet through, explain to the father the situation. Tell him the sanctity of marriage will be symbolized in the ceremony. Tell him, though it may sound not really nice, that bringing in a date especially since he is not yet totally divorced would degrade the solemnity and sanctity of the sacrament. Explain that whether you dislike his partner or you do like her, people will still see him married to the mother. So he should spare his partner from embarrassment by not bringing her along. The partner might just feel that she is not invited to the wedding anyways. Of course it is very possible that Mom is the one with the new partner and all the points mentioned would adhere to her new partner as well. Parents should be more understanding because they are assumed to be more mature and wise. Thus, if you are a wedding couple in those situations, find the strength to deal with the matter with grace and patience. Be diplomatic and talk it out. This will save you your wedding day. I would love to hear your thoughts. Please feel free to comment below. Stop by and check us out on www.djxtc.net Facebook Twitter Pinterest Instagram
9/15/2015
Bridal Trial Checklist The number one thing to remember during your bridal trial prep, is that you want to feel comfortable, prepared and have peace of mind so that on your wedding day, you’ll have no mishaps or surprises and you’ll know exactly what to expect from your hair and makeup artist. These ten tips will help you prepare for your bridal trial with your makeup artist and/or hair stylist. 1. Wash your face the night before and remove all traces of makeup. Cleanse and moisturize your face the day of the trial and do not apply any makeup. This give the makeup artist a clean canvas to work on during the trial. 2. Wash you hair and blow-dry it the day before the trial. Make sure the hair is clean and product free and dry when you arrive for your hair trial. 3. Any waxing/threading should be done 2 days prior to the makeup trial (facials/microdermabrasions may need 10-14 days depending on your skin sensitivity) because makeup doesn’t adhere as well to freshly waxed or harshly exfoliated skin. 4. If you have any ideas of the makeup or hair style you want to have on your wedding day, bring photos with you to your trial. That way the artist can get a clear idea of what you’re looking for and make sure that you’re getting the look you want on your special day. 5. Bring a photo of your wedding dress/outfit, bouquet and/or bridesmaid dresses (or a cloth swatch) with you to your trial so that if you want to incorporate any of the wedding colours into your makeup look, the makeup artist can be sure to colour match you for the perfect look. 6. If you’re planning on having a tiara/veil/hair combs/hair crystals/flowers in your hair on the day of the wedding, be sure to bring those items with you so the hair stylist can position your pieces into your hair to see what feels comfortable for you so on the day of the wedding, your hair pieces will be sure to stay comfortably in place. 7. If there are any specialty items you want the makeup artist to use, be sure to bring them with you. Things like bindis/gems or specialty false lashes are things you want to make sure to try out before the wedding day to make sure you get the look just right and you’re comfortable with the look and feel of everything. 8. If you plan to discuss the makeup and hair you want done for your bridesmaids/bridal party on your wedding, bring any additional photos with you to the trial so you can set a aside a few minutes to discuss those details with your makeup/hair artist that way there won’t be any surprises for you on the wedding day with regard to how any of your bridesmaids look. It’s also always a good idea to choose one look for makeup and hair for all the bridesmaids to give your party a more uniformed and classy look. 9. If there’s anything else that you want the makeup/hair artist to know, such as special makeup products that you need to be use or that you will bring for them to use, if you have any skin allergies or makeup sensitivity, etc. please use the opportunity to discuss all of those details with your artist during the trial so that you’ll have no surprises or mishaps on the day of the wedding. 10. Bring your camera! Capture a few shots of yourself so that you can go home and review your look and take a few days to decide which look you liked best. That way you won’t feel rushed on the day of the trial to make a decision plus you get to see how your makeup could photograph so you’ll know exactly what to expect on your wedding day. This is an add-on depending on your makeup artist, but… 11. Be prepared to sign a contract and leave a retainer for services (typically 25-50%) in order to secure your date. Most artists give you a 24-48 hour grace period to email the contract and wire your retainer after the trial, but if you liked the service and skills, be prepared to book on the spot in cash (many do not accept cheques). REPRODUCE BY PERMISSION If you are getting married in the Toronto area we suggest our preferred Make Up And Hair Specialist at Beauty By Jemz Follow her on twitter
9/15/2015
How To Plan YOUR Dream Wedding
Planning a wedding and keeping your sanity is not an easy task. Everyone knows that planning a wedding can be an extremely stressful and trying time, especially as the big day approaches.
One of the most important details of the wedding is the actual wedding date. This is usually the detail that is taken care of first. Factors in choosing a date include the availability of the venue where the wedding will take place and availability of friends and family on the assigned date. It is also advisable to set a budget before you start to make plans. This way you're able to organize the details according to your budget. Some venues where weddings are held offer discounts on days when traditionally, weddings are not held. Also, the time the wedding takes place also becomes a factor in the expense. For example, mornings and afternoon receptions are usually cheaper than receptions held in the evening. Venues can offer discounts depending on the time of year. Just after the holidays could be a good time to hold a wedding if you are considering the cost. This time is not considered a 'peak time', therefore the price tends to be less expensive. It is important to talk to your fiancée about the size of your wedding. Your dream wedding might not be your fiancées. So it ís necessary for you to discuss details such as the location of the venue/reception, the number of people who get invited to the wedding/reception, and the choice of entertainment. It is important to reach an agreement on the guest list. If you want to keep the wedding an intimate affair, only family and/or friends would be invited. If you wanted to have the wedding of the century, friends and family, long lost relatives, the whole neighbourhood and high school buddies could be invited. When making the guest list, consider the space capacity of your chosen venue. It ís a good idea to hire a professional to capture this momentous occasion. Sure, your friends can take good pictures and some of them may own a camcorder. But for this special occasion, you would want something special, lasting, and visually presentable. This way you could also share them with your friends and family. Don't forget the cake! It's a good idea to have a tasting first, before settling on a cake. Invite your family and friends for the cake tasting. This way, this task becomes fun for everyone! Order wedding invitations. If you want to get creative, you can always print your own. This way, you can customize them, and add a more personal touch to the invitation. Don't forget to start looking for a wedding gown months before the wedding so the bride has plenty of time to make a selection. Also, you should make arrangements to rent or buy a tuxedo or suit preferably in advance in case there is trouble with the fitting. Couples who don't have enough time on their hands or just find the preparations that go into planning a wedding too overwhelming can always just hire a wedding planner. This way, everything gets organized and coordinated for them. But if you decide to go the wedding planner route, don't forget to add this cost into your budget. I would love to hear your thoughts. Please feel free to comment below. Stop by and check us out on www.djxtc.net Facebook Twitter Pinterest Instagram
9/14/2015
Wedding Cake Activities
Upon arrival at the wedding reception, many guests head for the cake table so they can admire the cake. Some time later, the wedding couple come along for a picture opportunity and the grand cutting of the cake. Then everyone enjoys cake and it's gone. Believe it or not, there are many more activities that can make the wedding cake more about fun and less about tradition.
Of course, watching the wedding couple push cake into each other's mouths is a long-enjoyed tradition, but there are many more fun - and less messy - activities to consider as well. One new option that's gaining popularity is to have cupcakes instead of a cake. This is a method that is usually more affordable than having a cake and it can be a lot of fun. Cupcakes are decorated in alignment with the wedding theme, just as a cake is, but the cupcakes are instead arranged on tiered cake plates and displayed on a cake table until it's time to eat them. The cupcakes can be simply handed out on plates to each wedding guest. Now, what's fun about using cupcakes instead of a whole wedding cake is you can save money, certainly, as many reception halls and caterers charge a per slice fee to cut and serve the wedding cake, but you can also build activities into the cupcake presentation. For example, the cupcakes that are for the bride and groom can have a different decoration than the ones for the guests. As an extra touch, you can have the baker include a special prize in one or several cupcakes. A small charm or tiny toy can be baked into the cupcake. Whoever gets the charm wins a special prize. These prizes can range from a gift basket or gift certificate to a restaurant to a dance with the bride or groom. Some like to use a Southern tradition and have charms baked into the wedding cake. Similar to the idea above for cupcakes, this involves baking small charms or tiny toys (but usually charms) into the cake. Those who get one of the charms are said to have good luck. You might even consider having charm bracelet charms baked into the cake, which are then made into a charm bracelet . Not everyone enjoys cake. How about an activity for those who won't be eating cake? They can be required to do the "Macarena" or the chicken dance during the time when everyone else is eating cake. If they manage to do the dance continuously while the other guests enjoy cake, they win a prize. Or they simply get to sit down, as now they are tired! In keeping with the dance during cake theme, how about a requirement that in order to get cake, a guest must perform an impromptu dance first? Or there could be trivia questions about the couple or about popular culture. Guests must correctly answer the questions before getting their cake. There could be competitions among tables or individuals for most questions answered correctly. Many people believe that once the cake is cut, they are free to leave if they wish. Since cake cutting usually comes after the meal and after dancing and other traditional celebration activities, many people take the opportunity to leave the party after the cake is cut and enjoyed. If the wedding couple want their guests to stay after the cake is eaten, it is worth some extra effort to build some activities into the cake-cutting event so people will stick around longer. This can be as simple as telling people not to leave, or can be more subtle and fun. For example, each person could receive a slip of paper with his or her cake. These slips of paper could be prepared ahead and provided to the catering company with instructions that one folded strip of paper be placed on each plate with the cake. The paper might give an agenda for the rest of the evening or might ask its recipient to perform a little dance, to head over to give the couple a kiss, or might ask them to take the flower girl out on the dance floor for a spin. The unknown will keep all the guests guessing and provide some entertainment as the instructions are carried out. I would love to hear your thoughts. Please feel free to comment below. Stop by and check us out on www.djxtc.net Facebook Twitter Pinterest Instagram
8/31/2015
The Importance Of Music At A Wedding
There are two aspects of wedding music that need to be addressed when planning your big day. First, you may wish to select certain music or arrange for professional soloists or musicians to play during the actual wedding ceremony. But at the wedding reception, it’s pretty much anything goes when it comes to selecting wedding music, provided it’s tasteful.
Right away is the time to plan your wedding music. Good talent gets booked fast and you don’t want to end up having to select the brand new DJ with only a few weddings under his belt or something even worse. Booking your music a full year in advance is advisable but at a minimum, you should know who will be showing up and what he or she will be playing at least six months prior to the wedding date. For most weddings, selecting the music for the wedding ceremony isn’t that complicated because most often, it’s controlled by the person in charge at the location where the ceremony will take place. When you’re researching your wedding ceremony options, be sure to inquire about any guidelines with respect to wedding ceremony music as these could possibly impact your decision. If the ceremony is being held outdoors, check for electrical hook-ups or book live musicians. Wedding music during the ceremony is basically secondary to the ceremony itself so the music is really meant to sort of ‘fill in the gaps’ during the non-speaking periods such as while guests are being seated, during the procession, and while lighting the unity candles. Of course, it’s your wedding and it can be custom-designed. The music that’s played at the reception, however, is going to mean the difference between a successful reception and one that’s ho-hum. And this is where things can start to get complicated. When you begin searching for wedding reception music, you’ll realize rather quickly that you have a lot of options. You can book a live band, or a DJ that’ll play pre-recorded music, or you can buy that CD full of top wedding songs and have someone act as the DJ. The later leaves little or no control and isn’t really suggested . It’s important that you both agree on the type of wedding music you want played at your reception. There are ‘traditional’ songs that almost always are played at certain points during the reception such as the father/daughter dance, the cake cutting, the dollar dance and so on. And then there is all the music in between. Do you want jazz, country, R&B, new age, Italian, Latin, Jewish-inspired, or a little bit of everything? That’s an important decision to make because the musicians you select have to be able to deliver what you want or you won’t be happy. Try to book experienced professionals for your wedding music. If booking live talent, arrange to hear a live performance before booking. Scrutinize the contract before signing to make sure all parties agree on the number of hours music will be provided and that everything that has been agreed to is in writing. Find out the cancellation and refund policy, too. I would love to hear your thoughts. Please feel free to comment below. Stop by and check us out on www.djxtc.net Facebook Twitter Pinterest Instagram
8/25/2015
Bridal Shower Games
If you’re hosting a bridal shower, there are literally hundreds of games to choose from. Some are silly, some are serious, but all are about having some fun with the bride before she’s married. Here’s a sampling.
One fun game really puts the bride on the spot with regard to her knowledge of her husband-to-be’s life. Prior to the party, have someone ask the groom a series of questions, such as where he was born, what his favorite food is, things like that. Then at the bridal shower, put the bride on the spot by asking her the answers to the questions. See how many she can get right (hopefully at least half!). If she does well, give the girl a prize; she deserves one. One all-time favorite game is toilet paper wedding dresses. This game involves separating the guests into teams consisting of at least 2 people and no more than 5. Give each team a roll or toilet paper (or 2) and have them fashion a wedding dress out of the toilet paper. One of the team members will volunteer as the model. Provide them with a “dress up trunk” filled with jewelry and shoes. They must make the dress out of the toilet paper, but they can accessorize with the provided jewelry, shoes, gloves and hats. Place a time limit on this (5 minutes is adequate) and have the bride vote on the best dress. Be sure to provide prizes for the winning team! Another fun game that’s always a hit is making the bride get dressed while blindfolded. Tell the bride she is to pretend she’s on her honeymoon and the power has gone off. She must prepare for her wedding night in complete darkness. Provide her with a suitcase filled with items and then blindfold her. She must get dressed in a certain period of time (2 minutes is adequate) while completely blindfolded and with no help from the guests. Include some silly items like oversized sunglasses, garden gloves or a flannel nightgown just to make it fun. This is a photo opportunity, so be sure someone is waiting to record the end result! Another fun game puts the shower guests more on the sport than the bride. In this game, everyone puts their purses in the center of the room. Create a list of items commonly found in a purse and assign a point value and create a list of less common items and give them a higher point value. So you might give lipstick 2 points, a tampon 3 points, and sunglasses 5 points. But a granola bar could be 10 points and a staple remover, 15 points. Then go through the purses awarding points and give the person with the highest number of points (and therefore, the most items and probably highest number of unusual items) a prize. Before the shower, create bingo cards for this shower bingo game. In the squares, put pictures of items you think the bride will receive at the shower. So, boxes might include things like lingerie, towels and the like. As the bride opens gifts, have people mark off that item on their bingo card. If nobody gets a “bingo” give a prize to the person who marked off the most number of items. This next game is a derivation of a popular game that’s often played at bachelorette parties and involves a stripper. This is the clean version. About 30 minutes into the party, have the bride leave the room and pass out pieces of paper. Have everyone write on the paper everything they can remember about the bride’s outfit, hair, etc. How many rings is she wearing? What color is her blouse? Is she wearing open or closed toed shoes? Once everyone is done recording their observations, the bride comes back into the room and a prize is awarded to the person with the best observation skills. Please feel free to comment below. Stop by and check us out on www.djxtc.net Facebook Twitter Pinterest Instagram
8/25/2015
Bouquet Activities
When a couple orders the wedding bouquet, it might not seem that any “activities” will come from it other than as a thing to hold but the bouquet can be the source of many interesting activities and meaningful gestures.
During there ceremony there are all kinds of possibilities. You cold go traditional and have a flower for both the mothers .The moms, in particular, love this activity and guests usually appreciate it as well. What if you turned that traditional gesture on its head and supplied flowers for both the mothers and the fathers? If the couple supplies flowers to both the men and women, there are a couple of ways to do this. What if dad’s flower was enclosed in a verse that he will then get up and read at the ceremony? What if it was a flower to recognize the members of the family who have passed, and it gives dad an opportunity to recognize those family members? If the couple chooses not to have a unity candle, but wants some gesture like it, they can have a bouquet designed by having several small bouquets put together. At an appropriate time during the ceremony, the wedding bouquet is “broken up” and various people might receive a share, such as the mothers and fathers of the couple. Now, if the couple wants to hang onto the wedding bouquet during the wedding ceremony, but is willing to have some fun with it at the reception, there are a few options there as well. How about a dance involving the wedding bouquet? This is silly, but fun. The wedding bouquet is on display somewhere near the dance floor and guests must guess a flower that’s in the bouquet before they can enter the dance floor. The first few guests might not have a problem as some flowers are obvious, like roses and tulips, but others might give people pause. Of course, this won’t work if the bridal bouquet is all roses or some other single and obvious flower but for a traditional mixed bouquet, it can work well.For a naughty touch, the couple can hide a garter in the wedding bouquet and actually put it on before it gets taken off. Or there can have a couple of breakaway bouquets that are wrapped in garter belts, so the main one doesn’t get thrown, but instead the tiny bouquets with garter belts attached are thrown. When it comes time to throw her bouquet, there are several options. Some couples choose not to keep their bouquet and simply pluck one flower out of it before chucking the whole thing during the bouquet toss. This is an alternative to having a special bouquet set aside for throwing, and there are others as well.Are there are a lot of single women coming to the wedding? Maybe one thrown bouquet won’t be enough. Many couples these days are opting for something a little more fun.There are a few options, really. One popular option is to have the florist create several small bouquets and then bundle them to look like one bouquet. They are tied lightly with a ribbon. When it comes time for the bouquet toss, untie the ribbon, and throw the “bouquet” which is actually several little bouquets. Several people will catch the bouquet, rather than just one. Please feel free to comment below. Stop by and check us out on www.djxtc.net Facebook Twitter Pinterest Instagram
1. Photos on Canvas
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have your favourite wedding photo transformed into stunning photo art? By printing the image onto a hand-stretched canvas you can give an artistic, finished look to your most classic wedding photo. 2. Personalized Stamp Turn your favourite wedding photo in a custom postage stamp. All you need to do is upload a photo and then customize it just the way you want. Each stamp is actual valid postage and can be used to decorate your thank you and holiday card envelopes or as creative wedding favours. Add a personal touch to everything you send by mail and create a timeless keepsake as well. 3. Custom Thank You Card By featuring one of your wedding photos on the front of a custom note card you can create classy customized thank you cards for your guests and others who helped with your wedding planning. Each of your guests will now have a photo keepsake from your special day. 4. Create a Multimedia DVD Slide-Show You can create a DVD slide-show presentation of your wedding photos that can be played on your TV. You can even select your first dance or other favourite song as your background music. A neat and interactive way to create a memory of your wedding day. 5. Online Scrapbook Tell the story of your wedding by publishing an online scrapbook. Include photos from the events leading up to your big day including showers, stags, rehearsal parties as well as the ceremony and reception. Your scrapbook will be easy to share with all of your guests because it will be available via the internet. 6. Digital Photobook Trendy coffee table style albums are becoming more and more popular with so many people looking for new ways to display their digital prints. These unique albums include hard cover options such as suede and canvas. The easy to use software helps you design your photobook just the way you want it with many choices for image sizes and layouts. 7. Wedding Caricature A wedding caricature is cartoon version of you and your spouse on your wedding day. Each image is hand drawn by an artist and makes for the perfect first anniversary gift. We would love to hear your thoughts. Please comment below, stop by and check out www.djxtc.net Facebook Twitter Pinterest Instagram
Being disc jockeys, we get the opportunity to evaluate many reception facilities while having little or no bias to "sell” one location over another. Most couples know where they will be holding the ceremony before they decide where to have the reception, so I have compiled five observations that can help you when selecting your venue.
Distance – If people have to drive a long way to get from the ceremony to the reception, some will get distracted or decide to do something else. Try to keep the reception within a 15 to 30 minute drive of your ceremony. If it is not possible to get a reception hall close to your ceremony, make a caravan. Have the wedding couple lead the parade, and people will follow you to your reception. Time – Time is just like the distance issue. If your reception is several hours after the ceremony,during the break, people will get busy doing other things and not show up for the reception. Try to start the reception within an hour or two of the ceremony. If you don’t want to start your wedding dance at 4 o’clock in the afternoon, have a cocktail mixer before your reception. Serve some punch and get people to mingle. This will be one of the few times that both families will be together. Encourage family members to share stories about your childhoods. Size – People like their personal space, and they have most likely spent an hour packed into a church for your ceremony. If you let them spread out, they will enjoy themselves more. Make sure your reception hall has plenty of room for your guests. The people renting the location might tell you it holds 200 people, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it will hold 200 people comfortably! Make sure to visit the venue before booking. Climate Control – Having a summer wedding? Is your reception hall air conditioned? If people sweat while just sitting, they won’t dance. On the flip side, if they are cold they won’t dance either (who wants to dance in a parka?). Also make sure you know who has control of the thermostat so the temperature can be adjusted if needed. Chances are your reception will be warm and stuffy while all the guest are there, but as they trickle out during the night the room will begin to cool down. Smoking – This is a hot button issue, you can fully expect smokers to leave your reception for 15-30 minutes every hour. If enough of them leave the reception area, you may find a large percentage of your guest just hanging outside in the smoking area. This can be a big problem if you have many smokers in your wedding party. You might not be a smoker but it is something you should consider. How close is the nearest place for a smoker to go? Is it close enough that you will be able to get needed wedding party members during events like the bouquet toss or garter auction? Facility coordinators will no doubt bring up several other factors for you to consider when you interview them for your booking, but these are often missed items.If you keep the overall picture in mind and work with your wedding planner or event coordinator on the decorating ideas, you will no doubt have an enjoyable and memorable wedding reception. We would love to hear your thoughts. Please follow us and comment below. www.djxtc.net Facebook Twitter Pinterest Instagram The wedding vow is the promise the couple make to each other during the wedding ceremony. A wedding without vows is an unfamiliar sight. Wedding vows are essential in any marriage ceremony. Now-a-days, modern wedding ceremonies offer the flexibility of allowing you to write and say your own vows. If you decide to write your own personally meaningful wedding vows, then here are a few things to keep in mind. 1. When you write your own vows, you naturally start to think of all the good reasons why you want to be with the person you are going to marry. Writing your own vows makes the words you say more natural and from the heart. 2. If you don’t know what to say, or you don’t know how to start it, or you just want to add a few additional thoughts, then you can get ideas by reading books on the topic or performing a search on the web for free wedding vows. You can look at a few of the sample wedding vows online and borrow some ideas or words from each to add to your own unique vows. You can also try taking a particular sample and just changing a few words to suit you. You can also take a wedding vow you really like and use it as is. 3. If you want a touch of artistic expression to your vows, try adding a few lines of poetry from the popular works by Gibran, Keats or Browning. 4. You may want to include some of the lyrics from your favourite song. Couple’s often have a song or tune that symbolizes their love for each other, sort of like the song that is danced to during the reception or after the wedding dinner. 5. While you are thinking about what to say in your vows, you may consider your lifestyles, your personalities and your interests. 7. Share with each other what you have written. You both can bounce back ideas; revive special moments you had with each other. This will help you discover what to include in your vows. Make sure you let the Officiate or person who will be marrying you know ahead of time that you are writing your own vows. He or she can inform you about what must be included and may provide a few pointers. One final thought. Saying your wedding vows during the ceremony can be frightening. You may be scared that you might mess up. Well don’t be. It’s okay to stumble a bit. You will be able to correct yourself. Know that writing your own vows and practicing a bit will help you both gain the confidence you need to do well. We would love to hear your thoughts. Comment below and follow us www.djxtc.net Facebook Twitter Pinterest Instagram
A photo album complete with a picture of you and the bridesmaid or the entire wedding party can be another unique gift idea . You could purchase photo albums with the date of your wedding engraved on the front cover and start the photo album with a picture of you and the wedding party. This is a wonderful gift idea because the wedding party can place their photos from the wedding day in the album and will always have a precious souvenir from the day.
Gift certificates to a spa or a salon also make unique gift ideas for your wedding party . They most likely spent a great deal of time and energy in helping you to plan your wedding. The week prior to your wedding was also probably especially hectic with a great deal of last minute details to attend to and errands to run. While you will have your honeymoon to relax and renew your energy your wedding party do not have this luxury so by honouring them by presenting them with a gift certificate to a spa or salon you are giving them the gift or being pampered and the gift of relaxation. A few more unique gift ideas for your wedding party gifts include handcrafted or homemade gifts. For example you could put together a CD of some of favourite songs. You could make the CDs different for each person and include a photo of the two of you on the cover and include a heartfelt poem on the inside of the CD cover. You could also create a scrapbook for each person . You could either make the scrapbook a memory of your entire friendship together and include photos and other items from your various adventures throughout the years or if you plan ahead and take many photos documenting your wedding preparations, you could create scrapbooks as a remembrance of the wedding planning that you shared. Any item that relates to a specific hobby that your partner enjoys is a great idea for a wedding gift . This is a popular choice because giving a gift that relates to one of his/her hobbies demonstrates that you understand their likes and that you want them to continue to engage in activities that they enjoy. Another unique gift idea for is a gift certificate to a local restaurant. Assisting in your wedding preparations was probably extremely stressful and time consuming for the wedding party and they certainly deserve a night on the town and the opportunity to not have to cook for a night. This simple gift lets them know that you appreciate their efforts and that you want to thank them for all that they have done to support you. Unique gift ideas can also stem from the wedding theme. For example if you are having a beach themed wedding you might want to give a gift of a tote bag, a beach towel and a novel to enjoy on the beach. This unique gift idea ensures that your friends will remember your wedding fondly the next time they are at the beach. Although the tradition of exchanging gifts on the wedding day is beginning to fade, many couples still wish to honour this tradition. Many couples spend so much money on their wedding and reception that they feel as though they cannot afford the additional expense of buying gifts for each other. While it may be true that the couple cannot afford one more extravagant gift it is also true that a truly thoughtful gift for the groom does not have to be overly expensive. If the couple is partaking in this tradition it is advisable that they exchange gifts that truly reflect the personality of their spouse. We would love to hear your thoughts ! Please comment below, stop by and check out www.djxtc.net Facebook Twitter Pinterest Instagram *Photo Credit
When young people spend their math classes daydreaming of weddings (instead of winning the Super Bowl — not to say you can’t do both), what do they dream of first? The perfect wedding dress, of course: a gown in white satin with a bustle and sweeping train, the perfect embellishments, and the perfect shoes. There are few occasions in our modern world where a person finds themselves in a position to wear a no-holds-barred ball gown, much less a crystal tiara, and all too many where they called on to wear to a neutral suit or uninspiring “biz-caz” combo. No wonder that with so many people, their wedding plans start with the dress. Many of these dreamers are lucky. They may search high and low, braving chilly department stores and pushy bridal shops, but eventually they come face-to-face with THE ONE. They know this is THE ONE because they start crying, or their parents or friends all start crying at once. Suddenly the rest of the planning … the theme, the tone, the right kind of venues … it all springs to life.
Other people aren’t as fortunate. They’ve searched just as hard, working their way through shops across ten stores and even more websites but they haven’t found THE ONE. Instead, they’ve found three or four contenders, all of which are serviceable and nice, but not earth-shattering enough to tell them that now is definitely time to stop the searching and get on with the planning. These people have it harder. Even if you’re the first kind of person, buying the dress is such a momentous decision that you run a risk of falling into that wallet-skinning category known as the Two-Dress Person. Here are a few tips for picking the perfect dress and avoiding that awful fate. 1. Bring the entourage, but don’t buy. It’s fun and useful to bring your parents, friends or siblings on the dress-shopping expedition. It gives you a buffer against an overbearing sales staff, and it’s fun to see if your impressions of perfection are shared by your loved ones, not to mention how they’ll love being part of such an important decision. But no matter how enthusiastic everyone gets over a certain dress, don’t buy in the heat of the moment. Give yourself time to reconsider and buy with a cool head later, alone. The vast majority of dresses are non-returnable, so when you’ve bought it, you’ve bought it. 2. Don’t buy too early unless you must. Bridal gowns can take four to eight months to come from the manufacturer but there’s no reason to buy over a year ahead of time, unless your chosen style is going to be discontinued. Give yourself some time to sit on your decision. Once you pick a gown, you’ll see a hundred others nearly like it. You’ll become a walking encyclopedia on that style of gown. All the better if you still have room to choose. 3. If you’ve bought “The One,” stop shopping. Any more window-shopping at this point will only lead you down the road toward the dreary land of Two-Dress People. What you need to do instead is remember that blissful feeling of having tried on THE ONE . Go get THE ONE out of the closet, put it on and stand in front of the mirror. You’ll remember exactly why it’s THE ONE. 4. If you’ve bought “The One” and can’t stop shopping, get a second opinion. Show your first and second choices to other people. Be honest — tell them you’ve already remortgaged your condo for the first dress, but you think this second dress might be It. They’ll be truthful, too — the first one was better. You’ll feel reassured. 5. Don’t tell yourself “I’ll sell the old dress and choose a new one.” This old saw of the Two-Dress people just won’t work. You’ll never get more than a fraction of what you paid for your first dress if you bought it new. 6. Don’t be afraid to aim high — no matter what your budget. Some people knew from the start they wanted a designer label, but life just didn’t cooperate by making them heiresses. Yet all is not lost if you’re willing to shop courageously. At any given moment, a better-heeled person is selling her once-used St. Pucchi or Ulla-Maija on eBay. They paid thousands upon thousands, but you, smart shopper, will pay half that or less. To take this road, you must shop earlier than other people so you’ll have a choice of gowns. Always pay with a credit card so you’ll have recourse if the dress doesn’t arrive in acceptable condition, and again, shop early so you can buy another if necessary. Shop courageously, but not recklessly. 7. Shop online, but never send a cheque. (yes, people still take those) Wedding gown businesses sometimes have a way of disappearing overnight. No matter what the proprietor tells you, never make a purchase as large as a wedding gown without the chargeback protection of a credit card. If they say they can’t take plastic, move on. 8. Don’t hold out forever for THE ONE. Some people never find THE ONE. What they do find is a few dresses they look beautiful in. If you’re this person, try starting your planning from the theme instead of the dress. You’ll probably eventually get sick to death of dress shopping. When that happens, “good enough” really will be good enough. Concentrate on other aspects of the wedding that mean a lot to you, like the venue, the food, or the inevitable adoration of your soon-to-be partner. We would love to hear your thoughts. Please comment below, stop by and check out www.djxtc.net Facebook Twitter Pinterest Instagram If you'd like more information on how DJ XTC Entertainment Services can help with transitioning your event please email or call us at: bookings@thetorontoweddingdj.com or call/text/WhatsApp 1 800 826 8014
7/23/2015
Being The Best Man
I have been blessed to have been a Best Man twice so far. They were about fifteen years apart and I admit freely that the first time I really sucked ( Sorry Michelle & Jeremy ) .
The second time however I was determined to do the job fully and to the best of my ability. The way I made sure that I took care of my Best Man duties was to research and compile the following list . Contribute You don’t really have to do any wedding planning but you should offer to help with anything that might be needed. Step in where you can lessen the weight of everything that is being put together. Organize A Party I guess this should really start with “ASK , if a party is desired”. This could be an Engagement Party , Jack and Jill , Buck and Doe or any other Pre-wedding event. Of course all the planning is not yours alone. Delegate essential tasks to the other members of the wedding in party. Prepare Make sure that the members of the Wedding Party have their wedding attire fitted. Let the Ushers know what their jobs are and where they will be standing. Assist When the big day arrives is when your main job starts : - Organize and distribute final payment to vendors. - Make sure all paper work is brought to the ceremony to be signed and witnessed. - On wedding day you are most likely in charge of the safe keeping of the Wedding Rings. Present The Rings Present The Rings at the appropriate time during the ceremony. You may have to present the rings to the officiant or even to the couple . That aspect should be sorted out during the Wedding Rehearsal. Make sure there are no last minute tasks left undone Be at the reception early to finalize last minute tasks, greet the guest and get the Wedding Party ready for the Grand Entrance. Toast Most people are not fans of public speaking but this is the spot where the Best Man can shine. If toasts are not scheduled then this is a great time to step up and propose the first toast. An organized and witty Best Man Speech will help make your contributions memorable. Be attentive Your job is to help by being a contributing member of the events . Yes that will include dancing . It will also include attending to the wedding couple’s needs this will free them up to enjoy their reception. After the reception The wedding day is over but the Best Man should make sure that all rentals are returned ( tuxedos , decor , equipment etc ) This list isn’t the be all but it has helped me to be a contributing member of the wedding party as opposed to just a fixture at the head table.Can you think of other things not mentioned that should be taken care of by the best man? I would love to hear your thoughts www.djxtc.net Facebook Twitter Pinterest Instagram
7/23/2015
Wedding Reception MusicThere are many popular songs that people associate with weddings however more and more people are choosing songs that are appropriate for their particular time in life. Songs that are popular at the moment are quite nice to choose for wedding songs simply because when you look back in the years to come whenever you hear that particular song you will associate it with your wedding and with that time of your life. People often choose songs that are currently their favourites to use at their wedding rather than the traditional wedding songs that most people have used in the past. This can often add a more upbeat or relaxed tone to the day and the simple act of choosing something different will also help others remember the day too. It is entirely up to you what you choose and what makes you feel good. It's nice if you and your partner can share a special song that means something to you or where the lyrics might have some special significance. Sentimental moments attached to a song can have a huge impact that will be remembered for the rest of your life and there is nothing more important than your wedding day so take your time to choose something that you feel is appropriate and fitting for the occasion. Obviously the lyrics of the song will have great importance for most people and you can find the lyrics for almost any song ever written by doing a search on the Internet. You might find that your choice of song could change after you have thoroughly reviewed the words in the lyrics. Even the instruments that are used to play the wedding song can completely change the mood of the moment so that is another factor that you should consider and could be a good reason for hiring a live musician for a first dance. We we love to hear your thoughts. Please comment below, stop by and check out www.djxtc.net Facebook Twitter Pinterest Instagram
7/21/2015
Getting Married On The BeachDepending on the weather, a beach wedding can be a unique and memorable occasion that has flair and casualness yet retains the romantic aspect of the freedom of being able to get away to the beach and do as you please. It is also an opportunity to have a wedding that people will remember without the expense that is associated with booking a reception venue and the other expenses that go hand in hand with more formal weddings. You will need to choose a location where you will be able to have your wedding ceremony without the intrusion of outsiders who could affect your plans and there are other factors that you need to consider including who your guests will be and how they will cope with the conditions as some elderly guests might find it a little bit difficult on the beach. There are of course always solutions to these problems and most of them are relatively cheap. If you are living in an area where there are beautiful beaches within a reasonable distance from yourself, your friends and your family then it is well worth considering a beach wedding because the beach in itself will add beauty to the occasion. If you cannot rely 100% on the weather then you will need to look at alternative venues should the weather make it unsuitable for you to have your beach wedding. You will also need to consider the tide times and whether or not there will be sufficient room on the beach for the wedding party to perform the ceremony suitably. Like any other venue good planning and preparation will make all the difference on the day and even though a beach wedding is a very casual affair there is still certain planning that needs to go into ensuring that there won't be any problems with that particular setup. www.djxtc.net Facebook Twitter Pinterest Instagram |
Neal A. McFarlane is a seasoned and devoted full-time wedding DJ and MC based in Toronto. With over 40 years of experience in the industry, Neal possesses a wealth of knowledge and expertise that he brings to each event he hosts. His love for music and dedication to creating unforgettable moments for his clients fuel his passion for delivering exceptional service and a remarkable experience for all involved. Whether it's through his music selection, MC skills, or attention to detail, Neal ensures that every wedding he DJs is a unique and unforgettable affair.
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