Thursday, December 8, 2011

Determine Your Wedding Reception Vision BEFORE Booking Your Wedding Venue!


After being a part of the industry for nearly seven years as Boston wedding DJ's, we have seen what aspects make a great wedding and what details take away from the party.  Often, there are inviting distractions outside of the main reception room that may take your guests away from the party.  When this happens, it becomes difficult for your wedding DJ to keep a packed dance floor.  A tip that we suggest is to take some time and think about exactly how you vision your reception before booking your wedding venue.  Are you looking for a laid back event where some guests may be dancing while others may be chatting outside by the waterfront with a glass of wine and enjoying the beautiful view?  Or are you looking for a reception where the dance floor is packed the entire night?  Ideas such as this need to be in place before booking your wedding venue, as the reception site plays an integral part in making your vision become a reality.
If you are looking for a relaxed reception where you would like your guests to do as they please whether it be dancing, socializing by the bar, sitting out on the patio,  playing lawn games, or sitting by the waterfront and socializing with other guests, then any wedding venue that offers these types of amenities will probably suit your needs.
If you would like all guests to remain in a single area and be on the dance floor all night, please consider these next few tips before making a decision on your venue.  Think about what distractions there might be at each venue you visit that would cause guests to venture outside of the main reception hall.  Is your party outside on the water where guests can easily leave the tent and roam around on their own in order to enjoy the view?  Is there a very inviting patio area that will remain open to guests during the dancing portion of the evening?  Is the bar outside of the room where guests may congregate and socialize?  By limiting distractions that take place outside of the reception hall, guests are more likely to remain together in one room.  This will then allow your wedding DJ to have more control over keeping your guests dancing all night long.
You may also want to think about the time of day your reception will take place.  Guests tend to find it easier to dance during the evening and night time, rather than in the morning or middle of the afternoon.  If you have a reception hall with windows that let in a significant amount of light, you may want to try to plan your reception so that the dancing portion takes place when it will be darker outside.  This will lend for more of a party atmosphere.  But again, if you are looking for a relaxed reception and not a packed dance floor all day/night, then the time of day for your reception may not play an important role.
Lastly, if you are looking for that jamming party and would like guests to indulge in a few extra cocktails, then you may want to choose a venue that has rooms onsite for guests to stay.  Or providing guests with bus or trolley transportation to and from a local hotel is also another option that guests will be be very appreciative of.
So before making that huge decision on where to have your wedding reception, it may be worth taking the extra time to sit down with your fiance and really discussing what it is that you both envision for your party.  Once you have your expectations set, it will make booking your wedding venue much easier and will help to make that wedding vision become a reality!
Happy planning!


Looking for a Boston wedding DJ?  Contact Avid Entertainment for information on wedding packages.
 




Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Krista & Jeff 7.16.11

On a gorgeous afternoon in July, Krista & Jeff were married at the Henry Law Park in Dover, NH. For months we had planned along with Krista and her mom, Pat the perfect wedding for this special couple.

After changing venues(just a few times ;) they had picked the Rivermill at Dover Landing.
The Rivermill has a very neutral color palette making it an ideal venue to bring in all your personal touches. If you're still looking for a venue, I suggest you give Michelle a call for a site visit and tell her we say hello!

The seating chart, table numbers, and candy buffet were created by us, Lily Belle Events. For information on any of our services or for a complimentary consult for your wedding, contact us. We'd love to work with you!

The guests were up dancing the entire time, thanks to Chad from Get Down Tonight Entertainment for providing such a fun and exciting mix of music! Please enjoy the beautiful photos below from the wonderful photographer Dave, A Photographic Memory.

Flower's were designed by Drinkwater Flowers of Hampton, NH. 


















Us with the just married couple!





 


Monday, December 5, 2011

Perfect gifts for the women in your life!

It's that time of year again! The holidays are just around the corner. We all know the saying "what do you get for the woman who has everything?" Well below is a list of perfect gifts to please all the ladies on your list! (click the pictures to go right to the website to purchase!)

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*Kate Spade All-Occasion Card Set...$35

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*Sweet Lydia's "Marshmallow & Cookbooklet" Gift Basket...$25
(local vendor-Lowell, MA!)
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*Sea Bags Eco-Friendly Wine Tote...$29 (don't forget to add a bottle of wine ;)
(local vendor-Portland, ME!)

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 *SpaFinder.com giftcard...$varies
(who doesn't enjoy a spa treat?!)
*Turtle Love Co. Key Necklace...$35
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...Now for some Etsy finds!

*Coral Clutch...$22


*Love Floats Screen Print...$40
(my favorite! hint hint to my husband, friend or family that need an idea(I'll know you read this blog!)



*Nerd Herder gadget wallet...$29


*Shabby Chic Bead Bracelet...$17
(another one of my faves!)


*Siamese Canvas Tote...$15
(is she a pet lover?)

That's all I've got! I hope I could help you cross off at least one name :) Go shop NOW!
  




Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Thanks for Thanksgiving(drinks)!!

The fall is almost over and the holiday season is beginning. What better way to enjoy it all with delicious drinks with friends and family!



The Mayflower Martini: 
-1.5 oz. of Rhum Clément Première Canne
-.5 oz. of Rhum Clément Créole Shrubb
-1 oz. of Cranberry juice
-Purée of half of a golden pear
-Powdered cinnamon

Method: In mixing glass filled with ice, stir Rhum Clément Première Canne and Rhum Clément Créole Shrubb with cranberry juice and allow to sit for 30 seconds. Rim the cocktail glass with the powdered cinnamon and pour the purée of the pear in the bottom of the glass. Slowly pour the cocktail over the back of a spoon onto the purée of the pear.
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The Pumpkin Martini:
1/2 oz Sylk Cream Liqueur
2 oz vanilla vodka
1/2 oz pumpkin liqueur or pumpkin spice syrup
1 tsp whipped creamcinnamon stick for garnish
  1. Pour the Sylk Liqueur and vodka into a shaker filled with ice.
  2.  Shake well.
  3. Add the pumpkin liqueur or syrup.
  4. Shake again.
  5. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
  6. Top with a teaspoon of whipped cream.
  7. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.
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The B-52:
-1/2 ounce Kahlua (or Tia Maria)
-1/2 ounce Bailey’s Irish Cream
-1/2 ounce Grand Marnier

Pour the Kahlua into a shot glass, then layer the Bailey’s, and then the Grand Marnier.
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Pomegranate Fizz:
  -1 1/4 cups demi-sec sparkling wine (such as Gruet), chilled 
-2/3 cup pomegranate juice, chilled 
-1 tablespoon fresh lime juice 
-Lime wedges (optional)
 Combine first 3 ingredients. Garnish with lime wedges, if desired.
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5 great Fall Beers(in no particular order):

 1. Southern Tier Brewing Co.
PumKing Ale
2. Peak Organic Brewing Co.
Peak Organic Fall Summit
 

3. Southern Tier Brewing Co.
Choklat Stout

4. Dogfish Head Brewery
Punkin Ale

5. Harpoon Brewery
Grateful Harvest Cranberry Ale




              Be safe and enjoy!
 









sources: 
http://cocktails.about.com/od/vodkadrinkrecipes/r/pumpkin_martini.htm
http://archive.blisstree.com/feel/thanksgiving-cocktail-recipes/ 
http://www.cookinglight.com/entertaining/holidays-occasions/thanksgiving-cocktails-00412000073474/page6.html


 

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Why Hire A Planner?

Have you ever had a married friend tell you, “The wedding day is all a blur and it’s so difficult to take it all in”? I tied the knot a little over a year ago, and let me tell you that your friend is absolutely right! The wedding day, the ceremony, and the reception will be over in the blink of an eye, and before you know it, you’ve opened a few gifts and you’re off on your honeymoon. I’ll also tell you that hiring a planner won’t slow that time down. However, by hiring an experienced wedding planner, you’ll be able to let go and enjoy your day – your unforgettable special moment – and your entire planning process!

Even though all brides want to let go, some believe that hiring a wedding planner is a frivolous expense. True, it’s an expense that you don’t have to pay for, but the reality is that a good coordinator can keep you on budget and make sure you spend your money wisely. A good planner knows the vendors in the area, knows the discounts available, and is experienced in negotiating contracts with your florist, photographer, DJ, etc. So that “frivolous” expense can actually save you money – and is guaranteed to save you time! Plus, as planners, we know the personalities of the vendors we refer. One of my favorite parts of the planning process is matching up the personalities of the clients with the right vendors – then seeing those perfect matches come together on the wedding day!

Still not convinced (or still having trouble convincing your parents?)? Here are some other factors to keep in mind:

• If you have a “wedding coordinator” from your reception venue, it is not the same as hiring an event planner. Don’t get me wrong, there are some amazing coordinators at the venues, but this individual’s job is to make sure that everything relating to the facility runs properly. A planner will be a second set of eyes at the event and will make sure every detail is covered – even the little things like making sure the champagne is poured before the toasts start or loading your gifts into your family’s car at the end of the night.

• Creating a detailed itinerary is something everyone can do, but a planner understands how vendors rely on each other and the need for a thorough timeline. There may even be details you planned several months back that you do not even remember, but on the day of, the planner will ensure those special details happen – on time.

• The planner is the “go to” person. Many times weddings can have 20+ vendors involved in pulling off an event. When you then factor that number in with your entire wedding party, family, and guests, that can be a lot of people with questions and concerns! As a planner, we can help provide people with answers and ensure that on your day, you only have to think about the love and joy of the day!

• What if the cake doesn’t arrive on time or if there is broken glass on the dance floor? What if your getaway car at the end of the night doesn’t show up? Whether you like to admit it or not, most big events involve some type of crisis – which you will not want to deal with. Our experience gained from working in the industry allows us to anticipate challenges that a client may not see coming.

• Your big event, if you were to plan it yourself, would likely be your first time planning a wedding, and you may not be aware of proper etiquette and protocol. We ask the questions that you don’t even think to ask! We are here to help guide you in the process.

• For the couples that don’t mind the long hours or really enjoy being hands on, having a planner can still beneficial to you. A planner is not hired to take over and make decisions for you, but rather a planner is there to guide and assist you in making informed decisions. The event is supposed to be about you and making your dreams into a reality.

• The MOST important reason for you to hire a planner is to avoid all of the stress! A lot of people who plan a wedding without a professional planner become so stressed that they cannot wait until the event is over. We want you to enjoy the process of planning, then relax, be at your best, and take it all in on your big day!








this article is from:Raleigh Wedding Planning Guide