Archive for March, 2011
Choosing the right reception music
Thursday, March 17th, 2011Submitted by Betty Giannone, Gobo Entertainment
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Don’t know where to start on choosing your reception music?
There are many common questions that a bride always asks. Do I have to pick all the songs? What if they play that song I hate? What song should we dance to as our first dance? A professional DJ should answer all your questions. So don’t hesitate to ask.
A professional DJ service should provide the tools you need to maneuver through the gazillions of songs out there. Many DJs can generally sort music by artist, title, decade or genre and you can also ask them for a list of top wedding songs.
Special dance songs are very important to have picked out before your wedding day. For example, the father-daughter dance, first dance, bouquet toss, last dance song, etc. If you are unsure of which songs to choose, ask your DJ for an expert opinion.
Don’t worry, you don’t have to pick every song. A professional DJ will be able to take your suggestion list and add additional music by reading the crowd. He will create a flow of music to keep everyone at the party entertained and involved.
If you are stumped on what kind of music to play, ask your wedding party or guests. They can make song suggestions prior to the wedding or even during the wedding for the DJ to play.
Along with your suggestion list, you can also compile a list of “must play” and “do not play” songs just in case you have songs that you absolutely hate or absolutely love.
Your wedding day is a day you will remember for the rest of your life. Enjoying the music and dancing should be part of that happy memory.
To find a DJ in San Antonio, visit the Entertainment section of our San Antonio website.
To find a DJ in Austin, visit the Entertainment section of our Austin website.
Tags: Gobo Entertainment, Music, Picking Wedding Songs, Reception Music, wedding dj, wedding music, Wedding Reception Music
Posted in Music | No Comments »
Bride of the Week: Amelia Chouravong
Wednesday, March 16th, 2011
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
-1 Corinthians 13
The Wedding Guide would like to congratulate Wedding Guide bride Amelia Chouravong on her engagement.
Amelia met her fiance Van at church, and they got to know each other by training for the San Antonio marathon together. They quickly became great friends in a short amount of time, but Amelia’s heart led her to the Philippines as a missionary for an organization called True Love Waits.
In Amelia’s case, true love really did wait! After being overseas for a year, Amelia returned to Texas where Van had waited patiently for her return.
Amelia tells us, “Van thought of the most clever way to propose. It was perfect!”
One beautiful day, Van invited Amelia to go running with him through a local park. They took a short break on a bench where they sat an reminisced on all the great memories the two had shared. As the couple neared the end of the running trail and they were rounding the final bend, Amelia was greeted with a great surprise. Her family and friends were gathered at the end of the trail smiling and cheering.
Amelia was immediately overwhelmed with happiness, and she knew Van was going to propose. Before Amelia could finish the trail, Van swept her off his feet and carried her through the finish line and placed her on a stool surrounded by rose petals in the shape of a heart.
Van picked up his guitar and sang an original song that he wrote just for Amelia. At the end of the song, Van took out a box, got down on one knee and said, “Ami Chouravong, will you marry me?”
Amelia looked into the box at a beautiful ring and said, “Yes!” Recalling the proposal, she tells us, “I am amazed at the goodness of God. He knew the desires of my heart and showered His love on me that day.”
The happy couple plan to marry April 30, 2011 with a theme of “The Traveling Musician.”
Tags: Bride of the Week, San Antonio, wedding, wedding ideas, weddingsPosted in Bride of the Week | No Comments »
Cheers to signature cocktails
Tuesday, March 15th, 2011Submitted by: Jennifer Smith, Bartenders4you
Signature cocktails are a fun way to add a personal flair to your wedding reception. When choosing a signature drink, try to choose something that will appeal to the majority of your guests.
Many brides opt for a traditional cocktail, but rename it for their wedding. Try one of these fun, crowd-pleasing drinks with a wedding spin:
- A “Marry Me” Mojito
- A Wedding Bell-ini
- An “I Do” Daiquiri
If you want to develop your own one-of-kind cocktail, follow these guidelines:
1. Choose a liquor
Whether you decide on vodka, rum, bourbon or gin, make a choice that appeals to the majority of your guests and use this as your base.
2. Choose a flavored liqueur
From amaretto to butterscotch to orange, there are many flavored liqueurs to choose from. Choose one that matches well with your liquor choice and take the color into consideration if you want to match the cocktail to your wedding color scheme.
3. Choose a non-alcoholic filler
Decide on whether to add lemon-lime soda, ginger ale, orange juice, cranberry juice or anything else to your cocktail. Remember to think about the color of your final product.
If you need help brainstorming on your signature cocktail, consult with a professional as many wedding bartenders offer free consultations and private tastings. Be sure to inquire with your venue and caterer about any guidelines regarding bar services for your wedding. Once you’ve dreamed up the perfect drink, leave it to the pros to mix it up at your wedding!
Tags: Advice, bar at wedding, bartenders4you, Beverages, cocktails, San Antonio, signature cocktails, signature drinks, specialty drinks, wedding, wedding bar, wedding beverages, wedding drinks, wedding ideas, wedding signature cocktails, wedding signature drinks, weddings, what to serve at the bar at your wedding
Posted in Beverages | No Comments »
No Tie to Black Tie: Picking the right tuxedo
Monday, March 14th, 2011
Men's Wearhouse
Rex Formal Wear
Choosing your groom’s wedding apparel and making sure he looks his best is no simple task. When you walk down the aisle and all eyes will be on you, your eyes will be on him, so you want to make sure he looks great too!
When choosing the perfect tuxedo for your groom, you want to keep in mind the formality of your event.
Beach Casual:
- Sport Coat
- Slacks
- Dress Shirt with Barrel Cuffs
- Dress Sandals
Informal:
- Business Suit
- Dress Shirt with Barrel Cuffs
- Silk Necktie
- Dress Shoes & Socks
Men's Wearhouse
Formal:
- Notched Lapel, Peaked Lapel or Shawl Lapel Cutaway Jacket or Shawl Lapel Tail Coat or Tuxedo Jacket with Matching Slacks
- Wing Collar Dress Shirt with French Cuffs, Banded Collar Tuxedo Shirt
- Striped Silk Necktie or Bow Tie
- Vest (you can add color to a traditional tuxedo to tie in your theme)
- Studs
- Cufflinks
- Tuxedo Shoes & Dress Socks (match each other)
To find tuxedos in San Antonio, visit the Tuxedos section of our San Antonio website.
To find tuxedos in Austin, visit the Tuxedos section of our Austin website.
Tags: Advice, Event Ideas, fashion, Groom Apparel, Groom's Tux, Groom's Tuxedo, groomsmen tux, groomsmen tuxedo, Rentals, Tux, tuxedo rentals, Tuxedos, Wedding Apparel, wedding planning, Wedding Tux, Wedding Tuxedos, What kind of tuxedo should my groom wearPosted in Bridal Wear, Groom | No Comments »
Feature Friday: Brass Tacks Events
Friday, March 11th, 2011BELIEVE IN PERFECTION!
With over 20 years of combined experience in the industry, Brass Tacks Events endeavors to be the premier wedding coordinator in Central Texas and beyond.
Your wedding day will undoubtedly be one of the most memorable events in your entire life. It will also be one of the largest single-day investments you will ever make. Most importantly, you have only one chance to get it right. Considering all of the details that need to come together, hiring a professional wedding coordinator is the best way to ensure a perfect day.
With Brass Tacks Events on your side, you can rest assured that your dream wedding will become a reality. Whether you are interested in a day-of coordinator or full-service planning from the engagement to the honeymoon, Brass Tacks Event will custom build a package to meet all of your needs.
Tags: Austin, Budget, Event Coordinator, Event Ideas, planning, wedding, wedding consultants, wedding planner, wedding planning, weddings
Posted in Consultants, Feature Friday, Planning | No Comments »
Behind the scenes wedding video
Thursday, March 10th, 2011From the engagement to walking down the aisle, you as the bride will be involved in every aspect of your wedding planning. But are you wondering what will happen on the wedding day while you are getting your hair and makeup done and prepping for the big day?
You’re team of wedding professionals will be transforming your wedding venue from a blank canvas to your perfect fairytale setting. We love this video by Mark Thomas Pro Photo that shows just how much work goes into creating a beautiful wedding!
Posted in Reception, Videography | No Comments »
Bride of the Week: Shannon Crain
Wednesday, March 9th, 2011
“To love is nothing. If you are loved is something. If you are loving and you are loved, that’s everything.”
-T Tolis
The Wedding Guide would like to congratulate Wedding Guide Bride Shannon Crain on her engagement.
Will Darrough and Shannon Crain met at a pub as many young people do, but they like to tell people it was a restaurant because they serve a cheese plate and pretzels — at least this is what they told his mother. After exchanging names and having a conversation over cheese and pretzels the two fell for each other in an instant and have been inseparable ever since.
Will pulled quite the scheme for the proposal. Shannon tells us, ”I am still stunned at the elaborate ruse he created to fool me.”
Will had to find a way to pull a fast one on Shannon. He decided to plan a fake trip to Fredericksburg, but to make his plan work he needed to cancel the trip somehow. So, Will conjured up a fake going away party to cancel the trip. After breaking the news to Shannon, she was quite disappointed, which is exactly what he wanted. Will then told Shannon that he wanted to take her on a picnic to make up for the canceled getaway.
On the day of the grand picnic, Will took Shannon to a mansion on White Rock Lake. When they arrived at the mansion, they saw a blanket on the ground with a gift lying in the center. Will handed the gift to Shannon, and when she opened it, she was immediately overwhelmed with tears and emotion. It was the Bible inscribed with her future name- “Shannon Constance Darrough.” Will opened the Bible and pulled out a bookmark with an engagement ring tied to it. Will got down on one knee and asked Shannon to marry him. She immediately said “yes!”
Shannon automatically wanted to call her parents, but Will insisted that she wait until after they went back to the bar where they first met for a drink. When they arrived at the bar, Shannon climbed the stairs and saw all of her friends and family.
Will’s elaborate plan worked and culminated in a surprise engagement party with everyone there to celebrate. Shannon tells us, “Now, we still go back to our table at that bar just to pay homage to the place we met, and we know that God guided us right to each other.”
Tags: Austin, Bride of the Week, Shannon Crain, wedding, wedding planningPosted in Bride of the Week | No Comments »
Perfectly Pink: Inspiration for your Spring wedding
Tuesday, March 8th, 2011With spring right around the corner, pink is in. From your flowers, the cake, the tuxedos and down to the linens, there are so may ways to incorporate your colors without over doing it. Get inspired and enjoy this plethora of pink photos!
Posted in Inspiration | No Comments »
Precious memories: Why to hire a professional videographer
Monday, March 7th, 2011Submitted by Janak Anarkat, Movieing Memories
Are you still not sure if/which videographer to hire and would like some help? Here is some information on what to look for and what questions to ask before you hire a videographer.
Nothing quite captures the real essence of your wedding day – the sights, sounds and energy – better than a well-done, high quality video. You’ll be able to revisit this important day in your life long after it’s over and share it with children, grandchildren or other special people in the future.
The most important element when searching for a videographer is a comprehensive sample of their wedding work. Ask to see a recent, completed video from a wedding – not just a highlights tape – so that you know exactly what you would receive from them if you decide to hire them. Consider the quality of the picture, the sound and the editing. A bad, poor quality video is a waste of money, but a good, high quality video is priceless.
It is very easy to claim years of experience and hundreds of productions but very difficult to verify those claims. But there is no experience like work experience and the best way to gauge someone’s abilities is to see their previous work and ask for references.
Answers to some frequent questions and concerns:
Q. Why should I hire a videographer, when all I want are photos?
A. Do you wish you could watch your parents’ wedding in flashback? Do you want your kids to be able to watch your wedding in flashback? Pictures cannot capture audio and movement and these are the first memories to fade over time; the human mind has good long-term photographic memory. A good professional videographer knows this an is looking to capture the essence (sight, sound, motion and emotion) of the occasion so that you can re-live its memory for decades to come.
Q. Why should I hire a “professional” videographer, when I (or someone I know) can take videos on a hand-held camcorder?
A. Just as there are reasons to hire a “professional” photographer, here are some reasons to hire a “professional” videographer: professional attitude and steady camera movements, professional video camera (with the choice of multiple camera angles), professional video tripod & lights, professional sound recording & microphones (plus wireless wearable mics), professional audio & video editing tools, professional grade recording format & post-production of your video, special effects and options, etc…..the list goes on. In short, a professional knows how to capture wedding video, what to do and not do.
Q. I do not think I have the budget for hiring a videographer, what should I do?
A1. Beg, borrow or steal! Just kidding. Look for ways to fit the videographer into your budget as a necessity and not as an afterthought. If you plan on including the videographer from the beginning, you’ll be able to adjust the remainder of your budget accordingly.
To find professional videographers in Austin, visit the videographers section of our Austin website.
To find professional videographers in San Antonio, visit the videographers section of our San Antonio website.
Tags: Advice, Austin, Movieing Memories, planning, Videographer, videography, wedding, wedding budget, wedding planning, wedding video, wedding videoography, weddings
Posted in Advice, Videography | No Comments »
Feature Friday: Immaculate Events by Tiffani
Friday, March 4th, 2011
Immaculate Events by Tiffani is a premier, full-service wedding coordinator in San Antonio. If your looking for stress- free wedding planning, a wedding coordinator is the way to go.
Tiffani has been a certified wedding consultant for over six years and has coordinated more than 300 weddings and events. Immaculate Events’ staff of six energetic, creative and professional individuals are ready and willing to make sure your day runs as smooth as possible whether your event includes 30 or 1, 000 guests.
Because Immaculate Events by Tiffani has has worked on a wide range of events in San Antonio, they have developed relationships with excellent vendors. Brides get to take advantage of awesome discounts due to their close working relationships with so many great vendors who offer a variety of services. Immaculate Events has also done destination weddings and can provide helpful hints on how to have the wedding of your dreams even overseas.
Tiffani and the Immaculate Events staff are here to ensure you fully enjoy and celebrate the entire experience. They offer peace of mind in knowing that you have selected a great team of wedding professionals to complete your vision and to make your wedding event Immaculate!
Immaculate Events by Tiffani is a full-service event planning company that offers the following services:
- Coordinating
- Venues
- Flowers
- Linens
- China
- Tables and Chairs
- DJ service
- Live Music
- Transportation
- Ice Sculpture
- Catering
- Cake
- Bar Services
- Photo and Video
- Sparklers
- Lighting
- Photo booth
- Rentals
- and much more!
To browse wedding consultants in the San Antonio area, visit the Consultants section of our San Antonio website.
To browse wedding consultants in the Austin are, visit the Consultants section of our Austin website.
Tags: Budget, Immaculate Events, Immaculate Events by Tiffani, planning, San Antonio, wedding, wedding budget, wedding consultants, wedding photography, wedding planning, weddingsPosted in Consultants, Feature Friday | No Comments »