Making Your Wedding Day Memorable
We have just released the first of a series of eBooks on wedding planning tips & tricks. You can check out our storefront on LuLu HERE.
Be sure to keep an eye out for our ipad version of this book coming soon.
If you would like to have us at your upcoming event or wedding, please checkout our website at www.robalberti.com or request further information and we can check our availability and put together a formal quote for you. CONTACT US NOW FOR FREE INFORMATION.
Remember, we offer wedding disc jockey entertainment, iphotography, photo booth rental, Sweet 16 and Prom DJs, Wedding uplighting, architectural event lighting, up-lighting and a/v rental services including ipod wedding rentals for all types of events in the New England areas including Newport, Providence, Boston, Western Mass, The Berkshires, Hartford, New Haven, CT Shoreline, & Fairfield County.
Rob Alberti, event director & lighting designer
Rob Alberti’s Event Services, DJ & Lighting
Serving the Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island areas
800 782 3033 or Email Us at info@afterhoursdj.net
Check out our other websites: www.audiovideorental.net , www.budgetentertainment.net , www.afterhoursdj.net , www.weddinginsider.net
Copyright 2000-2010 Rob Alberti's Event Services, After Hours DJ, Event Uplighting - All Rights Reserved
Check out these wedding blogs
Are you working at planning a wedding or other event? Need some inspiration? Check out some of these popular wedding blogs for some amazing ideas for your wedding.
Elizabeth Anne Design Inspiration Board
If you would like to have us at your event, please checkout our website at www.afterhoursdj.net or request further information and we can check our availability and put together a formal quote for you.
Remember, we offer disc jockey, photography, photo booth rental, event lighting, up-lighting and a/v rental services for all types of events.
Rob Alberti, event director & lighting designer
Rob Alberti’s After Hours DJ Service
800 782 3033
Staging The Perfect Wedding
I was just performing at a wedding and as things started unfolding, it reminded me of what 25 years of experience in the wedding industry has taught me.
Let me tell you a story. We'll call my bride "Barbie" to protect the guilty. Barbie wanted everyone to have fun and dance at her wedding. Throughout the months prior, I kept providing helpful suggestions to help her stage a great party. Not every event is the same, but there are many lessons I've learned over the years regarding things that DON'T work.
A GREAT party is STAGED. I want to emphasis this. It does not just happen. It is STAGED. We can set the tone and create the perfect environment for a party. It's about pacing and building energy.
Barbie wanted this great party but she insisted on a few details tat set the wrong environment for her party. She wanted her live classical musicians from the ceremony to play through social hour. Then, she wanted them to play through dinner as well. That's more than 2 hours of classical music. That is more than enough to put most people out of the party mood.
When it came to dancing, we were able to get guests up and dancing and we had an active dance floor for nearly 2 hours. But then, something interesting happened. There was no more energy in the room. No matter what style music we played - people just had had enough. Even Barbie was tired and just wanted to sit and talk with friends and family.
Here are some things to remember:
- Your guests are not all 20 something and don't regularly stay out until midnight
- Many of your older guests will leave as soon as it gets dark out - they don't like to drive at night
- Dancing is an aerobic exersise and most of your guests can not do more than 20 minutes of dancing at a time without taking a break
- Standing outside in 95 degree hot and humid weather will suck the energy out of just abut everyone - think about that before having your outdoor ceremony in August. (We just had a Justice of the Peace faint at an outdoor ceremony!)
- Everyone loves air conditioning
- After 45 minutes of flute music - nearly everyone wants to shove that metal rod down her throat just to make it stop
- Classical music or instrumental music will NOT build energy for your guests. Opt for more upbeat music during cocktails and dinner to keep the energy alive at your party
- Your master of ceremony and Rob Alberti's Event Services DJ know how to stage a great party - ask us for suggestion. Let us help you create the perfect atmosphere for your celebration
Style Me Pretty
One of our recent weddings was just highlighted on Style Me Pretty Blog (national wedding site). Check it out.
Setting The Mood At Your Wedding – Theatrically Staging Events
Over the past 25 years, we've seen many style weddings and the way you "stage" our celebration will go a long way in setting the mood or tone of your day. Here are some of the more popular styles that we've done in the past (but we'll work with you to set the stage anyway you would like).
The Cocktail Party - this is great for the times when you don't expect or want people to dance. A unique blend of music is used for the back beat of your lounge party. People gather, rink, socialize and eat. Other than a toast or two, this is a completely low-key non interactive event. This works well with our ipod wedding rentals or when there are religious reasons to keep the event as a non-dancing function.
The Traditional Wedding - this is what we typically see in the New England area. For social hour the bride & groom and immediate family are off taking photos. Guests are socializing in another area as background music plays. Formal introductions occur and the bride and groom enter the room to do their first dance. Toasts occur and then guest sit to eat. At the end of dinner, the cake is cut and the bride and groom dance with their parents to start off dancing.
The Upbeat Party Wedding - There is a gap between the end of the ceremony and the start of social hour (Guests head to their hotel rooms or gather somewhere else in anticipation of the reception). The bride and groom are done with formal photos by the time social hour starts and mingle with their guests. (v. doing formal receiving line at the church). Fun music plays in the background (motown or something with a bit of a beat to it v. Sinatra or Jazz lounge feel). People feel the energy. The bride and groom are pulled out of the room just prior to formal introductions and their first dance. Guests are encouraged to come out and dnce for 15-20 minutes PRIOR to toast and meal service. Throughout the meal, a more upbeat mix of music is played. You can see people tapping their feet or singing along. As guests finish their salad and await the pasta course, the music builds in volume and guests again crowd the dance floor. The music subsides as the pasta plates enter the room. This process occurs throughout the meal service. Once the meal is complete, we've had our bride and groom dance with their parents and just the cake cutting is left to mark the start of open dncing. We've gained nearly 45 minutes of dance time in a typical 5 hour reception.
Low-key Combined Ceremony And Reception - getting married in the same location as your reception? Is your ceremony 10 minutes or less in length? Why not have your social hour PRIOR to your ceremony? From 6 - 7:30 guests arrive and are greeted by both the bride and groom. At 7:30 a quick announcement is made for everyone to gather around the bride and groom. The officiate performs a quick ceremony and everyone cheers as the bride and groom kiss. The best man takes the wireless mic and gives his toast with everyone in the round. Our bride and groom, circled by friends and family do their first dance and everyone joins them. The station meal service is open and people eat and dance as the night rolls on.
Make It Up Yourself - Don't like the styles that we've given you? Take pieces of each and make up something that fits your needs. Sit with us and we will help you design the right feel for your wedding celebration.