Get Down, Get Funky: Is a DJ Right for You?

As our summer brides wrap up their wedding plans, we’re getting a lot of input about the music selections for the reception. We’ve discovered something interesting.

Despite the cliche of the “wedding singer” (a la Adam Sandler) grooving his way inappropriately and sometimes humorously through reception after reception, our respondents choose DJs just as frequently as live music.

On the other hand, maybe it shouldn’t be such a surprise. There are definite perks to having a DJ man the music at your reception (though ultimately, it’s your choice). Here’s what to keep in mind when considering a DJ for your wedding:

1. Recorded music is more reliable…usually. Obviously, a CD is never going to be off key or forget verses. On the other hand, the DJ you select must have clean, current copies of the music you want. Bad equipment can also spoil the effect. Before you hire your DJ, have a listen during your interview with him or her. And make sure the samples are of the music type and genre you want at your reception — you never know which part of the DJ’s collection is overused or perhaps worse, never updated.

2. It’s all about personality. Does the DJ you’re interviewing seem personable without being cheesy? Does he have any recordings of his skills in action at a real wedding? A DJ needs to know when to speak up (“Now let’s get all the ladies out on the dance floor!”) and when to shut up (you definitely don’t want a babbler making a running commentary during your father-and-daughter dance).

3. His/her work ethic counts. No matter how fantastic a prospective DJ seems, if he doesn’t show up on time, takes down his equipment early or — probably worst case, here — cancels on engagements at the last minute, run! How do you find out your DJ’s professional style? Insist upon references, and make sure they’re recent. Don’t get a printout of testimonials. Ask for phone numbers and speak to the couples in person to get the real scoop. On average, our brides call between three and five references before hiring their DJ.

4. Don’t let hidden fees sneak up on you. Ask in advance of hiring what overtime and other fees may entail. Get this — and all topics you and the prospective DJ discuss — in writing.

5. Make sure the DJ knows your genre of choice. DJs often comment, albeit briefly (if they’re doing it right), on selections. If you’re a rock fan and the DJ loves country, it may not be a perfect fit. Ask questions about what artists/bands the DJ himself might select in the genre you’ve chosen. If he stumbles or generally doesn’t seem knowledgeable, move on.

A great DJ really makes your wedding reception sparkle, so choose carefully. Did you choose a DJ? Were you delighted? Disappointed? Or did you choose live music (or perhaps not have music at all)? Leave us a comment!

Cakes: There’s Unique. And Then There are These

Actually, the idea is pretty realistic. Photo: msnbc.com

Okay, brides-to-be…time for a little (or big) wedding eye candy!

Thought your wedding cake was original? You may change your mind when you see these over-the-top choices.

(Props to msnbc.com for spelling “doughnuts” correctly, by the way.)

We had loads of fun reviewing this article. Honestly, I thought I’d seen it all. Not yet, apparently. Not that all the cakes are literally crazy, as the title states. The Ganesh cake, for example, is simply amazing, in my opinion.

Our thoughts on taking the unusual one step farther when it comes to the wedding cake? We say: it’s your wedding. You want a bamboo forest cake? Then order a bamboo forest cake. Be careful where you put your pennies, though. That cake cost may be taking a big bite out of your wedding budget. It’s all about deciding what are must-haves for you.

Meanwhile, admittedly, we tend toward the more elegant yet trendy-and-fun here at yourweddingwhisperer.com. Have a peek at some of our favorite wedding cake decoration choices below and click on the pics for more details.

The character here means "happiness." Perfect!

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away...you fell in love and had a gorgeous wedding. Dreams really do come true...

Modern love: it's more romantic than ever.

For more awesome cake toppers, click here.

Favors for Your Outdoor or Garden Wedding

Ah, sweet springtime. Pick the best of the bunch for your outdoor wedding favors.

It’s spring…almost. And in honor of the season, everything’s coming up gorgeous at favorsbyserendipity.com.

We’re so pleased to be able to offer such a unique selection this spring, especially when it comes to outdoor and garden weddings. We feel this season’s selection of favors truly add that something special to your outdoor affair — and we know you will too.

Let’s take a sneak peek at what’s new for 2011. (Click on the pics for more info on each, or the image above of the bride and groom for a selection of our favorites.)

Lovebirds in the Window Ceramic Salt and Pepper Shakers: Give these to guests as favors or set them up on your wedding reception tables. Don’t you love them? The soft ivory white color will go with any decor, so your guests are sure to make use of this beautiful gift.

Butterfly Bookmark Favor: This is precious, and very elegant.  Stunning polished metal makes an impression. It’s all wrapped up in a pastel-colors box. Perfect for either wedding favors or gifts to the wedding party.

Meant to Bee Ceramic Honey Pot: These sweet ceramic creations can hold honey, jam or jelly and are perfect at your guests’ place settings as take-home favors.

Paisley Cupcake Wrappers: So many of our 2011 brides are loving the wedding cupcake trend that we just had to post these precious favorites. Yum! Pink paisley is ideal to accent an outdoor table, so this treat couples as decor.

Enjoy — and remember to send us pics of your wedding favors and how you used them to make your wedding extra-special.

Fresh Ideas for Your Fall Wedding

We’re sure you agree: everybody loves gorgeous, colorful Autumn. That’s why many of your friends – and perhaps you and your groom-to-be – are planning a Fall wedding.

Given this, just how do you stand out from the crowd? Over the years, our readership has shown itself to be one creative bunch…so here’s to Fall brides and what they can do with their own creativity and a few great ideas. Here are a few we absolutely adore (and, psst—that are some of the most popular wedding favor ideas this season).

Favors That Double as Decorations

LOVE this idea. Pictured below is an example of an elegant, trendy Fall wedding favor that doubles as part of the reception place settings. It’s the “Turning Leaves” bookmark and it’s oh so elegant for Autumn…and for your special day.

Stylist: Sasha Souza; Photo By Damion Hamilton

Have the Turning Leaves Bookmark  hold the menu if you’re having a more formal affair, or attach it to your wedding programs. Or put one at the upper left of each place setting at the reception.

Other great ideas for favors that add Autumn atmosphere are candles in colorful holders, leaf-shaped place card holders or indulgent treats like spiced cider or gourmet cookie mixes. Yum!

Unique Centerpieces

Flowers are traditional, but why not add elegance (and a little bit of “you”) to your reception by choosing unique centerpieces? With a Fall wedding, you’re in luck; choose from Autumn’s bounty for a natural and very on-trend look to your reception tables.

Group Autumn fruits, such as apples, with a little Fall greenery. (See the example below, which is a real treat. Photo credit: Jennifer Wahlquist). Berries are Autumnal too, as are unshelled nuts tossed around the centerpiece for a natural yet very elegant feel.

Candles work well here too. Tip: If you’ll be placing lighted candles as part of your centerpiece, make sure they’re set well away from your guests’ plates (and reaching hands and elbows), while making sure the area just around the candle is clear of any hanging flammable greenery or other decorations.

So what are you waiting for? Get started on your own beautiful wedding creations. And don’t forget to let us know what you’re planning for Fall wedding favors. We’re always glad to hear from you!

Picturesque Beach Wedding

What can be more beautiful than a picturesque setting of the ocean with a beautiful sky as a backdrop as you walk down the aisle?   Few places are more romantic for a wedding than the beach.  Having your wedding on the beach is very relaxing and you can make it as casual as you like or as elegant as you want.

Doing your wedding at a hotel that has a beach front makes it comfortable for your guests to come in and enjoy the reception in one of the banquet halls.  Your theme is already set so your flowers and favors can be reflected in the design and makes it as stress free as possible.

Beach Theme Centerpiece

Flowers by Dellables

Beach Theme Centerpiece by Dellables

Do It Yourself Beach Theme Centerpiece

Using starfish, pearls, sandollars amidst orchids and other tropical fresh flowers can be incorporated in your chair decorations and on the aisle and arbor, as well as your wedding cake and centerpieces.

Your guests will not only enjoy sharing your special day in a beautiful setting, but may view it as a vacation and the fun begins as soon as they arrive.  Whether it’s an exotic beach your guest will travel to, or, if you’re fortunate to live in an area close to the ocean, and it’s a local wedding, either way your guests will feel like they’ve “been away” for the day.

Decor on the Beach

Your favors can tie in beautifully with your theme so your guests will have a wonderful rememberance of your wedding.

Sand Castle Favor

Hello Kitty Is All Grown Up

Hello Kitty is an icon that has now made it to the bottles of white wine and perfect for a party or wedding reception.  What a whimsical, wonderful idea.  How fun!!!!

Here are some tasting notes for the four types:

Hello Kitty Sparkling Brut Rosé – A deep reddish pink sparkling rose made from 100% Pinot Noir that has a frothy mousse as well as a pretty nose of rose petal and red currant scents.

Hello Kitty Sparkling “Sweet Pink” (Half Size) – This semi-sweet sparkler sports a pale pink hue and has very delicate bubbles.

2008 Hello Kitty Angel White – This is a fresh, very “blanc” white wine made entirely from Pinot Noir free run juice.

2006 Hello Kitty Devil Red – Garnet red with brickish highlights, this is a classically rendered Pinot Noir that presents a seductive bouquet of wild flowers and forest aromas.

Complete tasting and technical notes for each wine type at HelloKittyWine.com.

Thank you Simply Natural Events for doing an article about  this on your blog.  Love it!

Informal Wedding Decorating Ideas

Summer is the perfect time for an informal wedding outdoors .  Another  popular trend is to have your wedding in a barn.  To keep the wedding elegant yet informal,  I have some beautiful pictures to help you see this can be achieved.

1)  First choose your colors.  What color makes you feel good?  Orange or yellow?  Pinks and lavender?  Red and white?  All these colors would work beautifully for a summer wedding.

2)   The flowers are also expressing your informal look.  You can achieve this by the style of container they are placed in and, in some cases, by the flowers themselves, such as Sunflowers, Daisies, and for a little more formality, Roses and Hydrangeas.  Clay pots filled with Hydrangeas make a wonderful summer centerpiece.  I’ve even spray painted the clay pots when I wanted to use them in white…you can make them any color you like to coordinate with your theme.

3)  Lots of twigs, branches and moss can add ambiance.  I’m also a big fan of the LED candles that are available now so you don’t have to worry about them blowing out if you’re outdoors.

Barn Wedding by Jennifer Whalquist

Flower Decorations

Country Centerpiece Idea

Garden Wedding Centerpiece

Buffet Tablescape

Your wedding favors should also express your informal country look.  Succulents are very popular in flower arrangements this time of year, and these succulent style candles are the perfect favor to tie in with your theme.

Candle in Clay Pot

Let Them Eat Cupcakes

While wedding cakes are still one of the most beautiful features of your reception, cupcakes are holding their own as a popular trend in 2010.  If you were concerned they wouldn’t be elegant enough, look at  what some decorators are doing with them to enhance their beauty and make them fit your reception decor, including a cake at the top of the display for tradition.

I love the fact that they included a crystal monogram on the top of the cake and for added elegance, they have the crystal trim surrounding each layer.

Courtesy of cupcakecollection.com

Black and White is still a very popular color scheme for weddings, and this display of cupcakes looks gorgeous.  There are also black and white cupcake wrappers if you’re doing it yourself,  that will enhance even store bought cupcakes.

Courtesy of vanillabakeshop.com

Courtesy of The Cakery

The Cakery’s display, above, uses Filagree Cupcake wrappers on some of the tiers.  Notice they also have a cake at the top, which is a touch I really like.  Since the Filigree wrappers come in black and white, I can see alternating them on each tier for a black and white color scheme wedding.

These cupcakes by Blue Cupcake  represent a wonderful Summer or Springtime wedding.  A lovey cake at the top, and the cupcakes bring a smile to my face as they are still very elegant, yet suitable for an outside garden wedding.

Courtesy of bluecupcake.com

Courtesy of bluecupcake.com

If vivid colors (a big trend for 2010) is your fav, look at the above cupcakes by Blue Cupcake, for inspiration.

I enjoy the fact that you have so many options available to you to suit any budget.  You can have one of these wonderful bakeries do them for you.  You can bake your own and have fun decorating them yourself.  You can pick up cupcakes from your local bakery or even supermarket and use the gorgeous new cupcake wrappers that come in a wide variety of designs and colors to enhance them.  It’s great when there are so many choices.

Flower Inspirations For Your Wedding

Flowers are synonymous with weddings.  This is one time we can be a little extravagant.  They give your reception that  ahhh moment we all dream about.  There are many ways to decorate a wedding, but most will  agree flowers are the principal way.

Florists are no longer limited to what is growing seasonally in your region, but can buy flowers from all over the world. Of course, the cost will be higher for flowers that are not seasonal, but this is your chance to be luxurious if you see an arrangement you love with your favorite flowers.

A number of years ago I visited a very high end hotel in Las Vegas and was blown away by the flower arrangements there.  Very simple, yet a new, totally fresh approach and I could envision a bride and her “worker bees” able to capture this look if she was having a DIY wedding.  Recently, I found the floral designer who came up with the look, Jeff Lautham and thought you would want to see his incredible work.  Whether you call Jeff,  try this yourself, or give the pictures to your florist for inspiration, this will be a feast for your eyes.

1- Using lots of risers/pedestals  Jeff fills a room with pink hydrangeas, which are a perfect flower for lots of volume.  Notice he keeps it monochromatic for impact as well.

Image courtesy of Jeff Lautham

2- If you are using long banquet tables at your reception, this is a beautiful centerpiece idea.  You can use flower petals in abundance (as seen here) or you  can even use flowering plants if you’re flower arrangement challenged.  Lots of votives give the table a very romantic look.  Nowadays the battery operated votives are a life saver for reception halls that don’t allow open flames.  Again, notice the big splash of monochromatic color.

Image Courtesy of: Jeff Leatham

3- I think this is brilliant!  You can always have a round rose bowl with submerged flowers or an arrangement coming out from the top, but this is so interesting, isn’t it?  For safety sake, I would use a wax like product they use to hold candles in a candle holder, or that can be purchased in a home improvement center made for protecting items from falling off shelves in an earthquake (tell them what you need to do, they will figure it out) to temporarily secure the top bowl to the bottom.

Image Courtesy of Jeff Leatham

4- I guess what I love about Jeff’s work is that he thinks outside the box.  Making a “bouquet” of any kind of flower, keeping it monotone, and “leaning” it in a very tall container is his signature look.  It’s what first caught my eye at the hotel I mentioned at the beginning of this post.  Check out your local party rental store, or search online to see where you can rent containers like this.  Again, hydrangeas are an easy flower to work with and  because the heads are so large, you don’t need as many flowers,  Calla Lily’s work wonderfully as well, and they come in all colors.

Image: Jeff Leatham

Image: Jeff Leatham

Eco & Budget Friendly Weddings

More and more brides today are looking for environmentally friendly as well as budget friendly  options for their wedding decor.  There are so many ways to be eco friendly for your wedding.

1- Serve organic food

2- Wear a gown made from natural fabrics

3- Send invitations printed on recycled paper

Even though you’re going green, your wedding can still be ultra chic.  Just cutting down on the number of flowers you use can help.

Using branches with some flowers and crystals can fill in a room with a tall ceiling or an outdoor event while limited the amount of flowers needed.

Branch Centerpiece - Photo Courtesy of On Occasions Of Atlanta

Hydrangeas are a wonderful flower because they have so much volume. Be creative with DIY centerpieces. Pick flowers from your garden. I once had a bride with a very limited budget for decorating. Fortunately her wedding was in a month when everyone’s hydrangeas were in full bloom. We found a neighborhood bursting with hydrangeas in the front yards. Three of us split up and with clippers in hand, knocked on doors , explained why we needed them, and all the neighbors were so willing to let us clip a few hydrangeas from their bushes. Many said “take as many as you want”. I was able to make centerpieces from “free” flowers for all the tables and it was beautiful.

Photo Courtesy of: On Occasions Of Atlanta

A lovely flower inspired favor for your wedding could be a Cherry Blossom Candle.