Personalize Your Wedding Cake

Wedding cake can be pretty boring, though it doesn't have to be! Even though you may look through dozens of baker's catalogs full of tiered white cakes with plain white icing, there's no reason your cake has to be blah. A good baker or cake designer can whip up icing in any color in the rainbow, create statuary from spun sugar, and create wedding cakes that look like the finest architecture. Being a DJ means I see plenty of wedding cakes, so trust me when I say that your wedding cake can be nothing short of gorgeous!

Here are four ways to personalize and beautify your wedding cake:

• If everything else in your wedding will adhere to a particular color scheme, get your cake in on the action. Decorate or embellish your cake according to your wedding colors or theme. If your color scheme will be rose pink, you ccan cover your cake with romantic pink rosebuds, either real or made of icing.

• For a special touch, talk to your baker about incorporating some of the detailing on your wedding gown into the decorations on your wedding cake. If you take a picture of your dress to your cake designer, he or she should be able to copy some of the lace, beading or other decorations from your dress onto your wedding cake.

• Get sentimental! Copy the wedding cake topper your grandparents or parents used at their wedding, or find a cake topper that is as similar as possible. FYI: If you want to make your parents feel extra special, serve them the first slices of cake you cut yourself, before it is taken to the kitchen to be cut by the caterers and served to your guests.

• Get really personal by having your and the spouse-to-be's initials intertwined in icing on your cake. This type of decoration is even more striking when your wedding cake is otherwise fairly plain.

Then again, if you've been dreaming of a pretty white wedding cake since you were a little girl, don't think you need to spring for some multi-colored monstrosity. Trust me when I say that a well-made plain wedding cake will taste just as delicious as an embellished wedding cake!


A Music Plus
Denver's Wedding Entertainment Specialists
Disc Jockeys, Live Wedding Bands, Event Entertainment Specialists
http://www.amusicplus.com/

The Rose Ceremony

Clients often ask us whether we know of any special rituals they can perform to make their ceremonies and receptions a little more unique. It's not easy, after all, to distinguish one wedding from another when so many traditions are deeply ingrained in the collective consciousness! Luckily, we DJs get to see it all, so we always have a recommendation ready for those couples who need some help.

Not surprisingly, many rituals revolve around wedding flowers. When the couple in question is planning a romantic wedding, we usually suggest they think about performing the rose ceremony.

The rose ceremony is a simple wedding ceremony, yet profoundly moving for those participating and those observing. During the ceremony, the bride and groom exchange beautiful red roses, symbolizing the giving and receiving of their love for each other throughout their entire married life.

The rose ceremony is also a nod to the fact that the rose is often a symbol of forgiveness...and forgiveness must be a part of any successful marriage. In the past, the rose was considered an emblem of love, and a single deep red rose always meant only one thing: the words "I love you." So it is only appropriate that for your first gift given as husband and wife is a red rose.

If red just isn't your color, you can choose a alternate shade, but bear in mind that different flowers convey different meanings. White symbolizes innocence, pink symbolizes perfect happiness, yellow symbolizes joy, coral symbolizes desire, and orange symbolizes enthusiasm. The only rose whose meaning is negative is the black rose...a rare species indeed!


A Music Plus
Denver's Wedding Entertainment Specialists
Disc Jockeys, Live Wedding Bands, Event Entertainment Specialists
http://www.amusicplus.com/

Choosing A Denver Wedding DJ or Live Denver Wedding Band?

Many clients ask us if we recommend live music or a DJ for their wedding. That answer really depends upon each individual wedding. What we offer here is some considerations to make when deciding which is best for you.

DJs

DJs can bring thousands of songs to your event, far more than any band or musician can play and the music sounds just like the original recording. A DJ should be extremely flexible, able to play most any song at your request and at an easily controlled volume. DJs generally do not take breaks, so there is no dead air or loss of energy and DJs are almost always much more affordable than live music.

On the other hand, while a great DJ can really get a crowd going, they don’t have the ability to alter songs on the fly (lengthening them, adding solos, bringing guests on stage to sing, etc.); DJs have what has been pre-recorded as their only option. Also, many years ago DJs had the stigma of being simply a less expensive alternative to live music and that notion does still linger for some.

Live Music

Quality live musicians bring energy, enthusiasm and ambience to any event. Live music at a wedding ceremony (soloists, strings, etc.) offers elegance and romance. A great jazz trio or dance band can adapt to the situation and adjust their music and energy accordingly.
On the other hand, live music is almost always more expensive. Bands take breaks, risking an energy loss while they are offstage. Musicians generally have styles of music they can and cannot play, making them less flexible than a DJ.

Why Not Both?

One request we are seeing more and more often is for a band/DJ combination. With this package, you eliminate any negatives associated with either while enjoying the best of both worlds. A soloist or trio can start off the event, with a DJ onsite to play during breaks and to help with announcements. During dancing, the DJ can play during the band breaks, offering the availability of songs that the band may not know or be able to perform. Many clients then have the DJ play the last hour or so of their event, again offering perhaps newer music that most variety bands don’t play.

We have found that live music/DJ combinations are a very effective way to please all of your guests. Ask us to help put together a package that is perfect for you.

A Music Plus
Denver's Wedding Entertainment Specialists
Disc Jockeys, Live Wedding Bands, Event Entertainment Specialists
http://www.amusicplus.com/

Wedding Day Emergency Kit

An Emergency Kit for Your Wedding Day

The most important event in your life is unfolding before your very eyes. The happiest day you are experiencing may seem to be the most perfect day. But no matter how perfect your wedding day is, it is still important that you are well prepared. Even though you've planned for your wedding for months, accidents do happen. What you need is an emergency kit that shouldn't be much but contains the bare essentials such as health aids, attire, and grooming.
Here is a list of what the emergency kit should contain:

Health Aids
__Band-Aids
__Aspirin or other pain relievers
__Antacids
__Antihistamines
__Upset stomach medicines such as Pepto-Bismol
__Feminine hygiene products

Attire
__Flat shoes when your feet hurt
__Anti-slip shoe pads
__Stain removal
__Sewing tape or masking tape
__Sewing kit and safety pins
__Extra buttons
__Extra earring backs
__Extra pantyhose
__Tossing garter
__Contact lens solution
__Extra contact lenses

Grooming
__Mouthwash or breath mints
__Floss, toothpaste, and toothbrush
__Perfume or cologne
__Deodorant
__Bobby pins
__Straight pins
__Small scissors
__Lint brush
__Tweezers
__Make-up remover
__Cotton swabs or balls
__Tissues
__Wet wipes
__Hand lotion

Miscellaneous
__Extra cameras or video cameras
__Batteries for the cameras
__Stereo and some CDs of your wedding songs
__Contact information of all vendors
__Contact information of all wedding participants
__Copies of directions to ceremony, photo location, and reception

We know that your wedding day can be hectic but, if you use this checklist, you should be prepared for almost anything!

Popular Wedding First Dance Songs

.Choosing The Song For Your First Dance

There are a lot of great songs available today, but picking the right one for your First Dance may be a little difficult if you and your future spouse are in love with two different types of music.

The best bet in this case? Try compromising. You are going to have to learn to do this a lot over the years, so you two might as well learn how to do it right now! Here are some great song ideas.

Remember, you are always free to alter these to fit your own tastes and needs. Do your best to find something that signifies your relationship and try to pick one that you both agree upon. You may like a lot of the songs on this list and choose to add them to the must-play list as well. Have fun and keep in mind that this song will signify the start of your life together. Congratulations!

First Dance Song Options

"At Last" (Ella Fitzgerald)
"God Bless the Broken Road" (Rascal Flatts)
"Wonderful Tonight" (Eric Clapton)
"Inside Your Heaven" (Carrie Underwood)
"The Way You Look Tonight" (Frank Sinatra)
"Amazing" (Aerosmith)
"Thank God I Found You" (Mariah Carey)
"Ain't No Other Man" (Christina Aguilera)
"Always" (Shania Twain)
"I Cross My Heart" (George Strait)
"It's Your Love" (Tim McGraw and Faith Hill)
"I Need You" (Tim McGraw and Faith Hill)
"Lost in This Moment" (Big and Rich)
"Just Like Heaven" (The Cure)
"Don't Take The Girl" (Tim McGraw)
"I Don't Want to Miss A Thing" (Aerosmith)
"Angel" (Aerosmith)
"When I'm With You" (Sheriff)
"A Whole New World" (Peabo Bryson)
"Angel Eyes" (Jeff Healy Band)
"Breathe" (Faith Hill)
"Because You Loved Me" (Celine Dion)
"Amazed" (Lonestar)
"Could Not Ask For More" (Edwin McCain)
"Don't Know Much" (Aaron Neville)
"Can You Feel the Love Tonight" (Elton John)
"Endless Love" (Lionel Richie and Diana Ross)
"Everything I Do" (Bryan Adams)
"Faithfully" (Journey)
"From This Moment" (Shania Twain)
"How Do I Live Without You" (LeAnn Rimes)
"I Swear" (All 4 One)
"I'll Be" (Edwin McCain)
"Love of a Lifetime" (Firehouse)
"Unchained Melody" (Righteous Brothers)

Tell us more about your wedding and how we can help!

A Music Plus
http://www.amusicplus.com/

Finding the Right Denver Disc Jockey For Your Denver Colorado

You can search on the Web for phrases like "denver DJ", "denver Disc Jockey" and "denver emcee" and come up with several websites. You can also look in the phone book and find pages of entertainment companies offering Disc Jockey services in Denver. There is no shortage of DJs ready to perform at your wedding, but how do you find the one that's right for you and your guests? Here is a checklist to finding your best wedding DJ.

Compile a list of candidates...

Have you been at an event within the past year or two, not necessarily a wedding, where the entertainment seemed to keep the crowd going? Ask friends and family who have recently been married or who may have recently attended a wedding with a great Disc Jockey or band for suggestions. The contact person at your wedding reception venue may have worked with someone in the past they trust. If you're working with a wedding coordinator, he/she will have several vendors that they work with on a regular basis, including wedding DJs. He/she may even have favorites that he/she prefers to work with. Ask him/her for recommendations. Set up a time to meet in person.

Ask for references, prices, a copy of the contract, and what the wedding DJ services include. Ask them how many wedding receptions the DJ has worked. Take note of their attitude and how your personalities mesh. The DJ may be able to provide a video of their work as well. Although you shouldn't expect a wedding DJ to allow you into a private party to watch them work, there may be a public event their working that you could attend. Establish early on that the DJ is available on your event date.

Get bids from your top three picks...

A wedding Disc Jockey should be able to provide you with a written estimate of the services they will offer and the price. Be sure you understand what you'll be getting for the money, and compare apples to apples.

Crunch the numbers...

If one wedding DJ's services costs more than another, there may be a difference in the service they are providing. Have the DJs taken the day of the week and the hour of the day of your reception into consideration? Does one bid include lights or other special effects? While one Disc Jockey may be offering a complete package, another one may be offering things like special effects and emcee services separately. Cost will vary depending on your city, the day and season of the event, and the time of the event. Plan on providing at about 10-15 percent of your wedding budget for entertainment.

Initiate the contract...

Most wedding DJs have a contract that they provide. While this contract will protect them, be sure that it protects you and spells everything out very clearly. It should have the time of set-up and tear-down, number of hours worked, breaks, contingency plans, equipment used, and services provided.

You are planning for the biggest day of your life. Your wedding DJ should appreciate this and be cooperative and enthusiastic about providing her services at your event.

A Music Plus
Denver's Wedding Entertainment Specialists
Disc Jockeys, Live Wedding Bands, Event Entertainment Specialists
http://www.amusicplus.com/