Should I hire a wedding band or dj for my wedding

You may think that the biggest battle is deciding where to seat dear Aunt Susan who doesn’t like Cousin Jim, or maybe it’s picking out reception food. What about how your reception music will be delivered? Are you going to choose a wedding band or DJ?

Aspects to Consider

When weighing the pros and cons of hiring a seasoned DJ versus a live band, there are a handful of important factors to consider.

• Budget—Money is usually the biggest decider when it comes to really anything wedding related, so it goes without saying that the budget will play a crucial role in making your decision. Generally speaking, the larger the band, the more expensive simply because there are more people to pay. On the other hand, if you’re trying to snag a super celebrity DJ, then prepare for higher-than-normal fees.

• Space—Speak with your venue before making a decision because there could be limits on the number of musicians people and/or the amount of equipment that’s able to be plugged in. For example, although the live band may play some of your favorite songs, they’d have more bodies producing music than a DJ with an attractive case with no messy wires and easy-to-transport gear.

• Genre and Vibe—Knowing the type and variety of music that you want played during your reception is also pretty important. The way that the music is delivered can affect the atmosphere and mood of your reception as well. (Music Tip: Regardless of which option you go for, make sure you create a list of “do not play” songs so there aren’t any surprises.)

The Great Debate

If you decide to go the live band route…

Listen to the band (if it’s possible to check out a live performance without it being another couple’s wedding, even better). If you’re watching a taped performance, analyze how easily the band moves from song to song, if they engage with the crowd, and the quality of their music. Having a live band will definitely give your wedding a distinct feel. The band’s interpretation of the songs will create the atmosphere and energy level of the evening. (Music Tip: Remember that the band will be playing the songs according to their own style, so if you’ve been dreaming of having your father-daughter dance to a specific song done the original way, then maybe a live band isn’t the best option.)

If you decide to go the professional DJ route…

Remember that All About You Entertainment has the most professional, experienced wedding DJs in the Savannah area. Unlike live bands, DJs have an insanely impressive amount of songs to choose from (like over 100,000 songs that are constantly being updated to include the newest hits) and will allow couples to create a playlist based on their style and favorite tunes. Professional wedding DJs also have training to work receptions, so they know exactly what to say and when to say it, allowing your evening to flow as smoothly as possible. (All About You Entertainment also offers a 24/7 planning tool and unlimited consultations so that your wedding can be absolutely perfect.)

Known for its historic charm, Southern cuisine, near-the-beach location, variety of sights to see, and impressive nightlife, it’s no wonder why Savannah is such a popular wedding destination. If you’re planning a destination wedding in our lovely city, here are some things to keep in mind.

How to Turn These Don’ts in to Do’s

1) Don’t Plan Anything around St. Patricks’ Day

We’ll start with this one because it’s arguably one of the most important things to keep in mind when planning a Savannah destination wedding: Always check local calendars. Although the spring and early summer are beautiful times in the Savannah area to have a wedding, they’re also a popular time for festivals and major events.  

2) Don’t Hire Any Amateurs

Your wedding day isn’t the time to give your cousin the chance to fulfill his dream of being a wedding DJ (unless that’s really what you want to do). When you’re looking for local DJs in the Savannah area, look no further than the professionals that work for All About You Entertainment. Not only do our DJs have the experience, but our services are also the highest rated in the area. We have an impressive collection of music and provide a host of complimentary services.

3) Don’t Forget to Leave Time for Exploring

It’s so easy to schedule every second of your trip around the wedding, as we hope you will do, but forget to leave time for experiencing all that Savannah has to offer. Whether you prefer the nightlife, the yummy food, the shopping trips, or the historic sights, there is a slice of Savannah for everyone to enjoy. Your guests would probably love a little guidance on possible things to do during their trip as well! So go as a group on a trolley ride around the city or branch off and explore on your own.

4) Don’t Think You Have to Figure Everything out on Your Own

One of the best decisions you can make when planning a Savannah destination wedding is to hire a local wedding planner. These professionals have working relationships with local vendors, which will make your wedding a truly Savannahian experience. All About You Entertainment offers Wedding Coordinators to help reduce the stress and take care of all the other logistical elements (i.e. rules and codes of the city) that you might not have thought of.

5) Don’t Forget to Check the Weather

Much like any city (or maybe Savannah is a little more temperamental), weather can fluctuate without any warning. Since you’re planning a wedding months and months in advance, you can only really hope that the sun will be shining all day and that no rain clouds will slowly descend upon your party. The best thing to do is to have a Plan B. Savannah has so many outdoor and indoor spaces that are perfect for wedding ceremonies and receptions. Consider having a little bit of both (or just make sure you book that large tent for your outdoor wedding…just in case).

When it comes to planning corporate events, the last thing you might think about is the lighting. Surprisingly enough, the way the room is lit greatly influences the atmosphere of the event! We’ve gushed about how wonderful uplighting is when it comes to weddings, but here are some reasons how and why you should consider using uplighting at your next corporate event.

So, tell me again what “uplighting” actually means…

Uplighting is another way of defining the direction of light. So, uplighters are “ground-based lights” that point their light in an upward direction. Simple enough, but the vibe that lighting can create in a space as well as the creativity that clients who use uplighting are given speak volumes (more so than merely defining what it means).

Our uplighting package uses only LED lights. These guys are wireless, require little energy, don’t emit heat, and thanks to their deep colors, they’re quite easy to customize and control.  

Alright, then explain how this will enhance my next corporate event…

 

Audience Engagement

In case you missed our previous blog post about corporate events, we mentioned the impact that social media can have on the level of engagement of your guests. If you create some type of interactive social media element, like coming up with a unique hashtag for the event, more people will want to participate. Now throw in the element of a beautifully lit room, and everyone will be whipping out their phones to snap a shot.

In addition, the lighting sets the tone for the audience. Depending on whether you have a keynote speaker or it’s the annual Christmas bash and you’ve hired on of our DJs, the lighting of the room will help reinforce the mood that you want your employees and guests to feel.

Branding

Perhaps one of the coolest features of using All About You Entertainment’s uplighting package is the adaptability that our product has. We’re able to customize the design and color scheme to directly match our client’s needs. We have the ability to recreate the look and feel of your brand’s logo and image simply using uplighting! Past clients have cast their logo onto an empty wall or used the brand’s color palette as the lighting for the venue.

Think Outside the Box

Literally think outside! If your event is scheduled for a time when the weather is gorgeous or your venue has an outdoor space, then you’ve been given a great opportunity to utilize the benefits of uplighting. There are three popular kinds of uplighting fixtures that are great for outdoor spaces: bullet/spot, well, and wash. The names refer to the intensity of the light. Bullet uplighting means that the light has a narrow beam, whereas wash uplighting is a softer, diffused light.

Atmosphere

It goes without saying that all of these elements come together to create the overall atmosphere and look of your corporate event. If you’ve hired a professional photographer to capture moments from the event, uplighting translates into a well-lit room for easy, beautiful photographs.

If you need more convincing that uplighting is the way to go for your next big company party, you just have some questions, or you’re sold and ready to get started, give All About You Entertainment a call today!

So you’ve decided to have your wedding in Savannah Ga! Whether you’re a local or an outsider planning the perfect destination wedding, there are a few things you should keep in mind when creating your big day.

1.      Weather

Although the locals might seem like they don’t mind the heat and humidity, they’re lying. For all the charm that Savannah has to offer, keep the weather in the forefront of your mind. If you’re hoping for a summer event, stock water coolers and give out hand-held fans. Even setting up light misters could help the afternoon heat. But don’t let the weather deter you: Once the sun goes down, the temperature drops as well.

2.      Always Have a Plan B

Whether it’s raining because of the humidity during the summer or there’s poor weather due to a nearby hurricane (keep the Atlantic hurricane season in mind as well), having a Plan B Venue will go a long way. Another option that allows you to combine the best of having an outdoor and indoor wedding is by having an outdoor ceremony on one of Savannah’s gorgeous squares then moving the party indoors for the reception.

3.      Time of Year

Spring, summer, winter, or fall: Things are always happening in Savannah. Even if it’s not the biggest event of the year (i.e. St. Patrick’s Day), it’s always a smart idea to check out a few sources for the city’s calendar of events to make sure you’re not planning your wedding the morning of a big 5K that starts at the same location as your ceremony. Planning a wedding during the city’s off-season for tourists means that you get the beautiful weather (Savannah’s winters are usually in the 60’s during the day and 40’s at night) plus you don’t have to worry about any traffic or hotels being sold out.

4.      Know the City’s Rules

Book the square you’ve been eying for your ceremony in advance and seriously consider hiring a police officer to navigate traffic and make you and your finance’s special moment as peaceful as possible. Also, although Savannah has an open container law, it does not allow you to drink straight from a bottle or can; make sure you bring cups for you and your guests.

5.   Go Local

There’s something special about working with local caterers to really tie everything together for your Savannah wedding. Hire a company that specializes in Southern cuisine. Fill goodie backs with sweet treats from River Street Sweets. There are also so many great local venues to use!

6.      Sell the City

It’s not hard to sell Savannah to your guests, but to make sure that no one on your invite list has a difficult time deciding to come, make a cute pamphlet for your guests about all the attractions, historical sights, and fun things to do in Savannah.  

7.      Hire a Planner

When you’re planning your Wedding in Savannah Ga, it’s best to have someone who knows the ropes of the city and has been working in the area for a while. Not only does this translate into a less stressful planning period for you, but it also means that you’ll be able to benefit from the coordinator’s connections with local vendors and caterers. So give All About You Entertainment a call today!

We know. Not only do you hate planning your corporate events, but sometimes your employees might also have trouble “getting into the spirit” of the event. All those stress-inducing questions about what would make the event just right are no longer your concern. Trust us on this one. We’ve handled plenty of corporate events in our business’s history, and we’ve got you covered. When you’re planning your company’s next big event, consider these elements…

1)     Interact with Social Media

In this day and age, social media is everything to almost everyone. This also means that there are plenty of ways for your corporate event or next holiday party to make it onto all of your employees’ feeds. For Instagram-savvy companies, create a hashtag. Whenever people take a photo of the event or from the photo booth (which we’ll get to in a second), they can post the picture and tag it with the unique hashtag for everyone else to see. You could also live stream the event for people who might not be able to come. You could create an entire username/profile/page, depending on which social media platform you choose: Facebook (page), Twitter (username), or Instagram (profile). Or, if Snapchat has the reign in the office, create a filter or tags for people to use while at the party. Since there’s a 95% chance that the majority of your party people will be on their phones at least once during the evening, why not try and engage them? The extra bonus of this party favor is that it costs next to nothing!

2)      Rent a Photo Booth

Photo booths are always a lot of fun, so consider renting one for your next corporate event. If you choose to rent through All About You Entertainment, here are some of the perks: social media kiosk (which translates to instant uploading to your guests’ favorite social media platform…which we just talked about!), unlimited pictures, an attendant to help run the booth, free props and costumes, the ability to print the images with your company’s logo, a flashdrive filled with all the pictures from the evening, and no charge for set-up or take-down (basically, a win-win situation).

3)     Lights, Camera, Action!

Every All About You Entertainment event comes with a lighting package, but have you ever considered the benefits of uplighting? This somewhat fancy term basically means that we have the ability to customize the lighting of your event to match the color scheme you may have chosen or simply highlight certain aspects of the party. For example, you could create a monogram or logo that would be displayed against a wall or on the dance floor.

4)     Don’t Stop the Music

As far as we’re concerned, music is one of the most critical elements of a solid party. Our DJs have both the experience and the limitless tunes to make your next event stand out. The equipment can be set up anywhere, and our constantly updated selection of music has over 100,000 songs (and the range is mind-blowing).

If all of these things still seem super overwhelming, once again, we’ve got your back. Just like we have a wedding coordinator to help stressed-out brides and grooms, we also have a corporate event planner. Yes, you read that correctly! We have someone to literally take all the stress away from putting together the “perfect” corporate party. When you’re ready to start planning, give All About You Entertainment a call.

 

Your wedding day will be the day of your dreams. You’ll come gliding down the aisle (or watch your significant other do the gliding as you stare in awe), say your vows, dance your cares away at an amazing reception and then ride off into the sunset to begin your happily ever after. At least, a couple can only hope their wedding day goes that smoothly.

There is a near 99.9% guarantee that some aspect of your wedding day will not go as planned. Maybe it will be something small, like the icing of your cake being the wrong color. Or, maybe the hem of someone’s dress will catch on fire. While a couple’s idea of their perfect wedding might be pretty rigid, the number of potential disasters are pretty limitless.

The sheer amount of stress and planning that goes into a wedding might be too much for the average couple to handle alone. That’s where a wedding coordinator can step in and save your big day. Here are a few of the many reasons that hiring a wedding coordinator should be on your to-do list:

Enjoy Your Big Day

Needless to say, a lot goes into planning a wedding. If you’re the person who is going to be the center of the wedding, that means that you’ll be balancing way too many roles. On your wedding day, you’re the star, the socialite, the center of attention, the person who everyone has gathered together to celebrate. Why add stressful roles such as “planner” and “coordinator”, when there are experienced professionals who can take over those responsibilities for you?

Avoid Obvious Mishaps

Wedding coordinators are trained to prepare you for the best, but they also know how to handle the worst. Coordinators can offer valuable insight towards wedding specifics that would otherwise be overlooked by a someone not in the business. Do your wedding guests have specific food allergies? Does your venue include a complimentary wedding package? Wedding coordinators know the ins-and-outs of the process and will make sure that you always have a plan B.

Save Money

Hiring someone almost always equates to losing money. Fortunately, this isn’t the case with wedding coordinators. One of the many feats that a coordinator is capable of involves getting you an affordable venue, DJ and entertainment, and any other services that can easily break the bank if you don’t know where to look. Coordinators have access to a wide network of wedding resources and can help you get the best bang for your buck.

Get a Valuable Second Opinion

Whether you have a precise idea of what you want on your wedding day or are willing just to go with the flow, chances are you’ve gotten tons of advice from your loved ones (whether you asked for it or not). Some of this advice may be accurate, useful, and wanted, and other pieces of advice might be just the opposite.

Wedding coordinators will always have that second opinion that you really need. They have been there through both the fairytale weddings and moments some would rather forget. Coordinators give you the opportunity to gain wise pieces of advice accumulated from years of seeing the mistakes of others. Your aunt who swears that you have to tuck sugar cubes into your clothes for good luck? Not so much. Coordinators will also have fresh ideas that can make your wedding day especially memorable.

Create the Perfect Atmosphere

Even after you check off all of the main planning points of your wedding, it can still feel like something is missing. Your wedding coordinator can help you tie up all of the loose ends and make sure that you’re doing everything right. Your wedding coordinator will know all of the special touches and details that will make your big day one to remember.

All About You Entertainment knows weddings. Our wedding coordinators bring professionalism, experience, and an impressive skill set to each of their events. If you’re still in need of a wedding coordinator, contact us today and we will set you up with a professional who can make your wedding dreams a reality.

For the more casual and laid-back couples, you may opt to forgo seating assignments at your wedding reception. Depending on the size of your guest list, the thought of this organization task might not even get onto your lengthy to-do list. But before you officially decide to let the masses do as they choose when it comes to sitting for the reception, trust us and our wedding coordinators when we say that all couples should seriously consider wedding reception table assignments.

Here’s Why…

When it comes to weddings, most guests like to be told what to do in order to avoid any social faux pas. When a group of people are presented with a room full of empty chairs, (yes) they’ll find their seats (eventually), but at the cost of some serious traffic clogging, awkward shuffling around, and whispering until everyone is *sort of* where they want to be. Setting aside the time to thoughtfully prepare a seating chart goes a long way.

How to Get It Done (with the least amount of stress)

Do not wait until the night before your wedding (or even the last week!) to start planning!  

There are a few basic tables that are typically present at a wedding reception:

Wedding Party Table

Depending on the personality of the couple, this table could be smack-dab in the center of the room or pushed against a wall; it could be rounded to fit the room or straight. Either way, this area is the center of attention during the reception. The newlyweds will sit here along with (usually) their parents, close family, and/or the bridal party and groomsmen.

Family Tables

 The arrangement for these will depend on the relationship and amicability of the people. Generally speaking, these tables are for all family members and can act as a mini reunion, especially for those who don’t get to see each other often.

Rest of the Crowd

Seat people with familiar faces. The biggest key is to understand your guests and be sympathetic and courteous to their situations and relationships with other people. Try to avoid playing match-maker and putting all your single friends together; as The Knot perfectly states, “A little sensitivity and some good common sense are the best guides.” Also, when planning a kids’ table, think only the kiddies that aren’t in high school—anything older and it’s just embarrassing for them (trust us).

Types of Seating Arrangements

Once you’ve figured out how to mix-and-match your guests’ seating arrangements, now you get to decide the best way to lead your guests to their seats!

Place Cards

These await guests at the tables.

Escort Cards

Displayed near the entrance of the reception, these cards are in alphabetical order with the guest’s name and a designated table. You could opt for place cards at the tables with this option too.

Seating Chart 

For the visual, this illustrates guests’ names with their tables—a better option for smaller parties.

When you’re in planning mode for the big day, it can seem like there are so many options to choose from and even more decisions to make. A phenomena that has been making its way into the wedding scene recently is uplighting, and it should definitely be another “must have” at your wedding reception.

What is Uplighting?

Uplighting is the placement of lights to create a unique effect on the ambiance, atmosphere, and overall look of a room. These lights are placed according to the architecture and layout of a room, which means looking at columns, windows, and entrances. The number of lights used depends on the size of the room as well as the look that you are going for.

The secret to uplighting is a combination of figuring out the type of lighting that should be used and where the lights should be placed. This unique balancing formula can easily be solved by All About You Entertainment. We were one of the first companies in the Savannah area to go entirely wireless, so you’ll only notice the result of the uplighting (rather than the stray cords getting tangled in corners or taped down to walls). All of our uplighting is done through LED’s. These guys are the most environmentally friendly lights because of the little energy they use, but they’re also great because they’re super easy to customize!

The Benefits of Uplighting

1. Visual Impact

When your guests walk into the reception area, they’ll be greeted by bold colors or a warm ambiance, depending on the look you’re going for. Either way, the visual impact of uplighting will really make the area stand out.

2.  Customized

Uplighting can easily transform a boring space into something uniquely yours. We will work with you to figure out just what colors and designs you have to mind and just how we can bring them to life. If you want the color scheme to match the accent colors you’ve chosen, we can do that with uplighting. You have the option of changing the color and intensity of the individual fixtures or backlighting a single wall, such as the one behind the wedding cake.

All About You Entertainment also offers a Monogram Uplighting Effect. We can design a lighting projection that casts your names, the wedding date, or whatever else you might like onto the dance floor or a wall. You can either choose from one of our designs or create your own!  

3. Enhancer

Perhaps the best benefit of uplighting is simply the effect that it has on the mood and feel of a wedding reception. Uplighting can create a subtle, warm, and inviting feeling or something bold and outrageously your own. Some of the more common colors are amber, blue, and purple, but you have the option of creating just about any combination of colors or designs!

A wedding is a beautiful milestone that every couple hopes to someday reflect upon with the utmost fondness. Whether you plan on getting married on the beach in Tahiti, a traditional chapel, or even a relative’s backyard, there are certain elements to every “big day” that no smooth-running wedding should ever be without. As hilarious as those “wedding disaster” videos may prove to be; blunders such as a fallen cake or the veil catching on fire are only funny when they don’t happen at your wedding. Music, an ever-present and essential tool in creating the perfect atmosphere at any event, is something that can really make or break your ceremony. In order to avoid the stress and potential awkwardness that comes with music-related hazards, hiring a skilled DJ is absolutely crucial. To ensure that your first dance isn’t to obnoxious static(or the cries of your neighbor’s baby-why are they here again?), here are just a few guidelines for getting the most out of your wedding DJ:

 

1. Do Your Research!

This may seem like a no-brainer, but sometimes waiting until the last minute or wanting to get the best deal out there can lead to doing business with amateur, bargain DJs. If you want to make sure that “My Humps” doesn’t accidentally switch on during the father/daughter dance, it’s sometimes best to shell out a little more where a DJ is concerned. We’re living in the age of all things digital, and the internet is your best friend! Make sure to only look into accredited DJs attached to a reliable service, preferably with a list of great testimonials. As wonderful as it is to save a dime or two during the wedding process, it’s best to avoid Craigslist when searching for the guy(or lady!) who will be entrusted with the entire atmosphere of your ceremony.

2. Communication, Communication, Communication!

Oftentimes, some of the couples who report having the worst experiences with a DJ were actually largely responsible for their own disatisfaction. How is this? Well, a DJ is many things- but a mind reader isn’t one of them! DJs, depending on their usual audience, should naturally be wizards when it comes to mixing music and working a crowd. However, if you didn’t explicitly tell them about your undying hatred for 80s slow dance music, then there’s a good chance that it could end up on the playlist. One thing that you should always take a moment to do is sit down with your significant other, list out your least favorite music(from specific songs to entire genres) and note any overlaps, then make sure that your DJ leaves the screamo-folk songs for some of his other clients.

3. Choose the Right Setup

As insignificant as it may seem, the position of the DJ can actually have a large influence on overall crowd engagement. Depending on the nature of a wedding venue, this may be out of your control. However, if possible, try to avoid having your DJ shoved in the corner. Ideally, he or she will be instrumental in injecting an unmatched level of enjoyment and energy into your normally-stiff crowd of relatives, friends, and coworkers. You’ll want the fun to be front and center!

4. Breathe and Trust the Experts

Sometimes, it’s best to realize that not everything will always go exactly according to plan, and that’s okay! If you feel completely lost, then there are plenty of wedding coordinators out there who will gladly assist you. Nothing puts one’s mind at ease, however, like having a reliable and professional DJ that will transform your wedding into the unforgettable event of your dreams.

 

All About You Entertainment is here to provide that great quality service for even greater quality memories, so give us a call if you’re big day is on the horizon and you still need a professional to add the perfect sounds to your ceremony.