Your wedding day...remembered for the RIGHT reasons!

Everyone wants their wedding day to be remembered; for all the right reasons. There are many pieces of the puzzle and they must all work together to form a beautiful, complete picture at the end. Like so many other “wedding” things, this is your choice. If done well, it can make the overall event sparkle and shine with festivity. Before interviewing DJ’s, decide, as a couple, what sort of mood you’d like to set for the evening. Asking yourselves “What do we want our guests to say at the end of the night?” If you close your eyes and envision the end of the night, what does it look like? Do you want soft romance? Or do you want a raucous party? A good DJ will not only ask for this vision, but help you create it all evening long.

Please keep in mind the size of the puzzle piece, as well. The food is important, but it is only a portion of the evening. The flowers are crucial at the ceremony, but only seen in the periphery at the reception. The photographers job is to remain as “hidden” inside the action as possible, not on the main stage. But the music? It sets a mood that will last all evening long.  Your reception is you hosting a party; even better, a party with all your closest friends and family. As a result, it needs to accommodate a wide range of ages and tastes. It may seem impossible, but it needs to cater to the best of all their differences. A good DJ will know how to do that. Not to put too fine of a point on it, but think of it this way: At an average wedding, a DJ will talk to 50 people, setup 17 events, and manage 250 people for 5-6 hours. That’s a great deal of wrangling. It takes people skills and good time management. As a result, experience matters. Which is why the decision comes down to the end result and not just price. Your DJ will have a massive impact on your wedding and can make or break the evening. So it’s worth taking time to plan and choose the correct person (or team) for the job.

Star Productions DJ's creates a Save the Date video for our clients INCLUDED in most packages!!

Here's a sample video of what we did! Our brides love it! We'd love to do the same for you! email starproductionsdjs@gmail.com for more information.

10 helpful TOASTING TIPS!

The purpose of the wedding toast is to HONOR the person to whom it is offered.  You want to leave them feeling good about themselves - not hurt or humiliated.  This doesn’t mean you can’t have fun by gently teasing or poking fun, as long as you remember that the purpose of a wedding toast is to HONOR the bride and groom and to help celebrate their marriage. 

Here are 10 keys to making a memorable wedding toast:

1.   Be yourself.  If you try to do something that’s not natural you can come off sounding pompous.

2.   Keep it short.  A wedding speech should be under 5 minutes.  People often lose interest if you carry on any longer. 

3.   Be authentic.  You have a wealth of information you can use in your toast.  Pull from humorous stories in the past you’ve shared with them. 

4.   Be balanced.  Try not to get carried away.  Trying to write stories out as a comedy routine can take it over the top.

5.   End on a positive note.  If you’ve been humorous, go serious at the end with praise.  Talk about how you admire them, what their friendship means to you, why they’re perfect for their new spouse, or how you’ll miss them now that they’re married!

6.   Poke fun at yourself before teasing someone else.  By demonstrating that you can laugh at yourself the audience will be more willing to laugh with you as you poke fun at someone else.

7.   End with direction.  Focus your attention on the subject of your toast, raise your glass and ask the guests to join you in a toast to the bride and groom.

8.   If you run out of stuff to say - END THE TOAST!  A simple raising of the glass and saying “To the bride and groom!” can help bail you out if you’re struggling to find something to say.

9.   Keep it “Grandma friendly”.  Try not to bring up past relationships that they may have had or what might happen on their honeymoon, etc.  Keep it clean!

10.    Prepare in advance.  Nothing you can do on the day of the wedding will be as good as something you prepare in advance. 

  While this is no means a comprehensive guide to giving a toast hopefully it will allow you to be better prepared and able to offer a memorable tribute.  If you want more information about toasting I highly recommend “Wedding Toasts Made Easy” by Tom Haibeck.

Still Considering the DIY DJ idea?

Thought i'd share this great DIY DJ idea from the web....read on...(my comments and Avg cost in brackets)

"How to DJ Your Own Wedding With an iPod or Laptop

DIY DJ Tips and Tricks

By Nina Callaway, About.com Guide

DJing your own wedding is a great way to save money, and it allows you control of your reception playlist. Yet a DJ does a lot more than just push play, and if you don't plan ahead, you might end up with poor sound, the wrong songs, or technical difficulties!

What You'll Need to DIY DJ Your Wedding

Obviously, you'll need a reliable Mp3 player such as an IPod (Cost $300.00) capable of holding enough music (Enough music is about 150 songs...cost about 1.20 per track $200.00). I recommend that you have a playlist that is an hour or two longer than the length of your reception, which will allow you to start the music before guests arrive and have backup. You'll also need a good speaker system, a mixing console, a microphone (either wireless or with a long enough cable), and a cable to connect the Mp3 player – most likely a mini-stereo to dual RCA (male) cord, depending on your mixing console. (Average cost for a PA system rental like this $500.00)

Test It Out

This might seem obvious, but you'll want to leave plenty of time to test out your system and speakers. (Time for set up about 1.5 hours) You may need a different kind of cable, or your mp3 player might not play well with others. (Whoops...better find that cord in sound check mode) Rental equipment has been known to fail, (TRUE)  and you'll need time to get a replacement delivered. (Time? to get 2nd system up? about 1 hour...maybe) Static, feedback, poor sound balance, and low volume are just a few of the problems you might encounter. If your venue does weddings regularly, chances are they can walk you through the DIY DJ setup, but it's better to be safe than sorry. (cost for this... 75.00 to 100.00 for system delivery, $250.00 for a tech to deliver run and remove the system at the end of the night...totally worth a TECH!!!!! Trust me!)

Have a Backup Plan and a Backup Backup Plan

Along with your main Mp3 player and its power cable, it's a good idea to bring a second Mp3 player or a laptop - all loaded with your music. You'll also want to have on hand the name of an equipment rental company who does last minute deliveries. In case no one is dancing and you need to switch directions, you'll want that extra hour or two of music mentioned above. Odds are, you won't need any of your backups, but the cliché of "it's better to be safe than sorry" is especially true in this case.

Prevent "Guest DJs"

There's always that one guest who doesn't like what's playing and tries to change things up. Instead of bombarding a regular DJ with requests, she'll be trying to hit shuffle on your playlist, or even switch the cable to her own device. But you can prepare for this bad wedding guest. First, ask for music requests, either on your wedding website, or on your reply cardswith a line like "Name some artists or songs you're hoping to hear at our reception" or "What songs are sure to get you dancing?" Hearing a favorite song might satisfy a would-be guest DJ, but in case it doesn't, you should have an IPod minder or "freejay" who can guard and hit play for any special songs. When the freejay inevitably needs to take a break, hide your device under a taped-down piece of paper that says, "We've chosen our wedding playlist carefully. Please don't touch the IPod!"

Make a Music Plan and Checklist

Make sure you've got a song for every special moment in your wedding, from the first dance to the last one. Here's a wedding reception music plan, which will make sure you know which song should be played and when. Load these key pieces of music onto a separate playlist, ready to cue when necessary, or use an app like MyWeddingDJ.

Crossfade and Cut

One of the most important things that a DJ does is create transitions between songs. Six seconds of silence might not sound like much, but it's certainly enough to kill a mood and empty a dance floor. You might also have a favorite tune with a long intro or an extended ending that just won't work. Fortunately, there are DIY DJ solutions to these problems. Some models of IPods allow gapless playback. You can also use iTunes to both crossfade and cut songs, and DJ apps like Virtual DJ or My Wedding DJ can help you with advanced techniques.

Amplify It

Music that sounds plenty loud in an empty room will be a mere whisper when it competes with a hundred people chatting and laughing. Even if they are completely silent, their bodies alone will absorb sound. Your space may already have a speaker set-up, but be sure to test it out. Many have older speakers that don't operate well at loud volumes, or which may need to be supplemented with additional woofers and speakers. You can rent a basic set-up of an amp and some speakers for about $100 in many areas of the US. (not true here in Central Oregon)

Play Crowd Pleasers and Music That Will Get Them Dancing

As soon as I posted my Do Not Play List, I started to hear complaints from professional DJs that these were the best songs to fill a dance floor. While I agree that you can use the Chicken Dance or the Electric Slide to bring out some shy folks, there are better and less cheesy ways: Wedding Music To Get Guests Dancing. One of the prime reasons to DIY DJ is that you can control what gets played and avoid the cheese, but I think we can all agree that your wedding is not a time to play only death metal or emo music. You need to think about your guests as well as yourselves.

Don't Rely on an Internet Connection

Streaming music services like Spotify or MOG are great for personal listening, but they can cause big problems at a wedding. If the internet connection goes out or resets, you'll be left without music. Instead, use offline music sources. (like your MP3's, ipod, ipad or a Laptop with loaded music and playlists..)

Reconsider Hiring a Professional DJ

(I like this part)

So all these tips might leave you feeling more prepared. But they could also be overwhelming -- suddenly the simple DIY DJ isn't as simple as you thought. Once you add up the cost of of renting equipment, system delivery...set up take down, and purchasing songs, and the time you'll spend making playlists and getting prepared, you may decide that it's worth it to go pro. To save money, you could consider using a DIY setup for the cocktail hour, and a pro for the reception. (many DJ's include an hour or more of music for dinner & cocktails)

So...if you were doing the math...a DIY DJ can cost you a mere $850.00 plus! Where is the savings in a DIY DJ?)

Star Productions DJs Receives the Elite WeddingWire Rated™ Black Badge For Commitment To Providing Quality Service!

Bend, OR – January 10, 2017.

WeddingWire is pleased to announce that Star Productions DJs, has reached the prestigious WeddingWire Rated™ Black Level, by earning more than 100 wedding reviews!

The esteemed WeddingWire Rated™ client review program recognizes wedding professionals who have received positive newlywed reviews about their business on WeddingWire.  Since receiving over 100 wedding reviews, Star Productions DJs and Dave Star is now placed at the elite Rated™ Black Level. Star Productions DJs and Dave Star has achieved one of the highest ratings on a consistent basis achieving an average of 4.9 Stars as reviewed by their clients!

"To have exceeded 100 client reviews is a tremendous accomplishment that only a select group of wedding professionals have reached," said Sonny Ganguly, CMO, WeddingWire. "We are honored to recognize  Star Productions DJs for their impressive work within the wedding industry as indicated by their past clients. This great achievement showcases their strong track record of success and a steadfast commitment to earning positive reviews, each and every year."

           

12 months to go before your wedding?...What should you be doing to get ready!

Here's the 12 month snapshot:

1.  Officially announce your engagement ...by social media, with a save the date card, maybe a fun wedding website to link your friends too...even in your local paper. Did we tell you that we can do a save the date video for you? check out a sample on our website at www.starproductionsdjs.com.

2.  Consult with registry office (County Clerk's office) and Officiant/Minister/Reverend or Pastor.
Need a list of officiants? Let me know we know some really great ones....even non denominational.

3.  Contact other vendors to get budget numbers together....(good vendors go quick and you definately want to contact them soon if you haven't already. Check out a great list of local vendors at
www.centraloregonevents.net.

4.  Stay tuned for your next months checklist or respond to this email asking for the full checklist
in advance from us.  :) davestar@starproductionsdjs.com


11 months prior to your wedding day.  

Here are the wedding items you should be searching for or confirming with a deposit now.

1.  Make sure you are checking in to your personal planning site to start filling in your event
details....www.starproductionsdjs.com. just go to client log in area. need your password again?
Shoot me an email.

2.  Decide on a formal, semi-formal or informal wedding. Clothing type? Colors?

3.  Look into the reception venue (is liability insurance necessary?). If they are providing the
food...schedule a tasting.

4.  Find or confirm your ceremony location.

5.  Decide whether you need/want pre-marital counseling.

6.  find or Search for photographer. If you found one when will you meet with them? Do you have a
shot itinerary? Would you like one?

7.  find or confirm your caterer.

8.  find or confirm your florist.

9.  Create your Wedding Website & Countdown. Need some ideas here? let me know
starproductionsdjs@gmail.com :)

We hope this checklist is proving helpful to you!  Call us if you would like referrals for any of
the above services or if you need anything...  We're always here to help!

If you'd like more ideas on how you can get ready for the largest celebration of your lives...please email me! starproductionsdjs@gmail.com

Dave Star's Game Show! Great for office training or office Holiday Parties! Book it for your office party today!

http://www.youtube.com/v/agWP-j5ov0M?autohide=1&version=3&feature=share&autohide=1&attribution_tag=mJMXmmMwHTN5AmrkIWUpKg&showinfo=1&autoplay=1

As you can see...Game show is fun for all ages...we customize game show for your business! This is a super idea for a fun holiday get together! Call dave today at 5414194090.

BrideZilla!!!!

Scary Funny!

Bride Zilla caught on video! 

What are the Top Trends for Weddings and wedding DJ's in 2017?

Each year I chat with Hundreds of DJ's, wedding Vendors and lot's of brides too, from across the Nation to find out what's trending! I found these as the TOP TRENDS for BRIDES planning for their 2017 celebration!...

MORE Brides will use online tools to plan their 2017 wedding! Online magazines...including our FAV at www.centraloregonevents.net will become more popular...the big wedding magazines are available at stores have always been a favorite of the past to thumb through...but many have become more Advertising heavy and lite on content, tips and ideas...Brides are focused on local resources in Bend Oregon, for their Central Oregon Wedding Planning Ideas now more than ever!

Wedding Blogs will be accessed more while the bride researches options and a huge site pinterest http://www.pinterest.com/davestarman/ will be accessed by more brides than ever!

Wedding Web Sites will increase by 30%! Wedding Wire will be a big HIT in 2017! Brides and Grooms can announce their celebration through their partner portal, as well as plan their event with tools available through Wedding Wire...one of the most comprehensive planning and organizational tools available. Check it out HERE. The KNOTT has great websites too!

More Brides will ASK..."can i talk to or email your references!?". Yes a TOP Trend for 2017 will be that more Brides will use past customer referrals ... by calling or emailing for a reference, and even more through Technology. The primary reason is that Brides rely on referrals and recommendations more than ever to pick the pro's they can trust for the biggest party they will ever throw. With resources like wedding wire, the knot.com and other growing online referral sources it's easy to check on the wedding professional's past experiences. If a event professional does not show references on their website...maybe they are hiding something? While other sites like YELP offer referrals too...wedding wire is based on wedding customers and clients making your referral searches alot more selective.

DIY Produced "Save the Date" Video's...www.Animoto.com offers a FREE way to input your scanned or digital pix and create a really fun way to announce your wedding date to your family and friends to save the date as well as get a pulse on how many of your friends. See a sample here www.starproductionsdjs.com



Decor Lighting or Up Lighting: Lighting can really make a normal room with decorations  into a room that spotlights elements with light! For instance...the cake can be lit with small lighting to make it stand out more...Up lighting can emphasize or soften parts of the room...Brides and Groom's initials projected with lighting on a wall or dance floor will be used more in 2017!


More "Dance-Able" Sets: A Professional DJ has the ability to take a POP song recorded in the 60's and transform the same song into a more "dance able" track! We use this as a tool to bring all ages to the dance floor...while remixed songs is not new to the industry, the remix tools that are available to the DJ are more accessible and work within multi-platform computers...Mac or PC...


Many wedding businesses will offer one stop shop options with related products or services. For instance Caterer's will work with Beverage Vendors to work with them and design food and drink options as a combination of services. DJ's will have systems for "rent" for the wedding and offer a sound technician to handle the ceremony needs of additional mics and music...many times allowing a small trio to plug into the ceremony system may lower costs of a live band, since they don't need to bring in extra equipment.

Dance Instructors at wedding receptions will be more popular in 2017! We have found this increasing on the east coast.

Pre-Produced Choreographed First dance's will be a big 2017 HIT!....check out the best first dance ever on you tube...this will give the bride and groom a way to spotlight their styles in a creative and fun way!

More "Guest Interaction": Your DJ/MC has more tools to bring everyone to the dance floor...ask your DJ about Dance elements like the groove line, the Stroll,the hustle...some fun dances of the past that are designed to get older guests to the dance floor...and mix with some popular dances like the wobble or Cupid Shuffle or "Back it UP"! a good DJ can come up with at least 5 elements that would work to get your guests on the dance floor!

Flash Mob Dances...YES...a 2017 Trend! I have done several events now that involved friends that come to the event prepared with a CUE...and simple choreographed dance sets that will get everyone on the floor! We've used Thriller and a few others that have been entertaining and hilarious to watch the reactions from the guests!

Game's or NO Games? There are ways that rehearsal dinners or early parts of the reception would include...bride and groom trivia cards placed in guest tables to involve the guests and invite conversation based on the couple...we use the "shoe drop" more often now. We even do "Game Show" for rehearsal dinners!

It's no surprise that wedding businesses, including DJ's, are run as a small business. Small businesses generally are distracted, dealing with many daily issues of running a business in addition to maybe working a full time job...
"Increased Customer Service" was recently a discussion at a national convention that seemed to be on the TOP Trending list. Here's what you can learn to expect in 2017.

One way Small successful wedding businesses WILL improve in 2017: Answer their phone and or return phone calls and or emails within 24 hours. If your vendor can't promise this...try selecting another Vendor! As your event gets close, you may want to call or email your vendor for an important question or two and you don't want to wait for an answer...many web sites will have a "contact us now" button, making them more accessible from their web site! Many Vendors will have a Smart Phone and be able to get back to you within an hour...not days...

We will have more trends from more vendors soon! Stay tuned! of course you can email me your questions to us as well!

The Best DJ? TOP 100! WOW!!!

Dave Star Receives the Elite WeddingWire Rated™ Black Badge For Commitment To Providing Quality Service

Bend, OR – 10.27.2016 – WeddingWire, the nation's leading online wedding marketplace, is pleased to announce that Dave Star at Star Productions DJs has reached the prestigious WeddingWire Rated™ Black Level, by earning more than 100 wedding reviews for DJ Services in Bend, Oregon,

The esteemed WeddingWire Rated™ program recognizes wedding professionals who have received positive newlywed reviews about their business on WeddingWire.  Since receiving over 100 wedding reviews, Star Productions DJs is now placed at the elite Rated™ Black Level. The program recognizes businesses across more than 20 service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers, and requires a minimum of three wedding reviews and an average score of 3.5 stars or higher.

Within the WeddingWire Rated™ program, there are seven different levels that wedding professionals can reach based on the number of wedding reviews they receive (3, 10, 25, 50, 100, 250 and 500).  The prestigious WeddingWire Rated™ Black badge is reserved for a select group of businesses who have received 100 or more newlywed reviews.

As a member of WeddingWire, the world's largest wedding review site with over one million reviews, Star Productions DJ's advancement to the Rated™ Black Level is considered the ultimate milestone, illustrating the business' commitment to regularly providing quality service to their clients. As a WeddingWire Rated™ Black badge-holder, Star Productions DJs has reached the highest level of achievement on WeddingWire.

"To have exceeded 100 client reviews is a tremendous accomplishment that only a select group of wedding professionals have reached," said Sonny Ganguly, CMO, WeddingWire. "We are honored to recognize  Star Productions DJs for their impressive work within the wedding industry as indicated by their past clients. This great achievement showcases their strong track record of success and a steadfast commitment to earning positive reviews, each and every year."

           

StarProductionsDJs.com offers unique holiday party ideas!

Want your holiday party to be something your staff and guests will enjoy?

email me now for availability and pricing.

Still Considering the DIY DJ idea?

Thought i'd share this great DIY DJ idea from the web....read on...(my comments and Avg cost in brackets)

"How to DJ Your Own Wedding With an iPod or Laptop

DIY DJ Tips and Tricks

By Nina Callaway, About.com Guide

DJing your own wedding is a great way to save money, and it allows you control of your reception playlist. Yet a DJ does a lot more than just push play, and if you don't plan ahead, you might end up with poor sound, the wrong songs, or technical difficulties!

What You'll Need to DIY DJ Your Wedding

Obviously, you'll need a reliable Mp3 player such as an IPod (Cost $300.00) capable of holding enough music (Enough music is about 150 songs...cost about 1.20 per track $200.00). I recommend that you have a playlist that is an hour or two longer than the length of your reception, which will allow you to start the music before guests arrive and have backup. You'll also need a good speaker system, a mixing console, a microphone (either wireless or with a long enough cable), and a cable to connect the Mp3 player – most likely a mini-stereo to dual RCA (male) cord, depending on your mixing console. (Average cost for a PA system rental like this $500.00)

Test It Out

This might seem obvious, but you'll want to leave plenty of time to test out your system and speakers. (Time for set up about 1.5 hours) You may need a different kind of cable, or your mp3 player might not play well with others. (Whoops...better find that cord in sound check mode) Rental equipment has been known to fail, (TRUE)  and you'll need time to get a replacement delivered. (Time? to get 2nd system up? about 1 hour...maybe) Static, feedback, poor sound balance, and low volume are just a few of the problems you might encounter. If your venue does weddings regularly, chances are they can walk you through the DIY DJ setup, but it's better to be safe than sorry. (cost for this... 75.00 to 100.00 for system delivery, $250.00 for a tech to deliver run and remove the system at the end of the night...totally worth a TECH!!!!! Trust me!)

Have a Backup Plan and a Backup Backup Plan

Along with your main Mp3 player and its power cable, it's a good idea to bring a second Mp3 player or a laptop - all loaded with your music. You'll also want to have on hand the name of an equipment rental company who does last minute deliveries. In case no one is dancing and you need to switch directions, you'll want that extra hour or two of music mentioned above. Odds are, you won't need any of your backups, but the cliché of "it's better to be safe than sorry" is especially true in this case.

Prevent "Guest DJs"

There's always that one guest who doesn't like what's playing and tries to change things up. Instead of bombarding a regular DJ with requests, she'll be trying to hit shuffle on your playlist, or even switch the cable to her own device. But you can prepare for this bad wedding guest. First, ask for music requests, either on your wedding website, or on your reply cardswith a line like "Name some artists or songs you're hoping to hear at our reception" or "What songs are sure to get you dancing?" Hearing a favorite song might satisfy a would-be guest DJ, but in case it doesn't, you should have an IPod minder or "freejay" who can guard and hit play for any special songs. When the freejay inevitably needs to take a break, hide your device under a taped-down piece of paper that says, "We've chosen our wedding playlist carefully. Please don't touch the IPod!"

Make a Music Plan and Checklist

Make sure you've got a song for every special moment in your wedding, from the first dance to the last one. Here's a wedding reception music plan, which will make sure you know which song should be played and when. Load these key pieces of music onto a separate playlist, ready to cue when necessary, or use an app like MyWeddingDJ.

Crossfade and Cut

One of the most important things that a DJ does is create transitions between songs. Six seconds of silence might not sound like much, but it's certainly enough to kill a mood and empty a dance floor. You might also have a favorite tune with a long intro or an extended ending that just won't work. Fortunately, there are DIY DJ solutions to these problems. Some models of IPods allow gapless playback. You can also use iTunes to both crossfade and cut songs, and DJ apps like Virtual DJ or My Wedding DJ can help you with advanced techniques.

Amplify It

Music that sounds plenty loud in an empty room will be a mere whisper when it competes with a hundred people chatting and laughing. Even if they are completely silent, their bodies alone will absorb sound. Your space may already have a speaker set-up, but be sure to test it out. Many have older speakers that don't operate well at loud volumes, or which may need to be supplemented with additional woofers and speakers. You can rent a basic set-up of an amp and some speakers for about $100 in many areas of the US. (not true here in Central Oregon)

Play Crowd Pleasers and Music That Will Get Them Dancing

As soon as I posted my Do Not Play List, I started to hear complaints from professional DJsthat these were the best songs to fill a dance floor. While I agree that you can use the Chicken Dance or the Electric Slide to bring out some shy folks, there are better and less cheesy ways: Wedding Music To Get Guests Dancing. One of the prime reasons to DIY DJ is that you can control what gets played and avoid the cheese, but I think we can all agree that your wedding is not a time to play only death metal or emo music. You need to think about your guests as well as yourselves.

Don't Rely on an Internet Connection

Streaming music services like Spotify or MOG are great for personal listening, but they can cause big problems at a wedding. If the internet connection goes out or resets, you'll be left without music. Instead, use offline music sources. (like your ipod or CD's)

Reconsider Hiring a Professional DJ
(I like this part)

So all these tips might leave you feeling more prepared. But they could also be overwhelming -- suddenly the simple DIY DJ isn't as simple as you thought. Once you add up the cost of of renting equipment, system delivery...set up take down, and purchasing songs, and the time you'll spend making playlists and getting prepared, you may decide that it's worth it to go pro. To save money, you could consider using a DIY setup for the cocktail hour, and a pro for the reception. (many DJ's include an hour or more of music for dinner & cocktails)

So...if you were doing the math...a DIY DJ can cost you a mere $850.00 plus! Where is the savings in a DIY DJ?)

When Lighting Matters...

Many of my clients don't even think of lighting...but we do.

Why Lighting?

What type of lighting options are there?

Many times events will go on late into the evening. You'll need some basic lighting to illuminate the room or party area. Often times my clients will use cafe style lighting.

Cafe lighting:

Up lighting:
Up lighting is used to give a colored effect that can really make a room look very cool at night! We also use monogram lighting shown in the picture below. Lots of different color options are available

Dance floor effect lighting
Really want your party to bump....then lighting adds that desired "club effect"

Here are some of the fixtures (linked below), we use and video's that show the effect.

Intimidator Spots
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5O5ecp1oCXs

You may consider dance music videos as well.

Call us to find out more of your lighting options. We can walk your space and give you recommendations...many times our site survey is free! We are happy to help.

Black out just moments before the ceremony! What do you do?!

Recently...our lovely Bride and Groom's (Jen and Charlie) Wedding was hit by a black out!

A total power outage happened as the girls and the bride were lining up to take the forever walk down the isle...Then BAM! All power went out!

The guys were all at the altar, waiting....not sure what to do!

After a few minutes of shock in darkness...the decided they were going to go on with their ceremony!

The Great Hall in Sunriver looked fabulous for an intimate candle lit ceremony for them and the 180 guests in attendance...What a great ...very unique ceremony...in the minutes following the ceremony we had generator power for the outside and indoor celebration that followed!

What a GREAT PARTY! Here's what they had to say about our service's on their day! Star Productions Entertainment Services NW - Satisfaction Survey

can't wait to post the pictures!!!!

Great Music Ideas from this link!

Enjoy!

Do you need a check list to keep your celebration organized?

We all need friendly reminders...and check lists are a daily organizational routine for me personally....For my brides...i like making things easy and worry free...so here's an awesome site that has some great check lists to help plan your event (s). Enjoy!

Click here for an awesome wedding check list!

10 tips on toasting! Why Wedding Toasts Bomb...and what to do about it....

Why Wedding Toasts Bomb & What You Can Do About It – 10 tips for success! By Tom Haibeck & Dave "Star".

NOVEMBER 7, 2012 BY DAN WALSH LEAVE A COMMENT

As a mobile entertainer, i've no doubt seen it all with wedding toasts: The drunken uncle who makes a total fool of himself. The panic-stricken maid of honor visibly shaking holding the mic. The father of the bride who delivers a twenty minute sermon on marital success. The best man who offends the entire room with off-color jokes and inappropriate stories. The painfully boring elderly aunt who rambles on and on and on and on and on…ugh!

Unfortunately, many families underestimate the potential for those kinds of situations to arise at their wedding. So it behooves someone like me, as the master of ceremonies professional you've hired to help plan, conduct and oversee the wedding reception, to be proactive in helping my client steer clear of those disasters.

Here are ten tips to help ensure your wedding toasters shine:

1. Choose the right people to toast. I encourage the bride and groom to give serious thought to who they chose to speak during the wedding reception. The act of public speaking can be absolutely terrifying to some people—yet they’re cast into a role (as best man or maid of honor) that requires them to deliver a speech to several hundred people. I Give them an “out” if necessary—or offer to pre-record their toast in advance. Yes...we have done that!

2. I prefer to limit the number of people toasting. No matter how good a lineup of toast presenters might be, there is a limit to the guests’ attention span. My rule of thumb is that the “formal” part of a wedding reception (like most any corporate event) should be scheduled for after dinner, and that the total time allotted for it should be NO MORE than 15 minutes. Tailor your speaker lineup accordingly.

3. I Take control of the microphone and work with the bride and groom (and other decision-makers) to nail down a pre-approved event agenda that clearly spells out who is going to offer toasts. I Usually Do NOT give up the mic to anyone not on that list.

4. I like to brief speakers in advance. Most people asked to make a wedding toast have no idea what to say and what to expect. Educate them in advance about the need to focus their toast on the bride and groom (“It’s about them, not you”); to personalize their toast and honor the wedding couple (“It’s a toast, not a roast”); and to limit their talk to a maximum of three or four minutes. I might also give them a copy of the event agenda to help give them a sense of the overall event and their place within it, (if needed).

5. I encourage them to get started early. Most people tend to procrastinate in preparing a wedding toast. Then they panic and scribble something down on the back of a napkin on the day of the wedding. Suggest to them that the quality of their toast will be in direct proportion to their level of preparation. A well-considered, thoughtful toast that’s rehearsed in advance is their prescription for success at the podium.

6. I Pre-approve their material. Some wedding emcees require all wedding toasters to submit their speech in writing in order to earn the right to speak. While that can help ensure quality control, it might be a little much for some folks. As an alternative, you might simply offer to review their toast and provide feedback if they send it to you no later than ten days prior to the wedding.

7. I Encourage them to rehearse in advance. One of the reasons people tend to ramble on too long with their toast is that they simply have no sense of what they can actually cover in three or four minutes. Suggest they rehearse in advance and time themselves.

8. I Coach them on the day of the wedding. People who rehearse their toast in the actual room where the reception is to take place tend to be a lot more comfortable when they go live. Encourage them to do so—and allow them to rehearse with the microphone (with some coaching).

9. Have you ever tried to hold a microphone in one hand and your speaking notes/champagne flute in the other? I Make it easy for toasters by providing an actual Mic Stand for them to use.

10.What are the bride and groom’s expectations of the possible transition should a speaker drone on too long, use off-color material or appear inebriated. We should agree on some sort of hand signal, possibly a song that comes in ...like the OSCARS...should they wish for you to bring up the music and cut power to the mic. Guests will understand if the situation warrants it. Want more great event ideas? Sign up for my free newsletter! FREEEEEEEE! www.starproductionsdjs.com.

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Congratulations on your engagement!!! Attending a Bridal Show soon? 10 EZ Tips for making the day more organized and enjoyable!

Why attend a bridal show? 


TO: Save time and money, meet with wedding industry experts, get ideas, and see the latest wedding trends (and taste GREAT food samples).

We have prepared 10 important bridal show tips to help you get the most out of a wedding show!
1. Arrive early
2. Pre-register before the show
3. Bring your friends
4. Make Contact info labels, with your name, email address and wedding date
5. Bring a notebook and pen
6. Bring a digital camera use your smart phone camera or go to www.scanlife.com and download the QR scanner !
7. Know your budget!!!
8. Bring your checkbook
9. Do your research
10. Make a day of it


Those that arrive first to the bridal show automatically receive some of the coolest prizes. Many bridal shows offer discounts and incentives for arriving early to the show. You will also be able to catch (and book) the good vendors before they have booked at the show!

Save time by registering before the show. Registration only takes a few minutes and will save you from having to fill out a registration form at the show. Email Dave for a pre-registration link! dave@centraloregonevents.net

Bringing your friends to the bridal show will help them feel involved and also give you a chance to bounce ideas back and forth.

Wedding vendors will often have drawings for prizes at their booths. Instead of having to fill out multiple forms with your contact info, prepare some electronic labels before the bridal show. Information to include: your name, wedding date and email address...2 sheets of mailing labels should do it!

Bring a notebook and pen so you can take notes. Write down contact info of vendors you talked to or thoughts you have while attending the bridal show. If you are a techie...use your voice recorder app or notepad on your phone to make notes too!

Bringing a simple digital camera will allow you to quickly remember some of the great things you saw at the show. Did you see a great dress during a bridal fashion show? CLICK! Maybe there is a great cake from a wedding cake designer, CLICK! Using a QR code scanner will allow you to easily "hit" qr codes at wedding show booths and get info right there on your phone to follow up with them  later CLICK! Gotta Love Technology!

Setting your wedding budget and knowing who is responsible for each thing will help you make decisions and know what you are looking for while attending the show. Need budget ideas? What are the costs? email dave@centraloregonevents.net

Many wedding vendors will offer a special day-of-the-bridal-show-only discounts if you make a deposit! This will help you save even more money at the wedding show. Ask them! KAAAAA-CHING!

Know which wedding services you need before the show so you don't waste time. Also try to find out which wedding vendors will be exhibiting prior to the show. This will help you know what questions to ask and allow you to visit those vendors you are particularly interested in. Email Dave for a participants/vendor list today and get your shopping done early! email dave@centraloregonevents.net.

Plan on attending the bridal show for several hours. This will allow you to visit all the vendors and find everything you need. One stop shopping! Above all – have fun and enjoy the show!

NOT attending the show? go to www.centraloregonevents.net for wedding professionals and a FREE "coordinator" on call!