Trend Alert: Dayton, Ohio Wedding Planner

Ever run into something that just makes you go swoon? Every time I do that I tend to save it in the pictures folder of my computer.

I was scrolling through the tons and tons of pictures in there and noticed a major trend and something I totally LOVE!

Check out these vintage inspired full headpieces. It’s has the feel of the typical birdcage but with an older more timeless feeling… and I seriously believe we’re going to see a lot more of these on heads in the near future.

Like or Love?

We LOVE!

Au Revoir for now!

Vendors Uncorked- Hey Mr. DJ,–DJ Services, Cincinnati, OH

Here it is! Our first installment of vendors uncorked!

Today we’re hearing from the amazing Brandon Lindsey of Cincinnati’s own HEY MR. DJ.

Check out his super insightful, adrenalin filled musings!

From Brandon:

My name is Brandon Lindsey. I own Hey! Mr. DJ Entertainment in Cincinnati Ohio and I’m a DJ and Master Of Ceremonies specializing in wedding receptions. It is now Sunday at 1:45am and I’ve just pulled into my driveway. About two hours ago I stepped to the microphone and congratulated Ryan and Stacy on their marriage. It was the final note of a magical day and night that left many of their guests telling them it was the best wedding reception they have ever been to.

About ten months ago Stacy called me and we spoke for the very first time. Neither of us knew that we would share one of the most important days of her life. In fact her first question was, “What do you charge for 4 hours?” I explained I don’t have a four hour package and for most of my clients I put in about 20 hours of work before I ever arrive at their event. This piqued her interest. We talked a little more and agreed to meet at my office.

Many brides don’t like that I refuse to quote an exact price on the phone. I don’t quote a price for a few reasons. The first reason is I don’t know what they need without talking to them more. I don’t know what will be required of me. So many weddings have so many different variables. The biggest reason however that I don’t want to quote a price is, I’m not cheap! I don’t compete with other DJs on price. I compete on value and I can’t show someone my value on the phone. I want to be able to show brides what I do that is AMAZING and usually they think I’m a great deal after that.

Many brides are like Stacy. When they call a DJ they think they are calling someone to simply play music at their wedding reception. Most are worried that if a DJ says something on the microphone it will be cheesy or overshadow them on their wedding day. Depending on the DJ they call, they may be correct. Most DJs have no training at all. They are self-taught amateurs whose years of experience consist of doing the same thing they have always done year after year. This results in average wedding receptions that are cookie cutter. I’m not like that. I want brides to know that I travel the country training, attending workshops and seminars. I want them to know that I brainstorm online with DJs and wedding professionals on a daily basis developing new creative ways to personalize their wedding day. I want brides to know why saying “Ladies and Gentlemen, at this time I’d like to” over and over again on the microphone, like most DJs do, will negatively impact their wedding day. I want couples to know why I was asked to speak in Las Vegas to DJs from all over the world about what I do. I want couples to know that their wedding can be different and better than they ever imagined. I want couples to know that five years from now their guests will remember, above all other things, moments that I can help them create at their wedding. The moments that stir emotion and make them cry, laugh, sing along and dance will be what their guests remember about their wedding reception. Those moments are what drive me.

I work with select couples and their wedding vendors to create a once in a lifetime event. I charge what I charge because I’m worth it. It amazes me that a couple would trust their event to a DJ who doesn’t charge enough money to even run a legitimate business. A real business has operating expenses like advertising, phone, gas, office supplies, equipment purchases and upkeep, accounting, legal music, training, staff, taxes, office space etc. There are only so many weekends in a year to earn money in this business. Chances are those guys that are cheaper are either hobbyist or not doing things the legal way. I’m just surprised people would trust their event to either group.

Don’t get me wrong I’m not complaining. I’m very busy and forced to turn away events even at my higher rates. I just wish every bride and groom would shop around, and educate themselves on what is out there. Stacy and Ryan did and she actually cried in our first meeting when I showed her an example of something I do. They also laughed in that meeting when I showed them some creative things I had recently done. They left enlightened and super excited. It was a 45 minute meeting that changed the entire outcome of their wedding reception. Over the next few months we got to know each other and we planned, from an entertainment perspective, a reception that was full of amazing moments, lots of fun and plenty of time left for dancing. Two hours ago after an amazing reception filled with tears, laughter and lots of dancing, Stacy walked over to me and hugged me. Ryan looked me in the eye and shook my hand. They both sincerely thanked me. As they turned to walk away, a guest stopped them and I heard her say “This was the best reception I have ever been to.” So as I walked into my house I still had too much adrenaline and emotion in my veins to go to bed. I decided to take the time to write these words. I hope it gives a little deeper look into what I do and will lead a few more couples to make their entertainment a priority.

And that’s all he wrote!!  Check out Hey Mr. DJ! They’ll knock your spanx off! lol… oh come on… we all know you won’t be wearing socks on your wedding day!

Thanks so much Brandon!!

Au Revoir for now!

Vendors Uncorked–Wedding Vendors, Cincinnati, OH

I am SUPER SUPER excited to bring this SUPER exciting.. te he…

series of blog posts to all of you!

I have talked to several of the area’s best of the best of the best wedding vendors. I asked them to give you as the bride/ engages couples some insight from their perspective.

I wanted you to get a good idea of all the things a vendor wishes you could know or might ask.

Hence… VENDORS UNCORKED…. the real life view from your wedding vendors.

I asked them to answer a series of questions in any way they’d like. And I know…. these are things you’ll want to hear.

Here’s a little sampling of the questions….

* What is your job/business?

* What drives you to do what you do every day?

* What is a common misunderstanding from couples in your line of work?

* What is a common complaint you hear from couples about something that you do… and what is the reason why you do it this way?

* What are some of the things you do that contribute to your bottom line?

* What are some little known facts about your particular industry that brides really should know?

* If you lived in a perfect world… engaged couples would…. __________________________?

SOUNDS PRETTY AWESOME>>>>> DON’T IT!!!???

Stay tuned… You’ll be hearing from

Brandon Lindsey of Hey Mr. DJ,

Kristen Little of Five Dot Designs,

Nancy Dawson of Brideface,

Joe Penno at the Contemporary Arts Center,

Jacalyn Mains of JMM Photogpraphy, 

Stacey Sparks of Bella Bridal,

Kristen Frank of Impact Video Productions,

Marti Thompson of Marti’s Floral Designs!!

What a stellar line up!

Hang on folks… This is going to be a wild ride!!!

Au Revoir for now!!!

Shoe Appeal Wednesday- Wedding Planner in Dayton Ohio

OMG>>>> I don’t even remember where I found these but they knocked me off my feet… or couch… whichever.

They’re origami inspired from sir Loubouton (of course)!|

Can you see the origami detail here? Pure genius!! Swoon!

Au Revoir!

Questions, Queries, and Conundrums–Wedding Planner, Cincinnati, OH

Q:  I keep going back and forth on the issue of changing my name after I get married? It’s such a huge decision… what are your thoughts?

In the last year or so name changing has become increasingly controversial and a major topic of discussion among couples… even before they get engaged.

I’ll back up a little to give my honest opinion… I got married to my high school sweetheart almost 10 years ago. One day after getting engaged a good friend from high school stopped in to my work and was appalled by the fact that I was going to change my name when I got married. I suppose appalled is pretty strong… but you could tell that she definitely did not agree with my decision. Oddly I remember thinking how strange it was that she felt so strongly about my decision. I married and went through the whole rig-a-ma-roll of changing my name and really never looked back.

Occasionally I  use my former last name when I know the person I’m speaking to would know my parents. Other than that… I just wish my husband could have had a cooler name that DAAB. Sometimes when people ask about the name I laugh it off and say… I married into that one.

For me, I never thought about changing my name as controversial or as if I was loosing a certain identity.. frankly, I didn’t really think I had a choice… this was just what you did. I will say, I came from a conservative home where my parents and my husbands parent had been married for years, no divorces, no step kids, no spouse deaths, pretty much your all American pastor’s kid. I always knew one day I would change my name… cause that was the way I would show my future husband that I wanted to make a family with him.

The friend I spoke about before was raised primarily by her awesome single mom and her darling grandparents. She never felt connected to her birth name either and halfway through high school changed it to reflect her grandfather (who was the dominate male figure in her life). She had already experienced choosing a name that reflected her. That reflected the ties she felt to her family. She recently married as well… and she kept her grandfathers name.

So what am I getting at here?

Wait for it… it’s a total shocker…. EVERY PERSON IS DIFFERENT!

Every single person in the world experiences a different type of upbringing, a different level of sentimentalism, a heightened feeling of ownership, liberal or conservative parents, a fiancé with a strong opinion, career paths and choices, etc. etc. etc.

It would be nearly impossible for the same solution to be the best solution for everyone. I chose to change my name because I loved my husband and wanted us to start our own family with him as the lead of the home. That was my reason.

When making a decision about changing your name, really sit down and decide why or why not you would make this decision. What is your reason behind changing or not changing. Communicate this clearly with your future spouse and make a decision that feels right for you.

In the end this is what’s going to make you happy and feel like you fit in your name.

Au Revoir for now!