Alternatives to the Rice Toss for Wedding Send-Offs

Alternatives to the Rice Toss for Wedding Send-Offs

The ritual of throwing rice at a couple as a send-off after their wedding actually started in ancient Rome. In fact, it started as wheat and later switched to rice as the symbol of fertility changed. It was meant as an offering to the gods so that the happy couple would have lots of children.

You may not think about that when you throw rice at a wedding today, but you may also not want to be showered with rice at your wedding. Do you still want a fun send-off? Here are a few ideas.

  • Glow sticks – Have your friends and family crack glow sticks and light up the night as you head to the vehicle with “Just Married” written on the back.
  • Ribbon wands – Long dowels with ribbons tied to the end give you the feel of confetti without the huge mess for someone to clean up later.
  • Bubbles – Two birds with one stone. Give your guests bottles of bubbles with your wedding date as a favor and have them blow the bubbles as you head to your getaway vehicle.
  • Sparklers – They make extra long sparklers specifically for occasions like this. That will ensure that people use them safely and that the sparklers don’t run out before you get to your car.

Chose the Right Song for Your Wedding Send-Off

Of course, you also want the right song for your big exit to head off to your honeymoon, and DJ Mikey Beats is just the person to play it for you. To hire a professional DJ for your wedding, call 858.270.2195, or you can get a quote online.

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Wedding Fans: A Practical and Fun Wedding Favor Trend

Wedding Fans A Practical and Fun Wedding Favor Trend

Wedding fans are a great way to provide a useful favor for your guests and provide valuable information at the same time. Here are a few ways you can use wedding fans to enhance the evening for your guests.

  • Providing a fan – First of all, your guests get a fan in case they get too warm at the wedding. It’s good for you too because if you see guests all over the venue fanning themselves, you know it is time to ask for more air conditioning.
  • Introduce the event – You can include the names of the bride and groom, officiant, family members, and wedding parties. This gives an official introduction to everyone and makes for a nice keepsake for those who want it.
  • Provide a timeline – Providing a timeline allows everyone to be present for all the important moments. You don’t have to worry that someone is in the bathroom or outside when your wedding DJ starts playing the music for your first dance, cake cutting, etc. Of course, you also have to stick to the schedule for it to help everyone, but giving out the schedule often motivates a couple to stay on time.

Hire the Right DJ for Your Wedding

Another way to stay on schedule and help your guests to enjoy the evening is to have the right DJ at the helm. DJ Mikey Beats wants to bring his expertise to the party and help you and everyone else to have a great time. For more info, call 858.270.2195, or you can get a quote online.

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Setting a Timeline for Your Wedding Ceremony and Reception

Setting a Timeline for Your Wedding Ceremony and Reception

When it comes to your wedding, how you choose to time the ceremony and reception is up to you. However, there are many considerations, including things you will need to discuss with your wedding DJ. With that in mind, here is a sample wedding ceremony and reception schedule that highlights all the important music moments.

• 4:00 Ceremony – There will be processional songs for the wedding party and for the bride. However, music may start up to a half-hour beforehand to welcome guests.

• 4:30 Cocktail Hour – This gives your guests time to get situated, start mingling, and enjoy a drink and some appetizers. Usually, there is some soft music in the background.

• 5:45 After the guests transition from the Cocktail Hour to the dinner reception, typically there is a Grand Entrance for the bridal party and wedding couple, then a first dance and then a welcome speech done either by a Matriarch/Patriarch of the family or the wedding couple.

• 6:00 Dinner – It is time to eat! Please don’t try and cram in events during the dinner. Let the guests enjoy their meals and talk amongst themselves. This is a good opportunity for the wedding couple to got table to table to say hello.

• 7:00 Toasts – It is recommend to choose 1-2 people to represent each side of the wedding couple’s family and friends. Always try and Kent short and NEVER open the speeches to anyone who wants to say something. That can get awkward!

• 7:15 Organized Dances – This can be the parent dances (Father/Daughter and /or Mother Son dances) Money dance and/or anniversary dance.

• 7:30 Open Dancing – Let’s Party! It’s very important that once the dance floor is activated by an organized dance to open it up to every one else immediately after. This gives people the chance to dance, go to the bar or use any other amenities like a photo booth. This also gives the staff a chance to clear the tables of the dinner plates.

• 8:00 Cake Cutting – Select a fun song while you cut the cake together.

• 8:05 Bouquet/Garter Toss – The cake cutting takes the attention away from the dance floor so bring them back to it with the Bouquet and/or Garter toss.

Again, this is just a sample, and your timeframe may be different. It just gives you some ideas to think about.

Hire the Right Wedding DJ

DJ Mikey Beats can help your guests have a great night of fun while they see their friends tie the knot. Call 858.270.2195 to learn more, or you can get a quote online.

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More Wedding Planning Mistakes to Avoid

More Wedding Planning Mistakes to Avoid

When it comes to a wedding, there is always the possibility that something will go wrong and there is nothing you can do about. But what about all of those easily avoidable mistakes that just go back to planning? Here are a few planning mistakes to avoid so your big day can go as smoothly as possible.

  • Don’t forget the marriage license – Depending on the state you are getting married in, there are various laws that govern when you can get the marriage license, how long you have to submit it, and who is allowed to officiate and sign the license. Do your research and don’t be afraid to ask questions.
  • Waiting too long to book a venue – In most cases, the wedding date basically depends on the venue. If the date is the most important thing to you, start searching for a venue now.
  • Inviting too many people – If you want your wedding to stay on budget, the key is to limit the guest list. Don’t over invite expecting a certain amount to accept. It’s better to invite too few and add more people later.
  • Hiring friends instead of professionals – If you have friends who can bake a cake, come up with a good playlist, or take nice photos, that’s fine for other occasions. On your wedding day, you want to hire a professional wedding DJ, photographer, and baker.

Hire the Top San Diego Wedding DJ

DJ Mikey Beats wants to help make your wedding day one to remember. Be sure to book now to get the date you want. Just call 858.270.2195 today, or you can get a quote online.

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How to Make Your Wedding Guests Happy

How to Make Your Wedding Guests Happy

It is your big day, but you want to make your wedding guests as happy as possible too. How can make sure your guests are well cared for at your ceremony and reception? Here are a few tips to ensure that everyone is happy and remembers your special day for all the right reasons.

  • Welcome refreshments (usually non-alcoholic although people love to booze early) – This is especially important on a hot day where the ceremony area is exposed to direct sunlight. Sunscreen and/or parasols are another great comfort to have on a hot, sunny day. Providing info about the area is a nice bonus. It can be refined to have a schedule of events, important people such as the parents of the B&G, bridal party names, and of course the names of the B&G.
  • Be on time – No one likes sitting around waiting, even when it is for the bride and groom. Set times for the ceremony, reception, and dinner to begin and then stick to it.
  • Feed them well – From the cocktail hour to the final snacks at the end of the evening, make sure all of the food is good. People often remember a good meal, even if they can’t tell you exactly what they had.
  • The right mix of music – From timeless music that makes everyone feel good to that modern hit that gets all the young people out on the dancefloor, you want to have the right blend of tunes to keep the event lively. That means hiring the right wedding DJ.

The Best San Diego DJ Services

To make sure everyone has a great time at your wedding, hire the best wedding DJ in San Diego. DJ Mikey Beats wants to help your wedding guests smile from ear to ear. Call today at 858.270.2195, or request a quote online.

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Don’t Make These Music Mistakes at Your Wedding Reception

Don’t Make These Music Mistakes at Your Wedding Reception

Music plays a key role in both the wedding ceremony and the reception. Today, we are going to take a look at a few of the most common music mistakes that couples make when it comes to the reception.

  • Not leaving setup time – Speak with your DJ in advance to see how much setup time is needed (it will probably be less if he is familiar with the venue). Then ensure that you have the venue early enough for the DJ to set up properly before guests begin to arrive.
  • Drowning out conversation – A professional wedding DJ should be able to moderate the volume so those on the dance floor are pumped up while the guests who are talking can hear each other. Seating older ones who are unlikely to dance further from the DJ is also a good idea.
  • Selecting a marathon first-dance – Ultimately, everyone gets uncomfortable when a first-dance goes on and on, including the bride and groom. Unless you’ve choreographed a full performance to entertain your guests, try to keep the song time under five minutes. There’s nothing wrong with a three-minute song either. Your photographer will still have plenty of time to grab some great pics.

Hire the Best San Diego Wedding DJ

If you want to work with a real professional who can help your wedding music to go smoothly, then you want DJ Mikey Beats in your corner. To request one of the hottest wedding DJs in southern California, call 858.270.2195, or get a quote online.

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Tips for Keeping Your Wedding Exciting

Tips for Keeping Your Wedding Exciting

While the wedding is all about the happy couple, you want your guests to have a good time too. How can you keep the evening exciting for everyone, while still doing everything you want to do on your big day? Here are a few tips.

  • Maintain the schedule – Start the ceremony on time and be sure to have the meal on time. Those are the biggest deadlines to hit if you want the evening to move at a good pace. Know when other events like toasts and the cake cutting are supposed to occur, so everyone isn’t standing around while the bride or groom is in the bathroom.
  • Choose the right venue – Make sure there is plenty of space and ambiance for guests. Sufficient bathrooms also help everyone to feel comfortable.
  • Plan the speeches – If you are going to have speeches, make sure there is a time limit, so they don’t drag on. Choose the speakers wisely and ensure that there is a microphone so everyone can hear what is said.
  • Hire the right entertainment – Hiring a professional wedding DJ can make sure that everyone is having a great time, even after the happy couple makes an early exit to go on their honeymoon.

San Diego’s Experienced Wedding DJ

DJ Mikey Beats, based out of San Diego, is an experienced wedding and club DJ. If you want your guests to have a great time, having a DJ who can take a backseat to the bride and groom but still work the crowd is a must. Call 858.270.2195 today for booking inquiries, or you can get a quote online.

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4 Suggestions to Make Your Wedding Reception Fun for Everyone

4 Suggestions to Make Your Wedding Reception Fun for Everyone

Everyone wants their friends and family to have a great time at their wedding, but it can be difficult to know how to make the evening a fun event for everyone. Here are a few tips to help you meet the expectations of your guests.

  1. Plan the seating arrangements well – Put older guests who will just want to talk at the furthest table from the DJ. Put the singles together to let them mix. Avoid putting feuding family members at the same table.
  2. Have great party favors – Make it something your guests can use right there during the evening rather than favors they will take home and store in a drawer with all the other wedding favors they’ve received over the years.
  3. Keep toasts brief (or skip them altogether) – Toasts can get boring and slow down the evening. Limit them to no more than three minutes each, don’t have too many, and don’t choose toasters who are unwilling to rehearse ahead of time. Your wedding is not the time to wing it.
  4. Hire the right wedding DJ – An experienced wedding DJ with professional equipment can get wedding guests of all ages out on the dance floor and having a good time.

The San Diego DJ to Amp Up the Fun at Your Wedding

DJ Mikey Beats wants to make sure everyone at your wedding has a great evening celebrating your new family. Get on the calendar today by calling 858.270.2195, or get in touch online by submitting the online contact form.

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Tips for Better Wedding Toasts

Tips for Better Wedding Toasts

Wedding toasts can range from being one of the most beautiful moments at the reception to being a stain you wish you could erase from the evening. Here are a few tips to help your wedding toasts go smoothly.

  • Remind everyone giving toasts that they should be family-friendly and prepared in advance to ensure they are under three minutes.
  • Request that those giving the toasts write them out on note cards. This will keep anyone from winging it and can eliminate the problems that occur when the notes are digital and the phone interferes with the sound equipment.
  • Make sure the videographer knows when and where the toasts will take place so they can be in position to record.
  • Keep toasts to a minimum at the wedding. If you have other people who want to say something, they can do it at the rehearsal dinner.
  • Talk to your DJ in advance about using his PA system. It’s going to be much better than anything they have at the venue.

Plan the Perfect Wedding Toasts

DJ Mikey Beats wants to help your reception go smoothly so you and your guests can all enjoy yourselves. Just communicate what you need as far as microphones are concerned and leave the rest to this experienced wedding DJ. When you want phenomenal sound equipment and a DJ with real wedding and club experience, DJ Mikey is your guy. Call 858.270.2195 for booking inquiries, or you can get a quote online.

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How to Properly Vet Your Weddings DJ

How to Properly Vet Your Weddings DJ

When it comes to your big day, you don’t want to leave anything up to chance, and that includes the quality of your wedding DJ. So how can you make sure that you are hiring the best person for the job? Here are a few questions to ask your wedding DJ.

  • How much will it cost? – A professional wedding DJ won’t be cheap, and this isn’t somewhere you want to skimp. At the same time, this is when you can try to find out about hidden fees and make sure your DJ is an honest person.
  • How early do you need to set up? – A DJ with no setup time doesn’t have the right equipment. But a DJ who needs too much setup time is probably inexperienced. Plus, you may not have your venue that long before the event begins.
  • Has the DJ ever played at the venue? – If the answer is no, it’s not a deal-breaker. But a yes means that he already knows where the outlets are around the dancefloor and things of that nature. An experienced DJ has played under enough circumstances to set up just about anywhere or at least has the presence of mind to contact the venue in advance.

A Professional San Diego DJ with Wedding and Club Experience

Mixed wedding and club experience is what you should be looking for in a DJ, and DJ Mikey Beats has both. Call 858.270.2195 today to get the party started, or you can get a quote online.

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