Tips for Planning the Perfect Party

1. For a wedding, keep in mind that your guests are going to be where the couple are. If you’re on the dance floor, the guests will be too!

2. Don’t micromanage the timeline. We do need the order of events but not necessarily the exact time for each.

3. If there are older guests, try not to sit them close or right in front of the speaker(s).

4. Don’t put the DJ in an obscure location or corner; the DJ needs to be easily visible and near the dance floor so they can see it to get a feel for the crowd.

5. If you have dance floor lighting, keep in mind that darker is better. Use dimmers for chandeliers, cafe lighting, etc.

6. If you have a bar or photo booth at the event, please put it in the main room where the DJ is. You want to keep people near the dance floor at all times.

7. When picking your songs for your event, take into account not only your taste, but the guests’ as well.

8. You always want to leave the guests wanting more. It’s not your responsibility to entertain guests until 2am.

9. When picking your music, you don’t have to overdo it. Pick 20 or so songs you like and a few you don’t, and let us fill in from there.

10. If you have to cut corners on your budget, don’t skimp on your entertainment—it can make or break your event!

10 Important Things Couples Often Overlook When Planning Their Wedding

When planning your wedding there are thousands of questions you will have to consider.  What will your bridesmaids dresses look like, what will your center pieces be, or what will be your first dance song?

With everything you have to plan, sometimes it can be easy for a few key things to slip through the cracks.  Here are 10 of the most important things couples often overlook when planning their wedding.

1.  Hiring a Wedding Planner

A good wedding planner is worth their weight in gold.  They can take a lot of pressure and stress off the couple on the wedding day.  I realize not everyone can afford to hire a wedding planner, so in that case I would recommend enlisting the help of your family and close friends.  Give them a job to do and be specific as to what you want.  It can even be a good idea to just have a couple of people to be assigned to "gopher" duty.  He or she can be your runner and get stuff you need the day of the wedding which frees you up to focus on the important stuff.

2. Not Prioritizing the important stuff

The old cliche of your wedding day flying by so fast is very true.  Make sure you do the most important things earlier in the night.  Things will almost always take longer than you think and the wedding will probably not start on time.  If you have a photographer or videographer for a limited number of hours you may want to plan out the day with them so that they can capture the moments that are most important to you.  During the reception, prioritize what is most important to you and do that.  Your guests will fill in and do what you do.  If you want to dance, get on the dance floor and your guests will join you.  If you want to chat, make time in the schedule for conversing with your guests.  If you want to get really great sunset photos, make sure you plan time in the schedule to do that and tell all of your vendors so they can help make sure it happens.

3. Expect that something will go wrong

Chances are more likely than not that a friend or relative will embarrass you, a vendor (not us) will mess something up, there will be some sort of miscommunication or misunderstanding that causes an issue.  Assuming that something will go wrong or not as planned will allow you to have more prospective and enjoy the day more.

4. Forget to Eat, Drink too much, or Not Enough

Your wedding day will fly by and your adrenaline will be pumping.  You're probably going to feel anxious, excited, overjoyed, and many other different emotions all at once.  You need to make sure you have a plan to eat something.  It's a long day.  Make sure you have the energy to enjoy yourself by eating some food, pacing yourself when drinking alcohol, and drinking plenty of water to stay hydrated.  I've been to plenty of weddings where one or both of the newlyweds were completely exhausted, hangry, or trashed by the time it came to the dancing portion of the night.  Don't let that be you.

5. Toasts, Speeches, Blessings

Sometimes couples overlook planning enough time for the toasts, speeches, and or a blessing and so the dinner can get served cold.  Sometimes couples forget to ask people to give a toast or a blessing and so no one is prepared.  But the biggest thing I see is making sure that the people giving the toasts are practiced, prepared, and use the microphone correctly.  Nearly 8 out of 10 weddings I attend someone giving a speech decides to "wing it" and so they either are so nervous they barely say anything or they are anxious and ramble on and on forever.  Make sure that you communicate with those giving a speech or blessing about how important it is to prepare, practice, and keep it short but sweet.

6. Have a plan for talking to your guests

I'm a big talker, my wife is not.  So, my biggest regret was not planning enough social time at our wedding.  In hindsight I really should have set aside more time to interact socially with my guests.  One of the best ways I've seen couples do this is to actually eat dinner during the cocktail hour (privately in a separate room). Then when dinner is served they walk around to all of the tables to talk with their guests.  It works out great too for guests who you don't want to speak with for very long because they will be hungry and want to eat.  Whether you do a receiving line, walk around to the tables, or plan a special other event around the wedding weekend, make sure you have a plan for talking to your guests if this is a priority for you.

7. Having a Kid Policy or Planned Activities for Kids

Kids are great!  But weddings can be difficult for kids (especially when they're younger).  There is a lot of sitting and being quiet involved.  The best weddings I've seen either have a kid policy for not allowing kids to attend or they have a planned activity for the kids who do attend.  Whatever you decide, it might be something you want to consider when planning your wedding.  

8. Having a Plan for the other Events Surrounding the Wedding

This one kind of goes hand-in-hand with number 2 and number 6.  Your guests from out of town will appreciate some planned activities and some unplanned options in the area to visit and do.  Having a rehearsal dinner is a great idea.  Having an afterparty the night of the wedding can be great as well.  If you're like me, you love brunch and rehashing the last night's events the next morning.  So, I would recommend planning a group breakfast or lunch for the day after the wedding.  It's a great way to spend more quality time with those who matter most to you.

9.  Transportation Issues

Sometimes your venue can be hard to get to and even harder to find.  I would hope you know where your venue is, but your guests have never been there before.  Having some clear directions on your wedding invites and website can be a huge help, but better still is having signs made that direct your guests where to go is a lifesaver.  Also, sometimes, couples will have a plan for their transportation to and from the festivities but not have a plan for their guests.  If your event is in a rural area with a lot of drinking, you may want to consider booking a bus to take your guests too and from the hotel.  This will save lives and will help encourage everyone to have a good time.

10. Tearing Down, Cleaning Up, and What to do with the Gifts

Most couples want to leave right after the reception, so it's important to make sure that you have a group of people who can help tear down and be responsible for your gifts.  It is also important have a plan for what to do with the decorations.  Whether you want to give away the center pieces, sell them, or keep them yourself, deciding this in advance will save you time later.  

5 Things to consider when preparing your wedding toast

Imagine that it's your wedding night.  All of your friends and family are sitting down in a beautifully decorated room.  They are all so excited and happy for you and your new spouse...and then all of a sudden they hear the worst most awkward toast ever and the whole night is ruined.

I've been to hundreds of weddings and I can tell you that nothing derails an amazing night quicker than an awkward or boring speech.  Here are five important things to consider when preparing a wedding toast or speech.

1.  Keep it Short

The only thing worse than a terrible boring speech is a LONG terrible boring speech.  When you're preparing a wedding toast, remember that it is not about YOU.  It is about honoring the newlyweds and making a special memory for the people you love.  Nobody wants to hear a 45 minute lecture or inane story that leads to nowhere.  The guests are hungry.  The food is hot.  Keep is to 5 minutes or less.  Honestly, 2 minutes or less is ideal. 

2. Prepare what you are going to say and practice it before hand

The next biggest mistake I see people make when it comes to wedding toasts is that they did not prepare or practice what they wanted to say.  They say to themselves, "Oh, I'll just wing it."  Guess what happens...the night of the wedding they are super nervous and anxious and forget everything they wanted to say.  If you don't prepare, your nerves will take over.  It seriously doesn't take that long.  Sit down, write out something funny, thoughtful, or sweet and practice it out loud in front of a mirror.  

3. Know your audience: avoid inside jokes, embarrassing stories and offensive material

You may have a million memories and inside jokes with your friend, but every one else at the wedding hasn't had the same experience.  An embarrassing anecdote may be funny — but this may not be the time to share it. Try to say something the couple would enjoy hearing. It’s their day, not yours. Some people gravitate towards a roast, but this is a mistake.  Sarcasm is overrated and focuses on peoples shortcomings rather than their strengths.  Focus on what is special or unique about the couple and try to celebrate that.

4. Don't Rush It

As a part of your preparation and practice, make sure you take your time when preforming.  I cannot tell you the number of times the person giving a toast rushed through it and no one heard a word they said.  Slow down, speak clearly and loudly enough for everyone to hear.  You are going to be nervous...everyone is.  Take a deep breath and focus. 

On another note: There is a microphone for a reason:  don't forget to use it.  I always try to remind people to keep the microphone in front of and close to their mouth.  Yet almost every other speech I see, the speaker immediately holds the microphone out and away from their body or off to the side and where no one can hear them.  It doesn't matter how great your speech is, if nobody can hear it.

5. Keep it fun and sweet

Think of your speech as a gift to the newlyweds.  Remember the speech is not about you.  If you do it right you will be creating a memory that lasts a lifetime.  Ideally, you want everyone to laugh a lot and cry a little, but more than anything you want everyone to celebrate the new couple's love.

Event Recap: 5th Annual All In For Ethan: Fundraiser for Children with (GAN)

Last night we had the distinct honor of DJing for the All In For Ethan: Rare But Not Forgotten Fundraiser.  This annual fundraiser raises money to help kids with Giant Axonal Neuropathy(GAN) improve their quality of life. They also contribute to GAN research to halt the progression of this terrible disease.

All In For Ethan - is a 501c3 charity that was created to enhance the quality of life for children affected by Giant Axonal Neuropathy (GAN). Their mission "is to enhance the quality of lives of children with Giant Axonal Neuropathy".

Giant axonal neuropathy (GAN) is an inherited condition involving dysfunction of a specific type of protein in nerve cells (neurons). The protein is essential for normal nerve function because it forms neurofilaments. Neurofilaments make up a structural framework that helps to define the shape and size of the neurons. This condition is characterized by abnormally large and dysfunctional axons, which are the specialized extensions of nerve cells that are required for the transmission of nerve impulses.

Giant axonal neuropathy generally appears in early childhood, (onset is typically 2 1/2 years of age). It progresses slowly as neuronal injury becomes more severe. Signs of GAN usually begin in the peripheral nervous system, which controls movement and sensation in the arms, legs, and other parts of the body. Most individuals with this disorder first have problems with walking. Later they may lose sensation, coordination, strength, and reflexes in their limbs. Hearing and visual problems may also occur. Extremely kinky hair (as compared to others in the family) is characteristic of giant axonal neuropathy.

How do people get giant axonal neuropathy?

This condition is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern, which means both copies of the gene in each cell have mutations. The parents of an individual with an autosomal recessive condition each carry one copy of the mutated gene, but they typically don't show signs and symptoms of the condition.

Currently, there is no cure or treatment for GAN. As the disorder progresses, patients become quadriplegics, dependent on a feeding tube and ventilator. Children who are diagnosed with the disease have a life expectancy no longer than their early twenties while some die much younger.
 

At last night's event, Dr. Steven Gray of the University of North Carolina was the keynote speaker and guest of honor this year.  His  groundbreaking research in Giant Axonal Neuropathy (GAN) is unparalleled in halting the progression of the disease. 

GAN is a rare condition.  There are currently only about 100 known cases.  As Dr Gray stated in his speech last night, there is a popular aphorism in the medical community when diagnosing diseases: "When you hear hoofbeats, think horses not zebras" because in most cases, the disease in question is probably more likely to be something common so it is safe to assume this first.  He said one of his professors told him to focus on the "horse-dieases" for his research (more common diseases) not the "zebras" (more rare ones).  Dr Gray didn't take this advice and says that if rare diseases are represented by Zebras then GAN would be best represented by Unicorns because it is so rare.  

For more information on GAN and All In for Ethan check out their website: http://www.allinforethan.org/ 

Please consider giving or attending one of their future events.  Your donations directly impact the lives of children with Giant Axonal Neuropathy.