Rockin' out with James and Joie!!!

Author: Arnoldo Offermann  //  Category: Weddings

James & Joie Campbell had a ROCKIN’ wedding reception– need I say more?

When Joie’s mom, Marti Peavey (not related to the speaker family, hahaha), told me about James and Joie, I was really excited. This was not going to be an average wedding. They wanted to keep things simple, fun, and active. Joie gave me an eclectic, but unique, playlist with awesome artists such as Bob Marley, Sublime, Johnny Cash, Drake, Biz Markie, Easy-E, and A Perfect Circle— NICE!

Then she added Hendrix, Joplin, Zeppelin, and AC/DC– double nice!

Plus, they gave me cheese cake– ROCKIN’ NICE!

Kyle and I had a blast– check out some info below and then click below to see photos and a cool YouTube video!!

Highlights:

  • Her maiden name is Peavey– how cool is that? lol
  • Centerpieces were soup cans that had custom Campbell’s labels… check out the photos to see more! (Their last name is Campbell)
  • First Dance: Bob Marley’s Is This Love
  • Father Daughter Dance: Jimmy Hendrix – Angel (Acoustic, home recorded version) — YOU READ THAT RIGHT! :)
  • We switched the girl who caught the bouquet with her brother while the James blindfolded the garter catcher.
  • No lunch or dinner, instead there was a huge dessert buffet –mmm, mmm good! (No pun intended)
  • Chalk on each table allowed guests to write messages to the newlyweds on the black paper drapes on each table. I really liked this idea!

Package Chosen: Entertainment Coordinator

Photos and video below!

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Albert & Jenni's Super-Unique Wedding Reception!

Author: arnoldooffermann  //  Category: Weddings

Lots of videos and lots of photos on this blog post!!!!

Albert & Jenni remind me a lot of my wife and myself. Albert and I are both Hispanic, love music, but aren’t dancers. Jenni and Monica both love country music, are very outgoing… and all 4 of us love the Lord. We were going to work well together!!!

Albert lied to me though: for someone who said he doesn’t dance, Albert was on the floor the ENTIRE time! This was one heck of a party!

Their wedding reception was one of the most unique things I’ve witnessed. Here’s some highlights:

  • Reception held at Windy Hill Ranch in a quaint little barn (quaint meaning HUGE, haha) with AIR CONDITIONING! :)
  • The most unique first dance ever. They created their own choreography. IMPRESSIVE!
  • No wedding cake– Blue Bunny Ice Cream instead– DELICIOUS!!!
  • Father Daughter Dance was Disney’s “Under the Sea.”
  • Very Unique garter removal, thanks goes to DJ Rob from Indiana for his help!!
  • Bridal Party dance was the Chicken Dance, the ultimate cheese was made FUN again!!!

Monica and I had a blast watching everyone dance to anything that was thrown in the music. I got to play some songs I’ve never played at a wedding before… you’ll have to check out the video!! There’s a few photos and 4 short videos, because I had to separate all the awesome clips– definetly worth watching!!!!!

Apopka Bilingual DJ MC Wedding

This continues my “Best Wedding Receptions Ever!” month and I can’t wait for the next two.

Package chosen: Entertainment Coordinator

Click below for photos and videos!!!

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Matt & Erica Bazo and their amazing wedding!!!

Author: arnoldooffermann  //  Category: Weddings

June kicks off the “BEST WEDDINGS EVER!” month! :)

Almost three years ago I did a wedding for Mr. and Mrs. Acevedo. This promptly led to creating an amazing reception for two more family members: Mr. and Mrs. Santiago. We got along so well that they invited me to their church, New Hope, in Winter Haven, FL. This has been the best decision in my life– I’ve finally found a church I can call home.

Fast forward to yesterday, Matt and Erica came to my office needing the wedding of the century. Knowing their family and friends, very little effort would be needed to accomplish this– and boy was I right. This was a party from the very beginning on out!

Lakeland Wedding DJ MC Bi-Lingual Hispanic Latin Disc Jockey

The photographer, Danny Cruz (with his son, Brandon) and Tim & Patti (with Storybook Weddings Videography) did an amazing job capturing all the special events. We felt very welcome not only as vendors but as guests by everyone there.

The ceremony was at Victory Church in Lakeland, FL and the reception was at the Lone Palm in Kathleen.

Highlights:

  • Harry & Shannon Acevedo’s son, Davin, is 2 years old— he wasn’t even born when I met these two– how time flies!
  • Very energetic introduction with a remix of Beegees with Lil Jon, Boom Boom Pow, and Right Round!
  • MERENGUE!! NEED I SAY MORE?
  • Lots of interaction without bordering on cheesy!
  • My wife was there– despite her injured knee, she couldn’t lift anything up, but she handled the music very well! (I love working with her.)

Package Chosen:

It truly was a party– check out the many iPhone photos and videos, soon! As soon as I get footage from Tim, I’ll make sure to share it!

Click here to see photos and videos from this event

Christopher & Susan Ramnaught

Author: arnoldooffermann  //  Category: Weddings

Christopher contacted me with a simple request: He needed a DJ in Orlando who can cater to the craziness that is a destination wedding. They are hard to plan, as often the bride and groom are not in the States until the week of the wedding. What made A Premier EntertainmentMy Dream Reception the perfect choice was the combination of DJs/MCs/even coordination along with a great expertise in Reggae music.

Chris was a really unique client– he’s a DJ as well. As a matter of fact, many of his guests are– NO PRESSURE THERE! He’s worked with such great artists such as Tony Mattehorn and Buju Banton.

The wedding was at the Radisson Celebration in Kissimmee, in the same banquet room as the Greg & Melinda Barned’s wedding.

Photos were taken by Jenny from KC Enterprises (except the very last one)… I know I’m biased saying this, but I love working with KC Enterprises!! :)

Check out some great photos and videos below!!!

Package chosen:


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James & Ashley Borelli's wedding at the Paradise Cove.

Author: arnoldooffermann  //  Category: Weddings

James & Alisha created the perfect wedding today! They chose Lake Buena Vista Watersports’s Paradise Cove, which in itself is a beautiful venue…. but we got the opportunity to transform it. Using the in-house swags, we used lights carefully aimed at various sections to color the entire reception area with an Aqua blue (one of their wedding colors) while the swag behind the head table was lit up in their secondary color (pastel pink).

Orlando DJ MC Wedding in Paradise Cove Uplighting Monogram Photos

Floating above their heads on the swag was a custom made monogram. This one was very unique as Alisha designed it herself. You really have to see the photos and videos to appreciate how it all turned out. We also had the chance to uplight the beautiful wedding cake made by Custom Cakes by Linda (407.673.0082)… the plexiglass base shone bright!

Next was the décor… it was STUNNING! Alisha’s mom, Suzanne, owns Suzanne Nichols Design Group (www.SuzanneNichols.com) and they did a beautiful job. I was blown away by the creative ideas!

Now, my dear brides & grooms.. Alisha  & James had some GREAT ideas that turn into AMAZING wedding tips. Let’s discuss, shall we?

  • Use your surroundings! For the ceremony, the groomsmen arrived on a boat. It was awesome!
  • GO ALL OUT! Mr. and Mrs. Borelli added a unique touch by including a white dove release. Some may say “it’s played out” but in all my years of being an MC, this is the second time I’ve seen it done. NICE!
  • Design your own monogram! We’ll help you (some DJs won’t… but that’s them, haha)
  • Guys– do something romantic and funny! James and his crew sang “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling” a la “Top Gun” style!

Oh yes, I have to tell you about the food! Charles Putney, Event Designer of Arthur’s Catering, did an amazing job with the food. He and his staff were amazing to work with and created some AMAZING dishes. My favorite was the Coconut Shrimp! Theirs was the best I’ve had! I’ve work with so many wonderful couples who allow me the honor of partaking in the celebration by sharing dinner with the guests… so I’ve learned a thing or two about good eating… and the shrimp was phenomenal!!

Package chosen:

Look at the photos in the link below and check out a cool YouTube video!

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Mason & Kayley Cobb's Wedding

Author: arnoldooffermann  //  Category: Weddings

What an amazing wedding! I was the DJ whereas Kelly MC’d. (His blog can be found by clicking here.

The wedding was held outside Kayley’s father’s house in a huge tent in Avon Park, FL. The location was beautiful… what once was a steep hill was paved to a nice flat area with fresh sod to hold 400+ friends and family.

The coordinator, Gini Beth (http://www.ginibethsweddingsandmore.com), did an amazing job putting everything together.

This was definetly a country crowd who enjoyed hits such as I’m a Cowboy, Amarillo by Morning, Cowboys Like Us, Copperheard Road, and many other hits.

A few things Mr. and Mrs. Cobb did that are great wedding tips!

  • When having your reception outdoors, make sure the DJ/band has plenty of room and coverage from the sun & wind
  • PortaPotties are NOT fun. Consider renting a “trailer restroom” like they did. Spacious, air conditioned, and has working plumbing!
  • Purified Water available! (Especially tasty when tap water may come from a well)
  • Match your surroundings! They chose a nice green to match the grass and flora surrounding the house.
  • DJ in front of dance floor. Yes! NO ONE SAT IN FRONT OF THE SPEAKERS!

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Check out the great photos provided by Alex Gilliard as well as some stolen (again) from Kelly’s blog. Alex’s photos are watermarked so you can tell which ones are his. Be sure to stop by his blog and check out even more photos!

There’s also a GREAT video!

Oh yes, and there’s one more thing…. with 400 people, Kelly and I wanted to try a new speaker arrangement, so we brought out BOTH of our BOSE systems. Can you imagine a wedding with $10,000 just in speakers filling the room with rich BOSE sound?

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Package Chosen:

This Lakeland wedding at the Sorosis Building was a PARTY!!!!

Author: arnoldooffermann  //  Category: Weddings

Josh & Jennifer O’Neal had a secret they didn’t tell me: they were BIG partiers! She told me she liked to dance, but she didn’t tell me that she & Josh could kickstart a reception!

The wedding started at the Hollis Gardens in Lakeland, FL. The ceremony was highlighted by two gentleman singing. Nathan sang Kenny Chesney’s Me & You while uncle Roy sang “I Do (Cherish You).” Wow.. they’ve got a set of pipes on them!

As for the reception, the catering was amazing!! Chef Terrie Lobb (who makes exquisite edible treats) reminded me why I love this job.

Fast forward to the reception: the sound was amazing. The Sorosis Building (also known as the Junior League Center) has nothing but wood paneling on the walls. Can you imagine what that does to the already-rich sound of my BOSE system? Oh yes, sound was at a perfection. The acoustic panels guaranteed NO echo or harmful reverb.

You have to check out the video located in the break below. Jenny, with KC Enterprises Photography, did a great job with the photos as always!

Lakeland DJ Hollis Gardens Sorosis Building MC

Highlights of the day:

  • Great singing during ceremony
  • The grandfather being the life of the party
  • Everyone dancing to Soul Man
  • The ending song

Package chosen:

So check out the photos and videos at the link below! Leave a comment if you enjoy what you saw, please! :)
Click here to see photos and videos from this event

Dealing With Wedding Stress…. The DJ's cure. :)

Author: arnoldooffermann  //  Category: Wedding Tips, Weddings

It’s supposed to be the happiest day of your life… so why do you feel so stressed? There is no such thing as being born a Bride/Groomzilla…. it’s just what happens when you don’t take the stress out. So what can you do?

1) CHILL OUT!

Whenever you begin to feel stressed out, take a breather. Go enjoy a movie, a walk in the park, or visit a spa! Stressing out is not going to fix anything nor will it put you and your fiance in a good mood for the wedding. You should never have to associate feelings of stress and dispair with weddings! Whatever you do to relax, just make sure it has NOTHING to do with your wedding. So CHILL! :)

2) Being emo can be nerve-wracking!

One minute you’re super-excited about your wedding cake. The next minute you’re upset because you can’t find sashes in your wedding colors! Then you’re excited because you found beautiful photography, but suddenly you realize you’re behind in your planning. ARGH! How is it that you haven’t pulled all your hair out yet? This emotional roller-coaster can set you off in a frenzy!

It’s going to happen and it’s perfectly natural! Find someone to vent to… someone who ISN’T your fiance. Find someone who isn’t stressed out about the wedding and ask them to help you think with a clear head!

3) Trust God.

Enough said there. The best way to deal with the stress is to just pray… but beyond that, talk to your pastor. You and your fiance will learn A LOT about each other in the next few wedding planning stages… be sure to attend a marriage class.. not to mention the state of Florida will give you a discount on your license if you do! SWEET!

4) This is why you hired….

…a professional. Don’t stress about the day-of wedding timeline. Talk to your entertainer/coordinator about your concerns on creating the perfect day and let he/she handle the rest. If you can’t trust them to do this… find a new one. If they’ve done this plenty of times, they’ll have a plethora of ideas to help you!

The same applies for photos, cake, food, etc. You hired a pro— let them help you! Give them the vision of what you want and let them handle that stressing out stuff.

5) A wedding planner doesn’t plan YOU.

Wedding planners and coordinators are great people to have on your team.  Again, trust them to handle the stress and take their advice the best way you can… they do this several times a year and you’re only getting married once! However, they can’t control what you do…. so prioritize! If they’re helping you step-by-step with wedding plans then there’s no worries, but if you only have day-of coordination (or none at all) then you need to sit down and come up with a schedule of what’s the most important things to you, then make sure those are checked off FIRST.

6) The day before the wedding should not be the day before the wedding.

DO NOT, I repeat: DO NOT use the day before the wedding to finalize all details. Work as hard as you can to have everything done at least 3 days before the wedding. Why? Because you can enjoy these three days to lose ANY stress/jitters you may have. Spend time with your friends… go to a movie, beach, SOMETHING FUN! You should be looking forward to your wedding… not wishing you had one more day to finish planning!

7) CHECK!

If possible, pay all your vendors two-three days before the wedding! If you’re anything like me, signing paychecks will induce stress. If you plan on tipping (and you should, lol) make sure to do it in cash. Have everything separated in envelopes for easier management.
8) CHECK! LIST!

I’ll make this one short: DJs have checklists. Caterers have checklists. Planners have checklists. Do you? No? MAKE ONE!

9) Internet and friends are dangerous!

Have a question about your wedding? While asking your friends is important, their suggestions may reflect their style and not yours. As for the internet, stay away unless it’s coming from the keyboard of an established vendor! The best wedding tips come from the professionals you’ve hired and learned to trust. They will work hard to build rapport with and get to know you. They will apply this information to any info/tips they give you!

10) Weddings are NOT a barometer of happiness.

Can something go wrong at the wedding? Maybe. Possibly. So? Roll with it! Marriages aren’t perfect, but they will be held strong if you have faith! Weddings are living, breathing creatures and just because something went wrong doesn’t mean your marriage will go bad. Did you show up? Did he show up? Did you say “I do?” Did he say “I do?” Then you’re good to go— you’ve accomplished the mission: the rest is just icing on the cake.

Brides and grooms: don’t stress! As vendors, we’ll do everything we can to take that stress of you… but ultimately it’s up to you to make sure you don’t stress out. Don’t confuse stress for anxiety… you will be very anxious for the day you’ll be standing on the altar.. and who can blame you? Just remember to ENJOY your planning… as you’ll only do this once in your lifetime, too!

Did I forget a tip? Leave me a comment!!

Bobby & Kristen | Lake Ashton Wedding and Reception DJ MC

Author: arnoldooffermann  //  Category: Weddings

Have I told you guys how much I love Lake Ashton? Well in case I haven’t– you’ll hear all about it again! :)

Kristen came to us wanting an elegant lighting package; she was very worried that the lights would make her reception look like a nightclub. After she saw the D’elegance lighting setup, she knew that would never be the problem. The lights were set up so discreetly, you could barely see them until they were turned on!

They chose their uplights to be solid white, to keep the contrast at a minimum and have the centerpieces pop out a little bit more.

To make a long story short, this crowd knew how to party… they danced the entire time.. even as they were walking out for the grand exit!

As usual, were did the ceremony as well for Lake Ashton. Aside from the music, we coordinated the entire thing, so Kristen and Bobby were able to enjoy their own special day.
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You have to click below to check out some awesome photos from the wedding, provided by the best photographer known to weddings: KC Enterprises. I’ll post their blog up, soon!

Package chosen:

Click here to see photos and videos from this event

Christina and Blake – Lake Ashton, Winter Haven Wedding DJ

Author: arnoldooffermann  //  Category: Weddings

I absolutely love Lake Ashton… the food and service are stellar. It’s even better when you have AMAZING weather and the bride and groom are the best people to work with. Yup… this wedding went VERY well. ;)

Christine and Blake wanted to have a good time… whether people danced or not wasn’t their main concern as much as it was making sure that everyone left with a smile on their face.

My wife and I enjoyed setting up, there was a member of Lake Ashton practicing for the talent show… he blessed us with his talents on the piano playing songs from Van Halen’s “Jump” to Queen to Disney… for the first time ever, I asked for a request!

The emotion flowed through Lake Ashton during the ceremony, Christine and her father, Davis, were so excited that they shared tears of joy before David escorted his little girl down the aisle.

The reception was  a blast! The photographer, Sofia (http://www.PhotographyBySofia.com), was a lot of fun to work with and I hope to be sharing some of her photos here soon! Christine and Blake worked really hard to plan their special day to make sure their guests felt special, too… and I think they achieved that goal!

Lake Ashton Winter Haven Wedding DJ MC

The uplighting was awesome… we designed it to change colors throughout the evening…. during dinner, they alternated between their wedding colors.
Check out some great iPhone photos as well as a cool YouTube video. The lighting setup was elegant (no trussing, no ugly tripods, but it flooded the room with color… even the uplighting changed color according to mood!)…. YouTube doesn’t do a great job of keeping the video as bright as it was originally, so click the HQ to see a better quality video.

Package chosen:

Entertainment Coordinator

Colorchanging Uplighting

Light Columns

Dance Under the Stars

D’Elegance Lighting

Ceremony System/Coordination

Click here to see photos and videos from this event