On the final Friday of June, Kelly Collins will marry Paul Hilcoff at the Nashoba Valley Winery in Bolton, Mass. After the ceremony in an orchard, the 60 guests will retire to the vineyard’s restaurant, where they’ll have a full sit-down meal complemented by wine and beer made on-site. All this will cost $4,500, or $1,500 less than it would on a Saturday. Rather than a wedding gown, Collins will wear a $200 ivory bridesmaid dress. She has ordered wholesale flowers online for $300 to make her centerpieces and, for favors, apple-scented candles from a teachers’ catalog at $1.50 each. The couple made their own invitations with $75 worth of materials. “We thought about what was most important,” says Collins. “What wasn’t, we did for cheaper–or we didn’t do it.” The final bill: $9,000.

As economic indicators go, the cost of nuptials isn’t a bad one to check–particularly in our party-obsessed culture–because it shows what people are willing to spend on nonessentials. According to the Wedding Report, a research firm that compiles stats on the wedding industry, the average cost of an American wedding rose to $28,732 in 2007, as the festivities have grown increasingly elaborate and personalized. But for the first time in almost a decade, that number is forecast to drop slightly this year, to $28,704. Nearly half of caterers and event planners surveyed by the National Association of Catering Executives (NACE) in March said they were seeing declines in wedding spending in response to the economic slowdown; 12% even reported wedding cancellations because of financial concerns.

Because planning for many of this year’s weddings started long before gas and milk hit $4 a gallon, some couples have had to scale back. “Every dollar counts,” says Tammy Li, whose parents are helping fund her Aug. 30 wedding at the Madison Hotel in Morristown, N.J., as they struggle to sell their house. Li and fiancé Bernie Tang are tamping down costs simply by being flexible with the time. “I had really wanted a night wedding,” says Li, but it was hard to argue with the $15,000 savings they’ll get by holding it on Saturday afternoon. Moving the date can help too. Danny Craig and Heather Pfisterer say holding their wedding on a Sunday rather than a Saturday got them a 33% discount at the Balboa Bay Club in Newport Beach, Calif., on the minimum amount they were required to spend on food and drinks. More than half of caterers and wedding planners in the NACE survey said they’ve seen an uptick in the number of Friday and Sunday marriages.

Expect creative menus and bar options at coming weddings as more couples aim to shave their bill; after all, food and drinks usually account for the biggest chunk of costs. More than 6 in 10 wedding professionals say their clients are buying less expensive meals than in the past. “As silly as it sounds, go with the chicken,” says Daniel Briones, NACE president and director of catering at the Four Seasons Philadelphia. Shelley Harrington, who married Scott Barber on May 10 in Rochester, Mich., opted for chicken with Boursin cheese in a phyllo-dough wrapping plus a fish option. Both cost about $20 a plate; steak would have been $40. Few venues let couples stock their own bar, but limiting the open bar is a fine option for capping the caterer’s markup on the booze. Annemarie Conte and Andy Kielich will serve beer and wine and maybe two types of liquor at their September wedding in Dingmans Ferry, Pa. “We can’t cater to every whim,” says Conte, “which was hard for me because you never want to feel inhospitable.” Briones suggests nixing the bubbly: “Not everyone likes champagne. And [at toast time] most people are already going to have a drink in front of them anyway.”

That is, the people who manage to secure an invite in the first place. Lorna Engler, who happens to be sewing her daughter Lara’s wedding gown as well as six bridesmaid dresses, says they’ve been, ahem, discerning with the guest list for the October bash. “Do you really need to invite that person you haven’t spoken to for three years?” she says. Some couples are also trimming the numbers in their wedding parties–Collins will have just one attendant–to escape the hidden costs of presents for bridesmaids and groomsmen.
The new urge to save green coincides with a fervor among couples to go green. Conte’s engagement ring is a family heirloom–free of both cost and conflict. Conte and Kielich’s caterer is a local farmer, so all the meat and seasonal produce will come straight from the source, without a middleman fee. They’re decorating with trees rented from a nursery and wildflowers in lieu of cut blooms. Conte got her dress via eBay for $250, saving $750 off the original price. She did lots of research and was selective about each vendor they hired: “I don’t want to work with people who will rip me off because I say the word wedding.” That’s a lovely vow in any economic climate.

By JENINNE LEE-ST. JOHN

This year I had the honor of spending the day with the Sky Street Gang for the annual Reunion-Block Party and Fireworks Show. As always they are a blast. The kids had games and bike rides. The food was off the HOOK!!!! BBQ like no other and the music was Bumpin’

There really is a site for everything. When my kids want a toy they find it on the internet. When my wife wants a recipe guess where she looks? Yes, the net…..

So if your going to make a wedding speech or toast guess where you look?

Yes the net….

Here is a site to help you if your the chosen one to make a speech. This is a guy site for obvious reasons.
http://weddingtoasts.com/index.php
Check it out and get back to me.
Enjoy

Not sure what to wear to an event or what to specify on your invitation? These guidelines, listed in order of formality, will help you crack the dress code.

And remember, it’s never inappropriate to ask the host or other guests what’s acceptable.

White tie/ultra-formal — Men: tailcoat and white vest, shirt and bowtie. Women: long gown.

Black tie/formal — Men: tuxedos. Women: dress (knee-length, long).

Semi-formal/informal — Men: dark suit, tie. Women: knee-length dress.

Cocktail — Men: dark suit. Women: knee-length dress or skirt.

Dressy casual — Men: jacket or collared shirt, pants. Women: skirt or dressy pants.

Business casual — Men: collared shirt, khakis. Women: dressy pants or skirt.

Casual — anything goes.

More Rules to Dress By

•     If an invitation indicates that a certain dress style is “optional” or “preferred,” you can dress slightly less formally, but not necessarily casual.

•     Informal means semi-formal, not casual.

•     Hosts, if you include a creative dress code, like beach formal or urban casual, be sure you give examples of what is, and is not, okay.Party Dress Codes
By evite.com

1. Does the DJ use professional sound equipment suitable for the job you need done? There is a big difference between the audio equipment you have at home and the equipment that a professional DJ uses. Professional audio equipment is built to go on the road day in and day out. Be sure to ask about the sound equipment, even if you aren’t “stereo smart” you’ll be able to tell the difference.

2. Can the DJ provide a written contract and/ or references from previous clients? I want to stress how important it is to get your booking confirmed in writing. All terms of the agreement should be in writing to avoid any complications at a later date. This insures you that the DJ will show up. If you don’t have a contract, it’s a pretty good chance they might find a higher paying job and give you the slip. References are also an important part of any service business and your DJ should be able to provide you with current names and phone numbers.

3. Will the DJ be suitably dressed for the occasion? I have heard many times over the years about wedding receptions where the DJ was dressed in blue jeans and a t-shirt. It is important that your entertainer looks the part by dressing in formal or semi-formal attire, your preference. Don’t assume the DJ will be properly dressed. Be sure to ask what he or she will be wearing. SanDiego-DJ.com ALWAYS dresses the part.

4. Is the DJ willing to discuss music selections ahead of time, and is he willing to play requests? A professional DJ can’t possibly know everything there is to know about all music styles and entertainment. He or she should be willing to listen to your ideas and input and incorporate them into the event. He or she will listen to your requests and play them where they are appropriate. Keep in mind if you have a lot of requests the DJ may not be able to play all of them. Believe it or not there are some DJ services that will not play any requests. My music selection is one of the largest of any DJ company, with over 50,000 selections all on compact disc & Laptop Computer from the 30’s to current hits. It’s also important to have a variety of music especially at a wedding; Styles like disco, polkas, country, jazz, big band, pop, etc.

5. Does the DJ know the proper etiquette and procedure for your type of occasion? A professional DJ should become involved in the planning of your function and will be prepared to handle any announcements or special events on that day. A guideline of the formalities should be discussed ahead of time. I always sit down with the Bride & Groom prior to the reception and go every every detail with them to ensure everything goes the way they want it to!

6. Will the DJ arrive on time? How many times have you heard about the entertainment being late, or not even showing up? This is probably because they are unreliable, or it happened because the DJ booked an event before yours and ran overtime. Make sure your entertainment is set up prior to any guests arriving and ready to start when you want them too. Also make sure to ask if the DJ has ever cancelled shows in the past. If they have they may be double booking shows and taking the one that pays the most. You should also be cautious of DJ’s that charge for mileage if they travel less than 50 miles. I do not charge mileage, however, if I travel well outside (approximately 45 Minutes) the San Diego area I increase my fee slightly.

7. Can the DJ supply back-up equipment or a replacement Disc Jockey in case of an emergency? This is really scary if half way through the party something happens to the sound equipment, what will you do? If the DJ has a back-up plan the party is only interrupted for a few minutes while he changes a component or replaces the system. Even professional equipment can fail on occasion, so it is very important to know whether your DJ has a spare system available to them. Any number of circumstances may arise between the time you booked your DJ to the time of the event. Make sure the DJ has a back -up plan in case of illness or accident. I have designed my system with many fail-safes, if one component malfunctions, for example a CD player, I can DJ from a laptop computer.

This weekend my kids and I went down to Mission Bay for our daily walk and we saw several Luau’s. One had music as the focal point of the party, I mean they had Congas, Bongos, Guitars, singers it was a music-fest.

As we walked by one party someone called out my name when I turned it was a family that I DJ’d there wedding last year and they asked me to hang out. So we did for a a while…. They said that the first weekend of summer starts when the kids get out of school and they kick it off with a Luau and at the end of summer they have a Beach Boy Party.

I thought these were both good ideas for parties so I wanted to find some good tips for a Luau bash and here’s what I came up with:

Like my wife always says the atmosphere is most important so here is a list of supplies to get you started:
- Tiki torches
- Sea shells and sand
- Waves, water, fish, boats, surfing
- Colorful Hawaiian prints
- Tropical drinks with umbrellas- Coconuts, bananas and pineapple
- Ukuleles, Drums, Bongos, Guitars….. or a good band
- Leis, and tropical flowers like orchids, birds of paradise, and protea- Don Ho, grass skirts, and
Palm trees
- And Don’t Forget Hawaiian music

At a luau people are expected to sit back, relax, have fun, and eat hearty. With drums thumping and hips gyrating in grass skirts, guests laugh and enjoy themselves like never before. Leis, tropical fruit, orchids, spicy pork, and colorful Hawaiian prints create a backdrop that says Hawaiian luau. Begin by jotting down everything you can think of that has to do with Hawaii. Ask yourself how these items can be incorporated into a party. Once the list is complete it is time to begin executing the party plan.

And Don’t Forget the Master of the Mixx SanDiego-DJ.com
Give us a call and we’ll take your Luau to a LuWow!!