Reception Entertainment Director

Many of our clients dislike the custom of the Bride and Groom being ‘forced’ to kiss whenever glasses are clinked together. Some find it offensive. I know, from personal experience, that many of the guests like it and won’t understand why the Bride and Groom don’t want to “follow through” and KISS! So the question is often asked “What can I do that’ll satisfy my guests and make me comfortable?” “Clinking” of glasses may have originated from the medieval days when wine was often spiked with poison. If a host wanted to prove to their guests that the wine wasn’t poisoned, he would pour part of the guest’s wine into his own glass and drink it first. If the guest trusted his host, he would just clink glasses when the host offered his glass for a sample. (Hence the clinking of glasses has become a sign of trust, honesty, and toast to good health.) Another explanation claims that the practice warded off evil spirits. If your guests start clinking the glasses, don’t pa...

Picture it now: a nice warm gusts of wind, an outdoor setting, bright colors and the sounds of birds in the air without a single cloud in the sky… There are so many perks to summer weddings!!  It’s the perfect time of year for weather, scenery, and even the attitudes of other people, which are made much more pleasant by the presence of the sun and warm weather. Of course, you can’t really change the weather, but you can try to. The weather forecast is not always the most reliable thing, especially when you really need to be able to count on the five-day forecast. There are a few facets to summer wedding planning that any bride-to-be or wedding planner should keep in mind, and the first one actually is the weather. Many people plan their weddings for the summer time because the weather is a bit more predictable during this time. If you’re lucky, you will get beautiful sunshine, a light, cooling breeze and a nice clear night for the reception. If you are like any ...

“DJ Sam was great! All of our guests have mentioned how they both loved the music selections and the flow of the reception. As he was getting set up I was getting ready to step out of the reception space and head down the aisle, he played “Going to the Chapel” as I was waiting to go out. It put a smile on my face! We would definitely recommend him!” ~ Katie and Jim Wheeler – 8/23/2015 Katie and Jim’s Introduction Music: Pharrell – Happy / Ray Lamontagne – You Are The Best Thing (edit) Katie and Jim’s First Dance: Ed Sheeran – Thinking Out Loud Katie and Jim’s Cake Cutting Song: Frank Sinatra – Love and Marriage Katie and Her Fathers Dance: Tim McGraw – My Little Girl Jim and His Mothers Dance: Rod Stewart – Have I Told You Lately (Unplugged) Katie and Jim’s Last Dance: Michael Buble – Save The Last Dance Songs That Rocked The Dance Floor: Spandau Ballet – True Stevie Wonder – Isn’t She Lovely Bruno Mars – Treasure Bruno...

Nestled in the quite corner of Litchfield County, Connecticut, just past Torrington, is a hidden valley.  Resting on a hillside overlooking that valley is The Inn at Mount Pleasant. As part of the 70 acre  Mount Pleasant Farm , this 18th century farmhouse provides an outstanding view and plenty of options. The farmhouse has been completely remodeled to offer modern amenities, with each of the four rooms offering a queen bed, private, attached bathroom, and air conditioning. The spacious outdoor area is perfect for a tented wedding with complete access to the property, including hiking and mountain biking trails to Nickel Brook Creek, an outdoor grill and large deck, hammock, outdoor fire pit for campfires, and a practice golf hole for chipping. For a rustic wedding, the farm includes a barn which can accommodate upwards of 150 guests, with updated electricity and facilities for catering. As an added option and a short drive up the road is a beaut...

Many of our clients have indicated their dislike of the Bouquet & Garter Ceremony or the lack of single guests at their reception.  ATMOSPHERE PRODUCTIONS has devised a suitable alternative, “The Anniversary Celebration Dance”. Here’s how it works: We will invite ALL married couples to the dance floor (including the Bride & Groom) and then play “Through The Years” Kenny Rogers, “Holding Back The Years” Simply Red or “Grow Old With Me” Mary Chapin Carpenter (it’s your choice…pick your favorite). After 30 seconds we will invite everyone who has been married for 5 years or less to move to the edge of the dance floor and start forming a circle with the Bride & Groom. We ask them NOT to sit down.  We will do this for 10, 15, 20 years etc. until we have the longest married couple in the center of the dance floor. At this point the Bride & Groom will present the Bouquet to the couple and the DJ will then ask the longest married couple for any advice for o...

Have you ever watched that reality TV show called “ Four Weddings ” on TLC?  Atmosphere Productions recently appeared on this reality television show for the first season finale “.. And A Ball and Chain”, with Eric and Amanda’s wedding at  The Spa at Norwich Inn.   You can download and watch the episode directly from  Amazon . If you watch enough of them, you really can get a sense of what is important and what is not at a wedding.  Having a bigger budget is not always the way to guarantee a bride wins the honeymoon.  Spending your wedding budget wisely and paying attention to the flow of the day is really what makes a wedding GREAT. Here are 10 things you can learn from watching this show: Keep your ceremony short and make it personal. Be on time….it’ll impact your entire day. Make sure there is enough FOOD for your guests and give them more choice than just cheese and crackers. Give your guests options for meal choice… bett...

There is a common misconception that the longer the party is, the more fun it is. Many brides get carried away in thinking that they should party till they drop, but I want to point out the reality: In many cases, if your guests have attended your ceremony and will be with you all day, it is a longer day than you might think. Your special day will be infinitely more memorable if you end on a high note, as opposed to stretching it until only few guests remain standing. Setting up the perfect final song, with everyone on the dance floor will result in cheering guests, a proper send off, and raving reviews from your loved ones. Extending only conjures up visions of last call at the bar with only the hardcore partiers stumbling their way out the door. A perfect time-frame for a wedding reception not including the ceremony is 3 to 4 hour for an afternoon reception, and no more than 5 to 6 hours for an evening recept...

Should you audition your DJ at another Brides wedding? Auditioning a DJ at another bride’s wedding has been a controversial subject. I will put it in a logical perspective here, and give you the real scoop. Simply ask yourself if you would want strangers walking into your reception (often in street clothes) for the purpose of seeing one of your vendors? It is not the proper time or place to audition a DJ. There are several reasons why it is not even useful for anyone involved. First, it is an obviously uncomfortable position for both the wedding party and the visiting party. Uninvited guests stand out like a sore thumb, and are an un-welcomed distraction. Second, unless the prospect sees the entire reception, they don’t get any value out of the visit. Also, they are seeing someone else’s unique wedding, and unless the DJ is of the “cookie-cutter” variety, the prospect again will get no value without knowing wha...

Ever wonder why guests are given wedding favors? Early accounts date back to 16th century England where it was common for couples to give love knots made of lace and ribbon to their guests as a favor and to represent their bond of love.  The French and Italians, seem to have taken it one step further giving a box made of porcelain, crystal, precious stones or metal, called a "bonbonniere". Inside was delicacies made of sugar. It was from these boxed and gift wrapped confections that today's wedding favors are derived. Some couples will leave favors at each place setting, while others will have a favor table where the small gifts are displayed and a decorative card attached containing each guest's name and table assignment. Or you can choose to give favors out by hand in exchange for a wedding gift. Whichever way you decide it's your choice. So are they worth it? Favors have become expected, so couples think their guests might think them are stingy, ungrate...

Traditionally, the First Dance kicks off the dancing portion of the reception. So, if you're working on your wedding reception timeline, you may be wondering when you should this.  Should it be later in the evening, after dinner or earlier, after introductions. At ATMOSPHERE PRODUCTIONS most of our couples are encouraged to do the First Dance right after the formal introductions of the Bridal Party and the Bride and Groom.  Why?  Well we think EVERYONE looks great at this point in the evening.  The Bridal Party has taken time to fix their flowers or ties and, of course, the Bride and Groom look perfect! What's nice about this option is that the formal introductions create great energy and buzz in the room, and that momentum is sustained throughout the First Dance. This way, at least in New England... "the Land of Steady Habits", the dining portion of the evening has a more leisurely, relaxed pace. Once everyone is done eating, we normally take care of ...