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...

Weddings have become a bit more complicated these days and narrowing down the guest list will be one of your most challenging and important wedding tasks. The size of your guest list will greatly affect your overall wedding expenses. It’s a rare bride and groom who don’t have to edit their original list, whether dealing with 30 or 300 guests. Most likely, you, your fiancé, and both families will be contributing names to the list, and each party will have their own ideas about who is necessary and who is not. Be forewarned, if more than one person controls the guest list, things can get stressful. Preparing the list and keeping all family members happy, requires diplomacy and tact. To help, try these list-cutting strategies: Start by setting a goal for your list size. Base this on your budget, on space limitations or both. Have everyone involved submit a list of the people they’d like to attend. From the top, they should rank the names in order of importance. Then, cross off any...

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...

Here's the plot: The Sign Reads "Who Wears the Cake?" At your wedding set out two glasses and indicate that the one with the greater amount of money gets cake smashed in their face during the Cake Cutting Ceremony.... or Without the Bride & Groom peeking before the Cake Cutting Ceremony, guests "bet" on who's going to smash cake in the others face, The Bride or The Groom. I'm sorry but this is TWO tacky wedding “traditions” combined into one! Your guests paying to see you throw cake at each other. You spend so much time as a Bride getting all gorgeous, doing your make-up all perfect. Only for it to be ruined by sticky cake smashed in your face, cake down your dress and not to mention the dancing time wasted while your cleaning up. I don't see why people still find it funny..... We put this one on the HIGHLY NOT RECOMMENDED list! Photo Credit: http://garonephotography.blogspot.com/2010/06/maine-wedding-photography-spruce-point.htm...

Today's wedding tradition of "Throwing The Bouquet" can be traced back to ancient times.  Although the exact origin of this early wedding tradition isn't entirely clear, today's popular acceptance has allowed it to flourish..... and besides it's just plain fun! Long ago, it was accepted that a Bride was "lucky" on her wedding day.  Many guests would want to keep a piece of that luck. Often times tearing at the Brides dress for a souvenir piece to take home.  To prevent this bothersome practice (and to save her dress) the Bride would "toss" her bouquet of flowers as an offering to those guests. Today, that bouquet is tossed to single women with the belief that whoever catches it will be the next to marry. Here's a few choice selections that we've played over the years: Girls Just Wanna Have Fun – Cyndi Lauper Single Ladies – Beyonce Where Them Girls At – David Guetta feat. Nicki Minaj and Flo Rida California Girls - D...

Many of today's couples are not aware of the history behind some wedding traditions and symbols. Some even are derived from old English traditions and superstitions.  The carrying of flowers by the bride has its roots in ancient times when it was believed that strong smelling herbs and spices would ward off and drive away evil spirits, bad luck and ill health. The wedding veil hides the brides beauty and wards off evil spirits. Another explanation is that during the times of arranged marriages the brides face would be covered until the groom had committed to the marriage.  Tears from the bride or a child during the wedding service is considered lucky.  Wedding gifts are bought by the guests have replaced the custom of bringing fruits that used to encourage fertility. Atmosphere Productions LLC  is a CT Wedding DJ, providing professional mobile entertainment service, Mus...