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...

Wedding invitations can be as simple as one sheet of cardstock printed with the basics, or they can include a number of enclosures. Not sure what you need? Here is a complete guide to the various enclosures you may want to include in your wedding invitations. Depending on the nature of your wedding and your stationery budget, you may choose to consolidate and forgo certain invitation enclosures. Here’s what you need to know to assemble your wedding invitations. Outer envelope   Most wedding invitations consists of two separate envelopes.  The outer envelope (the one actually scanned by the post office) lists the complete names and addresses of all recipients and holds all enclosures. Inner envelope The inner envelope lists only the names of invited recipients. It holds all the contents of the formal, third-person invitation for protection during shipping. Reception cards  Reception cards specify where and when the reception will be held. These are onl...

Some call it a Wedding tradition…. Others call it the ritual humiliation of the single women! Let’s get some perspective and a short history lesson:  Tossing the bouquet is a tradition that stems from England. Wedding guests, both men and women used to try to rip pieces of the bride’s dress and flowers in order to obtain some of her good luck. The men often times would become too rowdy and attempt to remove the garter from the bride themselves.  To escape from the crowd the bride would toss her bouquet and run away.   Luckily, nowadays, our brides have an easier time….. At todays wedding receptions we now do “The Bouquet and Garter Ceremony”: A garter toss is when a bride’s garter is removed from her leg by her spouse. It is usually then tossed over the shoulder to a group of single male guests. Then we have all the single ladies gather and the bride throws a bouquet of flowers over her shoulder to an eager young lady to catch.  It is said that whoe...

All DJ’s are the same, right? So any DJ will do, right? WRONG…. No two wedding receptions should be alike. Your reception represent the first time you and your spouse are throwing a gathering as husband and wife. It should be an extension of your personality and style. A big mistake is allowing an entertainer to do their usual “schtick”, making your day a carbon copy of every other wedding for the year. How are you sure the DJ will make your day unique? Simply see if he or she asks you what you are looking for. Be wary of the DJ that just touts his music list, equipment, and achievements. See if they ask you what you are looking for, first, and then offer you the right solutions to make your day special. Read all  “7 Costly Misconceptions About Hiring Wedding Disc Jockey’s” Used by permission: Mark Sanchez of  Professional Mobile Entertainment , Phoenix, Arizona. Atmosphere Productions LLC is a CT Wedding DJ, prov...

In our over 30 years of experience providing music and entertainment we’ve seen ALOT…. some really unique events, many elegant and classy and some destined for failure before we even got involved. Every Bride wants that fairytale wedding – everything goes off perfectly and you both ride off into the sunset on your Honeymoon. Here are 3 common reception mistakes that you need to know about BEFORE your wedding: No Specific Seating Arrangements The plan is to have everyone sit where they feel comfortable and not at a designated seat.  You may have extra tables and extra room to do so, so why not?  Because, for some strange reason, your guests who are “young at heart” will want to sit right next to the speakers…. and then complain that it’s too loud. Always have a seating plan.  Don’t seat those that are the “young at heart” directly in front of the entertainment. Older generations are at a wedding typically to socialize with their family and friends....

Every year I get a number of calls from brides in “panic”. For one reason or another, they cannot find a DJ entertainer available for their date.  Even worse, I have heard more than few brides say that the DJ they got “through a friend: has disappeared, and left them in the lurch. What makes this even more scarier is that now their choices have gone from “who is the best DJ for them” to being forced to hire whoever may be available. With no time left to research, and with so many other details hanging over them, finding the right DJ will be more about random luck than educated decision. Don’t let this happen to you. The truth is, the best, most popular DJ entertainers will be booked more than six to twelve months in advance, in some cases up to 2 or 3 years. If you begin your entertainment research early enough, and you discover a great entertainer, don’t think that he will be available if you call weeks later. I...

….. and anybody can just play music, right? Wrong! Your DJ is entirely responsible for the smooth flow of your reception. The DJ will be your “Entertainment Director”, who will create & execute the agenda for the entire evening. This role is especially amplified if you are not using the services of a wedding consultant. You will benefit from the experience of a wedding entertainment DJ professional. They will be able to guide you through all formalities, and give you suggestions to make your day unique and unforgettable. A entertainer will use their expertise to incorporate your ideas and suggestions into the program. But don’t just hire a “yes” man. Be sure that the entertainer is giving you the real scoop, and not just telling you what he thinks you want to hear. Read all  “7 Costly Misconceptions About Hiring Wedding Disc Jockey’s” Used by permission: Mark Sanchez of  Professional Mobile Entertainment , Phoenix, Arizon...

After all they’re just playing music, so they must ALL be the same, right? WRONG! There are many folks that can pony up the money for really nice equipment and are capable of plugging in and playing some tunes, but very few who have enough experience in entertaining an audience and organizing the smooth flow of a reception to fill the thimble. This is where you must be very tough minded and asking your prospective DJ where the experience comes from. It is a mistake to think that a person who has only “club” or “corporate” experience can get through a wedding reception. An inexperienced DJ may be able to get through a simple birthday party or backyard gathering, but where they really can wreak havoc is at a wedding reception where timing, organization, and flow are vitally important. Be sure to obtain a list of wedding reception specific references. The best advice I can give you is that whatever DJ or company you hire, you better be sure that there ...

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...

It’s that time of the year, when Bridal Show season is upon us…. Every year, it seems, couples have decided to take the risk and use “a friend of a friend” or the “cheapest” or worst, the “discount dj” with the “special offer” at the Bridal Show. Let me be clear, the consensus of OUR clients seems to be that the “right” entertainment WILL make the difference for this once in a lifetime event. So, if you’ve been out shopping for a DJ, with the assumption that every DJ is pretty much alike, and you find someone that is 1/2 the price of other area DJs…. this article is for you…. What a bargain…. BUT here’s what you might expect from them: They will probably not return your calls when you’re frantically trying to reach them 2 weeks before your wedding Your first dance?  That will be the one song they were meaning to get, but they didn’t get around to it.  Would you like to dance to something else? They have a website – but it’s been it isn’t much more than st...

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...

See the dramatic effect that lighting can impact your reception with Custom Lighting from Atmosphere Productions….. Atmosphere Productions LLC is a CT Wedding DJ, providing professional mobile entertainment service, Music, Reception Entertainment Directors, MC and DJ’s primarily for Weddings in the Greater Hartford area but throughout Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island and in the New England area. Specializing in wedding disc jockey entertainment, radio and club dj’s, corporate and business events, photo booth rentals, ceremony musicians, strolling violinist, guitarist, cocktail and chamber musicians, custom lighting, custom song editing and voice-over services. For further information visit our website at  www.atmosphere-productions.com Contact us TODAY for FREE information. DJ Sam Sylvester Samuels Reception Entertainment Director As featured in Eric and Amanda’s winning wedding on the season finale of TLC’s TV “FOUR WEDDINGS” ...

Abby and her Dad just before walking down the aisle…. Abby and Kyle’s wedding ceremony, at Avon Old Farms Hotel , took place outside at the garden gazebo and tranquil stream on a beautiful Friday afternoon, with Atmosphere Productions live musician Ben providing violin ceremony music and strolling violin for cocktail hour. With the newly renovated Towpath Ballroom overlooking the Terrace and manicured grounds, this was the ideal location for Abby and Kyle’s Fall reception. Abby and Kyle’s Ceremony Music: Pachelbel – Canon in D Handel – Water Music Allegro Abby and Kyle’s First Dance: Ed Sheeran – Tenerife Sea Bride and Bride’s Father Dance: Temptations – My Girl Groom and Groom’s Mother Dance: Sara Evans – You’ll Always Be My Baby Last Dance: Semisonic – Closing Time Songs That Rocked The Dance Floor: David Guetta – Play Hard Pitbull – Time Of Our Lives Walk The Moon – Shut Up And Dance Flo-Rida – Good Feeling Earth Wind and Fi...

Do you have a "DO NOT PLAY" list for your wedding reception?  Well, here are 10 wedding songs you might want to add to that list...... It's not that they are terrible (OK The Chicken Dance is!) but simply they are overplayed or outstayed their welcome.  You decide. The Chicken Dance The Macarena The Electric Slide Village People - YMCA PSY - Gangnam Style Meatloaf - Paradise By The Dashboard Lights Kool and The Gang - Celebration Sister Sledge - We Are Family Sir Mixx-A-Lot - Baby Got Back Rednex - Cotton Eyed Joe Atmosphere Productions LLC  is a CT Wedding DJ, providing professional mobile entertainment service, Music, Reception Entertainment Directors, MC and DJ's primarily for Weddings in the Greater Hartford area but throughout Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island and in the New England area. Specializing in wedding disc jockey entertainment, radio and club dj's, corporate and business events, photo boo...

Want to be a social butterfly? Want to use Instagram at your wedding?  Want to blow up Twitter? Creating a wedding Hastag is easy and needs no registration.  Anyone on Instagram or Twitter can just choose one, so you need to think carefully and plan ahead: Don't Use The First Words Or Phrase You Think Of Pick Something You Can Easily Remember Make Your Guests WANT To Use It Selecting your wording is crucial because you don't want someone else's pictures mixed in with your collection.  So selecting something that is easily remembered and fun to use, is a must. Think of your wedding date in combination with your last name, first names or initial ...or something uniquely fun that your guests will think of only you. Think alphabetic characters (a-z, no special accents) and numbers.  All else fails add a word “happilyever” or “newlyweds”. Search and test your hashtag BEFORE the wedding to make sure another couple are not using the same. Now spread the wo...

Here's a great idea we found on Pinterest .  It's a personalized drop top guest book.... in fact it's better than a GUEST book. Have your guests sign a heart and drop it into the frame. After the wedding you can mount and showcase in your home. Pretty cool. You can purchase this unique idea on Etsy . Atmosphere Productions LLC  is a CT Wedding DJ, providing professional mobile entertainment service, Music, Reception Entertainment Directors, MC and DJ's primarily for Weddings in the Greater Hartford area but throughout Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island and in the New England area. Specializing in wedding disc jockey entertainment, radio and club dj's, corporate and business events, photo booth rentals, ceremony musicians, strolling violinist, guitarist, cocktail and chamber musicians, custom lighting, custom song editing and voice-over services. For further information visit our website at  www.atmo...