DJ integrity is everything

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    Oct 17
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DJ integrity

DJ integrity is everything

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Do you like the owner of  the DJ company you’re considering for your wedding? If not, move on. DJ integrity is paramount to a successful wedding. The first vibe you pick up from a company is often telling.

Trust your instincts.

Don’t look back. Wedding celebrations are special. And entertainment makes the event. If there is something about the personality of the owner of a DJ company company that just doesn’t sit right with you, find someone else.

For the record, that includes me!

Chemistry is important at weddings. Your DJ company has a disproportionate impact on the success of your event. Choose carefully, beginning with an assessment of how well you LIKE and TRUST the owner.

Now how do you do that? You need to make some sort of personal contact.

You can’t do that if you’re merely filling out a form on a website and hitting send. Yes, we’ve got awesome forms right here and here on our own website.  They’re a start. But better yet, pick up the phone and call.

Do you get a real, live person on the phone?

If not,  how quickly do you get a call back?

And here is the key: how well do they come across on the phone? Are they warm and friendly? Do they listen? Do they come across like they care about your event? Even more, are they excited about your event? Or do you get the sense that they look at you merely as a paycheck?

As wonderful as modern technology is, it does you no favors by de-personalizing the wedding planning process. Don’t let that happen to you. Pick up the phone and call us at 1-800-331-3341. We’d love to talk to you about your event.

Better yet, set up a time to meet in person. This is the ultimate way for you to get to know the person who can make or break your event. This is the ultimate way for you to gauge their integrity. And DJ integrity is everything.

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    Oct 17
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great American meatloaf

The great American meatloaf recipe you’ve been waiting for!

The ‘great American meatloaf’ just got even greater.  Want to start your new Chicagoland marriage with a bang?  Then add this recipe to your mealtime repertoire.

Okay, okay, I know meatloaf is considered to be too ‘lowbrow’ for many delicate palates.  But in your heart of hearts, you know you love it, even if you won’t admit it in polite company.

This blog maintains that every household needs a good, solid meatloaf recipe.  Well, we’ve gone further.  We created a recipe that isn’t just good, it is astonishing.

The great American meatloaf is the ultimate ‘comfort food’.

Here is the great American meatloaf recipe:

Ingredients make the difference!

√ 1/2 pound lean ground beef

√ 1/2 pound ground pork

√ 1/4 pound sausage

√ 1/2 cup dry breadcrumbs

√ 1/4 cup milk

√ 1 egg slightly beaten

√ 1 small onion finely chopped

√ 1/2 cup finely chopped red pepper

√ 1 small celery stalk finally chopped

√ 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

√ small pinch of red pepper flakes

√ 1/2 teaspoon salt

√ 1/8 teaspoon pepper

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Put on relaxing music.  Then combine ingredients until just mixed. Don’t overwork it.  Mold into a loaf of about 8 by 4 inches and place in a shallow pan.  Bake for 1 hour.  Allow to stand 5 minutes before slicing.

This may not be gourmet, but it sure is comfort food!

If you’re looking for a great recipe for wedding entertainment, look no further than Crestline Entertainment.

But in the meantime, the great American meatloaf is a staple in great American marriages from coast to coast.  Enjoy!


 

  • 16
    Oct 17
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celebrity marriage advice

Celebrity marriage advice. Beware!

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Celebrity marriages don’t always work out so well. So celebrity marriage advice is always a little suspect. But it can be so much fun!

For us ‘little people,’ there are still some nuggets of wisdom worth considering from these larger than life figures. Or at the very least, we’ll get a good laugh.

The notorious actress and sex symbol, Mae West, offered profound advice to future wives:

“Don’t marry a man to reform him – that’s what reform schools are for.”

Comedienne Phyllis Diller’s advice was totally practical:

“Whatever you may look like, marry a man your own age – as your beauty fades, so will his eyesight.”

The 18th century German satirist, Georg Christoph Lichtenberg, provides ‘snarky’ advice, to use a 21st century word:

“Love is blind, but marriage restores its sight.”

Which leads us to Marilyn Monroe’s advice posted above:

“I’m selfish, impatient, and a little insecure. I make mistakes. I’m out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can’t handle me at my worst, you sure as hell don’t deserve me at my best.”

Everyone is flawed. Everyone is going to have their moments with their spouse. That’s when love actually flourishes, for love isn’t a just feeling. If it were merely a feeling, it could never last.

Love is choice.

It’s a choice to mend fences, even when the love of your life is difficult to handle and you don’t feel like mending fences.

When you hit a rough patch in your relationship like everyone else in recorded history has, you might take some advice from the wisest man who ever lived, according to the Old Testament of the Bible, King Solomon. Writing in the The Book of Proverbs, his advice still resonates three thousand years later:

“He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.”

“He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.”

“Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”

In other words, guard your relationship by controlling your tongue! Now that’s a celebrity worth listening to!

Ready for more advice? Check out our event planning tools. They make wedding planning so easy.

  • 09
    Oct 17
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Chicagoland's finest wedding DJd

How to know if you’re in love

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Here’s a great quote from the timeless Dr. Seuss. The same sentiment is at work when you hire Chicagoland’s finest wedding DJs: Crestline Entertainment.

With us, your wedding reception will exceed your dreams. You won’t want your celebration to end, because it will be so much more than you ever dreamed possible.

Let’s be clear about something:  you don’t have to spend a fortune on your wedding day to experience the party you wish would never end. But you DO need to invest your limited resources wisely in one key area:  the entertainment.

Chicagoland’s finest wedding DJs

Chicagoland's finest wedding DJsEntertainment makes the event.  Crestline Entertainment knows how to bring people together and fill a dance floor in celebration of your special day.  Our uplighting will transform a plain hall into a palace, so don’t worry if your decorating budget is modest.  We will make you feel like royalty.

It’s really true, like Dr. Seuss says.  You’ll have trouble falling asleep that night, because at last, reality has become better than your dreams.

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    Oct 17
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Alcohol or no alcohol?

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It got ugly fast. You will quickly understand why you need alcohol wedding guidelines at your Chicagoland wedding.

Uncle Charlie liked his liquor.  And it flowed at his niece’s wedding reception.  Charlie felt as if  he had entered the land of milk and honey.  (That’s a biblical metaphor for what our culture would call a ‘land of plenty.’)

As the party picked up the pace, so did Charlie’s imbibing, and so did his dancing … and it wasn’t pretty.  I had never seen someone doing Michael Jackson’s moonwalk to “The Way You Looked Tonight.”

He kept dancing after the music had ended.

His shirt was untucked.  You could see his eyes, rolling, and his tie was tied around his head instead of his neck. Everyone was embarrassed.  And no one wanted to get back on the dance floor.

When the bride’s father tried to get him off the dance floor, he was belligerent.  As I said, it got ugly fast.

Alcohol wedding guidelines

When planning your wedding reception, think about how you want to handle alcohol.  As a DJ, I have a lot of experience dealing with highly uncomfortable situations at wedding receptions with out-of-control guests under the influence.

It doesn’t have to be that way.

For your sake and mine, I’ve posted some helpful guidelines above regarding booze, beer, and wine.  Based on my experience, these guidelines will eliminate most problems.  I hope you find them helpful.

Some brides can’t afford an open bar, or don’t want to pay for it, which is perfectly fine.  The guidelines above still apply.  Simply replace ‘open’ bar with ‘cash’ bar.

Crestline Entertainment offers helpful wedding planning tools for Chicagoland brides. Let us know what alcohol guidelines you’d like for your reception in the “other information” section of the wedding planning form. Be intentional. The purpose of today’s blogpost is to help you to be proactive in your planning efforts.

Was this blogpost helpful? Be sure to share it with your friends. Don’t forget to subscribe!

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    Sep 17
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bride on a budget

Bands vs. DJs

Okay … you’re planning your Chicagoland wedding reception, and you are a bride on a budget.

As we’ve written in a previous blogpost [“How much to spend on wedding entertainment”], entertainment makes the event.  The question is, what type of entertainment is right for you?

Every event needs music.  DJ entertainment and bands each have their respective advantages and corresponding disadvantages.

Beware screechy bands!

For example, the energy of live music is a wonderful thing to behold, especially if you have a good band.  There’s the rub.  There are a lot of not-so-good bands around.  Sometimes, they’re so over-the-top that they steal the bride’s thunder. Or sometimes their sound devolves into the musical equivalent of fingernails on the chalk board. Ouch!  [WATCH the video above!]

Even with a good band, they are limited in the type of music they can play based on their personnel and instrumentation.

You may be a person of eclectic taste.  We had one bride who wanted “All of Me” played for her first dance.  Before the night was through, she had us playing “In heaven there ain’t no beer.”  Go figure.

Here’s the thing:  most bands have a limited repertoire. DJs don’t.  We can play practically any song you request.

The sky is the limit with DJs.  Music is sung by the original artists, just the way most people prefer it.

There is another significant advantage with GOOD DJs (which, of course, is all we offer).  They are consummate MCs.  They know how to introduce the wedding party.  They know how to make announcements and control the flow of events.

This is huge.

It takes professionalism honed by years of experience to master the art, and boy, we’ve got it mastered. We even offer our clients online planning tools to simplify your wedding planning.

Bride on a budget

For a bride on a budget, which is about all of you, DJs will run half to a third of the price of a band.  That’s why DJ entertainment is the overwhelming choice for wedding entertainment.

  • 18
    Sep 17
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babies at weddings

The definitive guide to babies at weddings

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babies at weddings

Get ready for controversy: babies at weddings.

Your friendships are about to be tested.  If you’re prepared, you can minimize the damage.

I refer, of course, to that timeless issue of whether or not to let your friends bring their babies to your Chicagoland wedding.

You face two scenarios when it comes to babies at weddings

SCENARIO #1:  The sweet little things alternate between cooing and napping during your ceremony.

SCENARIO #2:  The little monsters scream to high heaven throughout the wedding ceremony.  You have to ask the officiant to repeat the vows a second and a third time before you can hear them over the din.  All of this is captured by your wedding videographer.  Forever.  And we haven’t even gotten to the reception yet!

Whew!

Okay … scenario #1 is the likely outcome.  Scenario #2 seldom happens, meaning infrequently or almost never.

But sometimes it does.

Here’s what to do:  you know your friends with babies.  Are they reasonable when it comes to their kids?  If their baby/infant/toddler gets fussy during the ceremony, will they discreetly step out to avoid disrupting your event?  Or are they the type that believes the world revolves them, their needs, their convenience, and their kids, who by the way, can do no wrong?

If you expect scenario #1, invite away.  If  not, don’t.

If in doubt, simply remember that this is your day, not theirs.

Most people do view marriage as a community celebration

Many brides and grooms love inviting families, complete with their kids.  Wonderful.  But you don’t have to.

Some brides recognize unique situations.  For example, if guests make a trek in from out of town, it may be tough for them to find someone to come in for the weekend to watch the kid(s), especially if a mother is still nursing her baby.

If you’re willing to include children for these reasons, you might want to make arrangements for a side room with childcare in case your guests would rather park their kids than tend to them during either the ceremony or reception.

If you make the decision that you do not want children, do so with this understanding:

  1. It is perfectly just, moral, and practical.
  2. You may have a friend/family member ask for an exception.

How to address the envelope

When sending out invitations, simply address it to the person who is invited:

Mr. and Mrs. John Smith

or…

Bobbi-Jean Smith & Guest

If kids are welcome, you’ll simply address the invitation as Mr. and Mrs. John Smith & Family.

If babies and kids are not invited, inevitably, your friend, Bobbi-Jean, is going to give you a call with this request:

“Say … you wouldn’t mind if I brought little Clarabelle, would you?”

This is key:  know exactly what you want.  Have a prepared response rehearsed and ready to go.

If you’re willing to make exceptions, then life is simple.  You’ll use Response #1:

RESPONSE #1:  “For you, of course.  Little Clarabelle is such a lovely little doll.  Would you like me to make arrangements for a side room and child care to give you more flexibility during the ceremony and/or reception?”

If you really don’t want babies, infants, or children at your ceremony or reception, you’ll want to use something more along the lines of Response #2:

RESPONSE #2:  “You know, we really looked at this closely with our Wedding Planner.  She really encouraged us to keep the event adults only, and we’re taking her advice.  [But she had a great suggestion.  She said if any of our guests wanted to bring kids, we can make arrangements for a side room and provide a list of reputable child care providers for those parents interested in the service.  Would you like me to forward you the list?]”

If you really don’t want to mess with around with kids, only use the first two sentences above and lop off the section in brackets.

What to do if your friend keeps pushing the issue about babies at weddings

If you have a particularly persistent friend or family member, you know the type who begs:

“Pleeez … couldn’t you make a teeny weeny exception for my sweet little Clarabelle.  She won’t make a peep.  You’ll never know she was there.  Pleeez, pretty pleeeeez”…

… be strong.

Stand your ground.

Calmly and without apology, simply say:

“I understand, Bobbi-Jean, but the answer is no.  We have intentionally planned for an all-adult wedding celebration, and we’re going to stick with our plan.”

You may have a better way to say it.  If yes, think it through and be ready in case you’re put in the uncomfortable situation described above.

Remember, this is YOUR wedding.

Okay, are you ready to sketch out your Chicagoland event? We’ve got the tools right here. Simply complete the contact form, and we’ll provide the logins which give you full access to all of our tools without obligation. As always, we love questions. Call with yours today: 630 | 766-9898.

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    Sep 17
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packed dance floors

Packed dance floors depend on interaction. How much do you want?

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packed dance floors

What single factor will determine the success of your wedding? Packed dance floors.

If you’re like the typical bridal couple, success is defined by the dance floor.  If it is empty, the wedding is considered a failure.  If it is packed, it is considered a success.

If it is packed all night long, well, that is the gold standard for wedding success, at least according to the many couples we’ve worked with over the years.

Crestline Entertainment specializes in packed dance floors …

… and knows how to motivate wedding guests to get out of their seats.

Here’s the deal, though.  Each wedding couple is unique.  You’ve got your own personality and your own idea on what defines class, style, and energy.

Some Chicagoland brides want their reception to have the feel of a dance club, complete with high energy music and fabulous club lighting.

packed dance floors

Dreamy lighting

Others like elegance and dreamy lighting right out of a fairy tale.

And some like a combination.  We’re flexible and taylor each event to the style of the wedding couple.

You also need to consider the level of interaction you’re looking for from your DJ/MC.  The more interaction, the more dance floor participation.  We are masters at making even your shy guests feel comfortable getting out of their seats and joining the fun on the dance floor.  And we’re able to do it without cheezy gimmicks or tacky songs.

And we never, ever make anyone uncomfortable.

How much interaction is right for you?

Let’s talk.  Tell us about some of the music you’d like to hear played at your reception.  Tell us about your guest list and venue.

Together, we’ll establish the parameters that determine successful weddings.

In Crestline Entertainment’s hands, your wedding celebration WILL be a success, complete with a packed dance floor.

  • 09
    Sep 17
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ugly bridesmaid dresses

Ugly, ugly bridesmaid dresses in movies and TV

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How many women groan when asked to be a bridesmaid?

Their minds go something like this:

“I know she’s going to make me wear an ugly bridesmaid dress that costs me a fortune.  How can I possibly get out of this?  Please, God, do something!  I need help!”

In order to counter the stigma associated with ugly bridesmaids dresses, some brides have resorted to making a pledge to potential bridesmaids, something like this, as I saw on a bridesmaid’s joke card:

“I promise to find the perfect shade of mauve for you to wear.  I promise you will never wear the dress again.  I promise an open bar.  Wanna be my bridesmaid?”

The video above is great fun.  You’ll enjoy the progression of ugly bridesmaids dresses over the years in movies and TV.

Out of these ugly bridesmaid dresses, here’s my favorite:

Actually, out of all the ugly bridesmaid dresses in this video, my favorite is the one right at the beginning. You know, the one with Jennifer Aniston from the television show, “Friends.”

Here’s my suggestion.  If you don’t want your friends or family members to groan when you ask them to be your bridesmaid, check out this article in Elle Magazine: “27 bridesmaid dresses they’ll actually wear again.” They’ll breathe a sigh of relief knowing you’re watching out for their best interests!

Once you’ve got your gown selected, it’s time to get serious about the entertainment for your event. Check us out right now, because popular dates book ridiculously fast.

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    Aug 17
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top ten songs for your first dance

Top Ten Classic Songs for Your First Dance

Two singular moments define your wedding day:  your vows and your first dance. Here’s our top ten songs for your first dance.

Your first dance is a magical moment in your life.  You’ll never forget it.  The song you select for us to play should be personal, meaningful, and nice and slow.

Song lyrics are especially important in a first dance, and romance is the most popular theme.  From our experience, a number of songs leap out as the most popular over the years.  They are timeless.  We can play them by the original artist, which is most popular, or by any artist who ever covered the song.

Here’s our top ten songs for your first dance to get you started.  Whatever you select, we’ll have it … or we’ll get it!

Here are our top ten songs for your first dance:

TOP FIRST DANCE SONG #10

A Thousand Years:  What a huge hit from the movie, “Twilight:  Breaking Dawn”  in 2011.  This song by Christina Perri has been viewed on YouTube a half a billion times.  That’s billion with a ‘B’!

TOP FIRST DANCE SONG #9

Amazed:  Most of the songs listed on this page have been field tested at weddings for half a century or more.  Lonestar released this hit in 1999, and it’s a real winner for a first dance song.

TOP FIRST DANCE SONG #8

Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You:  “You’re just too good to be true, can’t take my eyes off of you.”  Even though this song was #2 on the Billboard charts way back in 1967, everyone knows those wonderful words.  Perfect for a first dance!  Even though this was a huge hit for Frank Valli and the Four Seasons, it has been covered by hundreds of major artists.  Take your pick, and we’ll play it for you!

TOP FIRST DANCE SONG #7

I Only Have Eyes for You:  The sign of a good song is one that is a hit from one generation to the next.  This is one of those songs.  Written by Harry Warren and Al Dubin, it was a #2 hit in 1934; a #11 hit for The Flamingos in 1959; and a #1 hit for Art Garfunkel in 1975 in the UK.  The Flamingos version was ranked as the #157th greatest all-time song hit by Rolling Stone Magazine.  Like some of the other songs listed here, it features a memorable opening line:  “Are the stars out tonight?  I don’t know if it’s cloudy or bright.  Cuz I only have eyes for you, dear.”

TOP FIRST DANCE SONG #6

Can’t Help Falling in Love (with you):  One word is all that is necessary:  Elvis.

TOP FIRST DANCE SONG #5

Everything:  Michael Bublé gets away from his usual big band treatment of songs with this totally catchy, guitar driven love song.  Great melody.  Fun, romantic lyrics.  Looking for a lovely, happy song that you don’t want to end? Then “Everything” is for you.  What a great way to launch your new life!

TOP FIRST DANCE SONG #4

Unforgettable:  “Unforgettable, that’s what you are, Unforgettable, though near or far, Like a song of love that clings to me, How the thought of you does things to me, Never before has someone been more Unforgettable in every way.”  The only thing more perfect than these lyrics for your first dance are the exquisite vocals of Natalie and Nat King Cole.  This song is truly unforgettable on any list of top ten songs for your first dance.

TOP FIRST DANCE SONG #3

At Last:  What passion!  What romance!  DJs all over the country tell me how often brides request this song for the first dance.  The Etta James version from 1960 with its sweeping orchestration is the first choice of brides, but you can’t go wrong with Beyoncé’s cover either.  The rich melody for this song was written by the ubiquitous Harry Warren, who also wrote “I Only Have Eyes for You,” mentioned elsewhere in this blogpost.

TOP FIRST DANCE SONG #2

The Way You Look Tonight:   What an irresistible combination:  Frank Sinatra and lyrics like these, written by Dorothy Fields:  “Some day, when I’m awfully low, When the world is cold, I will feel a glow just thinking of you, And the way you look tonight.”  Throw in Nelson Riddle’s swinging arrangement, and you have yourself a first dance moment you will relive with sweet dreams on your fiftieth wedding anniversary.  It’s that good of a song, and you’re that great of a couple.  Want to slow it down a bit?  Go with Michael Bublé’s version.  Mellow.  Lovely.  Absolutely wonderful.

TOP FIRST DANCE SONG #1

As Time Goes By:  This song is truly timeless, no matter how much time goes by.  Although it was written in 1931, it became a big hit in 1942 when it was sung in the film, “Casablanca.”  The American Film Institute ranked it the #2 all-time song from a movie.  There are some great covers of this song, including lush versions by Frank Sinatra and Peggy Lee.  Everyone knows and loves the opening lyrics:  “You must remember this, a kiss is still a kiss, a sigh is still a sigh.  The fundamental things apply as time goes by.”

Have fun with these top ten songs for your first dance.  We’ll make your first dance as magical as you ever dreamed it would be with romantic lighting and the professional MCing  the sets the stage … for you.

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