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Inspiration + Events
How To Keep The Party Going During Your Band’s Break
Today’s wedding tip comes from our friends at Brides.com. Jaimie Mackey, the site's content director and Real Weddings contributor, recently published an article shedding light on not only the importance of keeping the party going during the live music breaks during a reception, but how to do so! We couldn't agree more with the tips she shared, read her article below:
"There’s nothing quite like a live band at a wedding. A great one will give your party a huge energy boost, and becomes interactive entertainment that will have your guests dancing all night long. The only downside? Bands need breaks, which means a pause in the music. But the fun doesn’t have to stop just because the band isn’t on stage! We’ve rounded up a few tips to keep the party going."
Time it Right
Work with your band to time the breaks so they fit into your evening’s timeline. First and foremost, feed your band before the reception begins. The break for dinner is usually the longest, so if you can arrange to have the band members eat before they get on stage, the following breaks will be shorter. If the band will be playing during cocktail hour, time their first break to take place while your guests are eating. A playlist of background music will fill the space, but will barely be heard over the clinking of forks and knives, anyway! For the next break, grab the mic for toasts. Three-to-five minute speeches from the maid of honor, best man, and your parents will fill up that break in no-time! You could also add the cake cutting here. For a break later in the evening, have the garter or bouquet toss, or take a moment to say a few words yourselves while the caterer passes coffee and late-night bites.
Be Flexible with Timing
Even if you’ve got your timeline totally ironed out, allow your band to be flexible with when they take breaks. That way, if the dance floor is packed right when their 9:30 break is supposed to begin, the band can continue for a song or two and bump their break back so as not to kill the energy. The same goes for things like the bouquet toss—if everyone’s grooving, wait until there’s a lull in energy and use it as a reason to get everyone back on the dance floor.
Choose Your Playlist Wisely
Of course, a band break doesn’t mean guests have to stop dancing. Many bands will provide a playlist on an iPod that can play while they’re on their break, or you can customize the playlist yourselves. Just be thoughtful when doing so, and ask to review the playlist your band will be providing. If you’ve chosen a band known for their dance floor-filling tunes, your playlist should have the same energy—smooth jazz will just be a total buzz-kill. If you’re going for more of a mellow vibe, stick with the same types of music instead of jolting guests with something uptempo. For a genre-specific band, the break music should flow seamlessly—no Latin hits in between sets from your ‘80s cover band!
Pick a Bigger Band
Want a reception with no band breaks? When you’re interviewing bands and negotiating a contract, talk to the manager or bandleader about your options for continuous play. Look for a bigger band that can swap artists in and out, giving individuals time to get ready for their next set without ever stopping the music. Multiple vocalists make this much easier, as does a band that can play a variety of musical styles that use different instruments. Big numbers and the main set could feature everyone, while other moments could be smaller combinations of musicians for a different vibe. (A band like this might also be able to provide smaller ensembles for your ceremony or cocktail hour, then absorb those artists into the band for the reception, which is more affordable than hiring multiple different groups to play throughout the day.)
Aille Beauty
Having the right hair and makeup team can make or break the wedding day experience for anyone's bridal party! Los Angeles-based glam experts, Aille Beauty, have worked with us on both weddings and corporate events and they're nothing short of spectacular. Whether it's tackling bridal hair and makeup, or accommodating a masquerade-themed look for guests attending a private event, their team can do it all!
It’s clear this team has been working together for a long time, which makes it fun to be around them no matter what the event:
“Our love for hair and makeup developed at a young age and grew deep along with our friendship and passion to share what we knew with other people! As most relationships over time disconnect, ours has managed to stay strong for almost 20 years. BFFALSABT! (Best Friends Forever And Let’s Start A Business Together) If we are going to do what we love we also should enjoy who we work with. That’s our motto!”
To find out more about the awesome team at Aille Beauty, visit their website at www.aillebeauty.com.
The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara
Every event we’ve been a part of at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara has been a dream. From the gorgeous views, sprawling property and dream staff and vendor team, it’s always an event to remember, which is why we are featuring them on today’s vendor spotlight blog!
The 78-acre oceanfront venue boasts “low-rise villas with wrought-iron balconies, beaches that glow under the sun, the water at your doorstep, vibrant blues and intricate patterns, and Food that is meant to be savored with the sunset.”Just take a look at the images below to get an idea of the weddings and events that take place on site:
For more information on this incredible Santa Barbara venue, visit their website HERE!
One Sheet
We absolutely love working with companies that are looking for quality entertainment for their important events. Whether it's a themed party, holiday function, gala, or social gathering, we collaborate with clients to meet their needs while offering our expertise in order to provide a custom musical experience and soundtrack, no matter what the occasion! Feel free to share our one sheet with your team as needed for pitch purposes when planning your event to ensure you get the best live entertainment possible, and don't hesitate to reach out and get a custom quote.
Destination Wedding Inspiration: Hawaii
Known for it's beautiful string of islands, crystal blue waters, white sand and lush flora, Hawaii is a highly sought after and world-renowned vacation spot, and it provides a perfect setting for couples who dream of having a destination wedding.
The scenery is beautiful no matter what island you find yourself on, but we've rounded up our top picks for picturesque Hawaiian destination wedding venues:
Intertwined Events
As a vendor who has attended a lot of weddings, we are always excited to see how the evening will look and feel. We appreciate the attention to detail that goes into everything from the centerpieces, to the color palette, and even to how the dance floor looks. We've seen it all and we found it necessary to give Intertwined Events a shout out for their superb work,
We've crossed paths with their team a few times and working with them is nothing short of phenomenal. If you don't believe us, take a look at some of their work!
For more information about Intertwined, head on over to their website, www.intertwinedevents.com, and let them know we sent you. #downbeatla
Soultones + The Gift Foundation of Hawaii, The Modern Honolulu
We are glad to have been a part of this amazing evening for The Gift Foundation of Hawaii at The Modern Honolulu supporting:
The Alliance for Drama Education’s T-shirt Theatre production of MEA OLA, "Life Matters", a Teen Suicide, Bullying and Cyberbullying Prevention Project
Chaminade University of Honolulu’s I am a Scientist Mobile STEM Outreach Program
HUGS for Hawaii's Seriously Ill Children & Their Families – Expansion of the Peer Support group for Neighbor Island Families
Blake Entertainment planned and designed a “Miami Vices & Vixens”-themed evening with Soultones taking the stage to provide the music in addition to dancers, performers and other incredible details that helped create an insanely lively atmosphere for a great cause!
Cocktail Hour Favorites
We get it! Creating a list of songs for your guests can be very difficult but that's why we're here. To ensure a seamless transition from ceremony to your cocktail hour, we've curated a list to get your guests excited for what's to come!
1. Better Together - Us The Duo
2. Let Me Love You - Fitz and Tantrums
3. I Believe In A Thing Called Love - Branches
4. Havana (Acoustic) - Matt Johnson
5. What's Going On (Recorded at Spotify Studios NYC) - John Legend
Be sure to follow Downbeat on Spotify for more wedding and special event playlist needs by clicking here.
Wedding Kate
Throughout the years we've worked with a ton of wedding planners but meet one of our favorites who we absolutely love working with, Wedding Kate! Wedding Kate is one of the most sought out wedding planners in Santa Barbara and is considered as a premier event design planning firm in Southern California.
All of our bands, have had the pleasure of working along side Wedding Kate and its been successful even after event. For more info, please head to their website and take a look at their lists of their amazing work, here.
Gold Standard + Adamson House
The Adamson House is one of the best historic venues for a wedding right next to the shores of Malibu. A location that will have your guests in awe as they enjoy the scenic view and touch of history.
Gold Standard shared a night of celebration and played their little hearts out. Nothing is better than having good music, the people you love, and the ocean breeze to celebrate your special night.
Parent Dance Favorites
When it comes to wedding planning, there are a million decisions that have to be made leading up to the big day! Special moments require special attention, which is why we've put in the work so you don't have to in deciding your music choices!
If you're planning on going the traditional route and having a Mother/Son and Father/Daughter dance during your reception, we've compiled a list of classics and newer favorites to ensure these moments with your parents are perfect! Here is our list of Parent Dance Favorites for Fall 2017:
1. John Legend, Cynthia Erivo - God Only Knows
2. Rod Stewart - Forever Young
3. James Taylor - How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)
4. Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes - Home
5. Jason Mraz - 93 Million Miles
7. Ray Charles - Ain't That Love
9. Israel Kamakawiwo'ole - Over The Rainbow
Be sure to follow Downbeat on Spotify for more wedding and special event playlist needs by clicking here.
Signature Party Rentals
Guests are always looking to enjoy the full experience when they attend weddings and special events. After a recent performance at an Avalon Hotel wedding in Palm Springs, we were blown away by the attention to detail and apparent passion for event design from the Southern California-based vendor Signature Party Rentals.
"Custom hedges, parlor and chiavari chairs and a fun linen - everything we love in a photo!" - Signature Party Rentals
With over 30 years of experience in the event industry, this company has an incredible portfolio of work and can outfit any venue with rentals that include furniture, custom decor, staging, lighting, tents, linens and so much more. Whether it's an intimate dinner gathering or a corporate event with a 5,000+ guest list, this company can handle it all and they pride themselves on customer service and reliability.
Take a look at some of their amazing products and visions in their gallery:
To learn more about Signature Party Rentals, visit their website at www.signatureparty.com. For more vendors we love, visit the Downbeat LA Vendor Spotlight blog here.
AMFM + Hummingbird Nest Ranch
Not only is Malibu's Hummingbird Nest Ranch a dream venue to for weddings, but it's also a dream venue for entertainers to perform! Dance band AMFM traveled up into the Santa Susana Mountains for a recent summertime wedding and it was a beautiful celebration.
Love was certainly in the air, and guests were entertained throughout the wedding ceremony and reception with dinner and party sets, leading to dancing the night away under the stars. The decor and ambiance are always beautiful in this al fresco setting, have a look for yourself:
Belmond El Encanto
The luxury resorts and venues sprawled across the region of Santa Barbara are undoubtedly all gorgeous, but one of our favorites to perform at is the Belmond El Encanto.
Gold Standard traveled to provide the live playlist for the Doll wedding and it was an unforgettable event!
Boasting “Hollywood glamour in a modern classic”, El Encanto sets a perfect scene:
”Steeped in charisma, Belmond El Encanto’s breezy hillside location and enduring iconicity make it one of the most desirable Santa Barbara event venues. Join us for lavish wedding parties or smaller, intimate occasions. Our lush Pacific-facing gardens, expansive terrace and expert party planners combine for the ultimate Californian celebration.”
For more information about this amazing venue, visit their website at www.belmond.com.
Soultones + Bel-Air Bay Club
It's always a party with our highly sought after dance band, Soultones! The group recently brought their high energy and crowd-favorite performances to a beautiful wedding at Malibu's gorgeous Bel-Air Bay Club. The evening was a blast, and we love making our couples and their guests happy!
To learn more about Soultones, visit their artist page here.
To book Soultones for your wedding or special event, visit our booking page here.
The 805 Camera Bus
At a recent performance in Santa Barbara, Downbeat LA had the pleasure of working alongside today's featured vendor, The 805 Camera Bus. Known as being Santa Barbara's only mobile photo booth company, this camera-on-wheels is a converted 1971 VW bus that combines charm, vintage and modern appeal into one epic photo op.
The company has affectionately named the bus "Lola", and claims she loves attending all types of events! You can customize the backdrop to be whatever matches your event's theme, and your photos are available in strips on the spot. The attendants are super helpful and the props provided are a blast!
Gold Standard singers even had the opportunity to snap some photos between sets at the last event, and we can't wait to visit Santa Barbara again for a performance in hopes that Lola will be in attendance as well!
For more information on The 805 Camera Bus, visit their website at www.805camerabus.com
Gold Standard + Calistoga Ranch
Destination weddings in Napa Valley are always a blast to be a part of. Gold Standard recently performed at Calistoga Ranch and our friends at Sylvie Gil captured the celebration beautifully! Have a look for yourself:
For information on how to hire Gold Standard for your next special event or wedding, click here.
How To Avoid Interrupting The Party For Traditional Wedding Moments
Wedding celebrations are made up of so many magical moments throughout both the ceremony and reception. While newlywed couples and their guests want to party the night away, there are often special dances and traditions, such as the bouquet toss and cake-cutting, that are factored into the timeline of events.
hile these traditions provide amazing photo opportunities and memories for a lifetime, they should never be made to feel like an imposition to guests who are enjoying the party. Instead, they should be strategically - and tastefully - placed during the reception to avoid any awkward pauses or breaks in dancing or dinner.
Here are some tips to ensure the party doesn’t stop for these traditional wedding moments:
1. Schedule moments immediately following dinner! Before the band or DJ start their first dance set, go ahead and cut the cake (bonus: dessert is served promptly) and get the special dances underway. This will avoid interrupting the dancing later on.
2. Discuss with your DJ/MC ahead of time and ask them to seamlessly integrate these moments into the dance sets! If your Master of Ceremonies makes clear announcements to guests to stay on the dance floor surrounding the bride and room, they are made to feel a part of everything instead of just spectators.
3. Throw away the rule book and opt out of these moments completely! If the idea of dancing with your parents in front of 100 of your closest family and friends makes you uncomfortable, know that you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do! Feel free to make your own rules and traditions, it’s your day after all!
For more industry insights and tips, visit the Downbeat LA blog here.
Square Root Designs
AMFM recently performed at a beautiful wedding at the Ritz Carlton, Laguna Niguel. We fell in love with the gorgeous florals scattered throughout the venue, thanks to the full service event design company, Square Root Designs.
With notable designs that have been consistently recognized on an international level, it's easy to see why this amazing company gets so much recognition:
Square Root had produced and executed events in Japan, Miami, Nevada, Utah, and New York. Our work has been covered by a wide range of print and media outlets, including shows on Bravo, VH1, HGTV, the Style channel, and many more. As of 2013, their floral designs for the property of The Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel have been established as the stapled look for the Ritz Carlton brand throughout the world and will be a standard for their properties.
Our friends at Hoo Films captured footage from the event, and you can see just how beautiful the arrangements are from Square Root!
For more information on Square Root Designs, visit them at their website www.squarerootdesigns.com.
Gold Standard + Saddlerock Ranch
It's no surprise that our bands love getting to perform in Malibu. The scenery is always gorgeous and the crowds are always ready to party! Gold Standard recently played at a wedding at Saddlerock Ranch and it was a picture perfect celebration.
Between the panoramic views of the Santa Monica Mountain range and the sun setting behind the luminous twinkle lights hanging from the trees on Saddleback Ranch's lawn, it was a magical night. Here are some action shots from the reception:
- AMFM 46
- Booths 6
- Corporate 51
- DJ Live 12
- Destination 13
- Dolce 5
- Downbeat LA 5
- Featured Wedding 42
- Floral Design 9
- Gold Standard 50
- Midnight Hour 1
- Music Recommendations 35
- Photography 10
- Planners 24
- Preferred Venues 46
- Soultones 58
- Sweets 4
- The A-List 17
- TruBlu 7
- Vendor Spotlight 57
- Videography 10
- Wedding Tips 65