Music Monday with Scratch Weddings is back! Each week, we feature music recommendations from the nation's leader with the best wedding DJs at affordable prices. This week, enjoy eight songs that'll get everyone out of their seats!
For your wedding day, we wouldn’t dream of letting you play those tired, overplayed songs that lesser DJs play because they’re easy. Good wedding music should be unique, personalized and 100% fun, yet also keep the crowd enthralled on the dance floor. We’ve compiled a list of surprise crowd-pleasers that will keep your guests quite literally on their toes.
Photo Credit: JoPhoto
► "Bust a Move" — Young MC
Don’t let your guests stand on the wall like Poindexter. Bring everyone to the middle of the dance floor by playing this can’t-miss track.
► "Get Down on It" — Kool & The Gang
This song almost requires you to get down; your guests won’t be able to say no to this one.
► "She’s a Bad Mama Jama" — Carl Carlton
There’s nothing bad about this jam. Guests go crazy for its funky, fun appeal.
Alec Baldwin married Hilaria Thomas in New York over the weekend. But the standard glitz and glamour — trumpet Amsale gown with a crystal-embellished back, celebrity guests (including Tina Fey, Woodey Allen and Mariska Hargitay), romantic ceremony at Saint Patrick's Old Cathedral — wasn't what piqued our interest.
Here's what did: The "30 Rock" star and his yogi wife held their wedding reception on the top floor of NYU's Kimmel Center. The Rosenthal Pavilion room has picturesque views of Washington Square Park and can hold up to 300 guests. Best of all, NYU alumni (like Baldwin and his second wife) can rent the room at a discounted rate: It costs just $615 for four hours! Granted, their total bill probably rang up to more, especially when you consider that the reception ended at around 3 a.m., but this is still shockingly refreshing for an actor of Baldwin's stature (and nature: his diva-like temper tantrums are legendary).
Here are some photos of their venue:
Guest blogger: Rosanna Casper, co-founder of Idojour.com, a new wedding website where brides, grooms, family and friends can purchase a stylish and affordable mix of beautifully curated pieces. Designed to make wedding planning all the more inspiring and enjoyable, Idojour offers accessories and apparel for your wedding weekend, complemented by both inspirational and practical content. Rosanna oversees content, among many other things, and makes sure that everything comes together beautifully on the site.
Here, Rosanna shows her favorite dramatic dress backs.
Your moment has arrived — the doors swing open, and your guests and your groom get their first glimpse of you as a bride. They "ooh" and "ahh" over your dress, the bouquet and the beaming smile on your face. But the real surprise comes when you walk down the aisle and reveal the gorgeous, dramatic back of your gown — and oh, what a sight it is!
Photo Credit (left to right): Claire Pettibone; Summit Entertainment
Location, location, location! Set the right tone for your engagement photos by carefully choosing the perfect backdrop.
Photo Credit: Leigh Skaggs Photography
Tip of the Day: When researching your honeymoon or destination wedding locale, look for experiential videos like these, posted by previous honeymooners and wedding couples. In them, you’ll see what the snorkeling is like, real-life views of the beaches (and how crowded they are) and how excellent the food looks!
Plus, check out 5 tips for planning a honeymoon.
Bride-to-be Alicia came up with the idea for her Parisian bridal shower from the moment that her fiancé proposed to her.
A brightly-lit tree creates a stunning focal point for the room!
Photo Credit: Longs Photography.
Tip of the Day: If you’ll DIY any strung crystals, beads or faux pearls, take the extra step of tying little knots in between each piece. This way, if a string breaks, you won’t have a giant spill of crystals all over the place. The string will just break and keep all but one bead in place.
Plus, check out pretty, pearl jewelry for brides.
On your wedding day, it's practically inevitable that something messy will get on your beautiful, pristine wedding dress, from a smudge of lipstick to a splash of red wine. At my wedding, it was chocolate — a young cousin really loved the chocolate fountain and decided to show her appreciation by giving me a hug, with her hands and face still covered in chocolate (find yourself in a similar situation? Scrape off any excess with a butter knife, then blot/rub with baby wipes until the stain has disappeared. Still visible? Cover it with white toothpaste!).
Luckily, the experts at the Whirlpool Institute of Fabric Science have you covered. Pack these items for your big day, and print out this handy guide to removing any kind of stain!
Must-have items for your emergency kit:
Share your best stain-removing tricks and tips!
—Kristen O'Gorman Klein
Recently, the bridalguide.com team was invited to a special preview of Kathy Ireland for Mon Cheri’s Spring 2013 bridal collection. The dresses were stunning — inspired by the simplistic and elegant styles of a 1950s Grace Kelly era with a modern twist — and we were thrilled to be getting a sneak peek from Kathy and her team!
Within the first few minutes of meeting the supermodel-turned-business-mogul, I could hear the passion in her voice as she spoke about her latest designs and her excitement about the upcoming collection became contagious. What struck me most about Kathy’s gowns was that she really understands what a bride needs from her dress on her wedding day. Kathy focuses on tailoring each gown in a way that allows all brides to feel beautiful and confident.
As the first gown was presented, there was a collective round of “oohhs and ahhs,” thanks to a romantic strapless mermaid dress with elegant lace detailing. To add some sparkle, Kathy decided to place an eye-catching crystal embellishment onto the ultra-feminine gown, which made it one of my personal favorites.