iTunes Wedding Essentials Library Expanded

Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge is delighted to see some "wedding love" from Apple iTunes Store this month for brides and grooms looking to find that ideal wedding ceremony prelude or last song that compliments your personalities and Wedding Style.

The store has expanded their "Wedding Essentials" Library to include their "Essentials" branded mixes of wedding songs for a wide variety of categories; "Classic Wedding", "Modern Wedding", "Country Wedding", "R&B Wedding" plus all their originals such as "Wedding Ceremony", Wedding Reception", etc.

In addition, the "Wedding Essentials" page will lead you to the best choices for all those great romantic wedding related movies we all love, Wedding Podcasts such as "Wedding Podcast Network", Wedding TV Series on iTunes such as "Say Yes to the Dress" and "My Fair Wedding with David Tutera" PLUS all the Wedding Apps available for iPhones, iPod Touches and iPad too.

A Bride (or a wedding planner) could "essentially" get pretty carried away with this great resource! Have fun exploring:)

Download iTunes: www.apple.com/itunes
Apple Store: www.apple.com

Celebrate today and every day with Love, Life & Style!!
Tracey

Music: The Voice of Your Emotion for Your Wedding

Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge absolutely loves this piece of music composed and directed by the incredible maestro and Academy Award Winner, Ennio Morricone. The music is from the movie Cinema Paradiso (the movie is also one of my all time favorites).

It is one of the most beautiful love stories and romantic scores I have ever seen and heard and I cry every time I listen to it. It is so full of emotion and passion, I can't help it. I'll sit at my desk and drop tears on the keyboard.

Music does that to us. It takes us to wonderful exciting heights of emotion from breathtaking, sweeping romance to exciting, pounding Disco or Rock N' Roll.

Music is so important in our lives and loves and in telling the story of your emotions on your wedding day (and later in your wedding film or photography montage).

From the moment the guests arrive and hear the music as they are seated at the ceremony to the very last dance at your reception, a narrative of the two of you; your moments and the special times in your lives you want to share are played like a soundtrack that will be etched in time and memory.

What music, when you hear it, makes you well up with emotion...love, happiness, comfort, excitement and fondness (those 70's & 80's tunes perhaps)?

As you begin to score your wedding soundtrack in your minds, write down your ideas so you can share them with your BOTH your wedding cinematographers AND entertainment specialist, be it orchestra, band, trio, or DJ. They will assist you in putting together a composition that will see your story, your emotions set to music, unfold beautifully. I'm also willing to bet there will be some tears too!

Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge would love to hear from you. What songs made YOU emotional at your wedding or your daughters or sons or friends? Thank you for sharing your comments.

Have a fabulous day!

Weddings on Film-All You Need is Love, Actually

One of Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge's favorite cinematic wedding scenes is from the 2003 movie "Love, Actually". starring Hugh Grant and Keira Knightly. I smile every time I watch this scene (I do love the whole movie too) & thought it would be perfect to share with you on Valentine's Day!

Ceremonies are meant to be reverent, yes, but that doesn't mean that you can't interject some of your own style in to them and have some fun to surprise and delight your guests. 

You may not always be able to work in the choir, lead singer, instruments and exceptionally cool, "with it" priest, but you can choose music that is unconventional or take traditional songs and make them modern, like entering to an electronic version of the "Wedding March" a la Jimmy Hendrix. 

No matter what other ingredients you use to make your own wedding cinematic moments, remember that "All You Need is Love" is the most important:)

Wedding Concierge's "Groovy Kind of Love" Playlist

Click on image to see full size text

I saw "Bride Wars" last week and at the end they played one of my all time favorite songs by by Blood, Sweat & Tears. 

I was fortunate to grow up in an era that put forth some pretty fun, groovy & memorable music; much of it that fortunately is still being appreciated today thanks to the movies. From The Carpenters to Blood Sweat & Tears, Barry White, Stevie Wonder, The  Four Seasons and The Beatles, the music was up-beat, light & made you feel so good to be in Love!

So one thing you may not know about me (which should be part of that list of 25 I may get to one day), is that Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge's other dream job was to be a DJ. Yes, you heard it here first!

I used to help some of my friends who had some fledgling DJ businesses back in the college days during house parties, and occasionally some bigger events for larger paid parties as well.

My good friend Jodi Harris, the CEO of Fun at Sight N' Sound Events here in Vegas will attest to just how much I love the music aspect of wedding planning & to my DJ aspirations. She actually has shown me the ropes a bit and allowed me to play DJ for her with her equipment at the "Wag-a Tail Walkathon" for the Las Vegas Humane Society. Now THAT is a good friend:)

Although the professional DJ career will never materialize because Jodi & other great DJ friends are THE BEST in the biz as far as I am concerned, you can bet that I will always be there for you to help you collaborate with the best DJ's, bands and entertainers in Las Vegas in selecting music for your event that will will become "The Soundtrack of Your Wedding Day" from the processional to the final cut of your wedding video. 

So I'm going to be "Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge DJ for the Day" and share some of my "Groovy Kind of Love" playlist with you. Hope you enjoy and perhaps you might find some inspiration for your own wedding soundtrack.

You can download most of these from iTunes or Rhapsody, Amazon.com or other music subscription sites you belong to. If you can't find them, ask your DJ or band or your mom or dad! 

The Marriage of President Obama & the USA

Image: Carolyn Cole, LA Times

There was a young and good looking couple and family, a processional involving the couples own family "party" and the other "family", a "Best Man" and "Matron of Honor", a ceremony including vows with an officiant, blessings, and one very, VERY large guest list!

There were luncheons, formal portraits, chauffered transportation, the ultimate venue for a ceremony, a multitude of receptions, decor, flowers, lighting, rentals, food, drinks, speeches, kissing, handshakes, hugs and best wishes for a bright future. 

And then the couple's highly anticipated moment at their "ball". With the "groom" in an elegant tuxedo and his first lady in a stunning white, off the shoulder gown by designer Jason Wu and the spotlight on them, they made magic as they danced their first official "first couple" dance.

It will now forever be "their song"; "At Last", the Etta James romantic classic performed by the incredibly talented Beyonce Knowles who played the legendary jazz diva in the film Cadillac Records. It was such a perfect choice that honored their African-American heritage and spoke volumes about how they and many of their billions of friends felt on this day. 

Sounds like a pretty fabulous wedding, doesn't it?

Damon Winter, NY Times

Many of the elements of the January 20th, 2009 Presidential Inauguration of the 44th President of the USA, Barack Obama and his "First Lady", Michelle Obama, did seem orchestrated like a wedded union; the culmination of the great love affair between now President Obama and the people of the USA. It may not have had a 7 layer wedding cake but it did have about 50 layers of every kind of security you could imagine.

I bet, taking the dance floor, they probably did feel some of that wedding magic from 16 years ago.

10 Inuaugural Balls representing different regions and reasons and they toasted and twirled at each one of them. Phew! The "first couple" toasted their appreciation to their guests for their support and love through the years throughout the long night and now..."At Last", the big day is over. 

I don't know how long the happy marriage and the "honeymoon" will last between Mr. Obama and the American people but I have a pretty strong hunch that YOUR honeymoon with the "first man" in your life will stretch much longer. I hope you still feel like you are on your honeymoon on your 4th, 8th, 25th....

The Obamas may be starting their honeymoon in frigid national capital, Washington, DC but Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge thinks a wedding and a "Honeymoon in Vegas" is a much warmer and appealing destination. Since Las Vegas IS the "Wedding Capital of the World" you are always lucky in love in this exciting city and, who knows, you may even get your own unexpected personal stimulus package while you are here!

So, happy planning and cheers to no term limits on celebrating many happy anniversaries and occasions!

Photo: Lorenz Foto

Happy Chanukah!

Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge wishes my family, Jewish friends, clients and colleagues a very Happy Chanukah or Hanukkah. 

However you spell it, have a wonderful holiday, sing "The Chanukah Song" (even Adam Sandler's version), enjoy the latkes, the dreidel games, lighting the candles, eating some chocolate "gelt" (or silver coins=money) and opening a gift or two or, if you are real lucky, 8!

"Hanukkah", from the Hebrew word for "dedication" or "consecration", marks the re-dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem after its desecration by the forces of Antiochus IV and commemorates the "miracle of the container of oil". According to the Talmud, at the re-dedication following the victory of the Maccabees over the Seleucid Empire, there was only enough consecrated olive oil to fuel the eternal flame in the Temple for one day. Miraculously, the oil burned for eight days, which was the length of time it took to press, prepare and consecrate fresh olive oil.

*From Wikipedia.com (Love that website!)

One day I would love to plan a Chanukah/holiday wedding! I think it would be so meaningful and fun at the same time to have a twilight ceremony with guests holding candles during the ceremony, and the bride and groom would light a menorah under the chupah (wedding canopy).

Crisp, white flowers, elegant blue and platinum table decor with lots of light and menorahs that guests would also light in a large candle lighting ceremony.

Of course, the "latke" (potato pancake) would be styled up served at an interactive latke station with a variety of flavors; regular, sweet potato, even spicy and served with different gourmet toppings  and paired with  "He'Brew: The Chosen Beer" and also a vodka based (because it's also made from potatoes) festive cocktail 

And, to top off a fabulous meal with a modern take on a traditional Israeli tradition of serving "Sufganiot" (donuts) with a donut station from "The Fry Girl" (thanks Green Orchid Events Blog for this resource) for desert making mini-donuts on the spot with powdered sugar, cinamon, and jelly toppings. Serve with a sparkling wine or desert wine.

Of course, the band would have to play a hora or two because what's a Jewish wedding and Chanukah without some dancing, right?

To send guests off in style, treat them to a little "to-go" bag filled with chocolate "gelt", a dreidel and box of gourmet Chanukah candles for their own menorah. 

So, nu? Anyone out there interested in a Chanukah wedding?   

Feeling All "Dressed Up in Love"...in Las Vegas!

Hello ladies (and gentlemen)!

Well, I just got back from seeing "Sex & the City" at the movies and I am in LOVE!!

What a fabulous and entertaining movie and the only thing I regret is that I didn't have ALL my girlfriends, the ones I have known for decades and the ones I have only known a few years, with me to enjoy this together.

Of course, ogling at all the drop dead incredible designer wedding gowns in the movie for that VOGUE couture bridal shoot, the decor, the fasion; well..it's like being in a grown-up female and very styish Disney World for 2 hours and 30 funny, sexy and lovely minutes. You are so happy and satisfied when you leave & you can't wait for another opportunity (excuse) to see it (I mean "Mr. Big"...love him) again.

And, don't want to give anything away for anyone who has not seen it yet (can't beleive it took me this long to get there but it IS wedding season!) but let me just say that it re-inforces yet again my belief about what is (should be) at the heart of every wedding day no matter who or where you are in life or in the world.

So with that, enjoy a great song from Academy Award Winner, Jennifer Hudson from the movie that could not be more perfect for a bride or a wedding in June... "All Dressed in Love" !

And ladies...Have a VERY STYLISH DAY!

Do You Want the Best Wedding Reception Ever?

Maybe it's because I am such a music lover, but in my opinion, the topic of wedding reception entertainment is probably one of my favorite things to discuss with a client and just how important a part it is in turning your wedding reception into a memorable party for you and your guests.

Long after the wedding day is over, what is always remembered by guests is how much fun they had (or unfortunately didn't), how great the music was (or wasn't) and how much fun the DJ or band was (or wasn't).

The entertainment choices should reflect your personal tastes and personality, style of wedding and budget but one thing is for certain is that whomever you hire, they should enhance your party with their professionalism, talent and skills as entertainers whether you hire live musicians or a DJ (or both).

My good friend Jodi Harris, "CEO of Fun" at Sight N' Sound Events is one of the most sought after "Wedding & Event Entertainers" in Las Vegas as a DJ and Mistress of Ceremonies at the top of "preferred vendor" lists of the best resorts in town and Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge's as well.

Jodi is passionate about providing the very best professional DJ services and feels that there is so much more to what she does than simply spinning tunes. She is dedicated to promoting professionalism among her peers in the DJ business and to all of us in the wedding industry both on a local and national stage.

She also wants you, Miss and Mr. Bride and Groom, and your families to know that there is someone out there that wants you to know that you too, with some helpful pointers, can ensure you have your "Best Wedding Reception" ever.

Jodi will be speaking on this very topic at the All About You Bridal Galleria in Henderson on Tuesday April 10 at 6:00 pm.

Just so you know, this is not a sales pitch for Jodi's company, but just a presentation and discussion of useful information that will be helpful to you in selecting your wedding entertainment and planning your reception.

If you are at the point of selecting your wedding reception entertainment and want honest advice to help you make the best chocies, or you are a local Las Vegas wedding professional who wants to learn more (I sure do) about working effectively with your DJ so that you can help make your clients' have a memorable event for all the right reasons, then you should be listening to Jodi at 6pm on April 10.

Please RSVP for this event to 702.365.9526. If you are one of the first 25 to RSVP, you will receive a special gift from Jodi. You can read more about this presentation on the Sight N' Sound Events Blog.

Have a Stylish Weekend and Happy Holiday!

Great Wedding Video-Having the "Time of Their Life"

My wedding coordinator friend Nikki LaPrudhomme of "Special Occasions by Nikki" in LA, posted this wonderful "last dance" video on her blog that she found on YouTube. It shows a couple who choreographed an incredible performance to "Iv'e had the Time of My Life" from the movie "Dirty Dancing".

You know, that famous dance at the end when Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze) says "Nobody puts Baby in a Corner" then proceeds to amaze everyone at Kellerman's with their sexy show stopper! I was 24 years old and fell in love instantly with Mr. Swayze (who didn't?) & must have watched that movie and that scene so much I blew through at least 2 copies of the video (blush)!

What a great idea for a last dance and the wedding guests had a blast and got in on the whole ending just like in the movie. It brought a huge smile to my face (and I wasn't even there) and I'm sure they will remember that very special time in their lives as well and enjoy looking back on that video clip for years to come.

With that said, when you plan special moments like these; ones that will be remembered for the images, the sounds and the words, please remember to make room in your wedding budget for a professional videographer. In this day and age of instant video and the role it plays in bringing us together across the miles, I find it so unusual that I have to "sell" the idea of having a wedding video to couples.

Find a a creative and professional videographer with a style you find best and they will create a truly memorable and personalized wedding movie for you. Many of these "wedding movies" have artistic and production values that are Hollywood standard..these are not your parent's wedding videos!!

With memories like the one above, it would be a shame to not capture "The Time of Your Life" at your wedding on video. You can find a professional videographer in your area by visiting the WEVA (Wedding & Event Videographer's Association) website.

Have a Stylish Day!!