Ray the DJ

Hagerty Photography happens to think that your wedding DJ or band can make or break your reception. So, when you are meeting with DJ's and bands please make sure you hire someone that can become life-long friends.

We are happy to feature some wedding music advice from one of the best Disk Jockey's in town, Ray the DJ. His experience speaks for itself. Thanks Ray!

Marcia the Art of Photography

The Power of Music

The right song played at just the right time can make us smile or cry. A melody can bring back memories and help us re-experience myriad moments in time. The music played at your wedding will create memories for all who share this most special day with you.

Imagine your wedding as a movie. You and your fiancee help write the script (itinerary of events) and your deejay is the music director. Following is checklist to help you create a most memorable soundtrack.

1. Compile a list of the music you and your fiancee both enjoy. Sometimes a bride-to-be forgets to ask her fiancee what he would like to hear. Remember, it’s his wedding too. Your deejay should be able to provide a list of songs to help in your selection.

2. Write down the songs that your friends and family enjoy. Remember the good times you’ve had and what songs were a part of them. Consider the respective ethnic backgrounds and think of songs that will help even Grandma “get her groove back.”

3. Put together a list of the music you both do not want played. Let your deejay know in advance whether the Macarena, Chicken Dance, and Hokey Pokey will be heard at your reception. Also, note general types of music e.g. heavy metal, that you wish not to be played.

4. Highlight or mark with an asterisk your top ten “must hear” songs. If you provide your deejay a list of thirty songs and ten are highlighted, he will definitely play the top ten and incorporate the other songs as appropriate. On average, 65 – 70 songs can be played at a 4 hour reception.

5. Allow for spontaneous requests from your guests. Hearing a song often brings to mind other songs. This will happen at your reception. Your guests will make requests, and the reception will take on a life and personality of its own. Enjoy it, allow yourself to be a part of it, and have fun!

6. Trust your deejay. Music planning is essential, however, avoid trying to control each and every second of music. This puts your deejay in a musical straight jacket. An experienced deejay knows the best time to play the requests and will know what songs will make the reception even better than you imagined.

Music has the power to create life-long memories of your wedding. Thoughtfully choose your music, then entrust that power to an experienced, professional deejay.

-- Ray Grace

Sara & Pete's Wedding Day

I'm sure you all remember our Chicago fans from their engagement session this summer.  Sara was such a stunning bride!  AND I didn't catch Pete sneakin' a peak at any football or baseball scores on this day.  This fabulous couple took the plunge and had a beautiful wedding at The Buttes Resort in Tempe, AZ.  What wonderful people that couldn't have asked for a better October day!

Congratulations Sara & Pete - we are so happy for you both!

Featured Vendor - Chandra Keel | Event Designer

We have a new monthly feature that we bring to our blog... we are excited to share tips from some of the best vendors in Arizona.  Our cheerful and very talented featured vendor for the month of October is Chandra Keel.  Chandra is the owner and operator of Chandra Keel | Event Design.  We just recently got to see some of her work in action and she has some amazing ideas to bring to your special day.

The Salad Bar Wedding

I don’t know about you, but I LOVE a good salad bar.  But by the time I hit the end of that line, my plate hardly resembles a healthy salad.  But it all looks so good.  I can’t help but keep piling it on.

Unfortunately, some weddings resemble my salad plate.  There’s SO much to choose from when planning your wedding, and sometimes you may find yourself adding a little of this and a little of that without any thought as to what your ultimate goal is.  And, before you know it, your wedding resembles my trip to the salad bar.  The key to preventing this is in sticking to two rules: 

Have your concept clearly in mind 

Without a clear concept to stick to, you’ll be at that salad bar grabbing anything and everything that looks good.  Determine what you want your wedding to be and hold on to it for dear life.  Create a storyboard and keep it with you so you can refer to it at anytime.  You can easily do this in Word or a similar program by pasting images (worth a thousand words) that reflect your vision and then writing captions for each photo to remind yourself what this photo represents and how you will make it unique to your wedding.  Remember, photos should act as inspiration, not as a blueprint to your concept.  Or hit up your local craft store and browse the fabrics, paper and embellishments and craft a storyboard on heavy cardstock, slip it into a sheet protector and you’ve a storyboard that you can take anywhere with you.  Don’t make decisions on anything until you consult your storyboard.  

Stay true to your budget

Your budget doesn’t like it when you ask too much from it, nor does it like to be surprised.  If you’re trying to fit too much in without the budget to support it, you’re planning process will be painful.  Be realistic from the get-go.  You may have to make sacrifices in some areas (a high guest count is the biggest budget guzzler) but whatever your concept, it can be achieved.  And, albeit a bit of biased advice, a wedding planner WILL be your best friend in this department.  

Stick to these two rules when planning your wedding, and I promise, you’ll never end up with the “salad bar wedding”.