The wedding market is amazing! It is all about trends and emotional buying and shopping. When a bride makes a purchase, it is based on emotion, not practicality. That is why brides pay top dollar for things like chair covers, martini bars, and chocolate fountains. No, there is nothing practical about an wedding, and that is a GOOD THING. A wedding day is supposed to be about a fairy tale moment. It is all about doing something you would never do in normal life.

Trends are a big thing with weddings. Hot today, gone tomorrow. Like with any trend, people jump onto them them fast and furiously. This is very clear with the hottest new trend known as the Photo Booth. Unfortunately, many wedding vendors are jumping into this hot trend and doing it wrong! We have seen several photographers offering a ” Photo Booth ” as part of their wedding package. If you look at the photo above, where do you see any type of booth??? Hello, this is not a photo booth, this is a ” prom shoot. ”

Buyer beware!  Many photographers will tell you they have a photo booth, when in fact it is a curtain and 2 chairs. The wedding guests never get the private experience of going inside a real booth, closing the curtain, and having to press the BIG RED BUTTON. That is what make a photo booth fun! Maybe the photographers should call this a ” Photo Shoot, ” but it is most definitely NOT a ” Photo Booth. “

Music In Motion provided a Photo Booth for Alisha and Carl August 28, 2010 at the Stamford Holiday Inn Select. Here is what Alisha posted on our Facebook page…….

Alisha Campos Speanburg  ” Had our wedding this past weekend…. Photo Booth was the biggest hit! Best Thing we ever did!!! Highly Recommended! Thank you!! “

Being a Lebanese couple, Elle & Carole selected mostly Arabic music. It was very obvious that the wedding guests loved the format because the floor was packed from beginning to end of evening.

The amazing photography was provided to us by Jess at Image Photography & Video. Her work is always incredible, and this wedding was no different. It is such a pleasure to work with Jess. We highly recommend her!

At the end of the evening the father of the bride came up to us and said that we did a great job with the Arabic music and the selection and order of the play list. He said, ” For an American DJ, you were right on target with the music. Thankyou! ” A great compliment and we certainly appreciated the feedback! It was a pleasure to perform for such a wonderful couple.

The picture was taken and created by King Vincent Storm Photography and Video from West Haven CT. This awesome image was created using a snow machine along with background architectural lighting provided by Music In Motion Entertainment.

This photo was selected as the cover artwork for the brand new online magazine called ” The Current Audition.” This e-magazine is national trade publication of the American Disc Jockey Association. In addition to the photo, the cover article called, ” Running your business, like a REAL business ” was contributed by Music In Motion’s founder, Mike Fernino.

Mike Fernino :  ” I am thrilled and honored to have been selected as author of the cover article for the brand new Current Audition E-Magazine. I’m even more proud that our photo from the Orazetti wedding reception was chosen as the cover artwork. It really makes me proud to be recognized by my national DJ Association. Vinny and Ann Marie from King Vincent Storm did an incredible job with this photo. They should be equally as proud to have their work featured! “

check out the e-magazine at www.currentaudition.com

Visit King Vincent Storm Photography & Video at  www.kingvincentstorm.com

” Lighting is the rage right now,” says Mike. ” Every DJ and catering facility is trying to do it, but few understand what it takes to properly market it. My seminar goes into great detail on how to promote your product as a tremendous up sell to a wedding, Bar/Batmitzvah or corporate event. ”

If you would like to bring Mike Fernino out to your next DJ related association meeting or conference, contact him at 203-627-9600.

Music In Motion Entertainment provided our newest feature for Deannna & Carlos Cabral.

The Photo Booth is the most popular option with our clients in 2010, and it was very obvious why people love it. The guests were lined up to enter photo booth and take a fun photo. In addition to the photos, Music In Motion provided some ” silly ” props to add to the fun. All of the wedding guests, in addition to Deanna, took advantage of the props to make for some great pictures.

After the guests got out from taking 4 photos, which were part of the photo strip, they were prompted by our booth tech Roberto Velez to sign the Wedding Scrap Photo Album. This album was made up of all the photo strips created in the photo booth. The guests signed next to their pictures, and the bride and groom receive a very unique keepsake at the end of their reception.

There is no doubt that everyone at the Cabral wedding had a great time, and it was made extra fun due to Photo Booth! Thankyou Deanna & Carlos for having us and congratulations!

Once again, our happy clients provide the best advertising! Read what one of our clients has to say. Thankyou B.J. for this blog article! :

Good morning Mike & Music In Motion staff,

Now that the dust has started to settle from our wedding reception at Cascade in Hamen Connecticut, I wanted to send you a quick email to say thanks again for a job well done at our wedding. You made our big day that much better. I’ve seen plenty of crappy DJs ruin a wedding and this was not the case with you. I can’t tell you how many people said you did a terrific job. So thank you very much for sharing in our special day.

I have a friend who is getting married next July (I am in that wedding) and I told him if he doesn’t go with you guys at Music In Motion, I punching him right in the mouth haha.

Also, wanted to let you know that I wrote you a review on WeddingWire. 5′s across the board!

I can’t express my pleasure enough, thank you again and I will continue to recommend you and MIM to anyone who is looking for a top quality DJ.

B.J.

Here’s what B.J. wrote on Weddingwire.com

“I have been to my fair share of weddings where the DJ was absolutely atrocious and you think to yourself, “I hope they didn’t overpay for this shmuck”. 

Trust me, you will not feel this way if you go with Music In Motion Entertainment. Their online planning tool is extremely easy and convenient; it’s also very expansive. Just for the hell of it, I typed in obscure songs and the system spit the song out every time. Dave was very quick to respond to any inquiries we had and made the whole process painless. 

Everyone has heard the horror stories of how the DJ made the reception all about himself with ridiculous antics (I could tell you a story of a DJ that talked through the bride and groom’s first dance but I’ll spare you), Dave was not that way at all. His level of involvement and interaction was perfect. 

I can honestly say that there wasn’t a moment in the night that the dance floor wasn’t packed (OK maybe at dinner time but that’s expected). It was a great mix of music and everyone, young and old were on their feet. 

Thanks again Dave! You made our big day that much better!”
B.J. & Randi

This past weekend, we provided DJ and lighting for a wedding reception that hired an out of state photo booth company. After speaking with the representative from the company, I realized that my client paid about $ 500 more than Music In Motion would have charged them for their booth. That was not the key issue. During dinner time, the photo booth attendant hung a sign on the booth that said,  ” closed for 1 hour. ”

The 1 hour period just so happened to be dinner time when most of the wedding guests were going up to the bar and could have taken their photos. Rather than working, the photo booth attendant sat down to eat a full 4 course dinner, ( complete with drinks of the alcoholic kind. ) After dinner, the booth was opened up, but then so was the dance floor. Guests were now torn between dancing and taking their photos.

With Music In Motion Entertainment, our photo booth package includes a full 5 hours of uninterrupted service to the wedding guests. Having the extra 1 hour gives every guest the opportunity to get a photo strip and not have to stand in a long line after dinner, when they should be dancing.

If you are thinking of a photo booth for your wedding, Bar/Batmitzvah, or corporate event, you will find many options for providers. Just make sure you get 5 hours of service if you have a 5 hour event. Would you hire a DJ for a 5 hour reception who provides only 4 hours of service?  Think about what you are paying for and what you are getting……. or NOT getting.

Hi Dave,

I know we have a while to go before we really need to start going over songs for my wedding, but I was just wondering: what’s a money dance? Thanks!
V.

My response:

Hi V!

Thanks for asking! The Money Dance is a controversial wedding tradition! Formerly called a “Dollar Dance“, it’s a very old (early 20th century) ethnic wedding custom whereby the bride and groom would briefly slow dance (about 30 sec. or so) with guests for $1.00. The DJ introduces the dance and plays several appropriate slow songs. Songs that have a “friend” theme are better than those with romantic lyrics. The maid of honor collects for the bride and the best man collects for the groom. In addition to collecting the cash for you, the maid of honor and best man should act as gatekeepers to ensure that the dance with each guest is kept brief.  Timing-wise, the money dance can be done any time after the cake cutting parent dances but prior to the end of the reception.  The Money Dance ends when everyone has had a turn dancing with the Bride & Groom.

It’s purpose is to raise some extra cash for the honeymoon and give your guests an opportunity for some “alone time”  with the Bride and/or Groom. Back in the 80′s and 90′s, the tradition gradually lost its popularity. But some ethnic groups and lower socio-economic classes still do it as tradition and to help the bride and groom financially. The name was changed from “dollar” to “money” because a dollar is worth practically nothing these days!

Advantages: you make some extra cash, you can dance and chat with many of your guests individually, and it’s a great photo opportunity.

Disadvantages: some people think it’s tacky or rude to ask guests for more money after they have already included a substantial sum with your card; and sometimes the dance goes on and on, creating a boring block of time for the other guests.

IMO the money dance is not very popular around here; I probably do one or two of these all year! But, it’s your choice! Ask your fiance, friends and family, especially the older ones, what they think. Then, if you want it, we can introduce it and play appropriate music for it.

Best regards,
Dave