When you are hiring professionals to work your wedding, how can you tell a hobbyist from a professional? Look at their certification! On Holly’s hot wedding tips, I interviewed three wedding planners to find out what a certified wedding planner is. Read below to find out what I learned from Wendie Bass AWP, Willie Ripple CSEP, and Carol Lathrop CMP.

Hobbyist vs Certified Wedding Planner:

There are a variety of experience levels in the wedding business. It varies from part time hobbyist to licensed and certified wedding planner. Peace of mind that you have purchased the experience to run your event seamlessly is what certification will give you.

DIY gone bad:

My cousin found this out the hard way. Her mom was used to throwing parties for 20 or less. So, when she ran her daughter’s wedding of 200 guests, she was left in a panic filling in lots of last-minute oversights that her lack of experience could not foresee. Too few cups and silverware for the guests, not enough coffee, guests lost and milling around because they did not know where to be when. The climax was being asked to leave the reception hall before they finished because no one was keeping the timeline on track. It was an awkward end to a once in a lifetime event.

Requiring Certified Wedding Planners:

The story above is quite common. Many event centers in Colorado are requiring Certified Wedding Planners. They do not what the liability that comes from and uncertified uninsured individual attempting to run an event in their location. This policy allows the wedding party to enjoy the day to the fullest.

What is the difference between a Certificate and Certification?

I was curious about what the difference between a certificate and certification was for Wedding Planners. Carol told me that a certificate is given when you attend a class. Certification is an ongoing process that must be renewed. Most of the accredited certifications require ongoing education, proof of experience through a portfolio of successful events, community service time, and a test. Someone who took the time to certify will also have registered their business and carry liability insurance. With so much investment in their business, you can rest assured of excellence.

What are the Different Wedding Planner Certifications?

What do the letters behind your names mean? Each of my panelist has certified through different organizations. I wanted to know what each certification was, and why I (or a client) would pay for that.

List of Certifications:

• CSEP Certified Special Event Professional
• CMP Certified Meeting Professional
• AWP Accredited Wedding planner

What is a CSEP

So, what is a CSEP? Willie Ripple, CSEP told me that she is a Certified Special Event Professional (CSEP) through the International Live Events Association (ILEA). The benefit to the bride is that it is a stamp of approval. It shows Willie Ripple Events has the expertise, knowledge, and experience in all facets of the special event industry.

What is CMP?

I asked Carol Lathrop, CMP what a CMP is. It stands for Certified Meeting Professional through the events industry council. It requires proof of education, years and levels of experience, as well as a test. This results in being well versed in logistics, budgets, and all facets in any kind of event. The benefit to the bride is that my experience can help you make the most of your budget. I do this through connections with other event industry experts that I have vetted to assure you get the biggest bang for your buck.

What is an AWP?

Wendie let me know what an AWP is. It is an Accredited Wedding Planner and she holds this through the worldwide organization Association of Bridal Consultants (ABC). She must prove her education level, the years she has been in business, and the amount of community service done. Beyond accredited is master level, and a master level planner must present a wedding portfolio to a panel who then decides if that person is worthy of having that title based on their experience with the presentation.

Value of Wedding Planner Certification:

Mrs. Bass said it best. “The value of these letters is that you are buying experience. You are buying someone who has background and knowledge in many different things. Every event and wedding will be different. There are different risks, there are different planning aspects, and there are different elements to be thought about. As a professional our job is to minimize the risk to the client. We want to make sure that all that you want to have happen in that event occurs. We also have to look at the bigger picture and how it all comes together.”

Elements your Wedding Planner looks at:

Talking to event experts brought up some great examples of big picture considerations for events. Transportation from place to place is a big logistical consideration. For a mountain wedding, can the 57-person bus fit up the mountain road? Or should you work with the transportation company to pick something better suited to that situation? What about tents? Did you know that you must have the fire chief inspect your tent to license and permit it to hold you event? Of that you should work with a landscaping expert to make sure water drainage does not run through you tent. These are just a couple of examples of the big picture elements that a Certified Wedding Planner would be knowledgeable about.

Why hire an expert?

So why hire a Certified Wedding Planner? Peace of mind. A Certified Wedding Planner will help you plan and actually have a really great event. You want to have a fun day. It’s your day you need to enjoy it and let the wedding experts do the work that needs to happen.

Panel of Certified Wedding Planners:

Willie Ripple, CSEP
Willie Ripple Events
EST 2008
President and Creative Director of Willie Ripple Events LLC
Cell: 720-201-2263
willie@willierippleevents.com
www.willieripplevents.com
www.linkedin.com/in/willierippleevents
www.facebook.com/willierippleevents
www.pinterest.com/willierippleevents

Carol Lathrop, CMP
IMES events
Chief Event Officer (CEO)
Denver, Colorado
Phone: 303-332-2547
Fax: 815-717-9674
Carol@IMESevents.com  
www.IMESevents.com

Wendie Bass AWP
Chief Curator,
Wendie Bass, Weddings, Events & More
Cell: 303-915-4346
wendie@wendiebass.com
www.wendiebass.com

Cover Photo
Forever After Photography
Michelle Rodriquez-Porter
www.yourforeverafter.com
(720) 561-9112

Holly Collins Tomazin
WEDDING DANCE instruction
DANCE LESSONS.
Certified through Licentiate in
Ballroom, Latin, Smooth & Rhythm
with ISTD and DIVDA
author of
Holly’s hot wedding tips, 
Historically Accurate Princess Dances,
Winner of:
The Knot Hall of Fame best wedding dance instruction,
top 50 Dance Blogs
Champion Ballroom Dancer & Coach
owner of
Adventures in Dance
720-276-0562
info@adventuresindance.com
www.adventuresindance.com
For dance tips,
join my email

The post What is A Certified Wedding Planner? first appeared on Adventures In Dance.

Steampunk Wedding Dance at the Rocky Mountain Bridal Show

Steampunk is the mixing of mechanical technology, like clockwork gears with Victorian style, like top hats and tails. Victorian elements with a contemporary twist are a fan favorite for Steampunk weddings. So, for the Rocky Mountain Bridal show the Adventures in Dance team put together a steampunk wedding dance show.

Steampunk wedding resources

Fall weddings can get creative. October is a great month for a steampunk inspired wedding. Online publications like Weddingomania ( link) the Ruffled blog ( link ) wedding photography ( link )  wedding forward ( link )  and Offbeat bride ( link )  have tons of tips on steampunk weddings.

Denver Steampunk Wedding

Holly taught a wedding dance mashup for a steampunk fairy wedding recently. Locals Gus & Sierra put together a first dance mashup to a great variety of steampunk hits. You can see the inspiration for their wedding here (link)

Steam Powered Ballroom Show

RMBS-Fashion-Show

The steampunk wedding inspired the steam powered ballroom steampunk wedding dance show at the Rocky Mountain Bridal Show.  Dancers opened with a cheeky Cha-Cha to fighting trousers. The Victorian’s loved to Waltz. And a steampunk wedding wound not be complete without a Waltz, so Robyn and William danced a romantic waltz to “Return to the heart.” Hot “Havana” nights lead to a lovely slow and romantic Rumba. Craig & Holly danced a hot runway Rumba.

Steampunk Wedding Dance

What about the other Latin dance, the Tango? Electro ballroom’s “Lover’s Tango” was the perfect techno turn on a passionate dance. Songs of the sea are usually set in three. So, sea captain “Lady Marlene” was a perfect steampunk Viennese Waltz. Traveling to the tropics of Brazil, Robyn and William dances a scintillating Samba to “The Shape of You.”

Electro Swing at Show

Electro swing is a steampunk hit. So, Craig and Holly stepped back in time to the roaring 20’s for a Charleston, Quickstep, Swing dance mashup to “Sing, Sing, Sci-Fi Swing.” Channeling some 007 William and Robyn performed a Paso Doble to “In Her Majesty’s Secret Service.” Steampunk hit “Brass Goggles” by Steam powered Giraffe turned out to be a flirty Foxtrot for Craig & Holly.

Swing at the end

Saving the best for last, Robyn and William were ready to Jive. “In the Sci-Fi Mood” was the perfect Glenn Miller steampunk re-mix. Mixing Jive with a little West Coast Swing was a fabulous finish for the steam powered ballroom show at the Rocky mountain bridal show.

Highlight your wedding dance

Dancing can be the highlight of your reception. What are your favorite dances? Leave a comment and let us know what your dream dances are.

Holly Collins
WEDDING DANCE instruction
DANCE LESSONS.
author of
Holly’s hot wedding tips, 
Historically Accurate Princess Dances,
The Knot best wedding dance Winner,
Winner of top 50 Dance Blogs
Top dance blog names Winner
Champion Ballroom Dancer & Coach
owner of
Adventures in Dance
720-276-0562
info@adventuresindance.com
www.adventuresindance.com
For dance tips,
join my email

The post Steampunk Wedding Dance at the Rocky Mountain Bridal Show first appeared on Adventures In Dance.

5 Tips for Dance Lesson Success at Weddings

Shabby chick ranch weddings can be so rustic. Country line dancing at the ranch wedding can be entertaining. I was asked to teach country dances at two weddings near Granby, CO this weekend and have 5 Tips for Dance Lesson Success at Weddings.

Dancing at C Lazy U Ranch

The first wedding was a rehearsal dinner on Friday at the C lazy U ranch in Granby. This romantic valley location was a lovely location for this destination wedding. After dinner guests were invited to kick up their heals as Holly taught a variety of country line dances. Mid way through they changed gears and learned how to dance the country two step. Then everyone got back up to mix and mingle with more line dances, then a rousing dance mixer where everyone got to dance with a variety of partners. Everyone had a great time learning to dance at the rehearsal dinner and were ready to party at the wedding the next day.

Dancing at Strawberry Creek Ranch Wedding

The second wedding was at Strawberry Creek Ranch, on the high side of Granby. The bride and groom had polished a pretty wedding dance that they preformed before dinner. After the cake cutting guests were invited to get up for line dance lessons and dance mixers. Towards the end of the evening a country western two step couples dance was introduced, followed by more line dances to get the crowd moving. It was a beautiful wedding.

Keeping the party going

Keeping the party flow moving helps any event be a success. My experience teaching at various events is that flow is very important. Dance lessons can be a lovely accent when done well at an event. Here are my top tips for wedding dance success

5 Tips for Dance Lesson Success at Weddings

• Set expectations-
  Let your guests know in advance there will be dance lessons in advance, so they are in the right frame of mind to learn.
• Partner before dinner-
  Partnership dances take more focus to learn than line dances or mixers and require people to partner up. Partner dances before your dinner prepare your party to dance all night at your wedding.
• Line dance after dinner-
  Simple line dances led by an energetic instructor can get everyone in the mood to dance.
• Transition with Mixers-
  Using a dance mixer to introduce guests to one another before the general dancing kicks off encourages new connections. Often guests will only hang with people they know. A dance mixer allows guests to mix and mingle with people they may not have been introduced to before.
• Short and sweet-
  Keep each lesson under 30 min. Your guests came to party, and dance lessons can wear your guests out if they last more than 30 min. Doing a 30 min partnership lessons before dinner and 30 min line dance after dinner creates a break so dancers can digest what they have learned and are ready and excited for the next thing.

Dancing at Ranch Weddings

Do not hesitate to add dance lessons to your ranch wedding. Weather you decide to take lessons with your wedding party in preparation for your wedding or hire a teacher to rock your dinner or reception, dance lessons can step up your party. Whatever your wedding theme is, Adventures in Dance has moves to fit your memorable moment.

Holly Collins
WEDDING DANCE instruction
DANCE LESSONS.
author of
Holly’s hot wedding tips, 
Historically Accurate Princess Dances,
The Knot best wedding dance Winner,
Winner of top 50 Dance Blogs
Top dance blog names Winner
Champion Ballroom Dancer & Coach
owner of
Adventures in Dance
720-276-0562
info@adventuresindance.com
www.adventuresindance.com
For dance tips,
join my email

The post 5 Tips for Dance Lesson Success at Weddings first appeared on Adventures In Dance.

Do it yourself weddings can seem like a cost-effective option for your wedding. But what do you sacrifice when you DIY? Read on to find out why you shouldn’t DIY your DJ.

Wedding experts

I met with a panel of three wedding experts to look at when to and not to DIY your DJ. In the first article we learned that weddings under 50 people are a good time to DIY your DJ. In this article Mark McDonald, DJ and owner of Complete Wedding Denver, along with Wendie Bass and Norie Hamilton wedding planners, will look at why the right DJ can make your wedding a memorable success.

Food & Fun

Like there are two guarantees in life, death and taxes, there are two essentials to a successful reception. Food and Fun. Your guests will always remember the food, and if they had a good time. Therefore, the DJ should not be on the DIY list. A good DJ will keep the flow of your party moving.

Importance of DJ

So why is the DJ so important? They are the public face of the party and master of ceremonies. They provide the sound equipment, set it up, bring spare gear for emergencies, and have the experience to run it well. This is not something you want uncle Burt to handle on your big day.

Master of Ceremonies

As master of ceremonies, they announce what is happening and direct your guests to important events. They announce the wedding party when it arrives, the best man and maid of honor, then the bride and groom.  No one likes to stand in the never-ending line for buffet food. The DJ can dismiss tables in an orderly way so guests can enjoy socializing while waiting for their turn for food. Then they can announce the toasts, cake cutting and first dance, father daughter dance, and the garter and bouquet toss. They are the guide for your guests to the party you have planned.

Juggling requests

Once the formalities are taken care of, they fade into the background as they manage the ebb and flow of a successful dance floor. For example, an IPOD with all upbeat music will exhaust even the healthiest guest in 25 minutes. Managing the playlist and juggling guest requests to keep the dance floor full and energetic while avoiding having it empty like cockroaches when the lights come on is essential. A good DJ will have clean edits of song requests, so guests are not bombarded with foul words and other colorful phrases.

Communicates behind the scenes

Murphy’s law can strike at any time. And when one of those unexpected events happens, like a guest turns an ankle on the dance floor, the DJ is there to communicate with the behind the scenes staff. The DJ can work with the wedding planner and catering staff to keep the guests on track. If the caterer is ready to serve, your DJ is there to make the announcement. If your photos are running behind, the DJ can let guests know and help adjust the timeline.

Connecting to Guests

Your DJ knows how to communicate with your guests to provide the perfect ebb and flow for your reception. Providing them with a short list of 5 to 10 favorite songs 2 to 3 weeks in advance of your wedding is a great idea. Dictating the whole reception music list will handcuff your DJ from using his experience to keep the dancing rocking. It will also alienate him from your guests and make them feel left out because they can not make any song requests. A good DJ can juggle song requests with the suggested song list provided by the wedding couple.

Timing group dances

Do you hate line dances and mixers? Even if you may get nauseous over one more chicken dance, a well-timed line dance can pack your floor. Line dances give your single guests an opportunity to get up and dance without the awkwardness of asking someone they do not know to dance. All the aunts and closet John Travolta’s can jump up and get electric as they slide across the dance floor. Don’t eliminate line dance, just moderate and look at the ones that will create a memorable evening.

RSVP songs

What about the RSVP song request trend? Right now, it is popular to ask your guests for a guest song request with their RSVP. This is both good and bad. The good part is getting an idea of what your guests want to hear early. Bad because your guests’ favorite song may change daily, and what they sent in with the RSVP may not be their favorite three months later.

Another drawback is if everyone sends in slow ballads and love songs. These may work at the cocktail hour but will not pick up the energy for the dance time. Next, there will be more requests than there is time to play them. A four-hour reception will use 60 songs, and if you have 150 to 200 guests, then there is not enough time to play them all. Last, get these requests to your DJ two to three weeks in advance of your reception. Handing him a stack the day of the wedding will not give him enough time to sort them into a good party flow.

Lasting memories

At the end of the day you want your guests to say they had the best time ever. That your DJ really did a great job helping them party on. When you set your budget, plan for food and fun for a successful reception. You can DIY your gown, your cake, your flowers and it will all work fine. Be sure to hire a DJ to keep your party flowing.

6 Reasons Why You Should Not DIY Your DJ

• Master of Ceremonies
• Juggling Requests
• Communicates Behind the Scenes
• Connecting to Guests
• Timing Group Dances
• Creates Lasting Memories

Panel of Wedding Experts

Thank you to this wonderful panel of Experts. Need help? You can find contact information for each expert below.

Marc A McDonald

3915 S Federal Blvd

Sheridan CO 80110

303-756-7979

www.completeweddingdenver.com

marc@completedenver.com

Norie Hamilton
Weddings by Norie
303-452-4802
303-263-4498 cell
Master Bridal Consultant TM
Member of the Association of Bridal Consultants
norham5@aol.com

Wendie Bass
Chief Curator, Wendie Bass, Weddings, Events & More
303-915-4346
wendie@wendiebass.com
www.wendiebass.com

Holly Collins
WEDDING DANCE instruction
DANCE LESSONS.
author of
Holly’s hot wedding tips, 
Historically Accurate Princess Dances,
Winner of:
The Knot Hall of Fame best wedding dance instruction,
top 50 Dance Blogs
Champion Ballroom Dancer & Coach
owner of
Adventures in Dance
720-276-0562
info@adventuresindance.com
www.adventuresindance.com
For dance tips,
join my email

The post Why you shouldn’t DIY your DJ first appeared on Adventures In Dance.

Wedding DJ DIY Tips

Are you looking for the best do it yourself tips? I have been interviewing wedding experts to help you decide when it is best to DIY. Today I am looking at wedding DJ DIY tips. I interviewed Mark McDonald from Complete wedding Denver, Wendie Bass and Norie Hamilton wedding officiant. This dynamic group had some great tips on Wedding DJ DIY tips.

What does a DJ do?

Disk jockeys are more than just a list of music. They act as the master of ceremony for your event. An experienced DJ will direct guest’s attention to significant events, like dismissing tables for dinner so grandma does not eat last and eliminating your guests standing in the buffet line. They announce cutting the cake, toasts, dances, and keep your flow going. When your event moves along smoothly, your guests remember it as a fun event.

Cost of just equipment

What about renting the equipment? It may be half the cost of your wedding DJ, but you still need to go pick the sound equipment up, set it up, tear it down, and return it. That is a large time commitment for your wedding. Not to mention someone familiar enough with sound equipment to run it for your wedding, and who knows what to do if something is not working right. Once you look at the cost of rental and setup, it may be more cost effective to hire a DJ in the first place.

Music Licensing

Music licensing can be strict. YouTube and Facebook have been cracking down on the use of unlicensed music. Professional DJ’s pay for the license to play music at your wedding. Spotify also provides licensing for playing in public. Do your due diligence and investigate the rules before providing music for a large gathering.

Wedding Sobriety

Asking a friend or family member to be master of ceremony or DJ is an inexpensive option. Whoever you have DJ should refrain from drinking during your event. You don’t want an unfavorable impression because your master of ceremonies was drinking or under the influence of any drug. This leaves the wrong impression and can ruin your wedding. Decide if it is more important to have your DJ as a guest or working your event.

How many guests for DIY DJ?

Size does matter when it comes to do it yourself. Repeatedly experts agree that weddings under 50 people are a great opportunity to do it yourself. Small venues and a small crowd are a great combination for DIY music.

Wedding DJ DIY tip list

• DJ performs as master of ceremony keeping the reception flow moving
• Renting Equipment allow extra time and expertise.
• Be contentious of music licensing.
• Sobriety is a must.
• Events under 50 people can successfully DIY

Panel of Wedding Experts

Thank you to this wonderful panel of Experts. Need help? You can find contact information for each expert below.

Marc A McDonald
Complete Wedding Denver
3915 S Federal Blvd
Sheridan CO 80110
303-756-7979
www.completeweddingdenver.com
marc@completedenver.com

Norie Hamilton
Weddings by Norie
303-452-4802
303-263-4498 cell
Master Bridal Consultant TM
Member of the Association of Bridal Consultants
norham5@aol.com

Wendie Bass
Chief Curator, Wendie Bass, Weddings, Events & More
303-915-4346
wendie@wendiebass.com
www.wendiebass.com

Denver & Littleton Wedding Dance Lessons, classes, Coaches and Teachers

Holly Collins
WEDDING DANCE instruction
DANCE LESSONS.
author of
Holly’s hot wedding tips, 
Historically Accurate Princess Dances,
Winner of:
The Knot Hall of Fame best wedding dance instruction,
top 50 Dance Blogs
Champion Ballroom Dancer & Coach
owner of
Adventures in Dance
720-276-0562
info@adventuresindance.com
www.adventuresindance.com
For dance tips,
join my email

The post Wedding DJ DIY Tips first appeared on Adventures In Dance.

On Holly’s Hot Wedding Tips

Being in the wedding industry has allowed me to participate in many different wedding celebrations. Professionally run events, are always a pleasure to participate in. But what about DIY weddings (do it yourself)? After attending a few DIY weddings, I wanted to know the top 3 DIY wedding don’ts. What do you need to turn over to a professional to ensure your event runs smoothly? I met with a panel of wedding experts to answer these questions.

Panel of Wedding Experts

The panel I invited included a wedding planner, event planner, officiant, and an event designer. Let’s meet the ladies behind the advice. Norie from Weddings by Norie is a wedding officiant and wedding planner. Carol spoke from IMES Events an wedding and corporate event planning company.  Our wedding event décor designer is Megan from Event Atelier. Finally, Wendie Bass, is the head of the mid-western Association of Bridal Consultants and owner of Wendie Bass Weddings and more.

Top 3 DIY Wedding don’ts

• Disk Jockey-Hire a professional. Don’t DIY the master of ceremony, your DJ.
• Photographer-Photos are forever. Don’t DIY your wedding photos.
• Caterer-Feed your guests well. Don’t DIY the catering.

Don’t DIY your DJ

With the advent of I-pods and portable music devices, it can be tempting to DIY your DJ services. According to experts, a DJ is more than just a playlist. A professional DJ knows there’s an ebb and a flow to your reception and they know how to manage that ebb and flow with music, tone of voice, and announcements. They are the master of ceremonies and most importantly the keeper of your timeline. Just look online to see how couples are disappointed when they hired a friend to be their DJ. The timeline gets away, announcements are missed, and important parts are rushed or missed. The DJ is the #1 most important professional to hire for your wedding.

Don’t DIY your Photographer

Pictures are forever. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to get your friends and family together to celebrate your union. It is tempting to put out disposable cameras or use everyone’s cell phone. In hindsight, many brides report that you end up with photos of private parts, blurry photos, or no photos.  You miss first look photos, family photos and the best of your guests. You want someone with the experience to move through all the shots you want at an even pace, so it does not interrupt the flow of your wedding. There is nothing more irritating to guests than to be held up for inordinately long photo sessions. At the end of the day, you will have your photos to remember your celebration with.

Don’t DIY your food

Making the meal yourself, or asking your family and friends cook takes them from being your guest to working for your wedding. You are putting on an event for your family and friends and you want them to have a good time and enjoy themselves. A professional caterer will make it their priority how the food is being served. Hot food, will be served hot, and cold food being served cold. Nobody likes a cold dinner. Don’t skimp on feeding your guests. There is nothing more embarrassing than running out of food or drink and asking your wedding party to forgo dining. Even worse, having an outbreak of food poising because DIY food sat out too long. Your guests will remember if they ate well or were worried that the food would run out. Decide what kind of memory you want them to have.

How to know what to let go

When do you know it is best to abandon the DIY? Martha Stewart’s weddings magazines noted that every bride needs some help at some point. Either from the bridesmaids, family, or by hiring a planner. Don’t be afraid when you get in over your head to look for professional help. You Don’t need to ruin your relationship over trying to DIY your wedding.

There’s a recent study out that it takes on average 528 hours to plan a wedding. If you are busy with your job and family, there is no shame in hiring an expert. Weather you hire a planner by the hour to help you organize your big day, or a day of coordinator to run your event so you can relax enjoy your big day.

Experienced advice is worth its weight in gold when you compare it to learning at the event that you needed a lot more help that you realized.  A small financial investment can make your event a success. Did you stop and evaluate how do I want my wedding to go? Do I want to be enjoying the party? or Do I want to be the person they’re coming to every time someone has a question? You want to enjoy your wedding and you want your guests to enjoy your wedding. You don’t want your friends working it.

What is the tipping point for hiring a wedding planner?

I asked my panel what is the maximum number of guests that you can DIY well? They came back with no more than 45 people. Here’s this thing, moving wedding guests is like moving cats. We all love cat’s, but they pretty much do what they want which is what you will experience with your wedding guests. I would say anytime you are above 50 guests and definitely at the 100 guests point. Someone outside of the friend/family or even the location representative to help move people and direct events.

When you get to a certain level of guests it takes time to move guests. If you’re looking at 100 or 125 or 150 it takes time for them to move in from literally the patio in to finding their seats can take 15 to 20 minutes. A professional is going to know this. We’re going to keep working with the schedule. We’ll work with the caterer we’ll work with the DJ. We’ll be working with all the vendors there to keep everybody knowing, “Ok we’re moving guests in at this time”. So, if you’ve got a wedding where your ceremony is at one location and your reception is at another, you’re definitely going to want to consider having professional help.

Wedding experts

Thank you to this wonderful panel of experts. You can find them at:

• Wendie Bass-
  Let’s Plan It 303.915.4346
  “Where Weddings are Wonderful!”
  letsplanit@aol.com<mailto:letsplanit@aol.com>|
  wendie@wendiebass.com<mailto:wendie@wendiebass.com>
  
• Norie  Hamilton
  Weddings by Norie at  303-452-4802
  norie@weddingsbynorie.com
  http://weddingsbynorie.com/
  
  

• Carol Lathrop,
  IMES Events
  CMP Chief Event Officer (CEO) Denver, Colorado
  Phone: 303-332-2547 Fax: 815-717-9674
  Email:Carol@IMESevents.com  
  Website: IMESevents.com
  
  

• Megan Tierney
  Event Atelier
  515-310-0229

Holly Collins
WEDDING DANCE instruction
DANCE LESSONS.
author of
Holly’s hot wedding tips, 
Historically Accurate Princess Dances,
The Knot best wedding dance Winner,
Winner of top 50 Dance Blogs
Top dance blog names Winner
Champion Ballroom Dancer & Coach
owner of
Adventures in Dance
720-276-0562
info@adventuresindance.com
www.adventuresindance.com
For dance tips,
join my email

The post Top 3 DIY Wedding Don’ts first appeared on Adventures In Dance.

Holly’s Hot Wedding Tips

Do you want to know the best parts of your wedding to do yourself? I met with a panel of four wedding experts to find out what the 5 top DIY wedding ideas were. They had so much information that this will be a two-part series. This first article is the 5 top wedding DIY Do’s. The second will be the wedding DIY don’ts. Read on to find your top DIY wedding ideas.

Panel of Wedding Experts

The panel I invited included a wedding planner, event planner, officiant, and an event designer. Let’s meet the ladies behind the advice. Norie from Weddings by Norie is a wedding officiant and wedding planner. Carol spoke from IMES Events an wedding and corporate event planning company. Our wedding event décor designer is Megan from Event Atelier. Finally, Wendie Bass, is the head of the mid-western Association of Bridal Consultants and owner of Wendie Bass Weddings and more.

Top DIY Wedding Ideas

So, you want to add some DIY to your wedding. Where is the best place to start? How about with your team of bridesmaids? These are the ladies who are there for you on your wedding day. Put together wedding kits for your bridesmaids for your event can save the day for everyone. This can help make the wedding day special for everyone. Check out this list of essentials you can package in a pretty way for your ladies.

Bridesmaid’s survival kit-

1. Band-Aids,
2. Advil/Tylenol/Aspirin
3. deodorant/antiperspirant,
4. baby powder,
5. snacks,
6. Emergen-C,
7. safety pins,
8. fashion tape,
9. small sewing kit,
10. tide-to-go- stick,
11. coffee filters,
12. phone charger,
13. bobby pins,

DIY Wedding Centerpieces

Are you handy? Then designing centerpieces for your wedding may be a great DIY for you. This is a great option because you’re going to need anywhere between 10 to 20 of them. This is not so many that you will feel overwhelmed producing.  My panel of experts recommend practicing beforehand. Make a mock centerpiece, then set a mock table with your linens, flatware and china to see how it ties in with your theme. You want to check to see if they are full enough or just need a little bit more pizazz to make it pop on the table.

DIY photobooth

Candid photos can be fun at a wedding. Many party stores have photobooth kits you can acquire. Then you can have selfie sticks and photobooth pieces available to your guests. Our expert tip is to be sure to have a way to collect all those photos. For instance, # you on Instagram, or upload to a private Facebook group for your wedding. Then everyone can have fun looking at your candid shots.

DIY Signage

Do you have pretty penmanship? Then signage may be a great thing for you to do yourself. Making signs for where to place gifts, or place cards so your guests know where to sit can help everyone find where they need to be. My experts recommend making sure your penmanship is legible so everyone can read it. They also recommend walking through your venue with your site manager to plan the best placement for all your signage.

DIY Invitations

Your invitations can be a great way to add your own personal touch. There are many great software’s out there to help you design your unique invitation. From printing at home to ordering online, you can add your own individual style. Our expert tip is to remember to add an RSVP card to your invitation. You will need to know how many people are attending your nuptials.

Hand Address

Now your invitations are printed and ready to go, consider hand addressing your envelopes. Experts attest that a hand addressed envelope is more likely to be opened. This DIY tip will help your guests open your invitation.

5 Top DIY Wedding Do’s

1. Wedding kit for your bridesmaids
2. Centerpieces
3. Photobooth
4. Signs/ Place cards
5. Invitations, RSVP & Envelope

Wedding experts

Thank you to this wonderful panel of experts. You can find them at:

• Wendie Bass-
  Let’s Plan It 303.915.4346
  “Where Weddings are Wonderful!”
  letsplanit@aol.com<mailto:letsplanit@aol.com>|
  wendie@wendiebass.com<mailto:wendie@wendiebass.com>
• Norie  Hamilton
  Weddings by Norie at  303-452-4802
  norie@weddingsbynorie.com
  http://weddingsbynorie.com/ 
• Carol Lathrop, CMP
  IMESevents
  Chief Event Officer (CEO) Denver, Colorado
  Phone: 303-332-2547 Fax: 815-717-9674
  Email: Carol@IMESevents.com  
  Website: IMESevents.com

• Megan Tierney
  Event Atelier
  515-310-0229
  megan.tierney@me.com
• Calligraphy by Evette Goldstein
  Pretty Writing Learn more

Holly Collins
WEDDING DANCE instruction
DANCE LESSONS.
author of
Holly’s hot wedding tips, 
Historically Accurate Princess Dances,
The Knot best wedding dance Winner,
Winner of top 50 Dance Blogs
Top dance blog names Winner
Champion Ballroom Dancer & Coach
owner of
Adventures in Dance
720-276-0562
info@adventuresindance.com
www.adventuresindance.com
For dance tips,
join my email

The post 5 Top DIY Wedding Do’s first appeared on Adventures In Dance.

Real Destination Wedding Dance
On Holly’s Hot Wedding Tips

When John Sheflin and Kari Wimmer decided to tie the knot, they wanted it to be something special. Their dream was a destination wedding on a beach in Mexico. Warmed by the glow of the tropical sun on a beach this romantic couple dreamt of having a hot first dance.

Search for a dance studio

Kari & John began their search for a studio to learn their dream dance. They checked out a couple of other wedding dance studios before settling on Adventures in dance to design their dream dance. The happy couple came in with their song “You and I” but Eddie Rabbitt and Crystal Gail to learn to dance without stepping on one another.

Picking the perfect dance

John and Kari fell in love with the foxy rhythm dance as the base pattern for their first dance. They spent six romantic hours wrapped in one another’s arms learning their first dance. After class they would go home and practice each sequence designed for their dance. From a flirtatious entrance to a big dip and kiss for their grand finale.

Prepared to party

Holly Collins-Tomazin worked to make sure this lovely couple was well rehearsed for their big day. When the music began, all their practice and hard work paid off. Their first dance rocked, and they learned how to use pieces to dance all night long.

Real Destination Wedding Dance

Kari wrote this on the Knot. posted 04/23/2019 by Kari S “Great experience for two “non dancers!” We enjoyed our lessons with Holly who made our first dance at our destination wedding one to remember. She’s very good at explaining new concepts along with injecting some humor. We were excited for our first dance versus dreading it. Don’t hesitate to take lessons here!”

Holly Collins
WEDDING DANCE instruction
DANCE LESSONS.
author of
Holly’s hot wedding tips, 
Historically Accurate Princess Dances,
Winner of the Knot best wedding dance,
Top 50 Dance Blogs Winner
Champion Ballroom Dancer & Coach
owner of
Adventures in Dance
720-276-0562
info@adventuresindance.com
www.adventuresindance.com
For dance tips,
join my email

The post Real Destination Wedding Dance first appeared on Adventures In Dance.

Top wedding tradition
on Holly’s Hot Wedding Tips

WEDDING DANCE instruction

Weddings are full of something old, and something new. Many wedding traditions are being re-imagined for today. Traditions like cutting the cake, or the bride being escorted down the aisle by her father are traditions most often kept. But what is the top wedding tradition that couples keep? The first dance!

According to a Wedding Wire survey 92% of couples choose to do a first dance. That makes the first dance the most important wedding tradition to keep.  Of the couples surveyed, one in four couples choose a country western song to dance to.

History of the first dance wedding tradition

Wedding dances can be traced to antiquity. The Kalamatianos (link) or Greek kerchief dance features in my big fat Greek wedding was one of the earliest wedding dances. Since then the first dance has been included at formal gatherings to respect the guest of honor. At a wedding the bride and groom are the guests of honor.

During the Victorian era, the Waltz (link) became the most popular dance to begin any ball. Disney capitalized on this tradition by giving many of his princesses’ waltzes. Just think of Sleeping beauty (link), Beauty and the Beast (link), and of course Cinderella (link). Today the first dance is the first embrace as man and wife in your public profession of your undying love for one another.

First Dance Types

WEDDING DANCE Coaching

With the advent of social media, trends can catch on like wild fire. The traditional Waltz is still the most requested wedding dance. This time-honored tradition is an elegant choice. Next are Foxtrots (link), then in order Rumba (link), the Night club two step (link), and swing (link).

New wedding dance tradition

Can’t decide on only one dance? Mashups are a fun way to shake up a party. Many couples are opting to start with a slow song then cut midway into something upbeat with a change of song. Mashups are great, however they take twice as long as a single dance to learn (link). This is because you are learning more than one style of dance and need transitions from one song to the next. For those adventuresome souls, every moment is worth it.

About Holly

Holly has been teaching wedding couples to dance for over 3 decades. She loves to tailor each wedding dance to her client’s strengths to help them achieve their dancing dreams. Her team of talented teachers shares her passion to make the learning fun and painless. You can find out about her wedding special here (link).

Holly Collins-Tomazin
WEDDING DANCE instruction
DANCE LESSONS.
author of
Holly’s hot wedding tips, 
Historically Accurate Princess Dances,
The Knot best wedding dance Winner,
Winner of top 50 Dance Blogs
Champion Ballroom Dancer & Coach
owner of
Adventures in Dance
720-276-0562
info@adventuresindance.com
www.adventuresindance.com
For dance tips,
join my email

The post Top wedding tradition first appeared on Adventures In Dance.

Weddings are a great opportunity to gather friends and family. When you include friends and family in participating in your big day it’s a great personalization. Rev. Kim Tavendale gave me her 5 wedding ceremony tips for friends and family.

It is popular to ask friends or family to perform your wedding ceremony. This is a great opportunity to include someone special to participate in your wedding. Having said that, there are 5 points to consider when you have friends or family officiate your wedding ceremony.

Treat your wedding with the reverence

When choosing who to ask to perform your ceremony, choose someone who will treat your ceremony with respect and reverence. Your wedding is a big commitment legally and emotionally. Choose someone who you know will do a good job and will respect you and your ceremony.

Comfortable with public speaking

Public speaking is the #1 fear, even if it’s irrational. The last thing you want is for your officiant to get cold feet and refuse to perform your ceremony on the day of your wedding. Be sure your selection is comfortable speaking in front of a group. Especially in front of people they will see again. There’s nothing worse than messing up in front of a group of people who are going to heckle you about it for the rest of your life.

Knows the ceremony length

Your entire wedding day timeline is built around the length of the ceremony. Communicate with your wedding planner/coordinator on what length ceremony you desire. If you and the planner have allotted 30 mins for the ceremony and your friend or family member only comes up with 5 minutes, you’re left with dead time. This is a bad move and, it also works in the opposite way. If your officiant goes long, then the whole timeline then gets left in the dust. Be conscientious to fill the ceremony time with the events important to you.

Learn the legalities

Knowing the law regarding officiating a wedding is important to the validity of your vows. Colorado requires your officiant to be a member of the clergy. Be sure your friend or family knows they will have to jump online to register as an ordained minister. Know the legal requirements for the ceremony and what parts you must have in the ceremony and what parts are up for negotiation or interpretation. Then find out how to fill out the marriage license correctly the first time.

Get officiant coaching

Now that you have chosen the perfect person, some good advice is in order. Professional officiants will happily help you prepare a ceremony. They will give tips on how to perform the ceremony. Tips on the best practices and how everything goes together will help you succeed,  Coaching is a worthwhile investment so that your friend or family member has the best tools to make a memorable ceremony for you.

5 Wedding ceremony tips for non-ministers

1. Treat your wedding with the reverence
2. Comfortable with public speaking
3. Knows the ceremony Length
4. Learn the legalities
5. Get officiant coaching

Thank you to Reverend Kim Tavendale (blog) for her tips. If you want to contact her, you can find Reverend Kim Tavendale Ordained Minister and wedding Celebrant Cell-561-306-4382 Office- 720-432-1650 Email- kim@reverendkimtavendale.com http://www.reverendkimtavendale.com/

Holly Collins
WEDDING DANCE instruction
DANCE LESSONS.
author of
Holly’s hot wedding tips, 
Historically Accurate Princess Dances,
The Knot best wedding dance Winner,
Winner of top 50 Dance Blogs
Top dance blog names Winner
Champion Ballroom Dancer & Coach
owner of
Adventures in Dance
720-276-0562
info@adventuresindance.com
www.adventuresindance.com
For dance tips,
join my email

The post 5 Wedding Ceremony Tips for Non-Ministers first appeared on Adventures In Dance.