Winter Wonderland Wedding
DO’S and DON’TS
A winter wedding is a beautiful and unique trend for many couples who love the idea of a flurry-filled backdrop… and possibly receiving amazing discounts during the offseason! Don’t worry — agents at Entertainment Exchange love booking our amazing acts year-round, but here are a few things to consider when booking vendors for a winter wedding:
Offseason Does Not Mean Available
While winter is considered a “slow season” within the wedding industry, winter weddings have become a growing trend over the past decade, challenging the traditional summer wedding theme for so many planners and couples of the past. When you add this factor on top of the Corporate Holiday Party peak season (late November into early January), you have a very busy corporate entertainment industry.
If you are planning a fourth-quarter wedding, do not slack on getting a jump start on booking your vendors – namely entertainers. Many clients assume that if they have an offseason wedding, they can put off certain tasks but there are only about 8-10 weekends available during the late fall/ winter months. This means you have to fight against other brides with your idea AND fight against the corporate big wigs who want to get loose during their holiday party! The other factor is that when entertainment acts get their schedules, they may choose to take a vacation as well so you may not have as many options if you wait too long.
SOLUTION: Book your entertainment EARLY!
Parking
Work with your planner and DJ or bandleader to discuss the parking arrangements at the venue ahead of time. Bands and DJ’s usually set up their equipment many hours ahead of the reception start time, especially because the equipment may require extra hands; but carrying expensive equipment when there’s bad weather creates a challenge. Black ice and snow near entrances mean extra load-in time for vendors AND can create hazard issues. It may seem small but in reality, do you want your wedding running late, or worse – the sound technician and his equipment taking a bad fall an hour before the reception? We didn’t think so!
SOLUTION: Allocate at least (2) parking spaces near the front of the venue or near the “stage” if possible. This will at least account for the DJ’s vehicle or sound man and drummer (if you book a band). They usually have the heaviest equipment. Also, consider calling the venue ahead of time to ensure a snowplow or clean up crew will arrive onsite to clear pathways.
If your wedding is downtown then pay to valet at least (2) vehicles or give the valet a heads up that you need a few vehicles to be able to double park one hour before the start time and one hour at the end of the event.
Holiday Tunes
Most people love the holidays which means they will appreciate a few holiday tunes! Even if you don’t have a Christmas or Kwanzaa-themed event work with the DJ or band to incorporate a few holiday tunes into the mix of their performances. You can create a great moment by having guests sing along to a popular tune.
SOLUTION: You can swap out a slow dance song for Frank Sinatra’s version of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”. You can also play a few upbeat holiday tunes as guests enter the venue or leave the venue – either one will make your day unique and fun. Steer clear of controversial or offensive tunes to ensure you respect all guests.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY: WeddBook.com (LINK HERE)