Wedding Wednesday {Best Cleveland Area Wedding Vendors, Tips, & Ideas}

I am so thrilled to introduce an great company to you today.  I was out at their studio a few months back and I have to tell you I was very impressed.

Hi Leigh, Have you been with Jerry Bruno Productions long?  What do you do there?  What’s the best part about your job?

I have been with Jerry Bruno Productions since July of 2005. I started out just a couple days a week, then began doing event coordination but realized sales isn’t for me. So I proposed to take over website editing and begin internet marketing, which is in line with my degree and experience in Public Relations. I love getting a chance to utilize creative skills and learn about internet marketing daily.

In 2006, Jerry put together a new band called The Avenue and invited me to be one of its singers. I asked a friend that I used to sing with in a girl group at Pickwick & Frolic, Tiffany Marchak, to join, and we pieced together the rest of the band via connections and ads.

(Leigh, singing with The Avenue)

When did Jerry Bruno Productions begin as a company?  How did it get started?

The Bruno family has long standing music roots in the Cleveland area. Jerry Bruno moved to Los Angeles in the 80s and created The Jerry Bruno Music Network there. His clients included the likes of President and Mrs. Ronald Reagan, Princess Di, and the casts and crews of “Cheers” and “Taxi.” He conducted a string ensemble for Bon Jovi’s after-Oscars party in 1990.

Jerry returned home to Cleveland in 1995 and began growing what is now known as Jerry Bruno Productions.

Your website describes your company as a “wedding entertainment source,”  what do you mean by this?

About 90% of our booked jobs are at wedding ceremonies and receptions. But in addition to over 20 bands and 20 DJs, we represent countless musicians and acts for all aspects of an event. We’ve booked string quartets to play everything from Bach to Metallica at ceremonies, and Elvis impersonators to entertain at rehearsal dinners.

We also have a lot of clients needing entertainment for corporate events and private parties, as well.

If a couple walks in, who should they expect to talk to?

Currently, most of the booking and event coordination is handled by DJ Scott Jones and and Geoff Short. Scott is our General Manager and has been working at the office for a decade, and Geoff is band leader of and singer in The Avenue. They both have extensive experience planning and performing for weddings at all the major local venues.

(The amazing Scott Jones)

When would you recommend a DJ for a wedding and when would you recommend a band?

It can be a matter of taste and/or price. Some feel that a band provides an air of class, while others just want someone to be in charge of playing music at the right time and making announcements.

There are exceptions, but most of our bands excel at playing a wide range of popular genres and songs, which is great if your guests range in age from 8 to 80. If most of your dancing crowd is younger and into primarily modern music, a DJ might be a better fit. Many clients hire a band for the first four hours and then a DJ for the final hour or two, for the younger crowd.

What unique qualities does each have to offer?

A DJ is usually more affordable than a fully stocked band, and you’ll hear the original, familiar versions of all your favorite music. A band will provide more crowd interaction and bring more energy and personality to the room. (Our DJs pretty much stay at their booth, no dancing on speakers or singing along.)

If a bride is interested in a particular band, how far in advance should she be sure to book?

At least a year. As of July of 2010, we already have some bands and DJs booked for dates in October of 2011.

If a couple has no idea what the best entertainment choice is for their wedding, can you help guide them to a perfect match?

Absolutely! First, we can narrow choices down using availability for their date. Then, we can show them some choices on DVD. If a client isn’t feeling the vibe of a band or DJ, we’re pretty good at reading that. No problem, we move on to other choices. We’ll find out about their venue, their budget, their guests and their favorite music, and usually one or two bands or DJs will come to mind as a good fit.

What question should every couple ask their entertainment before booking with them?

They should find out if the individual they are meeting with, or those featured in the video, will be the same individuals who will be performing at the event. Some companies book under one name, then farm out the work to anyone available. But one song can sound VERY different sung by different singers, and different DJs have very different personalities. Not to mention one song list doesn’t fit all bands.

At the same time, conflicts can occur. Once or twice a year, we may need to replace a lead singer or DJ due to illness. The fact that we have a pre-screened talent roster in our pocket is a major plus to booking through an agency. We can easily fill-in a role at the last minute if needed, and the bride won’t be bothered with added stress the day of her wedding.

Leigh, thank you so much for your time.  I look very forward to working with you guys in the future.

Fun Canton Wedding Photographs {Matt & Erin}

When I arrived at the hotel the bridesmaids sat and watched as Erin’s hair was being styled.  Erin was calm and collected after months of intense planning…this was it.  She looked beautiful.  Gorgeous actually.  Laughter and conversation filled the room as all the last minute details were being cared for.  I can’ t think of many better ways to spend the morning of your wedding day.

Matt and Erin had met at Yankee Peddler but didn’t spend much time together then.  They exchanged screen names and for months spent hours chatting online.  (This was pre-Facebook after all.)  After so much time chatting without moving any further…Erin finally asked what Matt was thinking.  Is this going anywhere or not she wanted to know.

It was.  After seven years together, Matt and Erin were married at First Christian Church in Canton last month.  All of their family was gathered around them and celebrated as they spent the night dancing and enjoying the beginning of their lives together.  Dave and I were happy to be there to photograph the two of them and this wedding that they had poured so much of themselves into.

Kudos to this awesome bridal party.  I felt like another bridesmaid minus a cool silver dress.  They even did my hair.  I had a blast with them!

I’m not sure what it is about this next one that I love.  But I love it.  Isn’t Erin gorgeous?

Matt just after seeing his bride.

Did I mention that this was a cool bridal party?

To view even more images, please click play below.  The slideshow is about 3 minutes long.  Please be patient while loading, it’s worth it!  {Anyone viewing on Facebook or in an RSS Feed, click here.}

Matt & Erin…thank you both so much for allowing us the pleasure of working with you both.  We wish you both the best.

Akron Lakeside Wedding Photography {Efrem & Keera}

There are a lot of people who claim to love.  They swear up and down their love…until things get hard.  For better or worse…until the worse comes.  Efrem is not that kind of man.  He’s proven that.  Keera has been dealing with Cystic Fibrosis her whole life and a few months ago her lungs began to fail.  Efrem sat by her side for weeks as she awaited a double lung transplant and then went through the hard work of recovery.  She couldn’t look at him, smile at him, or talk to him for a long while.  Yet, there he sat.

Her friends and family banded together and created multiple fundraising events to help Keera and Efrem with the huge medical bills.  Auctions, tournaments, live bands, dinners…all created and run with love for these two.  I wish I had known them then.  I would have loved to have been there to support them.  This couple has been through more than most.

I wasn’ t there then, but a few weeks back, Dave and I had the pleasure of being there as Efrem and Keera were married.

The day was gorgeous and Spring Lake Party Center was set up beautifully.

Look at this light!

Efrem, Keera, and their friends and family helped with many of the details.  Keera even made her own garters…aren’t they adorable?

Keera took a few minutes to write a letter for Efrem.

Just before the ceremony, I walked into the dressing room and found this:

Could she be any more beautiful?  And the men don’t look so bad either…

I love how Efrem looks at her.  So sweet.

I am pretty sure this next one is my favorite.  I love their faces.

Organ donor cards and information were provided to all the guests.  You can find information on becoming a donor here.

Efrem and Keera…thank you both so much for asking us to be a part of your day.  Blessings to you.

To view the slideshow with even more images, please click play below.  {If viewing on Facebook or an RSS Feed, click here.}

Akron Area Engagement Photography {Donny & Maris}

When he saw her across the dance floor of the ship he was interested.  Very interested.  In fact, he describes it as love at first sight.  But Donny couldn’t imagine ever approaching her to talk….Luckily, he didn’t have to.  Before he could give it much thought, she approached him, mistaking him for someone else.  It didn’t matter why she approached him though, I think they were both just glad she did.  They spoke some in passing throughout the rest of the cruise and then after returning home, Maris gave him a call.

They decided to meet in Washington D.C. since she is from Ohio and he Florida.  The trip went well and their long distance relationship started from there.  Donny & Maris spent the next year or more meeting every other week and talking on the phone in between.  Then, their relationship came full circle when they returned to D.C. where Donny proposed on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.

Dave and I met up with them in Maris’s parent’s garden.  Donny and Maris flew in just a few days before their wedding, so this session took place just before their rehearsal.

Love this dress:

Can’t you just feel their happiness?

Maris, you are beautiful!  Look at those eyes.

Donny and Maris…we hope you honeymoon was just as amazing as you hoped it would be!  I will be posting some of you wedding images very soon.

Dave & Elisha Live Wedding Photo Booth

Looking for a fun option for your wedding reception? How about a Heritage Photo Booth? Our Live Photo Booth can be added to any wedding package.

Check out some images from Dave & Elisha’s booth below:

Wedding Wednesday {Best Cleveland Area Wedding Vendors, Tips, & Ideas}

(I know.  I know.  It’s Thursday.  But doesn’t Wedding Wednesday have a much better ring to it?)

Allow me to introduce Ryan to you.  He is one of the DJs at Beach Boyz Entertainment and I asked him to tell us a little bit about himself and the business.  I firmly believe that your wedding entertainment is an essential piece of hosting a wedding people enjoy.  If your guests aren’t having fun you will be disappointed and believe me so will they.

Some DJs in the industry are fantastic and others are just so so.  Do yourself a favor and hire a fantastic one like Ryan here.  :)

1. Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I am a person who loves to have fun and take life by the horns. I have been married now for 7 years and I have two sons. Austin and Trevor. Austin is 6 years old and in the first grade and Trevor is 3 years old. They are incredible. I just recently bought a home in Firestone Park and loving it. It’s so nice to have the freedom of owning and doing whatever I want, which means, I was able to get a Pet! We have 1 cat named Charlie and a Dog soon to come!

2. Tell us about Beach Boyz Entertainment…where are you located?

Beach Boyz is a wonderful DJ Service. The customers come first. That’s how we separate us from everyone else. It’s not our show, it’s theirs. We want to cater to all that our clients want. We have around 20 guys at the present time working for Beach Boyz. Range from Rookies to guys who have been there for 15 years.

3. How did you become a DJ?

I used to work at Todaro’s Party Center in Akron as a busboy so I got to see DJ’s first hand and got to see how much fun people had. I wanted to be that guy who provided the fun. I loved it when Beach Boyz DJ’d the parties because they made it a night to remember. So that’s why I decided to become a DJ. Didn’t know music too well and was a little quiet, but wanted to try. Now I know thousands upon thousands of songs and have been with Beach Boyz for 11 years. I get to provide the entertainment and provide the smiles as people walk out the door remembering how much fun their event was!

4. What do you think is the most important role of a DJ at a wedding reception?

The most important thing about the role of the DJ is becoming the one to take care of the flow of the night. For Weddings, we make sure that all events are planned, ready to go…and we keep a good pace. If you let the party drag out and check in the guest(s) of honor, then people lose interest and the client thinks “what’s next…” Being able to work the flow of the music is most important too! Anyone can hook up an IPOD and run music off of it all night, but do they really know how to work the crowd. Do they know what song to play next to keep people dancing? No. They usually just have a pre-determined list and just the play button. We don’t do that. We work the crowd off the lists the Client provides plus what we feel would keep the dance floor alive. Also, our DJ Service works closely with all Photographers and Videographers. That’s the last thing a Bride and Groom would want…no pictures for a special event on their Wedding Day…a Father-Daughter dance could be missed. All Vendors know what is coming up. We Emcee the event and Coordinate all events.

5. What should a bride and groom look for in a DJ?

As you look for a DJ, get to know them. Get comfortable with them. The reason I say that is because they are the one’s DJing the night you are going to remember the rest of your life. The DJ makes or breaks your reception. People don’t really remember the food, or the drinks…but they remember the music.

6. What are some unique things you (Beach Boyz) offer?

Beach Boyz offers a variety of unique things. We have basic lighting to intelligent lighting…Fog Machines/Snow Machines/Bubble Machines/the list keeps going. We have props for all kind of events when it comes to Kid Parties (Hula Hoops/Miniature Bikes/Wide Selection) to keep people entertained. We also interact with the crowd. We don’t stand behind the DJ Table with our arms crossed the whole night or sitting down eating and drinking alcohol. We don’t eat and we don’t drink alcohol at events. Our concern is the Bride and Groom…not our party life!

7. Do you have any fun stories or experiences that you can share?

I have tons of stories that could take up pages as to things that have happened in my 11 years so I will keep it short and sweet. The experiences I have meeting new people every weekend are awesome! But the best part is when you run into those people down the road and they remember you! They say they still talk about their reception and how much fun they had. They say that every family gathering they have, their reception comes up as a topic every time and memories start flying out their mouths and they can’t stop talking about it. That is the best experience. I once had a Bride and Groom I DJ’d for 5 years ago…well, their friend got married this past summer and they were guests. They came up to me and said “you were our DJ and I am so happy to see you here tonight. We told them to go to Beach Boyz and get Ryan.” So for couples to remember me that far down the road is the most amazing feeling. I love being a DJ and I will leave you with a quote that I will hold true to and you will see how much I love being a DJ by this quote:  ”The day that this becomes a job is the day that I call it quits”

Thanks for talking to me and hope to see you all soon!!

Here’s a couple shots from a wedding last season where Ryan is keeping the floor hopping:

Should we see each other before the wedding? {Wedding Wednesday}

When I was planning our wedding I went with the traditional custom and didn’t see Josh before the ceremony.  Not seeing him just seemed like the “thing to do.”  But, if I had to do it all over, I would opt for a first glance.  After being right there as so many others have enjoyed this special moment…I just with I would have known.

Many of our brides also choose not to see their groom ahead of time.  Please know we would never try to talk anyone into seeing their hubby-to-be if they felt strongly about it, but for those that are just not seeing each other for the same reason I did…I have a few reasons why you may want to opt for this newer trend.

1. It’s often the only time of the day when the bride and groom get to be together alone.
2. It’s comforting.  When a couple sees each other they often are able to calm one another’s nerves and focus more on the day.  (I spent most of my own ceremony thinking, I have no idea what is being said.  I can’t focus at all.)
3. I’ve had more than one couple tell me it was their favorite time of the day AND resulted in their favorite photographs of the day.
4. We can still capture both of your faces the first time you see one another; it’s just not in front of everyone else, making the moment much more intimate.  (Dave and I have become pros at orchestrating the location and placement in order to get some great shots.)

Here are two examples of the first glances from 2009:

Jasmine Star, a photographer in Southern CA who I adore, also blogged on this same topic.  I would highly recommend checking out what she has to say here and here.

Unique Bridesmaid and Groomsman Gifts

It’s Wedding Wednesday (I know, I know, almost Thursday ) again and I wanted to share a thought I recently had.  If I had it to do over, I would choose different gifts for my bridesmaids and groomsmen than what we gave.  There is so much available these days (gosh, I sound like I’m 80!).  One search on the internet will bring up hundreds of options from personalized jewelry to handbags to t-shirts.  And don’t get me wrong…some of these things are cool.  Really cool.  But yesterday I started thinking about the gifts I have received that meant the most and one kept coming to mind again and again….books.

I imagine selecting a title for each one of my attendants…something special just for them…and inscribing a meaningful message inside.

Here are some fun ideas just to get you started:

• The chef in your life…How about the best selling cookbook of all time?  Joy of Cooking 75th Anniversary Edition
• An avid traveller…A Year in the World: Journeys of a Passionate Traveller by Frances Mayes
• Sports fan…Quiet Strength: The Principle, Practices, and Priorities of a Winning Life by Tony Dungy  (Josh loved this book…and despite being an English teacher, he’s not a big reader.  Shhh.  Don’t tell his students.)
• A movie buff….1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die by Stephen Jay Schneider
• The Interior Designer…House Beautiful The Home Book
• An art lover…National Geographic Image Collection by Michelle Anne Delaney, National Geographic, and Maura Mulvhill or Ansel Adams in Color by Ansel Adams, John P Schaefer, Harry M Callahan, Andrea G Stillman, and James L Enyeart

I’m not sure if it’s a good idea….but I hope it helps someone.  I’d love to hear what ideas you have or what you gave.  Feel free to comment below.