A WHITE WEDDING? - Snow Changes Wedding Dates Nationwide

This time of year, people start to plan their weddings. As you know, some common places they like to hold their receptions often include high end golf clubs and ski resorts, like Jiminey Peak. With all the snow we are getting this year, it seems as if some of the planning has been put off, for fear of the weather. Therefore, I expect to see more weddings being scheduled for later in the year, than usual.

However, if you are a Capital District bride or groom, you can still count your lucky stars. If you were in Lake Tahoe, California right now, your wedding season might be skipped altogether! Snow on your wedding day is usually considered to be a sign of fertility and prosperity, but in this case, it is just plain ridiculous!




Yes. That is what 31 feet of snow looks like on the ground. This crazy picture is not Alaska, or the North Pole. This JPG was recently taken outside Tahoe Donner Ski Resort in California, where they have lots of weddings yearly, just like Jiminey Peak.

The Weather Channel has reported that the Tahoe area, a popular destination for many weddings, is in rough shape. It has received over 50 feet, that's 600 inches of snow this season alone. Different storms recently dumped over 100 inches each, in only the span of few days.

Can you imagine driving up to a wedding like this?

Now that's a white wedding.

DJ Kenny Casanova
www.TheDJservice.com

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Modern Wedding Introduction SONG LIST

Do you want a wedding intro party song that really hypes up the crowd?

Recently, trends in modern wedding receptions have changed from lots of elegant romance songs to more of a "get up and dance" party atmosphere. Today, most couples seem to be looking to set a party tone with the choice of their grand introduction song selection. If this is where you are in your wedding planning, then you are not alone. This intro list may very well be perfect for you.

This list was created because there are countless “Wedding Introduction Music Song Lists” out there on the net that haven't been updated since the 80′s. The 80′s had great iconic music; don’t get me wrong. However, most of my wedding couples who are getting married today are not from this era. Therefore most of the wedding intro song lists out there are no longer relevant and mean nothing to this generation.

"So why are these lists even still out there?" One reason these moth-eaten wedding intro lists are probably kicking around is because of the power of Google and the overall imortal and ominous internet.

The other reason these bad lists still resurface, perhaps, is because of corny old wedding DJ’s clad in Brady Bunch tuxedos, sporting Jerry Garcia beards refusing to let go of their tired shtick. They love theme songs like “The Power of Love” by Huey Lewis, Beverly Hills Cop's “Axl F” and Dirty Dancing’s “I’ve Had the Time of My Life.” However, I will argue that half of the newlyweds getting married today have never even seen the actual movies related to these lame outdated songs.

While I have added a few classics "DJ Kenny Casanova's Modern Song List", you will find far more songs from the past ten to twenty years or so, and far more that will energize your guest list. “Drum roll please…” (Ugghh!) Anyhow, click the link below for the list:

Forever – Chris Brown
I Gotta Feeling - Black Eyed Peas
Viva La Vida - Coldplay
At Last - Etta James
Justin Timberlake - Sexyback
The Way I are - T.I.
Crazy In Love - Beyonce Feat. Jay-Z
Bitter Sweet Symphony - Verve
Bring 'Em Out - T.I. Feat. Jay-Z
Walking On Sunshine - Katrina And The Waves
The Time - Black Eyed Peas
Yeah - Usher Feat. Ludacris & Lil' Jon
Low (Apple bottom Jeans) – Flo Rider
Pump It - Black Eyed Peas
Fire Burning – Sean Kingston
Party Up - DMX (Instrumental)
Firework - Katy Perry
Love And Marriage - Frank Sinatra
Sandstorm - Darube
CLICK HERE FOR THE ENTIRE LIST ... DJ Kenny Casanova's Modern Wedding Introduction SONG LIST

The list is pretty long. There are another fifty songs or so for you to pick through. Click the above link for the rest of the list. Thanks guys, and have a fun wedding!

-DJ Kenny


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Hulk Hogan's Appearance on American Idol - Review

In case you missed it, this blog has a video tip, via YouTube of Hulk Hogan's recent appearance on American Idol.

As you may or may not know, I've had an extensive history in pro wrestling sports broadcasting experience. I was a ring announcer and a wrestler / personality, including a number of ring announcing gigs right here in Albany, NY for WWE Wrestling at The Times Union Area. This background, of course, paired with my disc jockey status and keen karaoke-laden background, makes me an expert to speak my mind and review the recent Hulk Hogan appearance on American Idol, and the new direction of the show.

So what did I think of The Hulkster? First off, for those of you Hulkamaniacs who missed it, here is the segment:





Hulk Hogan's appearance in my opinion was perfect for American Idol fans... His cameo was not too short, and also not overkill. It was just enough Hulkamania to add flavor to the music and talent show. The key was to keep it light, which they did well.

Arguably, Ryan Seacrest may have "over sold" the Hulkster’s punch and this may be considered ridiculous to the avid hardcore wrestling fan. However, Ryan’s work rate in this spot was the perfect balance of fun for mainstream and young viewers on network Television.

What you actually missed from this clip was a video segment of the two Idol contestants having a mock wrestling match, pulling in other contestants in their quarters. The big reveal was that these singers hit it off due to their love of pro wrestling. Therefore, the big surprise was that the biggest name in wrestling came out to give them the thumbs up, personally. I think the spot was classic. It was a great moment, overall.

As afollow up on my previous blog about American Idol (whether or not the new judges had what it takes) I have to say that until now, I honestly had lost interest on being a regular viewer of the show. The audition tapes were good stuff, as always, but when it went live, I didn't think the judges were living up to their post-Simon journey this year, due to being overly complimentary to every contestant. It seems that, for the most part, there wasn't much of any really judging going on.

No one on the show this season had the pistachios to step up and pick up Simon's slack. Nobody has been brutal enough to tell someone they had a bad performance, when they really did, without couching it in a lame hard-searched compliment. Overall to put it blunt, nobody had the guts to tell someone they "suck," that is, until Hogan did a run-in on Ryan Seacrest.

On a positive note in a different category, however, the music quality has improved by the American Idol band, or at least the production and mixing has from previous years. Also, so has the singing. Additionally, the entertainment value has gone up with more skits and better name celebrity guests. This clip, which I missed live, made me actual wish I was viewing in.

Wedding Venue Review - The Edison Club of Rexford

This past Saturday was a a little hectic for me, working as a DJ in the Albany area. After the weather just started to warm up, I had three different parties at three different places, all in the same day. The first gig was a nice mid-day wedding at The Edison Club in Rexford. The second was a karaoke/birthday party at Rennselaer Patroon Inn, and final one was a fun music video dance jam at Villa Valenti Pub in Troy, NY. (At the same time, my partner Maria DJ also had a birthday party. Busy as usual for TheDJservice.com.)

Of course, the most important venue and gig was the wedding. A great guy named Dustin, a former soilder is back from defending our country. He married that day a nice girl he met on duty in the Philippines. It was my duty to provide some fun and light music for their Champagne and Appetizer celebration /reception at The Edison.

The Edison Club for those of you who are not familiar hosts a number of weddings now. It really is a well-kept wedding secret in Rexford. (I do guess, however, that anybody one could really argue that most everything in Rexford is quiet. I few years ago, I didn't even know where Rexford was. Neither, by the way, does google maps. It is a safe bet that The Edison puts this nice town near Clifton Park on the map.)

Greenery is always perfect for outdoor wedding pictures. It dresses all the whites and blacks up from traditional wear and usually looks more interesting to they eye than inside church shots. The Edison Club of Rexford New York is a nice golf club, with tons of green and not located by other businesses.

The Edison has size. Edison also recently remodeled. The gearth of its space now is partitioned off of into three different sections. One for an indoor ceremony, one for a cocktail hour bar and the last for a dinning and dancing space ideal for your wedding reception. The dinning area is also equipt with a curtained stage and a very large wood dance floor lined with tables all around the sides.

My complaint is only really a technical one. It is a minor wiring issue that probably no guests would even notice, so probably not a real concern. (The stage where the entertainment usually sets up does not have electric outlets. Therefore, as the Disc Jockey or musician for the event, we have to run a cord off the stage and out where wiring can perhaps potentially be seen. If your disc jockey knows what he is doing and is professional, this issue shouldn’t be a concern.)

If you are planning a smaller wedding, they offer a banquet room as well, if you are not looking for much of any dancing. In the back of the building is a nice round room with a lot of windows and an beautiful fireplace. (This room does not provide a lot of access for guests or wedding professionals to move their bigger gifts/packages or gear into.) However, it may work perfectly for some. I had never done a gig in this room beofre, but everything turned out great!

If you are a bride or groom and looking for a decent place to have your wedding reception, it’s worth giving these gyuys a look at.

Top Ten Wedding Disaster List ...Put to Music

There are so many problems that can occur at a wedding, but as the song goes, "Don't Worry, Be Happy." Having a back up plan, or thinking about solutions to the problems that could occur are the keys to acheiving "The Perfect Wedding." If you plan your wedding with these problems in mind, as Bob Marley once said, "Every little thing's gonna be all right." Here is my Wedding Disaster playlist from TheDJservice.com:


1. Plan out your ceremony and you can… “Have The Time of Your Life” - Greenday
The Ceremony is the most important thing, overall and is often forgotten about. After all, the wedding reception is really just the celebration of having just had the ceremony. Spend a little time putting things together to make it memorable.

2. Be careful not to waste all of your … “Money” – The O’Jays
“Do we really need an award-winning classical violinist in by the coat room?”… “Do we really want a centerpeice in the bathroom?”… The dreaded Wedding Industry is a big money maker and a huge money taker. It is soooooo easy to get caught up in all the frills and extra options when you are planning wand request the very best of everything. This can get very costly, if you don’t pay attention to the little costs.

3. “Just The Two of Us” – Will Smith
Your wedding as a whole should be symbolic. Make sure your wedding is a reflection of both of you; the bride and a groom. Sometimes we forget to put in the personal likes and dislikes that make the event special. In the end, everyone should have some of the traditional wedding to make them happy, but also a mixed in balance of things that are important to the newlyweds.

4. “I need Somebody to, HELP, not just anybody.” – The Beatles
Two people are important for the success of your special day; the minister/officiant and the Disc Jockey/band leader. It is your duty to really know who is running the show. This means if you bring in a boring officiant for your wedding ceremony, your ceremony will be boring. Also, if you hire a bad band, people will have a bad time. Book a lame DJ and get lame stuff like chicken dances and YMCA, that is, if you dare consider the Village People to be "lame."

5. “Lose My Mind” - DMX
Don’t "Lose Yourself" as Eminem would say. It is easy-squeezey to get all stressed out and sweat the little things. Afterall, there are a ton of different components to a wedding where anything could go wrong. Odds are something will. If something doesn’t go exactly as planned, take a deep breath and move on. No one will care. Sometomes it makes things even more memorable. We are all human!

6. “More Money, More Problems” – The Notorious BIG, Biggie Smalls
If you let them, the wedding professionals, caterers, and even your guests can end up costing you a an arm and a leg and a fortune. Figure out exactly want to spend and stick to it!

7. “I’m Here For The Party” – Gretchen Wilson
It is never a good practice to "get your Ke$ha on" and go get plastered the night before your wedding. The funny thing is, it happens all the time. Think about it though. You are probably dropping thousands of dollars on your wedding. Do you really really want to be hung over on your special day? Words of wisdom: If a bachelor / bachelorette party is set up for the night before, be careful you don’t spoil things for the day after.

8. Be a great host and always think of… “Everybody” – Backstreet Boys
While it is your “special day,” the wedding reception will only be fun for everyone if you include everyone. That means perhaps playing some music you may not particularly like, or allowing something to happen for the good of the whole that you may not be particularly fond of.

9. “It Takes Two to Make a Thing Go Right” – Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock
It is hard to remember that there are two people, when planning a wedding. Quite often, the bride has been thinking about this day her whole life and totally takes over. Ladies, if you want the groom to enjoy himself, let him have a little fun in the planning as well.

10. “Singing in The Rain” – Gene Kelly
Make sure to have yourself a back up plan for every single individual thing that could go wrong. People are optimistic at heart and often think, bad stuff like these things could never ever happen to me. Howeverthey are the same ones who end up with ketchup all over the bride's wedding dress. If you don’t keep this in mind, all your people could be stuck out in a rainstorm.


(PICTURE CREDIT: http://www.getmarried.com/wedding-blog/2009/08/12/wedding-cake-disasters/)

Ten Ways to Save Big At Your Wedding

Are you planning a wedding and watching the numbers build? Fear not. There are many tips and corners you can cut to save money. Sometimes, just saving a little bit here and there can total major savings across the board. Here are ten great ways to to cut spending on your wedding ceremony and reception:

1. Watch Decoration Costs – Decorations can add up fast. Perhaps using candlelight might be a great option for you. Candles can be a delightful and romatic alternative to purchasing expensive centerpieces, costly flowers, and fancy decorations.

2. Which Day of The Week is Crutial to Savings – A catering hall or disc jockey "prime time slot" is usually considered to be Fridays, Saturdays, and even sometimes Sundays. The traditional wedding season tends to take place between somewhere in April through October. Booking outside these restraints and understanding these definitions of "wedding prime time" will really help you save.

3. Get Some Help! – Why spend a ton of loot on the photographer, musicians, officiant, or DJs, if some of your friends and family can make this happen for cheaper or even free. Who do you know?

4. Affordablity in the Wedding Dress Department – Havine a relative's wedding dress altered is nostalgic, time-honored and can additionally often often far cheaper than buying a new one, as well. Websites like eBay and Amazon even, thrift stores, can be a great way to save literally hundresds of dollars on the wedding dress.

5. Your Wedding Invitations – Online is totally acceptable now, so you can save a bundle on postage right there. If you do not want to go the e-invite route, at least shop your invitations online. Competition is fierce and you are bound to find a deal if you look enough.

6. Funding Flowers – Some vocational schools have Floral Classes as part of their curriculums. With the right connections, you can work with local schools to turn your wedding decoration into a classroom assignment and only pay cost of the flowers.Check with the hall to see who else is having a wedding there that weekend. You may be able to save on flowers by sharing.

7. Throw a “Wedding Prep” Party – Get all of your bridal party and friends together. Turn on the tunes and have them put together favors, flower arrangements and anything else that you have to pay more for when it comes completely assembled.

8. Think Food & Drink – Always provide your own caterer when you can. If your hall does not allow this, ask where money can be saved. See if they’ll let you provide your own liquor, or if serving only wine and beer will be cheaper than a full bar. Also consider only having open bar open during your cocktail hour, then serving an inexpensive wine with dinner.

9. Play on eBay – Anything you buy, always check eBay and Amazon first!

10. Cut Down The Guest List – When you look at many weddings at $50 or more a plate, you have to be selective. One rule of thumb is do not invite anyone you haven’t seen or even talked to in five years. Don’t encourage single people to bring a date. Avoid inviting work colleagues. And let your friends bring their children.


If you follow these guidelines, you will certainly have some money left over. That means a better home together and/or honeymoon you could have. For more was to save, check out Our site... www.TheDJservice.com