Anniversary parties take place all year round, and are unique to each couple and family.  Every couple has their own love story, and celebrating that story makes for a truly special event. 
 
Inspired by our own parents’ anniversaries, GigMasters staff members realize how important it is to take the time to celebrate love and family.   
 
If you or your parents were married in the 1970’s, this upcoming wedding anniversary illuminates a lasting love, and certainly an occasion worth celebrating to the fullest.
 
You might consider hiring a 70’s Band, Funk Band, or a DJ, to help bring everyone back to an era of funk, soul, and arguably the most influential popular dance music in history.
 
Here are our top ten song picks that are sure to keep party guests out of their seats and on the dance floor: 
 
 
The GigMasters Top 10 70’s Party Songs:
 
1. Let It Whip – Dazz Band
2. Brick House – The Commodores
3. Superstition – Stevie Wonder
4. I Want You Back – The Jackson 5
5. Boogie Shoes – KC & the Sunshine Band
6. Let’s Groove – Earth, Wind & Fire
7. Celebration – Kool & The Gang
8. Bennie and the Jets – Elton John
9. Play That Funky Music – Wild Cherry
10. September – Earth, Wind & Fire

 

 

If you're newly engaged and starting to freak out about wedding costs, you're not alone. "Budget weddings" are all the rage. And, "budget" definitely doesn't mean cheap -- it means coming up with creative ideas to work with the resources you have.

I'm so inspired by the 13,000+ brides and grooms who have booked their wedding entertainment with us this past year. They are certainly feeling the budget crunch, spending on average $749, 8% less than in 2008. What's great is that they're finding unique ways to use entertainment to create a one-of-a-kind wedding day.

We recently released a study that shows just how this tough economy has impacted wedding entertainment choices. Some findings:

• 17% more couples are choosing variety acts like Elvis impersonators, magicians, and belly dancers.
  
• Solo acts like acoustic guitarists and harpists are up 44%.
• More couples are asking their reception entertainment to break down into smaller groups for the ceremony and cocktail hours.

To see the complete study, click here.

And, we want to thank all the sites who featured the findings from our study. Here's a few...we couldn't list them all!

OneWed.com

CNBC.com

WCBS NewsRadio

Streetinsider.com

Hollywoodindustry.com

Examiner.com

Forbes.com

WeddingPlanningAndAccessories.com

 

With summer soon coming to a close, you may feel the need to spend as much time outdoors as possible – by the beach, by the lake, or just your backyard.  Even if you live in a city, finding spots of greenery can be relaxing and rejuvenating. 

The atmosphere of the outdoors works wonders when throwing all types of parties – weddings, birthday celebrations, company picnics, and other corporate events.  When the main décor is your landscape, your event becomes whimsical.    

This is why we are spotlighting Botanical Gardens as a great idea for a party venue.  For one thing, you can find them located in and outside of cities across the country.  They also provide gorgeous indoor and outdoor spaces available all year round to visit, and to host your next event. 

The New York Botanical Garden advertises their seasonal exhibits, and also features a Children’s Adventure Garden.  This is a perfectly unique idea for your child’s next birthday party.  Hire a face painter or a magician to make this adventureland complete.

Many Botanical Gardens also boast banquet halls and patios ideal for wedding and anniversary celebrations.  At a special request, you can even have your ceremony take place in the garden landscape of your choice.  A solo guitarist, violinist, or a classical singer, would fit elegantly into this type of ceremony.

By hosting an event at a Botanical Garden, you are also supporting community greening projects, as well as laboratory research.  By becoming a member, you too can be involved in efforts to improve surrounding communities, and to better our environment.

Take some time to stop, have fun, get involved, and smell the flowers…           

Visit the American Public Gardens Association website and use their Public Garden Search to find a garden in your area.

Marissa Latshaw, a member of the GigMasters team, was recently featured on Precious Nuptials & Destinations:: Coffee Break with the Wedding Planner. 

Take a look at what Marissa recommends for couples who want to use entertainment to put a personal stamp on their wedding day.  Both Marissa and Precious agree, it's all about celebrating what makes the couple unique!

Precious Nuptials & Destinations is a Houston, Texas-based wedding and event planning boutique.  Precious Richardson's blog is a great source of creative inspiration and practical advice for wedding planning professionals.  And, yes, that's her real name!

You might be surprised to hear that requests for Variety Entertainment at weddings has increased by 17% this past year.  But we found an article by Erika Lovley of POLITICO.com that shares some interesting info about prominent political figures making it onto the guest list for hundreds of weddings, even graduation parties, each year.
 
Lovley writes:
 
“The White House has received a range of invitations, occasionally with a letter from or a picture of the couple tucked inside.  Even save the dates have arrived.  The White House typically responds with a congratulatory note stamped with an official seal that many brides covet as a scrapbook centerpiece.”

So how does this new trend fit in with GigMasters Variety Entertainment?  It’s all about clients getting the next best thing: Celebrity Impersonators.

And it just so happens that GigMasters recently sent two Sales Representatives, Rick and Alfred, to the 9th Annual Celebrity Impersonators Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

Rick tells us firsthand about the experience, the talent, and the new members to GigMasters.com:

“What a trip – literally.  Last month, we were privileged to mingle and schmooze with some of the world’s finest celebrity impersonators, look-a-likes, and tribute acts.  It was an honor to finally meet some of our current members, with whom we had previously only spoken to through email or over the phone for so long. 

Alfred and I attended on behalf of GigMasters.  Alfred was mistaken for a Dustin Hoffman Impersonator on more than one occasion, which surely can’t be a bad thing.  (Unless, of course, they were referring to the hit movie “Rain Man” and the scene with Hoffman playing Blackjack.) 

Now, we all know that Impersonators are entertainers who look, dress, speak, and behave just like our favorite celebrities.  These Celebrity Impersonators entertain us with their great talent, and also fill that nostalgia for the real thing.  Whether they impersonate a celebrity that may have passed away, or one that is still living, these professionals are superb at what they do, and never cease to amaze us.

Although the timeless phrase, “What Happens in Vegas – Stays in Vegas,” may just be a little bit true, we did take home a great deal of insight, and many new signups.  We also had a great time!  We met everyone from Robert DeNiro and Michael Jackson, to Sarah Palin, and more than one Barack Obama.” – Rick

You can find a complete list of our Celebrity Impersonators and Look-a-likes here.  We at GigMasters think that hiring an Impersonator to make an appearance at your reception, graduation party, corporate dinner, or birthday celebration – is way better than getting turned down by the celebrity.  Instead of filling your scrapbook with a decline to your invitation, fill it with some great pictures, and even better memories. 

 

When you think, “destination wedding,” you probably picture ocean side ceremonies and a smaller, close-knit group of family and friends.  While a paradise wedding sounds lovely and serene, the intense planning that goes into this type of celebration is mind-boggling.  Even with a shorter guest list, the flowers, food, table settings, decorations, entertainment, and travel arrangements must be handled from all the way back home.
 
One of our GigMasters clients came up with a great way to have their destination wedding without a lot of added stress.  Picture California wine country – an elegant, isolated winery, with beautiful architecture, endless views, and all-inclusive arrangements for private parties. 
 
For this bride-to-be, an upscale, yet welcoming atmosphere was at the top of her wish list for both her wedding ceremony and reception.  The Eagle Castle Winery in Paso Robles, California fit these criteria, and boasts some impressive amenities as well.  This winery, in particular, provides full catering, and a tasty menu.  They are even able to provide the wedding cake.
 
We found this choice for a wedding venue to be unique and inspired.  While one could host a variety of private parties at a winery, the location, food, and, of course, the wine, make for a sophisticated - and delicious - wedding celebration.

With a more intimate setting and guest list, hiring a solo musician such as a Flamenco Guitarist or Italian Singer would accent the tranquil mood of this location.

Having your wedding at a winery also makes for some great wedding favor ideas, including personalized glassware, bottle openers, and sampled selections of wine.
 
Thanks again to our client for sharing her wedding plans – we wish her a successful and memorable celebration.

Love is in the air! Here’s the latest in celebrity engagement and wedding news—from across the pond to Canada to Texas!

• It was aisle dash #2 for Salma Hayek and husband François-Henri Pinault this weekend at the Venice opera house. The two were originally married Valentine’s day in Paris.
  
• Heidi Montag followed in Hayek’s footsteps and had a do-over wedding with Spencer Pratt this weekend. The couple’s first wedding was in November.
  
• Andy Roddick & Brooklyn Decker recently took the plunge in Austin, TX where none other that Sir Elton John played for the newlyweds. Talk about entertainment! Fellow tennis pro Roger Federer also got hitched, to tennis player Miroslava "Mirka" Vavrinec, this month.
  
• Bad boy Fred Durst of Limp Bizkit fame tweeted about tying the knot with his girlfriend in July. And CSI star Lauren Lee Smith said “I do” in April to her photographer sweetie, in her home of Canada.
  

CELEBRITIZE: A recurring theme this month was to make your wedding your own—whether you plan to have more than one of them or not! We can’t all have a knight play at our weddings, but keep cover/tribute bands in mind—it’s the latest trend in wedding entertainment. Also, think about a non-traditional venue - they make for amazing, memorable events. And, we think there's nothing cooler than juxtaposing the music with the venue, like a hard rock band in an opera house.

April showers bring…May proposals! While the winter holidays are still the #1 most popular time for marriage proposals, spring is not far behind. To that end, GigMasters filtered through all of the great wedding planning feedback we’ve gotten over the years and narrowed it down to the “Top 3 Things To Ask/Tell Your Wedding Performer” for engaged couples. There are lots of entertainment options for brides and grooms—and we 100% encourage the consideration of all of them! Here are a few simple rules to follow to ensure a great time is had by all.

1. Plan ahead and communicate: If possible, meet with your performer ahead of time. Even if you can't meet in person, do your homework, make joint lists and have at least one phone conversation to get on the same page. Always ask to speak to their most recent clients and/or clients whose circumstances are similar to yours (ie. same reception site, extra-large wedding parties, guest "performances," etc.)
   
2. Be clear…crystal clear: If there are dealbreakers such as a “do not play” list or a time limit you must stick to come toast time, put it in writing. You can --and should -- go as far as mapping out the flow of the evening. A rigid schedule may be hard to keep since there are many other factors, like food service, but a general flow with ballpark time-frames will help keep your event on track. The only kind of surprises you want—and your performer wants for you—are pleasant ones.
   
3. Ask the tough questions: Find out up front what the cost is going to be should you and your spouse decide to extend the playlist, even if (or especially if) you’re not planning on it. Also, find out if your band / DJ has experience dealing with insistent song requesters, technical difficulties, weather issues, etc. You should feel confident that they will deal gracefully with whatever comes their way. Examples they use to answer these questions make for great references. Don't be shy -- if they tell you about the wedding where the electricity went out for an hour, and they had to play acoustically, ask if you can speak to that couple!
   

Celebritize: When in doubt, choose a first song that speaks to you as a couple. Check out these famous first dance titles, and tell us it wasn’t a love story in the making.

• Ashton Kutcher & Demi Moore - At Last (Etta James)
• Courtney Cox & David Arquette - Maybe I'm Amazed (Paul McCartney)
• Niki Taylor & Burney Lamar - Better Together (Jack Johnson)
• Pink & Carey Hart - She's Always a Woman (Billy Joel)

As the 2.2 million brides and grooms-to-be out there gear up for the 2009 wedding season, we're taking a good look at the wedding news, planning sites and blogs out there—and there’s a lot out there! Despite the economic storm, couples need not run for cover; a beautiful wedding is possible--on any budget. In fact, there are all kinds of online tools, articles and information available for those who are willing to spend some time doing their homework. As GigMasters helps couples find the perfect entertainment, there are other sites out there to help make "the big day" beautiful. To get you started, here’s a round-up of what’s being posted on 3 of the top wedding blogs around:

WWW.BRIDES.COM/BLOG: This how-to/ what-to-do guide prides itself on being the source for bridal fashion—and even posts direct from the NYC couture shows. Recent “Wedded Bits” Post: Attack of the 49-foot-bride, voiced by Reese Witherspoon in “Monsters vs. Aliens,” plays fashionista!

WWW.THEKNOT.COM/BLOG: “Wedding Obsessions” is all about creativity and style for everything wedding—with budget in mind. This co-written blog for the brides and by the brides gives ideas on everything from engagement to honeymoon. Recent Post: Did you know it’s possible to hold your reception in a sports stadium?!

WWW.WEDDINGBEE.COM: Talk about a team effort! This blog-only site has virtual “reporters” from all over sending photos and ideas for the many types of weddings and couples out there. Heavy on décor ideas and hair/beauty, Wedding Bee feels like a best friend who’s full of handy tips. Recent Post: Recession-proof accessories…’nuff said.

TIP FOR ENGAGED COUPLES: After determining a budget, make a wish list with your fiancé of the things that are most important to you both. Then, consider wedding blogs and online tools to figure out where to get the most bang for your buck so that you’re both happy in the planning process. That in itself is worth its weight in gold!

Wedding News! With spring’s arrival comes wedding bells! Here’s the latest on who in Hollywood is getting hitched and a few pointers to ensure your big day is just as dazzling:It seems Indiana Jones is still a man of mystery: actor Harrison Ford finally popped the question to girlfriend of 7 ½ years, ex-Ally McBeal-er Calista Flockhart. Apparently, “the Fugitive” managed to surprise his bride-to-be, back in February over the Valentine’s weekend and keep it quiet until now! Also engaged is Christina Ricci who met her beau on the set of upcoming film, "All's Faire in Love." Sounds like the perfect title! CELEBRITIZE: If you’re thinking of making an honest woman out of her, why not take a cue from the silver screeners and romance her with an old Hollywood type of glamour? As you get down on one knee, perhaps have the music from her favorite classic film in the background (here’s looking at you, kid.)

Also, over the weekend Bruce Willis said “I do” to his model girlfriend of over a year in front of ex-Demi Moore and her husband Ashton Kutcher. The ceremony took place at his home in Turks & Caicos but a California civil ceremony is also planned. CELEBRITIZE: No matter the size of your event or destination, capitalize on the moment with musical accompaniment: think soloist or maybe a single acoustic guitar for smaller, more private occasions.

Lastly, songbird Natasha Bedingfield married her businessman boyfriend in a fairly traditional ceremony overlooking the ocean. She and her new hubby walked back down the aisle to Mendelssohn's "Wedding March" after taking the plunge. CELEBRITIZE: Dare to be as traditional—or non-traditional—as you like with ceremony music. One new trend we’re seeing is choosing a classic piece for the processional but a contemporary tune for the recessional. Think Obla-di-obla-da or something off the top 40 to celebrate the moment.