The holidays are an ideal time for making memories with your new spouse that will last a lifetime, but the season can also be fraught with challenges. Courtesy of Black and White Affair DJ Services, here are a few ideas on how to handle your first holiday as a married couple--from making plans with families to making a combined wish list to carving out time for togetherness. 

The Families

Experts interviewed by The Grand Rapids Press advise taking some time early on to discuss where and how you’ll spend the holidays. Emphasize which of your own family celebrations and traditions are most important to you, and encourage your spouse to do the same. Practical considerations like time and travel will probably make it impossible to do everything you both want to do, nor will you be likely to please everyone in both families. However, a little compromise will go a long way toward a smooth seasonal transition that blends the wants and needs of both sides of the family.

Once you’ve made a plan, stick to it--and stick together. Don’t tell your side of the family that your spouse wanted to do something different or mention over dinner at your in-laws that you’re missing one of your favorite family events in order to be with them. And, if something in your holiday plan absolutely makes one or both of you miserable, you can always do something different next year. 

The Wish List

It might seem greedy to be thinking about a holiday wish list so soon after all those wedding gifts, but inevitably there will be things you didn’t consider when putting together your registry, particularly if you’ve moved since tying the knot or you got married months ago. 

Were you worried about your home’s security while you were on your honeymoon? If so, consider putting some smart home security tech on your list. Did you struggle through fall collecting colorful leaves with an ancient rake you found in the garage? Ask for some new lawn tools or a yard cleanup by a professional.

For newlyweds who’ve found themselves woefully underprepared for common homeowner hassles, consider adding an extension ladder and a basic tool kit to your wishlist. If you really want to create connections with family, ask your handiest in-law to help you take down this year’s hastily hung lights and offer suggestions on next year’s seasonal strategy over lunch. 

If you had a warm-weather wedding, odds are good that you didn’t think to include holiday decorations on the registry. If your home is looking a little bare this year, consider requesting ornaments to trim the tree or deck the halls, suggests WeddingWire. And, if you receive a keepsake piece from a family member, make sure to display in in a prominent position, even if it doesn't match the rest of your newly burgeoning collection of seasonal decor.

Finally, between your wedding, honeymoon, and preparing your home for married life, you likely haven’t had much time to shop for personal items. There’s no shame in including some creature comfort-type requests on your list. For example, you might include comfy loungewear, a warm blanket for the winter nights ahead, or some delicious wine for relaxing evenings in. 

The New Traditions

The holidays can be hectic, but it is important to set aside some time to create your own traditions as a couple. Mark a night on the calendar and say no to any other invitations. Spend the evening cooking dinner together and then write your holiday cards and make homemade ornaments. 

Alternatively, you could plan a cookie-baking session and package them as host-and-hostess gifts to take with you to holiday gatherings. There’s nothing like the smell of holiday baking to put people in a festive mood. Be sure to save some sweet treats for yourself and end the evening with a plate of cookies, a couple of festive drinks and a holiday movie or two.

The first holiday season can be magical and special. These tips will help you and your spouse make sweet seasonal memories of your first year as a family and will help you try out some new traditions to make your house feel like a home for the holidays. 

Lori and Tim had a fabulous wedding at Fortino Winery.  Weather could not be any better. What was a treat was with the shade installed on the grounds it was not hot for the ceremony and reception. Fortino Wineries has to be one of the best outside venues in the area since it has a lot of space and a good shelter from the sun. They had a nice ceremony in the grass area by the Officiant Frances. She did a fine job. They incorporated a Japanese tradition of planting a grape wine together. 

Grand Entrance consisted  of the bride and groom and mother of the bride with best man and maid of honor. 

Cocktail hour was only 30 minutes and the great food was served. Dinner had a good r&b vibe during the meal. 

A few toasts were made and one was made via recording that was very touching. The first dance was a special one. It started off as a country song then it turned into C + C Music Factory song with the lyrics Everybody Dance Now Looped 4 times. Folks were able to join the couple with their first dance. Right after dinner it started to get dark. So we arranged to get some uplights to add some color around the venue. Venue is already pretty but the uplights add accents. They were lined up with the trees and bushes. Uplights always add a nice touch. They are a classy touch and it gives the area a new vibe. 

Music was very diverse. It was a lot of old school throwbacks. It was a mix of 70s, 80s, 90s, and 00s.

Matt and Stefanie had a beautiful micro wedding at a Monte Serrano Residence. It was decorated beautifully that you would not think it was a residence but an actual venue. They had around 7 long tables wrapped around the house. We had enough volume for everyone to hear the toasts but we did not go too loud for the neighbors to call for loudness. 

They were married elsewhere and brought the party to Monte Serrano. 

 They kept their wedding events to the minimum so they can really focus on the toasts and the dancing. There was no bouquet or garter toss. I do notice of late a lot of couples are opting to not include all the wedding events. They can decide what to keep and what to drop. Bride and groom came in with the Chicago Bulls theme song. Knowing the Bulls dynasty, it’s a very epic intro song. 

The caterers were from Irvine. I know why these folks came up North for this wedding because their food was outstanding. I overheard one wedding guests say she had been to many weddings but never had food this good. I agree it was top notch food. 

The toasts were good ones while the best man, matrons of honor, and the dads of the bride and groom spoke. I truly enjoy listening to toasts since you able learn more about the bride and groom. 

We had plenty of dancing. A lot of the songs were fun throwback songs. The song of the night was Chumbawamba. I can honestly say I never played that live anywhere but this night and it was a hit. 

2021 weddings have been picking up and with 2022 coming in then it will be really busy. I typically do 1 to 2 weddings a month. Prepping for a wedding takes a whole lot more time than prepping for a birthday party or corporate event. 

When prepping for a meeting, one has to meet with the couple and get their vision for their big day. Once you get it then the bride and groom fill out their song lists and most of the songs I do have but with ones I don’t, I make sure I have the right version of it. Then before the wedding we meet again and go over everything in case anyting was added or changed. 

The Bay Area has to be one of the best places to have a wedding due to the weather. In the 8 days of the 3 weddings, the temperature could not be beat. And if it is hot then an umbrella would help out. One reception started at 2 with the other 2 started at 5. The one that started earlier was a little hot to start off but it was bearable. With the 5’oclock start receptions the temperature was perfect.

What I noticed about these weddings:

Only one of the three did a boquet toss and not one did a garter toss.

People were aching to get to the dancefloor

One wedding had a guest singer which added a nice touch.

The only way to make sure we did the events planned was with the wedding coordination sheet. Since the weddings were so close to each other the coordination sheet ensured nothing was forgotten. 

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I got to do the wedding for a charming couple in los Gatos. They got married in the beautiful Chapel on the Hill in Los Gatos off Highway 17. The pre-ceremony music was awesome with famous songs made into piano covers. People could recognize the song after a few notes. Reverend Kim did an awesome ceremony and loved her positive energy.  They had a nice short ceremony then that’s when the party started. 

I loved setting up the playlist for this wedding. The majority of the music comes from one of the best time periods of all time for music and that is the 90s and 2000s. The majority was r&b and hip hop based. Some of the best r&b ballads come from that time period. Songs that stood out for me was KCi and Jojo with All my Life and Crazy. Later on for the dance portion of the night it was a lot of Bay Area Anthems and West Coast Classics.

 The Grand entrance was a truly grand entrance. Every group in the wedding party had their own theme song as they entered to the reception area. A few had their own dance routine.

I loved working with the vendors. Q from the venue made sure my speakers were safe outside by getting an umbrella for my speakers. Alfredo provided these dance floor panels that were impeccable. Kayla’a crew with the catering provided good food and they made sure I was taken care of. Sarah and Fritz were the folks behind the cameras and we all synced to make sure we were all ready for the big events.

Truly one of my most favorite weddings with good energy and an awesome playlist. Thank you Melissa and Emilio. 

There is a new phenomon happening in the dj world. It is the ability to stream songs in the dj set. So djs can find a song not in their library and be able to play it at events. 2020 was the year to dj from the home and folks could take advantage of using their own internet to play virutually. They could rely on their home internet for stable internet use. 

Well now that the world is semi open. Folks are now getting calls to do events. Some places more than others and now Djs have this in their arsenal. How safe is it to Dj outside the home with this streaming service? It all depends on how strong the wifi is at the venue. If one is doing an event at a residence then the internet can be strong but if the venue is out of nowhere then internet maybe spotty. There is nothing worse than getting the beach ball of doom while waiting for a song to come on or if the song is cutting in or out while playing. 

Streaming might be the answer for the people who don’t have a music library. They wont need the time collect their music but all they would need is to type the song in the search bar. 

There are a few services that can work with your dj software. I prefer to use serato and have used beatsource and tidal. Tidal does have a bigger library and a bit cheaper than beatsource. But what makes beatsource different is they have dj friendly edits. That means they have an intro to make it mix friendly if that’s something someone is interested.

One of the best outside venues in the Gilroy area is Fortino Winery.  I do like the fact that the space is so open and it was outside. I also liked I could bring my 12 inch speakers and it can be heard at the other end with ease. One does not need tons of speakers to be efficient at Fortino Winery. Its also a cool place since they have a big open space and another space to hold events in case one needs a plan b. They can easily hold two events at the same time and even wanted to can hold another outside event at the tables by the front parking.  I had the pleasure to play there this past weekend. It was a school staff event and it was a good time. The music theme was simple and it was just old school. 70s 80s and 90s. Again the food was top notch. They also had a photo booth which was fun for the folks.

The following day was my birthday. Pre covid I would opt to not work my birthday. But this party had the makings of something special. I heard the playlist that consisted of Spanish classics and 80s music. I am a sucker for the classics and I felt I needed to be at this party. The hostess gave me a lot of artists such as Thalia, Alejandro Fernandez, Paulina Rubio to set a good vibe. I have to vote for South County as one of the best places to have a residence event. We had the volume at a good amount and we didn’t have to worry about neighbors complain about the sound. 

Plan a Backyard Wedding Without Breaking the Bank

Your backyard. It’s the perfect wedding location. You save money from not renting out an overpriced venue that comes with a whole list of rules that cramp your style, and you have absolute creative freedom to express your own vision and show everyone a unique event they’ll never forget.

There’s just one issue: It takes a lot of preparation. Everything from the landscaping to the catering to the bartending is up to you to arrange. It may seem a bit overwhelming, but you can do it with some guidance, even on a smallish budget. Black and White Affair DJ Services offers a few suggestions on how.

Prepare Rooms for Loved Ones

You only have enough room to accommodate close family for overnight arrangements, so make them feel at home with a little attention to detail. Above all, that means putting fresh linens on the beds in the guest rooms, before adding extra comfort in the form of pillows or comforters. Consider also leaving a basket filled with items like bottled water, toiletries, ear plugs, mints, and anything else that can make their stay more comfortable. 

Start Early in the Yard

Since the most important moments will take place here, it better look its best, and that means getting started on your landscaping months in advance if you want a new bed of flowers in bloom for the occasion. Also, don’t neglect to pull up any dead plants and keep the grass well watered so it’s lush and green for the big day. In some cases, you may even need to have dead or dying trees removed, especially if they’re safety hazards or could open up necessary yard space. This isn’t a task to handle yourself, so look for local tree removal experts who can quickly cut down and dispose of these trees. Remember to get several quotes, and check online reviews and ratings first. 

Install an Arbor or Pergola

Arbors or pergolas garden structures offer your guests a place to relax without leaving the party, and you’ll enjoy the shelter it provides, along with the elegance of climbing flowers climbing up the beams. Professionally built trellises cost around $471 for materials and labor, while a DIY one will cost about $275.

Rent the Extras You Need

This could be a long list depending on how many guests you’re anticipating. You’ll almost certainly need some chairs for the ceremony itself, as well as a few tables for guests to put food and drinks on during the reception. Then there’s the sound system and a generator to power everything, including the extra refrigerator in the kitchen for all the goodies you’re serving.

Block Off a Staging Area

It all revolves around the kitchen, as there could be no reception without food. You may also want to block off an adjacent room for additional prep space, and keep it hidden with some makeshift curtains so your guests don’t catch a glimpse of the magic happening behind the scenes.

Find the Right DJ

The most contained way to provide entertainment is with a DJ service. What’s crucial will be finding the right spot for the DJ to set up, as well as enough yard space for dancing. Depending on your grass, you may want to opt for a dance floor, but dancing on the lawn in bare feet can be just as fun. 

Get Clever With the Decor

This could easily suck up thousands of dollars if you’re not smart about it. That may mean ditching the flowers, as hard as it seems. As a writer with Money Crashers points out, candles are much cheaper and more romantic. 

Don’t Skimp on Drinks

Do your wedding toast with Prosecco, and your guests won’t know that it’s cheaper than champagne. As for the rest of the occasion, you can’t go wrong with beer and wine, though Bon Appétit has some ideas for signature cocktails that don’t require too much work as they’re made from just three ingredients. Ancho Reyes daiquiri anyone?

It’s bound to be a memorable occasion, so don’t forget to enjoy it yourself. After all, this is your day.

Image via Pixabay.

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