One of the best ways to have a memorable wedding is to plan a destination wedding. It combines the joy of getting married with the chance of exploring a new destination across your country or even abroad! But, planning a destination wedding requires careful consideration and planning in the aspects of choosing a location, setting a sound budget, and making it easy for guests to travel and enjoy the event. In this article by BWADJ, we’ll explore the step-by-step process couples can take for planning a successful destination wedding.

Choose a Great Location

The whole point of a destination wedding is to host it at a great location. Hence, the first step will be to brainstorm the best locations and then rank them based on feasibility, cost, and preference.

• Weather: For those planning to host the ceremony outdoors, weather should be one of the first factors to consider. Research your destinations’ average weather patterns and temperature during your preferred dates. Additionally, it’s best to steer clear of locations that are prone to extreme weather conditions.

• Accessibility: Hosting a wedding on an island or mountain top are great ideas, however as the host, it’s important to ensure that all guests including seniors and those requiring health accommodations can attend your wedding. For this reason, it’s best to choose locations that are easily reachable by cars or public transportation.

• Preference: At the end of the day, it is your wedding and you have the freedom to choose the location that best meets your needs. Whether it be a place with which you have a personal connection or a destination inspired by your favorite movie, your preference should take priority while making a decision.

Set a Budget

Setting a clear budget is crucial for any wedding, but it becomes even more critical for a destination wedding, where expenses can quickly add up. As reported by Bankrate, the average cost of a wedding and reception as of 2022 stood at $30,000. Consider the following steps to establish a realistic budget:

• Research Local Costs: The cost of decorations, catering, and other wedding-related activities vary across locations. Conduct online research to ascertain how much you’ll be paying based on the location(s) you shortlist.

• Include Travel Expenses: Remember to account for the travel expenses of you and your immediate family, given that there is a high chance you will be traveling together. Additionally, flight and train fares constantly fluctuate, hence it’s best to book well in advance and take advantage of group discounts to keep costs low.

• Create an Emergency Fund: Unexpected costs and last-minute charges are more common than you think, as reported by Brides. Hence, it’s best to set aside an emergency fund of 10-20% of your total budget to safeguard yourself from surprise costs.

Save Money with DIY Invitations

While decorations, catering, and other big-ticket items are best left to the professionals, you can save a considerable amount of money by designing your own invitations. 

• Use Online Design Tools: There are various great online design tools using which you can create a great wedding invitation within a few clicks. You can also personalize it based on your theme, location, and other preferences. Click here to try one of the best tools for designing wedding invitations. 

• Share Invitations Digitally: Additionally, instead of spending hundreds of dollars on printing cards, consider sharing them via email or messaging apps. 

Help Guests With Accommodations & Travel Plans

Helping your guests with planning accommodations and travel will result in a smooth and enjoyable experience for everyone involved. 

• Negotiate Group Bookings: For close friends and family, consider getting buy-in from everyone to purchase a group package. This will result in considerable savings and an organized travel schedule. 

• Provide a Wedding Guide: Once your wedding plans have been finalized, consider creating a guide that encompasses all the information things guests should know, such as the date, ceremony schedule, best accommodation options, and more to keep everyone informed and on the same page.

When it comes to hosting a destination wedding, planning will be key. In addition to choosing a location, you'll need to create a sound budget and utilize the best ways to keep costs in check, by creating your own invitations and making group bookings.

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 It was a hot Saturday this past weekend and it helped that the party started at 7. In Sylmar, we had a huge backyard to play some fun music. It was such a big back yard that they had a full court basketball court there. Anyway when I was there they were playing like reggaeton music in the background so I had a general idea of what kind of music they liked. At the fiesta, they were getting the tacos ready and they had the corn with the   chili and the raspodos (sort of like an icee).  Started off with old school Spanish music then went with the lively reggaeton. Then when it was dance time, we went with the cumbia. You cannot go wrong with the cumbias.  Did also threw in a little merengue and salsa and some banda. Then we did hit up some hip hop from the 1990s   and the 2000s. Some songs that hit for the night were by Peso Pluma, Selena, Sonora Dinimita, and Chingy.  At 10:30, we made some speeches to the birthday girl and we played the Mananitas was there  till 11 but the party still continued to after I left. These folks did not mess around and they had a portal potty outside. It was a fun event overall with good Spanish soundtrack. This party could have easily gone late late night but I left at 11. I did like the fact that the backyard was so big so we did not have to worry about the neighbors complaining about the noise level. Please call Black and White Affair for you latin party vibe.

 We are living in a Barbie world at the moment. Seem like that movie is blowing up and they were having a Barbie theme at the Brea Mall. All the cosmetic section was sporting Barbie shirts. I have been at this mall a few times already and it was being a good time every time. Most djs could just come by and just start playing what they feel but for me I have to prep since I don’t want to play the same kind of music over and over. I want it to be different every time I play. I had the instruction to play fun positive music. Most folks who play at retail stores usually play a certain type of music and let it ride the whole time. That is not me and I want it to be as diverse as possible. There were at least 8 folks who came by to tell me they liked the diversity of the music. I talked to one worker who stated the dj before playing 90s  songs over a house beat. That could be fun but a little of the same. I try to find songs that everyone knows and play it in the original format as possible. We did play a lot of Spanish cumbias and did a lot of old school music. This time we did 90s alternative, freestyle, 90s house, 90s pop, cumbia, Spanish ranchera. I even threw in Barbie Girl since it was the theme. Most djs would be afraid to play that but I have no fear. It was a very fun vibe at the Brea mall.

Recently we did a backyard gathering in South San Jose. I knew it was going to be special since the birthday girl was so excited about it. She mentioned she felt like a kid at a candy store and wanted everything to be perfect. She called me months in advance to share her vision of her party. I was able to sit down and make a list of all her favorite songs. She also wanted rare Brazilian songs that she was able to make sure we had them. There are different ways to get song ideas from folks. You can have them just email you a list or you can send them a list of popular songs and they can highlight the songs that they like. When a dj can get a sample playlist it makes it easier to get the vibe right. I remember getting a list of 7 songs from a client and it was difficult to determine what the client actually wanted. But it was a wedding so there are different parts that require different kinds of music.  She was very excited sharing her playlist.  She mentioned she would have about 30 of her closest friends at her function. She had a taco catering company supply the food. There is nothing like a dj playing hits for the 90s and todays tracks. Some of the tracks included Dynamite by Taio Cruz, Beat It by MJ, Please Don’t Stop the Music by Rihanna, Disco Inferno by the Trammps, Treasure by Bruno Mars. There was two hours of cocktails and dinner and the last two hours was nonstop dancing.

The sweet 16 event is a very important event in a young lady’s life. It is a coming of age party that many cultures around the world celebrate. In the U.S., the sweet 16 party is a very popular party that is celebrated with a very fancy party. 

There are many ways to celebrate a sweet 16 event. Folks can have a small gathering with close friends and family. Other folks can have a large party with many guest. No mater which route you take a sweet 16 party needs this:

!. Select a theme that shows off the birthday girls personality. Ideas are like a masquerade ball or a beach party.

2. Invitations that fall in the theme of the party. Make it eye catching.

3. Pick a venue that can fit your guests: banquet hall, ballroom, or backyard.

4. Decorate your venue with up lights, balloons and other decorations that fit your theme. Maybe consider getting a professional decorator.

5.  Consider doing appetizers and full meals. Be prepared since some folks cannot eat specific foods.

6. A birthday is not a birthday without the cake. Alternatives can be cake pops or cupcakes. The dessert can fall under the theme.

7. Entertainment: This should be number 1. This will make and break the celebration. Make sure you get a dj to provide the sound track of the memorable event.

8. Make sure your send out information on the dress code so your guests will follow the theme or dress formally.

9. Party favors so folks can take something memorable home such as candy bags or personalized items.

10. Have a guest book so guests can sign in and leave messages behind. It will be a good way to keep track of your guests so you can thank them for attending your event.

11. Photo booths can be added for fun pictures.

12. Set up a gift table so there is an area for the gifts.

13. Speeches: Allow time for family and friends to give speeches and share their wishes for the guest of honor.

The DJ is the New Wedding Planner (Bay Area Dj serving San Jose, Milpitas, Gilroy, Morgan Hill and Palo Alto)

In Today’s ever changing world of wedding, the traditional wedding planner are eventually coming to an end. This day of age folks are looking for something more creative and unique to make their wedding one of a kind. Let’s talk about the ever so humble dj to take the role of the wedding planner.

A smart dj knows how to get everyone on the dance floor and to keep them hostage there all night long! But knowing how to do that they also can help plan the event from start to finish. A good dj can provide feedback on decorations and menu. Since a good dj has been at plenty of weddings then they can give feedback on what works and what doesn’t. They also know folks in the industry who do good work in flowers, photo booths, and other vendors.

So this does not mean the thought of a wedding planner does go out the window. There are a lot of planners who can offer their services at a competitive rate. But if you are looking for fresh way to do weddings then do not look further than your dj as your wedding planner.

A good DJ will be able to bring out all of the skills that make your big day special and memorable.   They will create carefully curated playlists and lighting that highlight key moments in the evening's events. They will also be providing expertise on how best to arrange speeches or music selections throughout the night.  There is no doubt that hiring a DJ as your new wedding planner is sure to add an extra level of excitement and fun that will ensure that all guests leave with lasting memories.

When it comes time for planning your wedding day, why not think outside the box? Hiring a talented DJ as your new wedding planner may seem like a weird choice at first, but it really is worth considering if you want something fresh and unique. They have the experience of doing numerous weddings. Not all weddings have planners and most of the time it is the dj who is sets the pacing and events of the wedding.

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I was fortunate enough to do a party in the Bay Area recently and it was a good celebration. They just wanted party music. I was told just get Cumbia music and some old school. So I did set up the music but realized so what do they are going to listen to when they are eating. I was scheduled to play for five hours. Usually the first hour or so they will be eating then it is the dancing. I was told the party will be going on before hand and they will be eating before I start. This is my kind of party! More time for some dancing.  They had a speaker connected to a phone and they were playing like slow songs for dinner. I can tell it was not music the party planner selected but it was something the venue put together. And I was right since the phone belonged to someone at the venue. They were going to have a performance at 430 so I was asked to be already set up by that time so I would not be a distraction. I said no problem. I got there around 4 and I was set up by 417. It was an easy set up. The performers asked if I can connect to their phone. It was 430 and I wasn’t supposed to start till 5 but I happily obliged and connected the phone and made the microphone available. They had a Hawaiian performance and they had dancers from all ages get down. They had a few drummers but it was very lively.

  From 5 to 10 we went straight cumbia. We probably did 80 percent cumbia for 5 hours and did some ranchera music. We did a little old school but it was Spanish that got everyone on the dance floor.

Los Gatos High School, Class of 2023, just knew how to do it right. Even while I was growing up, Los Gatos was known as an elite school in sports and now we know know that they know how to throw a party.  They were excellent with communication to make sure they got their party right.  We were in constant contact from two students from the ASB team that kept us in the loop.  Ending the year of right with an epic prom night at no other place , but the BNY Mellon Club located at the 50 yard line behind the 49ers sideline at the field level, that making it the most premium space at Levi’s stadium! We loved the fact that we were playing on sacred ground and playing where the  49ers run wild.  As soon as the doors opened, music starts playing. Every song back to back seemed liked a hit the way everybody reacted and sang along to hits like We Found Love by Rihanna, Fireball by Pitbull, Love Story by Taylor Swift, Losing it by Fisher, Feel so Close by Calvin Harris, Bel Merci by Jengi, Hey Baby by Pitbull. And the list was endless for such an epic night with endless dancing and very great taste in music. Lghs 23’ you were amazing! The energy on the dance floor could not be matched and it will always be remembered. Also the fact that they were celebrating in the presence of greatness of a football team just made it a little bit magical.