LucieXYZ Photography

It seems like it should be easy, right? Just pick a song and dance with dad. However, when you consider this falls in the category of Special Dances, you realize it should be just that – special.

Depending on dad’s taste, and if it lines up with your own, may determine the outcome of this song selection. Many artists are remaking classic songs, so it’s easy to find old standards with a modern flair.

However, there’s another twist that will make the impact of your Father Daughter Dance one that no other wedding reception has — and that’s to record a special message. This idea is best described below, taken from page 174 of Peter Merry’s book, The Best Wedding Reception…Ever!

One way to enhance the emotional impact of your special dances is to record a special message that can either precede or be mixed into the song during the instrumental segments…it will not only make your dance more personalized and memorable, but it can also be a nice surprise.

The book labels this creative idea as one of the most difficult to get right. It is very important that the wedding MC/DJ understands how to do this properly so that it receives the proper flawless presentation. This person typically will need strong editing skills to create edits that are both technically superior as well as emotionally powerful. When in doubt, ask for a sample recording.

Father Daughter Dance Recommendations

 • The Way You Look Tonight – Maroon 5
 • Wildflowers – Tom Petty
 • You Are Sunshine of My Life – Stevie Wonder
 • Surfer Girl – The Beach Boys
 • Have I Told You Lately That I Love You by Van Morrison
 • She’s The One – Bruce Springsteen
 • (I Know) I’m Losing You – The Temptations
 • Oh, Pretty Woman – Roy Orbison

What’s your favorite selection for a Father Daughter Dance? Reply and let the world know in the comments section below!

Special thanks to LucieXYZ Photography for this blog image, which was taken from a wedding we worked together at Holman Ranch in Carmel Valley.

More couples are finding the weather in the San Francisco Bay Area to be more pleasant in October now that we don’t turn the clocks back for another few weeks. This year was no exception, and Brian and Alice couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day to have a San Jose wedding reception at Cinnabar Hills Golf Club.

Brian & Alice have some wedding photography fun!

When I first met the groom, Brian, I’ll admit that I wasn’t sure how far I could push the humor element that day. But as we started planning, he began to open up and let me work some magic that ultimately led to a memorable evening entertaining their guests. Serving as Master of Ceremonies, I presented a very delicate but cute and silly Love Story — mostly thanks to the proposal details submitted by Brian.

Earlier in the evening, I had set the tone with an upbeat and customized introduction of their wedding party. It was especially moving for me, because it was perhaps the first time I’d been able to talk about a “near-death” experience… and NOT be joking about it. However, to see the smiles and the tears on everyone’s faces made it worth every minute.  (Check out the photos below!)

When we finally got to dancing, I was competing a little with the ever popular photobooth from my friends at Photoworks Interactive. But with a little help from photographer Patrick Ang, we pulled every guest onto the dance floor for a group photo and partied hard for the next few hours. Being a wedding DJ has advantages to other types of events, mostly because everyone is already there to have a good time!  Brian and Alice, and their friends and families, were no exception.

Brian & Alice during after their Grand Introduction

Candid response from the Customized Fun Wedding Party Introductions

The best wedding DJs know when to play the right song

Wedding DJ and MC Jason Spencer made sure the dance floor was rockin'

The details

• Wedding Party Introductions: “Get Ready For This” by 2 Unlimited (old San Jose Sharks theme)
• Bride and Groom Introduction: “Beautiful Day” by U2
• Bride and Groom First Dance: “Lucky” by Jason Mraz & Colbie Caillat
• Father-Daughter Dance: “I Loved Her First” by Heartland
• Longevity Dance: “You’re Still The One” by Shania Twain
• Cake Cutting: “Sugar, Sugar” by The Archies
• Bouquet Toss: “Independent Woman” by Destiny’s Child
• Garter Toss: “Take A Look Around” by Limp Bizkit
• Last Dance: “We Go Together” from Grease Soundtrack

Last weekend’s wedding was unlike any other that I’ve had the chance to attend. Roze and Kyle have a very unique Love Story. One such that the wedding itself was themed in a whimsical world of Hatter’s Tea Party.

Top hats, gloves, vintage, semi-Victorian/Steampunk and formal attire are encouraged.

It was almost as it passing thought the black iron gates of Michael’s on Main in Soquel transported you back in time. Everything was beautiful and inspired, from the invitations to the centerpiece arrangements. The cake proclaimed “Eat Me” while the favors enticed guests by saying “Drink Me.”

But it was the attire that made this event. For a Goth loving group like this, it was on par. The top hats were abundant and the corsets were snuggly around the waist of many. The groom, Kyle, fit the part with his tails and top hat, while Roze’s dress was unlike anything I’d ever seen. A pattern of red roses trailed down her backside, which only flowed naturally from the curls in her hair – done up beautifully I might add.

This might be a good spot to mention that Roze is a hairdresser (she does wedding too), and many elements of the day were done at the assistance of Amy Frugoli, wedding planner at Twitterpated Weddings. This was actually my first time not serving as the wedding DJ, but mostly a guest. I did act as Master of Ceremonies for the afternoon, which included personalized bios during the introductions, and we did tell the bride and groom’s Love Story (which on that day, was referred to as “Memory Lane”).

Kyle says he appreciates Roze’s ability to know the difference between Keebler Elves, Christmas Elves and Middle Earth Elves.

It’s important to note that much of this afternoon was a DIY Wedding, something that several vendors frown upon. However, just as my own wedding was DIY, you can see where some elements might have cost more than hiring a professional. The trick to making it work within your budget is focusing your energies on what matter the most to you. This was a day about being with friends, and I don’t think Kyle or Roze would have asked for anything different.

The details

• Wedding Party Introductions: “Cantina Band” from Star Wars Episode IV
• Bride and Groom Introduction: “Let’s Dance” by David Bowie
• Bride and Groom First Dance: “Grow Old With You” by Adam Sandler
• Bouquet Toss: “Fat Bottomed Girls” by Queen
• Garter Toss: “Oh Yeah” by Yello

See more photographs on the Spencer Weddings and Entertainment Facebook page!

In their 25th year of raising money for a worthy cause, Neil and Pegi Young put together a great lineup of artists this past weekend at the Bridge School Benefit concert. Two sold out days at Shoreline Amphitheatre made for a great day of musical entertainment.

Saturday, which started at 5pm, had a few problems with the cancellation of Diana Krall (knee injury) and comedian Jimmy Fallon (missed flight), the latter of which was to be the Master of Ceremonies for the day. I wasn’t able to make the first day because I was busy entertaining at a beautiful wedding at the slightly refurbished Cinnabar Hills Golf Club in south San Jose.

Undoubtedly, Sunday was the best bang for your buck, starting at 2pm and going until just past 11pm. My wife Staci and my good friend Ted accompanied me this year, as we made our tiny base camp on the lawn. All I can say is that the rules have really relaxed in the fifteen years since I worked for Shoreline Security. There was a time when you were lucky to get you blanket in the door. Now you seem to be allowed to bring just about anything that you can carry – from large picnic baskets stocked with tasty food and sealed non-alcoholic beverages, to larger-than-lowback lawn chairs and tarps (instead of beach blankets). I’m not sure if those items, or simply the capacity crowd of 22,500 (16,000 of which are on the lawn) made for some incredibly cramped quarters. I’ll be better prepared next year!

The Acts

It was a great lineup, with returning names like Eddie Vedder, Dave Matthews, Norah Jones, Santana and Beck. Newcomers this year included Mumford & Sons and Arcade Fire, and both put on an outstanding performance. It was unfortunate that many people left before Arcade Fire went on, but it did open up the lawn a bit for those of us sticking around.

Having never seen them in person, Foo Fighters was certainly one of the main reasons I attended on Sunday (the only day they played).  Given that the show is all acoustic, it was expected that a tremendous rendition of “Everlong” would be played, and it was. Tony Bennett and his full ensemble made an appearance – basically just schooling all the younger artists.

Norah Jones came with her country covers group, Little Willies. It was not exactly what I was expecting, but she covered a few Hank Williams songs, a pretty decent offering of “Jolene” originally by Dolly Parton, and ended with a Willie Nelson tune. All in all, if it were darker and what I had been expecting, I think it would have been great.

I missed Eddie Vedder as a result of taking the opportunity to hit the restrooms and grab a bite to eat. Seeing as I didn’t like either of those, I’ll have to find a way around it next time (Shoreline has lots of room for improvement). Thankfully, I found the full performance online, and have to admit – I really liked seeing an acoustic pounding of “Porch” from the Ten album.

Beck came on stage and showcased songs from his “Sea Change” album, which was performed with the original band that he recorded it with twenty years prior. He joked that it was a reunion tour of sorts. Near the end, they snuck in a last minute “Loser” performance, which for being acoustic came across very well.  I would have liked to see him later in the evening, but he had a lot of competition.

As a long time fan, my favorite overall performance came from Dave Matthews.  It was the first time I’d seen him and Tim Reynolds perform their acoustic sets that many fans on the east coast have been able to experience for many years. The downside is that he is still compressed to the 35-minute performance, so his typical jam sessions were not part of the experience. Joined by Marcus Mumford (of Mumford & Sons), they performed a brilliantly crafted cover of “All Along The Watchtower” – somewhat of a trademark Matthews song at live performances.

Canadian pop band Arcade Fire did their best to round out the guest performers, but was a little to melodic (or perhaps unknown) for the majority of the remaining attendees. That’s not to say they didn’t put on a great show – a full ensemble of fiddles, piano organs, and who knows what else was on stage with them – but it was almost a little too “folk” music for some. I think they summed it up when they said “everyone else had to figure out what hits to play, good thing we didn’t have that problem.”

October is usually one of my busiest months for wedding work, but I’m always ready to mark the calendar for Sunday’s Bridge School performance. I’m sure I’ll do the same in 2012, even if Eddie Vedder makes his 11th appearance. The only difference is that I might pay the price for reserved seating and pack a cooler.

Believe me – This will NOT stay in Vegas

Last week was a very interesting one. A year, I attended the Wedding MBA convention in Las Vegas.  I enjoyed the show so much, I took advantage of an incredible special they were running if you registered during the show. As time passed, I wasn’t sure that I would go. To be honest, it didn’t seem like much of the content was refreshed (or unique) enough to warrant the trip.

Then about five months ago, the American Disc Jockey Association announced they would have their annual education conference the same week, prior to and slightly overlapping the Wedding MBA. It happened to also be around a time when Southwest had anniversary pricing on their flights from San Jose and San Francisco to Las Vegas – the pot thickens!

So now my bags are packed, and I’ve headed out the door. The amazing content I gained from the ADJA show was somewhat unexpected. I’ve seen many of the presenters previously, but nearly all of them delivered new content, something I welcomed warmly into my tiny brain.

Wedding MBA… Meet Sam Day!

Wedding MBA, however, had an influx of last minute attendees, putting them close to the 2000 attendee mark. It was here that I met Sam Day, Wedding Painter, for the first time.

As The Wedding Marketing Blog points out, Sam is not unique – but rather rare. ”While Sam is not the only wedding painter on the planet, he is one of very few.”

Sam’s rare talent is listed right there on his website, where he describes it as “oil paintings, live, at weddings and events.” I came to the sessions a little late, but early enough to see him still in action. He had begun painting the audience when I arrived, and within a few hours time had finished him masterpiece.

Like nearly all the other impressed wedding vendors, I hurried to the exhibit hall where I could meet Sam and chat it up with him. I learned that he has ties to the Bay Area, which might encourage him to paint your wedding here, for a price.

How much does it cost?

No. I didn’t ask him what he charges.  Much the same way that I frown upon other vendors asking me what my price is, I didn’t see it fair to pre-judge him (or my client’s desires) based on a price. I will tell you that I saw them listed on him blog, so just go check that out. Better yet give him a call in his studio at (206) 382-7413.

Painting © Sam Day; Photo © Jason Spencer

What are you waiting for? I already told you that there’s only one Sam, but there were nearly 2,000 wedding pros that saw his work live last week. His phone is probably ringing off the hook right now. If that’s the case, contact me directly, I’ve got his email address too!

Hey Everybody! It’s The Muppet Show OK Go!

I personally have always had a soft spot for The Muppets in my heart. Growing up in the 80′s, three of my favorite childhood films were The Muppet Movie, The Great Muppet Caper, and The Muppets Take Manhattan. Heck I still love them, and that’s why I’m counting the days until their new movie, The Muppets, lands in theaters this Thanksgiving (91 days at the time of this writing).  If you haven’t seen The Muppets trailer yet, you should really check it out.

It’s time to to play the music. It’s time to light the lights.

When OK Go originally released their video “Here It Goes Again” the world went nutes.  It was just an amazing video that boggled the mind, all while using synchronized treadmills.  To see that video redone to the tune of The Muppet Show Theme Song, well it’s been a while since I’ve been so wow’d over.  If you need a pick me up, spend 3 minutes and 47 seconds checking this out!

It’s time to raise the curtain…

When I got married at Monterey Plaza in 2008, my wife and I were introduced to the room to the original Muppet Show theme song. There were other meanings and stories associated with this song, which made the entire room smile and laugh as we entered. It was fitting for us.

It’s not for everyone, but as someone that’s been in this business 16 years, I advise everyone to reflect on your relationship and time you’ve spent together. Find a song that is unique to you. If the meaning is really only known to the two of you, then consider having your master of ceremonies talk about it in your personalized Love Story presentation.

That’s what I’m talking about

If the past events I’ve worked with acts like Smash Mouth and Live 105 are any source of measurement, then Brooke Alvarez could be on to something. It’s about time someone stood up to these pushy artists and reminded them that we have the power to not only stop the song, but change it too.

Okay, that’s not fair. Working with the Bay Area’s Smash Mouth at the release of Astro Lounge was a great honor. And thankfully, groups like The Maids of Honor probably don’t have a dance hit to save their lives.

And yes, this post is all in good fun.  I loved working with Smash Mouth, and if you’ve ever seen Greg and Lex wail in Maids…  Well, that’s a sight you’ll never get out of your mind!

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Lyrics provided by Spencer Weddings and Entertainment

We belong forever
Forever through eternity
We belong forever
Forever just you and me

Trial and tribulation
Sorrow and some pain
The two of us together
We can weather wind and rain

And we belong forever
Forever through eternity
We belong forever
Forever just you and me
– Lyrics provided by www.spencerweddings.com –
Trial and tribulation
Sorrow and some pain
The two of us together
We can weather wind and rain

And we belong forever
Forever through eternity
We belong forever
Forever just you and me
Forever just you and me
Forever just you and me

Earlier this week, a friend of mine shared the Songify This YouTube video of Can’t Hug Every Cat. If you’ve not seen it yet, I’ll wait… Okay, now that you are done crying from laughter, I’ll continue.

The video has gone viral – over 3 Million views in just 8 days online – that’s impressive! But as I watched for the twelfth time, I realized that I needed to have this on my phone. That’s when I whipped out my favorite song editor, trimmed a little of the fat, and now have the iPhone Ringtone for everyone to enjoy! Just download it from here, drop it in iTunes, and then sync it to your iPhone. Easy as pie!

Download Can’t Hug Every Cat – The Ringtone! [.m4r - iPhone]
Download Can’t Hug Every Cat – The Ringtone! [.mp3 version]

Along with his wife, Rebecca, Mark teaches and inspires entertainment skills. For anyone that wants to be a better Master of Ceremonies, their workshops are hands down the best (and they aren’t just for DJs either). They have inspired a new breed of entertainers to begin incorporating the bride and groom’s “Love Story” into a wedding reception. Admission to the MarBecca community costs $360 per year — but for the professional entertainer, they are completely worth it.

You can have your event in your garage and serve beans and franks, and if the entertainment is great, you’ll have a fantastic and memorable event.

Or you can have your event at the Ritz Carlton and serve 5 star cuisine, but if the entertainment is mediocre or worse, the event will suffer and guests will leave early.

-Mark Ferrell

The truth is that you have many options for entertainment. Beyond looking for a DJ, Master of Ceremonies, Band, Magician, Comedian and more is looking for a good one. If you’re lucky, you’ll sometimes find a great one.

Typically, the great ones are not going to be the under $1000 DJ that you find on Craigslist. Many of them can average services ranging from $3500 to $5900 in price. A select few can command over $10,000 or more for a 5 hour reception. But are they worth it?

In a word? Likely.

The truth is that, during an initial consultation (some might call this a “sales meeting”), nothing scares me more than when it comes to telling you the price. It’s not because I don’t think I’m worth it – my previous wedding couples already let me know that answer through feedback surveys.

This fear is true among most of the community, and it’s because so many couples are familiar with the average wedding DJ, which comes with average pricing. While the fear of sticker shock is there, all of us that ask an above average price know that you will receive value far above and beyond that price. We know that we are worth it, because our clients have told us we are worth every penny (or more).

The best thing to do is go into that initial consultation with both an open mind, and good set of questions to ensure that your expectations but you also understand the value of what the company you meet with can offer.

Those that have taken training with industry specialists like Mark & Rebecca Ferrell, Bill Herman, Peter Merry and Randy Bartlett (among a dozen others) — workshops and seminars that keep our passion and creative juices flowing — are going to command that higher price, but also ensure that you get value in return.

Call me today and see what I can do for you.  Reach me at (408) 426-8117 or head over to the Request For Information page.