The Mother and Son wedding song is special because it honors the first important woman in the groom’s life…his mother.  Many of our grooms have asked for recommendations and I decided that I would share some of my favorites.  Even though I’m calling it the “Top 10”, I should note that these songs are in no particular order. I realized that it’s simply too hard to rank them, because they are all great in their own ways. Listen to the songs by clicking on the title. Enjoy!

1. Chicago – “You’re The Inspiration”

How could I not include a song by one of the greatest American rock bands ever! “You’re the Inspiration” is a song written by Peter Cetera and David Foster for the group Chicago. It reached #3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart in January 1985, and also climbed to the top position on the adult contemporary chart at the same time. What better song  for a song to dedicate to his “inspiration”!?! (how about the next 9 songs?)

2. Boyz II Men – “A Song For Mama”

If you were an 80′s kid like me, chances are you were a Boyz II Men fan (even if you didn’t want to admit it). With hits all throughout the 90′s, they were  at one point, one of the most popular boy bands in the world. “A Song for Mama” is the title of their number-one R&B single and theme song to the 1997 motion picture Soul Food, and spent two weeks at number one on the US R&B chart. To date, it is their last top 10 pop hit, peaking at number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100. Beautiful lyrics and a great video catapulted this song to the top of many lists about Mothers.

3. Phil Collins – “You’ll Be In My Heart”

“You’ll Be in My Heart” is a song by Phil Collins from the 1999 Disney animated feature Tarzan.  The song went on to win the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song and the Academy Award for Best Original Song.  Collins performed the song live at that year’s ceremony. Peaking at #21 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, the song was Collins’s first appearance on the top forty of the Billboard Hot 100 chart since 1994′s “Everyday”. The lyrics are a perfect dedication from a son to his mom.

4. Rod Stewart – “Have I Told You Lately”

Originally sung by Van Morrison, “Have I Told You Lately” has become a classic over the years and has been performed by many unknown as well as many famous artists. In 1993 Rod Stewart’s cover of the song was released that was his last Top Five solo hit to date, becoming a #5 hit in the US and the UK. This version also spent five weeks at #1 on the US Adult Contemporary chart.

5. Kenny Rogers  – “Through The Years”

“Through The Years” is a love song issued in 1981 performed by Kenny Rogers, produced by Lionel Richie and written by Steve Dorff and Marty Panzer. The song looks back at a relationship “Through The Years” and mentions the ups and downs.

This classic reached #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in early 1982, remaining in the Top 40 for eleven weeks and went to #1 on the adult contemporary chart, becoming Rogers’ fifth single to top this chart.

6. Louis Armstrong – “What a Wonderful World”

In1968, one of the greatest Jazz musicians of all time, Louis Armstrong scored one last popular hit with the highly sentimental pop song “What a Wonderful World”, which topped the British charts for a month; however, the single did not chart at all in America. The song gained greater currency in the popular consciousness when it was used in the 1987 movie Good Morning, Vietnam, its subsequent re-release topping many charts around the world.  A popular song at weddings, the lyrics are fitting for a mother and son dance.

7.  The Beatles – In My Life

I would be re-missed if I did not include a song by the greatest song writers of all time. “In My Life” is a song written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney of the . The song originated with Lennon, and while McCartney contributed to the final version, the extent of his contribution is in dispute. Released on the 1965 album Rubber Soul, it is ranked 23rd on the Rolling Stone article “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time”.  Mojo magazine named it the best song of all time in 2000.

8. Bette Midler – “Wind Beneath My Wings”

A very inspirational and poignant song, “Wind Beneath My Wings”, which went to #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100, achieved Platinum status, and won Bette Midler her third Grammy Award – for Record of the Year – at the 1990 telecast. The song was later recorded by Sheena Easton in 1982 for her Madness, Money, & Music album.

9. Nat & Natalie King Cole – “Unforgettable”

A duet for the ages! In the summer of 1991, Natalie Cole and her father Nat King Cole had a hit when Natalie mixed her own voice with her father’s 1961 rendition of “Unforgettable” as part of a tribute album to her father’s music. The song and album of the same name won seven Grammy awards in 1992. Along with Louis Armstrong’s “What A Wonderful World”, these songs are widely considered the most popular wedding songs of all time.

10. Celine Dion – “Because You Loved Me”

I saved this last space for one of the most amazing voices of our generation. “Because You Loved Me” is a song from Celine Dion’s album Falling into You, released as the first single in 1996 . It was was written by Diane Warren as a tribute to her father for his encouragement. It was produced by David Foster and featured in the film Up Close & Personal.

The song was nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award, as well as four Grammy Awards. It won a Grammy Award for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media (award went to Diane Warren), and was nominated for the Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.

To all the grooms to be, I hope you enjoyed my personal favorites, and wish you good luck in choosing that special song with your special mother!

I dedicate this blog to all the “Unforgettable” mothers that have been been nothing short of a superhero for so many sons “Throughout The Years”.  You are truly the “Wind Beneath Our Wings” when we want to think we’re Superman.  It’s “Because You Loved” us that “You’re The Inspiration” for so many! To all the lovely mothers out there, “Have We Told You Lately” that we love you? If not, we’ll start writing a “Song for Mama” that’s in “In My Life” which makes this place we live in such a “A Wonderful World!”

Cheers in advance to a beautiful mother and son dance!

Iman H.

I’ve had the pleasure of being a MC at the most amazing weddings for over 12 years and have been witness to hundreds of Wedding Toasts. I have seen “the good, the bad and the ugly”. There have been some AMAZING ones and a few sleepers as well.  I figured I would draw on those experience and share some tips on how to make sure your toast is remembered for a long time to come!

1. Short & Sweet: No matter how entertaining or memory filled your toast is, keep it short (under 5 minutes). Don’t forget that the focus of the night is on the bride and groom!

2. Rehearse: You might have aced your Communications class back in college by improvising all your speeches, but for something as important as a wedding toast, it’s good to have a couple of practice swings before stepping up to the plate.

3. This isn’t the Improv: There’s no shame in not being a comedian. If you aren’t a stand up comedian but you always aspired to be one, this is not the time to try out your material. Keep it simple, and don’t try too hard.

4. Be sincere! If you’re sincere in your joy for the couple, your speech will have all of the right elements of being sweet, sappy, and funny, without seeming contrived.

5. Thank the family: Remember to thank the families of the Bride and Groom, especially the parents. They are often over looked at a wedding, so this is a great time to spend a few seconds acknowledging them and expressing your gratitude for allowing you to be a part of their most special day.

6. Testing Testing, 1, 2,3: Don’t forget that the microphone will not work unless you hold it close to your mouth when you speak. If you need to hold items such as notes or props, ask the DJ or MC to place the microphone on a stand for you.

7. “Where’s my glass?” : Last but not least, remember to take your glass with you when you’re giving the toast. Raise your glass, then ask everyone to raise their glasses, and formally offer a toast to the Bride and Groom.

CHEERS!

Iman Huschmand

I can’t even remember how many times a bride has asked me “I am not sure if I should get a band or a DJ for my wedding”.  I don’t blame them for asking either. It can be a tough decision, because they both have advantages and disadvantages. Fortunately, we offer both DJ’s and Band’s, so my opinion is completely unbiased…BUT for today’s blog (and for the sake of not boring you with too long of a blog) I’ll be sharing the pros and cons of having a DJ perform at your wedding.

DJ PROS

• First Dance: Every couple has at least one special song that they share with their “one”. If you’re a bride or groom to be, I bet you are already thinking that song I’m referring to. Well, if you have a DJ, your first dance song can be sung by the artist that made you fall in love, rather than a pale imitation
• Unlimited Music Archive: If you have a professional and experienced DJ, then you most likely will have access to THOUSANDS of songs. Even though I don’t believe you should select a DJ based on how many songs they own, it does make it more likely that they will have the music that your friends and family want to hear on your wedding day.  On a side note, the reason why you shouldn’t just rely on the number of songs the DJ has, is because it’s not just “quantity”, but it’s “quality” that will make a DJ, a great and professional DJ. It’s one thing to have songs, but it’s another to know what to play, and more importantly, WHEN to play it.
• Versatility: Another advantage a DJ has, is the ability to segue from great dance numbers to the perfect cake cutting song or background music as someone makes a toast. The ability to quickly and smoothly alternate between genres.
• Non-stop: For those of you that don’t know, Bands frequently need to stop between songs. Stop in music, means stop in dancing…while you’re on the dance floor! With a DJ (even the most inexperienced), you shouldn’t have to have any break in the music at all! The music should be seamlessly mixed, so that the dance floor is always filled with happy and dancing guests J

DJ CONS

• DJ Boring: One of the most important things that I tell my clients is that you need to listen to your DJ LIVE at an event before signing them to DJ your special event. Why? Because you don’t want to get stuck on a DJ that has tunnel vision. Many wedding DJs have their routines down pat, and they can get bored.  If you have a DJ that thinks every wedding is the same, you’re going to experience a DJ that will play the songs your SPECIFICALLY asked not to, ask for the bride’s father to make a toast even though he wasn’t there, and announce a couple in a way that you didn’t ask him to. Make sure you meet with the person who will actually be performing your wedding. See if you’ve got a vibe that meshes, and if he/she seems excited about putting together a playlist specifically for your event

I will reiterate the importance of actually seeing the wedding band or DJ actually performing to know if they’re truly right for you. No, you don’t need to crash a wedding, but if they’re playing a reception at an event space, or a club, peek your head in the back unobtrusively and watch for their style. Feel free to take some food to go though (just kidding).

Frequently a DJ or band leader will act as the MC of a wedding reception, which means you’ll need them to be entertaining but not annoying, polished, friendly, and charismatic. The best thing to do, is ask the entertainment company if they have a professional MC, one that can handle all the logistics, announcements in a professional matter. That way, the musicians can do what they do best (playing the right music for your crowd) and the MC will take care of the rest, to make sure your all important night goes smoothly, and your guests are having the most amazing time…just like you J (Visit us soon, as I talk about the pros of having a Master of Ceremonies too!).

If this was helpful, please don’t be shy to give your comments or share this with your friends or family that are having the predicament of choosing a DJ or Band!!

Hasta La Bye bye!

Iman H.

By now, I’m sure you have heard of “uplighting”. But do you know exactly what it is? More importantly, do you know just how much of a (beautiful) impact it can have on your special event? In short, up-lighting is the art of painting with light to create a truly magical background!

Uplighting can turn a boring room with plain walls, into a unique and colorful venue.   If coordinated well in advance, these color schemes can be used to bring out the colors of your event, especially weddings! The colors can match your bridesmaid dresses, flowers and more.

What’s important is knowing exactly what type of lighting to use and where to position them. Up-Lighting can come in many different colors. You can set them to one color but that could get boring. The best look is the ability to set it through dinner to a color or two and having them fade slowly from color to color every few minutes then when it come to the dancing portion.

I’ve also come across some blogs about “doing it yourself uplighting”. Although that is indeed possible, here are some things you should know before spending the money, time and hassle of doing it solo.

First of all, keep in mind that you will need several lights throughout your room/ballroom (an average of 6-8 is a suggested minimum). These lights can range anywhere from $200-$600 for each light for a light that can be set and have enough color to go up the wall in a room has the lights slightly dimed. You will also need special “DMX Cables” to connect the lights and they average about $25 for a 20 foot cable.  Obviously, you will need 1 cable for each light, and depending on the size of your venue, you may need more cables and extensions. You can calculate for yourself, but as you can see, it might not be as simple and inexpensive as you may have though.

If you decide to not use a controller, some lights give you the option to connect all the lights together and set the switches in the right pattern, then all you need to do is change the first lights color and it will change the rest of the lights this (Known as “master slave mode”). Then you need someone to control them all night to change colors or you can set and forget on a certain color.

I know I might be biased, but just as is the case, when it comes to important events, it’s best to leave a job like this to the professionals. Some DJ’s have basic up-lighting options, so definitely ask them about what they have to offer. Make sure you see some pictures or videos in advance, so that you know exactly what to expect.

As far as pricing, you can expect to pay anywhere between $50-$100 per up-light, depending on the quantity of lights and whether it requires special “DMX programming”. This would be needed like in order to changes colors or having more advanced displays.  If you are already working with a DJ, the lighting package you get with them, will be much cheaper, than working with a separate vendor. As a heads up, you can expect to pay anywhere from a few hundred dollars to a few thousands dollars on lighting, but it will all depend on your venue and exact needs.

I hope this helps

Iman H.

Bored at work? Need to listen to some new tunes while you’re working out or sitting in traffic? Then feel free to download, and play our DJ’s mixes wherever you like. Simply click on the link to listen, and if you like to burn it on the cd, click on “Download File” and enjoy!

Please note that our DJ’s our unique due their versatility. Having said that, one mix might not necessarily mean that they are limited to playing only that style of music. Our DJ’s will tailor their music to YOUR needs, not vice versa.

Happy listening!

DJ SAAM MIXES:

10.15.09: http://www.zshare.net/audio/66969428ebb870a7/ [Hip Hop Mix | Rated R]

10.04.09: http://www.zshare.net/download/66668599dabc0ce6/ [Wedding Mix | Bride Approved!]

DJ PEDRAM MIXES:

10.04.09: http://www.zshare.net/download/66668845e23ef715/ [Wedding Mix | Bride Approved!]

DJ KIA MIXES:

10.04.09: http://www.zshare.net/download/66668731a675e92f/ [Wedding Mix | Bride Approved!]

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Dear (exhausted!) Bride,

If you made it out to the Washington Bridal Show at the Marriot in Bethesda on October 4th, it was a pleasure meeting you! I can only imagine how overwhelming it is to meet so many vendors all at one time, and thank you for remembering us! We know you’re super busy, so I will keep this short and simply remind you about the great offer that we told you about on Sunday:

Book one of our DJ’s for your Wedding by October 31st and you will receive everything below for FREE:

Yo whut up bride? Sup Groomie? Darn, that probably didn’t give off a very good first impression did it? Well don’t worry my dears, my entire team has literally been hand picked not just based on their respective talents, but more importantly because of their characters, ethics and reliability (among many other really good characteristics, but you get the point!).

Let’s be honest, there are MANY talented DJ’s, Musicians, Dancers etc out there. But what we lack are trustworthy and respectable individuals who GENUINELY care about what they do, and how they live their lives. I am truly privileged to have a class act team, that have become close friends of mine, simply because of who they are as people, and not their talents.

So when you’re looking for professional entertainment for whatever special occasion you may be having, take the following into consideration, and I guarantee you it will make a profound difference on the experience you will end up having with them:

1. In a previous post, I mentioned the importance of experience in your DJ (And any other entertainer for that matter). This will almost always give you a good idea of how professionally your entertainer will handle himself or herself at the event. Feel free to ask plenty of questions to determine the types of and number of events your entertainer has handled before. A good, PROFESSIONAL entertainer will help you better understand their role and put you at ease.
2. Professional entertainers will be able to answer just about any question you can throw at them. If for example, a DJ has the knowledge necessary to help you make an informed decision they are probably a professional DJ!
3. Speaking of DJ’s, remember that your DJ is also a professional businessman. Take this into account and be sure to note their level of professionalism while you discuss the business matters of booking a DJ. The price, the timing, the minor details, a professional DJ will also be a very responsive, responsible, professional businessman.

Iman H.

We’re only human. Which is why we would be the first to admit that when we started many years ago (1997) we went through a major learning curve and endured many complaints (perhaps I  should call it “Constructive Criticism”). Fortunately for you however, we never took those complaints lightly, and improved our services the best we could, following each and every event.
Below are some of the things which are unfortunately still common with some DJ’s, but luckily for you, will never never experience with Exclusively Entertainment!

1. The most severe complaint is unfortunately fairly common. People will book a DJ and he will or she will not show up. This is often due to a lack of communication and while not always the DJ’s fault, it is always a huge disappointment to the client. Make sure you and your DJ have a plan to stay in contact up to the date of your event.
2. Another common complaint is that the DJ was either on the mic too much, or too nonexistent during the event. Make sure you take the time to think about just how interactive you’d like your DJ to be. Then discuss this with him or her to make sure they are comfortable and have experience at the level you’re looking for.
3. The music and/or dancing wasn’t good enough. Something that can really become a problem mid-event is the music selection. A lot of times people will want a certain type or music played or want to avoid another type. This is fine and very doable for a good DJ, but you have to understand that a DJ probably knows best how to get the folks out on the dance floor. There may come a time during your event where you’ll either have to trust the DJ’s intuition as to what will get everyone dancing and maybe sacrifice a tune you wanted to hear, or if you’d rather hear that special song just be aware that it may cost a dancer or two. All in all, this is ultimately your decision and the DJ will be more than happy to do whichever you feel most comfortable with.
4. The final common complaint has to do with your DJ’s etiquette. Some events require a certain level of formality while some events have a casual demeanor. It is very important that you discuss this with your DJ. Some clients prefer their DJ remain slightly separate from the rest of the event guests. Some examples would be the dress code you prefer for your DJ, or whether or not you’d prefer your DJ to drink alcohol or eat food provided. Some people prefer that the DJ have a good time and party with the rest of the people. This is always something that should be discussed with your DJ before the event so there is no confusion or misunderstanding and everything goes as smoothly as possible.

Iman H.

With literally hundreds of DJs for you to choose from, we can only imagine how daunting of a task it is to choose the right one for you! Below are a few easy ways to narrow down your search:

1) Music – some would consider this the most important aspect of choosing a DJ but it’s really not.  Most DJs will have very similar music selections and almost all will boast having a formidable music library.  What will vary is the amount of requests DJs will allow you to make. Some will allow virtually none barring wedding dances, others will let you dictate the entire night. Ideally you will probably want to allow and trust the DJ to choose the majority (around 75%) of the music at your event. Again, this is all dependent on your comfort level, but these are 5 steps that have generally helped folks narrow down the DJ search.

2) Experience – an important aspect of choosing a DJ is the quality and amount of experience that he or she brings to the table. Experience can be judged inaccurately if you only take into account years in the business. A DJ could (and often does) work every weekend or every other weekend and have a full-time job in some other area which would average out to 30-40 gigs a year. A DJ that dedicates more time to their craft could easily work or at least be involved in 80-100 gigs in a year. It’s important to ask your potential DJ about their experience in more than just years. Again, as long as you feel comfortable with a DJ all these things are just helpful hints if you’re having trouble deciding.

3) Equipment – you’re probably not going to understand all the brand names and the extra components that DJs will advertise. What’s important to understand is that they have reliable equipment and backup equipment in case anything were to go wrong. A typical DJ setup with include at least 2 speakers, a CD player, Mixer, Amplifier, and wire components to connect it all. This may vary somewhat from DJ to DJ, but if they feel the need to talk up the brand names (knowing this will be all Greek to you) they may be compensating for reliability.

4) Pricing – this is very important to take into consideration. If a DJ is charging less than every other DJ there is probably a pretty obvious reason. Generally, a DJ will charge based on the length and type of event as well as the distance traveled and any add-ons such as lights, karaoke, or party favors. If a price seems unusually high or low you should consult with the DJ and gauge your comfort level afterward.

Iman H.