Recently, Ameritune’s Al Mitchell played at The Stonegate Banquets in Hoffman Estates, IL for the Wedding of Noreen Baldassano and Joe Smrz. The ceremony was there too and it went well. The Stonegate had a room available in the main building, so we didn’t have to have the ceremony in the same room as the reception. The reception was in the Pavilion (tent). Of the rooms at The Stonegate, I like playing in the Pavilion the best because it’s white, and shows off the DJ lighting a lot better than the darker banquet rooms in the main building.
Ceremony with Bagpiper for Recessional
A fun twist for the recessional was the bagpiper, who escorted Noreen and Joe down the aisle at the end of the ceremony. He stayed and played a few songs as the guests made their way to the cocktail area outside the Pavilion. I was glad to see two bartenders as this was a thirsty and rowdy group. I moved my ceremony music set up to the cocktail area and played background music for them, and awaited the dinner hour in the Pavilion. I like doing ceremony and receptions at the same local, but if you are planning on that for your wedding, its a good idea to get your pictures done before the ceremony, so that you can be available to meet and greet your guests during the cocktail hour. A fast photographer helps, too. I know there’s the superstition thing about not seeing each other before, but look at it this way- It’s bad luck to be superstitious. No, really, if you have some time between your ceremony and reception to take pictures, you can get everything done before your reception. This is the way to do it because your main job at your reception is to meet and greet. If you don’t have, scheduled downtime for pictures after your ceremony, then you’ll be missing your cocktail hour to take pictures. Not good. Get those pictures out of the way early, and you will have a much easier time the rest of the day, (knock on wood). Al Mitchell from Ameritune DJs and Video was born on Friday the Thirteen of April , so he’s not real worried about superstition. Read more helpful wedding planning tips here Chicago DJ Tips Call (630) 372-8863 for more information.