A Christmas Themed Wedding to Remember

This past Saturday, December 8, 2012 I had to honor of providing services for Doctors Philip and Tracy Sudore at one of my favorite Syracuse area wedding venues, The Craftsman Inn, in Fayetteville, NY.

Phil and Tracy are a Christian couple with great taste in music, and friends!  One of their main concerns was clean, but FUN music. Aftre a few visits to their online planning tools, Phil & Tracy picked out a handful of great songs, and I filled in the blanks.

 The result was an elegant cocktail and dinner party, that unfolded into a rockin dancefloor, packed the entire night!

Photo © Erica Hasenjag

Not only did they decide to go an hour OVER, Phil even asked the Craftsman if we could go ANOTHER hour into overtime. Unfortunately, their policy prevented it.

Photo © Erica Hasenjager

The reception was elegantly decorated with a Christmas theme, and guests received an beautiful glass  ornament as a  favor. I peppered in Christmas favorites throughout cocktail hour and dinner.

At around 8:30 we did the Anniversary Dance. This is a great way to recognize an invited couple for their long lasting marriage. Essentially, 2-3 slow-dance songs are played, and all married couples are invited to dance. Over the course of the slow-dance couples are then asked to leave the dance floor based on how long they've been married, with the newlyweds leaving first :). After 5 minutes or so, we're left with the one couple attending the wedding who has been married the longest. After a congratulatory applause from all, I ask them if they have any advice for the newlyweds. This is always good for a few words of wisdom, and usually a few good laughs as well!






I had the opportunity to work with some real pros at Phil and Tracy's wedding. Erica Hasenjager and Maureen McEvers of Erica Hasenjager Photography, handled photography and the results were fabulous. I recently endorsed Erica on Weddingwire since our working together. Erica and Maureen were so easy to coordinate with, they were always at the ready capturing great shots. Kayla, the Banquet Manager at the Craftsman was great to work with and the entire staff was comprised of complete professionals.

The cake was a work of art, done by Biscottis, with one of the most accurate looking toppers I've seen. A real mini-version of Phil and Tracy!










As is usually the case with clients you just "click" with, Phil and Tracy's wedding was exactly as they envisioned, and I was honored to help bring that vision to life. It was a fun celebration for all. Thanks for the opportunity to be a part of your big day!

In Memoriam: Mr. Roger Yager, A Respected Colleague and Friend

Last week, on Tuesday, October 18th, the Syracuse community lost a dear friend; Roger Yager.

Roger was the Wedding Entertainment Coordinator for Ormond Entertainment, where he, and his long-time business partner and close friend Cindy Ormond, made magic happen for countless couples in the Central New York area.

Roger was a respected Disc Jockey by all, and beyond the many wedding vendors throughout Syracuse reeling at the loss, a large network of wedding DJs throughout the nation are feeling his void.

I was lucky enough to count Roger as a friend. Not just a colleague in passing, but a guy with whom I shared some very real traits in common. His two (plus) decades as a DJ, have left an indelible mark on so many lives, he will surely be missed. He loved his job, and he took great pride in making a couple's day as special as it could be. I, and I know Cindy, and so many of your friends and family, will carry on this torch in your honor Roger. May you rest in eternal peace my friend.

Until we meet again.

Kirk Rothrum
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A Colorful Autumn Wedding in Ithaca, NY

Yesterday, October 13th, 2012, I had the pleasure of providing services for the wedding of Jennifer and Joel Bidwell. Jen & Joel live in the Buffalo area, but they tied the knot in Ithaca, an area closer to where they grew up, and of course, seasonably stunning this time of year.

Posing in front of their custom Monogram Projection

The ceremony and reception took place at Celebrations Banquet facility, a place I've worked many times. John and Laurie at Celebrations are always eager to go the extra mile for a client. Jen and Joel's big day was no exception.

The food and service at Celebrations comes highly recommended and the facility is modern, up to date and clean.




Since it was a little cool out, Jen and Joel had baskets of blankets in the event anyone was chilled. I thought this was a great idea, and there were several takers. Fall-time weddings are beautiful, but often crisp.
Their ceremony was short and sweet with a beautiful view of the rolling hills of Ithaca, at peak foliage season.

It was obvious they put a lot of thought into things. Another nice touch, was their guest book. While is had the usual pages for signatures, it began with their touching love story, a sweet tale of two high school kids whose lockers were down the hall from each other. So often, wedding guests have no real idea what brought us to this big day... This was a great way to give friends and family a back-story.

Jen and Joel's taste in music ranged from The Cure, to the Police, and all things 80's. I played a wide variety of 80's hits, peppering in special request from the newlywed's and guests, to create a soundtrack for the evening that was very personal to their tastes, and full timeless dance-floor fillers.

Jen and Joel's wedding was a classy dinner party that unfolded into a very personalized evening of dancing custom tailored to their tastes. I think their personalities shined through quite well. :)

Thanks for letting me share in your big day!

-Kirk Rothrum
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Syracuse wedding DJ services

A Trampoline at your Wedding?! YEAH!

Okay, so you want your wedding to be remembered, right? 

Have you thought about a TRAMPOLINE? This post isn't really "DJ" related, but I couldn't resist. It may not be traditional, but you can't deny it looks FUN!

A picture is worth 1000 words! 

Click Here to search Google for trampoline rentals in Syracuse!

-Kirk R.
Select Receptions, Syracuse Wedding DJ

A Peak at our Streamlined, Powerful System

NEWSFLASH:

It's 2012. State of the art sound systems don't require a lot of space. 

Why then, do so many DJ systems look like a messy table of outdated electronics at a garage sale? At a wedding? Really?

Though speakers aren't pictured, the system pictured below is capable of addressing any crowd, from 50 to 500!

Your elegant reception doesn't need to be cluttered with obtrusive equipment and hanging wires. We deliver rich, full stereo sound, with a streamlined, modern, state of the art system.

No tacky "light-up facade", and no banners drawing attention to the DJ area. We prefer to keep the spotlight on our guests of honor.

Does this sound like what you're looking for? 

 

Contact me today to discuss your big day!  :)

Sincerely, 

-Kirk Rothrum

Select Receptions, Syracuse Wedding DJ Services

About

A Fun Fall-time Wedding in the Mohawk Valley

This past Saturday, September 29th 2012, I had to pleasure of providing DJ services for the wedding reception of Brittany and Kasey Williams. The reception was held in the Ballroom of the Twin Ponds Country Club, in New York Mills, NY. I love working in this area. It's nestled in the  Mohawk Valley, near Utica, Rome, New Hartford, Hamilton, etc. And being at the foothills of the Adirondacks, the foliage this time of year is beautiful.

Brittany and Kasey had around 200 guests, a great crowd of fun people! Their wedding party consisted of 16 of their closest friends and family. To personalize things, each couple did their grand entrance in a hilarious different way. In our Planning meeting, we went over the room layout and where I'd be lining everyone up for introductions, having the large sliding partition closed between the main dining room and the cocktail lounge for introductions would be imperative to making it work, or the surprise would be lost completely. Sometimes banquet managers don't like to go outside of the cookie-cutter way they do weddings all year long. I had an opportunity to play advocate for Brittany and Kasey. Sometimes, clients hire me because I don't do things cookie-cutter. Their day being executed as they planned is my only goal, and it's not about me whatsoever. In the end, I was able to convince the management, and I closed the partition. Everyone in the wedding party made a hilarious, once in a lifetime entrance that will be remembered forever. One of my favorite grand introductions of the year!

After dinner, the dance-floor was PACKED and stayed PACKED all night long. I played a very eclectic mix, always bringing it back to Brittany and Kasey's favorites. It's especially fun when as a DJ, I can play a song that everyone may have forgot about, but everyone loves!

The top 3 dance hits of the night that caught everyone off guard were: 

1. Kenny Loggins - Footloose
2. Hall & Oates - You Make my Dreams Come True
3. Elvis - Jailhouse Rock

I also had the pleasure of working with a photographer I've never worked with before, Alan from AJ's Photography in New Hartford, NY. Alan was a complete professional, and after seeing some of his shots, I'd highly recommend him to anyone. 

It was an honor to work with Brittany and Kasey! Thanks for letting me be a part of your big day!

-Kirk Rothrum
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5 Easy ways to 'look before you leap' into a DJ for your Wedding

Since people don't really hire a DJ very often in life (once? twice?), they tend to ask the same first question we attach to commodity products we buy at Target- How much do you cost?

That's great for buying paper towels, but not so much for your wedding day. 

You're about to hand a live microphone to a complete stranger in front of all of your closest friends & family. Is that a good idea? 

KNOW YOUR DJ

1. Are they reliable? When weighing cost vs reliability, there is no savings great enough to make up for a DJ who never shows up. Without a DJ, your entire wedding reception is over before it starts. It's heartbreaking to hear about, but it happens. They are usually around half (or less) the rate of a professional. Several companies pay their DJs around $10-$20 an hour. This means that someone making $50-$100, is at the helm of an event that is costing on average over $25,000. Read that twice, and be sure to prioritize your budget proportionately.

2. Where is their loyalty? Are they a full time professional? Do you have to work around their "day job" schedule to plan, meet, or execute your wedding? Other employment obligations might be a reason for concern. Why are they only part time? Who is their loyalty to? Their boss who cuts them a check every week, or their client who does once? Be very careful.

3. How is their Personality? Are they generally likable? We all have people that we just don't 'click' with. Some people really want a DJ who makes announcements in a deep "radio voice", others consider that cheesy, insincere, and used-car salesmany (new word!). You need to talk to the actual DJ who will be at your wedding to know for sure if you 'click'. Be sure you do!

Click to enlarge

4. Are they, and their equipment, neat and presentable? Your DJ will be a very visible fixture at your wedding. Guests will interact with your DJ and whether you like it or not, your DJ will be speaking on behalf of YOU, and will represent you. Appearance may not be the number one factor in buying a car, but you will be in it, and it will be sitting in your driveway. Exactly who will be standing for 4-5 hours in plain site at your wedding reception?


5. Does he/she have References? I don't mean the company, I mean the actual DJ who'll be at your wedding. Can you call some past clients/couples and speak with them directly? Surely the DJ must have at least a handful of clients who had such a wonderful experience, they will gladly give a reference. If not, keep looking.

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Great DJs make it look easy, but a great deal of time, talent, love & care goes into a wedding for a DJ who really cares.

As always, don't hesitate to contact me with any questions. Happy planning!

-Kirk Rothrum
Select Receptions, Syracuse Wedding DJ Services

An Elegant September Celebration at the Maplewood Inn, Liverpool, NY

This past Saturday, on September 22, 2012, I had the pleasure of providing services for the wedding reception of Sarina and Mark Davis.

Sarina and Mark are a fun, professional couple who grew up in the Syracuse area, both graduating from CNS, and now live in Michigan. Their wedding had several guests from great distances like MI, SC, FL, GA, CT, NYC.

The reception was held at the Maplewood Inn in Liverpool NY, and I was assisted by Russell Dobbins, a great DJ with a  knack for picking the right song to get a party started.

In addition to DJ and MC services, we provided purple uplighting which was chosen to match Sarina's bridesmaid's dresses, and a custom monogram projection on the dance-floor. A monogram always creates a custom touch of elegance, that never fails to impress guests. People posed for pictures in front of Sarina and Mark's, and commented on it several times.

Monogram and Uplighting at the Maplewood Inn

The Maplewood Inn has 2 "conference" rooms, that they open up into one called the Laurel Grand Ballroom. The room is a nice size for a wedding of  <100 guests, and has an interesting curved wall that gives the room some character. Obviously hotels must use their space as double duty, and conference rooms are often used for event events like weddings, so decor and general vibe can be very neutral. For this reason, the Laurel Room lacks chandeliers. The addition of uplighting created a warm glow around the perimeter and really took the Maplewood's Laurel Room from conference room to elegant, modern ballroom.

Sarina and Mark's ceremony ended earlier than planned, and many guests arrived around 30 minutes early, so we began playing cocktail music a little early. Because so many guests arrived early, and some arrived on time, Cocktail hour felt a little long for some guests, and Sarina was getting a little worried, so we talked about changing the timeline around a bit. I spoke with the staff and was able to arrange for dinner to be moved a full 45 minutes earlier. This helped!

Sarina shared with me, how important her father was to her. He is her rock, they speak each and every day without fail, and they have a bond I truly hope I have forever with my own daughter. When a client has this kind of relationship with her dad, instead of simply announcing the father-daughter dance, sometimes I'll take a moment to interview dad on the microphone before their dance. It's always different, but usually it means recalling a funny or meaningful story from 20 years ago, and taking a moment, a breath if you will, to take in the importance of what is about to happen. I like to punctuate important moments. And a father and daughter dance, especially this one, is hugely important.

After Mark shared a special dance with his mother, we picked up the pace, and the volume, and got the party in motion. The biggest hits of the night were Michael Jackson - Billie Jean, Whitney Houston - I Wanna Dance With Somebody, and Gloria Gaynor - I Will Survive.

The wedding was catered by Carnegie Catering, who we've worked with on several occasions. They always do a wonderful job.

Thanks so much to Sarina and Mark for letting us be a part of your big day!

-Kirk Rothrum
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A Romantic, Funny Love Story at Traditions at the Links, East Syracuse, NY

This past Saturday, September 15, 2012, I had the absolute pleasure of providing services for the wedding of Stephanie and Michael Schellinger. Their wedding reception was held at Traditions at the Links in East Syracuse. If you're looking for a beautiful venue with a staff that is second to none, you should definitely consider Traditions at the Links. Both ballrooms are beautiful, and the banquet managers Gerry and Kim are very professional.

Stephanie and Mike are one of my favorite couples ever!

We had a planning meeting at Panera Bread on Erie Blvd. and immediately hit it off. 

During the meeting I learned a lot about them. I'll often ask couples how they met, and Stephanie and Mike's love story had all the makings of a hit introduction. It was funny, romantic, and inspired me to do the absolute best job I could for them. Here was a couple, floating on air in love.

During introductions I gave a brief back-story to Stephanie and Mike's courtship before introducing them into the room for the first time to resounding cheers. So many guests came up during and after the reception to thank me, and say how much they appreciated that back-story. Wedding guests all know why the are there, but they don't always know what specifically brought the couple to this day. Sometimes that love story, as was the case with Stephanie and Michael, is share-worthy indeed.

The rest of the reception was a great party, with a packed dancefloor! Stephanie's dance with her father was especially moving for me. Watching her mother proudly stare onto the dancefloor as they shared this time together... It's a moment I think they'll cherish forever.

Thanks for letting me be a part of your big day guys!

-Kirk Rothrum
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CNY Select DJs

Thanks Alissa & Bob!

Though I'm a few weddings behind on blog entries, just a quick post today to say...
I have the best clients in the world!!

Thanks Alissa & Bob!

An Elegant, Upscale Wine Country Wedding in the Finger Lakes

This past Saturday, on August 25, 2012, we had the pleasure of providing services for the Wedding Celebration of KC & Aaron Lager.

It was an elegant affair in Branchport, NY on Keuka Lake, at the summer homes of the groom's mother, fashion designer and modeling agent Lynda Erkiletian.

After a picture perfect ceremony for 150 or mostly so out of state guests,  everyone was invited for cocktails in her vineyard side home across the street, where we provided a mix of KC & Aaron's hand-picked favorite cocktail music, ranging from Sinatra to Paul Simon. Guests enjoyed a sampling of regional wines and spirits on a picturesque hill overlooking vineyards and the lake. In the dinner tent, I welcomed guests, thanked them for making the trip, and reminded them just how much they mean to KC and Aaron. I then introduced the parents of the bride and groom for some very heartfelt toasts. After a 5 course french style service, I invited guests to dance and soon witness KC & Aaron's first dance as husband and wife. They all provided the perfect backdrop of smiling friends and family in the estate's barn, which was transformed into an elegant dance hall, with dessert service at one end.

Once the dancing ensued, time flew by, and the floor stayed packed all night long. KC & Aaron decided to go overtime. Their guests were pumped about that!

We played an eclectic blend of music. Dipping into a handful of tunes that were very personal to KC and Aaron, and peppering in fun timeless classics like "Jump, Jive & Wail", "Twist & Shout", and of course some Top 40 songs. The result was a classy, FUN wedding celebration that kept the Bride and Groom's wishes at the very forefront.

After dancing, I invited everyone outside for a special sparkler send-off!

It was the perfect topping, to what was truly a magical day. 

At the end of the night, I was stopped by KC's parents, and I was truly taken aback by the kind words. I'm glad everything was exactly as they envisioned and more. The pleasure was indeed mine. Two beautiful, warm and welcoming families came together to celebrate a once in a lifetime day. Thank YOU for letting me play such a large role in bringing it all to life. It's a fun job. :)

To a lifetime of joy for KC & Aaron and their beautiful, loving families!

-Kirk Rothrum
Select Receptions - CNY Select DJs
Syracuse Wedding DJ


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PS: I'd like to extend a big THANKS to the several great wedding vendors we worked with on this big day from Rochester, Virginia, Maryland and the Washington DC area who were flown in for the occasion. A special thanks to Wedding Planner Elizabeth Duncan, of Washington DC. 

Emily & John's One of a Kind Clinton, NY Wedding Celebration

This past Saturday I had the privileged of helping to shape a wedding to remember. Everything about their day was so personal, I thought I'd do a blog-post about some of their awesome decor.

John and Emily Howard live in Hollywood, CA and used our online planning tools to plan their big day from afar. Theirs was a super creative wedding in every way. To begin, I introduced the wedding party and Bride & Groom to a classic track from the movie "The Good, The Bad & The Ugly".... Ennio Morricone - The Ecstasy of Gold" (Hear it here). It was an Epic introduction, to begin an epic wedding celebration.

For a new twist on place-cards, guests could find a "Key to their Seat" at this table, where each guest had a vintage skeleton key tagged with a typewritten name and table assignment. How cool?

At a nearby table, a classic typewriter was stocked with paper. Guests were invited to share their thoughts! This was a popular table and I imagine gave Emily and John plenty of good laughs later. :) Another cool idea!

Emily and John's centerpieces were bundles of classic literature! Guests could take home a classic, to remember the day. Each table also had a floral arrangement and disposable cameras. These are always a big hit.

The party rocked well into the night, with guests loving an eclectic mix of everything from Footloose to Shout. Emily and John gave me a great starting point on their music tastes, and I filled in the blanks.

Their wedding day also happened to be John's aunt Emmy's bithday! I surprised her (and maybe embarrassed her a little @ John's request) by having all 150 guests sing happy birthday to her, and followed it up with her favorite song "The B52's - Rock Lobster"! Aunt Emmy danced her little heart out, and the entire party went into high gear.

I was flattered by the many compliments I received, especially from John's family who hosted the day- but the pleasure was indeed mine. Their wedding was very much a family reunion. It's not often that a family comes together for a big event like this. Lots of laughing, dancing, drinking, and making memories that will last forever. It's so awesome to play a pivotal roll in that kind of day. Thanks Emily & John!

-Kirk
Select Receptions by CNY Select DJs

An Unforgettably FUN Wedding at the Whitetail in Manlius, NY

This past Saturday we had a great time providing services for the Wedding of Jennifer and Kyle Haskins. We provided ceremony audio with a wireless lapel microphone on the officiant, and ceremony music. It all took place at The Whitetail, at The Woodcrest Country Club in Manlius, NY. The Whitetail has a great staff, headed by Richard, the Banquet Manager, whose professionalism was second to none. We coordinated with him throughout the day & evening and his main focus was attentiveness to the Bride and Groom, and working together to make the day a success.

The beautiful outdoor ceremony overlooked the rolling foothills of the Adirondack Mountains. The ceremony was officiated by the Bride's uncle, William Gallerani, who performed one of the most moving ceremonies I've had the honor to attend in a long time.



 Kyle and Jen are a fun couple who picked out a bunch of great songs in several genres, country being one of their favs. We always welcome a DO NOT PLAY list from clients, and encourage them to let us know any music or genre they don't want to hear at their wedding. The ONE song on Jen & Kyle's Do-Not-Play list was Sir Mix-A-Lot - Baby Got Back. No problem, right? No less than 10 minutes into open dancing time, we received our first request for Baby Got Back! About 10 minutes later- ANOTHER request for Baby Got Back...... I was beginning to wonder if my clients were testing me lol.
 
In another 15 minutes, a THIRD request for Baby Got Back! This time, a guest let me in on a little secret: At every wedding Kyle attends (as a guest of course), he does an OUTRAGEOUS dance to Baby Got Back! It's over the top, and of course follows copious alcohol consumption. Again, I politely declined the request. The dance floor was hopping most of the night, but before 8pm we'd received no less than 12-15 requests, some begging, some offering to PAY me to play Baby Got Back! LOL! I declined the tip of course, but let them know that if the Bride and Groom signed off on it, I'd gladly play it. Obviously when Kyle did his Baby Got Back dance at other weddings, his entire family wasn't around like they were now.... Finally, Kyle gave me the green light. The results were unforgettable!


Thanks for the great time Jen & Kyle!!
All the best!

-Kirk Rothrum
Select Receptions by CNY Select DJs

A Beautiful Cazenovia Wedding with Stunning Views!

This past weekend I had the pleasure to provide services for the wedding of Alissa and Bob Elmer. Alissa and Bob are a fun couple and were one of my favorites to work with all season. I find myself saying that a lot lately! I suppose that's what happens when you are a true match with your client and their tastes.

The ceremony and reception both took place at Deer Hill Inn Bed & Breakfast. To say the least, I was thoroughly impressed with the views. 
We also provided outdoor ceremony sound for the wedding, which took place on the property, overlooking a scenic post-card perfect view of rolling hills for miles.
After the ceremony, guests enjoyed mingling with cocktails on the sprawling lawn, shaded by beautiful mature trees.

The Deer Hill Inn

The Deer Hill Inn is a beautiful Bed & Breakfast with stables, walking trails through meadows and breath-taking vistas.

One of the highlights was the candy-bar. Alissa admits to having a sweet tooth, and her candy-bar was second to none. A huge colorful display of every kind of candy you could imagine. A fun idea that was a big hit!

The Cupid Shuffle ©Amy Davis

After the ceremony and a family style dinner, the dancing began.
Alissa picked some great songs, and we filled in the rest with an eclectic playlist and guest requests that kept  the dance-floor hopping all evening.

We also had the pleasure of working with photographer Amy Davis. If you're looking for a photographer, you can visit her website here to see if you're a good match.


-Kirk Rothrum
Select Receptions by CNY Select DJs
Syracuse Wedding DJ

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**UPDATE**
While composing this blog-post, I was pleasantly surprised to receive the nicest voicemail, and Weddingwire review from Alissa! Thanks Alissa!

Listen: http://cnyselectdjs.com/alissa_testimonial_96k.mp3

"Don't look any further. Seriously. Kirk was amazing from day one. He was incredibly communicative, friendly, and knowledgable. He was open to meeting with us to discuss our big day on more than one occasion, and he felt more like an old friend than just someone providing music. He took our wedding very seriously from finding the exact versions of songs that we asked for to timing everything perfectly. Even when other vendors were goofing up on our big day, Kirk swooped in and saved the day by rearranging his own schedule to make things run more smoothly. Always friendly and always wanting to know what he could do to make our day perfect, Kirk and his services won't be forgotten. So many guests commented on the fun music and good times, and so much had to do with Kirk and his assistant. Professional, courteous, responsible, and fun, CNY Select DJs made our day!!!"

-Allissa Elmer

Camillus, NY

An Elegant, Private Estate Wedding in Skaneateles, NY

I recently had the opportunity to provide entertainment and Master of Ceremonies services for the wedding of Liz Allen and Misha Klein of Los Angeles, CA. Liz and Misha are two talented Hollywood animators with many successful films to their credit, from Coraline to the new Paranorman.

Modern Dance Lights on Tent Ceiling

Their wedding was a big success in every aspect. It was a fairly hot day, but as the sun went down, guests filled the dance-floor and danced all night long to an eclectic mix of music selected by Liz and Misha, and peppered with similar tunes and guest requests. 

The Newlywed Game

Since Liz and Misha didn't want to any Garter and Bouquet ceremonies, I offered them a few other ideas that could help fill out the evening. Liz was very keen on the newlywed game! It was a big highlight of the evening. For this, two chairs are placed in the center of the dance-floor and the bride and groom sit back to back, each holding one black and one white "magic wand". Then, with a backdrop of newlywed game theme music, I ask them a series of questions, with several questions pre-arranged by the bride and groom. To answer, they raise the white wand if the answer is "The Bride", or the Black wand if the answer is "The Groom". The answers are always hilariously entertaining to guests. Additionally, it gives friends and family an idea of who in their marriage will do more dishes, who is the better driver, and perhaps most importantly- who might eat the other in a zombie apocalypse.

If you're thinking you may want to do something different from (or in addition to) traditional formalities, just let me know, I'd be glad to give you some ideas. :)

In closing, Liz and Misha are a great couple and one of my absolute favorite clients this year for sure. they have a loving family, and a bunch of FUN friends. 

Thanks for letting me be a part of your big day. It truly was a personalized, uniquely YOU wedding. That's my forte, and why I love my job!

Sincerely,

-Kirk 

CNY Select DJs

An Engagement Party, Turned Surprise Wedding at the Lakeshore Yacht and Country Club in Cicero, NY!

Today I had the opportunity to MC the engagement party of Mario and Dorie Rector at the Lakeshore Yacht and Country Club in Cicero, NY. It was a fun, upscale event! I provided announcing and coordination as Russell Dobbins of YourWorld Sound and entertainment handled music programming and DJ services for the evening. The The views from the ballroom at Lakeshore are second to none.

About 45 minutes into cocktails, when all guests had arrived, I invited everyone out onto the back lawn for a group photo overlooking the water. All 120 guests made their way outside while the photographer took her place. Within moments, bridesmaids formed a procession, followed by Dorie escorted by her father.

Mario awaited her near the shore, and right then and there, they were married. It was a huge surprise for all! Afterward, we welcomed friends and family back into the room and did a grand introduction of the new Mr. & Mrs. Mario Rector before they shared their very first dance as husband and wife.

Mario & Dorie's First Dance

It was a beautiful day all the way around.

If you're looking for a venue on the water, Lakeshore boasts three walls of windows with beautiful views of the water as far as the eye can see. With the setting sun as a backdrop to their exchanging of vows and reception to follow, I don't think anyone could have asked for a more picturesque setting. The Banquet Manager Andrea Arcarisi was also a pleasure to work with.



Until next time...
All the best!

-Kirk Rothrum
CNY Select DJs
Syracuse Wedding DJ

How many hours do I invest in the average wedding?

Sometimes, when pricing services, we tend to do a mental break-down in our heads to figure out exactly what we're paying on a per-hour basis. It can be tempting to consider DJ services a quick 4-5 hours of playing music and announcing. Because this is your wedding day, there are no do-overs. We put much more planning and preparation into every detail.

Here's how many hours, on average, we put into a clients wedding day...

• 4 Hours - Client meetings, email exchanges, initial and ongoing phone support. I'm available when you need me, just a click or call away.
• 3 Hours - Playlist creation & music acquisition.
• 1 Hour - Paperwork prep; planners, creating & printing timelines for all vendors etc.
• 2-3 Hours - Travel to & from meetings and actual event.
• .75 Hour - Equipment load & unload time for before event.
• 1.5-2.5 Hours - Equipment setup & connect.
• 4-5 Hours - Average actual event performance.
• 1 Hour - Equipment dismantle.
• .75 Hour - Equipment load & unload time after event.

=
Grand Total: 18 to 21 Hours   
This is an average, and obviously changes with the scale of the event or the addition of a ceremony, uplighting, monogram projection etc.

If you're tempted to break things down by the hour, consider this: On average, couples spend around $25,000 on their wedding day. The majority of this goes directly into their reception. For a 4 hour reception, that's around $5,000 an HOUR! 

If your guests leave early, what will that cost you? Your chair covers, favors & flowers obviously won't cause your guests to leave early. The wrong DJ absolutely CAN. 

It's my goal to make your wedding an extension of YOU. From the music you and your guests love, to the presentation and style you want! Never the cookie cutter, cheesy wedding DJ. 
This is the type of wedding guests enjoy and want to stay at, allowing you to get the full value of your investment in this all important day.

If you have any questions, any step of the way, don't hesitate to reach out, night or day. 

Best wishes for a perfect wedding!
-Kirk Rothrum
CNY Select DJs

A Wedding First at Gilfillan's Park West in Camillus, NY

This past Saturday, June 30th, I had the absolute pleasure of providing reception entertainment and uplighting for the wedding of Shannon and Tyler Andre at Gilfillan's Park West in Camillus, NY.

Shannon and Otto wooping it up

The bride's father let me in on a little secret. In a wedding first for me, he'd arranged for Otto the Orange, The SU mascot to make a surprise appearance at the reception!

Immediately after cake cutting, I made an impromptu announcement that an old friend of Shannon's had arrived! (The inside joke here is that Shannon used to BE Otto in her SU days.)

After a proper, suspenseful introduction, Otto arrived to much fan-fair and was of course the life of the party! I usually have upwards for 18,000 songs at a wedding, and thankfully have the SU Fight Song in my library. It fit the bill perfectly and everyone had a blast.

 Shannon & Tyler are a fun couple with great taste in music! 

Our Online Client Tools area gives couples the ability to have as much control over the music at their wedding as they wish. Shannon gave us a list of approximately 30 songs and we filled in the blanks in keeping with her tastes. The result was a PACKED dance floor all night long.

A big THANKS to Shannon and Tyler! And Otto of course!

Best,
Kirk
Select Receptions by CNY Select DJs 
Syracuse Wedding DJ

A Beautiful Wedding at a Unique Venue in the Thousand Islands

Arrival by boat, captained by dad

This past Saturday, June 23rd, I had the pleasure of providing outdoor ceremony sound and reception entertainment for the wedding of Alison Daub-Sychra and Jordan Bowman of Atlanta, GA.

The wedding took place at the Antique Boat Museum in Clayton, NY on the Shore of the St. Lawrence River.

First Dance as Husband and Wife

The Antique Boat Museum is a unique venue in every way. The "campus" (as they refer to it), is a meticulously landscaped grounds, including several outbuildings full of beautiful antique boats.

The bride arrived on a boat captained by her father, and walked up the dock to Harp music in the grounds directly behind the main museum. The officiant and couple's vows were heard crystal clearly by all guests thanks to our low-profile ceremony sound system.

After the ceremony, guests made their way to the reception area. They had the option to join us on the large covered deck overlooking the peer for cocktails, music & mingling, or they could enjoy a sightseeing tour on an antique boat, or tour the museum.

The several activities made for an interesting and fun reception. 

Twisting into the sunset!

The night was capped with dancing on the deck with a beautiful backdrop of the sun setting on the Canadian side of the St. Lawrence river. 

We appreciate the opportunity to be a part of Allison and Jordan's wedding. They're a great couple with beautiful families. Though it was a small group of guests, it was a truly FUN wedding!

Sincerely,
-Kirk Rothrum
CNY Select DJs