Entries by Wenning Entertainment

Interview with Natalie Berger

Wenning's Wedding Tip Wednesday

 

Hiring a Professional Event Planner can prove to be far more valuable than you may have thought. Imagine, you are planning one of the most important days of your life and you do not want anything to mess that up. You want your venue to be beautiful; your vendors to be on the same page as well as ensuring your guests have a wonderful time! Have you ever taken a moment to think about what goes on behind the scenes and what could possible go wrong on such a busy day? Hiring a family friend to get you through this day may not be the best idea because although they “know how you think” they probably have not done as many events as a professional planner has and they do not know how to handle certain situations that could go wrong! We got the chance to catch up with Professional Event Planner Natalie Berger in the midst of her busy schedule to pick her brain a bit and have her shed some light on some planning do’s and don’ts to help guide you to a very special Wedding Day!

 

  • What separates your services from other Planners?

“I am an event planner that takes care of each client…you meet me, you hire me, you GET ME!!! No associates will run your event that day, I am there for you!!”

  • What advice can you give to New Brides and Grooms about planning their wedding?

“Make a budget…..stick with it!!! More does not mean BETTER!!!!”

  • What would you say to Brides and Grooms in having their “Friends or Aunt’s” be their Planner?

“Having a relative or friend help plan and run your special day is not fair to them or you…they will not be able to enjoy your day with you and things may come up, that they do not know how to handle. It is much easier to delegate things to do or correct to a paid professional…”

  • What’s one of the Biggest Mistakes you see that Brides and Grooms make in planning their wedding?

“The #1 thing to hire when planning your event is great entertainment!!!  Having fun at a wedding is what you remember, not the color scheme or food choices, music selections, dancing and having a fabulous time with family and friends is the key to a great event!!!!”

  • Anything else you want to add?

“When hiring vendors, get references, make sure they have worked the venue, and they should make you feel like you are their only client!!!”

 

If you are planning a grand event and want to contact Natalie for her professional assistance you can do so via email at [email protected] or by phone at (412) 298-4638. Check back next week for more Wedding Planning Tips!

Wedding Reception Timeline Management

Wenning's Wedding Tip Wednesday


There are many different ways to work a timeline for a wedding. This blog is set up mainly for a Western PA type of wedding. There are some variations of a “Jersey or New York Style Wedding” where the Bride and Groom enter the room and everyone dances for 10-15 minutes before the Toasts and Blessing even take place. Then throughout Dinner, between courses, everyone dances for 2-3 songs then enjoys the next course. So, to say the least, there are many ways in handling a timeline for a wedding. In this blog we are going to discuss mainly what we advise and tell our clients to do as a best option for their Western PA wedding.

You don’t ever want to “Front-load” your wedding. What is that you ask? It is when we introduce the Bride & Groom, then go into their first dance, then directly to the cake cutting, then into any other speciality dances, bringing everyone to the Toasts, Blessing and Dinner being served. Based off of years of experience and psychology, we have seen guests leave directly after dinner. Once they eat, there is nothing else obligating them to stay after, they have already seen everything they came to witness. We call it “Key’s & Purse” time. You don’t want everyone to see the “Whole Show” an hour an a half into the 5 hour event. That’s like doing a 50/50 raffle in the very beginning instead of towards the end of your event.

The timeline that we have listed below is based off of a 5 hour wedding reception. Note there are only a few times listed on the timeline, because those are your main important highlights of the evening. We need to know when Dinner is scheduled so we can work everything else around that, this way, the food that you spent so much money on does not get cold! Everything will fall into place with the order of things. Most Bride & Groom’s will want to do a ‘Meet n’ Greet’ after they eat just to say “Hi” to all of their friends and family that came to spend the day with them! So that is why we do not have any times for the Cake or First Dance, because every Bride and Groom are different and we tailor our needs to each client.

Not every wedding is going to have an “Anniversary Dance, Money Dance, or even a Garter and Bouquet Toss.” But we listed those as if they were taking place to show you where they would usually go. Using the right Emcee and/or DJ to work with you on your timeline is critical. It could either make or break the flow of your Big Day.

Wedding Sample Timeline | Wenning Entertainment

Wedding Toasts

Ask your Best Man or Maid of Honor to keep their toasts short and sweet so the rest of your guests don’t have to suffer! A long toast before dinner can leave your guests bored and with cold beef or chicken on their plate for dinner.

Wedding Linens

Unless your linens are somehow included in your venue costs it may be more cost effective for you to actually buy your own linens rather than renting them. We know, it doesn’t make sense, but once you factor in delivery and labor costs in addition to cleaning fees for the next rental you are looking […]

Happy Thanksgiving

As with years past, I can imagine that we all have more and more reasons to be Thankful than we think. This year, with the help of all of my amazing staff, I am grateful for the delightful and awesome clients we continue to encounter year after year. In addition, we have been honored to […]

Veterans Day 2015

We want to take the time to honor all of the men and women who have served in the US Military and Armed Forces. We also want to be sure to say Thank You to the families also because they have been directly impacted by the heroic decision to protect and serve their country. As […]

Book your Corporate Holiday Party Today!

Don’t be tardy, book your Holiday Party! Dates are filling up fast for the Holiday Season so be on top of your game and start planning for your Company Holiday Bash now. A great DJ can really make the difference in a laid back and fun atmosphere where employees will want to let their hair […]

Labor Day

Happy Labor Day Monday! This 3-day weekend has been reserved for relaxation and spending time with family and friends as we quickly approach the end of summer. Businesses and government offices are closed today because Labor Day was created to celebrate working people. Today commemorates the day we honor working men and women for the […]

7 Devastating Wedding Day Mistakes to Avoid on Your Special Day

Planning a wedding is an exciting endeavor but can be stressful. Often, couples spend many hours making preparations, rethinking their decisions, and doing lots of consultations. They have to juggle between their own interests and the expectations of family and friends. Even with all the preparations that go into it, some couples fail to pull […]

Planning the Perfect Playlist for Your Wedding Day

After the vows are exchanged and the “I do’s” are exclaimed, it’s time to celebrate your long journey to romance with the ones you hold near and dear at the wedding reception. No matter if your special day is big or small, a well-planned wedding reception sets the tone of your big day and will […]

AV Equipment Checklist for Your Next Event

Whether it’s a boardroom presentation or a wedding reception, most events call for some kind of audio-visual (AV) equipment to enhance the event. AV equipment rental can be difficult to navigate and often times people don’t know exactly what they need or what the best option for presenting their audio visual material is. Many people […]

Lee Terbosic in America’s Got Talent

As we continue to grow as a Full Service Entertainment Company, our talent continues to strive for BIGGER venues and MORE exposure as well! Wenning Entertainments’ very own Lee Terbosic will be on this season of America’s Got Talent, which premieres tonight, May 26, at 8pm on NBC.

Remember those who have Served…

Memorial day is one of the busiest and most traveled weekends in the US – unofficially, the beginning of the summer season. While you enjoy the outdoors and time with friends and family take the opportunity to commemorate the lives of the men and women who have died during military service for the freedoms we enjoy today.

Wedding at Mansion at Maple Heights

Here are some photos from our most recent Wedding Ceremony and Reception at the Mansion at Maple Heights. Edwin and Michelle were such a great couple to work with and we’re not only congratulating them on their recent nuptials, but also on their new addition! Choosing Wenning Entertainment for their services was an easy decision for this couple because not only are we the Preferred Vendor at the Mansion, but also because they were able to bundle all of their services through just one vendor.

Behind the Scenes with Professional Wedding Videography

With your special day on the horizon, you may be pondering whether to hire a videographer to chronicle the ceremony and reception. When you choose to have a videographer at your event, you are choosing to create a beautiful wedding documentary to help you relive your special day. The day of your wedding is sure to be a breathtaking day that will have you in awe with the vows you are taking. However, it can also be a stressful, chaotic, busy day where you and your spouse-to-be are the center of attention. You may think you’re taking it all in and enjoying yourself, but you’re really missing so much due to the excitement of the day.

Settling the Debate – Wedding DJ or Band?

It is never an easy decision to make. Although music is indisputably one of the most important aspects of a wedding celebration, choosing how to provide it—not to mention choosing the music that best fits the mood—can be difficult. For receptions in particular, people usually go with either a DJ or a band to play […]