Why You Absolutely Need to Dance at Your Wedding!

Everyone is There For You!

True story! They are there because of their love for you! Imagine… It’s your wedding day, and you’re surrounded by your nearest and dearest family and friends. Every person there has been selected carefully by you and your sweetie to share in one of the absolute biggest days of your lives! All eyes are on you, and you get the privilege of setting the tone and vibe of your celebration. You and your sweetheart can consider yourself the ringmasters of your wedding circus! After all, you have painstakingly selected every detail, right down to the guest list and playlist, and now it’s time to enjoy it, while ensuring that everyone else enjoys it too! 

Want your wedding to be one for the history books? A momentous occasion that brings a smile to people’s faces for years to come? Then it’s up to you and your beloved to make it happen! No pressure necessary, because it really is easier than you think! We Promise!

Not a Dry Eye in the Place!

Maybe being the center of attention isn’t really your thing, maybe you prefer to be more of a background player. That may be, and that may work for you in other scenarios, but that’s not really an option at your wedding! Everyone that is in attendance loves the two of you, is simply happy to be included, and wants to witness your happiness personally! They’ve chosen to spend the day with you, when they could literally be doing anything else!

Your guests want to see your first dance! It doesn’t matter to them whether it’s traditional, or more adventurous! Maybe you want to go all the way and choreograph a complicated dance routine, maybe you don’t. Whatever you decide, they are there to see YOU, they are not there to criticize your dancing! Trust us! With our abundance of experience, we know what we’re talking about! You can decide just how far you want to take your first dance, but for the love of all that’s good and pure… get up on the dancefloor

Strut Your Stuff on The Dancefloor!

Some of the most enduring memories and moments of your wedding will happen after all the official business of the day is complete! Everyone is ready to get up, celebrate and let loose after all the big emotion of the day! 

But, the thing is, if you and your sweetheart want a happening party at your wedding, you need to get your behinds up on the dancefloor! You are the guests of honor after all, and if you’re dancing, your guests will join you out there! Ultimately, they came to spend the day celebrating you two and your love story! And, there’s a special kind of alchemy that occurs when you’re dancing with a big group of loved ones. Today is your day, and  you have a unique, and maybe never to be repeated, group of Grandparents, Parents, Aunts, Cousins, and friends! So get out there and make some memories! These are just the kinds of memories that become more valuable in time! You can’t get this day back, so dance!

Close your eyes and picture it! The DJ’s lights are shining and spinning brightly, your favorite music is playing, the dance floor is full of loved ones that are all dressed in their best, everybody’s bodies are swaying, bopping and bouncing to the beat, and everyone has a big smile on their happy faces! Pretty gosh darn special, right? 

The Sprinkles on Top of Your Sundae

Weddings are monumental events that change people’s lives, and expand their families in multiple directions, and we feel that it’s always a privilege to be invited, and you should treat your day with no less reverence! Going with the analogy of an ice cream sundae… if your whole wedding is the sundae, we consider the dance to be the colored sprinkles on top! Never an afterthought, but a meaningful element that contributes a marvelous little something, some flair and hopefully some delicious memories… if you will. So, all that being said, if you want that little something special, those sprinkles on top of that sundae… you NEED to get up and dance!!

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Jason Jani’s Top Wedding Venues: Park Château Estate and Gardens

Finding a venue to host one of the biggest days of your life can be a daunting endeavor. With my latest series “Jason Jani’s Top Wedding Venues,” I’m here to help you wade through the seemingly endless roster of wedding venues in New Jersey to find that perfect fit. First on my list? One of SCE’s all-time favorites: Park Château Estate and Gardens. 

Elegant Facilities  

One look at our footage from a night at the Park Château and it’s not exactly shocking that the French-inspired manse is one of the most stunning wedding venues in New Jersey. Situated on 15, sprawling acres of lush land, the massive estate is something out of a European fairytale. The venue’s aesthetic brings an element of classic refinery to your day of matrimony. Around every corner await opulent treasures: glistening chandeliers, priceless antiques, silver place settings and so much more. 

Spaces for Indoor and Outdoor Ceremonies 

Couples can take advantage of the Park Château’s flawless landscape with a beautiful outdoor ceremony beside the manicured gardens and picturesque pond. Not ready to brave the elements? Leave your wedding out of Mother Nature’s hands! Elect to have your ceremony at the estate’s chic, private chapel, just steps from the main house. 

Impeccable Service

The Park Château Estate and Gardens is one of the most sought after wedding venues in New Jersey for reasons beyond its luxurious architecture and sprawling landscape: the service. 

I can’t stress enough how important (and underrated) venue service is on your wedding day. Poor management and sloppy execution can bring the festivities to a grinding halt. With over 30 years of experience, the attentive, professional staff members at Park Château make sure you get hitched, without a hitch. I mean… wedding guests are literally greeted in the foyer by white-gloved servers distributing flutes of champagne. It doesn’t get much classier than that. 

Central Location 

As far as geography goes, you don’t get much better than Park Château Estate and Gardens. Located in East Brunswick, New Jersey, the venue is an ideal midway point for wedding guests in the tristate area. Situated about an hour from both New York City and Philadelphia, the Park Château’s central location is convenient for folks near and far. 

Potential to Party 

At SCE, we like to go all out on your wedding day. After all… it’s your wedding day. Park Château Estate and Gardens allows us to do just that. There’s no shortage of space in the venue’s expansive ballroom. An ample dance floor and high ceilings allow you to take advantage of our premium services: SCE fusion, cold spark fountains, dancing on the clouds, CO2 blasts, custom lightscaping, monogram projections, photo booths, indoor snow, media screens and other live features.    

Ready to see more of the Park Château Estate and Gardens? Follow us on social media to browse photos and clips of this spectacular, full-service property. Keep an eye out for more of my top wedding venues in New Jersey!

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LGBTQ Anthems That Will Make Your Event Feel Inclusive, and Why That’s Important!

The LGBTQ Community and Music, A Long History

When it comes down to it, music and the LGBTQ+ Community can be described as synonymous! Over the years, lyricism and song content have been used to express the frustration, anxiety, hope and joy associated with non-normative sexual and gender identities.

Music truly offers marginalized groups a vehicle for freedom of expression, which is both socially accepted and is accessible to be enjoyed by everyone, helping to foster tolerance and understanding. But even more than that… It’s where a lot of the very best songs have come from!

Does it Really Matter if Your Event is Inclusive?

Our Answer to that question is a resounding yes! For starters, it is simply the right thing to do as well as being a way to extend your values into your event. Making your event inclusive improves the experience for all of your guests, which is always a good thing. It’s also easier to achieve than you may think!

Everyone Should Feel Welcome on the Dance Floor

After all, dance is a universal language as well as a great equalizer. People from all different walks of life and experience can come together on the dance floor, with everyone adding their own special way of moving and grooving to the mix. After all, it’s the differences between us that make life colorful and interesting! Wouldn’t life be boring if we were all exactly the same?!

Now onto the Music!

Here’s a short list of LGBTQ anthems, as well as being great songs, that’ll be sure to pack the dance floor:

“All the Lovers”, Kylie Minogue

“Freedom!”, George Michael

“Walk on the Wild Side”, Lou Reed

“Raise Your Glass”, Pink

“Take Me, or Leave Me”, From the musical “Rent”

“Vogue”, Madonna

“True Colors”, Cyndi Lauper

“I’m Coming Out!”, Diana Ross

“Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” lil Nas X

“Smalltown Boy”, Bronski Beat

“Supermodel (You Better Work)”, RuPaul

“Follow Your Arrow”, Kacey Musgraves

“Go West”, Pet Shop Boys

“Brave”, Sara Bareilles

“Dancing Queen”, ABBA

“Firework”, Katy Perry

“I want to Break Free”, Queen

“Born This Way”, Lady Gaga

“Rebel Girl”, Bikini Kill

“Grace Kelly”, Mika

“It’s Raining Men”, The Weather Girls

A Few Easy Changes, For Big Results

Adding music that will appeal to everyone is a great step, but there is another small thing you can do that will really help bump up the inclusivity of your event! Our small, but impactful  change is using gender neutral terms, instead of gender specific terms when addressing your guests. Ladies and Gentlemen can easily transform into Distinguished Guests. Hey Guys can be changed to Hi Folks, Hey Friends or Hi Y’all! Making those few small changes in your language, doesn’t detract from your event, and will likely make some guests in your group feel right at home! Sounds like a win-win to us!

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How to Plan (and Rock) a Virtual Wedding

According to a worldwide survey, around 82 percent of weddings set to take place in April 2020 were postponed. While the COVID-19 pandemic forced couples across the world to waylay their marital plans, a whole new style of celebration was born for the folks who simply couldn’t wait: the virtual wedding. At SCE Event Group, we’ve hosted our fair share of remote celebrations in the last two years. Seeing as we’re basically experts in the area, here’s a little guide on how to plan and rock a virtual wedding! 

1. Hire SCE

The first step for planning your virtual wedding is kind of a no-brainer: hire SCE Event Group. As your one-stop shop for DJing, event enhancements and photo booth services, we can tailor our offerings to fit your big day. Planning an in-person, virtual or an in-person/virtual hybrid celebration? We have the experience, creativity and resources to make it happen. 

2. Choose Your Venue Wisely

Our next piece of advice for the virtual wedding planner is to choose your venue wisely. Whether you’re hosting an intimate backyard wedding or a massive banger, make sure the space you choose has proper reception and WIFI capabilities. Visit the venue ahead of time to get a better understanding of their virtual services. Notify them of your unique plans and see if you can coordinate with their management team in advance! 

3. Hire a Great Wedding Photographer 

Sure, your virtual wedding might not be the most conventional, but that makes it all the more memorable! Spend some time researching industry photographers and videographers who have experience capturing unique, virtual events so that your day can be properly documented. 

4. Live-Stream Everything 

Give your virtual guests an authentic, in-person experience by bringing the party to their televisions! You can work with us at SCE Event Group to set up devices at various vantage points and stream everything: the ceremony, cocktail hour, reception, dances, toasts and speeches. The more camera angles, the more interactive and enjoyable for your long-distance guests. 

At a recent wedding, our bride’s father was on lockdown in New Zealand and couldn’t attend his own daughter’s big day. We worked with the bride and her father to coordinate a live-stream so that he could be included in all of the festivities. The results were nothing short of amazing. With the help of an immersive stereo system and broadcast streaming tools, it felt like the remote guests were right there at the party with us. Check out the video below for a little glimpse of this unique wedding! 

5. Don’t Skip the Dancing 

We all know that dancing is the best part about pretty much any wedding… Just because yours is virtual doesn’t mean you have to miss out! At SCE, we’ve hosted enough live-stream celebrations to know that anything is possible, including a dance party. Make sure you have a camera or two pointed at the dance floor so virtual guests are in on the action. They can have their own little dance parties right in their living rooms! 

At SCE Event Group, we can adapt to nearly any hurdle, including a global pandemic. To learn more about our services and how we can help you plan your virtual wedding, contact us at (888) 278-0900. 

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Jason Jani’s Top Wedding Venues: Clarks Landing

One of the most important (and hair-pulling) wedding planning tasks is finding that perfect venue. With my latest series “Jason Jani’s Top Wedding Venues,” I’m here to help you wade through the seemingly endless roster of wedding venues in New Jersey to find that perfect fit. 

Next up on my list? One of our all-time favorite spots in the garden state: Clarks Landing Yacht Club. 

Picturesque Facilities  

At Clarks Landing, sophistication meets the sea. This elegant estate boasts views of the Manasquan River from its ceremony and reception sites. Located in Point Pleasant, the coastal establishment features a number of spacious rooms for each stage of your wedding day. The property is also a gorgeous backdrop for wedding photos! 

Multiple Ceremony Sites 

Take advantage of the beautiful views and opt for an outdoor ceremony at the Clarks Landing Riverside Site. The open-air space features a pearly pergola beside the scenic marina. If the elements aren’t working in your favor, choose the Grand Ballroom. The indoor reception area doubles as a ceremony space with expansive windows that overlook the river. It even offers a Juliet balcony from which the bride can enter!

Five-Star Cuisine 

Come dinner time, your guests are in good hands. Chef Hassan (American Culinary Federation Certified Executive Chef) has been a part of the Clarks Landing family for 19 years. In those (nearly) two decades, Hassan has mastered the art of wedding cuisine. The renowned chef works closely with each couple to translate their tastes into unique and flavorful menus. We can personally attest to the deliciousness that emerges from Hassan’s kitchen! 

Attentive Staff 

A wedding venue is only as efficient as its core crew members. At Clarks Landing, the wedding coordinator and staff (shout-out to Nicole, Kristen and Judy) take the weight of matrimonial planning off your shoulders. With their collaborative and professional work styles, they seamlessly handle vendor coordination, day-of setup, scheduling and more!

Friend and industry expert Donald Calle is responsible for establishing the unbeatable standards at Clarks Landing. Inspired by stellar establishments (like Disney and Ritz-Carlton) known for their unmatched guest experience, Calle and his team have made Clarks Landing the top wedding venue that it is today. 

Family Owned

One of the most remarkable elements of the Clarks Landing Yacht Club is its warm and inclusive culture. Owned and operated by the amazing Truesdale family, the Point Pleasant-based establishment exudes all the comforts of home. When you choose this venue, you’re not just any other client – you’re family. 

Ready to see more of Clarks Landing? Follow SCE Event Group on social media to browse photos and clips of this spectacular, full-service property. Keep an eye out for more of my top wedding venues in New Jersey!

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Why Explicit Lyrics Don’t Belong at Your Wedding

We want EVERYONE to enjoy your wedding!

We’re firm believers that there is a time and a place for everything!  With the right crowd, at the right party, or the right club, we’ve been known to make it steamy on the dancefloor! And, by all means, if it’s your thing, get your grind on, at your bachelor or bachelorette parties and get as wild as you want!

That being said, we don’t believe your wedding reception is the place for that, and prefer to abide by the precautionary principle and focus on music that everyone, from your tiniest guests to your oldest guests will enjoy! And, it won’t take away from the party. We promise! Because, while you might think nothing of dropping it down low to some unedited Nicky Minaj, Lil’ Kim, or Ginuwine, it’s doubtful that your Grandma and Grandpa feel the same way, or that your little ring bearers or flower girls need to see it!

Lessons were learned that day!

Trust me when I say that they don’t need to see it! I’m speaking from experience! A few years ago, I was attending a friend’s wedding as a guest. After dinner, the dance started up, it was still early in the night, and it was going well! The dance floor was packed! Then the DJ played Pony by Ginuwine… Let’s just say that there were more than a few horrified & surprised parents & kids watching a bridesmaid drop to the ground and proceed to grind (and more) with the dance floor. There were bewildered looks and mouths hanging open everywhere! Truthfully it was super awkward and took a while for the party to recover. Not exactly the memory you want your guests to leave with!

In the end you want your wedding day to be remembered for all the amazing moments throughout the day and all the love that was witnessed and shared, not informal sex ed demonstrations by the bridal party!

It can still be all about you!

At the end of the day the music that’s played at your wedding should be a reflection of you, but there are ways to do that that will make your wedding inclusive and comfortable for all your guests. We believe that should definitely be one of your end goals, because as much as your wedding is about you, it’s also about all the people you love enough to share it with! Even if you tone down your music you’re still going to have a great time! We guarantee it!

A few suggestions are: Clean or radio edits of songs you absolutely must hear, honoring guests requests only within certain parameters, a timeline/cut off i.e. no ‘f’ bombs or raunchy lyrics before 11:00pm, or the couple can let you know when they feel it’s okay to proceed to get dirty! If none of that appeals, you might want to end your reception a little earlier, and have an after party with just your friends!

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Wedding Ceremony Music – How to Choose a Prelude, Processional, and Recessional song

The music for a wedding reception is pretty easy to pick. You have some fun party songs and maybe a few line dances. You get some very sentimental first dance and family dance songs. You choose those bangers that will get everyone yelling “Yes! This is my SONG!” It is a fun time and the music reflects that.

But what about the ceremony? There is not a ton of music that is “standard” for the ceremony. Sure, you have “Here Comes the Bride” but even that is starting to feel a bit cliche. How do you choose the music for your ceremony? It is all about the feeling you are trying to elicit.

The Prelude

Before anyone even begins walking down the aisle, you want people to already feel the magnitude of the moment they are going to be experiencing. If you are going for grand, romantic you can choose orchestral music that will make your guests feel like they are in a period piece. The swelling of the strings will make emotions well up in your guests.

The more modern equivalent is to get that sense of nostalgia going. Playing oldies or songs that fit your theme will get guests reminiscing. They will feel present in this important moment while thinking about everything that led up to this moment.

The Processional

There should be a tonal shift when going into the processional. This should be music that tells everyone “Get ready. Here we come!” The music for your family should be different from the music for your wedding party. They should be songs that are upbeat but also reverent. They should also be easy to walk to. If you go too slow, guests will lose interest. If you go too fast, you are going to see groomsmen and bridesmaids sprinting down the aisle.

Your song should be for you. If you like the “Here Comes The Bride” vibe then you could go that direction. Most couples are opting for songs that are more important to them. In either case, it should be another tonal shift. This song literally gets guests out of their seats. All eyes are on you. The song should scream “I have arrived. I am doing this!” It is the most important moment of your wedding up to that point. The song should accompany your reveal.

The Recessional

Hooray! You did it! Now to walk back up the aisle. The Recessional is the final moment of your ceremony. You wanna go out with a bang. This song should be the highest energy song of your ceremony. This is the song that proclaims “We did it! We are married!” The feeling that should be evoked is triumph, love, and excitement. As everyone leaves, they should be dancing down the aisles; full of joy and ready to party! It is the end of your ceremony and the start of the rest of your lives. But it is also usually marking the start of your reception too. The transition should get everyone hype and ready to celebrate even more.

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