Making The Most Out of Your Photo Booth Booking

How do you ensure that the photo booth gets the attention you know it deserves at your wedding? And what steps can you take to make the most out of your booking with one of our photo booths?

Well, don’t worry, just keep reading, as we happen to have quite extensive experience in the matter! And, we’re more than willing to share all the tips and tricks we’ve learned about what works best! So whether you’re getting married in North NJ, South NJ, Central NJ, or on the beautiful Jersey Shore we’re ready to help you make the most of the photo booth experience!

Location, Location, Location!

When it comes to maximizing the potential of your photo booth, location is truly everything! If your booth gets tucked away in a corner, where no one can see it, it may go unused, and that would be a terrible shame! 

While you certainly don’t want your photo booth to upstage the other important elements at your wedding reception, your booth should be clearly visible to you guests when they arrive! That helps to ensure that it will be high priority on their list of activities for the evening! And, that’s even before they get a sneak peek at what is in the prop box! Another important tip when it comes to booth location, you should try if at all possible to have the booth in the main reception space, and if not possible, beside the bar (if it is out of the room), or in your pre-reception cocktail space are great choices!

Timing is Everything!

In our experience, we’ve found the timing/timeline to be extremely important if you want your guests to take full advantage of your photo booth!

Remember, the majority of rentals are for approximately 3-4 hours (but are available for the duration of your event if you prefer), so to make the most of your time with your photo booth, schedule it during what is prime-picture-taking time! This is often after guests have had a chance to have a snack and a drink or two, and have caught up with other guests, broken the ice, and loosened up a bit!

Cocktail hour photo booths are always great for this, but in our experience there’s typically no need to run the booth during dinner time, especially if you’re having a plated sit-down dinner. Instead an option available to you is adding in some photo booth downtime over dinner, or simply using all your photo booth booking time after the more formal part of the evening is finished.

The second crucial time for the booth to be open is directly after dinner, speeches and, of course,  the first dance! After sitting for a while during dinner, your guests will be eager to get up and shake loose, and maybe refresh their cocktail now that all the formal parts of the evening are done! And, as a final note on timing,  it’s best to take advantage of the booth while the youngest and oldest guests are still there and in a festive mood! 

Keep Your Guests in the Loop!

Often all it takes are a couple of groups of outgoing guests to hop into the booth, and the rest of your guests will happily follow suit. You can also enlist the bridesmaids and groomsmen to help get the party started by getting in the booth! Supporting you and helping keep the party going are a part of their job after all, and this will also ensure that you get informal photos of your bridal party, to go along with all the more formal shots from your photographer. Generally it just takes a few groups and sessions to show the rest of the guests how much fun the booth is, then they’ll all be clamoring for their chance!

But, the best thing you can do in this regard is to get your DJ & MC to call attention to the photo booth with a few well timed announcements, and maybe a reminder or two throughout your booking time! Most MC’s & DJ’s know that there will be a few things they will need to address for the guests, so don’t feel bad asking them to point out your amazing photo booth! After all, they’re there to help you achieve the wedding reception you’ve always dreamed about!

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Meet the SCE Team: Michael “Bird” McHugh

Micheal McHugh “Bird”

SCE Event Group would be nothing without its devoted team members. Equipped with years of industry experience and knowledge, our family of creatives has what it takes to bring your event to the next level. 

Our new “Meet the SCE Team” series will introduce a new staff member to you each month! First up is our Operations Manager, Michael McHugh, known to most by his nickname Bird.

What is your role at SCE Event Group? 

I wear many hats here at SCE Event Group. I am our Operations Manager. I am also a DJ, photographer & technology specialist. 

How long have you worked at SCE Event Group? 

Since 2012

What is your favorite part about your job?

Being a part of a couple’s best day of their life. Having the opportunity to enhance their celebration is what I truly look forward to the most about this line of work. 

What do you think makes SCE different from other companies in the industry? 

We have a wide variety of talent on our team. Each member on our team brings something different to the table. They come with a different perspective, years of experience and knowledge that enhances our creative team. 

 

How did you get started in this industry? 

I started Djing in high school, that is actually how I met Jeff Scott Gould (a Host here at SCE), he Djed my prom. After college, I picked back up in the industry learning lighting and production as well as Djing. 

What do you like to do outside of work? 

I would say cars are my biggest hobby if you can call it a hobby. I am into old cars, new cars, European cars, and Japanese cars. I own a Porsche 944. 

What’s the last song you listened to? 

Everything’s Magic by Angels & Airwaves 

What piece of advice would you give to anyone planning a wedding or party?

Try not to get hung up on the small nitty gritty details, the day goes by way too fast. 

What are your favorite services that we offer for events?

I am obviously a big lighting guy. I think my favorite service is our intelligent dance lighting. I want our DJ set to feel like a production. I think the lighting helps to keep the energy flowing. It gives movement to the room when used properly with the music playing. 

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 

I see myself still doing operations for SCE Event Group. I hope that I also have my own photography business as well. I would love to expand on my interest in architectural photography and grow it into a business. 

Stay up to seep with all things Bird on Instagram @birdman944

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How to Tell People That They (or Their Kids) Aren’t Invited to Your Wedding

Oh boy! This is one of the most nerve wracking parts of planning a wedding! I can’t tell you just how frustrating the wedding invitation guilt trips can be! And, it can come from seemingly nice people! Maybe it comes from Linda in the cubicle next to you at work, or from Ricky who whips up your latte and small talks with you every morning, or maybe even from your absolute favorite cousin, the one you grew up playing Barbie or Gi Joes with, and although you don’t talk much anymore, you know the general gist of their life because Facebook.

Phase One: The first thing you should do

The first thing you should do in war…I mean, wedding planning is to anticipate the enemy…I mean, friends and family reaching out after you get engaged! I’m sure your notifications totally blew up with that engagement photo, and that’s a good thing! After all, people are genuinely happy for you, but it’s a good time to remind yourself that the internet is not a closed room, and it can be easy to forget how many real friends you actually have!

These friends are now part of your journey, and you’ve invited them there. So you may want to consider limiting your audience either by purging your friends list or simply limiting the number of posts you share on wedding planning because every post is an invitation for a comment on the matter!

You can also quiet down the crowds by sending save the dates, but for all that is holy do not add “and guest” to your envelopes, unless you really mean it! I see you there, trying to be warm and accommodating, but that often comes back to haunt you, and it’s something that can be prevented. So, send your save the dates to only the names of the people you are extending an invitation to. If you’re not sure, don’t add them to the list. If you change your mind later, you can absolutely still send them an invite! Better safe than sorry, believe me.

Phase Two: Get Real

Okay, so now we’ve passed the time for save the dates, and your invitations are being designed and prepared for mailing. This is a crucial time to set the expectations of your guests, as invitations are there to communicate everything they’ll need to know about your wedding, and who is going to be invited is a key component.

First step: On your envelopes, address the names of the guests invited. Don’t want your brother bringing a random? Invite his boyfriend by name. Don’t want kids at your wedding? Invite only Mr. and Mrs. Johnson. This is the first indication of who is invited to a wedding.

Step two, tactic B: Design your RSVP cards with space to write in the number of seats you are extending to this person, eg. 2 seat(s) have been reserved in your honor. We do this often to limit the number of cheeky guests that try to add a name to the RSVP. 

Phase Three: Invitations are About to Go Out the Door.

The envelopes are sealed and addressed, you’ve allowed at least 4 weeks for RSVP collection and think, “”this is it! I’m really in it now!”

This is the time that people will start to text you/call you/email/ig/slide into your DMs with (hopefully) “Oh my god, these are the best invitations ever!” And, you’ll be smitten with your invitation reception because for once, you feel SOMEONE is just as excited as you about your wedding! 

Then one afternoon, you hear the facebook message ding. Or maybe it happens as your coffee crosses the counter “So, when am I getting my invite?” Awkward. There is a way to play this off and prevent a total meltdown.

First things first! Yes. It is absolutely R-U-D-E to ask for an invitation. But it doesn’t stop people from doing it. And mostly, it’s because, well, they like you (and who can blame them), and want to be part of the cool kids club. They think your wedding is going to be epic, (and it will be!) and they want to be part of it.

So–what can you say that will diffuse the situation without looking like a jerk! Try this: In a nonchalant humorous tone say, “Ha! As soon as I claim my lotto winnings, I can barely afford to invite myself!” And, they will laugh, and you will laugh, and then you casually slink out of there without further comment! 

Because here’s a secret, they probably don’t realize how expensive it is for each guest that attends a wedding if they’re asking you this. If they did, they would know not to say boo. Hopefully they get the hint here, but if they don’t, you can default to your size limitations.

Phase 4: When you thought all was going well

By this point you feel like you’ve really done it and are coming to the home stretch, then you get a message that says–”Hey I got your invitation, but I noticed that the kids weren’t part of the invite, does that mean they’re not invited”

And, technically, not getting an invite literally means you are not invited, but you might need to prepare a response like “While we believe children are a blessing and a joy, please take this night to enjoy yourselves. Our wedding is adults only”

BAM. It doesn’t get much clearer than that. 

You can even include this on an insert card with your reception information if you want to prevent these outcries altogether. And if it’s included in the invitation and you still get the above message? Copy and paste darling, copy and paste, and stick to your guns!

While we understand that for some people excluding kids from your wedding will come as an insult, the choice is ultimately up to you! And, if you’re one of the last of your friend group to tie the knot, including a dozen or more entire families might just break your budget! So set your priorities then stick with them!

And, truthfully, unless the kids in question are very close family (i.e. your only nieces and nephews), having them there might not enhance your day. But, on the other hand, if you’ve always imagined a dance floor of little ones dancing the night away, then invite away! It’s your day to do things your way! Period!

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Event Enhancements For Your Wedding Celebration

Looking for something to truly take your wedding to the next level?! Looking for a way to customize your event and make it unique?! Looking to create incredible ambience and picture perfect moments you can cherish for a lifetime?! 

If that sounds like you, keep reading!! 

At SCE we want to encourage you to think and dream big. We dare to stand out in the crowd and be different. And most of all, at SCE we want you to have a celebration that is just as amazing as you are! 

So, if you’ve seen a moment that absolutely blew you away at an event you’ve attended, or in a movie you’ve watched, or maybe the only place you’ve only seen it is in your dreams… We want to help you achieve it!

One of the best ways we can accomplish this is putting together an over-the-top, custom wedding package, using our a-la-carte event enhancements! And, the good news is since these event enhancements are available a-la-carte, they can be totally customized to fit your event, budget and theme!

Lightscaping, Party Lighting or Specialty Lighting

Lighting makes it to the top of the list, because we know how quickly the right lighting can enhance the vibes of your party! So at SCE we offer everything from dramatic architectural uplighting to subtle lighting accenting event features, we even have the ability to change or evolve the lighting design over the course of your party! 

Dance on Clouds, Make it Snow, CO2 Blasts & Cannon

If you’re really looking to make a wedding moment extra magical and picture perfect, we suggest looking into Atmospheric Event Enhancements for your wedding reception! Just imagine having your first dance as a married couple, right among the clouds! Sounds dreamy right?! Or Maybe you want to have your first dance with snowflakes gently falling all around, creating a winter wonderland-like experience? Or maybe you want to create a huge impact at peak moments using CO2 blasts or our CO2 cannon… bringing that exclusive Las Vegas nightclub vibe to your reception! 

Indoor Fireworks! Yes! Really!

Talk about impact! Our latest impact enhancement offering is our Indoor Sparkular Fountain!  Imagine your grand entrance, or your first dance or your packed dance floor elevated by a beautiful display of cold sparks that do not produce smoke, are non toxic, add a dramatic WOW factor, and are safe to use indoors! And speaking of impact, you can have up to 6 total fixtures linked together during your milestone moment to add a huge dose of visual awesomeness!

Media Screens, Musicians and Live Performers

Ever wanted to have your own video dance party, or have special video content or custom visuals you’d like to incorporate into your reception?! It can be available to you by incorporating media screens and technology into your event! Or are you looking to take your wedding dance energy over-the top by bringing in a live musician to enhance the music your DJ is playing? Think a live saxophone player mixing and mingling with your guests, or a live percussionist vibing with the music! Or, maybe you have your heart set on having a live performer, performing group or production or impersonator at your wedding reception! At SCE we can offer that to you, just tell us what you’re dreaming up, and leave the rest to us! 

And, So. Many. More!!

Seriously! I know we’ve listed off a ton of amazing event enhancements, but we’re only just scratching the surface! So, if you don’t see the event enhancement you’ve been dreaming of in this list, get in touch and we will see what we have to do to turn your dreams into reality!!

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New Jersey Bride, For Jersey Girls…By Jersey Girls!

When you’re planning a wedding in New Jersey the New Jersey Bride is an absolutely vital planning resource and guide, and the best part is that it’s local! Meaning you will be able to access a vast, but at the same time, carefully curated list of exceptional and professional wedding vendors in every category! 

They cover everything from wedding venues, to florists, to calligraphers, to wedding rentals, to entertainment, to honeymoon travel arrangements, to transportation & limousine services, and everything in between!

So, it doesn’t matter if you’re planning a small outdoor tented wedding, a large golf and country club wedding, an intimate wedding at a boutique hotel, or a lavish estate wedding. You will find options to pursue to fit your wedding, no matter the size of style. 

The website also features real New Jersey weddings, meaning you’ll get to see local venues and vendors in action, and many of the featured weddings let you in on the behind the scenes, even going so far as to include a little about the couple’s love story, the details of their big day, their favorite moments, and what advice they’d offer other couples after their own wedding! 

And, if you’re interested, you could share your own wedding details and photos to have it featured on New Jersey Bride after the big day (with permission from your photographer of course). As I look through the Real Weddings featured on New Jersey Bride, I’m actually feeling overwhelmed and grateful for the thriving wedding and event industry in New Jersey! We really are spoiled for choice when it comes to beautiful places to say “I do!” and stunning places to celebrate and dance the night away!

A Jason Jani – SCE and New Jersey Bride, Grand Entrance Showdown Contest!

We’re actually currently running a contest in partnership with New Jersey Bride where you can help us decide the ultimate grand entrance song in New Jersey! 

The first week has been decided, and DJ Khaled has made it to the second round! But there is still plenty of time to get in on the action! In fact, right now Prince’s “Let’s Go Crazy” is up against Justin Timberlake’s “Can’t Stop the Feeling.” It’s a hard choice! So weigh in and let us know which of these two you would pick for your own grand entrance! Then keep coming back each week to enter for a chance to win an adorable Gucci Marmont Mini Bag, that would make a perfect wedding or honeymoon accessory!

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The 360 Slow Motion Video Booth updated for 2022!

If you are looking to have a fun new enhancement at your upcoming wedding celebration the team at SCE Event Group has you covered with the all-new 360 slow-motion video booth experience.  The 360 video booth or spin booth experience is not new to SCE Event Group, but we recently remixed our 360 video experience/. The 360 booth experience can now produce videos instantly, and these videos can be fit into a number of video formats.  The video file is recorded in super crisp high-resolution videos.  The video files can also be branded to include your monogram or logo file.  The videos can include some effects and can be created to look super cool.

 

We have done the 360 video booth for so many awesome companies, sports teams like the Philadelphia Eagles, celebrity clients like Martha Stewart and so many wedding families all over the northeast.

These videos can be shared immediately and look incredible on social media too!

The SCE Event Group 360 Spinbooth experience comes with 3 trained attendants, and all of the needed equipment to make sure the experience runs smoothly for the entirety of your party.  The 360 video booth is a great option for weddings, holiday events, corporate galas, and other life events and parties.

If you would like to get information on pricing, availability, and booking information, please consider contacting the SCE Event Group office at 888-278-0900.

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