All You Need to Know About 360 Photo Booths!

So, first things first, what do you know about 360 Photo Booths?! If the answer is “Nothing!” keep reading and we’ll give you the lowdown on how it all works, and what all the buzz is about! After all, this new photo booth craze is sweeping the events industry, so if you hire our 360 spin booth for your wedding or next event, you’ll be right on the cutting edge of a new trend in interactive event entertainment!

The most important thing to know is that our 360 spin photo booth creates even more dynamic engagement at events and weddings, by giving attendees a truly immersive experience they will remember forever. But, just how do we accomplish this?!

So…What Exactly is a 360 Spin Booth?

The 360 spin booth, also known as a 360 camera booth, is an amazing piece of technology that uses a rotating camera mounted onto a wheel swivel set on top of a pedestal. The camera slowly rotates around the standing platform while capturing images, allowing the user to experience a highlight reel worthy photo op that can integrate photos, video, GIFs, and even slow-motion effects into the final product. 

At SCE, we have done 360 spin video booth experiences for so many awesome companies! We’ve celebrated with sports teams like the Philadelphia Eagles, and celebrity clients like Martha Stewart, as well as getting to be part of so many awesome weddings all over the northeast.

The SCE Event Group 360 Spin Booth experience includes 3 trained and knowledgeable attendants, and all of the required equipment to make sure the experience runs smoothly for the duration of your party.  The 360 video booth is truly a great option for weddings, holiday events, corporate galas, and other life events and parties. We Promise!

So, if a mesmerizing, immersive and interactive, high-quality photo adventure that’s unlike anything you ever thought possible sounds good to you, keep on reading or simply get in touch today to secure your date!

Why are 360 Photo Booths so Popular?

There are several reasons why 360 spin video/photo booths are gaining popularity at events around the world:

Ease of Setup!

When we arrive at your event we can be set up and ready to go super quickly, meaning less disruption if we are setting up during your event, as opposed to before.  The 360 photo booth comes as a complete unit, including an all-in-one easy setup.

Loads of Fun!

Events are about cutting loose and having fun after all, and a 360 photo booth adds excitement, making users feel like the center of attention with all eyes on them! It also helps to put your guests in a party mood, which will make them ready to get down on the dance floor later on!

Draws People In!

Once your guests start to see the 360 booth in action it’ll attract the crowd’s attention meaning more engagement and capturing more memories!

It’s New and Different!

A 360 photo booth offers an entirely different experience from a traditional photo booth (even though we think they’re pretty awesome too), so it’s likely that the experience will be new to most of, if not all, of your guests, making it extra memorable and enjoyable!

The post All You Need to Know About 360 Photo Booths! appeared first on SCE Event Group.

How to Make Your Wedding Reception Pop!

At SCE Event Group, we believe that 2023 will be another year of hyper-personalized celebrations, wildcard elements, new trends, 1980’s and 1990’s throwback trends, and big production and entertainment elements! And, we are HERE for it!

So, how can you make your wedding really pop?! After all, there are so many expectations (family and societal) and wedding industry standards when it comes to planning for your big day. Well, we suggest forgetting almost everything you know about and have experienced at weddings, and instead focusing on what it is that really represents you as individuals and as a couple! That’s a great place to start planning the celebration of your lives!

Reception Special Effects and Performances

I know that hiring live performers for your wedding reception might seem like something out of the ordinary, but that’s exactly what will make it memorable!  In some cultures, special performances are already an important part of the wedding day, like the sangeet at an Indian wedding or the lion dance performed at Chinese weddings. But honoring a cultural background or religion isn’t the only reason to put on a show for your guests! 

Think drag shows, acrobatic performances, impersonators, stand-up comics, opera singers, dueling musicians, or professional dancers! And, you know what will bring these entertainment experiences to the next level?! Special effects! Think sparkler fountains, low-lying fog, a dazzling light show, slowly falling snow, projection mapping! Your guests will be blown away, we promise!

Unexpected elements

But, if putting on a show at your wedding isn’t your thing, you can still create a super fun and unexpected wedding reception by adding interactive stations or unexpected food options your guests won’t see coming. 

You could set up a tattoo bar (temporary or permanent!), rent ice cream trucks or multiple food trucks for your afternoon reception or late night snack, hire a second photographer to take celebrity-style photos of all your guests, hire carnival games or rides, put together a wedding scavenger hunt, bring in a dance instructor to direct and teach your guests line dances, hire a caricature artist, or whatever else you can imagine for your day!

What’s Old is New Again

This wedding season will continue to embrace vintage elements, but instead of the 50’s and 60’s, the big trend will be 80’s and 90’s elements! So, go ahead and embrace the nostalgia! We’re talking rotary phone audio guestbooks to record well wishes advice and stories from your guests, over-the-top ice sculptures (ice luge for shots, raw oyster bar, drink dispensers) ala every late 80’s and 90’s movie, and 80’s &  90’s inspired fashion! Puffy sleeves and full skirts are back baby! 

The post How to Make Your Wedding Reception Pop! appeared first on SCE Event Group.

Wedding Trends 2023

There’s no doubt that we’ll all remember 2022 as the year of the huge post-pandemic wedding boom! So, what does that mean for weddings in 2023? After so many weddings in a short space of time, following a period of such tight restrictions, we believe we’re about to see the biggest shift in wedding trends in decades!

As such, 2023 wedding trends are going to be all about re-inventing the whole wedding experience to suit your needs and wants as a couple, and making it a whole experience for your guests!

And, every detail is open to reinvention, from simple details like more tailored guest lists, to much bigger considerations, like wedding sustainability, the wedding trends for 2023 are set to shake up weddings as we know them. And, we for one, are here for it!

Bold Color Palettes

There’s no need to shy away from color! Think bright, bold and energetic! If minimalism is not your thing, embrace it fully and include vibrant hues, bright metallic accents, eye-catching patterns (maybe even pattern on pattern), super saturated decor lighting, and maybe even requesting guests dress in a certain color palette, or simply avoid all black!

Bright Beautiful Wedding Dresses

Who says that your wedding dress needs to be white?! We’re seeing a much more varied collection of wedding dresses at the weddings we attend, and expect the trend to continue in  the 2023 Wedding Season. So, if you have your eye on a bold sapphire gown, have at it!

Mismatched Wedding Party Attire

While you may want to keep your wedding party’s attire within a certain color family and tone, feel free to use mismatched prints and colors such as florals, polka dots, etc. And, the style of dress can vary as well, ensuring that everyone has a dress that fits them well and are comfortable in! That way your bridal party can get down to the real task of the day, celebrating your and having a fantastic time! 

All That’s Old, is New Again

We’re seeing a definite trend towards updated 70’s, 80’s and 90’s silhouettes in recent years  wedding attire, and we anticipate that it will continue! Think beautiful puff sleeves and a gorgeous veil, but done in a way that doesn’t scream Princess Di’s overstuffed silk taffeta gown!

Sustainable Weddings

There’s no doubt that the wedding industry can create a lot of waste, there are lots of ways to embrace sustainability at your wedding! A few trends we’re seeing are: second hand wedding attire or decor, using in season or locally grown flowers, doing away with wedding favors all together or switching to an eco-friendly option.

Big Bold Entertainment

Another trend we’re seeing, and believe will continue, is providing numerous forms of entertainment for your guests over the course of your celebration! While many couples have slightly scaled back their invite list, they’re still spending about the same, and are using the extra to create truly memorable reception experiences! Think amazing DJ’s with over-the-top light shows and accompanying musicians! Think circus performers, dance troupes, drag queen MC’s, impersonators, stand-up comics, on site artists such as: plein air painters or caricature artists, and etc.! The sky’s the limit! Go for it!

The post Wedding Trends 2023 appeared first on SCE Event Group.

Reasons to Ring in The New Year With “I do!”

You Get To Be With Your Friends and Family

It’s very rare to be able to get all of the most important people in your lives in the same room for a celebration on a holiday. And, a NYE wedding adds another dimension to the celebration. Meaning, you’ll get to experience a truly unique way to mark the passage of time with all your nearest and dearest. 

Everyone Has The Next Day Off

Almost all companies give their employees a day off for New Year’s, so even if your wedding date falls during the week,  your guests shouldn’t have to use up a vacation or personal day to celebrate with you!

Not Everyone Has Fun Plans For NYE

It isn’t always an easy task to make plans to ring in the new year! In fact, for some people, finding something to do can be seriously stressful! So, many of your potential wedding guests will appreciate having something set on their calendars well in advance of the big day! And, even better, you’ll be planning all of the fun, and all they have to do is show up!

Guests Can Go Glam

If you want to host a formal or semi-formal affair, NYE is one of  the perfect dates for it! You can request the guys to get dressed in their best tux or suit, while the ladies can wear as much sparkle and shine as they want. And, the couple can really turn it up when it comes to their own wedding day attire. They can use the holiday for a reason to go bold and unexpected with their wardrobe.

Celebrate Into The Early Hours

Since your wedding is on New Year’s Eve, some venues might allow you to extend your reception hours at no extra charge, as you might already be paying a holiday premium rental rate. But, if that isn’t an option, you might still want to consider adding an extra hour (or more) to your party so that people don’t have to leave as soon as the clock strikes midnight.

Over The Top Decor

New Year’s Eve is all about glitz and glam, so couples might want to showcase bold statements like metallic colors, champagne towers, lots of twinkling lights, big balloons, neon signs, and disco ball décor! A New Year’s Eve wedding is an open invitation to do something huge and really make a statement with your decor.

Easy Wedding Favors

Couples that decide to get married on NYE won’t have to think too hard about what kind of favors to give their guests. A great solution is to simply hand out party hats, noisemakers, confetti bombs, and anything you’d like your guests to use when the clock strikes midnight!

Start The Year As Newlyweds

One of the best parts of having a NYE wedding is that you get to start the new year off as a married couple! Talk about starting your lives together in style! Your first kiss of the new year will be as newlyweds!

Super Memorable Anniversary

Not only will your wedding anniversary be easy to remember for you (and all of your guests), but you’ll also have a built in excuse to really celebrate each and every New Year’s Eve!

The post Reasons to Ring in The New Year With “I do!” appeared first on SCE Event Group.

Just Got Engaged! Now What?!

Stop, and Enjoy the Moment

Before you jump into wedding planning, stop and take a moment to bask in and savor your newly engaged status! In other words, this is a huge milestone in your lives, so take the time to really celebrate your engagement! And no, we’re not – necessarily – talking about a formal engagement, We mean taking a little time to revel in – and share – your new relationship status before getting all wrapped up in the busy process of wedding planning. But, why, you might ask!? Well, because it’s a huge life event in and of itself, and should be properly acknowledged. Whether that means a date night with your fiancé, a casual backyard BBQ with your families, or even a full-on catered cocktail style engagement party, be sure to embrace your new fiance status and savor your engagement before diving into the planning process!

Get Your Ducks in a Row

As you start planning your wedding, you’re going to end up with lots of ideas, checklists, vendor and venue recommendations, photo inspiration, wedding magazines, bridal show tickets, contracts, and. Etc. So, you’re going to want to figure out an organizational system, so that you can keep track of all your wedding-related material. That way all your information will be right at your fingertips when you meet with potential wedding vendors or your wedding planner. You can keep all that info in a Google Doc, Evernote, a dedicated Pinterest board, an old fashioned wedding binder, a calendar app, or maybe a combination of several systems. The important thing is that it works for you and your fiance! We promise that getting yourself organized early will help to minimize wedding stress, so you can hit the ground running with all of those important wedding decisions!

Choose a Date (or Date Range)

Unfortunately, even if you have your heart set on a certain day in particular, you may not know your exact wedding date for a while! The truth is that the day you say “I do!” depends on many factors, like the actual availability of your top 3 potential wedding venues. 

That being said, settling on a general date range will enable you to get some of your planning process started. For example: “Spring 2024” or “Next fall” will give your plans a little structure, and make it seem real! It will also be nice to finally have an answer when all your friends and family members start asking, “Sooooo, when’s the big day?!” Because, trust us, they’re going to ask!

Set Your Priorities and Budget

Setting your budget should be one of the first items mentioned on any wedding checklist! It’s crucially important that you and your fiancé are on the same page as far as how much you’re willing to spend on your big day! Now is a good time to consider your savings, family contributions to the big day, and  things like your current debt load (including student loans). Then, have “the money talk” with your significant other to come up with a ballpark range. Once you come to a ballpark figure, you can start brainstorming ideas and getting in touch with vendors for pricing information. This will help shape your priorities, as in, “We absolutely need to have a photo booth at our wedding!” or “We’re not attached to the idea of having a traditional wedding cake at our reception.”

Create Your Custom Wedding Checklist

Maybe you have a really tight timeline. Or maybe you’re just not into the “traditional” wedding elements that most planners include on their lists. That’s why we think it’s a good idea to review a handful of different checklists and pull things from them to create your own, custom wedding to-do list. By piecing together all of the items that are applicable to you, you’ll have a personalized, hyper-focused guideline of what needs to be done, and when (where and why) you need to do it, so that you can accomplish your unique wedding goals!

The post Just Got Engaged! Now What?! appeared first on SCE Event Group.

Top 5 Tips For Choosing Wedding Vendors

We know it’s both incredibly exciting, as well as a little overwhelming to plan your wedding! It can be tempting to rush through the process of hiring your wedding vendors, just to secure your date. But, you really don’t want just anybody to provide services on one of the biggest days of your life together! You want to find qualified professionals who really get who you are as a couple, and the vibe you want to create for your wedding day.

So, we’ve put together 5 tips (or guiding principles if you will) to use to help pick and hire your wedding vendors. 

Overflowing With Gratitude

You want to hire wedding professionals that understand that it’s an honor to be chosen to be part of a couple’s celebration, and who treat that honor with respect! You also want to hire wedding professionals that feel grateful to be a part of the industry, and realize that it’s a privilege to have a vocation that helps people celebrate life, love and family.

Always Learning

You want wedding vendors that stay on top of industry trends, are always learning new ways to improve the service they provide and the rapport they have with their clients, and who aren’t too proud to admit that there is always more to learn! In other words, you want your wedding vendors to operate from a growth mindset! 

 “In a growth mindset, people believe that their most basic abilities

 can be developed through dedication and hard work—brains and talent 

are just the starting point. This view creates a love of learning and 

a resilience that is essential for great accomplishment.” – Carol Dweck

Takes Responsibility

You want to hire wedding professionals that take responsibility for their actions, and who don’t assign blame when or if problems arise. To that end, taking responsibility requires the realization that we all play a part in every situation or experience and therefore, we have some degree of responsibility over the outcomes or consequences. It also means that the first reaction when a mistake is made or a conflict arises, shouldn’t be to blame others, make excuses, twist the facts, or flat out lie. Instead, it’s important to swiftly acknowledge there is a problem, identify your possible role in it, and implement an action plan to minimize (or entirely eliminate) the chances of it happening again.

Honors Your Time

Planning a wedding is a huge commitment, and will require a lot of your time in the next 6 months to a year (or longer). So you want to hire wedding professionals that understand that your time (and theirs) is precious and should be spent wisely. Some clues to weather or not your prospective wedding vendors value you time are: They start and end meetings on time, they state the amount of time that they will need from you (and stick to it), they’ll let you know is something unforeseen has come up and they are running behind schedule, they will cancel or reschedule meetings with lots of advance notice (when possible), and last but not least, when you’re together they will give you their undivided attention. 

Has Good Vibes

This last tip might seem a bit funny, as ‘good vibes’ are kind of an intangible concept, but trust your gut on this one. If you feel like your prospective wedding professionals don’t live up to the baseline of gratitude, growth, accountability and recognition of your time, and you feel a lack of authenticity in your interactions with them, then they’re probably not the wedding vendors you should hire! After all, you are bringing people into one of the most intimate and special days of your lives together! You need to feel like your vendors really ‘get’ you and have your best interests at heart!

The post Top 5 Tips For Choosing Wedding Vendors appeared first on SCE Event Group.

Irish Prayers and Blessings for Your Wedding

You certainly don’t have to be Irish or have distant Irish Heritage to appreciate the sentiment of an Irish wedding blessing! But, if you have Irish heritage, you can embrace it on your wedding day by including a collection of well-loved blessings or maybe even prayers, spread throughout the celebration. 

Just make sure you select your ceremony blessings with care and keep the more lighthearted (or inappropriate) verses for after the wedding formalities, because, while some Irish blessings might not quite be appropriate for a ceremony, they can certainly add some humor to the less formal reception!

Your first task will be to distinguish the Irish Prayers from the Blessings. In the simplest description, a prayer is considered a direct conversation with God or a higher power. During a prayer you can ask for something for yourself and others and maybe even offer praise and gratitude, while a blessing is a form of prayer, typically requested on behalf of another. It’s a subtle but distinct difference. 

Your next task is to decide who will recite the reading, and when the prayer will be included in the wedding mass or ceremony. This honor is typically reserved for family, godparents, or very close friends, and generally a prayer would be recited early on in the ceremony, and possibly as part of the welcome address or even the sermon. While a blessing is generally recited towards the end of the ceremony after most of the big formalities have been completed.

Irish blessings at weddings are used as a way to send the newly married couple off into the world with overflowing positivity, and typically whoever is officiating the wedding would give the final blessing, but alternatively, a very close friend or family member could also recite the blessing. If you need further guidance on this, be sure to talk to your priest, as they will be your best reference when planning out your wedding mass and ceremony. 

With all of that fresh in your mind, here are a few of the most uplifting Irish Wedding Blessings and Prayers!

Irish Wedding Prayer

“By the power that Christ brought from heaven, mayst thou love me.

As the sun follows its course, mayst thou follow me.

As light to the eye, as bread to the hungry, as joy to the heart, may thy presence be with me, oh, one that I love,’til death comes to part us asunder.”

Excerpt from St. Patrick’s Prayer:

“I arise today, through the strength of heaven, the light of the sun, the radiance of the moon, the splendor of fire, the speed of lightning, the swiftness of wind, the depth of the sea, the stability of the earth, the firmness of rock.

I arise today, through God’s strength to pilot me, God’s might to uphold me, God’s wisdom to guide me, God’s eye to look before me, God’s ear to hear me, God’s word to speak for me, God’s hand to guard me, God’s shield to protect me, God’s host to save me from snares of devils, from the temptation of vices, from everyone who shall wish me ill, afar and near.”

Irish Wedding Blessings

“May love and laughter light your days and warm your heart and home. May good and faithful friends be yours, wherever you may roam. May peace and plenty bless your world with joy that long endures. May all life’s passing seasons bring the best to you and yours!”

“May joy and peace surround you both, contentment latch your door, and happiness be with you now, and God bless you evermore. May you live your life with trust, and nurture lifelong affection, May your lifelong dreams come true for you, move ever that direction.”

“May God grant you always a sunbeam to warm you, a moonbeam to charm you, a sheltering angel so nothing can harm you. Laughter to cheer you, faithful friends near you. And whenever you pray, Heaven to hear you.”

“In good times and bad times, in sickness and health, may they know that riches aren’t needed for wealth. Help them face problems they’ll meet on their way—God bless this couple who marry today. May they find peace of mind comes to all who are kind, may the rough times ahead become triumphs in time, may their children be happy each day—God bless this family who started today. As they go, may they know every love that was shown, and as life it gets shorter may their feelings grow. Wherever they travel, wherever they stay, God bless this couple who marry today.”

“May your mornings bring joy and your evenings bring peace. May your troubles grow few as your blessings increase. May the saddest day of your future be no worse than the happiest day of your past. May your hands be forever clasped in friendship and your hearts joined forever in love. Your lives are very special, and God has touched you in many ways. May his blessings rest upon you and fill all your coming days.”

In closing we’ll leave you with one of our favorites:

 “May the blessings of each day be the blessings you need most.”

The post Irish Prayers and Blessings for Your Wedding appeared first on SCE Event Group.

The Perks of Hosting a Winter Wedding

While it might be too late to plan for a winter wedding this year, it’s just the right time to start planning your Winter 2023 Wedding! 

I know that most people think of the summer and early fall as prime wedding season, but winter weddings really have a lot going for them! It’s true! Yes, we know that summer weddings are stunning, but there really are a few downsides to consider when getting married at the height of summer! 

But, when you plan a winter wedding, you can avoid all of those downsides and get stunning snowy wedding photos, featuring holiday-themed wedding decorations, and more. But, if you’re not convinced, keep reading, because being a winter bride or groom is basically the best!

Reasons to get married in the winter…

Less Stress

One thing about winter weddings is the lack of stress about the weather since they do tend to take place inside. Whereas planning a wedding in the summer, the risk of rain, hail, wind and extreme heat can make the planning period stressful and potentially costly if you need to add a tent, or have a whole (weather related) back-up plan in place.

More Venue Date Availability and Better Rates

Most venues and vendors book up all their prime weekend spots quickly during the summer months, and they often come with a large price tag, whereas those same locations and vendors might be available for a lower price during the winter months of the shoulder season or off-season. Because the winter months aren’t as busy as others, the venue will also be able to focus more attention on your big day.

Bonus Decorations!

Although the festive time of year might not be the reason you chose a winter wedding, there are many benefits to a celebration aligned with the holiday season. It’s very likely that any venue you choose will already be decorated for the holiday season adding an even more celebratory feel to your special day. This is a huge bonus, because really, who doesn’t like twinkle lights?!

No Summer Wedding Season Fatigue

The spring and summer months can get so jam-packed with weddings that your family, friends, and guests can start to get a serious case of wedding celebration fatigue. Not to mention the cost of attending numerous weddings over the summer! 

But, a December, January, February, or March wedding is likely to be the only one your guests attend that season (unless of course, you’re living in the deep south or somewhere very warm), which makes it something that people will really look forward to. 

Something a Little Different

From your color palette to flowers, there are many elements of the season to inspire your theme! Meaning that your wedding decor will likely stand out in your guests memories, in a sea of peonies and summer brights. You can embrace the season even further by throwing cozy blankets over guests’ chairs, keeping them warm by serving a hot signature cocktail, like a rum toddy, cider or mulled wine, or even embracing nordic vibes by having an outdoor space available to your guests that includes patio heaters, fireplaces and cozy sheepskin rugs to sit on!

It’s the Best Weather for Black Tie Events

Really! If you’re planning a formal wedding, you can bet you’ll hear much less complaining from your wedding party and guests in black-tie attire when it’s cold outside. Tuxedos really aren’t meant for outdoor ceremonies and cocktail hours in the blazing heat of the summer, however, they are definitely the perfect choice for indoor winter weddings!

You Won’t Be a Hot and Sweaty Mess

Some people really don’t deal well in the heat! The heat simply makes them irritated, cranky, and not to mention, a sweaty mess. If that’s you, or your loved ones, it might be best to embrace a winter wedding! Because, when it comes to weather, you can always add layers to combat the cold, but in the hotter months, well, there’s only so much you can take off and still be wedding (or publicly) appropriate.

Stunning and Magical Snowy Wedding Photos

If you’re lucky enough to be blessed with a sprinkling of snow ahead of or on your big day, your photographer can capture some absolutely stunning snowy wedding photos that’ll rival any sun-drenched summer photo!

The post The Perks of Hosting a Winter Wedding appeared first on SCE Event Group.

Planning an Epic Cocktail Party Reception

You and your fiancé have looked at all your options and have decided to embrace a cocktail party style reception for your wedding! Well, we think that’s Awesome! Some of the best parties we’ve been a part of have embraced the more informal (but no less amazing) cocktail style reception! And, it’s your wedding, so if you’ve always wanted a wedding reception that feels like one big party, we say… Go for it!

So without any further ado, here’s a quick list of tips and tricks to bring out the fun and absolutely rock your cocktail party celebration!

The food is always a really big part of a cocktail style wedding – it truly is one of the main features – even more so than during a sit down dinner where there are lots of other distractions and formalities. As such, there are many opportunities in the choice of hors d’oeuvres, food bars, desserts, and late night stations to have fun and tailor the entire menu to your (and your fiancé’s) family heritage or traditions or  maybe even your sparkling personalities!

Keep the food coming throughout the evening! Seriously! People will be dancing and enjoying cocktails and will burn off all of those hor d’oeuvres and smaller bites fairly quickly. And, you never want your guests to feel the need to leave because they’re hungry! And, trust us, too many cocktails with too little food isn’t a recipe for a fun party, it’s usually a recipe for an early night!

Even Though you’re having a cocktail party style reception, it’s best to still include some comfy and inviting seating nooks or areas and likely even a small collection of tables and chairs. Your older guests, and guests with young children will appreciate a place to sit, have a break and chat while they have a bite to each. You seriously don’t want your guests to leave so that they can sit down and take a rest, so give them the opportunity to do that in your celebration space, so they’re ready to get right back to partying!

If you want to have a great dance party, make sure your venue isn’t too big and cavernous! Ideally you want to hit that sweet spot where your reception doesn’t feel crowded and cramped, but still feels intimate. And, the same goes for your actual dance floor! People tend to feel a little shyer and a bit slower to warm up if the dance floor is too big or the guestlist isn’t big enough to fill it! Also, if you hire an awesome DJ (hint, hint), they will often need to bring more sound equipment to fill that large space, which could affect your bottom line as well as increasing set-up/tear-down time. 

Since you’re unlikely to have quite as many formal wedding reception elements in a cocktail style reception, you may need to tweak the wedding timeline. Sometimes shorter can sweeter when it comes to cocktail receptions. After all, guests will be coming ready to party and if they arrive at 6pm oftentimes a 6 hour cocktail reception can be too much without some of the more time consuming elements of a traditional reception. After all, of course you want our guests to come, mingle, celebrate, enjoy and party, but it’s always best to end the party on a high note! Sometimes the best parties leave the guests wanting just a little bit more. It’s kind of like having out of town guests… the best visits are the ones you find yourself wishing were just a little longer, the worst are ones that go on way too long.

You are, of course, welcome to take or leave our advice! And, always, always do what works best for you as a couple! But, these are some of the elements of the most successful cocktail style receptions we’ve been a part of, and we’ve been to quite a few over the years!

The post Planning an Epic Cocktail Party Reception appeared first on SCE Event Group.

9 Tips For Delivering a Killer Wedding Speech

When you think about all of the weddings you’ve been to, what does every absolutely killer wedding speech have in common?!  I bet your answer falls somewhere along the lines of “It had the right flow and it wasn’t too long!” 

So, if you have a wedding speech to write and deliver in the near future, and are feeling a little nervous, we recommend that you factor in some of the below guidelines to help you find your own short but sweet wedding speech flow!

Open With a Statement or  Maybe a Question

Don’t lead with a joke or a reference to how nervous you are. After all, the goal is to engage your audience, not make it a boring one-way message. And, it can be as simple as “Hello and welcome everyone. I hope you’re all having a great night so far.”

Address Your Audience

Focusing on yourself only enhances speech delivering nerves. Instead, it’s wise to concentrate on your audience and how you want to make them feel with your words. This will help you to speak from the heart, and will convey your gratitude for being chosen for such a special moment. Ideally you want to make the happy couple feel special while also engaging the audience.

Zero in a Few Important Points

We recommend that you select one to three aspects of the newlyweds that you love and appreciate, along with very simple, and succinct stories where the bride and groom are the heroes to illustrate your points. This is an excellent way to keep your message clear and focused. And, definitely avoid inside jokes and “You had to be there” stories, or you will lose your audience’s attention.

Rehearse, But Not TOO Much!

The better prepared you are, the more confident you will feel behind the podium and the better your speech will be. A good rule of thumb is to practice your speech enough that you can remember the most important points you want to make and the order in which you plan to make them. That will free you up to relax into the moment and make eye contact with some of the guests. But, don’t practice so much that you are simply reciting from memory, word for word. You want it to feel sincere, not canned!

Record Speech Practice

We suggest that you use your phone to take a video of yourself during your practice sessions. We know that it can feel a little uncomfortable to watch yourself, but you’ll be able to identify distracting mannerisms and body language. It will also help to weed out verbal pauses such as, ‘um,’ ‘uh,’ and ‘like’.” It’s also a good idea to practice your speech in front of someone else, as a second opinion can help you make your speech that much stronger.

Minimize Pre-Speech Cocktails

Although it may be tempting to look for a bit of liquid courage, alcohol definitely won’t do you any favors. But, if you really feel like you need a drink to loosen up the nerves or don’t feel like you can refrain from participating in other toasts, stick to one glass of Champagne or one cocktail before you address the crowd. Don’t let all your pre-speech prep go to waste by slurring your speech, or forgetting your most important points!

Be Yourself

Keep in mind that you’re not putting on a show, only sharing your personal perspective and well wishes. And, trying too hard to force the funny can yield the opposite of the desired effect! Remember this isn’t about you! To that end, we’ve noticed that keeping it short, sweet, heartfelt, and authentic and staying focused on the couple generates some of the most wonderful wedding speech moments. 

Don’t Embarrass the Newlyweds

It’s a wedding speech, not a roast! So, while this should go without saying, make sure you keep the bachelor or bachelorette party jokes out of it, and remember that grandma and your friends’ colleagues are in the audience!  It can be okay, at times, to look back at childhood and refer to something funny, but ask yourself this first… If the shoe was on the other foot, would you like 100-plus of your closest friends knowing that story about you?

Refer to Your Notes

Reading your speech straight from a piece of paper is absolutely a big no-no! However, having a couple of note cards handy is encouraged, and will make you feel more prepared. After all, you’re likely to feel a little nervous, excited, which can make you forget your lines. The audience won’t care if you glance at your notes from time to time. In fact, there’s a good chance they won’t even notice.

The post 9 Tips For Delivering a Killer Wedding Speech appeared first on SCE Event Group.

Divorced Parents? Blended Families? How to Keep Your Wedding Drama Free!

From the time you decide to tie the knot, to your wedding day, until the very last day of your honeymoon, is supposed to be a joyous, fun, happy and memorable era of your lives for you and your fiance! 

But wedding planning with divorced or separated parents on either side of the family can complicate things a little. Meaning an engaged couple might also need to also potentially navigate an emotional minefield of unspoken rules, misunderstandings, hurt feelings, with added stress and tension. 

For many couples these days, it’s increasingly common for one, or both, of them to have divorced parents, bonus parents and step Brothers and Sisters. And, seeing as they may not have separated or divorced on good terms, the situation is likely to call for increased sensitivity, diplomacy and boundaries!

Whether they’ve only separated recently or have been apart for many years, your wedding and your loving relationship can bring up a lot of strong, and sometimes unresolved, emotions for them. And, these feelings might take them by surprise in their strength and persistence!

Often this is not only the case for you, your fiancé and your parents, but close family and friends may also experience the tension as both parties try to navigate each other, their emotions and the decisions that need to be made in the planning stages and also on the wedding day itself. 

It’s no wonder that wedding planning and trying to involve your divorced or separated parents can feel like it creates a lot of added pressure on you. It does! But, here’s a few ways to help take the pressure off!

Planning a Drama-Free Wedding

Enjoying your dream wedding day is still possible without unnecessary family drama stemming from your divorced, separated or remarried parents. 

First comes our absolute number one piece of advice! 

Decide, Set and Share your Expectations Early On!

Cutting through the sometimes complex dynamics between divorced, separated or remarried parents requires forward planning, with a healthy dose of sensitivity! 

To that end, generally speaking, when people are surprised or put on the spot, they’re more likely to bring other unproductive/unhelpful emotions out in the open too, especially on a grand, formal occasion like a wedding. 

The key is to be upfront with everyone as early as possible, meaning:

• Keep tensions low by openly and honestly communicating your expectations to your parents and your wedding planner (if you have one) at the start of your wedding planning, or even directly after you announce your engagement.  
• Talk individually with both of your parents and be upfront about your hopes and plans for them on your wedding day. 
• Do not, in any circumstance, spring decisions and expectations on them in a group setting or with their ex-spouse in attendance.
• Give a heads-up to your bridesmaids, wedding party, siblings, and other key family members who may be able to help to make any uncomfortable situations a little more bearable in the leadup and on the day.
• Think about the pre-wedding gatherings and their impacts too; engagement parties, the hens/buck’s night, bridal shower and wedding dress shopping are also times and occasions you will need to consider the emotional impact of including (or excluding) one parent might have on the other.

Give Everyone Jobs

Humans can be strange! If you give them too much responsibility, they’re likely to be unhappy, but on the flip side, if you don’t give them any responsibility, they tend to feel like their contributions are unimportant or the relationship is not valued! 

So, for those parents not included in the ceremony entrance or processional, make sure to give them the opportunity to help with a different, but equally important, job and try to include your step-parents too, if applicable and possible!

From readings during the ceremony to toasts at your wedding reception, to helping set-up decor before the celebration, ask your parents and step-parents to help with tasks that make them feel involved and valued during the leadup to and on your wedding day. 

Be Strategic With Your Seating Plan

Allocating specific seats for (at least) your immediate families, from the ceremony right up to the reception, means that: 

• Everyone knows where they need to be, 
• No one is trying to second-guess what you want
• Uncomfortable/problematic interactions are minimized
• Everyone’s anxiety and/OR sense of authority is kept in check.

Bottom line: The less all they need to interact, the less there’ll be to worry about.

Be Mindful of Your Parent’s Feelings

Even though the wedding day is your day as a couple, it doesn’t happen in a vacuum! So, if you value your relationships with your parents and/or stepparents then it’s important to be sensitive to how they feel within reason! So, give everyone ample time to process their feelings and step away from your wedding planning, or your parents, for a while if you need to! This can really help to give you a little perspective when strong initial reactions to your decisions feel hurtful to them. Keep as calm as you can and try not to get caught in the middle of any high emotion or drama, and hold strong to the boundaries and list of non-negotiables you have decided on as a couple!

The post Divorced Parents? Blended Families? How to Keep Your Wedding Drama Free! appeared first on SCE Event Group.

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!

The post Making The Most Out of Your Photo Booth Booking appeared first on SCE Event Group.

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

The post Meet the SCE Team: Michael “Bird” McHugh appeared first on SCE Event Group.

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!

The post How to Tell People That They (or Their Kids) Aren’t Invited to Your Wedding appeared first on SCE Event Group.

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!!

The post Event Enhancements For Your Wedding Celebration appeared first on SCE Event Group.

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!

The post New Jersey Bride, For Jersey Girls…By Jersey Girls! appeared first on SCE Event Group.

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.

The post The 360 Slow Motion Video Booth updated for 2022! appeared first on SCE Event Group.

Nervous About Your First Dance? We Have Some Tips for You!

There are so many details to plan for when it comes to your big day, and you could say that the first dance is the last of the formal details, before the party really starts. But, if you’re someone who prefers to live ‘out-of-the-spotlight’, sometimes the thought of getting up on the dance floor in front of all your guests is anxiety inducing!

After all, everyone’s eyes are on you for the whole event. Especially when you’re saying your vows then of course, for the first dance! But, we’re here to tell you that doing your first dance doesn’t have to be scary, even if you’re feeling a little nervous about it now! 

With these tips, you will be able to relax and enjoy the moment, so that you can let loose and grace the dance floor with a moment you’ll cherish forever.

A Deeply Meaningful Song is a Must!

Picking a song that has significance to you as a couple can help calm those ‘all-eyes-on-you’ nerves. When you hear the first refrain, it can take you to a place that blocks out all of the eyes on you, and makes you focus only on your new spouse! Kind of like a scene in a romantic movie, when the couple is suddenly caught up in a moment and everything else fades away. So, we advise you to pick a song that makes you and your partner swoon a little. 

Consider the Song Length

As much as you may love certain songs, length is an important consideration when picking a first dance song. And if you are feeling nervous, a 3 minute song is much less intimidating than a 6 minute song! And, if it is choreographed, it won’t feel like you are just filing time with a little side to side shuffle. To gauge your comfort level with song length, we encourage you and your partner and dance to a couple of songs that you are deciding between and see how you feel dancing together through it.

Practice… But Not too Much

If you and your sweetheart opt to go for a choreographed dance? Practice, certainly. But not too much! Overdoing might backfire and actually make you feel more nervous because you’re going to try and get it just right. Of course, you want your first dance to be great, but perfect isn’t necessary, and a little bit of naturalness goes a long way! We also guarantee that you’ll have more fun if you don’t stress too much about the outcome! Everyone is going to think your dance was perfect anyway!

Savor Your Moment

After all, what really matters most is the person standing in front of you. So, do your best to focus on your new spouse and let the rest of the world fall away, and the dance will take care of itself! And, remember, your nearest and dearest, didn’t really come to see your dance skills, they’re here to witness and celebrate the love between you and your new spouse!

The post Nervous About Your First Dance? We Have Some Tips for You! appeared first on SCE Event Group.

Questions to Ask Before Booking a Photo Booth

Whether you’re planning a Birthday Party, Wedding, Anniversary Party, Corporate Party or Product launch, your celebration will benefit from hiring a photo booth! And, it will benefit even more if you hire a professional photo booth vendor! So, where do you begin?! And, what are the most important questions to ask before signing the contract?! Well… since you asked, keep reading and we’ll tell you!

What is the quality of the booth itself?

We know that your upcoming event – and every event –  is important and one of the last things you want when you hire a photo booth company is a silly DIY looking camera on a tripod in a corner at your event! In our travels we’ve seen quite a few different kinds set-up over the years. We’d go so far as to say that some of the set-ups we’ve seen hardly qualify as photo booths! We’ve seen ‘photo booths’ of all different shapes, sizes, and varying quality… and, while we understand that businesses have to start somewhere, we don’t believe your event should be the testing grounds. And, as the old adage goes “You generally get what you pay for.”

We believe that what you should be looking for is a photo booth that is elegant, streamlined and professionally constructed, and should also come with a beautiful interface, where you can see yourself and the photos as they’re being taken.

Are the photos and prints high quality?

To a casual observer, a photo booth might not seem very complicated, just a quick and simple set-up and BAM, you have a photo booth! But there’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes that allows the booth to take high-quality images! So, it’s a good idea to ask the company you’re thinking of hiring to show you sample images; that way you’ll know what you can expect from the photo booth you’re thinking of renting. You might also want to inquire if the booth has professional style lighting! This type of bright front lighting ensures that the photos turn out well exposed, sharp and clean looking. Also look to see if the people in the photos are washed out against the backdrop. We see a lot of companies using flat black or white backdrops, with poor lighting, which generally don’t work well when the bride is wearing white and the groom wearing black. Lastly, find out what kind of printer they use for the prints. The professional industry standard is using a dye sublimation printer that can print either beautiful black & white or color photos, and can do so in about 7 seconds.

Does the company have liability insurance?

This is a big one! Don’t worry, nothing is likely to happen, but it should bring you peace of mind if the answer is yes! This question helps to separate the unprepared, make-shift/DIY photo booth companies from the reputable professional ones. Generally those who run a photo booth business as a side hustle will not be able – or willing – to pay the costs of business insurance and licenses. In our experience, the more a company has skin in the game, the more invested they are in the outcome of the events they’re hired for.

What are the fees, and what do they include exactly?

From our extensive experience in the event industry, It’s been our experience that if a deal seems way too good to be true, it generally is! Sometimes companies have a low initial price, but once you actually receive a quote you see that there are all sorts of hidden additional fees that you weren’t counting on! So, sort out if the company you’re looking to hire is charging fees for mileage, delivery, setup/take down, props, USB drives, digital photo delivery, prints or an attendant. Sometimes a ‘cheap’ photo booth really doesn’t end up being a great deal!

The post Questions to Ask Before Booking a Photo Booth appeared first on SCE Event Group.

The 3 Most Important Elements For a Successful Event!

When you’re planning a celebration, an event-planning checklist is one the most important tools you can use to make sure your event is a successful one. Though it might seem like a small detail, a structured checklist really will help you stay organized and keep you on task as you plan, and best of all, it will ensure that you don’t forget any important details. 

When you go about creating your checklist, there are some things that are just more important than others! Specifically, in our opinion, the following three items are the most important things when it comes to planning your event!

Venue

When planning an event, your first and foremost concern is the “Where?” meaning, if you don’t have a venue chosen, your first priority is to create a checklist that highlights all the most important things you’re looking for in a venue. Things like size, location, capacity, lighting, and, of course, price are all incredibly important considerations to take into account. In fact, once you lay out all of your expectations and the requirements of your event, you will likely have a much smaller pool of possible venues than you started with. 

If, on the other hand, you have already chosen your venue, you can create checklists to ensure everything venue related will be taken care of before the event. And, this might seem like a small thing (and an impossible scenario) but could create a huge headache if there’s any misunderstanding. It is crucially important to make extra sure that you and the venue manager have the venue booked for the correct and same times, and that all the details of the contract are correct!. It’s also important that you do research in your own municipality to ensure you have the proper event permits (if you need to) in place well before your event.

Logistics

Logistics are very important when it comes to the flow and overall success of your event. One logistics mistake, and you could bring your event from truly exceptional to simply average. So, creating a logistics checklist is a great way to make sure the coordination and execution of all your chosen event elements. This part of party planning isn’t glamorous, but it’s important! Logistics directly affects your guests’ experience of your celebration.  Some of the important considerations that should be included included on your checklist are:

• Traffic flow and parking & coat check
• Distance from parking to venue
• Timeline and guest arrival and departures
• Creating clear signage (people like to know what to expect)
• Clarifying vendor expectations and set-up/tear-down times
• Event Floor planning and seating planning
• Event scheduling and timeline

Guest list and invitations

Creating the perfect guest list for your event and sending ‘keep the date’ cards & invitations takes both time and patience, but doing the work up-front will save you from many headaches down the line. Truly, in our experience speaking to clients, one of the hardest aspects of this part of planning is dealing with the paranoia that you might forget to invite someone important. And, you definitely don’t want to do that! 

A guestlist checklist, and giving yourself lots of time to complete this task, will help to ensure this doesn’t happen! On your checklist, you can include a list of all your guests and all your invitations. That way, if you forget to create or send an invitation, you can easily correct your mistake because your checklist will remind you!

I also suggest letting other organizers and guests of honor go over the event guestlist to ensure that you haven’t missed any important connections or people, before you get to the task of preparing your invites!

The post The 3 Most Important Elements For a Successful Event! appeared first on SCE Event Group.