Our Views from the Mountain... Looking Over the Skyline of the City!

Spring is Here - Maple Meadow Custom Landscapes

2011-03-23T10:42:00.000-04:00

Maple Meadow Custom Landscapes, a family owned and operated business, services the Greater Caledon and Orangeville area. They offer the highest quality of outdoor landscape and garden services available. Since 1987, they have provided superior service to customers and have assisted them in achieving their goals. They bring over 24 years of experience in all aspects of landscape construction, tree care and maintenance.

From Concept to Installation, they do it all!

Tree removal, maintenance and clean up. Insured Professionals!

Lawn Care & Maintenance. Garden Design, Installation, Restoration and Maintenance.

For More information on Maple Meadow Custom Landscapes, please visit online @ http://www.maplemeadow.ca/

Help Us Keep Celebrating this Spring!

2011-03-19T08:49:00.001-04:00

This Past Thursday... yes St.Patrick's Day, we celebrated our 5 year Wedding Anniversary! Whoo Hoo for us... Now we would like to help you celebrate your engagement by passing along the great vibes and savings.

This spring for any Wedding Reception Packages Booked we will include our Basic Dance Floor Lighting Package.

Come on and help us celebrate 5 amazing years and we will help get your marriage off to the right start too!

Cheers,

Dan and Laura

'Guest Blog' by Cendi Micor TASTE, TRADITIONS & TRENDS

2011-02-28T09:29:00.000-05:00

I would like to introduce you to today's Guest Blogger... Cendi from Immortal Weddings. Cendi is known for going against the crowd. This attribute is perfect for those of you who really want your wedding to stand apart. She has a love for music, tattoos, concerts and movies. She appreciates traditions, however, you cannot please everyone. Trends are not a priority…why be like everyone else? She can add a chic touch to your edgy style. www.immortalweddings.ca

The 3 Ts of Planning- TASTE, TRADITIONS AND TRENDS

~written by Cendi Micor

When it comes to making decisions about your wedding, there are many things to consider. It all boils down to you and your partner's style and taste. You may also consider traditions that both of your families value. Plus, to make things a bit simpler, you should also take note of current trends, which may make certain items more accessible than obscure ones.

PICKING A DATE : You may have a date that is meaningful to both of your. For example, a dating anniversary. You may also be set on a specific time of year. As for your family, they may have superstitions regarding certain numbers and dates. Lately, it has become very popular to choose a date that is extremely easy to remember. For instance, October 10, 2010 = 10/10/10.

BRIDAL PARTY: The size is the first thing to decide. Do you want it to just be your closest family and friends or do you want to include as many people as possible? Does your family have a say as to whom you choose? Many people are no longer following traditional etiquette in terms of their bridal party. The number of bridesmaids does not have to match the number of groomsmen. There are now best women as opposed to strictly just best men.

~Photo courtesy of www.flickr.com

SHOWER: If you want all of your closest family and friends present, you can choose to have a co-ed shower. Traditionally, if you are not currently living together, you may want to have a gift registry. Traditionally, it should be the bridal party throwing the shower...you can have a potluck or luncheon. One modern trend that is occurring these days is to throw a Stag and Doe, which is essentially, to raise money for the couple.

STAG/STAGETTE: Do you want to go all out with the partying? If so, you may go clubbing, to the strip clubs, and get around in a limo. Traditionally, celebrating your last night as a "single", used to occur the night before the wedding, but this is no longer as common. Nowadays, a weekend getaway is huge...Vegas is a very popular trend.

~Photo courtesy of www.destination360.com

CEREMONY: Will you be exchanging vows in a church? Are there cultural aspects that you would like to include. Traditionally, the couple has their backs towards the guests. Throw a twist into your ceremony and ask your priest/officiant if he/she can stand off to the side on an angle or if you can face your guests. It is very common now to also have the ceremony and reception held at one venue.

FLOWERS: Are you going to include your favourite flower into your bouquet and/or decor? As it is tradition to keep your bouquet, why not have a mixture of both real and fake flowers? As for your bridesmaids and maid of honour, make it different and have them hold a single flower as opposed to a bouquet. Consider what is popular and what is in-season.

~Photo courtesy of www.womensweddingsdresses.com

ATTIRE: How traditional do you want your outfit to be? Do you want to wear a white dress...men, to wear black tuxedos? How will your family feel about it? It has become very acceptable to now add more colour to the bridal gown and the colour black is also now acceptable. The length no longer has to be full-length. Another twist could be to wear coloured pumps.

FOOD: What better time to have your favourite meal than your wedding? Traditionally, dinners are more common but it may suit you and your guests better to have a luncheon. A very popular trend right now is having food stations, giving everyone more of a chance to mingle. Also think about what type of bar you will offer. Plus, your cake...how many tiers and how much detail do you want?

MUSIC: What route are you going to take with your music? A DJ or a band? Traditionally, a receiving line occurs and an introduction to music takes place. Is this something your want? You must also consider how speeches will occur during the event. Are you going to have an MC? A great trend right is to allow guests to request songs on the back of their RSVP cards.

HONEYMOON: Are you more into hot, tropical atmospheres or sight-seeing in Europe? To have a more relaxed approach to your wedding, you can have a mini-moon, which is a small trip prior to your wedding. Traditionally, couples used to depart on the night of their weddings, whereas most couples no longer do this. An extremely huge trend now is the Destination Wedding. This way, you and all your closest family and friends can vacation together.

~Photo courtesy of www.sdweddinginsider.com

No matter what you ultimately decide, make your wedding about what YOU want. Not what you think you're supposed to do based on family opinions, nor what today's society is doing. Stand apart and make it memorable! And enjoy it!!

Why Shopping on Quality is Important to the Sucess of Your Event!

2011-02-07T16:40:00.000-05:00

Why are your prices double of the other quote that I just received? - or - Why would I spend that money on a DJ when I can use my Ipod? - or - I have a buddy that will DJ for us and he will do it for free. Unfortunately we do hear these questions every year, and it truly scares me that as event planners (bride & grooms, that is what you are now) you are not doing your research.

The number one reason that you pay more for a great DJ is that we go the extra mile every day to see that we are the best in the industry and that we are stepping up to every level of industry professionalism. By hiring a fantastic and reputable DJ, you are making it known to your guests that you care about the evening you are preparing for them. Whether you like it or not, when you plan a wedding, you will be judged. You will be judged on the venue, food, entertainment & decor. I recommend showing your guests the same care that you would if they were in your own home.

Here are a few simple answers to the above questions:

Price: Typically is associated with Quality. Low end and new DJ's charge less. With this you get lack of experience, makeshift equipment and they probably do not have a very high professional standard. See below for more details.
Ipod Weddings: Don't do it! This is the worst thing you can do when planning a party of this caliber. All you are doing is telling your guests that you not worth the expense of a DJ. Also you are planning for a one sided party, taking only your own musical tastes into consideration.
Free Friend Services: You are taking a huge chance here. Maybe they are a good DJ, maybe not. Maybe they have the proper equipment & licencing, maybe not. Maybe they will actually show up, maybe not. Maybe they will get drunk and make a joke out of your party, maybe not. For me, I wouldn't use this option unless they were a professionals and still have some form of contract.

Here are a few reasons why you pay more to get a Great (and legal) DJ for your Wedding.

Licencing - It cost money to have the Proper AVLA licencing. This is the bare minimum that any person or DJ should have before they even consider playing music publicly. The licencing is governed by the RCMP and it is considered illegal to play any recorded music publicly without this. This means your Ipod too!

Insurance - This is a must. Would you have a contractor on your premise knowingly without adequate insurance? All vendors at your celebration should carry a minimum of 2 million liability insurance.

Music Sources - It is illegal to download music. DJ's are no exception to this rule. That is right, to stay above the law and do this legally, we are required to purchase all of our music (as of today, not even itunes is legal for us). Most great DJ's are on weekly/biweekly subscriptions for Top 40 music.

Equipment - showing up with damaged equipment or a home stereo is not acceptable for any event. A great DJ updates and maintains their equipment regularly. We personally update every piece of our equipment every second year. Only the best for our clients.

Contracts - A Must! Seriously... you would hand money over to a stranger without a legal contract, no wonder they never showed for your event. This unfortunately is a common occurrence in the Wedding industry. Make sure that you have everything in writing and the details are correct.

Taxes - Paying Cash for a DJ in some peoples opinions is a much cheaper method than doing everything legally. If you have no paper trail of an agreement and if anything ever goes wrong, you are left to face the consequences should it be a no show DJ, or one that shows up with makeshift equipment and hurts a guest.

Behaviour - Have a No Alcohol policy set in place for all of your vendors. Alcohol impairs peoples judgement... and worst of all a vendor who is drinking at your event has to load up their equipment and drive it somewhere at the end of the night with all of your family and friends travelling the same roads. I actually heard tonight that a man was offering a $250 Wedding DJ package plus an open bar for himself for the evening. Unbelievable.

Comfort - A great DJ gives you comfort for the entire experience. From answering questions during the planning stages, pointing you in the direction of wonderful vendors to work along with, treating your guests with respect, and most importantly knowing how to conduct themselves accordingly. This includes and is not limited to appearance, conduct and most of all professional presentation especially when in the role of Master of Ceremonies.

I could go on and on for hours of all of the reasons why it pays to shop on quality over price. At the end of the day, your are leaving the success of your reception in the hands of one main person, the DJ. How would you like the evening to go; Successfully or like a game of Russian Roulette?

Yours in Music,

Laura

Where will you get married?

2011-02-03T12:13:00.000-05:00

I was reading an article sent from one of the websites that we advertise on and it was talking about a survey that it put on asking engaged couples:

“Where do you plan to have your wedding reception?”
Here are there results...
33% - Banquet Hall
32% - Outdoor Venue
19% - Historic Mansion or Venue
7% - Hotel
6% - Private Home
3% - Religious Venue

In this online survey, over 3,500 engaged brides were asked this question and I was surprised by the results. I actually expected Banquet Halls to be higher due to the sheer volume of Halls in the GTA. But then again we have a distinct clientele and most of our couples are working 'outside the box' for their Weddings.

By doing a little research in discovering what style of reception you want will uncover many different options. Here is a list of some of the amazing venues we are looking forward to visiting again this coming Wedding Season.

Marquees on Home Properties (three so far this coming year)
La Gondola Banquet Hall - www.lagondola.ca
Terrace on the Green (a couple of times this year) - www.terraceonthegreen.com
Toronto Park Hyatt (a couple of times this year) - www.parktoronto.hyatt.com
Berkley Church - www.berkeleyevents.com
Oakville Golf Club - www.oakvillegolfclub.com
Hart House - www.harthouse.utoronto.ca
Harbour Banquet Center - www.harbourbanquet.ca
Glen Carin Golf & Country Club - www.clublink.ca
The Alton Mill (a couple of times this year) - www.altonmill.ca
The Queens Landing Hotel - http://www.vintage-hotels.com/
Graydon Hall Manor - www.graydonhall.com
The Manor - www.bypeterandpauls.com
The Halton Regional Museum (a few times this year) - www.halton.ca/museum
The Kortright Centre - www.kortright.org
The Gardiner Museum - www.gardinermuseum.on.ca
Liberty Grand - www.libertygrand.com
The Terra Cotta Inn - www.cotta.ca
Big Win Island Golf & Country Club - www.bigwinisland.com
The Mississauga Convention Centre - www.mississaugaconvention.com
The Royal Ambassador - www.theroyalambassador.com
Hockley Valley Resort - www.hockley.com
The Design Exchange - www.dx.org

So now I as you... Where will you or did you get married????

How to Create a Unique Wedding Ceremony

2011-02-02T12:00:00.000-05:00

This is the second of many in our new series “Our views from the Mountain… Looking over the Skyline of the City” blogs.

What is really required for music choices when planning the ceremony sector of your Wedding Reception?

Time and time again we are confronted with the same question when meeting with engaged couples. Many have attended Weddings over the years and remembered only the “traditional” musical selections that have been repeated over and over through the decades. This is not to say that the “classics” are not amazing pieces of music that truly set an ambience of class and elegance. However, Many couples have commented that these selections are not a direct reflection of their own personal musical tastes or mood they wish to unfold.

The traditional Wedding Ceremony when broken right down involves four basic sectors. Firstly there is the music that is played while guests gather at the ceremony location. Traditionally was provided by String, Piano or Organ typically at many Church or Courtyard style Weddings. The selections were usually Wedding classical pieces or even Hymn’s found within the Church’s Hymnbooks. Secondly there was a selection of song or songs for the transition of the Bridal Party and Bride Herself to move to the altar at the front. Thirdly There was a traditional selection played during the actual signing and witnessing of the marriage license. Lastly There was a traditional uplifting selection played during the walk back up the aisle as newlyweds also traditional.

Enter the new mentality. The couple that longs for their Wedding Experience to be fun for guests and themselves alike from the moment of arrival onwards. This not achieved by “reinventing the wheel” so to speak, but merely to introduce a wheel that offers the chrome and brash that many couples “roll with” in their daily lives.

We are often asked when discussing this type of migration what the “typical songs “ for this choice might include? The joy of this choice is the word typical is replaced with individual or unique . For those that have been following our promise that has became our mission, we strive for a Unique, Memorable and Fun Wedding Experience. By hand picking musical pieces that have meaning for you both as a couple, you have already indicated to your guests that there attendance is important and well thoughout. So many couples have commented in the past that they want there guests having a terrific time, be toe tapping, and feel included from the moment of arrival onwards.

When we suggest this alternative to the classical pieces of yesterday, there are so many wonderful choices for your Modern Hip and Trendy Ceremony. Our favorite choice currently for an “old mixed with the new solution” is The Vitamin String Quartet style music. This will prove to provide exceptional entertainment and ambience for all ages. Your young friends will marvel as they recognize the song that is playing in a classical context. Your parents and older guests will enjoy the variety, and overall distinguished mood that is enjoyable for all.

Don’t be afraid to step outside the box, and Happy Planning.

Giving your reception a head start, even before the guests arrive.

2011-01-31T10:54:00.002-05:00

Planning a beautiful celebration is an art. Combining the perfect and unique elements that scream 'Wow, look how beautiful and original I am!' is something that professional event planners take ages to master.

However, planning a party and giving it all the right combinations to ensure a successful event is not as hard to master. Follow these simple guidelines and experience the difference that it will make in the results of your event.

*Music Selection* Work with a Dj that can feel a crowd. Talk about the music that you love to listen to while enjoying a meal with your partner, when your in the car and what makes you go crazy on the dancefloor. Choose some of your favorite songs to be heard through out all of your event. Leave room for your DJ to work their magic too! We are masters at creating fantastic parties. Make sure your Dj will accept your guest requests at the event, this is super important to have a happy crowd.

*Room Layout* When you are deciding where everything will be for your reception think beyond the seating plan. Bar... will this be in the room or in the hallway/lobby? If the bar is out of the room, your guests will be too. The same rule goes for late night sweet/food stations. If you want the party to stick around, keep them in the room. Dancefloor... Having the dance floor set up in a central location is key to having your guests on it.

*Where to Stick the DJ* Technology is fantastic and mobile DJ setups are becoming simpler, smaller and more portable. With nice linens on the table and properly placed tape, a DJ table can actually work in a room that has been beautifully decorated. Place the Dj right beside or on the edge of the dancefloor. If you were to put the DJ in a corner away from the dance floor, behind a curtain or even in a different room, you are basically cutting the possible quality that the reception could be in half.

(Most Djs will choose if located by the dance floor put their speakers on either side of their table. This way the volumes are easy to set just right, there are minimal wires to tape down or have exposed and the amount of outlets need are minimal.)

*Important things to Remember* If a Dj cannot see the Dancefloor, how can they control it. Don't place your grandparents where our speakers will be, we do our best to work with the logistics of any room, but having guests right where our speakers are is never a good idea. Have clean Linens for our table, so that we can make it look as nice as possible. Don't leave the music details to the last minute, have your reception planner completed atleast 2 weeks prior to your big day so that you can just relax.

By considering all of these simply things, I can guarantee a great start to any event. Please consider chatting with us at any time before your event so that we can help you with any room placement problem or ideas that you may have.

Happy Planning!

Laura

A Fun Filled Dance a Thon Day

2011-01-28T09:48:00.000-05:00

Thursday was a fun filled day with some of our younger friends at a great Dance a Thon Fundrasier

Our Uplit stage set up

Some fun "freestyle" moves

A very competitive limbo competition

The stage lighting made for a bizarre looking picture looking out. Everybody was moving and grooving- fun fun and fun!

The True Advantages of Having Your Wedding on a Friday

2011-01-27T12:16:00.001-05:00

This is the first of many in our new series “Our views from the Mountain… Looking over the Skyline of the City” blogs.

After meeting with a wonderful Bride-to-be this past week I felt totally inspired on her insite, Fresh ideas, and Unique approach. The concept of having a Friday Wedding is not a new one. Her reasons for doing so were not the usual justification which typically is based on cost savings and venue/vendor availability. (totally valid).

The couples rational was more selfless. The idea that family and guests really look forward to their time off on weekends. This precious time that could be spent travelling, camping or cottaging need not be interrupted by the insertion of a Wedding smack dab in the middle of the weekend. In this individual circumstance, the Bride-to-be’s parents travel every weekend to a home on Manitoulin Island where they hope to retire one day. The Bride matter- of- factly pointed out,” I simply can’t take that unwind time away from Mom and Dad.”

Having done our own Wedding on a Friday, I also could add that it was a wonderful feeling to still have the entire weekend to enjoy after our celebration. For guests, it meant not having to wake up Sunday morning, get dressed , and drive home to prepare for work on Monday morning. Many out-of-towners lingered on an additional day to spend extra time and enjoy brunch with us on the Saturday. Such a bonus when we hadn’t seen many of them in a considerable amount of time.

To truly have two full days off after your extremely emotion filled day is also an advantage to many who may not be able to proceed into a Honeymoon directly afterwards due to work logistics or other circumstances. (Teachers getting married during the school year are a great example)

Laura and I have noticed to quite an extent that the direction seems to pointing towards “Fridays becoming the New Saturdays”. Your choices for venue availability especially without a year in advance reservation is far greater as well.

Thanks for the inspiration Amanda and Happy Planning!

The Civilized Bride Wedding Show in The Distilleries Friday January 21st, 2011

2011-01-25T09:57:00.002-05:00

This past Friday evening, we had the pleasure of being a part of the Civilized Bride, a unique take on a bridal show. Bride & Groom's to be were invited to mix and mingle with the GTA's finest Wedding Professionals while enjoying a cocktail and a canape. Here are a few pictures I took before it became too busy for pictures.

The Bar

Wedluxe - Official Sponsor

Fantastic Fruit Platter Display

Guests Starting To Arrive

The Arta Gallery is a Fantastic & Hip Venue

Our Uplights Among the Great Art on Display

Funky Table With Promo Material

It was a great evening. Not only did I meet with some amazing couples, some of which booked us right on the spot, but I had the chance to finally meet some of the fantastic vendors that I hear about all the time while catching up with those who we work with regularly.

Wonderful Weddings of 2010 in review... Part II

2011-01-18T15:05:00.001-05:00

Due to the popular feedback we received from our first launch of pictures last week, Laura and I decided to add another round from my Wedding picture files.... Hope you Enjoy!

Just the boys having some fun at Wooden Sticks!

A Very Unique Wedding Cake at Markland Woods Golf and Country Club

Our Mini Starball effect.

Laura's creative flair gone wild as we uplit our meeting room and Christmas Tree

A wonderful Fall Wedding at Canoe atop the Toronto Skyline

A themed Wedding in Ancastor at Knollwood Golf and Country Club

The Sutton Place Hotel overlooking the downtown core

A priceless cake topper, for a wonderful couple

Ceremony Set up at Halton Regional Museum

Our uplighting on display behind the podium

A terrific fun filled evening at Toronto's Liberty Grand

An unbelievable evening at Toronto Design X

A funfilled cocktail hour at Markland Woods Golf

The outdoor Wedding Gazebo at Halton Regional in Milton

Many Thanks to all of our 2010 couples who made these memories possible!

The Civilized Bride - January 21st, 2011

2011-01-17T08:01:00.001-05:00

Please join us this Friday evening as Dan and I will be participating in this new concept boutique style Wedding Show. This will be a stunning and original event that has been sponsored by our dear friends at Wedluxe. Magazine. Like the concept of Wedluxe, all vendors have been hand picked and are by invite only. This will make for an enjoyable experience discussing your plans and dreams amongest the industries cream of the crop Wedding Professionals.

Stop by and say Hi... we would love to see you!

Cheers,

Dan and Laura Forbes

Ambient Decor Uplighting @ Hockley Valley Resort.

2011-01-16T12:43:00.000-05:00

We recently had our Ambient Decor Uplighting set up for an elaborate display at Hockley Valley Resort with our good friend and fellow DJ Matthew Beauchamp. Here are some pictures which show you just how amazing these fixtures are. These were even taken during the day, as the sun set and it became dark outside, the room became a soft blue creating a whimsical atmosphere.

16 Uplights were used to highlight the entire ballroom at Hockley Valley Resort.

A Look Back at 2010!

2011-01-11T12:02:00.000-05:00

2010...... what can we say other than WOW... what a wonderful year! Our business and family grew last year! 2010 was filled with amazing couples from all around the world. We also travelled most of Ontario for Weddings and other amazing events. Words cannot tell you what a great year we have had, but pictures can.

~Here are some of photos of some of the highlights of our 2010~

Laura is now the Wedding & Special Event Coordinator for the Alton Mill.

Jennifer, Laura, Dan & Lisa in the Funky FotoBooth!

Reception at the Alton Mill

Great Music is Timeless ~ bringing free services to Seniors Homes

Kevin & Nora's Wedding @ The Old Mill

We welcomed baby Chase to the family on April 20!

We invested in Ambient Decor Uplighting (Hockely Valley Display)

Rustic/Elegant Wedding @ the Alton Mill.

Spring Wedding @ King Valley Golf & Country Club

Suze & Andrew's Royal Wedding @ the Royal Ambassador

Rocking it out in Chattam @ The Retro Suites

Uplighting in Aberfoyle.

Rockin' the Top Floor of the Sutton Place Hotel.

Lion Dance

The Great Hall - Toronto

Reception on the Lake with a beautiful Couple

Modern Wedding at the Gardiner Museum

2010 was a fantastic year. We made tons of new friends and colleagues in the Wedding Industry and also had just amazing clients to work along with. We took a more active roll in the CPDJA and are now reside on the National Advisory Committee.

2011 looks very promising to make this past year seem lame.... stay tuned for some amazing announcements and updates on where we will go, work and take Sounds of Distinction Entertainment in this new year.

Dan and Laura Forbes

A thank you from Stephanie & Dave.

2010-12-23T11:47:00.001-05:00

Dan and I both had the pleasure of working along with Stephanie & Dave for their wedding this past June, Dan as their Dj and I as their Wedding Coordinator.

Yesterday we received a couple of thank you cards and we wanted to share them with you. If you are interested in a sneak peek of how their wedding day turned out, I blogged it with photos a couple of months ago. (http://soundsofdistinction.blogspot.com/2010/07/stephanie-dave-june-26th-2010.html)

Here is the first card.

Dear Dan,

Thank you so much for the unreal job you did DJing our wedding. We still get comments on how fun our wedding was & how our guests at the end of the night kept begging for one more song! We were so happy you were able to play all of Dave and I's favorite songs!

It truly was a night to remember!

Thanks again!

Stephanie & Dave Collet!

And here is the second card.

Dear Laura,

Thank you so much for the amazing job you did on the day of our wedding. All the behind the scene tasks you did, did not go unnoticed! Our day ran like clock work because of you and we were both able to enjoy our special day knowing you were there to handle any problems that arose.

I cannot thank you enough!! You made our day extra special!!

Thank you again,

Dave & Stephanie Collet

Thank you Dave and Stephanie for having both Dan and I as part of your Wedding day. It was an absolute pleasure getting to know you both!

Dan and Laura Forbes.

September 11th, Veronica & Dan's Wedding

2010-12-15T20:15:00.000-05:00

I had the pleasure of working along with Veronica & Dan for their phenomenal wedding reception held at the beautiful and historic Alton Mill. (http://www.altonmill.ca/)

This wedding was straight out of a magazine with no details spared. The amazingly hip & rustic location to the elegant decor & ambiance, created this spectacular event. The Ceremony was out doors with a setting of maple trees in the background just starting the transformation of fall. A cocktail reception was held in the Millrace room and Waterfall Courtyard where guests enjoyed the music of an amazing Jazz Trio.

The dinner reception was held under a Marquee in the Annex Courtyard where I took over for the evening. It was beautifully uplit with our Ambient Decor Uplighting to accentuate the natural beauty of the Historic Buildings ruins. A dance floor was set up under the stars where unfortunately do to this Falls weather we were unable to use. This was the only downside to the amazing reception. Dinner was catered by an amazing Chef, Ezra from Chez Vous Dinning (http://www.chezvousdining.com/) and let me say first hand that it was amazing.

After diner, the reception moved back down stairs to the Millrace Room where I was able to work my magic. The dance floor was packed from their first dance to the end of the night. I cannot say in words how fun this reception was for me, it felt like I was hanging out with friends all night and playing all of my favorite music.

For the professional video & pictures visit Still Motion's Blog @ http://stillmotionblog.com/2010/10/28/veronica-dan-the-colonel/ and http://stillmotionblog.com/2010/10/25/veronica-dan-the-colonel-food-photos/.

I wish to congratulation Veronica and Dan once more and thank them for choosing me to be a part of such a magical day.

Laura

Wrapping Up Wedding Season.

2010-10-29T15:43:00.001-04:00

This years Wedding Season is soon wrapping up for us. After mid November we have Weddings scattered throughout the winter and we move more into our Corporate and School events.

This years Weddings have been fabulous! Our couples have been amazing to deal with and they have all been completely creative in designing amazing yet individual events. We have designed a way to incorporate our clients musical taste into every event no matter how obscure and it has worked at every event. What a way to capture the guests from the moment they arrive.

Some of my favorite moments have come from the entertainment that was incorporated into the events that I was lucky enough to be a part of. Lion Dances, Drum Dances, Horas, Belly Dancers, Live Bands, Balloon Animal Artists, Caricature Artists, Photo Booths, Impersonator and More.

The trend that I noticed most this year was that couples were choosing ways to entertain thier guests that was above just the DJ. What a treat for everyone involved. I think this started for alot of clients who have been through so many weddings over the past few years and wanted something more from their own. I also believe that with the growing online resources, people are exposed to so many more options and ideas.

With your event, you are only limited by your imagination. Go the extra mile while planning your next event and give your guests something special to remember. Even better, find a way to capture the special event so you can share it with family and friends for years to come!

September 3rd, 2010 - Andrea & Chris

2010-09-20T14:44:00.002-04:00

We had the absolute pleasure of working along with Andrea and Chris for their recent wedding at they Royal Ambassador. Not only were they both fantastic and beautiful people, their families were just as nice.

We provided ceremony music, reception music and an amazing uplighting display. Everything went off without a hitch and we kept a fun and full dance floor all night!

Andrea sent me this quick message just a few days ago!

Hi Dan!

Thank you so so so much to you and Laura! You two were so amazing - I had such a great time! Excellent music selections - I think it was the best music at a wedding by far! We had absolutely nothing but compliments with Vitamin String Quartet - Excellent suggestion!

Thank you so much once again - You did a fantastic job! :)

Andrea

Here is a letter that was sent to us this week from Barbara Bean, the mother of the bride, who helped with alot of the planning of this spectacular event.

Dear Dan & Laura

We are now into the middle of September - and the wedding of Andrea and Chris is well behind us. All of the planning and preparations for such a long time suddenly came to life on September 3rd at the Royal Ambassador in Caledon - and it was over in one day. But what a spectacular day it was! There is not one thing about the entire day that I would even dream about changing - or improving.

Everything was absolutely perfect~

Dan and Laura, I cannot thank you enough for the wonderful atmosphere that you created for the entire wedding of my daughter and new son-in -law - from the Ceremony right through to the Last Dance. You assisted them tremendously in making choices of music for their wedding - and they were so happy with how unique the music for their special day was. It was not just another wedding - it was 'their' wedding - designed just for them.

We were very pleased, as well, with the Ambient Decor Uplighting that you provided for the evening reception. This is an incredible product - and does so much. The pink glow around the room certainly complimented their theme, and highlighted the already beautiful venue, creating a breathtaking atmosphere - one that we will remember for many days to come. It is hard to imagine what we would have missed, had we passed on that. As I mentioned earlier, it was all so perfect!

Thank you Dan, for taking care of the emceeing for the evening - you did a great job! I appreciated having you look after this, so that I did not have to impose on any of our guest.

Laura, I am so happy that you were also able to join us for dinner and the evening, as well. I hope that you enjoyed yourself. I have seen a couple of the preview pictures from the photo booth - and you looked pretty happy. All of the vender's who assisted us turned out to be Number One - it was like dealing with friends.

In closing, I just have to say 'Thank You' one more time. You assisted greatly in making my daughter's dream come to life - and your services were much appreciated. If anyone is ever asking for a recommendation for Disc Jockey services - "Sounds of Distinction" will be Number One on our list.

Yours truly,

Barbara Bean

Here is few pictures of the event!

My very good friend and one of my favorite Photographers Jennifer Images was their that day with her assistant Lisa. We had so much fun taking part in their Funky Photo Booth that they had set up and so did all the guests, it was packed all night. Check out Jen's Blog for a sneak peak at some of the great pictures that they captured! www.jenniferimages.ca/blog

Here is my favorite!

A huge congratulations going out to Andrea & Chris! We had so much fun being a part of such a wonderful day! We wish you countless years of happiness!

July 10th, 2010 - Crystal & Larry's Wedding

2010-08-19T11:38:00.001-04:00

On July 10th, 2010 Dan had the honour of DJ/MC'ing Crystal and Larry's Wedding reception at Wooden Sticks Golf and Country Club in Uxbridge.

They were a delightful couple and the reception went off without a hitch. A full dance floor all night and tons of amazing memories were made.

Here is a review that Crystal sent us over this morning... definitely worth bragging rights!

I didn't even get a chance to meet Dan when I booked him - but I didn't have to! We met a few DJs and from the moment I talked to Dan over the phone - I knew he was the person we were booking with. He was SO kind and I was so impressed with him from the very first time we spoke. He was patient and really put time in to answering all of my questions and not only that - he actually talked to me about music in general and how he got started and showed a genuine interest in getting to know my husband and I better. Then came our wedding night. He took requests, he played songs we loved and even managed to find a song that was so special to my family. I was actually supposed to send him the song, as it is not a popular song that is easy to find. With all that was going on and all of the things to do - I forgot to do so. I was disappointed with myself because it was my grandfather's song who passed away 4 years ago and I knew it would have meant a lot to my family. Dan looked up the song on his own initiative and made sure it was on his playlist. Dan also did our MC'ing.

He was so smooth and really keep things flowing the entire night long. I provided a few songs that I really wanted and gave him an idea of what we liked and he impressed! Something else I noticed about Dan was that he had a smile on his face the entire night. Even in our photos! He really enjoys what he does and, I think, takes great pride in his job. Naturally, his love for his work shines through when you see him in action. He kept people dancing all night long and family members also commented on how kind and approachable he was when they made requests. When he needed to take initiative he did and when he wanted to make sure things were ok with Larry and I - he did that also.

We had a small glitch in our slideshow (that had nothing to do with Dan) when my bridesmaid tried to get it started. I'm not sure if it was a cord issue or an issue with my ancient laptop - but Dan immediately was there to see if he could solve the problem and offer a hand. It was up and running in no time.

Dan and his wife work as a team and in all my email correspondence Dan's wife Laura was also a pleasure to deal with. All of our questions went answered in a timely fashion and we even had special entrances that required a little more planning and they both were up for the challenge :) I highly recommend Dan from Sounds of Distinction. If anyone had any questions about my experience with Dan of Sounds of Distinctions, I can be reached via email.

Crystal & Larry - July 10th, 2010

Stephanie & Dave – June 26th, 2010

2010-08-18T09:24:00.002-04:00

I had the pleasure of coordinating Stephanie & Dave’s Wedding this June. The Ceremony was held at the beautifully restored Aurora United Church and the reception followed at the renowned King Valley Golf & Country Club.

Here is a glimpse into their day and some of the professionals who helped them achieve a perfect Wedding day & Reception.

Simple, Elegant & Romantic is how I would describe their Wedding. As you will see the tied the reception together using a soft shade of blue, and butterflies throughout, from the cake, to the center pieces, to a heartfelt gift to the guests.

King Valley is an amazing venue; stunning facilities, beautiful grounds and great staff. I cannot say enough great things about my time there.

The Wedding Cake was created by Aaron Sickle of Tier Delight. Not only was it absolutely beautiful, it tasted amazing. All four tiers were different flavours; vanilla butter cream, pecan caramel chocolate butter cream, chocolate banana butter cream & dark chocolate with a chocolate butter cream (my personal favourite).

The bouquets, boutonnieres, centrepieces & floral arrangements were from City Florist. Hydrangeas were the main ingredient in setting the summer stage for the ceremony & reception.

The decorator was Ti Amo who transformed the head table, cake table, and receiving table as well as the chair covers. This added to the warmth and beauty of the reception hall.

The DJ was my favourite person in the whole world and one of the best in the industry, Mr Dan Forbes from Sounds of Distinction Entertainment. I know I am bragging but truly it was an amazing reception. He captured the crowd right from the dinner music straight through to the end of the night where the guests were still on the dance floor asking for one more song.

Shannon from Little White Dress was the photographer along with his second shooter and assistant Robyn. What a pleasure to work along with and well a picture can tell 1000 words and speak for itself, so please visit their website & enjoy, as they will be up on his Blog soon.

Here were a few special touches that made this reception stand out.

Stephanie’s father grew maple trees from seed and gave one away to each couple who attended.

During the ceremony and cocktail hour Dave’s Uncle, an amazing pianist, and cousin, a stunning vocalist, wowed the guests and put a personal touch into the day’s events.

The Master of Ceremonies was Dave’s Aunt who was an amazing speaker. She held the crowd’s attention and truly helped make everyone feel welcome and special; just as Stephanie and Dave would have wanted.

The families were both genuine and kind. Dave and Stephanie are blessed on both sides to have such amazing and supportive families.

Thanks again to Stephanie and Dave for having Marvelle Events as a part of your Wedding Day!

Blue Six Creative | Wedding, Engagement & Lifestyle Photography

2010-07-22T21:49:00.003-04:00

Once again we give you one of our favorite vender's... Blue Six Creative! We asked them a few questions and a bit about what makes them rock.

Blue Six Creative is a collective of photographers who are passionate at what they do and push themselves to photograph people in a different point of view and also come together to support the group and the photographers inside. Each photographer has their own unique style and technique with some overlaps with other photographers. We also have different pricing between our photographers, so we can try and cater to clients with different budgets. We welcome people to view our main website at www.bluesixcreative.com and to check out our blog where you can see our current work (www.bluesixcreative.com/blog) We would appreciate if you follow us on facebook and join our fan page to see special promotions, new work and to simply hang out with us. ( http://www.facebook.com/Blue.Six.Creative.Photographers )

1. Why do you love being a Wedding Photographer? Our wedding photographers get a buzz off shooting a wedding for a client and watching how the day unfolds. By being there and the ability to move around freely and shoot as the wedding unfolds allows for us to be "storytellers". Then when the client views the images from the wedding and shows appreciation to our work allows for the loop to close on the event and the process. Engagement photography is very interesting and rewarding also... since it allows us to get closer to the couple and show off their relationship through pictures and emotion. Therefore, by hanging around with a couple and shooting some images of them as a couple and getting to know them through the entire planning process makes us more connected with the couple on their wedding day where we can see all the planning come together as we sit back and watch as an observer trying to focus on the little details and all the interaction of the day.

2. How did you get into the Photography Business? All of our photographers got into the business for just the simple love of taking photos to freeze life and preserve it. Some of our photographers enjoy traveling the world on trips (before they have kids) and enjoy photographing different cultures and some of our photographers are at the point in their lives that family and kids are important and they spend a great amount of time photographing their own personal lives. One of our photographers is a national newspaper photojournalist and he enjoys shooting in a unique and natural way. The great things with shooting weddings is... WEDDINGS ARE A BLAST! They are all different and unique and also different cultures changes it up a bit and makes it exciting with the new traditions we learn along the way. (Who doesn't love to go to weddings?)

3. What has been your favorite Wedding that you have captured? Last fall we received a email from a bride asking us if we would be interested in shooting a "surprise wedding"? Sure... what do you mean surprise? It happened to be that they couple got engaged and didn't tell one sole! Not even a best friend... and not even their parents. What they planned is the groom would email everyone they knew and invite them to an Art Gallery in the Distillery District where everyone would be inside and behind a curtain in a room. Then the couple would casually walk into the gallery and he would then propose to her in the gallery and everyone would come out to have a little celebration with drinks and finger food. So without anybody knowing that they were about to attend a wedding... everyone trickled into the venue before the couple and waited until they were completely "bam-booze-ald" (if that is a word) that a wedding would break out and they were all guests to this unique wedding. It was so cool to be at the venue acting like staff of the venue with our cameras hidden right before the "reveal".

Also, if we had to pick an engagement session that was really neat to capture it would be this one that we just did: http://bluesixcreative.com/blog/julia-kyle-in-love-sneak-peek/

4. Where do you see your company going in the next 5 years? On the same path that we are going. Just building it one client after another and trying to do more for the client than they expect. We also are trying really hard to connect with wedding professionals that we love that bring a certain vibe to a wedding. Many brides come to us for advice since they connect with us early in the process.. so it's nice to help them along and offer advice and past experiences to help them shape their wedding into something unique and memorable.

5. Why do we love you? What makes you special? Photographers in Toronto are hard to find and narrow down. We all have different styles and they way we edit the pictures after. Not to mention we all have different packages that range in price-points. Then once you find one... are they free for your wedding? We have a collective of photographers and if we single one out... we know that their shooting style might not match some people that hit our website and view their images. On the other hand... it works the other way also when that photographer will get singled out by a bride planning and we hear that their stuff is different than the other photographers websites. We love to work with people who love our style. It's a hard question to answer since each of our photographers are different. One of the really cool things is that we work on a team in the collective and we come together to help out the other photographers if they are shooting a challenging event and need some help. We just like how we are together and we help each other.

Thanks alot for answering our questions! We look forward to working along with you again real soon!

Wild Orchid Creations Blog - Jack & Ye's Wedding

2010-07-19T16:29:00.003-04:00

Wild Orchid Creations was the photographer for the wedding Dan was at a couple of weeks ago. They blogged about their experience and included some great photos.
Here is what they had to say!

Ye and Jack had a small, intimate wedding at Fantasy Farm. When we first arrived and were supposed to do family portraits on the grounds, it started to rain. It frightened us, but luckily the rain stopped just in time for the ceremony and provided Ye and Jack with gorgeous weather after all.

The bridal party performed a very funny choreographed dance for everyone:

To see pictures visit this link: http://www.wildorchidcreations.com/blog/

www.wildorchidcreations.com

Another Great Wedding Weekend

2010-07-12T15:47:00.004-04:00

This weekend was a busy one, but a wonderful and fun one as well.

I would like to start by congratulating both of our couples, we were honored to be a part of their weddings.

Crystal & Larry, were married on Saturday at Wooden Stick Golf and Country Club in Uxbridge. What can I say other then 'Thank You' for having me there! You both we so amazing and fun. Your reception definitely reflected both of your personalities and it was such an amazing party! I can't wait to see all of the pictures that James Lee took!

Ye & Jack were married on Sunday at Fantasy Farm in Toronto. You both were so kind and nice. You had a beautiful ceremony and the reception suited yourselves and guests perfectly. Thank you for having me be there to provide the music for such a lovely event. I loved the bridal party dances, such a great touch!

On behalf of Laura and I, congratulations again!

Ambient Uplighting - HOTTEST NEW TREND

2010-07-06T10:11:00.003-04:00

We are so excited to inform you that we have recently purchased Brand New LED Uplighting! This is the Hottest 2010 Trend in Wedding Decor. We have two brand new packages available so please be in touch to add this to your event booking!

This lighting effect is amazing for adding ambiance to your venue; whether your venue is a Banquet Facility, Restaurant, Gallery or a Marquee Tent this will alter the mood and add the extra punch to transform your event.

Choose the colours to match your theme or even bridesmaid dresses, or you can choose rotating colours. We can set them to rotate to the beat of the music or do a gradual fade from one colour to another... the options are endless.

Stay tuned for our new website to be launched soon!

Chris & Lisa - July 3rd, 2010

2010-07-05T15:17:00.005-04:00

Here is a quick e-mail that was sent over to us this morning from happy newly weds!

Hi Dan,

I just want to thank you for doing such an amazing job. I think the mix of everything worked perfectly! I kept hearing people say they have never heard such good music at a wedding. I just want to thank you again and I hope you had a nice visit to our little city.

Thanks again!

Chris & Lisa

This past Saturday, we had the honour of travelling to Chatham to be a part of Chris and Lisa's wedding day. They held their reception at the Retro Suites, an amazing and funky venue in the heart of Chatham. It is a hotel that has multiple rooms that are decked out in different themes... apparently Jay Leno's favorite place to stay while visiting Ontario.

They had a smaller reception with just over 80 guests and really wanted a dance club feel with tons of Top 40 and really danceable music, so that is exactly what they got. The dance floor was packed all night long with still over 30 people wanting to keep the party going at the end of the night.

To top off the evening, they had a candy buffet full of childhood favorites such as 'Fun Dips', 'War Heads' & 'Big Foots' which helped with the long ride home on Sunday.

Thanks again Chris and Lisa for having us as part of your amazing reception and we wish you all the best in the future!

Cheers,

Dan and Laura

A Terrific Night at The Alton Mill with the Orangeville Rotary Club

2010-06-11T14:35:00.005-04:00

I was lucky to be invited to participate with a terrific bunch of folks from the Rotary Club of Orangeville Highlands last evening. The event was at the Alton Mill (a totally unique venue for your next special occasion!) The following is a Thank you Email Posted from Cynthia Rayburn (Coordinator):

I would like to thank you for a wonderful evening at the Alton Mill last night.

A thank you to everyone who brought appetizers, salads and desserts (we had a feast for a king); Dave for the kabobs (and stickless kabobs), Alex for the wine (I am wowed with every new bottle you introduce me to) and Cathy, for being our Clubs official photographer (I can’t wait to see the photos). A special thank you to Mark Grice from the Hosstyle Gallery at the Alton Mill for helping us create OUR masterpiece; Julie Lockyer from the Alton Mill for assisting and giving us tours; Dan Forbes from Sounds of Distinction for the fabulous music, and Tammy Schneider from SNAP Dufferin for taking some photos of our evening.

It was wonderful to enjoy an evening with great friends; thank you for an amazing evening! Have a fabulous weekend everyone!

Yours in Rotary,
Cynthia

The Rotary CLub of Orangeville are a terrific bunch doing terrific things to help!

Article in Snap Dufferin - May edition

2010-05-13T13:21:00.005-04:00

Here is another article that was in the Snap Dufferin Paper this month. To see more pictures and read the article in full please visit the site www.snapdufferin.com

David Tilson MP and family and the Music is Timeless program entertained a full house of residents and staff at the Avalon Retirement Lodge over the Easter holidays. Guests were treated to delicious holiday snacks, and a free performance - a great way to spend an afternoon with friends and family that was enjoyed by all!

DJ Dan and daughter Dawn with resident Lee Lloyd enjoy the Music is Timeless program

Please contact us to learn more about 'Great Music is Timeless'.

What is with the lack of Blogs lately?

2010-05-13T13:08:00.003-04:00

There is a very good reason for our lack of blogs lately... We welcomed our little boy to the world on Tuesday, April the 20th. He weighed in at a whopping 9 lbs! Everyone is doing well, but are trying to get back into the routine of blogging!

Chase Lawrence Forbes

Article in Snap Dufferin

2010-04-12T09:54:00.003-04:00

Just saw this online and wanted to share it with you all!

Spring Fling Dance

Residents at Lord Dufferin Centre enjoyed the program 'Great Music is Timeless', provided by Sounds of Distinction. Lots of toe tapping and more than a few decided to take a twirl around the dance floor. A great way to celebrate the first day of spring!
www.lorddufferincentre.ca

To visit this article online, please visit www.snapdufferin.com

Cheers,

Dan and Laura

'Great Music is Timeless' Spring Fling Dance - Lord Dufferin Centre

2010-03-23T13:32:00.005-04:00

Saturday, March 20th was the official first day of Spring and we helped the residents of The Lord Dufferin Centre welcome it's return by hosting a Spring Fling Dance as part of our 'Great Music is Timeless' campaign.

As always we made this a family event so we brought along our 3 year old daughter who was right in the middle of the dance floor with all of her friends. From old romantic classics, to some big band jive, to more modern dances like the Macarena, everyone had a wonderful time. We were visited by Snap Dufferin (a local newspaper) and we look forward to seeing all of our friends get a moment to shine in the next issue.

We would like to send out a Thank You to the staff of LDC for putting together such a wonderful evening and to the volunteers (Shirley and Brian)for all of there help and enthusiasm.

Dan and Laura

February 6th, 2010 - Kevin and Nora

2010-03-22T10:17:00.005-04:00

Here is a brief note from Kevin and Nora. They were married on February 6th at the Old Mill in Toronto and Dan had the pleasure of providing the music.

Dan,

Thank you for doing such a great job at our wedding. The music was great. Everyone loved the selection and had a blast.

If you ever need a reference we'll be happy to provide one.

Talk to you later.

Kevin

The Alton Mill - A Unique New Venue

2010-03-15T14:18:00.005-04:00

We are delighted to blog about the Alton Mill. The magnificently-restored Alton Mill is a heritage destination in the scenic Caledon Hills. Winner of a National Achievement Award in 2009, it is now home to a dynamic arts centre featuring artists' studios, galleries and shops, a heritage exhibit and café. The site hosts gatherings of up to 120 guests in a variety of special event spaces.

The Mill has everything you need to host your beautiful and unique Wedding reception. Waterfalls, architecture, art galleries, historic buildings and beautiful grounds are just the starting point for what you will discover in Alton.

They have the Millrace Room that you can book to host your more intimate affair, perfect for Weddings or other sit down events for up to 80 people. This is located in the lower level of the mill and has a beautiful courtyard attached. From the courtyard, you can make your way to look out over the millpond, or enjoy the waterfall. The natural stone work accompanied by the wooden beams in this room leave the need to decor almost minimal.

They also have the Annex Courtyard. Originally the mill's wool storage building, this 4,000 square foot exterior courtyard space, surrounded by majestically restored stone walls is perfect for large events. It can accommodate over 150 people under a 40’ x 80’ marquee tent.

The Alton Mill has our vote for the coolest and most unique venue in the area. Definitely worth looking into for your Wedding or next event! Visit it online at www.altonmill.ca

Cheers,

Dan and Laura

Lord Dufferin Centre - Thank You

2010-03-08T08:41:00.003-05:00

As I am sure you are aware from previous blogs, we are part of an initiative called "Music is Timeless" where members of the CPDJA are traveling to senior residences and providing music for the residents to enjoy. We take nothing in return but the feeling of making a difference in someones day.

Here is a lovely thank you note that we received from our friends at Lord Dufferin Centre last week.

March 2010

To Whom It May Concern:

We have recently had the pleasure of having Dan Forbes of Sounds of Distinction come in to entertain our residents. I was so impressed by the effort he put in to making that afternoon a wonderful event. Dan provided our residents with a number of songs that evoked many memories. He was very professional, friendly and accommodating.

We look forward to Dan’s return where he will entertain our residents at our Spring Dance. I have no doubt that with Dan’s knack for finding the right music to suit his audience that our dance will be a great success. I trust that you too will enjoy the Sounds of Distinction.

Sincerely,

Mary Ann Parsons
Service Coordinator

Once again we have enjoyed our time there and we look forward to returning in a couple of weeks to help celebrate with our new friends, the return of spring.

Dan and Laura

Kevin and Nora's Wedding - Feb 6th, 2010

2010-03-05T09:23:00.004-05:00

Nora and Kevin tied the knot on February 6th, 2010. They held their reception at the Oldmill in Toronto where Dan had the pleasure of working along with them as their DJ. It was a intimate wedding with a fun party! Dan kept the music going and guests dancing all night. Here is a picture of Dan at work that night!

They are a fantastic couple and we wish them the best as they adjust to life as husband and wife. Thank you both for having us a part of your special day!

Cheers,

Laura

Horizons Event Centre - Orangeville Ontario

2010-03-04T11:32:00.003-05:00

We are proud to blog about this new venue in the Orangeville Area, Horizons Event Centre. In 2007, it was decided to take what was once a large bingo hall and turn it into a functional and tasteful banquet facility. The remodelling process began in 2008 and they opened the door for the first event in 2009. They have spent much time and effort in decorating and changing of the appearance. They have recently added an outdoor gazebo and garden area to host outdoor ceremonies, making this a once stop shop for all of your wedding needs.

Horizons is a multi room banquet facility and the largest in the area, boasting a maximum seating capacity of 390 persons for banquets and up to 430 for corporate functions. The room can be divided into 3 separate rooms all with seating capacities of over 100.

It is conveniently located just minutes from Orangeville on Hwy 10, just north of Hockley Road.

For more information please visit www.horizonseventcentre.com or call 519-415-5500.

A Thank You from John and Erica - September 26th, 2009

2010-03-02T10:49:00.000-05:00

We received this very nice thank you card yesterday in the mail from a wonderful couple who we had the pleasure of working along with for their wedding back in September. They held their reception at Sleepy Hallow Golf and Country Club in Stouffville Ontario and Laura kept the dance floor full all night long. My event that evening was near by and finished earlier so I had the opportunity to join Laura later that evening for the last portion on the reception.

Here is what they had to say!

Dear Dan & Laura,

Thank you so so much for all your help on and before our wedding day! You guys made it run so smoothly, it was amazing! We received so many compliments on the music and we had to pass that along to you! You guys are amazing! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

John and Erica

Since their wedding in September, we have already been back to help them with a community dance they were organizing in December and look forward to working with them both again.

Thank you for taking the time to send over such a lovely card.

Cheers ,

Dan

Results by DesignINK - Brenda Winter

2010-03-01T15:36:00.000-05:00

Brenda is the Creative Director of Results by DesignINK, a fabulous company local to the Orangeville area that specializes in being 'Your One-stop, First step for Marketing Materials, Advertising and On-line Opportunities'. There is so much that she can do for you, but the only way to is to see for yourself by visiting her online! www.ResultsByDesignINK.ca

We asked Brenda a few Questions about herself and her business, here is what she had to say!

1. Why do you love working in Graphics, Print and Web Design?

Because it allows my creative side to get out and run amok! Seriously, I have always loved the creative process and there is something fulfilled in me every time I bring a concept to life for my clients. I have been told I have made a difference for them. You can't beat that kind of job satisfaction! Today, everything marries into one another, now more than ever, consistency is important across all platforms, I can offer my clients one-stop shopping, reducing the risk that colours, messages or consistency may be compromised.

2. How did you get into this business?

It's funny how the Universe brought me to where I needed to be. I grew up being told I would never make any money in the artistic field so I traded in my dreams and worked as a professional in the computer and technology industry for a number of years, then in sales and marketing and then "fell" into a dream job. I was art department coordinator for a local telephone book. I was really good at what I did. I drew heavily on my business and marketing experience and worked intuitively from there. I as nailing the look and the message almost the first time out on 99% of the jobs, every sales rep wanted me handling their client's file. I grew out of that position when I realized there was no room to grow. I started Results By DesignINK in 2003 and haven't looked back. I have met so many wonderful and inspiring individuals that have trusted me with their business. I have also rescued some entrepreneurs from jobs that were really botched. That is really empowering stuff.

3. What is your favorite aspect of your Job?

ALL OF IT! More specifically, finding a client who is really enthusiastic about the process and watching their delight as the creative starts manifesting into something tangible.

4. Where do you see your company going in the next five years?

With the Internet - I will expand from my local market into the surrounding cities. Diversify, Diversify, Diversify! I have met some wonderful people in my industry and those that service my industry. Forging great cross-relationships has worked for each of us and it has expanded my awareness and my tools in terms of what I am able to offer my clients. I expect that to continue to grow. I am aware of the opportunities of networking (real networking) and have some very happy clients who are referring me to others. As far as print marketing goes, there are different opportunities presenting themselves now that I have perceived a new way of doing something old. Being hungry for new ideas, having an open mind, listening to others, growing beyond my comfort zone has opened doors for me and I trust the journey through those doors to be an awesome experience.

5. Why do we love you? What makes you special?

I'm special because you're special; you love me because I love you.
Seriously - law of attraction. Like minded people connecting to like minded people. Also it helps that I'm good at what I do. I have yet to come across a project I couldn't handle. If I don't know something then I have someone on my team who does. AND I LEARN ALL THE TIME! My enthusiasm is genuine. I want you to succeed and I love to be a part of that in any way that I can. I thrive on connecting good people to good people and share the limitless opportunities that surround us EVERY DAY!

Thank you Brenda! I am sure we will be seeing you again soon!

Dan and Laura!

Featured Article on the WPIC Blog!

2010-02-26T12:36:00.000-05:00

Here is a link to an article that Laura wrote for The Wedding Planning Institute of Canada (WPIC) regarding The Canadian Professional Disc Jockey Association (CPDJA) and why you should be hiring a professional DJ company for your next wedding!

It is currently being featured on their blog! Check it out!

http://wpic.typepad.com/wpic/

NightinGail Photography - Gail Kenney

2010-02-23T11:33:00.000-05:00

Gail is a truly gifted photographer based out of the Barrie area. She captures weddings in a phenomenal style and is wonderful to work along with. Check out her website at www.nightingailphotography.com and in the meantime, here are the questions we asked her and her responses.

1. Why do you love being a photographer?

I have the best job in the world. I love being able to photograph people and transform those fleeting moments in a life into a format that will become a timeless precious heirloom. I have always loved taking pictures and being a photographer has allowed me the opportunity to provide creative images for those special moments in peoples' lives like weddings. Because I am such a people-person, my business has specialized in photographing weddings and life-style portraits.

2. How did you get into this business?

I actually "fell" into the business. I have always loved photography and had been taking photos ever since I was a little girl. When I got married, I realized that I wanted to put my "hobby" into capturing those special events like weddings. I wanted to be the person on the other side of the camera who could get just the "right" image that makes the statement for each particular event. I was strongly encouraged by my husband to use my talent to open NightinGail Photography and that was five years ago. I have never looked back!

3. What is your favorite wedding that you have ever captured?

That's a hard one. I have a lot of favourites but I guess the most unique weddings are the ones that really stick in my mind like Edmund & Eve's. She had one of the most unique gowns I had ever seen and she had planned such a special surprise for her husband - an antique car to drive them around after the ceremony at the haunted church - St. Columbekill in Uptergrove.

4. Where do you see your company going in the next five years?

We are growing! I now have two second shooters who work with me on a regular basis. We are also expanding our home studio and will be moving into a new location, hopefully in the fall. In five years, I want to be photographing even more special friends and clients!

5. Why do we love you? What makes you special?

I am an extremely passionate person who gives 110% of myself to each and every client's wedding day. I custom design all of our albums and make sure that my clients are 110% satisfied with the outcome of their day, their prints and canvases and their albums.

I am the "real" deal and what you see, is what you get - trustworthy, reliable and honest in all of my business and personal dealings with friends, family, clients and business associates. I also have a great laugh and do see the humour in most situations!

Thank you Gail! We are looking forward to working with you this upcoming season!

Dan and Laura Forbes

10 Tips for a Greener Wedding!

2010-02-17T13:07:00.000-05:00

1. Shorten your guest list – the more guests that you invite to your wedding, the greater your carbon footprint will be for the event. The more people that are on your list the more food that will be consumed, the more miles that will be travelled and the bigger your venue will have to be to accommodate your wedding.

2. Time of Year – The months of April, May, September and October typically in our Canadian climate will take less energy to heat/cool your venue, therefore leaving a smaller carbon footprint.

3. Ceremony & Reception Venue - Consider an outdoor wedding in the park or at a beautiful natural spot so you can take advantage of nature’s décor and reduce the amount of added decorations. Have the reception at the same location, or at least nearby to shorten guest travel and reduce car pollution.

4. Choose Local Vendors- By using a local Photographer/DJ etc. You will lower the carbon footprint by having less travel involved with your oh so important vendors. Also work with vendors that are digital, leaving less paper trail.

4. Wedding Dress and Tuxedo - Consider one of the following: buying a vintage dress and tuxedo from a resale clothing store; buying an organic silk/hemp wedding dress; wearing a simple dress or suit that you can wear again. Have your dress made by family or friends. If you are buying new, at least buy your dress from a Canadian (local) manufacturer.

5. Invitations – Consider printing your invites, thank you notes, programs and all other related items for your wedding on handmade seed paper so that your guests can plant the invitations and enjoy the flowers that grow from them. You can also encourage your guests to recycle the paper and make that your keepsake from the wedding. Also think of using less paper by using a postcard for the replies and forgoing the envelope and creating a wedding website with all the necessary information so that you do not have to do too much printing. Remember... 1 invitation, 1 envelope!

6. Flowers – Consider using a florist that uses flowers from local and/or organic farms or use a wildflower grower at your local farm market to create bouquets & table arrangements. Try to find potted plants instead of cut flowers for centerpieces and guests can take them home to plant and watch your love bloom!

7. Food – Consider donating the food left over from your reception to a local soup kitchen or shelter instead of throwing it out. This will assist them to feed so many persons that rely on them for a daily meal and it will reduce the waste produced from your celebration.

8. Jewellery - Work with a jewellery designer that uses all recycled beads and materials to make all the jewellery for the bridal party. Another great option would be to make the jewellery yourself or have the wedding party get together to create it.

9. Favours - Choose something recycled, or a bulb/plant that can be re-planted, or do a donation to your favourite charity in the place of favours.

10. Gifts - Ask for donations/monetary gifts instead of traditional wedding gifts. This will cut down on waste, and lower car pollution from shopping.

Dan and Laura

What it means to be Canadian

2010-02-16T11:22:00.002-05:00

Every time the Olympic Games are on, I feel a sudden burst of Canadian Pride. These Olympic Games have me over the top. It is partly due to the games being held in Canada, but also watching how our athletes are handling themselves. I have never witnessed a more humble Gold Medal winner than Alexandre Bilodeau, and his teammates who did not finish on the podium were still absolutely honoured to share in his glory.

It is not just the sports that have me feeling pride in being Canadian, it is the way our nation represents itself as a whole. We are a proud and dedicated country; we will continue to encourage anyone who shows initiative. We are proud of every Canadian who has been successful and we root on those who are trying hard to succeed.

In my personal, public and business life, I try to be a great Canadian. Whether it is holding open the door for someone, congratulating another on their success, being humble in my own, and doing random acts of kindness with no need for recognition... I am a proud Canadian!

Laura Forbes

Irina Photography - Irina and Mihkel Fortey, Photographers Extraordinaire!

2010-02-08T11:15:00.000-05:00

Irina and Mihkel are a fabulous couple and have mastered the art of photography, giving you a truly amazing package when booking a Photographer for your wedding. Take a minute to visit their website at www.irinaphotography.ca, you won't be disappointed.

1. Why do you love being a photographer?

I have a fascination with history and documenting it in photographs. This is my way of freezing moments to share with others. I also love working with people and hence, it has lead me to cater to documenting weddings and family portraits.

2. How did you get into this business?

My university degree is in Business and Economics which was my first love. While studying a friend recommended a job in a photolab, which I took at that time ... well that changed my life! I absolutely fell in love with the process and soon after began photographing everything and everyone I knew. After my graduation from Business School, I went on to study photography and 2 years later had my certification. Today, I specialize in capturing people at their most beautiful moments in life.

3. What is your favorite wedding that you have ever captured?

This is a hard question, as every wedding has a special connection to me. It's always an honor to witness a couple or a new family interact in front of my camera. I am blessed to have the best job in the world!

4. Where do you see your company going in the next five years?

I am a believer that opportunities are always around the corner. Every industry has its ups and down, as well, new technology continues to change the market. Just as film and prints has moved to digital and files I feel it is important for the industry to share its knowledge for the betterment of the consumer.

5. Why do we love you? What makes you special?

Anything less than perfect is unacceptable, that's my philosophy! My client know they will get my full attention with every wedding or portrait commission! Because I care about my work, my clients always go home happy.

Thank you Irina! We are looking forward to working with you again this upcoming season!

Dan and Laura

Jennifer Images - A Terrific Photography Experience!

2010-02-01T15:19:00.000-05:00

Jennifer has been a longtime friend of ours in the Wedding Industry. We work with her numerous times every year and we are always amazed at the quality of her work. Check out her website at www.jenniferimages.ca

1. Why do you love being a photographer?

Photography is such a gratifying field because it allows me to express my creativity.

Being a photographer also allows me to see things, people and places that normally would be off limits to me.

It is a very exciting career.

2. How did you get into this business?

My very first job at the ripe old age of 15, was a sales position at Blacks cameras.

There were a few good benefits to that job, such as getting to demo all of the new cameras and gear.

This is were my passion for photography began, and continued for many years.

Of course it wasn't until many years later, with thoughts of choosing a different career path than the one I was on, that photography as a business entered my mind.

I guess you could say that once I realized what I didn't want, I knew what I did want.

3. What is your favorite wedding that you have ever captured?

There are a few weddings that really stand out in my mind, but honestly my favorite wedding, would be the wedding of Justin and Laura, at the Old Mill in Toronto, On April 4th, last year.

Justin and Laura were really genuine people, whose kindness and friendship have remained in the minds of Lisa (my second shooter) and myself .

The family bond they all had for one another and the way that they so readily added us to their list of friends was unforgettable.

4. Where do you see your company going in the next five years?

Over the next five years Jennifer Images will continue to be a personal company, that won't lose site of the importance of the relationships we form with our clients.

While our style will continue to grow, it is those personal relationships with our clients, that are the key to our definition of success.

Mutual respect, honesty and friendship are what make our clients comfortable during our sessions, and what ultimately produces the best images.

5. Why do we love you? What makes you special?

Why do you love me?

Because I'm genuine.

You love me because I believe that human relationships are so very important, even in the business world.

You love me because I'm reliable and responsible, and I do what I say I'm going to do.

Thanks Jennifer, I hope those who visit our blog will take the time to learn more about you and business. Looking forward to seeing you soon!

Cheers,

Dan and Laura

Our Visit To The Avalon Retirement Lodge

2010-01-25T14:09:00.001-05:00

This morning, we participated in our first outing on behalf of the CPDJA's 'Music is Timeless' program at The Avalon Retirement Lodge in Orangeville. As I am sure you have read on our previous blog about this program, it is a movement that has been set in place to enhance the lives of those who are in facilities such as The Avalon.

Music is timeless, I know this first hand from watching the reaction of the seniors today and seeing the excitement and energy in our 3 year old who was dancing up a storm for their entertainment. A gentleman I was speaking with, was to thankful for someone to come in and 'liven up the joint' and provide classic tunes and restore some old memories. There was singing, toe tapping and even a little dancing today which was amazing to see. I look forward to returning and spending some more time with my new friends.

Here is a Thank you card that we were given on behalf of the Avalon:

Dan,
Thank you for coming to the Avalon Retirement Lodge for the music is timeless program. We really enjoyed & appreciated the music. It was great to see the residents toe tapping & singing along.
Sincerely,
Nancy
Life Enrichment Dept.
The Avalon Retirement Lodge

Music is Timeless

2010-01-22T10:17:00.002-05:00

As part of the CPDJA (Canadian Professional Disc Jockey Association) initiative 'Music is Timeless', we have started our community outreach here at home. This Monday, we will be setting up and providing some classic music to the residents at Avalon Retirement Home in Orangeville for a couple of hours. On February the 9th, we will be at Lord Duffrin Centre doing the same. We have been in contact with a few other local facilities in the area and are still waiting on tentative dates.

This is an amazing opportunity to give back within our own community, and bring some old memories back to life. Another great idea that the CPDJA has brought to the table to enhance the DJ industry. This program really struck close to home for us as Laura's grandfather has spend the last 3 months in a similar residence recuperating from surgery and we have seen first hand just how lonely and bored some residence can become over time. We are hoping to lighting up someones day and try and start a trend within the community to reach beyond.

This is a charitable donation on our part so there is no cost incurred to anyone within the facilities. To get more information on the CPDJA program or book a time for your facility, please contact Dan or Laura at 519-941-0937 or by visiting us online at www.soundsofdistinction.ca

Martin Kolditz MGX Productions - Videographer

2010-01-18T10:28:00.000-05:00

This week we have decided to feature our favorite videographer and friend Martin Kolditz. His work is truly amazing and having seen him in action, he does so in such a non intrusive way. I recommend checking out his work and contacting him through his website www.mgxproductions.com

1. Why do you love being a videographer?
What I really love is seeing the couple's reactions when seeing their video for the first time. Makes all my hard work worth it.

2. How did you get into this business?
I started off by doing a friend's wedding video for free as a favor. Then I thought, "Hey, I could make some money doing this!"

3. What is your favorite wedding that you have ever captured?
I shot a friend's wedding in California in 2008. Not only was the weather amazing, but the wedding took place on a beautiful beach at sunset.

4. Where do you see your company going in the next five years?
The sky's the limit. In addition to offering HD exclusively, I'll also be offering Steadicam in the springtime. I welcome growth, however, as I've said from the start, I don't want my business to become too big as to replace quality with quantity.

5. Why do we love you? What makes you special?
From the get-go, I try to instill a foundation of friendship with the couples that I meet. This way, the whole process is much more relaxed, and the couples feel a level of comfort that might not be possible with a traditional "business-like" relationship.

Thanks for being a part of our blog Martin and we hope to bump into you again soon at another fantastic wedding!

Dan and Laura

What Can We Do to Help in Haiti

2010-01-14T11:10:00.002-05:00

By this time, we are positive that everyone has learned about the devastation in Haiti. Let's make an effort to think of all the people who are suffering, and all those who are there helping and keep them in our prayers.

Well what can we do in a time of need like this? We may just be DJ's in the town of Orangeville, but we can give. The Salvation Army is a wonderful organization and over the last year, our family has become a part of their community here in town. We attend the local church and we spent some time manning the Kettle over the holidays. When something like this tragedy has happened you get a great feel for what the Salvation Army is doing to help.

For the remainder of the this Month, for every wedding that we have a secure booking on, we will donate $50 to the Salvation Army to assist in their efforts over in Hatti. This is our busiest time of year with bookings and we are hoping to be able to donate a few hundred dollars. Check back at the end of the month and we will let you all know how much money we were able to donate and thank all of those who booked our services in that time.

Thank you

Dan and Laura Forbes

To learn more about the Salvation Army and what they are doing to help in this time of need, please visit www.salvationarmy.ca

What a Day of Coordinator Can Do For You

2010-01-12T11:25:00.001-05:00

As a DJ, I have attended hundreds of weddings. Some of those weddings involved a coordinator and many of them did not. The ones with coordinators 90% of the time were well under control, the bride & groom were cool and collected, and the families were able to enjoy the evening. On the other hand the weddings where the couple did not hire a coordinator, 50% of them were stressed to the max, on the day of their weddings things were left at home, vendors did not provide the services that were agreed upon, and family members and wedding party members were more helpers then guests at these events.

This is where investing in a Day of Coordinator can really be one of the most important decisions that you can make for your wedding. Before the wedding date has come, to have a professional sit down and hear exactly what you have envisioned and learn about the things that need to be done before and during your ceremony and reception, and remind you of other details that might have been forgotten. All of these things will start to put your mind to ease. No only are they there for you on the day of your wedding, they are there to go over contracts with other vendors and make contact to see that everything is in order and on time.

On the day of your wedding, really the only things that you should be doing is getting ready, getting married and celebrating with your friends and family. Leave the small tasks and details to your coordinator to see that the finishing touches are already finished when you arrive. During the reception, enjoy it and stop worrying if the favours are on the table or if the MC will remember all of the speeches, and if Aunt Betty was served the proper nut free dinner.

This is why I have become certified as a wedding consultant and coordinator through The Wedding Planners Institute of Canada and opened our sister company Marvelle Events. After being a part of so many weddings in so many different aspects from DJ to MC to Guest to Coordinator, I know what it takes to make a reception run smoothly, and how to let the Bride and Groom truly enjoy there wedding day.

To Learn more about Marvelle Events please visit us on the web, www.marvelleevents.ca

Happy Planning!

Laura Forbes, WPICC

Naledi and Jason, November 7th, 2009

2010-01-11T09:30:00.001-05:00

We received this card in the mail recently and thought that we would share it with you. Naledi and Jason were married at Grey Silo Golf and Country Club in Waterloo. It was a beautiful ceremony and the reception was a huge party. We had so much fun working along with them both and became very close friends through the entire process.

Dan & Laura,

Oh my, we cannot say thank you enough for the amazing job you both did at the wedding. The music was the most important element and you rocked it!

Here's to many more parties we hope to share with you!

We wish you, Dawn & your baby bump a wonderful holiday season.

Love Naledi and Jason

James Lee, An Amazing Photographer!

2010-01-08T11:02:00.000-05:00

Recently we asked a few of our favorite vendors a couple of questions about themselves to feature on our new blog. Over the next few months we will be featuring one a week. This week we are starting with James Lee. We work along with James frequently throughout the wedding season and always love snooping his website after a wedding that we were at to see just how amazing his photography really is. I certainly hope that you snoop around his site as well. www.jamesleephoto.com

1. Why do you love being a photographer?

I love being a photographer because I'm passionate about people, I love connecting with people especially on their wedding day; I really consider it to be the highest honour to be selected to be part of a couples' wedding day. I love being able to capture a small glimpse of the emotion between a couple that I think really resonates everything about their connection.

2. How did you get into this business?

I'm not really sure, to be honest I started shooting in the late 80's when I was finishing up high-school. Like many other photographers my professional photography career started as an interest, that turned into an avid hobby. Early on I realized that I loved the interaction I would have shooting portraits so being a people photographer was definitely for me, eventually this led me to specializing in Weddings.

3. What is your favorite wedding that you have ever captured?

I have built so many friendships with couples over the years it's hard to pick a favourite, however in 2009 I must say I was most moved by the speeches at Gillian & Dan's wedding. I was so impressed by how much love the couples' families had for each other and how much Gillian's Brothers loved her and how they showed their support for her on her wedding day.

4. Where do you see your company going in the next five years?

I don't see much change in my company over the next five years, I really just want to continue to grow as an artist, and have good fortune to build more relationships in the wedding industry. I really hope to grow my business to cater to couples who care deeply about their wedding imagery.

5. Why do we love you? What makes you special?

Ha ha, I'm not sure what makes me special, although, based on what I've learned over the past 10 years, I approach each wedding the same way and that's to show up like an old friend with a fancy camera. My business is my clients, and I feel like I'm performing at every wedding I photograph, and my commitment is to give my clients my heart and soul for their day.

Thanks so much James!

Were looking forward working with you this 2010!

Dan and Laura

Planning Your Winter Wedding

2010-01-07T12:53:00.000-05:00

Did he propose to you during the holidays? Did he leave a knee print in the snow, or did he surprise you with a gift under the tree? Did your breath shimmer as he placed the ring on your finger, and you thought this is the most exquisite season for your love?

Give yourselves a year to organize the most magical moment of your lives as you plan for the wedding of your dreams next winter.

Winter is such a magical time of the year that is full of celebrations, family, laughter and cheer. Use the elegance of winter in your wedding for a glamorous and exotic feel that can’t be felt under the scorching heat of summer.

Once you have decided what colour and décor scheme you plan on following, visit all the clearance sales that will be happening right after the holidays. You will save a lot of money and remember that everything that you purchase can be used in your home for all of the holidays to follow.

Borrow from friends and family the things that you might use to decor your hall. Artificial trees, decorations, lights. To get the feel of the holidays, try to bring the outdoors in. Try using potted plants as centerpieces and then decorate them to fit your scheme.

There are many things to consider when booking your event. The location? Local accommodations? The ambiance? Many places already use heavy décor for the holidays and may save you time and money in the long run. Choose a place with a fire place to create the feeling of warmth. Old Inns are a perfect choice for warmth and ambiance. Places that offer winter activities like a ski resorts will put all your guests in the mood for the holidays and give them some fun activities before and after your wedding. During cocktails consider having hosts who serve hot chocolate, eggnog and spiced wines for a special treat to help everyone warm up this time of year.

Keep in mind that we are not always guaranteed snow in Canada so be prepared to improvise. Also when looking for your hall and or church, look into heating as some old churches can be quite drafty and some halls are not adequately heated during the winter months.

Should the snow prevail, don’t forget to get yourself a cloak, cape, wrap or some fur that accentuates your beautiful gown. Your bridesmaids are going to need something to cover up as well. You can accessorise with these to dress up any gown.

Themes can be so fun during this season. You can go for the icy look with diamonds, glitter, creamy whites and beautiful silvers, even a touch of blues to give that frosty look. You can do a more traditional look with the deep greens and sharp reds of Christmas. Poinsettias and artificial trees are a wonderful way to dress up the room. Maybe you are more interested in making it a winter wonderland. Use snowflakes and star lights to cozy up your hall, hang and old pair of skates above the fireplace. Incorporate all things of winter that you love into your wedding day.

Whatever the theme that you decide to go with for your winter wedding, know that with a little research and imagination, you can get everything that you need suited to winter. Bouquets made perfectly for your theme, favours that your guest with love and cherish, an instant ambiance that cannot be questioned.

I personally could not think of a more magical time of year to exchange vows, and celebrate love in its purist form.

Happy Holidays!

Laura Forbes