iPhone App Review: iWedding Deluxe 2012-05-24

The Replacement for The Bride's Binder

As someone who would be an unorganized disaster of catastrophic proportions without my iPhone, I must admit: I love a good iPhone app.  In fact, my favorite is the DJ Tony Schwartz App – okay, okay, sorry for the plug!

Anyways, I found an app for wedding planning that any bride with an iPhone should have.  And it is totally worth the $5.99 fee – The iWedding Deluxe App.

For starters, let me just say that thing is PACKED with useful features that brides will love – and it will probably eliminate the need for a gigantic three-inch binder.  One of the first features I noticed was “The People” section – where you can manage your guest list with updates on RSVP statuses, meal choices, +1 or not, and seating plans for both the reception and rehearsal.  Finally, there is a Gift Tracker feature which allows you to assign which gift items to the guests that brought them, and with a click of a button, you can track who has been sent a thank-you card and who you still need to send one for.

I also found the To-Do and Budget Calculator features to be supernal and detailed.  The To-Do  List even has an automatically schedule feature, which keeps brides on track with what to do and when to do it.  The Budget feature keeps track of all spending, and you can even set it to automatically track spending.  Included is a Budget Assistant but the drawback is that it is based off of industry averages and is not editable.  Hopefully, a future release allows brides to prioritize their budget allocations to their own liking, perhaps with a comparison to industry averages.

Under the Details section, brides can add in their various vendor categories.  So, for example, if you are shopping for a MC & DJ, you can add the companies you are interested in, meet and make a decision on one, and then remove all the others from your list.  I have seen many binders, and this section usually takes up a good solid two inches and adds four pounds of weight – so this is a powerful tool.  Of course, if your “category” isn’t built-in to the app already, you can quickly add it within the app.

There is also a built-in camera feature for inspiration notes, you can password protect the photo of your dress so no one can sneak an early peek, and the ability to export your information by email, among many, many other features.  Hopefully, they will have syncing capability soon with the iOS5 system, as well as an iPad version.  I have other small little suggestions that would be helpful – but the bulk of this app is sufficient for 99.1% of brides out there.  This really is a powerful app, and again, if you are an iPhone junkie like me, a MUST-HAVE app for planning your wedding and eliminating the binder.

For more details, check them out at their website or on the iTunes App Store.

Website:  www.iweddingdeluxe.com

DISCLAIMER:  Tony Schwartz and Tony Schwartz Weddings has no controlling or ownership interest in the iWedding Deluxe App and was not compensated financially for this review.

April & Greg – April 28, 2012 2012-04-29

In baseball terms, Opening Day of the wedding season was yesterday – and I was honored to MC & DJ for April and her husband, Greg, who I have known since our days at Aylen Junior High.

I have often said it is harder to DJ in front of people I know then people I don’t know.  And April and Greg’s wedding not only was attended by friends I had known since Little League, but also the entire staff of the Pioneer Pavilion, who I also know very well from working so many weddings there.  Regardless, it wasn’t just great to reconnect with old friends and see what journey life has taken them on, but also to showcase my talents and skill in front of them.

One of my favorite parts of working with my couples is the “coaching” element – where I teach my clients how to look awesome on their wedding day.  Much of my focus is on helping my grooms look like romantic studs.  Greg absolutely nailed it.  When we planned the Grand Entrance, we designed their entrance in a manner that April could be shown off, and in the center of the room with every guests on their feet cheering, Greg showcased his beautiful bride with a twirl that only a true gentleman could pull off.  I can’t wait to see it again in videographer Cory Bogle’s final cut.

If last night’s dance floor was any indication, 90s hip hop is going to be the new 80s at weddings.  Classic jams like “Hypnotize”, “Ditty”, “Jump” and “Jump Around” were huge hits.  But none was probably as big as the song I pulled out of left field, but absolutely knew it would crush: “Bump N Grind” by R. Kelly.  There isn’t a better way then ending the night with a sing-a-long jam that takes you back to a moment – and for  many of us, it took us right back to our junior high dance days where we all sang the same song, off-key and off-beat.  Some things never change…

Coming up next weekend, a Friday and Saturday wedding – it is going to be a great Cinco De Mayo weekend!  Until next time, cherish every memory, love every moment, create your happiness and live your life!

Carrie & John – May 4, 2012 2012-05-06

On Friday, I was delighted to be a part of Carrie & John’s wedding & reception at the Lake Union Cafe in Seattle.  I got to work alongside some of my absolute favorite vendors, Lake Union Cafe’s kind and gracious host and Operations Manager, Dann Richey, as well as my favorite wedding officiant in the world, the fabulous AnneMarie Juhlian.  These two are the pro’s pro in their respective fields – the smile on their face says it all – they just simply care about their clients and love what they do!

But of course, this night was about John & Carrie, two people that have a very special place in the Tony Schwartz Weddings family.  They were a pleasure to work for – gracious and appreciative – and whenever I run into a couple like that, I really want to give them 120% and make sure they are getting a first-class service and experience.

When I first sat down for lunch with Carrie at Duke’s to consult with her, I asked what her vision for the reception was.  She replied, “I want everyone to say, ‘It was worth hiring a babysitter for!’ – you know, that type of fun for a group of parents.”  As I understood it, she just set the bar really high – and I love a daunting challenge – and I was so happy I was awarded the opportunity to exceed it.

And I think the fact I was asked to play overtime means it was exceeded.  It was fun to dig up an 80s classic like “Don’t You Want Me Baby” and to mix them with a recent hit such as “SexyBack”.  I label these crowds as grown & sexy and they are a nice change of pace from the weddings where it is hip hop and Top 40 for the majority of the night.  John & Carrie’s guests were so much fun, and open to nearly every genre of dance music available.  From Motown to today’s Top 40, my three hour dance floor live mix featured something for everyone – which kept everyone dancing to something all night long.  The only time they left the dance floor was to catch their breath and get another drink!

So again, thank you John & Carrie for having me as a part of your celebration.  It was a pleasure, and an honor, to serve you.

Hey!  Since I had two gigs this weekend, you get two blog posts!  My next post will be coming out in just a few on last night’s wedding, so for the next 30 minutes or so, cherish every memory, love every moment, create your happiness and live your life!

Caitlin & Tony – May 5, 2012 2012-05-06

Last night was EPIC.  Period.

Those that know me well know I use that word selectively.  I rarely use it unless I mean it.  And driving home from Lord Hill Farms in Snohomish last night, that was the only word this Seattle Wedding DJ could think of.  Tony & Caitlin’s wedding was EPIC – dare I say, one of my Top 3 favorites, ever?!?!  (Yes, I just said it!)

From the Grand Entrance – featuring Tony & Caitlin wiggling it to LMFAO’s “Sexy and I Know It” – to Tony & Caitlin’s closest 100 family and friends singing along to Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” to end the night, it was such a fun and festive atmosphere, even I didn’t want it to end.  Like I mentioned in last weekend’s wedding recap, 90s hip hop will be big this summer.  I’m also finding 90s boy bands to also have huge reactions, especially from the ladies.

But perhaps the best song thrown in the mix was from this decade, Dorrough’s “Ice Cream Paint Job”.  During our planning meetings, Tony & Caitlin told me this was a song they heard they day they met and on their first date and they loved to dance to it.  The second they heard it, two million dollar smiles were shot my way because on their first day of marriage, Tony & Caitlin got to hear and dance to their favorite song.  For me, those little moments that I get to share with my clients are far more rewarding than anything else.

Well, it’s a sunny Sunday and today is my off day – coming up in two weeks is a huge wedding at the Four Seasons Seattle that I can’t wait to DJ.  Until next time, cherish every memory, love every moment, create your happiness and live your life!

UPDATE:  Caitlin was kind enough to write this review on WeddingWire.com.  I have copied it here for easy viewing:

Tony was amazing! He was patient with my husband and I when we had questions. Tony had really good ideas about how the ceremony could go and personalized the entire day around us.
My husband fell in love with Tony when he showed us the checklist he completes before every wedding. He took care of everything!
We keep getting compliments on how awesome the music was and what a fun experience everyone had! Everyone was dancing up until the last song!

Thank you Caitlin – your words mean more to me than you can imagine!

Shirin & Josh – May 19, 2012 2012-05-20

Very little excites me more than a 300 guest wedding, especially when the majority of the 300 guests are coming from out of town and are staying the night.  Add in a beautiful sunny Seattle day, the amazing hospitality of the Four Seasons’ staff, and a live music video mix by this Seattle Wedding DJ – it is all the makings of a fabulous wedding celebration!

When I first met Josh at Starbucks, the desire for the DJ couldn’t have been clearer: “Wedding Meets Club” – an uptempo, continuous live music video mix with select Bollywood music videos also mixed in.  Needless to say, I was jacked to be a part of this wedding.  Just knowing that guests were coming not just from around the country (New York, California and parts in between), but also from around the world (England, New Zealand, India, etc.) further added to the anticipation of this party.

After a beautiful ceremony led by Rev. Mary Calhoun, guests partook in a cocktail hour in the foyer while the ballroom was transformed for the reception.  After dinner and toasts, little time was wasted before the celebration and dancing kicked off.  Josh & Shirin cut the cake, shared their first dance to Michael Buble’s “Everything” and two parent dances later, the dance floor was PACKED.  In fact, it was so packed, Shirin and her girlfriends were dancing on the carpet, behind the DJ booth, simply because there was no available real estate on the dance floor.  From Jackson 5 to Katy Perry to Jai Ho to Bee Gees (RIP Robin Gibb) to Carly Rae Jepsen Josh, Sharin and their guests danced and sang like no one was watching.  Perhaps one of my favorite parts of the night was when I mixed in Jay-Z’s “Empire State of Mind” – I just knew, knowing Josh and Sharin’s background as obtaining doctor’s degrees in New York – that this song would be huge.  But to see them and their closest friends passionately singing “In Newwwwww Yooooooorrrrrrkk” along with Alicia Keyes?  That’s the power of music right there.

Finally, it wouldn’t be proper if I didn’t include a special thank you to photographer Christopher Gendron (who I worked alongside with Chris & Kate’s wedding), Jason from Swank and Gerald from the Four Seasons.  I am grateful for your hospitality, help, dedication, attitude, and passion for making this a special night for Josh and Shirin.  Gerald’s staff at the Four Seasons can be described with one word: AMAZING.  If you are looking for a first class wedding venue, staff and service experience, I highly recommend the Four Seasons Seattle.

Well, it’s back to bed on this Sunday morning.  It is 8 am in the morning – and I literally just got home five hours ago.  Until next time, cherish every memory, love every moment, create your happiness and live your life!