Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds’ Relaxed Southern Wedding

This week, we’ve finally seen some photos of the quietest celebrity wedding of 2012. Unlike most celebrity weddings, Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds’ big day wasn’t papped, and none of their 35 guests Tweeted a single snap.

Even though the wedding was at the start of September, the first photos of the day are going to be published in the new issue of Martha Stewart Weddings magazine. The magazine helped style the couple’s wedding and has been allowed to publish photos of the work they did for the couple.



The photos that we’ve seen so far include shots of the couple’s dessert table, the bride’s bouquet, and the couple holding hands after the ceremony. We’re hoping to see more photos soon.

With such an intimate guest list, and the couple’s star power, they must have had some great entertainment lined up.

What do you think of Blake and Ryan’s wedding? Tell us below!

As 2012 comes to a close, we would like to thank all of our incredible clients, and prepare our future ones for an even better year just around the corner. Please follow our page for the latest updates on how Excel Entertainment can make your special event unforgettable. Happy holidays to everyone, and enjoy the our new 2013 PROMO!

[vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/55951774 w=500&h=281]

Excel Entertainment 2013 Promo Reel from Excel Entertainment on Vimeo.

How to Set a Wedding No-play List

At many weddings, the main focus for the bride and groom is to figure out what songs they want played during their big day. One thing that they don’t give much thought to is a “no-play” list. This is just as important for your event.

This doesn't have to be an exhaustive list of songs, of course. It can be specific genres or artists that you don’t want played. Whether it’s because you don’t like the music, or you just don’t think it’s in keeping with your wedding’s theme, it’s a good guide to give your wedding entertainment.

When we play at a wedding or other event, we often get requests from the guests during the night. In most cases, we’ll try to oblige. If you don’t want this, it’s best to let us know ahead of time. We’re used to handling requests, and can also handle refusing them if we need to.

Whatever your music choice, we’d love to work with you to provide the perfect soundtrack for your big day.

Jason at the historic 12.12.12 concert for sandy relief

I was so fortunate to have been a part of this amazing event...the concert of the century. All while contributing to an incredible cause, the Robin Hood foundation for the Sandy Relief Fund. Music is my life and tonight i witnessed "the greats", who continually inspire me to put on better shows, performances, and events. Excel Entertainment...the idea that no idea is too big, picking up inspiration where ever we go.
www.excel-entertainment.net

Winter Wonderland Weddings

With white snow, silver and gold decorations, and beautiful evergreen, winter makes a great wedding theme.



 

If you’re thinking of going seasonal with your wedding, here are some entertainment ideas.

• A holiday sing along can happen spontaneously when you have a winter theme, or at any winter wedding. Instead of waiting for people to start singing, mix a few holiday standards into your wedding playlist or as a karaoke choice.


• Snowfall and roaring fires might not be available at every venue or on every day, but you can have the next best thing – showing them on a video screen. Any venue can have a lovely fireplace for guests to sit around and share a hot toddy, while others can sit next to a window with freshly falling snow.


• Festive props can work magic in a photo booth. Whether it’s a sprig of mistletoe for some sneaky kisses, a big coat, or some woolly hats, your photo booth shots can be a great place for your theme to come to life.

However you use your winter theme, let us help you with your wedding entertainment ideas.

2013 Wedding Trend: Geek Chic Wedding

Geek chic weddings are a fun trend, and perfect for all the tech savvy couples. We love helping couples add a bit of geek fun to their entertainment, too.

• Video screens can be a great way of adding in some classic geek fun. You can have a karaoke party for the end of the night, or hook up a gaming system for guests to play when they need a break from dancing.


• Photo booths are perfect for geek fun, especially when you provide a few costumes and props. Funky wigs, fake moustaches, and comic-style words can allow your guests to create their own superhero stories.


• You can add an extra dimension to your wedding with some online content. If you have a wedding website, you can put QR codes around the venue for guests to unlock special parts of your site. It can be a way to say thank you for coming, or part of a wedding treasure hunt.

Whatever you choose for your geek chic wedding, we can help give you plenty of advice for having the perfect entertainment.

Entertaining the modern day wedding

In today’s event industry, the distance between “old school” and “new school” is greater than ever. With A.D.D. in America on the rise, holding the microphone no longer guarantees the attention span of your guests.  It’s no longer about saying a few “snappy” lines to get your guests clapping…it’s about engaging one’s audience with energy and precision to keep your guests  entertained and comfortable.

Don’t be limited by the imagination of others. Your entertainment company should embrace your ideas, and build upon them. You can’t let your day be hindered by the lack of creativity of entertainers stuck in the past. One of the many reasons the D.I.Y.  (Do It Yourself)  trend has become so big, is that generation Y moves fast, and refuses to be held back by yesterday’s technology and fads.

One of the most important qualities to look for while choosing the entertainment for your event is versatility: the ability to entertain all of your guests no matter what surprises your special day may bring.

For more information on what Excel Entertainment can do for you, please contact us at experienceexcel@gmail.com or by phone at 973-320-3241.

MC and DJs, Bands, Combos, Lighting, TVs, Photobooths, and whatever else you can think of...we are entertainment without limits. Experience Excel Entertainment.

[vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/42345056 w=500&h=281]

Excel Entertainment 2012 Weddings from Excel Entertainment on Vimeo.

Keira Knightly and James Righton Wedding Music

Did you see Keira Knightley on the Ellen DeGeneres show? When she was on there earlier in November, she admitted that she’s finding planning her wedding very confusing. We think she needs to get in touch with us to plan out her wedding entertainment.

[caption id="attachment_62" align="aligncenter" width="584"] photo courtesy of SodaBottle.com[/caption]

Keira’s marrying musician James Righton, so we know that music is going to have to be a big part of their wedding. The choice of music is important at any wedding, from the music for the bride’s procession to the end of the reception. With our musical expertise, we can set the perfect soundtrack for your day, or for Keira and James.

Of course, you might want more entertainment than just music. Photo booths are great fun, and will make a great change from the paparazzi photos Keira and James are used to.

If you’re planning a wedding or other event in New Jersey, give us a call and let's chat about how you can have a star-like wedding too.

Video Screens Are Great Wedding Fun

Video screens are a great way to add some entertainment to your wedding. They can be used for a variety of things, too.



Some couples have video montages, or still photo slideshows for their wedding. This is great for bigger families who may not know both bride and groom. We can provide you with a photographer to take candid shots to be displayed on the screens.

This can be a good way of sharing moments from earlier in the wedding. If you have a videographer who will do a same-day edit of your wedding video, you can let guests relive the best moments of your ceremony. This is perfect if you’re having a larger guest list for your reception.

Another way of having some fun with video screens is to have a karaoke session at the end of your reception. Instead of just singing along to the music while dancing, you and your guests can be the singers for part of the evening. It’s great fun and something that will make your wedding stand out in everyone’s mind.

Video screens can also be used for other entertainment, too. Get in touch to discuss more options for making your wedding a fun event.

Popular Wedding Trend: Photobooths

Photo booths are one of the TOP wedding trends for 2012, and we see it carrying over for 2013.  Why not?  They're great fun!



Having a photo booth is a great way for everyone to have a memento from your wedding. Our photo booths are just like the ones you’re familiar with, and offer instant prints of the photos taken.

They go one better than the old booths, though. They also keep a stored gallery of all the photos, which make them a great alternative to disposable cameras. The photos from our booths are often some of the newlyweds’ favorite memories of their day.

To make the booth photos even more fun, you can include a box of props for people to play with. Funky wigs, giant glasses, and fake moustaches can all give your friends and family some inspiration for great shots.

If you want to know more about our photo booth, or to check availability, please give us a call.  973.320.3241 experienceexcel@gmail.com

Justin Timberlake's Wedding Music

When an international music star gets married, they can’t just have any wedding band. For Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel’s recent wedding, the groom serenaded the bride as she walked down the aisle. He wrote the song just for the occasion, a destination wedding in Italy.

[caption id="attachment_38" align="aligncenter" width="584"] photo courtesy of VF Daily[/caption]

Of course, most grooms might not be ready to write and perform their own song at their ceremony. Instead of singing, the groom can be a part of choosing the music for the day. It can be a great way to get both bride and groom involved without having to sing.

Whether you prefer live musicians, a DJ, or a combination of the two, we can help you decide on the perfect musical accompaniment to your wedding.

Keri and Chris' Wedding on October 13th, 2012

What a fun time Excel Entertainment had with this couple. From the first time I met them (and Keri's mother), we knew it be a great wedding. They chose our "Excel Live" package which features an MC, DJ, Singer, Percussionist, and Saxophonist (and myself on guitar if your lucky ;) 250 guests at the Mahwah Sheraton in Mahwah, NJ, how could it not be a great wedding.

Last minute Keri and Chris decided to add our flat screen TV package for a montage and candid photos which just brought the whole event together. Check out video...we love what do.

Not to mention the spur of the moment acoustic jam myself and the musicians took part in (there's a small clip of it in the middle of the video.

[vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/52481505 w=500&h=281]

10/13/12 Wedding Testimonial and Recap from Excel Entertainment on Vimeo.

We'll see you around,
Jason

New Wedding Trend: The Bride Speaks

More and more brides are choosing to throw tradition out the window and make a wedding speech alongside her father, the groom and the best man.

[caption id="attachment_26" align="aligncenter" width="450"] Loved this pic. Notice the gum's name?[/caption]

We think it’s a lovely way for the bride to tell everyone how much she is enjoying her big day and how grateful she is to everyone who made the effort to attend.

If this is you but you're stumped on what to say and how to do it, here are a few tips:

• Make notes. Even if your speech is short, don’t feel that you have to memorise the key points. Referring to your notes on some cards is perfectly acceptable.


• If you want to include some humor, stick to a few funny stories of last-minute preparations and catastrophes averted by some smart thinking.  Don’t tell jokes at anyone’s expense.


• Use your speech to tell your guests how much your new husband means to you. If you feel yourself getting too emotional, look upwards.  This should reduce the likelihood of tears.


• If you’re extra romantic, turn your speech into a love poem.  If you have the inspiration but not the creativity to write one, there’s no reason why you can’t quote an existing poem if it represents how you feel.


• Make sure you thank everyone, especially those who have helped you to plan your wedding and those who’ve travelled far to spend the day with you.

When the speeches are complete, you can relax and enjoy the evening’s entertainment!  Please give us a call if you’d like to talk about how we can entertain your guests at your wedding reception.

Excel Entertainment
973.320.3241
experienceexcel@gmail.com

Welcome to our NEW Blog

Welcome to our new blog!  We're excited to bring you updated trends, tips and ideas for rocking out your wedding and special events.



Please tell us what type of information would be helpful to you so that you can plan the wedding or event of your dreams...

We'll provide a rock solid performance so that your guests will be talking about your event for years to come.  For more information and availability, please contact Excel Entertainment. 973.320.3241 experienceexcel@gmail.com