(please note - this page is currently under re-construction - thank you for your patience)
Congratulations!
We would like to congratulate both you and your fiance. This is an exciting time, and depending on your time frame until the big date, it can also be a very stressful time. At About Entertainment, we want to make sure that your mind is at ease. We want you to know that we are taking care of your needs for that date.
About Entertainment can provide music for any and all parts of your wedding day. With more than twenty years experience of performing at weddings, we are more than confident and capable or making sure that your wedding plans go exactly as you would like them to go. There are four main phases of the wedding day: the ceremony, the cocktail hour, the dinner, and of course, the reception. Whether you plan to hire us for just the reception, or the entire day, we will take the time, to meet with you, to talk with you, and to put your minds at ease, that at least from the entertainment aspect of your date has been taken care of.
The First Step To Hiring Your Entertainment
For music for your wedding day, you have two main choices, Disc Jockey or Live Band. Both options have their pros and cons. From a disc jockey standpoint, we are able to play longer, uninterrupted music, and more importantly, more flexible with a larger variety of music available, even during the reception. Flexibility as well as variety are important because this is what gets your guests up onto the dance floor.
So, for the sake of discussion, let's assume that you've decided to hire a Disc Jockey over a band. Once again, you will have two choices to make. You may seek information either through the yellow pages, or the internet. Or, perhaps you can find entertainment through referrals. Maybe you know someone who recently got married. Perhaps you recently attended a wedding reception and liked the entertainment.
Either way, with the decision made to hire a Disc Jockey, you must now decide who. Once you've made a list of potential entertainers, of course, you will call that list to inquire about pricing as well as other information. Before you make any commitment, it is very important that you meet with the company that you plan to hire. And it is not only the company that you should meet, but also the disc jockey that will be playing at your wedding reception.
Meeting with your disc jockey serves two purposes. The first purpose is appearance. You will want to have someone who looks professional and acts accordingly. This is not going to be a high school dance that the disc jockey is playing at. This is one of the most special days of your lives. The other reason to meet with your disc jockey is to see if the personality is going to meet your expectations, work with you, and have your confidence.
Only after you have met with your potential entertainers, should you then decide who you will hire. The rest of this page deals with the operations of About Entertainment and what it has to offer you and your fiance. Of course, if you should have any questions, please feel free to contact us at 610-222-0697 or via email at aedjpaul@verizon.net .
Weddings By About Entertainment
Your potential business with us is very important to us. We can appreciate how important your wedding date is going to be. And of course, we also recognize that you will most likely have guests attending who may also need the services of a disc jockey some day. For this reason, we want to make sure that you are satisfied with our service, not only during your big day, but all of the interactions leading up to that date.
When you call us, we understand the most frustrating thing that a client may feel, is not only getting voice mail, but as may happen occasionally, not having that phone call returned. If by some chance, you should get our voice mail, we assure you that your call will be returned as soon as possible, normally with-in 24 hours. Because we know that you will be calling for information, this is why most of what you may be looking for can be found on this internet page. Even though you may get the information needed this way, please leave a voice mail anyway.
Pricing
One of the first questions that we get asked is "how much do you charge?". Prices vary quite differently in this region, and usually depend on a few or several factors. Price may depend on how many disc jockeys will be hired for your reception, set up, tear down, and the list can go on and on.
With About Entertainment, this is how our rates are determined. We charge one fee depending on the length of time that you will be hiring us to perform. Here is a list of our rates:
3 hours at $525.00 4 hours at $600.00 5 hours at $675.00 6 hours at $750.00 7 hours at $825.00 ****lighting and karoake are extra***
Chances are, now you are trying to do some quick math to see how much this is per hour as some other businesses may charge. And that average price per hour can look somewhat shocking. But if you are hiring a true professional service, you are hiring someone who is going to spend a lot of time, not just setting up, playing, and tearing down their equipment.
Wedding disc jockeys will spend anywhere between an additional fifteen to twenty-five hours planning your entertainment not only from music selections, but also the activities that you would like to have during your reception. And it is important that this time is taken to make sure that everything is just as you'd like. This price, at least with About Entertainment, includes unlimited meetings (both in duration and frequency) as well as any other contacts that occur. This price also includes our travel times, as well as set up and tear down.
The time stated on your contract is simply the time that we will be present for you and your guests. But there is so much more time that is spent behind the scenes as you are about to read on about.
Experience
My name is Paul Edelman and I started disc jockeying in 1985 on college radio with a brief stint on public radio in the Allentown, PA area. Once I was exposed to live location gigs, I made the decision that playing at live locations definitely was more entertaining personally for myself. It kept me interested in playing music. Each job was different. Each location has its own appeal. And the people at each gig provided the drive for me to keep playing.
In 1989, I started to incorporate weddings into my business and have been doing them ever since. While I am not a "wedding specialist DJ", meaning that all I would play for is weddings, because I provide an all-occasion service, I feel that it keeps me fresh, especially when it comes to weddings.
Each disc jockey service has its own personality, and personalities. It is up to you and your fiance what you would like. While some disc jockeys use props, tell jokes, and some may even go as far as "goading" guests onto the dance floor, my disc jockey service takes a more laid back approach. About Entertainment does not feel that it should be the star of your wedding. The spotlight should be on you and your fiance. We are the background. We are providing the atmosphere musically. We don't want to be a distraction from you and your then spouse. So other than the necessary announcements such as your introduction, other reception-related activities, and any other announcements that need to be made, we will not draw the attention away from you.
Planning Your Wedding
You can count on About Entertainment to provide you, to the best of our abilities, everything that you would like to have from the entertainment side of your wedding day. There are three parts to this section of information. And depending on your needs will determine if any or all of the following sections will apply.
When you make the decision to hire About Entertainment, and the contract has been signed, you will recieve our "Reception Data Sheet" which is used to gather all of the information that we need to have for your wedding day. While it is called a "Reception Data Sheet", it actually applies to the wedding service as well.
Once all the information is gathered, and your selections of music have been made, a "script" is put together for you. This script is basically a rough draft of how you would like your wedding and/or reception to go. It gives you an opportunity to "see" in advance what you think you might want, or might not want. Over time, corrections, deletions, additions and other editing will be done to this script to make sure it is exactly the way that you and your fiance would like it to be. This script is then used by us, to follow, and help guide you through your afternoon or evening to make sure that everything occurs as planned. This is the "behind the scenes" activity that was referred to earlier on this page. Hours are literally spent just organizing your wedding day.
On your wedding day, we will arrive at the very least one hour before your reception is to begin. Or, in the case of us providing music for a ceremony, at least one and one half hours before the ceremony. This time allows us to get completely set up, as well as do all sound checks before any guests arrive, and if necessary, perform any mainenance on the equipment. And then, approximately one half hour before you guests arrive, they will arrive to soft background music until either the ceremony or reception begins (or as you see on your contract - the official starting time).
As you can see, there is a lot to plan out when it comes to your entertainment, and we are more than willing and able to help you get everything done so that you can be sure and confident that the entertainment is taken care of.
The remaining part of this page is dedicated to the various parts of the wedding date that include, but are not limited to the ceremony, the cocktail hour, the dinner music, and the reception. Any music listed is purely a suggestion and not an official playlist that we use. Each wedding that we do is individually catered to our clients.
The Ceremony
The music that you select for a ceremony will depend on the location and the setting of the ceremony. While most wedding ceremonies will take place in a religious setting, other ceremonies may take place in locations such as botanical gardens, country inns, and many other beautiful settings. Soft background music will be playing at least one half hour before your ceremony begins, and your guests begin to arrive.
There are two different types of music that can be played for your ceremony, traditional and contemporary.
Traditional music is the style that is played in churches and other religious structures. Our selection of traditional music is such that it still presents the classical sound, without the "church" sound that organs produce. Our selections are acoustic-based. They include but are not limited to guitar, harp, strings, flute, and keyboard. Here are just a few tradtional samples that have been played by our service during ceremonies:
Prelude Vivaldi's Four Seasons
Bridal Party Entrance Pachelbell's Canon in D Major
Bride's Entrance Trumpet Voluntary
Recessional Mendelsshon's Midsummer Wedding March
Contemporary music is "popular music". There are many songs which have been played on radio over the decades which are appropriate for wedding ceremonies if you prefer this approach. Here is a list of the music played at one of our contemporary ceremonies:
Prelude Luther Vandross - Here And Now
Prelude Elton John - Can You Feel The Love Tonight
Bridal Party Entrance Kenny G. - The Wedding Song
Bride's Entrance Jim Brickman - If You Believe
Unity Candle Lighting Tim McGraw - My Best Friend
Recessional Carpenters - We've Only Just Begun
Both styles of music allow for any number of selections. The above samples listed are just that, samples. Perhaps there may be other facets of the ceremony that you would like to incorporate with the ceremony with more songs. That is entirely up to you, and we will work with you personally to provide the perfect soundtrack for your wedding ceremony.
Cocktail And Dinner Music
About Entertainment caters to the individual tastes of their clients. And because of this flexibility, it allows the opportunity to play music during the cocktail hour that might not blend in with the main reception or dinner.
The cocktail hour provides and opportunity for your guests to share their memories of your ceremony as well as have other conversations. For this reason, music will be played at a level that is appropriate to allow conversation. But you will be encouraged to select the music that you would like to have played. There is one thing to keep in mind. Will you and your spouse be participating in the cocktail hour? If not, you may want to realize that your guests may not have the same taste in music, and you won't necessarily get to hear your selections. But this would definitely be the time period to play music that is not necessarily considered "danceable" music.
Just as with the cocktail hour, you will have the opportunity to choose your dinner music. Typically, this music is more mellow and is definitely played at a softer volume. During the dinner, often times, guests will dance while waiting for their meals (if the meal is not buffet-style). This is not discouraged. In fact, because a large number of "slow" songs may be selected by you, this is where the majority of them would probably be played.
The Reception
This is perhaps the most stressful and involved part of your wedding date. There is probably so much to do, in just a little time. There are many facets to the reception, but we will work with you to make sure that everything that you want to have done, and do not want to have done, is taken care of. We will also make sure to keep in contact with you during the entire reception to see if there is anything else that you would like to be done before the evening (or afternoon) is complete. With that in mind, here are just some of the aspects of The Reception to keep in mind.
The Introduction At the time of your arrival to the location of the reception, we will greet you, and then arrange you in the order that you have specified for your introductions. Next comes the decision of which song to be introduced to. This can be a song that you feel describes what you expect your lives to be like, or even just a popular song. The introductions begin with grandparents, then parents, the bridal party, then of course, husband and wife.
First Dance Immediately following your introduction, you will dance your first dance together as husband and wife. This should be a special song selected by you. Perhaps it might be the first song that the two of you first heard with each other, or danced with each other. It might also just be your favorite song. No matter the song choice, it will be yours for "as long as you both shall live".
Other "Special" Dances Depending on the caterer or reception location, we prefer to do any other "special" dances before your meal. Usually, this will mean the bridal party dance, the father/bride dance, and the mother/groom dance. This is just our preference so as not to interrupt the flow of the reception later on when dance music is being played. Sometimes, a caterer may have you do these dances in between courses of your meal.
There may be other special dances that you would like to have, especially if there are family traditions involved. Some couples also like to have a married couples dance. It is your reception, you decided what you would like to have.
Cake Cutting The time to cut the cake varies not only among disc jockeys, but also caterers. Probably 90% of the time, during our receptions, the cake is cut at the completion of the bride and groom's entree. One reason for this method is because at this time, almost all attention is directed at the couple. The video camera is rolling, and all is quiet (except for the background music). And what do you hear if the cake cutting is done after everyone has eaten? You will hear clinking of plates, glasses and silverware as the tables are being cleaned off. If done while your guests are still eating their entree, you won't have this noise. Instead, you will have a beautiful moment filmed for the rest of your lives.
Final Two Slow Songs Approximately 1/2 hour before the end of your reception, you will be approached to make you aware of this time. At this time, you will decide, if you would like to extend our services. In most cases, we can accomodate this. If you wish not to extend the time, we will make this announcement with about 15 minutes remaining of your reception. This will let your guests know that the reception is nearing its end and to afford the opportunity to wish you well on your new life with each other. But it also allows you and your newlywed spouse a few more minutes dancing with each other on one of the biggest nights of our lives together.
Locations
Our main area of service is the Montgomery, Bucks, Lehigh, and Berks counties. However, we are willing to travel to further locations if feasible.
The following is just a small list of the locations that we have played at:
- Blair Mill Inn
- Joseph Ambler Inn
- Sheraton Jetport (Allentown, PA)
- William Penn Inn
- Joseph's Catering
- The Loft at the Limerick Golf Club
- Marjeane's Catering
- Valley Forge Convention Center
- Aldie Mansion
- Bally Spring Farm
- Morris Arboretum
- Moorehead Catering
- Indian Valley Country Club
- Doubletree In Plymouth Meeting
- Best Western Eden Inn Resort (Lancaster, PA)
Other Wedding Related Vendors
The following is a list of other contractors, websites, and vendors that are provided to assist you in planning your wedding day. These businesses are not related to About Entertainment, but rather have worked with About Entertainment, or is used by About Entertainment.
Salons/Personal Care
- Symmetry Salon & Spa www.symmetrysalon-spa.com 215-855-0173
Websites
- Wedalert.com
- WedExperts.com
- Merchantcircle.com
Photography
- Lee Shelly Photography www.freshperspectivephoto.com 610-724-6482
- Lasting M Pressions www.lastingmpressions.net 866-721-8950 215-538-1151
- Colleen Algeo colleen.algeo@yahoo.com 267-446-0327
- Spencer Studios Photography www.bee.net/spencer 610-429-4467
- Katydid Photography www.katydidphoto.com 215-672-5686
- Candice Baldwin Photography www.candicebaldwinphotography.com 215-712-2404
- Edwards Studios www.edwardsstudios.com 215-674-9966
Videography
Catering
Floral
Song Suggestions
Though each of our weddings and receptions are indidually catered to each client, providing each client with a unique soundtrack for their occasion, the following is simply a list of suggestions to assist in the selection process:
Ceremonial
Cocktail
Introduction
Dinner
Bridal Dance
Chicago - Colour My World
Bridal Party Dance
Father/Bride Dance
Steve Kirwin - My Little Girl John Berry - How Much Do You Love Me Tim McGraw - My Little Girl
Kenny Loggins - Turn Around
Mother/Groom Dance
Paul Todd - The First Lady In My Life
Married Couples Dance
Louis Armstrong - What A Wonderful World
Cake Cutting Song
Pat Benatar - Hit Me With Your Best Shot Sonny & Cher - I Got You Babe Eddie Rabbit & Crystal Gayle - You And I
Garter/Bouquet Toss
David Rose - The Stripper Queen - Another One Bites The Dust Cynid Lauper - Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
Final Slow Songs
Other Reception Favorites