Red Letter Events was assigned the theme “Winter Desert” for the inaugural show in Tacoma. It was our challenge to create a vignette that incorporated these two opposing themes. To do this, we used rustic and organic elements like burlap, twine, wood, sand, moss and succulent plants. We also used snow and cool blue lighting, as well as blue napkins and ribbon, and brown and blue fonts in the paperie.

We want to give a big ‘thank you’ to our vignette partners, Trendy Event Rentals, Burning Cupcakes, Valerie’s Invites, AA Party Rentals and Mercer Island Florist for all of the time and materials you put into this event.

[View with PicLens]

This year, 100% of our clients through out the receiving line, and we couldn’t have been happier about it. For the sake of soon-to-be wed couples that are trying to figure out what to do to acknowledge their guests, but really aren’t excited about the thought of a receiving line, I thought I’d offer some alternatives to consider.

• Mingling during the cocktail hour – Instead of planning a grand entrance to your reception with your new spouse, you could enjoy a more casual entrance to your party and mingle with your guests during the cocktail hour. You probably won’t have to go far though, because what you might find is that an informal line will start to form, and the guests that really want to greet you will come to you.
• Releasing tables to the buffet – Of course this only works if you’re planning dinner buffet-style, and not plated. The idea is that you and your new spouse visit each table, receive your congratulations, thank your guests, and excuse them to the buffet before moving on to the next table. This keeps the buffet line short and managed, and gives you and your guests a moment together. Don’t forget about you, though. To pull this off, I recommend having your wedding coordinator prepare a plate of food for the both of you, and eat a bit before you make your entrance into your reception. Depending on the size of your guest list, releasing tables could take a while, and if you don’t eat before, you’ll be starving by the time you’re done. That, and there won’t be much time before toasts, cake cutting, and the many other reception events replace your time to eat.
• Mingling at guest tables – This works for buffet or plated dinners. You and your wedding party lead the way to the buffet, or receive your plated dinner first. Because you’re first to eat, you’ll likely be first to be done. When you’re done eating, you and your new spouse can spend a few minutes at each guest table. This is less rushed than releasing tables to the buffet, but you still need your wedding coordinator to manage your time, otherwise, you may not make it to every table before reception events begin, and you lose your opportunity.

While we don’t wish ill will on the poor Receiving Line, or any clients that are planning on “the long walk”, we are glad to see this tradition fading into the past. Always have fun planning your wedding, and don’t be afraid to make some new traditions.

What you’ll need:

1. One box cake mix of your choice. Red Velvet is always pretty and Devil’s Food is my favorite.
2. One container of ready-made icing. Any color or flavor will do, but we love Cream Cheese.
3. Candy Melts or Chocolate Bark (see notes below).
4. Lollipop sticks
5. Waxed Paper

Directions:

1. You begin by baking the cake in a 9 x 13 pan according to directions. Let it cool for several hours or overnight. Then you crumble the cake in a large bowl. Then you dump in the tub of icing (a little less than the full tub, actually) and stir the mixture together. Slowly but surely, the icing will totally incorporate into the cake and the mixture will be totally uniform in color when perfectly combined.
2. Grab pinches of the mixture and roll them into balls. Insert a lollipop stick into the center of each ball. Then: IMPORTANT! You place the cake balls into the fridge for a couple of hours OR into the freezer for a little while. You want them to be nice and firm. Not frozen solid, but not mushy.
3. Now, just before you pull them out of the fridge/freezer, you need to melt your chocolate. Chocolate or Almond Bark from the baking aisle at the supermarket works well or pop some wafers or bark into a microwave-safe bowl and heat for 30 seconds at a time, stirring after each 30-second increment. You can also melt the chocolate in a double boiler. The key when you’re melting the chocolate is to begin using it just after it fully melts and not to continue heating it. Under constant heat, it can dry out.
4. Once it’s thoroughly melted, just dip the cake ball into the chocolate using the lolly pop stick. Since it’s cold and firm, it should hold its shape and not crumble. Notice that you’ll want the melted chocolate to be deep enough in the bowl to allow the cake ball to be almost submerged. Tall, deep bowls are better then wide, shallow bowls. Also, keep your chocolate at a moderate temperature. If it is too hot, it won’t be thick enough to coat the cake ball, but if it is too cold it will be too difficult to manage and you won’t get a smooth finish.
5. Once you submerge your cake ball and it is covered evenly hold the cake pop upwards, you can take an angled knife to clean up the bottom of the cake pop and make a clean edge. Once the pop is covered, while warm either dip or sprinkle confetti or any kind of sugar glitter, then place in a Styrofoam hold to dry and use to later serve in.

We’re taking you Behind the Veil with some of the Puget Sound’s best wedding and event venues and vendors. This ongoing series of personal interviews will be both entertaining and informative. Who are the real people behind these great companies and why should you put them on your ‘must-contact‘ list? Join us as we answer that very important question for you.

In this edition of Behind the Veil, we interview Andy & Raeleen Shepard, owners of Fancy Fin Photography. We sat down with Raeleen recently to talk about what makes them a highly desired wedding photography team, and to get to know them better.

Red Letter Events: When and how did you get started as wedding photographers?

Raeleen: We both have extensive art backgrounds – I majored in Fine Art at UW and Andy went to school for digital animation and design, but were both amateur photographers all through college.  When it was time to choose a photographer for our own wedding, we were surprised at how confusing wedding photographers’ packages were, along with all those hidden charges. We did a bunch of research so when we finally picked a photographer we felt good about our decision.  The wedding day came and went, the honeymoon was fabulous, and we were looking forward to receiving our wedding photos (ok, we wanted to relive our wedding day just a little bit).  When we finally got our photos back, they were so horrible I was without words, and cried.  It was at that moment we both realized we could have done a better job ourselves and from there the rest is history.  Within 6 months we had a full-time photography business.  In a sense, we learned photography backwards because we already knew composition, color, etc. – but had to learn the mechanics of our cameras, while most photographers learn the mechanics and then focus on the art later.  I believe that is why our photography style is unique.

RLE: What or who inspires you?

Raeleen: From an artistic point of view, we’re inspired by vintage style, by the great masters of Art Nouveau, Dada, Deco, Minimalism periods and the contemporary look of modern fashion. We search for the beautiful, the odd, the sometimes crazy, the always hilarious, the fleeting moments that flash by, the smiling eyes behind soft tears, the delicate, the strong and we love a little dramatic flare!  We are passionate about creating unique images that evoke an emotion… a thought… an action.

RLE: What is something unique that you do that you are extra proud of?

Raeleen: Because of our art backgrounds, we don’t just snap photos, we compose elements in photographs like creating a painting.  Anyone can snap a photo, but creating something that is visually beautiful that stirs up an emotion… that’s what we do.

RLE: What is your philosophy when working with couples?

Raeleen: We always show up early to scout out the location and have poses in our mind so we don’t waste your precious time. We make sure the bride and groom are as relaxed as possible and go the extra mile.

RLE: How do you approach shooting the wedding day?

Raeleen: Being a great wedding photographer requires a lot of focus and the ability to change gears at any time while maintaining your creativity – but you also have to have fun!  We want our couples to be completely at ease and have a fabulous time knowing that we will be photographing them in the best way possible.  Let’s face it – not everyone is completely comfortable in front of the camera. I’m not, and I’m incredibly awkward when I get my photo taken, so I can relate to our more self-conscious and shy clients.  We make it a priority to make sure our clients are having a good time when we are photographing. Your wedding should be filled with laughter, joy, and beauty and so should your photos!

RLE: What is the most challenging part of your job?

Raeleen: I would say that the best part of our job is the challenge to create something new and different each time we photograph.  It’s why we can keep loving what we do!   Andy and I actually have a running contest between the two of us to come away with the best image of the day. In my opinion, I usually win, but that is hotly debated amongst ourselves!  I believe that one of the biggest things photographers have to face is falling into a rut – same venues, same style, same photo locations. We see a lot of photographers fall into a routine and wind up with all their weddings looking the same with just different brides and grooms.

RLE: How would you describe your style?

Raeleen: Our style can best be described as Modern + Vintage.  We blend together the bright, colorful, clean lines of high fashion with the ornate soft shapes of classic beauty.

RLE: Where is the most interesting place you’ve traveled to in order to photograph a wedding?

Raeleen: That’s a hard question – we’ve been blessed and had the opportunity to travel and photograph in so many great places like Kauai, San Francisco, and Napa Valley to name a few.  If we have to narrow it down to one place, we would say Sedona, AZ!  We photographed Allie and Kyle’s wedding there a little bit back and immediately fell in love with the beautiful Red Rocks – the landscape is truly inspiring!

RLE: What do you do when you are not shooting weddings?

Raeleen: When we are not photographing weddings, we are traveling, drinking a latte, collecting ideas for inspiration, or swing dancing (Lindy Hop to be precise!).  We are also dedicated to eco awareness, green business practices and we are a Greener Photography certified leader!

[View with PicLens]

We chose to go Behind the Veil with Fancy Fin Photography because we like the way they treat their clients, we love their work and we appreciate they way they treat other wedding and event vendors. Regardless of how you find a wedding or event vendor, we always recommend that you personally interview them before signing a contract. You should be able to count on a quality referral from your wedding and event planner, but you should always take the time to ensure that you like and trust a vendor yourself.

We’re taking you Behind the Veil with some of the Puget Sound’s best wedding and event venues and vendors. This ongoing series of personal interviews will be both entertaining and informative. Who are the real people behind these great companies and why should you put them on your ‘must-contact‘ list? Join us as we answer that very important question for you.

In this edition of Behind the Veil, we interview Debbie Hurter, owner of Transformation Salon & Spa. We sat down with Debbie recently to talk about why brides and brides maids should consider her salon and spa for wedding services, and to get to know her better.

Red Letter Events: How did you get started in the salon and spa industry, and how long have you been doing this??

Debbie: Well, I got started in the salon and spa ( beauty ) industry about 25 years ago. It was always something as a young girl that I was drawn to and dabbled in here and there – finding myself giving advice and “prettying up” my girlfriends. So when it came time to think about college (if you will), I had to think about my passion and where and what would bring me the most joy. Cosmetology School won!

RLE: What inspired you to open Transformation Salon and Spa?

Debbie: My inspiration for naming and opening the salon was simple – with everything I do and have a passion for, it has always been about the joy and desire to help others with their personal needs and goals for themselves.  ”Transformation”, whether it be on the inside or outside – inside being the most important – is such a personal thing. So it just seemed fitting to Steve and I that we name our new business Transformation Salon and Spa.

The inspiration for opening Transformation Salon and Spa was to be able to have one place where we could with a FAB team, touch and affect and empower a lot of peoples lives in one day. I love to show people how AMAZING they are and what they have to offer themselves and the world – give personal encouragement. The salon gives that opportunity abundantly!

RLE: What is your philosophy when working with bridal parties and how do your services compliment that?

Debbie: My philosophy for working with bridal parties is that you need and must remember this is one of the biggest days of the bride’s life. And it is very important to take time and listen to her vision – visualize the day with her, so this way, when it comes to the bridal party you can create that most magnificent day ever! I want to fulfill every dream she ever had – and then some!

RLE: Your services go beyond the typical day at the spa. Can you tell us more about those unique services that you provide??

Debbie: I love the fact that our services are geared toward making our guests shine from the inside and out! We can – with enough time before hand – assist the bride and her party if wanted, with personal training needs, nutrition – making sure she and her party are staying healthy and full of energy during what can be a stressful time – skin preparation to get that glow every bride deserves, and natural nail maintenance. We also offer lifestyle classes that teach and give super info on what the importance of eating well and often will do for our bodies, and of course the HAIR!

I took a lot  of time researching products to bring into the salon that would NOT be damaging to the hair. I like the fact that these products are sulfate free, paraben free and one line is actually gluten free. So cool! I know how important to have that perfect hair is – and our CHI color line does that. It is incredible! No Ammonia, and adds life and shine back into the hair. I definitely know how important that is to the brides and their wedding parties.

RLE: How do you go about helping a bride and her attendants choose the perfect make-up and hair style, just for them?

Debbie: Helping a bride and her party choose the right make-up look and hairstyle is best done with at least one consultation before you do a run-through of the total look, pre-wedding day. This is where I and my team get to “know” the bride and her gals. I feel it is essential to get a grasp on the entire vision that the bride wants to have reflected on her wedding day! I then take into account her skin color, eye color, facial profile, length of neck, and overall hair texture and amount. These things play a huge part in making it all perfect.

RLE: Do you have a favorite trend that brides are requesting this year?

Debbie: I have been seeing a lot of originality, with twists on the classic favorites. Such as half twist done up to the side, chignon off to and behind either ear, all down and big retro waves. I am finding that brides are wanting to show their personality along with being romantic and pretty. I do say to my brides that they need to accessorize as well – it can make or break your entire look. Right now, colored stones are quite popular. It is a great way to add color and not go overboard. Emerald green is the hot trend right now. Another thing I like to have my brides think about is lip color – so necessary for all those endless pictures. Plus it perks up the face when you are starting to feel things catch up to you.

RLE: You guys are really involved in the community here. Do you have a favorite organization that you love to help?

Debbie: Steve and I have a huge passion for community service and working with our chosen charities. We both feel it is important to give back to our community and help those in need! The two main organizations we have been working with are Infant Initiative with the Emergency Food Network of Pierce County, and the Tacoma Rescue Mission. Steve and his twin brother Mike have a golf tourney every summer that supports and creates dollars for the Infant Initiative. It is always so heartwarming to see tons of people come out to support the cause and help give back!

RLE: What do you and Steve love to do after business hours?

Debbie: Ha! After business hours – what’s that? I think we are continuously in business mode of some sort. Steve and I do love to cook, entertain, go for mystery rides to wherever the car ends up, play with our 2 dogs – pretty much anything that lets us be together. I think that is how we have made it to 20 years of marriage.

[View with PicLens]

We chose to go Behind the Veil with Debbie Hurter because we like the way she treats his clients, we love her work and we appreciate they way she treats other wedding and event vendors. Regardless of how you find a wedding or event vendor, we always recommend that you personally interview them before signing a contract. You should be able to count on a quality referral from your wedding and event planner, but you should always take the time to ensure that you like and trust a vendor yourself.

A new favorite (and super simple!) design that I’ve seen featured by Martha Stewart recently is a DIY table number design, where you have a friend (or your engagement photographer) take photos of you and your groom-to-be holding a number in front of you both, and place each photo in a frame that matches your wedding colors, theme and/or design. You will need one number photo for each table you will have at your reception. You don’t have to limit yourself to numbers either – you could give each table a name, and even it’s own theme – just as long as you also use that number or name on the escort cards too, and your guests can easily read it.

You could be as cute, or as fun and crazy as you want to be – changing outfits, backgrounds scenery and number styles! You could be riding a tandem bike, standing in a grassy field, hiking a mountain (or standing at the top in victory!), walking on an old railroad track, sitting in a boat, or doing some sort of fun activities that you love doing together!

Our partner Kim with Vivid Images Photography, featured in our Behind the Veil blog series, would work with you to take some amazing photos, with all of the fabulous, secret locations she enjoys shooting at!

Although it takes more time than just buying pre-made table number cards from a store, it also allows you to express your individuality – and really, it’s all about having fun throughout the entire wedding planning process, making your wedding unique and individual, and enjoying life with your soon-to-be-groom!

We’re taking you Behind the Veil with some of the Puget Sound’s best wedding and event venues and vendors. This ongoing series of personal interviews will be both entertaining and informative. Who are the real people behind these great companies and why should you put them on your ‘must-contact‘ list? Join us as we answer that very important question for you.

In this edition of Behind the Veil, we interview Kim Halinen, owner and principal photographer at Vivid Images Photography, LLC. We sat down with Kim recently to talk about why she stands out in the highly competative field of wedding photography, and to get to know her better.

Red Letter Events: So why choose engagement and wedding photography?

Kim: My passion for photography started when I was in grade school. I always had a camera in my hand. In high school I took photography classes and found it to be my most rewarding class. When graduation rolled around, my dad gave me diamond earrings as a graduation present… I ended up returning them and buying a camera.

Photography has always been my passion and building my career around photography was the most natural choice.  I have an artful eye. I see something and know just how to make it into a beautiful picture. Photography is a part of me and as natural to me as walking.

RLE: What’s the most rewarding experience in your photography career so far?

Kim: I would have to say the most rewarding part of my career is giving our clients lasting memories that they will cherish for a lifetime. An even bigger reward is when they send thank you notes and end up being a lifetime client… bringing in their growing family, inviting me to capture events in their lives and referring me to their friends and family.

RLE: Given the multitude of different events that people request to be photographed, what is your favorite?

Kim: Weddings, Quinceañera, or any big event that takes more then 3 hours is always the events I prefer. I love being able to connect and work with different personalities. It’s always a joy to be able to capture the flow of the day and the personalities of the people I am photographing. I hear from some photographers that they think weddings & big events are way too stressful. I honestly thrive on the business, emotion and challenge of preserving a wedding day or event in photographs. I think it’s where I shine most and where my passion truly shows in the product I produce for my clients. My camera becomes a part of me and I become a part of the couple’s special day. Capturing the wedding or event day for each of my clients is truly a joy to me and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I also really enjoy the engagement sessions. One of my photographers, Erin states; ‘During the engagement session, couples are free from the stress of the big day.  Their love, excitement and personalities shine through. Without the time constrictions of the wedding, you are able to have a more relaxed session. This gives us a bit more time to get to know the couple and helps put them at ease as they move toward their wedding day.’

RLE: So how do you approach shooting a wedding day?

Kim: We always show up early to scout out the location and have poses in our mind so we don’t waste your precious time. We make sure the bride and groom are as relaxed as possible and go the extra mile.

RLE: No doubt, there are a ton of photographers in Pierce County and the Puget Sound. What do you think sets you apart from other wedding photographers?

Kim: We have an experienced team of photographers; our main photographers are myself & Erin, and we are able to shoot multiple weddings on one date. Our photographers are hand picked. They are professional and precise at their trade. Our photographers are personable and professional you can rest assured that we will take care of the details on your event day. We also have an experienced editing/graphic design team resulting in high quality photos.

Our editors regularly calibrate our monitors to ensure precise color. We make sure your images are those you will cherish forever. We also have a dynamic sales & marketing team. These teams ensure that our photographers are free and able to “put their all” into your wedding photography. At Vivid Images Photography, LLC, our photographers, editors, and sales & marketing staff are committed to bringing our clients the best service and quality possible.

All of our wedding packages include editing, enhancements and a DVD of images complete with permission to reproduce. We don’t make the bride choose certain photos; we make sure they are well cared for on their wedding day photographically.

We have a studio in Fircrest where we are able to take care of our clients before and after their wedding. We also do family photos, baby photos, senior photos, and boudoir photos. Actually, we do any and all special events with pride.

RLE: So do you have a favorite service or package that you particularly enjoy providing?

Kim: Our in Studio Boudoir Sessions are a huge hit.  Brides have been giving them to their grooms as a wedding present… and there have been no complaints from the grooms.

Our photo-studio-on-the-go is another hot item this year.  You can have guest take pictures all night long.  You can have them printed or just on a DVD.  You choose your background… we bring background, lights, printers, props… everything is taken care of!

Our custom guestbooks we create using their engagement photos have been a real hit!

RLE: Where is the most interesting place you’ve traveled to in order to photograph a wedding?

Kim: Hawaii was one of the best places I’ve traveled for a wedding. It was great to shoot some new scenery. Another one of my favorites of the ‘travel’ weddings was Zenith Vineyard in Salem, OR.

RLE: What do you do when you’re not shooting weddings?

Kim: I am either working in the studio or spending time with my two beautiful daughters and wonderful husband.

[View with PicLens]

We chose to go Behind the Veil with Kim Halinen because we like the way she treats her clients, we love her work and we appreciate they way she treats other wedding and event vendors. Regardless of how you find a wedding or event vendor, we always recommend that you personally interview them before signing a contract. You should be able to count on a quality referral from your wedding and event planner, but you should always take the time to ensure that you like and trust a vendor yourself.

We’re taking you Behind the Veil with some of the Puget Sound’s best wedding and event venues and vendors. This ongoing series of personal interviews will be both entertaining and informative. Who are the real people behind these great companies and why should you put them on your ‘must-contact‘ list? Join us as we answer that very important question for you.

In this edition of Behind the Veil, we interview Nash Fung, Seattle Magician. We sat down with Nash recently to talk about why having a magician at your wedding reception would work, and really, to get to know Nash better and what he does.

Red Letter Events: So Nash, why should a bride and groom to-be hire a magician to entertain their guests? Isn’t this something only for a theme wedding, or is this something a traditional or modern bride could love too?

Nash: First of all, no one will be expecting it. It’s a great way to make your wedding memorable. Most people have gone to more than one wedding, so it’s nice to give them something unique and entertaining.

Furthermore, it’s a great way to break the ice among guests from both sides of the family. Imagine seeing a bridesmaid reading the mind of a friend from the groom’s side, or a card mysteriously change places while it is being trapped under five peoples’ hands. Interactive magic like these really help bringing people together.

It’s also a great way to release tables for the buffet (an idea from Adam Tiegs), keep them entertained between courses if it’s a sit-down dinner, or after-dinner if they don’t wanna dance.

Most of the weddings I’ve performed for are not ‘theme weddings’. I think it’s just great for bride and groom that like to think outside-the-box to entertain their guests.

RLE: Can you briefly describe your shows – what you might do at a wedding reception? Are you going to be the focus of attention, or will it still be on the bride and groom?

Nash: I’ll describe my show as “sophisticated magic mixed with clean comedy”. It is geared toward grown-ups, yet visual enough so the young ones can understand too.

Sometimes the magic happens in the audiences’ hands, or with the audiences’ cellphone, driver’s license, money, etc. So you can see, my magic is highly interactive.

I always ask if the bride and groom want me to bring the spotlight to them, or keep it off of them – as you know everyone is different. Sometimes I’m asked to create a special trick that involves them, like the bride wanting to surprise the groom with a secret gift. If they prefer not to have the spot-light on them, I’ll honor their request.

RLE: When and how did you get started as a magician and entertainer?

Nash: Well, I thought, “chics dig magic” – that’s how I got started… no just kidding. I started when I moved to Seattle at the age of 14. Magic helped me make a lot of friends and get adjusted to the culture.

My professional career started in my senior year at CWU. Most of my shows are for corporate banquets and social hours. Having that experience really helped, because at the heart of a wedding reception is a fun social hour and an elegant banquet – a setting I’m very familiar with performing. And yes, I do think chics dig magic… at least most of them.

RLE: What or who have been your influences in magic and your business?

Nash: Believe it or not, my friends and mentors Ruben Barron and Robert Stephens. They taught me the real magic is in connecting with your audiences. In my performance, I might bring up topics like the Seahawks, recent movies, or whatever fits the moment. People want to be entertained by a genuine person, not a robot that executes magic while reciting scripts.

In terms of weddings, Etienne Pradier, a popular French-British wedding magician inspired me to believe wedding magic can be done. And so far, the raving reviews from the weddings I’ve performed for confirm that belief.

RLE: What differentiates you from your piers?

Nash: First and foremost, my creativity. One of the biggest knocks on magicians is that we all do the same tricks – so I’m very passionate about creating new magic or putting my own twist on the classics.

Since the age of 19, I’ve published my original magic worldwide and lectured other magicians overseas. I perform mostly magic created by me and stay away from tricks that seem cliché.

Also, my expertise in both sleight of hand and mind-reading gives my audiences a more diverse show. It’s like getting a 2-for-1 deal – a magician and a mind-reader.

RLE: What is your favorite memory from a wedding or event you worked – good, bad or funny?

Nash: That’s a tough one. It’s a tie between the one I spoke of earlier with the special gift for the groom, and a Chinese wedding. When the guests saw that I speak fluent Chinese, they felt connected to me right away – it’s like they’re just hanging out with an old friend. Being able to speak their language definitely elevated the atmosphere for that wedding.

If you want me to explain that ‘feeling’, well, imagine while vacationing in Nigeria, you run into an entertainer from Seattle where you can chat about everything Seattle.

RLE: Is there an accomplishment or accolade you’ve received that you’re really proud of?

Nash: Recently, I won The Knot’s Best of Weddings 2011 Pick for my unique wedding entertainment. I’m pretty happy about that. It seems more and more people are recognizing that magic at weddings is not cheesy – it can be very elegant and serve as a great ice-breaker.

We chose to go Behind the Veil with Nash Fung because we like the way he treats his clients, we love his shows and we appreciate they way he treats other wedding and event vendors. Regardless of how you find a wedding or event vendor, we always recommend that you personally interview them before signing a contract. You should be able to count on a quality referral from your wedding and event planner, but you should always take the time to ensure that you like and trust a vendor yourself.

We’re taking you Behind the Veil with some of the Puget Sound’s best wedding and event venues and vendors. This ongoing series of personal interviews will be both entertaining and informative. Who are the real people behind these great companies and why should you put them on your ‘must-contact‘ list? Join us as we answer that very important question for you.

In this edition of Behind the Veil, we interview Generation X Productions. GenXpro are business partners Jered and Ollie. We sat down with Ollie recently to talk about what it means to him and Jered to be professional DJ’s, and about their partnership.

Red Letter Events: When and how did you get started as professional DJ’s?

Ollie: I remember a friend showing me a video when I was 16 years old (12 years ago,”1999″) of a DJ performing in Europe, as I watched the camera pan from just viewing this unknown DJ to the crowd he was playing for. I was utterly amazed at how this one person was influencing thousands of people with his music. “There must have been 20,000 people”, my friend said with excitement. The next day my friend and I purchased DJ equipment to learn how he was mixing music so flawlessly and by pure curiosity. After 6 months of frustration with the learning curve it takes and little-to-no mentoring to guide us, we gave up and just left them to gather dust. It was 6-12 months after giving up that I was at a family friend’s party and I was able to watch a local DJ live for hours play around on his equipment. That’s when I decided to give it another try. As most DJ’s can agree, the learning process that it takes can be long and annoying, especially to your friends as it’s not always the most pleasant sounding. After three and a half years, I had put out multiple CD mixes and was planning events for larger crowds. I met my business partner Jered in helping him with an event and from there Jered & myself were a part of many small to large events in the Kitsap Peninsula Area. We were addicted to say it simply – anything to do with music, events and promotion we wanted to be apart of.

Jered’s background is in audio engineering at the Art Institute in Seattle. He had worked with large and small concerts with all kinds of bands when I met him in 2003. His attention to detail and acoustics were new to me and so we were able to teach each other everything we had learned. We started accumulating equipment over the years from running events and got asked to DJ a friend’s wedding. Jered & I never thought that we would DJ for weddings and had no idea what it entailed. After DJ’n our first wedding we were surprised that the Bride and Groom and many guests complimented us, especially as we stuck it out through all the rain, and that we did a great job. I think that is when we decided to start offering to DJ’n weddings for friends and family and quickly fell in love with all the unique things weddings had to offer. Jered & I established our DJ company, Generation X Productions and are coming up on our 4th year. We have DJ’d over 250 weddings now and love what we do.

RLE: What/who have been your influences in music and your business?

Ollie: Well, I’d have to say it started with my father as he collected all kinds of music and had the same appreciation for its empowering effect on people as I do. Some of my inspirations would be close friends that helped me through all the learning curves, Jacob Meiers (DJ MBM), Matt Graham (Ticus), Jeff Bergerson & many others. Some of the big names in the DJ industry would be DJ Tiesto, Paul Van Dyke, Cosmic Gate, Trance Control and many others. As for business, it starts with my Mom and her dedication and hard work towards her dreams in her medical practice, compassion and honesty are very important in today’s business world and she made sure I never forgot those principles.

RLE: How do you get ready for a wedding? Do you listen to music? What are you listening to?

Ollie: We allow lots of extra time on our way to an event as it’s a sure way to eliminate any surprises earlier on so our clients never need to worry. Jered and I listen to all kinds of music as we have come to appreciate all the different styles, since that is what is expected from a wedding DJ.

RLE: What is the biggest misconception that brides have before they meet with you for the first time?

Ollie: The biggest misconception that we run into is the difference between a DJ playing music at their wedding or having a professional DJ company that helps with planning, day-of coordination of the Ceremony and Reception, keeping the flow and being very professional. DJ’s have an incredible amount of control at a wedding and can really affect its overall outcome and success. Lots of our clients are amazed as we walk them through our planners at the amount of details that weddings can have.

RLE: What is something unique you do that you are extra proud of?

Ollie: When we first started Generation X Productions, we purchased a very unique Laser Lighting effect. It turns a room into a night’s sky with stars and a nice blue cloud that moves and it’s really like dancing under the stars. Another thing we have noticed in this industry is that most professional DJ services are not upfront with their prices and we wanted to be different. So we decided to – our clients know if we are in their budget and it saves us a lot of time as we can focus more on how we can contribute to their special day and less on selling what we think we are worth.

RLE: What is your favorite memory from a wedding you worked – good, bad or funny?

Ollie: Well hopefully someone will read this and put it into a movie as it was one of the funniest things I’ve experienced in this business. We were at a golf course setup outside, under a large covered area finishing up an awesome wedding! The father of the bride let us know of a grand getaway that was on its way for the bride and groom. As soon as he said “helicopter”, we asked if we could play “Ride Of The Valkyries” as they boarded and flew away. For anyone that knows this song it’s a classical song that is played in movies during epic scenes. As the helicopter landed about 400 ft away on a nearby green we turned our speakers to face it, all the guests headed out to give a great farewell to the wedded couple. The bride and groom took awhile packing everything they needed and as soon as we saw them head to the helicopter we started playing the song. It was epic! Everyone laughed as they started towards the helicopter. What happened next was unbelievable – all of the huge sprinklers started going off hitting all of the guests and the helicopter. Panic quickly set in – everyone was running back to us and we kept the music going, as they ran back to us more sprinklers came on hitting them every step of the way back. By the time everyone had got to us they were all soaked and all laughing hysterically. The golf course staff could not turn off the sprinklers as they were on timers and the greens keepers for the golf course had already left for the evening. Eventually the banquet staff had to park golf carts in front of the huge sprinklers so the helicopter could take off safely. Haha!

RLE: What is your philosophy when working with couples?

Ollie: Our Philosophy in working with couples is that we want to compliment their style with the music choices, flow of the evening and overall wedding. We tell our clients that they are the boss and that we are there to do exactly what they have envisioned. It’s important for DJ’s to understand that at a wedding, it’s not about how good the DJ is and his abilities, but how good they can use their abilities to make sure the bride and groom have the most fun they have ever had. It’s a celebration that we don’t take lightly – our focus is to keep the spot light on the bride and groom and not on us. Our goal is to get hugs from our clients as we know that we were apart of one of the most important day of their lives and we always try to exceed the expectations of what is expected from someone showing up to play music.

RLE: What are some questions that brides should ask when interviewing DJs?

Ollie: There are many but here are some of the most important ones that are asked when meeting a Professional DJ Company:

• Are you the DJ that will be at my wedding? If not, will I be able to meet them before I book with your company?
• How long have you been in business and could I read some recommendations of some of your past clients?
• Do you have a contract or agreement; are you insured and do you have a business license?
• Are there any extra costs with equipment and meetings of what we have gone over?
• Do you drink or take smoke breaks at weddings? (We never do)
• Do you provide both MC & DJ services? (They should)
• Do you have backups in place for unforeseen circumstances? (Most companies don’t like this question)
• Do you use professional grade equipment, microphones and speakers? (Just gage how they respond, if they are confident,then you’re OK)
• Do you charge for setup & take-down and how early do you show up on the day of the wedding? (No charge & 1-1.5 hours is recommended)
• What do you wear at weddings and are there any options?

There are many more questions but these are the most common.

RLE: Can you briefly describe your services and relative prices?

Ollie: As we are upfront with our prices and know most of the really professional DJ companies in the Seattle area and are also on the same level of professionalism as we are, I’d say we are competitively priced. Generation X Productions services all of Western Washington, as we have worked at most venues we have detailed layouts and planners that guide us to do exactly what our clients have envisioned. From Weddings, Birthdays, Corporate Functions and everything in between GenXpro excels with our vast knowledge of equipment, music, talent and experience. We always guarantee an owner at every wedding to ensure quality and always provide 2 people on the day of your wedding to cover the Master of Ceremonies (MC) and DJ service. Always professional, on time and above all else, always trying to exceed our clients expectations.

We chose to go Behind the Veil with GenXpro because we like the way they treat their clients, we love the work they do and we appreciate they way they treat other wedding and event vendors. Regardless of how you find a wedding or event vendor, we always recommend that you personally interview them before signing a contract. You should be able to count on a quality referral from your wedding and event planner, but you should always take the time to ensure that you like and trust a vendor yourself.