Winter Bridal Shows in the Hudson Valley

Are you planning an upcoming wedding in the Hudson Valley of New York? Winter is always a fantastic time for Hudson Valley bridal shows.

Hudson Valley wedding First Dance courtesy of Surprise Photography

Many of the area’s premier wedding venues and locations will be hosting bridal expos in the coming months, giving you the chance to meet some of the Hudson Valley’s best professional wedding vendors:

Villa Borghese
http://www.thevillaborghese.com
Bridal Show
Sunday, January 8, 2012
12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel
http://www.pokgrand.com
Bridal Expo
Sunday, January 8, 2012
12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Rolling Greens at Dutchess Golf & Country Club
http://www.rollinggreensatdutchess.com
Bridal Show
Sunday, January 22nd, 2012
12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Anthony’s Pier 9
http://www.piernine.com
Bridal Show
Sunday, February 5, 2012
12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Links at Union Vale
http://www.thelinksatunionvale.com
Bridal Expo
Sunday, February 26, 2012
12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Looking to make the most of the show? As the owner of DJ Bri Swatek, Spinning with Style, I highly recommend that you read these articles before attending a wedding expo:

Making the Most of Bridal Shows in the Hudson Valley
http://djbriswatek.wordpress.com/making-the-most-of-bridal-shows-in-the-hudson-valley/

How to Hire Vendors for Your Unique Hudson Valley Wedding
http://djbriswatek.wordpress.com/how-to-hire-vendors-for-your-unique-hudson-valley-wedding/

Congratulations,
Bri

________________________________________________________

DJ Bri Swatek, Spinning with Style
Your DJ for Your Unique Style
in the Hudson Valley of New York

Email: briswatek@aol.com
Phone: 845.235.0080
Online: www.djbriswatek.com

Joni and Nick’s Best Hudson Valley Wedding Ever! at The Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel

I was honored to be a part of Joni and Nick’s unique Hudson Valley wedding at the Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel earlier this year.  DJ Bri Swatek, Spinning with Style provided event planning, wedding uplighting in an Autumn amber, and kept the dance floor going all night long!

Check out Joni’s vendor reviews and interview with Best Hudson Valley Wedding Ever! about all the planning that went into this amazing night:

http://www.besthudsonvalleyweddingever.com/best-weddings/real-wedding-wednesday-a-fall-inspired-celebration-at-the-poughkeepsie-grand-hotel

Special thanks to Cheryl at Bolton-Reuter Photography for the fantastic images from the wedding.

Congratulations!

Bri

________________________________________________________

DJ Bri Swatek, Spinning with Style
Your Professional Disc Jockey and MC Service
in the Hudson Valley of New York

Email:   briswatek@aol.com
Phone:   845.235.0080
Online:   www.djbriswatek.com

Planning Music and Events for Your Unique Hudson Valley Wedding

When planning the music and events for your unique Hudson Valley wedding, what are the most common mistakes to avoid?  How can you make sure that all of your guests have a great time, all of your special moments are set to the music you love best, and that your dance floor is packed all night long?

The first step is to hire a professional Hudson Valley DJ who specializes in weddings and will *listen* to your requests.  The second step is to work closely with your DJ service to create a plan that avoids common wedding music pitfalls.

The great folks over at The Knot recently published an article called “Wedding Music: The Top 10 Wedding Music Mishaps.”  Interviewing DJs around the country, Justine Lorelle Blanchard at TheKnot.Com came up with an excellent list, including tips such as insisting on meeting the actual DJ who will be performing MC services at your wedding in advance, varying your play list to include different types of music for *all* of your guests, avoiding requesting too many specific songs, and thinking about the overall flow of your wedding reception.

To read Blanchard’s interviews with top wedding planning experts about each of these topics, (as well as to explore all the great wedding planning advice The Knot has to offer!) head over to

http://wedding.theknot.com/wedding-planning/wedding-music-ideas/articles/top-10-wedding-music-mishaps.aspx

As the owner of DJ Bri Swatek, Spinning with Style, a DJ service specializing in weddings in the Hudson Valley of New York, I would offer up my own #11 to this great wedding planning list:

11.  As a couple, you will set the overall style of your event.

More than anything or anyone else, you two will set the tone for your guests on your wedding day.  Your friends and family have come to celebrate your marriage, and they will follow your lead throughout the event.  If you visit tables, your guests will stay at theirs, waiting for your arrival, hoping to get a few minutes to talk with you.  When you’re at the bar, outside the venue’s ballroom, or in another location, your guests will also migrate there, to be with you.  And when you’re on the dance floor, your guests will know that the party’s started!

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding,
Bri

________________________________________________________

DJ Bri Swatek, Spinning with Style
Your Professional Disc Jockey and MC Service
in the Hudson Valley of New York

Email:   briswatek@aol.com
Phone:   845.235.0080
Online:   www.djbriswatek.com

Video of DJ Bri Swatek at Katelyn and Fernando’s Grandview Wedding, Courtesy of Future’s Past Videography

Video of DJ Bri Swatek, Spinning with Style, DJing at Katelyn and Fernando’s unique Hudson Valley wedding at The Grandview, courtesy of my friends Sharon & Nate at Future’s Past Videography:

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding,
Bri

________________________________________________________

DJ Bri Swatek, Spinning with Style

Your Professional Disc Jockey and MC Service
in the Hudson Valley of New York

Email: briswatek@aol.com
Phone: 845.235.0080
Online: www.djbriswatek.com

Video of DJ Bri Swatek at Sarah and Mike’s Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel Wedding, Courtesy of Allan E. Levine Photography

Video and Photo Slide Show of DJ Bri Swatek, Spinning with Style, DJing at Sarah and Mike’s unique Hudson Valley wedding at The Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel, courtesy of my friend Allan E. Levine Photography:

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding,
Bri

________________________________________________________

DJ Bri Swatek, Spinning with Style

Your Professional Disc Jockey and MC Service
in the Hudson Valley of New York

Email: briswatek@aol.com
Phone: 845.235.0080
Online: www.djbriswatek.com

Photos from Unique Hudson Valley Weddings — Summer 2011

The visual elements of your wedding can truly define your event’s unique style.  A personalized look can tell your guests what type of celebration your wedding will be:  a formal occasion, a gathering of close family and friends, an elegant reception, a real party, or a little bit of all of the above!

Hudson Valley Wedding Image Courtesy of Beautiful Memories

Consider these different looks from some of the Hudson Valley weddings I’ve had the privilege to provide music and lighting services for as the owner of DJ Bri Swatek, Spinning with Style over the past few months:

DJ Bri Swatek, Spinning with Style at Sarah and Mike’s Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel wedding, courtesy of Allan E. Levine Photography:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150326700690575.393094.67649970574&type=1

DJ Bri Swatek, Spinning with Style at Jamie and Jason’s Villa Borghese wedding, courtesy of Bedinotti Photo:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2173325419902.126254.1449786826&type=1

DJ Bri Swatek, Spinning with Style at Veronica and Zach’s Grandview wedding, courtesy of Maximilian B Nucci Photography:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150245857649330.338300.119067914329&type=1

DJ Bri Swatek, Spinning with Style at Natasha and Matthew’s Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel wedding, courtesy of Surprise Photography:

http://www.besthudsonvalleyweddingever.com/best-weddings/vintage-glam-at-the-poughkeepsie-grand-hotel

DJ Bri Swatek, Spinning with Style at Dawn and Chris’s Christo’s wedding, courtesy of Bolton-Reuter Photography:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.210028685703009.52723.101584816547397&type=1

To truly create a unique look for your big day, talk to all of your professional Hudson Valley wedding vendors about how they can contribute to your wedding’s visual style–your caterer and / or reception venue or location, photographer, videographer, florist, and DJ can all give you great ideas on how to achieve the look you want for your once-in-a-lifetime celebration.

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding,
Bri

________________________________________________________

DJ Bri Swatek, Spinning with Style
Your Professional Disc Jockey and MC Service
in the Hudson Valley of New York

Email:   briswatek@aol.com
Phone:   845.235.0080
Online:   www.djbriswatek.com

Video of DJ Bri Swatek at Veronica and Zach’s Grandview Wedding, Courtesy of Maximilian B. Nucci Photography

Video and Photo Slide Show of DJ Bri Swatek, Spinning with Style, DJing at Veronica and Zach’s unique Hudson Valley wedding at The Grandview, courtesy of my friend Maximilian B. Nucci Photography:

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding,
Bri

________________________________________________________

DJ Bri Swatek, Spinning with Style

Your Professional Disc Jockey and MC Service
in the Hudson Valley of New York

Email: briswatek@aol.com
Phone: 845.235.0080
Online: www.djbriswatek.com

Facebook, Twitter, and Social Media at Your Hudson Valley Wedding

Are you wired into Facebook, with hundreds of friends and regular status updates, or have you yet to tag yourself in a photo?  Do you use Twitter regularly, or is your phone just for . . . making phone calls?

Increasingly, social media is affecting the way brides and grooms, their family and friends, and their vendors are behaving at weddings.  The bride sends off a final tweet before walking down the aisle, and then the happy couple change their relationship status during cocktail hour.  The groom takes a camera phone photo with all of his buddies at the bar and makes it his new profile picture.  The photographer already has preview photos from the wedding up on Facebook before the end of the reception.  The DJ has been busy posting photos too of your uplighting colors and the fantastic party out on the dance floor.

Is it all too much, or exactly what you want in terms of documenting your big day?

(By the way, I should probably take this opportunity to remind you that you can connect with DJ Bri Swatek, Spinning with Style on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/djbriswatek and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/djbriswatek.  The Your Unique Hudson Valley Wedding blog also has a Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/youruniquehudsonvalleywedding.  There, ok, now we can continue . . . .)

One idea recently making the rounds in the wedding world is the “Unplugged Wedding,” as described in this article at The Offbeat Bride:

The Unplugged Wedding:  Couples Tell Guests to Put Down their Devices
http://offbeatbride.com/2011/06/unplugged-wedding

While it’s an interesting idea to unplug for some or all of the wedding day (and it could certainly help your professional photographer to avoid navigating around a dozen camera phones!) it may simply be impractical in this day and age to ask people to turn their devices off or not use them as part of the wedding experience.

Meanwhile, over at Mashable, they’ve taken the opposite approach, encouraging the best use of social media at your wedding by planning ahead:

How To:  Tastefully Use Social Media at Your Wedding
http://mashable.com/2010/11/09/social-media-wedding-etiquette/

As always, it comes down to the rules of etiquette:  being a gracious host, being a polite guest, and trying to enjoy the wedding day by planning ahead.

Regardless of how little or how much you plan to use social media to share your wedding experience online, setting the social media tone for yourself and your guests is becoming a must.  Sites like Facebook and Twitter can be a wonderful way to plan, share, and relive the fantastic moments from your wedding day.  Just don’t forget to enjoy the moment!

Congratulations,

Bri

________________________________________________________

DJ Bri Swatek, Spinning with Style
Your Professional Disc Jockey and MC Service
in the Hudson Valley of New York

Email:   briswatek@aol.com
Phone:   845.235.0080
Online:   www.djbriswatek.com

Same-Sex Weddings in the Hudson Valley of NY

In June of 2011, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed New York’s historic same-sex marriage bill into law, legalizing marriage equality for gay and lesbian same sex couples in NY.

I want to both professionally and personally congratulate the state of New York, its government and its citizens, for providing same-sex couples equal rights to marry.  I’ve always been proud to be a New Yorker, and this law is a reminder of what a great state we live in.

As the owner of the Hudson Valley Wedding DJ service DJ Bri Swatek, Spinning with Style, I have always welcomed the opportunity to help same-sex couples celebrate any important event in their lives, including marriage.  If you are planning an upcoming Hudson Valley wedding, please contact me at http://www.djbriswatek.com to find out more about the DJ services I can provide for your big day.  I am always honored to be invited to be a part of a couple’s wedding day!

In addition to the resources found on this blog, Your Unique Hudson Valley Wedding, I would also recommend the following sites for information about same sex weddings:

GayWeddings.com is a great nation-wide resource for information, resources, and recommended vendors:
http://gayweddings.com/

Hudson Valley Ceremonies is a great local resource for recommended vendors and much more:
http://www.hudsonvalleyceremonies.com/Gay-Friendly-Wedding-Professionals.html

Congratulations,

Bri

________________________________________________________

DJ Bri Swatek, Spinning with Style
Your Professional Disc Jockey and MC Service
in the Hudson Valley of New York

Email:   briswatek@aol.com
Phone:   845.235.0080
Online:   www.djbriswatek.com

Natasha and Matthew’s Best Hudson Valley Wedding Ever! at The Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel

I was honored to be a part of Natasha and Matthew’s unique Hudson Valley wedding at the Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel earlier this year.  DJ Bri Swatek, Spinning with Style provided event planning, Signature Gobo Lighting of their monogram on the dancefloor, wedding uplighting in pink and gold, a Photo Slide Show / Memory Montage during dinner, and kept the dance floor going all night long!

Check out Natasha’s interview with Best Hudson Valley Wedding Ever! about all the planning that went into this amazing night:

http://www.besthudsonvalleyweddingever.com/best-weddings/vintage-glam-at-the-poughkeepsie-grand-hotel

Special thanks to Melissa Surprise at Surprise Photography for the fantastic images from the wedding.

Congratulations!

Bri

________________________________________________________

DJ Bri Swatek, Spinning with Style
Your Professional Disc Jockey and MC Service
in the Hudson Valley of New York

Email:   briswatek@aol.com
Phone:   845.235.0080
Online:   www.djbriswatek.com