Madison’s Best DJ

I knew from my first view of Andrea and Sam’s arrival that we were in for a fun wedding! There is no doubt that Andrea wanted a Grand Arrival by the old classic convertible car she was transported in with her new husband, Sam. And by the way, we were back in Rockford this past weekend for another wedding. I guess the word travels fast that we are a great company to work with for entertainment and customer service.

For this wedding, we decided to provide some added value to our customers and decided to do Audio Recording while also bringing our HD Video Camera for recording. The product turned out great and really was not that much additional effort in addition to what we are regularly doing. Especially considering that we had two professionals at the helm, me – Matt and Andrew. The video turned out nice after I spent an additional 10 hours of editing. Want to see it? Give me a call to set-up an appointment. I have also included a quick edit of Sam and Andrea’s arrival: (sorry for the small screen format – it runs faster this way)

Besides some add on products that Sam and Andrea wanted, one specific one we brought and set-up for them was from our sister company, Solid Ice Displays. We helped deliver two Ice Sculptures that were made as Swans and when we put the two together the middle made a heart. Andrea did a nice job by procuring rose petals that matched her wedding colors nicely. The reception facility then surrounded the centerpieces in the cocktail room with lots of tasty hors d’oeuvres.

Did I mention we did a live “Cool Video Presentation Display“? YES and Andrea’s mom, Nola, mentioned that it was her favorite part of the reception. About one month before when we sat down with Sam and Andrea, they mentioned they had wanted this presentation so we made arrangements for the photos to be forwarded to me. From that point, I added many edits to the photos along with adding some special effects and synced the show. If you decide that you want this type of presentation, it is important to try to start in the planning process for this in advance. Not only will it give you less stress but it will also provide for a better presentation. I would highly recommend having us bring our giant movie screen and HD DLP Projection unit that we can integrate with our 5,000 watt system. Believe it or not, I have been to places (as an attendee) where the hotel provides this equipment and it either does not work or the sound is awful. Trust me, we put a lot of time into these presentations. Want to see one? Contact me and we can set-up a meeting.

One of the programming items I liked from this past weekends wedding was that Sam and Andrea chose to have their wedding party introduced, then the Cool Video Presentation Display be played and then have their grand entrance. The one major advantage I saw by completing the video right away was that it helped the event flow smoother and enabled their guests to be ready to dance once they were done with their dinner instead of having to wait to get up and be active after dinner.

All in all, it was a pleasure working with Lisa at Forrest Hills Country Club. Her 18 years experience was demonstrated by the leadership and friendliness of her staff. If you are having a larger wedding reception and believe your party will not fit at Anderson Gardens, your next best option might be to take a look at Forest Hills Country Club if you can find yourself a member to sponsor your event.

Notable Vendors:
+ Joe Jann Photography —> Joe and Beth Jann were fun to work with and we both have been in business for many years.
+ Forest Hills Country Club (FHCC) —> Lisa Morrison works hard to make everyone feel at home at FHCC. Let her 18 years experience wow you!
+ Solid Ice Displays —> Custom Ice Sculptures delivered all over from Illinois to Iowa to Wisconsin. They are a custom shop and can sculpt just about anything.
+ DJ Magic Enterprises —> Custom entertainment for your needs. Have an idea? Let us know and we will exceed your expectations one at a time. Get a quote now!

Having grown up not too far from Rockford, Illinois, I had heard of Anderson Gardens. Even during my time dating my wife and driving past it every visit, I have forgotten how much natural beauty that was housed there. This past weekend, I had the pleasure of performing at a wedding ceremony and reception for Lori and Danny Robinson.

Lori and Danny planned their wedding and reception at this facility and if one is planning a wedding in Rockford, by far, Anderson Garden’s should be at the top of any lists. They easily can accommodate a small to medium sized wedding while comfortably serving everyone very well. Even vendors! From our initial contact with Julie Pastore at Anderson Garden’s to discuss the Event Time Line, I could easily tell they were easy to work with to plan an event. To support this further, I was shown around the property and their staff served a healthy and tasty reception meal to all the guests. Anderson Gardens stands out in my mind as a top facility in Rockford.

Take a look at some photographs I took before all the guests arrived in the Japanese Gardens area:

(We are currently fixing our blog to upload the photos – Stay Tuned!)

Some of the other vendors we had the opportunity to work with include:
+ Kara Schultz of Karatography (Kara is willing to travel just about anywhere!)
+ Pastor Don Lyons – Don is the founder of Faith Center church in Rockford and also helped start 88.3 FM.
+ Julie Pastore of Anderson Gardens – Julie is professional and friendly. She will provide you the best
service possible while exceeding your expectations.
+ Andrew Aacola & Matt Long of DJ Magic Enterprises – “Hire the Best & Forget the Rest!”