Weddings Archives - Page 5 of 10 - B-Boy Productions, Inc.

July 28, 2015 by B-Boy Productions, Inc.

Best Wedding Venues in Destin | Best of 2015

Here’s Part 2 of our 2015 picks for top destination wedding venues. In this post, we’re going to focus on the best wedding venues in Destin. This is the town everyone talks about for weddings in the panhandle of Florida and for good reason! The beaches are amazing and it’s quickly become of the most developed areas around with some of the hottest retail and restaurants having just come to town in the last year. Believe it or not, there’s still some gems of wedding venues that you may not be aware of. So let us tell you about them.

Resorts of Pelican Beach – Destin, FL
You have to be careful NOT to get this confused with the Pelican property by Wyndham. The Resorts of Pelican Beach can be easily missed as it is backed into the south side of highway 98 with a ton of foliage disguising it. But once in, you realize you have a fantastic all-in-one venue that has accommodations, private beach access and indoor venue spaces. This venue has been around for quite a while but we’re always surprised when people say they’ve never heard of it. As one of their preferred vendors, this is a spot we highly recommend. If there’s any negative to the venue, it would be that it is that the indoor venue space is a bit dated. However, it is very clean and the pricing is perfectly in line with the space.

The Venue at Surfside Resort – Destin, FL
This event space was re-launched in 2014 and Nicki (the venue manager) did a phenomenal make-over to the space. It sits off of Old Highway 98 with unobstructed floor to ceiling window beach views of the gulf. Although not directly on the beach, it’s literally a 5 minute walk away. It has both indoor and outdoor cocktail hour/reception space and can fit 60-75 very comfortably. We honestly believe this is one of the best kept secrets in Destin. They do offer accommodations. Parking is on-site. While they do push their all-inclusive services, they allow outside vendors and catering. With a very neutral color palette, this venue should definitely be considered for intimate and mid-size weddings.

The Henderson – Destin, FL
Just when you thought Destin was all built up, here comes the latest resort development which is opening in the Summer of 2016. It is called “The Henderson” and there won’t be anything close to it as far as luxury goes in the Destin area. The owners also have the Henderson Park Inn property, which is rated the #1 Hotel in Destin according to TripAdvisor. What does that mean? This sister property place is going to be even more spectacular! This will be the only “Diamond” rated resort in the area (next closest one is in Tampa). There will be multiple ballrooms and beach front options for your ceremony and reception. Sherri and her team are one of the most professional in the area so you will have nothing to worry about with your wedding if you choose this location.

Stay tuned for our 3rd installment (the Fort Walton Beach 2015 picks) coming out soon. In the meantime, want some other location ideas? Check out our 2013 picks and Part 1 and Part 2 of our 2014 picks as well as Part 1 of our 2015 picks.

July 24, 2015 by B-Boy Productions, Inc.

Best 30A Wedding Venues | B-Boy 2015 Picks

Year after year, a set of blog posts keeps ranking as one of our most searched. It’s our annual selection of top Destination Wedding Venues. We love being able to help clients out with as much information as we can (even if it is non-music related). Since we are heavily entrenched in Florida’s Emerald Coast (we do over 400 weddings a year just in that market alone), we have a good pulse of what’s “hot”. In the last year or so, a bunch of new wedding venues have popped up that you should consider. They span from Rosemary Beach (30A) to Destin to Fort Walton Beach, FL which on a good traffic day is about 45 minutes to an hour from one another. We’re going to break this up into a 3 part series.

Why 30-A? It’s becoming the hottest area right now for weddings and the 30A wedding venues are some of the best in the area. This is primarily because it’s less congested than Destin. Also, with more land to build, you’re starting to see more development take place. It’s not too far from Panama City Beach airport and it’s closer to Highway 331 (the gateway to the Emerald Coast from Interstate 10) than Destin or Fort Walton Beach. Here’s our 2015 wedding venue picks for 30-A.

The Pearl – Rosemary Beach, FL
This quaint hotel has quite the impressive look and though not totally evident at first, it has multiple unique room and indoor/outdoor spaces all within the hotel to fit different aesthetics for guests counts ranging from 12 to 40. The plus side…you’re off 30A in Rosemary Beach, which will blow away guests with its upscale an small-town feel. It has accommodations at the venue! Everything can be done there (including your rehearsal dinner). Also Amanda and her staff are amazing to work with. If there is a downside, it would be parking. Unless you’re staying at the hotel, you’re going to have to get creative with the parking (especially during busy season). That said, it can be done and I wouldn’t let that detour you from this amazing venue. Here’s a quick shot of a side lobby that leads into one of the ballrooms.

The Bowery On 30-A – Grayton Beach, FL
We’re super excited to introduce you to the newest multi-level event space along 30-A. They recently renovated this location and folks, it is stunning. Downstairs they have a restaurant which can be shut down for events and is perfect for a cocktail hour. Upstairs, they have two event spaces. The smaller of the two spaces (pictured below) has floor to ceiling windows and can accommodate up to 80 people (seated). The bigger room can comfortably seat up to 150 people, has a stage in place for entertainment and is hard-wired with sound and production lighting. Both rooms have amazing chandeliers. Want a beach ceremony? They have access to a private beach which is within walking distance. Parking is not an issue with this location as they have a huge parking lot. This event space opened earlier this year and we think by this time next year, it’ll be the hottest property for events bar none. Bob and Annemarie are fantastic to work with and they do allow you to bring in your own vendors except for the catering, which must be done in-house.

331 South – Santa Rosa Beach, FL
Formerly known as Bentley’s On The Bay, this location is under new ownership and management. WeddingWire chose this location for their 2015 venue spotlight and had their annual vendor networking night there. This for the couple who is looking for a non-beach wedding venue. It sits next to the Choctawhatchee Bay and boasts both an outdoor and indoor space. You can pick one or the other or utilize both. It also can serve as your built-in “rain back-up plan”. Parking is not an issue at this location. Inside, you can fit 80-100 people comfortablyy and outside around the same (maybe a little more). One of the things they’ve added is outside catering. So if you do the taste test and love the food but want a different location, the food can come with you. Christine and her staff do great work and are referred by all of the top professionals in the area.

Stay tuned for our Destin and Fort Walton Beach 2015 picks coming out soon. In the meantime, want some other location ideas? Check out our 2013 picks and Part 1 and Part 2 of our 2014 picks.

in B-Boy Recommends / Florida / Weddings 0 comments

April 28, 2015 by B-Boy Productions, Inc.

Grandma Didn’t Make It | Awkward Wedding Situations

This is our final installment of the most “Awkward Wedding situations we’ve seens as DJs” series. We hope we’ve provided a little humor for you. After almost 20 years in the wedding DJ business, we can tell you that weddings, in and of themselves, make for great stories. With the exception of a few minor glitches, most turn out as planned, but in some rare cases, the “glitches” can be a bit more….well…interesting. As a matter of fact, some can be downright awkward.

Obviously, the awkward ones make the most interesting stories. We whittled it down to the top 5 and they are told by our entertainers themselves.

NOTE: To protect the innocent, we have purposefully left out names but beyond that, I assure you that none of this has been embellished. If you’re in the industry, I’m sure you will sympathize with us. If you’re a soon to be bride or groom or a general reader, this may have you shaking your head.

This definitely gives a whole new meaning to the phrase lost in the translation. As the manager on duty, I had the night off from actually DJ’ing while our other entertainers were working. I get a text from one of our ceremony musicians that one of the grandmas cut her leg as she was walking down to the beach for the ceremony, and she was losing so much blood that they had to call an ambulance.

They had to take her to the hospital and the ceremony was delayed for almost an hour. I texted our DJs so they could be aware of the situation before the reception started. Our ceremony guitarist was distraught about what happened and he said he felt bad for the family as he could see the look of disappointment and worry written across their faces. I told him I’d keep him posted on what ended up happening.

About 30 minutes into the reception, I sent a text to one of our DJs to see how everything was going. He said it was a tough crowd because everyone was bummed about the grandmother. I asked him if he had any updates on her condition and his reply made my heart sink. His text read, “Grandma didn’t make it.” I texted him back and asked him if he was sure and he said the nurse called the family and told them.

I couldn’t believe it. I mean, I understand losing blood in your leg can be serious, but death? I had never had a death occur at an event, so as you can imagine, I had no idea how to deal with it. I texted our guitarist and his level of shock was equal to mine.

Come to find out, our DJ left out some key information. Apparently grandma didn’t make it TO THE RECEPTION! What a difference a few words make, huh? Of course, I didn’t get this info until after the reception when I talked to the DJ on the phone.

A happy ending was still on the horizon, however, as the grandmother did finally make it to the reception. Our guys did a special “grand entrance announcement” mid-reception just for her when she arrived and the party went off without any deaths whatsoever. Needless to say, I’ve made sure to tell our entertainers to over-communicate when it comes to texting me anything.

To see more humorous wedding stories, click here!

in California / Florida / Humor / New York / Past DJ Events / Weddings 0 comments

April 27, 2015 by B-Boy Productions, Inc.

Groom Has A Social Disorder | The Five Most Awkward Weddings We’ve Ever DJ’d

We are nearing the end of our most Awkward Weddings We’ve Ever DJ’d series. How did we come up with this series?

After almost 20 years in the wedding DJ business, we can tell you that weddings, in and of themselves, make for great stories. With the exception of a few minor glitches, most turn out as planned, but in some rare cases, the “glitches” can be a bit more….well…interesting. As a matter of fact, some can be downright awkward.

Obviously, the awkward ones make the most interesting stories. We have whittled it down to the top 5 most awkward weddings we have ever DJ’d (as told by our entertainers themselves) and are posting them for your reading pleasure.

NOTE: To protect the innocent, we’ve purposefully left out names but beyond that, I assure you that none of this has been embellished. If you’re in the industry, I’m sure you will sympathize with us. If you’re a soon to be bride or groom or a general reader, this may have you shaking your head.

Truth: The ONLY bit of information I had received about the groom from this story was that he “had some sort of a social disorder.” Now I’m not a glass half empty type of guy by any stretch of the imagination, but if all the adjectives and descriptive phrases in the English language were subconsciously sorted through and the only one that seemed appropriate to mention was, “he has some sort of social disorder”… let’s just say I was anticipating the ceremony with bated breath.

For the sake of time and your comfort while reading this, I’ll say, after doing this ceremony and actually getting to know everybody involved…if I had to describe the groom to somebody else, I would probably say, “He has some sort of social disorder.” I could talk about the 2 minutes that the groom literally held up his mother on the dance floor for the mother/son dance… but I think I’ll share the following instead:

The reception had been over for about an hour, and I had filled the elevator with my DJ gear and was ready to descend the 14 floors to my car. On the 2^nd floor, the elevator came to a halt. The doors open to a confused and glossy faced groom who stood in front of me mildly disheveled. He was panting lightly. I searched for congratulatory words for his recent life event AND something that would comfort whatever might have furrowed his brow…the only words I could muster were, “Uhhhh, hey man!” Is this the 12^th floor?” he blurted. “No, man… this is the 2^nd floor.” {Awkward pause}. “OK,” he said and ran down the hall in what I could best describe as a glorious, bowlegged scamper.

The next night (after the wedding) I get a call from the wedding coordinator. Apparently, the groom was a little late for his “after wedding celebration” with his wife… and by a little late I mean HE NEVER SHOWED UP to the room! The dude actually fell asleep in the hotel lobby on a couch.

I tend to be a minimalist when it comes to relationships, but I feel that the wedding night is relatively important. If you get confused with elevators (we all do), reserve a room in a one floor hotel. If you get lost easily (some of us do), buy a sourdough bread bowl and “Hansel and Gretel” your way back there. Just make sure your biggest take away from your wedding isn’t a bran muffin from the continental breakfast. P.S. We found out that the wedding was annulled after only 5 days.

See more articles in this series by clicking Here!

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April 24, 2015 by B-Boy Productions, Inc.

The 1.5 Party Crowd | The Most Awkward Weddings We’ve Ever DJ’d

We’re in part 3 of a 5 part series of posts that we’ve entitled “The most awkward weddings we have ever DJ’d”. We’ve had some doozies so far and this is yet another. After almost 20 years in the wedding DJ business, we can tell you that weddings, in and of themselves, make for great stories. With the exception of a few minor glitches, most turn out as planned, but in some rare cases, the “glitches” can be a bit more….well…interesting. As a matter of fact, some can be downright awkward. Obviously, the awkward ones make the most interesting stories.

In our early years, we did not have the same event vetting process in place that we have now. Starting out in business, you are sometimes forced to take whatever clients come your way. The couple in this particular story had read our reviews and booked our DJ services online…without any initial phone conversations or face to face visits.

During the planning phase for their big day, I asked what they did for work and the groom mentioned he was a chemist and the bride said she was a librarian. Knowing how serious some librarians and chemists can be, I then asked them to rate their wedding guests on a scale from 1-10 scale (1 being hard to get out of their seat and 10 loving to party). Their response: “1 – 1.5.” Yikes! Not exactly the type of crowd we usually get. Given this situation, I suggested we have a few backup plans in case dancing did not go over well. Trivia was one of the solutions.

Fast forward to wedding day; I start the song for the first open dance set and no one even thinks of dancing. Everyone just stared at me. The dance floor was open for business, but no one was buying. So, I tried a slow song…then a fast one. I even tried line dancing, but no one moved from their seats.

At this point, I was thinking that the 1-1.5 rating was entirely too generous and decided it was time to pull out the trivia. We literally played trivia for an hour and 40 minutes…at a wedding reception. Fortunately, trivia loosened them up enough to finish the last 15 minutes dancing.

Of course, I thought that our services bombed, but was surprised to have multiple guests say that this was the best wedding they had ever been to. Some even said they’d be calling me for their wedding. Ugh, thanks?!? Not exactly the type of wedding style I wanted to be known for, but at the end of the day, it’s all about making a reception fun, and if trivia is what it takes, I’ll do it.

See more awkward wedding stories stories here!

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April 21, 2015 by B-Boy Productions, Inc.

The Five Most Awkward Weddings We’ve Ever DJ’d | Surprise Toast And…

We’re continuing our series of posts of the top 5 most awkward weddings we’ve ever DJ’d (as told by our entertainers themselves).

After almost 20 years in the wedding DJ business, we can tell you that weddings, in and of themselves, make for great stories. With the exception of a few minor glitches, most turn out as planned, but in some rare cases, the “glitches” can be a bit more…well…interesting. As a matter of fact, some can be downright awkward. Obviously, the awkward ones make the most interesting stories.

A good toast takes you through a color wheel of emotions. It can bring laughter, tears, and even create a sense of togetherness. To RUIN a wedding with a toast, however, takes skill beyond measure. We were fortunate to have learned these particular skills from a master who was an active Duty General AND father of the Groom. Based on his example, we were able to compile a list of steps that will allow you to offer the worst of Toasts:

1) Talk as long as possible! A wedding is supposed to be a once in a lifetime event, so this is your chance to shine! Every little girl dreams of having a full hour and a half toast at their wedding reception, don’t they? You don’t want to disappoint that bride on her special day, so be sure to fulfill your diplomatic duty and filibuster until the cake starts to mold. Just ignore Aunt Irma’s shushing and stay strong. Do so and you will ALWAYS be remembered as the person that everyone wants to forget.

2) Lose the filter. This point is heavily debated and can be somewhat controversial. Some people think that unfiltered stories are shameful, but we know that it helps loosen up a crowd like nothing else. Rest assured, a good cringe worthy story will make some prudish folks a little squirmy, but they’ll get used to it.

If you have a story, like General Toaster did, about catching your son on the couch with a lady of the night…YOU SHOULD ABSOLUTELY SHARE IT! The bride will eventually calm down and come back to the reception (we think). She may be crossing her arms and tapping her foot, but she’ll come back. And, that toe tapping is a sure sign that you have made a huge impact on her special evening.

3) BONUS! Not part of the toast, but still a great way to ruin a beautiful evening. Plan a surprise horse and carriage to pick-up the bride and groom about halfway through the reception. DON’T TELL ANYBODY that you have planned it… especially the couple, the DJ and the wedding coordinator. When the Bride and groom get back from their little horsy trip around the block and get back to their grand exit that THEY actually planned, everyone will be so confused that dancing will be out of the question. WIN/WIN.

Be mindful: All of this takes serious dedication, and you have to suspend any and all self-awareness…but if you follow these 3 simple steps, you can offer a toast that will let others know that, no matter how bad they screw up in life, it can always be a lot worse.

See more awkward wedding stories stories here!

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April 8, 2015 by B-Boy Productions, Inc.

DJ Josh W and DJ Irving G Entertain for Sandestin Hilton Wedding | Levi & Andi

The location was the Sandestin Hilton Beach Golf Resort & Spa. We had a full B-Boy team in effect with a ceremony violinist, photographer and 2 person DJ/MC Package. We also got a chance to work with the amazing vendor team of Kiss The Bride Wedding & Event Planning and It’s A Perfect Day Wedding Florist. What started out as a calm, warm day turned into a very windy affair for Levi Croy and Andi Seward’s wedding. This, however, did not dampen the joyful atmosphere and despite uncooperative weather conditions, the feeling was warm and loving.

This particular Sandestin Hilton Wedding ceremony took place on the beach. Our violinist set the mood with some beautiful classical selections picked by Levi and Andi. They wrote their own vows which were extremely touching and heartfelt.

In what was one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen, they incorporated a “dove release” just before they were pronounced husband and wife.

We transitioned into the reception on the Sunrise deck and the table décor and florals absolutely captured the Spring destination feel they were going for with teal and pink colors.

With memorable toasts and a real sense of togetherness, you could not tell which of the guests were from the bride’s side and which of the guests were from the groom’s side. My partner for the evening, DJ Irving G, orchestrated a fitting soundtrack as guests danced the night away. We wish you the best Levi and Andi!

Formality Song Selections
Grand Entrance (Bridal Party): “I Gotta Feelin'” by Black Eyed Peas
Grand Entrance (Bride & Groom): “OMG” by Usher feat. Will.I.Am
First Dance: “It’s Your Love” by Tim McGraw
Father/Daughter Dance: “Daddy (Dance With Me)” by Krystal Keith
Mother/Son Dance: “What A Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong

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April 1, 2015 by B-Boy Productions, Inc.

Destin Wedding Private Showcase Proves To Be A Success

Towards the end of last year, we began working on a new line of thinking for the Florida panhandle and Destin wedding market as it applies to our marketing approach. The standard way to market your company outside of traditional advertising mediums was via bridal shows. We used to do them and saw some success but over the last few years, the attendance had dwindled and even more than that, the bookings nose-dived. It became more of a social event that lent itself to competing via price. Because we are more concerned with value than price, it was a battle we decided not to engage in and have pulled out of them all-together.

So outside of doing a sneak-peak at a wedding we are performing at, how can a client see us LIVE? After all, that’s where you can see if a company can deliver the goods rather than some photo shopped image or well-edited video. In the Northeast, private showcases have caught traction and are starting to become THE thing to provide that outlet. We were an ideal candidate for this as we’re an all-inclusive event company. We offer DJs, Emcees, Live Musicians, Officiants, Photo Booths, PA Rentals, Ceremony Rentals, Dance Floor Rentals, Production Lighting, Day of Coordination, and most recently photography and videography. The only things we don’t do are florals, catering and reception rentals. So even if they had their entertainment handled, they could get the other services they needed and vice versa in a one-stop shop approach.

We spent November and December rehearsing and refining the presentation part of our showcase. We came up with a way to highlight all of our services but also give potential clients a 20 minute reception feel with each of our 10 local headlining MCs getting an opportunity to get on the microphone and entertain.

In getting the word out, we brought in 20 potential clients on a Saturday morning. With a strong venue partner in the Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort, who not only allowed us to use their space, but handled the phenomenal food and mimosas, the stage was set for something new and fresh to be unveiled at no cost to these wedding clients. The “proof is in the pudding” as they say. 14 clients were able to book at least one service they needed and were home by the early afternoon.

It went so well that we have decided to do it again this summer. Our videography team captured some of the highlights in this promo reel below to give you an idea of what took place. If you’re interested in attending our next private showcase, contact us and we’ll get you all the info once the details are solidified. We hope to see you there!

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January 14, 2015 by B-Boy Productions, Inc.

B-Boy Productions Private Wedding Showcase in Sandestin, January 24th

Nowadays, anyone or any company can tout and market themselves as the best. Especially in the wedding industry.

You can create a website in a matter of minutes with “borrowed” Google images and SEO-friendly keywords. Social Media can make you look amazing by buying “likes” or “friends”. The simplicity of consumer video editing programs allows you to make a highlight reel and give the perception you were the entertainer of the year at every show. Even industry websites like WeddingWire and The Knot hand out annual awards like they are candy (yes, we, along with almost every wedding company in our area, won the Couple’s Choice Awards). But as the saying goes, the proof is in the pudding. As consumers, we all want to see and judge for ourselves whether a company can back up their claim.

Well, here’s your chance to see B-Boy Productions in all its glory. We’re putting it all out there at on our first ever Private Wedding Showcase in Sandestin Saturday, January 24th at Sandestin Beach & Golf Resort’s Bayview Room & Terrace from 10:30AM – 12:30PM. How does our private showcase differ from your traditional bridal show you ask? Great question.

We won’t just have pamphlets or marketing materials on display; we take you through an actual wedding – from the beginning of the ceremony all the way to the grand exit. As an all-inclusive wedding brand, we will have not only all of our famous beat-mixing DJs and wedding Emcees showcasing their skills, but our live musicians, officiants, photo booths, photographers, videographers, day of planners, and rental items will be available for you to see in action as if you were guests that day at a wedding. Throughout the showcase, bottomless mimosas and hors d’oeuvres will be served on us.

Afterwards, you can talk to our entertainers and staff about your wedding specifically; ask questions, share your vision for your day, etc. We’ll be glad to give you all the ideas we have to make your wedding stand out. By the time you leave, you can have your wedding services all booked and head to the beach for some R&R. So what’s the catch you ask? Only that you RSVP so we can reserve a spot for you as seating is limited. That’s it. So whether you need one service, some services, or ALL services, come hang and party with us for two hours. You’ll get some tremendous show specials just for showing up and treated like the VIPs you are.

in B-Boy Recommends / Florida / Giveaways & Freebies / Weddings 0 comments

December 1, 2014 by B-Boy Productions, Inc.

DJ Josh B and Hilton Sandestin Wedding DJs | Dominique and Rumiko

With the mild autumn temperatures setting in on Florida’s Emerald Coast, the white beaches of the Hilton Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort are all the more inviting for happy couples seeking the perfect setting for their wedding day. For Dominique Kuykendall and Rumiko Murrell, “perfect” turned out to be a very fitting description! The calm waters turned turquoise as the setting sun painted the sky a fade of orange and purple—offering a splendid color palette as a backdrop for their ceremony and their first photos as newlyweds.

On the Hilton’s Sunset Deck, the reception layout presented an intimate setting for the event’s quaint number of guests. The dining tables all connected in a “U” pattern, so every loved one was never far from the gathering as a whole.

The wedding party entered to Drake’s “Started From the Bottom,” soon followed by Rumiko and Dominique’s very spirited first dance to “You & I” by Avant & Keke Wyatt. As dinner was being enjoyed, I treated the guests to a short round of Bride & Groom Trivia—with prizes! The lucky winners went home with a thousand “doll hairs” (still attached to the doll), a brand new “toy Yoda,” and two “100 Grand” candy bars.

The champagne toasts after dinner brought many a heartfelt moment, but plenty of laughs as well. The bride took a moment to voice her sincere appreciation of all the friends and family who were present, just before the ceremonial cutting of the cake … And then it was time to party! Kicking off with a throwback to Montell Jordan’s “This Is How We Do It” filled the dance floor instantly, and it never emptied until “Stay With Me” by Sam Smith signed off the night in true romantic fashion. Memorable highlights included some impressive moves on display during “2 Step” by Unk, and everyone joining in to dance the Electric Slide to “Candy” by Cameo.

It was a joy to celebrate with Dominique and Rumiko and their guests, and I consider it an honor and privilege to have been a part of their wedding day. It was a day I am certain they will hold in fond memory for their many happy years to come.

in Florida / Past DJ Events / Weddings 0 comments