Featured WED®
Mike Anderson started entertaining in when he was in 7th grade. Mike said, “During my first Jr. High dance I attended the DJ was a no show and they were stuck. I called my mom and had her bring down my CD collection and I used the schools equipment as I was now the DJ for the dance. The dance went so well that I got the school to sign a contract the next day for all the dances that year.”
In 1996 Mike started taking on weddings more than school dances. “What I loved about weddings was that they were all different depending on what the clients wanted.” Even at such a young age Mike saw the importance of getting to know his couples and making their experience unique. Mike now teaches the rest of the DJ industry the importance of creating a unique celebration and the new trendy ways to do it.
Mike was the first public member to be accepted into the Wed Guild®. When the Wed Guild was introduced by Peter Merry a few years back, Mike told Peter that day that he wanted to be the first member.
In January 26th, 2008 I married my Jr. High sweetheart April Campbell. Recently, on February 14th, 2014 Mike and April welcomed Maverick Anderson into the world. “It’s just one of those experiences that you can’t find words for. To instantly have love for someone is an amazing experience and to go from a couple to a family overnight, is the best thing I can imagine happening to me.”
Over the years Mike continues his training by attending national conferences, attending monthly local ADJA meetings, Improve classes and countless seminars and workshops
Over the years Mike has always come up with ways to use technology to his advantage to create amazing moments for his clients at their events. Because of his passion for technology Mike now has the opportunity to speak at national conferences. He has recently teamed up with fellow WED Guild® member Randy Bartlett and together they produced Vol. 5 of “The 1% Solution” series titles “How’d They Do That?” Sharing his knowledge with the rest of the industry he can now show how he creates amazing moments for his clients such as Dancing on the Clouds, Digital Motion Monograms, Up lighting, and creating those amazing moments at events that the guests will talk about for years to come.
If you want a cutting-edge entertainer that can bring amazing performance and breath taking atmosphere contact Mike Anderson with Creative Memories Entertainment.
The WED Guild® is proud to announce its newest member Aldo Ryan with Aldo Ryan Entertainment from Brooklyn, New York. Aldo was inducted as a Wedding Entertainment Director® in January of 2014. He is married to his beautiful wife Nataliya and has a 4 year old daughter Alexandra. Aldo enjoys spending time with family and friends as well as many recreational activities such as winter sports, water sports, and nature. His energetic personality and amazing talent makes him one of the best entertainers in his market.
Aldo’s hard work and dedication for his clients awarded him the honor of Wedding Wire Couple’s Choice Awards for 2014. He understands the importance of his role as a Wedding Entertainment Director® and has furthered his education through trainings and workshops such as; Marbecca Silver MC, Marbecca Bronze Love Story, The Professional Process, Make it Grand!, and has attended multiple Wedding MBA conferences. Through the ongoing education Aldo has learned that “LOVE” is one of the most important qualities when he is looking for his perfect couple.
If the couple truly loves each other, this is an event and a future worth working for. The subtle touches, smirks and genuine smiles, the camaraderie, compliance and willingness to compromise are all great signs of a couple’s love before I commit.
To Aldo a Wedding Reception is an entertainment-driven function celebrating the marriage of two people who love each other unconditionally. It’s something that should be built, from the ground up, and include unique moments representative of who the couple is. His favorite part of a wedding is the couple’s First Dance! It’s just the way a couple gets lost in each other’s eyes where nothing and no one else matters. Aldo loves engaging with guest and loves watching them connect, release reservation, let loose and celebrate life with their loved ones. AKA – DANCE!
Aldo’s number one goal for your wedding celebration is hands down to enforce the agenda and everything you dream your wedding to be. By instituting all of those big and small moments which make up and separate your wedding from everyone else, he can truly help expose your special love with the respect it deserves.
Aldo Ryan
Wedding Entertainment Director®
Aldo Ryan Entertainment
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.A.
(800) 321-7278
Maurita and Lucas wanted something “different”…
She didn’t want the “white dress” and they didn’t want “fuddy-duddy” music. They wanted to be DIFFERENT! I was happy to oblige.
Wedding Ceremonies, which are, as they should be, the “serious” part of a wedding celebration, are often really boring musically.
I haven’t had a bride ask for “The Bridal Chorus” (from the 1850 opera “Lohengrin” by Richard Wagner) in years.
Brides tend to eschew this choice because it seems OLD. Little do they know that in the original opera, the marriage did not have a happy ending,
which is a far better reason for them to choose another song.
Many brides stay within the “status quo” and choose a variation of “Canon in D Major” to walk down the aisle.
It’s a beautiful song, and I love it…no harm, no foul. And…there are a gazillion recordings of this tune.
Brides can choose different instrumentations or different interpretations; whatever…nonetheless, their choice is still somewhat “traditional”.
Non-Traditional Wedding Ceremony Music
What about the brides and grooms who unequivocally want non-traditional music?
They are not particularly religious and they are not getting married in a church. What are the options musically?
Of course, the broad but simple answer is anything, but where do they start? How do they decide?
Today’s brides and grooms are often trying to find ceremony music that truly represents them and their personalities.
One fun alternative that has supplied a plethora of options is a group called “Vitamin String Quartet”.
You can find them on iTunes. They record string quartet versions of modern music.
Think of their repertoire, as the Opus your grandmother never knew existed.
Pick a Signature Band, Musician or Musical Group for your Ceremony Music
Of course, if you want to get really fancy….pick a signature band, just like you pick a signature drink.
Several years ago, I did a wedding where the musical group “Queen” was the preferred artist for every song chosen for the ceremony.
There was an additional level of frivolity for the wedding guests and me because we knew that the bride had “two dads” (meaning she was raised by two men in a committed relationship)
Here is the musical program for the ceremony:
Seating of the Mothers: “Somebody to Love” by Queen
Groom’s Entrance: “Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy” By Queen
Bridesmaid’s Entrance: “Crazy Thing Called Love” by Queen
Bridal Entrance: “You’re My Best Friend” by Queen
Recessional: “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen
The choice to have music that was uniquely them and completely NON-TRADITIONAL suited this couple perfectly!
They were quirky and fun and walked their own path. It was an amazing choice and an amazing day!
Professional Advice: Don’t let “old school” musical traditions stifle your wedding day.
Embrace the new…take chances….and let your ceremony music be as unique as you and your beloved.
Congratulations on your creativity, Maurita & Lucas!!!!
The above article was written by Liz Daley for her monthly column, “A Passion for Performance” on ProMobileDJ.com.
Liz Daley is the WED® Guild President and an Accredited Bridal Consultant™ with The Association of Bridal Consultants