Colorblind Productions Blog

On Vacation

2011-08-12T08:56:00.001-04:00

Colorblind Productions will be on vacation until August 19th with limited access to e-mail and voice mail

2010 Begins

2010-01-02T09:33:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year! Things are moving and shaking here at Colorblind Productions and we really look forward to introducing you to all of our new endeavors! That being said WE HAVE A NEW WEBSITE! Please feel free to visit www.colorblindprd.com and tell us what you think. We’d love to hear your feedback.

To boot, we’re starting the New Year off with our own company resolutions which we feel are important and something you all will greatly appreciate! The most important of these is to really improved communication. We’ve read the reviews of us on other online websites (wedding wire, project wedding, etc.) and heard personally from our clients that they absolutely love us but they would love it even more if we’d be more available, more responsive and generally more accessible. So beyond e-mail and our office number, you can always contact our cell phone numbers via text message. We’ve seen many of our clients friend us personally on facebook as well as our business facebook page and use that to contact us. We have a number of clients who tweet with us or contact us on Instant Messenger. Whatever communication style serves you best.

We look forward to a wonderful year and sharing memories with all of you.

Delay in response due to death in the family

2010-01-01T08:09:00.004-05:00

Please accept our apology for the delay in responses over the past few weeks. We had a death in the family just before the Christmas holiday and have focused largely on that during this time.

We admittedly have neglected our e-mail. We are making our way through the backlog and will send a reply as soon as they are read. It may take a few days to reply otherwise.

Thanks for your patience and support.

Rob & Dianne

Robot Party

2009-12-17T08:59:00.000-05:00

Creativity goes a long way into making a Robot Party come to life. And I have to say this was a very fun concept for me to put together! For a 4th birthday party nothing seemed more appropriate for the Robot obsessed little boy then to be surrounded by his metal friends.
I had found heads similar to this online, but opted against drilling holes into cans or using glue and opted instead for empty metal paint cans I found at the Hardware store and high quality magnet buttons. Simple to put together, simpler still to take apart. You can be as creative or not as you wish and it’s very kid safe should you wish to offer a ‘make your own Robot head game.’

The bodies were a combination of spray painted cardboard boxes and Styrofoam blocks. And beyond the nuts, bolts and washers used, were mini cupcake holders, slinkys, and reflector lights.

The Robot cake was a great hit, which was hilarious as it has humble beginnings as a Costco Hanukkah cake. I personally am a huge fan of the Costco sheet cake, but wanted something far more robot specific, so I came up with the brilliant idea to hack up the sheet cake and make a simple marshmallow fondant covering to create my own creation. I wish I had taken a picture of the cake prior to my removing the big blue menorah and cutting it up in bits, but you get the concept…

And the outcome was perfect!

Coming Soon! Self adhesive removable Fotomurals

2009-11-12T10:50:00.005-05:00

We are happy to announce that we will soon be providing our large photo mural tiles from afotomural.com in ultra removable material, making the assembly of fotomurals to most surfaces as easy as peel and stick. And what’s best, the material leaves no possibility of an adhesive residue so if you wish to move your mural to another location you can do so.

Our trial copy has been successfully tested in a kitchen, subject to heat from the sink, and other precarious instances without issue!

Once it’s officially available we will let you know! Keep an eye out at www.afotomural.com in the interim

TWOty Fruity

2009-10-23T10:42:00.000-04:00

As I told you in a prior blog post, we took the deliciousness of fresh fruit throughout this family's 2 year old celebration!

Not only was it kind on the eye but it was easy for guests to grab the drink of their choice at any time during the event leaving the host free to mingle about.

The dining table was acombination of all things fruit! With bamboo plates over red plates and individual apples as place settings.

And what is better to end a twoty fruity party then a collection of fruit desserts!

Proof that even in the smallest of spaces, a little thought and decoration goes a long way!

So you are getting married and want to be on TV

2009-10-07T10:20:00.004-04:00

I get 'casting call' e-mails from time to time to share with my clients. I figured I might as well share them on the blog for anyone interested.

Looking for couples who want to get married in iconic New York city locations!! Can you imagine saying your “I Do’s” in central park? What about the Brooklyn bridge or the statue of liberty? Yankee stadium? Or on the top of a double-decker NYC tour bus? Looking for fun & charming couples that are looking to get married this October to December who live in near New York and want to get married in New York city for a new television series to air on an upscale cable network. We will provide you with a free wedding video, wedding officiant, & free top notch wedding planner with staff including assistant, wedding coordinator, intern, photographer, hair and make up, head of wait staff, caterer, singer, limo driver etc. Our expert wedding planner has ongoing relationships with some of New York’s top vendors and venues. Please email me for more information (for faster responses please send your name, number, photo) to: please send us your name, number a photo and a brief description of you and your fiancé. Jccarollo@nancyglassproductions.com

Attention all NY, NJ & CT brides! Are you getting married within the next 4 months?? We want to talk to you! How would you like to commemorate your wedding on national TV while getting a chance to win an all-expense-paid, exciting, 5-star honeymoon (or first year anniversary trip)? TLC is currently casting an exciting new show that features brides getting married in NY, NJ & CT in November & December 2009 January & February 2010! On the show, you’ll be introduced to other brides that are getting married around the same time. You get to exchange ideas, talk about your upcoming nuptials and then attend each other’s weddings to see how it all turns out! We are looking for all types of weddings: traditional, over the top, unusual venues or event spaces, married on a cliff, at the zoo, while sky diving, fairytale, on a boat, very small & intimate, themed... Any and all types of weddings! It can be your first, second, third or thirteenth wedding any and all ages welcome! If you'd like your wedding to be considered for our show, please email: myweddingguest@gmail.com. Include your name / phone # where you can be reached and your wedding date and location! If you can include a picture it would be great! Or call us at: 212-505-7775 x106

Are you plain and dull but know you could look fabulous and gorgeous if someone would teach you how? Do you have the looks, but not the style? Do you have an inner diva inside you dying to come out? Major TV Production Company is currently casting for a new fun and fabulous makeover show that will air on Vh1. Here is what we are looking for:

-Women between the ages of 24 and 32.
-Women who live outside the metropolitan area.
-Women who, in the next couple of months, would like to debut their new look at an important event or occasion (i.e. reunion, wedding, birthday party, etc) or WOW a particular person from your past or present.

Whether you are tired of your current look, desperate to figure out how to maximize your figure, or just confused on how you can make the best impression possible, this light hearted and fun makeover show will teach you the skills you need to know to turn heads and let your best self shine. If you are someone or know of someone who would love this opportunity please send 3 recent pictures of yourself or the nominee with a letter describing your situation to: needamakeovernow@gmail.com Let us know why you¹re unhappy with your current look and what has kept you from changing it.

“Wedding Day”, a new documentary-reality series from Mark Burnett Productions and DreamWorks Television, is now casting deserving couples! Do you know of someone who truly deserves a dream wedding? We’re looking for teachers, volunteers, military personnel, police, community leaders, cancer survivors, firefighters or anyone who continues to give of themselves to help others! Email a brief paragraph, along with a recent photo of the engaged couple to: csimonian@markburnettprod.com Be sure to include contact information!

Having the wedding of your dreams this year? Are you and your fiancée from different countries or have different cultural backgrounds? Quiero mi boda wants you!! Are you having la boda de tus sueños and your fiancée is from a different country or has a different cultural background? Mexicanos con Cubanos, Dominicanos con gringos or even Puerto Ricans with Chinese!? You get the picture… quiero mi boda captures your memorable life-changing experience, as two people unite to start a new family and share each other’s customs and traditions. Email us ASAP at quieromibodacasting@mtvnmix.com and tell us why your wedding should be one of the selected few featured on the show. Get the ball and chain rolling by emailing us the following info: first and last names of you and your fiancée, each of your e-mail addresses, each of your phone numbers (mobile or other), three photographs: (1) a photograph of yourself alone, (2) a photograph of your fiancée alone, (3) a photograph of you together as a couple, wedding date and location (including city and state), how you and your fiancée met, each of your backgrounds, what are the common elements that you and your fiancée share and what are the differences that fuel the culture clash? what is your budget for your special day? what makes tu boda so special?

Shoes & Bags for your Wedding $19.99

2009-10-02T09:32:00.002-04:00

Yes, you heard me right. $19.99 for any shoe and bag in the Shelley George collection.

Head over to www.shelleygeorge.com before October 30th and find yourself a great pair of shoes and a bag for your wedding or special event.

I personally LOVE these.

So what are you waiting for? Head over there now! If you can't find "the shoe" consider their flip flops or wedges as great comfortable dancing shoes

The Pink Veil Event - Sunday October 4th

2009-10-01T14:25:00.005-04:00

Cordially invites you to join us at

The Pink Veil Event

Come meet us at this FREE event as we provide the music for the lounge area.
Listen to our own Dianne present a seminar “All about the Music” at 3:15pm

(please forward this on to anyone you think would like to join)

Special guest Grace Ormonde of Grace Ormonde Wedding Style Magazine will be there giving away magazines.

Sign up for raffles for many fabulous prizes!
Walk away with an amazing swag bag full of treats and goodies

Participants include:
Cartier, Bloomingdales Wedding Registry, Sandals Resorts, Sensibly Sweet,
celebrity makeup artist Khuraira, The Fountain Spa, Cherish the Moment,
Signature Event Rentals, Oh So Fabulous celebrity event planners, Colorblind Productions,
catering by Semolina restaurant and many more!

-Attend brief seminars held by our elite vendors
-Sort through designer wedding gowns
-View the finest engagement rings and bridal jewelry by Cartier
-Experience the art of airbrushing with celebrity makeup artist, Khuraira
-Consult with celebrity event planners from Oh So Fabulous
-View the hottest trends in flowers and decor
-Take Advantage of our selection of designer sample sale gowns
-Talk with invitation and honeymoon specialists
-HEAR FROM A BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR

Sunday October 4th, 2009
Twelve Noon to Four O'clock
110 Essex Street
Millburn, NJ. 07041

RVSP to this event by calling 973.376.2770 or by emailing pinkveilevent@yahoo.com
Hosted by Exquisite Bride

Seminar Schedule:
12:30 Guest of Honor Breast Cancer Survivor Annie Paulson - Speech
1:00 Exquisite Bridesmaids Fashion Show
1:30 Oh So Fabulous Celebrity Event Planners presents Event Planning 101
2:00 Destination Weddings and Honeymoons presented by Sandals
2:30 The Art of Airbrushing presented by celebrity makeup Artist Khuraira
3:15 Colorblind productions (DJ): All about the music !

Salsa First Dance Songs

2009-09-23T14:40:00.006-04:00

Being Latin & Multicultural specialists and Puerto Rican by nationality I’ve seen many first dances that were done to different songs/dances. Particularly salsas. The most popular of these will always be 'I'll always love you' by Tito Nieves. Another popular song is Orchestra La Palabras’ salsa cover of Kenny Rodger’s 'Lady'. Recently I’ve seen an rise in the number of people using Marc Anthony’s 'Tu Amor Me Hace Bien. '

Then our Fania and faster salsa music lovers and clients, Alex & Michelle came in and wanted something faster. And the search was on. I had to find a salsa from the 70’s that had a nice love message. This era of salsa was a time when everyone talked about partying, infidelity and all sorts of other highly inappropriate topics for a first dance song. If lyrics were not important the decision would be much easier. But that wasn’t the case here.

80’s salsa has a lot of romantic songs. The problem here is that the songs are generally slower paced to suit the style that was most popular then. Looking online I found that there were a lot of inquiries about this topic but very little actual answers. Or answers that led to songs that, again, were lyrically not appropriate for a wedding. That being said, I figured it would be best to share the research I came up with. Not all of these songs are fast but they are all appropriate.

Me Tiene Loco - Puerto Rican Power
Amor Lunatico – Giro Lopez
Tu Yo - Tito Nieves
Si Superias - Pedro Conga
Me Muero Por Ella – El Gran Combo
Solo por amor - Willy Chirino
Tu me pertenece - Manny oquendo
Caballero Y Dama - Celia Cruz Y Willie Chirino
Una Noche de Amor – Willie Rosario
Hagamos lo que diga el Corazon – Grupo Niche
Desde Que Te Conoci - Ray Sepulveda>
Si Esa Mujer Me Dice Que Si - Frankie Ruiz
Thinking Of You - Lenny Kravitz (salsa versoin)
Solo Contigo - Victor Manuelle
Tu Amor Me Hace Bien - Marc Anthony
Bombon de Azucar - Charlie Cruz
Vivir lo nuestro - Marc Anthony y la India
Con Eso - El Gran Combo
Enamorado De Ti - Ismael Miranda
Sazon - Celia Cruz
Idilio - Willie Colon
Amor Perfecto - El gran combo
Por Primera Vez - Jimmy Sabater
Te voy a enamorar - La Nueva Explosión
Lo mejor de la vida - Las Estrellas de las Maquina
Cuando uno se enamora – Bobby Valentin

As for Alex & Michelle, after I made Michelle seriously take into account the dress she was wearing (even telling her to attempt dancing with it on before the day – without of course letting Alex see her) they opted for 'You’re My Everything' which was, ultimately, PERFECT. A snippet can be seen below.

Fall beauty at the Reeves-Reed Arboretum - Colorblind Productions Photography

2009-09-22T14:00:00.003-04:00

With the official end of summer comes the fall and I absolutely love this time of year. I love it even more when the colors of the trees add the perfect backdrop to every wedding. Bill & Alyson were married among the fall beauty of the Reeves-Reed Arboretum on an unseasonably warm day. We were lucky enough to capture their wedding day in photos and I realized that I never did share them so I feel a need to do so. Click on the picture below and enjoy their photos.

Trying on wedding dresses at Exquisite Bride in Millburn, NJ

2009-09-18T11:48:00.006-04:00

When I was getting married I knew I’d have my dress custom made. I had the person who would do it, the idea of the dress in my head and so when it came time I just went to Jose Manuel at Victorian Bridals in Astoria, NY and he made my masterpiece. I’ve never regretted that decision.

I did, though, regret that I never got to partake in the whole bridal gown shopping experience. I’ve heard the stories, lived vicariously through Say Yes to the Dress, got a taste of it when modeling for wedding gown designer Karin Yngvesdotter and even contemplated the idea that I should just go out one day and play a bride to be shopping for a gown even though I’ve been married for almost 8 years. So when we provided the music for the the Budget Wedding Planning Event & Sample Gown Sale at Exquisite Bride in Millburn, I got my first and only real taste at the wedding gown shopping experience. No, I did not try on any dresses, but I did get to watch brides to be experience this. What was best was that 2 of them were clients of mine. It was a very personal look into what they would look like when I see them on their wedding day and it made me downright giddy.

So although I was there to tout the fabulousness that I think Colorblind Productions is, I could not help but peek into fittings, give ideas on bustling, fawn over fabrics and designs and explain the importance of such variables for the day of. I mean I’m the queen of making bustles when they fall at events and wrote a blog post about recommendations for them so I had plenty of advice to impart on dress functionality at the reception. And I am nothing but honest and will give my opinion when asked. And I ended up being asked by ladies that weren’t even my clients. It was so much fun! Rob, of course, laughed at me. He joked that maybe I should consider bridal gown sales. Honestly, I’d probably enjoy it!

What this experience also afforded me was to observe Exquisite Bride from a client perspective. I’ve been in bridal salons before (as a bridesmaid) and have had different experiences at them. I have to say the aesthetic of Exquisite Bridal instantaneously makes you feel at ease. It is a beautifully designed facility with a great color combination, comfortable accommodations and so open and airy that it leaves you feeling as if, you’re in a spa of sorts. It just feels very Zen. Veronica Castro, Remy Quinones and the staff are nothing short of amazing, with their warm smiles, calm demeanor and stress free attitudes. They’re bilingual too! The comfort level they afford their clients is something that I value and appreciate. Yes, its wedding gown sales but it doesn’t leave you with a feeling of being sold. They seem to subscribe to a similar ideal as we do, let the product make the sale and reinforce it. They do an amazing job at that. They have a great bridesmaid, lingerie and accessories line too. I look forward to participating in more of their events.

Join us at the Budget Wedding Planning Event & Sample Gown Sale

2009-09-03T07:51:00.001-04:00

Come join us on Sunday, September 13th as we provide music and meet & greet at
Exquisite Bride in downtown Millburn, NJ. Click here for directions.

Click on the picture to visit the event page on facebook

Stop by and enjoy a glass of champagne and meet the wedding experts who are ready to help you plan the wedding of your dreams!

Exquisite Bride
With over 10,000 sq ft of space exquisite bride has the largest selection of bridal gowns in New Jersey. We have two locations offering outstanding customer service, unparalleled attention to detail, and unique couture designs. Our brides are very important to us therefore we see our brides by appointment to provide them exclusivity, privacy, and the complete attention they deserve. We are the exclusive New Jersey retailer for Vera Wang bridal gowns.
Email: exquisitebride@gmail.com
Phone: (973)376-2770
exquisite-bride.com

Exquisite Bridesmaids
Offers a wide variety of chic, classic, and modern bridesmaids dresses. We know that brides want there bridesmaids in dresses that are stylish, exuding the feel of the wedding, and above all dresses that can be worn again. Therefore our stylists are available by appointment to help the bride to be, in choosing the best style for her party. Some of the designers we carry are Vera Wang Maids, Bari Jay, Watters, Wtoo, Dessy, After Six, Impressions, Enzoani as well as Mother of the Bride/Groom dresses.
Email:info@exquisitebridesmaids.com
Phone: (973)379-2222
exquisitebridesmaids.com

Colorblind Productions - Rob & Dianne Velez
Serving the greater New York region with headquarters in New Jersey, Colorblind Productions caters to its brides and grooms with a client centered focus. We feature a variety of services including DJ, photo, video, custom gobo, projection, karaoke, coordination, and plasma screens. We also specialize in multigenerational, multicultural & Latin weddings and offer bilingual M.C.’s. Colorblind Productions is the recipient of Wedding Wire’s Bride’s Choice Award, and 2008 Best of Project Wedding award, seen on the reality shows Whose Wedding is it Anyway and Cake Boss, and is mentioned in Event Solutions Magazine, the Knot Magazine and featured in Wedding Bells Magazine. For more information visit our website colorblindprd.com or contact us at 908-3704010 or info@colorblindprd.com.

Courtney Kern/ Events Beyond
Over 10 years of experience in the arts, and event planning industry, a BS in Business Management with a Specialization in Marketing from Mercy College in Manhattan. In addition to founding Events Beyond, Courtney is employed at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. She enjoys making connections and cultivating relationships with the many talented individuals and businesses within the event community. Courtney’s passion for beauty, rigorous training, detail-oriented eye, and extensive experience has culminated in Events Beyond. Whether you are looking for Courtney to help you get started, or you need Courtney to guide you through every detail of your special day or event, Events Beyond has the resources and passion to make your vision become a reality. Courtney would love the opportunity to make your dreams come true. To learn more about the event planning services Events Beyond can provide check out eventsbeyond.net, or to set up a consultation, email info@eventsbeyond.net or call (518)229-5683.

Entiise Lingerie
Give your dress the perfect form with great function. We carry bridal bustiers, strapless, spanx, honeymoon lingerie, bride, bridal party tanks, and more. Shop On-line or sign up for our On-line Lingerie Gift Registry.
Email: veronica@entiiselingerie.com
Phone: (973)379-4450
entiiselingerie.com

DeVenir Beauty
On Location Hair and Makeup
DeVenir Beauty's philosophy and mission is for you to become the beautiful you!Our artists are specially trained in event styling with many years of experience. We continuously attend hair and makeup seminars enhancing our skills to bring you the best in contemporary styling innovations.
Email: info@DeVenirbridal.com
Phone: (800)234-8814
devenirbeauty.com

Palermo Bakery
We have been in business for over twenty years. Our bakery began as a small retail shop, yet has expanded into a large retail/wholesale operation servicing many hotels and catering halls throughout New Jersey & New York. We have been credited in providing cakes for brides on Platinum Weddings on WE. Our cakes have been featured on TLC. Our products have been given notoriety and publicity in local magazines and they have been ranked in "Best of..." in various categories.
Phone: (201)641-1654
palermobakery.com

The Studio Photographers
have crafted a distinctive documentary style of wedding imagery by blending illustrative portrait artistry and photojournalism. This is accomplished by having a team of two highly trained photographers on every wedding to capture the unique story of each couple. Images by The Studio Photographers have been featured on The Early Show on CBS, TheKnot.com, WeddingChannel.com, Pictage.com and on the pages of Contemporary Bride Magazine. Their fashion and editorial work has led them to be the exclusive cover photographer for Contemporary Bride of NY and NJ. Several locations through out the tri-state area.
Email: info@thestudiophotographers.com
Phone: 800.439.6178
thestudiophotographers.com

Robin Goldsmith / Scissor Paper Stone
Scissor Paper Stone designs wedding invitations for today's modern bride - stylish, cool and totally fabulous. Available in a range of formats to suit every budget, from luxurious handmade invitations wrapped in tissue and ribbon to cool and funky postcards. The invitations are fully customizable, including print specifications, colors, designs, typeface, and personal photographs. Already a leader in the UK, Scissor Paper Stone is pleased to announce the launch of its US office and website. Contact us via our website: scissorpaperstone.com or at (718) 313 0139.

Joe Rumore/Turn Loose the Ar
Turn Loose the Art is a boutique photography studio specializing in fashionable wedding photography and creative portraits with flare. We are enigmatic shooters always on the hunt for good light. There is art in your wedding! Joe brings a more formal, East-Coast style to Britney's laid back West-Coast style to create the perfect team coverage for your wedding photographs. Serving the Southern California and New York metro areas with no travel fees, destinations also available. Contact Us: Web: turnloosetheart.com, see the latest on the Blog: http://turnloosetheart.net or call us at (646) 416-6404 or info@turnloosetheart.com.

Rekemeier's Flowers

The Rekemeier’s bride may be secure in the knowledge that her flowers will be custom designed to suit the season, the atmosphere of her wedding location, and her own personal style. We would like to invite you to Rekemeier’s Flower & Gift Shop for an introduction to “stress-free” floral planning. Two locations in NJ.
Email: clint@rekemeiers.com
Phone:(908)277.6333

rekemeiers.com

Joshua Freiwald / Joshua Freiwald Photo
Joshua Freiwald is a freelance photographer based in New York with 15 years of experience. His clients include Estee Lauder, the St. Regis Hotels, Unicef, film producers, and art directors. Josh's photographs are held in private collections in over 15 countries. With a documentarian approach, he captures all the love, humor, and joy of a wedding day as it unfolds naturally. Revealing authentic emotion and human interaction, his photos are beautiful, fresh, spontaneous, authentic, and modern. Full of truth and beauty and of moments large and small, Josh reflects all the complexity and richness of the emotions experienced during one of life's most precious occasions. For more information check out joshuafreiwaldphoto.com email Josh at josh@joshuafreiwaldphoto.com or call (646) 729-7444.

An Affair to Remember Weddings
Eileen Kaden Dean, founder and owner, comes from a rich varied background of theatre and the arts. Her experience working at Vera Wang gives her the advantage of fashion-forward thinking and a real knowledge of couture weddings. And her love of travel has taught her to imagine a a world of limitless possibilities while keeping her eye on the tiniest of details. She forms personal relationships with each couple and oversees all the events. Her impeccable style and low pressure personality have led her to be known as one of the best in the business.
Email: eileen@anaffairtorememberweddings.com
Phone: (917)359-7302
anaffairtorememberweddings.com

Small Events - TWOty Fruity & we're published again!

2009-09-02T16:49:00.006-04:00

I'm in the midst of planning a small party for a second birthday. One of my favorite things to do is come up with concepts that stray away from character parties, or common themes. So for this 2nd birthday we will be focusing on a kid friendly favorite. FRUIT.

It will be a TWOty Fruity party :)

I've just started compiling the ideas and I'm loving what opportunities abound. I'm so excited. I put together this design board as my inspiration.

Stay tuned for the final result in a few weeks!

Published
Colorblind Productions' afotomural.com was featured in the June/July 2009 issue of Latter Day Woman in an article on Photo Decorating ideas courtesy of Totally Tabletops. I just found out thanks to google alerts if not I'd not have known about it at all!

The Gift of Wine/Spirits

2009-08-21T21:41:00.002-04:00

Although not necessarily a 'new' idea, I came across the mention of the bridal shower gift basket concept where each individual item was wrapped in a specific color for use at certain times during the first year of married life. This adorable theme was initially conceived with different color candles and then extended over to different color wines.

I reworked the poem a bit and I think it would be a great idea to make them for different types of spirits altogether. I wrote down suggestions alongside the lyrics in red and decided to share them. Enjoy!

A basket of spirits for a special pair, wrapped in different colors for you both to share. We hope that you always are as happy each married day. Please share these spirits just as we say.

First, drink the champagne, the bottle wrapped in lace,
On your first married night in your chosen place.

The silver one you must wait to unseal
Until you have your first guests over for a meal.
Shiraz

Love as you might, you'll have your first fight
Drink the blue one while you make up that night.
Rum

The gold bottle you save for Thanksgiving
To toast to the love filled life you are living.
Pinot Noir

As the winters get cold, take time to snuggle
And watch the first snowfall while you drink the white bottle.
Frangelico/Bailey's (great with hot chocolate)

The green bottle's for Christmas when putting up your first tree
Drape the ceilings in mistletoe and get tipsy
Vodka

On January 1st, while sharing some kisses,
Drink the purple bottle to toast the New Year as Mr. & Mrs.
Prosecco

Drink the pink bottle, romantic and sweet,
When it's time for your newlywed Valentine's treat.
Godiva Liqueur

And when your first year of marriage is done,
Drink the red bottle in honor of anniversaries to come.
Veuve Cliquot

Cheers to Bride & Groom on the start of your lives together. May this basket celebrate the firsts of your forever!

Things have been busy...

2009-07-24T13:30:00.006-04:00

So I've been a bit M.I.A. Wedding season is upon us, life in general takes up time and working on upgrading things in Colorblind - new logo (just got it yesterday), new website (soon), etc. add up and I haven't been so diligent in posting lately. I've been active on facebook again so visit us there too and I came across this and had to share

We had the distinctive pleasure of being the DJ's at this wedding. It was one of my favorites and absolutely stunning. And what a great party. This is a fabulous video. I actually saw myself (dianne) for 1/2 a second in the background. Definitely check it out!

You can see the blog post about it here.

Small Events - Morrocan Bridal Shower

2009-07-18T16:57:00.002-04:00

Michelle from Everday Celebrating approached me requesting some advice for a Morrocan Bridal Shower. I'll share what I shared with her on her website here

"Opulent and rich are the operative words when you think of a Moroccan color scheme. The key is to transform the space to a sensual interior with the right decorating touches. Rich color palettes, luxurious appearing decorations, lighting and theme inspired favors. A major decor element that would immediately welcome the Moroccan theme would be a pavilion style tent or a grouping of smaller tents. Fill the room with the fragrance of dried rosebuds, cinnamon , ginger, cumin and citrus peels in glass bowls.

Alternatives to authentic Moroccan decor can be found in Indian brass work or spanish iron work. Even some South American pottery has equalities that embody the Moroccan theme. Think brass and gold finished items!"

Colorblind Productions on TV again - Cake Boss

2009-06-15T13:57:00.004-04:00

Yet another wedding reality show has featured one of our clients. You might recall we were on an episode of Whose Wedding is it Anyway

Where you all got to hear me {Dianne} as M.C. welcome our brides into the room and not see anything further of us.

Flash forward to the latest reality TV installment where we're present and unseen and ironically another same sex wedding. We were the DJ's at Bryant & Derek's wedding and they're featured on a recent episode of CakeBoss as the 2 grooms who received the wrong cake.

See the episode here Cake Boss: Weddings, Water and Whacked!

In this segment you get to see our van parked just ahead of cake deliver SUV and in the background our Plasma screens. They deserve a blog post in and of itself (soon, I promise) as their wedding was at the Magnificent Loews Theater in Jersey City.

Now that's a story and a great invitation

2009-06-12T10:54:00.002-04:00

Courtesy of Oh So Beautiful Papers

Multicultural weddings want to be on TV?

2009-06-11T16:10:00.004-04:00

Clients (and lurkers) with Multicultural weddings. Any interest in being on TV?

MTV Tr3s "Quiero Mi Boda" now casting

HAVING THE WEDDING OF YOUR DREAMS THIS YEAR? ARE YOU AND YOUR FIANCEE FROM DIFFERENT COUNTRIES OR HAVE DIFFERENT CULTURAL BACKGROUNDS? QUIERO MI BODA WANTS YOU!!

Are you having la boda de tus sueños and your fiancée is from a different country or has a different cultural background? Mexicanos con Cubanos, Dominicanos con Gringos or even Puerto Ricans with Chinese!? You get the picture... Quiero Mi Boda captures your memorable life-changing experience, as two people unite to start a new family and share each other's customs and traditions.

Email us ASAP at quieromibodacasting@mtvnmix.com and tell us why your wedding should be one of the selected few featured on the show.

Get the ball and chain rolling by emailing us the following info:
• First and last names of you and your fiancée
• Each of your e-mail addresses
• Each of your phone numbers (mobile or other)
• Three photographs:
(1) a photograph of yourself alone
(2) a photograph of your fiancée alone
(3) a photograph of you together as a couple
• Wedding date and location (including city and state)
• How you and your fiancée met
• Each of your backgrounds
• What are the common elements that you and your fiancée share and what are the differences that fuel the culture clash?
• What is your budget for your special day?
• What makes tu boda so special?

Recession-Friendly Wedding Planning

2009-06-04T15:01:00.006-04:00

As you all know we offer a fabulous package for Photo, Video & DJ services for $3600!! How recession friendly is that??? But there are many other vendors offering fabulous recession friendly products and services. What better way to learn about it then with a

Recession-Friendly Wedding Planning Event
click on the photo for a larger version

Dates: June 13 & 14 2009
Time: 10:00 am – 1:00pm
Location: Sweet Revenge 62 Carmine Street (Bedford & 7th Ave) West Village

ABOUT THE ORGANIZERS:

Marlo Scott / Sweet Revenge:
Sweet Revenge, the upscale and world-inspired cupcake beer and wine bar, opened in the West Village in July 2008. Marlo made her artisan cupcakes and discussed her unique cupcake beer and wine pairings menu on The Martha Stewart Show in January 2009 and on Fox5's "Good Day New York" in February 2009. Sweet Revenge won Time Out New York Magazine's prestigious 2009 Eat Out Award and was the magazine's "Critic's Pick" and in its "Top 100 List" in 2008. Marlo has been featured in Bon Appetit, the Feedbag.com, CupcakesTakeTheCake and New York Metro, among others.

Robin Goldsmith / Scissor Paper Stone:
Scissor Paper Stone designs wedding invitations for today's modern bride - stylish, cool and totally fabulous. Available in a range of formats to suit every budget, from luxurious handmade invitations wrapped in tissue and ribbon to cool and funky postcards. The invitations are fully customizable, including print specifications, colors, designs, typeface, and personal photographs. Already a leader in the UK, Scissor Paper Stone is pleased to announce the launch of its US office and website. Contact us via our website: www.scissorpaperstone.com or at (718) 313 0139.

Peta Takai / KoruDesigNZ:
KoruDesigNZ sells New Zealand-inspired jewelry, clothing and art using natural raw materials from New Zealand (e.g., merino wool, paua/abalone shell, mother of pearl, greenstone, pearls, and river stones). Peta's stunning and stylish pieces reflect the inspiration she draws from her native New Zealand's natural resources, multi-cultured people, and landscape and the energy of her life in NYC. With a passion for travel, people, surfing and cycling in places all over the world, Peta brings it all together in her striking line of jewelry, hip and versatile clothing and dazzling artwork.

Joshua Freiwald / Joshua Freiwald Photo:
Joshua Freiwald is a freelance photographer based in New York with 15 years of experience. His clients include Estee Lauder, the St. Regis Hotels, Unicef, film producers, and art directors. Josh’s photographs are held in private collections in over 15 countries. He combines a documentary approach with a background in fashion and editorial photography, capturing all the love, humor and joy of a wedding day as it unfolds naturally. Revealing authentic emotion and human interaction, his photos are beautiful, fresh, spontaneous and modern. Full of truth and beauty and of moments large and small, Josh's work reflects all the complexity and richness of the emotions experienced during one of life's most precious occasions.

Courtney Kern / events beyond:
With 10 years of experience in the arts and event planning industry, a career at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, and a passion for perfectly executed events, Courtney Kern founded Events Beyond in 2007 to provide clients with innovation, style, and seamless and flawless event management for special occasions. Offering a full spectrum of services, from idea development to total event planning and management, Events Beyond turns visions and dreams into reality. Check out www.eventsbeyond.net for more information and ideas.

Denise Fasanello / Denise Fasanello Floral Design:
Denise Fasanello Floral Design is a boutique events company that specializes in stylish weddings for the modern couple. With over ten years of experience working with leading New York floral designers, a BFA from The Cooper Union, painting studies at the Rietveld Academie in Amsterdam, and exhibitions of her art in New York and Paris, Denise brings her artistic passions and experience to life in every floral arrangement she designs for her clients' special occasions. By establishing an overall design aesthetic based on the individual's needs and vision, Denise incorporates color, scale and texture to create unique arrangements that are truly works of art.

Janelle Funari/Orangia Collection:
Orangia ties the knot and launches eco friendly bridal collection for destination weddings. The birth of Orangia Bridal occurred when duo Janelle Funari and architect Rodrigo Londono were commissioned from brides all over the world to create custom one of a kind creations incorporating the same Orangia concept - comfort, elegance and exclusiveness for unique global destinations. Each Creation is custom made one of kind and is softly fabricated using natural, organic laces and cotton, silks, hemp and custom prints,and embroideries. The launch of the bridal division in April 2009 has been outstanding with press coverage from Brides.com, The Knot.com, Project wedding.com,and Better Bridal magazine.
Every piece is hand crafted by artisans in the U.S.A fabricating each design with love. The brand was created for the customers to feel the contentment and harmony from the clothing, and know that at the same time they are doing something good for the Earth and for humanity. Modern bride look no further, if you are looking for an atelier to give you a unique piece incorporating function, art and love Orangia is the place for you.

Marni Gold/ Creative Custom Card Boxes
When planning her own wedding, Marni sought a card holder that matched her theme without breaking the bank. She found that the options available were either too gaudy or tacky and were very over priced. She and her mother Linda decided to create a custom painted card box to match her color scheme and theme.

The mother-daughter team behind Creative Custom Card Boxes works closely with each of their customers to create a card box that is perfectly in tune with her wedding or party theme and decor. The boxes start at just $40, which is absolutely amazing, considering the time and effort that goes into creating such beautiful finished products. Creative Custom Cardboxes recently recieved the prestigious Brides Choice Award from WeddingWire.com for 2009!

Linda and Marni of Creative Custom Card Boxes create hand crafted and hand painted gift holders, cake table "I DO and WE DO letters, and monogram caketoppers which can be completely customized for weddings and other celebrations. Check out www.creativecustomcardboxes.com for more information!

Step away from the computer screen. You can't see it anyway.

2009-06-04T14:58:00.001-04:00

Never underestimate the importance of your eyesight. For the first time in my {Dianne} life I'm suffering from a severe case of allergies. I've never had them before. And what is it doing to me? It is screwing with my eyesight. How so? Well the medication that alleviates the allergies manage to dry out my eyes, the drying of my eyes led to irritation of my eyelids. This in turn led to an infection of some sort which in turn led to blurring of my eyesight.

For the last 3 days I've religiously put in steroid and antibiotic drops and today is the first day which I an see semi normally. I wear glasses as is and you know it's bad when with or without them I could see just about equally. So I've been away from my computer screen as much as possible (which is painfully hard for me to do)

So just a personal update on why I haven't posted everything I said I was going to.

It's been a while huh?

2009-05-31T15:56:00.003-04:00

I underestimated how busy we'd be recently what with weddings, events and our two kids (beautiful weather makes for 2 kids that would love to live outdoors) so I've obviously been neglecting this blog. I have loads of real weddings, great ideas and wonderful stories to share with you all. I just need to get a moment to sit down and jot it all down.

Please note that you can always contact us on our cell phones if you need to reach us directly (ether calling or txting. And if you haven't found me (Dianne) on twitter yet I'm ColorblindPrd and have access on my phone there should you want to send me a message.

Communication

2009-05-18T19:09:00.000-04:00

We know communication is most important in this industry. We were in the midst of changing website and e-mail hosting companies and we so e-mail has been terribly delayed (I just got a bunch of e-mails today) so we are working at getting back to everyone. Our apologies if you have sent us an e-mail and we haven't responded. We didn't know it was there!

I'd also like to note that in this busy wedding season we will be fairly inaccessible on Monday's. So please don't thing we are avoiding you. As we work most all weekend Monday is our time to recoup.

As always we are available on our cell phones if you need us immediately.

Streamlining blog posts, new awards & increasing our online presence

2009-04-22T11:49:00.009-04:00

As my previous post specified, wedding season is officially in effect. If I had a hard time securing time to blog before, it will only get worse now. But I’ll be honest here - the only reason I don’t blog more often is laziness. There are days when I’m overpowered with ambition and determination. These are the days that the blog features posts of past weddings and great tips and ideas. And then there are days where I can’t put together a cohesive sentence. I get a form of writer’s block that leaves me unable to really adequately express what I want. Finally, there are days when I am just frustrated with myself and in an effort to drop one thing in my “to do list” I drop the blog post.

I really want to be far more consistent in posting here because, I have a lot of ideas, pictures and content I want to share. There is so much brimming and boiling over that I’m overwhelmed with what I should post when. So to streamline the process I think I’m going to be more consistent with my blog topics throughout the week.

Monday – Real Weddings & Events. See pictures, ideas and details of Weddings, Sweet 16’s, Quinceneras and more that Colorblind Productions has the pleasure of providing services for.
Tuesday – Thrifty Tuesdays. Ways to make your wedding & event financially feasible. Beauty, elegance and style can be had without breaking your budget.
Wednesday - The Event You Imagined. Every event has details that are unique, that showcase the style and individual ideas of the host(s). Be they colors, designs, or unique items, these small details can make a big impact. So we share inspiration boards, ideas and details that not only our clients have used, but that we’ve found around the web and through our networked vendors and bloggers to inspire!
Thursday - Turn Up The Music. A closer look at music for weddings & events: Ideas of songs to use for special portions of your day, expanded views of music and music styles to please the varied tastes and genres of our clients and their friends and families as well as others. We will provide descriptions of cultural music, dances and their significances given our expertise in Latin, Portuguese and multicultural weddings. Music can be so much more then just in the background.
Friday, Saturday & Sunday Open. Because these are the dates of most of our events there might be no post at all.

We might even find that we will post more then once a day. WOW! Can you imagine?

AWARDS!
We received the following in the mail and want to thank all of you who have provided such great reviews of Colorblind Productions. We have made the BEST OF 2008 for Project Wedding!!!

INCREASED ONLINE PRESENCE
Now not only can you view our blog, but you can follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

If you are not our friend yet, please friend and follow us. Click on the icons below to go right to our page.

Wedding season has begun!

2009-04-13T16:42:00.003-04:00

The end of March brought upon us the season opener to wedding season and now that we are in April, its no holds barred. Things get busy and I have to really become a bit more dedicated in getting here and posting more often. Its not that I don't have 101 things to say. It's more where in the span of time that is the days and nights I can manage time to do all these things. And so I'm going to try my best to get up and post more often.

With that said, I am going into this season with a new perspective. I read over the thank you notes and web referrals and I noticed a trend. I noticed how appreciative our clients were not only for our fabulous work as Rob is not only an amazing DJ but one who understands music and how it impacts an event. How to start it off so that all the guests, their individual cultures and ages all get taken into account so that everyone appreciates the music and enjoys themselves. He knows how to culminate the event leaving you wanting more. But I digress. Beyond that fact I noticed the appreciation in our openness to assisting them in making the day what they wanted it to be. Going above and beyond their expectation level. And that is my new motto. To try to anticipate needs and go beyond expectations.

And my weddings have been examples to that. I have had caravans follow me from ceremonies to picture locations to the reception venue. GPS can only do so much. I've ironed dresses and hidden exposed undergarments. I've bustled dresses that had no bustles. I have translated Spanish to English and English to Portuguese. And at nights end, I have left more invigorated then ever to the hugs of my clients and their smiles.

So stay tuned as I've already taken pictures and will share them shortly. It's already panning out to be a visually beautiful year of amazing locations, fabulous couples and unique ideas.

Frugality in weddings a good thing

2009-03-31T20:13:00.004-04:00

Browsing online I came across this article from the March 31st 2009 Daily News

Having had the opportunity of working at some of these locations and having been the only professional hired at several weddings I like seeing the return to the simplicity of weddings. No, they need not be over the top. They can be though. Everyone has their own sense of how their day should be and how it should run. This is just one of many ways to celebrate the beginning of marriage and I thought it would be appropriate to share. We may live in one of the more expensive locations in the nation for weddings. But we need not fall into the illusion that our wedding need be expensive. I think Colorblind Productions is in a unique place to offer services that can accommodate most any budget. And we have had some creative suggestions made to maneuver our way through this. At the end of the day, be it a million dollars or a few hundred, a wedding is bliss.

Be frugal & alter your wedding tab: Brooklyn brides find ways to save By Denise Romano Tuesday

Debbi Schwartzberg, 30, of Cobble Hill, bought a dress off the rack to save money, and offered cupcakes instead of a wedding cake to save about $400.

The Boathouse in Prospect Park is an inexpensive place for a wedding.

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something . . frugal

Savvy Brooklyn brides are finding ways to cut wedding costs without sacrificing style.

"We did everything except for the catering and location for under $1,000," said Kimi Weart, 36, a graphic designer and fine artist from Clinton Hill, who got married at the Prospect Park Boathouse last September.

"My dress was a $68 dress from Target [Mizrahi] that I customized," she said. Her friends DJ-ed and took the photos, and the most expensive part was for her husband, Paul - a Burberry suit, bought on sale at Syms for $500.

"I made hundreds of paper flowers for decoration, did my own stationery, made matchbox favors, got over 100 candles for about $70," she said.

Weart wasn't the only bride to put her creativity to work.

Sarissa Singletary-Phillips, 32, a Clinton Hill fashion stylist, forgot the florist and took care of centerpieces and flowers herself when she got married last September at the Prospect Park Picnic House.

"I used curly willow branches that I bought from the flower district by the bunch, used pillar candles that I found online at a wholesale price and beaded garland from Michael's," she said, adding that her favors were homemade candy apples, purchased in bulk by a caterer and prepared with a recipe found online.

Phillips also saved money by having a wine bar instead of top shelf liquor, had a friend DJ and, instead of renting several limos, she rented one party bus.

"We used the party bus as a place to lounge and chill out before the reception," she said, pointing out that there is no bridal suite at the venue.

Also married at the Picnic House last September, Eric-Renner Smith and Maya Frank-Levine, both 27 and from Parkville, were happy with their choice.

"This was much cheaper than some of the other places we'd been considering, even the all-inclusive types," said Smith, a teacher. The couple used Naturally Delicious as a caterer. "We were happy to splurge on good food," Smith said, "because we'd saved money on the location and I wasn't too keen on fattening the pockets of some catering hall owner."

They also liked the familiarity of the location.

"Prospect Park is something I use nearly every week," Smith said, "and I felt that, as long as the money had to be spent, I was glad it was going to something I believe in."

Experts insist there are plenty of ways to save on weddings.

"If you have the time, you have ways to save," said Linda LaViolette, a former owner/chef of an off-premise catering business, who has overseen thousands of weddings.

"Any wedding benefits from having flowers on a buffet table and also on individual tables," she said. Roses, tulips and orchids are the best picks, she said, because they are not as delicate.

"You can buy a clay pot anywhere, sponge paint it to whatever color your theme is and plant an orchid in the pot," LaViolette said. "You pay $25 instead of $75, and it's simple and beautiful."

She also said, if you have a fall wedding, you can use gourds and pumpkins in a basket instead of flowers.

"Other brides have grown wheat grass in little square wooden pots," she said. "Then, they put pieces of the turf on the table and decorate it with votive candles as a centerpiece."

Debbi Schwartzberg, 30, of Cobble Hill, did just that.

"My friend bought all seasonal flowers and branches and supplemented the decor with other things like bird houses," said Schwartzberg, adding the Boat House is, "so beautiful that it doesn't need to be dripping with flowers, anyway."

Schwartzberg also cut down the cost of her wedding last October by getting a dress "off the rack" at Bloomingdale's for $500, doing her own makeup, eliminating favors and a bridal party and sending out an e-mail Save the Date.

But she didn't stop there.

"We bought thank-you cards at Target and rented a set of speakers and used an iPod instead of a DJ," she said.

"We booked a photographer late, which made him more flexible with his rates and had gorgeous filled cupcakes instead of a wedding cake, which saves about $400."

To make the ceremony more personal, one of her friends got ordained online and performed the ceremony.

Schwartzberg isn't the only one with great ideas.

Kate Fermiole, 40, who works for the Brooklyn Historical Society, got married this past June at the Picnic House.

"Even before the economic crisis, we had a small-budget wedding due to our small nonprofit salaries," said Fermiole, whose husband works at the Tenement Museum in Manhattan.

"We asked our very talented friends and family - in lieu of gifts - that they contribute in some small way to our day."

Friends made the wedding cake, played the viola during the ceremony, took photographs and guided guests to the Picnic House.

One friend also had their band play during the cocktail hour and Fermiole had help planting herbs in clay pots that had triple use - decorations, centerpieces and favors.

In the end, the efforts were all worthwhile.

"Our wedding was beautiful, personal and the gifts of time and talent made it even more so," Fermiole said.

Here is a list of venues where you can get hitched without spending a bundle:

Parks You can get married in any park in the borough and have your reception there with a Parks Department permit. If you have less than 20 people, a permit is not needed. If you have between 20 and 100, a permit is only $25. Taking photographs and shooting video in parks is also free. Remember, alcoholic beverages and amplified sound are never allowed in the park at any time. Call 311 for details.

Fulton Ferry Landing The Fulton Ferry Landing and the Brooklyn Promenade cost nothing to get married on, and no permit is required.

Prospect Park Picnic House The Prospect Park Picnic House can hold up to 175 guests for dinner and dancing and 220 for cocktail parties. It is available for rental in eight-hour blocks, including tables and chairs. The fee is $4,250 plus $500 refundable security. If you plan your wedding in the winter months of January through March 2010, you get a $500 seasonal discount. Call (718) 287-6215 for more info.

Palm House If you have a daytime reception at the Palm House at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, you'll save about $1,600 on weekdays and $2,000 on weekends for the rental and about $20 on catering fees per person. Weekday receptions between November and February are $1,250. On weekends, the price is $1,500. Weekdays through March and April are $1,875; weekends are $2,500. Weekdays from May to October are $2,500; weekends $3,125. The venue holds up to 400 for a cocktail reception and 300 for dinner and dancing. The price includes a five-hour affair, open bar, food, linens and more. Call (718) 398-2400 for more info. The ceremony-only fee is $350 for up to 50 people. Only one wedding is done each Saturday and Sunday, between 9 and 10 a.m. Call (718) 623-7220 for more info.
Sahara 2337 Coney Island Ave., (718) 376-8594"The difference between us and a catering hall is that we do not charge for the room, just for the food served." Pay by the plate, $33 plus tax and plus service, maximum $50 a plate. They serve a full menu, salad, appetizers, main course and dessert, with 10 different menus. Rooms hold up to 120 people. Ask for Mercil.
Il Fornetto 2902 Emmons Ave., (718) 332-8494 You can have your reception right on the water in Sheepshead Bay. You'll pay up to $60 a plate, and they have options to add top-shelf liquor to the party for $18 per person, passed hors d'oeuvres and other extra options.

Astoria Caterers 1870 Bath Ave., (718) 996-8126 This hall gives you a reception with all the trimmings. Food, music and an emcee is $60 per person. If you want decorations and centerpieces, it is $100 per person. The hall holds up to 270 people.

Old Stone House Old Stone House accommodates 80 people standing, and 60 seated. When rented with the first floor gallery of the house, it can hold up to 120 for buffet and cocktails. You can also rent a tent to expand capacity. The fee to rent is $200 for four hours on Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. plus $75 for each additional hour. There is also a $400 surcharge for weekend/evening rentals. Call (718) 768-3195 for more info.

Prospect Park Boathouse The Prospect Park Boathouse can hold up to 110 guests for dinner and dancing indoors, 200 for cocktail parties and 300 with optional tenting outside. The rental fee is $4,000 and you must use outside catering by Moveable Feast Catering. They can be reached at (718) 965-2900. The Boathouse also offers a ceremony-only option for weekend mornings for a maximum of 40 guests for $750. If it rains, you can be moved up to the balcony under an awning. Call (718) 287-5252, ext. 102, for more info.

The Wedding Salon at the Roosevelt Hotel

2009-03-26T22:22:00.009-04:00

I love the Roosevelt Hotel. No, I've never stayed there. Actually, until this event I've never even been inside. But I'll tell you why I love it. 2 years ago a friend from out of town had plans to meet me at the clock in Grand Central Station. Pressed for time, I ended up driving into the city and of course got stuck in traffic. Said friend had no cell phone. I was late and you know how likely finding a place to park in the middle of the day on a weekday by Grand Central Station is? Yeah - not likely at all. So I pulled up to the Roosevelt Hotel and asked the doorman there for advice on a parking location. I blabbed out the reason for my situation and asked him if he knew anywhere I could put my car for the 15 minutes max it would take me to meet my friend that wouldn't cost me $50. And what that wonderful man said was my salvation, "Leave it here. I'll watch it and make sure that the cops don't ticket it." And that's what I did. I left it in front of the Roosevelt hotel, grabbed my friend and ran back up in less then 5 minutes. My car remained there. Ticket-less. I gave him the $25 in my pocket for it.

But I digress. Customer service kudos to the Roosevelt Hotel aside, I found myself in front of it at 6:15pm on Monday for The Wedding Salon Event. I attended the Wedding Salon event in October which was beautiful (if unbelievably warm) and obviously missed the after work crowd at that event as this go around, I found myself around the corner on a line that snaked up the street, in the side door, up 2 flights of stairs and over the main room JUST to get to the registration tables. I stood behind 2 wedding planners form Connecticut and in front of a bride to be and her friend with the most odd story of the guy she's seeing and his psycho ex-fiance with whom he bought a house with while engaged to yet another man. ODD. It served as a great distraction from the line I was standing on. To the Wedding Salon's credit, it did move fairly quickly. But by the time I reached the registration desks I was already sweltering under my plaid wool coat. I skipped the coat check because of the number of people there but waved at the living plant feeling sorry for how hot he must be and began my walk around.

The sheer number of people there made it difficult to really talk to much of anyone, let alone make your way through the packed rooms and narrow, cramped and congested balcony space. I never made it into the Victoria's Secret Lounge and curse myself for it as I heard that was where David Tutera's company was. I marvel that I stayed there for an hour as the conditions could only be correctly labeled as sweltering. Even then, though, it is always a good event to attend. I especially love going to see the tablescapes. My favorite being the design by Flowers by Topaz, but I'll let you be your own personal judge.

Of course, one of the highlights to the Wedding Salon are the cakes, or better said, the tasting of them. Sylvia Weinstock was there yet again, and I thought it particularly endearing to see her handing out cakes to passerbys.

I must though take the time out to say that Make My Cake II was by far my favorite cake there. Absolutely scrumptious. I went back much to my embarrassment - 3 times. Absolutely delicious.

And of course among the tastings is the beauty of the cakes and cupcake tiers displayed

Visiting the vendors at took a back seat this go around because, like I said, the number of people and the heat of the venue. But I have to give a shout out to Joseph Edwards (wedding filmmaker) for remembering me from the last show (I told you, you are still on my roster ;) ) I also got to speak with Allison from Style made Simple with whom I really clicked with and who I can imagine is the perfect wedding dress concierge and stylist.

I was to meet up with the photographer from Jason Groupp there but was just too hot and left shortly after walking down the block with my jacket still flung over my arm trying to cool down. I would have stayed longer and talked more had the location turned on the air conditioning. But maybe that was the whole point.

Thrifty Tuesday - Ixnay on the Wedding talk

2009-03-24T18:21:00.006-04:00

I was browsing blogs the other day and I ran into a piece of advice I have heard before in reference to disc jockey's especially. This grand piece of advice...

"don't tell them your event is a wedding. Get pricing for a non wedding event as it will be cheaper"

This always befuddled me. Yes, I agree, it will be cheaper. No question. But there's 2 things that I don't understand about this. First, how can anyone hire someone to DJ their wedding under the impression that its not a wedding. It's just almost impossible if not entirely inappropriate. Second, how is it hard to comprehend the reasoning for the additional cost. A wedding is far more involved then a regular party. There are music needs, MC'ing needs, expectations to be accomplished. It is a different animal all together. But that's a post that needs to be made onto itself.

I'm here to tell you that the advice isn't necessarily wrong. Now I'm not telling you all to go out there and lie to your vendors. Nope. I'm looking at the same phrase and using the words a bit differently. Get pricing at non wedding related places and it will be cheaper. For example. I love Costco and how many of you know that they have a great floral department. Not only for buying in bulk for you do it yourself-ers BUT they actually have a wedding floral division that can get you bouquets and boutonnieres for less then $500. Most times that's the cost of the bridal bouquet alone! They even do centerpieces.

And beyond that they actually do invitations, jewelry, honeymoons and photos. Check out the Costco wedding page. The only catch? you have to pick them up yourself. But you know, I've seen Costco bouquets and they really are beautiful. And it goes beyond Costco. Some ShopRites and other supermarkets do wedding cakes. I know as I picked a beautiful and delicious wedding cake up myself for a wedding last fall and transported it to the wedding location. So think outside the box, away from the wedding advertisers and you're bound to find a great deal.

It’s all about the shoes - even for the boys

2009-03-23T16:01:00.002-04:00

I’m a bit obsessed with shoes. We won’t discuss how many are in my closet or how often Rob shakes his head as the newest shoe makes its presence known (yes, he does notice.) And as beautiful as some of the bride’s wedding shoes are - and as an aside, I love the fact that people are wearing colored shoes more often now - I have to say I’m enjoying grooms that have decided to forgo the shiny rental shoe for something a little more comfortable.

These I especially loved as he had the wedding date put on them. But even the groomsmen got into the comfort factor. And even though not all the kicks were the traditional black, they did stay to the wedding color-purple.

Recently I was at another wedding where the groom and groomsmen work chucks (converse) with custom laces that had their date and names. I totally loved it. It may not for everyone, that’s for sure. But I think if the woman can have personality in their shows so should men!

Why I like attending Wedding Ceremony Rehearsals

2009-03-20T16:29:00.003-04:00

I like attending wedding ceremony rehearsals. We at Colorblind Productions make every attempt, if the schedule permits, to attend ceremony rehearsals. Regardless of the fact that ceremonies themselves ultimately take on a similar flow, there are particular items that are different, and variables to take into account that attendance at a rehearsal allows for. Most especially when we are providing photography or videography services.

I attended a wedding rehearsal last night and have the luck of pictures since I had my camera handy. You can see the things I look out for and the. Taking these pictures and sharing them with our staff affords them the opportunity of seeing the space as well. It's win win all around.

But there are very specific reasons I love attending rehearsals, especially in spaces I've not been to in the past.

Meeting the Bridal Party. Getting to see the important people of the wedding and know who they are is a great advantage.
Knowing the logistics of the space. Tiled floors, marble, carpet. Each of these variables can impact the way your camera rolls, what shoes you really should consider wearing, etc. How's the lighting? What are the acoustics? How much space do I have to move around?what kind of interesting shots can be taken? For example. yesterday I found myself in a small walkway alongside the church thinking how interesting a space it would be for a picture.
Meeting the officiant. This is especially important in religious institutions. Some priests are far more liberal and lenient then others. Some have rules and expectations. It is best to know before arrival what to expect. You can also ask poignant questions, such as is there a ceremony or mass before or after yours, can pictures be taken in the church following the ceremony, and most importantly, whether or not flash or lighting could be used.

Overall you can't go wrong with attending the rehearsal. And if the schedule permits, we usually do attend.

Thank You

2009-03-18T19:05:00.006-04:00

If you come into our offices you'll see quickly that we really love our Thank You notes. I cannot tell you the kind of unbridled joy I get in receiving one. Thank you notes have really changed over time. Although as you see, the slip in picture ones are still prevalent, I love the creativity in a lot of them. But what I love most is the testimonials.

The written proof that they loved our music, thoroughly enjoyed the video and photos or what's even best we grateful to us personally for our input and participation in making their day beautiful and stress free.

The thank you cards spill across our desk and up our bookcase. I'm trying to figure out the best way to display them all (and ideas?) as they are a ever present reminder of the value of our services and a reminder why I love doing what I do so much

Thrifty Tuesday - Saving money on your wedding video

2009-03-17T11:44:00.005-04:00

One of the first things to be cut off the wedding vendor list when money is tight is the wedding video. I have heard the notes made to justify not getting one and I will admit that I agree with many of them

unnecessary expense for something you watch a very limited amount of time and largely gathers dust
disillusion on having seen all the cheesy wedding videos in the past
general discomfort with a video camera around
the thought that wanting to see yourself on video or having others watch it is vain and egocentric
etc.

But at the other end of the spectrum, when you step away from it all there’s a different perspective to take. A perspective that is hard to sometimes really grasp until the day has passed and the moments are gone. The day flies in a whirlwind of activity and bliss. The moments that are most cherished become cemented into your memory and you battle with memories going forward for the space in your brain. The ability to relive the details diminishes over time. People who were of great importance leave this universe. Sure, the pictures are there and they are beautiful and detailed, but have you ever watched an old movie, especially and old family movie and marveled at the voices, the actions and the ‘reality’ of the person on the film.

That is what video helps to capture: The hiccup of nervousness upon saying your vows, the emotion riddled speeches in the toasts made in your honor, even the general craziness you might not even want to have recorded let alone remembered now but which will bring smiles and giggles in the future. But how do you manage to capture that when your budget just doesn’t afford for it?

Most logical answer here would be to ensure that someone is recording it. Now, I see you all expecting me to tell you that you should stay away from amateurs and family using their personal camcorders since we offer video. I’m not going to do that. If that’s your choice between having and not having a videographer then go for it. I’ll admit that is what Rob and I did. It didn’t work out smoothly. Much to my dismay our ceremony wasn’t taped (timing logistics didn’t work out for the person doing it) and our reception is taped from a tripod on the stage (i.e. far away) but we have something. In hindsight I wish we had someone actually manning the camera at all times, but it’s hard to ask that kind of dedication from a friend or family invited to the celebration when you want them to enjoy themselves too.

What other option is there. RAW FOOTAGE. Did you know you can hire a videographer JUST to shoot? No editing at all. Did you know that the price of this is significantly less. You can even negotiate to just have the ceremony taped, or to have only the first part of the reception taped.

You know we at Colorblind Productions offer this option right? We offer 2 camera coverage for the day in our raw footage package. When all is said & done, we not only give you the actual tapes of the footage so that in the future you can edit your own, but we also give you all the footage burned onto a DVD for you to watch at your leisure. We’ll even offer you the option of a short highlights DVD if you wish that generally condenses your entire wedding into a convenient music video. You can even come back to us a few years later and decide to have your video edited.

There are options out there that are inexpensive or even free. Do what you can to make sure there’s a video of that day. I guarantee you won’t regret it.

GIVEAWAY

2009-03-16T10:01:00.006-04:00

We are giving away one custom fotomural on the blog Everyday Celebrating. The contest ends tonight and the winner will be announced tomorrow so if you haven't done so already, now would be a great time to head over there.

Pricing for the fotomurals is now available on the website. We have some very creative folks asking us for some interesting pieces so we'll have some new photos to add to our gallery soon.

Colorblind Productions is gearing up for a great year of weddings, sweet 16's and special events so expect a great number of new concepts highlighted.

Tomorrow will begin our new blog segment Thrifty Tuesdays, giving advice on how to have a the wedding you imagined without breaking hte bank. Stay tuned.

Don't forget to vote for aFotomural for the 2009 Leading Moms of Business. No registration necessary, just a simple click on the VOTE FOR ME button.

We're sorry but our e-mail server is down

2009-03-11T14:53:00.004-04:00

Just a quick note to let you know that if we're not responding to e-mails today is that our e-mail host is having some "technical difficulties."

This has managed to happen more then 3 times in the past 6 months. Time to shop for a new hosting site. In the interim, we will receive all your e-mails and you will receive all of ours after they resolve whatever issue it is they have.

They said it "should be resolved by close of business day on the pacific coast" but I'm not holding my breath.

Fotomural Giveaway...

2009-03-09T21:20:00.003-04:00

Yes, FREE. We're giving away a custom Fotomural. Want to get in on the action? Head over to Everyday Celebrating . We wish you luck! Perfect for all occasions and for decoration.

We are looking at expanding beyond high quality papers and will be offering the fotomural as wall decals which are easy to mount and what's better -easily removable! Stay tuned for when they will be available. Our pricing list is live on the site now as well.

Find us on Facebook

2009-03-07T23:53:00.005-05:00

Are you on Facebook? If you are feel free to become a fan of Colorblind Productions! You can keep up with what we're upto, read and leave us comments and view photos and video clips.

Sweet 16’s and Quinceñeras

2009-03-06T12:31:00.003-05:00

I know I talk a lot about weddings. That’s not to say that we only do weddings. Weddings may, in fact, be the majority of our business, but coming in second place is the Sweet 16/Quinceñera. And I’m not talking about basic birthday parties, or the MTV-esque Super Sweet 16’s. I’m talking about the classic Spanish/Hispanic/Filipino Sweet 16’s and Quinceñeras, with a court of honor and a choreographed entrance and dances.

We work with several choreographers in the area that we’ve built relationships with because of our flexibility in understanding their role in the event. Some of them come to us, even when we’re not the entertainment for their event to compile and edit the music. Like most event vendors, the levels of interaction and responsibility of the choreographer varies from person to person. You have those who just put together the dance and those who extend their services into full event planning. In either case, the entrance and dances are of most importance to them. It is also very important to the parents and the guest of honor. We understand that so we work closely with all present to guarantee that it runs smoothly.

Colorblind Productions makes it a point to attend the final rehearsal for these events as 99% of the time they are held at the location of the party. We find it important to be in attendance to observe exactly how the presentation occurs, how the dances occur, what the choreography looks like and where the music needs to start/stop. It gives us the opportunity to meet with the choreographer and beyond that review the announcements made, the correct pronunciation of names and the general flow of the presentation. If we are providing video or photography services it also allows us to see where we need to be focusing to get the best video of the sweet 16/quinceñera girl and her court of honor.

We also let photographers and videographers know on the day the way the presentation will be so they can get the best shots of the group and know where they should or shouldn’t be throughout the presentation.

I plan on highlighting some of our past Sweet 16’s and Quince’s in the upcoming weeks.

Bartering making a bigger comeback

2009-03-04T09:33:00.004-05:00

I posted about bartering in a previous post. The Today Show did a piece on it this morning

And yes, Colorblind Productions is open to bartering. Especially in this economy. We have several things we need done (largely painting, some carpentry work, plumbing, etc.) but we'd love to hear what other options are out there. We are on Big Day Barter. The Today Show piece talked about u-exchange.com, and favorpals.com.

Fotomurals gets its own website!

2009-03-03T12:58:00.003-05:00

As those of you who read this blog know, I make customized photo murals. I started selling them on Etsy and I'm rather happy with the response. So much so that I decided to agressively market them. The photo murals are now appropriately called Fotomurals and I've launched the website for them www.afotomural.com

We welcome you to visit and spread the word on Fotomurals. They can be used for events as a stunning backdrop, or in the home as a unique art piece/display. I'm offering them in various sizes and materials including paper, photo, transparencies and heavy grade card stock.

Are you a do it yourself bride?

2009-02-27T12:06:00.004-05:00

I love DIY brides. I absolutely love the thought and details put into an event that are so personal and so pervasive when they were done with care by the bride & groom (and at times helpful friends and bridal parties.)

And who is the best friend of the DIY wedding? Well that would be Micheals, ACMooore, Pearl Paint and the like.

And what better way to get people to come into your store? Coupons!

Click here for Michael's coupon (expires Saturday the 28th)

Click here for AC Moore's coupons (expires Saturday the 28th)
Enjoy!

Dispose of the Disposable Camera and get Photo Sharing Cards

2009-02-23T13:25:00.005-05:00

If you have been a client of mine, you know that for DJ services you get to go through my 4 page check off list that helps me outline completely your reception and its flow. Maybe it’s a little too detailed but I like it that way. One of the questions on there is – Will you have disposable cameras?

Years ago these were all the rage. I mean, what better way to get even more pictures of your day from actual guests attending the wedding? Custom covers were put on them and little rhyming notes educated those guests unfamiliar what to do with them, or asking them to complete a scavenger hunt of sorts.

But the perfect idea was not without its limitations. Invariably, I found that many people complained about the same things after developing the film

Dark pictures. Lets face it. Disposable cameras don’t have strong flashes. So trying to take a photo at any sort of distance in a dark room results in grainy and dark pictures that even the best of Photoshop pros cannot salvage successfully
Repetitive pictures. As great as your first dance is – 100 pictures of it in poor quality weren’t the initial intention
Inappropriate pictures. Yes folks, some people have jokers for friends who find photos of…um…anatomy…especially funny.
Disappearing cameras. It’s a given the people will neglect to leave the camera in the table and take them with them, even though they were reminded otherwise. It’s an easy enough mistake. For a while, I advised brides to consider numbering the cameras so at the very least they knew which table’s camera was the disappearing one.
Unused film. I cannot tell you how many weddings I have been to where I have collected the cameras at nights end to find them barely used.
FILM. Remember that? No quick upload via USB. So you are made to spend money developing film which will no doubt be 85% unusable.

If you haven’t picked up on it, I’m clearly not a fan of disposable cameras. In fact I’m surprised when it’s mentioned as still being used. What I do love is the premise that started this as being a popular event item -pictures taken by guests. In every event that a professional photographer is hired, there will be great pictures. Pictures of the guests of honor(s) will dominate, but there will be some pictures of guests alongside, dancing, etc. Yet, those pictures taken by your friends are out there. Pictures that you are part of and will see on things like facebook. Lots of pictures take place now especially with digital cameras, pictures of sporadic groups, inside jokes, and silliness’s. How do you as the bride, groom or guest of honor get your hands on those pictures?

You ask. Lose the disposable camera and invest in the cute sayings to your guests on a photo website reminder. Sign up for a online photo sharing site. There are free sites and paid sites and more likely then not you are already a member of one of them. Sign up for a new account for your wedding specifically and print cards asking guests to upload their photos from the wedding to the site. This bride used an upgraded Flikr account.

You can read about her photo sharing cards here. It is a fabulous idea and you can go a step further in obtaining the photos by not only placing the cards on your tables on the wedding reception, but you can attach them to your favors. Even better, continue to use them by including them in your thank you cards. Before you know it, you’ll have a whole photo sharing site full of pictures of your wedding day or event. Even more pictures to remember the day.

Professional bustle fixer at your service

2009-02-19T16:28:00.004-05:00

I was looking through our reviews on Wedding Wire, Project Wedding and the like and kept reading a similar topic beyond the accolades and praises.

she fixed my bustle and throughout the night as I felt it fall, she was right there fixing it as I was dancing, didn't even know she was doing it

was able to repair my bustle twice (thanks for stepping on it, Mom…heehee)

as soon I bustled my dress, someone stepped on it on it and ripped the bustle, so I was there like ok what do i do, I was about to tuck my train in my waist to keep it off the floor and here she comes with a tackle box full of stuff to fix things

Then at a recent meeting I pulled out my wedding album to illustrate to a bride who is an avid dancer (Salsa especially) how trains, albeit beautiful, are generally a catch 22. When Alex left after that meeting, I thought – that would be a great blog post and just as quickly I forgot about it. And then I received a thank you card in the mail from a past bride (I LOVE GETTING THESE!) and and I was reminded again.

I have a great picture of you under my dress fixing my train after it came undone.

I’ll be honest. I am a huge fan of a long train. (this is me)

I love the look of a train – the elegance as it flows behind a bride while they come down the aisle. I get a kick out of watching it billow behind as the doors open to the church and she steps forward down he walk to her groom. And who doesn’t love the picture from behind of that moment. It is beautiful.

But following the ceremony and onto the reception, the train is pt into a bustle. Here is where my issue lies and here is what advice I can give because I have been to hundreds of weddings and repaired hundreds of bustles.

1, Your gown designer or alteration person might suggest or insist that a small bit of the rear of your bustled train should skim the floor. It looks elegant. I myself followed that advice. And they are right. It is elegant. Downright beautiful. And I use myself as an example here. (don't Rob and I look adorable?)

But then it gets stepped on. And I’m not even blaming other guests, You step back ONE time and you will be the guilty party. And as I was a salsa dancer meaning I stepped back every second, well can you see where this is going?

And it got increasingly worse.

And finally frustrated with it, I decided to just put it into KNOTS

So, as elegant as the slight brush of the floor is – I’d recommend not going in that direction.

2. Bustling options are simple. You either are doing a ballroom/overbustle or a French/Tufted/underbustle or a variation of these. The ways to hold up these are either button hooks, anchor hooks or ribbon ties. It goes without saying that ribbon ties are the most secure. They are also the easiest to fix should the bustle come undone. Most times when an overbustle doesn’t work out, I fix the train by transforming it to an underbustle. Given the option of an anchor hook or a button hook, I’d recommend an anchor. For some odd reason, button hooks are in my experience, so much more likely to come undone, even though they really look intrinsically prettier. The key to anchor hooks is to tighten the hook once the bustle is in. Most times these come undone simply because during dancing the contact point jumps off the hook.

3. Finally – give yourself time for a bustle, especially ribbon ties. They will take far longer then you anticipate getting them put together.

And if you hired us for your events. Well rest assured that I'll be there to take care of whatever may happen with it.

I want a different. Something no one else has used. Parent Dances & Song Suggestions

2009-02-06T08:29:00.003-05:00

I hear this statement often. The need for something different is especially strong in brides and grooms who find themselves surrounded by other people who are both getting married and attending weddings. The distinction of being innovative and unique seems, at times, elusive in the rather, ceremonial and structured way that weddings seem to function. IT IS possible, and it’s in the details that it does become possible. And I’m not talking about the centerpieces, or the custom aisle runners. I’m talking about the simplicity of the one thing that rings throughout the entire reception. The Music.

Now, I’m not saying using commonly used songs for your wedding is a faux pas. Not in the least. If you love Because You Loved Me by Celine Dion and it is the only song you could have imagined dancing with your father to on that day, then by all means USE IT. It is after all your day. But to all those out there who find themselves struggling to figure out what song to dance with your parents or even what songs you want to dance with each other, I invite you to open your ears to the music that surrounds you on a daily basis, songs you haven’t heard for a long time and those that aren’t on the ‘top father daughter dance songs’ lists. Move to songs that have a meaning to you and the person whom you are dancing with regardless of the lyrics. Better yet, ask your DJ.

I will admit to this being a particular issue with me. I have a personal mission to find songs that would be appropriate for parent’s dances, first dances, cake cutting, sibling dances, garter/bouquet, last dances and even slide show presentations. And I have them in multiple languages. I compile them, e-mail them to myself and even leave myself voicemails of the song recording from my cell phone against the speaker of my car radio. Much to Rob’s dismay I compile them all in a list. He tells me I need to streamline my lists, that people don’t want a suggestion list that’s 2 columns wide and 2 pages long for one small fraction of time of the reception. I on the other hand, think options are necessary. I love when I see people run through my lists and say – “hey, this Elvis song might work. Mom loves Elvis.” It’s a song obscure enough that they didn’t even think of it but common enough to know it’s perfect. And beyond that….it’s different.

A friend of mine saw my lists and said it would be a great resource to brides if I publicize them. She especially was impressed with the number of Spanish father daughter, mother son songs we had. But publicizing them presented a quandary. This is my baby, a constant work in progress years in the making. Do I want to open it up for the world to see? It’s a resource I provide Colorblind Productions' clients. A service they receive as an addition to having us provide the music or the coordination for their events. So I opted against posting the entire list. I just couldn’t do it.

Yet I’ve decided, if you’re reading this and need a bit of help with a song, assistance is something I never mind giving.

And the winner is....

2009-02-04T21:16:00.003-05:00

US! Thank you for making Colorblind Productions WeddingWire's Bride’s Choice Award

WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, just announced that Colorblind Productions has won the 2009 Bride’s Choice Awards™!

In its inaugural year, the Bride’s Choice Awards recognizes and honors vendors from the WeddingWire Network that demonstrate excellent quality of service, responsiveness, professionalism, value of cost and flexibility. This year’s recipients represent the top three percent of WeddingWire’s vendor community, which includes over 100,000 wedding vendors from across the US. That means Colorblind Productions is one of the very best Disc Jockey, Videography & Wedding Planning.

Unlike other awards in which winners are selected by the company, the Bride’s Choice Awards are determined exclusively by recent newlyweds through surveys and reviews.

“We are excited to launch this annual award program to honor high-performing vendors based solely on the experiences of our WeddingWire community,” according to Timothy Chi, WeddingWire’s Chief Executive Officer. “This year’s recipients have set the bar high, exhibiting excellent service and expertise in the wedding industry.”

Colorblind Productions would like to thank our past clients for speaking on our behalf and helping us win the 2009 Bride’s Choice Award!

Weddings & Events in a recession - Bartering

2009-01-30T11:08:00.005-05:00

It seems that watching the news, reading the paper or even just talking to friends lately is peppered with saddening stories of jobs lost, businesses closing and economic downturns. It’s downright depressing but a reality of the society which we live in. It effects every individual aspect of our lives, from our hairdresser to our favorite lunch shops. Everyone is spending less, trying to save more and sacrificing luxuries.

With the air of negativity that seems to permeate everything, it’s especially interesting to be in the wedding and special events business. You feel the purse strings tighten and the number of people who look for some discount seems to increase. It seems in weddings, the first items off the list to help with a budget seems to be the planner and the videographer followed by larger photography & entertainment packages and extra items like candy buffets, cigar rollers and independent performances.

Yet it is at these times that you can find deals that are out there if you research enough. Creativity runs to extremes and can save you lots of money and make your wedding so much more personal because the decor and details are totally and uniquely yours. I will elaborate on more in future posts about other things but today’s is dedicated to Bartering.

BARTERING.

Have you ever considered what your skills are worth and if they can in fact be used as a payment method? I meet with clients all the time and most times I don’t’ even know what their profession is. They might offer a service which is comparable in price to the items they are looking for. So don’t be afraid to offer your services in lieu of payment. One of my favorite blogs recently mentioned Bartering for your Wedding and we recently joined Big Day Barter . So those of you out there that are…

accountants, now would be the time to offer tax services
lawyers are usually always needed
painters, plumbers, handymen and contractors - a house always needs a little something
marketing & graphic designers – advertising is always of importance to businesses
bloggers – yes you can even capitalize on this if you have a blog with a large enough following.

Colorblind Productions has had success in this in the past and are open to doing it in the future. Have you visited our home offices and notices as you walked up the walkway the great cobblestone stamped concrete and stairs we have. Well, you guessed it the reason we have that is because we did the wedding of the owners of Novacrete (which I cannot recommend enough for not only great work but the speed and efficiency of it) We had our driveway, front walkway and a patio built in the backyard in exchange for a full wedding package including DJ, plasmas, photo, coordination and video services. Basically every service we offer with the exception of Karaoke. Do not underestimate the power of bartering.

This Will Be...An Everlasting Love - Match.com Wedding

2009-01-12T12:52:00.005-05:00

I can't begin to tell you how many of our clients met 'online.' And it is no surprise that these couples seem to always include Natalie Cole's song This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)as it is the theme song for e Harmony commercials. And it was the last song of the evening for our Match.com couple Bernadette & Jeff.

Rob was the DJ for the evening and I was lucky enough to be their day of coordinator on this Friday after Thanksgiving wedding.

Unfortunately, I was so busy the number of pictures I took are lacking. The beautiful wedding was held at St. Francis Church in Hoboken and the church was a full house as it was a combined Italian/Filipino/Dominican wedding.

The ceremony invoked the Filipino tradition of the chords, the arras/coins and sponsors/godparents.And the day celebration at the Crystal Plaza was equally stunning and joyful.

Bernadette is a Omega Phi Chi sorority sister. If you read our initial blog post you'll see that we have a strong connection to this sorority. Here I am with some of the sisters.

We've done many of these ladies weddings, and family celebrations as well as the sororities events that I consider them like friends and family.

It was a fabulous wedding and a wonderful party. Who says nobody dances at day weddings!

(disclaimer - poor quality video clip from my point and shoot camera)

The Hispanic/Latino Wedding & Party - Que Cante Mi Gente

2009-01-09T10:53:00.004-05:00

A few years back, when 105.9fm first came on air (back when it was known as Caliente) it introduced itself with a one minute comercial highlighting the commitment to Hispanic culture and music. Rob and I loved this bit. It said everything we believed in with respects to the Hispanic culture and music and took into account the many different factions of Latino culture there was. It helped especially that the background mix of music included Ruben Blades’ “Patria” and Hector Lavoe’s “Que Cante Mi Gente.”

Although we are multicultural specialists, we have always been Latin Music specialists. Our literature has always said “beyond salsa and merengue.” I have always disliked that Spanish music is lumped into one category as there’s so much music differential. Not only do we have different sounds of music (salsa vs. Spanish rock vs. pop) but within each individual genre there are cultural/country specific music. As an example, salsa music, varies in style from the Fania era, the more Colombian Grupo Niche, the 80’s romantic slower versions and the more pop/like Marc Anthony & Victor Manuel’s. The speed of the song makes the song danceable or simply listenable. There are those songs that are pretty much dance favorites (lloraras, no le pegue a la negra, etc.) but even more so that will keep you dancing like you were at the Copacabana in the city assuming salsa music is your taste.

And this kind of differentiation flows through other types of Spanish music. From the older more tribal and African based latin music (perico ripiao, bomba, chapeta, etc.) to the more mainstream Spanish music of differing generations (1940’s mambo, 1960’s boogaloo, 1980’s salsa romantica, 2000’s reggaetón) and finally there’s very cultural specific music (Cuban guaguanco, Dominican bachata, Puerto Rican plena, Guatemala/Honduras marimba, Brazilian Samba, Argentinean tango, Colombian vallenatos, Chilenean cueca, etc.) These distinctions are important to some and we have the expertise of knowing the differences and having these types of music in our collection and the ability of playing them speficifally OR in combination at any event.

We honestly LOVE the music types, the dancing and the joy that Latin/Hispanic/Spanish music brings to any event. I find that even non-Spanish speakers and other cultures truly embrace the rhythm and movement that the music invokes. At one point over 80% of our events were at least half Hispanic because of our knowledge base of the music. Although the majority of our events are weddings, traditional quinceneras/sweet 16’s run a close second. Even though by looking at us you could never guess that Latin blood runs through our veins, watch us dance and you’ll know it certainly does!

Inspire Yourself

2009-01-08T15:15:00.009-05:00

It comes with the territory after having seen so many different events that friends, clients and acquaintances typically ask me for opinions or ideas on themes, ideas, decorations and the like. Over the years I've collected a plethora of ideas and pictures at the many events I've attended. I end up scrambling around at times in the many folders I have to provide the requested material that highlights something I think would be a perfect idea or at the very least some inspiration for the inquirer.

So today my friend sends me a random link to a photographer's portfolio that has keywords broken down and random photos that target specific factions of an event and I think to myself....I should do this.

And so I did.

It's a work in progress but for now I invite you into my new Inspiration page (I should really do inspirations boards but with what time??) Click below & Enjoy!

Inspire Yourself

Ambitions for the coming year

2009-01-07T14:50:00.004-05:00

As I mentioned in our Behind the 8 Ball post, December has been an exhausting time for us. We took a small and much needed reprieve between the 2 holidays to really sit and enjoy each other and our family and selfishly neglect everything else. It was wonderful. But we're in a New Year now, with obligations to fulfill and ambitions to pursue.

And so I sit here formulating a plan for the new year and implementing it. More communication, more organization and certainly, more progression. I think positively for Colorblind Productions as I look into 2009. I have a laundry list of achievable objectives I wish to accomplish and keep you updated on as the year progresses including giveaways, improved offerings and special offers. Throughout this process we welcome any feedback we can receive.

We welcome 2009 and all it brings.

Tiled Photo Murals

2008-12-21T21:14:00.011-05:00

I'm pretty happy with the response I'm getting from the Colorblind Productions Etsy site and the Tiled Photo Murals. I was perusing the Pottery Barn catolog and saw this...

Look familiar? This Framed New York City Mural sells for $549 (on sale from $799) and is identical to my tiled photo mural. (My cost is only $50.) I've been having fun with the murals in the creativity of others. One concept was to have the mural printed on transparencies so that they can be put up as a space divider that allowed for light to travel through and simultaneously show the picture. That's pretty damn cool in my opinion. My sister in law thought it would be great to put it on iron on transfers to be able to iron it onto fabric and make a blanket or curtains. Creativity abounds with this. Cost is a bit more for specialty paper.

So they are not only for parties but for decoration. Especially great for large spaces that need a little oomph. So I leave you with some inspiration. Enjoy.

Winter Wonderland Wedding at the Madison Hotel

2008-12-19T10:14:00.005-05:00

I love the Madison Hotel. I've worked there several times and it boasts one of the most beautiful all glass rooms which gives you such a sense of being outdoors while being inside. It is a stunning venue. And I thoroughly enjoy working with one of my favorite maitre d' Carlos. He's not only on top of his game but very client focused which is always such an important trait, and he's also a lover of music and a guy I'd actually really love to hang out with. Rob certainly kept him as well as the Bride and Groom and their guests happy by throwing down a wedding where the music varied from Salsa and Merengue to House and Classic early 80's music that even I haven't heard in a while. It's always so refreshing to hear music you haven't heard in a while. I can tell you honestly that being at an event most every weekend, some songs just end up getting played out. And I'm not even talking about the Cha Cha Slides of music which I sometimes wish I could never hear again, but good songs that you just get tired of.

In any case - the ceremony and reception were both held in this beautiful room that just was enveloped in a plethora of holiday cheer. Holiday themed weddings are so joyous.

The aisle was candle lit

Place cards were attached to adorable ornament holders

Decor was festive

And bells rang for kisses

Colorblind Productions Videography

2008-12-17T21:52:00.005-05:00

The link to samples of our videography is finally live on our website. I'm steadily uploading more videos to be viewed but there are a good collection of them there. Here are some examples

Home is where the wedding is - Fall Outdoor Beauty

2008-12-16T12:36:00.003-05:00

What happens when a visual display manager for a large department store gets married? She surrounds herself with visually dramatic and aesthetically beautiful items that highlight the most simple of spaces.

An outdoor wedding in early October on the grounds of the brides' childhood home in Freehold was the perfect venue for a most perfect day. I had the pleasure of being the coordinator while Rob DJ'd for the day. As the coordinator I was introduced to a first for me! Transporting the cake from the bakery to the home, a distance of about 10 miles. Driving slow and turning even slower was my mantra through out. The cake was fully assembled and boxed and arrived successfully without issue.

But the fact is that the venue, its decoration and all those attending embodied Mike and Liz and their individual persona. Having helped hang the mum-balls that were personally made by Liz and candles from the trees, alongside my assistant Maggie, set up the ceremony chairs and then dismantled the space and moved the chairs under the tent to the reception, decorated the tree with laminated pictures, stacked the monogrammed pumpkins and ensured that all these fabulous details came together I saw first hand the kind of thought and initiative made in every detail of this wedding. It was beautiful, personal and fabulous. The graphic design of a flower was seen throughout, the invitations, the wish cards, the pumpkin carvings.

The day could not have been more beautiful.

Behind the 8 ball

2008-12-16T12:20:00.004-05:00

There is a certain love we have in most of what we do at Colorblind Productions. We're so intricately entwined with our clients, our work and our lives that sometimes the separation between them all is nearly impossible. Its especially so when work resides with us, when the phone rings and we feel an obligation to depart from 'life' and pursue work. It is proof that we truly love what we do. Beyond that our clients become more then clients. They are people we want to hang out with and people we sometimes end up calling friends.

But having so much input in everything and being the catch all for every obligation comes with it's share of stresses. As the holiday season comes into play and everyone wants to share the memories of their wedding or celebrations with everyone else, it falls on us to try our hardest to get everyone their respective videos, pictures and general items. So we find ourselves, unfortunately, behind the 8 ball, working hard to get everyone their fair share of things and grateful for your patience. We are working dilligently and many times overnight to get everything hammered away and into your hands as soon as possible!

Taxicab Confessions - a Brooklyn Filipino wedding at Bubby's Pie Company

2008-11-24T11:20:00.002-05:00

There's something distinctly beautiful in the classic Yellow Taxi. And although I know that the yellow cab is not unique to NYC, it has a distinct city quality and so it was only appropriate to be the mascot for a beautiful wedding at Bubby's in the DUMBO section of Brooklyn.

Bubby's is an expansive space with home cooking and amazing pies! As a regular attendee of their amazing brunch, I love the fact that the space has become a very popular wedding venue. With a loft area, it's overlooking the Brooklyn Bridge, a large dance floor and long bar, it has such character and is just perfection for any special event.

The loft and long staircase was perfect for the introduction of the many sponsors and the bridal party. And the details of this wedding did not go unnoticed and the line dancing to the Todo Todo and Lets Get Loud were led by that one Filipino aunt who knows makes sure everyone is in line.

The only Filipino tradition not included this evening was the famous Money Dance but the full dance floor made the night fly by without it being noticed.

Guests were very creative with the Polaroid guestbook, taking it outside and around...

Balcony view

Rob at work

With homemade pies as dessert, J&J opted to cut a small personal cake

And the on site photo booth led to lots of frivolity

Salamat J&J for having us be witness to your celebration!

All weddings are beautiful…some have something special

2008-11-20T16:50:00.004-05:00

I love most all the weddings I have the pleasure of being a part of. I really do see myself as lucky to be in attendance at weddings because it really is the embodiment of bliss. I love getting invitations to weddings and I have the joy of being paid to be in attendance at so many. And although they all have their singular similarities and intricate differences, emotionally they all have quite the range. And some are more emotionally entwined then others.

Not long ago, I had the distinct pleasure of being at a wedding where the emotional and dare I say spiritual pull was especially strong. A beautiful bride both in spirit and appearance,

a somewhat stoic groom who was endearing and deeply emotional,

a relationship that was years long and a wedding that culminated in a truly blessed event. The ceremony was endearing and the party was exciting. But beyond that these two were blessed. Not only with each other but also by the spirit of the family that could not be there. I haven’t cried so hard in a wedding in a while.

All was wonderful and at the reception, the groom was asked by his sister to dance with him in remembrance of their grandmother with whom he was extremely close and who had passed. He waffled on whether he really wanted to do it and then agreed. He turned to me and said – find me a song. His only direction was to find an older Puerto Rican bolero and he entrusted me with the task of finding it. He was sure whatever I picked would be good enough. I stood by the dj booth and scrolled through a huge collection of music that fell under that genre. If you know anything about this type of music, many of it relates to lost or unrequited love, so to find a appropriate song is none to easy. I came upon a rather old song that wasn’t all that popular but which with the words were perfectly suited and decided on that. I am convinced now that an angel was over my shoulder pointing me in the direction of that song.

Upon introducing the song the groom looks at me. And the stoic and strong man that I have been with all day was lost in emotion. The song I selected was the song his grandmother would sing. It was her favorite. Since her death he had been in search of the song and it so happened that it was the song with which I chose.

I cannot say enough about the perfection that was Tony & Lisa’s wedding. They truly love one another, they have amazing friends and family that surrounded them in love and their wedding exuded a happiness that I could only wish was the reality of everyone’s day. It was Perfection!

Quick Update

2008-11-07T11:17:00.008-05:00

Yes, I said I was going to be posting more. I have to still update you all on some of the fabulous weddings we've had recently. So much to do and say and yet here I am neglecting the blog. I'm in the midst of uploading video to be able to share. For as long as we've been doing video jobs we have failed miserably to provide online samples. For shame! I'm happy to report that come this weekend that will no longer be the case.

I wanted them up already but I underestimated the time it takes to get a good number of examples up to be shared. But it's coming and you'll get to see many Colorblind Productions video edits shortly. Once that's done I'll be highlighting more weddings. For now I ask for patience.

In other news my photo mural was featured on Tip Junkie
Which is a totally amazing blog for ideas and inspirations!

I've also had several orders come in for it so I'm excited! I've asked those who I've made them for to please share pictures so you will see them on here as well. If you want one for yourself please visit my Etsy shop. I need to come up with some other concepts to add to it.

Choosing your wedding or event date in the New York/New Jersey Area

2008-10-30T13:56:00.005-04:00

Most of us, when we plan an event, especially something as important as a wedding start in the most familiar of areas, our personal opinions. Are they interested in a wedding based on the time of year (fall or summer?), theme (beach or December holidays), and the ever popular use of a ‘special day’ that already exists (the day we met, our first date, etc.) Beyond this the factors that further stipulate the date are availabilities of the church of choice, hall of choice or even vendor of choice. And then after this they have a date they are happy with and work from there.

Rarely do I find people who put further thought into their wedding date then the above mentioned, but I’m here to really draw attention to the reality of living where we live. The New York Metropolitan Area, encapsulating New York City, New Jersey, Long Island and lower Connecticut, is riddled with a busy event schedule. And this coming weekend reminded me of it. Remarkably, on Sunday we are free. No weddings, sweet 16’s or other respective events. When this comes about we usually front load a number of meetings to accommodate the schedules of our potential clients. One of these clients was coming from Brooklyn. It really is quite an easy trek to our location from New York City. When there isn’t traffic (and yes, there are times when there is light to no traffic in the region) we are no more then 20-30 minutes from many places in the city and outer boroughs. We had made plans to have them come out and then I looked at a notation in my calendar.

New York City Marathon

I generally place notations like this on the calendar for our information as these will provoke severe delays in travel. The NYC Marathon, of course, leads to a large number of street closures. Traveling by car is a disaster throughout many parts of the city on such days. So I moved the meeting to another time that would prevent our clients from dealing with delays. I wonder though, how many people made plans for their wedding on Sunday without looking at the calendar or taking into account the mayhem that the marathon could provoke on their day.

We look at the calendar most every weekend because there are so many events around this area. Bicycle tours, walks, marathons, street fairs, parades and any number of sporting events for the multiple baseball (major & minor), football, hockey, basketball, etc. teams within this area. All these have a significant effect on travel. Colorblind Productions takes initiative to know what is going on not only in the area of the wedding but beyond that, en route to the location. Our personal quest is to really prevent our delay in arrival. I can guarantee you that not all brides, grooms or event planners take this into account.

So this is my plea - make sure to really take into account these things in your day so you can make adjustments as necessary. Maybe not necessarily to your wedding date itself, but it will give you the information you need to provide a brief notation to your directions explaining to your guests that said and said is happening and there may be delays. Take into account construction projects that might affect the travel date as well. With luck there will be no issues to deal with, but similarly, you’ll save yourself the additional worry to find out too late in the process, that you planned your wedding or event on Superbowl Sunday.

Beachside wedding at The Stateroom in Long Beach Island

2008-10-28T13:05:00.006-04:00

For some odd reason today, although it is autumn, mother nature seems to be beckoning the winter. It is cold. And what way to warm myself up then to think of the warmth of the beach. We were lucky to DJ this wedding at the lovely Stateroom on Long Beach Island. That piece of road from the Garden State Parkway to LBI on route 72 is dabbled with beautiful wedding locations. We waved at the Bonnett Island Estate as we drove by. Rob worked there not to long ago and that site is stunning. A few steps away is the new Mallard Island Yacht Club that I’m sure will be host to many a wedding as it is slated to open shortly. Then we come upon the Stateroom. Elegant and modern with the feel of the beach without the casual air that it sometimes dictates.

Subtlety is at its core here. And our bride and groom that day had the affinity to pick the design that would really embrace that ideology. An elegant beach theme without being kitschy.

My favorite detail was the vintage ride they decided on

The color scheme reflected the blue of water. The details evoked the whimsy of sand and shells

And or course – what would a beach wedding be without the opportunity to save our female guest feet from the pain of their heels by providing flip flops in neutral tones to match their respective outfits. Especially when the salsa & merengue got underway and Rob had them out in true Colorblind Productions style.

I can not fail to mention the beautiful sunset guests have a view of

This is also the wedding that I had the infamous in the mens room incident. This reminds me, I still didn’t get a picture of that!

Fall busy-ness, October wedding madness & Trade events

2008-10-27T10:06:00.007-04:00

admit it. I’ve neglected my blog. Noticeably. So much so that three of my recent brides have said “weren’t you going to blog about this??” OOPS. So apologies for falling behind in so many things and thank you all for your reminders as not only do they motivate me to actually UPDATE but it makes me realize that people are reading along with the blog (if not actually leaving comments *hint, hint* )

October is without a doubt one of the busiest times for us as the fall foliage decorating the backdrops, the semi warm yet cool temperatures and the general beauty that is the autumn season makes it especially popular to get married. As Rob and I got married on Columbus Day weekend six years ago (has it really been 6??) I have to agree that this is one of the best times of years for a wedding. And I have many ‘real weddings’ to showcase to you over the next few days/weeks - beautiful garden weddings, elegant hall weddings and weddings that seem to be spiritually engulfed in emotion. I may be exhausted over the work but I’m renewed each time with the reality that I truly get to see such beauty, such love and such emotion in each individual celebration.

Beyond weddings we were busy with some tradeshows and events to attend. Rob attended the Photo Plus Expo which is without a doubt the largest Photography Expo. I was rather jealous that I was not able to attend that with him as he reported back to me how absolutely enthralled he was in the latest in technology and offerings. These events always serve as inspiration for new ideas and opportunities to add to our already illustrious list of contributions at Colorblind Productions. They also serve to deplete bank accounts in the desire for the newest and generally coolest gadgets. He attended with one of our photographers Maggie who took advantage of several seminars. I totally expect to attend this event myself next year!

Rob and I took the time to visit The Wedding Salon. It is a luxury wedding showcase in New York City. We went specifically look at the latest in luxury ideas, designs and companies. It is generally a bridal show but one where the exhibitors are by invitation only and the target market is elite clientele.

Not being a bride (and lesson learned as I made the mistake and told the registration desk that I wasn't one) I missed out on the goodie bag. I did get samples at booths. It was held at the Prince George Ballroom a stunning space that had to unfortunate luck of losing the general aesthetic of the room's grandeur in the midst of vendor booths and throngs of guests. Models walked around in stunning gowns and honestly answered my questions on the weight of the dresses and their personal opinion as to whether they could feasibly dance in them. I did speak to some vendors and exchanged business cards. The illustrious Sylvia Weinstock was there and I was able to talk to her, but I was so flustered and intimidated that I couldn't even bear to ask her to take a picture with me which I really wanted. And with cake tastings of her and other cake artists I was in heaven. I took pictures (mostly of the tablescapes design firms/florists put together.)

What you can't see in this first one (Rob took the pictures as I perused the vendors) was that the flowers actually wrap around the entire pedestal of the table and is visible through the glass tabletop.

I met the designer of this and got to talk to him about his inspiration on this piece. It was pretty damn cool to have that conversation. I love gold and he was as happy as I was to know that gold has made a comeback in its competition with silver based metals

What was cool about this florist is they had price boxes. You gave them your cost of centerpiece and they provided a box with examples of work that was in the budget you gave.

And how gorgeous are these seat covers? My friend Michelle of Everyday Celebrating was so infatuated with them that not only did she blog about them but she has told me how much she loves them EVERY DAY since I showed them to her and is obsessed in finding them.

Delicious cakes!!!

Sometimes, something so perfect comes around and you have to tell the world

2008-10-14T14:49:00.006-04:00

I was lucky enough to coordinate a wedding this past weekend at a venue I was familiar with but never had the pleasure to actually work in. The Bernards Inn in Bernardsville.

Generally, after working every weekend at banquet facilities, I am rather difficult to impress when it comes to locations. I'm critical of the ambiance, the food and the general service. But the exemplary customer service both Lauren and Tracey (the events staff) exhibited, the quality of their food and their bartenders (nobody speaks enough about the fact that having a knowledgeable bartender to make good drinks is important), the impeccable and beautiful decor of the guest rooms and the event spaces and the mastery of their cake art (because it is an art form) has made me a cheerleader for the inn. Although this is the first time I have worked there I hope that I and my team at Colorblind Productions will get to work there more often in the future.

The staff genuinely enjoys working there. That always speaks volumes to me. Because I'm a vendor, not so much a guest, I have the opportunity of seeing the behind the scenes and I will say that I'm impressed. I liked it so much that on Monday I came back with Rob to have our 6 year anniversary lunch there. I can both vouch for the food at weddings and the restaurant, which is particularly amazing. I cannot say enough about this place.

Special acknowledgment goes to Tracey Mancini and Lauren Montemarano. These two ladies go far above and beyond to ensure the comfort level of the guests and especially the guests of honor. It was an extreme pleasure to have worked alongside them both. Those who choose the Bernards Inn for their events are lucky to have both of them ensure that their event is perfection.

I'll have more pictures to follow of the wedding there as well as all my weddings from the insanely popular Columbus Day wedding weekend to come but had to take this time to really give credit where credit is due.

Small Event Planning and Decoration – Milk & Cookies 1st Birthday

2008-10-01T10:50:00.006-04:00

In my pursuit of new endeavors, I’ve decided that I’m going to expand to other very fun and exciting things. In other words, I’ve decided to start designing and event planning for small events! As fabulous as weddings are, they are large scale productions and I find that creativity can shine the brightest in smaller events. The plan is to give a good dose of design and theme unity to baby showers, wedding showers, dinner parties, birthday parties and the like. It’s perfect for those who have a ‘vision’ of the kind of event they want but either don’t have the time or means to get it accomplished.

I recently did a 1st birthday party with a fabulous theme! Milk & Cookies. What better way to celebrate the 1st birthday of an adorable little girl! I find many parents are looking for innovative themes and ideas for birthday parties.

The color scheme was yellow, brown and white. Polka dots helped highlighted the milk and cookies that abounded.

A full scale tiled image was used as decoration. These tiled images are available for purchase using your own custom image HERE.

A custom banner was also displayed

Centerpieces were individual jars of chocolate, oatmeal and sugar cookies and each was surrounded by photo boxes made of assorted pictures of the birthday girl’s first year of life.

Individual ‘lollypop’ style descriptions of the food available told guests what the culinary treasures were

A safe zone was set up for those non walking children to play and roll around without worry of being stampeded by older children. It also allowed the parents of said children to put their kids down and mingle with guests without too much preoccupation

Individual sized FRESH milk from Ronny Brook Farms in both whole and chocolate along with brown bags of cookies were given to guests as favors

And my favorite balloon guy was on hand to make fabulous balloons for the guest. An absolutely SWEET time.

Architectual Love in Brooklyn's Smackmellon

2008-09-30T08:49:00.006-04:00

I love Brooklyn. Actually I love the city but then again having been born and raised in Astoria, Queens that goes without saying. So I always jump at the chance to work in the city. Not that I don't love New Jersey. But the city generally offers the opportunity for interesting spaces both aesthetically and architecturally. So it was only appropriate that architects would pick the fabulous and eclectic art space that is SmackMellon. It is a raw space with huge windows overlooking the Manhattan Bridge.

Without a doubt, it is absolutely stunning. Being a raw space, though, it requires all variables to be brought into it. So I was excited when after meeting James & Vivian in the park in DUMBO they decided to use me as their coordinator. They had very particular designs of the space and even used Auto Cad to draw up seating plans and table decoration plans. With the assistance of their friends, Maggie (my assistant) and I took the raw space and made it a warm and beautiful wedding reception venue. And although there were a few hiccups along the way (lots of rain and a table and chair rental delivery that arrived 2 hours late) at the end of it all, it was absolute perfection.

The details of the day were exceptionally thought out. All the decor was bought and arranged by James, Vivian and their families. Including hand written table number/menu cards, the use of NY Skyline blocks as decoration, and individually selected wine (red and white) and Cava and Taiwan tea favors hanging from the seat backs.

I also had the opportunity of working with Jacob Pritchard of JP Wedding Photo which you can see me standing next to here as he took pictures.

He blogged about the wedding himself so please visit it to see more stunning pictures of the space and the event (and a smattering of pictures of me in the background!

But not only was the wedding itself beautiful by looks alone but also by the people in attendance. The absolute warmth and love that permeated is hard to describe. The toasts were endearing and to hear James who is clearly NOT Chinese speak perfect mandarin and give homage to Vivian's parents was heart warming. They truly evoked what marriage is about with their absolute adoration for one another. Not to mention how wonderful they looked. James in his bow tie and Vivian in her Vera Wang gown.

It was absolute bliss and I'm grateful to have been able to work for them and help to make it that way.

Cultural Display - Chinese Double Happiness and Colombian Alegria comes to NJ from CA

2008-09-17T15:38:00.010-04:00

Imagine planning your wedding from one coast while the event happens on an entirely other coast. Imagine on top of this personalizing everything to such detail that even the littlest of things reflect you personally.

No need to imagine it. Yeimy & Ronald, two scientists who reside in California brought friends and family from around the U.S. and as far as Colombia to celebrate their union in her home state of New Jersey at the Tides Estate in North Haledon. With a streamlined color and theme, and such personal touches including one of the groomsmen serving as officiant, their wedding was personal, beautiful and above all joyous!

I was lucky enough to coordinate this amazing wedding and ensure that the details they worked so hard on came together to be just what they wanted them to be while Rob dj'd it. I also have pictures of me in action which is a rarity!

You can read the fabulous review Yeimy gave us as well as the reviews of all her other vendors here!

Reviews are the best form of advertising...

2008-09-01T15:44:00.005-04:00

I've recently come across 2 websites that serve as a marketing vehicle and a review center for wedding related businesses. I have to say, I love the philosophy of thought and the market in initiative they do. The 'ratings' at these sites give the companies the positioning rather then the advertising costs they pay. And so I am here to ask you who read this blog to take the initiative if you so feel the need and log onto these sites and review us, Colorblind Productions, as well as other vendors you have used! You'll be sharing your information with other brides! So spread the word on your favorite vendors....ehem.

Review Colorblind Productions at WeddingWire

OR Visit PROJECT WEDDING www.projectwedding.com

OR better off - visit them both!

iPod DJ or MP3 DJ for your wedding or event

2008-08-27T11:23:00.005-04:00

I’ve read article after article about using your iPod or MP3 player in lieu of a DJ. Articles from brides & grooms and event planners about the merits of it. Articles from DJ’s and bands about the negatives of it. So here I sit, owner of a DJ company and I have to say I understand both sides of the coin. So much so that Rob and I have decided to bridge the gap between the negatives and positives and offer an iPod DJ Package.

From the DJ perspective…
Do I think the advent of people using their iPods and MP3 players will destroy the use of a Disc Jockey? Truthfully, no. Just like some people prefer a band over a DJ, this is adding an additional option to the mix. And yes, claims are valid on many of the complaints with using your iPod as a DJ. Dead air time between songs having an effect on a dancing scenario (most tracks have anywhere between 2 and 8 seconds of silence at the tail end of the song which sounds short but seems so much longer when the dance floor just comes to a stop). The fact that some songs are recorded at higher volumes then others. The necessity of having one body be in charge of the music and coordinate it rather then being a guest. These are all valid claims on the negative aspects of using this form of entertainment. But then there are the positives.

From a client perspective…
Lets be honest here: sometimes the budget does not allow for specialized services, sometimes the client has such a vast and eclectic collection of music as is, that they can in all honesty, compose their own soundtrack and sometimes, the event does not require an active vibe but does have a benefit to music being played. Not only have you saved money but you have customized your event even further. You just need to get yourself a viable sound system and a microphone either by rental or purchase and maybe a person who would be willing to set it up and coordinate it all that day. Overall this would be totally worth the negatives right?

Bridging the Gap…
Rob and I understand the plight of both sides more then I think most people know. Back in 2002 when we got married, one of the very reasons we picked the reception venue we did was because it came with a sound system. Instead of hiring a DJ or asking one of our friends to be the DJ at our wedding (which we did not want to do because we wanted our friends to not work and enjoy the event) Rob spent the day before pre-mixing the music in different CD sets. It worked out perfectly for us and because this is what we do for a living and because we have the access to equipment needed to do this we were able to pull it off. So I understand the allure of the MP3. It has made what was not easily accessible previously to people – accessible. It’s what we ourselves use for showers, picnics and 1^st birthday parties. Music plays in the background without the need of someone handling it other then to ensure things pause, play and perform the way they need to.

Colorblind Productions has the equipment at hand to do this. Speakers and microphones and such. So now we want to provide that to people LOOKING for that in lieu of DJ services. Instead of buying an inexpensive sound system and having a friend man the music, we offer an iPod package. You provide the iPod/MP3 and we provide the sound system, the person to set up and man the music and make sure dead air is limited, music volumes are where they need to be and YOU and your guests get to enjoy the soundtrack you have put together for your event. Be it background music for your baby or bridal shower, or music for your wedding or birthday. No, it’s not a full scale DJ service, but it’s a need that we feel we can meet at a price that cannot be beat.

Cultural Display - Egypt meets the Dominican Republic at The Tobacco Warehouse

2008-08-15T15:54:00.009-04:00

We had a totally glorious wedding not to long ago at the fabulous Tobacco Warehouse. I love when we have the opportunity to really feel a part of the wedding and with unique venues I seem to feel this so much more. Let me take this opportunity to say something about a-typical venues (i.e. non-catering facilities.) They truly allow for a very customized kind of flow. Catering facilities have their plus points as they take care of many specific details that truly can be worthwhile for many. But they have a pretty standard time line that is dictated by their serving patterns. With independent catering and a varied serving style, the vibe of the whole event can be customized to really center on what the bride and groom want to focus on. And this is a great example of it.

They started with a unique procession...

The Egyptian wedding procession is called Zeffa/Zaffa. During this the bride and groom are brought to the wedding party in the evening, led by a music band. For this procession a particular, rather slowly played rhythm is used: Dum tata tak tak dum tak tak. The drums playing this rhythm will tell you from far away, where a wedding is taking place. So from the entrance of the park to the tobacco warehouse the drummers drew the attention of guests and park goers alike. Upon arriving at the tobacco warehouse Rob mixed traditional music with the player and guests gathered to dance a welcome.

From there the party had a natural flow with cocktail hour continuing and photos taken throughout.

Guest were invited into the main tent. Dinner was served continuously family style throughout the night, a combination of cold platters and hot platters of delicious ethnic variety. Catering was provided by the amazing Roquette Catering headed by Monica who also owns Tini Wine Bar in Brooklyn and I cannot say enough of not only her wonderful food and staff! Dinner included watermelon, feta and olive salad, babab ganoush, mahummarrah, stuffed grape leaves, grilled lamb chops, chicken skewers, skirt steak bruschettta and more. Totally lip smacking delicious!

And Rob DJ'd a perfect balance of Arabic and Spanish music along with everything from 80's to funk to club. I will say that the vibe of the guests was so celebratory, the dance floor was continuous flow of activity.

And let me not fail to mention the amazing details thought up by Randy & Sherien. Everything was thought out so wonderfully. From the table cards, to the color scheme to , the belly dancer, the flamenco dance troupe and the Dominican Wedding Cake I will admit to having had 4 pieces of.

Perfection!

And now that I've shared my meager photos, let me share with you the link to the AMAZING professional photos taken by Angelica Glass. Note Rob and me in the last shot of the post. Randy & Sherien on Angelica Glass' Blog.

Exquisitely Unique: Restaurant Wedding Receptions

2008-08-01T11:05:00.006-04:00

Sometimes the best of wedding spaces are those that you don’t think of as ‘reception venues.’ I especially find pleasure in weddings and receptions that don’t follow traditional molds. The advent of many brides and grooms foregoing customary venues for restaurants, historic buildings and unique locations is refreshing.

Weddings such as these afford the couple to be totally in control of their time line and enable not only the most eclectic of designs and locations but the chance to really let the celebration take a life of it’s own. Such was the case in this highlighted wedding celebrated at Gigino at Wagner Park.

Overlooking the water where the Hudson and the East River meet, guests were invited to view the ceremony on the park building’s upper level followed by cocktails and then dinner under the tent with stunning views of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

From the long tables arranges with low flower arrangements, to the hand written place cards and the individual ‘evil eye’ favors meant to shine luck and happiness on the guests, it was a truly magical evening.

But with such a space, what of the music? How do you integrate dancing? I will be honest, that dancing was kept to a minimum as the space did not afford for it. But it worked out in the most interesting of ways. Lack of a dance floor does in no way diminish the music's importance.

Rob attentively listened to the bride and groom's music interests. Their music selection was eclectic and varied. A mix of traditional and a-typical that reflective their tastes and in turn their guests. Being of Arabic background, we mixed Magharabi and Rai in and had the guests enjoying the music throughout the night. Rob received several compliments about the assortment and diversity of the music and how much it was enjoyed. This kind of integration is truly what Colorblind Productions masters.

On top of that, this group was a collection of scholars and speakers and the night was intermixed with good food, good music and what’s best – stories of life and love as guests took the microphone several times to recant memories of the bride and groom in their youth, current stories and stories of life lessons they could take with them. I left that wedding knowing far more about the guests then I have ever known at any other wedding and wishing that I myself were their friends as they were such an amazingly diverse and interesting group. So whose to say that you need to dance at every wedding. Sometimes things are best left to the way life flows.

And as the sun set over the water, fireworks illuminated the sky in the distance. Events like this make you realize that the perfection in a celebration happens when a couple embraces their surroundings as a reflection of themselves and have everything culminate into the materialization of what they have now become.

Whose Wedding is it Anyway Part II & Other Links for Colorblind Productions

2008-07-31T00:17:00.000-04:00

I still have more picture to upload from the fabulous wedding of Yezenia & Regina we DJ'd for Whose Wedding is it anyway but my Google alerts let me know that the planner Jenny Orsini from Pampered Brie Weddings wrote up on the wedding and mentioned us in her blog so I'm sharing the link with you all. Stay tuned as I'll let you know when it is the show will premiere in the fall although it will be in repeats forever. Now if only we could be featured even the slightest bit on the show!

We also wanted to let you all know that Colorblind Productions now has a Facebook Page. so if you have succumbed to the ~~time-waster~~ fun that is facebook and want to be a fan of Colorblind Productions (who wouldn't?) we welcome it! Feel free to leave recommendations for people to read there too if you'd like. We have a section entirely dedicated to reviews. Also feel free to link up pictures from events we've performed at. We love to share pictures!

And in more social networking news, Rob and I are also part of LinkedIn and have already found some of our past clients on there and received some wonderful reviews. So if you're part of that site feel free to look us up!

Dianne

Rob

Cultural Display - The Korean Wedding

2008-07-24T11:40:00.005-04:00

One of the advantages of being in the New York Metropolitan Area is the abundance of cultural displays. I think it is especially fun to see these different displays of cultures and even more so to explain them to those who would otherwise be clueless as to what was going on.

We've done several Korean weddings where their display of culture could be as simple as wearing a Hanbok or Chosŏn-ot which is the traditional Korean dress,

to participating in a form of the Pae Baek 폐백 (the Korean bowing ceremony) be it just acknowledgment or with the use of the tables, foods and panels.

Having experience in this I have in the past played master of ceremonies for those who 1. were not Korean and 2. needed explanation of the ceremony. The outfits significance,

the offering of rice wine (soju) and the symbolic foods and their positions on the east and west side of the tables.

I especially enjoy explaining the reason for the dates being thrown to help in the fertility of the couple.

And it all ends with the piggyback ride - symbolic of the groom supporting his bride which is always much fun.

and then there are the Korean wedding ducks that represent a peaceful marriage with many children and no separations. They are especially significant after the wedding at the home. If the ducks are facing each other, nose to nose, then the marriage is happy. If the ducks are facing away from each other, tail to tail, then the couple is fighting. If a couple is fighting, then one of them will often point to the Wedding Ducks, reminding them both of their peaceful Wedding, and they will stop fighting.

At this wedding at the Hamlet Wind Watch Country Club, they chose to give the ducks out as favors to their guest.

And just because the set up pictures look good - there's rob behind his booth decorated by roses.

Whose Wedding is it Anyway?

2008-07-23T11:29:00.005-04:00

On the 4th of July we may have not watched the fireworks on the east river but we watched a different set of fireworks in the commitment ceremony/wedding for Regina and Yezenia. It was a fabulous wedding with it's own paparazzi as it will be showcased in the fall for Style Network's Whose Wedding is it Anyway.

We had the pleasure of again, working with the band Ray Rodriguez and Swing Sabroso and balancing between them and all the other surprises and activities throughout the night as they not only had the band and us as the DJ, but a full Viennese set up, a sparkler lighting and a surprise Mariachi! Talk about a full schedule!

But it all worked out smoothly and without a hitch. I love working with the maître d' Richard at Mayfair Farms as he is always very on top of everything and very gracious with giving us heads up one when things happen. We get along wonderfully. And what a great crowd of guests. The likelihood of seeing Rob or I in the background shots or any mention of Colorblind Productions on Whose Wedding is it Anyway is probably ridiculously low. They generally don't focus on vendors unless there's drama and with us the level of drama is low. The show focus overall is about the planner who in this case was Jenny Orsini.

The tiffany blue embodied much of the decor. From the photo table cards to the menu cards and programs, to the napkins and the cake, and the decorative up-lighting and the bridal party dresses. Tiffany blue was the color of the night.

Band or DJ?? How about both?

2008-07-01T12:19:00.004-04:00

I constantly read the arguments pressed on multiple wedding sites as to what is better – a band or a dj? Live music vs. actual artists is always in debate. Great bands can pull off most music genres. Some bands cater more to some music then another. What if you want a band feel for some section but a dj feel for a more club like atmosphere or to use actual artists rather then live. You really can have both.

There are many bands that work with dj’s and offer a package deal. We have a relationship with a Greek band out of Queens (Astoria of course!) as well as a Portuguese band where they do the ethnic music and we in turn take care of the other musical selection. We have also worked with other bands in the past on the fly as the bride and groom hired us both separately. Typically they dictate the % of time each group plays so that the bands breaks equal the dj’s playing time.

Here’s Rob alongside a Macedonian band. Note the small set up.

We also work with the band to hook up our sound system to theirs or vice versa. No point in having a bunch of speakers to run throughout.

This wedding was ½ Macedonian, ½ Filipino. So the Macedonian band played it’s part

And we in turn took care of the line dances (Todo Todo) and general frivolity of the party. And what a great party it was!

We’ve worked with Salsa and Merengue bands, Cuban Son bands, Louisiana Cajun & Zydeco bands, Portuguese bands, Macedonian bands, Mariachi’s, Arabic bands, Greek bands, Bluegrass bands, etc.

And the plus point to this all at least when it comes to the bride & groom is that the dj portion comes at a reduced rate (don't we always like to hear a discount applied??) because the dj does not perform the entire time. We actually are going to be performing with a band this coming Friday – July 4th.

So yes, you can have your cake and eat it to when it comes to bands and dj's and no, you don't need to hire a band that works alongside a dj, it's entirely possible to make it work and hire them independently. Who is better? The answer really is no one is. Each has their own feel, their own vibe. Each does their job to entertain your guests and ensure the music gets them moving. So if you want it, and if your budget affords it, have both.

Cultural Display - The Portuguese Wedding

2008-06-21T08:49:00.007-04:00

Que os noivos são muito felizes! Boda Portuguesa.

Rob has a strong advantage over me in Portuguese weddings. Being raised in Hillside alongside a plethora of Portuguese friends and spending most of his young adult life at the Elizabeth Portuguese Sports Club’s parties, he understands Portuguese perfectly. I can when spoken to very slowly and thankfully we have on staff Portuguese speakers and offer Portuguese M.C.’s.

Over the years we have both worked alongside some wonderful Portuguese bands as well as provided our DJ services for many a Portuguese wedding, baptism celebration or party. Our collection of fado, bate o pé and danças folclóricas is large and has classic songs as well as modern Portuguese music.

Beyond the music, Portuguese events are about the food! Portuguese weddings are traditionally slightly different then typical receptions. The cocktail hour goes for upwards of 2 hours. A small display is available upon entrance with a barrel of wine and a collection of tapas.

When the majority of the guests arrive the cocktail buffet is opened. These pictures are taken at Iberia Banquet Hall in Newark NJ. A large volume of food is prepared, plated, and served largely seafood including oysters and lobster as well as Rissois de Camarao (shrimp turnovers), Camarão ao Alho (shrimp in garlic sauce), Picadinho, Pasteis de bacalhau (codfish cakes) etc. I’m getting hungry just thinking about it. And all this food is JUST cocktail hour. I cannot tell you how many times I needed to tell people who had never been to a Portuguese wedding reception before that this was in fact NOT a buffet dinner.

It’s common for every table to have a bottle of water, Vinho Verde and Vinho Alvarinho for guests to indulge in throughout the night. First course is notoriously the famous caldo verde (kale soup) and is followed by either a surf and turf entrée or 2 separate entrée courses (first fish then meat.) And upon cutting of the wedding cake the dessert tables open – just as large as the initial cocktail.

It goes without saying that in Portuguese weddings you should come with a big appetite. At one wedding we were at they actually served a rodizio with a continuous flow of barbequed meats. In the past the receptions typically did not have a firm schedule and lasted long into the night but I’m seeing less and less of that lately though they still occur on occasion. You have to dance off all that food after all.

Slide Show Presentations and Same Day Video Edits

2008-06-12T12:40:00.003-04:00

I’ve been doing same day video recaps of weddings for the past few years and I have to say that it’s one of my favorite things because of the reactions it received. When I did my first one 3 years ago I heard audible gasps at the wedding for it was new and innovative and not seen in many other weddings. Although it’s more common now, it still garnishes some surprises and it always brings the largest smiles to the bride and groom.

It’s the first time they get to see what just has happened. The ceremony that united them is usually a blur of a memory even hours after it occurred because of the nervous anticipation felt before it and the unquestionable anxiety and emotion of the event. So to look up and see again the smiles and emotion is always welcome.

We offer the option of using a screen and projector of one or two plasma screens set up for easy view to all your reception guests. We put together slide show presentations of photos and videos provided and play them throughout the night or at special times (ex. entrance, parents’ dances, etc.) We also provide a photographer that takes candids throughout the day and have those displayed. There’s also a mounted video camera that can capture the live action of the reception as it occurs.

Just this past weekend we offered this for Paul & Bel. This was the quick edit we showed during dinner. We were not the principle videographers for this wedding and we respect the position of the videographer and work around that to ensure that they get their quality shots while we get the kind of footage we need for the day. We work hard to not disrupt the job of our fellow wedding vendors.

Portrayed on two large 50 inch plasma screens.

I really do love doing these things. I plan on being more creative with the edits in the short term future. We can even extend the edits to cover the before the ceremony footage. We do offer this service independent of our other services. So if you just need plasma screens and photo slide show presentations, same day edits, etc. we provide that on its own.

Real Weddings - Floral & Candle Extravaganza at the Madison Hotel

2008-06-10T14:06:00.005-04:00

I've seen so many different events and details at many of the weddings we've done. This one is truly one of the most floral and fabulous weddings we've worked. Held in the main ballroom of the Madison Hotel in Morristown, NJ its luscious and warm toned candles and flowers in the midst of the formal decor of the room made for a romantic ambiance.The use of tall arrangements on the far tables, and shorter ones on the tables within the perimeter of the dance floor centralized the room. Large decorated boxes of favored gifts were placed on individual place settings.

The mood was truly that of opulence.

Colorblind Productions worked alongside a fabulous Cuban band for this wedding and true to fashion, the dancing was non stop. We love working at the Madison Hotel and most especially with their fabulous maitre'd Carlos.

Idea: In memoriam on your wedding day

2008-06-09T16:49:00.006-04:00

At a recent wedding I helped the bridesmaid attached three very special pictures to the bride's bouquet with ribbon. To keep her grandparents close on her wedding day, she carried these individual pictures attached to her bouquet.

During the grand entrance/formal introductions into the main room, Rob introduced the grandparents before the parents and the bridal party as "looking down from up above." It was a simple and loving touch for such important people in the bride & groom's lives.

Wedding & Event Fears - Nobody is dancing!

2008-06-06T09:46:00.005-04:00

Let me be honest here. Not every wedding has a packed dance floor. That does not mean that the music is enjoyed any less when it’s good. I will tell you that as a DJ it is a bit disheartening to not have achieved the full dance floor consistently throughout the night. But that’s not always a reality. As the host of the party, you know your guests, your family and friends best and have seen them at other events. If you’ve seen them dance then it is likely they’ll dance. If you know that they would never even bother with looking at the dance floor, you can just hope that they will somehow find their inner dancer. This is one of the most prevalent fears many brides and grooms and hosts have. That their dance floor will be empty. Ever DJ wants to have a client who has this to say when all is said & done.

But how do you do it. As odd as it sounds, getting the dancing portions of your event to the level which you want it depends on many factors. Some you have control of, some the dj has control of, and a myriad of other details you wouldn't have even considered. We all know about dimming the lights, but what else can be done?

JUST LIKE MUSIC
To quote Eric Sermon/Marvin Gaye’s Just like Music - “Music is the soul of the man, Music makes a happy day…” Music does move you, regardless of genre and independent taste. Having a music selection that is entertaining, diverse and that simultaneously caters and defines your style and mood while entertaining the many different tastes of those around you is something that is taken advantage of in many events. There are songs that one hears at most every party that you may or may not want to hear, there’s songs that have special significance to individual cultures or associated dances to, and then there’s millions of other songs out there that will pick you up and bring you joy. And of all that music, there are only a few hours to really create a soundtrack, blend it so that nobody feels left out and so that people can even learn to adopt a new style they’ve never thought they'd enjoy or that they've never heard of before. Don’t underestimate the music. Don’t feel you have to conform to expectations of the electric slide or hot hot hot. At the same time if those are the songs you wouldn’t imagine your event without then have them played. There is so much music out there that the time of your event will allow only a brief taste of it. So mix it up!

PEOPLE WANT TO CELEBRATE WITH YOU - GET ON THE FLOOR
I cannot stress enough the importance of having the guests of honor out on the dance floor. The whole purpose of the celebration and in turn your guests attendance is to celebrate you as a couple for a wedding, as a person for a private celebration or as a group for a company. So get out there and celebrate. You are at a moment of bliss - it radiates through you and to those around you. There is an intoxicating draw towards you on your day so being out on the floor will draw other out of their shells and into your happiness. Ride the high and enjoy the time. It goes all to quickly.

TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE SIZE OF YOUR DANCE FLOOR
This nobody ever thinks about when visiting potential venues. You see color scheme, the linens the design of the place and then you see this large dance floor and you think what a photo opportunity or how elegant it will look. It envelops you and you seem to forget that even if every guest at your wedding was out on that floor it will still look empty! Just because you have 200 guests does not necessarily mean that you need a dance floor that will fit every one of them. Limiting the size of the dance floor has 2 effects. It allows for the floor to look more full even if/when its not. It also gives those guests who would be otherwise shy the impression that they will be lost in the group already out there. Getting over the initial hurdle of getting ON the floor is many times the one thing that keeps people at their seats. So keep your dance floor size to a decent level. I cannot tell you how many events I've done where the party didn't look as outrageous as it really was because the dance floor was overpowering for the group size.

Seen it all - Fixing split pants in the men’s room…

2008-06-02T14:28:00.006-04:00

I’ve said, time and time again, that in the years I’ve been doing weddings and events, I’ve seen many things. Part of that is being a PART of the many things that happen. Comical circumstances that leave an impression and in turn, generally a fairly good story to tell. So I give you one of my stories, which just so happened to have occurred this past weekend.

During a particularly fun dance set, one of the male guests decided that he’d show the world his ability to do a split. I have to say, being limber enough to do a split in your late 20’s/early 30’s is impressive. Being a guy and doing it made me tap Rob on the shoulder as he was mixing to witness the marvel. After his 3rd attempt something clearly went wrong. His pants were obviously NOT as flexible as he was. After some laughter and requisite pictures with the groom, I made my way over to his girlfriend to offer assistance. Namely, either a sewing kit or a number of safety pins. I do after all pack an ‘emergency kit’ of everything you can possibly imagine.

What happened next is where even more hilarity ensued. His girlfriend claimed “I can’t sew!” and he pleaded with me in his slightly inebriated state to help him fix his pants as he could not possibly do it on his own. Do you see where this is going? I agreed thinking he’d remove the pants in the men’s room, hand them to me where I’d fix them while he waited and then return them. Easy as pie right?

WRONG

On his and his girlfriend’s insistence, I ended up IN the Men’s Room (which was WAY uglier then the ladies room) with him and his girlfriend where he promptly removed his belt and pants in front of me as I stood there staring at the floor. He had managed to tear the pants at the seam from the zipper on the crotch all the way back up to the belt fold. It was quite the tear. I fixed it with safety pins while relentlessly giggling at the conversation between him and his girlfriend and repeating to myself – I can’t believe I’m doing this. And I was stuck doing it in the men’s room as not only was it was the place with the best lighting BUT they wouldn’t let me leave. I was midway done when the groom bursts through the bathroom door followed by a slew of men who had heard that Mr. Torn Pants was in the bathroom with 2 women. And there was the proof as I stood with the girlfriend and him in a dress shirt and boxer briefs! Bathroom party of 3 soon became the party of 20 as everyone crammed in for a photo op as even the photographer had made his way back.

I could not stop laughing. Even funnier to me was the fact that after the photo, one guy turned to me and Mr. Torn Pant’s girlfriend and said “I’m sorry but I can’t wait” and proceeded to make his way over to the urinals to pee!!! I was laughing on the verge of tears while simultaneously being incredibly embarrassed. I finished the fix and was out of there as quick as possible. But that story is definitely a keeper!

The photographer promised to send me the picture.

Colorblind Productions– the history

2008-05-29T14:14:00.005-04:00

So how did this all begin? And where did the name come from?

These are 2 very popular questions asked and we enjoy answering them. Or better I, Dianne, enjoy answering it as the beginning portions of the story may be a bit on the embarrassing side for Rob. Most people know that Colorblind Productions started out as a Disc Jockey Company. In reality it started back in high school for Rob and a group of his friends. It seems here in Hillside/Elizabeth area, everyone and their mother used to DJ and had DJ ‘crews’ of which Rob was part of. But before Colorblind Productions ever came to be, they were F.M. This will appropriately date Rob – it stood for Freestyle Mixers. It goes without saying that although they still hold Freestyle concerts every now and again, the music style diminished in popularity and it left the crew in a different space. They were a very ethnic group – Puerto Rican, Portuguese, African American, Syrian, and Italian – a very colorblind group and so the name Colorblind Productions was born.

As high school faded to college so did most of the crew. Still friends now, Rob is the one who continued with the name and it is at that time that I came into the picture. Rob continued to gain attention being the dj to many Rutgers University events and the ‘go to’ music provider for such fraternities/sororities as Lambda Theta Alpha (LTA), Omega Phi Chi (OPC), and Lambda Theta Phi (LTP). And as these college kids got engaged they wanted their dj to perform at their weddings. Enter me (Dianne)- the then ‘New York City girlfriend’ who was a business student at Fordham University. I took on Rob and Colorblind Productions as my personal case study after assisting (i.e. helping rob carry crates of records and turntables and amps) in a wedding and seeing that Rob knew NOTHING about what should be a very special day! Together we took Colorblind Productions from a very casual word of mouth, unorganized entity and moved it to actually have contracts, organized calendars, etc. And so it began.

We started by specializing in Latin Events as, well, that’s our heritage. We were known for knowing the difference between the musical styling’s of each individual Hispanic culture. That soon changed to multicultural events as notoriously, our weddings were half Latino, half another culture. Each of these other halves allowed us to learn more about the music of that particular culture, expanding our knowledge base to include Portuguese, Arabic, Guyanese/West Indian, Haitian, Slavic, Klezmer, and all the related dances, party songs and general frivolity in each individual group. Where we succeed is melding this knowledge in with pop music, new trends, fabulous oldies and old school tracks and mixing it all so it flows and everyone has a good time!

So when we say we started with a passion for music, we don’t lie. Had you asked us back when this all began if the hobby we both enjoyed doing would be our livelihood, we would have probably laughed. And it is now our reality. And similarly, videography came to be with the same passion. After years of being dj’s I grabbed a camera to document events to show potential clients. Using basic editing software I compiled the brief story lines of each couple. And after several requests as to who made our video – we looked into videography as an add-on and have had success with it as well. So we provide the soundtrack to weddings and document each and every minute of it too!

We have been part of hundreds of weddings, a myriad of celebrations and too many other special events to mention. We've had the opportunities to play in amazing locations (Boston's 'Cheers' bar, Rhode Island's Biltmore Hotel, NJ's Bonnet Island, and multiple New York City institutions etc.) worked with fabulous organizations and have enjoyed every bit of the experience and look forward to many more and the ability to share them all with you here.

at our own wedding '2002

Who Are We

2008-05-12T13:20:00.004-04:00

We consider ourselves a modern ‘mom and pop’ business, catering to our customers in an intimate way to provide them with more then they anticipated. Our business started with passion. A passion for music and a passion for special events. We still find ourselves lucky to be part of the many special occasions that we offer services to and this is why we value what we do so much. We are part of something great: we celebrate the joining of lives, the celebration of milestones, and the union of friends and family.

We are lucky enough to be part of hundreds of celebrations, thousands of smiles and a multitude of emotions. We've seen much of everything and we thought it was high time we shared what we've seen to be inspiration to others.