Professional bustle fixer at your service

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.

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

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!

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

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!

Beachside wedding at The Stateroom in Long Beach Island

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!