Matthew & Christina Wedding

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Matt & Pam Wedding

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Jennifer and Jill Wedding

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Ryan and Michele Wedding

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Karley & Dan Wedding

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7 Wedding Traditions that Need to Die | Love + Sex – Rhode Island Wedding DJ

7 Wedding Traditions that Need to Die

For the record, I do not necessarily agree with the author of this article but thought it was interesting and makes for fun conversation. Some Wedding Traditions do seem a bit outdated for many young couples but, have value for others. One of the benefits of being a Wedding DJ these days is that Brides and Grooms can create whatever they want for your Wedding together with your Wedding DJ. You can include, recreate or leave out whatever Wedding Traditions you want.

By Cosmopolitan.com | Love + Sex – Thu, May 9, 2013 5:24 PM EDT

7 Wedding Traditions that Need to Die | Love + Sex - Rhode Island Wedding DJ

7 Wedding Traditions that Need to Die

A recent poll showed that more women are changing their last names after getting hitched, and I plan on following the crowd after I get married next summer. But there are a ton of other outdated traditions that my man and I need to figure out about before the day comes. IMHO, these are totally old-fashioned…

By Natasha Burton

1. The bouquet toss

I used to think the bouquet was the most exciting part of a wedding. When I was 12. As I got older, and the crowd of women around me hungering for the bride’s flowers thinned out to a handful of tweens and me, I realized how awful this tradition really is. Plus, I’m selfish and want to keep my bouquet to myself, m’kay?

7 Wedding Traditions that Need to Die | Love + Sex - Rhode Island Wedding DJ

2. The garter retrieval

There’s nothing less sexy than your guy burrowing his head under your wedding dress while your dad-and his-watch. Not to mention your mother, your mother-in-law, your friends…need I go on? My groom can put his head between my legs all he wants on our honeymoon, but not in front of our nearest and dearest.

7 Wedding Traditions that Need to Die | Love + Sex - Rhode Island Wedding DJ

3. Bridesmaids

Why, in 2013, are we still down with the idea of forcing our friends to buy ugly coordinated dresses and stand up in uncomfortable high heels next to us while we get married? There is literally no reason to do this, now or ever. Sure, I suppose some people like the cuteness of taking pictures with their friends in matching outfits, but I did enough of that at the mall’s glamour shot booth in middle school. Not trying to hate on gals who dream of a big bridal party, but I honestly don’t see the point.

4. The white dress

Full disclosure: I bought a white dress for my wedding. But I can’t say I wasn’t tempted by the blush, pink, and red frothy creations that have been floating down runways and taking up valuable real estate in bridal salons. While I chose to wear white-mainly because it fits my personal vision of how I’d like to look as a bride-I don’t like the kinda sexist, virgin-y undertones of the tradition.

5. The father give-away

This is another thing I’m probably going to do, even though I’m not totally down with the origin of the tradition-as in, the suggestion that a woman is an object given to her husband from her dear old dad. Still, I don’t want to walk down the aisle alone (I’ll trip and fall on my face, knowing my lack of composure in these types of high-pressure situations), my mom has politely declined the job for fear of the same aforementioned clumsiness, and I have two amazing fathers-my dad-dad and my step-dad-who would happily escort me. And, more importantly, keep me upright.

7 Wedding Traditions that Need to Die | Love + Sex - Rhode Island Wedding DJ

6. The not-seeing-each-other-beforehand thing

Honestly, I love this tradition of not seeing my groom until I’m walking down the aisle. It’s kinda romantic, right? But I don’t like the idea of following a superstition that, if we happen to catch a glance of each other, bad luck will befall our marriage. Plus, I’m going to be nervous as sh*t pre-ceremony and I want to be able to hug my fiancé and hear him tell me how pretty I look before we swap vows.

7. The cake smashing

It’s become custom for couples to get into a mini food fight after cutting their ungodly expensive wedding cake. I get it. It’s funny to see people in fancy clothing with food on their faces. Maybe I’m a bit uptight, but I’d prefer not to have chocolate ganache smeared up my nose (or on my dress) on my wedding day. Considering that most couples don’t get a chance to eat at their receptions, I’d much rather put that cake where it belongs-in my belly. And then get myself back out on that dance floor.

via 7 Wedding Traditions that Need to Die | Love + Sex – Yahoo! Shine.

What do you think about this article? Which Wedding Traditions do you agree or disagree with the author that should be removed from Modern Weddings?

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & Boston DJ

973.908.8147

Fun Rhode Island Wedding at Nauvoo Grill Club

This past Saturday we performed as DJ and MC for a fun Rhode Island Wedding at The Nauvoo Grill Club in Fair Haven, New Jersey. If you have never been there, you are in for a treat! It was our first time as DJ and MC at Nauvoo Grill Club and they did a fantastic job. If you are looking for an excellent venue for your Wedding or Party, I invite you to explore their website and look around. They have great atmosphere, a cool upper deck, awesome food and a professional, but laid back staff. We DJ many Weddings and Parties in the New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania area and we were very impressed.

Fun Rhode Island Wedding DJ at Nauvoo Grill Club

The Bride and Groom themselves must have put great thought into their choice of venue for their Wedding, because they were equally laid back, simple and great to work with. It fit them perfectly and it was such a nice, simple and elegant Wedding. The Bride looked fabulous and so did the Groom for that matter. Their friends and family had a great time and enjoyed everything. The music for the Cocktail Hour consisted mostly of soft Modern and Classic Rock with some new Top 40 mixed-in to make sure everybody was happy.

Fun Rhode Island Wedding DJ at Nauvoo Grill Club

Fun Rhode Island Wedding DJ at Nauvoo Grill Club

When most guests were finished with the quality buffet, a woman who identified herself as, “A sixty-two year old lady who wants to dance and party!”, came up and asked requested us to play some Pitbull and Jennifer Lopez to get the dancing started. Five minutes later the dance floor was packed and stayed that way till the end! We played DJ Music for dancing for young and old, mixing Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley with Neyo, Jackson 5 and Bruce Springsteen, the latter being the Groom’s request.

Fun Rhode Island Wedding DJ at Nauvoo Grill Club

It is so satisfying as a Rhode Island Wedding DJ to participate in such an excellent Wedding with the Bride, Groom and their guests. It was so much fun with no cheesy music or elements, a great simple and elegant Wedding on the Jersey Shore, less than three blocks from water.

Fun Rhode Island Wedding DJ at Nauvoo Grill Club

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & Boston DJ

973.908.8147

 

Rihanna Stay

Rihanna Stay is a song by Barbadian recording artist Rihanna from her seventh studio album Unapologetic (2012). Featuring guest vocals by Mikky Ekko, the song was released as the second single from the album on January 7, 2013. Rihanna Stay was co-written by Mikky Ekko and Justin Parker. It is a pop ballad, featuring piano and guitar chords. The lyrical content regards the temptation and failure of resisting a true love. The song garnered a mostly positive response from music critics. They were divided in their opinion regarding the balladry, with most describing it as a standout track on the album, while a few labeled it as boring. However, critics were unified in their opinion of praising the vocal performance and emotion.

Upon the release of Unapologetic, “Stay” charted on multiple charts worldwide. Following its release as a single, it has reached number one in Bulgaria, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark and Israel and the top five in twenty-four countries worldwide including Australia, France, Germany, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. It has also charted at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming Rihanna’s twenty-fourth top ten on the chart, thus surpassing Whitney Houston‘s tally. Furthermore, it has charted at number one on the US Pop Songs chart and 19 on the Hot Dance Club Songs chart.

The song’s music video, directed by Sophie Muller, depicts Rihanna naked in a bathtub filled with cloudy water, while Mikky Ekko performs in a separate bathroom. Critics likened the vulnerability and raw emotion in the video to the song itself. Rihanna premiered “Stay” on Saturday Night Live in the United States, while she performed the song in the United Kingdom on the ninth series of The X Factor. Rihanna and Ekko also performed “Stay” at the 2013 Grammy Awards. The track was included on the set list of the majority of her 777 Tour promotional tour dates, in support of the album, while it is included on Rihanna’s fifth headlining tour, the “Diamonds World Tour“.

Rihanna Stay Music Video

Rihanna Stay Music Video Story

Background

The music video for Rihanna Stay was directed by Sophie Muller. On February 10, 2013, whilst walking the red carpet of the 55th Grammy Awards, Rihanna held an interview with Ryan Seacrest who officially revealed that the music video would premiere on E! News the following day. Rihanna described the production saying, “The video was really, really simple. I pretty much stayed put in a bathtub, and we shot it really tight, really close. There’s Mikky Ekko in the video as well. This is the first time I’ve ever collaborated with him, so I’m excited about that because he’s actually the one who wrote the song and I kinda just fell in love with it so much and in love with the tone of his voice and we wanna keep him a part of it, so you’ll see him in the video.” The singer added, “It’s a very emotional song and it’s personal, so you just think about, it’s almost like telling a story, and when you tell a story, even to yourself — if you’re saying it out loud and expressing how you feel — it needs to be powerful because it needs to be authentic.” On February 11, Rihanna leaked an “uncut” version of the video on Twitter prior to the official premiere, featuring the singer performing to the track in one singular take, without Mikky Ekko. The official version premiered on E! News later that day. It was then uploaded to Rihanna’s official VEVO account at 8AM ET the following day.

The video opens with a shot of running water. Rihanna is then presented undressing and climbing into a bathtub. Throughout the rest of the video, the singer is presented nude in the tub full of cloudy green water; subtle camera angles protect her modesty. Rihanna is shown wearing little make-up and with long hair tangled and wet over one side of her face. The singer seems morose and sad as she occasionally flickers her eyes to the ceiling and puts her head in her hands, showing off long manicured nails and a diamond stud earring. The low-key video also features Mikky Ekko, who performs his parts of the song separately including scenes of him perched on the edge of a different bathtub, gazing into a mirror, in front of an unlit fireplace, and sitting on a grand chair. The video switches between the pair throughout the course of the video until it concludes with a single tear falling from Rihanna’s eye as she sinks lower into the bathtub.

Rihanna Stay with Fun Rhode Island DJ

What The Critics Say About Rihanna Stay

Rihanna Stay received mostly positive reviews from music critics. Jon Dolan for Rolling Stone was complimentary of Rihanna’s execution of the song, writing that she performs it “within an inch of its life” and “pleads at the piano.” Dolan continued to state that it is “stark” and “shadowy” which is “confrontationally honest.” Dan Martin for NME described “Stay” as Unapologetic‘s highlight, writing that it is a “gorgeous piano ballad.” Martin continued to write that the song “puts a vulnerable spin on the Brown situation, repeating another theme of the album”, a reference to her relationship with Chris Brown. Smokey Fontaine for the Huffington Post also praised “Stay”, placing emphasis on Rihanna’s vocal performance. He wrote that “Three years ago, no one would have paid attention to a beautiful piano-ballad like ‘Stay.’ Not because of the events we all witnessed, but because of how honest and emotionally-connected her vocals are.”

Lewis Corner for Digital Spy awarded “Stay” four out of five stars, commenting that Rihanna “doesn’t need all the controversial romp to top the charts.” Corner also compared “Stay” to the work of “some of 2012’s most successful female balladeers” Emeli Sandé and Lana Del Rey and concluded by stating that Rihanna “never [follows] the pack” but “[airs] her seemingly complex emotions through music’s current trend.” The song garnered a mixed review from Genevieve Koski for The A.V. Club, writing that the album is “heavy on the sort of milquetoast ballads that have never been Rihanna’s specialty” with regard to “Stay” and “What Now”. However, Jon Caramanica for The New York Timesnegatively critiqued the song, writing that it is “dull piano driven song.” The reason he gave for it being “dull” was that he felt “Stay”, along with “Get It Over With” and “Lost in Paradise”, were the “least texturally confrontational” and therefore “by far the least successful.”

Rihanna Stay with DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island Wedding DJ

Rihanna Stay moves me. I have been a fan of Rihanna for many years and find her music still exceeding the standard in the industry for Pop Music and R&B artists. She has never had to do what was “hot” or trendy. She finds a way to have songs written for her that meet her strengths and passion succinctly, while still consistently hitting the top of the charts. Of all her reecent music, I feel the most connection and energy from Rihanna Stay. The textured, simple piano and guitar match her emotional and personal honesty step-for-step.

 

Rihanna Stay Uptempo Remix

      Rihanna Feat. Mikky Ekko - Stay [Uptempo Remix] - Rihanna Feat. Mikky Ekko

 

What do you like best about Rihanna Stay?

Rihanna Stay with DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island Wedding DJ

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & Boston DJ

973.908.8147

Hunter Hayes Wanted

I have wanted to post on Hunter Hayes Wanted for quite a while. Finally get around to doing so and feel bad that its popularity has already dissipated. I played Hunter Hayes Wanted for the first time at a Wedding in Rhode Island last Summer. I had just downloaded Hunter Hayes Wanted the day before from PrimeCuts Music and was excited to find an opportunity to play it. It was not yet being played on radio but I knew this was going to be a very successful song. I did not see it would be such a crossover hit though, I only saw its Country Music potential.

I have enjoyed the current phenomenon of Country Music hits being included in Weddings that have Brides and Grooms that are not Country Music fans. I am always pleased when experiencing people expanding their listening palettes and growing their musical tastes outside of what they consider normal and favorite.  Hunter Hayes Wanted is one of those songs. I have been Wedding DJ several times where Hunter Hayes Wanted has been requested in advance by the Bride or Groom or at the Wedding itself from guests.

Hunter Hayes Wanted with Rhode Island Wedding DJ

Hunter Hayed Wanted is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Hunter Hayes. It was released in March 2012 as the second single from his début studio album, Hunter Hayes. Hayes co-wrote the song with Troy Verges. The song is nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Country Solo Performance at the 2013 Grammy Awards.

Hunter Hayes Wanted Story

Hunter told Taste of Country about writing the song “At the time, I was trying to tell somebody something, but I couldn’t figure out how to say it. So I wanted to say it in music because I knew it would be a little more impactful. I wanted to say we are great in this relationship together, and I feel like it could even get better.

Hunter Hayes Wanted Music Video

Hunter Hayes Wanted debuted at number 57 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for the week of February 27, 2012. It also debuted at number 99 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart for the week of May 12, 2012. It also debuted at number 100 on the Canadian Hot 100 chart for the week of September 15, 2012. On the country chart dated September 29, 2012, “Wanted” became Hayes’ first number one single. Twenty-one weeks later, it returned to number one on the same chart. The song’s appearance at number one also made Hayes the youngest solo male artist (by three months and one week) to top the Hot Country Songs chart, surpassing a record held in 1973 by Johnny Rodriguez‘s “You Always Come Back to Hurting Me“. It also debuted at number 40 on the U.S. Billboard Adult Pop Songs chart for the week of November 17, 2012. It has sold over 2,170,000 copies in USA so far.

Hunter Easton Hayes (born September 9, 1991) is an American country music singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. He is signed to Atlantic Records Nashville, and released his self-titled debut album in October 2011. The album includes the Top 15 country single “Storm Warning” and the number 1 singles “Wanted” and “Somebody’s Heartbreak

Hayes was born on September 9, 1991, at Larniurg Hospital in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, as the only child to Lynette and Leo Hayes. He has Cajun ancestry. He began his musical career at the age of two when his grandmother gave him a toy accordion. At the age of four, he began making appearances at local performances and on national television, including showings on MauryRosie O’Donnell, and Nickelodeon‘s game show Figure It Out, where he performed Jambalaya (On the Bayou)American Songwriter writes that “Hayes received his first guitar from actor Robert Duvall at age six” At seven years old, Hunter was invited to perform for President Bill Clinton for a White House lawn party. At the age of 13, Hayes appeared on America’s Most Talented Kids, a show hosted by Dave Coulier. He performed the hit Hank Williams song, “Hey Good Lookin’.”

Hunter Hayes Wanted withRhode Island Wedding DJ

“The Country Music Association’s choice as the best New Artist of 2012 earned his trophy because of his intense, single-minded dedication to his music.

Hunter Hayes works at his craft virtually every waking hour. In his world, there are no days off. There are no hobbies or outside interests. Everything is focused on musical self-improvement.

“With me, it’s always going to be music,” he states. “That’s the one thing I know. That is my thing. That is my place. I make music because it’s the only way I can breathe. This is how I want to spend the rest of my life.”

His laser-like focus has resulted in an album that is the talk of the country-music community. He wrote or co-wrote all of the songs on Hunter Hayes. He co-produced it. He sings all the vocals, and he plays all of the 30-some instruments heard on the record.” Hunter Hayes Website

DJ Mystical Michael New jersey Wedding DJ & Boston DJ

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All weddings are awesome — not just mine | Offbeat Bride

As I have mentioned before, I love Offbeat Bride! I think they are amazing and do a great job of offering Brides diverse and creative ideas, concepts and perspectives on Weddings and everything that goes into your Wedding. The Wedding industry can sometimes be embarrassment to be a participant in the process. There are many vendors, venues and Wedding DJs that lie, cheat and manipulate Brides and Grooms. They play on their insecurities and fears to buy buy buy. I realize it is corny, but I love Weddings. The whole process is fun and inspiring to me. Like the article below states; all Weddings are awesome. It does not matter how much you spend or don’t, they are great experiences and celebrate marriage. I am equally thrilled when a Bride tells me she hired another Wedding DJ thats is perfect for her. I am not worried about getting  booked, many Brides and many Weddings. The fact that I am a small business that survives off of Weddings does not matter to me. I will get work. I want you to be happy and have a great Wedding that you, your friends and family will always remember. I am not the only excellent Wedding DJ and I am not the right Wedding DJ for every Bride and Groom. Let me know what you think about this piece on Brides and Weddings from Offbeat Bride.

All weddings are awesome — not just mine | Offbeat Bride with Rhode Island Wedding DJ

All weddings are awesome — not just mine | Offbeat Bride

“I am confused.

I am confused by the attitude that surrounds weddings and costs and ideas and things. Maybe that’s what makes me offbeat — I have this habit of loving everyone and being insanely optimisic even when it’s probably not warranted. I give second chances. I love and trust until given reason not to. Every new person I meet, and can carry at least a five minute conversation, I say is my new best friend. I write a daily blog about something happy that happened to me that day.

My problem lies in all the intense bitchiness that lives in the wedding world. “My wedding is better than yours because of such-and-such” and all of the things that go into such a feeling.

I was reading a blog where a woman commented that she had a courtroom wedding and blames opulent weddings for the high divorce rate.

Then there are the haters on both sides of the world. My wedding (and marriage) are better than yours because I chose to have a BBQ instead of a five course sit down meal. [At Offbeat Bride, we call this “one-lowsmanship” -Eds] My wedding (and marriage) are better than yours because I paid for three party rooms and the ghost of Louis Armstrong to sing our first song.

Can we all just chill the fuck out and be nice to each other for like… five and a half seconds?

If I was rich, I can’t say that I wouldn’t spend $50,000 on a wedding. I’d like to say I wouldn’t, but ideas change when disposable income does. My beautiful made of honor will be in our less-than-$10,000 celebration and was recently the maid of honor at a $50,000 celebration. They did the whole spiel: Catholic mass ceremony in a church with friends, family, family friends, parent’s business friends, people they’ve never known, country club, five course sit-down meal, uplighting, etc., etc. And you know what?

That wedding? … Absolutely beautiful.

The couple has been together for nearly ten years, and they earned every second of that celebration. Just because they did things differently than me doesn’t make them any better or worse. It’s just different.

We’re all awesome, beautiful, wonderful brides planning celebrations. We’re not all that different — we’re just throwing different parties.

The wedding industrial complex that tells us we need to lose weight, invite people we hate, and buybuybuybuybuy is slightly evil, yes. But it’s not all evil, and the women who don’t read Offbeat Bride are brides too. We all are. We’re all awesome, beautiful, wonderful brides planning celebrations. There are bad apples in every bunch but mostly, we’re not all that different — we’re just throwing different parties.

So I guess my issue is that everyone on every spectrum needs to realize that we can all get along. I promise. We really can. I love your wedding. Whoever you are. I love it. Whether it had all the bells and whistles or was private vows at the top of a mountain. Whether it had a DJ or an iPod. Whether it cost $200 or $200,000. It’s one of most beautiful days in the history of ever. We don’t need to be subtracting from other people’s celebrations to help make ourselves feel better. We can appreciate everything even if it’s nothing we would ever do in a million years.

The girl with the big poofy dress, the fancy dinner, the expensive wine, the 14 bridesmaids? That’s not me. But you know what? Her wedding is going to kick just as much ass as mine will because that’s her celebration. If you can stand in that ceremony and say that the person across from you is the person that you’re supposed to be across from on your wedding day — then nothing else matters.”

via All weddings are awesome — not just mine | Offbeat Bride.

What do you think about appreciating all Brides and all Weddings?

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