ZZYXZ Mobile DJ Service
Have fun at Bridal Show?
Hope you enjoyed the recent bridal show. If you need more information regarding DJ services, video or lighting, let me know!

Emergency Tips
You never know when something bad might happen. Here's a couple of tips when one of these emergencies strikes:
   Gotta get a needle threaded, but the hole's small and the thread is frayed? Just spray the end of the thread with hairspray and twist. It'll make a nice little point for you.
   Lost a contact, earing back or some other tiny object? Just stretch a piece of pantyhose or similar nylon across a vacuum cleaner's nozzle to act as a strainer while you suck up the wayward item.
  Click here for more tips and instructions on how to make your own bridal emergency kit

Tips on Attendants
Flowergirls and ring bearers should be from 3 - 7 years old. Jr. Bridesmaids and groomsmen are 8 - 14.

Ushers Rule of thumb:
There should be 1 usher for every 50 guests. There may sometimes be more ushers/groomsmen than bridesmaids, but never more bridesmaids than groomsmen.

Dealing with Missing Parents
If the bride has no father she may be escorted by a brother or uncle, or by her mother. She may also choose to walk alone. If someone other than the mother is escorting the bride, when the minister asks "Who gives this woman?" the mother is the one who answers "I do."

Mom's Choice
The bride's mother gets to choose the style, length and color of her dress. If the groom's mother chooses, she may pick something along the same lines. It looks better in the photos if she does.

Menswear Rule of Thumb:
Wedding after 5 PM, men wear tuxes to a formal wedding. Before 5 PM men wear cutaways or striped trousers with sack coats.

White Dress Mythology
When you have children who were born out of wedlock you can still wear a white dress. (Contrary to popular belief white wedding dresses do not symbolize virginity; they are a hold-over from the Victorian era; before that wedding dresses were green, blue and other colors.) However, unless your religion requires it, wear no veil and tradition dictates you shouldn't have orange blossoms in your bouquet.

Looking for info to help with planning your wedding, getting a DJ, etc. Check zzydj.com now!

 Heading Into the Kitchen

There are a couple of things many brides and grooms overlook when they are signing up for gift registries. Remember, after it's all over, you need to be able to cook day-to-day. There's actually only two things you really need for your kitchen (3 if you don't have a computer, but then, how would you be reading this!).

These items are:

1) A food processor
2) High quality cutlery
3) Cookbooks (and if you have a computer you don't really need these).

A food processor can help you with the routine chores of chopping, slicing and cutting. There are many good brands out there. Look for one that's easy to use, easy to clean and versatile, offering various attachments or blades. Once you find the one you like, add it to your gift registry!

A good set of kitchen knives is imperative. Good knives last a lifetime and are safer to use. Choose knives with a metal bolster between the blade and handle that are well-balanced. High-carbon, stain-resistant steel are the best blades. Personally, we've found Cutco knives to be the best. We use them in our own kitchen at home and bought them for gifts in the past.

Betty Crocker's classic cookbook was the go-to resource in my mom's kitchen. We used a lot of the recipes found therein and they were great. It's been updated and is still a great basic cookbook for any kitchen. The advent of the Web has made available a plethora of sites offering recipes. My favorite web site is http://www.cooks.com where you can find tons of great recipes for just about anything you're cooking.

Better Toasting

No, I'm not talking about bread in the toaster. I'm talking about the speeches that will be given in your honor and that you will give to honor others as a part of your wedding.

Here are 7 Secrets for a great toast:

1) Don't be long-winded

2) Stand to give a toast; sit to receive one;

3) Prepare ahead of time: write your speech, rehearse in the bathroom mirror. (I know this sounds stupid, but as a compeitive public speaker who has won many contests it was time spent in front of the mirror that helped me perfect my delivery!)

4) Mention those you are toasting by name, your relationship to them and a thought about their good fortune.

5) Add witty anecdotes wherever possible.

6) Speak slowly and loudly enough for all guests to hear.

7) Remember to cap off the toast with a hearty "Cheers!"

Some people wonder when toasts are given, by who and for whom. Typically, toasts are made at the rehearsal dinner and the reception.

Established protocol for toasts @ rehearsal dinner:

  The best man toasts the bride.
  The bride toasts the groom.
  The groom toasts the bride's mother
  The bride's father toasts the groom's parents

  Establish protocal at the reception:

  The best man toasts bride and groom
  The groom toasts the bride and her family
  The two fathers toast the bride and groom
  The bride and groom toast each other

For even more help on toasting, visit my web page.

Good luck with your planning and remember if you have any questions you can always reach me via email. Happy shopping!
MC John