I was put in touch with Teresa through a mutual friend of ours, Kerim, from My Wedding Blooms. It’s not often I meet a bride who is not just excited about her wedding but ecstatic about her vendors as well. From the moment we first talked on the phone, I felt like I was about to be a part of something amazing, as well as a part of a family of professionals she was assembling.
Teresa and Alex had their reception at the newly renovated and remolded Vertigo in Glendale. I had been to this venue once before under it’s old ownership and was absolutely blown away by what they had done to the place. It is THE HIDDEN GEM in the San Fernando Valley.
Kareem and his team, along with the staff at Vertigo, pulled out all the stops to make this wedding look and feel like a Platinum Wedding. When the guests arrived, they were awe-struck by the attention to detail, the flowers, the food displays, the lighting, the music…it all meshed together in perfect harmony, which was no small feat for this vastly multi-cultural crowd. Teresa is Chinese/Cambodian but grew up in Paris, France. Alex is Armenian. However, these were not the only cultures celebrated on this night. Brazilian Samba dancers were brought in for dinner entertainment to liven up the crowd and pack the dance floor.
And dance we did! Teresa, Alex, and I did not opt for the traditional “West Coast” wedding timeline. It just would not have worked this evening. Instead, after the Grand Entrance, First Dance, and Toasts, while they guests were finishing up their first course, we broke the ice and started a dance set with lots of Michael Jackson (for Alex). Then the guests returned to their seats for courses two through four when the Samba Dancers entered to entertain and eventually kick off the second dance set. We then took a break to let them finish off their final course, as well as the cake cutting and bouquet/garter toss. Then, we danced until we decided to call it a night (somewhere after midnight.) It was an amazing night!
I have found that one of the keys to being a successful MC/DJ is to be flexible with your style and always willing to step outside your comfort zone. Putting together an alternative schedule (and explaining it to all the vendors involved) can be tricky, but when you are working with a multi-cultured wedding, or even Brides and Grooms from the East Coast, it is important to be willing to adjust your style to theirs. As soon as Alex mentioned in the coordination that he thought the guests should dance after the first course, I knew exactly how to proceed with the timeline planning. A few tweaks and adjustments later, we had a solid schedule where all formalities were done, and the dancing and party could be enjoyed throughout the night.
Dave’s recommended vendors from this wedding are:
- Vertigo in Glendale (Not your typical Armenian Banquet Hall.) – http://vertigo.la (Contact Jerry Shipman – jerry@kay12.la – 818-242-7252)
- My Wedding Blooms (The best florist working in LA today!) – www.myweddingblooms.com – 323-227-6600.
- Twin Palms Media (Dave, a fantastic and hard working videographer with a very down to earth and fun personality.) www.twinpalmsmedia.com – 800-322-0893
- Forever True Photography (Michael & Maggie, a Husband & Wife team who work together to get the best shots.) – www.forevertruephotography.com – 818-703-2217