Well as all you Houston Brides know, the owners of the Beautiful Bella Terrazza have recently (in the last year) opened a new venue, The Tuscan Villa of Garden Oaks, and is booking up fast. Erin tells me, this past Saturday, that it is the place where she will be having her wedding in the next few days. Congratulation Erin.
I personally have not been there to DJ or even to look at the Venue, but by what everyone else tells me, it is very beautiful.
Here are some pictures I took this past Saturday from the Bella Terrazza Wedding I had the pleasure to DJ.
Alborz recently had his blog evaluated to be valued at Five Million Dollars!!! That’s about $50,000 dollars a month!!!! (For blogging about something he loves)
If you are interested in hearing his story and how he went about it, listen to the interview by clicking on the link: Audio interview.
It’s a great interview full of good ideas that you can try on your own right away.
It’s been over 3 years since I’ve taken a vacation from my DJ work.
By vacations I mean to actually take my family somewhere and enjoy some valuable time with my wife and my daughters. We do go places, but it’s around here, in Houston. It usually is only for a day or so and then I have to get back to the regular routine of DJing which is; Answer emails, Answer telephone calls, write to my blogs, update my websites, meet with brides, get ready for the upcoming wedding, and so on.
I also take one weekend out of every month and don’t book anything, that’s also something I’ve promised my wife. That may have to change, but for now, I don’t book anything, even if my best friend and DJ thinks I’m stupid for doing that. I don’t care, family comes first.
This Year I took my family on a looong drive into Mexico.
Our trip started on Wednesday, June 25th. First stop was Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. A beautiful city where my wife and her family are from. Going into Mexico we just went to rest and to visit her parents (They live in Houston but they were there visiting as well). We arrived there at about 6:00 PM (About an 8 Hour Drive) and there really was no time to do anything but hang out with her parents and go to sleep. I went to sleep early and actually woke up with a terrible eye infection so I could not use my contacts for the rest of the trip.
The Next day, we left Monterrey and made our way to Nochistlan, Zacatecas, Mexico, where my family and I are from. This was my wife’s first trip into our small town and so was my daughters. This portion of the trip takes anywhere from 8-10 Hours. Since we got semi-lost, it took us the full 10 hours. We drove through, Saltillo, Zacatecas, and Aguascalientes. Right after Aguascalientes, was the exit from the main Highway into our small town.
Since it’s such a long drive, I don’t get to visit often, but when I do, I find it to be the most relaxing time of my life.
I actually went there because one of my cousins was getting married on June 28th and he asked me to go DJ over there. For those of you who know this, the music over there is A LOT different than the music over here. Even if you like Spanish music, It’s still a lot different. I was a bit intimidated as well as a bit nervous but it all turned out really (surprisingly) good.
Sunday, my another cousin celebrated her 15th birthday and I was also asked to provide the music, which I did.
Monday, we were ready to return to Monterrey, to visit more of my wife’s family and go into the city shopping. It was all good except for one small scare. Nothing big, just some guy banging on a large piece of wood with wooden stick really hard, which made it sound A LOT like gunshots…
After Monterrey, we headed back to the border and after we crossed over we headed to South Padre. Luckily we arrived at South Padre Island right before the 4th of July Weekend. So we avoided the rush of tourists who went out there to celebrate the 4th of July. We were looking for the relaxed atmosphere where we could be with our daughters and have them enjoy the beach and scenery.
It was a vacation, but there was A LOT of driving on my part. I guess I really don’t mind the driving too much, and except for the irritated eye, due to wearing the contact while driving for hours, everything went well, we all returned well rested and ready to take on the world again and continue putting smiles, good music, and the typical complain, the only complaint I like to hear from the brides, at the end of the night of “I’m tired and ready to go!”
I have to agree with that statement. You will find these vendors:
Disc Jockeys
Wedding and Grooms Cakes
Photographers
Reception Sites / Venues
Linens
Tuxedo Rental
Videography
Bridal Consultants
Caterers
Flowers
and a lot more. If you need it, you’ll find it there. It’s covers a great part of the George R. Brown, and you know how BIG that is.
This July I will not be able to have a booth there, but I do plan on visiting just to see what’s new. I’ve got a busy weekend with two weddings and I will have just come back from my vacation. I will have a booth in the January show, however.
My best advice is to go early, wear tennis shoes, set an appointment with a spa (j/k), but you will be tired from walking, PRINT OUT A LOT OF LABELS; include Name, Wedding Date, Email Address, Phone Numbers and that should be all that you need to provide, have a game plan (what do you need to book, what are your needs, requirements, expectations, etc..), be ready to book.
Most vendors offer great prices in order to book a lot of their open dates. It’s great because you can shop around, compare prices, book and save… all in one location. No gas wasted, no time wasted driving, nothing like that, just find what you need compare it with a few other vendors, get a great discount and get done with it!
DJ Francisco Review of Paraiso Marabilla; a wedding venue located in Houston Texas.
I was at Paraiso Marabilla on May 31, 2008 for the wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Jason Smithwick, which was very nice, elegant and fun.
Upon arrival, there was nothing set up, just the bare place and even then Paraiso Marabilla was just beautiful. It’s one of the most beautiful places to hold your wedding. Out of all the places I’ve been to DJ this is the one I like the most.
Let me take a few words from their website that just truly captures the feeling of being there:
With courtyards full of blooming bougainvillea, hibiscus, and other greenery, Paraiso Maravilla truly presents itself as a “marvelous paradise,” which is the translation of the venues unique name. The indirect light and an abundance of candles transform this already beautiful facility into an overwhelmingly romantic atmosphere. “Once the gates close and the visitor is tucked inside, he or she is transported thousands of miles away to a Latin American and Mediterranean fantasy. All traces of Houston are gone. Every visual angle with the high walls is picture perfect – a romantic arched gateway in this direction, a splashing fountain surrounded by rich foliage straight ahead, a playful curving stairway in the other direction. “Here, a massive mantle. There, a vast expanse of Italian marble just right for dancing.”
It’s a unique feeling, it feels as if you are outside enjoying the most beautiful weather and atmosphere, but with the commodity of modern day Air Conditioning. The architecture is amazing; I loved the feel of the place. You just have to see it to understand.
The one thing I remember is the floors, they are just beautiful and it makes you wonder… are they going to allow the guests to dance on those beautiful floors?
Well the Summer, although not officially, is here and the Month of May is over!
God was great to me last month and I am very thankful for that. I was able to witness the most weddings ever in a month. I love weddings and I love what they represent: The coming together of two individuals who have decided to spend the rest of their lives together. It’s romantic, it’s memorable, and it’s a great feeling to be able to be there and see the bride and the groom as they exchange their bows, as they dance for the first time as husband and wife, as the father takes his daughter and dances with her for the first time as Mrs., and as everyone there is happy for them and willing to participate in anything they can to make the day special.
This week I have been lazy keeping up with my blogs, so I am calling it a vacation. I have a regular job, I DJ on the weekends, and I try to find great material to share on my blog. Plus I have a family of 4 (Including me) I have to spend time with. I love my daughters and my wife (In that order) lol and I love to see how my daughters grow and learn things.
My oldest, Alexa just graduated from pre-K and is enjoying her long awaited summer vacations. My youngest, Atziry, is a one year old who is amazingly intelligent. But of course, who’s child isn’t (in their own eyes). Every morning when I place her in my car to take her to the baby sitter’s she, spends her whole trip trying to put on her sandals. I don’t know if my oldest did that when she was 1 year old. She gets them halfway on, but since they have velcro, she hasn’t figured out how to take that out. So I imagine that is pretty advanced for her, taking off the velcro. She talks already and understand a few commands, takes her own diaper to the trash can, dances to some Spanish songs; chicken dance style, etc.
June is here and I have a busy DJ - MC schedule coming up, but luckily not as busy as May so I will be able to live a little more with my beautiful girls, all three of them and find some great topics for this blog.
When it comes to the Entertainment at your wedding, the first thing you, as the bride or groom, have to ask yourself is what do I want for my family, my friends, and myself?
Do you want an Elegant, low Key wedding reception?
Do you want a Party, all out dancing and having fun event?
Or would you prefer a mixture of the two?
I’m sure most brides want their wedding to be Elegant and Fun, but do you know how your DJ will accomplish that objective?
Is he just going to play music and hope the guests get up to dance with a good mixture of music?
Will he get out and motivate the crowd to have a great time?
If these are things you have not considered asking your DJ, you should. Below I will give my opinion on what I think would be the best combination and how to incorporate crowd interaction in a non-intrusive, fun, and memorable manner.
To begin, let me give you some insight, some psychology so to speak, about your guests. They are there because they love you. They want you to have the time of your life. The ones that are married, know that this WILL INDEED be the most memorable day of your life. Also, and very important, they want to have a great time that day. They’ve dressed up with very nice and expensive clothing that some will only use ONCE in their life time. So needless to say this will be a day that EVERYONE there will remember.
Elegant Entertainment DJ
So you want your reception to be both Elegant and Fun. This is where hiring the right Specialized Houston DJ will be crucial to your wedding outcome.
Some DJs believe that a wedding is a formal event and should be elegant and the music should set a romantic mood for the entire evening. Other DJ’s believe that a wedding is a party and a cause for a celebration, but that elegance is outdated. I believe you can have both.
Most Venues do their best to make your event as beautiful as you like, and as beautiful as your pocket book allows. Nevertheless, they try their best to make the place Elegant and Beautiful. So as the DJ, the Co-Captain of the Ship (The Bride and Groom are the Captain(s) ), I already have the help of the venue making your event elegant the next step would be for me to enhance (not detract from) that elegance.
The equipment setup is a start, the DJ attire is important and the music during Guest Arrival and During Dinner can also help accomplish that elegant, romantic mood.
The initiation of the wedding reception, the guest arrival, should be the part that is the most elegant. As soon as the guest arrive, all their senses should be filled with an elegant, romantic mood. They should feel that they arrived at a royal palace, an elegant occasion, a grand ballroom, YOUR wedding reception. As a DJ, That can be accomplished by the MC or DJ’s attire being appropriate, the Equipment setup being clean and neat and the music being just right for the mood you, the bride and groom, are trying to create. This could be Smooth Jazz, classic oldies, smooth love songs, Frank Sinatra style music, etc…
Not doing your research and selecting the best DJ for you, could result in your DJ showing up in Jeans, playing inappropriate music, or their equipment set up being messy. No matter how elegant the venue is, that will be what your guest remember most (negatively), the DJ you chose to represent you.
Fun Entertainment DJ
Just because you decide to make your event elegant does not mean that it can’t be fun. Remember, everyone is there to have a great time.
Crowd Interaction
Crowd interaction may come in many forms as long as the DJ’s objective is to create a great time for everyone, without stepping over anyone’s toes, or without embarrassing your guests, everything will be alright.
Here’s what I like to do for fun activities.
The Famous Conga Line
This one activity is fantastic and really lifts up everyone’s enthusiasm. When performed (great) this can be the small ignition to a huge fireball of fun. It gets EVERYONE involved, it puts the Bride and Groom at the center of the spotlight, and if you add party favors (Hats, Maracas, Leis, Whistles, Confetti, etc..) you create an extra added UMPH of ambient noise, and it will truly be one thing that EVERYONE remembers for a long time to come.
The Y.M.C.A. Dance
This one can be performed many ways. The DJ can just come over the mic and direct the crowd on what to do and motivate them to shout as loud as they can the words YMCA. Or again, pass out party props which consist of YMCA themed hats: The Sailor Cap, Construction Worker, Police Man, Fireman, Apache Indian, etc… What I like to do is pass out hats to a select few and have them lead the YMCA dance as the Village People and have the crowd cheer them on. Also great fun, and again it motivates everyone to dance and have a great time.
Ballon Dance
This can be done with many dances, and what we do is pass them out right before the song that we are going to play and have the guest of honor lead the dance. Everyone else is behind them. Great for line dances and soul train lines. This also adds to the level of enthusiasm and overall fun of the event.
Line Dance Participation
As the DJ, you’ve seen all the different line dances and should have a good idea of how they go. Add to that the fact that people always want to be told what to do because they don’t want to do it wrong, when you get out in the dance floor and help lead a particular line dance, you become the hero. Besides, you also get everyone going in the same direction and that always looks a lot better for pictures and for video.
Conclusion
Our objective is ALWAYS to try to get everyone involved in having a great time. After all that’s what they are there for!
Last Saturday, May 17th was the second time I visit Bella Terrazza n the last 6 Months. It is a beautiful place to hold a wedding reception. As their website states,
“Bella Terrazza’s Mediterranean-inspired architecture and design will make you feel as though you have stepped into the Italian Riviera. Whether you choose the warmth of our Wine Room for a wedding rehearsal dinner, or the spacious elegance of the Terrazza banquet hall for your wedding reception, or the beautiful outdoor setting of our Garden Piazza for a wedding reception surrounded by nature, Bella Terrazza is the perfect setting for your perfect day.”
If you want to have your wedding there, you have to book early as they are in very high demand there.
If you are one of the lucky ones to get in, I’m sure Raechel or Erin will take really good care you for your special day!
Here are a few pictures I tookof the place. Note the Ceremony was outside.
This past Sunday, May 18th I had the honor to MC and DJ a Wedding at the Sweetwater Country Club Located in the very gorgeous Sweetwater community, just South of Houston.
OMG, was it beautiful.
It was one of those places where you can definitely have a dream story wedding. Where your prince charming will come and sweep you off your feet and live happily ever after.
The surrounding neighborhood is also astonishing, beautiful, Spanish Style Homes Mansions, Trees keep your car shaded as you drive through the beautiful neighborhood. It just seems surreal.
Then you begin to wonder what you have to do to live in a home like that.
This is definitely a place I would recommend to everyone who is looking for an elegant, beautiful and memorable place to hold their wedding.
Here is a small list I recently created when I was making a CD for someone special in my life. These are great songs to use for a sensual, passionate evening with someone you are in Love with.
Let’s Make Love - Tim McGraw and Faith Hill
Unchained Melody - The Righteous Brothers
Mi Credo - Pepe Aguilar
Lets Get it On - Marvin Gaye
More than Words - Frankie J
Te Voy a Perder - Alejandro Fernandez
I’ll Make Love to You - Boyz II Men
When We Make Love - Ginuwine
Todo Cambio - Camila
Far Away - Nickelback
Below is an Amazon widget that allows you to preview the songs and purchase them if you’d like to own them.
Yaro Starak, 
This past Sunday, May 18th I had the honor to MC and DJ a Wedding at the Sweetwater Country Club Located in the very gorgeous Sweetwater community, just South of Houston.
