This was a lovely place to hold a wedding. They have many rooms to chose from to accommodate any sized wedding from 50 ppl to over 500 people. The place is beautiful inside as well as the surrounding environment. Located right in the middle of the rustic Sugar Land Town Square. Beautiful scenery and many shops nearby including a Starbucks right next door to it.
Marriott Sugarland Hotel Wedding DJ Pictures
Bride and Groom got away from me bofore I could ask them for my signature shot of them two together. This was a fun event, small amount of guests, but everyone participated and danced the songs they liked. Also this was a very diverse guest list that attended. Either way, the Bride and Groom and their guests had a fantastic time. Even at one point they had to go ask the staff for a brom to dance to the Limbo.
Happy Planning!
–
DJ Francisco
Professional Bilingual DJ in Houston
I’m happy. I was asked to DJ a Wedding Recently for friends of the family and I decided to take video of my mixing abilities so that I can hear what the people hear. Most of the time when I’m DJing I get so into the music that all my concentration is on making sure the mix comes out flawless, and that no one is interrupted in their dancing groove or their dancing step, that I don’t really hear what the guests hear. This in the DJ world is called Beat Mixing or Beat matching. this is where the dj goes from one song to the next and it sounds seamless or the sound and beat keep going. MOST DJ’s do n’t do this because they claim they don’t have to. I have proven over and over to DJ’s that if they take the time to learn to beatmatch, their events will be ALOT more successful. However, since it is hard work and takes extra effort learn, for those who havent’mastered it, these djs usually don’t make the effort to learn to match beats.
Once you master the concept of beatmixing, it is actually easy to do. It’s like riding a 10 speed bike effectively. But it does take a lot of concentration even though it’s still easy. I mean, you still have to determine what the next song should be that’s around the same BPM (Beats Per Minute), the unit of measure that DJs use, or close to it. Add to that that you have to make sure the musical sounds or instruments are similar or sound similar enough to get by. Also, you have to determine if you should keep playing the same genre or switch it up to a new genre. If you do switch it what will you switch it too so that you can keep as many people on the dance floor and bring in some of the people that have been waiting to dance. Aaaaand you have to keep withing the specifications of what the bride and groom (or your clients) request or want to hear. So again, I say it’s easy, bearing all this in mind. Easy, as I said before.
Well the videos are on Youtube and are linked to below:
They are all of spanish music, it was for a latino wedding and the only music they wanted to hear was spanish. Now I did sneak in the Cupid Shuffle, Cha Cha Slide and the Boot Scootin Boogie.
Also, the light system used is our highest upgrade and does not come with our standard packages.
This past weekend, August 23rd 2008 was the second time I’ve visited this beautiful place. In my honest opinion, this is one of, if not, the most beatiful wedding venues in all of Houston Texas; that I have been to.
It is just beautiful. This time I took a lot better pictures of the insides and outsides as well as my normal, people dancing and having a great time. There was a lot more light too since I arrived a lot earlier than I was supposed to.
Pictures will be uploaded soon and linked to from here.
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?
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!
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.
Latin Music, we all love it and we all love to dance it.
It’s very sensual and romantic to dance, not to mention how stimulating it can be…
At the weddings I have performed, no matter if there is Latin people or not, I usually get a request or two for Latin Music. I guess they see that I am Latino and feel that I should have something fun to dance; I do.
We all know weddings are a special occasion and that people are generally there to support the bride and groom and to wish them well in their long journey of love, so they are generally in a great mood to party and to enjoy the night as much as they can. So if the DJ plays a song, any song, and they don’t know how to dance, they will still get out there and try to figure it as much as they can, all in the name of having a great time.
So what are those Latin Songs that will do just that?
Elvis Crespo - Suavemente(Merengue)
Celia Cruz - La Vida es un Carnaval (Salsa)
Daddy Yankee - Rompe (Reggaeton)
King Africa - El Carnavalito (Line Dance)
Los Del Rio - La Macarena (Line Dance)
Sabor Kolombia - Bota y Tambo (Cumbia Sonidera)
Fulanito - Guallando (Merengue)
Selena - Baila Esta Cumbia (Cumbia)
SuperMerka2 - Que Calor (Cumbia)
Aventura - Obsesion (Bachata)
These are amongst the top ten known Latin songs that if you request any DJ will have, or should have, and will do a great job of getting people on the dance floor.
Let me know how you like these songs or if you have other suggestions.
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.
Latin Music, we all love it and we all love to dance it.
