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Ocean View Room Ballast Point Wedding DJ, Photography & Videography San Diego

9/14/2019

 
Thank you Megan and Timur for choosing us to provide DJ/MC services, live music, lighting,  photography and videography services for your wedding day! It was such a beautiful and exciting international celebration full of love, joy and inspiration! It's amazing how people and families from different countries can unite, fall in love and take care of one another. Also, huge thank you to the staff at the Ocean View Room for always being so kind and helpful. We hope this video trailer and the photos below can bring you back to that day and help you experience it over and over again! ;)

Bali Hai Restaurant Wedding Highlight Trailer / San Diego Wedding Videography & Photography by GGSE

6/19/2019

 
Thank you so much to Kaitlin & David for choosing us as your wedding videographers. We always enjoy working at the beautiful Bali Hai restaurant and it was nice to do finally do some video work at that location since we were providing wedding DJ services during the last few visits. The story about how you two met and fell in love is very inspiring. Your special dancers definitely made everyone excited and watching their performance was an amazing experience. We hope this video trailer will help you remember and relive your wedding day for many years to come. Wishing you a lifetime of happiness together!

Mater Dei Catholic Church and The Palms Banquet Hall Wedding Video Trailer

5/20/2019

 
Thank you so much to Elizabeth and Elias for choosing us to be your wedding videography and photography provider. It was one of the most fun and enjoyable weddings we've even been a part of. It was so exciting to learn about different cultural traditions and experience it all live! Nothing can be more beautiful and inspiring than seeing two great families bonding together as one. Special thank you to Palms Banquet Hall and Mater Dei Catholic Church for making things easy for all parties involved. We hope this trailer will help you relive your big day for many years to come, and we sincerely wish you all the best!

Marina Village Seaside Room Birthday Party Video Trailer by San Diego Event Videographer

3/19/2019

 
Congratulations to Patricia on her 90th birthday! It was such a great pleasure being a part of this special celebration. Patricia definitely looks and behaves as if she were in her fifties. Seeing her being so strong, active and happy is an absolutely beautiful and inspiring experience! And she raised so many smart, talented, humble and grateful children - it's almost unbelievable! Thank you so much for choosing us and we are looking forward to being a part of your future family celebrations.

Low Willows Wedding Photography and Videography San Diego

5/15/2017

 
​Congratulations to​ ​Corrin and Tim!​ ​Thank you so much for choosing us to provide​ ​photography and​ ​videography for your​ ​beautiful​ ​wedding​ ​at Low Willows in Fallbrook, CA.​ ​​I (Charlie), Suzanne and Millie​ ​really enjoyed working with you guys​ ​and we hope​ ​that these​ ​photos​ ​will help you remember​ ​and relive​ ​your big day​ ​​for many years to come! :)​ If you would like to order prints, please email us. 4x6 - $1.00/each; 5x7 - $3.00/each; 8x10 - $7.00/each; standard shipping - $5.00 per order.​

5 Tips on How to Save Money When Hiring Wedding Vendors: Photographers, Videographers, DJs, Lighting Providers, Photobooths Rentals, Officiants, Florists, Planners, Coordinators, Designers, Caterers, Transportation, etc.

11/24/2015

 
Putting together a schedule and a budget for your event, and finding that the costs are just too high right now? Wondering if there might be a way to shave a few bucks off the final cost, so you can throw a successful event for less, without skimping on quality? Try these tips, and see if they work for you.
 
1) Ask if there are discounts for leaving Yelp! reviews.
The world of event vending is fiercely competitive, and every vendor is always looking to boost their image and public standing so they can continue to attract clients. For most, the best way to appeal to consumers is through reviews. Small business owners, individuals running small one-person operations, and new businesses just starting out are often in strong need of positive reviews to bolster their image. If they don't already offer a discount for leaving a review, ask if they might be willing to cut you a deal in exchange for a prompt (and positive) Yelp! review.
 
2) Book during the off season months.
Spring, summer, and early fall are the most popular months for weddings. Vendors know this, and will charge accordingly (which is to say, top dollar). If you want to get married, but aren't heir to an oil fortune, then you may benefit from asking your vendors if they offer lower pricing from late September through early March, which is generally considered "off season." November, December, and January are (in most parts of the US) the coldest and wettest months of the year, so vendors see very little business then, and may be willing to cut you a break in exchange for some much needed patronage.
 
3) Inquire about military/ nonprofit discounts.
Are you an active or recently retired member of the Armed Forces? Some vendors may be interested in offering discounts to our people in uniform. When discussing booking fees, inquire if they have any military discounts or special packages available. Also, do you work for a certified nonprofit organization? Are you on a tight budget, and can't find anything in your price range? When contacting vendors about packages and services, ask if they offer any discounts or offer any free services to nonprofit organizations. Some may do this as it may be counted as a charitable donation, which confers tax benefits on their company. Be prepared to fill out and possibly notarize documents certifying their donation of goods or services.
 
4) Find out if they offer partner discounts.
While perusing the websites of various vendors, do you see any common names crop up? Do any of them have names of vendors they like to work with? Venues definitely like to keep a list of preferred vendors available, which can sometimes mean a discount when you book a venue and some of their preferred vendors. However, you might be able to find videographers who have certain photographers they like to work with, or DJs who like to work with photo booth people. Some of these vendors may offer a referral discount, if you book their friend as well, and their friend in turn, since both essentially got each other the booking. While discussing bookings, ask if they have any close associations with other vendors, and if they might be able to cut you a deal (and then ask the other vendor if they can do the same). Or ask if they can be booked as one entity, and providing a sort of group discount.
 
5) Special Discounts.
For an added bonus, inquire if you can get a special discount from a DJ by not requesting any face-to-face meetings. If the DJ can save on gas money before the event by only corresponding via e-mail or skype, they may be willing to pass on that saving to you. If the DJ is not too keen on making announcements, or if you'd rather have a family member make the major announcements, ask the DJ if they would be willing to shave a few dollars off for not having to make any announcements. If you provide the DJ with a total and comprehensive list of every song you want played at your wedding, right down the top 40 hits you want played at the reception dance, you'd be taking some pressure off the DJ to have to guess what should be played, and narrows down the field of music they need to have handy for the dance. That kind of time and effort conservation they may be grateful for, and you may be able to ask that they knock a couple bucks off as such. And a videographer or photographer may be happy to shave $100 or more off their normal price if you make the effort to coordinate with them via only skype or e-mail, and if you have someone on hand to help them find the optimal spots to place their gear for the best shots. Coordinating with the videographer with the location of the grand entrance well in advance so they know where to place their cameras to get maximum quality video will definitely be in your best interest.


Written by Dave Andersson
How to Save Money When Hiring Wedding Vendors: DJs, Photographers, Videographers, Lighting, etc.

Important Tips for Successful Communication with your Wedding Vendors

7/29/2015

 
The big day is here. You've picked a beautiful cake, this resort's ceremony garden has a stunning view of lush, green vineyards, and the caterers from Marseilles are cooking up the most amazing meals your guests will ever eat. The DJ is setting up in the reception room, the photographer and videographer have all called to report they're on their way, and florist is arranging flowers at the entrance. Everything is perfect. But have you forgotten anything?

Now the question you must ask yourself is: how closely have I communicated with my vendors? It seems an odd question, but how in-depth you've communicated with your vendors can have a tremendous impact on the smoothness and success of your wedding.

For example: did you ask your photographer and videographer if they are bringing assistants? And if yes, did you allocate meals for them and their assistants, so they are fed? Your vendors will be running around taking every piece of footage and imagery possible to ensure that they've captured your wedding's every nuance. All that legwork is exhausting. During the mealtime in the middle of the reception, it would be a very kind gesture to make sure that your staff are fed. It not only fosters goodwill, but also guarantees that your vendors will have the energy they need to keep running around and capture every aspect of your wedding with the highest attention to detail possible.

On the subject of wedding videographers, have you coordinated with them (and their assistants) about important moments such as the entryway you will use for Grand Entrance, and the Parent-Child dances? The Grand Entrance is a crucial event, and often, the videographer works alone, and in a large space with multiple entrances. They will supplement their equipment with a tripod to capture much of the Grand Entrance while getting in close with a handheld camera. It is essential that they know where to plant their tripod, so they can capture as much footage of the event as possible, from every angle. Deciding on the entrance well in advance, and communicating which entrance point you will come through helps your videographer establish the best shots, and not risk panicked moments where they chose the wrong door to set up their cameras, and be forced to bolt across the room at the last second (thereby missing some of the first groomsmen and bridesmaids that enter).

And when your parent-child dances come up, have you clearly established the order in which dances will occur? Is each dance separate, or will it be a group dance? Knowing these key elements of the event will also help you videographer set up their equipment properly, and know who to follow (and when) during the dances, so they capture the best footage possible of all parties.

And last but not least, when all is said and done, and the DJ has packed up and gone, and the venue staff are pulling away, did you make a note to leave an online review for your vendors? The caterers, the DJ, the MC, the photographer, the videographer, the venue itself, all of them depend on positive press to stay in business, and attract customers (or, if they didn't do so well, an appropriate review reflecting that can help them improve their service). Something as simple as a "Fantastic  job! Our photographer took the most amazing shots we ever could have wanted!" and a four or five star rating on Yelp! can make all the difference in helping your vendors continue to stay in business, and provide happiness for brides and grooms for many years to come. 

Written by Dave Andersson

What is Wedding Gobo Lighting and How Much Does it Cost? Custom Gobo Projection Basics for Brides.

2/12/2014

 
Wedding gobo lighting allows you to project your name and wedding date on the wall or the dance floor. There are a few different types of gobos, such as steel, glass and plastic, and there are many different lighting fixtures that can project a custom-made gobo. Depending on the type of gobo and the projector being used, many wedding DJs and event lighting decor companies charge between $150 and $500 per each gobo.

If your wedding is going to take place in Southern California, you may consider using our gobo lighting rental services, which start at only $250 per wedding and include a custom gobo monogram, a special LED gobo projector, delivery, setup, tear down, labor and tax. 

As soon as we get your inquiry, we will email you a brochure with some of the most popular custom gobo options we offer. The next step for you would be to choose the one you like best and let us know. We will then order it from a manufacturing company and they will ship us a brand new, laser cut gobo made from steel. 

Depending on your reception venue and your personal preference, we have a couple of different gobo projectors that allow us to project your custom gobo almost anywhere. Dance floor and wall colors and materials will determine whether its best to project your gobo on the wall or the dance floor.

If you have any additional questions or would like to request a quote, please fill out this form. We hope this article has answered some of your questions and we look forward to possibly being a part of your special day.
hat is Wedding Gobo Lighting, San Diego Wedding Lighting Rental
Gobo Lighting Rental San Diego, Custom Gobo Projection
San Diego Lighting Rental, Rent DJ Lights San Diego

How to Save Money on a Wedding DJ? Ways of Saving Money on a DJ. Ipod vs. DJ. Wedding Blog San Diego

11/27/2013

 
How to Save Money on a Wedding DJ
We understand how difficult, overwhelming and expensive it can be to plan your wedding day. Everything seems very important, things add up very quickly and it’s very easy to spend more money than you can afford. This little article will provide some tips and ideas on what you can do to reduce the cost of your wedding entertainment.


First of all, you should contact at least 10 different companies and ask if they have any current specials. It might be less time consuming to email them, which would also allow you to ask more questions and get more detailed answers. Before asking the price question, make sure to tell them a little bit about your wedding, its date and location, the number of guests, the services you need, etc. Be polite, friendly and try to send a personal message to every DJ you’re interested in. Don’t forget to find out what’s actually included in their packages and what extras you may need. 

If you’re looking for an experienced, professional, personal and talented wedding DJ/MC, use Google, Youtube and Yelp. Depending on your wedding details and the area where you live, the price range is going to be between $500 and $3000. However, if you’re looking for the cheapest wedding DJ in your area and the outcome of your wedding is not as important as the price of the DJ, then look on Craigslist and you will find many people willing to DJ your wedding for $300 or less. Please note that this can be compared to hiring someone from Craigslist to fix your teeth instead of using a professional dentist. Keeping in mind that this is one of the most important days of your life, there are too many risks involved: DJ not showing up, broken equipment, improper attire, poor announcements, wrong songs, bad timing, unprofessional customer service, lack of experience, etc.

If you still seriously consider hiring the cheapest wedding DJ you can find, it might be better to rent a good sound system instead and prepare the music yourself. This would allow you to save some money and still be on top of planning your big day. You can find a lot of information on wedding music and best wedding songs online. Most AV companies charge between $200 and $400 for a decent PA system. For instance, our $200 sound system rental package includes two 15’’ 550-watt speakers on stands, one wired microphone with a stand, one small sound mixer with a 3.5mm audio cable for your laptop or iPod, delivery, setup, tear down, labor and tax. If you’re not sure how to find a PA system rental company in your town, simply go to Google.com and type in “sound system rental” followed by the name of the city/area where you’re getting married.

Our final piece of advice is to understand the importance of your wedding reception entertainment and prioritize accordingly. Many current studies have shown that most people spend only about 8% of their wedding budget on a DJ, while music accounts for at least 70% of their wedding’s success. Most brides and grooms regret not spending more time and money on their DJ, while most guests consider entertainment to be one of the most memorable parts of a wedding. The good news is that DJ business is actually extremely competitive and, as long as you spend some time on research, it’s almost impossible not to find one within your budget. If you’d like to check out our DJ packages, please click here.


Wedding Lighting Ideas: LED Up Lights, Table Under Lighting, Pin Spot, Gobo, Dance Floor & Stage Lights

9/19/2013

 
San Diego Lighting Rental
Are you thinking of using lighting as a part of your wedding reception décor? In this article, we’ll go over the basics on different wedding lighting décor options and their pricing. If you’re not sure how a certain type of lighting usually looks like, all you need to do is Google it for images and plenty will come up.


1)       Up lighting. This is definitely the most popular and probably one of the most affordable ways to add class, elegance and sophistication to your wedding. Depending on the size of your main ballroom, you might need anywhere between 8 and 40 fixtures. Up lights can also be used outdoors for decorating buildings, columns, polls, palm trees, etc. The rental service price usually starts at $25 per light and goes all the way up to $75 per fixture, which depends on where you get it and what kind of lights are being used. It’s good to keep in mind that you don’t have to use dozens of fixtures if you’re trying to save money for something else. Even if it’s just a few up lights, they will still look awesome and add a lot!

2)       Table under lighting. Oftentimes, the exact same fixtures are used for this as for up lighting but you might need more than one fixture or a special mega bar light to make each table look good. Most couples usually have this type of lighting under their head table and/or the cake table. If you’d like to use this for all the tables, it might be a good idea to consider renting wireless fixtures instead of regular wired lights just so that you don’t have too many power cables taped down all over the floor. The pricing will vary between $50 and $150 per table and it’s definitely a great investment if you have a little bit of extra money that can be spent on your room décor. 

3)       Pin spot lighting. This is a perfect way to light your cake, table tops and other centerpieces everywhere in the room. We hang the lights on top of special tripod stands and direct the fixtures toward your centerpieces, which creates a very beautiful high end effect and makes it easier for everyone to notice your cake, flowers, photos, candles, champagne glasses, etc. The pricing starts at $25 per light and we usually recommend using at least two fixtures per object. Other companies may charge more while using older lights and you would need to have at least 4 fixtures per centerpiece to get a similar amount of impression from your guests.

4)       Dance floor lighting. Basic LED color wash/flood lights are very inexpensive and will add a lot of energy and excitement to your dancing area. They will change colors and various patterns along with music and will set the right mood for the dancing portion of the night. If you don’t have thousands of dollars to pay for your lighting, do not spend money on moving head lights that won’t generate much impression but will cost a lot of money. You can find a decent dance floor lighting rental package for as low as $200-$300, which would include a few different fixtures on a T-stand or a truss.

5)       Stage lighting. If you’re planning to have a live band, it might be a good idea to ask them if they offer any stage lighting. If they don’t, we suggest that you contact a lighting rental company that will help you put together a special package for your stage. This is very important because you will probably want your musicians and your DJ to be seen clearly. You might also want to have some kind of a stage light show during their performance to entertain your guests and make it an unforgettable experience. Stage lighting packages usually start at a few hundred dollars and go up to thousands per show. This type of lighting usually requires additional setup time and special lighting truss stands.

6)       Gobo projection. If you’d like to have your names, initials, your wedding date or any other special message to be projected on your dance floor, one of the walls or a ceiling, you would need to rent a gobo projector with a custom monogram. The average price for this service is $250-$350 per light. The reason it’s not very cheap is because good gobo projectors are pricey and your rental company would actually have to pay another company to manufacture your gobo, which is usually laser cut and made from steel. Ordering, handling and shipping each gobo takes time and this service has to be arranged in advance. We suggest that you have your gobo projected on a wall instead of a dance floor because usually it will look brighter and more noticeable throughout the night.

We hope that the information above clarifies some aspects of wedding lighting décor and makes it easier for you to make your choices. If you have any questions or would like to learn more about our wedding and event lighting rental services, please contact us. Thank you!


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San Diego Wedding DJ, MC, Live Music, Sound, Lighting, Photography & Videography
  • About
  • Packages
  • Lighting
  • Videography
  • Photography
  • PA Rental
  • Contact
  • More
    • Tips/Blog
    • San Diego Party DJ
    • San Diego EDM Wedding DJ
    • Music Selection
    • Our Team
    • Our Outfit
    • Samples/Demos
    • Wedding Photo Gallery
    • FAQ
    • Testimonials
    • Preferred Vendors
    • Sitemap
    • Russian Speaking DJ San Diego, Russian Wedding DJ San Diego, - Русский ди-джей Сан Диего