Here is a cross-post from a friend supporting the Arizona Animal Welfare League and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals in the Walk to Save Animals on Saturday, November 14 2009 at Tempe Town Lake.
I believe that animals are people too, so I’m happy to place the information here and hope that you are able to help with this worthy cause:
Dear friends,
As many of you know, our sweet Mandy is a rescue from the Humane Society. She used to be timid, scared and abused animal with little hope. Today, she is a vibrant, loving member of our family that learned to overcome her sad past and trust again. But most importantly, she knows love. She was lucky to be saved, but many others aren’t so lucky. Madison, our giant golden retriever, is also a resuce from a no kill shelter. Our girls are an incredible part of of lives – there’s nothing better than being greeted with kisses after work or seeing the excitement in their eyes when they get to go for a ride in the car. They ask us for very little: lovin’ from mom and dad (and our guests!), a good ear scratch, a couple meals a day and a bit of playtime, but give us so much in return.
Because we believe homeless and abused animals need all the help they can get we are supporting the Arizona Animal Welfare League and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals in The Walk to Save Animals on Saturday, November 14 at Tempe Town Lake. We’re raising money and recruiting walkers to show support for two institutions that care and advocate for sick, homeless and abused animals. We’d be honored if you could join our walk team (Team Rufus – in honor of a friend’s pup who went to doggie heaven earlier this year) and/or make a donation to the fight to save animals. No donation is too small – the animals appreciate every penny you give them and every donation truly makes a difference.
Here’s how you can help:
https://aawlwalk.dojiggy.com/signup/register.cfm?mode=p&PageID=59113&EventID=6828. Make sure you choose “Join a Team” – on the next page you will be able to choose “Team Rufus”. Children and pets are welcome. Mandy and Madison will be walking with Greg and I =)
The memorial ride to honor Anthony Holly and celebrate his life by doing some good out there was on Saturday, October 24th, 2009. This was a fantastic event that not only paid tribute to a great man, but also benefited the organization which bears his name, The Anthony Holly Foundation. I say this because I know firsthand of the positive impact they have in Arizona, continuing Anthony’s legacy of sacrifice and giving. They truly are “helping Arizona’s youth” and if you choose to support them as well, you can be confident that they really are trying to make a change for the better for everyone.
Here are some photos from this year’s ride. Please join us next year, or visit their website to see how you can help, at www.AnthonyHollyFoundation.org . Thanks to everyone who gave of themselves and created an inspiring event. Speaking for myself, I know that I could really feel the love.
Three Oceans Entertainment is honored to be involved with the Anthony Holly Foundation as a DJ for the 3rd Annual Anthony Holly Memorial Ride.
Anthony was a true hero; among many other things he was a member of the United States Air Force and USAF Honor Guard, a Big Brothers/Big Sisters volunteer, a Little League baseball coach, and a Glendale AZ Police Officer who was shot and killed in the line of duty in 2007.
On October 24th, 2009 the Anthony Holly Foundation is sponsoring a “Poker Run” (5 stop ride) to raise funds for the children’s charities of the foundation. This will be a great opportunity to have fun and help a worthy cause. I’m helping for those reasons and more. I believe that Anthony was a great person and deserves nothing less than our appreciation and respect for a life well lived, and that his legacy continues in the great work of the group founded in his name. Please mark your calendar for Saturday, Oct. 24th and visit their website for further information and to register for the event. The website is http://anthonyhollyfoundation.org and donations are welcome and accepted if you are unable to participate.
Please help me celebrate the life of a truly remarkable man and do your soul a favor by being a part of the good work that continues in his name.
I recently attended a wedding celebration and was rather shocked when the DJ announced himself by climbing on his table and loudly proclaiming with arms outstretched, “The Bride and Groom thought they were just getting a DJ, but little did they know they’re actually getting someone really special, they’re getting MEEEEE!!!” It reminded me of another wedding event not long before when the person most folks would consider to be the DJ took umbrage with the term and demanded he be referred to as a wedding entertainer, and it got me thinking about the differences between the two.
The wedding entertainer seems to think that they are better than a wedding DJ and deserve more money for their services because of the extras they provide. “A DJ just plays music and makes announcements,” he told me, “I do so much more.” He then proceeded to pass out plastic party hats and glow sticks, yell into the microphone (unintelligibly), and stop the dancing every 10 minutes or so for an “activity” of some ridiculous nature. The exasperated wedding guests just wanted to dance and have a good time, and I thought the poor Groom looked like he wanted to crawl in a hole and hide. He later told me that he was really embarrassed and had wanted a wedding reception, not a teen party. The wedding entertainer was completely out of touch with the group as he proceeded with his agenda including contests and “dance instruction,” meaning that although everyone there knew how to dance the electric slide, he still felt compelled to stop the music and show off his skills to the wedding guests. This is when the now irritated couple asked him to knock it off and just play the song. They’re lucky they didn’t hire the other guy, who went even further in demanding attention with costume changes and skits starring him.
The couple should have hired a professional Arizona wedding DJ who is capable of directing an event without putting the spotlight on himself, and has the skill, knowledge and judgement to conduct an event with a level of class and sophistication, while still retaining a fun and pleasant atmosphere. There are plenty of items associated with a modern wedding celebration such as cake cutting, bouquet toss, formal dances and the like. The insistence that folks will be bored if they’re not frequently accosted is a silly notion. Many people like to relax and enjoy, and visit with friends and relatives who they may not have seen in a while. They may not want to dance every second, and they may not want to be involved in a hairy legs contest at all.
A quality wedding DJ/MC also knows that making an announcement on it’s own is simply not enough. Proper execution of a previously prepared schedule means cueing up a song, setting the microphone down and walking out from behind the DJ table to prepare the people involved. Perhaps the photographer isn’t ready, of the Father of the Bride is unaware that his dance with his daughter is coming up next. He needs to be informed and ready to go when the announcement is made. This applies to the entire evening, plus the obvious coordination required with event staff and vendors. This type of DJ will go even further in his service to the couple by helping to prepare the agenda with them, providing equipment such as wireless microphones , dance lighting, and ceremony sound system free of additional charge. He is willing to help a ceremony musician or reader with their needs, and generally be a source of support fir the married couple on their big day, not an extra headache.
This is not to say that a wedding entertainer does not have his place. If you are looking for a crazy and chaotic reception starring Elvis in a jumpsuit, that may be your cup of tea. Be prepared to overspend and accommodate their ego and desire for attention at your event.
If however you prefer to spend a reasonable amount of money for a wedding professional who will listen to you and your needs, and believes that a wedding is all about the Bride and Groom, perhaps you should hire a wedding DJ/MC who is comfortable with the term and his place, and is honored to be a part of your wedding, knowing that it is your special day and not his.
www.ThreeOceansEntertainment.com
Here are a few links of recommended Arizona Wedding Professionals for you to consider for some of your wedding services:
Arizona Wedding Photographers –
TakeItPhoto www.takeitphoto.com
All About You Photography www.kathygarza.com
Dolce Studio www.dolcestudio.com
Remember The Day Photography www.rememberthedayphotography.com
Photography and Event Coordination –
Spiekeasy Photography and Event Coordination www.spiekeasyphotography.com
Event Planners –
Cheval Events www.chevalevents.com
The Bridal Closet www.thebridalcloset.biz
Arizona Wedding DJ–
Three Oceans Entertainment www.threeoceansentertainment.com
Arizona Wedding Videographers-
Three Oceans Entertainment www.threeoceansentertainment.com
AZ Wedding DJ and Videography-
Three Oceans Entertainment
www.threeoceansentertainment.com also www.3oeAZ.com (secure site for confidential contact information)
Good luck with your Arizona Wedding!
Cameron Carpenter
Three Oceans Entertainment
As a wedding DJ and Videographer in Phoenix, Arizona with many years of experience in the wedding industry, I’ve noticed an interesting surge recently in themed weddings. Of course, thought has always been given to the style of dress, whether it will be casual, semi-formal or black tie formal. However, there are a few more folks these days going a step further with an old idea that is new again.
Personal interests and hobbies are ideal themes for a wedding. Skydiving, scuba and art are all pursuits that have been incorporated into recent wedding celebrations. Mountains, rivers, lakes and deserts have provided stunning backdrops for memorable weddings that made tremendous impressions on friends and relatives, and provided an interesting alternative to traditional settings. Needless to say, it is important in these cases to choose your wedding vendors carefully to insure that you are working with professionals who are willing to go above and beyond the norm to help you achieve your vision of your special day.
Here in Arizona we are blessed with some beautiful scenery in breathtaking areas. Red rocks and clear streams can provide a colorful backdrop that enhances photography and videography, and make the wedding video a joy to produce and watch. My wife and I have had the pleasure of being included in two recent weddings that took advantage of natural beauty here. One involved being set up to DJ on the banks of Oak Creek in Sedona, which introduced a festive and unique feel to the event, and the other involved videography with gorgeous red rocks and green foliage splashed on nature’s canvas to create a dramatic and spectacular look which translated magnificently onto video.
There are folks who take the theme idea even further. A while back we had the pleasure of creating a wedding video for a couple who along with their bridal party, dressed as pirates complete with novelty swords! There were many delighted guests who took away a fun and unique memory of the event. The idea must be catching on, as we will be participating in another wedding in the near future utilizing a similar theme.
Princesses, the beach, horses, special flowers, zoot suits, whatever you like, let your imagination run wild and don’t be afraid to be unique and let your interests and favorite colors be reflected in your wedding. You may have seen a recent Hollywood motion picture that incorporated bridal gowns and bridesmaids dresses in various styles and colors that emphasized this themed concept.
On the subject of colors, it is important to note that the traditional rules don’t necessarily apply anymore. If you took art class and remember the color wheel, you may be inclined to follow the conventional wisdom regarding primary and complimentary color selection. However, many people simply don’t adhere to this principle in contemporary settings.
Current popular color combinations include many pairings that may be traditionally considered as incorrect. For instance, I am noticing liberal use of pink with colors other than red or white. Pink with brown is surprisingly popular, as is pink with blue. Most fashion experts will tell you that black with brown is not correct, but to modern tastes it can be rather appealing. Light and dark brown, also called chocolate or mocha, is being used on a regular basis.
Multiple colors are proving to be useful as well. Recent weddings have included fall leaves (red, orange, yellow, brown) and berries from red to purple. Another bride chose a green theme, but allowed all of her bridesmaids to choose their own shade within a certain range and use a different pattern that appealed to each of them separately.
Have fun and experiment with different colors and themes before deciding on what represents your personality and preferences on your wonderful wedding day! Celebrate your wedding with color and excitement.
I have relocated the home office to the East Valley. I’m still based in Phoenix, and I’ll still be offering Wedding DJ in Arizona, valleywide and statewide for a modest travel fee, but I’ll certainly be booking weddings in Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, Tempe, Scottsdale, etc., whenever possible.
We have relocated the home studio to the East Valley. We’re still based in Phoenix, and we’ll still be offering Wedding Videography in Arizona, valleywide and statewide for a modest travel fee, but we’ll certainly be booking weddings in Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, Tempe, Scottsdale, etc., whenever possible.