The Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center (MGHPCC) – Topping Off Ceremony
The Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center (MGHPCC) located in downtown Holyoke, MA had their "topping off" ceremony and we were there providing background music and PA system rental and podium rental for the festivities. Our friends at Michael's Party Rentals provided the WESTERN MA TENT RENTAL and The Log Cabin was there as the CATERER FOR WESTERN MA.
The "Topping Off" celebration is a term used by iron workers to indicate that the final piece of steel is being hoisted into place on a building. The Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center (MGHPCC) located in downtown Holyoke, MA is a collaboration between several colleges and businesses and will be a hub for this supercomputer's home in Holyoke.
Mayor Elaine Pluta, Congressman Richard Neal, Senator Mike Knapik, Representative Michael Kane, Lt. Gov Tim Murray and Gov Deval Patrick were all in attendance and spoke at this celebration.
The School Street Bistro in Westfield MA – Westfield High Reunion Class of 1991
Reunions are always tough. It's more about setting the tone for the event v. dancing. With a mix of late 80's and early 90's music, we set the tone for this high school reunion. For the first few hours, everyone is interested in talking and catching up with old classmates. The last hour is really when people start dancing. I played some tunes that I have not played in year. Good times.
Class Reunion Top Tips
- Invite teachers!
- On nametags, have the person’s photo from the senior yearbook, so that everyone can identify each other more easily.
- Limit any raffles or speeches to 10 minutes or less (classmates are there to socialize and catch up - not win prizes)
- Make sure someone takes photos (hire a professional or designate someone to be responsible). These photos will come in handy for future gatherings
- Do not limit the music to your high school years. It is a great way to set the tone, but later on - your classmates may not want to relive their Frankie Goes To Hollywood and just may want to get down to LMFAO instead.
- Do not worry about decor or food - station style meal is fine. The food is not the reason they are gathering.
- Make sure there is ample time to socialize - designate an area with lounge furniture or a quiet area
Jen and Matt – The Barns at Wesleyan Hills Middletown CT Wedding Reception
Jenn & Matt were high school sweethearts. That alone makes this love story unique but it was the tone that they set at their wedding reception that really made things personalized. Their love of Indie Rock was reflected in the mix of music from the start of social hour and through the end of dinner. Matt wore this funky suit (v. Tuxedo). Both Jen's father and her Maid of Honor gave toasts that brought tears to everyone's eyes.
We provided DJ and our up-lighting in amber to the Barns interior. Their college friends were their photographers. We had people up and dancing before dinner was even done being served.
Their no-play list included: Radio Hip Hop, Pop music, Line Dances, Disco, and The 80's.
Introduction Song: Home - Edward Sharpe
Fist Dance: Sailboats - Brooke Fraser
Cake Cutting: Everlasting Light - Black Keys
Jen & Dad: Carolina In My Mind - James Taylor
Matt & Mom: Return To Pooh Corner
Wedding Party Dance: Breathless - Corrine Bailey Rae
Anniversary Dance: Simple Song - David Saw
The Hotel Northampton in Northampton MA – Wedding Reception
Brian was up to The Hotel Northampton for an intimate wedding reception with about 25 guests this past weekend. We provided the up-lighting in the downstairs ballroom and even skyped in her uncle for the ceremony (stationed overseas in the military)
The Madison Beach Hotel (formerly The Wharf) in Madison CT
From the ashes arose the most amazing new structure on the CT Shoreline. The old Wharf / Madison Beach Hotel was deconstructed around 2 years ago. As we've watched the construction over the past year, this space has taken an amazing transformation. We have been doing business with the staff at Madison Beach Hotel for probably 10 years or more now. It is so exciting to be a part of their new facility.
This past weekend, brides came from all over the area to check out the new facility. (The Madison Beach Hotel will formally be open come March 15, 2012) With many wedding vendors in attendance, the facility was setup showing various table designs in the main ballroom. The view of the CT Shoreline is just stunning. No other area facility has the unobstructed view that The Madison Beach Hotel has. The characteristic rocks and island just off the shore make t his an amazing place to get married.
We provided our photo booth and our up-lighting in the main ballroom (pictures taken in BROAD DAYLIGHT and you can still see the color on the wall from our high output light fixtures).
Bridesmaids: The Frienemies You Might Want To Avoid
Years ago, when I was just getting started in the wedding industry, one of my best friends got engaged. The plan was to have her sister as her Maid of Honor and her brother-in-law as the Best Man, nice and simple. Then, a few months before the wedding she called and said "I think I would really like to have you and a few other girlfriends as bridesmaids... I just think the idea of being around a gaggle of girls that I love will make my wedding day that much better."
Of course, I said yes, because that's what you do when you are asked to be a bridesmaid, the same for the other gals in the "gaggle". There were six of us bridesmaids in all. On the day of the wedding, when one of the other bridesmaids refused to get her make up done, another forgot her dress and still another complained about the cold while we were taking photos, my friend the bride looked at me and said "Why did I have bridesmaids? I want to kill these girls." (READ MORE)
Lynne & Ryan’s Wedding Reception at The Bond Ballroom in Hartford CT
Lynne & Ryan had a beautiful November night for their reception. The Royal Blue Up-Lighting could be seen throughout the downtown Hartford bar district that night. High up on the 11th floor of the Bond Ballroom, guests danced the night away. 11pm came too soon and people had such a great time celebrating with Lynne & Ryan and their families, that they just wouldn't leave - even well after the last dance was played.
We provided DJ, event up-lighting, their name in lights and our photo booth that night.
Introduction Songs: Walk This Way - Aerosmith, Monday Night Football Theme
First Dance: Making Memories Of Us - Keith Urban
Cake: Pour Some Sugar On Me - Def Leppard
Lynne & Her Father: Won't Be Like This For Long - Darius Rucker
Ryan & His Mom: Do I Make You Proud - Taylor Hicks
Last Dance: Save The Last Dance - Michael Buble
DJ & Event Lighting: Rob Alberti
Wedding Photo Booth: Rob Alberti
Photographer: Brian Ambrose Photography
Videography: Classic Video Productions
Lighting Your Wedding Reception
Many people ask what the differences are in lighting packages. I wanted to try and answer most of your questions with this blog post. There are three basic kinds of lighting at a wedding reception. There are dance floor lights, table lighting and architectural lighting of the room.
Dance Floor Lighting: (Video Clips Here)
Basic Dance Floor lighting consists of 2-3 light fixtures that move, change color and shape of the beam based on the music. This is a great way to give some energy to your dance floor.
Club Lighting takes your basic dance floor lighting and brings it to a larger level. We bring more light fixtures. The style and complexity of the fixtures rivals what you’d see in a typical night club. This style lighting creates more of a dance party atmosphere. We can control the lights and adjust them based on fast v. slow music.
Table lighting can come in a few typical styles. You can illuminate your tables with candles. You can use LED glow fixtures in vases or in your floral arrangements (talk to your florist about lighting options). You can also pin-spot your table centerpieces. Each table centerpiece would have 1-2 white pin-spots pointed at it from high above (ceiling mounted or 11’ in air well above people) to make your table glow. We can do all guest tables or just your head table, cake table and maybe even your parent’s table. We can even make a table GLOW from underneath.
Architectural Room Lighting or Up-Lighting:
Up-lighting is a huge wedding trend. Something so simple can dramatically change the overall feel of your venue. Dark wood tones? We can warm it up with an Amber LED or Par Can. Want to turn the room blue or pink? We can do that too with our 3 watt LED high intensity LED up-lights (~10,000 lumen output). These up-lights can remain one color through the entire reception or we can wirelessly control color scene changes for your entrance, first dance, or the lights can change based on the music over the course of the evening to add to your party atmosphere.
You can use wash LED lighting OUTSIDE to change a tent or even the ENTRANCE of your venue.
Texture lighting normally requires high vaulted ceilings or tents but can be projected on divider walls, behind your head table or on the ceiling or dance floor to add yet another dimension to your space.
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