Megan and Samer tied the knot at the gorgeous Casa Real at the Ruby Hill Winery on March 22, 2013. Megan and Samer had contracted us to do the lighting and DJ on their special day. We had a great time working with photographer Nate Fong, of Nate Fong Photography, who was generous enough to share his photos with us!
Megan loved our 12 Light Crystal Chandeliers, so her and Samer decided to hang 5 of them in a cluster over the dance floor. Isn’t it gorgeous?
Another shot of the chandelier cluster. We think it looks so romantic!
Megan and Samer selected our DJ Nick, and based on this photo, it looks like he kept the dance floor hopping all night!
The couple also added a couple special touches, that really helped make their wedding unique! They had rented a few arcade games, which they kept in the Entrance Hall. As you can see from the photos above, the kids loved it! They also created 2 signature cocktails, which the guests really enjoyed!
Congratulations Megan and Samer! We wish you all the best in your future together!
Today’s blog post in our Brides Blogging series comes from Courtney N., who is getting married at Casa Real this November. Courtney is working with us for Event Lighting, and we are so excited to help turn her vision into a reality! Here she is with her fiancé Travis…aren’t they adorable?!
“In today’s world of wedding planning, there seems to be one large task that trumps all others on the stress-inducing list: the venue hunt. What should be an enjoyable and exciting scavenger hunt to find that perfect “I Do” spot can rapidly turn into a wild obstacle course full of unavailable dates, small guest count maximums and more. After watching multiple other brides try to navigate through this tricky situation, I was absolutely determined to make the venue hunt the easiest part of my planning process. While we may have done things a bit differently, I assure you – it WORKED! We booked our first choice venue on our first choice date, with little to no stress at all!
My absolute, #1 piece of advice I can give to any bride about the venue hunt – START EARLY. I’m not talking about starting right when you get engaged; I mean starting even BEFORE you are engaged. I know, it seems really strange, and it’s definitely a weird feeling to be looking at venues and talking to coordinators before that ring is even on your finger…but it’s well worth it. My fiancé Travis and I knew we were headed down the marriage path long before we were engaged, so we started talking about where we imagined our perfect I Dos. The first thing we did was we narrowed down the basics: indoor/outdoor? Church? Winery? Backyard? And, most importantly: when? We settled on a 2013 Fall wedding at a winery, and that’s when we started researching and looking at websites for recommended venues- The Knot or Here Comes The Guide are great resources.
We actually found our venue (Casa Real at Ruby Hill Winery) because two of our best friends got married there, and even though they got married a YEAR before we even got engaged, we decided to go tour the venue and talk with the coordinators about dates. We were shocked with what we found – even though we toured in Summer of 2012, many of the Fall Saturdays of 2013 were BOOKED. A year and half in advance! Luckily, the date we wanted was still available and we didn’t hesitate – we booked BEFORE we were engaged! We didn’t tell anyone until we were officially engaged (aside from our parents) and from that point on, it was smooth sailing. It even allowed us to enjoy our engagement so much more (happened about a month and a half later) because I wasn’t worried about jumping into the planning process right away. Even though we have a year-long engagement, most of the other dates at the venue booked up by the time we were engaged. This is not specific to Casa Real – many venues (in the Bay Area especially) book up over a year in advance, so starting early is especially important if you’re planning a shorter engagement. Here’s the best part: regardless of if you’re soon-to-be engaged, in a relationship, or even single – it’s never too early to keep your eyes open for places you envision your perfect wedding. Just having a few ideas or making a mental note of a few places will save yourself a lot of hassle when that moment finally comes around.
We’re about 8 months out from our wedding date now, and we’ve got all the big ticket items checked off the list thanks to our early venue find! There’s no better feeling that knowing that not only are you marrying the man of your dreams, but it’s all happening at your dream venue, too.”
We are about to start our Brides Blogging series! Keep your eyes peeled for some great posts from some of our brides making their way onto our blog. You do not want to miss out on all of the valuable advice from brides who are either in the planning process, or have already successfully navigated their way through planning their perfect wedding!
We are also still on the hunt for brides to be a part of this project, so if you are interested please contact Lindsay at lindsay@fantasysound.com. We would love to hear what you have to say! Check out the flyer below to learn a little bit about the project.
Hunnie and Peter tied the knot at Casa Real at the Ruby Hill Winery on September 1st, 2012, and we have been waiting with baited breath to get the images from one of our favorite photographers, the amazing Augie Chang. Anytime we work with Augie, we know that the photos are going to be GORGEOUS, and this wedding was no exception. We are so excited to share this beautiful wedding with you!
Hunnie and Peter had such a beautiful vision for their wedding, and we were honored that they chose us to make their vision come true. They knew that they wanted to transform Casa Real into a romantic and intimate space, and our double hung drapery and chandeliers were the perfect additions to make their dream a reality. They also augmented the design with some beautiful purple GOBO washes, table spotlights, and a custom monogram GOBO.
Hunnie and Peter certainly knew how to throw a party! Their guests were out grooving on the dance floor all night long. Our DJ Nick said it was one of the most energetic weddings he has ever DJed!
Congratulations Hunnie and Peter! We wish you all the best in your future together!
A couple weeks ago, we were contacted by Braden, a senior at Granada High School, with some big ideas. Last year, Braden created, produced, and performed in a benefit vocal and dance showcase called Performing for the Protection Plan. The event included 22 different vocal and dance acts, and almost sold out! He sold about 450 tickets and raised $7,900, which was all donated to Invisible Children, an organization working to eliminate genocide in central Africa. The show was special because it allowed young artists to experiment with their craft, entertained an audience, and raised money and awareness for a worthy cause.
Last year’s event was such a success, so he has decided to produce another showcase! This upcoming show, Talent Against Trafficking, will be held in the Livermore High School Theater at 7:30pm on Saturday, March 16, 2013. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for kids 12 and under. The show is completely family friendly and jam packed with local talent!
When Braden called us to ask if we would be interested in sponsoring the event, how could we say no? We were so excited and honored to be invited to take part in such an amazing event, and wanted to give Braden as much support as we could. We join the list of many other great sponsors in the area, such as Mony Nop Real Estate, Marcel Orthodontics, Menchie’s, Terra Mia, and Granada Bowl.
Talent Against Trafficking will benefit the Polaris Project, which is an organization working to end child and human trafficking in the United States and worldwide. There are more slaves in the world today than at any other time in history. Twenty-seven million people are enslaved worldwide, and the human trafficking industry makes $32 billion per year. It is estimated that there are anywhere from 100,000 to 300,000 prostituted children in the United States alone. It is time to put an end to this horror.
The Polaris Project operates the national human trafficking hotline. Receiving the highest percentage of calls from California, the hotline aids victims in finding help anywhere in the United States. Tips can also be reported to the hotline and as a result, the Polaris Project has played a significant role in convicting many human traffickers. Along with operating the hotline and working with police, this organization works to help pass state and federal legislation, raise public awareness, and provide many services to victims of human trafficking.
For information on the performers, human trafficking, the Polaris Project, other show details, and to purchase tickets, click here.
Also, be sure to RSVP to the event on Facebook here!
We recently purchased an open air photo booth, and we are so excited for our clients to start using it!
Weddings today are all about embracing and elevating the guest’s experience, and what better way to do that than with a photo booth? We want your wedding to be as unique as you are, so when you rent a Fantasy Sound Event Services Photobooth, the options for customization are ENDLESS! You have the choice of having an open or closed booth, customizable drapery colors and backdrops, combined with hours of unlimited Photo Booth fun. Each Photo Booth rental comes with an on-site technician, who will be on hand for the duration of your event to ensure flawless operation, as well as a trunk full of props to keep your guests laughing and smiling in the booth all night long!
Our photo booths has a ton of different features, such as:
15.4” wide screen touch screen monitor
Black and White or Color Prints
Create a video montage
Customizable text/graphics/background color on your prints
WiFi connectivity, allowing photos to be uploaded wirelessly and instantaneously
Immediate prints
Customizable drapery and back drops available
Can be closed for privacy
Get individual 4’ by 6’ shots or Photo Strips
Standing or sitting shots
Shoots horizontal or vertical photos
Photos hosted online for your viewing pleasure.
Multitude of fun props!
If you want to find out more about our Photo Booth services, give our office a call! We would love to hear from you.
Although we all strive to plan every minute detail of our wedding day out perfectly, sometimes life gets in the way. Here is a list of some things to consider in your “Wedding Emergency Kit,” just in case the unexpected happens.
Band-aids – Those beautiful wedding shoes might just turn out to give you the worst blisters, or another little accident might happen along the way. Either way, band-aids are just helpful to have on hand.
Breath mints – Of course you want to have minty fresh breath when you go in for that big kiss, but let’s not forget about all the hugs and kisses during the reception from friends and loved ones. Breath mints are great because you don’t have to worry spitting them out later, like you would with gum.
Clear nail polish – Clear nail polish is great for not only stopping runs in tights, but also as a make shift liquid band-aid! Have an unexpected tear in your clothing and need a quick mend? Coat the end of your thread with liquid nail polish to make threading the needle a cinch! Having a handy bottle of clear nail polish on hand might just make you the McGuyver of your wedding.
Bobby pins – You never know when your hairstyle might need some extra support, especially when you’re getting your groove on out on the dance floor!
Tissues – It’s always good to have some tissues on hand because you never know who will be moved to tears, and trust us…it will happen!
Deodorant – It can get hot in that dress, especially under all the bright lights. Deodorant isn’t just for your underarms either. Those gorgeous, full dresses are created with layers of material which create a tent like effect, and it can get hot under there! To prevent chafing throughout the day, put some deodorant on your inner thighs before putting your dress on. You’ll thank us later.
Lotion – Keep your skin smooth, moisturized, and glowing all day long!
Aspirin – You don’t want a sudden headache or slight muscle ache to ruin your big day, so always keep some aspirin on hand just in case.
Compact Mirror – Take one last look to make sure you hair and makeup are perfect before your walk down the aisle!
Hair Spray – Your hair might not last as long as your wedding, so make sure you’re prepared. This is especially important for outdoor weddings where wind, humidity, and other elements might mess up your beautiful do. Don’t want any fly-aways in your photos!
Drinking straws – You don’t want to mess up that pout or leave lipstick marks all over your cups!
Lint roller – Great for getting lint off of dark tuxedos and dark bridesmaids dresses.
Snacks – Between getting ready, walking down the aisle, and greeting all your guests, it’s easy to forget to eat. Make sure to snack through the day so you’re not the only person that’s starving at your wedding.
Eye drops – Especially important for contact lens wearers, but you never know when dust could get in your eye. You definitely don’t want red, irritated eyes!
Safety pins – These little babies are miracle workers for minor wardrobe adjustments.
Stain remover – Tide-to-Go pens are great for removing unexpected stains on clothing. Nothing ruins a beautiful wedding dress like a lipstick stain!
Water – Make sure you stay hydrated! Fainting from dehydration during a hot outdoor ceremony happens more often that you think!
Sewing kit – Fix any wardrobe malfunctions from loose buttons to minor tears.
This is only a small list, and we are sure that there are plenty other items to keep on hand in case of emergency! We want your day to be as stress-free as possible, so keeping these things on hand will help. You never know when disaster could strike!
Hey! My name is Dana Moceri and I am one of the new administrative assistants here at Fantasy Sound! I am very goofy and laugh at pretty much everything. I’m extremely outgoing and love making new friends! I moved to the Bay Area from Detroit, Michigan in June 2012 and I must say I LOVE California! I have 2 dogs, a boxer (Bruce) and a daschound (Bentley), who without, I would be lost! My two younger sister’s, Jamie and Taylor, mean the world to me and I would do anything for both of them. Family will always be my number one priority, no matter how far apart we are.
When I am not at Fantasy Sound, I enjoy spending time in SF, relaxing with my boyfriend and dogs, and spending time with new friends! I am a HUGE sports fan.
I played hockey for 7 years through middle and high school and met some of my best friends in doing so. Being on a team with so many great girls taught me discipline, teamwork, and dedication which I still carry with me today. Even though hockey is my favorite sport, I enjoy attending any live sporting event! I am a big Tigers and Red Wings fan and although my Lions have been struggling, I stand by my home team!
Moving to California has been such an awesome experience and joining the Fantasy Sound team is an amazing opportunity for me! I am very excited to be here with such great people and I look forward to what the future here holds for me. To get in touch with me or to just say hello, email me at Dana@fantasysound.com anytime!
Hello! I’m Ronnie and I’m super excited to be joining the fabulous Fantasy Sound Event Services staff. I went to UC San Diego for college, where I received a BA in Political Science with a minor in Law and Society. I was very involved in student life while in college. I worked as an Orientation Leader as a sophomore and a Resident Adviser my junior and senior year. I was also a part of my college’s Student Council. I helped found a school spirit organization called the Commission of Warren Spirit, affectionately known as COWS. All of my extracurricular activities in college have taught me that I love working with people and finding ways to make people smile.
Outside of work, I’m a huge Harry Potter fan. I still re-read the entire series every couple of years, just to keep the magic alive. I’m also a cupcake fanatic. Sprinkles cupcakes are my favorite and I have definitely made the hour drive to Palo Alto just to get cupcakes before. I’m a huge TV junkie. My taste in shows vary from crime and law dramas like The Good Wife and Law and Order: SVU, to comedies like New Girl and How I Met Your Mother.
I’m so excited to be a part of the Fantasy Sound Event Services family. If you have any questions, or would like to know useless Harry Potter trivia facts, you can reach me at ronnie@fantasysound.com!
We are so excited to be adding Dana and Ronnie to the team! Make sure you reach out to say hello!
We have just found out that WeddingWire, the nation’s leading online wedding marketplace, has announced that we, Fantasy Sound Event Services, have been selected as a winner of the prestigious WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2013 for Disc Jockeys in Livermore, California!
The esteemed annual awards program recognizes the top five percent of wedding professionals in the WeddingWire Network who demonstrate excellence in quality, service, responsiveness and professionalism. Fantasy Sound Event Services’s selection as a Bride’s Choice Award 2013 winner was selected based on the positive experiences expressed by past clients on WeddingWire, the world’s largest wedding review site with over one million reviews. While many industry awards are given by the host organization, the WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ winners are determined solely based on reviews from real newlyweds and their experiences working with Fantasy Sound Event Services.
The WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2013 are given to the top local wedding vendors in more than 20 service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers, based on professional achievements from the previous year. Award-winning vendors are distinguished for the quality, quantity, consistency and timeliness of the reviews they have received from their past clients. As a Bride’s Choice Awards winner, Fantasy Sound Event Services is highlighted within the WeddingWire Network, which is comprised of over 200,000 wedding professionals throughout the United States, Canada and abroad.
“Each year, WeddingWire looks forward to celebrating the success of the top-rated wedding professionals within the WeddingWire Network,” said Timothy Chi, CEO, WeddingWire. “Now in its fifth year, the Bride’s Choice Awards™ program continues to recognize the elite wedding professionals who exemplify a commitment to quality, service and professionalism. These businesses were chosen by our bridal community for their responsiveness and dedication to their clients over the past year. We are honored to recognize Fantasy Sound Event Services for their impressive achievements within the wedding industry.”
We are thrilled to be one of the top Disc Jockeys in Northern California in the WeddingWire Network of sites, which include leading wedding sites such as WeddingWire, Project Wedding, Brides.com, Martha Stewart Weddings, and Weddingbee. We would like to thank our past clients for taking the time to review our business on WeddingWire. We value all of our clients and truly appreciate the positive feedback that helped us earn the WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ for 2013!
To learn more about the Bride’s Choice Awards™, please visit www.WeddingWire.com/brides-choice-awards.
Happy New Year! It’s January, and that means it’s Bridal Faire Season! The season kicks off with the Modern Bridal Bridal Faires, happening every Sunday this month from 11:00am-4:00pm. They are held at venues all over the Bay Area, so there will definitely be one close to you. Bridal Faires are a great opportunity to check out wedding vendors in your area, and they are a lot of fun too!
As the Holiday Season is upon us, all of us here at Fantasy Sound find ourselves reflecting on the past year. We are so grateful for everything this past year has given us, and we are excited to see what 2013 has to offer. We would like to take this time to sincerely wish you and yours a very happy Holiday Season and a New Year filled with peace and prosperity. We hope that you enjoy this holiday time, and spend it surrounded with friends, family, and love.
Our office will be closed on Monday 12/24, Tuesday 12/25, and Wednesday 12/26.
We are now open on Mondays! In the past, our office has been open Tuesday-Friday, but Sarah will now be in the office from 12:00pm-5:00pm every Monday! We are still not available for meetings on Mondays, but Sarah will be more than happy to answer any questions you have, either by email or over the phone. She is looking forward to hearing from you!
Kylie and Kevin tied the knot on October 26th, 2012 at the gorgeous Casa Real at the Ruby Hill Winery, and we were on hand to DJ and provide the Event Lighting for their night. Our DJ Nick was able to capture a couple sneak peak shots, but check back in a few days to see some more photos their photographer, Allison of Allison Stahl Studio & Design took. She was awesome to work with!
We love how the Scrolling Leaves GOBO wash looks in champagne. So soft and romantic!
Kylie and Kevin incorporated a lot of great details throughout the night, including this homemade Olallieberry jam, which served as favors. The deep purple color accentuated the couple’s color scheme perfectly, not to mention it was probably DELICIOUS!
Perhaps our favorite detail was Kylie’s unique bouquet…which was crafted entirely from beautiful brooches! We have seen this trend a lot on Pinterest, but never at an actual wedding, and holy cow was it gorgeous!!
My good friend Alan Berg recently wrote a great article in the Beautiful Bride Magazine about the importance of hiring a wedding coordinator and as a certified wedding coordinator I couldn’t agree more with his article. He brings up a great point in his article and asks brides this simple question: “Your wedding party is getting ready… but wait, who’s checking to see if the flowers have arrived? Who’s checking with the limo company to make sure they’re on their way? Who’s coordinating the band or DJ’s arrival at your reception venue?
If you answered your Maid of Honor, is that really the right answer? No doubt your Maid of Honor is someone very special to you. It’s her job to make sure you get ready and then, you want her to enjoy the experience of your wedding, along with the rest of your honored guests.
If you answered the Banquet Manager, it’s their job to ensure the reception and catering are on point, but it’s not up to them to make sure the rest of your chosen wedding vendors are where they’re supposed to be, when they’re supposed to be there. They may offer some planning help, but they’re main focus is the food and venue.”
That question really gets you thinking, doesn’t it? Don’t just take my word for it, check out his entire article below to get some great advice.
He ends his article with: “In my over 20 years in the wedding industry I know, first hand, that not having a professional planner is one of the two biggest regrets couples have after their weddings (not having video is the other).”
I have experienced the same thing Alan has, because whenever I ask brides and grooms what they regretted most about their wedding day, the answer was always not hiring a certified wedding coordinator or a professional videographer. Please feel free to contact me if you are in need of a wedding coordinator or click here if you have a question about your wedding. You will be helping yourself and other brides and grooms if I feature your question on my blog!
Two of our dearest friends and colleagues, Clay Jackson and Lisa Mitchum, got married in their backyard on September 15th, 2012. Kevin has known both Clay and Lisa for many years now, and he was honored when they asked him to DJ their nuptials, and transform their backyard with our event lighting.
Clay and Lisa have both worked in the wedding industry for many years, so they used a lot of their friends as vendors, including Nicole of Nicole Ha Designs. She created all the beautiful backyard blooms, and the colors were gorgeous! They also chose Yves Mozelsio of YJM Photography to photograph the events of the day, and he was generous enough to share all of his photos with us! Every picture you see in this blog was taken by Yves. Aren’t they awesome?!
Check out that spread! Doesn’t all this food look delicious? We love how they chose to do a cupcake tree, instead of a traditional cake.
Clay and Lisa exchanged their vows on a bed of rose petals, in front of their families and friends. Pat Doohan was their officiant, and he led an incredibly moving and emotional ceremony. Clay and Lisa both have kids, and they made up the bridal party. In fact, their recessional music was the theme song from The Brady Bunch! It was awesome to see these two great families joining together.
Lisa is really creative, so she had a lot of great ideas about how to transform their backyard. We loved how the pool looked in the backyard during the day, with the beautiful floating flowers. But once the sun set…the GOBO patterns we projected on the pool, along with the floating lights, really made everything pop! The market lighting also added a romantic touch, and all the guests had a great time dancing under them until the late hours!
We could not be happier for Clay and Lisa, and we wish them all the best! We were so honored that they chose us to work their wedding. We were in such great company with other amazing vendors, and we loved every minute of it!
This past weekend on October 7th, Heather and Brandon became Mrs. and Mr. Harris in a beautiful outdoor ceremony on the patio at Murrieta’s Well. Karl from Delford West provided the gorgeous arrangements, which celebrated the flowers and colors of fall. The theme of fall was visible throughout the ceremony and reception, courtesy of the wreaths and lanterns that the couple used for decor.
The vineyards at Murrieta’s Well always serve as a beautiful backdrop for the ceremony. Heather and Brandon were lucky enough to enjoy a gorgeous fall day, with picturesque blue skies and a warm breeze. They couldn’t have asked for a better October day in Livermore!
Heather and Brandon rented our 30 candle iron chandeliers, along with some uplighting to transform the barrel room into an autumnal haven. The chandeliers definitely helped to accent the rustic vibe they were going for.
This menu board helped add to the rustic look, and it is a fun way to let your guests know what they will be eating. We absolutely LOVE details like this…and can we talk about the menu selections?! Everything sounds absolutely delicious!
Heather and Brandon had these yummy Pumpkin Caramel Spice cupcakes packed up for their guests to take home. Nick was lucky enough to get to try one, and it was deliciously rich and moist. He was looking around for some milk to wash it down!
And check out that cake! The floral detail is absolutely AMAZING. It’s simple yet elegant, and the loose petals tie in Brandon and Heather’s autumnal color scheme.
Thank you to Heather and Brandon for inviting us to be a part of your special day! We wish the two of you nothing but happiness!
Krista Gomez and Joe Mancuso became Mrs. and Mr. Mancuso on September 22nd, 2012 at Martinelli Event Center, and we were lucky enough to be on hand for their special day! They selected Nick to be their DJ, and they also decided to use our Event Lighting services in the courtyard and the event center. Nick first met with the couple in May, and right from the start you could tell that his style matched with theirs perfectly. They had a few meetings together, and their wedding day was here before we knew it!
The couple chose a color scheme of different shades of purple and champagne, and they had fun touches sprinkled throughout the reception. Check out the scrumptious candy bar and elegant photo table. AND THAT CAKE! So beautiful and elegant. Krista and Joe picked a lot of great vendors to work with, and that always makes our job a lot easier. Karl from Delford West provided the beautiful floral arrangements, and Mark from MSR Photography captured all the beautiful moment. All the photos in this blog were taken by Nick, but we are looking forward to receiving some more images from Mark…so keep your eyes peeled!
Krista and Joe’s wedding took place all over the Martinelli property, with the ceremony being held on the back lawn, the cocktail hour in the courtyard, dinner in the event center, and dancing brought all the guests back to the courtyard. The couple decided that they wanted our event lighting both in the event center and the courtyard, and it gave us a great opportunity to do something we have never done before! We did GOBO patterns and uplights in the event center, and then had some market lighting and GOBO patterns outside in the courtyard! The market lights were great to dance under, and Nick made sure to keep the party going!
Krista and Joe’s wedding day couldn’t have been more perfect! There wasn’t a single cloud in the sky, and it was a comfortably warm day and evening. We loved working with this relaxed and fun-loving couple, and we wish them all the best in their future together.
Nick recently had the opportunity to DJ Kim and Stephen’s wedding on the beautiful Terrace Lawn at Wente Vineyards on September 7th, 2012. The couple knew that they were going to have a small and intimate wedding, but they also knew that this small group was going to PARTY…and they sure lived up to that reputation!
Check out these GORGEOUS table arrangements! Jinger of The Flower House did an amazing job incorporating Kim and Stephen’s color palette of pale pink, peach, ivory and blush. The wedding was very small and intimate, so each table was able to enjoy a tall arrangement. The mix of roses, dahlias, and hydrangeas is just stunning!
Eli Pitta of Eli Photographer was their photographer for the night, and we are looking forward to getting some images from him. All of these photos were taken by Nick, so we hope you enjoy this sneak peek! Keep your eyes peeled to see some images when we get them from Eli.
Stephen and Kim decided to have both their reception and ceremony outside, and the weather couldn’t have been more perfect! It was a delightfully warm night, which kept the party going late into the night. The couple also decided to do a sophisticated sit down 5 course dinner, and as always Wente’s food was DELICIOUS.
We wish all the best to Kim and Stephen in their future together!
I’m currently looking at lighting for my upcoming wedding on 2/16/13, and I keep seeing all these different lighting terms. I am getting so confused! This might be a dumb question, but what is the difference between a pinspot, GOBO, and uplight?
Thanks!
Allison from Dublin, California
Hi Allison,
This isn’t a dumb question at all! It’s actually a really common question that we get all the time, so thank you for writing in! Some companies use different terminology, so it’s completely understandable that you have gotten a little confused. Here at Fantasy Sound Event Services, we use the standard terms of pinspot, GOBO, and uplight, and I will be more than happy to help you out!
Uplights usually serve as the foundation for any Event Lighting design. They are placed on the floor of your venue, and are used to create a color wash upwards on the wall or drapery. Gel overlays, which come in a wide variety of colors, can be used to customize the wash to complement your wedding’s color scheme. The image below shows an example of uplighting in pink.
GOBO comes from the term “go between”. GOBOs are metal or glass discs with patterns, names, or initials cutout in it. They are placed over the lens of the light. Their image can be projected onto walls or floors in a wide variety of colors. The picture below shows one of our most popular GOBO patterns, in a champagne color projected onto a wall.
Here is a Custom Monogram GOBO that has been projected onto the floor in a pink color.
Pinspots are lights that shine down from the ceiling, and can be used to highlight the bride and groom, musicians, cake, candy bar, centerpieces, tables, or other key focal points. These lights really help your wedding pop! These can also be called soft washes or spotlights. The image below shows some pinspots on floral arrangements down the aisle.
Allison, thank you so much for submitting this question! Like I said before, we get this question all the time here at Fantasy Sound, and we hope this is helpful to all the future brides out there. Remember, you can submit your own questions by clicking here!
We provided the lighting for yet another amazing couple’s wedding at Casa Real at the Ruby Hill Winery. Bo and Lewis got married at the gorgeous venue on April 13th, 2012, and they had such a sophisticated vision for their wedding. Bo knew she wanted to have chandeliers but she was having a hard time finding the perfect style. Once she saw our 12’x12′ beaded chandelier, she knew she had found exactly what she was looking for! It radiates glamour and class!
The couple wanted to keep their wedding lighting design simple, yet elegant, and the 12’x12′ chandelier coupled with spotlights on their guest tables achieved the exact look they were going for. The spotlights on the tables helped all of the flower arrangements pop, and the chandelier served as an amazing centerpiece!
Purple has been an extremely popular color this year, because it lends such an elegant and regal feel to any event. Bo and Lewis chose to have the 12’x12′ chandelier lit in a purple hue, but it can be illuminated in any color you desire. Having spotlights on the chandelier accentuate the beads, which gives the chandelier its sparkly appearance that we just love.
Look at this gorgeous image captured by the incomparable James Willard of Bel Inizio Photography who, by the way, is an absolute BLAST to work with, and takes AMAZING photographs. The chandelier creates such a dramatic backdrop behind the cake!
Congratulations Bo and Lewis! We wish you nothing but a happy ever after!
Jessica and Paulo tied the knot on June 15th, 2012 at Casa Real. They chose to take advantage of the gorgeous weather, and decided to have their ceremony out in the Sun Garden. They then moved inside in the evening, and had their reception in the Grand Salon. They chose a romantic color scheme of champagne, blush pink, and ivory, and completely transformed the room!
We love this shot that Rhee of Rhee Bevere Photography captured, when Jessica and Paulo are seeing the Grand Salon for the first time. It’s such an amazing moment…because Jessica and Paulo designed their dream Event Lighting look, and seeing it all come together is so meaningful.
Rhee is always amazing to work with, and she was generous enough to share all the pictures with us! Let me tell you, it was SO hard to pick our favorites, because we had so many…luckily we were able to create these collages to showcase all of them!
Just look at that drapery! Jessica and Paulo were the first couple to utilize our double hung drapery, and it made such a statement behind their head table! They also used some uplighting to transform the color of our Ivory drapery to a blush pink.
Jessica and Paulo share the first dance, under our 12 Light Crystal Chandeliers, with a beautiful backdrop of drapery and GOBO patterns. They also designed their Custom Monogram GOBO, which you can see on the floor. They certainly created a lighting design that adds drama and romance to all of their photos!
I mean just look at all the different angles of the room…it’s stunning!
We want to wish Jessica and Paulo all the best in their future together, and thank them for not only picking us to be their Lighting vendor, but for creating such a beautiful design! It is so rewarding for us when we are able to make our client’s dreams come true!Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Brasil!
Marnie and Chris reached out to us about a week or so before their July 4th wedding at Palm Event Center, wanting to add some lighting to their grey and yellow vintage wedding. We were more than happy to oblige, and their vision for the wedding sounded amazing, and we were excited to be a part of it! Since it was so close to their wedding date, we didn’t really get a chance to know Chris and Marnie, but we could tell that they were a fun loving couple, and it seemed like their wedding was going to be one huge party. When we received some photographs from Amber Silva of Love Story Pictures, who is AWESOME by the way, we knew that our first impression of Marnie and Chris was spot on! You can tell that everyone was having a BLAST at their wedding, and the GOBO covered dance floor was packed all night!
Check out Chris and Marnie’s matching Converse shoes! They were owning the dancefloor all night with their guests.
They had a lot of fun with the garter toss, incorporating some Jabbawockeez flair. Chris did a little dance for Marnie, and she was so surprised! We aren’t sure if Chris is actually a Jabbawockee….but he sure looks like he could be!
Thank you Marnie and Chris for inviting us to be a part of your special day! We wish the two of you all the best in your future together!
I would like to welcome everybody to Kevin Knows Weddings, my personal wedding blog! I am going to be sharing with you a little bit about myself, as well as some wedding tips, ideas, vendor reviews, trends and featured weddings, and answering your personal wedding questions. Please feel free to ask me any wedding related questions, not just about the services we provide. You can ask a question by simply filling out the Ask Kevin form here.
To tell you a little bit about myself, I started Fantasy Sound Event Services in February of 1989, nine months after I graduated from high school. When I started Fantasy Sound, I thought being a DJ would be a good way to meet girls, and I was mainly DJing school dances, picnics and corporate events. It wasn’t until 1992 when I met Read Phillips, owner of the Palm Event Center and Casa Real at the Ruby Hill winery, did I even consider weddings as a potential market. Shortly after that I started DJing weddings, and I haven’t looked back. I began to notice that the wedding industry was flourishing in the Livermore Valley, and I decided it was time for Fantasy Sound to focus on DJing weddings. In 1995, I added our Videography service, in 2000 I added our Event Lighting service, and in 2009 I added our Drapery service. I am currently sitting on the Board of Directors at WIPA, serving as the Director of Marketing, as well as sitting on the Board of Directors of the Silicon Valley chapter of NACE, as the Vice President. I am also the founder of the Tri-Valley Wedding Professionals group, which has over 460 active members. I have also served as the Chairman of the Board for the Tri-Valley Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, in addition to being the President of the Livermore Downtown Association.
I am very passionate about weddings, so much so that I became a wedding coordinator in 2007. I always get asked “why did you become a wedding coordinator, when you are already a DJ?” The answer was simple: I wanted to know everything I could about the wedding process, from the initial planning stages to the bride walking down the aisle. I truly believe that there is something magical about being at a wedding, and I am thrilled to be able to create that magic,with our amazing Event Lighting & Drapery, to capturing the memories of the wedding forever through Videography, to ensuring that everyone has a great time as the DJ!
I am looking forward to continuing this Blog, so check back often for updates! You never know, I could be answering one of YOUR questions!
Erica Montgomery and Doug Pitney became Mr. and Mrs. Pitney on July 14th, 2012 at Poppy Ridge Golf Course in Livermore, California. Perched upon a hill overlooking the golf course, Erica and Doug exchanged their vows in a beautiful ceremony on a beautiful Livermore day, and we were on hand as the DJ and Lighting to witness and help celebrate their union. Nick, who was their DJ for the night, was able to capture a few photos with his cellphone, so please excuse the picture quality!
Check out that view! What an amazing location to become man and wife!
Erica and Doug chose a color palette of different shades of purple, accented with light gray and white. Their sweetheart table was adorned with loose rose petals, provided by Jessica Dixon of The Petal Company. She provided all the flowers for the day, and the arrangements and bouquets were gorgeous! We had a great time working with her, and we look forward to seeing her at weddings in the future!
The Pitney’s also added a couple special touches that everyone really enjoyed. Instead of serving a wedding cake, different flavored bundt cakes, from Nothing Bundt Cakes, were placed on every table, and the guests were encouraged to travel to different tables to taste all the flavors. They also gave each of their guests a bottle of their favorite coffee liqueur to take home, complete with a custom designed label!
Lori Huneke Photography was on hand to capture all the special moments from the night, and she was gracious enough to give us a sneak peek! Keep your eye out to see this blog get updated when she shares more finished photos with us. We loved having Lori on our team for Erica and Doug’s wedding, and we hope she will be a frequent teammate in the future!
Congratulations Erica and Doug! Thank you for inviting us to be a part of your special day, and we wish you many happy years together!
Joan and Ryan were a couple we met at one of our New Client Meet and Greets a few months ago, and we had such a great time working with them throughout the planning process! They decided to use our Event Lighting services, as well as our Disc Jockey services, so we needed to work closely together to achieve the vision they wanted for their wedding, and they were AWESOME to work with!
They got married at the beautiful Palm Event Center in the Vineyard on June 22nd, 2012, in an outdoor ceremony on the Patio. As you can see in the picture, it was a GORGEOUS day for a wedding…I mean, you can’t really ask for better weather! They also had a great team of vendors for us to work with, including their photographer Henry Li. He was amazing to work with, and his images are absolutely stunning. AND he was nice enough to share his images with us, so thank you for that, Henry! We look forward to working with you at weddings in the future!
Can’t you just feel the love between the two of them in this photograph?
They created an elegant lighting design, and you can see some of their table spotlights in this picture. It certainly helps those gorgeous flower arrangements pop!
Joan and Ryan also decided to use our 12’x12′ beaded chandelier, as well as some drapery behind their head table. That chandelier adds so much drama to the room, and sparkles in the pictures!
They also created a Custom Monogram GOBO that matched the monogram on their invitations.
We want to thank Joan and Ryan for allowing us to be a part of their wedding day, and we wish them all the happiness in their future together!
We recently had the pleasure of being the DJ, Videographer, and Event Lighting designers for Kate and Shelby’s wedding at Concannon Vineyard on June 23rd, 2012. You couldn’t ask for a more beautiful summer day for a wedding: not a cloud in the sky and a warm summer breeze. Livermore can be sweltering in June, so Kate and Shelby definitely got lucky! We had an AMAZING time working at Concannon Vineyard, and we look forward to doing more weddings there in the coming months!
We also had a great time working with Linda from Trudeau Studios, and she was gracious enough to share some of her ceremony photos with us. We absolutely loved having Linda on our team for this wedding, and we hope we get the chance to work alongside her at more weddings, because she is AWESOME. We are looking forward to seeing the reception photos too, so keep your eyes peeled, as they will be popping up on our blog sometime soon!
Could you ask for a more beautiful setting for an outdoor ceremony? It’s so dramatic, and photographs so well!
Not only is the ceremony site gorgeous, but the beautiful vineyards serve as stunning backdrops for romantic bride and groom shots like this one. Aren’t the colors amazing?
We wish Kate and Shelby all the best in their lives together, and want to thank them for inviting us to be a part of their special day. Congratulations!
The wonderful Sarah Dawson of Sarah Dawson Photography recently just shared some images with us from the October 1st, 2011 wedding of Ricalyn and Charles at Casa Real. We provided the Event Lighting, and we wanted to share these gorgeous images with you! Ricalyn decided to have both her ceremony and reception in the Amber Room, so during her cocktail hour we changed out some of the gel colors, and it turned out beautifully. She had spotlights on her centerpieces, GOBO washes on either side of the fireplace, and used 3 of our candle chandeliers.
WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding Marketplace, is excited to announce Fantasy Sound Event Services has been selected to receive the prestigious WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2012 for DJ!
The esteemed annual awards program recognizes the top local wedding vendors from the WeddingWire Network who demonstrate excellence in quality, service, responsiveness and professionalism within the wedding industry. While many industry awards are selected by the organization, Fantasy Sound Event Services was selected based on its stellar reviews from past newlywed clients.
Fantasy Sound Event Services is recognized as part of the top five percent of wedding professionals in the WeddingWire local vendor community, comprised of over 200,000 wedding professionals throughout the United States and Canada. The Bride’s Choice Award recognizes the best local wedding vendors across 20 service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers, based on their overall professional achievements throughout the past year.
“WeddingWire is thrilled to honor the success of the top-rated wedding professionals within the WeddingWire Community,” said Timothy Chi, CEO, WeddingWire. “Since the launch of the Bride’s Choice Awards™ program four years ago, thousands of outstanding wedding professionals have been recognized by the bridal community for their supreme service and dedication to the wedding industry. It is with great pleasure that we congratulate Fantasy Sound Event Services for their continued professionalism and commitment to enriching the wedding planning experience for engaged couples.”
We are happy to announce that Fantasy Sound Event Services is one of the very best DJs within the WeddingWire Network, which includes leading wedding planning sites WeddingWire, Project Wedding, Brides.com, Martha Stewart Weddings, and Weddingbee. We would like to thank our past clients for taking the time to review our business on WeddingWire. Thanks to their positive feedback we were able to receive the WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ for 2012.
About WeddingWire, Inc.WeddingWire™, the nation’s leading marketplace serving the $70 billion wedding industry, is the only online wedding planning resource designed to empower both engaged couples and wedding professionals. For engaged couples, WeddingWire offers the ability to search, compare and book over 200,000 reviewed wedding vendors, from wedding venues to wedding photographers. WeddingWire also offers a comprehensive suite of online planning tools for weddings, including wedding websites and wedding checklists, all at no charge. For wedding professionals, WeddingWire is the only all-in-one marketing platform for businesses online and on-the-go. WeddingWire offers one simple solution to build a professional network, improve search visibility, manage social media and reach mobile consumers. Businesses that advertise with WeddingWire appear on WeddingWire.com, ProjectWedding.com and other leading sites, including MarthaStewartWeddings.com (NYSE: MSO), Brides.com and Weddingbee.com.
{Livermore,CA} – February 7, 2012 – WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding Marketplace, is excited to announce Fantasy Sound Event Services has been selected to receive the prestigious WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2012 for DJ!
The esteemed annual awards program recognizes the top local wedding vendors from the WeddingWire Network who demonstrate excellence in quality, service, responsiveness and professionalism within the wedding industry. While many industry awards are selected by the organization, Fantasy Sound Event Services was selected based on its stellar reviews from past newlywed clients.
Fantasy Sound Event Services is recognized as part of the top five percent of wedding professionals in the WeddingWire local vendor community, comprised of over 200,000 wedding professionals throughout the United States and Canada. The Bride’s Choice Award recognizes the best local wedding vendors across 20 service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers, based on their overall professional achievements throughout the past year.
“WeddingWire is thrilled to honor the success of the top-rated wedding professionals within the WeddingWire Community,” said Timothy Chi, CEO, WeddingWire. “Since the launch of the Bride’s Choice Awards™ program four years ago, thousands of outstanding wedding professionals have been recognized by the bridal community for their supreme service and dedication to the wedding industry. It is with great pleasure that we congratulate Fantasy Sound Event Services for their continued professionalism and commitment to enriching the wedding planning experience for engaged couples.”
We are happy to announce that Fantasy Sound Event Services is one of the very best DJs within the WeddingWire Network, which includes leading wedding planning sites WeddingWire, Project Wedding, Brides.com, Martha Stewart Weddings, and Weddingbee. We would like to thank our past clients for taking the time to review our business on WeddingWire. Thanks to their positive feedback we were able to receive the WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ for 2012.
For more information, please visit our WeddingWire Storefront today at http://www.weddingwire.com/biz/fantasy-sound-event-services-livermore/2b4f47c1c347be17.html.
To learn more about the Bride’s Choice Awards™, please visit www.WeddingWire.com.
About WeddingWire, Inc.WeddingWire™, the nation’s leading marketplace serving the $70 billion wedding industry, is the only online wedding planning resource designed to empower both engaged couples and wedding professionals. For engaged couples, WeddingWire offers the ability to search, compare and book over 200,000 reviewed wedding vendors, from wedding venues to wedding photographers. WeddingWire also offers a comprehensive suite of online planning tools for weddings, including wedding websites and wedding checklists, all at no charge. For wedding professionals, WeddingWire is the only all-in-one marketing platform for businesses online and on-the-go. WeddingWire offers one simple solution to build a professional network, improve search visibility, manage social media and reach mobile consumers. Businesses that advertise with WeddingWire appear on WeddingWire.com, ProjectWedding.com and other leading sites, including MarthaStewartWeddings.com (NYSE: MSO), Brides.com and Weddingbee.com.
The wonderful Sarah Dawson of Sarah Dawson Photography recently just shared some images with us from the October 1st, 2011 wedding of Ricalyn and Charles at Casa Real. We provided the Event Lighting, and we wanted to share these gorgeous images with you! Ricalyn decided to have both her ceremony and reception in the Amber Room, so during her cocktail hour we changed out some of the gel colors, and it turned out beautifully. She had spotlights on her centerpieces, GOBO washes on either side of the fireplace, and used 3 of our candle chandeliers.
Thank you so much Sarah, for sharing these images with us, and congratulations Ricalyn and Charles!
A Peach and a Pear is a vintage rental resource that caters to any old soul with an interest in antique and retro furnishing and accessories on a budget. From beautiful, rustic farm tables and chairs to vintage cameras and silver accent pieces, A Peach and a Pear provides the statement pieces of an earlier time to any party, wedding or photo shoot.
The founders of A Peach and a Pear Vintage Rentals have handpicked their entire inventory of one-of-a-kind pieces from estate sales and flea markets around the Bay Area, to ensure that your event will be a day to remember. From an intimate affair to the big day of “I Do,” they have the large (and small) vintage pieces that will have your guests in awe! Whether you are a bride, event planner, wedding coordinator, photographer or stylist, they will work with you to create a stunning experience based on your style and vision. Visit their website to see their collection and projects or to schedule a consultation.
Hello! My name is Sarah Russell and I am the newest addition to Fantasy Sound Event Services and I am so excited to be here. After high school I attended Las Positas and the went on to Sacramento State where I majored in Intercultural Communications. While I was at Sac State I joined the sorority Phi Sigma Sigma and it was the best decision of my college career. I met so many people and left college with not only friends but people I can call sisters. I was extremely involved while in Phi SIgma Sigma. I held the position of Greek Activities Chair, which was very time consuming but it was my life and I loved it. I learned so much through Phi Sig and it definitely has changed me for the better. While being in college I managed to juggle an internship, job, sorority, family, friends, social life, and a long term relationship. With all of that it only helped to me to become very organized and have great time management skills, which are both things that I think will help me be successful as the new administrative assistant at Fantasy Sound.
Also, I am a big sports fan my favorite is basketball but I pretty much enjoy all sports especially going to live games. I also am a huge Disney fan along with Twlight and Harry Potter. I am a totally obsessed with anything involving the sun and water. I love the beach, boating and pretty much anything in the water or near it. To sum myself up I am very outgoing, driven and all around just love having a good time with life!
We are so excited to welcome Sarah to the Fantasy Sound family! If you want to say hi, feel free to email her at Sarah@fantasysound.com
