AboutAlan Mckenzie Expertise All music related questions for wedding ceremonies and receptions. Questions on timelines, unique reception ideas, hiring wedding entertainment, finding entertainment professionals.
Experience Over 23 years experience as a Disc Jockey with the last 15 years as a wedding entertainment specialist. Experienced in planning, helping to coordinate and entertaining clients and guests in a professional, fun and elegent manner.
In addition I have taught several seminars on interaction (as an entertainer), microphone skills, business plans, keeping yourself educated, digital DJ'ing and more.
Organizations American Disc Jockey Assoc., Pacific Coast Disc Jockey Association (Past President & also a founding member), Southern Calif. Entertainers Assoc., ABC (Association of Bridal Consultants), Bridal Assoc. of America, Oxnard Chamber of Commerce.
Education/Credentials I have attended several seminars specifically related to mobile dj's as well as workshops and seminars for coordinators, speakers, team building, presentations, voice skills and more.
Awards and Honors Past President of the Pacific Coast Disc Jockey Assoc.
Past/Present Clients We keep our clients information confidential. However, if you need some, please specify how many and we will contact some of our clients to get permission to give you their contact information.
Question My fiance and I want to do something special for our wedding and not just the standard cookie cutter type. We will be having a theme of boats & sailing. Do you have any suggestions how to make things special or different?
Answer Dear Greg,
There are LOTS of things you can do to keep from being a boring or cookie-cutter type wedding. Your choice of making it a THEME wedding is first! Now you can expand upon that idea with all sorts of special things.
Like:
For table names/numbers, use PORTS or other nautical terms. This will make it much more fun for guests to find their tables. Names like SPINNAKER, MAILSAIL, GENOA, HELM, etc.. Maybe even lay them out like a boat - from Bow to Stearn and put up a chart or two of local waters.
Instead of a ring pillow, use a small wooden TREASURE CHEST to hold the rings. Put a little bit of the foam that florists use inside to hold the rings (only if the ring bearer is old enough to be trusted with the rings). Then, afterwards the ring bearer gets to KEEP the small chest! Maybe even put some foreign coins or some of those plastic or chocolate 'peices-of-eight' inside too.
As to music, there are plenty of songs that have the ocean, water or sailing themes in them. Songs like: Sail On... Sailing... Summer Breeze... Sitting By The Dock Of The Bay... Etc... use them for cocktails and dinner...
Talk to your caterers and your DJ. They should be able to help as well.
