Everyone wants their wedding reception to be memorable, and rightfully so. A lot goes into getting everything right and ensuring that all of the guests have a good time and go home with good memories.

A big part of making sure that this happens is getting the music right. Here we look at what makes a wedding band hit or miss, and how to find the right group for your special day.

Hire an experienced band

Finding a band that has experience of playing weddings is vital. It is not enough to hire a good gig group. You really do need to find and hire a good wedding band.

A group that sounds great at a club may still struggle to keep everyone happy at a family reception or evening do. It takes a lot of experience, and a special skill set to read the mood of a room full of wedding guests, and to be able to change things up a bit and get everyone up and dancing, again and again. The more experience your band has of playing for big family events, the better.

Can they play the music you want?

Another important consideration is the style of music that they play. You need to hire a group that can play the style of music that you and your guests will enjoy, and do so well.

Making sure that the group you are planning to hire can play your special songs is essential. Most families have favourite tracks that are played at most family occasions, which everyone enjoys and feels happy dancing to. Ensuring that your band can play those songs, and does them well, will help to create a great atmosphere at your reception.

How good are they live?

It is important to check out the bands current set list and to listen to some of their demo videos. Ideally, some of these videos should be shot live.

Modern sound decks mean that most groups can be made to sound great in a studio, but not all are as ‘easy on the ears’ when they play live. If you get the chance to see the band you are planning to hire, playing live, take the opportunity to do so. It is the best way to work out how good they really are.

You also need to consider how the band looks when they are on stage. You are looking for real entertainers, professionals. Performers that create a buzz, and really perform rather than just standing there looking bored, playing worn out instruments using an awful sound system.

Book well in advance

A good wedding band getsbooked up months ahead. One award winning Leeds wedding band we know, is always in high demand.Therefore, the earlier you start your search for a band the more likely it is that you will get what you want. . If you want the best, you really do have to book as soon as you can.

The right band ensures that everyone has a fantastic time at your reception

 

 

 

This post is sponsored by Orville Redenbacher’s Popcorn.

A few weeks ago, I shared with you my plans for creating my own backyard movie night with friends and family. I’m happy to report back that we had our backyard movie night last Saturday! Since Saturday was Halloween, I felt that it was a perfect time to invite the neighborhood teens over since most of the younger kids were out trick-or-treating. With the help of my teenagers, we turned our front and backyard into party central! Since it was Halloween, we went with a scary theme and, of course, a scary movie!

Let’s face it: Going to see a movie is always a special time, but what about seeing a movie in your backyard? You may be afraid that your backyard isn’t quite ready for movie night, but you can easily transform it into a movie oasis. Put your imagination to work and use these tips to transform your backyard for a family movie night.

Pick Out a Space

Obviously, you won’t need your whole yard for a backyard family movie night, so pick out a location you think will work best. You will want to make sure the space is away from the sun and not in any water or mud. A solid space on the ground works best, but you have to work with what you have.

Creating a Seating Space

This is the fun part! Remember that you want this space to be super comfortable. You can use lawn chairs, but add some pillows for extra comfort. You can bring an air mattress outside and throw lots of blankets and pillows on it to make it extra cozy. If you have little ones, you can create a drive-in movie theme by turning cardboard boxes into cars.

Prepare the Screen

The most important—and difficult—part of setting up a backyard for family movie night is the actual movie screen. This won’t be hard if you’re a technical person, but it may be a small challenge for non-techie people. However, challenges are fun! If you want to project the movie onto a sheet, you will need a movie projector. There are also various screens you can purchase for your outdoor movie viewing pleasure. Luckily, projectors have come into the 21^st century and are now small and portable.

Don’t Forget the Snacks

 Perhaps the second most important part of a backyard family movie night is the snacks and drinks. Set up a table outside and load it up with your family’s favorites like Orville Redenbacher’s Movie Theater Butter Popcorn, pops up in minutes, giving you a delicious, light and fluffy snack that’s perfect anytime! Outdoor movie theaters are best in the fall because then you’re not dealing with mosquitoes and bees. It’s also nice having an outdoor table so no one misses any part of the movie.

Transforming your backyard into a family movie night is something your kids will remember for many years to come. It’s out of the norm, which makes it super special! If you’re on a budget and want to keep it that way, set up a tent and bring cozy blankets and a laptop or iPad inside. Your kids and family will love this too!

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What are some tips you have for transforming your backyard into a family movie night?

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I am a member of the Netflix #StreamTeam and receive perks in exchange for monthly posts. As always all thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

 

It’s hard to believe that summer is officially over for us! We actually started back to school August 10th!! So when I see some of my friends not starting back until after Labor Day, I admit I’m just a little jealous. The truth is I really enjoyed having my kids’ home during the summer even if that meant that I DIDN’T GET ANY WORK DONE!

SO, if your kids haven’t gone back yet contain your excitement, the first day of school is so close you can taste it. Sure, your babies are growing up, but it’s been a long, hot summer, and I know most of y’all are counting down the days until you can lovingly wave good-bye as those kiddos get on the bus. As you wipe the single tear from your cheek, you think to yourself: no more sibling bickering all day, trying to come up with creative things for them to do or trying to keep the house clean! Clouds part and angels sing — your life is yours again… right?

But there’s still some time left to make sure everyone’s brains still work after a summer of…whatever you’ve been letting them get away with. A little help from some awesome Netflix TV shows and movies can help to ease them back into the education mindset while disguised as fun.

Jada is currently streaming and loving Project Mc². As a Part of of being a Netflix Stream Team member they also sent her some great goodies that she is enjoying! She was super excited when the package arrived and was ready to start her own project!

She loved creating her own Glitter Tornado! She has also loved playing games and visiting www.projectmc2.com. So, if you have a tween daughter I would highly recommend you to have her check this site out!

About Project Mc²

 

Project Mc² is a fresh take on the typical tween girl show you’re probably familiar with. The series has S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) organically woven throughout the storyline, making it fun and breaking the stereotype that being smart, funny, stylish and capable are mutually exclusive. Project Mc² reflects today’s tweens in a relatable way, giving girls four empowered female leads to look up to.

If you are still looking for great picks for your tweens check out these picks!

The offspring of favorite fairytale characters in Ever After High’s new Way Too Wonderland adventure (debuted Aug. 14) empower kids to write their own life stories. Whether Royal or Rebel, your actions, behaviors and choices are your own to make.

Netflix picks for the younger kids:

Get the little ones ready for new experiences with shows like the Netflix original Dinotrux from DreamWorks,  which premiered Aug. 14. The  prehistoric hybrid dinosaur-construction vehicles team-up to use their different skills to solve problems and show that even the most uncommon of duos, like Ty-Rux and Revvit, can form friendships of a lifetime.

They can also go anywhere and be anything by letting their imaginations soar on a Reading Rainbow journey, now available to stream! I remember watching Reading Rainbow and the magic school bus as a kid so I am excited to see them both on Netflix now!

So, while you are enjoying your kid’s last few days why not get them to check out these great picks!  In the comments below I would love to hear what you or your kids are streaming this summer!

I am a member of the Netflix #Streamteam and receive perks in exchange for monthly posts. As always all thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

 

 

 

 

As a Netflix stream team member, our theme this month was all about Throwbacks! So, what better day to share about these great throwbacks than Thursday! I love throwbacks and especially love sharing them with my kids. I find it exciting when connecting with my kids over something I loved when growing up. It offers children a glimpse into what you were like as a kid yourself and gives you a way to relive your childhood. The truth is my kids actually prefer more of the older cartoons I grew up watching than the ones that are on today!

As it turns out, cartoons such as the new Netflix original series Inspector Gadget and Danger Mouse are giving parents and their kids’ loads to bond over. Not only are the old-school classics we all grew up on more popular than ever, but also new reboots are introducing a whole new generation to some of our most favorite characters.

Be sure to check out Netflix’s list of must-watch throwbacks below! They have a lot of great hits on this list! So, be sure to spend some time this summer with you kids watching these great throwbacks!

 

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Inspector Gadget

Danger Mouse (6/15)

My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic

Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends

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Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers

The Magic School Bus

The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That

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Garfield and Friends

The Super Mario Bros Super Show!

The Smurfs 2

Scooby-Doo: Mystery Incorporated

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Gallina Pintadita (Now streaming in Spanish!)

Bindi’s Boot Camp (6/15)

Some Assembly Required (6/19)

Dragons: Race to the Edge: Season 1 (6/26)

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My all time favorites personally are Garfield, Scooby-Doo, Woody Woodpecker, The Flintstones, and of course The Jetsons! So, in the comments below please tell me what your favorite cartoons were and if you love sharing your throwbacks with your children!

 

If you follow me on my social networks then I’m sure you have seen me talking about Bravo’s new show Odd Mom Out that premieres June 8^th at 10/9c. The truth is I am already obsessed and trust me it takes a lot to get me interested in a TV show. I was able to preview the first two episodes in exchange of promoting the show and I have to admit I laughed so much I had tears! My teenage daughter watched with me and all she kept saying is “mom, Jill is just like you!” I have always considered  myself the “odd mom out” and the truth is I wear that title proudly! Many of my friends often question my parenting style but it works for us. Honestly, I wouldn’t change a thing because I refuse to be fake…

Jill has an interesting perspective into the crazy world of the Upper East Side—where money is no object to her peers and normal every day issues consist of how to get your child into the best private school, which elite cycling class you should attend, or when to add a “Von” to your name to move up a class. Jill hilariously navigates the social scene; one awkward moment at a time! If you haven’t seen the Odd Mom Out Trailer yet then make sure you do that now! This show is going to be a big hit and I can’t wait till June 8th! You don’t want to miss this so make a reminder right now!

 

Join the VIM Perks Program Today!

Be sure to download the Bravo Daily Dish App or visit the VIM perks page to take advantage of all of the VIM (Very Important Mom)Perks Program discounts and you will be entered into the Ultimate VIM Sweeps by sharing the sweeps with your friends using #OddMomOutSweeps and tagging @BravoTV.

And to get your odd mom out premiere party started off right check out these great drinks out! Come on you know you deserve a drink..Motherhood is no walk in the park!

 

 

Watch & Win:

If watching the show wasn’t exciting enough viewers will also have an opportunity to win $20,000 in each of the first 4 weeks of premiere episodes (starting 6/8 – 6/29) through the Tune-In to Win Sweepstakes! During the show be sure to watch for the secret hashtag and tweet it out to @BravoTV each week for your chance to win!

In the comments below tell me if you will be watching Odd Mom Out June 8^th!