Saturday, March 31, 2012

Wedding traditions of Latin America

Like most weddings in other parts of the world Latino weddings are happy, family-filled times literally stuffed with tradition, some dating back thousands of years. From something as important as what the bride wears on her wedding day down to the most trivial detail, a Latino wedding oozes Tradition and is filled with reminders that, as humans, we have been going through these rituals for eons and will continue to do so far into the future. Below, in no particular order, are some of the more interesting traditions from some of the wonderful countries of Latin America and Spain.

In Spain one of the oldest traditions known is that the bride wears a black dress.  This symbolizes her devotion to her husband-to-be until death. Before the Spanish wedding the groom sometimes will give his bride-to-be thirteen gold coins (known as ‘arras’) that symbolize Jesus Christ and his 12 disciples. The coins are blessed by the priest and passed through the hands of the newlyweds several times, ending up with the bride. She then carries them in a small bag during the ceremony as a sign that the groom has pledged his support to take care of her all of her life.

At the wedding reception in Ecuador the bride and groom give their parents special presents which are usually objects that they had or used when they were children.
During a Colombian wedding ceremony both the bride and the groom each light one candle. They together then light a third before putting out the first two. This signifies the end of their former, separate lives and the start of their new life together.
In Bolivia and Ecuador, "compadres" or "compadrazgo" (companions) are chosen either at birth or marriage. The chosen compadres play a large role in the wedding ceremony and continue to support the couple throughout their lives, playing an important role in their family.
At Argentinean weddings, the bride is escorted down the aisle by her father. There are no bridesmaids or groomsmen, and only the couple's parents and godparents stand with them at the altar. Argentinean couples also exchange rings when they get engaged. In Argentina parents or grandparents sometimes give the couple gold from something that they own like a chain or a pendant that is then used to make the couple’s wedding rings.
In Chile only the parents stand at the altar with the couple.  Engaged couples wear rings on their right hand until they are married and then switch to the left hand after the wedding. A Chilean wedding is also a two-step process with a civil wedding first and then a religious wedding in the church. A marriage in Chile is not official until the church ceremony takes place.
In Mexico, similar to Ecuador, "madrinas" (godmothers) and "padrinos" (godfathers) serve as wedding sponsors, supporting the couple both financially and spiritually throughout the ceremony and their lives. Mexican couples perform a symbolic ritual where a rosary (religious necklace) or white rope is wound around their shoulders in a figure eight to symbolize their union. In Mexico, Panama, and throughout the Caribbean, traditional wedding cakes are made with nuts and dried fruit and then soaked in lots of rum. This is one reason why wedding receptions in the countries is so much fun.

In Puerto Rico, small wedding favors called (capias) are presented to the guests while they pass in the receiving line. Made of feathers tied with ribbon and printed with the couple's names and wedding date, they are a reminder to the people who came to the wedding that a wonderful ceremony and union has taken place. Also in Puerto Rico a beautiful doll, dressed like the bride, is displayed on the newlyweds’ table at the wedding reception. This doll is then used by the guests to give money to the newlywed couple as they pin bills to the doll’s clothing.
In a Brazilian wedding tradition, the inside of the groom’s wedding band is engraved with the bride’s name, hers with his name. This tradition is now becoming very popular in many other cultures.
Venezuelan newlyweds have a very interesting tradition; they sneak away from the wedding reception while no one is watching. Instead of being seen as rude this is actually taken to be a sign of good luck that the couple will have during their marriage.
In Peru a very interesting tradition is where they place ribbons in the wedding cake with a small amount of ribbon still peeking out of the cake and a ring attached only to one ribbon.  During the reception all of the single ladies are asked to pull out a single ribbon. It is believed that the lucky lady who pulls out the ribbon with the ring attached will be married within the year.
To start planning your Latin Wedding, give us a call we are always ready to help you. Ultrafonk Entertainment 1-866-265-9335 

How to chose your wedding date

Early on -  in your engagement, the thought may cross your mind to tell everyone, "Hey, my wedding date is such-and-such." The reason why is because this is the most often asked question after the initial up and coming wedding news is announced.

Before you have 100's of save the date cards or invitations printed, you must nail down the wedding date. So how do you go about setting the day for this momentous and celebrated event? Well, in simple terms, you do it "very carefully!"

Your wedding date is something very special to you, and it will be your special day forever, so take to heart how important this decision is before just grabbing a date out of thin air without sufficient forethought and planning.

1. Dream Wedding

Every woman has, at some point in their life, a dream of their fairytale wedding event, and it usually comes about when they are very young. Think about all the components of your dream wedding; is there a special flower, or dress, or a location, or maybe a certain time of year? Consider these dream wedding details when setting aside that special date and time.

2. Mindful of the Budget

When deciding on your wedding date, keep your budget in mind. The most popular wedding months are typically May through September, which usually means prices will be higher during these popular times of the year. Also, because so many weddings take place during these months, it is harder to secure the vendors and suppliers you may want.

Day of the week is another consideration. Saturday weddings generally are more expensive than a Friday or Sunday wedding, and a Friday wedding might be a great kick-off to a fabulous weekend with friends and family.

3. Planning Around Holidays

Holiday weekends are a popular choice for many couples because these times give guests some travel opportunity without having to take time off from their jobs. Bear in mind, however, that holidays weekends are a time when many people plan vacations of their own.

Holidays also often pose the problem of accommodation and airline availability. Sometimes accommodation providers also charge more during the holidays. If you do decide to have a holiday wedding ceremony, let your guests know as soon as possible so they can plan ahead and make travel arrangements.

Another very important consideration; don't make a firm final decision until you've discussed it with close members of both your and his family, and also everyone you are planning to have in your bridal party.

Once the date is decided upon, get those "Save the Date Cards" out as early as possible!
To find out how we could help you plan the wedding of your dreams give us a call at 1-866-265-9335
Ultrafonk Entertainment 

Now that you are engaged, what comes next?


Becoming engaged is one of the most memorable events in life. You are embarking on an incredible life journey as a married couple, but before that eventful day arrives, you have the process of wedding planning in front of you. It is easy to allow yourself to get overwhelmed, but just take a deep breath and then walk yourself mentally through the basic steps of planning your event.
1. Initial Engagement News Release - Parents and Close Friends

Don't let the parents be the last to know. As excited as you are to alert the world to your engagement news, they should be told first and in person if at all possible. As far as tradition goes, the bride's parents usually find out before the groom's, but nothing need be too exact here. You might even share the news with both sets of parents at the same time. Close friends come next, and usually these friends include likely candidates for best man, maid of honor, and other wedding attendants.

2. Formal Engagement Announcement

After parents and friends know, you can then formally announce your great news. This can be done in the form of a wedding website, announcements mailed to friends and family, and/or in printed form such as in a local newspaper.

3. Save the Date

Set the date for the wedding as soon as possible because leaving this undecided can hamper many other aspects of event planning. Once the date is decided, you might consider sending out Save the Date cards to avoid a conflict with someone else's ceremony. You can find Save the Date cards at numerous stationery shops online, suited to just about any wedding theme.

4. Choose a Ceremony Tone

You need to decide if the ceremony will be casual, themed, or formal. What you decide here affects many other aspects of the wedding such as decorations, venue, dress, food, music, and reception. For example if you are planning a multicultural Latin reception, a Latin wedding DJ will be a good choice for the entertainment. A good Latin wedding DJ usually offers a blend of different music styles, so you can opt for a multicultural blend at your reception.

5. Set a Budget

Once you set a budget, you need to stick to it. Funds often come from money saved, a short term loan, and contributions from family. It is best to avoid going into long term debt for a wedding, especially because young couples usually argue more about money than any other topic. You can plan a memorable wedding without spending a fortune just with careful planning and sensible decisions.

6. Entertainment

When choosing a wedding DJ for your reception, you'll want someone who is knowledgeable of the style of music you want at your reception, specially if you are having a multicultural Latin wedding. The DJ company you chose should have the experience to host a multicultural event so you end up with a music style and blend everyone will enjoy.

These are just a few beginning tips for planning your wedding. You'll need to choose attendants, select a venue for the wedding and reception, and narrow down things such as food, catering and decorations. Next there are dresses and accessories to select, flowers, tuxedos, the honeymoon, and party favors and gifts.

Don't get overwhelmed, ask for help when needed, and most of all have fun and be happy! It is your very own special event so enjoy it!

If you have questions regarding your Multicultural Wedding Entertainment, contact Ultrafonk Entertainment at 1-866-265-9335 to set up an event consultation appointment, we will be happy to assist you.

Multicultural Wedding tips

Planning a Multicultural Wedding is a challenge, but not always as difficult as it sounds. Anytime a wedding involves more than one culture, customs and traditions are of key importance to those involved. As long as you develop a clear idea on which elements of each culture will be incorporated, the merging of the two will be flawless.
To avoid any pitfalls before, during and/or after the wedding, both sides of the family should communicate all the traditions they would like to be included in the ceremony and reception. Everyone should be opened to educating each other about their traditions and expectations while being candid about what is considered appropriate or inappropriate in the culture. Always remember this is your wedding and you should be happy and comfortable with the traditions chosen to be integrated.
Personalization is another great tool to represent each other’s ethnicity and culture during the celebrations, take advantage of it. With food, get creative. Fusion cuisine is a very popular and great way to include each other’s background during cocktail hour and dinner.
When choosing the entertainment for your reception, always make sure your MC/DJ knows and understands each other’s background and music preferences. Always remember to let guests unfamiliar with your ethnic and cultural traditions know what to expect.
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If you are planning a Multicultural Wedding, Ultrafonk Entertainment is always ready to help you.  Contact us to set up an event consultation appointment at 1-866-265-9335

NJ Latin Wedding DJ

Urban Merengue a new tendency

Not too long ago when a Merengue song was requested at Weddings the first song that came to mind was Elvis
Crespo’s Suavemente. However, the Latin Rhythm known as Merengue has gone through not only an evolution
but more like a revolution. The evolution of merengue started back in 1994 when Latin Bands Oro Solido,
Manikomio, Soberbia and Mala Fe created a new tendency of Merengue with short lyrics and a lot of mambo as
they used to say. Mambo is a term they adopted to define the music within the song and not the music genre
popularized in the 1950’s. A blend of hip hop, r&b, reggaeton and even electronic music with merengue have
created a new tendency known as Urban Merengue or Merengue de Calle as known in Spanish. I call this fusion
the revolution of merengue. This new style of merengue has been adopted by megastars like Pitbull, Shakira and
Daddy Yankee having great success with songs like Loca, Rabiosa, Llamado de Emergencia and more. Is it safe
to say that Urban Merengue killed traditional Merengue? Not by long shot. Artists like Toño Rosario, Juan Luis
Guerra, Elvis Crespo, Los Hermanos Rosario and many others will not let hat happen. I don’t believe  they are
against the new tendency, its just that they have found the way to keep producing hits without having to change
their roots. What’s next? We don’t know yet, however one thing is sure, Latin Music is re-inventing itself and
reaching more people.

To have the perfect mix of  Latin Music at your event, contact us to set up a complimentary consultation appointment at1-866-265-9335

Your Wedding, Your music

Adding your favorite tunes to your wedding reception play list is a great idea. It's an easy way to personalize the soundtrack of your big day and make it meaningful for both you and your guests. When the DJ plays a song that you personally know and love, it makes the moment truly yours.

But weddings are also shared events. And if your guests don't respond to the songs that you’ve chosen—no matter how cool or classic—you’ll be stuck with an empty dance floor.

So how do you balance your musical wants and needs with those of your guests? Personally, we recommend thinking small. Create two lists: a Do-Not-Play List of banned songs and a reasonably-short Must-Play List of tunes you must hear. These, combined with our professional wedding DJs’ skills at reading crowds and controlling tempo, will help keep your guests' feet moving all night.

Thinking Small: Suggestions for Your Lists
First, brainstorm an ideal wish list of all your favorite songs. Whittle it down to the essentials. Which songs clearly reflect your personality or express your feelings for your mate? Which ones do your friends and family love? Keep those but consider removing any titles that might be inappropriate—think any song about break-ups or cheating—or too fast, slow, rowdy, explicit or unusual for your guest list. Aim for a good mix. You don’t have to please everyone but it does pay to be considerate.

Along those lines, think about what songs and genres you don’t want to hear. Rule out your least favorites, along with tunes that depress, drag or scandalize. It’s a party! Envision your ideal atmosphere and list all the songs that fight against it. This is your Do-Not-Play List.

Making It Work
Once these two lists are complete, communication is key. Every wedding DJ takes a different approach to handling play lists. Some limit requests to a small number of songs, while others play everything you want. Show your lists to your DJ and discuss how he’ll handle them. What will he do if the plan isn’t working? Get a sense of how he works and reach an agreement. We encourage you to find a good fit with your DJ and to get as involved in the music selection as you like. After all, it’s your wedding.

Just consider this: an experienced DJ will know how to please crowds of any size, age or musical taste. He has the know-how to pace the party, highlight key moments like the bouquet toss and provide opportunities for all kinds of dancers to enjoy themselves. So why not trust him?

Our DJs will work with you as much as needed to create a wedding reception to remember. We’ll find a way to play your Must-Plays, from the most traditional to the most eclectic, while avoiding your Do-Not-Plays and keeping your treasured guests grooving—in a way that feels right for you.

To learn more about our services or to schedule a consultation appointment call us at 1-866-265-9335