To view the certificate, please click this link.

1.) Decide on a Date and Time

Sometimes birthdays fall on difficult dates, and this is one of the most important factors. I am sure that there will be others planning sweet 16 parties around this time, so avoid schedule conflicts. Choose any day Friday through Sunday afternoon or evening. Try to avoid special occasions like holidays that might keep friends and family away. The best advice is to choose the weekend before or the weekend after and send out invitations far in advance. The further out you send invites gives guests more time to prepare for a RSVP. This is the first step in how to plan a sweet 16 party.

2.) Location Location Location

Even though you can plan a larger than life event, you need to keep your budget in mind. Do not stick with the cookie cutter banquet halls in Michigan, step outside the box. Pick a warehouse and decorate it to your theme or plan a tent event in your backyard. You can still negotiate rates with Michigan banquet halls depending on the date and time of your sweet 16. Also try to choose a local place that will not discourage guests from traveling to far.

3.) Who is coming and how many?

Basically, the more people you invite, the more your party will cost. This is directly related to the meal and location size. You need to ask yourself what kind of party you are trying to plan. Are you looking for a smaller low key birthday party, or a loud spontaneous sweet 16? Please keep in mind your budget and your goals. Put your style into the party by inviting the people you know or get along with. If you are more outgoing, then extend the list to those you know would add to the atmosphere of the event (more friends than family). If you are shyer then invite more family than friends. It is this mixture between family and friends that you will have to choose between. You can even throw two different parties (one for family and one for friends) if your budget allows it.

4.) Invitations

Now that you know who to invite and how many people are going, it is time to send out the invitations for your sweet 16. These are good to mail out two months before the event date. Make sure that you have all other details finalized before putting them on the invitations. I recommend creating the invitations yourself; this is a more budget friendly idea and unless if it is a surprise party, the guest of honor (birthday girl) should make the invitations herself. Tie your theme into the design for your invitations. It can be as simple as sports insignia to as intricate as calligraphy and cut outs. Be sure to note on the invites for people to RSVP ASAP!

5.) Themes

So since we brought it up, we might as well cover it. A theme is crucial when it comes to planning a sweet 16. This will distinguish your party from all the ones your friends are throwing. It is an expression of your personality and creativity. Themes can be lavish or quite. Themes usually include a color, costume, time period or place. Some DJ companies in Michigan offer accent lighting options where your walls change colors. This will give you the added even personalization you desire. You can even make the sweet 16 different themes, just request that guests change for the second half. Click for our list of prom themes.

6.) Party Details

When does the party start? When the does the party end? Be sure to set an end time for the party so that guests can arrange rides if need be. You will also need to figure how the dinner will be served and when the dancing will begin. Most DJ companies offer event services that include online planners. This way everything flows smoothly and as they coordinate with your banquet staff.

7.) The Dinner

Even though a meal is typical at every event planned, this can take up a large portion of the budget. Food can either be catered, buffet, or appetizers. So what will you serve at your sweet 16? If you are really in depth with an international theme then choose food that mesh well with that country. Remember that your guests will have to eat this food, so try to give them options that they would enjoy.

How to Plan a Sweet 16 Party

In final consideration for planning a sweet 16 party, keep all the above points in mind. If you follow the guidelines above, planning your party will not only be stress free but fun. There is no right or wrong way to plan your birthday bash. The only way is your way, so keep your guests in mind because they are there to celebrate you!

Then I found it accidentally one day while shopping at a Best Buy store several Christmases ago. I actually heard it playing throughout the store. The song was a very cool modern rendition of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. I sprinted to the customer service desk as quickly as I could to find out the song and artist. After 20 minutes of online searching through their music provided we found it.

The name of the CD was called Merry Mixmas . I read the reviews for the Christmas CD I was about to purchase and then I heard about positive reviews for Christmas Remixed cds. After listening to both the first and second volume I would have to say get Christmas Remixed vol 2 . When compared with volume 1 I felt that volume 2 had more variety and energy.

Download and Buy Best Christmas CD Songs

Since I have picked up both Merry Mixmas and Christmas Remixed vol 2 I have noticed compliments on the music format. It is recognizable yet fun. The same songs on these cds have also been used in movies recently. It seems their appeal spans everywhere and to everyone. I think I spent $70 including shipping for both CDs combined. If you find a CD priced under $30 it is a steal. These CDs are very rare and hard to come by. You should buy them because they offer the best Christmas songs on the music market.

Happy Halloween everyone! Okay, so I am a couple of days late, but I just wanted to post some highlights from a Halloween party that we DJed over the weekend. The Halloween party was actually in Ohio, however we do events all over the state. If you are unsure if you are in our coverage area, then contact us today so that we can discuss the fun options.

All I have to say is that Janice and Chet had one awesome party. If you do not believe me, then checkout the photos from their Glam Cam. I saw some pretty cool costumes. You had your typical ones and some guests went all out with how they dressed and acted.

Some highlights from the Halloween Party included games for the children and games for the adults. The winner of the adult games (21+) won bottles of wine. You have to click this link to watch some of the adult contestants in action! We also provided Janice and Chet with Tent Accent Lighting. This gave a really nice ceiling wash that added energy to the party. To see just how much energy this party packed, click the video link below. Looking forward to your Halloween bash next year!

Lighting for Michigan High School Pep Rally

I have to say that the lighting was very dynamic and gave them the effect that they were looking for. Lighting really added to the energy for the pep rally and the follow spot put all the emphasis on the important people during the right times. To get an idea of what our setup looked like we included a picture above. We should be getting some video footage back from the student congress @ Clarenceville High School in Livonia. Once we do, we will post it here ASAP.

Visit the following link for more information about Michigan Homecoming DJs.

Mission Point Resort Hotel

Personally, I have had the pleasure of entertaining thousands of wedding receptions here in Michigan. We take a very personalized approach when dealing with our clients and wedding vendors. From what I can recall, I have never experienced a situation so unpleasant when working with a so called reputable banquet facility. Mission Point Resort almost ruined my entire weekend by costing me hundreds in avoidable travel expenses and canceled meetings. I feel that our 200,000+ visitors a year might find the following Mission Point Resort Hotel Mackinac Island review beneficial.

Vendors beware; Mission Point Resort in Mackinac Island is a headache for dealing with logistics. Before arriving on the Island, our client told us that the company equipment would be delivered directly to the Summit Room. Our equipment was left outside in a damp environment (can you imagine if their negligence would have affected your reception). Since we were not allowed to use the elevator, we had to carry the equipment to the room ourselves. The assistance that we were guaranteed was not available and after talking with the staff, they were not forthcoming with help.

Mission Point Resort Hotel in Mackinac Island Michigan is Unorganized

One word for Mission Point Resort Banquet Hall <– them unorganized. Honestly, there is no room to drop the ball on a couple who are investing time and money into your facility for their reception. One of my main concerns when dealing with the wedding reception was the logistics of our equipment. I remember talking with several employees and getting several conflicting answers. One employee told me we would have to come back to the hotel in the morning JUST to carry the equipment onto a dolly to be transported to the dock. Another employee told me that the bell staff would take care of this entire inconvenience for us. Since he was a representative of the company we took his word for it, knowing everything was handled.

We were prepared to dock the Arnold Line ferry at 3pm the following day. I had a business meeting in Detroit at 8pm with a bride so our equipment was already suppose to be in Mackinac City. At 2:55 I decided to make the phone call to Mission Point to make sure that our equipment was delivered to the dock on time.

And guess what.. the equipment was never delivered! Why should I have to worry about this? I was told by two different employees it would be there at 2pm. My company name and phone number were placed on every bag. They had two hours to reach me if there was any issue, no follow-up procedure was done! If I would have went on the ferry, Mission Point Resort would have:

A.) made me take the last ferry back across to the island my equipment was still on
B.) walk 20 minutes across the island ONLY to carry it onto a dolly since it was an insurance liability
C.) since we would have missed the final 4pm ferry, we would of had to spend money on an over night hotel/bed & breakfast
D.) cancel my meeting with my bride in Detroit at 8pm

Why is this considered an insurance liability, when you can take care of my equipment in transit between the dock and your hotel? For your info, we had to wait several hours for the next ferry which cost me my meeting with my bride… thanks Mission Point.

One person that could have rectified this entire situation was Mr. James Salem (aka Jimmy or Jim). Manager James Salem could care less about my dilemma. I made attempts to contact him about what I should do. Jimmy Salem of Mission Point Resort was very reluctant with providing solutions to the problem. My understanding from our conversation was that if I was a guest he would of helped me. Since I was a wedding vendor Jim did not have time. This very impersonal approach towards weddings is the complete opposite of professional integrity. If Jimmy treats wedding vendors like this, how do you imagine he would treat guests on your special day? I think Mr. James Salem needs to go back to customer service school

Guest Review Mackinac Island Mission Point Resort Hotel

We were told from locals on Mackinac Island that the service we encountered was not uncommon for Mission Point Resort Hotel. Bags are constantly lost and damaged when falling off their shuttle. Guests have often missed their ferry due to lost luggage at docks and bags left behind at the hotel. Guest missing ferry rides are forced to find alternate solutions. This includes having to stay an additional night on the island which completely screws up someones vacation. How would you feel if this happened to you after trusting them with your personal belongings? No bride, vendor, or guest should have to deal with the confusion that Jimmy Salem put me through.

Bottom line Book your wedding reception at ANY place besides Mission Point Resort Hotel in Mackinac Island Michigan. I would never treat a bride or wedding professional in any way comparable to their standards. They care about your money and not your memories.

Also visit this link for our review of Lilac House Bed and Breakfast in Mackinac Island

When walking up the stairs to the second floor you will notice a community bathroom for the 8 to 10 rooms. In my opinion, privacy was limited because of how small the thin walled bed and breakfast is. I was a first time visitors to Mackinac Island, and she assured me it was okay to call her cell phone number on her business card anytime for any reason. I actually tried to conversate with her over the phone and she was impersonal with responses to my appropriate questions about the island. As a matter of fact she sounded more annoyed than helpful. LoriAnn why would you give guests your business card with your contact number if you care nothing about their questions?

Review from Others at Lilac House in Mackinac Island

This unsatisfactory service was evident with others that stayed at the Lilac House Bed and Breakfast. I was told by a recently married couple, that had went to Douds Corner store to purchase a bottle of wine, and that they were not sure if they should have purchased the wine because they did not have a wine opener. The couple called the number printed on the front of LoriAnns business card to see if she had one or if they had to spend $15 on Douds last wine opener in stock. She was short with answering questions about the Bed and Breakfast and if they had a wine opener or not. Does LoriAnn wish she did not have her phone number listed on her business card at all? Obviously if you are a business owner and your guests have a question about your bed and breakfast you should be more than forthcoming with information. Word of mouth referrals and recent reviews might possibly affect those considering your services. I feel that our 200,000+ visitors a year might find the following Lilac House Bed and Breakfast review beneficial.

When people came downstairs to have coffee in the morning, coffee was gone. There were other hotel guests that drank the last of the coffee and when more guests came downstairs there was none left. When I got ready to checkout at 11am LoriAnn was not available and I was unsure where to go or how my luggage was going to get to the ferry on time. After this confusion I knocked on the back door for several minutes and got no response. It was not until after calling her personal cell phone that she finally opened the back door.

After leaving, I accidentally forgot the ticket for my bags on the living room counter (next to the pop tarts). I was not sure if I needed it or not until the porter asked for them, so I came back looking for the tickets. Her husband unlocked the door and said… do you need something… and guess what, the ticket was thrown in the garbage. I had to sift through dirty garbage to find it and he was not very hospitable when he said are you done yet?

Lilac House Bed and Breakfast Resolution

The owners of the Lilac House Bed and Breakfast (Ken and LoriAnn) recently found this post and followed up with me about my stay. They were very apologetic and understanding of my experience. They wanted to stress the fact that the Lilac House Bed and Breakfast in Mackinac Island Michigan is their family home and a labor of Love to them. Like any responsible customer orientated business owner, they took the criticism above seriously. I posted a small excerpt from their e-mail response below:

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You know Rob, in retrospect I believe we all just had a lot going on that weekend; you with the difficulties with your gig and equipment, LoriAnn with it being the end of a long season running the whole operation by herself and then having to leave overnight to come pick me up since my flight arrived after the last scheduled boat back that night, and me after 20 hours worth of flights and six hours of jet lag who knows, a true confluence of negative circumstances perhaps.  What I do know for a fact is your experience was not even close to typical for any of our other guests. And we are truly sorry you had a bad time, as we would be for anyone who stayed with us (or visited the Island for that matter).
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Feel free to contact Lilac House Bed & Breakfast in Mackinac Island below:
http://mi.local.yahoo.biz/lilachouse/
LilacHouseBandB@aol.com

There are many wedding receptions in Michigan every year that have Bagpipers in Michigan performing for their wedding reception. They can do a great job by creating a dramatic entrance for the bride and groom while entering into the facility or any other formal portion of your celebration. Besides these times of the reception, you could also choose to have your bag piper play for 20 minutes during dinner or cocktail hour. The most popular choice by clients is to have the piper play before and after the wedding ceremony.

Before the Ceremony

This is not a popular choice by newlyweds. However, depending on your tastes a piper can play a song or two while guests are arriving. They can even play a tune and walk down the aisle. This is usually a special requests, that you would have to mention to the piper you have reserved. Most pipers stay very busy due to the scarcity of their trade, if they are seasoned professionals, then they should have some recommendations for you.

During the Ceremony

An appropriate time to have a piper play during your wedding ceremony is half way through during a candle lighting ceremony. This is called many things, and depending on what tradition you are going with will determine the style of your piper. A common recommendation is to play Amazing Grace. Music during this part of the ceremony should be kept to a two song maximum. Please keep in mind that most ceremonies only last fifteen minutes.

Receiving Line

This part of your wedding happens after your ceremony and before cocktail hour. This is when guests will walk up and congratulate you on the commencement. This typically last ten to fifteen minutes. Your goal for the piper should be ambient background music as guests make their way through the line.

Cocktail Hour

This is a favorable time for the bagpiper to play during your reception. This part of your wedding happens while you are taking pictures with your photographer outside. The piper will supply forty-five to sixty minutes of continuous music. This is great if your family is expecting a piper at your special day. They will have enough time to soak in the live experience while mingling with your family and friends.

Grand Entrance

What better way to start your new life together than with a bag piper to highlight your formal recognition in front of all your guests. This is a common choice by clients and a wonderful time to utilize your piper’s rental time. You can have them play and march two songs during the grand entrance. It is easy to segue into dinner music; the piper can play for an additional twenty minutes here. Either way regardless of tradition, if you think this is a perfect time slot go for it.

Bag Pipers in Michigan

Fees will vary across the board. You will get what you pay for. These rates differ on travel time, hours of employment, and songs requested. A few important rules of thumb is to get by several recent references and to interview with several professionals. There is a lot on the line for your special day, go with the bag piper in Michigan that makes you feel comfortable with the entire process. Good luck, and congratulations!

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