I spent my 20s working on weddings every weekend, where I managed 10 piece wedding rings and booked smaller jazz bands. I’ve seen it all, from a drunk uncle trying to steal a musician’s guitar so he could play “Mustang Sally”, to a MOH who got so emotional that she stopped the band to give a 20-minute speech. minutes to compare the bride to a “beautiful gazelle.”

On wedding days, I was responsible for making sure the groups started on time and followed the timeline of the event – in turn, making sure the bride and groom were happy. It sounds simple, but at this point in planning your wedding you may be starting to realize that emotions are on the alert, not just with the bride and groom. When you’re trying to juggle parents and budgets and everything in between, the last thing you want to worry about is if your group sucks.

While I can’t help you with your future in-laws, I can give my expert tips and advice to keep in mind when choosing a wedding ring.

Ask your friends for recommendations

Word of mouth from trusted sources is invaluable when it comes to wedding vendors, and groups are no different. Post it to your social accounts, text your friends, and keep an ear open when attending other people’s weddings. If you liked your group of friends, ask for their contact details. Be resourceful and leverage your network.

Don’t totally rely on the internet

Overall the internet is great. How awesome is it to be able to research your suppliers from your couch? But the Internet can also be misleading. A beautiful site with studio recordings does not means a band sounds great live. Just because they don’t have an Instagram account does not means they are not worth your time. Definitely take a look at the reviews, but be sure to see the bands in person as well.

Go see a live show

Now that you have a list of potential groups, you need to go see them in person. The only way to know if a group is right for you is to grab your partner, have a date, and hit the dance floor.

Discover their presence on stage. Do they interact with the crowd and maintain energy? Or are they robots that just make movements? You don’t rent an iPod playlist for the night, make sure the band sets the mood you want for your big day. Also, keep an attentive ear for the follow-up. Smaller groups tend to play along with pieces of music as this replaces missing instruments and cuts costs. In my opinion, the tracks are a bad idea. Live bands don’t come cheap, so if that’s what you’ve booked, that’s what should be delivered. Period. For example, if you like Motown music and the band has a cheaper deal as a 4-piece band with follow-up, don’t! Motown music needs a line of horns and keyboards to do it justice. Without them you will be very disappointed.

Request a Set List

Great job, your band list is shrinking now. It’s time to ask for a fixed list, it can give you an idea of ​​how they punctuate the night. A beautiful setlist follows the energy of the evening. Your group will likely divide their game into three hour-long sets with small breaks between sets. The first set usually falls during dinner, so the music should reflect that vibe – jazz standards or Frank Sinatra are great options. Once the plates are cleared and your guests are ready to dance, remember that this is a marathon, not a sprint; start slowly with classic flashbacks that guests of all ages will enjoy. Think Michael Jackson, Earth, Wind & Fire, Journey or even Garth Brooks, anything that has solid vocals. The last hour of music usually hits when people get their buzz and the kids and older guests have returned home, so that’s when you can get on with the Cardi B (or your own version of the climb).

Do not dictate the Set List

Asking for a set list and dictating the set list are two very different things. Trust the flow of group sets, because the group knows things that you don’t know. For example, I worked with a group that developed custom medleys paired with simple choreography. They were so much fun to watch, but if we removed or added songs to the medley, the performance would suffer. Now if you really don’t like the set list but still like the band, you should ask for their overall song list. Their song list will be huge – the band should be open to you by highlighting the songs you love and the songs you hate. It’s reasonable for them to then pop in some of your favorites and kill a song or two that you absolutely hate. Maybe this song reminds you of an ex or just has bad juju, don’t be afraid to tell the band. You have to be collaborative.

Trust your group

You like their atmosphere, you like their music and they are available for your date! Now sign the contract and let them do their job. You pay to have them organize the music and take care of the serious stuff. If you liked them live you can be sure people will dance and have a good time. Plus, trusting your band allows them to protect you from your drunken uncle who yells “Free Bird” and your cousin plus one who keeps asking for “that-song-with-the-guitar-solo”. We love our guests but no one has asked them for their Spotify playlists.

And finally, read the Rider

Yes, there’s a good chance your party has a jumper and, yes, you have to read it. There won’t be anything crazy about it like “please, no red M&M”, but they will need water on stage and little breaks. A happy group is a happy event, believe me. Making sure the group stays hydrated and rested will ensure that your dance floor explodes.

Your passenger will also confirm the start and end times with a note indicating whether extensions are allowed. Ideally, you don’t mess with the end times on your wedding night, but let’s say everyone is having fun and your venue has no problem extending for 30 minutes. Please ask your group to extend BEFORE the last set. There is nothing worse than the group putting all of their energy into the last set only to find that they need to play 30 more minutes. At this point, they’re exhausted and will likely tell you no. It doesn’t mean the band doesn’t love you and your wedding, it just means they do it every weekend and want to go home to their families. Have you ever seen a musician play a show they don’t want to play? It kills the whole atmosphere.

A couple from Co Tyrone who performed music in front of a crowd together for the first time at their wedding explained what it means to them.

Eunan and Lucy Anderson tied the knot on Saturday July 17 at Belfast Castle after coronavirus restrictions pushed him back from May.

Both are musicians, Eunan playing the violin while Lucy has been a drummer for 17 years. They both “live and breathe music,” much of their relationship being a shared love for going to concerts – including each other – and listening to music.

Fortunately, restrictions had loosened to allow live music on their big day, meaning they could include a live band in their wedding plans.

They booked the Juke Act, their close friends who first trained in 2018 and perform regularly at popular venues around Belfast including The Thirsty Goat, The Dirty Onion and Henry’s.

Eunan was no stranger to playing with the guys, as he had performed with them for live gigs before.

Speaking to Belfast Live, Eunan, from Pomeroy, said: “They were the ones who said to me, ‘Eunan, you know you’re getting up and playing with us at some point. So I had the violin ready to go, and I said to drummer Darragh, ‘Give Lucy a shout every time I go up, she’ll definitely go up and play.’

“If I had told her ahead of time that she was going upstairs, she would have said no. We all just pressured her. It was awesome.”

Lucy agreed, adding, “No, I certainly wouldn’t have done it if you had said it before! I needed someone to make me do it to be honest.”

Juke drummer Darragh Tracey explained that they “wanted to do whatever we could to make sure they had a fantastic day” and including them in the band for a few tracks was part of that.

But it all fell into place when he stumbled upon a photo of Lucy playing the drums at a concert.

Darragh said: “Eunan has put his incredible talents as a violinist to good use on several occasions and when he asked us to perform at his wedding he didn’t even have to say it, he would be there in costume and fiddler. next to us, blowing up tunes like he always does.

“It wasn’t until a week before the wedding that I saw a photo on Instagram of Lucy playing the drums in a band fight several years ago and immediately messaged the Juke Boys. to tell them that we were going to raise him on stage the same day.

“Eunan joined us, like we all knew he would, and did his thing for a few acts, and then Brent announced – without telling him before – that Lucy would be joining us on stage for a few songs. We got to see. immediately she was shocked but with the enthusiastic applause and cheers from the wedding guests, she had no choice but to stand up and join us.

“And frankly, she broke it. The crowd went crazy and the two performed, completely without rehearsal and without preparation, as if they had been part of a band together for years. As I told to. the era, “Couples who rock together, Roll together”.

“Coming back to play at a wedding was amazing for ourselves, but sharing that moment with newlyweds made it even more fantastic.”

For more information on Co Tyrone, visit our new MyTyrone website.

A tourist visiting the Big Apple with her husband had her engagement ring and wedding ring stolen during a ruthless robbery in Hell’s Kitchen early Tuesday.

Two men came to help her, but in the process, one of them ripped off her engagement ring, cops said.

The couple, from Meraux, Louisiana, were waiting for a cab on West 46th Street around 12:30 a.m. when the 33-year-old tripped and fell, police said.

When her 44-year-old husband confronted the thief, the criminal punched her in the neck and pulled up her shirt to show what appeared to be a gun in her belt, police said.

The thug then seized the woman’s wedding ring, fleeing with the ring in his mouth, according to police sources.

The couple are staying at a Times Square hotel, police said.

Police are looking for the two men.

Joined Wednesday, the husband declined to comment.

“I feel bad for them,” Gustavo Perez, a waiter at a restaurant near the ring theft scene, told The Post on Wednesday. “I’m sure their vacation was ruined. You don’t want to get robbed while on vacation.

“And these things have a lot of sentimental value,” Perez added.

Local resident Chad Ryan said the neighborhood was not as safe as it was.

“There is an upsurge in crime in this area,” he said. “I would take my dog ​​for a walk at midnight, but no thanks. I do not do it anymore. I don’t feel safe.

“I walk my dog ​​around 10 a.m., 10:30 a.m. [p.m.]Ryan added. “It looks more dangerous now than it has been in a long time.”

Additional reporting by Georgett Roberts

It was reported just days ago that he had separated from his wife, Yael Cohen for seven years.

And Scooter Braun was spotted without his wedding ring as he enjoyed a day at the beach in Malibu on Tuesday.

The gold ring was visibly missing from the 40-year-old’s ring finger as he ventured into the water.

Overall, Scooter looked cool and serene as he enjoyed a day in the water amid shared allegations.

The music director kept it casual with a black long-sleeved top, blue shorts and a black cap protecting it from the sun’s rays.

Scooter looked in high spirits as he ventured into the water with his cell phone in hand, enjoying a day’s break by the Pacific Rim.

The music mogul stood ankle-deep in the waves as he chatted with his pal.

Here we go: the gold band was visibly missing from his ring finger as he ventured into the water

Life is a beach: Braun wore a black long-sleeved top and blue shorts for the outing

Scooter is said to have separated from his wife Yael after seven years of marriage, it was learned last week.

A source said Sixth page that even though they spend time away from the relationship, “they are friends” and have no plans to divorce.

Meanwhile, insiders informed TMZ that the couple may not even be living apart at the moment despite more than a month of marital problems.

Making Waves: The music mogul stood ankle-deep in the surf as he chatted with his pal

Chat: the two continued to chat on dry land

Scooter represents high profile pop stars like Justin Bieber – whose career he helped launch – as well as Ariana Grande, J Balvin and Demi Lovato.

He and Yael, a mining heiress from South Africa, share three children – Jagger, six, Levi, four, and Hart, two.

According to sources who spoke to TMZ, the couple hope to mend the breakdown in their relationship and avoid a permanent break-up.

It was then: The music mogul wore his wedding ring to Dave’s season two premiere with Yael in June 2021

Scooter, real name Scott, recently posted a black and white snapshot of his wedding to Yael to mark their anniversary.

“So fair to the kids, you gave me everything. But thanks to you, I grew up, I was pushed to be the best version of myself and to keep growing and learning, ”he said in his caption.

– It all happened because you came into my life. 7 years. The adventure has only just begun. Thank you Yaël. I love you . Happy Birthday.’

Split: Scooter is said to have separated from wife Yael after seven years of marriage, it was reported last week (photo from 2020 in Los Angeles)

In a recent episode of The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills, Erika Jayne denied rumors that she had an affair with Scooter.

She could be seen dismissing reports that she “saw my former partner Dancing with the stars. [Gleb Savchenko], and then I saw Scooter Braun.

Laughing at the conjecture as being “stupid as shit”, she insisted, “I haven’t seen any of them for four and a half, five years.”

Erika, 50, filed for divorce from husband Tom Girardi, 82, last November and claimed she did so without even telling him.

Tom has faced growing legal issues, including a lawsuit claiming he failed to pay the settlement money he owed the families of the victims of the Lion Air crash in 2018.

A bankruptcy trustee is investigating Tom’s assets amid allegations that he and Erika jointly embezzled the settlement money.

Family first: He and Yael, a mining heiress from South Africa, share three children – Jagger, six, Levi, four, and Hart, two (pictured in February 2020)

(CNN) – The wedding industry is rebounding as the United States recovers from the pandemic. And with glimmers of normalcy in the air, more and more Americans are preparing to ask the question.

“We have seen a resurgence in sales of engagement rings and wedding rings as couples begin to return to normal lives,” said Price Blanchard, chief customer officer and executive vice president of Shane Co., a jeweler. private with stores in 14 cities. CNN Affairs. Long-postponed nuptials due to Covid-19 are finally taking place, with in-person ceremonies and large receptions filled with family and friends.

READ MORE: “I’ve seen worse”: Cape Cod untouched by most of Tropical Storm Henri

Jewelers say they saw massive spikes in demand and sales in April and May, following better access to Covid-19 vaccinations across the United States.

Sales numbers have skyrocketed this spring for The Clear Cut, a New York-based engagement ring company that sells its gems online. Customers are now on the hunt for engagement rings because they can “finally travel” and offer a vacation, Clear Cut co-founder and COO Kyle Simon told CNN Business. The company has been inundated with inquiries from couples “fighting over wedding venues,” he said, and sales quadrupled in May 2021 from the previous year.

Mark Broumand, founder and president of Mark Broumand Inc., a Los Angeles-based jeweler, has also seen a huge increase in demand and sales. “Love is what really propelled everything” during the pandemic, he said. Sales are recovering: in June 2020, the company’s sales fell by 40% compared to the previous year before the pandemic; Sales in June of this year are 20% higher than in the same month in 2019.

Spend more on the rock

Millions of Americans suffered devastating economic losses during the pandemic, but some workers who remained employed – or had a partner who did – were able to save money. Stopping travel and restaurant closings mean some people may have had more disposable income than usual.

“Between the forced spending cuts during the pandemic lockdown and multiple rounds of stimulus checks, many households now have more savings than they’ve ever had before,” said Greg McBride, analyst Chief Financial Officer at Bankrate.com. “As the economy reopens, ‘revenge spending’ means a good chunk of that money will end up in the economy,” he said.

Stephanie Gottlieb, founder and jeweler of Stephanie Gottlieb Fine Jewelry in New York City, said that even though couples opt for smaller weddings, they have “more funds available to use for rings or jewelry to wear on their day. “.

READ MORE: Henri’s remains will bring final round of heavy rains to Massachusetts on Monday

“Our average price for our rings sold has increased significantly since Covid,” said Brenna Lyden, Founder and CEO of Everly Rings and East West Gem Company. She also works with clients who are using the money they saved during the pandemic to upgrade their current rings or get brand new ones.

Diamond demand

Pent-up demand and a drop in production due to Covid-19 restrictions have resulted in global diamond shortages during the pandemic. “I struggled to prepare for production to support demand,” said Katarzyna Zygnerska Rosales, founder and designer of Kasia Jewelry in Solana Beach, California.

Many jewelry companies work with the Gemological Institute of America, a non-profit organization that trains jewelers and maintains standards for diamond grading services. The Clear Cut, for example, has all of its certified and graded diamonds there. “We have a historically high number of submissions for laboratory services,” said Tom Moses, executive vice president and director of laboratories and research at GIA.

At The Clear Cut, “we’ve seen a lot more demand for in-person dates,” and some customers are even going to New York City to come into the showroom and look at rings, “Landau said, pointing out that customers are confident enough to resume their trip and ready to try on rings in person.

Demand is not slowing down and sentiment is “increasingly optimistic,” said Bruce Cleaver, CEO of De Beers Group, in a recent statement of the company.

De Beers, the world’s largest diamond producer, is seeing “strong demand for rough diamonds,” Cleaver said, due to demand “in the major consumer markets of the United States and China” and ” return of intermediate capacity in India ”.

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(NEW YORK) – Celebrity fashion designer Zac Posen is coming to the fashion scene with an all-new bridal collection.

The former Project Runway judge, along with global jewelry brand Blue Nile, have released a range of genderless wedding rings and engagement rings.

The ZAC Zac Posen collection is made up of 12 styles that include everything from uniquely designed princess cuts to single-ride styles.

The collection also offers a variety of ring sizes ranging from 4 to 13 and prices range from just under $ 1,000 to $ 6,750.

Posen said he has always welcomed the challenge of designing second-hand jewelry because he creates pieces that people can’t wait to wear for the rest of their lives.

“Engagement rings and wedding rings are one of the purest and oldest symbols of love and marriage that have passed through tradition and stood the test of time,” he said in a statement. “For this collection, it was important for me to create unique and timeless designs that also celebrate love, unity and marriage for all.”

Adored by celebrities, the designer also worked with Blue Nile in 2014 to create other wedding bands and ring styles. He says it has been exciting to see how Blue Nile continues to support designers who are reinventing the wedding category and the traditional symbols of love and marriage.

“With so many of us celebrating unity and love this month, it was a good time to launch a full line of engagement rings and wedding bands – a collection that has been deliberately designed to represent the ‘love, regardless of gender, “Posen said in a statement. “The traditional idea of ​​marriage is evolving, and the category marriage is finally starting to reflect it.”

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

(NEW YORK) – Celebrity fashion designer Zac Posen is coming to the fashion scene with an all-new bridal collection.

The former Project Runway judge, along with global jewelry brand Blue Nile, have released a range of genderless wedding rings and engagement rings.

The ZAC Zac Posen collection is made up of 12 styles that include everything from uniquely designed princess cuts to one-twist styles.

The collection also offers a variety of ring sizes ranging from 4 to 13 and prices range from just under $ 1,000 to $ 6,750.

Posen said he has always welcomed the challenge of designing second-hand jewelry because he creates pieces that people can’t wait to wear for the rest of their lives.

“Engagement rings and wedding rings are one of the purest and oldest symbols of love and marriage that have passed through tradition and stood the test of time,” he said in a statement. “For this collection, it was important for me to create unique and timeless designs that also celebrate love, unity and marriage for all.”

Adored by celebrities, the designer also worked with Blue Nile in 2014 to create other wedding bands and ring styles. He says it has been exciting to see how Blue Nile continues to support designers who are reinventing the wedding category and the traditional symbols of love and marriage.

“With so many of us celebrating unity and love this month, it was a good time to launch a full line of engagement rings and wedding bands – a collection that has been deliberately designed to represent the ‘love, regardless of gender, “Posen said in a statement. “The traditional idea of ​​marriage is evolving, and the category marriage is finally starting to reflect it.”

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.