For Signature events choose Signature Wines!

Kelly Harvey, Signature Wines’ owner and winemaker, cuts a new niche in the local wine market by specializing in designing customized and personalized labels that are placed on the six different types of wines made and bottled at her winery located on the east side of Columbus. This makes each bottle of Signature Wine unique and different than any wine you could purchase in a store.

Signature Wines can be personalized with a custom designed wine label. Whether it’s a wedding, birthday, anniversary, appreciation, or corporate holiday gift, Signature Wines can create a label to commemorate any event or occasion. Signature Wines has an extensive selection of label graphics and a library of phrases appropriate for any occasion. Once the labels are created, they are affixed by hand to the wine bottles. Customized label design is included in the price of the wine.

Kelly makes and bottles six different wines ranging from a sweet Rosé to a dry Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as a port. Signature Wines uses only the finest grapes and juice from California to produce exceptional, hand-crafted wine. All wine is fermented and aged on the premises of Signature Wines. Signature Wines is one of the few commercial wineries in the United States that is woman owned and operated.
Because nothing symbolizes celebration and romance better than wine, Kelly is delighted to be working with wedding planners and with brides. Wines with customized labels are not only perfect for the wedding reception, but also for serving at bridal showers and rehearsal dinners. Signature Wines with personalized labels are also the perfect addition to gift baskets for out of town guests, and as gifts to the bridal party.

Recently, Kelly has made several wedding labels by incorporating and re-fashioning the wedding invitation into a wine label. She can also create a label utilizing the wedding colors, theme, or type of flower to continue the wedding theme on the wine label.

Signature Wines never requires a minimum order and there is no set-up charge for the customized label. In addition, Signature Wines offers a 10% discount on a case of wine with the same customized label on all 12 bottles. To place an order and to have a special, personalized wedding label created for you, please e-mail Kelly at: kharvey@signaturewinesofohio.com or visit the website: www.SignatureWinesOfOhio.com, or call 614.395.2355.

Wedding Reception Music Playlist Tips

Choosing the songs you want played at your reception seems like a simple thing to do. Just go down your mp3 player and check mark them off. Right? Not quite.
Here are some tips to keep in mind to create the "just right" playlist that will keep your guests dancing and enjoying your reception.

1. Choose songs with appropriate lyrics. Some songs just aren't for weddings. Songs like "I Will Always Love You", by Whitney Houston, and "White Wedding", by Billy Idol seem perfect. Don't let the title mislead. Listen closer to the lyrics and you'll discover that these songs are all about breaking up. Common sense says stay away from break up songs.

2. Choose songs with the ages of your guests' in mind. Think about choosing PG13 songs that your grandmother and great aunt wouldn't be embarrassed to hear.

3. Choose songs with the perfect beat. Some songs just do not lend themselves to dancing. On the other hand, there are tunes that get just about everybody out on the dance floor at the first note.

4. Choose songs that your guests look forward to hearing. You might even give your guests an opportunity to make requests when they RSVP. You want your guests to remember your reception as one of the best they have ever experienced!

Looking for the Perfect
First Dance Song ?

Still stumped about that special song you will first dance together as the new husband and wife?

Here are a few great possibilities!

Come Away With Me~Nora Jones
Feels Like Home~ Chantal Kreviazuk
Open Arms~Journey
Could Not Ask For More~Edwin McCain
Someone Like You~Van Morrison
True Companion~ Marc Cohn
The Way You Look Tonight~ Elton John
Cross My Heart~George Strait
Bless The Broken Road~Rascal Flatts
You Make My Dreams Come True~ Hall and Oats

by Matt Ryan Mobile DJ Entertainment

Feeding Wedding Professionals at Your Wedding

This has always been a hot topic in the wedding industry so I thought I would give you my thoughts, opinion, and etiquette on the matter.

It is proper etiquette that you provide your wedding professional with a meal if they have worked more than 5-6 hours and will be present during the time when dinner is served on the day of your wedding. Why? They do not have time to go out and grab a bite to eat during your wedding day, and trust me; you do not want them to leave to eat!



Who to feed?
You may have up to 2-3 wedding planners, 2 photographers, and 1-2 videographers that have been with you for the entire day. In addition to offering to feed all of them, it is also etiquette to invite your officiant to eat.

It gets trickier with entertainment, but you should use the “hour rule.” The DJ or band is typically there for 4-5 hours and you do not have to feed them. Most couples do offer to feed the DJ and some will decline. Also, some DJ’s have an assistant to consider as well. So for this one there is really no hard and fast rule, and is left up to you. Also check their contracts as bands many times require food and beverage in their agreement.. Since they have not worked more then 5-6 hours and there could be up to 12 members of a band, you can get by with lighter fare.


What to feed them? A hot meal is appropriate for those vendors that work over 6 hours at your wedding.. It can be the least expensive hot meal on the menu but a sandwich or deli platter does not cut it for working 8-10 hours on the wedding day. For vendors that work less than 6 hours, such as a DJ or Band, you are fine to go with the Deli Platter or boxed sandwiches. This expense should be figured in up front in the wedding budget.



Where should they eat?
The best option for you is if to put your wedding professionals in the same room with your guests at a vendor table. This allows them to constantly view what is happening during dinner and able to react- whether it is a spontaneous toast that needs to be captured, or an incident that a planner would need to react to immediately. If there is a space or an expense issue, then put them in a room that is as close to the guests as possible. They will still be up and down during the meal to check in but this is not desirable as being in the same room. I can list many things that have happened during wedding dinners that I was able to catch and react to because I was right there. A band should be in a side room since they will be probably be eating at different times. Again, the closer the room the better in case we need them back quickly from break for any reason. The DJ should eat with the other vendors in the room. The officiant is usually seated at a family table.

When should they eat?
It is important that vendors are not fed last, because by the time the vendors are able to eat, it is usually about the time your post dinner events begin to happen. Typically the bride and groom are finished eating by the time food comes for the vendors but that is when the vendors need to be up and ready to work. Rule of thumb is that vendors should be fed immediately after the bride and groom - to allow them to eat quickly and be back to work by the time most of the guests have finished eating. This needs to be stressed to your caterer – most caterers think the vendors are to eat last. By specifying to your caterer the importance and reasoning behind the vendors eating early, you can potentially avoid problems in the post dinner timeframe. Bands and DJs must eat during breaks or when they are able - which is another reason for it easier for it to be a cold meal.

Drinks
Unlimited water or soda for your vendors throughout the night is the etiquette. Alcohol should not be allowed under any circumstance for your wedding professionals while they are working. They are on the clock for you and must perform at their best. In my opinion this includes a band. Again you need to look at your contracts to see what is required but I would question any band that had to have alcohol to perform at one of the most important days of your life!

Keep your wedding professionals happy and they tend to work longer and harder for you!

by Jamie M Rapavy, Owner of Devoted to Details, LLC, Wedding Professionals of Columbus, and Columbus Bride and Groom.