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August 2017

top ten songs for your first dance

Top Ten Classic Songs for Your First Dance

By Dance

Two singular moments define your wedding day:  your vows and your first dance. Here’s our top ten songs for your first dance.

Your first dance is a magical moment in your life.  You’ll never forget it.  The song you select for us to play should be personal, meaningful, and nice and slow.

Song lyrics are especially important in a first dance.  Romance is the most popular theme.  From our experience, a number of songs leap out as the most popular over the years.  They are timeless.  We can play them by the original artist, which is most popular, or by any artist who ever covered the song.

Here’s our top ten songs for your first dance to get you started.  Whatever you select, we’ll have it … or we’ll get it!

Here are our top ten songs for your first dance:

TOP FIRST DANCE SONG #10

A Thousand Years:  What a huge hit from the movie, “Twilight:  Breaking Dawn”  in 2011.  This song by Christina Perri has been viewed on YouTube a half a billion times.  That’s billion with a ‘B’!

TOP FIRST DANCE SONG #9

Amazed:  Most of the songs listed on this page have been field tested at weddings for half a century or more.  Lonestar released this hit in 1999, and it’s a real winner for a first dance song.

TOP FIRST DANCE SONG #8

Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You:  “You’re just too good to be true, can’t take my eyes off of you.”  Even though this song was #2 on the Billboard charts way back in 1967, everyone knows those wonderful words.  Perfect for a first dance!  Even though this was a huge hit for Frank Valli and the Four Seasons, it has been covered by hundreds of major artists.  Take your pick!  We’ll play it for you!

TOP FIRST DANCE SONG #7

I Only Have Eyes for You:  The sign of a good song is one that is a hit from one generation to the next.  This is one of those songs.  Written by Harry Warren and Al Dubin, it was a #2 hit in 1934; a #11 hit for The Flamingos in 1959; and a #1 hit for Art Garfunkel in 1975 in the UK.  The Flamingos version was ranked as the #157th greatest all-time song hit by Rolling Stone Magazine.  Like some of the other songs listed here, it features a memorable opening line:  “Are the stars out tonight?  I don’t know if it’s cloudy or bright.  Cuz I only have eyes for you, dear.”

TOP FIRST DANCE SONG #6

Can’t Help Falling in Love (with you):  One word is all that is necessary:  Elvis.

TOP FIRST DANCE SONG #5

Everything:  Michael Bublé gets away from his usual big band treatment of songs with this totally catchy, guitar driven love song.  Great melody.  Fun, romantic lyrics.  Looking for a lovely, happy song that you don’t want to end?  Then “Everything” is for you.  What a great way to launch your new life!

TOP FIRST DANCE SONG #4

Unforgettable:  Unforgettable, that’s what you are, Unforgettable, though near or far, Like a song of love that clings to me, How the thought of you does things to me, Never before has someone been more Unforgettable in every way.”  The only thing more perfect than these lyrics for your first dance are the exquisite vocals of Natalie and Nat King Cole.  This song is truly unforgettable on any list of top ten songs for your first dance.

TOP FIRST DANCE SONG #3

At Last:  What passion!  What romance!  DJs all over the country tell me how often brides request this song for the first dance.  The Etta James version from 1960 with its sweeping orchestration is the first choice of brides.  But you can’t go wrong with Beyoncé’s cover either.  The rich melody for this song was written by the ubiquitous Harry Warren, who also wrote “I Only Have Eyes for You,” mentioned elsewhere in this blogpost.

TOP FIRST DANCE SONG #2

The Way You Look Tonight:   What an irresistible combination:  Frank Sinatra and lyrics like these, written by Dorothy Fields:  Some day, when I’m awfully low, When the world is cold, I will feel a glow just thinking of you, And the way you look tonight.”  Throw in Nelson Riddle’s swinging arrangement and you have yourself a first dance moment you will relive with sweet dreams on your fiftieth wedding anniversary.  It’s that good of a song, and you’re that great of a couple.  Want to slow it down a bit?  Go with Michael Bublé’s version.  Mellow.  Lovely.  Absolutely wonderful.

TOP FIRST DANCE SONG #1

As Time Goes By:  This song is truly timeless, no matter how much time goes by.  Although it was written in 1931, it became a big hit in 1942 when it was sung in the film, “Casablanca.”  The American Film Institute ranked it the #2 all-time song from a movie.  There are some great covers of this song, including lush versions by Frank Sinatra and Peggy Lee.  Everyone knows and loves the opening lyrics:  “You must remember this, a kiss is still a kiss, a sigh is still a sigh.  The fundamental things apply as time goes by.”

Have fun with these top ten songs for your first dance.  We’ll make your first dance as magical as you ever dreamed it would be with romantic lighting and the professional MCing  the sets the stage … for you.

Incredible chocolate chip cookie recipe

Incredible Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe builds strong marriages!

By Recipes

Incredible chocolate chip cookie recipeYou’re engaged. Do you want to build a joyous, strong marriage that is the envy of your friends?  Then learn how to bake the best chocolate chip cookie in the world for your wife with this incredible chocolate chip cookie recipe!

What woman doesn’t love chocolate? And a man who cooks for his wife is irresistible. Homemade cookies say love. They say “I want to spoil you.”

You think I’m kidding?   I’m not.  Who doesn’t love the deliriously delicious experience of taking a bite from a hot, gooey chocolate chip cookie right out of the oven!  Your inflamed taste buds delight in the sheer sensory experience of its heavenly taste.

Men, I encourage you to take the lead in building this super strong marriage by learning how to make this magical cookie.  Don’t worry, I’m going to tell you exactly how.

This recipe is incredible.  You’re going to love it.  And just imagine the reaction you’re going to get when you give the love of your life a cookie you made with your own hands, just for her.

This recipe will make your marriage stronger.   Don’t believe me?  Well, try this recipe and follow my advice.  You’ll see.

Here’s Your Incredible Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe:

Gather your ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need:

√ 2  cups + 2 tbls of all-purpose flour

√ 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

√ 1/2 teaspoon table salt

√ 12 tablespoons (1.5 sticks) unsalted butter, melted and cooled to room temp

√ 1/2 cup granulated sugar

√ 1 cup brown sugar

√ 2 teaspoons real vanilla extract

√ 1 large egg plus one egg yolk

√ 1.5 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

√ 1/2 tsp  of cinnamon

√ generous pinch of cayenne pepper

Follow these steps

Step One:  Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

Step Two:  This is key –> Melt the butter, but then let it cool back to room temperature.

Step Three:  Whisk flour, baking soda, salt, cayenne, and cinnamon in a small bowl, set aside.

Step Four:  Mix  butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar by hand. Mix in whole egg, yolk,  and vanilla extract until well combined.  Stir in flour mixture.   Stir in chocolate chips.  Drop by scant quarter cup onto parchment lined  baking sheets 2 inches apart.

Step Five:  Bake for 15 -18 minutes or until they just start to brown on the edges and don’t look gooey in the center.  Turn the sheets front to back half way through cooking time. Don’t overcook!   Cool completely on baking sheets.

Get ready for not just a happy marriage, but a strong marriage! 🙂

Are you planning your wedding? Do you want a happy wedding day? It starts with the entertainment. Check us out!

customized wedding entertainment

“Love is patient.” Really?!

By Culture

 

St. Paul’s much-quoted scripture passage is timeless:

“Love is patient, love is kind…”

On the other hand, if you ever saw the classic 1989 date flick, “When Harry Met Sally,” Harry (Billy Crystal) isn’t so patient, as expressed in the meme above, and the video below:

Can you blame him?  Love IS wonderful.  So is marriage.  The couples we work with are excited to get the rest of their life started. Especially when it comes to booking customized wedding entertainment! Popular wedding dates really do book fast!

Customized wedding entertainment

So, let Party Image Entertainment help you customize the entertainment to fit your one-of-a-kind wedding celebration.

We don’t like to boast.  HOWEVER, our customers do, on our behalf.

Are we any good?  Listen to them talk about our customized wedding entertainment!

Congratulations on this new chapter in your life!

wedding entertainment budget

How much to spend on wedding entertainment

By Budget

Memorize this:  no price is a good price IF you aren’t happy with your reception.

Price is meaningless.  Dreams are everything when it comes to your wedding. If you cut corners on your wedding entertainment budget, you may pay a very big price.

Okay, now let’s deal with reality.  I’m guessing you’re like most of the brides in this area:  you’re working on a budget.  Am I right?

Your wedding entertainment budget may be bigger than the last bride we worked with, but it may be less, much less than the next.  Since we live in the real world, most of us do have to consider dollars and cents when it comes to planning a wedding.

So most brides have to find a happy medium when it comes to balancing their wedding entertainment budget.

Surprising wedding entertainment budget facts

The Knot conducted a survey of 18,000 brides across the country.  According to them the average wedding costs $31,213.  But it varies widely depending on where you live.  For example, it’s closer to $19,000 in South Dakota, but it tops $39,000 in San Francisco.

What is pretty consistent, though, is that the average bride invests about 10% of her budget on the entertainment.  And yet entertainment provides 90% of the fun.

We’ve worked with a ton of brides over the years.  If something goes wrong with the dinner or the flowers, it is quickly forgotten IF the guests have fun.

Entertainment makes the event: every time!

That’s where Party Image Entertainment comes in.  Entertainment makes the event.  Any minor glitches you experience with any of your other vendors will quickly fade away once we pack your dance floor.  And we will.

Your guests are hungry to celebrate and honor your marriage.  Entertainment is the key catalyst to ensuring your party maximizes your potential.

This leads me back to the first sentence of this post: no price is a good price IF you aren’t happy with your reception.  This maxim applies to your wedding entertainment more than any other service you book.

Party Image Entertainment is the key

So am I saying that if you book us, the food will taste better?  That the flowers will look fresher?  That the cake will look more magnificent?

No.  It will only seem that way.  And, my friend, perception IS reality.

Here’s the bottom line:  there is one place where you never want to scrimp:  the entertainment.  Entertainment makes the event, and we will make your event extraordinary!

The next step? Check out available dates without obligation and tell us a little about your dreams for your event.