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Jul 13
5 Things to Consider For the Perfect Wedding Band in Philadelphia

5 Things to Consider For the Perfect Wedding Band in Philadelphia

By Wedding Entertainment

5 Things to Help You Select the Perfect Philadelphia Wedding Band

Planning a wedding is an exciting journey filled with many decisions. One of the most important choices you’ll make is selecting the perfect Philadelphia Wedding Band. This decision can set the tone for your entire celebration, making it a memorable event for you and your guests. But how do you make that choice? Here are some key factors to consider to ensure you make the right decision.

1. Consider the Band’s Musical Style

First and foremost, think about the type of music that you and your partner enjoy. Do you want a band that can play a variety of genres, or do you prefer a specific style of music? The best bands in Philadelphia offer a wide range of musical styles to cater to diverse tastes. Remember, the music will set the tone for your celebration, so choose a band that reflects your personal style and taste. Additionally, a band’s ability to adapt to the mood of the crowd can greatly enhance the overall experience.

2. Want The Best Wedding Band in Philadelphia? Check Out Their Experience and Reputation

Experience matters when it comes to performing at weddings. An experienced band will know how to read the crowd, keep the energy high, and ensure that your guests have a fantastic time. Look for bands with positive reviews and a solid reputation in the wedding industry. For example, LA Starz, one of the best bands in Philadelphia, has a track record of satisfied clients and successful events. In fact, our bands have over 2,500 5-star independent reviews from sites like Wedding Wire and The Knot, demonstrating their consistent ability to deliver exceptional performances.

3. Think About Your Wedding Budget

While you want the best entertainment for your wedding, you also need to consider your budget. Different bands come with different price tags, depending on factors like their experience, the number of musicians, and the length of their performance. It’s essential to find a band that fits within your budget without compromising on quality. Remember, investing in a high-quality band can significantly enhance your guests’ experience and leave them with lasting memories of your special day.

4. See The Band Live Before You Decide

Before making your final decision, try to see the band perform live. This will give you a better idea of their energy, style, and how they interact with the audience. If you can’t see them live, check if they have videos of their performances. Better yet, you can see all our bands perform live at our showcases. This will help you visualize how they will fit into your wedding day. Seeing a band live can also give you a sense of their professionalism and how they handle unexpected situations, which is crucial for a smooth-running event.

5. Remember, It’s Your Wedding, So It’s All About You!

Ultimately, the best Philadelphia wedding band for your big day is the one that feels right for you. It’s your day, and the music should reflect your personality and love story. Take your time, do your research, and trust your instincts. With the right band, your wedding will be a memorable event filled with joy, love, and fantastic music! Remember, your wedding is a reflection of you as a couple, and the music should be a soundtrack that tells your unique love story. So, choose a band that understands and respects your vision and can translate it into a musical experience that you and your guests will cherish forever.

5 Things to Consider For the Perfect Wedding Band in Philadelphia
Nov 22
beautiful couple celebrating a holiday wedding

Philadelphia Wedding Planning: Holiday Inspiration

By Wedding Planning

Holiday weddings are a great idea because it allows everyone to be together to celebrate both the holiday and your special day all at once.  When done correctly, they are also absolutely breathtaking events. You can also incorporate holiday-themed wedding music.

Here are some of our favorite design ideas to help inspire your holiday wedding planning.

Holiday Weddings: Colors of the Season

If you’re planning a wedding in late November or December, then you’ll want to go with the colors of the season.  Think warm rich reds, greens, golds, blues, and silvers.  Try and avoid anything over sparkly and super muted as the impact can get lost in photos.

You can mix the colors or select the main one, like a deep red, and use gold or silver as an accent.  And remember, when it comes to holiday colors, less is more, so there is no need to drape everything that doesn’t move with red and green.  Incorporate white and black to help off-set the overwhelming effect too much red and green can have on a venue.

Tip: When it comes to finding holiday decorating pieces, shop in the offseason as you’ll be more likely to find them at discounted prices.

Holiday Weddings: Incorporating Tradition

The holidays have lots of traditional elements that, when you see them, immediately envoke the feeling of the season, so tie them into your decor wherever possible.  Here are some fun ideas to consider:

  • Give gold bells as wedding favors
  • Use pine cones as your cake topper and decoration
  • Use linens and glassware with snowflakes on them
  • Add small bells to your bridal bouquet
  • Use comfy, holiday colored blankets to mark the bride and groom chairs
  • Use stockings to hold the flatware on your table setting
  • Surrounding the altar area with Christmas trees and hang mistletoe overhead
  • Use colored ornaments to decorate your buffet and gift table
  • Use lush greenery and twigs to create stunning Star of David decorations
  • Add elf accessories and snowman attire to your photo booth props for whimsical fun

Need a little more inspiration?  Check out our Holiday Wedding Pinterest board or this great article from Martha Stewart Weddings for more ideas of how to create the holiday wedding of your dreams.

beautiful couple celebrating a holiday wedding
Apr 29

EBE Spotlight: Jonathan Harwood – Rio Bandleader

By Uncategorized

This week we would like to introduce you one of our EBE Entertainment Representatives and the Band Leader for EBE Rio, Jonathan Harwood.

Jonathan is a 24-year music industry veteran who has been with EBE Events & Entertainment for 15 years.  He plays both the guitar and bass, and loves getting a crowd hyped-up while performing.

In an effort to get to know him better and discover what it is that makes him tick, we recently had the opportunity to sit down with Jonathan and interview him for this Q&A piece.

 

Q: What genre of music is your “specialty”?

A: Rock / Dance / Pop

Q: Who is your hero?

A: Pete Townshend

Q: What is your favorite movie?

A: The Highlander

Q: What is your zodiac sign?

A: Libra

Q: Do you have any skills or talents that most people don’t know about?

A: I’m a really good cook

 

Q: What is your go-to at karaoke?

A: “Slide” by the Goo-Goo Dolls

 

Q: If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

A: Sushi

Q: If you could go back in time, what year would you travel to and why?

A: 1945, the end of WWII

 

Q: If you were a superhero, what powers would you have?

A: All of them

Q: Who would you want to play you in a movie of your life?

A: Bradley Cooper

Q: If you could join any past or present music group, which would you want to join?

A: The Who

 

Q: If you had to describe yourself as an animal, which one would it be and why?

A: A Pitbull Terrier. Because they are extremely loving and gentle, but fiercely protective.

Q: What was the best event you ever worked?

A: Union Transfer 4/26/17

 

Q: What motivates you to work hard?

A: My family

Q: What is your favorite thing about your career?

A: Getting the audience all hyped up

Apr 27

EBE Spotlight: Jon Mulhern – Emcee and DJ

By Uncategorized

This week we want to introduce you to EBE Emcee & DJ Jon Mulhern.  Jon has been with EBE for 11 years and is an 18-year industry veteran.  

Music and entertaining have been in Jon’s soul since he was young; he continually finds himself to be the life of the party wherever he goes.  

In an effort to get to know him better and discover what it is that makes him tick, we recently had the opportunity to sit down with Jon and interview him for this Q&A piece.

 

Q: What genre of music is your “specialty”?

A: House, trance, breakbeat, EDM, top 40, throwbacks, 80s-90s hip-hop/pop/rock/dance, alternative, classic rock, mashups, remixes, and sing-a-longs

 

Q: Who is your hero?

A: Some of my favorite human beings are Arnold Schwarzenegger, Joe Rogan, Tim Ferris and Ray Kurzweil. As for a hero; my dog was my hero. She saved my life and taught me how to live and love.

 

Q: What is your favorite movie?

A: It’s a tie between “The Matrix” and “Stand By Me.”

 

Q: What is your zodiac sign?

A: Sagittarius

 

Q: Do you have any skills or talents that most people don’t know about?

A: I spin fire poi – even performed in front of members from Cirque du Soleil and at Woodstock ’99.

 

Q: What is your go-to at karaoke?

A: Sweet Home Alabama

 

Q: If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

A: Steak and eggs with potatoes, mushrooms, peppers, spinach and broccoli – topped with cheese and salsa, and a tall glass of Goji Berry Green Tea!

 

Q: If you could go back in time, what year would you travel to and why?

A: It would be 1995 when I was 15-years old. I always think of my 15 year-old-self and how much “he’d” be freaking out over all the music and sound equipment I have. I’d go back and tell myself all I know today. I’d tell myself to continue to explore and examine my curiosities, to always work hard on developing tolerance and understanding, to take chances on things I love and want… and I would strongly advise against dating that girl Jaime when I turn 16! HA!

 

Q: If you were a superhero, what powers would you have?

A: Cosmic manipulation

 

Q: Who would you want to play you in a movie of your life?

A: Dwayne Johnson, obviously!

 

Q: What’s the craziest thing you’ve done in the name of love?

A: Not giving up when it gets rough and learning to be vulnerable.

 

Q: If you could join any past or present music group, which would you want to join?

A: Either Led Zepplin, The Talking Heads, or anything Brian Eno was working on – that dude is a genius and he changed the world of music!

 

Q: If you had to describe yourself as an animal, which one would it be and why?

A: I’ve learned a lot from dogs throughout my life. They are always present in the moment, capable of loving unconditionally, unwavering determination, fearless protectors, endless sense of adventure and playfulness. They forgive but don’t forget.

 

Q: What was the best event you ever worked?

A: July 4, 2002. I did a friend’s Family and Friends 4th of July Reunion. It was my first private event; before that I was only in nightclubs. I was so nervous, but I had the time of my life. I felt a personal connection to the crowd that clubs never offer. It’s a sense of duty and responsibility.

There was a wedding I did in April 2012 that set the standard for what a good time at an event looks like to me. DJ Brickhouse knows what I mean – we still talk about it to this day! That’s what I strive for at every event. They made us feel like rock stars and they partied like they each won the lottery!

 

Q: What motivates you to work hard?

A: Teamwork, being valued and appreciated, my passion and love for what I do.

 

Q: What is your favorite thing about your career?

A: Seeing people celebrate their love and commitment to each other is a very special and beautiful thing. It’s an honor to witness it and to help set the tone for their celebration. I love that every event is as unique as the couple’s love. I also love seeing so many different venues and locations.

Apr 17

EBE Spotlight – Tim Parsons: Drummer and DJ

By Uncategorized

Pennsylvania’s own, Tim Parsons, has been an EBE Drummer and DJ for the past four years.  Along with the drums, he also plays the piano.

The Penncrest High School graduate has been fostering and growing his musical talents from a young age thanks to the ongoing support of his parents.  Due to his love of music and personal drive, Tim was able to further channel his musical abilities into becoming a top list DJ performer as well.

We recently had the opportunity to sit down with Tim and interview him for this Q&A piece in an effort to get to know him better and discover what it is that makes him tick.

 

 

Q: What genre of music is your ‘specialty’?

A: Hip-Hop

 

Q: What instrument(s) do you play if any?

A: Drums and piano

 

Q: Who is your hero?

A:  My parents are my heroes because they introduced me to music and have always supported my ambitions, even pushing me beyond what I thought I couldn’t accomplish.

 

Q: What is your favorite movie?

A:  Miracle

 

Q:  What is your zodiac sign?

A:  Capricorn

 

Q: Do you have any skills or talents that most people don’t know about you?

A:  I can clap with one hand…and I play lacrosse and hockey!

 

Q:  What is your go-to at karaoke?

A:  Ghost Town DJs “My Boo”

 

Q:  If you could go back in time, what year would you travel to and why?

A:  If I had to pick one year, it would be 1994. With all of the legendary hip-hop albums from many of my favorite artists, 1994 has to be one of the biggest years for the genre. If I could stretch the rules, I’d love to travel back to all of the 80’s so I could catch the end of the funk phase and the beginning of the East vs. West Coast hip-hop phase.

 

Q:  Who would you want to play you in a movie of your life?

A:  James Franco

 

Q:  If you could join any past or present music group, which would you want to join?

A:  The Roots

 

 

Q:  What motivates you to work hard?

A:  Knowing that playing music is a gift and that this gift is something that I’ve been blessed with to share with others.

 

Q:  What is your favorite thing about your career?

A:  Seeing people dancing and enjoying the music is something that never gets old to me, especially when clients express how much they appreciated having me play at the end of the night!

Apr 15

EBE Spotlight – Benjamin Ostroff: MC & DJ

By Uncategorized

Benjamin Ostroff has been with EBE Events & Entertainment for 15 years as an Emcee, DJ, and Entertainment Representative.

With an unmatched knowledge of music and all things pop culture, Ben has been performing at a wide range of events since his early teens. Utilizing his talents as a Club DJ, Ben was the House DJ for both the Philadelphia 76ers and Flyers from 1997 until 2015. He was a popular fixture at all home games, pumping up the crowd using a mix of music, trivia, and sound effects. He understands how to reach an audience, especially the youth scene, with the latest sounds.

Ben honed his skills on the weekends during college at American University. His talents are requested from Philadelphia to DC and everywhere in between.

In an effort to get to know him better and discover what it is that makes him tick, we recently had the opportunity to sit down with Ben and interview him for this Q&A piece.

Q: What genre of music is your ‘specialty?’

A: Anything mainstream since the 1960s.

 

Q: Who is your hero?

A: Bruse Springsteen

 

Q: What is your favorite movie?

A: Fletch

 

Q: What is your zodiac sign?

A: Leo

 

Q:  What is your go-to at karaoke?

A: Born to Run

 

Q: If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

A:  Pizza

 

Q:  If you could go back in time, what year would you travel to and why?

A:  I’m more interested in the future, but otherwise 1973.

 

Q:  If you were a superhero, what powers would you have?

A:  Invisibility

 

Q:  Who would you want to play you in a movie of your life?

A:  Kevin James (People often think I am him.)

 

Q:  What’s the craziest thing you’ve done in the name of love?

A:  My engagement proposal.

 

Q:  If you could join any past or present music group, which would you want to join?

A:  E Street Band

 

Q:  Do you have skills or talents that most people don’t know about?

A:  With a little more practice, I would have been a legendary NFL punter.

 

Q:  What motivates you to work hard?

A:  The immediate gratification from every bride and groom

 

Q:  What is your favorite thing about your career?

A:  Being around music all the time.

Mar 31

Wedding Planning Basics

By Uncategorized

You’re newly engaged and ready to start the process of planning your wedding…but where do you start and what all does planning a wedding involve?  While there are several variables, like budget, location, and size, that will impact your wedding planning specifics, we wanted to go through the general basics to help give you a guide to get the process started.

Wedding Planning: First Steps

When you’re ready to get the planning process started, the first thing you want to do is create a wedding binder.  Give yourself a good 2-3 weeks to really pull your ideas together.  This binder will be your goto book until your big day.  It will also make a cool keepsake once you’re married.  You’ll want to keep a variety of things in your binder as you go along:

  • Articles and photos from bridal and lifestyle magazines and websites
  • Contact information for your wedding team
  • Budgets and contracts
  • Swatches, colors schemes and a photocopy of your vision board (if you opt to create a poster size version)
  • Copy of your invitations, reserve the date cards, and your announcements

Your next step is going to be to define your budget.  Decide what the absolute maximum you can afford to spend is and then define your ideal goal.  This way you’ll know how much wiggle room you have to splurge as you go along.

Finally, you want to select your wedding party and pick a date.  Your bridal party will be by your side throughout the process so you want to get them confirmed early on.  And let’s face it, the entire planning process will revolve around your wedding date, so this is a must have before you move forward.

These first steps should take you about a month from start to finish.

Wedding Planning: Bringing in the Professionals

Most newly engaged understand the value of a wedding planner but are under the impression that it’s too expensive or that they can handle everything by themselves.  We caution against this misconception as hiring a professional wedding planner can actually save you time, money, and stress down the road.

When selecting your wedding planner, remember ‘referral, research, and interview’ in order to find the right wedding planner for you and your soon-to-be spouse.  Also, it’s a great idea to share your wedding binder with your planner during your first meeting.  Seeing your binder, and vision board, if you have one, will give your planner a good idea of your wants and likes and will make the overall process much easier for you both.

Once you have your wedding planner secured, you will begin the process of selecting a venue, an officiant, photographer, caterer, band, and florist.  When it comes to finding the perfect wedding professional services, your wedding planner will be able to guide you and help to set up tastings, meetings, and events where you can experience for yourself which services you would like to book.  The monthly EBE Live Band Showcase is a great example of how you can hear tons of great bands in one afternoon and find the perfect sound for your upcoming wedding.

This phase typically lasts about three months from start to finish.

Wedding Planning: The Little Things

Your wedding planner will guide you through everything as you get closer to your big day, but some little details to keep in mind include:

  • Reserving hotel room blocks for out of town guests
  • Creating wedding goodie bags for out of town guests they’ll receive upon arrival
  • Creating a wedding website
  • Developing a day-of timeline so everything is laid out in detail (make this available to your maid of honor as well)

Create a detailed checklist with your wedding planner so you’re sure everything that’s important to you is covered, no matter how small the task is.  RealSimple has a great checklist that you can use as an initial wedding planning checklist guide.  This checklist will help guide you through the remainder of the process, right up through your big day.

The two most important things to remember are that no two weddings are alike….this is your big day, so make it personal and a reflection of you.  This is your love story to tell, not anyone else’s.  Secondly, relax and have fun!  This process can be an overwhelming one, so lean on your wedding planner and maid of honor (that’s what they are there for) and soak up every moment along the way to your big day.

Mar 29

EBE Spotlight – Nick Centrella: Bandleader EBE Sydney

By Uncategorized

Nick Centrella has been with EBE for 4 years and is the bandleader for EBE Sydney.  The Philadelphia native has been on the Philly cover scene for the past 20 years, performing in clubs and music venues up and down the East Coast.  Nick has fronted some of the biggest bands on the circuit.

Nick is an avid Philly’s sports fan and, when not performing, enjoys coaching.

We recently had the opportunity to sit down with Nick and interview him for this Q&A piece in an effort to get to know him better and discover what it is that makes him tick.

 

Q: What genre of music is your ‘specialty’?

A: Rock / Pop / Top 40

 

Q: What is your zodiac sign?

A: Taurus

 

Q: What instrument(s) do you play if any?

A: Vocals

 

Q: How many years have you been in the music and/or event industry?

A: 20 years

 

Q: What motivates you to work hard?

A: I’m motivated by success.  I always try to be the best at everything I do.  I don’t believe in second place.

 

Q: What is your favorite thing about your career?

A: I love entertaining people and being able to provide memories that will last a lifetime.  I love that my bandmates and I get to provide the soundtrack to the most important day of their lives.

 

Mar 23

Rules of Engagement

By Uncategorized

The day has finally come and you are officially engaged — congratulations!  Now what?  Well, outside of beginning to plan for your upcoming wedding, there are a few things that go along with being engaged that most people don’t talk about, so we thought we would take a few minutes to cover them with you.

Don’t Down Play Your Proposal

However it happened, wherever you were, it was special and was about the two of you, so don’t downplay your story or try and compare it to the lavish experiences of others.  When people ask, share all the details of the moment if you want or simply say something like ‘it was quiet, intimate, and perfect’ and leave it at that if you prefer to keep the details of memory to yourself.  And be prepared to repeat the story because people will ask.

 

It’s Polite to Stare

I know your mother always told you it was impolite to stare, but in this case, stare away at your ring all you want!  For many newly engaged, things are still a bit surreal — even if you were expecting it.  Enjoy staring at your ring as the reality sinks in.

And be prepared to show it off!  Get a manicure immediately because people are going to ask to see the ring and you want to be prepared.

 

It’s Okay Not to Know

Right out of the gate, people are going to ask you if you’ve chosen a date yet.  It’s okay to say ‘no’ or ‘we haven’t even started planning yet.’  It is more than acceptable to take a step back, let the reality of your engagement sink in, and just enjoy being engaged for a while before you select a date.

Remember, this is your engagement and your wedding, so it’s fine to take things at your own pace.

 

Happy and Unhappy

While you know the majority of people will be as excited as you are about your engagement, be prepared for the occasional nay-sayer.  For whatever reason, some people are down on marriage or might be less supportive than the rest of your friends and family.

When you run into a negative reaction, just be polite and move on.  Don’t dwell on it and don’t let it ruin your excitement.

 

Know-It-All Married Folk

Be prepared for your married friends to start shelling out advice immediately about how to plan or who to call.  Just remember that they mean well.  Graciously accept their advice and take their suggestions in stride.

Remember they are just trying to be supportive.  At the end of the day though, it’s your special day and you can take or leave their advice because you’ll be planning a wedding that is a reflection of your love story and not their’s.

 

Enjoy Being Engaged

Don’t try and rush the process or become so consumed by planning your wedding that you miss out on enjoying being engaged.  Even if you’ve been living together for a while, becoming engaged will feel different and your relationship will need some time to adjust to this new level.

It’s a wonderfully unique and special part of the getting married process, so try and soak up every moment of it.

 

Mar 22
Tom Hefferon | The Most Amazing Philadelphia Special Event DJ

EBE Spotlight – MC Thomas Hefferon

By Uncategorized

Thomas Hefferon has been with EBE for almost 9 years and been in the music industry for 20 years.

Tom went to College in the summer of 1998 and during his time there he was immediately drawn towards music. He joined his college radio club and began interning and working at Philadelphia radio stations and even a local record label. Tom spent fifteen years in the radio industry.

Along the way, he started to DJ on weekends. Tom started as a wedding DJ in 2006 and has done hundreds of weddings since then. He truly loves his role as a wedding DJ because, unlike playing music on the radio, he can see an immediate reaction to the music he is playing and loves it when the dance floor is packed with people who are having fun!

We recently had the opportunity to sit down with Tom and interview him for this Q&A piece in an effort to get to know him better and discover what it is that makes him tick.

 

Q: What’s genre of music is your “specialty”?

A: Early 2000’s Hip-hop and pop music (that was when I was working for to Q102 FM in Philly)

 

Q: What is your go-to at karaoke?

A: “Gettin Jiggy Wit It” For some reason I know all the words by heart!

 

Q: If you were a superhero, what power would you have?

A: The power to make people who hate to dance, dance. (Oh wait, I already have that one!)

 

Q: What was the best event you ever worked?

A: There have been so many great events that it’s hard to pick just one.

 

Q: What motivates you to work hard?

A: My family!  I’m a father of two fantastic kids and a husband to my wonderful wife, Kristin.

 

Q: What is your favorite thing about your career?

A: Making people happy!  Nothing is better than hearing someone that they had a magical night.

 

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