Santa Fe Benefit Dinner....

Here are a few snapshots and video clips of a benefit dinner we did at the beautiful El Dorado Hotel in Santa Fe. I was given quite a bit of artistic license on doing the light design, so as you can imagine, I had a blast. Because it was a fund raising dinner (complete with silent auction), a lot of high profile figures were at this event, like actress Shirly McClaine and comedian Henry Cho. Needless to say, I was a bit starstruck as people I easily recognized started to sit at their dinner tables. This venue was quite interesting because it was actually an outdoor ballroom. No one would have guessed otherwise except for the fact that it started getting a little chilly as the night progressed forward. In these clips, you'll see quite a bit of pipe and drape. On the other side of that black drape (behind the stage) is a sidewalk that leads directly to Old Town! I believe the folks at the El Dorado rennovated what was once an outdoor terrace into an elegant dining facility. Quite impressive! I must say in full disclosure that the quality of these photos and video clips are not of professional grade. I used my own Nikon Coolpix digital camera that I happened to have with me to capture this footage. Nonetheless, these photos can give you an idea of how far a few simple lighting fixtures can truly transform a room.

Creating Your Monogram...

A monogram (in our sense of the word) is a set of calligraphic initals, name or emblem that illuminates a predetermined spot within your venue. In simple terms, it is a way of us shining your name in lights for your guests to enjoy. Typically, we project your monogram either on the dancefloor, the backdrop behind the head table, or outside onto the architecture of the venue. You can view several exampels for yourself at our website, WeddingCelebrate.com. For more on uplighting, click HERE.

Uplighting at your Wedding Reception....

Uplighting are luminary fixutures that typically sit on the floor adjacent to the walls of your venue. The upcast light produces a shaft of colored light extending to the ceiling, creating a virtual column. Setting several of these around the perimeter of any banquet hall adds dimension and ambience to a room, as well as setting the tone for the events to come. Several before & after shots are available at WeddingCelebrate.com. For more on creating your customized monogram, click HERE. 

Setting Your Itinerary...

Preparing for your wedding reception can be time consuming and potentially stressful. Once you delve into the planning phase, several details will begin to surface. Pretty soon it can feel as though you are putting together the pieces of a very complex puzzle. Add to this dilemma that most people have had little experience coordinating these types of events, and it can feel as though you are assembling this puzzle blindfolded. With more than fourteen years experience in the mobile entertainment industry, and over four hundred successful events to our credit, we are familiar with the often overlooked details that unveil themselves throughout the planning process. Me and my production team will work before your wedding date to familiarize ourselves with what you envision to be your dream wedding. Together, we will assemble your personal wedding portfolio. This portfolio includes a complete and itemized timeline, a roster naming all those involved in the wedding party, a music spreadsheet specifying your musical requests and specifications, and a thorough questionnaire providing us the information needed to work on your wedding reception behind the scenes.

One important rule-of-thumb to remember: whoever you decide to host your wedding reception, keep in mind that they will be involved with, and directly responsible for, the flow of the evening’s events. An experienced professional will know before-hand precisely when those special moments such as the toast, first dance, cake cutting, and garter throw will occur during your party. The job of the mobile entertainment company entails much more than just providing audio-visual support. All vendors and wedding professionals involved in some aspect of your wedding will look naturally to the host for providing them information and guidance when your big day finally arrives. This is the primary reason why the entertainment is the primary driving force behind any successful wedding reception. As such, we will gladly serve as the communication hub for other vendors involved with your wedding day. The photographer will know in advance when to capture those special moments and the catering / banquet-hall manager will know precisely when, where and how our audio & lighting equipment will be placed. If you need music for your ceremony and a mic for the presiding minister, we will arrange that too. Every detail of your wedding reception will be covered so that you and your fiancé can simply relax and enjoy your big day together.

Company Identity...

Who are we?

Wedding Celebrate is a subsidiary of DJLM Enterprises... Our mission is to become Ameria's most successful mobile entertainment conglomerate dedicated to merging the music, technological, and entertainment industries.

Our vision is to be a company that:

• Offers its services on a nation wide basis (52 states)

• Recruits and employs the most talented and driven individuals

• Motivates every member of its production team

• Produces its own weekly podcast

• Maintain industry blog

• Circulates newsletter

• Offers web-based broadcasts of live DJLM events

• Holds an annual conference

• Offers service diversity

Song Recommendations....

Whether you're searching for ceremonial music, or a ballad for your First Dance together, here are several resources to help you find that perfect song:

Wedding Wire Recommends...

The Knot Recommends....

Eight Songs NOT to Play at your Reception...

My Day Job...

I am a professional lighting designer for an industrial audio / video / lighting firm. I primarily help in setting up and operating lighting shows for concert veunes. So far, I've had the opportunity to work on location with the likes of Alan Jackson, Enrique Iglesias, Blake Shelton, Vanessa Hudgins, Earth Wind & Fire, and Ronnie Milsap (see "Lighting the Stars" entry). I absolutely love every moment of my job and am learning something new about the entertainment industry everyday. If you'd like to see the company website, just log onto Quickbeam.com.

SURPRISE First Dance Videos...

Frequently Asked Questions...

How far in advance should we book your services?

We recommend reserving your day at least 6-8 months in advance; however, locking in a date ultimately depends on availability.

How much do you charge?

We have several different packages to choose from, and every wedding celebration we do is different. For these reasons, we ask that you contact us directly so we can ask a few pertinent questions before quoting a price. We charge a flat fee reflective of your needs. This fee includes support for your wedding rehearsal, prepoduction, wedding ceremony, and reception. We do not employ any hidden charges, do not charge an hourly rate, and do not expect any sort of tipping the day of your wedding. For detailed pricing information, please call or email us.

Do you offer any discounts?

We do not offer any discounts per se; however, it is beneficial to book your event on a weekday, or during the non-peak wedding season.

Can I make payments?

Absolutely. You can pay directly from our website using any major credit or debit card (or Paypal account). Once any additional payment is received & cleared, we will send you an updated invoice that reflects the new balance due. Any remaining balance will be collected upon arrival the day of your wedding. We do ask that if you pay by personal check, that you do so at least 10 business days prior to your contracted date.

Can I pay using a credit card?

Yes. We utilize Paypal for fast and secure credit / debit card payments.

Where do you offer your services?

Most of our weddings take place throughout West Texas and the whole of New Mexico; however, we can travel anywhere throughout the continental United States. And with enough time, planning and resources, we can even plan to travel abroad :-).

What kind of music do you play?

We carry an extensive music library with several different genres to choose from. We use Megaseg's software package to broadcast our music. We can download almost any request and play it within a matter of seconds provided we have wireless broadband access at your wedding celebration. This means your choice of music titles is virtually unlimited! And all our music is pirate free and 100% legal.

Can we see you perform before we contract your services?

If we are scheduled to perform at a public event, we will be happy to inform you of the date and location. Since a vast majority of our weddings are private engagements, we will not be able to extend an invitation; however, you can view our wedding videos on our website, WeddingCelebrate.com.

Do you outsource your shows to other DJ companies?

Never. Once you book a wedding with Wedding Celebrate, your event will be thoroughly planned and performed by myself and / or members of our production team.

Is this your full time career?

In a matter of speaking, yes. I do work for an industrial audio / video / lighting firm, but as you can see, my company and the company for which I work are both apropos to the entertainment industry.

Can you perform at a private residence?

Typically we cannot perform at a private residence due to insurance and legal reasons. Exceptions have been made however based on the circumstances of the venue.

What is uplighting?

Uplighting are luminary fixutures that typically sit on the floor adjacent to the walls of your venue. The upcast light produces a shaft of colored light extending to the ceiling, creating a virtual column. Setting several of these around the perimeter of any banquet hall adds dimension and ambience to a room, as well as setting the tone for the events to come. Several before & after shots are available at WeddingCelebrate.com.

What is intelligent lighting?
Utilizing intelligent lighting at your wedding reception opens up a realm of possibilities in lighting design. These units allow the Lighting Designer to move almost any shade of light throughout the room at a 360° angle (both vertically & horizontally). In addition, these units can be used as spotlights, following both you and your spouse on the dancefloor as you dance your first dance as husband and wife. You can even insert your customized monogram inside these lights to move your name at any point within the venue. To see these amazing fixtures in action, click HERE.

What is a monogram?

A monogram (in our sense of the word) is a set of calligraphic initals, name or emblem that illuminates a predetermined spot within your venue. In simple terms, it is a way of us shining your name in lights for your guests to enjoy. Typically, we project your monogram either on the dancefloor, the backdrop behind the head table, or outside onto the architecture of the venue. You can view several exampels for yourself at our website, WeddingCelebrate.com.

Comany Standards....

• Treat our clients in a forthright and honest manner
• Deliver on our promises
• Exceed our clients’ expectations
• Will show up on time, every time
• Remain easily accessible to clients and vendors
• We will never smoke or consume alcohol at your event
• Never accept any form of gratuity from your guests
• Make all necessary arrangements in pre and post-production
• Communicate effectively with third party vendors
• NO undisclosed or hidden fees before or after an event
• Charge a competitive rate
• Utilize the latest technology
• Maintain our equipment to the highest standards
• Maintain a professional appearance at all times
• Obtain music library by legal and ethical means
• Offer the industry’s only satisfaction guarantee

Lighting with the Stars...

Life in the entertainment biz has been really exciting this year.... After deciding to re-open my doors in the mobile entertainment business in January of 2007 (in lieu of an academic excursion to South Korea), my life took a quick change. I went from a life of academia, to becoming a mobile DJ. You can imagine this decision really surprised my family. But now that I have taken a retrospective look back this year, I realize that I made the right decision. Becoming involved with showbiz has always been in my blood.... Recently, chose to take an even greater plunge into this lucrative industry. I applied to the largest industrial audio / production company in the region. After two interviews and a conversation with the owner of this impressive company, I was given the opportunity to fulfill my life-long dream of becoming a full-fledged lighting designer! Since this last August, I've had the fortune of working on several really amazing projects, with some really well-known names. Some of these include: Blake Shelton, Gary Allen, Vanessa Hudgens, Corbin Bleu, Ronnie Milsap, Alan Jackson, James Otto, and most recently, Enrique Iglesias. This next week, I will be working on location for Ana Gabriel, Earth Wind & Fire, and Clay Walker. Working on these types of projects is similar to the mobile entertainment industry, but as you can imagine, it is on a much grander scale. Working on the lighting set of the Enrique Iglesias concert was incredible. He unloaded five semi trucks worth of lighting, audio, and video equipment....and his production staff didn't even unload the entire arsenal of lighting / video equipment. It was a multi-million dollar production that I got to work with. Simply put, I am elated to have taken this new path in my life. As for my mobile DJ business (we specialize in weddings), I will continue to take bookings after March 2009. Stay posted as I am positive there will be more exciting news on the horizon. 

At Your Service, 

James A. Naranjo

Wedding Celebrate Video Trailer.....

Days Remembrance Bridal Fair...

www.bridalquince.com

The First Blog Entry...

Well, it has come so quickly. For those of you reading this blog entry (May 20, 2008), I welcome you to my first official blog post. Perhaps and introduction is in order. My name is James A. Naranjo and I am the owner of Wedding Celebrate! (exclamation point part of the name). I returned to this wonderful yet crazy industry on January 7, 2007 after a four-year hiatus, and I must say, I'm loving every minute of it. I finally graduated with my Master's degree in Literature [phew!] and I am currently pursuing my doctoral degree. Yes, some of my friends and most of my family think I'm a bit nuts as it is my goal to go full time into the wedding entertainment business the day after I obtain my P.h.D! I simply love doing what I do and hope to reshape an industry that has frankly had a bad rap. With this blog, I hope to relay new ideas, share my experiences, and communicate with those of you who love this business as much as I do. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to drop me a line anytime... James@WeddingCelebrate.com. I look forward to hearing from you.

James A. Naranjo