We were invited by Oliver & Bonacini to their open house at their new Toronto Event Venue Arcadian Court and Arcadian Loft yesterday. It was by far one of the most upscale and elaborate open houses we have ever attended. I have to give it up to O&B for an amazing job. There was great entertainment, loads of food stations, photobooths, sweet tables, hip-hop-dancers, Dj’s, Bands, Greeters and more. They really rolled out the red carpet for this.
The venue has recently undergone a major renovation which has brought it back to it’s original Art Deco glory (the venue opened in 1929). They had already pretty much sold out every Saturday in 2013 before the immense renovation took place. Needless to say they did a great job, We already have several clients that have booked here and can hardly wait to work at this new and improved venue!
Last February I was contacted by this lovely couple, Anne-Marie and Alex, for their upcoming wedding at Sunnybrook Estates (Vaughn Estate). They were interested in booking one of our top Toronto Wedding Bands, Shugga. Upon meeting them to discuss booking the band, we instantly hit it off. They are our ideal couple; young, modern, tech savvy, and fashion forward. Not to mention they were planning the wedding themselves without any of their parents involvement in the planning process – can anyone say dream client?! After meeting with them to discuss the band, and asking the normal questions we ask in an initial consultation, they started to realize that they needed help in planning and executing their vision. Which led them to their next decision – to have myself and the Fusion Events team on board to make it happen.
The wedding was in mid-November in that grey area between fall and winter weddings. The inspiration for their design was neither winter nor fall, but rather festive, yet not over the top Christmasy! They wanted their colours to be Red, Black and White with hints of Damask. For florals the bride fancied red roses so that’s what we went with as the main theme for Centerpieces and Bouquets courtesy of Designing Trendz. They wanted a sophisticated, upscale wedding that was also a fierce party. Not too many formalities and lots of dancing!
Here is a video of the event as seen through the perspective of the wedding planner…me! This wedding went very smoothly and on time to almost the second. I even had enough time to sit down at the beautiful grand piano at Sunnybrook Estates for a moment of Zen before the storm, as seen in the video…I also sat in on the saxophone with the band for a couple numbers (see the video):
The Beautiful Couple
The Dress
Mini Red Cake Topper, Red Velvet Cupcakes, and Decor
Table Setting
The head table with hand made giant roses. Each rose can take up to 2-3hrs to make.
We get a lot brides and grooms that come through our doors that are looking to make their wedding receptions a “party” that their guests won’t soon forget. Of course music selections and wedding entertainment can play a big factor in this however I have made an observation, a revelation in fact, from the thousands of weddings I have attended. One way to ensure the dance floor is packed all night and the party is in full effect is to have the bride and groom on it (especially the bride)! I have seen it so many times that a bride and groom get swept away thanking all of their guests and getting wrapped up in formalities that the night is practically over before they get on the dance floor (by which time it’s too late). To all you brides and grooms out there…make time to dance and enjoy the party. Your guests are there for you and to not engage them and party with them on the dance floor is not only rude but a recipe for a lack luster party.
I also find that waiting until the end of dinner to have dancing can sometimes be a party killer. What we have found to work really well is to start the night of with a short dance set or to intersperse dance sets between dinner courses. This doesn’t always work depending on the venue. If your guests were at the Church for 3pm. Then the reception hall for 5pm. It can literally be up to 6hrs of sitting, drinking, eating, and speeches before the first dance number. This can make your guests extremely lethargic and unmotivated to dance. So, if you can, don’t wait too long before injecting some fun and dancing into the the wedding. Also don’t forget a dance floor with a bride and groom on it is a packed dance floor….guaranteed!
Hello World! If you are here there is a good chance you are planning a wedding. If that is the case you might be wondering what your options are in terms of decor as in what your colour scheme is, centerpieces, linens, chair covers, lighting etc. You may be thinking you can do it yourself. Before you go down that dangerous road I have gone to meet with a great decor company for you and recorded the whole thing so you can get an idea of how much work, energy, and preparation, not to mention skill and talent goes into designing decor for events. Granted there may be the odd DIY project you can do yourself but if you are looking for that “WOW” factor for your wedding or event…use a professional!
In the first part of this series we go and meet up with Head Designer Craig Gruzd from Designing Trendz. We get a chance to learn about Craig and his business and see some behind the scenes footage of them prepping and setting up for a wedding at the Westin Prince Hotel in Toronto.
Hello World! Welcome to the Fusion EventsBlog. In today’s webisode I take my lovely client Anne-Marie for a consultation for wedding invitations to Stephita Custom Hand Made Wedding Invitations. I came to hear of this invitation designer through various vendors while doing some research for my vendor database. I asked around to some trusted vendors and everyone was suggesting Stephita. They would say that they do great work at great prices. Well that sounded promising but I had to see for myself.
Located in Markham their offices were very welcoming and staff extremely pleasant. We were a few minutes early so we took a little tour which you can see in the webisode below. Our consultant was Chelsea and she was very nice and knowledgeable about the products. If you are in the Toronto area and looking for invitations I would recommend checking out this company. They have a very nice website with tonnes of information, samples and resources. I can say that the quality of the product is well represented on their website. What you see there is what you get. Also because my client came in with her wedding planner (me) she got offered a discount on what was already a reasonable rate (wedding planners…keep that in mind…it makes you look good)! Anne-Marie was very happy with what she saw and will be booking Invitations, Place Cards, and Menus with Stephita. I look froward to seeing the final product. Presuming the work and service will be as nice as I am expecting I will definitely be recommending their services to other clients.
Hello world. ArthurK here. So I am fairly new to blogging and still trying to find my voice. Originally I wanted to post helpful tips and ideas for weddings and although I will still do that I’m changing my angle a bit. First I should give you some background on myself. I started off my career as a musician (saxophone). I helped found the Juno Nominated band God Made Me Funky when I was 17yrs old. We quickly rose in popularity as both an original act with a live show that is unparalleled and as a top wedding band. Over the 10+yrs I have been in the band we have had the opportunity of playing all over Canada and the US and have played with such acts as, Sean Kingston, George Clinton And Parliament Funkadelic, INXS, Divine Brown, Jully Black, JackSoul, Guru, Afrika Bambatta, and have headlined many jazz festivals across Cananda. We also had the honour of representing Ontario at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. In 2008 We were nominated for a Juno Award for best R&B/Soul Album. As the bands popularity grew as an original act we became even more in demand for weddings and private events. As a result I made a lot of friendships and connections in the wedding and events industries and discovered that I loved planning events. I didn’t want to live the life of a working musician living paycheck to paycheck (no offense to working musicians…I was happy doing that for 10yrs but things changed for me) so I decided to start my own booking agency, Fusion Events. I already had tonnes of contacts in the music and wedding industries so it seemed like a natural next step. We opened the doors to Fusion Events in 2008 and have been growing exponentially since then. In 2010 we booked entertainment on over 100 weddings.
ArthurK at BC place for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Opening For INXS.
Being the organized (ok I admit..anal) type I often would find myself helping my clients who have decided to not hire a wedding planner. Because I genuinely care for my clients and their special days I have a personal interest in making sure their wedding is above and beyond even their expectations. I have found myself making itineraries, suggesting vendors, and acting as a coordinator on day of to many of my clients. Without someone stepping in it can be a recipe for disaster. So I decided that I would learn more about wedding planning and became a certified wedding consultant/coordinator through The Wedding Planners Institute of Canada (WPIC). The course was very educational and taught by wedding gurus (and sisters) Tracey Andrews Manailescu and Danielle Andrews Sunkel. Taking the course definitely opened my eyes to a lot of different aspects of planning a wedding and gave me access to many resources I wouldn’t otherwise have had…not to mention all the discounts a WPIC certified consultant has access to! Yes I have been in the industry for over a decade and have been to hundreds of weddings but always as a musician, agent or guest. What do musicians or booking agents know about table etiquette, invitation wording, cakes, linens, flowers, and so much more? Not a whole hell of a lot. So needless to say, being an agent that is also a certified wedding consultant, I am now much better equipped to help my clients. Whether they are using me to only book a band or to plan their entire wedding from start to finish they can rest assured that I adhere to the strict code of ethics set forth by the WPIC…and proud to do so!
Having recently received my certification I decided that I would let you all follow me as I work with my first few clients as a certified wedding coordinator. Thankfully I already have made some great relationships with vendors over the years so I am not completely starting from scratch however I admit there is much to learn and I am so thankful to head designer Craig Gruzd from Designing Trendz (Award Winning Decor) for taking me under his wing and already teaching me so much. I have no doubt this is going to be an exciting and educational journey. I also want to thank Adrienne and Catherine from We Bake In Heels for being such good sports (folks if you need cake or cupcakes you have to go visit these ladies…dare I say babes!!).
In the VLOG below you will follow me as I take my client, Anne-Marie (you are a star!!), to meet with various vendors. She has booked the band “Shugga” with me and I am coordinating her wedding from start to finish. This is only the first part. I intend to document the entire process from start to completion so check in regularly to see how we’re doing!
So I was invited to check out an open house at a new venue in Toronto called the Artscape Wychwood Barns. This is a unique venue smack dab in the middle of a residential area at St.Clair Ave.W and Christie St. Originally a TTC Street car repair facility this 60,000 sq foot space has been converted into a truly unique multifaceted community center where arts and culture, environmental leadership, heritage preservation, urban agriculture and affordable housing are brought together to foster a strong sense of community. There are currently 26 Artists and their families that also reside in the barns. The venue has strict regulation about the waste that vendors produce. They have a handful of of approved vendors that meet their LEED certified status. If you want to bring in outside vendors they will be screened carefully to make sure they meet the green standards of the venue. This venue is ideal for a couple wanting a daytime wedding as there are noise restrictions which prevent loud music past 11pm. The fees for booking the room can start as low as $2500 however this room is a blank canvas and everything needs to be brought in.
I was very impressed with the open house. I am familiar with this venue as I live in the neighbourhood and have been to the incredible farmers markets they have every Saturday morning. All the farmers at the market are organic farmers and their fares are truly out of this world. From home made cheeses and jams, to organic fair trade coffee, and home made baked goods…YUM! I have yet to do an event here so it was it was great to be able to see some of the possibilities. It is a blank canvass.
We also made our first attempt at a video blog….so please be gentle on us but please do check it out and leave your feedback. I have to say a big thank you to to Gary Livingston at Presidential Gourmet for his detailed explanation of their uniquely tasty treats (check it out near the end of the video).
Welcome to the first Fusion Eventsblog post. As a talent agency and event coordination/consulting firm we have a unique view into the world of weddings. Our first post is near and dear to our hearts…wedding bands! CEO of Fusion Events “Arthur Kerekes” comes from an entertainment background and started his career playing in wedding bands, specifically Juno nominated Toronto Powerhouse “God Made Me Funky”. The following post is written by him:
“Face it you’ve probably never hired a band in your life…and chances are you never will again after the wedding. So what makes a good wedding band? It might be very different from what makes your favourite bands like U2 and Arcade Fire good. When hiring a wedding band remember that if you want a truly successful event with a packed dance floor all night you need a band that is versatile! Just because you love the Rolling Stones doesn’t mean that a tribute band is the answer. Of course you will want a band that can play some of your favourite songs and artists but you also want to entertain your guests…..don’t forget about the other 100-150ppl in attendance. They don’t all have the same tastes as you.
The first step to hiring the right band is sourcing out your best options. Wedding planners and your venue can be a good place to start as they have experience working with all kinds of vendors. The next logical choice is to ask around and see who your friends have been using. Keep in mind though that you maybe don’t want the same band as all of your friends. Will there be a lot of the same guests at your wedding? The next place to look is the internet. In 2011 90% of brides will book all of their wedding vendors using the web. If a band does not have audio and video samples on their website, or even worse, don’t have a website that raises serious red flags. Any good professional wedding band should have a website with audio and video. If they don’t even have a myspace page which is free and easy to set up they are not worth wasting your time and money on. I would suggest searching google and youtube and watching videos of bands on their websites and compiling your top 5 choices.
The next step is contacting the bands. First send an email inquiry and see what their initial responses are. Do they respond right away, the next day, 3 days later? This may give you some indication as to their level of professionalism. Do they call you on the phone? If they email you what information did they provide? How the potential bands respond might give you some idea as to who is right for you. But before you make your decision make sure you do 2 things. First speak to the agent, manager, or band leader (depending on who handles their bookings) in person on the phone and make sure the band is available for your date. If they are have them hold the date and give you the right of first refusal. Do they sound like they know what they are talking about? Are they familiar with bands repertoire, band members, set up etc? Second, find out when they are playing and ask to see the band live before you book. If the band has no upcoming gigs for the next 3months are you sure you want to hire them? Most professional bands work 12months a year however keep in mind that January through to March can be slower than the rest of the year.
Here are some helpful questions to ask your potential wedding band whether it be a duo or full orchestra:
1. Is our date and time available?
2. How many events did you do last year?
3. Will you book any other events on the same date as our wedding?
4. Have you worked at our venue before?
5. Can we see a video of you playing at a wedding?
6. Can you provide references?
7. Can we see you perform live at an upcoming wedding?
8. Will you be our musician on the day of?
9. What is the instrumentation of the group?
10. Do you have any additional people with you that are not in the band?
11. What do you normally wear to a wedding?
12. Will you wear attire specified by us?
13. What is your fee structure?
14. Do you have any package options and if so what are they?
15. How many hours does your price include?
16. When does the time start (when you arrive, set up, or start)?
17. Do you charge for Travel?
18. Can we extend the hours on the day of?
19. What are your overtime fees?
20. How many breaks do you require?
21. Do you provide recorded music during breaks?
22. What type of music do you specialize in?
23. Can you provide your complete songlist?
24. Do you take special requests that are not on your songlist?
24. Do you bring everything you need to perform and is it included in the price?
25. Do you provide lighting?
26. Will you act as emcee?
27. How do you motivate the crowd?
28. How many years have you been in business?
29. What insurance and permits do you have?
30. Do you have references we can contact?
31. Do you use a contract?
32.What is your cancellation Policy?
There isn’t one right answer for any particular question but at least now you have some idea as to the kind of questions you should be asking. Ask the right questions. Be informed. Most importantly feel confident in the person you are dealing with (as they may not be in the band themselves) and feel totally confident in the band as a unit. You will have seen them in action and loved them before handing over a deposit. This could be one of the single most important decisions you make about your wedding reception. If everything is perfect from decor to food but the entertainment is bad everything else that was good will be instantly forgotten. So do your homework and good luck!!!
