Monday, April 11, 2011
When you think about DJ's and lighting do you picture disco balls, fog machines and strobe lights? Think again! The DJ and lighting professionals we're introducing to you today aren't one of those cheeseball companies. Cosmo Creations not only provides music to suit your wedding, they also will set up specialty lighting touches to create the right ambience for your special event. With lots of experience in the business, Brent Cantrell and his team are changing the perception of wedding DJ's from corny to one of professionalism and class.
Contact Info
Name: Cosmo Creations
Main Contact: Brent Cantrell
Phone Number: 931-265-2934
Email Address: cosmocreationsdj at gmail dot com
Twitter: twitter.com/cosmocreations
Number of Years in the Business: 10 years
Brent Cantrell (Picture by Visions By Valeisha)
How did you get started in weddings? I started Cosmo Creations in 2001 after college because I love music and liked the idea of owning a small business. In 2003, after attending several of my friend’s weddings, I saw a serious need for a wedding disc jockey with a “not so over the top” personality, the rest is history.
What do you like most about weddings? As a DJ, it’s a great feeling to see a crowd at a wedding reception for the first time and try to read what style music they would enjoy listening to. It’s good to have input from the bride and groom for song selections but being able to read a crowd and determine what songs your guest would enjoy listening to is a fun challenge.
What’s your favorite wedding pic/video and why? This photo really captures the mood we want to create out on the dance floor. Great looking colors wash the dance floor with a breathtaking custom monogram light during the bride and groom’s first dance.
Picture by Visions by Valeisha
What is your service philosophy? We have been best described as “not so over the top” when it comes to DJ’n style. Also, we think looks are very important, that’s why we dress professional and bring professional looking gear! You have to have both; some brides may think they don’t care what kind of gear a DJ brings as long as it sounds good but looking good (and smelling good, not like smoke) is a must!
What are your strengths compared to others in your category? Why should a bride hire you? When choosing wedding entertainment, a disc jockey can usually play a wider variety of music at a more cost effective rate than live music. That being said, Cosmo Creations excels when compared to others disc jockeys in two main categories. #1) We leave our egos at home; the day is about the bride, groom, family, and friends celebrating one of those special moments in life. #2) We look great! Maybe not the most handsome, but we dress professionally and bring the best gear (and best looking gear), this is important and your guest will notice.
Who are your 5 favorite Nashville wedding vendors? It’s hard to pick just 5 of my favorite wedding vendors! But here goes…..
A Delightful Day Event Planning – Mary Alice Sublett knows how to stick to a timeline and she’s one of the sweetest people you will ever meet! She also runs StudioWed Nashville which is a great resource for Middle Tennessee Brides! I also happened to be Mary Alice’s disc jockey at her wedding.
Simply Stunning Events – Kristin Kaplan is the most detailed wedding planner that I’ve had the privilege of working with. I’ve know Kristin and her husband Brian (he’s a great photographer) for several years now and they are both members of StudioWed. Did I mention that I also DJed their wedding?
Kristin & Brian Kaplan's first dance. (Picture by McLellan Style)
Kyle Gregory Photography (KGImages.blogspot.com) – Kyle is a great up-and-coming photographer! He’s very easy to work with and for a young photographer, he takes amazing photos! Cosmo Creations also DJed his wedding, we’re very fortunate to know so many talented and young wedding vendors.
The Country Music Hall of Fame (CountryMusicHallOfFame.org) – I’ve known Debbie Parsley for the past six years and she’s great to work with! Out of all the venues in Nashville, The Country Music Hall of Fame is my favorite to DJ. The history, architecture, and fantastic people to work with are just a few reasons why it’s at the top of my list.
Kristyn Hogan lifestyle photographer - Kristyn Hogan takes amazing photos! I met Kristyn through StudioWed and now it seems like we run into her all the time.
A wedding DJ-ed by Cosmo Creations (Picture by Kristyn Hogan)
What do you read/watch regularly to stay on top of wedding/event trends? I like to read Mobile Beat for music and lighting trends, Billboard, and Cool Hunting is also a great iPad App that gives me inspiration on colors and trendy stuff to incorporate into a wedding reception.
What are your favorite wedding websites?
StudioWed.net
WeDJ.com
WeddingWire.com
Does your company do anything special that a green bride might want to know?
5 years ago we would have brought dance lights that consume more than 4,400 watts. Today, to create the same lighting effect, we use less than 60 watts.
What is the biggest misconception about your industry? Wedding Disc Jockeys have earned a bad reputation over the years for being cheesy and sometimes unprofessional. Truth is…… the correct Disc Jockey can add much value to your wedding reception, making it a great day for all who attend!
Give Brent and his team at Cosmo Creations a call and let them know that Ashley's Bride Guide sent you!
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Posted by Tabitha |
Filed under: Our Featured Advertisers!, Music, Lighting + Transportation, Wedding Resources
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Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Sometimes the most overlooked part of a wedding is how you’re getting to your event! After a little research, we came up with a list of great choices for transportation on your big day. From traditional limos, whimsical carriages to rustic wagons, here's a starting point as you research.
(Service: At Your Service; Image courtesy of Jonathon Campbell Photography)
At Your Service-Chauffeuring
Contact: Reggie Slaughter
Telephone: 615-977-2210
E-mail: reggie at nashvilleweddingcars dot com
Website: At Your Service
Rate: $250-$1200, Call for details
Image by AngelaDisrudPhotography.com
Reggie Slaughter, the CEO and president of At Your Service, started the company two years ago. He acts as “Chauffeur to the stars” and brides. Options include riding in his family’s 1939 black Packard or a 1949 black Cadillac. Whether your wedding is a chic, classy affair or has a vintage vibe, it’s hard to go wrong with these antique beauties. We've heard nothing but great things about his service!
Matchless Limos
Telephone: 615-620-LIMO (5466)
E-mail: sales at matchlesstransportation dot com
Website: MatchlessLimos.com
Rate: Call for details
Service: Matchless; Vintage Jaguar (Image courtesy of McCoy Made Photography)
London Taxi
Limos are synonymous with wedding transportation, so I asked around and Matchless Limos had a lot of great reviews. Of course they have the classic stretch limos, but they have some other, exceptional choices to fit a variety of brides. Some of my favorites include the vintage blue Jaguar, London taxi and the Ford Flex.
Grand Avenue Chauffered Transportation
Contact: Melissa McBride
Telephone: 615-375-3031
E-mail: info at grandavenuelimo dot com
Website: GrandAvenueLimo.com
This Rolls actually belonged to Bing Crosby! (Image courtesy of Alex Bee Photography)
Travel to and from your wedding venues in Grand Avenue's range of vehicles suited to your needs and style. Go regal in the 1965 Rolls Royce (pictured above), grab your girls for a night around town in the Barbie pink stretch Hummer limo, or transport your wedding party or family in the Lincoln limousine.
Sugar Creek Carriages
Contact: Johnny Smit
Telephone: 931-729-7107 , 615-983-2303
E-mail: info at sugarcreekcarriages dot com
Website: SugarCreekCarriages.com
Rate: $400-500 first hour
$100-150 for every additional hour. Call or visit website for details.
The great thing about Sugar Creek Carriages is they offer not only the “Cinderella” style, also known as the Royal Vis –a- Vie carriage, for princess brides. They offer a variety of fun choices like a western-style covered wagon and an original stagecoach for brides who want to add a little country-flavor to their wedding.
F.A.D.D.S Party Bus
Telephone: 615-754-2221
E-mail: faddspartybus at comcast dot net
Website: NashvillePartyBus.com
Rate: Call for details
F.A.D.D.S is a family-owned business that offers a variety of party buses and trolleys for “day of” or even the “night before” for the bachelorette party. We picked out our favorites to show but they offer several different buses, each with their own theme. My personal favorites are the two trolleys. It’s serves as a little piece of retro-metro flair.
Image courtesty of Kate Crafton Photography
Helistar Aviation
Contact: Aaron DeVogel
Telephone: 615-350-1122
E-mail: info at lyhelistar dot com
Website: FlyHelistar.com
Rate: $285-$1250 per hour, billing begins when the engine starts
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(Image courtesy of F.A.D.D.S)
If you want a unique entrance or departure from your wedding, and you’re not afraid of heights, Helistar Aviation is the way to go. They offer four different helicopters depending on your need for seating and budget. Their largest is the Long Ranger, which holds up to 6 people.
Bell Long Ranger 206 L1 (Image Courtesy of Flyhellstar.com)
Tennessee Golf Carts
Telephone: 866-599-2198
E-mail: tgolfcar at bellsouth dot net
Website: TNgolfcartsinc.com
Rate: Call for details
Source: Dove Wedding Photography / Cedarwood Weddings
TNgolfcartsinc.com
Granted golf carts don’t have to be limited to outdoor weddings, everyone has their own special ideas, but they’re perfect for those relaxed afternoon celebrations. Tennessee Golf Carts rents out club cars that seat anywhere from two to six people and also offer a utility size.
East Rider Motorcycle Rental
Telephone: 1 (888) 900-9901
E-mail: rent at eaglerider dot com
Website: EagleRider.com
Rate: Call for details
Vespa GTS 250cc
Eagle Rider Motorcycle Rentals have some of the coolest options when it comes to transportation. They rent out motorcycles, ATV’s, dirt bikes and, my much loved, scooters. They have everything from the Harley Davidson Night Rod to super cute Vespas. Of course renting motorcycles have restrictions, like being 21 years-old and having a valid license. But if you qualify and meet the restrictions, leaving the party in a Harley Davidson Road King could be the icing on the cake for you and your groom.
Harley Davidson Road King
Harley Davidson Night Rod (Vespa/Harley Davidson images courtesy of EagleRider.com)
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Posted by Grace |
Filed under: Music, Lighting + Transportation, Wedding Resources
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Monday, March 7, 2011
As huge proponents of researching your vendors and that "you get what you pay for," we wanted to start this week off with some expert advice from an industry professional. Brent Cantrell runs Cosmo Creations which has on its team five DJ's and lighting experts for special events. They are professional, experienced and affordable without sacrificing quality.
As today's guest blogger, Brent will share tips for finding the perfect DJ for your wedding day and several things to keep in mind when doing so. Cosmo Creations is also one of our newest site sponsors so show definitely support them since they support ABG, the site that keeps you educated!
Guest Blogger: Cosmo Creations - Shopping For Your Wedding DJ
Brent Cantrell, owner of Cosmo Creations (Image courtesy of Kristyn Hogan, Lifestyle Photographer)
If you’re planning for your big day and you’re already over budget you may ask yourself: why not cut your cost by reducing your entertainment budget? Want a hint about the answer? Just look to your guests. There are plenty of checklists available to help you pick a reliable DJ (adja.org). If you find a deal too good to be true, then it probably is.
When considering your wedding entertainment options, some of the most important questions are: “Do you carry liability insurance?”, “Do you bring back-up equipment?”, “How long have you been in business?” These are all great standard questions, but how do you get to the facts about what you’re really paying for?
DJ booth at a good vantage point but not in the way (Image courtesy of Cosmo Creations)
Keeping the guests moving and shaking at a recent wedding
Here are a few things to think about prior to picking your wedding DJ:
My DJ showed up with these huge speakers, it looked like he was setting up to do the sound for AC/DC. The worst thing is they smelled like smoke - the table in front of the DJ booth actually complained about the smell of smoke coming off of the speakers.
It’s important to know if your DJ is bringing professional grade, state of the art equipment. You may not think you care what kind of equipment your DJ uses, but if you’re spending money on flowers, table settings, etc. and your DJ brings in some ugly equipment, it could be a negative reflection of your overall décor. If the DJ service plays at night clubs through the week you may want to ask that they bring speakers that are not used inside rooms that permit smoking. Most speaker boxes are wrapped in carpet and the carpet can absorb odor, especially smoke.
The DJ talked way too much...I’m not the type of bride that is ‘me, me, me’ but I did want the focus to be on our bridal party and not the DJ. Announcing the events was important to me, but we didn’t want talking or a play-by-play after every song.
You need to communicate your expectation levels with your DJ. Asking “What style DJ are you?” is a great way to find out if you’re talking to someone that’s going to be over-the-top or laid back. And depending on the type of wedding your planning, that can make a huge difference!
Our DJ couldn’t turn the music up loud enough. If you were right in front of the speakers it was fine but in the back of the room you couldn’t hear the music or any of the announcements.
This kind of goes with making sure your DJ brings professional grade equipment and making sure the DJ knows the size of the reception hall before the day of the event. Most professional grade loud-speakers are 500 watts per channel, so two speakers would require at least a 1000 watt amp to power the speakers. In most cases, this will be plenty of sound reinforcement for a small to medium size room. Asking “How many watts is your amplifier?” could keep you from having this issue. Between 800 and 1500 watts is a good range to be in. Most home stereos are only 100 watts (that will not be loud enough).
I paid our DJ to provide dance lights for our dance floor. What we received was a strobe light, a small disco ball, and Christmas lights!!! That’s not what I saw in his brochure.
Often, a bride may get caught up in offers for “music and lighting” at a great price. Sometimes you do find a great value, but other times it can be a trade-off for inferior sound or inferior lighting (or both). If lighting is important to you, then you need to ask for photos of exactly what you can expect the day of your event. A DJ should not have a problem e-mailing you photos of what will be provided for the day of your event (and most established DJ’s have photos on their website).
You can learn a lot about a DJ service by attending bridal shows, checking references, and doing some research on their website. However, some marketing materials can be very deceiving. If you pick up an elegant postcard for a wedding DJ depicting a well-dressed DJ and a bride and groom having a great time on a packed dance floor and your actual DJ shows up with two strobe lights and a crate full of records in a polyester suit that he’s been wearing since 1978…….well, you get the picture……..and he’ll be in your pictures - your wedding pictures!
A happy couple having their first dance
Thanks for the advice Brent. We hope this is helpful to you when it comes to picking a DJ for your big day! Cosmo Creations also has a few videos of weddings they've DJ-ed on their YouTube Channel that you can watch to give you a sample of what they sound like at weddings. For more information on the company and their team of DJs visit them at their website CosmoCreations.com.
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Posted by Tabitha |
Filed under: Advice & Planning, Music, Lighting + Transportation
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