Florida is often referred to as the New York of the South, for good reason: in the Metropolitan areas, you will find a melting pot of people. Having recently transplanted from the Greater NY area, I especially find this to be true. In the past 6 months, I’ve entertained Egyptian, Moroccan, Turkish, Indian and mixed Arab crowds, as well as American groups. This diverse multi-cultural mix makes me feel very much at home! Personally, I’m from a mixed background and my own absence of a true cultural identity has made me especially fascinated by other families’ customs.

This past year, wedding bloggers have cited multi-cultural entertainment as one of the biggest up-and-coming special event trends. After all, the world is …

A few months ago, I read a brilliant article called “Free DJ,” shared by one of my Orlando wedding industry friends, DJ Kristin of Our DJ Rocks. In the article, modified from a piece by Scott Shirley, a fictitious bride quickly learns that the DJ costs nothing, but there’s a price for everything else s/he brings to the table.

It’s a conversation I wish I could realistically have with some brides who call. After all, the belly dancer herself is free. As for everything else? Let’s see how this hypothetical scenario plays out.

Bride: I’d like to hire a belly dancer for my wedding. How much will that cost?
Me: The belly dancer is free.

Bride: Excellent! …

Everyone knows I’m all about the weddings. I’m also all about the bachelorette parties, bridal showers and other celebrations leading up to the Big Day. While many of us have dreamed of our wedding day since we were girls, the time spent celebrating with our closest friends and family before we tie the knot can and should be just as memorable.

When I first got the chance to chat with Lindsey on the phone, the first thing she told me was that she wanted to do something fun and interesting for her cousin Becky’s bachelorette party. The girls had reached a unanimous decision that they HAD to try a belly dance class! Since Becky was flying in from New York …

Your browser must support javascript.

Having a belly dancer at your wedding is a definite sign (especially if you’re not of Middle Eastern descent!) of a creative wedding celebration.  There is absolutely no rule that your wedding must follow a “same-old, same-old” formula – although this does work for many brides, and that’s fine.  However, if you want to have a wedding that’s really reflective of the two of you, and have your guests talking about your event for years to come, be sure to work with creative vendors who offer services that are “off the beaten aisle!”

As a wedding officiant for over 30 years, I can tell you that getting your wedding day off to a great start …

Fact: Without music, there is no dance. (Unless, of course, you’re dancing to some cosmic song in your own head, and in that case, I’d advise that you seek help).

While most belly dancers are appreciative toward the musicians and bands we work with, we often forget to extend our gratitude toward another amazing group of artists who help us work our magic on the dance floor: I’m talking about the mobile DJ’s.

In my area of expertise (weddings and private parties), I work with DJ’s on such a regular basis that I often end up working with the same DJ’s repeatedly and sometimes, even go on to form personal friendships with them. Even though I’m new to the Orlando …