Although it is not likely that Kansas City wedding professionals are going to be bringing concert sized rigging to your wedding or trashing dressing rooms, Mr. Roth’s story reveals the need to thoroughly understand the riders, covenants and/or provisions of each contract Brides and Grooms sign. It also points out the need to get it, what ever “it” is that is important to you, in writing.

10 Tips To Prevent Kansas City Wedding Contract M&M’s (Misunderstandings & Mistakes):

1.  It should go without saying…but make sure to get a signed contract from every wedding professional you choose to provide services at your Kansas City wedding ceremony or wedding reception. Without a signed contract, even from your best friend or cousin who has graciously agreed to be your photographer or DJ, the remaining tips won’t matter and you could face tremendous disappointment and suffer a monetary loss. If any wedding service provider tells you that they don’t use or you don’t need a contract, run away!

2.  Make certain that the time, date and location(s) for the wedding professional’s services are correct. Ask if there are any penalties should you need to change any of these details. Be clear on when retainers and final payments are due. Some wedding professionals require payment in full, 1-2 weeks in advance of your Kansas City wedding reception. Others may require final payment on the day of your event. Either way, penalties may be assessed if the final payment is not received as scheduled.

3.  Some Kansas City wedding venues may allow only a short amount of time for a wedding service provider’s delivery and set-up. Make certain the contract with your wedding venue allows you to add extra time should a wedding service provider require earlier access to be properly set and ready as the first guest arrives at your wedding reception or ceremony.  Yes, it may cost a few extra dollars. But, a wedding professional can perform their task far more effectively if not rushed.

4.  Review any additional charges that may be assessed if you should unexpectedly require the wedding service provider to work beyond the contracted time. Also determine how and when payment is due in such an eventuality. Some wedding professionals may bill you after your event but others may require cash-only, in advance of extended time. It would be wise to have some emergency cash available at your Kansas City wedding ceremony and reception for any unforseen need.

5.  Be sure to get the name, in writing, of the individual(s) who will be performing the contracted services. Some wedding service providers may send employees or sub-contractors to work in their place without advising you first. Some of those individuals may be less experienced or not as well-trained. Ask that a fair and reasonable penalty clause be included in the contract if the person designated on the contract is, for any reason, a “no-show.”

6.  Understand and respect all power requirements a wedding professional may have to complete their task. It’s hard to have good time at your Kansas City wedding reception when the power goes off. Make every effort not to have service providers sharing the same power source (i.e.: caterers and wedding DJs). Even some “twinkle” lights and older uplighting can cause breakers to pop, especially when sharing a power source with other electrical equipment.

7.  Some Kansas City wedding professionals require a specific location and/or minimal amount of set-up space. They may also require a specific number and size table(s) or other items to complete their task. Find out who is responsible for providing those items and discuss alternate set-up possibilities, if needed. Either way, make sure these details are included in the contract.

8.  Get any absolute ”must-haves” that the wedding service provider has agreed to provide in writing (ie: special centerpieces, songs, photos, place settings, etc.). Doing so will prevent confusion after the fact.

9.  No one wants to think about the need to cancel or postpone their Kansas City wedding reception or ceremony. But, it would still be a very good idea to know what impact these occurrences will have on your contracted agreement with wedding service providers. Depending on the timing, you may only lose your deposit or you could be responsible for the full amount due. Be sure to review this contract clause, even if discreetly.

10.  Contracts should be written to protect, both, the consumer and the service provider. They shouldn’t be filled with a lot of hard to understand legalese. Read each contract carefully, regardless of how excited you are to find the ideal wedding professional to serve your needs. If you don’t understand any part of the contract, ask for clarification. You are entering into a binding agreement. Make absolutely certain you know and understand what you are signing.

David Lee Roth may have been something of an innovator for putting the “no brown M&M” rider in Van Halen concert contracts. It was a surprisingly clever way to determine if concert promoters had read them.  Wedding couples, however, can avoid hidden surprises by appreciating the need and power of contracts and understanding how careful scrutiny protects them from Misunderstandings & Mistakes.

Enough learning! All this talk of David Lee Roth reminds me that Van Halen will be performing at the Sprint Center in Kansas City on May 22, 2012? Check out their concert video promo below. You can get tickets here!

What additional contract items do you feel are important that I may have overlooked? Do you know of someone or have you had a bad experience caused from not having a signed contract? Your comments are welcome.

Because I’ve been hearing similar sentiments from other couples, I had to ask a simple follow-up question, “Really?” The Bride went on to clarify their reasoning by adding, “Since we have to do a first dance anyway, we just want to get it over with. Isn’t there like a rule?”

Translation…”A first dance is not something we really want to do but we feel obligated to do it because it is expected. It’s not our idea of a good time, but what the heck.”

Imagine being a guest at that wedding reception. The wedding party has been introduced. The energy level in the room is building to a non-repeatable crescendo as every guest jumps to their feet to greet the Bride & Groom. Suddenly the newlyweds take to the dance floor to go through the motions of a first dance they never wanted to do in the first place. How engaging or memorable do you suppose that one, singularly special moment would be, especially if the Bride & Groom are not into it? Is anyone going to pay attention beyond the first few bars of music? Probably not. Will anyone remember it? That’s doubtful.

Can you imagine a movie or stage play where the actors simply repeat the lines of a script without any emotion or without knowing anything about the character they portray? How likely would anyone be to want to watch something like that? How memorable would that performance be?

If your answer is, “I wouldn’t pay money to see that,” then why subject your guests to a wedding reception formality that does not interest you or that you think has become passé or more likely, “cheesy?” Actually, why perform any wedding formality for the sake of either pleasing others or with the belief that it is a necessary tradition?

I’m of the belief that the word “tradition” has nothing to do with what everyone else does or has done. You see, when it comes to traditional wedding reception formalities, There Are No Rules! Whichever you choose to include in your Kansas City wedding reception, if any, should reflect who you are as a couple and take your guests on a very personal journey where they can experience a moment that they will never experience again and treasure for years to come. To make that kind of a memorable impact, formalities should never be performed as a necessity.

The “average” wedding reception template has for years included a number of formalities that many Brides & Grooms somehow feel obligated to follow. I’m not saying that they should all be set aside for something new and different. I’m suggesting that couples ask themselves one very important question as they think about what so-called traditional formalities they want to include in their Kansas City wedding reception. That question is “Why?” “Why is this formality important to us?” If you can’t come up with a good reason, other than believing it is a necessity, then perhaps you might consider alternatives that are more in-tune with who you are and the fun & memories you wish to create.

Trust me. Your guests have no expectations when they go to wedding receptions. Why should they? They’ve seen everything at least a dozen times before, cut from the same “average” wedding reception pattern. Only the names of the guests of honor have changed. Be honest. What is the most memorable thing you’ve ever seen at a wedding reception? If you have more than one vivid recollection, you’re doing better than most.

With that in mind, as you work your way through the creative process, why not surprise your guests by breaking the mold and involve them in fun, wedding reception activities that they’ve never experienced before and are less likely to experience, again?

If the idea of a first dance makes you uneasy because all eyes will be focused on you during that moment or because dancing just isn’t your thing, here are three alternate ideas.

1. Engage all of your guests in a fun game of Bride & Groom trivia. Have your Master of Ceremonies asks questions that have to do with where you were born, went to school, how you met, what color was your first car, your pet peeves, etc. The number of questions is only limited by time you wish to fill. Award points for each answer. At the end of the activity, give everyone at the table with the most accumulated points a small party favor. If you plan a centerpiece give-a-way, make winners of those guests who have correctly answered the more difficult questions.

2. Create a Mad Libs script that tells a fun, although purposely incomplete story of your honeymoon or how your lives will be after 50 years of marriage. Ask your wedding DJ or Master of Ceremonies to have your guests shout out the needed nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs to fill in the blanks of your wedding Mad Libs story before reading back the very unpredictable and entertaining tale.

3. Or, maybe this time would be ideal for a special friend or family member to perform a song or reading written especially for you.

Granted, even these three alternatives to a wedding first dance may not be to your liking or fitting to your personality and style. But, they are just a couple of ideas from a list of hundreds that can easily replace or even enhance what has become known as the traditional, Kansas City wedding reception formalities; from the first dance to the cake cutting, the parent dances to the bouquet and garter toss. The amount of creativity and personal touches you infuse into your wedding reception are only limited by your limitless imagination. Don’t hold back.

But, as it was with considering each wedding reception formality you may wish to include, before selecting any activity, ask yourself “Why?” If the answer makes you smile and think of the fun and memories it will produce, you’re probably making the right choice. If not, don’t give up…come up with another idea.

Your wedding day should be a celebration of your happiness. You should feel comfortable with the activites and formalities you’ve chosen to perform and eager to enjoy a few first-time traditions of your very own. Don’t ever feel like you have to include a formality because it is expected. And above all, never ever go through the motions of a formality simply to get it out of the way!

Still need a little help getting the creative juices flowing? Pick up a copy of Peter Merry’s book “The Best Wedding Reception…Ever!” It is an entertaining and informative read that includes over 260 creative ideas that will make yours an unforgettably fun wedding reception.

As a credited contributor to Peter’s book and one of the editors, I’d be happy to give you a copy, with my compliments, simply for taking the time to tell me about your idea of the ideal wedding reception. To take advantage of this limited time offer, call me at 816-224-4487 or send an email to Ron@RonRuthWeddings.com and arrange for your complimentary, no-obligation wedding reception design consultation. Don’t forget to mention promo code “TBWRE2012.”

What do you think? Are you ready to be a rebel and break some rules to enjoy a wedding reception that is uniquely you? Your comments are welcome! 

I can’t imagine the amount of time, planning and logistics that went into this incredibly unique and fun wedding proposal. Follow Matt’s cinematic journey as he goes from asking permission of Ginny’s dad all the way to an epic, surprise marriage proposal . Grab your popcorn and Milk Duds, sit back and enjoy the show!

What do you think of this marriage proposal? Fun? Unique? Over the top? Please leave your comment.

I saw this this fun and very creative, stop motion, Lego marriage proposal video and had to share it with you. It was obviously a labor of love to produce, taking about 2,600 individual snap-shots to bring to life.

What do you think? Pretty cool, huh? Share your comments.

Ron Ruth Wedding Entertainment, a Kansas City based, wedding DJ company, has been honored with the WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Award for the third, consecutive year.

In a recent interview, owner Ron Ruth said, “I’m thrilled that Ron Ruth Wedding Entertainment has been selected to receive the Bride’s Choice Award for 2012 in the category of Kansas City wedding DJ entertainment. My greatest appreciation goes to the couples who turned to us to help them create unforgettably fun, Kansas City wedding receptions. They are directly responsible for our receiving this honor. I am humbled by the trust they placed in Ron Ruth Wedding Entertainment to serve as their creative partner.”

“I’m extremely grateful,” Mr. Ruth added, “that those relationships prompted so many positive reviews on WeddingWire.com and the Newlywed Review page of the Ron Ruth Wedding Entertainment website. To those Brides & Grooms, thank you so much for inviting us to assist you. Thank you, as well, to WeddingWire for distinguishing Ron Ruth Wedding Entertainment with the 2012 Bride’s Choice Award. “

From the WeddingWire Press Release: The WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards ™ recognizes the top local wedding professionals from the WeddingWire Network that demonstrate excellence in quality, service, responsiveness and professionalism. Unlike other awards in which winners are selected by the organization, the WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ are awarded solely based on the reviews from over 1.2 million newlyweds. Awards are determined by a combination of four factors: Overall rating (quality), total number of reviews (quantity), review performance from 2011 (recentcy), and consistency of reviews from year to year (consistency). This year’s recipients represent the top 5% of WeddingWire’s vendor community, across all service categories and all regions throughout the US and Canada.

Seating Is Limited For This One-Of A-Kind Workshop For Engaged Couples!
Reserve Your Spot HERE!

Although all of the resolutions are great words of advice for Kansas City wedding couples planning their wedding reception, I took special note of Resolution #9, “Resolve To Celebrate Who You Both Are.”

The author’s words, “This doesn’t need to conflict with resolving to compromise, but listen, you only do this once….If you are quirky, don’t be afraid to be quirky. If you are formal, be formal. Celebrate Culture, Celebrate Faith, Celebrate the things that made you love one another” are elements I encourage in the couples I work with.

There are no rules when it comes to how you celebrate your happiness. Don’t let anyone or any trend hold you back from being who you are or from celebrating your wedding reception in your way.

I also love Resolution #10, Remember, personal is not generic and inspiring doesn’t mean replicating.

As the author states “Somewhere, personalizing a wedding (making it seem reflective of your personalities and unique to the two of you) got confused with slapping a monogram on anything that was imprintable and replicating every cute idea seen around the blogosphere. Use blogs to inspire, but try, really try to make it personal.”

The creative process knows no bounds. From out of the ordinary wedding attire, to fun little surprises that engage your guests and special, memorable, picture perfect moments that frame your amazing love for one another, your limitless imagination is your greatest tool for making your wedding so very personal.

Need a little help finding your imaginative spirit? Attend “The MAGIC Behind An Extraordinary Wedding Celebration!” In this fun and informative, 90 minute workshop, you’ll get the ideas and advice you need to create an unforgettably fun, Kansas City wedding reception. Visit the “MAGIC” page for dates, locations and registration information.

Now go read the rest of the outstanding resolutions on the HuffPost blog and let me know which you like best in the comments! Or add another resolution to the list in the comments below.

So, he popped the question and you said “Yes!” All you have to do now is find just the right Kansas City wedding professionals to walk you through the creative process for celebrating your happiness with the wedding ceremony and wedding reception of your dreams.

Join Kansas City wedding DJ, Ron Ruth of Ron Ruth Wedding Entertainment, and some of the finest wedding reception venues, wedding photographers, videographers, caterers, wedding dress salons and more for the “Engaged” Bridal Show at  Union Station, 30 West Pershing Rd , Kansas City, MO, 64108. The wedding planning fun begins at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, January 29, 2012, and continues until 4:00 p.m.

Take advantage of  a sample gown sale with designer gowns starting at $99 from The Gown Gallery. Enjoy a dazzling runway show at 2:00 pm with wedding fashions from Bridal Extraordinaire, Ida’s Bridal and Tuxedo, The Gown Gallery and Tip Top Tux. Music for the fashion show provided by Ron Ruth Wedding Entertainment.

And…

• The first 100 Brides will receive a FREE, “Engaged” canvas tote bag! 
• 3 couples will win $500 in PWG Bucks to spend with wedding professionals at the show!  
• 1 couple will win a FREE honeymoon!

But wait! There’s more! Click on the photos below to view all of the events taking place at Kansas City’s “Engaged” Bridal Show at Union Station:

Tickets to Kansas City’s “Engaged” Bridal Show at Union Station are only $10 on-line (Buy One, Get One FREE!) or $10 per person at the door. Get yours today from the Perfect Wedding Guide.

How To Have An Unforgettably Fun, Kansas City Wedding Reception!
Seating Is Limited For This One-Of A-Kind Workshop For Engaged Couples!
Reserve Your Spot HERE!

With everything you learn at the Engaged Bridal Show and at the MAGIC workshop, your Kansas City wedding reception will be EXTRAORDINARY!

What do you enjoy most about bridal shows…the food, the fashions, the information? Your comments are always welcome!

A number of the Top 100 were also requested as “must-play” party wedding songs & music by Brides & Grooms and will remain favorites with wedding guests well into 2012 and beyond.   

And, these chart-topping songs filled dance floors as popular wedding music at wedding receptions. The 2011 year-end music charts include the most popular songs across all genres, ranked by radio airplay audience impressions and streaming activity data provided by on-line music sources.

 It’s also a great resource for wedding music & song research for Kansas City wedding receptions. Considered the world’s premier music publication, Billboard and its popular music charts have evolved into the primary source of information on trends and innovation in music for wedding DJs and others.

 Song Title (Click To Play) – Artist – Album / Music Data Gathered From Billboard.

1.  Rolling In The Deep - Adele – 21

2.  Party Rock Anthem - LMFAO Featuring Lauren Bennett & Goonrock - Sorry For Party Rocking

3.  Firework  – Katy Perry - Teenage Dream

4.  E.T. – Katy Perry Featuring Kanye West – Teenage Dream

5.  Give Me Everything - Pitbull Featuring Ne-Yo, Afrojack & Nayer – Planet Pit [Deluxe Version]

6.  Grenade – Bruno Mars – Doo-Wops & Hooligans

7.  F**K You (Forget You) - Cee Lo Green – Lady Killer [Clean Version]

8.  Super Bass - Nicki Minaj – Pink Friday

9.  Moves Like Jagger - Maroon 5 Featuring Christina Aguilera – Moves Like Jagger

10.  Just Can’t Get Enough – The Black Eyed Peas – The Beginning & The Best Of The E.N.D.

11.  On The Floor - Jennifer Lopez Featuring Pitbull – On The Floor

12.  S&M - Rihanna – Loud

13.  Pumped Up Kicks- Foster The People – Torches

14.  Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.) – Katy Perry – Teenage Dream

15.  Just The Way You Are – Bruno Mars – Doo-Wops & Hooligans

16.  Tonight (I’m Lovin’ You) - Enrique Iglesias Feat. Ludacris & DJ Frank E - Tonight (I’m Lovin’ You)

17.  Raise Your Glass – P!Nk – Greatest Hits…So Far!!!

18.  Born This Way – Lady Gaga – Born This Way

19.  F**Kin’ Perfect – P!Nk – Greatest Hits…So Far!!!

20.  What’s My Name? - Rihanna Featuring Drake – Loud

21.  Look At Me Now - Chris Brown Featuring Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes – F.A.M.E.

22.  Down On Me - Jeremih Featuring 50 Cent – All About You

23.  How To Love – Lil Wayne - How To Love

24.  Someone Like You – Adele – 21

25.  Good Life - OneRepublic – Waking Up

26.  Lazy Song – Bruno Mars – Doo-Wops & Hooligans

27.  Till The World Ends – Britney Spears – Live: The Femme Fatale Tour

28.  The Show Goes On – Lupe Fiasco – Lasers

29.  The Edge Of Glory – Lady Gaga – Born This Way

30.  We R Who We R – Ke$Ha – Cannibal

31.  Black And Yellow – Wiz Khalifa – Rolling Papers

32.  Tonight Tonight - Hot Chelle Rae – Whatever

33.  Blow – Ke$Ha – Cannibal

34.  Lighters – Bad Meets Evil Featuring Bruno Mars - Hell: The Sequel EP

35.  If I Die Young – The Band Perry – If I Die Young

36.  Stereo Hearts  – Gym Class Heroes Featuring Adam Levine - Stereo Hearts

37.  The Time (Dirty Bit) – The Black Eyed Peas – The Beginning & The Best Of The E.N.D.

38.  Coming Home - Diddy – Dirty Money Featuring Skylar Grey - Coming Home

39.  Hey Baby (Drop It To The Floor) - Pitbull Featuring T-Pain – Planet Pit [Clean Version]

40.  Only Girl (In The World) - Rihanna – Loud

41.  6 Foot 7 Foot - Lil Wayne Featuring Cory Gunz – 6 Foot 7 Foot

42.  Just A Kiss – Lady Antebellum – Just A Kiss

43.  Dirt Road Anthem - Jason Aldean – My Kinda Party

44.  Dynamite - Taio Cruz – The Rokstarr Collection

45.  No Hands - Waka Flocka Flame Featuring Roscoe Dash & Wale – No Hands

46.  I Wanna Go- Britney Spears - Live: The Femme Fatale Tour

47.  I’m On One – DJ Khaled Featuring Drake, Rick Ross & Lil Wayne – We The Best Forever

48.  You Make Me Feel… - Cobra Starship Featuring Sabi – You Make Me Feel…

49.  Yeah 3x – Chris Brown – F.A.M.E.

50.  Moment 4 Life - Nicki Minaj Featuring Drake – Pink Friday

To see the remaining 50 popular wedding songs & music for your Kansas City wedding reception, visit Billboard’s 2011 Top 100 Music Hits.

I’m excited to introduce Kansas City’s engaged couples to the first in a series of wedding planning videos that will help them pull together the intricate details needed to create an unforgettably fun wedding reception. Each video features a one-on-one interview with some of the finest wedding professionals in the Kansas City area.

From wedding reception venue managers, wedding photographers, videographers,  florists, caterers and more, soon-to-be Brides & Grooms will discover extraordinarily helpful, money-saving tips and advice to make the wedding planning process easier. Couples will also receive experienced, first-hand information from wedding  professionals who are not only passionate about what they do, but are highly respected for their knowledge in their area of expertise.

The first wedding planning video in the series includes my interview of Christina Cook, Catering Sales Executive at the Marriott Hotel, 10800 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park, KS, 66210.

During our 5 minute conversation, Christina and I discuss:

• The most overlooked question that should be asked when interviewing wedding reception venues in Kansas City.
• Why serving a plated meal may be more cost-effective than a buffet.
• How personal touches will make a wedding reception unique to the Bride & Groom…and more fun for everyone!

Enjoy!

You can reach Christina Cook at 913-338-8627 or Christina.Cook@marriott.com

With more wedding planning videos coming soon, I’d love your input for future interviews. Please leave the questions you’d like to have answered by Kansas City wedding professionals in the comments.