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Real Columbus Weddings, Industry Trends and Music Ideas

The Graduate Hotel Columbus

By Night Music DJ and Fizzy Cat Photo Booth | September 25, 2019

The Graduate Hotel Columbus is the newest and coolest Scarlet and Grey themed hotel and event space right in the middle of the action in the Short North!

The Graduate Hotel Columbus Rooftop

The rooftop patio at The Graduate

We couldn’t wait to check it out, and see for ourselves. We were lucky enough to have the Catering and Sales Manager show us around to all of the gathering and events spaces of this charming hotel, and even peek in a couple guest rooms.

The unique décor is all Ohio, with special touches everywhere. The comfy hotel rooms feature quilts that look like the State of Ohio flag, and a chair with a beautiful needlepoint version of famous Astronaut, John Glenn! We know that people will come to this hotel just for these decorative delights.

The Graduate Hotel Columbus lobby chandelier

The “Best Damn Band In The Land” lobby chandelier

The event areas have beautiful spaces, including some outdoor areas, along with a staff dedicated to making your party perfect! Whether you’re hosting a few BFFs for a birthday party, or 300 guests for a wedding, check out this hotel!

Valet parking in the back makes visiting easy. And don’t miss the attached Shake Shack. Stop by, or give them a call for a tour. Graduate Columbus, a place to stay for the Scarlet and Grey, is going to be very popular, we just know it!

The Graduate Hotel Columbus
750 N. High Street, Columbus, OH 43215
Graduatehotels.com
Want to take a look at some other awesome Columbus venues? Check them out HERE

Cocktails and Music? Guacamole Mix!

By Night Music DJ and Fizzy Cat Photo Booth | August 14, 2019

Summer is not over yet!

At Night Music, we love summer with SO MANY weddings and parties to DJ for!  

We also love summer party food including, corn on the cob, farm fresh tomatoes, and lots of Guacamole.  Take a listen to this summer playlist while enjoying this delish recipe for some yummy Guac. So tasty and so quick.

      

Night Music DJ summer guacamole recipe:

Ingredients

  • 3 Ripe Avocados
  • 1/2 Cup of Chopped Red Onions
  • 1/2 Cup of Chopped Cilantro
  • 1/3 Cup Chopped Jalapeno
  • 1/8 Cup of Lemon and Lime Juice — 80/20 ratio
  • Pinch of Salt (or salt to taste)

Instructions

Place Avocados in a bowl and mash with a fork – You will want to leave it a little chunky. Add all the other ingredients and mix. Enjoy!

Need some more cocktail tunes for your summer siore?

You’ll find some nice ones at the RESOURCES page of your website. Of course there are SO MANY excellent recipes for this summer favorite. Some of our favorites are HERE and HERE

Night Music DJ Guacamole

But Wait! What about the Cocktail?

A nice summer sip can make your guacamole taste even better! There are so many options but we are partial to this tasty concoction. Try this fabulous Strawberry Sparkler. 

Ingredients

  • 3 strawberries
  • 1 lime wedge
  • 1 tbsp. sugar, to rim glass
  • ½ oz. chilled rose champagne
  • 1 oz. Sauza® Blue Silver 100% Agave Tequila
  • ½ oz. limeade
  • ½ oz. DeKuyper® Strawberry Liqueur

Preparation 

  1. Wash, stem, quarter and freeze strawberries at least 1 hour .
  2. Run wedge of lime around rim of champagne flute and dip in plate of sugar to coat rim.
  3. Place 3 frozen strawberries in bottom of prepared flute and add champagne.
  4. In shaker filled with ice, combine tequila, limeade, and strawberry liqueur. Shake and pour into glass.
  5. Add squeeze fresh lime if desired and serve immediately.

Experience Columbus for your wedding!

By Night Music DJ and Fizzy Cat Photo Booth | July 18, 2019

Experience Columbus for your wedding.

Experience Columbus makes wedding planning easy

How would you like to have a team of local insiders who are tourism and wedding experts help with your wedding planning at absolutely no cost to you?  Doesn’t that sound dreamy? It’s 100% real! Let us introduce you to the team at Experience Columbus, who will be delighted to help make your wedding planning a little easier, and your wedding weekend a fabulous adventure for your out of town guests. 

Ask the experts

The experts at the Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau focus on great visitor experiences and that includes your wedding guests! For instance, do you need some ideas for fun Columbus activities? Just ask. How about some help suggesting and booking hotel room blocks? Done! They also will provide a glossy and awesome Seasonal Guidebook for you to stuff into each out-of-town gift bags, to help your guests navigate the city, and let them know all of the fun and unique places to go.   

Everything is absolutely free and complimentary! 

Visit the Experience Columbus wedding website by clicking HERE.  You’ll find information on how to receive those fantastic and glossy Columbus Visitor Guides. (Insider tip: Get enough for your out-of-town guests, but make sure to keep one for yourself to help plan great newlywed date nights!) In addition, you will find the contact info for the Experience Columbus Wedding Team, if you want some suggestions for activities, or help with hotels.  

Need some ideas for your bachelor or bachelorette party?

They have even created some fun and unique ideas for your bachelor and bachelorette parties. For example, check out the sample Bachelor Party HERE  and the Bachelorette Party HERE 

Contact Experience Columbus for your wedding

Contact the team at Experience Columbus, your new BFFs! 
Laura Herring LHerring@ExperienceColumbus.com
Zach Warmouth ZWarmouth@ExperienceColumbus.com
Roger Dudley RDudley@ExperienceColumbus.com

Above all, make sure you stay in the know by following our blog HERE 

Columbus DJs Night Music at WEX Drive In Movie

By Night Music DJ and Fizzy Cat Photo Booth | June 6, 2019

Columbus DJs Night Music will be at the WEX Drive In Movie for the 2019 season!

Columbus DJs Night Music will be at the WEX Drive In Movie. Logans Run.

Here you go! We’ve got your FREE summer fun plan for Tuesday night,  June 18 because one of our favorite summer activities is back, WEX DRIVE-IN!

Join Columbus DJs Night Music on the Wexner Center Plaza starting at 7:30 PM.

The movie will start at dusk (around 9 PM).
Columbus DJs Night Music will be providing the 70s tunes and some fun trivia, and there will also be great food and drinks … including local favorite Jeni’s Ice Cream! (Insider tip – members get a free scoop, so bring your membership card)

The FREE movie this month is Logan’s Run.

This is a beloved cult Sci-fi favorite with a  doomed city, government sanctioned secret extermination of anyone over age 30, a swinging 1970s sense of décor, a determined group (Michael York!  Farrah Fawcett!) running for their lives, and so much more action … and fun!

Pack some blankets or chairs, and you’ll be all set. In case of rain or extreme heat, the film and fun will be indoors. Join us, Night Music DJs, along with these other fabulous vendors. Hai Poké –   Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams –  Seventh Son Brewing –  The Cheesy Truck

Also, make sure you join Columbus DJs Night Music at WEX Drive In Movie for two more fantastic drive-in movies, Jurassic Park and The Craft. Jurassic Park will be presented on Tuesday, July 16th, and you can see The Craft on Tuesday, August 20th. More information about this cool movie series can be found at The Wexner Center For The Arts website here: https://wexarts.org/series/wex-drive

Check this out

The Wex has partnered with regional artists to create screen printed T-shirts for our outdoor summer film series so pick up the shirt for Logan’s Run—designed by Robert Beatty of Lexington, Kentucky—on-site at the Wexner Center Store and on the plaza or online at store.wexarts.org. (Shirts are $20 for Wex members and $25 for the general public).

Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens presents Cocktails at the Conservatory

By Night Music DJ and Fizzy Cat Photo Booth | May 15, 2019

Franklin Park ConservatoryDate Night or Girls Night. A group from the neighborhood or a bunch from work. Our friends at Franklin Park Conservatory have brought back (by popular demand) Cocktails at the Conservatory, and we can’t wait.

Save these dates for so much fun once a month from May to October. Explore all of the areas of Franklin Park Conservatory at these popular 21 + events

Thursday, May 23, we are proud to help kick off the series by bringing all of your favorite 90s throwback songs along with some chances to win a prize or two! Do not miss this super fun one!

May 23 ~ Adults Night in the Children’s Garden

And then, join in once a month for special cocktail parties carefully curated with drinks, bites, and beauty!  

June 27 – The Bees’ Meads
July 25 – Backyard Brews & BBQ
Aug 29 – Botany of Booze
Sep 26 – One The Rocks:  Crystals & Cocktails
Oct 23  – Plants and Potions

Insider’s tip: Bundle and Save by purchasing tickets to THREE cocktail parties, and receive $15 off the total price. Promo Code: CHEERS 

We LOVE events at the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Check out this post that features a great dance party on the West Terrace

What are you waiting for? Get with your friends, and join up for the best party in town! See you soon.

Video Spotlight. A dance party wedding reception at the Renaissance Columbus.

By Night Music DJ and Fizzy Cat Photo Booth | April 29, 2019

You know what’s fun at wedding receptions?  Dancing! And Lindsey and Matt’s Renaissance Columbus wedding reception celebration had everyone DANCING all night long.  

We had such a blast with Lindsey and Matt and their fun family and friends.  They really wanted a fun dance party, and they sure got it. Check out this short video of the action, and you’ll know this was a very happy couple!

Lindsey and Matt had a perfect choice for their beautiful First Dance.

First Dance by Corey Smith

And they know you just can’t go wrong with some old school for the parents:

Father/Daughter Dance ~ I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing by Aerosmith

Mother/Son Dance ~ Perfect Fan Backstreet Boys

Matt and Lindsey on their wedding day. Wedding reception at Columbus Renaissance.

 

Thanks Lindsey and Matt.  What a blast! Thanks also to Kristin Bliss from Picture Bliss Photography and our friends at The Renaissance Columbus Downtown for such a good night. Check them out for your Renaissance Columbus wedding reception. Need some music ideas for your celebration? Take a look at our resources page HERE.   

The FUN Columbus wedding reception of Stephanie and Joe

By Night Music DJ and Fizzy Cat Photo Booth | March 7, 2019

The FUN Columbus wedding reception of Stephanie and Joe incorporated some of their favorites things through intentional choices with guests, music, fun and food!  

Columbus Wedding reception

 

Have you ever been to a reception that featured a selection of 12 different kinds of Cheez-It Crackers for the guests to try, enjoy, mix, and help themselves to all during the reception?    

We are not exaggerating when we tell you that this was a HUGE HIT.  Also, so simple to do AND a true reflection on Stephanie and Joe’s fun personalities.  

columbus wedding reception

They would be delighted if you copied their idea, or if you got inspired by their Cracker Bar to put your own snack spin on your wedding!

Insider tips from bride … you’ll need more Hot and Spicy than you think you will. You’ll need a couple of extra boxes to toss into the getaway car too!    

Cheeze-it's at Columbus wedding reception

Thanks to the awesome team at Clintonville Woman’s Club for setting up and replenishing the display, and talented photographer John Croyle for capturing some great photos.  

More fun ideas for your Columbus wedding reception can be found here

About Clintonville Woman’s Club

Our private clubhouse is nestled atop the Adena Brook Ravine. It’s adjacent to the Whetstone Park of Roses in the heart of Clintonville.

The cathedral ceilings, exposed wood beams, and large picture windows serve to enhance the surrounding nature. You can host any type of event in our Multi-level Ballroom with natural light and hardwood floors .

Our Chefs are happy to work with you to customize your menu. The delicious cuisine is beautifully presented and served on elegant bone china.

Our Director will meet with you to assist in planning your event from beginning to end in order to help you plan the perfect party. The many amenities offered by the club allows you to make many of your choices while in our office.

Look us over. We are certain you’ll want to experience the warmth and unique sophistication The Clintonville Woman’s Club.

Sneak Peek. Swan Lake Event Center in Powell Ohio

By Night Music DJ and Fizzy Cat Photo Booth | February 5, 2019

Yay! It IS possible to find a unique and elegant location for your wedding and reception!  Look no further than the brand new Swan Lake Event Center. The long awaited grand opening will be May 2019.

 

It’s no secret that we love a beautiful venue, and when we contacted their superstar team to give us a sneak peek, they were gracious enough to offer us a tour.

Swan Lake has been carefully built from the ground up to provide the absolute best location for your once in a lifetime occasion. The attention to detail is amazing. And yes! There is actually a lovely lake, along with 20 wooded acres perfect for photos and memories.

Inside the Main Hall you’ll find a beautiful room with gorgeous floors, windows, a stone fireplace, and tile accents that compliment the gorgeous muted palette. The room is designed to accommodate up to 375 guests for a celebration. Every detail has been carefully chosen, and the overall effect of modern elegance is simply perfect.

 

When you check out their website or call for your tour (and you DEFINITELY should), be sure to ask about the two detached parlours, perfect for getting ready, and the welcoming Gatehouse! Trust us – you’ll fall in love with Swan Lake.

Swan Lake Event Center
5900 Liberty Road
Powell, OH  43065
740-833-6024
www.SwanLakeEventCenter.com

Swan Lake Event Center is a versatile venue nestled on 20 wooded acres in Powell, Ohio. The magnificent setting showcases an abundance of natural light, neutral colors and the most outdoor ceremony options in Central Ohio!

The Main Hall has an attached, partially covered terrace overlooking the lake creating an exceptionally scenic cocktail hour and reception. Customized lighting, a beautiful fireplace and a grand mezzanine are just a few of the details included in your Reception Package.

The vast grounds, picturesque trail encircling the lake, waterfall entrance and artistic pieces throughout the property will make your pictures stand out from the rest.

UPDATE! The official ribbon cutting and grand opening celebration is scheduled for Thursday May 19th at 4:00pm.

More fabulous Central Ohio locations are described here.

Video Spotlight: Erica and Matthew’s Westin Columbus Wedding

By Night Music DJ and Fizzy Cat Photo Booth | December 27, 2018

Gorgeous!

This Westin Columbus wedding reception was absolutely perfect, and elegant, and gorgeous … and FUN! Erica & Matthew choose to add some fun dance lights, and a big custom monogram to their décor, and it really added to the party. We encourage our couples to share their music preferences with us, and we take those ideas very seriously.  Erica & Matthew have good taste in music, and it was a blast playing some different choices for them.

As you can see from this short highlight video, absolutely everyone had a great time, and we had nonstop dancing from start to finish.  And doesn’t that monogram look good?

Here are some of their spotlight musical choices. Click the title to hear the song.

Grand Entrance ~ Life in Technicolor II by Coldplay

Cake ~ Beautiful Love by The Afters

1st Dance ~ All I Ask of You by Emily Rossum and Patrick Wilson

Father-Daughter Dance ~ Superman (It’s Not Easy) by Five for Fighting

Mother-Son Dance ~ Humble and Kind by Tim McGraw

Bouquet Toss ~ Till The World Ends by Britney Spears

Last Song ~ Jubel by Klingande then Hang On Sloopy by The McCoys

Check out the Westin Columbus for your wedding! Thank you to the beautiful Westin Great Southern Columbus for providing such a perfect and elegant location, and anytime we get to work with our talented friend Clay at Red Gallery, or the wonderful Angela from Red Letter Day Events is a great day!

Wedgewood Country Club. Karli and David’s amazing wedding celebration.

By Night Music DJ and Fizzy Cat Photo Booth | July 19, 2018

Wedgewood Country Club was the venue for Karli and David’s gorgeous, elegant and fun wedding reception.

Karli and David at Wedgewood Country Club

www.TessaMaxine.com

Dancing for everyone opened up with a giant and crowded circle surrounding the newlyweds.  What an incredible memory for all as a room full of friends and family serenaded the newlyweds with Let Me Call You Sweetheart, a family favorite.  Everyone loved this, and it was a fantastic way to kick off the huge dance party.

 

They entered their reception to the classic Frank Sinatra song,  Too Marvelous For Words, and the guests loved it!

The spotlight dances included:
1st Dance ~ Making Memories of Us by Keith Urban
Father/Daughter Dance ~Daddy’s Little Girl by Al Martino
Mother/Son Dance ~ Because You Loved Me by Celine Dion

There was so much dancingAND singing!

 

Thanks Karli & David for letting us celebrate with you!  We loved it. Thanks to our friends at the beautiful Wedgewood Golf and Country Club, and Tessa Maxine photography for being a joy to work with … as usual!

Thinking of using Wedgewood Golf and Country Club for your wedding? Check this out.

Weddings at Wedgewood

Wedgewood Golf & Country Club offers the function space, breathtaking views and expert wedding professionals that brides dream of, including a Grand Ballroom with stunning and elegantly updated interiors, to make sure your event dream is fully realized. The ballroom’s overall design reflects the storied history of Wedgewood, but with a modern romantic feel. The look and size of the space offers a modern flare that will appeal to event planners and party goers alike.

When the perfect future is in bloom there is no better place to commemorate your love than Wedgewood Golf & Country. From the ceremony to the best party with your closest family and friends, whatever you envision for the perfect wedding, our wedding experts will help you achieve it! Wedgewood is where love blossoms!

From the moment you step into the secluded Celebration Garden you are enveloped by the natural beauty of our hillside oasis with vibrant blossoms, whimsical landscaping and stunning views of our lush championship golf course. The Celebration Garden is the most elegant and unique outdoor wedding venue in Central Ohio!

Our facilities are available for both members and non-members to have the wedding of your dreams at Wedgewood Golf & Country Club. Enjoy the finest in amenities and services that our members have come to love.