Drew and Ashley Hinrichs celebrated their happiness with a wedding ceremony and Kansas City wedding reception at the Boulevard Brewery in the crossroads of Kansas City, MO. It was an unforgettably fun evening as they were joined by over 150 of their closest friends and family. And, Ron Ruth Wedding Entertainment was invited to serve as their Wedding Entertainment Director and Kansas City wedding DJ.

One of the coolest things about Drew &  Ashley having their wedding ceremony and  at the Boulevard Brewery (other than the fact that it was at a brewery) was the amazing backdrop created by the skyline of downtown Kansas City. We’re just as anxious as Drew & Ashley to see the photos taken by The Parsons Photographers and the video shot by Reclaim Creative Video.

While we wait, we thought we’d share just a few of the not-so-professional pics and home-style videos we were able to grab at the evening’s festivities.

Every couple is unique. It is those unique traits that can be (should be) incorporated into a Kansas City wedding reception to create a signature celebration…one that is exclusive to that couple’s personality and style.

As their Kansas city wedding DJ and Wedding Entertainment Director, helping Drew and Ashley discover those distinct qualities was easy and fun. Including those individual characteristics as a part of their one-of-a-kind Kansas City wedding reception was not only enjoyable for them…but will remain a lifelong memory for all.

One of the favorite surprises of their Kansas City wedding reception coincided with the cake cutting. Drew’s dad owns the franchise rights to Dairy Queen in Cass County, Missouri. As young men, Drew and his brother, Chris, worked in their father’s stores. That experience was a big part of Drew’s life. It was only natural to include his (and, of course, Ashley’s) love for Dairy Queen ice cream into their wedding day memories.

Once Drew & Ashley had cut their cake, the guests were told that “we need to pause for a moment for a word from our sponsor.” They were then instructed to watch the 2 video screens along the wall of the Boulevard Brewery ballroom. Their family and friends filled the room with laughter as they viewed one of the best and funniest Dairy Queen commercials ever produced along with a brief, vintage DQ slide show, accompanied by a Dairy Queen jingle.

At the conclusion of the video commercial, the guests went crazy as the servers entered the Boulevard Brewery ballroom with trays loaded with dozens of small, DQ cups filled with Dairy Queen ice cream for everyone.

To add to the excitement, Drew & Ashley also provided hot fudge and sprinkles.

New rule! Every Kansas City wedding receptionshould have Dairy Queen ice cream with all the fixin’s to serve along side the wedding cake.

You know those Kansas City wedding receptions you’ve been to where the Bride & Groom have their First Dance and nobody pays any attention? That didn’t happen at Drew and Ashley Hinrichs wedding celebration. No way! Their guests were so engaged in all of the fun of the evening that they couldn’t help themselves…they had to see what other special thing Drew & Ashley might have in store for them.

And, they weren’t disappointed as you’ll see in Drew & Ashley’s awesome First Dance video. They not only took a few dance lessons to make themselves comfortable on the dance floor and entertaining to watch, they also included a few words of love to each other throughout the song. Pay close attention to the reaction of their family and friends.

But, as much fun as the activities and formalities were, an unforgettably fun, Kansas City wedding reception has to include an awesome party with loads of dancing!  

We thank Drew & Ashley Hinrichs for allowing Ron Ruth Wedding Entertainment to be a part of their Kansas City wedding reception as their Kansas City wedding DJ and Wedding Entertainment Director.

HOW TO CREATE AN UNFORGETTABLY FUN CELEBRATION!
In 2007, my friend and fellow Wedding Entertainment Director™, Peter Merry, released his self-published book, ”The Best Wedding Reception…Ever!,” the first wedding planning book for Brides and Grooms who want their guests to enjoy an unforgettably fun celebration.

Since its initial release, ”The Best Wedding Reception…Ever!” has received outstanding reviews and extraordinary media coverage , while over 10,000 Brides and Grooms purchased the book to assist them with their once-in-a-lifetime wedding receptions. It also became a must-have reference for countless wedding DJs and other wedding professionals across the country.

MAKING THE “BEST” BETTER!
Peter Merry has now updated “The Best Wedding Reception…Ever!,” adding even more valuable information. ”The Best Wedding Reception…Ever!” features 230 creative ideas for planning a wedding reception celebration that will be filled with laughter and dancing and memorable moments that flow smoothly from one moment to the next.

COMING TO A BOOKSTORE NEAR YOU!
The good news is that it will be possible for nearlyweds to find this incredible resource at bookstores everywhere, beginning October 12, 2010! If you just can’t wait, you can pre-order “The Best Wedding Reception…Ever!” on the Barnes & Noble and Borders Bookstores’ web sites. 

Peter Merry, Author.

PETER MERRY IS COMING TO KANSAS CITY!
But, here’s the best news…ever! You can snag a copy of “The Best Wedding Reception…Ever!“ before it goes on sale to the general public when Peter Merry comes to Kansas City for a series of personal appearances and a very special, “Sneak Preview Release.” You can catch Peter at a number of speaking engagements throughout the metro, from Wednesday, September 15th, through Sunday, September 19th…including the Perfect Wedding Guide Fall 2010 Bridal Show in Overland Park, KS.

CHECK OUT PETER’S BOOK TOUR SCHEDULE.
A short list of Peter Merry’s appearances has been listed in the “Events” section of the Ron Ruth Wedding Entertainment Facebook page. Become a fan by “Liking” our page and we’ll keep you posted as to where and when you can see Peter and get your inaugural, signed copy of ”The Best Wedding Reception…Ever!“

Get Your Signed Copy At The PWG Fall 2010 Bridal Show

“The Best Wedding Reception Ever!” also has 101 full color images submitted by 32 highly talented professional wedding photographers…along with 22 real couple profile pages showcasing each couple’s uniquely personalized reception agenda and music selections.

GET A TASTE OF WHAT’S INSIDE!  
These are the Chapter Titles for “The Best Wedding Reception Ever!“…the first wedding planning book for brides and grooms who want their guests to enjoy an unforgettably fun celebration.

Chapter Titles for “The Best Wedding Reception Ever!” from The Best Wedding Reception Ever! on Vimeo.

Love it or hate it, the “Money Dance” remains a popular custom at wedding receptions throughout the Midwest. In the Kansas City area, the “Money Dance” is also referred to as the “Dollar Dance” or “Honeymoon Dance.” No matter how it’s named, however, it ultimately means that guests, who wish to dance with the Bride and Groom, at a specifically designated moment in the reception, must “pay” for the privilege.

Very few Brides and Grooms are ever “on the fence” when it comes to choosing to include the “Money Dance” in their wedding reception. Many couples decide very early on in the planning process that it is a “cheesy and tacky” formality and adamantly rule it out without hesitation or regret. The “Honeymoon Dance” simply does not fit their personality and style and that’s OK.

But, there are also couples that enthusiastically look forward to the opportunity to spend a few, personal moments with their guests on the dance floor while, at the same time, graciously accepting the generosity of their family and friends to help them with their honeymoon expenses.

At Ron Ruth Wedding Entertainment, we assist with the “Dollar Dance” at about 50% of the weddings where we perform. And, those couples that have chosen to embrace the tradition have held their receptions in every conceivable venue from modest halls to lavish hotel and country club ballrooms.

The custom of the “Money Dance” was originated in America in the early 1900’s by the European immigrants who wanted to assure that the young couple had a few extra dollars to get them started on their future together. It has endured in certain areas of the United States, while many other regions are less familiar with the tradition.

Along the upper east coast, some believe that the custom of a “Dollar Dance” has its direct roots in both the Italian and Polish heritages, two groups of people who appreciate a good time and love traditions.

The aim of this article is not to convince anyone to include the, “Money Dance,” “Dollar Dance” or “Honeymoon Dance” in their reception…like that would even be possible. But, if you’ve already made up your mind that you wish to make it a part of the festivities, here are a few things you should know. 

Here in the central Midwest, a successful “Money Dance” (not just in dollars and cents) relies on 3 key factors; timing, presentation and time allotment.

TIMING: If you plan to have a “Dollar Dance” at your reception, it should be a part of the natural flow of events. We suggest that it be held after the traditional, dancing formalities but before the bouquet and garter toss. All of your guests, particularly older family members who will surely want to participate, will still be in attendance. And, few, if any, of your guests will have had so much to drink that you have to hold them up while they step on your toes. Plus, your photographer will still be on hand during the “Honeymoon Dance” to capture those special photos of you with your closest friends and family.

PRESENTATION: A talented Wedding Entertainment Director™ or highly experienced Kansas City wedding DJ can help you find extremely creative, engaging and entertaining ways to introduce the “Money Dance” into the planned activities of your reception. Make sure to ask him/her to share those ideas with you if you want your “Dollar Dance” to be just as much fun and memorable as the rest of your reception. If presented properly, your guests will not only be anxious to dance with the 2 of you, they will “pay” handsomely for the pleasure.

TIME ALLOTMENT: You’ll also want the “Money Dance” to move along at a pace that allows you enough time to thank your dancing partner for coming to your reception without the conversation turning into a long and drawn out exchange. A dance with each new partner should only last about 20-30 seconds. Overall, we suggest that the “Dollar Dance” take no longer than about 15 minutes to complete to keep other guests from getting bored.

The background accompaniment to a “Honeymoon Dance” is usually a series of back-to-back slow songs, played at low volume levels to allow you to comfortably converse with each guest while dancing.

The Best Man & Maid/Matron of Honor are generally given the responsibility of collecting the money for the Bride and Groom. The minimum donation for the “Money Dance,” of course, is one dollar, although larger denominations are routinely contributed.

Regardless, those guests who join in the “Dollar Dance” are happy to be able to share a dance with the newlyweds on their wedding day.

Jay & Laura Hackett were married on Saturday, June 19, 2010. They celebrated their happiness at the Ball Conference Center in south Olathe, KS with 250 family and friends.

Jay & Laura Hackett - June 19, 2010

Kansas City Wedding DJ and certified, Wedding Entertainment Director™, Ron Ruth, was invited to serve as Master of Ceremonies and provided the entertainment and music for the celebration.

Ball Conference Center - Olathe, KS

Jay's Groom's Cake. What a hotdog!

Jay & Laura wanted a wedding reception that would be fun, personal and memorable for everyone. They were not disappointed.

To kick off the festivities, the 12 members of the wedding party entered the ballroom to specially selected, upbeat music that Jay & Laura chose for each couple. The guests were then treated to a fun, personalized introduction that included a story about each attendant. Those signature intro’s created a ton of laughter and the first of many incredible memories of the night.

After dinner, Jay & Laura kept the excitement and laughter going, participating as contestants in a very special version of the “Newlywed Game,” where the guests provided the questions. It was a hoot!

And, there’s no way that those in attendance will ever forget the telling of Jay & Laura’s “Love Story.” It was just one of many highlights of the evening. But, there was no topping Jay & Laura’s extremely romantic and unforgettable first dance to “Lucky” performed by Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat.

The guests had so much fun with the activities and formalities that Jay & Laura selected, that they stayed late into the evening to party with the newlyweds.   

In the end, Jay & Laura’s “amazing” wedding reception can best be summarized in their own words.

Matt & Rachel Fowler celebrated their happiness with over 200 friends and family on Saturday, June 5, 2010, at Drexel Hall in Kansas City, MO. Kansas City Wedding DJ and certified, Wedding Entertainment Director™, Ron Ruth, was invited to act as Master of Ceremonies and also provided the entertainment and music for the celebration.

Matt & Rachel Fowler Celebrate Their Happiness!

Matt & Rachel’s “Love Story,” just one of the fun activities they chose to include, began 25 years ago when they, both, attended the same grade school, then middle school, high school and, oh yeah, the same college. Throughout those many years, they remained nothing more than casual friends. Fate & destiny did not realize a possible connection for the newlyweds until their high school’s 10 year class reunion in 2007.

Just 18 months later, Matt & Rachel were engaged! He proposed to her by one of the fountains on the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City on New Years Eve, 2008.

At the conclusion of the personalized wedding party introductions, which included lots of fun information about each attendant, Matt’s father offered a toast that was, well…you would have had to been there to fully appreciate.

Matt & Rachel selected hot pink and black as their colors. Instead of the traditional wedding cake, they served yummy, dessert shots to their guests.

Matt & Rachel’s first dance as husband and wife was to ”The Luckiest” by Ben Folds.

In the end, everyone had an unforgettably fun time and Matt & Rachel were extremely happy. How happy? Check out the video below.

You can celebrate your happiness with an extraordinarily entertaining and memorable reception, too! Contact Ron Ruth Wedding Entertainment at ron@ronruthweddings.com or 816-224-4487 for a personal, no-obligation, entertainment consultation. We’ll share the rest of what Matt & Rachel had to say about their wedding reception and tell you more about some of the other, fun activities they chose to include in their one-of-a-kind wedding reception.

On Saturday, May 15, 2010, Ron Ruth Wedding Entertainment was invited to assist Zac & Ashley Howard with their wedding ceremony and reception at the historic, Oakwood Country Club in south Kansas City, MO. It was my pleasure to perform as their Master of Ceremonies and Wedding Entertainment Director™.

With 175+ friends and family in attendance, Zac & Ashley celebrated their happiness in grand style.

But first, they had to rehearse!

Ashley’s fun, faux bouquet for the wedding ceremony rehearsal.

We provided the music and sound reinforcement for the ceremony, including lapel microphones for the Groom and minister, so being at the Friday evening rehearsal to review all of the cues was a must.

Ashley rehearsing the processional with her dad, Greg. He walked much, much slower at the actual ceremony.

Check out the cute ring bearer. He stood with the Groomsmen as though he does this “wedding thing” every weekend.

Not just a cake...a centerpiece.

Zac & Ashley’s wedding cake was a centerpiece that complimented their purple and ivory colors.

The newlyweds chose to include 2, fun activities to entertain their guests during dinner; “Wishes” and “A Kiss For A Kiss.” And, instead of a traditional bouquet toss, Ashley honored her grandparents (married 62 years) by presenting it to them. It was a very tender and memorable moment. 

Zac & Ashley share their first dance as husband and wife.

The newlyweds celebrated their happiness and their love during their first dance as Mr.& Mrs.to “Smile” by Uncle Kracker.

Ashley & her dad.

 Ashley & her father danced to “The Way You Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra. 

Ashley having fun!

 The rest of the evening was an incredibly fun party that went beyond its scheduled end!

Even the Grandparents couldn't resist the urge to dance.

Zac & Ashley dancing the night away.

It really was an unforgettably fun wedding reception and I appreciate the opportunity to have been a part of it. 

There are a ton more photos from Zac & Ashley’s wedding reception on the Ron Ruth Wedding Entertainment Facebook fan page. You’re invited to check them out.

Too bad it had to end.

Zach & Kellie Strube Trade Their Guests "A Kiss For A Kiss"

From the moment Zach and Kellie Strube began planning for their wedding reception at the Doubletree Hotel in Overland Park, KS, they were focused on having fun. They wanted to include wedding reception activities that would assure that their guests would have a great time from the second they walked through the ballroom door.

Zach & Kellie enthusiastically sifted through dozens of fun, wedding reception activities until settling on 3 or 4 that would mix well with their personality and style and create the level of excitement they wanted.

One of the fun wedding reception activities they included was “A Kiss for a Kiss.” It not only produced a room full of happy energy, it also gave a few of their family and friends the opportunity to show off their imaginative spirit.

During the meal, at almost every Kansas City wedding reception, the guests will “tink” their water or drink glasses with their silverware as a cue for the Bride and Groom to kiss. “A Kiss for a Kiss” adds an amusing twist because the newlyweds will only respond to the “tinking” glasses after another couple, married or dating, demonstrates exactly how they want them to kiss. 

As suggested, so many couples get very creative in their kissing technique, which is pretty funny. But, the real fun comes as the guests watch the Bride & Groom try to accurately imitate those unusual kisses. 

Done properly, “A Kiss for a Kiss” is an entertaining way to fill the lull that can occur during dinner, especially when a plated meal is served. And, it creates a tremendous amount of laughter and unforgettably fun wedding reception moments that will make newlyweds smile every time they look through their photos.

These are just a few of the fun, sequential, “A Kiss for a Kiss” photographs from Zach & Kellie’s wedding reception.

To successfully incorporate “A Kiss for a Kiss” into your wedding celebration, you’ll want the assistance of a Wedding Entertainment Director™ that knows the very necessary secrets to making this wedding reception activity one of the most memorable moments for you and your guests.

Contact me today for your free, no-obligation entertainment consultation and I’ll fill you in on the necessary details. I’ll even share a few more entertaining ideas that will allow you to enjoy an unforgettably fun, Kansas City wedding reception.

ron@ronruthweddings.com
816.224.4487

Photos: Angela Needs Shipps Photography

Ron Ruth Wedding Entertainment Presents 10 Tips For Wedding Toasts and Wedding Speeches at Kansas City Wedding Receptions

So, you’ve anxiously agreed to be the Best Man or Maid/Matron of Honor at your best friend’s or relative’s upcoming wedding and you’ve also been assigned the important task of giving a wedding toast or speech at the reception. Writing a good wedding toast is a job that should not to be taken too lightly. The Best Man’s and Maid/Matron of Honor’s wedding speeches are your moment to shine by adding a fun, personal touch to the wedding reception that should create a fond memory.

As someone that performs weekly at Kansas City wedding receptions, I’ve seen and heard a number of wedding toasts and wedding speeches, from very emotional and endearing to funny and extremely creative. Most have been impressive and entertaining in their own special way and, of course, unique to the Bride & Groom.

Some, however, could have been better had the presenter taken a few minutes to research the very basic structure for delivering a good wedding toast or wedding speech.

What follows are 10 tips to help you give Kansas City’s best wedding toast or wedding speech based on years of personal observations.

Tip #1 - Know What You’re Going To Say: Invest in a stack of 3×5  cards and jot down bullet points of the highlights of your wedding speech or toast. Do not write it out in it’s in entirety. A case of nerves can make the temptation to read your speech verbatim too great and that can be extremely tedious for the listener. And, above all, do not fool yourself into believing that you can “wing it.” You’ll not only risk forgetting important things you wish you had said, but “winging it” can also lead to meaningless rambling and, worse yet, saying something you might regret.

Tip #2 - Know Your Audience: Know that you are speaking to the Bride & Groom’s family members and closest friends. Some may be strangers to you.  Although a touch of humor is a great ice breaker and attention grabber, it may be best to steer away from jokes that cross into the sometimes sensitive areas of old boyfriends/girlfriends, embarassing private stories, religion, politics  or sex. When in doubt, pretend YOUR Grandmother is sitting front row center.

Tip #3 - Introduce Yourself: Whenever you speak before a group, it’s always a good idea to introduce yourself and to let the audience know why you’re speaking. 

Tip #4 - Show Appreciation: Thank the host(s) for inviting you and acknowledge those that helped make the Bride & Groom’s wedding day so special.

Tip #5 – Tell How You Know The Newlyweds: Tell how you came to know the Bride and/or Groom and how long you’ve known each other. It’s a great back story and personal touch that the guests are sure to enjoy.

Tip #6 – Share Why The Bride & Groom Are Perfect for Each Other: A Best Man or Maid/Matron of Honor’s wedding toast or wedding speech is an opportunity to celebrate two people that got married, so include an unmistakable trait or interest the couple share in common that will lead them to a happy marriage.

Tip #7 – “Cliff Notes” Can Be Your Friend: At a loss for words? In a pinch, a simple search on Google can help you find the perfect, short line of poetry or famous, romantic love quote from someone that has already said it “best.”  A well selected quote can also inspire you to come up with a few words of your own. 

Tip #8 - Give Advice Sparingly: Some Best Man and Maid/Matron of Honor wedding toasts or wedding speeches offer some sort of advice. If your toast includes advice, stay away from the type of humor mentioned in Tip #2. Keep it light. Words of advice should be given in a manner that will make the Bride and Groom smile.

Tip #9 - Refrain From Overindulging: Drinking alcohol in excess, prior to the Best Man or Maid/Matron of Honor’s speech or wedding toast, will not make this important task any easier or less stressful. It won’t make you funnier, either. Really! At a Kansas City wedding reception, most toasts will take place early in the evening; right after the Bride and Groom have been introduced or immediately after dinner. There will be plenty of time, afterward, to indulge in your favorite adult beverage. Staying sober will assure that you don’t say something that will embarrass you, the Bride & Groom or their guests. Remember, your Grandma is still watching!

Tip #10 - Don’t Forget To Conclude Your Toast: Often times the Best Man and Maid/Matron of Honor will get caught up in the moment of the wedding toast to the Bride and Groom and forget to give their speech an ending that provides the cue for the guests to raise their glasses and drink. Don’t forget to conclude your wedding toast or speech with the obligatory “Please raise your glasses to…” or “Here’s to the…” or the ever essential “Cheers!”

Bonus Tip – Less Is More: Try to keep your wedding toast or speech to 3-5 minutes to avoid guests “tuning out.”  

An excellent resource for wedding toasts and wedding speeches.

It’s easy to research wedding toasts and speeches on-line. A quick Google search will produce a number of sites with wedding toast examples, free wedding toasts, and free Best Man and Maid/Matron of Honor wedding speeches.

If you want to appear as an expert at toasting, you won’t find better or more valuable wedding toast and speech information than what Tom Halibeck provides in his book “Wedding Toasts Made Easy.”  Tom also gives you the added convenience of downloading his book directly to your computer.  If you’ve waited until the last minute to prepare, “Wedding Toasts Made Easy” is your absolute best solution.

Here’s to you and to delivering an unforgettably fun wedding toast! Cheers!

Receive Congratulatory Greetings For Your Wedding From The President Of The United States and The First Lady.

Imagine how exciting it would be, as a Bride & Groom, to receive congratulatory greetings for your wedding from the President of the United States and the First Lady.

Well, you can and it’s FREE as long as the recipients are American citizens and you follow 2, very simple steps.

First, wedding greetings may only be requested after the wedding has taken place. 

Second, a Presidential greeting request must include the following information:

Name of the Bride & Groom

Address of the Bride & Groom

Date (month, day, year) of the wedding

The name, email address and daytime phone number of the individual requesting the greeting.

And, although not mandated as a requirement, sending a copy of the wedding invitation might be a nice gesture. It would also add legitimacy to the request.

Now that you’ve got all of the information put together, you can submit it in one of 2 ways:

Fax: 202-456-2461

Mail: The White House
Attn: Greetings Office
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20502-0039

As you can probably surmise, my inside sources* tell me that the White House gets a ton of requests for such congratulatory greetings. So, allow several months for it to reach the recipient.

As an FYI, the White House also sends congratulatory notes to citizens that are…

…commemorating the birth of a child.
…celebrating a birthday of 80 years or older
…retiring from the same job of 30 years or more
…celebrating an anniversary of 50 or more years.     

All congratulatory greeting requests, other than those for weddings and child birth, should be sent at least 8-12 weeks in advance of the specific occasion.

You’ve got to admit, regardless of one’s political affiliation, a congratulatory note from the President of the United States and First Lady would make a memorable addition to any scrapbook. And, you don’t have to “crash” a White House party to get it!

*Just kidding. I don’t really have any inside sources.

Enjoy a video montage of just a few couples that have invited us to celebrate their happiness!

Over 1000 couples have counted on us for an unforgettably fun, Kansas City wedding reception! Over 1000 times, we’ve exceeded expectations!