Fun Icebreaker Wedding Game for People Who LOVE Going to Vegas

Here is a game we recently played at a wedding where the bride, groom, and their families LOVE going to Vegas. (In fact, that is where they went for their bachelor parties...and honeymoon. And of course, the families had to go too because they all LOVE going to Vegas.) It is very fun, interactive, and involving for your guests.

As each guest arrives and checks in at the registration table, they are each handed a playing card with specific instructions "not to lose the card, since you will be using to win some fabulous prizes later on tonight."

Right before dinner, I will recognize the banquet captain and remind the guests to please wait for him (the banquet captain) to release their table to the buffet. "In the meantime, as you are waiting..."

Throughout dinner, I will call out a poker hand. Guests will introduce themselves to other guests and try to build the poker hand I asked for. The first team that shows me their hand would win a poker chip for each member of that team.


At the end of the night, the person on each table with the most poker chips wins the centerpiece!

This is a highly fun and addictive game that can be played throughout the night. It will motivate your guests and keep the energy going throughout the presentation!

Iandell & Finley's Superbly Fun Wedding!

IANDELL & FINLEY were one couple you just absolutely love to work with. They had an amazing cast of characters and crew for their presentation, and although it was a daytime event, we helped them create a celebration that was full of energy and excitement!



I first met IANDELL and her coordinator PENNY at The Wedding Cafe by accident. I was there for another meeting, and they were meeting KRIS from On3 Photography. IANDELL had heard some very good things about me, so they called a few days later to set an appointment to meet at My Office.

From the first meeting, we knew that this would be a special party. IANDELL had very specific ideas about the look and direction she wanted her celebration to go, but she was also very open to the ideas I presented to help personalize her event and motivate her guests. Over the course of the next few months, Iandell introduced me to her "supporting cast," and I got to know Iandell's mother, her sisters, her brother, and a few of Finley's friends. Iandell, Penny, and I also worked together to create an original soundtrack for her celebration, which reflected her and Finley's unique tastes in music.

By the time November 22 rolled around, everything was set for the big premiere of Iandell & Finley's wedding at the Hale Koa Hotel. Not even dark skies and rain could have put a damper on their spirits. After a wedding ceremony in the backup location, we started the party, and guests took advantage of all of the FUN activities Iandell planned during lunchtime. Throughout the day, the mood remained festive, and the big highlight for everyone was the games to give away the bouquet & garter. The ladies played a round of Circle Dance to give away the bouquet.



The men competed in Last Man Sitting to win the garter. The two finalists were MACOY the Best Man and GRAN, a groomsman. Upon finding out what the last object was, they scrambled around the room to find it, with Macoy even grabbing the microphone and pleading with the audience to help him locate it! When Macoy finally found the object, he picked it up and tried carrying it back to the dancefloor for the win, but he had to get past Gran first, who was trying to steal the winning item away from Macoy! By this time, the audience was rolling with laughter at the hilarity of the entire moment!



Overall, it was truly a sensational event that gave a lot of happy & lasting memories to Iandell, Finley, and their guests. On a more personal note, their wedding was a reminder to me about why I enjoy doing this.

Here is a copy of their reception timeline.

Sequence	Time	Event
0	9:30am	Wedding Ceremony
1	10:00am	Cocktail Hour; Doors to the DeRussy Hall open to the guests; iVideo Guestbook and Candy Bar to entertain guests
2	10:45am	Welcoming of Guests; Grand Entrance
3		First Dance; Greetings & Welcome by the Newlyweds
4	11:00am	Announcements (e.g., parking validations, restrooms, candy bar, ivideo guestbook, etc.); Invocation/Prayer Before The Meal by Iandell’s aunt SUSAN
5	11:15am	Meal; IANDELL & FINLEY to take table photos and release the tables; Kissing Games to honor the sponsors & entertain the guests
6		Song serenade by Iandell’s brother AARON; hula performance by Iandell’s friend PENNY
7		Recognition of Family, Sponsors, Out-Of-Town Guests
8		Cake Cutting
9		Toast & speech by Maid of Honor CHARISSE; Speech & Mabuhay toast by Best Man MACOY
10		Bouquet & Garter activities (Bouquet Surprise; Circle Dance; special gift presentation; garter removal; Last Man Sitting; Reverse Garter)
11		Centerpiece Giveaway (Hot Centerpiece Time)
12		Video slideshow produced by TROY; Ceremony Highlights presented by ADVANCED VISUAL ARTS
13		Money Dance
14		Open Dancing
15	2:00pm	Music ends

And here is the soundtrack for their celebration.

1. Pitbull - Lets Get Krazy (Grand Entrance background riff)
2. Pitbull - Lets Get Krazy (Grand Entrance main riff)
3. Visa commercial clip (for Grand Entrance)
4. American Idol sound clip (for Grand Entrance)
5. Estelle - American Boy (Grand Entrance main riff)
6. Estelle - American Boy (Grand Entrance background riff)
7. Hail to the Chief (Macoy Grand Entrance intro)
8. Lil Wayne - Fireman (Grand Entrance Instrumental edit)
9. Motley Crue - Without You (First Dance)
10. Jessica Simpson - Angels (karaoke version) (song performance by AARON)
11. Keali'i Reichel - Kawaipunahele (hula by PENNY)
12. Aerosmith - Sweet Emotion (cakecutting edit)
13. Guns N' Roses - Sweet Child Of Mine (CHARISSE’S toast intro edit)
14. Akon - Locked Up (MACOY’S toast intro edit)
15. INXS - Need You Tonight (bouquet ladies to floor instrumental edit)
16. INXS - Need You Tonight (Circle Dance edit)
17. Natalie Merchant - Kind & Generous (bouquet presentation edit)
18. Herb Alpert - Love Potion #9 (Garter Removal)
19. Guns N Roses - Welcome to the Jungle (Last Man Sitting)
20. Marvin Gaye - Let's Get It On (Reverse Garter)
21. Shrek soundtrack - I'm A Believer (Reprise) (Reverse Garter Reveal)
22. Vengaboys - We Like To Party (Centerpiece Game)
23. Various - Love Remix (Money Dance)
24. Petula Clark - You & I (dedication to Iandell’s mom JOSEPHINE)
25. B52s - Love Shack (Grand Finale/Last Song)

Special thanks to the following "production crew" who helped make this presentation very FUN, STRESS-FREE, UNIQUE, and MEMORABLE for Iandell & Finley.

PENNY SNELL, Iandell's good friend & coordinator, and Penny's awesome husband TROY
KRIS LABANG with On3 Photography (many of the pictures on this post were taken by him! Thank you, Kris!)
GREG VENTURA, ANDY, BRUCE, & KYLE with Advanced Visual Arts
TONY BARNHILL with iVideo Guestbook
TANNA & BRYSON DANG with The Wedding Cafe, for ideas & support

OWA Halloween Fun

Yesterday, I provided music and served as the Master of Ceremonies for the Oahu Wedding Association's annual Halloween Party.



This year, the event was held at WENDY ROBIN'S Studio W of Honolulu. The fun was evident from the get-go, with people arriving in costume:







The low-key costume contest was entertaining, and the delicious food by VANESSA HOLINGER with Beaches & Backyards Catering was 'ono (delicious). The food was sooo good that all of it (except for six pieces of sushi) were eaten!

All in all, it was a very lively and entertaining experience.



Special thanks to last night's "Production Crew" for making the event such a success:

• Dave Miyamoto & Michelle Gouda, Dave Miyamoto & Co.
• Wendy Robin, Studio W of Honolulu
• Vanessa Hollinger, Beaches & Backyards Catering
• Kris Labang, On3 Photography, for taking all of these great images
• Dina (Wendy's friend), for letting us use her studio next door as well

Thanks also to Ryan Pierce from Lift Your Spiritz for the fun spontaneous flair bartending demonstration!



And to those who came, thank you!

Find more images of this event here on the Oahu Wedding Association blog.

Images & more from Chris & Tia's wedding

In my last blog post, I wrote about how honored I was to be performing at Chris & Tia's wedding last Saturday. I wrote about how I wasn't just making announcements for five hours...I helped them and their families create a lifetime of memories.



Documenting the memories were Kim & Nate from Aihara Visuals, and they have teaser pics up on their blog. Check it out!

This is one of my favorites:



Tia, Chris, and their guests are surely having a lot of fun, aren't they?

Here's another one:



You may be wondering why there is a picture of a Heineken bottle instead of a table number. It was one of the fun ways we personalized Chris & Tia's wedding and how we got the guests involved during dinner.

Those who know Chris & Tia know that they are very social drinkers and connoisseurs of beers and spirits, and they and their friends are very knowledgeable about drinks. So instead of the banquet captain traditionally releasing their tables to the buffet, we played a game! Each table was named after one of Chris & Tia's favorite beers or spirits, and throughout the evening, I would read trivia about these drinks. Guests would guess which spirit or drink I was speaking of, and when they guessed correctly, the table named after the spirit would go next to the buffet. Instead of guests simply sitting bored at their tables, guests got into the fun by yelling out the answers and encouraging the correct tables to go to the buffet! And for those guests who were not drinkers, it helped them to understand one of Chris & Tia's major passions.

Tables were named after the following spirits and were released in random order unless otherwise noted:

• Dirty Skyy Vodka Martini - Chappell/Waits Family Table, first to be released
• Jameson Whiskey - Sablan/Hayami Family Table, second to be released
• Newcastle English brown ale
• Bass English pale ale
• Guiness Irish dry stout (mmmm...Guinness...yum)
• Red Stripe Jamaican lager beer
• Boddingtons English bitter, "the Cream of Manchester"
• Heineken Dutch pale lager
• Pabst Blue Ribbon American beer
• Spicy Bloody Mary
• Bushmill Irish Whiskey

Here's how Chris & Tia's final timeline looked like:

Sequence	Time		Event
0	4:30pm		Wedding Ceremony in the Maile Gardens
1	5:30pm		Doors to the Waikiki Ballroom open to the Guests; Cocktail Hour; Receiving Line
2	6:30pm		Welcoming of Guests, Grand Entrance, Greetings & Welcome by the Newlyweds
3			Announcements (e.g., parking validations, restrooms, etc.); Invocation/Blessing of the Meal by Chris’ uncle TIM
4			Meal (Favorite Beers Table Release; Kissing Games)
5	7:30pm		Recognition of Family & Out-Of-Town Guests
6			Cake Cutting
7			Toasts & Speeches by Maid of Honor MYLA; Best Man DAMON; Chris’ father GEORGE; Chris’ stepfather WAYNE
8			Bouquet & Garter Activities (Bouquet Surprise; Traditional Bouquet Toss; Traditional Garter Removal & Toss; Reverse Garter)
9			Centerpiece Giveaway (Hot Centerpiece Time)
10			Video Slideshow, presented by NORTH SHORE VIDEO PRODUCTIONS
11			Mother/Son Dance (Chris dances with his mother TERRI) (No Father/Daughter Dance)
12			“Father/Daughter” Dance (Chris dances with Tia’s daughter ABIGAIL)
13			First Dance, into Money Dance
14			Open Dancing
15			Grand Finale

And here is Chris & Tia's final reception soundtrack:

1. Kool & The Gang - Celebration (Bridal Party Grand Entrance edit)
2. KC & The Sunshine Band - Get Down Tonight (Chris & Tia's Entrance edit)
3. Bryan Adams - Cuts Like a Knife (cake-cutting)
4. Natasha Beddingfield - Pocketful Of Sunshine (Maid of Honor toast intro edit)
5. Bob Marley - Jammin (Best Man toast intro edit)
6. AHA - Take On Me (instrumental - women to floor for bouquet)
7. The Police - Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic (bouquet catch edit)
8. Guns N Roses - Welcome to the Jungle (instrumental - men to floor for garter)
9. Herb Alpert - Love Potion #9 (Garter Removal & Toss)
10. Marvin Gaye - Let's Get It On (Reverse Garter)
11. Shrek soundtrack - I'm A Believer Reprise (RGarter Reveal)
12. Vengaboys - We Like To Party (Centerpiece Game)
13. Kenny Rogers - Through the Years (Mother/Son Dance edit)
14. Temptations - My Girl (Father/Daughter Dance edit)
15. Jimmy Cliff - Rebel In Me (First Dance)
16. Spandau Ballet - True (Money Dance)
17. Percy Sledge - I'll Be Your Everything (Special Dedication to Rachell & Shawn)
18. Semisonic - Closing Time (Last Dance)

Special thanks again to Kim & Nate from Aihara Visuals, as well as Les from North Shore Video Productions, for documenting Chris & Tia's story. They are all awesome people to work with! Mahalo to the catering and banquet staffs at the Hale Koa Hotel for being so super, too!

This is why I do this.

Meet RACHELL & SHAWN, happily married three years ago, on September 17, 2005.

It was truly an honor to be a part of their celebration and the wonderful memories that were created that night.  They have such a loving and supportive family and friends,and I was blessed to be a part of all of it three years ago.


So three years later, when Shawn's brother CHRIS finally decided to marry his longtime love TIA on October 4, they called me.  They had told me that, in between Shawn & Rachell's wedding and now, they had been to several other weddings, but none matched the passion, romance, and fun as they had experienced at Shawn & Rachell's celebration.  So it was again an honor to be asked to be a part of this family's memories.


So when October 4 arrived, it felt great to see everyone again.  Family who I had met three years ago greeted me like no time had passed, and it was amazing to see just how people have changed in three years...and how people have stayed the same.  Shawn & Rachell now have a darling baby boy.  Chris' mother TERRI is still looking lovely as ever, and Tia's daughter ABIGAIL, who was a wee little lass when I first met her, is now blooming into a precocious and active ten year old.


It dawned on me as I welcomed the guests at the start of the festivities just how special this day meant, not just to Chris & Tia, but to their families and friends.  This wasn't just about five hours of eating, laughing, and socializing...this was about coming together as a family and creating a lifetime of happy memories.


And once again, I felt truly blessed to be a part of it all.

Congratulations, Tia & Chris, on your wedding day.  It was indeed an honor to be a part of your memories...and that of your family.  I look forward to continuing to be your family's preferred party host for all of life's most significant milestones.

To my readers:


If you are already married, drop me a line and let me know how you have been doing since your wedding.  It's always nice to hear from you, and how things are different now...and how some things are still the same.


If you are getting married soon and have already reserved me for your wedding day, I look forward to helping you create a lot of positive and happy memories for you...and your family.  Memories that will indeed last a lifetime.

If you haven't booked me yet...what are you waiting for?  After all, I'm not just providing 4-5 hours of MC'ing...I will help you create a lifetime of happy memories for you and your cherished ones.

---

And on that note...the October edition of the VIP Wedding Newsletter will be arriving in your inboxes shortly! Please check it for more tips and advice to make your wedding more FUN, STRESS-FREE, UNIQUE, and MEMORABLE. This issue's main topic is on ethnic toasts: the information will help the people you ask to deliver the banzai, Mabuhay, or any other ethnic toast.



As for my married couples, read about how you and others have been faring since saying your "I Do's". For some of you who just started a family, your first Halloween with children may be right around the corner. The newsletter has some tips on how to have a safe, family-friendly Halloween.

And if you are not a member of the VIP club yet, shoot me an email so we can activate your VIP membership.

I look forward to serving you.

Where's Marino?

Yes, it has been a while since I last posted. Summertime is usually busy with weddings, and this summer was no exception. In between performing at weddings, preparing and rehearsing for weddings, and traveling, finding time to blog becomes a little challenging. But I appreciate all of the support and patience!

Recent weddings include Rayna & Tyrone on August 2:




Celeste & Craig on August 30:




Dayna & Garrett on August 31:




All were very successful, very original, and very entertaining parties. Each one had unique elements to them that made each very special. At Celeste & Craig's reception, for instance, the big highlight was the garter removal. After setting it up like a traditional garter removal, Craig went underneath Celeste's dress and pulled out..."Superman" boxers. As if that was not funny enough, Celeste then stood up, pushed Craig into the chair, and removed the garter from Craig's leg. The audience went crazy!

Shawn Starr pics of Jennifer & Kevin's wedding

Back in October, we helped Jennifer & Kevin make their Big Island wedding celebration very fun, unique, and memorable. Their photographer SHAWN STARR recently put up pictures of Jennifer & Kevin's wedding on his website. Shawn has a fabulous eye for taking fantastic wedding images, so if you want to see a sample of his work, check it out.

Astrid & Charlie's fun, chic, and memorable wedding reception

After months of planning and preparation (even down to the wire by the newlyweds), the wedding of ASTRID & CHARLIE last Saturday, May 31, happened even beyond their expectations! When I first met them, they said that they wanted a really interactive, really fun, and very chic and elegant party to entertain their guests, many of whom had flown in from around the world to be there. We had guests not only from Hawaii and California, but also family from as far as the Philippines and London. (Complete with sexy British accent!)

Before going further, it's helpful to read what went into preparing for Astrid & Charlie's wedding day, in order to give you some perspective into what was done to ensure a successful celebration. This post will be more about the results, and Astrid & Charlie's "return on investment".

As I wrote in my last post, I had gotten up on Saturday, May 31, actually around 8:30am. I had breakfast, spent some time with my nieces, and hung out with family. Around 2:30pm, we left home for the beautiful drive to Ko Olina. Arriving at 3:00pm at the JW Marriott Ihilani Resort, the weather was gorgeous and sunny--a perfect day for a wedding! After quickly unloading the sound equipment and moving the van to the parking structure, we began setup around 3:30pm. By then, DIANNA with Hawaii Weddings and Events was putting the final touches on the decor and working well with the banquet staff at the Ihilani to ensure a stunning and chic atmosphere.



RICK & SASHA from Cakelava were there too, setting up the beautiful wedding cake.



I quickly set up the sound equipment, ran through the soundcheck, and changed into my tuxedo--ready for Astrid & Charlie to arrive.

By 5:30pm, most of the guests had arrived, and they were enjoying pupu (appetizers), drinks, and beautiful weather on the lanai outside of the Lurline Room. After quickly sitting the guests, lining up the wedding party, and warming up the audience, it was showtime!

"On behalf of the Flores & Ruiz families, it is my pleasure to introduce to you...your wedding party!"

With that, the presentation was underway! The Grand Entrance was a fun and exciting affair, with the party dancing their way in to the music of Pink's Get This Party Started. Not to be outdone, the newlyweds came in with arms above their heads to a standing ovation. The atmosphere was electric! And it remained that way throughout the evening. A fun trivia game kept the guests guessing, laughing, and running to the podium in between courses. The ladies had a fun time with the Circle Dance, a bouquet presentation activity. The highlight for many was the garter game Last Man Sitting, an activity that involved not only the unmarried men, but the audience as well. Because it was a small intimate group (around 65 guests), the action was fast & furious as the men worked with the audience to stay in competition. When we were down to the final two, the game became even more crazy, since the winner would be the first man to text message Charlie with Astrid's married name! The game even went outside to the lanai because the groom and final two contestants lost cellular signal halfway through the texting!





The rest of the night was fun and full of energy. The centerpiece game kept the momentum going. Guests enjoyed the slideshow produced by the newlyweds. And after an original and choreographed First Dance by Astrid & Charlie, the guests took to the dancefloor and danced to almost every song, even doing the Electric Slide to Rihanna's Don't Stop The Music!



All in all, from start to finish, it was an energetic and exciting affair--and most definitely memorable. After the reception, many guests told Astrid that their wedding certainly stands out as being one of the most memorable ones. Behind the five hours of superb celebrating, the 40-60 hours of preparation and rehearsals really made a difference in the success of the party. In the end, it's not about the time spent preparing for the wedding, nor the five hours of the party...it's about the memories that last a LIFETIME.



Special thanks also to JAMES, JOHN, & MARTY from Crane Media Productions, as well as PAUL HAYASHI and his assistant JENNY for documenting this event. Mahalo kakou (Thank you) to RENEE, KEITH (awesome banquet captain), GIDGET, KALAI, DEAN, and the rest of the Ihilani staff for taking care of the newlyweds and guests, and for the ono (delicious) food. Thank you to LESLEY (my assistant), not only for being a super-fantastic assistant and for hitting all the music cues perfectly, but also for taking the great photos you see in this post. Along with DIANNA from Hawaii Weddings and Events, they were all fabulous to work with and made my job as the emcee/entertainer so much easier. If you are looking for a great team to make your wedding day as stress-free as possible, consider these vendors (with me, of course!).

Here is the final timeline for Astrid & Charlie's celebration:

Sequence	Time	Event
0	2:00pm	Convalidation Ceremony at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace
1	4:30pm	Cocktail Hour outside on the lanai; Doors to the Lurline Room open only after ASTRID & CHARLIE have seen the untouched room; ASTRID & CHARLIE to take photos around property
2	6:00pm	Welcoming of Guests, Grand Entrance
3		Greetings, Welcome, & Acknowledgements by the Newlyweds
4		Announcements (e.g., parking validations, restrooms, etc.)
5		Invocation/Prayer Before The Meal by Charlie’s niece JESSICA
6		First course (soup) (Trivia Game to determine first table to be served; Song Serenade to include & entertain the guests; both activities repeat throughout the evening during and between all courses)
7		Recognition of Family & special guests
8		Second course (salad)  (see special note below)
9		Main course (entrée)
10		Toasts & speeches by Astrid’s sister AYESA; Best Man DANIEL
11		Dance Performance by Charlie’s family
12		Cake Cutting
13		Dessert course
14		Video/slide Show
15		Bouquet & Garter Activities (Circle Dance, Last Man Sitting)
16		Centerpiece Giveaway (Hot Centerpiece Time)
17		Father/Daughter Dance
18		Mother/Son Dance
19		First Dance (choreographed) (no money dance)
20		Open Dancing
21		Grand Finale
		*  Special note: ASTRID & CHARLIE to take sunset photos with PAUL  around 6:40pm; sunset @ 7:18pm

Here is their soundtrack:

1. Pink - Get the Party Started (Wedding Party Grand Entrance Extended Instrumental) (6:17)
2. Ventures - Hawaii 5-0 (Bride & Groom Entrance) (1:54)
3. Alisha's Attic - Alisha Rules The World (Bridesmaid toast intro edit) (1:30)
4. Duran Duran - Wild Boys (Best Man toast intro edit) (1:52)
5. James Taylor - How Sweet it is (cake cutting) (3:39)
6. Weather Girls - It's Raining Men (instrumental) (unmarried women to the dancefloor)(4:08)
7. Weather Girls - It's Raining Men (circle dance edit) (0:18)
8. Baha Men - Who Let The Dogs Out (instrumental) (single men to dancefloor) (3:16)
9. U2 - Mission Impossible Theme (Last Man Sitting Edit) (3:14)
10. Vengaboys - We Like To Party (Centerpiece Game edit) (3:14)
11. Natalie & Nat King Cole - Unforgettable (Father/Daughter dance edit) (1:58)
12. Israel Kamakawiwoole - Somewhere Over The Rainbow What A Wonderful World (Mother/Daughter Dance edit) (2:06)
13. Julia Fordham ft the Foundations - Hope Prayer and Time (Buttercup edit) (First Dance) (3:53)
14. Kool & The Gang - Celebration (First song to open dancefloor)(5:00)
15. Patti Austin - If I Believe (Special dedication to VIVIENNE & ADEL) (3:28)
16. Seals & Crofts - Summer Breeze (3:25)
17. Joshua Kadison - Beautiful in my Eyes (4:09)
18. Maureen Mcgovern - Very Special Love (4:13)
19. Simply Red - Stars (4:08)
20. Van Morrison - Brown Eyed Girl (3:05)
21. KT Tunstall - Big Black Horse and the Cherry Tree (4:56)
22. Santana ft Rob Thomas - Smooth (4:58)
23. Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes - (I've Had) The Time of My Life (Last Dance/Grand Finale) (4:45)

Music for cocktail hour and dinner was a mix of Hawaiian music and Broadway love songs. For dancing, a wide mix of music was requested, and we played everything from some oldies all the way to Rihanna and Justin Timberlake. My favorite part during the open dancing was the cool mix of 80s music that was requested and played, including some classic Michael Jackson, Madonna, ABBA, and Bee Gees. When the guests started doing the whole "Stayin' Alive" thing, there was no turning back...