Awesome Venues–Waterfront Convention Center

This is the first in a series of articles featuring some of the greatest locations in the Quad Cities where we have worked over the years.  Our first venue is the amazing Waterfront Convention Center located on State Street in Bettendorf Iowa.  The Waterfront Center is a big venue, capable of hosting banquet events for up to 650 guests in a wedding setting.  The room is very nearly acoustically perfect and has some bold architectural texture that looks great with up-lighting.

Here are some of our favorite photos from past events at the Waterfront:

Red and white uplighting highlighting the main banquet room entrance at the Waterfront Convention Center. The room has a lot of architectural features with texture that are further accentuated with the up-lighting.

For this wedding the dance floor was exactly in the center of the room. Barely noticeable on the stage is one of our BOSE speakers which are very effective at filling the room with amazing and crystal clear sound. This room was designed by Tamara Wendt Design, who supplied the crystals and the teal up-lighting.

Purple, Purple, Purple! Brooke and Ben’s wedding featured the color purple, for which we supplied lots of high powered purple uplighting which bathed the Waterfront Convention Center in the luxurious color!

A shot prior to the opening of the doors at the 2013 Quad Cities Festival of Trees Sugar Plum Ball, for which we have provided the entertainment for the last 8 years. Notice the Waterfront’s capacity to seat lots of people in a banquet setting!

Another shot of the Sugar Plum Ball. The Waterfront Convention Center features lots of room to dance, which is a good thing, because this crowd always packs the dance floor!

For this peacock themed wedding at the Waterfront Convention Center we furnished uplighting to accent the peacock colors that were found throughout the room.

Nothing beats a fall wedding at the Waterfront Convention Center. To go with the couples’ theme we provided high powered yellow and orange uplighting.

At this wedding reception in the Waterfront Center we installed programmable uplighting, allowing us to change the color theme throughout the night. It made for quite a party!

Celebrate!

 The Waterfront Convention Center’s website is http://qcwcc.com

A Years Worth of Wedding Cake

One of the best perks of being a Wedding DJ is the frequent close encounters with the slice of the food pyramid known as “Wedding Cake”.  This article is totally devoted to my 2012 exposure to the delicious and artistic treats.

I try to photograph the wedding cake at each and every wedding reception, primarily because the wedding cake is considered one of the centerpieces of the event, worthy of honor.  I know how much the cake means to the bride, and how much effort and expense goes into the selection, procurement and display of the perfect cake.  Each wedding cake is an original; intended to mirror some aspect of the wedding itself, whether it be the décor of the event, attire of the wedding party or personality of the bride.  Grooms, likewise, sometimes have a cake unto themselves, which is solely intended to reflect the occupation or preoccupation of the groom.

If you have any questions or want the name of the creator of any of the below cakes please feel free to leave a comment at the end and I will be happy to furnish the details.

So here, displayed in all their glory, are some of the wedding cakes of our 2012 wedding season.  Enjoy!

The above cupcakes go with the cake below.  The theme of this reception was peacock!

The cake above is a groom’s cake.  Can you guess his occupation?

The above cake was accented with pin spot lighting from Exceptional Events.

I believe that the cake above is one of the biggest I have ever seen!

Sweets tables (above) are standard fare in Chicago, and they are becoming more popular here.  I like sweets tables because of the wide selection presented.  It’s fun to make choices.

Sheet cakes (above) were all different flavors.

Don’t forget to leave comments if you need contact info for any of the above cake creators.  Thanks!

Jennifer and Mike – June 30 2012

Jennifer Blaser and Mike Svendsen, along with 230 of their family and friends had an awesome party to celebrate their wedding day! The Radisson Quad City Plaza Ballroom was the perfect setting for an event that combined elegance and good times that lasted well into the evening.

Jennifer and Mike are an amazing couple, very fun loving and they have a great family and group of friends!

Jennifer and Mike had their wedding ceremony at St. John Vianney Church at 2PM.  Guests were able to then enjoy a cocktail hour at 4PM in the Radisson’s tropical-like atrium.  After Melanie from Best Days Photography photographed the wedding party, Jennifer and Mike descended the grand staircase to join the party that was going on in the atrium.

The Radisson Ballroom’s elegance was revealed to the guests when the doors opened promptly at 5PM.  Guests’ eyes were treated to the beauty of floral arrangements by Clazzy Designs.   Below are some of the photos I took during the night:

Beautiful head table setting with Radisson’s elegant lighting and light peach uplighting from Black Tie

Another view of the head table.

Beautiful floral decor from Clazzy Designs!

Olde Towne Bakery wedding cake. It’s always good!

Centerpieces from Clazzy Designs were a big hit!

Guests enjoy cocktails in the atrium prior to the arrival of Jennifer and Mike.

Beautiful decor just outside the ballroom.

The wedding party’s grand entrance music was “At The Beginning” by Richard Marx.  Jennifer and Mike’s wedding party consisted of:

Parents of the Bride – Mark and Nancy Blaser

Parents of the Groom – Craig and Cathy Svendsen

Bridesmaids – Stephanie Blaser, Laura Blaser, Jamie Blaser, Kristin Stopulos, Liz Martin

Groomsmen – Robert Hatheway, Matt Svendsen

Maid of Honor – Michaela Byrne

Best Man – Doug Svendsen

Jennifer and Mike had a large contingent of guests from the State of Minnesota and another group of guests from Dubuque Iowa.  Most of the guests stayed for the duration of the evening and they had a super good time on the dance floor!

For more photos please make sure to visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BlackTieEntertainment

This group is just getting started!

More fun on the dance floor.

This group probably had very tired feet the next day!

Jennifer and Mike were assisted by these quality wedding vendors:

Venue, Lodging and Catering – Radisson Quad City Plaza

Photography – Best Days Photography

Floral Design – Clazzy Designs

Wedding Cake – Olde Towne Bakery

Attire – Celebration Bridal, Men’s Wearhouse

Uplighting, DJ and Emcee – Black Tie Entertainment

Mike and Jennifer had such a large group left at the end of the night that there was barely enough space to fit them around the edge of the Radisson’s large dance floor!

A night to remember!

Thank you Mr. and Mrs. Svendsen for allowing me to help you celebrate, and for furnishing such an awesome roomful of guests!  I wish you the very best in your new life together!

Marissa and Ryan June 16 2012

Marissa and Ryan

Marissa Romero and Ryan McKee were married on Saturday, June 16, 2012 at St. Paul Apostle Catholic Church.  Marissa and Ryan are one of the nicest and most photogenic couples you will ever meet and it was a pleasure to help them celebrate their wedding day!

After the ceremony, guests arrived at Quarters One on Arsenal Island for cocktails.  Quarters One is the second largest official federal residence in the United States, behind the White House, and it is located on the Rock Island Arsenal Army Base in the Quad Cities Area.  During the cocktail hour the Quad Cities received a rare Summer thunderstorm (rare because the Midwest is enduring an extreme drought during the Summer of 2012).  The rain really poured down but stopped just long enough for guests to make the walk from Quarters One to the Rock Island Arsenal Golf Club for the wedding reception.

Rock Island Arsenal Quarters One

Guests arrived at Marissa and Ryan’s wedding reception to find the grand banquet room decorated in purple up-lighting from Black Tie Entertainment, spring green chair sashes from All Pro Custom Productions and floral arrangements from Milan Flower Shop.  The room looked outstanding!

Room decorated in purple uplighting and spring green chair sashes with white chair covers

Purple, green and white floral arrangements from Milan Flower Shop

Arsenal Golf Club dance floor

This was one amazing wedding cake!

Members of Marissa and Ryan’s wedding party included:

Parents of the Bride – Maria and John Romero

Mother of the Groom – Mary and Ron Ashley

Usher – John Romero Jr.

Flower Girl and Ring Bearer – Noah McKee and JZ Martinez

Junior Bridesmaid – Hanna McKee

Maid of Honor – Samantha Ferreyra

Best Man – Nathan McKee

Ryan and Marissa danced their first dance to “Quiero Decirte Que Te Amo” by DLG and danced quite well!

After speeches from the Bride and Groom, Marissa’s parents and the Best Man and Maid of Honor guests enjoyed a great buffet meal served by the chefs and staff of the Arsenal Golf Club.

Marissa and Ryan entertained their guests with an amazing first dance!

Salsa Dancing – many of the guests were great dancers!

Singer Juan Carlos performed live for the wedding party dance

Beautiful floral arrangements on the head table

Time to dance!

Marissa and Ryan’s guests had a great time on the dance floor right up until the end of the evening.  The night was spiced up quite a bit with a variety of great Salsa dances as well!

Wedding professionals who assisted Marissa and Ryan on their wedding day included:

Venue and Catering – Rock Island Arsenal Golf Club and Quarters One

Photography – Rick Jennisch

Chair covers and sashes – All Pro Custom Productions

Floral – Milan Flower Shop, Damien

Guest Lodging – Ramada Inn Bettendorf

Wedding Cake – Cakes by Kaye

Entertainment and Accent Lighting – Black Tie Entertainment

Thank you to Marissa and Ryan and your families for allowing me to help you celebrate your big day! It was a day that you and your guests will remember for a very long time.  Best wishes!

Jessica and Connor McGee June 9 2012

It was way back in October of 2010 when Jessica Pryor and her Mom walked into our office to talk about Jessica and Connor’s June 2012 wedding reception.  Jessica was a very busy medical student and wanted to get an early start on her wedding plans so she could focus on her future medical career.  Jessica struck me as someone who was focused, organized and had a bright future ahead.  I was delighted when she selected Black Tie as her entertainment provider and knew ahead of time that it would be a great party!

Flash forward, almost two years later, and Jessica and Connor McGee arrived at their wedding reception to find a fantasy land awaiting them, alive with colors of pink, purple and orange.  All of this was arranged by Peg and Jim from Exceptional Events in Moline, creators extraordinaire of perfect wedding receptions.

Jessica and Connor are ready to celebrate!

Jessica and Connor’s family and their 225 guests at the iwireless center in Moline were a DJ’s dream, packing the dance floor from the very first dance.  This was a great group!

Jessica and Connor’s wedding party included:

Parents of the Bride – Ron and Joanne Pryor

Parents of the Groom – Mike and Taylor McGee

Ushers – Mike Renfro, Chris VanTiem

Bridesmaids – Kate Wojcicki, Sunita Saigal

Groomsmen – Ryan Stack, Liam McGee

Maid of Honor – Caitlin Pryor

Best Man – Sean McGee

Jessica and Connor danced their first dance to “I Won’t Give Up” by Jason Mraz.  We created a custom mix of Phil Vassar’s “She’s On Her Way” for the Father Daughter dance, featuring the voice of Jessica singing at the age of 2.  It was a special moment!

Here are some photo highlights of Jessica and Connor’s unforgettable wedding reception.  Please visit our Facebook page for more photos of the party.

Pink uplighting highlights the columns and pink color wash accents the area behind the head table.

Wedding cake from Heller Cakes. Yummy!

Photo of the parents of the bride at the place card table.

A view from the DJ area.

Custom made guest register.

This is the kind of moment I love to see, when the bride and groom get lifted up on the dance floor by their friends. Totally spontaneous!

Wedding professionals who helped Jessica and Connor celebrate their marriage included:

iwireless center – Venue

Levy Entertainment – Catering

Rick Jennisch – Photography

Exceptional Events – Overall Event Design

MI Studios – Videography

Lori Heller – Wedding Cake

Staack Florist – Floral design

Ducky’s Formal Wear – Formal Wear

A Storybook Ending – Bridal Attire

Radisson on John Deere Commons – Lodging

Black Tie Entertainment – DJ/Emcee/Accent Lighting

Thank you and congratulations to Jessica and Connor as you begin your new life together!  It was an unforgettable evening filled with memories that will last for a lifetime!

Joan and James Kranovich June 2 2012

When it came time to decide where to have her wedding reception, the choice was easy for Joan Frank.  After all, The Abbey Station in Rock Island is simply one of the most elegant facilities of its kind anywhere in the Midwest.  The former train station for the once mighty Rock Island Lines Railroad was painstakingly restored several years ago.   Trains still rumble past the station’s platform during events held there, stirring ones imagination back to the glory days of rail travel.

And if that wasn’t reason enough, Joan used to work special events there!  So it was obvious that Joan and James Kranovich would be celebrating their big day at The Abbey Station on June 2, 2012!

The Abbey Station – an incredibly beautiful and historic site.

Trains rumble past the station just a few feet from the old station platform. This makes events there much more interesting!

Joan and James’ guests began arriving at the reception shortly after their 2PM ceremony ended at St. Mary’s Church in Davenport.  The wedding party arrived around 5 PM and had their grand entrance to “Me and My Gang” by Rascal Flatts.

Members of the wedding party included:

Parents of the Bride – John and Mary Frank

Parents of the Groom – Richard and Floriana Kranovich

Ushers – Joseph Frank, Christopher Frank

Flower Girl and Ring Bearer – Maddisyn Mojica, Jackson Connors

Bridesmaids – Melissa Kranovich, Ashley Mojica, Elizabeth Berner, Joanna Connors, Kelsie McLain

Groomsmen – Joe Siegert, Angel Mojica, Matt Lellig, Brian Friederich, Joel Donnelly

Maid of Honor – Molly Watkins

Best Man – Garrett Connors

Below are some of the highlights of James and Joan’s delightful wedding reception:

White and Cornflower Blue table settings from Clazzy Designs, accented by blue uplighting from Black Tie.

Scrumptious cake from Al Nitz.

It is important to not visually detract from such a beautiful setting. Notice how our DJ sound and lighting equipment blends into the decor inconspicuously.

The Limo Arrives!

During her days of working wedding receptions at the Abbey Station, Joan had seen many DJ’s work in the venue.  Long ago, she had decided that Black Tie Entertainment was the best match for her event, and so we were honored to help Joan and James celebrate, along with their 150 guests!

Additional wedding professionals who participated in the day included:

Abbey Station – Venue

Bridges Catering – Food and Beverage

Clazzy Designs – Floral and Chair Covers

Al Nitz – Wedding Cake

Limo Experience and Davenport Trolley – Transportation

QC Photo Booth – Photo Booth

Duckys – Formal Wear

Davids Bridal – Bridal Attire

Kelsey Zwicker – Photography

Rock Island Holiday Inn – Lodging

Black Tie Entertainment – Uplighting, DJ, Emcee

Thank you so much to James and Joan for allowing me to help you have a great time on your wedding day!  Best wishes as you begin your exciting new life together!

Jamie and TJ Loger May 27 2012

Jamie Dunn and T.J. Loger were married on the Sunday before Memorial Day at Christ’s Family Church in Davenport Iowa.   A big reception at the elegant Davenport Country Club took place immediately afterwards.

Jamie and TJ looking forward to dinner!

Members of Jamie and T.J.’s wedding party included:

Parents of the Bride – Tom and Deborah Dunn

Parents of the Groom – Tom and Charlotte Loger

Ushers – Kit Roed, Chad Huffman, Aaron Jalas, Derek Stammer

Bridesmaids – Michelle Rasmussen, Katie Huffman, Megan Wolcott, Kate Sandy

Groomsmen – Justin Jenness, Nate Roos, Josh Guffey, Devan Moylan

Maid of Honor – Shannon Schraegle

Best Man – Josh Rasmussen

The wedding party entered the room to “Get On The Floor” by Jennifer Lopez.  Jamie and TJ entered the room to applause and the song “Chelsea Dagger” (one of my favorites).  The couple had their first dance to Miranda Lambert’s “Making Plans” immediately after their entrance.

The Father of the Bride, Tom Dunn, offered a warm welcome speech and dinner was served after a prayer by Pastor Tim Truesdell of Christ’s Family Church.

Later, toasts were offered by Shannon and Josh, Maid of Honor and Best Man.

Jamie was a member of the University of Iowa Dance Team, and at 10:00 she, along with her friends from the team, did a special performance of the Iowa Fight Song!

Below are some photos highlighting the elegant and fun event:

Jamie and TJ’s first dance as husband and wife!

Delicious wedding cake from Cakes by Kay

Magenta uplighting and color wash in the newly renovated West Wing of the Davenport Country Club

We used battery powered uplighting to create an uncluttered look which was important since the lighting was on the window sills.

Jamie and TJ’s guests had an exciting night on the dance floor.

Spontaneous kick line.

A typically beautiful Davenport Country Club sunset.

Wedding professionals who helped Jamie and TJ celebrate their big day included:

Davenport Country Club – Venue and Catering

Mens Wearhouse – Formal Attire

Macys – Bridal Attire

Cakes by Kay – Wedding Cake

Luxury Limo – Transportation

VIP Trolley – Transportation

Leigh Loftus – Photography

Bloomers – Floral

Christ’s Family Church – Ceremony Location

Isle of Capri – Lodging

Black Tie Entertainment – DJ/Emcee, Uplighting

Circle of love!

Many heartfelt thanks to Jamie and TJ for allowing me to help them celebrate the beginning of their new life together!