You Had Me At I Do

22/12/2022

New for 2023: Rehearsal Only services! Having a friend or family member marry you is a great way to really make your ceremony special; it means much more when the officiant is someone special to you.

Home-grown officiants, though, don't have the experience needed to ensure a perfectly smooth ceremony. That's where we come in! We'll run the rehearsal just like we would if we're officiating but turn it over to your friend for the big day.

It's the best of both worlds! You'll get to have your friend perform the ceremony, but still have a "real" officiant handle prepare everyone for the big day.

Have your friend deliver the perfect ceremony; we'll run the rehearsal to make sure everything else happens perfectly.

01/11/2022

And just like that, the 2022 wedding season is in the books. We're looking forward to 2023!

For those of you thinking of getting married in 2023, now is the time to lock in your date and vendors. The vast majority of couples get engaged over the holidays and prime dates book quickly. Beat the rush and secure your 2023 dates now!

21/10/2022

As my wedding season begins to wrap up for this year, I find that I unfortunately have to add another venue to my 'no go' list. In other words, we will not provide our services at the venue.

The reason for this is simple - those of us who have been in the wedding business for any length of time understand that the couple is king. It's not about what we as vendors want but rather what the couple wants. Our job is to make it happen. Some vendors haven't caught on to that yet and insist on 'their way or the highway'. When I encounter vendors like this, I feel obligated to protect couples by calling the vendors out.

I do give new vendors a chance - everybody starts someplace and usually eventually figures out how to be an incredible wedding vendor. The vendors on my 'no go' list are vendors who I've worked with multiple times but never figured out how to truly cater to their couples.

The Bowery in Rubicon is unfortunately one of those vendors.

First, they require their couples to obtain proof of insurance from their vendors. Insurance isn't the issue - any reputable vendor has it - but requiring couples to have their vendors prove it is outside the scope of what a venue should do. Venues have insurance to protect themselves and vendors like us do as well. If something happens, the venue submits a claim to their insurance who then goes after us. There's no reason to have to prove that we have insurance or, even if they do, put the task of verifying it on their clients.

Second, they have a hard music cut-off time of 11pm. Many receptions go to midnight.

Third, they don't allow vendors to have alcohol. Not that this is a problem for me or most other vendors - we never drink at weddings - but the fact that the venue is dictating this is a problem. It should be up to the vendors or the couple.

Fourth, they lock the gate to their driveway at midnight. They only open it back up from 9am-10am the next day. In other words, if you do the responsible thing and leave your car there, you can only retrieve it from 9am to 10am.

But wait...there's more. 20 minutes before the scheduled end of the evening, the staff cleared all tables and folded all chairs not in use. If you were on the dance floor, you had no chair to come back to. Unbelievable.

It's a shame! It's a beautiful building and they have a nice outdoor ceremony area...it could be incredible. To me, it seems like the owners are more interested in running the business and controlling events in a way that benefits them and not catering to their couples.

There are many other local venues that truly cater to couples - it'll be better for you if you find one of those instead in my opinion.

25/09/2022

Looking for a great hidden gem for your reception? Check out The Round Table in Sun Prairie! Plenty of room, onsite kitchen, full bar, ample parking, outdoor ceremony area - it's a great location! They also do more than just wedding receptions. My own kiddo is there tonight for Homecoming!

07/07/2022

We've received yet another five star review. What we're most proud of is this: "A number of people even asked if he was a family friend..." That's our goal! We want to make your big day so "you" that your family and friends think we're family or friends too.

Kaitlyn says:

"This is one of the BEST decisions you will make for your wedding day. Having Chris as both our officiant and DJ was tops. MANY, MANY people have commented how wonderful our day was in part thanks to Chris and how he officiated our ceremony, announced grand march/ dinner/ events during reception, played music during our reception, and more (including trivia we had during time between the ceremony and dinner during a longer cocktail hour). A number of people even asked if he was a family friend because of how well the day went along with his humor, wit, and overall keeping the flow of the day going. The ability for guests to request songs ahead of time as well him setting up a song request site for you to add to if you choose is simple and easy to use. When you choose to book him, if you feel communication is not what you expect, just text. My email sent some responses from Chris to my spam. When we texted Chris he was prompt on responding. (Note this was the case for one other vendor as well). Keep that in mind when communicating with ANY vendor when planning your wedding. The best vendors, like Chris, want you to have the most wonderful day possible.

Top to bottom, we are more than happy with how Chris helped to make our wedding day wonderful. Thank you Chris!"

02/05/2022

We're pleased to announce the opening of our St. Petersburg, FL office! We're now helping couples say 'I do' from St. Pete to Clearwater and everywhere inbetween. We're also providing our award-winning, 5-star-rated service in the Ft. Myers area.

Whether it's a private venue, hotel, garden, museum, or on the beach itself, we'll make sure you get a ceremony as unique and special as the love the two of you share!

07/04/2022

The only "perfect" best man is the best man who is prefect for you.

03/04/2022

What a fun couple tonight! Our planning meeting took place at Liv's Drink Emporium. I had the unfortunate duty of bringing home a Tropic Like It's Hot. It's not that they don't have delicious drinks...but let's just say I felt less-than-manly ordering and walking out the door with that one.

During her speech tonight, the bride gave me a shout out for being a great and easy-going officiant and DJ...and enjoying fruity drinks just like the girls do.

Thanks, Kota!

02/04/2022

The 2022 wedding season has officially kicked off! Congratulations, Dakota and Ashley!

14/11/2021

Had our last reception of the season Saturday. What a great way to kick it off! The bride surprised the groom with a song right before their first dance.

23/08/2021

I covered a wedding for a DJ who fell ill. It was way out of my area and way less than my usual rate, but that's what us professional DJs do! If we're available, we'll jump in to lend a hand and not inconvenience or gouge the couple.

On a related note, it was my first wedding at Fest Valley Events in Cadott (where Country Fest and Rock Fest are held). It was a pretty cool venue! The ceremony area was tucked back in the woods and the reception was in one of the buildings on-site. Definitely something different and unique! If you're planning a wedding in the Eau Claire area, check them out!

15/08/2021

I was back at Chapel of the Archangels (Formerly known as St. Michael's Catholic Church) again tonight. It's a hidden gem just north of Madison in Beaver Dam. It's perfect for those who want a church vibe for their ceremony but the convenience of an 'all in one' location like a hotel. The old church upstairs is beautifully decorated and the basement has been completely redone to become a reception venue. It is absolutely unique and perfect!

The guys that run it (Jim & Jimmy) are great to work with - they really know how to make sure weddings are incredible. And, as an added bonus, the old parsonage next door has been converted to a wonderful bed & breakfast where the bride and groom can stay. There's nothing like it anywhere else and I highly recommend it!

09/05/2021

New from You Had Me At I Do: Text Requests! Your guests can text their requests direct to the DJ without even leaving their tables. The best part? The DJ will text back when the song is next. Your guests won't have to worry about requesting a song only to have it play when they're not in the room!

02/05/2021

Congratulations, Julie and Craig! It was a beautiful day for an intimate backyard ceremony! Your vows were so honest and heartwarming. We wish the two of you all the best!

30/04/2021

Best of Weddings on TheKnot.com...AGAIN! We're humbled and honored to have earned the coveted Best of Weddings during what can only be described as the most difficult wedding season ever. The reason we've been voted Best of Weddings again is simple - we give 110% to every couple and every wedding. Now more than ever people want to cut loose and forget about life for a while. We make it happen! Get in touch with us today to find out how to get our award winning DJ and Officiant services for your wedding!

13/12/2020

We received the nicest review last week. The poor couple had been through so much due to the shutdowns of 2020. Three venues (and dates) later, they finally found a place for the ceremony and reception but couldn't find an officiant to marry them. Thankfully, they had booked me for their DJ...and I just happen to be an Officiant as well! I was happy to step in and give the couple an incredible ceremony as well as reception.

Maricela rated us five stars and said: Due to COVID, I had to change my wedding plans three times. We went from June in Madison to September in Madison and ended with September in IL. It was very stressful trying to change everything around, but not due to Chris. He was booked to be our DJ (going to get married in a church), but we couldn't get married in a church and Chris was more than happy to be our officiant. At first, we thought it might be weird to have the same officiant and DJ, but it was the complete opposite. He made me and my husband feel comfortable and guided us when we didn't know what to do. Both of us haven't been to any weddings and didn't know what happened when, and Chris made sure to let us know what was coming next (intros, first dance, mother son dance). One of our guests asked me where we got the officiant/DJ/everything guy? She believed we got really lucky because he was a funny officiant and an awesome DJ. I will also say I was impressed with the playlist because I felt like he knew exactly when he needed to change the genre of music. My family is Mexican and my husband is white, so the music was VERY different. Can't recommend him enough!

11/10/2020

The latest COVID restrictions issued by the Governor of Wisconsin and his DHS Secretary don't have any effect on the vast majority of Wisconsin weddings. "Invitation only" events are exempted. Unless your wedding is open to the public, you're good to go. Rest easy and sleep well! Your wedding can go on as planned!

11/10/2020

I had a 'first' tonight, which rarely happens after 20+ years in the business...

The groom was once featured on Stupid Human Tricks on the Jay Leno Show. The bride and matron of honor arranged for a special congratulatory video message from none other than Jay Leno himself and showed it during the speech. The groom was left absolutely speechless. And, knowing the groom, that is quite the accomplishment...

I absolutely love seeing surprises at weddings!

24/09/2020

My couple getting married this weekend has had a pretty rough go. The original plan, as of July of 2019, was to get married and have their reception in Madison.

In April, they decided to drastically scale back their guest list and move their reception to a Friday in the fall at a venue in Middleton due to COVID and the related restrictions.

Then, in August, Chicago added Wisconsin to their quarantine list. With much of the family coming from the Chicago area, this was a deal breaker and they decided to move their reception to IL to accommodate.

Unfortunately, they weren't able to line up a church and officiant in IL for their new date and location, so they reached out once again to see if I could officiate as well as DJ. Thankfully, that's my specialty!

It's been a long and hard and confusing road - but we're now just hours away from their ceremony and reception. The bottom line is that in a few hours, I'll preside over their ceremony and then help them throw the biggest party of their lives.

No matter what happens in the world, I'm here to help!

20/09/2020

Had quite an incredible wedding at Spring Brook Resort in the Dells! The wedding party and the guests were so much fun starting at the rehearsal and running all through the ceremony and reception. I learned that the husband is a cop, the bride's father is a cop, and there were several other cops in attendance.

So, I called all law enforcement officers out to the dance floor and thanked them for doing their job during these crazy times. Then I asked any soldiers to come up as well and thanked them. After that, I managed to find some bikers, a couple of construction workers, and even a couple of cowboys. The icing on the cake was finding a Native American.

If you haven't guessed what happened next, you've been living under a rock for a few decades. We had our very own Tice Wedding Reception Village People doing the YMCA!

19/09/2020

Facebook friends and past You Had Me At I Do couples, we need your help! The pandemic has absolutely decimated the wedding industry. Our season typically runs from late April through October. This year, however, our season only consists of October. We've lost close to 90% of our business this year.

We've had to cut expenses drastically including our advertising budget. The economics are simple - no weddings, no income, no money for advertising. We have, however, always done incredibly well with referrals! There is no better advertising than satisfied clients and their guests recommending us.

If you know of family or friends looking to hire the perfect wedding DJ or Officiant, would you be willing to give them our info and let them know your thoughts about us? I'm more than willing to make it worth your while - if your referral books a reception with us and lets us know you referred them, we'll give them $100 off their package and also give you a $100 referral fee. Everybody wins!

12/09/2020

What does a wedding look like during COVID-19? Truth be told, not much different than normal weddings! I've done a few weddings during the pandemic. While you might expect to see guests arrive in full HazMat gear, the truth is drastically different. In all but one of my receptions, the only masks seen were worn by the venue/catering staff. Guests ate, danced, partied, and had a great time! I have, however, seen drastically reduced guest lists based partly on venue capacities and partly on the challenges of travel.

We have eliminated things like the Dollar Dance, but overall there isn't much of a difference. In all cases, I've seen some of the most vulnerable like grandparents wearing masks, but that's about it.

There are no 'mask police' at weddings. If you want to mask up, go for it! If you want to require your guests to mask when not eating or drinking, go for it! If you don't care whether or not anyone masks up, go for it! Just let your guests know what your expectations are.

Here's my take - your wedding is a celebration with your closest friends and family. It's a chance to take a break from the insane life we've been living for the past six months. Leave the worries and cares of the world at the door, and have one hell of a party inside!

08/09/2020

One of the perks of being a wedding DJ is the delicious meals us vendors get to enjoy every weekend. Prime Rib, Sirloin Steak, Chicken Marsala, Chicken Cordon Bleu, taco bars, barbecue bars - we eat very well! My wedding this weekend was a first - New York Strip Steak with garlic mashed potatoes and green beans! The life of a wedding DJ can be rough...

07/09/2020

My reception tonight ended at 10pm. I've posted about this a few times before; it is an incredible idea! I don't normally actively look for ways to earn less at weddings, but on the other hand I do actively look for ways for my couples to save more. Ending at 10pm helps them save more. It saves two hours of DJ time, photographer time, videographer time, and even venue time depending on your venue's package.

More importantly, it lets the two of you get back to your room before you're completely exhausted; you'll get to enjoy some alone time. Don't worry about the guests; if they're still in a partying mood, they'll move the party to a nearby bar.

The best part is that if your DJ only has two or three hours of dancing, every song played will be a hit. Your guests will be dancing for the entire time and will end the night not only wanting more but remembering how much fun your reception was!

01/09/2020

One of the things we appreciate and value most is couples who understand that marriage isn't easy or perfect; it takes work and it takes understanding.

Along those lines, we love the Drake White song Makin' Me Look Good Again. It truly captures the meaning of love and the challenges of a marriage.

If you're the first couple to book us and choose this song as your first dance song after this post, we'll give you our services for free!

15/08/2020

I absolutely love recommending other vendors! My Friday wedding was the reception for a couple I married on 5/4 (yes, specially for May the Fourth...). Their photographer/videographer was Stateline Photography.

He did a phenomenal job at the ceremony in May and another phenomenal job at the reception, including one of the coolest things I've seen in recent memory.

Jack brings his son to help with videography while he handles the photography. Halfway through the night, his son had already edited the video for the first dance and played it on the big screen during another slow dance. It was really cool!

What I liked the most, though, was the laid back, easygoing attitude they had. Incredibly easy to work with! I definitely recommend them!

Stateline Photography is one of the leading wedding photographers in Rockford, IL. For your wedding or engagement needs around the state line area contact Stateline Photography today!

15/08/2020

I had the opportunity to entertain at a newer venue tonight. Creamery 201 has been open around four years but tonight was my first time there.

It's a very cool location with an old industrial vibe. It can easily be decorated with whatever style you choose and can hold up to 360 people making it perfect for small to medium size weddings during our current state of restrictions.

What impressed me most was the staff; the staff make or break a venue. The Creamery 201 staff was fantastic! They were friendly, helpful, and went above and beyond to make the couple's day incredible, including trying to track down a missing caterer.

I've worked at quite a few new and newer venues over my 20 years in the business. One thing many new venues unfortunately have in common is staff that thinks they're only there to provide the services outlined in the contract and refuse to do anything more.

They haven't learned yet that wedding vendors oftentimes have to wear many different hats and go above and beyond for the couple. Creamery 201 gets it! They have a great venue and provide great service.

I highly recommend them! https://www.creamery201.com

09/08/2020

You know you're deep in Wisconsin when the parting words from the venue owners are 'watch out for deer on your way home'. God I love Wisconsin wedding venues!

On a related note, I had to stop twice for deer on the way home...

08/08/2020

I have to geek out for just a minute. With my latest music update, my library has enough songs to play back-to-back tracks 24 hours a day for 104 days. That's over three months of music around the clock with no repeats!

I rarely get to go that deep into my collection, though. For over 20 years, I've been playing songs from the same Top 200 list. The only exceptions are the newest Top 40 and Country hits.

On a related note, I can tell you the exact timestamp for every word in Love Shack, Walk This Way, Sweet Caroline, Livin' On a Prayer, Billie Jean, Cupid Shuffle, Friends in Low Places, At Last, Wonderful World, and YMCA.

But you know what, that's okay! People love to dance to the classics and I'm happy to play them. My job is to make sure your guests are having an incredible time, dancing to the music they love.

But...just in case you need the LSU fight song, something from the Dropkick Murphys, or a Disney tune, I have them!

24/07/2020

Today's wedding is at Harvest Moon Barn - great location! It's a old barn but has been modernized with climate control and restrooms while preserving the looks and charm of an old barn. It has a beautiful outdoor ceremony area. The owners are phenomenal - very nice and incredibly helpful! This is definitely a place worth looking into!

17/07/2020

Woo hoo! My first ceremony of the season is tomorrow in the Dells! It's been a LOOOOONG time...I didn't realize how long until I completely blanked on part of the ceremony during the rehearsal tonight. Turns out if you don't use something for over half a year, even if you've been using it for decades, your brain tends to put it at the back of the top shelf where nobody can reach it... But, that's why I always have my ceremony on the tablet. I rarely follow it word for word, but it's great to have in case of a brain fart!

13/07/2020

As you look at venues for your wedding, please...steer clear of barns except for Vennebu Hill Event Venue, Badger Farms Barn, or The Barn at Harvest Moon Pond! The idea of a barn wedding is very cool; it may even be iconic Wisconsin. The reality is way different.

Let me ask you this; how many days are partly cloudy, 72 degrees, and have zero humidity during Wisconsin summers? And of those days, how many are guaranteed to have zero flies and mosquitoes?

Here's another question; how willing are you to gamble the success of your big day on having the perfect weather with no bugs during a Wisconsin summer?

Whether you choose one of the barns I mentioned or whether you go with a non-barn space but use creative decorating to create the perfect look, you'll be safe from the heat wave, cold snap, monsoon rain, or clouds of bugs that could ruin your barn wedding.

There are a million things that could go wrong on your big day and the weather is thing #1. Control what you can! Choose an indoor climate controlled venue!

04/07/2020

What does Dane County's recent health declaration mean to your wedding? I have no idea. I give up. I can't keep up. I'm having flashbacks to the movie Groundhog Day.

Here's the deal - no matter where or when you plan on having your ceremony or reception, I'll be there without any restrictions or limitations.

There are plenty of venues outside Dane County that aren't affected by Dane County's restrictions. Baraboo, Merrimac, Wisconsin Dells, Lake Geneva, Spring Green, Richland Center, Prairie du Chien, Appleton, Green Bay - all have some great venues that are beyond the reach of Dane County. My best advice if you're affected by the recent ratcheting down of public events is to look outside Dane County for a Friday, late season Saturday, or any 2021 date.

19/06/2020

Wedding vendors have had an insanely difficult season this year. Most of us have lost over half our weddings and therefore over half our income. As a result, many vendors have been forced to go out of business and even declare bankruptcy (we're not one of those vendors).

Whether your wedding is scheduled for 2020, 2021, or even 2022, I highly recommend reaching out to all of your vendors right now to make sure they're still hanging on and able to provide the services you've purchased. It's completely okay to ask them if they have plans to close up shop and/or declare bankruptcy. All of us vendors fully understand the situation our clients are in and will give you the honest truth.

If you've booked You Had Me At I Do, rest assured, we're still here and we plan to be here for many years to come. While the current situation has hurt us beyond anything we could have planned for, we'll get through it. While we may need to reschedule your wedding due to the situation, we're still here for you.

14/06/2020

Congratulations, Christine and Jacob! I'm so glad we were able to find a way to marry you on your chosen date while postponing the big celebration until next year. WebEx weddings ROCK! Nothing can stop true love!

07/06/2020

Some Honeymooners look for tropical destinations, some look for luxury destinations, and some look for nature destinations.

If you're looking for an authentic Wisconsin nature destination, I highly recommend https://evolvevacationrental.com/vacation-rentals/438420 !

My family and I just returned from a summer vacation at this cottage. While I wasn't supposed to be thinking about work, I couldn't help but think about how perfect this cottage and land would be for an 'outdoorsy' couple!

It's on the water with a dock, huge yard, and WiFi. You can choose to be completely off-grid or take advantage of the fast WiFi. You can fish off the dock, bring your own boat, or rent a boat from the nearby Chanticleer Inn and spend the day exploring the interconnected lakes.

There are plenty of local shops, restaurants, and coffee shops to meet your needs. You get to pick the level of 'off grid' that works for you!

Discover a hub of year-round outdoor recreation at this 1-bedroom plus den, 1-bathroom vacation rental situated on the Eagle River Chain between Eagle and Voyageur Lake. This newly renovated cottage is an outdoor paradise complete with a private pier with a boat slip and hoist, fire pit, and a sandy...

30/05/2020

It's vacation time! Thanks to the government completely shutting our businesses down, we're taking a family vacation in June for the first time in 20+ years. We're heading up north where there is absolutely zero cell coverage. In other words, 'office closed, gone fishin'. We'll get back to you after we return on 6/6.

13/05/2020

Dear Governor Tony Evers;

When will Wisconsin be allowed to have weddings again? I've tried following your guidelines, but you yourself haven't been following them, allowing some businesses to open before your clearly defined requirements are met.

I've given up on trying to understand your ever changing orders, allowing some businesses to open before all of your criteria are met while others remain closed until the criteria are met. Please give me one simple piece of information - when can we start having weddings again?

Hundreds of people can be in a grocery or hardware store at the same time, but only five can be in a wedding dress, tuxedo, or florist shop? And what about shops for barbers, hair stylists, and makeup artists? Those seem to be still closed.

Yet, as a wedding officiant, I can tell you with first-hand knowledge that counties in Wisconsin are still issuing marriage licenses. Some require in-person applications while others do not. Weddings are still allowed during the lock down. Does that mean that wedding related businesses are essential? That would mean nail shops, hair stylists, dress shops, tuxedo shops, and bakeries should be open.

This nonsense of partially opening the economy to some but not all businesses needs to end. Either stick to your requirements and keep the entire state closed, open the state back up, or give us an 'open Wisconsin' date that the wedding industry can work with.

Signed, every couple that wants to be married in 2020 and every wedding vendor that wants to help every couple.