Joel and I worked together on Lewis and Kelley’s wedding in January. He was really great to work with! Joel kept the music going all night long and I don’t think there was anyone in the place who didn’t hit the dance floor at some point. When choosing a DJ, it is really important to make sure they will be able to provide the music that you want and stay away from the music that you don’t. Recently I talked with Joel about what he provides for your wedding day and a little bit more about him.

What inspired you to start Greenbelt DJ?

In my mid-20  all my friends began to get married. Being a DJ as my hobby, I already had all the equipment and music so I volunteered to DJ their weddings for free. I received great feedback from my friends and their guests. So, I bought several new sound systems and lights. Greenbelt DJ took off like a rocket.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

Until 2006, providing DJ services was just a long-time hobby while attending UT and later while I was a teacher for Austin ISD. I had always dreamed of losing the day job and working as a full time DJ, but I never thought it would be possible to earn a good income from being a wedding DJ. I also enjoy the business side of the job, getting to work from home during the week and at beautiful venues on the weekends.

How long have you been DJ-ing?

I started DJing in high school. In the mid-1990s, I moved to Austin to go to college and noticed all the DJ here used turntables to mix dance music. I spent thousands of hours in my 20s practicing and playing at house parties. It seemed I might be wasting my time and would need to grow up – but now the practice has paid off!

Will you always be at the event or do you have other DJs and assistants?

If I tell customers that I am available to DJ their events and they sign up, I will be there. Whether I am sick or not, rain or shine. If I am already booked, then I do have other skilled DJs that pick up gigs for Greenbelt DJ. But, our availability and which DJ will be made clear at the beginning of our first conversation.

What services do you provide? Is it possible for guests to request songs? If you don’t have a song a bride and groom are interested in can you get it?

Greenbelt DJ provides DJ and Emcee services for approximately 200 weddings per year in the Austin area. We provide ceremony, cocktail, and dance music.

Guests can request songs at the event, and we will likely have it with us. If not, we bring Internet access with us to each event and will download it for your guest for free. Any song that a bride and groom request that is not in our music library, we will acquire unless it is something extremely rare and cannot be found on the web.

Is there anything else you would like for people to know about Greenbelt DJ?

There are 5-star reviews about Greenbelt DJ all over the Internet, including WeddingWire.com, BestAustinWeddings.com, Yelp.com, TheKnot.com, and more. We make it our mission to return all phone and email messages within an hour.

Make sure to check out Joel’s website!

Videography is often not something at the very top of the priority list for brides and grooms. Of course I am biased because it is my profession, but even if it wasn’t I can’t stress enough how important I think it is! I love to look at the photographs from weddings I have filmed because it is interesting to see what the wedding looked and felt like through the lens of the photographers camera. Many times, it seems as though their photos and my videos have conveyed very different emotions. Plus, how fun will it be to look back on your wedding video with your children and grandchildren! Below is a video featuring a couple talking about why they wish they hired a videographer for their wedding. I thought they had some really good things to say – please take a look!

In[Focus] was awesome! My brain already felt like it was going to explode close to the end of day one. So much information was given. It was such a great opportunity to be able to hear the best in the wedding industry talk about wedding filmmaking and learn from their years of experience. And best of all, the conference was held right here in Austin! I am excited to put the things I learned into use for all we have planned in 2010. The crew from In[Focus] have posted some videos on their blog, I am going to include one here.

IN[FOCUS] Testimonials from IN[FOCUS] on Vimeo.

Its a cold and rainy Friday afternoon here in Austin and amidst getting ready for Kelley and Lewis’s wedding tomorrow downtown, I have spent the better part of the morning browsing the web for new images and inspiration.  Here is a bit of what I came across.

Images via Notebook Doodles

I’m dreaming of warm sunny days. These images from Dallas Photographer Poser:Image are stunning.

via Green Wedding Shoes

On another note! Next Monday-Wednesday I will be attending the IN[FOCUS] Video Event and ohmygoodness I am so excited. Wedding videographers from all over the country and world will be here in our wonderful city to listen to 13 of the most influential wedding and event videographers speak. Amongst the speakers are Joe Simon, Ray Roman and Chris P. Jones from Waco. I know it is going to be an informative and exciting few days! I’ll be sure to post a bit about it next week.

If you haven’t already, go out today and buy the newest issue of Southern Weddings. As a southern girl (Alabama to be exact), I loooove looking at the SW blog and checking out all of the wonderful weddings they feature. There is just something about the classic beauty of a southern wedding that is like nothing else. Among all of the amazing weddings they feature, the magazine also has planning tips, ideas and inspiration for brides-to-be.

Here is the newest issue as well as a few of their recently featured weddings.

1. Southern Weddings Magazine

2. Cameron Ingalls

3. Kate Benson Photography

4. Phose Photography

I am gearing up for an exceptionally busy November and I’m so excited. Its all beginning this Saturday at Red Corral Ranch for the wedding of Duffy and Ann. They were the first couple to book me after the bridal extravaganza back in June so I have been excited about this wedding for a long time! I’ll be working with Brad Lemon of Hyde Park Photography and I’m really looking forward to that as well.

Here are a few of my favorite images from around the web this week. Happy weekend!

A beautiful Oklahoma wedding from Carl Zoch photography.

From the insanely talented Two Pair Photography. This was the couple’s first kiss EVER! How romantic.

I’m obsessed with this entire series from Sarah Yates. Amazing!

Another balloon post. They are just too cute! These beautiful images are from Our Labor of Love.

My friend Amanda is getting married in Orlando next year and Anna from Rifle Designs is doing her invitations. They specialize in custom, hand drawn stationary and Anna can design whatever you desire! Amanda and Justin’s design will include an illustration of their new home and the dog they have together. I can’t wait to see them! Anna is also preparing to open a retail store that I’m looking forward to visiting when I’m in Orlando for the wedding. Make sure to check out Rifle Designs website and blog.

My assistant Jen and I shot the BEAUTIFUL wedding of Sarah and Rich this weekend. Keri from Leave the Details to me did a fabulous job making sure everything went off without a hitch. Make sure to check back for a preview from their wedding soon. Booth 66 provided the photo booth and Jen and I took a few photos. The photo booth was great! Two copies printed out within 30 seconds, one to keep and one to leave in their guestbook. Check out Booth 66 online if you are looking for a fun and creative photo booth.

With Courtney and Steve’s wedding at Texas Old Town quickly approaching, I’ve become really interested in her country chic details. I love mixing the elegance of a wedding dress with cowboy boots and eating BBQ with everyone dressed their best.

1. Delaney Holliman

2. Miss Pickles Press

3.  The Nichols

4. Various Photographers via Once Wed

5. Miss Pickles Press

6. Delaney Holliman

I loooove the look of the new Hotel St. Cecilia that opened this past January in Austin. Located in the heart of South Congress, its just another place adding to the unique vibe this city has to offer. It is become quite popular for engagement and bridal shoots and I am reeeeally hoping I’ll be luck enough to shoot a wedding or reception there sometime soon. And I’m definitely saving up my pennies to stay a night there later this year.  The colors and the decor are so vibrant and beautiful, click right here to check out their site.

1. Esther Havens Photography

2. Jake Holt Photography

3. Jake Holt Photography

4. The Nichols

Also, make sure to check out this feature on Hotel St. Cecilia by the super cool girls over at Wedding Chicks.