iPOD ‘I DOS’: CHEAP, CHEERFULAND EVERYWHERE
Theresa Leone and her fiancé James’ wedding will be anything but traditional.
For the Jan. 16, 2007, nuptials, the couple and 50 or so guests will cruise fromFlorida to Paradise Island in the Bahamas.
A cocktail reception will follow a brief ceremony on Paradise Beach East.
“Our wedding is very unconventional, and the thought of more traditional wedding conventions just doesn’t suit us,” says the bride-to-be.
So instead of shelling out for a DJ or an authentic Bahamian steel-drum band, the couple plans to manage the music themselves using an iPod and their own
portable speaker system.
“This way, we can make our own playlist for each event, put someone in charge of the iPod schedule and not worry about it.”
These days, the iconic portable device that goes everywhere with the music- and video-centric set is makingyet another trip with them: the one down the aisle.
Colin Cowie, celebrity wedding planner who encourages brides and grooms to express themselves on their wedding days, has nothing but praise for the concept.
“I think it’s a great idea,” he says. “If you want to save money, it’s a great way to do it. The only thing that’s important is that you have a good taste in music. Steely
Dan doesn’t work [for a wedding].”
Professional entertainment – a band, a classical music ensemble, a musician, a DJ – remains the gold standard for a large, formal wedding. But for smaller, more casual events iPods have a place.
DJ Dr. Drax, national director of the American Disc Jockey Association, takes a dim view of the trend. A professional entertainer, he says, is an important investment in the success of a reception.
“You’re spending $20,000-$30,000 on this party. I don’t know why [you] would ever consider jeopardizing that for the sake of a few hundred dollars.”
The iPod-ization of nuptials has shown no signs of slowing. Photographers have begun to use the portable music player’s image-storing function for proofing wedding
photos. The “iProofing” method lets couples take their memories with them anywhere without carrying cumbersome photo albums.
The same goes with wedding videos. Peter Chung, a videographer and owner of Kairos Moment Wedding Films, Kansas City, Mo., offers a 30GB video iPod as
part of his high-end video package. Couples who opt for the feature choose their color of iPod and select a message to be engraved on the player. Chung delivers it to them loaded with their wedding video.
“It’s increasing in popularity as the demographic of brides gets younger and are more familiar with the technology,” Chung says. “It’s mainly a portable, convenient
way to carry around their wedding film during a break or on a commute.”
Now, if only it could cut the cake.
– Timothy R. Schulte
— CTW Features
