Split Second Sound

Just 2 miles from center city, lose yourself in the serenity of 4 and a half acres of beautiful gardens and grounds at the Duke Mansion. Laura Stump is the social conference services manager at Duke Mansion and loves all the mansion has to offer to couple’s looking to tie the knot.

“I think what sets The Duke Mansion apart of the other venues in Charlotte is our history! We were built in 1915, so we are chalk-full of southern charm and are considered a historic landmark of Charlotte!”

But it’s not just southern charm and elegance the mansion has to offer. Laura and her team are dedicated to making couple’s wedding dreams come true and exceed expectations.

Stump says, “I think one of the most common compliments we get is about the people that work here. We are very lucky to have such a wonderful team in our Food and Beverage, and Events departments that really make the events run so smoothly! A great event staff [can] make or break an event sometimes and I am confident that our team is top notch! We take everything you would expect out of a historic venue and make it even better!”

Laura and her team aren’t stopping there. We asked Laura what plans were on the horizon for the Duke Mansion and she told Split Second Sound, “We are doing some really fun events this year (can you say Kate Spade themed wedding?); and since this will be my second wedding season here, I am excited to see what new things will come my way! This is also the Mansion’s 100th year anniversary! We had a huge New Year’s party to kick it off and are planning some really great events for the families that called this place home over the years and for the public to come and learn more about the history behind the house. This year is going to be a big one! We have substantially expanded our gardens around the house and have upgraded some of the features of the house and grounds.”

With everything that must come together on the day of the wedding, the Duke Mansion is one venue that can take all the stress out of the day for you. Laura Stump and her team will work hard to make sure your special day is just right. Split Second Sound always loves going to the Duke Mansion because the staff there always goes ‘the extra mile’ for the couples and they are so easy to work with. Let Laura and the staff take away your worries and just enjoy YOUR day. Laura explains, “Top tip for my couples would be to make sure you take a private moment together and just soak it all up! Everyone will tell you how fast the night goes by but they really aren’t kidding…a blink of an eye! So it super important that you take that beat together to really feel all the love in the room.”

The Duke Mansion

704-714-4400

At Split Second Sound, we’ve met a lot of people that considered having a destination wedding. We do travel! 

Something that holds many couples back from having their dream destination wedding is the fear that their closest friends and family might not be able to afford to attend. Here are some suggestions:

1)    Get a room block at a close-by hotel. This is crucial, whether your wedding is in-town or destination. This makes it as easy as possible for your out of town guests to find accommodations that are somewhat more affordable.

2)    Pay for some of their costs. We’ve heard of some people paying for their guests’ hotel rooms to try and offset costs.

3)    If you are unable to pay for some of the travel costs, you can set up meals for your guests at the hotel. For example, if everyone arrives the day before the wedding, you can have an open bar to welcome them, and then a brunch the day after the wedding. Not having to buy meals saves them some dough since they traveled to be there for your day and it makes them feel like you appreciate their effort in getting there.

4)    Research airlines that fly to your wedding location and figure out which one is the cheapest. Recommend booking with that airline on your wedding website. For example, Allegiant and Spirit Airlines usually have cheaper rates, but only fly to certain cities.

5)    Have a destination wedding ceremony, but then have a big party to celebrate after you get back so more of your friends and family can attend.

6)    Depending on the location of your wedding, accept that some people might not be able to afford to come. Your day will still be incredibly special, and you can celebrate with the loved ones who missed it later.

With over 30 years of experience, Split Second Sound loves to give advice, not just about entertainment, but all areas of events! Our clients know they can always come to us for help. Let us know if we can help you! We can be reached at 704-907-9507 or [email protected].

Tommy McCart Photography

After the all the excitement of being newlyweds calms down, couples love reviewing pictures from their weddings and reliving all the wonderful memories from their special night. Tommy McCart Photography (TMP) has been creating and capturing wonderful memories with over 19 combined years of experience in the wedding, portrait and event industry.  

Tommy takes a moment to describe his style, “We categorize our style of photography as natural [and] classic with an artful flair. I strive to capture and create images that are timeless reflections of each client’s day or special event.”

Tommy McCart graduated from the University of South Carolina with a BA in Media Arts. Their studio is a Certified Member of PPA (Professional Photographers of America), NACE (National Association of Catering Executives and Affiliates) and ISES (International Society of Event Professionals). Tommy and his team pride themselves on client relations, stating “We are big on customer service here at TMP and want all of our clients to have a wonderful and memorable experience. We return emails, phone calls and any inquiries the same day and usually within the hour. I treat people the way I would want to be treated and I truly feel that every client is just as special as the next.”

Tommy and his team take the time to get to know their clients, getting a feel for the ideal style and imagery their clients have envisioned.

“My creativity is played out through my photography; I strive to capture images that truly are my clients, not what I am supposed to do, but what I feel they will love. We try to always get to know our clients and their needs and desires before ever starting a job. I feel this ensures that we get exactly what our clients are looking for,” Tommy states.

Tommy McCart Photography is there to take the stress out of worrying how your big day will look. They will work with brides and grooms, start to finish, to make sure that their spectacular moments will be captured and become works of art to cherish on the rest of their journey together. He further explains, “I once had a bride tell me that I was like a calming pill when I walked into her dressing room on her wedding day. I made her feel special and relaxed and reminded her that this was her and her fiancé’s day and to enjoy it. Everything will fall into place and remember that we were there to capture all of the memories and moments that we can. When I hear that we did indeed do just that, it reminds me of why I do what I do and how much I still love and enjoy it to this day.”

 Tommy McCart can be found at:  

http://www.tommymccartphotography.com/

Split Second Sound loves our brides and bridesmaids! Over the years, we’ve heard so many fun stories about how our brides 'proposed' to their bridesmaids. Yes....proposed!!  These are great ways to make your friends feel special and set the tone for how fabulous your wedding festivities will be.

 1.     Wine! Who doesn’t love a personalized bottle of vino?

2.     Get down on one knee. Propose to them just like your fiancé proposed to you. Extra points for making it laughably over-dramatic.

3.     Have it written on their coffee cup when you grab coffee together. Offer to order for her so she can grab a table. Tell the Barista to write it on there, and see how long it takes her to notice. 

4.     Customized tote bags! They can use it to help pack everything they need for the bachelorette party and wedding to follow.

5.     Baked goods. This is a great one because it doesn’t result in any clutter. Once it’s eaten, it’s gone! You can either make them yourself or have them made for you if you’re not an expert baker.

   6.     If you’re low on funding (gotta save some $$ for the open bar, right?), you can always make a sappy Instagram post tagging the person you’re asking with an adorable picture of the two of you.

7.     Customized koozies. Handy and adorable.

  8.     A heartfelt hand-written letter. Flashy calligraphy is always beautiful, but sometimes it can be more meaningful to hand-write a letter yourself recalling some of your best memories together. Fold it up like when you used to pass each other notes in class for a special touch.

9.     Team Bride temporary tattoos! Re-live your childhood with these bad boys.

   10.  Matching tumblers. Leave a note to save these for the bachelorette party festivities.

Thanks to Mashable.com, here’s a list of the top 10 first dance wedding songs based on common mentions from over 30,000 Spotify wedding playlists. While obviously these are the more common choices, we still think it's a pretty great comprehensive list! Check this list out here.

An excellent way to get the absolute best dance songs for your reception is to go directly to the source... the men and women behind that scenes of so many weddings: the DJs (of course!) This CBS link suggests the 20 most requested dance songs according to a nationwide survey of wedding DJs. Find it here!

Struggling with so many different song choice decisions? See this Buzzfeed link for 144 songs that are separated into different categories including processional, grand entrance, father-daughter dances and more! Find them all here...

While many DJs offer additional lighting and other services as ‘add-ons’ for their DJ service packages, there is a recent trend to be aware of for any party host – the “all-in-one DJ”. It may sound like a great option to hire your photographer, videographer, photo booth, and DJ from the same company but unfortunately, the results don’t usually turn out how you hope.

Most reputable companies will be known for their specialty which should be hosting a great event and throwing an amazing party on the dance floor!

Photo via Katy Cook

Split Second Sound is known for two things: Game Day & Event DJs to the Carolina Panthers and being Charlotte’s Premier Private Event Entertainment Company. While most people associate the latter title with weddings, the SSS staff is involved in so much more!

  As the new school year starts so does another one of our favorite times: school dance season. Being Charlotte Mecklenberg School approved, we are happy to be the primary DJ for many schools throughout the area. SSS has DJs working throughout the week which makes us readily available for a school day dance party!

  Featuring party motivators, TVs for live video feeds or photo montages, uplighting and more, Split Second Sound will get the dance floor packed for any school.

Recently, one of Split Second Sound’s DJs took the covers of Carolina Bride (yes, both of them)! DJ LeVar ‘Mista LG’ Gladden wasn’t featured by name but two of his brides were. We love seeing our brides throughout Carolina Bride magazine in each release but this is the first time where the same DJ had two different brides making appearances on both the front and back covers of the same issue!

LeVar’s April 26th bride, Veronica Acut (now Getz) was featured on the front cover wearing a stunning Vera Wang gown. Inside the magazine, we can read all about Veronica and her groom, Chip’s beautiful reception which took place at Mint Museum Uptown. Other vendors included some of our favorites: Ashley at Graceful Host, Lindsay Reagan Thorne at Be Pretty and Jeremy Igo!

On the back cover of the magazine, Indigo photography featured LeVar’s upcoming September 20th bride and groom, Jenna Bertram and Adam Nygaard in an up close and personal engagement shoot. Jenna & Adam’s reception will be hosted at a beautiful venue (and another of Split’s favorites), Foundations for the Carolinas.

While professional DJ's are familiar with the flow of a wedding, they aren’t mind readers! If there is a certain expectation or tone you want to set for your reception, you should definitely go over this with the DJ so you can set realistic expectations together. Below are a few other things you should absolutely cover with your DJ prior to your reception:

1.)    What you don’t want – if the electric slide makes you cringe or there is a popular song you don’t want to be a part of your night, make sure you inform the DJ. This way, even if he/she were to get requests for those songs, they know to skip them.

2.)    Formalities – you can ask your DJ to give you ideas for the cake cutting or the garter toss (that’s what they are for!), but make sure you still cover these details with them before-hand. Asking them to pick the song and not reviewing it before the actual event could be a recipe for disaster.

3.)    Timeline – a professional DJ with extensive experience will be able to guide you through a suggested timeline or they will be able to work with one you have created. Either way, because the DJ is the person hosting your event, make a point to cover every detail of the timeline.

1. The Big Dances – for example: the Father/Daughter, Mother/Son and of course, the very first dance for the newlyweds. The music selected for these dances will absolutely set the tone for the rest of your wedding so be sure to select songs that are personal to you and your spouse. Often, brides and grooms think asking the DJ or researching lists online will lead to the perfect song but for these few dances, a personal touch is absolutely essential.

2. Reception Tunes – make sure your DJ (or band) understands exactly what kind of reception party you imagined. If you want them to get the crowd on the dance floor, allow them the freedom to make creative decisions about what to play next.  Giving the entertainer a few “guidelines” as far as songs you would love to hear and those you don’t want played will allow them to build the best party for both you and your guests.

3. Last Song – choosing the last song of the night is almost as important as the first! While your DJ may have some great suggestions, use the advice to select a song that will leave a lasting impression for you, your partner and your guests.

Music is going to be a large part of your big day so be sure to set the tone you want to see with your entertainment. If you can squeeze in one more song after the ‘last song’ of your reception, give you and your new spouse one last dance as the reception hall clears out and you two are the only ones left. This last moment together on your important day will give you a moment to reflect and solidify the tone of both your wedding day and your future together.

While he may be a more recent addition to the Split Second Sound team, DJ Mike Nania is making a major impression with his 25+ years in DJ and event experience. DJ Mike City, as the team calls him, is quickly gaining rave reviews from vendors and clients alike.

Starting at the age of 14 as a DJ for parties, Mike eventually was able to start his own company, DJ/MCing for weddings, Proms and Bar/Bat Mitzvahs in 1990.

Originally from the New York/New Jersey metro area, Mike recently relocated to North Carolina with his wife and 3 boys: Michael, 13, Nicholas, 9 and Andrew, 7. 

We had a quick Q&A with Mike to learn a little bit more about the family-man and DJ!

What’s your favorite part of an event?

I would have to say seeing people dance and having a good time. Knowing that I can play a part in that is a good feeling.                            

Do you think your boys will get into a similar business?

Possibly… my middle son, Nicholas, has the most interest. He used to love going with me to public events like car shows all the time so it’s cool to see him enjoy being around what I do.

What is one thing people are usually surprised to learn about you?

While Canon in D and the Wedding March are classics, you may want to consider something a little different for processional. Whether it is for you or your bridesmaids, see our list below for some inspiration.

When considering songs for processional, it is important to consider a few factors like the pace for walking down the aisle and the length of the song (depending on your bridal party size). One other element to keep in mind is the style of the music itself and which songs you can combine so that the entire ceremony sounds seamless (your DJ or live musician should be able to help with this).

Beatles: Here Come’s The Sun (instrumental)

The cheerful beat is one that nearly everyone will recognize but is also a change of pace your guests may not expect.

  Bruno Mars: Just the Way You Are (Instrumental)

A sweet ballad about a man who loves his lady for exactly who she is – it’s a beautiful sentiment to think about as you walk down the aisle to your waiting groom.

  James Blunt: You’re Beautiful

This is another ballad we love because even the instrumental version is often recognizable. A dedication to just how amazing the words ‘You’re Beautiful’ can make you feel.

  98 Degrees: I Do (Cherish You)

There is a definite advantage to having a broadly-cultured, experienced crew of DJs!  We love the fact that each of our clients are different in so many ways and we look forward to matching the best fitting DJ to each diverse event.

After all, what better way to celebrate your unique culture than having someone who can relate to you and your family as the host of your wedding reception?

With DJ’s from both the North and South we understand what a ‘Northern’ wedding means.

Many of our DJ’s and assistants speak different languages from Spanish to Italian and even Russian. With experience in several cultures, many of our DJs spend hours preparing for an event by studying the culture they are about to be a part of for the evening. Split Second Sound matches each event with the best-suited DJ to deliver an unparalleled experience on the big day.

Our DJ’s appreciate that brides & grooms want to be comfortable with their vendor so they will go to many lengths to achieve the smoothest event possible. We are proud to have been a part of several cultural events including Indian ceremonies, Polish celebrations and many more!

It is a common theme to have a DJ at a wedding but what about all of the other gatherings that go on throughout the year? Birthday parties, proms, corporate events, bar/bat mitvahs, pool parties – the list could go on and on. If you think an iPod will do, we beg to disagree. We say, if you want people to dance and have a good time, don’t trust a machine, hire a DJ! Here are three reasons why:

1)      Range of music – chances are, if you are gathering a large amount of people for one event, then there will be a wide range of personalities in the crowd. DJ’s are equipped with thousands upon thousands of music options to please everyone and if they don’t have it, they can get it!

2)      Experience – those who are familiar with the flow of an event know that there is a lot more to an evening than just playing music and letting the people dance. There are elements to an event than only those who are experienced will know how to handle. For example, an experienced DJ will read the body language of the crowd to identify which songs and styles are working and which ones to mix out of and go to something else!

3)      Professional – meaning professional equipment, professional mindset and professional interaction with your guests! Events like the community pool party can turn into a disaster even if a local DJ does double-check his music for radio edits. By hiring a professional DJ, you are insuring that the music element of the event will be quality.

Whether you are hosting a wedding reception or a birthday party, if you are hiring a DJ then you are looking for a great party! Split Second Sound has entertained at over 3,500 events in the last 3 years so if there is one thing we know how to do, it’s have an awesome party.

Below are a few of our favorite tips to guide you to your best event yet:

Not Enough – We’ve seen it a time or two. The party gets a little bigger than what you expected and you just don’t have the supplies to keep up.  For example, it is always better to have leftover food (for example) than it is to run out before the event is over. 

Too Much – As mentioned above, hosting enough goodies are a priority but occasionally, we all have the guest (or guests) who tend to ‘overindulge’ on the beverage supply. While you want everyone to have a good time, we suggest designating someone you trust to  keep an eye on those you may be concerned about ‘overdoing it’. 

Something to Remember – Set the mood and create an ambience (having an awesome DJ is a great way to do this). Most people will look for the music to create the best atmosphere so let your DJ work with the crowd to make sure everyone is involved! 

Split Second Sound recently spent an exciting evening with our good friend, Ivy Robinson of Ivy Robinson Events at Emily Maynard’s beautiful wedding.

Ivy Robinson, known for her unique design skills and for adding her personal touch to each event, originally from Elizabeth City, NC, is the recipient of countless event planning awards. In Charlotte for 11 years, Ivy has been received recognition with awards such as Best of Event Planner North Carolina, the BOB (Best of Best in Charlotte), and the BOW (Best of Weddings in Charlotte). She has been featured in the Knot National and BRIDES Magazine, has appeared on local CBS, NBC and FOX stations along with regular appearances on the Style Network. Ivy was recently interviewed by Carolina Bride and Charlotte Wedding magazines, she guest lectures at UNC-Charlotte every semester and has won the Best of Educational Program award (twice) from NACE (National Association for Catering and Events).

 With a list of achievements like Ivy’s, it is no wonder that Emily approached her to lend her talented hand in planning her big day. Planned in only 12 weeks, Ivy kept all details hush-hush as engagement party invites were sent for the soon-to-be bride & groom! All of the guests were in for a big surprise when they arrived in Sharon, SC at the family property of groom, Tyler Johnson. It was there that Emily & Tyler tied the knot under a large white oak tree standing over 100 years old. Ivy mentioned that when Emily first saw that very spot on Tyler’s family tree farm, she knew she would be married there some day!

 Ivy pulled off a stunning, southern-chic event while just mere hours before, a downpour drowned the grass on the farm. Ever-the-professional, Ivy hopped in her truck to pick up bales of hay and bring them back to the property to spread over the grass.

When she asked Split Second Sound to be a part of the entertainment, we were honored to participate in the plan for this  adorable couple. SSS was joined by other familiar vendors like Lindsay Regan Thorne at B E P R E T T Y (link to: http://www.lindseyreganthorne.com/) and Amy Craparo at Wow Factor Cakes (link to: http://charlotteweddingcakes.com/). SSS owner, Diane Esposito, also made an appearance to support her DJ team!