#splitsecondsound

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

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.

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.

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.

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!