Meet The Wedding Pro - The Team at Live Events Missouri

What makes a wedding feel effortless isn’t luck—it’s design. We sat down with the family behind Live Events to unpack how a client-first mindset, smart planning tools, and real-time adaptability turn milestones into nights that flow. From first inquiry to last dance, they show how a great DJ becomes the event’s quiet pilot: reading the room, guiding the timeline, and raising energy without stealing the spotlight.

We dig into the details couples often miss. Their planning guides surface music tastes, energy levels, and little decisions that shape the guest experience. They keep libraries legal and offline to avoid streaming mishaps and licensing headaches. Announcements stay crisp and professional, backed by training and light scripting that supports personality, not replaces it. When timelines shift—as they always do—the team pivots gracefully so guests never feel the seams.

Beyond music, we explore photo booths that are actually hosted and engaging: enclosed classics, clean open-air setups with prints, and a 360 booth that even older guests enjoy with gentle guidance. Then we move to ceremonies. Their officiants balance warmth with professionalism, personalizing scripts and, when selected, building deeper rapport through premarital coaching. Coaching isn’t therapy; it’s a multi-session, assessment-led framework that helps couples align on expectations, money, intimacy, community, and more—always with a positive, tool-driven approach.

Finally, the wow factor: Cold Sparks. The team carries proper pyrotechnic insurance, trains operators rigorously, and maintains machines meticulously. The result is safe, stunning moments—first dances, kisses, and exits that look cinematic without the risks of handheld sparklers. It all reflects the same ethos: polish and safety, art and ethics, showmanship anchored by preparation. If you want your celebration to feel smooth, personal, and unforgettable, this conversation is your blueprint.

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Transcript

Meet The Live Events Team

SPEAKER_01 0:00

Welcome to Metropolitan Weddings. I'm John, and we are here to educate the couples with information from wedding professionals and industries.

SPEAKER_02 0:10

Our goal is to make the wedding planning process as seamless as possible by providing you with insight from industry professionals.

SPEAKER_01 0:17

Okay, couples, let's get this party started. We are here today with some very special uh friends of ours in the industry. Do you guys want to introduce yourselves and your company today?

SPEAKER_06 0:31

Hey, it's Rachel. I'm with Live Events DJs and Photo Booth. We're excited to be here today. Hey, it's Gretchen with Live Events DJs and Photoshoops. I'm also excited to be here today. Hey, it's Jenna with Live Events Missouri. I'm very excited to be here today.

SPEAKER_03 0:47

This is Dennis Robb Robbie with Live Events Arkansas. We provide officiance, premarital counseling, and audiovisual services.

SPEAKER_01 0:57

Okay, but which one of you provides the like dry humor?

SPEAKER_07 1:00

Mostly Robbie. Rachel.

SPEAKER_01 1:04

Always Robbie. Always Robbie. Good morning. So this is the first time that we have had four people on the other end of the line. So we're excited to get to talk to multiple people on the team. It's really fun. We're going to get lots of like varied answers, I imagine. So bear with us listeners as we figure out how to talk to all four of them at once. They're all like in the DJ industry, so they all probably really want to jump in their answer. That's my guess.

SPEAKER_03 1:37

Yeah, DJs love hearing themselves talk.

SPEAKER_01 1:42

All right. Let's get started. So let's start with DJ because I think that is that would you say that that's like the main business? Like at the top of the food chain? Okay.

SPEAKER_06 1:55

Yeah, that's our number one grind there.

SPEAKER_01 2:00

Tell us more about what you guys offer and what makes you special in the DJ portion of the business.

SPEAKER_06 2:06

I think something that sets us apart is it's family owned. So Rob and I are married and this business is everything to us. Um this is how we feed our family, and so it's really important for us to be at the top of our game.

SPEAKER_01 2:24

How long have you guys been married?

SPEAKER_03 2:26

17 years.

SPEAKER_01 2:28

Nice. And how long have you guys had the DJ business?

SPEAKER_03 2:33

How long have you you and Jeff been married? You guys have been married for like ever.

SPEAKER_01 2:37

Yeah, we're 20.

SPEAKER_03 2:40

That's awesome. Congratulations.

SPEAKER_01 2:41

Thank you. Um, how long have you guys had the DJ business?

SPEAKER_03 2:46

We opened it in 2015 on April Fool's Day.

SPEAKER_01 2:52

So since April 1st.

SPEAKER_03 2:56

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 2:58

So what kind of approach do you guys take from initial inquiry to wedding day? How hands-on are you guys?

SPEAKER_03 3:08

Very.

Client‑First DJ Philosophy

SPEAKER_06 3:09

Yeah, we like to know all the details and make sure that we know exactly what our couples are wanting and make it about them. Yeah, we very much tailor each wedding to the specific bride if they want us all in, making all the announcements we do, if they want us backed off and just letting them enjoy the day. We just kind of mold each wedding. So each one's kind of individual and unique.

SPEAKER_03 3:32

Yeah, and then and we try to keep it about the client, you know, the bride, the groom. Um, we're not that DJ that's gonna get out there and play the bongos or sing over the music. That's that's just not our jam. Um, we don't need to be the center of attention because it's their day, you know, it's for them.

SPEAKER_01 3:49

So you guys are client focused. And so how do you how do you like measure what their hopes and dreams are as far as like their vision for a DJ at the wedding?

SPEAKER_03 4:02

So we'll provide them with planning guides. There's a portal on our website, um, and they complete planning guides for um both ceremony and reception. And those are full of trigger questions as well as um what kind of genres of music they like, yeah, what kind of energy level they like.

SPEAKER_06 4:23

It's got all kinds of stuff that'll kind of key us into what kind of person they are. Yeah, and it might include things that maybe they never thought about that they were like, oh man, this is important. I just never, you know, thought about meeting that.

SPEAKER_01 4:38

Yeah, so we I just had our uh our daughter Juliet just got married not too long ago and you got used you guys' services, and I would agree that there are lots of trigger questions in there that sort of started conversations between us about things that we hadn't really known were a thing. You know what I mean? Like we think, oh, you're just gonna play music. And there are just some many other aspects of hiring a DJ that as a couple or as parents of a couple you're not really tuned into until you guys, with your like kind of uh education and history or experience, I'll say, in the industry can lead us to understand through your questions.

SPEAKER_03 5:20

Yeah, so playing music is just a percentage of it. There's there's so much more that goes into it.

SPEAKER_01 5:27

Describe some of the things that people aren't thinking about that you guys um I don't know, are really good at tailoring to each couple.

SPEAKER_06 5:38

Um I mean I think we have a lot of our videos have a really good skill with reading a room. So while, you know, they may put stuff on on the page, we can also read the room really well and and kind of adapt based on when you're actually like there getting to know people, the more you talk to the guests and stuff like that as well. You'll learn, you know, maybe they are huge George Strait fans and you gotta flip some George Strait in there and you know, you never know what you find by talking to the people and everything. Yeah, and maybe um if they want to be more interactive or if they want us to be more interactive as far as games and just like entertaining guests while they're doing things or announcements on certain things that maybe they didn't think needed to be addressed, um, that we can help kind of lead their guests and kind of let them know what to expect and, you know, um just help out in that way.

SPEAKER_01 6:39

I think I noticed like the professionalism of the announcements and those kinds of things. I've kind of been um present at weddings lately and have heard lots of different DJs. And there's like it's not just about the music playing. There's like a lot of difference in the professionalism and the manner, like the way that a DJ runs the show kind of, you know what I mean? Like I sometimes some of them are just not prepared to read the script or to to call the show in essence of like keeping things going or calling names out and different things like that. So just you guys, I would say in particular, have like uh the next level of that kind of thing in your DJ service as well. We really appreciated it.

Planning Guides And Reading The Room

SPEAKER_06 7:33

Dennis made a script for our newer GJAs to kind of go off of. It's something that we are like, this is you know, something to kind of refer to, but do not use this word for word. And so our DJs still have their personality, but they also know what's appropriate and what's not when they're making announcements and things like that. So that's something that we start um, you know, letting our DJs know right at the minute that they sign up with us is kind of that professionalism as well as still having personality.

SPEAKER_03 8:07

Well, and again, it's not it's not intended to be a script. It's just there for when you're you know, you're you're kind of in a pinch and you're like, man, I'm not sure what I'm supposed to say. Um you have that as a fallback, and then ad lib. It's not like we have headphones, like the DJ's not wearing earbuds, and the the owner of the company is like bars and orders every 10 minutes. You know, it's it's they have full uh creative flexibility to do their thing um in a professional way.

SPEAKER_00 8:38

So I think that's actually a good thing to branch off of. Being venue owners, we see a lot of different types of DJs and different music setups and everything like that. Um, but one thing that we always try to point out to everybody, and I kind of want to hear you guys kind of talk through your process, is DJs aren't just there to play music. Like there's so much more involved during the flow of the reception as far as organizational skills, food, all of that stuff. Kind of talk through your guys' process from once the reception starts. Outside of just playing the music during dinner and everything, what are the kind of the steps and stuff that you guys walk through to keep that reception moving in a certain order?

SPEAKER_03 9:18

Um so why don't we all take a stab at that? Um who wants to go first?

SPEAKER_06 9:23

Let's just do one word and so like dinner dismissal. Um, that's something that we have on that guide if you want our help with it or not. And so um personally, the way I like to do it is go to each table and dismiss instead of just barking on the microphone tone table, you know, table number one, things like that. So I think we do have different personalities and we do talk to the couples what they prefer. Um, but that's something that I think is a little bit more personable and then it helps with the flow as well. Yeah, I think it kind of just depends on the person and the wedding and the timeline. Um the timeline I think is the biggest it's not actually an issue, but biggest um guide. Guide. Yeah, guide for that, um, and resource, absolutely. So using that, I usually use my timeline to know, okay, if if we're doing grand entrance straight into first dances, I gotta get everybody hype and excited, all my crowd excited for everyone, um welcoming welcoming in that bridal party and that bride and groom. And then moving in, I also know that I have to like, okay, kind of bring it down and bring it into like a more somber, um more serious tone, because then we're going into that first dance. Um, I usually use that timeline as a good resource um for that. Yeah, I was gonna say the timeline's predicting. We uh we work with them to help them build it.

SPEAKER_07 10:49

Um and then we help them kind of follow through with their vision. Um and that just kind of gives us a flow. But we we also we know that the timeline's not always gonna go according to plan, you know.

SPEAKER_06 11:01

So we're always prepared to, oh, this is getting pushed back 30 minutes or whatever. We're prepared to make that seamless and flow, and your guests won't even know, you know, that something is delayed. Um whether we, you know, move a game up or sometimes, but we'll we'll communicate all that with the bride and groom and just kind of make sure the flow keeps going.

SPEAKER_00 11:25

I love all that. So if I'm a new couple and I'm just engaged and I've hired you guys as DJ and I'm trying to figure out the plan for my wedding day, it is it something to where, say, I hire a coordinator, would you rather the coordinator just kind of make the timeline, or is that something that you guys like to be in charge of?

SPEAKER_03 11:45

We've we are huge advocates of coordinators, um, planners, um, we're huge advocates of timelines. We want there to be a timeline, we want there to be good communication, and we're gonna facilitate that communication. Um a lot of times, if there's not a coordinator, the photographer will create the timeline um and that's totally fine. If the photographer doesn't, we're all about it.

Timelines, Flow, And Pro Announcing

SPEAKER_06 12:10

Um Yeah, I think it's just kind of the needs of the couple. If they need help with the timeline, um, then that's great. Like we're we're gonna step in. But if they already have one um from a different resource, then that's awesome. Let's go by that.

SPEAKER_03 12:27

Yeah, so we like like said before, you know, we we highly recommend timelines. Um it cuts down on so much stress, um, particularly for the couple. Um and while we're you know we're actually able and willing to create the timeline, we we actually offer it. Um, we also aren't that DJ that's starting to step on people's toes. Like, uh, you know, we're we're gonna create the timeline because coordinator doesn't know what they're doing. That's just that's not us. Like the coordinator usually sends us a copy of the timeline. If there's something that we think is, you know, not gonna flow properly, we can we can bring that up to them and say, hey, you know, maybe we should put the shoe game a little closer to dinner instead of in the middle of the dance floor because it's it's it's gonna kill the dance floor. Um just little things like that. And coordinators are always so you know, so welcoming of that info. But again, we're not there to step on the toes of those other vendors. And I think that that goes back to um the policy of the the bride and groom or the couple, I should say, are the stars of the night, you know, not us. You know, it's not our wedding, it's their wedding.

SPEAKER_01 13:38

So I just want to reiterate that I would caution any listeners that think it's just a playlist of music that you put all your favorite songs on and you roll with that through the evening. I think all of us in the room have heard and can attest to having someone that is watching the watching everything unfold, like the weather that changes, and so that could change the timeline on the dime. Or um just all the different like the cavers like who knows? Who knows what these things might happen that um change anything throughout the evening? But someone in the in the background that's already thinking about having your best interests at heart of how do I keep the energy levels at the right place and keep the guests happy and everything moving forward and no one knows the difference. Everything's just smooth and beautifully like worked through in the background. I think those are the things that people don't necessarily think about when hiring a DJ as well. So that's my two cents.

SPEAKER_03 14:46

No big thing, another big thing that um some couples and actually some venues I've noticed um are not taking into consideration is um how DJs um how they how they get their music. Like, are you streaming this off Spotify? Are you getting this off of YouTube? Are you doing this legally and subscribing to the appropriate channels? Like, how are you getting your music? Um, a good example of that. In fact, I'll give you a couple of examples. So anyway, um this one that one of the local venues reached out and they were like, hey, we don't have Wi-Fi because that can be an issue. And I was like, no, we don't need it because all of our music is legally purchased and pre-downloaded and we have it. Um we don't we don't need to connect to the internet to stream music. Um there's not going to be any commercials, there's not gonna be any buffering, and you don't have to worry about it being illegal music. Um, because with Spotify, things like that, um you don't have permission to rebroadcast that. Like that falls under piracy laws where you should not be utilizing those services to entertain large groups of people. It's just like with movies. Um, when you buy a DVD, you can't just go and play that in the movie theater for a bunch of people. That's that's not how it works. You don't have the rights uh to do that. It's it's the same way with music. You've gotta you've gotta go through those particular channels to um to have that music legally, and that's one thing that we do. Um I started my music collection, or I should say our music collection in the 90s. Um there's a lot. There's a lot of music. Um and it's all ours. 100 100% of it is ours.

SPEAKER_01 16:27

Nice. Yeah, that is something that you don't think about. Good job.

SPEAKER_06 16:34

Good job at you.

SPEAKER_01 16:36

Good job. All right, so let's also talk, so let's move on because there's a little bit of time and a lot of services. You guys do so much, and you're always taking on new things, so you're probably doing things I don't even know about. Um what's probably the next? So we've got DJ, I know you do photo booth, premarital counseling, you have Cold Spark. What do you want to talk about next?

SPEAKER_06 16:58

I think our number two squat is photo booth. Um, as far as popularity goes. How many photo booths do we have, Rob?

SPEAKER_03 17:08

13.

SPEAKER_06 17:09

13 photo booths.

SPEAKER_03 17:10

Wow.

Coordinators, Collaboration, And Flexibility

SPEAKER_06 17:11

Yeah. Um, and there's different varieties. So we have like enclosed where you can sit down and shut the curtain old school version. We also have like uh open air, is what we call it, where you have the stack drop, and then you have the um the photo booth separate. Um those all print off your photos, and you get to give one of those to each guest. Um which is a black and white version of your photos, no prop. Um, and so and then a white backdrop with that. Um, and then we also have a 360 photo booth. So that one you get the little clip of video as well. So it's pretty fun. You have a lot of variety and options for our couples. And I definitely I think photo booths are something people don't think about. It's a great way to entertain your guests, um, you know, during cocktail hour, during stuff where they're gonna be meandering around. That gives them something to do. It gets them mingling and talking to each other. You get groups of people all having a fun time and like ten of them get in there and get to laughing and tripping over each other or putting silly props on their heads, and it just it creates a fun environment and it's just it's a fun little thing that it can take your wedding to a whole nother level.

SPEAKER_01 18:37

Do we want to talk so okay, so you guys literally have kind of in my mind the when I think about the different kinds of photo booths that I've seen kind of filter through the magazine from the old school like get in and close the curtain. I love that kind still. I think it needs to make a a resurgence. It's been a minute. It's been like the big kind. We know how it's like, it just it's so reminiscent of like, I don't know. Anyway, it's fun. Um up until the 360. I know it is like them all. Uh-huh. Um, and to the the 360, do you find that how does the how does how does like the older generation respond to the 360?

SPEAKER_06 19:18

Kind of depends on the person of that older generation, I think. I've had some of the older generation love it and they don't really understand it, but they think it's the coolest thing, and they're so into well, not actually in tune with the new technology, but um they always like to listen, like like to know what's going on and what's new with the new technology. Um, some of the older couples and older people, they are not actually more stuck in their ways, but they like how things used to be. Um, and it's hard for them to understand that new technology. Um and not actually I don't I don't understand, but um I guess understand and know how to work that technology.

SPEAKER_01 20:00

So do you guys do anything to guide them, like show them how it works and encourage it?

SPEAKER_06 20:08

Yeah, absolutely. Um, we always help them um kind of explain, like, hey, with the 360, it's gonna go around in a circle and you're not moving, but it's gonna move around you. Um, dance up there for 30 seconds, hang out, do whatever, um, do whatever makes you feel comfortable, something fun. Um, and there's also sometimes a little bit of music that plays with it as well to kind of help amp up that vibe to where it's a little bit more fun and less anxiety of like I don't know what I'm doing. Um so yeah.

SPEAKER_03 20:37

Yeah, and we don't we don't do any dry rentals with photo booth. Um what a dry rental is it's like um you show up at eight o'clock in the morning, you drop off the photo booth, and then you leave, then you come back and pick it up at midnight. That's that's not what we do. Like we're gonna have um an attendant there um that knows how to operate that booth and also knows how to entertain. Side note, most of our photo booth techs um are entertainers as well. Like they know how to DJ, they're cross-trained on both. Um, so they know how to interact with those guests. Um, and they're gonna be there to usher guests in and out of the photo booth. Um when things happen, you know, like those the booths might run out of film. Um, they're there to replace that um in an instant. You know, you don't have to worry about like, oh, I've got to call tech support because there's nobody here. We're there all day. We're there with you the entire time.

SPEAKER_06 21:31

Yeah, we'll sit there making faces, getting your baby to look at us so they'll look at the screen instead of looking off the side, you know. It's a lot of fun. And a lot of our booths, um, you can adjust the screen so it goes lower or higher, depending on the height of the people too. So if you have little kids, then it's it's not an issue. We got 'em in the photo, no big deal.

SPEAKER_03 21:52

Yeah, and you guys know that because Rachel and Meg are both real short. And we both done before and it It's a good picture.

SPEAKER_07 22:01

Yeah. Shorter than both of them. Are you really shorter than us?

unknown 22:07

How tall?

SPEAKER_07 22:10

Really? I'm like five foot and a half, I think.

SPEAKER_03 22:14

Oh my god, I mean smoke your weight because I'm definitely afraid of you.

SPEAKER_01 22:19

And you should be. As you can see, it doesn't matter.

Legal Music, Offline Libraries, No Streaming

SPEAKER_03 22:25

One one thing that I wanted to focus on, and this may be out of place for this portion of your, you know, of your segment. Um personality. Um, like we're real humans um and we're hyper-local. We're right here, we're in the Ozarks. All of our staff lives right here. Um, we're not a part of any franchise. We're not, you know, sending money off to Chicago or New York or anything like that. Um the owners of the company live right here in Springfield. You know, they're not off in Arizona or um some weird place. They're they're right here. Um and when you, you know, when you're not at a wedding, you know, you're taking your kids to school or at a baseball game or at dinner, you're gonna see us. You know, we're all very active um in the community. We all have obviously we have lives and we do things. You know, my kids play sports and um we're there, you know, we run into clients all the time and like, oh hey, you uh you teach at our wedding eight years ago or you officiated for us, you know, six or eight years ago. Um so again, we you know we thrive on hyper local. Like everybody in the company is right here in the Ozarks. Um what that equates to is you know, if um you know, if we need a you know a backup, you know, we don't have to call our guy that lives in you know Chicago to fly down or whatever, like they're here. They're all right here.

SPEAKER_01 23:50

We do love family-owned. So we love that about you guys, and we love knowing that you guys are right here. You're part of our community and our wedding family. So you brought up something in there that I forgot, which I don't know how, because you win all the awards for it. Um you guys are also officiates. So officiates and premarital counseling are something that you know I think of you guys as as like the entertainers and the like the party and all of that. And sometimes I forget that you're also during the ceremony doing that sort of part of it. Why is there a process for officiating?

SPEAKER_00 24:28

So before they get it, I have to get off. I just photographed a wedding record where we're gonna do that. It is the first time that I've actually got to be a part of a ceremony that keep it doing. It's felt as well. I have to say, he did a fantastic job of not only structuring the ceremony and making it personal. But being a lot of people. What would I say? Like in the moment. Yeah, it was it was there was there was a moment where he just kind of ad-libbed and everybody laughed. It was great. Oh, he did a fantastic job. So I would love to hear what his process is like because it was great.

SPEAKER_07 25:32

Robbie, thank you.

SPEAKER_03 25:34

Thank you.

SPEAKER_06 25:35

I I yeah he does do a good job with officiating.

SPEAKER_02 25:39

Which Robbie, I have to admit, I was pretty interested to see you officiate because I was like, you're like sometimes a little bit more on the quiet side when you meet you, and an officiate isn't necessarily what I would think would be something that you did. And then I was like, holy cow, he like knocked it out of the park.

SPEAKER_03 25:58

It was it was great.

SPEAKER_02 25:58

Yeah, it was it was awesome. So good job.

SPEAKER_03 26:01

Well, I I totally thanks. I totally understand the concept of there's a time and a place for everything. So like being quiet at first, like uh that's not standoffish, that's not shy, it's just you know, there's a time and a place.

SPEAKER_05 26:13

Right.

SPEAKER_03 26:13

Um, when you're on the floor and and it's open dancing and you're slamming, uh, there's a time for that. There's also a time to be professional and straighten your tie. Um, you know, during a ceremony, it's it's a professional time. Like that's the most important time of their life. Um and we're blessed to have some couples that are like, yeah, why don't you throw in a little bit of humor as well? Um and you do get to ad lib, you do get to throw that in. Um, and not only is does that break the ice um during the ceremony, it breaks the ice for the entire evening. Um, it lets people know that um while this is obviously this is a professional setting, this is a you know a religious setting a lot of times, also we're all humans. Um, we're all here to have a good time, and it sets the tone for the rest of the night. Um, I've had grooms just give off a sigh of relief. Like they're so nervous um standing at the altar or at the arbor, waiting for their significant other to come down the aisle. They come down, we open, we have a prayer, um, we tell a little bit about their love story, and then we work in a little bit of humor, and you can just see um the faces, like the face of the, you know, the couple just released. Um I don't know, it's good flow.

SPEAKER_01 27:36

So since you do premarital counseling, do you think it is because of building sort of that relationship and getting to know them in that way that lets you into their story that makes you special when it comes to officiating or so it's premarital coaching.

Photo Booth Options And Guest Experience

SPEAKER_03 27:55

Oh um, it's lessons premarital coaching. Um, and that that is a huge thing. So when we're able to have a client that hires us for both premarital coaching and officiant, it builds that much more rapport. Um but when they don't hire us for premarital coaching and only officiating, kind of like the the couple that Adam and Don captured a few weeks ago. We didn't do premarital coaching with them. Um, you know, it's still gonna be great. You know, we're still gonna thrive, or excuse me, we're still gonna strive to provide a golden package, like a golden presentation for them. Um and be be on the fly, you know, like you said, um ad lib. Um make them feel comfortable. Um give them a good day, give them give them memories. You know, if they're if they're at a wedding and it's the same script that every officiant on earth uses, nobody's gonna remember that. Um, but if you work in a little bit of light humor, people are gonna remember that. You know, they're they're I don't know. I don't know.

SPEAKER_06 29:02

I was gonna say just like with the DJ, we have those easy planning guides that we've made for the officiant as well. And that's again loaded with trigger questions, whether they want it to be more spiritual or serious, or if they want it to be more fun and lighthearted. So um we really just try to use all that stuff to tailor each one again to the bride and groom. It's their day. Love that. Yeah, and I just started officiating too, so you guys need to come to the wedding. I officiate because I actually really, really love it. It's been so fun.

SPEAKER_03 29:33

She uh she has to stand on a suitcase.

SPEAKER_06 29:36

Wow.

SPEAKER_03 29:42

She couldn't hear it, but she just so the the premarital coaching kind of kind of it's something we never expected to do or thought we could even do. Um we've been married for like almost 20 years. It's crazy. Um we've been through a lot. Um and we found we found success and we want to share that. Like we're huge advocates of marriage outside of the industry as well as inside of the industry. Um that's that's pretty much based on personal preference and religion. Um but we found it, you know, we figured it out, we made it happen. Um we want to we want to share some of that knowledge um with future couples, you know, people that are engaged. That's such a nerve-wracking time. Um and it doesn't have to be, it doesn't have to be stressful. Um, but we you know, we'll have them sit down, we'll have them fill out um a quick survey, um, and then we analyze that survey, we break it down into several different sessions, um and then we work on those, you know, those triggers, those uh those answers to the assessments. Um and we give them the keys to to a successful marriage, a successful life.

SPEAKER_01 31:05

So would what would you say the difference is because I'm I'm asking not for a friend, but because I need clarification, what is the difference between premarital counseling and premarital coaching? And is it like several sessions and like or is it like one session? Tell me about it.

SPEAKER_06 31:26

It's it's several sessions. Um and we basically we are not counselors, we are not um licensed to be counselors. But um psychiatrists. Yeah. But we are um have gone through classes for the coaching and have gotten that knowledge to be able to do that. So that's the difference is that degree.

SPEAKER_01 31:59

That makes sense.

SPEAKER_03 31:59

Rachel Rachel's been Rachel's been training me for 18 years.

SPEAKER_01 32:03

So she finally got you where she wanted you and has released you into the wild. No? Okay.

SPEAKER_03 32:12

I think she she'd like I think she'd like to release me into the wild sometimes, but forcing just can't let go.

SPEAKER_01 32:21

So basically, um a c a couple that signs up for that service, they would fill fill something out and you guys would identify areas in which could eventually become a problem because maybe they're not yeah, I don't know. They they each have a different vision of the future in a certain subject matter or something like that. Is it that kind of scenario?

SPEAKER_03 32:41

Kind of, but we don't handle it. We don't necessarily handle it um in a way of identifying problems. I mean, obviously we do identify them, but we're not gonna sit there and list off all of the reasons they won't succeed. We put more of a positive twist on it and show them the reasons they will succeed. Right. Um and it it goes over some personal stuff. It goes over a little bit of stuff in regards to substance abuse, it goes into um past abuse, things like that. Um, and we're happy to refer, you know, if it's something extreme, you know, we're going to refer them um to seek help.

SPEAKER_01 33:16

Um just sort of giving them the tools.

SPEAKER_03 33:22

Yeah, like we're we're gonna work with them, we're gonna do exercises with them. Um, but more so in a positive stance than a negative, like, oh, you have a lot of debt, oh you uh you know, you have a job, or just whatever. That's not how you handle it. You know, you you you take a more positive approach to it. Um it's magic. The rest is a secret, I can't tell you.

SPEAKER_01 33:46

Okay, that's fair.

360 Booth Guidance For All Ages

SPEAKER_06 33:48

We do we do talk about finances, we talk about maybe some like how they each grew up, what their family makeup was, and kind of like just go through um, you know, those types of things, and then how how they felt about growing up like that and how they feel about their relationship together, and just kind of discuss those things together. We do like them to um we ask them a lot of questions so that they can kind of figure it out and have their answers too. And um then we just yeah, positive reinforcement on just being um able to kind of get through the rough time. Um, you know, it's not it's not always easy, it just isn't, and you have to work at it together.

SPEAKER_03 34:35

We touch on we touch on finances, we touch on strengths of their community, like their their unique group of friends and their family. Um, we talk about intimacy, we talk about expectations and false expectations, we talk about um like the poisons and the dangers of pornography. Um, it's pretty in-depth. Um, we we obviously don't spring that on the client. You know, we warm them to it and we're like, hey, you know, this session, we're we're gonna discuss X, Y, and Z like that. And that that's how every session starts. Um, but we forewarn them, like, hey, we're gonna talk about some really touchy subjects today because it's a part of your marriage, it's a part of your life. Um and we think you need to be on the same page with each other. You know, the the couple needs to be on the same page.

SPEAKER_06 35:23

Um yeah, finding that balance for the couple is important.

SPEAKER_01 35:31

Well, I appreciate um that aspect of thoughtfulness towards couples, you know, new couples and all of that for you know, our community, for them themselves, just for our children out there, like a healthy marriage and a happy marriage is gonna equal healthier, happier children, which is all gonna just keep filtering and feeding the area that we live in and making where we are a better, happy place. So I appreciate you guys opening the door for them to be able to talk about things and identify things. And I don't know. Sometimes if you come from a family that doesn't openly talk about health issues or financial issues or anything of the sort or expectations like you said. It's harder to talk about. So just giving people the space and the you know, opening the door for them to talk about those things with each other. I really appreciate you uh also focusing on that with your business. I think that's an asset to our community. Thank you.

SPEAKER_03 36:26

Oh well, I was I was gonna tell you that I recently learned that we're the only Cold Spark provider in the area that's actually insured.

SPEAKER_00 36:32

Whoa. Interesting. Whoa.

SPEAKER_02 36:37

That's a big deal.

SPEAKER_01 36:38

I it I yeah, I'm all speechless about that. Really? That's crazy.

SPEAKER_03 36:45

Oh, so there are there, I and I don't know the correct terminology for like agents or whatever where insurance is concerned. Um, but the pyrotechnic insurance that you have to have of cold sparklers comes from one centralized source. Um and they were like, yeah, there's nobody in your area that is a customer of ours, and they're the only ones in the world that provide it. So I don't know if in you know, in your area means in the states or in the Midwest or just on our street. Um my assumption is we're the only one on our street that that has that insurance, but I I took it more of a there's there's you know, there's not a lot of coverage in our market. Um and that's scary.

SPEAKER_07 37:34

Yeah, I think one thing that really sets us apart is we any of our uh technicians that go out with the cold sparks have been fully trained not only for how to use them, but for if something does go wrong, they're prepared with um the things we've we've luckily never had it happen, but that's because they're prepared.

SPEAKER_06 37:55

Uh they're aware of the knowledge of, okay, I can't put this near carpet, I can't put this near a drape. You know, we take all that into consideration when we're placing the cold sparks. And I mean, a bride may have a vision to have it somewhere, but we'll be like, you know, can we put it somewhere else? Because those flowers look pretty flammable. So, you know, we all of our technicians are trained to know what might be an issue, and so that has has made it to where we haven't had any because of that.

Hyper‑Local Team And Community Roots

SPEAKER_03 38:23

Also, maintenance and cleanliness with those devices, those machines. Yeah, cleanliness is godliness, right? Um, um, those machines have to be cleaned out, they have to be emptied, um, and there's certain ways to clean them. Um, rest assured, I have dissected those like a little science nerd in the sixth grade. Um, like I've taken those completely, not every one of them, but they're all they're all the same fixture, like they're all the same machines, and I totally dissected one of those um down to the bare bones. Um, and I understand the mechanics of it, I know how it works. Um, and electronics fail. You know, sometimes electronics need a new circuit board or they need a new gear or what have you. Um and I know how to fix them. Um I fixed a handful of them. Um so as far as as far as the dangers or the safeties with that, um we take the initiative to you know to maintain them, to make sure they're in good working order. Um, because like with anything, they can become dangerous, and and obviously they, you know, they they run with potential. Um the two benefits there. First and foremost, we have the insurance, and then secondly, we uh we know how to operate them, we know how to rebuild them if you know somebody spills water in it or or whatever.

SPEAKER_06 39:37

So but it'd be great if no one built water in it.

SPEAKER_01 39:43

Please don't test it.

SPEAKER_03 39:45

We've had that happen before. Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 39:48

Rain. Rains happened here, that's rise rain.

SPEAKER_03 39:52

Yeah, they do not, they do not like moisture.

SPEAKER_06 39:56

But they're beautiful. Let's talk about the positive side of cold sparks.

SPEAKER_02 40:01

They photograph really well. They make they make first dance pictures look amazing.

unknown 40:09

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 40:10

When you walk into the Metropolitan Expos in Springfield um in January and in the summertime, those cold sparks are going off right at the front door. Those are those are almost like a backdrop um for some of the brides. Like they'll come in and selfie it up in front of those cold sparklers. Um safe indoors, they're cool. Um you know, they're not hot, you know, when it comes out, it's not gonna like burn you. You can totally stick your hand in it. Um I don't know if I'd stick my face in it. Maybe I should try that.

SPEAKER_06 40:42

And I'll do that to reassure I do that sometimes at events to reassure some people, be like, oh, that's scary. Fire's gonna come out of it. And I'll do like a test shoot like around a kid if the kid's gonna be scared of it, and I'll put my hand and show them like no, it's safe. And so I like to do that to kind of reassure them sometimes.

SPEAKER_03 41:01

No fire, no gas, zero gas, zero emissions.

SPEAKER_01 41:06

Interesting. Zero gas, zero.

SPEAKER_06 41:08

Yeah, they they definitely add like a big aha moment. Um, they're just gorgeous when they go off. A lot of people, uh yeah, first stance. I've had people um for ceremony once they have their first kiss, have them go off, and that's a beautiful moment. Uh, grand exit, they are notorious for grand exit um and getting all of those amazing pictures and videos. They are yeah, they take your kick out from being beautiful to being magical. Yeah. Creates a magical moment.

Officiating Style And Personalization

SPEAKER_03 41:41

Rachel, Rachel, you officiated at Hazle Team a few, I guess it's been about a month ago, um, and we had cold sparklers kind of in between where the wedding party was and the first row of guests. And right at their first kiss, I hit you know, I hit the start button on the on the cold sparklers and it was magic. Um, Jessica Young was the photographer there and she captured absolute magic. Um and that's you know, that's the wow factor. Yeah, yeah. That's not yeah, you're never gonna forget that. Your guests are never gonna forget that. Um, I've been to a lot of weddings, and that that doesn't happen at most ceremonies. So when you when you book that, uh it's there. It's something it's something your guests have probably never seen and they may never see again.

SPEAKER_01 42:36

Yeah, they're really fun and energetic and a great alternative to like a whole uh a whole firework setup or something like that. It kind of provides that same exciting um moment, but without having to go full firework. Okay. How come every time I talk, everyone just sits here? No one will respond to it.

SPEAKER_02 43:03

Oh no, I was sitting here thinking, I mean, that's like the perfect thing to say, is because most venues don't allow fireworks. There's too much of a liability. And honestly, sparklers are great, but they've been done for years and years and years. And as a photographer, I definitely don't like sparklers at the end of the night because people who've had drinks with gigantic fire sticks in their hand are not my favorite. So I think cold sparks are like amazing. So yeah, no, you nailed it whenever you said that. No fireworks, but you get the fireworks. It's kind of cool.

SPEAKER_03 43:40

I love it when there's both, when they have the cold sparklers and the hand sparklers. Um I don't know. That's just my both oh yeah, yeah. I think I get what you're saying, you know, when there's you know, someone with a drink in a hand and holding a fire stick and there's a little kid, that's yeah, that can kind of become

SPEAKER_02 44:00

You can de you can definitely find times where you can kind of do the fake exit before everyone's had too many drinks that aren't quite so tipsy. And uh then it, you know, and you can plan it out a little better. But that's a whole different conversation for another time.

SPEAKER_03 44:17

And and the difference that people don't realize is the hand sparkler is fire. That is fire. You like that with a torch, yeah, with a flame and wire.

SPEAKER_02 44:27

Yeah, absolutely.

SPEAKER_03 44:29

And that can absolutely start a field fire or or somebody's hair.

SPEAKER_02 44:35

I've seen a bride's dress get burnt before. I mean, there's there's all kinds there's all if you've been in it long enough, you've seen all kinds of different things happen with those. They're they're never my favorite, but they are popular and they do look cool with cold sparks going off in the background.

SPEAKER_03 44:52

So nobody's asking you for insurance on hand sparklers. You just walk into the firework tent and buy those or wherever, and then you light them off. Nobody, nobody really cares. And the they're more dangerous.

SPEAKER_01 45:05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 45:05

You know, and when you think when the when the hand sparkler is done, when you look at it, it's red hot. It looks like lava. Uh I don't know. Let's give that to uh somebody that's had a couple of Chardonnays. Bring me to another thing. We don't we don't tolerate any of our staff drinking at events. Um there's a zero tolerance policy. So when you know when we show up to an event, obviously they're gonna be sober, they're gonna remain sober. Um if offered an adult beverage, they're gonna kindly decline. Um we just don't tolerate it. I I have a belief that vendors don't need to be drinking alcohol whether it works. You know, you're gonna be there for seven or eight hours if you can't handle going without a a beer for seven or eight hours.

SPEAKER_06 45:52

Maybe there's a bigger problem at stake than Yeah, and I think I think some people think that it's some people think that DJs or or whatever need to drink to have that fun and energy, but we we hire people that have that on their own. They they don't need the liquor to to be fun and energetic. They they have that natural personality. So we definitely I'll definitely accept the diet coke though. Yeah. Any day, anytime, especially if they're drinking in it, oh yeah.

SPEAKER_03 46:24

Rachel and I don't even drink. Like we don't we don't drink alcohol at all. I know like the last time I drank alcohol was gosh, before we dated. It was 2007. Oh wow. Um, I don't even drink soda, like I don't drink coffee, like I don't need caffeine, like I'm good. I know I know other DJs are like, oh, we gotta get coffee and espresso and all this stuff. And dude, I haven't had caffeine in probably a decade.

SPEAKER_01 46:48

Yeah, I still need my scarbees before don't talk about it. I'm good.

SPEAKER_03 46:53

I'm temporarily on caffeine, but I don't know, we got a little sidetracked there. Anyway, we don't we only drunk sweating, so there's no alcohol consumption.

SPEAKER_01 47:06

All right, that's fair. Caffeine, I can still have caffeine though, right?

SPEAKER_02 47:11

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 47:12

Okay, thank you.

SPEAKER_02 47:13

Completely acceptable. Okay, which actually at all hours of the day. It's thank you. I appreciate that.

Premarital Coaching: Structure And Scope

SPEAKER_01 47:19

Okay. So it has been the most fun hanging out with all you guys today. I would say the four the four-party uh live events team pro podcast went really well. I was afraid everyone was gonna talk over the top. I think I was the only one talking over the top of anyone. So you guys did amazing. Um you must be professionals or something. So we are we are so I would say that.

SPEAKER_03 47:45

Do what I wouldn't go there, I wouldn't use that word professional.

SPEAKER_01 47:53

So we just love you guys, and thank you so much for spending the morning with us and talking to our listeners. Um, if anybody is in the market for anything from like premarital coaching to a send-off with Cold Spark and everything between, apparently. Unless it involves an alcoholic beverage for the staff. But Diet Coke is accepted and coffee.

SPEAKER_02 48:15

Coffee. Yes, lots of coffee. Totally accepted.

SPEAKER_01 48:20

So if somebody wants to get a hold of you to talk about your services and see um what is a good fit for their wedding, where do they where do they go to find you?

SPEAKER_03 48:28

So if they if they go to our website, um it's bj417.com. Um they will find all the resources in regards to each of the services we provide. It's super easy to contact us. Um there's a super easy-to-use contact form right there on the website. Uh, we also are open to phone calls, text messages, email. Um they can come by our office. We have uh we have an office in Southwest Springfield. Also, we're all over social media TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, pretty much wherever, wherever the kids are going nowadays. Are we on Snapchat? We're on TensorFlow.

SPEAKER_04 49:10

We're on TensorFlow.

SPEAKER_02 49:13

If you're on Snapchat, I'm gonna make fun of you. That is too far. I'm just kidding. The kids are on Snapchat. I don't know either. I wouldn't even know it's a business. Our business is on Snapchat? Ours? No. Ours is not because I don't even have a Snapchat.

SPEAKER_01 49:33

Somebody tried to talk us into it.

SPEAKER_03 49:36

Somebody totally tried to talk me into Snapchat as well. I said in I said in our seminar year when they were like, if you want your business to succeed, it has to be on Snapchat. And I was like, yeah, I think Snapchat's more for like teenagers and adulterers. And I yeah.

SPEAKER_01 49:56

Oh my gosh. Oh my goodness. It has been lovely hanging out with you guys.

SPEAKER_03 50:01

All right, have a good rest of your day.

SPEAKER_01 50:04

Bye. Thank you for joining us for Metropolitan Weddings Engage Podcast. Be sure to click subscribe so you are notified when our new episodes drop. For more information and to get connected with merchants for your wedding, visit metropolitanweddings.com. You'll find information on upcoming wedding shows, access to our blog, Facebook, and IG. Also look for the latest issue of Metropolitan Weddings on newsstands near you. Email any questions or suggestions for topics to Hello at metropolitanweddings.com.