Closing out 2021

First, let’s address the elephant in the room: planning events during a pandemic. It’s an ongoing concern and even as we enter into 2022 it doesn’t look like it’s going anywhere anytime soon. Of course, the pandemic is impacting all of us, but the great news is: events are moving forward! Especially weddings. And, while 2020 was a complete disaster, 2021 rebounded and was incredibly busy for all of us. Postponed weddings had us on the road for Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and even Monday weddings. Most of us were on the road 3 or 4 nights a week doing everything we could to make events happen for couples that were forced to postpone their 2020 celebrations.

The prediction is: 2022 will be one of the busiest wedding seasons EVER. Before going any further, I just want to say thank you to all of the couples that were forced to push their weddings from 2020 into 2021. Collaboratively, we pushed through and hosted some amazing parties. A little delayed, yes. But awesome just the same.

2021 recap

My skillset was pushed to new levels as we entered 2021. For my corporate clients, I was working on video projects, streaming events, and continuing to plan in-person events. For schools, we took on outdoor graduation ceremonies, overnight project graduations, and outdoor proms. Events that are typically hosted indoors were now happening outdoors. The new variable? The weather! But, thankfully, we made it happen without incident regardless of what the weather brought us.

When it came to weddings: wow, it was a busy summer. As one of the busiest DJs in Maine, I often log a lot of wheel time traveling between destinations. But with triple and quadruple-header weekends the number of miles traveled multiplied. Nope, not complaining – in fact, I’m thankful. So grateful to be back on the road doing what I love and what I’m passionate about. Some of those destinations include Bar Harbor, Bangor, Rockland, Boothbay Harbor, Bethel, Portland, York, Cape Elizabeth, Winthrop, Augusta, Waterville, and Auburn (just to name a few spots).

Headed into 2022

While 2021 was very busy, 2022 is going to be downright phenomenal. If you haven’t secured your vendors yet and you’re planning a 2022 wedding – I’m just going to be honest: it’s going to be hard to find true professionals. Most of us are already booking well into 2023 and even 2024. So, what’s happening in 2022? I’m excited to visit some new venues including Tops’l Farm, Maine Maritime Museum, Mechanics Hall, Hyde School, Farm at Worthley Pond, Causeway Club, Ski Esta, Puddledock Gathering Post, Brick South, and Sugarloaf.

Of course, I’ll also be visiting some very familiar venues: Maine Wedding Barn (x2), Linekin Bay, Inn at Fogg Farm, Barn at Silver Oaks Estate, Sunday River (x3), Old Saco Inn, Bar Harbor Regency (x3), Bar Harbor Club (x2), Spruce Point Inn, French’s Point, Tupper Manor, Dunegrass Country Club, Bear Mountain Inn (x3).

In addition to the very busy wedding schedule, it looks like school events are picking back up and with any luck, corporate audio-visual clients will start hosting events again in 2022.

My sincerest gratitude to all of my clients and couples for allowing me to live out my dream. I’ve been in this industry since I was 14, it’s all I know and it’s what I absolutely love. And I’m so incredibly appreciative of the opportunity to share that passion with you at your event. Thank you and cheers to 2022.