Musarra/Burnett wedding ceremony & reception at Rose Hill on March 30th, 2014

Annalisa and Ryan had both ceremony and reception all in the great hall of Rose Hill Plantation.  They had the ceremony in front of a huge fireplace with a roaring fore going.  It was a bit cold, breezy and rainy outside, so the fire was a prefect touch!  As guests arrived to the ceremony I had a mix of indie and soft rock playing.  It was time for the ceremony by Dave Kurtz.  The Grandparents and Parents entered to Jon Schmidt’s instrumental “Song Of The Ocean”, the wedding party to a piano version of Phillip Phillip’s “Home” and Annalisa to an edit of Coldplay’s “Postcards From Far Away” that her brother had seamlessly done.  After the ceremony and “I Do’s” the wedding party exited to Us’s “No Matter Where You Are”.  What a great song!  The guests made their way to the back of the room so the staff could get the room ready for dinner and I had a mix of indie rock, soft rock and classic soul playing. 

 

While Annalisa and Ryan were around the beautiful grounds of Rose Hill having pictures taken by Zack Hamby, guests enjoyed appetizers, board games and props for getting their own selfies taken.  The wedding party arrived for their introduction and I had the guests fine their seats.  They entered to “On Top Of The World” by Imagine Dragons and Annalisa and Ryan came to the floor and had their first dance to “Forever Like That” by Ben Rector.  Ryan’s Father thanked everyone for coming and said the blessing.  The buffet opened and I continued a mix of indie rock, soft rock and classic soul.  All the food on the buffet was incredible!!

After dinner we had a few toasts, the Ashley Cakes cutting (and delicious cupcakes!) and parents dances.  Annalisa joined her father to dance to “Love and Happiness” by Emmylou Harris & Mark Knopfler and Ryan & his mother danced to “Find Your Wings” by Mark Harris.  It was so touching!  Before I opened the floor for everyone we had a longest married couple dance to Sinatra’s “The Way You Look Tonight” which Annalisa’s Grandparents won at 66 years married.  I couldn’t believe it.

I opened the floor with “My Girl” and the floor filled.  There was some grey haired guy that came running out to the floor in a red cowboy had, pink boa and silver glitter shade sunglasses.  I knew he was going to be the life of the party.  I was right..  The floor stayed filled for the rest of the night and even a long conga line to “Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough”.  The night ended with Pharrell’s “Happy” and Annalisa and Ryan had a sparkler exit from the front of the house. 

Matonak/Herlihy Ceremony & Reception at The Stockroom on March 28, 2014

Adria and Brian chose downtown Raleigh’s The Stockroom at 230 for both their reception and ceremony for 120 people.  The 2^nd floor exposed wood beams and distressed brick walls are awesome!  When guests arrived for the ceremony I had a mix of soft rock playing with James Taylor, Van Morrison and Ray LaMontagne in the mix.  Guests found their seats and the wedding party was ready to walk down the isle.  Brian and his groomsmen made their way to the front of the room for the ceremony with Judge David Krogmann.  The parents entered to “Forever” by Ben Harper, the bridesmaids to “Better Together (live)” by Jack Johnson with harmonica help by G.Love and it was time for the Adria right after the 2 adorable flower girls.  Adria entered to Van Morrison & Bob Dylan’s duet of “Crazy Love”.  After a short ceremony, they were married and made their exit to The Darkness’s “I Believe In A Thing Called Love”.  So funny! Guests then made their way next door for the cocktail hour in Mahler Gallery and I had a mix of classic rock and jam bands playing by the likes of The Grateful Dead, The Stones and Dave Matthews.  Drinks were enjoyed as was these delicious cream cheese stuffed peppers! It was then time for the reception.

Guests made their way back to The Stockroom for the dinner and dancing portion of the reception.  Guests found their tables and the wedding party entered the room to “All You Need Is Love” by The Beatles and everyone was cheering!  Adria and Brian entered to a loud roar and made their way to the floor for their first dance of “Girl From The North Country” from the Silver Linings Playbook movie.  After toasts by Adria’s Maid of Honor and Brian’s Best Man (who gave one of the funniest Best Man toasts I have heard) it was time for the plated salad and family style dinner by Empire Eats with marinated steak, grilled salmon and vegetables.  It was all delicious!

After dinner Adria danced with her father to “Harvest Moon” by Neil Young and Brian and his mother to “A Mother’s Song” by T. Carter Music.  The cupcake table opened with cupcakes by Edible Art and homemade Italian cookies by Adria’s aunt Judy from Pittsburg.  They must have been good because they were gone fast!

I opened the floor with Otis Redding’s version of “My Girl” and the floor filled after a couple songs.  I then went into some disco and current dance music that brought everyone else out.  After a couple ballads, line dances and a lot of great dancing by everyone it was time to call it a night.  Adria and Brian had picked “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” by The Band for their last song and they were surrounded by their friends singing it.  What a fun night and a great group to play for!  I can’t wait to see the pics by Taylor Green Photography.

Zefiretto/Bono wedding reception at The Carolina Inn on March 22nd, 2014

Valerie and Matthew chose the Hill Ballroom at The Carolina Inn for their afternoon wedding reception on a gorgeous March day in Chapel Hill NC.  The cocktail hour for the 200 guests at noon was held in the hallway in front of the room and I had a mix of standards playing, heavy on Sinatra of course!  After some pictures were taken by photographer Renee Sprink, the doors of the ballroom opened and gusts made their way to their tables with floral arrangements by The English Garden.  I then introduced the wedding party to “Marry You” by Bruno Mars.  I still love that song!  The wedding party danced in and lined up in front of my table.  Valerie and Matthew came in to a huge roar from the crowd and Valerie looked beautiful in her white dress and dark shades.  She handed her bouquet and glasses off and they had their first dance to Journey’s “Faithfully”.  After a couple minutes the wedding party joined them for the dance.  Valerie then danced with her father to “Butterfly Kisses” and all the fathers & daughters joined them after a couple minutes.  Matthew escorted his mother to the floor to dance to “What A Wonderful World” and, you guessed it, all the mothers & sons shortly joined them.  Everyone took their seats and Valerie’s father welcomed everyone and said the blessing.

 

The individually served salad’s and entrée’s came out and I had a mix of soft rock and classic soul playing.  After dinner we had the Ashley's cake cutting to “L.O.V.E.” by Nat King Cole and the staff passed the cake and the dessert table opened while we sang happy birthday to 3 guests and had toasts by the best man and maid of honor.  I then opened the floor with “My Girl” and it filled immediately.  Shortly we did a conga line and Valerie and Matthew had picked up lots of props for guests to wear.  There were literally 150 people in this conga line going all around the room to Don Omar’s “Feeling Hot, Hot Hot”.

After guests filled the floor to oldies, disco, 80’s and some current dance tracks it was time to call it a wrap after their last dance to Beyonce’s “At Last”.  There were so many people dancing that they didn’t all fit on the dance floor. Valerie and Matthew left first to host a receiving line after the reception and guests made their way to the front of the Inn for a bubble exit after going through a “hugs and kisses” line.

Hardy/Davis wedding at Rose Hill Plantation on March 15th, 2014

I played for Gloria and Spencer a month ago, but none of us knew yet.. They were guests at his Uncle’s wedding that I DJ’d in Wilson.  We realized during dinner that we were all there and that I had danced with his Grandmother at that wedding.  So funny!  Anyway, Gloria and Spencer chose the “old south” feel of the beautiful Rose Hill Plantation for their outdoor ceremony and cocktail hour and indoor reception on a perfect 70 degree day with photographer Cara Galati from F8 Photo Studio.  Guests arrived for the ceremony and I had a classical mix playing.  Guests found their seats and the parents and grandparents walked down the isle to “Trumpet Voluntary”.  The wedding party followed to “Canon In D” and Gloria made her entrance with her father to “Here Come’s The Bride” and walked up the grand steps in front of the main house.  Their recessional was “The Wedding March”. 

After the ceremony, pastor David Currie invited guests to the back out the house for the cocktail hour where I had a mix of classic soul and beach music playing.  Food and drinks were served while pictures were taking place.  Spencer surprised Gloria with their entrance into the cocktail hour inside their brand new HUGE tractor that was just delivered 2 days earlier.  So great!  I even snuck a quick pic inside it.

Guests were then invited inside the reception hall for dinner and dancing with floral arrangements by Cynthia Small.  I introduced the wedding party to “Boogie Shoes” and it was then time for Gloria and Spencer’s first dance that shocked everyone!  The custom edit I made for them started with “Unchained Melody” for 40 seconds then went into “The Tootsie Roll”.  They had a choreographed dance that was awesome and really caught everyone off guard.  After a blessing by their pastor the buffet opened and I played a mix of soft rock and country (including “She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy”..get it?).

After dinner and toasts by both Fathers, we had a cake cutting to “L.O.V.E.” by Nat King Cole and Gloria danced with her father to “How Sweet It Is” by James Taylor and Spencer and his mother danced to “I Hope You Dance”.  I opened the floor with some Motown and beach music then current hits and line dances.  We stopped briefly for the bouquet toss to “Single Ladies”, garter toss to “Hot In Herre” and Spencer’s Aunt to do “Stanky Leg”.. lol.

The night ended with their last dance to “One Of Those Nights” by Tim McGraw and guests left for the sparkler exit as I played “Sparks Fly” by Taylor Swift.  What a fun night and I was thrilled to play for them again…..and dance with his Grandmother Dorothy Stancil again!

Stokke/Delbridge wedding at The Cotton Room on March 8th, 2014

Meredith and Greg had both their ceremony and reception on the 3^rd floor of Durham’s Cotton Room.  I DJ’d the reception and provided mic’s for the ceremony.  They had live classical musician for the ceremony and cocktail hour.  Photographer Julie Livingston was there to catch every moment and planner Char Denlinger  from Events By Char was there to make sure everything ran like clockwork.

 

After a beautiful ceremony and cocktail hour, the white linens opened and the wedding party & guests made their way to their seats.  I introduced Meredith and Greg into the room and they had their first dance to “Love Never Fails” by Brandon Heath.  Meredith’s father joined her on the floor for their dance to “I Loved Her First” and Greg escorted his  other to the floor and danced to “You Raised Me Up”.  Meredith’s father then welcomed everyone and said the blessing.  The salad’s and entrée’s were served and I continued a classical music dinner mix.

After dinner we had the cake cutting to “Sugar,Sugar” and groom's cake that was 1/2 Duke and the other Carolina , the desert bar opened and the staff served the cake as I opened the dance floor to some Motown and oldies. After a few songs Meredith joined her friends on the floor to dance to some current hits and 80’s sing a longs.  I had a request for “Gangnam Style” and the guests had a blast showing off their moves.

Meredith changed into another dress and was ready to call it a night after I played Pharrell’s “Happy” for her as their last song.  Guests made their way past a candy bar set up by the front door and filled up before heading to the first floor for a sparkler exit.

All photos courtesy of Julie Livingston Photography