Kosinski/Smith wedding at The Umstead on June 14th, 2014

Kathryn and Gabe chose the 5 star Umtead Hotel & Spa for their cocktail hour and reception on June 14^th with planner Kelley Ann from the Hotel.  I was thrilled to be working with her and photographers Brian Mullins and Jenn Aan as well and videographers Phil & Jess from  Twenty-One Films again and seeing guests that had been at a wedding I did on 11/11/11!

Guests arrived at the cocktail hour in the pre-function area of the ballroom and I had a mix of Rat Pack and some standards playing as guests enjoyed hors d’oeuvres and cocktails.  The doors to the ballroom opened and guests found their tables with floral arrangements by Watered Garden.  For the introductions, Gabe wanted a throw back to the 80’s Chicago Bulls.  I introduced the wedding party to “Sirius” by Alan Parsons and changed my voice to the raspy announcer from the 80’s.  So funny!  Kathryn and Gabe arrived to the dance floor and had their first dance to a shortened edit I did of “Ache” by James Carrington.  Kathryn’s father thanked everyone for coming and escorted her to the floor for their dance to Nancy Sinatra’s “It’s For My Dad” and they did a great job acting out a few parts of the song.  Gabe then escorted his mother to the floor to a choreographed dance to “Happy” that had everyone cheering them along!  The 3 course dinner came out and I continued a rat pack playlist.

After dinner and 5 toasts which included Kathryn’s fathers that he wrote when she was born in 1987, it was time for the Sugarland cake cutting to “I See The Light” from the movie Tangled and then an anniversary dance to “You’ll Always Be The One I Love” by Frank Sinatra that had the winners at 45 years married! I opened the floor to some Motown and current dance music that had young and old dancing together.

The late night snacks of chicken biscuits came out after an hour or so and I continued to have the floor packed to some hip-hop for Gabe and current dance music for Kathryn and her bridesmaids.  It was great to see Gabe’s Grandmother dancing with everyone to Journey and “Low”. LOL.

The night ended with their last dance to “Wanted” by Hunter Hayes and a glow stick exit from the front of the Hotel.  What a fun night and a great group to play for!  Thank you Gabe and Kathryn and congratulations!