Creech/Matthews wedding at Prestonwood Country Club

I was excited to be playing for Allison & Bradley’s cocktail hour, dinner and wedding reception at Prestonwood Country Club in Cary, NC on July 26^th, 2014 in the large ballroom for their 160 guests.  They seemed like a very sweet couple (and they were)!  I was also pleasantly surprised to see another couple, Melissa & Alex, whom I had played for a couple years ago at their wedding.

For the cocktail hour, I had a mix of soft rock and country playing as guests enjoyed appetizers and drinks in the front hall and the outdoor covered patio.  Photographers Elizabeth & Christa from Sweet Life Studios finished up pictures, and the ballroom opened for dinner and dancing. The wedding party entered the room from the side entrance to Europe’s “The Final Countdown” and Allison & Bradley came from the top of the stairs down to the dance floor.  Their first dance was a secret to Allison, “From The Moment” by Shania Twain and she was thrilled to hear what song Bradley had chosen.  Allison’s father then joined her for their dance that started out with “Butterfly Kisses” for a minute, then into “I Gotta Feelin”, “The Wobble”, “The Cupid Shuffle” and ended with “Happy”.  They did a great job and had practiced a lot.  It caught everyone off guard and set the tone for the reception!  Bradley then danced with his mother to “A Mother’s Song” by T. Carter Music.  Allison’s father welcomed everyone, Bradley blessed the food and the buffet shortly opened.  I continued a mix of soft rock and country music.

 

After dinner, we had the cake cutting to “How Sweet It Is” and toasts by Allison’s sister, her father and Bradley’s father.  We then had a “longest married couple” dance to “The Way You Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra that filled the floor.  I mean, filled!!  Allison’s Grandparents won the contest.  I then opened the floor to everyone with some beach music and Motown that brought out the older guests and some younger until I played “The Cha Cha Slide” that had everyone out there.  Bradley was even dancing!

We paused shortly for the bouquet toss to “Single Ladies” and garter toss to “Get Busy” by Sean Paul, then back to dancing to some hip-hop and top 40 with some 80’s sing-a-long’s mixed in.  The night ended with another surprise song for Allison, “Over” by Blake Shelton and they did a bubble exit from the front of the Country Club.  What a fun night and I was thrilled to play for this sweet couple!

Hagwood/Pollock wedding at Triple R Stables on July 19th, 2014

Jill and Tyler chose the picturesque Triple R Stables in Franklinton for their wedding ceremony and reception on a beautiful 85 degree day.  I was there to provide music and mic’s for the ceremony, cocktail hour and reception.  The ceremony was held in the lawn near the farm house overlooking a horse pasture.  The Grandparents and parents walked down the isle to “Air On A G String”, the wedding party to “Canon in D” and Jill to “Here Comes The Bride”.  After a wonderful ceremony my pastor Gary McNair, they exited to American Author’s new hit “Best Day Of My Life”..get it??

The cocktail hour was held across the driveway in the farm house’s back yard and porch.  I had a mix of soft rock and country playing with it being a little heavier on country music.  After photographer Renee Sprink took pictures of Jill and Tyler all over the grounds, it was time for the party to start.  The 300 guests made their way down the lawn to the open air tent for dinner and dancing with table floral arrangements by The Blonde Buttercup.  The wedding party entered the tent to Gretchen Wilson’s “Here For The Party” that really set the tone for the upcoming party and was very appropriate since they met at her concert.  Each couple danced to the edge of the dance floor and Jill & Tyler came in to a thunderous roar and had their first dance to Brad Paisley’s piano version of “Then”.  This is by far better than the original to me.  The wedding party took their seats and the BBQ food buffet opened after a blessing by Mark Dickens and a few moo’s by the cows in the pasture next to us.  I continued a soft rock and country mix through dinner. 

After dinner we had the cake cutting to “Honey Bee” and toasts.  Jill joined her father on the floor to dance to “Daddy Dance With Me” by Krystal Keith who is Toby Keith’s daughter.  Tyler danced with his mother to “All To You” by DJ Keo and I invited all the married couples for a “longest married couple” dance to Shania Twain’s “You’re Still The One” with the winners married 45 years! Congratulations.  I opened the floor with some beach music and Motown, then into some current and line dances that filled the floor for the next 3 hours.  We paused for a bouquet toss to “Fancy” and garter toss to “Hot In Herre” that took 3 tries, but finally stuck.. lol.  The night ended with some current hip-hop and Tyler trying his best to dance like a Chippendales dancer… ha ha.

The night ended with “I Don’t Want This Night To End” and a sparkler exit.  What a fun night and a wonderful couple!!!!  Thank you Jill and Tyler and I hope to see you again soon.

Thompson/McDougal wedding at The Sutherland on July 12th, 2014

Elizabeth and Matthew chose the over 200 year old Sutherland Estates for the location of their cocktail hour and reception in the newly built open air pavilion for their 135 guests.  I was excited to play there for the first time in the new pavilion and with Ashlee Adams, Donna & Krystal from The Sutherland! 

The wedding party arrived towards the end of the cocktail hour.  Elizabeth and Matthew were done with picture by Lauran Mann and video by Twenty One Films shortly, and guests started making their way into the pavilion for dinner and dancing with floral arrangements by Brides & Bouquets.  I introduced the wedding party into the pavilion to “Best Day Of My Life” (My theme song…) and the wedding party lined the dance floor for Elizabeth and Matthew’s first dance to “You’re My Best Friend” by Queen.  Elizabeth then danced with her father to “My Girl” and Matthew escorted his mother to the floor to dance to “How Sweet It Is” by James Taylor.  Elizabeth’s father thanked everyone for coming and Matt Howell blessed the meal.  The food stations opened and I had a mix of country, beach and soft rock playing.

After dinner, we had the Ashley’s Cake cutting and the toasts.  I opened the floor and invited Elizabeth’s Kappa Delta sisters to the floor for “Carolina Girls” and some beach music and Motown that filled the floor even though it was a little warm out.  Shortly I went into some current dance music that brought out Matthew’s groomsmen out to the floor to join them.

We paused briefly for the bouquet toss to “Single Ladies” and garter toss to Aloe Blacc’s hit “The Man”.  I opened the floor again with the country line dance “Copperhead Road” while Elizabeth changed into her “dancin’ dress”. Ha ha..

The night ended with a full dance floor to “Don’t Stop Believin’” and then the last dance song “We Are Family” that had everyone there on the floor in a huge circle.  The guests then made their way to the front for a sparkler exit after signing the balloon thumb print picture and hitting the chocolate bar.  What a fun night and a beautiful pavilion.  Elizabeth and Matthew could not have been any nicer and perfect for each other!

Santen/Patel wedding at The Cardinal Club on July 11th, 2014

Brittany & Binal chose the top floor of Raleigh’s Cardinal Club for both their wedding ceremony and reception.  It is a beautiful room with huge floor to ceiling windows overlooking Raleigh.  You can see for miles from this room! 

After the ceremony, guests made their way to the front room for cocktails while the Rebecca Naderman and the Club staff got the room ready for dinner and dancing.  Brittany had a live pianist provide music for the cocktail hour.  The room was ready, pictures of the wedding party were taken and Brittany and Binal were ready to get the reception underway.  Guests made their way back into the North dining room and I was ready to go.

The wedding party was introduced to Michael Franti & Spearhead’s “Say Hey” and each couple danced into the room with their own unique move.  Brittany and Binal came into the room and stopped on the dance floor for their very, very special first dance!  I invited Brittany’s brother Robert up and he sang and played acoustic guitar for their first dance, a cover of Matchbox Twenty’s “Overjoyed”.  He was awesome and I will never forget what a special moment this was!

The wedding party, Brittany and Binal took their seats and the food stations opened shortly with a potato bar, Indian bar and satay station.  I had a mix of standards playing during dinner.  After dinner, we had toasts by the Binal’s Best man, Brittany’s parents and her brother and then the Ambrosia Cakes cake cutting to Jason Mraz’s “I’m Yours”. 

I opened the floor with “My Girl” and guests started dancing.  I even included a few indian songs for Binal’s family.  The night came to an end with “Sweet Caroline” and the floor was filled with their friends and family singing along.  What a wonderful couple and it was great to see that they both had a HUGE grin on their face the entire time.  They are so happy together!

Brown/Dean wedding at The Carolina Inn on July 5th, 2014

Molly and Daniel were married outside in the Carolina Inn’s Bryan Courtyard on a beautiful July afternoon with Melissa Sayre from The Inn and planner Sarah Morris from Erin McLean events.  Guests arrived and found their seats while I had a mix of light classical music playing in the background.  The Grandparents and Parents came down the isle to “Canon In D”, the wedding party to “Ave Maria” and finally Molly and her father to “Here Come’s The Bride”.  Their Minister Anthony Thomas ran a wonderful service and Molly and Daniel read their hand written vows to each other.  The ceremony concluded with their kiss and they came back down the isle to “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)”. 

Guests made their way to the Old Well Room hallway for cocktails and I had a mix of soft rock and standards playing.  The doors to the ballroom opened and guests made their way to their tables with floral arrangements by Fresh Affairs.  The wedding party entered to James Brown’s “I Feel Good” and the adorable flower girl to “Happy” by Pharrell.  They all had a unique dance just for them.  So fun!  Molly and Daniel made their way to their table and took their seats.  Molly’s father welcomed everyone for coming and Daniel’s father blessed the meal.  The salad’s and entrée’s shortly came out and I continued a standards and soft rock playlist.

Dinner ended and we went right into toasts by Molly’s father, Daniel’s father and Molly’s Maid Of Honor.  Molly and Daniel made their way up the stairs to the Cinda’s cake cutting to “How Sweet It Is”, and then they made their way back to the dance floor for their first dance, which could not have been more special!  Molly’s bridesmaid Lauren sang Ingrid Michaelson’s version of “Can’t Help Falling In Love With You”.  It was perfect and actually got a tear out of me during her practice.  What a beautiful voice and performance!  Molly wanted all the couples to join them half way through the song and they did.  The floor filled.  Daniel then danced with his mother to “You’ve Got A Friend” and I opened the floor with “My Girl” that brought everyone back out.  I shortly went into some current dance music since there were a lot of younger friends of Molly and Daniel’s there.  It was great to see their college friends dancing with their parents and even Molly’s Grandfather that was dancing to “The Wobble” and “Empire State Of Mind” by Jay Z!

We stopped briefly for the bouquet toss to “Single Ladies” and garter toss to “The Man” by Aloe Blacc, then back to dancing to some 80’s sing a long songs.  The night ended with “Just The Two Of Us” by Bill Withers and they had a bubble exit from the front of the Inn.  What a fun night and I still want to know where Daniel’s grandfather Guillermo got that cool shirt!  I am so jealous…. I can't wait to see the pictures by Amber Wilson!