Christie & Robby’s Wedding at Merrimon-Wynne in Downtown Raleigh on August 29th

Christie and Robby chose the historic Merrimon-Wynne House in downtown Raleigh for both their wedding ceremony and reception on a beautiful August 29^th.   As the 120 guests arrived for the ceremony on the side lawn I had a mix of acoustic soft rock playing.  The grandparents and parents entered to “Here, There and Everywhere” by The Beatles, the bridal party to “Count On me” by Bruno Mars and Christie & her father to “Stay Or Leave” by The Coda Duo.  After a 3 minute ceremony performed by Christie’s Uncle, the wedding party recessed to “Better Together” by Jack Johnson and made their way to the front of the house for pics by photographer Graham Terhune.

The cocktail hour was held inside the house and also on the side porch and yard.  In the side yard guests could play corn-hole and enjoy cocktails.  During the cocktail hour I had a mix of soft rock, classic soul and standards playing.  The cocktail hour ended and guests were invited into the tent for dinner and dancing by wedding planner Carly with LaFete.  The guests found their tables and the wedding party was ready to be announced.  I introduced them into the tent to “Still Not A Player” by Big Pun (LOL) and Christie & Robby came to the dance floor for their first dance to “You Are The Best Thing” by Ray LaMontagne.  The wedding party took their seats and Christie danced with her father to “My Girl” and Robby escorted his mother to the floor for their dance to “What A Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong.  The salads and individually served meals came out and I continued a mix of soft rock, classic soul and standards.

Towards the end of dinner Christie and Robby had the cake cutting in the house, then came back to the tent for the toast. Christie’s father toasted them with champagne and I then opened the floor with some beach music and oldies for a few songs, then some current hits that packed the floor for the next 2 hours.  I played mostly current dance music for this younger dancing crowd and threw in a few more oldies for the older guests.  I loved seeing Christie singing along to Lil Wayne’s “Mrs. Officer” and all the groomsmen in a line with their arms around each other singing “Wagon Wheel”!!  We paused briefly for the bouquet toss to “Jumpin’ Jumpin’” by Destiny’s Child, then right back to dancing to some current hip-hop.  I ended the night with a request, “Unchained Melody” and Christie and Robby made their exit from the front of the house through sparklers to their getaway car.

What a fun night and a wonderful couple! It was an added bonus to see 2 of my past brides and groom.  Thank you Christie and Robby and great to see you again Ashley, Sean & Jenna!

Allison & Steve’s Wedding at Brier Creek Country Club

Allie and Steve chose the Arnold Palmer designed Brier Creek Country Club for both their wedding ceremony and reception on a beautiful August 22^nd day.  The ceremony was held in the back lawn and officiated by minister Kayelily  Middleton, who always does a fantastic job and is a pleasure to work with! As guests arrived for the ceremony, I had a mix of light classical playing.  The Bridesmaids entered to “Air On A G String” and Allison and her father to “Canon In D”.  After the ceremony the wedding party recessed to “Trumpet Voluntary” and Kayelily invited guests to the “Palmers Cove” room for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. During the cocktail hour I had a mix of standards playing.

Allie and Steve were done getting pics taken by photographer Richard Barlow and joined the last half of the cocktail hour to mingle with the 100 guests.  The cocktail hour concluded and guests made their way to the large ballroom for dinner and dancing.  I lined the wedding party up with help from Brier Creek’s Elise and got them ready to come into the room.  They entered to Luke Bryan’s “That’s My Kinda Night” and Allie & Steve came to the floor for their first dance to “Who I Am With You” by Chris Young.  Allie danced with her father to “Don’t Blink” and then her stepfather to “The Way You Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra.  Steve then took to the floor for a dance with his daughters Devon and Jenna to “When You Need Me” by Bruce Springsteen (one of my favorite, and very unknown, Springsteen songs).  Nicely done Steve!  Allison’s stepfather welcomed everyone and Steve’s father blessed the meal.  The buffet opened and I played a mix of soft rock during dinner.

After dinner we had toasts by Matron of honor Shelly Keeter (YAY!!! Shelly!), Steve’s brother and best man Chris and Groomsman Patrick & Bridesmaid Katie and then the cake cutting to “How Sweet It Is” by James Taylor.  I invited all the married couples to the dance floor for a longest married couple dance to “What A Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong.  I opened the floor with some Motown and current dance music for the older guest and kids to dance to.  One of the best things at the reception (and a first for me at a wedding) was a temporary tattoo station for the kids (and a few adults).  So great!!!

We paused briefly for a group pic of Allison and Steve with all the Kappa Psi graduates and the late night nacho bar opened (another first that I loved!!).  With a filled dance floor, I noticed Steve dancing to “Shake It Off” with the best look on his face!  I also got to play “Just A Dream” by Nelly and “Perfect” by Pink for Steve’s adorable little daughter Jenna to dance to with her friends. We ended the night with “Sweet Caroline” and everyone was on the floor singing along to it and a sparkler exit from the front of Brier Creek.

What a wonderful couple!! Congratulations Allie & Steve and thank you so much for having me as your DJ!

Caitlin & Josh’s wedding at The Museum Of Art on August 15th, 2015

Caitlin & Josh chose Raleigh’s NC Museum Of Art for both their wedding ceremony and reception on a beautiful August 15^th evening.  The ceremony was held behind the museum and I provided music and mic’s for the two officiants.  one being Caitlin’s Uncle.  What a wonderful addition to a wedding ceremony!  As the 150 guests arrived for the ceremony I had a mix of Christian and soft rock playing.  The ceremony was about to start and guests found their seats with help from the museum’s Morgan Greer.  The Grandparents and parents entered to “La Vie En Rose” by singer Daniela Andrade (a beautiful version!), the wedding party to “All The Time” by Bahamas and Caitlin and her father to “XO” by Beyonce.  After the ceremony guests made their way inside for the cocktail hour while photographer Carolyn Marie and videographer Jon Clark got some shots.

The wedding party was ready to get the party started and I introduced them into the building to “Bring ‘Em Out” by T.I. with each having their own dance into the room.  I think I even saw some legs go flying in the air!  Caitlin and Josh entered to “Gust Of Wind” by Pharrell and thunderous applause.  They joined the remainder of the cocktail/dinner hour and visited with guests until the cake cutting.

The cake cutting was to “Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran and Caitlin’s father Gregory proposed a toast to them.  Caitlin and Josh then made their way to the floor for their dance to “You Are The Best Thing” by Ray LaMontagne, Caitlin’s father joined her for their dance to “My Little Girl” by Tim McGraw and Josh escorted his mother to the floor for their dance to “Somewhere Over The Rainbow”.  I opened the floor with “My Girl” that filled it with young and old.  These guests came to party and the floor stayed filled for the next 3 hours to oldies, 70’s, early 2000’s hits, current hits and even some late night hip-hop!

We paused briefly for the bouquet toss to “Diva” by Beyonce, garter removal to “Fancy” by Drake and toss to “Big Pimpin’” and then back to dancing until the end of the night.  I closed the reception out with “Love On Top” by Beyonce and their last dance to “Cheers” by Rihanna.  After the last dance, I invited guests to the outdoor entrance for Caitlin and Josh’s ribbon wand exit.  What a fun night and a great group to DJ for.  I even ran into a couple who’s wedding I DJ’d 2 years ago.  Thank you Caitlin and Josh and congratulations!

Photo's courtesy of Carolyn Marie Photography

Karen & Nigel’s Wedding At Bay 7 In Durham on August 8th

I first met Nigel & Karen at their reception on August 8^th at Durham’s Bay 7, although I had talked to them on the phone before and could tell this was going to be a blast!  After their ceremony at Duke Memorial United Methodist Church, guests made their way to Bay 7 for cocktail, dinner and dancing while photographer Mantas Kubilinskas and videographer Steve Creel got some shots of the wedding party.  The cocktail hour was held on the second floor overlooking the bottom floor where the dinner and dancing would be held.  During the cocktail hour guests watched a slide show of Karen & Nigel and I had a mix of soft rock and R&B playing.  Karen & Nigel joined the cocktail hour for a few minutes before I invited guests downstairs to their tables for dinner and dancing with lots of help from Sarah from The Angus Barn.

 

I introduced the wedding party to “Get Up Offa That Thing” by James Brown (my favorite JB song) and Karen & Nigel came down the stairs to “Feel So Close” by Calvin Harris. They came to the floor and danced to it for a minute before going into their now second dance to “Love Never Felt So Good” by Michael Jackson.  The wedding party took their seats, Karen’s father welcomed everyone and Nigel’s uncle Percy blessed the meal.  The salads and entrée’s of salmon & prime rib (that only the Angus Barn can do) came out and I continued the same music mix as cocktails. 

After dinner we had several toasts including Nigel’s best man’s that informed everyone of Nigel’s love for Raven Symone’s solo album when he was younger, and we had the Details Cake Design cake cutting to ”I Can’t Help Myself”.  Karen danced with her father to “The Way you Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra and Nigel escorted his mother to the floor for their dance to “What A Wonderful World”.  I opened the floor to everyone with “My Girl” and literally everyone in the room hit the floor.  For the next 3 hours guests danced to oldies, top 40, soca, Latin dance music and even a Mexican line dance. 

 

The night ended with New York, New York that had everyone in a huge circle, then into Biggie’s “Juicy” and finally Chris Brown’s “Beautiful People” before their sparkler exit from the top floor.  I love this couple that met on their works basketball team so much!  Congratulations Karen & Nigel and thank you for having me as your DJ!

Tara & Eugene’s wedding at All Saints Chapel in Raleigh NC

Tara and Eugene chose downtown Raleigh’s 140 year old little white church All Saints Chapel for both ceremony and reception on August 2^nd.  The ceremony was officiated by DC minister Veronique MacRae and held on the main floor of the church.  Their parents entered to “Here & Now” by Luther Vandross, the wedding party to “All My Life” by K-Ci & JoJo and Tara and her father to “You & Me (The Wedding Song)” by Johnny Gill.  During the ceremony they had a reading by Tara’s Sister Kirstin (who did a great job!) and a blending of the sand ceremony that also included their children.  During the sand ceremony I played “The Lord’s Prayer” by Dinah Washington.  The ceremony concluded and for their recessional I played “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)” by Natalie Cole.  Veronique invited guests to head down to the basement reception hall for cocktails and hour d’oeuvres.  During cocktail hour I had a mix of classic and current R&B playing.

 

After photos of the wedding party were taken by photographer Kendall Lynette, they were ready to be introduced into the hall to “Happy” by Pharrell and each couple danced into the room.  Tara and Eugene were introduced into the room to “Bring Em Out” by T.I. and came right to the dance floor for a wedding party group dance that included “Candy”, “Brick House”, “Apache” and a few others in the custom mix I made for them.  It was awesome and a great way to start out the party!  After that, Tara and Gene had their private dance to “All Of Me” by John Legend.  Tara’s father joined her on the floor for their dance to “You Are So Beautiful” and Gene escorted his mother to the floor for their dance to “A Song for Mama”.  Veronique blessed the meal and the buffet opened.  During dinner I continued the same playlist as cocktails.

After dinner we had a few toasts and the cake cutting to “Sweet Love” by Anita Baker and I opened the floor with “The Electric Slide” and some R&B including one of my favorite songs of all time “Before I Let Go” by Maze.  We paused briefly for the bouquet toss to “Milkshake” and garter removal and toss to “Right Round” by Flo Rida and “Another One Bites The Dust”.  It was so funny to see all the single guys follow the garter from Gene’s hand, up in the air and land on the floor with none of them taking their hands out of their pockets!  Classic !! LOL.

The night ended with their last dance to Stevie Wonder’s “As” and a glow stick exit from the front of the Chapel.  What a lovely couple and I am so happy for them!  Congratulations Tara and Eugene.  I hope to run into you again!

Emi & Minesh’s ceremony and reception at Fearrington Village

New Yorkers Emi & Minesh chose the country feel of Fearrington Village in Pittsboro NC for both ceremony and reception on a rather warm August 1^st day.  They had the ceremony in the open air Garden Terrace and was officiated over by both Hindu priest  Pravin Shukia and one of my favorite ministers, Barbara Lodge.  They also had a string duo from Arioso strings playing music as guests arrived and during the ceremony.  Minesh’s side of the room met him at the entrance for a 10 minute long dance into the building to an Indian dance song and I knew then that this was going to be a crazy dancing crowd!  After the hour long ceremony representing both cultures as well as reading by family members and a Japanese reading in honor of Emi’s father, the recessed to “Let My Love Open The Door” by Pete Townshend and guests made their way to the patio at the barn for cocktails.  During the cocktail hour I had a mix of standards playing as Emi, Minesh and their wedding party had pictures taken by photographer Cole Gorman from Blest Studios.  The cocktail hour ended and guests made their way inside the barn to their tables.

I introduced the wedding party to “Praise You” by Fatboy Slim and Emi and Minesh entered to “Mouth Full Of Diamonds” by Phantogram.  They came right to the dance floor and had their first dance to “Latika’s Theme” from ‘Slumdog Millionaire’, Minesh then danced with his mother to “What A Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong and Emi danced with her oldest brother to a minute of “New York, New York” then switched over to dance with her Uncle Norman for the remainder of the song.  It was a surprise to him and he couldn’t have been happier!  The 3 food stations and photo booth opened and I continued a mix of standards.

After dinner we had the cake cutting to “The Sweetest Thing” by U2 and 4 very different, but all heartfelt toasts.  I opened the floor for the 100 guests with a bollywood song “Badtameez Dil” from the ‘Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani’ soundtrack the filled the floor with friends and family from both sides of the couple.  They danced for the next 3 hours to top 40, 80’s, oldies and some Indian dance music.  We ended the night with a filled floor to “Sweet Caroline” that had everyone in a huge sing a long circle and the last song of the night “We Are Family”.  After that, they had a sparkler exit.

What a fun night and an awesome group to DJ for!  Congratulations Emi & Minesh and I hope we run into one another again!