Wednesday, May 31, 2017

Jodie & Greg’s Wedding at The Angus Barn in Raleigh

What a sweet couple Jodie & Greg are!!  This was my first of 4 weddings on Memorial Day weekend (2 at The Angus Barn Pavilion) and it was a great way to start out the weekend.

They had their ceremony outside at the barn’s picturesque pond with Reverend Ed Sansbury who always does an awesome job!  The Grandparents and Parents entered to “Air” from Water Music and the Bridesmaids & Groomsmen to “Jesu, Joy Of Man’s Desiring”.   Jodie & her Father entered to “Canon In D’. After a short ceremony, they recessed to “The Wedding March”.  Ed invited guests to the side patio for cocktails and passed hors d’oeuvres while photographers Cara & Dax from F8 Photo Studios got some shots.  Reel Weddings was also there getting video of everything.  During the cocktail hour I had a mix of country, classic soul, standards and soft rock playing.  Towards the end of the social hour I invited the 100 guests to their seats inside for the wedding party introductions and the reception. 

I introduced the wedding party to Calvin Harris’ “Feel So Close” and they came in and lined the front of the huge fireplace.  Jodie & Greg came in to loud applause and had their first dance to the piano version of Brad Paisley’s “Then”.  Jodie’s favorite singer and a concert they had just attended.  Her father welcomed everyone and her Grandfather blessed the meal.  The salads and entrees came out and I continued the same music mix.

After dinner we had toasts and the parents dances.  Jodie danced with her Father to “Daddy’s Angel” by T. Carter Music and her Stepfather to “Just The Way You Are” by Billy Joel.  Greg escorted his Mother to the floor for their dance to Lee Anne Womack’s “ I Hope You Dance”.  Before opening the floor to everyone, we had an anniversary dance to “The Way You Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra and the dessert station opened.  I opened the floor to everyone with some oldies and top 40 that filled it for the night. 

We paused for the bouquet toss to “Ladies Night”, garter removal to “Pony” and toss to “Another One Bites The Dust”.  Some line dances and top 40 brought everyone back to the floor until the last ½ hour that was sing a longs.  We ended with “Sweet Caroline” and a sparkler exit from the front of the pavilion. 

What a fun night and such a nice couple! Thank you Jodie & Greg and congratulations!


DJ Randy Bennett  www.bunndjcompany.com/RandyB

Photo courtesy of F8 Photo Studios

Friday, May 26, 2017

Another Angus Barn Wedding in Raleigh NC

Michelle & Scott’s Wedding at The Angus Barn Pavilion

I always love DJing weddings at Raleigh’s Angus Barn Pavilion!  This was my first of the year and what a great wedding it was. 

Michelle and Scott had both ceremony and reception at the Pavilion.  The ceremony was held at the pond and was picture perfect after the short sprinkle of rain that helped cool it down a little.  I supplied music and also mics for Scott and their officiant who is also his Aunt.  The Parents walked down the aisle to “Turning Page” by Sleeping At Last.  After that the wedding party came down to “Home” and Michelle & her Father to “The Cello Song”.  After a short ceremony they recessed to “You Make My Dreams Come True”.  The 130 guests were invited to the pavilion for cocktails and passed hors d’oeuvres while photographer Cade Bowman got some shots.

During the cocktail hour I had a mix of indie rock, country & classic soul playing.  After the cocktail hour guests found their seats and I went to line the wedding party up.  I introduced them to “Forever” by Chris Brown and Michelle & Scott to “What I Like About You”.  They had their first dance to “We Got Love” by The Talbott Brothers.  It was my first time playing this song and I love it!  Great choice.  They took their seats and Michelle’s Father welcomed everyone and Scott’s Aunt blessed the meal.  During dinner I played the same music mix as cocktails.

After dinner we had the toasts and cake cutting and Michelle joined her Father on the floor for their dance.  The song was a surprise to her.  He had a friend blend 5 country songs together that were special to them while she was growing up.  So special and sweet!!  Scott escorted his Mother to the floor for their dance to “My Wish”.  I opened the floor to everyone with some Motown and top 40 that filled it for the next 2.5 hours.  What a fun crowd!  I played country, line dances, top 40, oldies and some sing a longs.  We ended the night with “Sweet Caroline” and a huge sing a long circle with everyone in it before a sparkler exit.


Thank you Michelle & Scott and congratulations!

An Amazing Merrimon Wynne Wedding in Raleigh

I was so thrilled to DJ Becca & Byron’s wedding at downtown Raleigh’s beautiful Merrimon-Wynne House on May 20th that I broke out the turntables and purple vinyl.  This was the first time I have DJd a wedding with vinyl in 20 years.

Their ceremony was held on the side lawn for the 180 guests.  Arioso strings did a great job providing music and I ran a mic for Reverend Steve Snipes.  After a short ceremony the guests made their way inside the house for cocktails, passed hors d’oeuvres and to get out of the heat.

After pics were taken by Photographer Cara Galati of F8 Photo Studios and videographers Thomas Blake Films the guests were invited into the carriage house by planners extraordinaires Stephanie & Lauren from Viva L’Event.  Such a great group of vendors to work with! I introduced the wedding party to “24K Magic” and Becca & Byron to “Let Me Clear My Throat”.  So great!!  The energy went thru the roof until I calmed everyone down for their first dance.  They danced to “Tupelo Honey” by Van Morrison and then welcomed everyone as the wedding party took their seats.

Fav caterer Beau from Beau Catering welcomed everyone and described the food stations located in the house.  During dinner I had a mix of soul, classic rock and top 40 playing.  After dinner Becca danced with her Father to “Forever Young” by Dylan and Byron & his Mother to “There You’ll Be”.  I opened the floor to everyone with Motown and top 40 that filled it for the next 2 hours.  The dance floor stayed packed the whole time and the guests looked like they were having the time of their life!  We paused for the bouquet toss to “Bootylicious” and garter toss to “She’s A Bad Mama Jama”.  A heartfelt toast by Byron’s brother followed before the floor opened again.  We ended the evening with “Ignition (remix)” and a sparkler exit from the front of the house.

I had such a great time with this couple, their guests and some of my favorite vendors!  Thank you everyone and congratulations Becca & Byron.


Thursday, May 18, 2017

The Final Royal Wedding

Stephanie & Joshua's wedding at Highgrove Estate 

I met the Royals in 2014 when I DJd the oldest daughters wedding.  The family is so fun and happy that I was thrilled to be asked to DJ both of the young twin sisters weddings, the final being this past Sunday, May 14th at Highgrove Estate. 

Stephanie and Joshua had their ceremony in the back overlooking a lake and wooded hill.  It is just breathtaking there!  They had a live guitarist and violinist provide music.  After the ceremony the guests made their way to the back patio for cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and continued live music.

After the cocktail hour was over and pics & video were done by Dave & Tara Parker and Brynn Daurity, the doors to the ballroom opened and the 80 guests found their seats.  I introduced just Stephanie & Joshua and they came right in to their first dance to “It’s Your Love” by Tim McGraw & Faith Hill.  They took their seats and her Father welcomed everyone with a roast of Josh.   I love Phil’s roasts and was really looking forward to this! Josh’s Father then blessed the meal and the salads and family style entrees came out.  During dinner I had a mix of soft rock, country & classic soul playing.

After dinner we had the toasts by Stephanie’s sisters and Josh’s hilarious best man, then the cake cutting to Def Leppard.  After she cleaned all the cake off her face thanks to Josh, she danced with her Father to “My Wish” and Josh danced with his Mother to “Celebration” that soon I had everyone join them for the last half of the song.  That’s all it took to fill the floor.

We Paused for the bouquet toss to “lady Marmalade” and Garter removal to “Hot In Herre”.  I invited the single guys out and we had the garter toss to “Danger Zone”.  A line dance to “Copperhead Road” got everyone right back out there until the end of the night.  We ended the night with “In Case You Didn’t Know” by Brett Young and a sparkler exit from the front of Highgrove.

This was a bittersweet wedding for me.  I was thrilled to see The Royals again and play for Stephanie and Joshua, but a little sad knowing all the weddings are now over.  I hope to see my Royal Family in the future!