Kristen and Michael’s Merrimon Wynne Wedding

Back to the Merrimon Wnne House in downtown Raleigh, this time to help celebrate Kristen and Michael’s big day!  I always love playing there and was thrilled to play for them!!

The ceremony was held on the side lawn and the weather could not have been more perfect.  Arioso strings was there to provide most of the music and I always love listening to them!  I provided a mic for their officiant, a reader and a singer that sang “In Christ Alone” during their private communion.  The ceremony was so special and touching.  After the ceremony the 170 guests were invited into the house and onto the lawn for the cocktail hour.  I had a mix of beach, soft rock, country and standards playing.

After pics were taken by Ginny Corbett Photography, Carrington and Becky from Erin McLean Events invited guests into the carriage house for dinner and dancing.  I introduced the wedding party to “Jump Around” and Kristen and Michael to the ECU theme “Purple Haze”.  They came in and had their first dance to “Nothing Can Change This Love” by Sam Cooke. Her Father welcomed everyone and her Uncle blessed the meal.  The Rocky Top food stations opened and I went back to music.

After dinner we had the Cinda’s Cake cutting to “How Sweet It is” followed by the parents dance. We had a combined parents dance that started with Kristen & her Father, the joined by Michael & his Mother to “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” by The Band Of Oz.  I invited the married couples to join for an anniversary dance next.  We had 4 couples married over 50 years! So great!!  I opened the floor to everyone with some beach music and 70’s funk that soon filled it.

The Shutterbooth Photo Booth opened on the house porch and guests danced, got funny pics and visited on the lawn.  We paused for a bouquet toss to “Ladies Night” and a performance of “JuJu On The Beat” by the two cute junior bridesmaids, then back to dancing until the end of the night.  We ended with “Friends In Low Places” and a sparkler exit from the front of the home.

What a fun night and nice couple!  Thank you Kristen, Michael, Ginny, Carrington, Becky and Amy!

Photo courtesy of Ginny Corbett Photography

An Intimate Wedding at The Parlour At Mann’s Chapel

This was my first time at The Parlour At Manns Chapel in Chapel Hill and I am in love with it’s charm!  Anna and Clay had both their ceremony and reception there on September 23^rd.

Their ceremony and cocktail hour were both held outside and they had live musicians for those.   After pics were taken by Krystal Kast Photography, the 75 guests were invited into the 130 year old chapel for dinner by planner Cheryl-Anne with Kast Events.  I introduced just Anna & Clay and they came in for their first dance to “Coming Home” by Leon Bridges.  He is one of my favorite artists! Her Father welcomed everyone and Minister John Oliver blessed the Beau Catering meal.  During the delicious dinner I had a mix of indie and classic rock, classic soul and some standards playing.

After dinner we had the Cupcake Shoppe Cake cutting to “Love You Madly” by Cake and the Two Roosters Ice cream truck opened outside.  I opened the dance floor with some Motown and top 40.  Guests danced inside and enjoyed the beautiful weather outside while eating ice cream.  For the next 2 hours I played lots of 80’s and 90’s and some current top 40.

We ended the night with a few sing a long songs including “Total Eclipse Of The Heart” and “Sweet Caroline” before a sparkler exit.  What a sweet couple and beautiful venue!  Thank you Anna, Clay and Cheryl-Anne!

Photo courtesy of Krystal Last Photography

Sarah and David’s Wedding at Highgrove

Sarah and David chose Fuquay-Varina’s Highgrove Estate for both ceremony and reception on September 22^nd.  It was beautiful outside and I was thrilled to be there for them!

The ceremony was held in the back of the property with a breathtaking picturesque wooded hill in the background.  It is just beautiful!  The ceremony was officiated by minister Ingrid and music provided by a string duo. I helped out Ingrid with a mic and speaker.

After the ceremony the 130 guests made their way to the back patio for cocktails and passed hors d’oeuvres.  I had a mix of rock, country, standards and classic soul playing.  After pics and video were taken of the wedding party by George Street Photo, the doors to the ballroom opened.  Highgrove’s Jill helped the guests find their seats and I got ready for the introductions.  I introduced only Sarah and David to “More Today Than Yesterday” and they came in for their first dance.  Their song was “Die A Happy Man” (one of my favorite first dance songs).  Her Uncle Leslie gave a wonderful blessing of the meal and the salads came out followed by the family style entrees.  During dinner I had the same mix of music playing.

After dinner we had the toasts by Sarah’s parents.  I played “You Are My Sunshine” by Chris Stapleton in the background during her Mother’s toast.  It was so special! David thanked everyone and we had the cake cutting to “How Sweet It Is”.  I opened the floor with some Motown and top 40 that had young and old dancing together.  The Krispy Kreme flambe station opened shortly and I urged guests to try it.  It’s one of my favorite things ever!!!  During the next 2 hours guests danced to 80’s, 90’s, a few line dances, top 40 and ended with some 2000’s hip- hop.  Sarah and her friends had a blast dancing to those throw back songs!!  I even played “I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow” for David and Sarah to song a long to. 

We ended the night with “I Don’t Dance” and a sparkler exit from the front of the house.  Thank you so much Sarah and David and congratulations!

Photo courtesy of Amelya Jayne Photography

The First Wedding At Morris Peaceland Farm

When Sabrina stopped Gabe and asked him to tie her shoe all those years ago, little did she know it would land us at her Aunt’s Farm in Cary on September 16^th for her wedding.

Sabrina and Gabe had their ceremony on the side lawn of the barn at the pond.  The pond has a large fountain right in the middle that can be turned off during the ceremony.  They held the ceremony on a dock that goes out into the pond.  It is just beautiful!  The Grandparents and Parents entered to “First Day Of My Life” by Bright Eyes, an indie roc classic that I love!  The wedding party entered to “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” by IZ and Sabrina and her Father to “A Thousand Years”.  After a short ceremony officiated by Derrick DeLain, Sabrina & Gabe recessed to “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” and the wedding party to “September”.  

The 150 guests made their way to the open-air pavilion of Morris Peaceland Farm for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres with help from planners Dolled Up And Planned Out.  During the cocktail hour I had a mix of jam bands, indie bluegrass and indie rock playing.  Wonderland Pictures was there to get shots of the wedding party around the grounds and against the barn. 

After pics were taken I introduced the wedding party to “Crazy In Love” and Sabrina & Gabe to “Bring ‘Em Out”.  They had their first dance to “Lets Stay Together” by Al Green.  Sabrina’s Father joined her on the floor for their dance to “Sweet Pea” and Gabe & his Mother to “A Mother’s Song”.  Gabe welcomed everyone and told the story about their chance meeting before Derrick blessed the meal.   The Indulge food stations opened and I went back to playing music adding some classic soul to the mix.  The food was so good!!!

After everyone was done eating I opened the floor with some Motown and top 40 that filled in within 2 songs.  For the next 2 hours the floor stayed packed to oldies,  a few line dances, top 40, lots of 80’s and 90’s and even a polka for Gabe’s adorable Grandmother.  We paused for the cake cutting to “How Sweet It Is” and then back to dancing to some hip-hop and top 40 until the end of the night.  We ended with Rihanna’s “We Found Love” and a sparkler exit from the barn.

What a great crown to play for and fun Bride & Groom. Congratulations Sabrina and Gabe and that you for tying her shoe!

Photo courtesy of Wonderland Pictures

A Cotton Room Wedding in Durham

Brittany and Jay chose Durham’s Cotton Room for both their ceremony and reception on September 15th.  I was thrilled to be there to proving mics and music for both!

The ceremony was held on the far right side of the room with the dining area closed off with white drapes hanging from the ceiling.  The site looked beautiful with floral arrangements by Tre Bella. As the 130 guests arrived I had a mix of contemporary love songs playing.  The Grandparents and Parents walked down the aisle to an instrumental of Coldplay’s “Reign Of Love”.  The wedding party entered to “A Thousand Years” by The Piano guys and Brittany to “Canon On D”.  After a short ceremony officiated by Ashley Banks, they recessed to an instrumental of “Feel Again” by OneRepublic. 

Ashley invited guests to the back of the room for the cocktail hour and I played a mix of rock, country, standards and classic soul.  After the cocktail hour, the white drapes opened and guests found their seats.  I introduced the wedding party to “Buzzin’” by Mann and Brittany & Jay came in for their first dance. They danced to “I Cross My Heart” by George Strait.   Brittany danced with her Mother after that to “Mama’s Song” and Jay & his Mother to “Simple Man’ by Shinedown.  Brittany’s Stepfather welcomed everyone followed by a Maid of Honor toast/rap to  “Fresh Prince Theme” and blessing by Groomsman Adam.  The food station opened and I went back to music.

After dinner guests were ready to hit the floor floor and started dancing 4 songs before the Anniversary dance to “LOVE” by Nat King Cole with the winners married 60 years!  Some beach music and Motown brought them right back after the dance until the end of the night.  I played lots of 80’s & 90’s, current top 40 and a few line dances and oldies.  We paused for the Ashley Cake cutting to “Sugar” by Maroon 5 and bouquet and garter tosses.  Brittany even got on the mixer to get some pics of her DJing! We ended the night with “Stole The Show” by Kygo and then a sparkler exit from the first floor.  I know Krista from Six Foot Photo and videographer Phil from Benz Productions got some great shots. 

Photo courtesy of Six Foot Photo