A Sutherland Wedding in Wake Forest for Bays and Jackson

Bays and Jackson have got to be two of the genuinely sweetest people I have been a wedding DJ for! I was so thrilled to be their DJ at The Sutherland for both ceremony and reception on July 21^st.

The ceremony was held in the brick courtyard on what turned out to be a picture perfect day.  The service was officiated by Matt Dinkins. As the 140 guests arrived I had some light classical music playing.  The Grandparents & Parents entered to “A Thousand Years” by Jun Sung Ahn and Bridesmaids to “Canon In D”.  Bays and her Father entered to a bluegrass version of “Here Comes The Bride”.  So sweet!!  During the signing of their marriage vows I played “A River Flows In You” by Yiruma.  After the service they recessed to “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” by Stevie Wonder.

The guests made their way to the other side of the house and the Grooms Terrace for cocktails and passed hors d’oeuvres by Rocky Top.  During the cocktail hour I had a mix of rock, country, beach and classic soul playing. After pics were taken by Six Foot Photography, Oak Hill Media, the guests were invited into the pavilion for the reception.

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I introduced the wedding party to “Happy” and Bays & Jackson to “Loving You Easy” by Zac Brown. They had their first dance to the music video version of “First try” by Johnnyswim.  It was just beautiful!  Bays had the Father/Daughter dance next to “Golden Heart” by Mark Knopfler.  They went to Indian Princesses together and her name was Golden Heart, so it was the perfect song for them!  Jackson and his Mother’s dance to “I’ll Be There” b y The Jackson 5 followed.  Bays Father welcomed everyone and wrote such an emotional speech that I had to step in to finish it (which I could barely get through myself!!).  Their officiant blessed the meal and the food stations opened. During dinner I had the same music mix playing as cocktails.

After dinner we had the cake cutting to “How Sweet It Is” and the toasts.  Before opening the floor to everyone we had an anniversary dance to “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney with the winners married 60 years!! WOW!! I opened the floor to everyone with some beach music that filled it quickly.  Some 70’s and 80’s kept them dancing until the bouquet toss to “Single Ladies” and garter toss to “Bust A Move”.  Back to dancing to some 2000’s and current top 40 till the end of the night and last dance to “Time Of My Life” from Dirty Dancing and a pom pom exit after.

Thank you so much Bays, Jackson, Mr & Mrs Coppedge and Christy!  I was honored and thrilled to be your DJ!!

Photo courtesy of Six Foot Photography

A Brier Creek Country Club Wedding 10 Years Coming

After 10 years together, it was finally time for Jennifer and Peter to walk down the aisle!  I was so thrilled to be their wedding DJ at Brier Creek Country Club on July 14^th!

The ceremony was held in the back garden and I was there to run mics and play music.  As the 150 guests arrived I had a mix of classical covers of pop songs playing.   The wedding party walked down the aisle to the John Legend song “All of Me” covered by violinist Daniel Jang.  Jennifer walked down to another Daniel Jang cover, “Perfect”.  After a short service by officiant & cousin Patrick Fuller, they recessed to “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” covered by Jade Gibson.  

The guests made their way to the clubhouse and Palmer’s Cove for cocktails and appetizers. During the cocktail hour I had a mix of standards, classic soul and soft rock playing. After pics were taken by photographers from In His Image, the guests made their way to the other end of the clubhouse to the large ballroom for dinner and dancing.  

I introduced the wedding party to “Levels” by the late Avicii and Jennifer & Pete to “One Foot” by Walk The Moon that he had timed perfectly!  They came in to loud applause and had their choreographed first dance to UB40’s cover of “Can’t Help Falling In Love”.  They did a great job with it!!  After that her Father joined her for their dance to a medley I made of “Have I Told You Lately” and “My Girl”.  It was so sweet.  Pete escorted his Mother to the floor for their dance to “I Hope You Dance”.  Her Father welcomed everyone and blessed the meal before the salads and entrees came out.  During dinner I had a mix of 90’s R&B, standards, classic rock and classic soul playing.

After dinner we had some toasts and opened the floor with some beach music, Motown and 80’s that filled it for the next 3 hours!!  We paused for the cake cutting to “You’re My Best friend” and a toast by “Uncle Steve”. LOVE that guy!!  

We ended the night with “Time Of My Life” from Dirty Dancing and finally “Don’t Stop Believin’” before a sparkler exit from the front of the building.  Thank you so much for everything Jennifer, Pete, Doranda & Shannon! That was a blast!!!

A Bay 7 Wedding For Karina and Jim With Lemons in Durham NC

Karina and Jim had lemons everywhere for their wedding at Bay 7 in Durham NC on July 7^th.  I don’t believe I have seen the room ever look that beautiful!

The ceremony was held on the first floor at the bottom of the stairs.  I ran a mic for their officiant and 3 readers.  Arioso Strings was there to provide music.  After the service the 120 guests were invited to the second floor for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres provided by The Angus Barn.  During the cocktail hour I had a mix of standards, Latin samba jazz and classic soul playing. After the cocktail hour, the guests made their way back downstairs to their tables. The room looked just beautiful with floral arrangements by Blossom Bay and designed by newly dubbed “Queen Planner” Carrington from McLean Events.

I introduced just Karina and Jim to the intro of the Core Zee remix of “Doses and Mimosas” by Cherub and they had their first dance to the acoustic mix of “Fire And The Flood” by Vance Joy.  It’s such a great version of the song!  Their Fathers welcomed everyone and blessed the meal. The plated salads came out and the food stations opened shortly.  During dinner was the same mix as cocktails.  

After dinner we had the toasts and a thank you from Jim.  The Sugar Euphoria cake cutting followed to “Wildest Dreams” by Taylor Swift.  It was lemon, of course..LOL.  Karina joined her Father on the floor for their dance to “In My Life” by The Beatles.  It was so sweet!  They sang it to each other like I’m sure they did when she was a little girl.  I opened the floor to The Hora and a Polka that got everyone up and to the floor within seconds!  Some Motown and top 40 followed and kept everyone dancing for the next 2 hours. I played lots of top 40, Latin, 80’s, EDM and some hip-hop at the end.  

They had their last dance to the regular version of “Fire And The Flood” before everyone left on a bus to the after party.  What a fun night and great group to play for! Thank you Karina, Jim, Sarah & Carrington. I had the best time!!!

A Merrimon Wynne Wedding For Lisa and Andrew

I was back to Merrimon Wynne for another amazing wedding, this time for Lisa and Andrew on June 30^th.  I was so thrilled to play for them!

The ceremony was held on the side lawn and faced the carriage house where the reception was later in the evening.  I ran the mics for the officiant, Andrew, a reader and the 2 musicians.  The musicians, Topu and Randy, from New York Ceremony Music were awesome and provided music for the cocktail hour as well.  After the service, the guests made their way into the house for cocktail and to get out of the heat.

After pics were done by photographers Ally and Bobby, the 150 guests were invited into the carriage house by planner extraordinaire Carrington from McLean Events.  I had music playing and went inside the house to line the wedding party up with Carrington. I introduced everyone to “You Make My Dreams Come True” and Lisa and Andrew had their first dance to “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” by Frankie Valli.  Love that song!!!  Her Father welcomed everyone and the plated salads and buffet by Donovan’s Dish opened.  It was all so delicious!!!  During dinner I had a mix of soft rock playing with lots of 90’s music includ

ing 10,000 Maniacs and Natalie Merchant. 

After dinner we had the toasts and Cupcake Shoppe cake cutting to “How Sweet It Is”.  The parents dances followed before an anniversary dance. Lisa and her Father danced to “Kind & Generous” by Natalie Merchant and Andrew and his Mother to “Perfect Fan” by Backstreet Boys.  For the anniversary dance I used my fav, “The Way You Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra. The winning couple was married 41 years! I opened the floor to everyone with some beach music and top 40 that shortly filled it for the rest of the night. We paused for the bouquet toss to “Single Ladies” then back to dancing until the end of the night.

We ended with a huge sing a long circle around them to “Circle” by Harry Chapin.  It was the perfect song to end the perfect wedding. They had a sparkler exit after that from the front of the house.

Thank you for everything Lisa, Amy and Carrington and Andrew, thank you for your service to our country!

A MacGregor Downs Wedding | A True Family Affair

What a wonderful time I had DJing Krystal & Paul’s wedding at MacGregor Downs with her 3 beautiful daughters!  They are all so nice and had the most touching wedding.

The ceremony was held in the right side ballroom that houses a beautiful fireplace.  Rabbi Edery officiated the ceremony on the opposite wall from the fireplace.  I provided a mic for him, two readers and all the music.  The Bridesmaids entered to “Watermark” by Enya and Krystal to “A Thousand Years” by The Piano Guys.  After the service they recessed to “No One” by Alicia Keys.  While the staff flipped the room for the cocktail hour, I invited guests outside to the lake for a group pic by photographer Kristen from Captivated Photography.

After pics were done, the 60 guests came back inside to get away from the heat and enjoy cocktails. I had a mix of standards, Disney songs (for Krystal’s daughters) and soft rock playing.  After the cocktail hour we invited guests to the dining room down the hall for dinner and dancing.  

I introduced the parents and wedding party to “We Are Family” (get it??).  Krystal, Paul and 3 daughters were announced as “The Fab 5”! I Love it!!  They came in and had their first dance to “It’s Your Love” by Tim McGraw.  They welcomed everyone and thanked everyone for coming.  A blessing of the wine and bread followed and the salads and entrees came out.  Dinner music was the same as cocktails.

After dinner I opened the floor with some oldies and top 40 that soon filled it for about 45 minutes.  We took a break for the toasts, cake cutting and then the parents dances.  Krystal and her Father danced to “Daddy, You’re My Hero” first.  Paul and his Mother’s dance was next to “First Lady In My Life”.  Both were so sweet!!  I had an anniversary dance to “The Way You Look Tonight” with Paul’s Parents winning at 56 years married.  Wow!! I opened the floor to everyone again and it stayed filled until the end of the night and the last dance to “Home Sweet Home” by Motley Crue.

Thank you so much Krystal, Paul, Ava, Ella & Olivia!  I am so happy for all of you!!

Photo courtesy of Captivated Photography