Monday, January 27, 2020

Victoria and Rudy’s Dance Party Wedding at Merrimon Wynne

What a fun wedding Victoria and Rudy had at downtown Raleigh’s Merrimon Wynne House
 on January 25th, 2020!

Their ceremony was held in the carriage house and Arioso Strings covered the music for them.  After the ceremony, their officiant invited them to the house for cocktails while the staff and planners Alexia and Becca from C and D Events flipped the room for dinner.  After pics were taken by A.J. Dunlap Photography, the guests were invited back to the carriage house for the reception.  The room looked beautiful with arrangements by Bushel and Peck Designs.  I left music playing and went inside to finally meet Victoria and Rudy.

I introduced them into the reception and they came in to loud applause.  They had their first dance to “You Are The Best Thing” followed by a Father/Daughter dance to “Walk With You” by Edwin McCain. Absolutely LOVE those songs!  Her Father welcomed everyone and her Grandfather blessed the meal.  The plated salads came out and Donovan’s Dish food stations opened shortly on the pergola.  During dinner I played a mix of jazz standards.

After dinner we had the Ashley’s Cake cutting to “How Sweet It Is” by Michael Buble and opened the floor to everyone with “Dancing In The Moonlight” while the staff served the cake.  The floor stayed filled for the next 2 hours to oldies, 80’s, current top 40 and some southern rock sing a longs.

We ended the night with a huge sing a long circle to “Wagon Wheel” before a sparkler exit and guests took fresh mini donuts on the way out.  Thank you Victoria, Rudy, Sasha and Alexia!  That was a blast!!

Sunday, January 19, 2020

Amy and Ty’s NC State Themed Wedding at The Stockroom at 230

I was so excited (and a little nervous) to DJ Amy and Ty’s wedding January 19that The Stockroom at 230 in downtown Raleigh because she had previously worked for another DJ company.

Their ceremony was held at The Stockroom and I provided mics and music for them.  As the 100 guests arrived I had a mix of classical music playing. The family members walked down the aisle to “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” and Parents to “Be Thou My Vision”.  The Bridesmaids entered to “Butterfly Walts” and Amy and her Father to “Pachelbel for the Potomac”. After the service officiated over by Pastor Billie Lawson that included communion for everyone and a couple readings, they recessed to “Water Music”. Pastor Billie invited everyone to the top landing for a social hour while the staff flipped the room for dinner. During the cocktail hour I had a mix of Motown, R&B and country playing.

After pics were done by Libby McGowan Photography and the Ashley’s Cake was in place, I invited guests to their seats and lined the wedding party up for Intros with planner Talia from Four 26 Events.  I introduced them to “What I Like About You” and Amy and Ty to “Float On”.  They came to the floor and had their first dance to “Songbird” by Fleetwood Mac. Her parents welcomed everyone and Pastor Billie blessed the meal. The Pit buffet opened and during dinner I had a mix of standards, soul, beach music and country playing with some Indie rock at the end.

After dinner Amy and Ty thanked everyone and we had the cake cutting to “How Sweet It is”. We had an anniversary dance to “When I Say I Do” with the winners married 51 years.  The floor opened and the Howling Cow ice cream was available with cake.

After an hour and a half of dancing or so, they had their last dance to “Friends In Low Places” and a red & white steamer and glow stick exit.  Thank you Amy, Ty and Talia.  I had a blast!!

Photos courtesy of Libby McGowan Photography

Saturday, January 11, 2020

A Doctor Who Themed Wedding for Alison and Hunter at The City Club

The City Club in downtown Raleigh has got to have the best view or Raleigh! Located on the 28thand 29thfloor of the Wells Fargo building, it was the perfect location for Alison and Hunter’s Doctor Who themed wedding on January 11th, 2020!

The ceremony was held on the 28thfloor and I provided mics and music.  As the 125 guests arrived I had a mix of instrumental songs from Doctor Who soundtracks playing.  Reverend Ed Sansbury entered and asked everyone to silence their phones and the ceremony started. The wedding party entered to “A Thousand Years” and Alison and her Father to “Canon In D”. After the service that included a reading by Hunter’s Godmother, Musical performance of “Can’t Help Falling In Love” by Hunter’s Sister on guitar and her wife on vocals and short video clip of a wedding from Doctor Who, they recessed to “I Am The Doctor” from Series 5 of Doctor Who.  Ed invited guests to the 29thfloor lobby for cocktails and I started a mix of rock, country and classic soul.

During the cocktail hour guests enjoyed refreshments, hors d’oeuvres and taking pictures in front of the life size Tardis from Doctor Who.  It was AWESOME!!  After pics were taken inside the ballroom by photographer Joe Payne and videographer Phil from Twenty-One Films, the guests were invited to their tables for the reception. The room looked beautiful with arrangements by Dana’s Paper Flowers and an amazing view of Raleigh.  I left music playing and lined the wedding party up with help from planner and family friend, Ann.  The wedding party entered to the Doctor Who TV Theme (of course).  Alison and Hunter came in to loud applause and had their very special first dance.  They danced to “Because You Loved Me” sung by Ann’s son Dominic.  He did an AMAZING job!! The first minute of the song was danced to by Alison and Hunter alone, then their parents joined them, then their spouses joined them, then I invited everyone to join them for the last 2 minutes of the song.  It was just wonderful!  Her Father welcomed everyone, Hunter’s Godfather gave a heartfelt toast and Reverend Ed blessed the meal. During dinner was a mix of rock, standards, country and classic soul.

After dinner we had an anniversary Dance to “The Way You Look Tonight” with the winners married 48 years! As a gift, Alison gave her a bouquet.  So sweet!  His Aunt Sue then told a story about the history of the cake cutting knife, and we had the Edible Arts Cake cutting to “Sugar, Sugar”. We surprised photographer Joe with a cupcake for his Birthday and opened the floor with some Motown and Top 40 that filled it for the next 2 hours.  Guests danced to 80’s, top 40, oldies and a couple line dances.  I even played “Please, Mr. Postman” by The Carpenters for Alison’s Father that retired from the Post Office after 33 years.

We ended the night with “We Are Family” as a last dance for everyone.  Thank you Alison, Hunter and Ann.  I was honored and thrilled to be your DJ!

Photo courtesy of Joe Payne Photography

Saturday, January 4, 2020

A Merrimon Wynne Wedding for Katie and Jim To Start The New Decade

To start the 20’s off, I was back at Merrimon Wynne for Katie and Jim’s wedding on January 4th.  I LOVED their 80’s playlist and was thrilled to DJ for them!

Their ceremony was held inside the carriage house and I provided mics and music for them.  As the 100 guests arrived I had a mix of classical pop playing.  The Parents entered to “A Thousand Years” by Daniel Jang. Jim to “Shallow” and The Wedding Party to “Perfect” both also by Daniel Jang.  Katie and her Father entered to “Can’t Help Falling In Love” by Daniel.  Katie looked beautiful with hair and makeup by the girls at Makeup by Ashley Mooney! After a short service by Reverend Perry Hardison that included a unity candle and wine box ceremony, they recessed to “Somewhere Over The Rainbow”. Perry invited them to the cocktail hour in the house while that staff flipped the Carriage House for the reception.

After the cocktail hour, guests came back to the Carriage House and I left music playing while I lined Katie & Jim up for introductions. The room looked amazing with floral arrangements by English Garden! I introduced them to “Sit Next To me” by Foster The People. They came in to loud applause and had their first dance to “Ho Hey” by Lumineers. She had a dance with her Father after that to “Wild World” by Cat Stevens followed by a welcome by Jim and Katie and blessing by her Uncle. During the Rocky Top Catered dinner I had a mix of soft rock and 80’s playing.  

After dinner we had the toasts and I opened the floor with “Boogie Shoes” then 80’s for the rest of the night. They had some of my favorites in their request list including “I Melt With You”, a couple Duran Duran songs, The Go-Go’s and Violent Femmes.  I ended the night with “Time Of My Life” from Dirty Dancing and finally “Stand By Me” before a sparkler exit.  Guests took Krispy Kreme donuts on their way to the front of the house.

Thank you Katie, Jim and Kaila!!  I had the best time.  I can’t wait to see the photos by Emily Lahmann!!