Averett/Ellis wedding reception at The Angus Barn on August 24th, 2013

Jansen & Austin picked the Angus Barn Pavillion for both ceremony and reception on August 24^th and believe me they could not have picked a more beautiful day or venue for the 200 guest wedding.  The ceremony overlooked the lake and woods towards the end of the afternoon and the 75 degrees was perfect!  Planner Erin McLean and The Angus Barn’s Kelly Joslin were there to make sure everything went off without a hitch and photographer Allison Satterfield was there to capture the madness.

I started playing after the ceremony and had a custom mix of soft rock and standards playing with a little classic R&B and indie rock mixed in.  The wedding party was introduced to “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” by Stevie Wonder and Jansen & Austin made their way to the dance floor for their first dance of “You Are The Best Thing” by Ray LaMontagne.  The energy was through the roof and I could tell this was going to be a great reception and the guests did not let me down!  After the first dance, Jansen’s Father said a few words, well not a few.. lol, and her Godfather said the prayer.  The dinner music was similar to the cocktail hour as guests made their way through the buffet line.

The Ashley Cakes cake cutting followed dinner and Jansen met her Father on the floor to dance to “In My Life” by The Beatles and Austin escorted his Mother to the floor to dance to “How Sweet It Is” by James Taylor.  I opened the floor with some Motown and Beach and guests were anxiously awaiting the opened floor.  They actually started dancing before the cake cutting.  After some 70’s funk and 80’s, I went current for the remained of the night.  The floor stayed packed all night and Jansen, Austin and their guests had a blast!  I wasn’t sure they were going to dance, but they were on the floor for at least an hour straight.  They ended the night with “Mirrors” by Justin Timberlake and made their way to the classic car getaway to sparklers.

Varnhold/Taylor reception at The Umstead on August 23rd, 2013

Lauren & Rich chose the beautiful Umstead Hotel & Spa for their 38 person wedding reception on Friday August 23^rd.  The ceremony was performed by Reverend Barbara Lodge and she did a fantastic job as always!  I provided the music for the ceremony with classical music playing as guests were seated, the Grandparents & Parents were seated to “Bella’s Lullabye” from Twilight, the Maid of Honor and Best man to a piano version of Train’s “Marry Me” and Lauren entered to “Canon In D” by The O’Neill Brothers.  The recessional was Vivaldi’s Allegro from Spring and guests made their way to the Salon for the cocktail hour and reception.  Videographer Wedding Bug and photographer Josh Joyner were there to catch everything.

The cocktail hour was mostly inside since it was a bit steamy outside and I had a custom mix of soft rock and classic rock playing as background music.  The doors of the ballroom opened and guests made their way to their tables.  The Maid Of Honor and Best Man were introduced to “Blurred Lines” and Lauren and Rich came in to Usher’s “Yeah”.  They came right to the dance floor and had their first dance to “Marry Me” by Train, Lauren danced with her Father to “The Way You Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra and Rich danced with his Mother to “Teach Your Children” by CSN.  Lauren’s Mother welcomed everyone and the food stations opened with a BBQ station, Salad station, Noodles & Pasta station and a seafood and carving station.  Tons of food for everyone and it all looked delicious!  The dinner music was standards in memory of Lauren’s Grandmother who loved Frank Sinatra so I wore my Sinatra cufflinks.

After dinner the toasts followed by the Sweet Memories made cake cutting to “Love & Marriage” by Frank opened the floor with some Motown and ½ of the guests filled the floor on the first song.  What a great crowd !  I played a few Motown songs and mixed into “22” by Taylor Swift for the cutest flower girl!  How could I say no really?  I played a few more current songs then some 70’s and 80’s.  I went back to current and some 80’s.  I dropped “How Will I Know” by Whitney and Lauren rushed the floor to dance with her childhood friends.  I will never forget mixing into “Jump Around” and Lauren screaming across the dance floor “Randy, you are the Sh…t”!!  Ha ha.. so funny !  Lauren know the lyrics to every song from “Baby Got Back” to “Boom Boom Pow” and acted out everything.  So great!

What a fun time and I had a blast with this small crowd that never left the floor.

Qualls/DeHont wedding reception at Bay 7 on August 17th, 2013

Melissa and Kevin chose the newly reopened Bay 7 in Durham for their wedding reception.  It has been redone by The Angus Barn and they have added more bathrooms, a kitchen and a room for the Bride to get ready in.  Great job Angus Barn, but I would expect nothing else!  The floors look great too. Photographers J&J Photography were there and it’s always fun to work with this husband and wife duo. 

The cocktail hour was held on the street level (2^nd floor) and I had a mix of soft rock that was heavy on Dave Matthews and Jack Johnson. I even slipped in a brand new Dave song for Melissa.

Melissa and Kevin showed up with the wedding party towards the end of the cocktail hour and I had the guests make their way to the bottom floor for the reception.  The wedding party was introduced to “I Need Your Love” by Calvin Harris and Melissa & Kevin to one of my favorite new songs, “Safe & Sound” by Capital Cities. They went into their first dance of “You and Me” by Dave Matthews and then came one of the most touching moments I have seen at a wedding.  Melissa danced with her Father to “Butterfly Kisses” and her Grandfather cut in for a couple minutes.  I loved that so much!  Melissa’s Father finished the dance and Kevin danced with his Mother to “Find Your Wings”.  The Maid/Matron of honors and Best Men’s speeches followed as did Melissa’s Father, Scott’s welcome and blessing. For dinner I continues the Dave and soft rock.

After dinner Melissa had a special dance with her Stepfather to “Kind & Generous” by Natalie Merchant and Melissa & Kevin made their way to the cake table for the cake cutting to “Dreamgirl” by Dave Matthews. Melissa’s Stepfather said a few words and I opened the dance floor to some beach and Motown and the floor packed.  I shortly went into “Blurred Lines” by Robin Thicke and people came from nowhere!  I couldn’t believe it.

We stopped the dancing for the bouquet toss from the 2^nd floor to “Girlfight” by Brooke Valentine and the garter toss to “Electric Feel” by MGMT and back to dancing.  Melissa and Kevin made a “fake” exit around 10pm to rose petals and then everyone came back in to party for another hour.  I ended with a bunch of sing-a-long songs and finished with Frank’s “New York, New York” since Kevin’s family is from there.  Everyone made a huge circle on the floor and danced to it.

What a fun wedding and I was so glad I was a part of it.  Thank you Melissa & Kevin !

Wiggins/Black reception at The Point in Mooresville NC on August 10th, 2013

It was so great to play for the Wiggins Family again!  I met them 3 years ago when I DJ’d one of their other Daughters , Laura and Steve Avent’s wedding.  They had so much fun they had to have me back and I was thrilled to be there!  Sarah and Barrett had their reception at the beautiful Donald Trump property, ThePoint located right on Lake Norman outside of Charlotte NC.  There were boats on the lake and after the rain passed, it was beautiful outside.

Guests arrived to the cocktail hour and I had a mix of classic Motown, beach music and country playing.  After some pics taken by Marylou with Allbliss Photography the wedding party and Sarah and Barrett were ready to be announced into the room to “Are You Going To Kiss Me Or Not” by Thompson Square and had their first dance to the very appropriate “Someday, Sarah” by Dave Barnes.  Sarah’s Father came up to welcome everyone and Mark Pitts blessed the meal.  The meal was a “backyard BBQ” without the back yard.  Pit pickin’, slaw and potato salad, BBQ chicken, baked beans.. It looked awesome!  For dinner I continued the same style of music as the cocktail hour. 

After dinner Sarah’s Father met her on the floor to Michael Buble’s version of “Daddy’s Little Girl” and Barrett escorted his Mother to the floor for their dance to “That’s What Mama’s Do” by Jason Matthews.  Great country song!  I opened the floor for a short beach and

Motown set then mixed into the sing if the summer, “Blurred Lines” by Robin Thicke and I heard a loud “WOOOOO” !! 

After a couple current songs and some 70’s disco, it was time for the toasts and the cake cutting to “How Sweet It Is” by James Taylor. I loved that they had an assortment of cupcakes and ice cream.  Sarah’s Bridesmaids surprised Barrett with a choreographed dance to “You’re The One That I Want” from Grease as he sat in the middle of the dance floor and they danced around him.  So great.  I opened the floor again and kept them out there until the bouquet toss to “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love” and garter toss to “Country Boy’s World”.  A few sing-a-long songs followed and it was time for the last song of the evening “Wonderful Tonight” and they made their bubble exit from the front of the building.

One of the highlights for me was Barrett’s cousin showing his breakdancing moves to “Scary Monsters” by Skrillex.  That kid is great and would give MJ a run for his money!

What a fun reception and I can not wait to DJ their final Daughter’s wedding!

Most Photo's courtesy of All Bliss Photography with Thanks!

Scruggs/McGrath reception at Carolina Country Club on August 3rd, 2013

Elizabeth and Colin chose the historic Carolina Country Club in downtown Raleigh for their reception.  The club is over 100 years old and has one of the best ballrooms around.  The 175 guests arrived for the early afternoon cocktail and hors d'oeuvre lunch with a mixture of beach music, classic soul & country playing.  The flowers were done by Kelly Odom and the beautiful cake by Sugarland.  One of my favorite photographers, Renee Sprink, was there to capture everything.

Elizabeth and Colin arrived and were introduced and went right into their first dance of the absolute version of  “This Kind Of Love” by Sister Hazel.  They had a combined parents dance to a great beach music song “Ms. Grace” by The Tymes and Elizabeth’s Father welcomed everyone.  I opened up the dance floor with “Carolina Girls” and Elizabeth’s Grandfather was the first, and last one, on the floor. What a fun guy! Needless to say, that broke the ice and people started shagging and slow dancing. We stopped long enough for a wonderful toast by The Matron Of Honor and the cake cutting to “Honey Bee” by Blake Shelton. 

Back to dancing with “The Wobble” and Colin’s Mother was out there with a foot brace on doing it with all the bridesmaids then into “Single Ladies”.  We finished with the bouquet toss to “Little White Church” by Little Big Town and the very appropriate last song of the evening, “With This Ring” by The Platters.  I invited everyone out front for the rose petal exit, but Elizabeth’s Grandfather kept dancing to “The Way You Make Me Feel” by Michael Jackson.  I LOVE that guy !!