Gawkins/Roach wedding at The Carolina Inn

After a beautiful ceremony at St. Thomas More Church in Chapel Hill, Katie-Ann, Bryan and their guests made their way to The Carolina Inn for their cocktail hour and reception in the Hill Ballroom. I had a mix of standards, soft rock, country and classic soul playing for the 160 guests as they enjoyed cocktails and hors d’oeuvres in the front hallway during the social hour.  I was thrilled to be working with some of my favorite vendors in Brian Mullins Photography, Chris & Toni from Heart Stone Films, Rick from Total Production Services on lights and planners Kristen from The Inn and Tia Jones-Nusbaum from Erin McLean Events! 

The doors to the ballroom opened and guests found their tables decorated with floral arrangements by Lyn from Fresh Affairs.  Before I announced Katie-Ann and Bryan into the room, we had a couple visitors.  UNC’s mascot Ramses and NC State’s Mr. Wuf came running i  They dropped the banned and got into a short fake fist-fight that was classic and had everyone cheering them on!  They made up with a hug and made way for Katie-Ann and Bryan to enter.  They came into the room to a huge round of applause and right into their first dance to Elvis’s “Can’t Help Falling In Love”.  They took their seats and Katie-Ann’s father gave a heart felt welcome to everyone and Bryan’s father, who was also his best man, blessed the meal.  The plated appetizers, salad’s and entrée’s came out and I continued a mix of standards, soft rock and classic soul during dinner as the mascots made their way around the room for pictures.  After the salads, we had a couple toasts by Katie-Ann’s sister and Bryan’s father.

nto the room to Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train” with a huge banner.

After dinner we had the Sugarland cake cutting to Uncle Kracker’s “Smile” and Katie-Ann joined her father on the floor to dance to Ray Allaire’s “A Song For My Daughter” and Bryan danced with his mother to “What A Wonderful World”.  Before I opened the floor to everyone, Katie-Ann and Bryan’s wedding party joined them on the floor to dance to “Carolina Girls”.  Frank Sinatra’s “The Way You Look Tonight” opened the floor to everyone including a couple ballroom dancers.  After that, some oldies and current dance music kept the floor filled for the next 3 ½ hours!  We only stopped briefly for the bouquet toss to “Single Ladies”, garter removal to “American Woman” by Lenny Kravitz and toss to “Wild Thing” by Tone Loc.

For the rest of the evening guests danced, enjoyed the dessert/candy station by Candyland buffets, visited the Sugarland gelato bar and had pictures taken in the Laugh Out Loud Photo Booth.  For their last dance Katie-Ann and Bryan danced to “Carolina In My Mind” and had guests make a “Tunnel Of Love” line on the dance floor that they made their exit through.  What a fun group to play for and I have said it before, Katie-Ann was one of the most “excited to be marrying him” brides I have played for!  Thank you Katie-Ann for having me as your DJ and Thank you Bryan for your many years of service to our country!

Some photo's by Brian Mullins Photography (the good ones..ha ha)