Whitehurst/Clark reception at Rose Hill on January 10th

Leigh and Darius chose the beautiful Rose Hill Plantation in Rocky Mount for their ceremony, cocktail hour and reception on a cold January day.  Their ceremony was held in Nathan Hall in front of a huge fireplace with a warm fire going.  After the ceremony, guests made their way to the house next door for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres while I set up and got ready to rock the reception.

After the social hour, guests made their way back to Nathan Hall and I had some soft rock and standards playing as they found their tables.  I lined the wedding party up after photographer Bill Goode was done with bridal photos, including digging up the upside down buried bottle of bourbon. The parents entered to Harry Connick’s “It Had To Be You”, the wedding party to “The Jefferson’s” TV show theme and Leigh and Darius to “Happy” by Pharrell.  They came into the room and all the way to the far end for their first dance to Van Morrison’s “Someone Like You”.  Leigh then danced with her father to “Unforgettable” and Darius and his mother to “What A Wonderful World”.  Before sending guests through the buffet, we had the cake cutting to “How Sweet It Is” and a welcome by Leigh’s father.  The buffet opened and I started a music mix of standards.

After dinner, I opened the floor for dancing to some beach music for Leigh and her bridesmaids from ECU to dance to.  Shortly Leigh changed into her “dancin’ dress” while I played some Motown and current dance music for the guests.  We paused briefly for the garter removal to “Another One Bites The Dust”.  We then had an anniversary dance to “The Way You Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra and the winning couple had been married 55 years!  Leigh and Darius presented their bouquet and garter to the winning couple.  We then had a few toasts by the bridesmaids and line dances and current dance music kept them dancing until the end of the night including a long train to “C’mon Ride The Train”.  I closed down the reception with “Still The One” by Orleans and their last dance, “That’s All” by Mel Torme.  Guests  made their way outside for the sparkler exit after they took donuts for a favor.  What a fun group and wonderful couple.  Congratulations Leigh and Darius!