Sarah & John’s Beautiful Wedding at Bay 7 in Durham on September 25th

Sarah and John chose the Angus Barn’s Bay 7 in Durham’s historic American Tobacco campus for their reception on September 25^th.  I was thrilled to be working with Kelly from The Angus Barn, Carrington from Erin McLean Events and Callie from Nancy Ray photography!  The room looked beautiful with strung lights across the balcony opening by Dave from Get Lit and floral arrangements by Lyn from Fresh Affairs.  As guests arrived after the ceremony at St Michaels in Cary, they were treated to live pianist Court Stewart playing music.  It sounds awesome in this room!

After the cocktail hour the 100 guests made their way downstairs to their tables for dinner and dancing.  I introduced the wedding party to “A Little Party Never Killed Nobody” by Fergie and Sarah and John to U2’s “Beautiful Day”.  They came downstairs to thunderous applause and right into their first dance to “That’s How Strong My Love Is” by Otis Redding.  A welcome and blessing by Sarah’s father followed their first dance.  The salads and individually served meals came out and I played a mix of soft rock and classic soul through dinner.

After dinner we had a few toasts and the Sweet Memories cake cutting to “Sugar, Sugar”.   After the cake cutting at the bottom of the stairs, Sarah joined her father on the dance floor for their dance to “Unforgettable” by Natalie Cole and John danced with his mother to “How Sweet It Is” by James Taylor.  I opened the floor with some Motown and beach music that had young and old dancing together.

 

After a couple hours of dancing it was time to call it a night and I played their last song “Wagon Wheel” that had everyone singing along.  The guests made their way upstairs for the sparkler exit and Sarah and John were on their way.  What a fun crowd and wonderful couple!  John and Sarah had a blast and Sarah found it had to leave the dance floor to see her family and friends.  Thank you and congratulations Sarah & John!

Monique & Jerry’s Outdoor Wedding at Sitti In Raleigh on September 20th

Monique and Jerry are such a lovely & funny couple and I was thrilled to be playing their wedding ceremony and reception.  I didn’t get to meet Monique until right before she walked down the aisle, but she was stunning!  The ceremony was held outside in the brick courtyard at downtown Raleigh’s wonderful Lebanese restaurant Sitti. I had light classical music playing as guests found their seats.  The wedding party and Monique entered to The Brooklyn Duo’s “Jurassic Park Medley” (LOL!!).  After a short service by Pastor Francoise, the guests made their way to the dining room for cocktails and air conditioning while Monique and Jerry had some pics taken around downtown Raleigh.

Then pics were done and Monique and Jerry were introduced to her favorite song, “Treasure” by Bruno Mars.  They made their way through the small crowd of 50 and to the floor for their first dance to “Kiss Me” by Ed Sheeran.  I invited guests back into the dining room for dinner and buffet opened. During dinner I had a mix of soft rock, indie rock and a few beach music songs playing including “Jerry’s In Love” by Chairmen Of The Board.  Towards the end of dinner we had a few toasts and I invited all the guests back out to the brickyard for dancing.  Monique started with her dance with her father to “Unforgettable” by Natalie and Nat King Cole and Jerry escorted his mother to the floor for their dance to “What A Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong.   I opened the floor for everyone with Motown and some current dance music.

We paused briefly for the cake cutting inside to “How Sweet It Is” that even included a traditional Jamaican cake!  I ended the night with Luther Vandross’s “Always & Forever” and their exit to “Treasure” by Bruno Mars.

Autumn & Mario’s White Wedding at Highgrove Estate

Autumn and Mario had a stunning ceremony and reception at Fuquay-Varina’s beautiful Highgrove Estate on a perfect September 18^th night.  As guests arrived for the 6:30 ceremony they were treated to live music by amazing acoustic guitarist Chris Hendricks playing on the patio.  The ceremony was about to begin and the 60 guests found their seats.  The wedding party came down the brick steps and awaited the entrance of Autumn and her father.  Autumn & Mario’s 8 month old daughter Avery looked so precious in her white dress and even their dog Freddy couldn’t wait to walk down the aisle with Autumn’s sister!  Autumn had the most beautiful white dress with little white feathers on it.

 

After a short ceremony, they made their way back to the house for pics by photographers Dave and Tara Parker and guests came back to the patio for cocktails and live music again by Chris.  After the cocktail hour guests made their way into the ballroom decorated in all white flowers and linens.  It was simply breathtaking!  The wedding party was ready to be announced and I lined them up in the house and got them ready. I introduced them into the room to “Happy” and Autumn & Mario had their first dance to “Make You Feel My Love” by Adele.  A blessing followed and the salad’s came out followed by a buffet in the house.  During dinner I had a mix of soft rock playing.

After dinner we had a few toasts that ended with Autumn’s father’s very heartfelt and hysterical toast including him wearing a blinged out sparkly dinner jacket.  I LOVE this guy!! Autumn and Mario made their way to the cake for the cake cutting to “Sugar” by Maroon 5 and before I opened the floor I played a requested song by Nick Lachey for Autumn. LOL.  I opened the floor with some Motown and current dance music that had young and old dancing together for the next hour and a half.  I even played “Paradise By The Dashboard Lights”, a request from Autumn’s Rochester, NY family.  Guests danced and enjoyed mingling both inside and out of the ballroom.

 

I ended the night with “Piano Man” and Autumn’s Uncle took the mic for his traditional sing a long to “Sweet Caroline”.  One more song before I shut down, my “Happy/Shake it Off” mix was a great closer.  Thank you Autumn, Mario & Avery and congratulations!

Robin & Jon’s Wedding at The Merrimon-Wynne House in Raleigh on September 13th

Robin and Jon chose the historic Merrimon-Wynne House in downtown Raleigh for there ceremony and reception on a picture perfect September day! I was excited to be working with planner Betsy Krug from Rebecca Rose Events for the first time (who I have heard so many great things about), The Merrimon- Wynne’s Kaila, videographer Katie from Story Spark Films and photographer Will from Nancy Ray Photography.  Even though I wasn’t providing music til later in the evening, I got there super early to set up and check out the service and I’m glad I did.

As the 100 guests arrived for the outdoor ceremony on the lawn they were treated to live music by trio The Derringers who did a fantastic job!  He sounds exactly like Marcus Mumford!  For the ceremony they had live music he keyboardist Erin Deuel and acoustic guitarist Glenn Deuel.   They had two officiants, one from Scotland and an American for the ceremony.  After the ceremony, guests mingled in the lawn and The Derringers took over again.  It was time for dinner and guests found their way inside the house for dinner catered by one of my fav’s Beau Catering that always does an amazing job!

 

After dinner, guests made their way outside for dancing.  Robin and Jon made their way to the floor for their first dance to a cover of Brooke Fraser’s “Sailboats” which was played by Erin and guitarist Glenn Deuel.  She stayed on the floor and way joined by her father to dance to “My Girl”.  We had a few toasts and then I opened the floor with some beach music and current dance music that had both young and older guests dancing together.  We paused briefly for the bouquet toss to “Single Ladies” and then back to dancing to some more current top 40. I ended the evening with some beach music for Robin’s father and his friends until the last song “Wonderwall” which was perfect since Jon is from the UK.  I invited the guests to the front of the Merrimon-Wynne for their exit and called it a night.

Thank you Robin, Jon, Betsy and Kaila for everything and congratulations!

Kelly & Adam’s Wedding Reception at The Renaissance Hotel in Raleigh on September 12, 2015

I was thrilled to be playing for Kelly & Adam’s wedding reception at North Hill’s beautiful Renaissance Hotel in Raleigh with photographer Lauren Mann. I did not provide music for cocktails and dinner, they had a fantastic sax player Glen Ingram handling that.  After the cocktail hour, the 150 guests made their way into the ballroom for dinner and dancing.  I introduced the wedding party to “Get Up Offa That Thing” by James Brown and Kelly & Adam to “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)” to thunderous applause!  They came to the dance floor for their first dance to “You Are The Best Thing” by Ray LaMontagne and then right into the cake cutting to “How Sweet It Is” by James Taylor.  Kelly’s father welcomed everyone followed by the blessing and then the salad’s came out while Glen started up the dinner music.

After the salad’s came out we paused for the toasts by the Maid of honor and Best man, then came the entrée’s.  After dinner Kelly joined her father on the floor for their dance to “My Girl” and Adam escorted his mother to the floor for their dance to “In My Life” by The Beatles (one of my favorite Beatles songs).  I opened the floor to everyone with “Build Me Up Buttercup” that filled, I mean FILLED the floor!  I think 75% of the guests were on the floor within 3 minutes.  It was so great to play for this group!  The floor stayed filled for the next 2 ½ hours, even when I played a couple polkas for Kelly’s family.

We paused briefly for the bouquet toss to “Ladies Night”, garter removal to “You Sexy Thing” and garter toss to “Sexy & I Know It”, then back to dancing to some current top 40 and sing-a-longs.  I ended the night with “Sweet Caroline” and “Wagon Wheel” then what was supposed to be their last dance, Donna Summer’s “Last Dance”.  But, they weren’t ready to leave yet to I closed it down with “Don’t Stop The Music” by Rihanna.  It’s so great when the crowd you are playing for doesn’t want it to end.  Especially the Mother of the Bride!  Thank you Ann, Kelly & Adam and congratulations!  I couldn’t have had more fun playing for you and your guests.