Alexandra & Adam’s Wedding at The Sutherland on October 25th

I had already played for Alexandra & Adam this summer where they attended a wedding I DJd for their friends Kayla & Jesse, so I was excited to see them again.  They chose ake Forest’s historic plantation ouse, The Sutherland, for both ceremony and reception on a beautiful October 25th.  The ceremony was held in front of the grooms cabin.  I ran the mics for the ceremony and guitarist Devin Coogan played guitar.  After the ceremony, the wedding party recessed to “Happy” from Despicable Me.  Alexandra LOVES the minions.  Guests made their way to the grooms terrace for the cocktail hour on the grooms terrace while photographer Beth Ely and videographers Phil & Lucy from Twenty-One Films got some shots of the wedding party.

 

After the cocktail hour, guests made their way back to the brick garden for dinner and dancing.  I introduced the wedding party to “All About Tonight” by Blake Shelton and Alex and Adam had their first dance to “God Gave Me You” by Blake.  After the first dance Alex’s father joined her on the floor for their dance that started with “My Wish” for about a minute but then went through “Brown Eyed Girl”, “The Hokey Pokey”, “She’s A Bad Mama Jama”, “Imma Be” and finally “Enter Sandman” where all the wedding party joined them.  So great!  Adam then escorted his mother to the floor for their dance to “You’ll Be In My Heart” by Phil Collins followed by a welcome by Alexandra’s father.  The delicious barbeque Rocky Top buffet opened and I played a mix of rock, country and classic soul.

After dinner we had the cake cutting to “Sugar” by Maroon 5 and some toasts including a very heartfelt toast by Alex’s father that I have to admit got me a little teary.  I invited all the married guests to the floor for an anniversary dance to “The Way You Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra and then opened the floor to everyone with some Motown and top 40.  We paused briefly for a garter toss to “I’m Still A Guy” and bouquet toss to “God Made Girls”, then back to dancing to line dances, top 40 and some 70’s.  We ended the night with “Mean To Me” by Brett Eldredge and finally “Time Of My Life” from Dirty Dancing before their sparkler exit.

Congratulations Alexandra and Adam and thank you for having me as your DJ!

Casey & Michael’s Wedding at Duke Gardens

Casey and Michael chose Durham’s Duke Gardens for both ceremony and reception on a picture perfect October 24^th afternoon and evening.  Their ceremony was held in the back amphitheater that overlooked a small pond.  It is so beautiful there!  I did not provide music or mics, but was still there to see it.  After the ceremony guests made their way to the back patio for cocktails and passed hors d’oeuvres where I had a mix of standards, soft rock and classic soul playing. 

After the cocktail hour guests made their way inside for dinner and dancing with help from Sally & Kathy from Sally Oakley Weddings & Events (who I was thrilled I got to work with for the 3^rd week in a row!).  The guests were seated and it was time to announce the wedding party.  I introduced them to “Feel So Close” by Calvin Harris and each couple or trio had their own special funny dance in.  Casey & Mike entered to “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” and came right to the dance floor for their dance to “You Are The Best thing” by Ray LaMontagne.  Casey’s father then welcomed everyone and the buffet opened.  During dinner I continued the same mix as cocktails.

 

After dinner we had several toasts and the Yellowbird Cake cutting to “How Sweet It Is” by Marvin Gaye.  There were 4 cakes and I had to try the chocolate.  OMG!! Delicious!  Casey then made her way back to the floor for her dance with her father to “Unforgettable” and Mike escorted his mother to the floor for their dance to “In My Life” by The Beatles.  I invited all the married couples to join Casey & Mike on the floor for an anniversary dance to The Way You Look Tonight’ with the winner at 61 years married.  I opened the floor with Motown after that and it filled, I mean FILLED for the next 2 hours to oldies, top 40, Casey’s mom’s request for “Watch Me Nae Nae”, sing a long’s and some 80’s & 90’s.  It was great seeing all ages having the time of their lives together having a twist contest (that It think Casey’s father won), Danny’s dance to “Gold Digger”, a huge line dance to “Cotton Eyed Joe” for the Orioles fans and sing a long to “Sweet Caroline” for the Red Sox fans. 

We ended the night with “Wagon Wheel” and finally “Ho Hey” by The Lumineers and then a bubble exit.  What an awesome group to DJ for.  I can’t wait to see the pics from Cole Gorman from Blest Studios!

Dana & Lyle’s Fantastic Wedding at The Cotton Room in Durham on October 23rd

I was sooo very excited to DJ Dana & Lyle’s wedding and see them again.  I had helped them buy and sell a house and became friends with them during the process.  They are the funniest couple!  When they asked me to DJ their wedding I was not only thrilled, but honored to be asked. So, the day was upon us and I couldn’t wait for it to begin and work with Carrington from Erin McLean Events.  As guests arrived for the evening ceremony at The Cotton Room in Durham, I had a mix of soft rock songs playing.  The Grandparents and Parents entered to Vitamin Sting Quartet’s cover of C,S & N’s “Our House”.  Lyle & his groomsmen entered to VSQ’s cover of “We Will Rock You” complete with hand & knee clapping along to it and the guests thought it was hilarious!  The bridesmaids (and Dana & Lyle’s beautiful daughter/flower girl Ashlyn) entered to a classical version of “Uptown Girl” and Dana and her father entered to “I Choose You” by Sara Bareilles that I edited for her.  After a beautiful ceremony by fav Minister Barbara Lodge that included very heart felt hand written vows by Lyle & Dana, a reading by Dana’s Grandfather and a unity family painting to Kermit The Frog’s “Rainbow Connection” it was time for the recessional to Starship’s “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now”.  Barbara invited guests to the back of the room for the cocktail hour and the staff got the room ready for dinner and dancing.

 

During the cocktail hour I had a mix of country, soft rock, standards and classic soul playing while photographer Melissa Smith and videographers Nathan and Ashley from Oak City Films got some shots of the wedding party inside and outside. The shots were finished and the white linens opened exposing the room with tables decorated with centerpieces by Tre Bella.  The guests made their way to their seats and I went to line the wedding party up for introductions.  They entered to Huey Lewis’s “Power Of Love” only fitting because it’s from the ‘Back To The Future’ movie that was supposed to take place just days before this wedding.  Dana & Lyle entered to AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck” that got the crowd pumped up!  They came to the dance floor and had their first dance to “I Could Not Ask For More” by Edwin McCain.  I have loved that song since he sang it acoustic in my record store in the 90’s.  Dana’s father took the mic to welcome everyone and bless the meal.  The buffet opened and I continued the same mix as cocktails, but adding in some acapella songs that Dana & Lyle love.

After dinner we had the toasts and the Sugar Euphoria cake cutting to “Pour Some Sugar On me”.  Get it?? LOL.  Dana and her father made their way to the dance floor for their dance to “I Loved Her First” and Lyle escorted his mother to the floor for their dance to “My Wish”.  I opened the floor with some Motown and top 40 that shortly filled it for the next 2 ½ hours.  The night was filled with oldies, top 40, 2000’s hip-hop, a couple line dances and some sing a longs.  We only paused briefly for an anniversary dance to “Through The Years” by Kenny Rodgers with the longest married couple being 61 years!  We ended the night with “(I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life” from Dirty Dancing that included Lyle lifting Dana in his best Patrick Swayze pose.  So Great!  Many have tried, but I have never seen it pulled off.  The guests made their way downstairs for a sparkler exit and we called it a night.  What a fun group to play for!  Thank you Dana, Lyle and Ashlyn and congratulations!

Laura & Michael’s Wedding at The Museum Of Science Research Center

I didn’t get to meet Laura and Michael until right before they came in the door after the ceremony, but I knew I would love them from from their musical taste!  Their ceremony and cocktail hour were held on the 4^th floor of the Museum of Science Research Center in Raleigh on October 18^th and I did not handle any of that.  After the cocktail hour the guests made their way back down to the first floor for dinner and dancing with help from planner Sally Oakley.  I introduced the wedding party to the indie rock song “Have It All” by Jeremy Kay from the Scrubs soundtrack.  They came down the stairs and made a circle at the bottom and awaited the introduction of Laura & Mike.  After the arrived, the applause faded and Laura’s father said a heart felt welcome to everyone followed by a blessing of the bread by their Rabbi.  I invited the guests to find their tables for dinner and the salad’s and entrée’s came out.  During dinner they chose a mix of their favorite movie scores and some Disney movie songs that went along with the tables named after movies.

 

After dinner we had the toast by Michael’s brother and the cake cutting to
“Sweetest Thing” by U2.  While the staff cut the cake for serving, Laura and Michael made their way inside the globe to the dance floor for their choreographed dance to “Lucky” by Jason Mraz.  Laura’s father joined her for their dance to “Mandolin Wind” by Bruce Hornsby and Mike escorted his mother to the floor for their dance to “Unforgettable”.  I opened the floor with the “Hora” and it filled instantly.  For the next couple hours guests danced to oldies, Motown, top 40 and some line dances.

 

After a little bit we paused for the bouquet toss to “Jumpin’, Jumpin’” by Destiny’s Child and then back to dancing to some sing a long songs until the end of the night.  I ended with Darius Rucker’s “Wagon Wheel” and they had a flower petal exit from the front of the Museum.  What a wonderful night and great couple!  Thank you Laura, Michael, Susan and Sally and congratulations!

Ashlee & Tim’s Marathon Wedding at Treyburn Country Club on October 17th

Ashlee and Tim had both their ceremony and reception at Durham’s beautiful Treyburn Country Club on a perfect October 17^th day.  Their ceremony was officiated by Dr Christopher Skinner and I provided mic’s for him, Tim and their reader as well as the music.  The ceremony was about to start and guests came down the stairs to the ceremony location.  The Grandparents, parents and wedding party all entered to The Piano Guys version of “A Thousand Years” and Ashlee entered to “Angel”.  After the short ceremony they recessed to “Wagon Wheel” by Darius Rucker and guests made their way back upstairs for the social hour during which I had a mix of standards playing.

 

After some pics were taken by Brittany Pelegrino Photography it was time to introduce the wedding party and I invited guests to find their seats in the ballroom.  I introduced the wedding party to “Treasure” by Bruno Mars and Ashlee and Tim came right to the dance floor for their first dance to “Hold On” by Michael Buble. The wedding party then took their seats and Ashlee danced with her father to “I Loved Her First” and Tim (who had a hurt knee) danced with his mother to “Never Alone” by Jim Brickman featuring Lady Antebellum.  Tim thanked everyone for coming and the buffet opened.  During dinner I had a mix of standards, soft rock and classic soul playing. 

 

After dinner we had a few toasts including a surprise toast by Ashlee’s brother.  I opened the floor at 6:15 to everyone with some Motown and current dance hits the filled the floor until 11PM!  I mean, 5 hours of dancing is maybe my record.  We paused briefly for a cake cutting to “Grow Old With You” and bouquet toss to “Girls Just Want To Have Fun” and garter toss to “Hot In Herre” where Tim had a hard time finding the garter..because Ashlee had hid it in her bra.  So great!!!  Back to dancing til the end of the night to top 40, line dances, some country and everything in between.  They even had a great soul train line dance to “Don’t Stop Til You get Enough” and a huge sing a long to “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” where I think they guys were singing louder than the girls.

We ended the 7.5 hour reception with “The Time (Dirty Bit)” by Black Eyed Peas and a sparkler exit from the front of the Club.  What a fun night and awesome couple!  Thank you Ashlee and Tim and congratulations.