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!