Colleen & Justin’s Winter Wedding at Prestonwood Country Club

Colleen and Justin chose to have their wedding reception at Cary’s beautiful Prestonwood Country Club the Saturday after Thanksgiving to extend the holiday.  The ceremony was held earlier in the day in the church.  The 200 guests were able to relax for a while before heading over to the cocktail hour and reception.  The cocktail hour was held in the front hallway and outside on the balcony and the guests enjoyed drinks and passed hors d’oeuvres.  The cocktail hour ended and the doors to the ballroom opened for guests to find their seats.

The wedding party came from the top balcony down the grand staircase  that had a with a beautiful Watered Garden decorated Christmas tree to “Who Let The Dogs Out” (LOL) and stood on either side of the dance floor waiting for Colleen and Justin.  They came down the stairs to “I’ll Be There For You” by The Rembrandts and right to the dance floor for their first dance to “Walk Thru This World With Me” by George Jones, one of Justin’s favorite singers (mine too).  After their dance, the wedding party took their seats and Colleen’s Father joined her for their dance to “I Loved Her First” and Justin escorted his Mother to the floor to dance to “Simple Man” by Lynyrd Skynyrd (one of my fav Mother/Son songs).  Colleen’s Father Matt took the mic to welcome everyone and Deacon Gerry blessed the meal.  The three-course meal of soup, salad and entrée’s came out and shortly the Picture That Photo Booth opened.  During dinner I had a mix of country, rock, standards and classic soul playing.

After dinner we had very heart felt toasts by Colleen’s Sister Sarah and Justin’s Brother Matthew followed by the cake cutting to “Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran.  While the staff cut the cake and served it, the dessert station opened in the side room with little bite size pies and make your own s’mores.  YUM!!!  I opened the dance floor with “My Girl” and shortly the floor was packed with young and old for the next 2 hours.  We paused briefly for the bouquet toss to “No Scrubs” by TLC, then back to dancing til the end.  I played everything from oldies, top 40, sing-a-longs, 90’s hip-hop and even “Watch Me Nae-Nae” for the younger guests.  I can’t wait to see the pics from Rebecca and Brian Mullins!  I ended the night with “Sweet Caroline” and finally “Friends In Low Places”. 

 

After the last song, guests made their way to the front of the Country Club and grabbed fake snow to throw as Colleen and Justin left.  What a beautiful and magical wedding and great to see my past bride and groom Megan & Alex Smith!  Thank you Colleen and Justin and congratulations.

Ashley & Jonathan’s Wedding at The City Club in Raleigh on November 21st

Ashley and Jonathan chose to have their reception high atop downtown Raleigh at The City Club.  The club is located on the 29^th floor of the Wells-Fargo building with a breathtaking view of North Raleigh through the floor to ceiling windows.  The cocktail hour was held in the foyer and I had a mix of classic and soft rock, classic soul and standards playing for that.  It was time for the wedding party to be introduced and guests started making their way into the ballroom where I was and found their seats.  The room looked beautiful with floral arrangements by Lyn at Fresh Affairs!

I was thrilled to be working with some of my favorite vendors in Rebecca from the Club, planner Carrington from Erin McLean Events, and photographer Renee Sprink!  I lined the wedding party up and got them ready for their entrance.  They entered to “Power” by Kanye West (LOL) and Ashley & Jonathan entered to “N’s in Paris” by Jay Z and Kanye and the room erupted with applause when they came in.  They took the floor and had their first dance to a shortened edit I did of “Once Upon A Dream” from Sleeping Beauty.  I wore my Mickey Mouse cufflinks because of that btw…Ashley then danced with her father to “My Little Girl” by Tim McGraw and Jonathan and his mother to “Because You Loved Me”.  All three dances were so sweet!  Ashley’s father Terry welcomed everyone and blessed the meal and salads and entrée’s came out.  During dinner I played the same mix as cocktails, but started with “Let It Go” from ‘Frozen’ for the cutest little flower girls!

After dinner we had a couple toasts and the Sweet Memories cake cutting to “Sugar, Sugar”.  I opened the floor with ”My girl” and some Motown and within 15 minutes the floor was packed for the next 2 ½ hours.  They danced to EDM (Electronic Dance Music), top 40, oldies, line dances and even a couple K-Pop songs (Korean Pop). 

We ended the night with “Sweet Caroline”, “God Gave Me You” by Blake Shelton and finally “Firework” by Katy Perry for their sparkler exit.  Get it?? Ha Ha.  What a fun night, great crown and sweet couple!  Congratulations Ashley & Jonathan and Thank You.

Jennifer & Shane’s Beautiful Wedding at The Umstead on November 14th

Jennifer and Shane chose Cary’s 5 star Umstead Hotel & Spa on a beautiful November 14^th evening.  The ceremony was held outside and I provided music for that.  The Grandparents and Parents entered to “Ode To Joy”, the wedding party to a classical version of Tony Bennett’s “The Way You Look Tonight” and finally Jennifer and her Father to “Canon In D”.  After a short ceremony that included a wine box service they recessed to ‘Best Day Of My Life” by American Authors.  After a huge group picture of all the guests and wedding party by photographers Rebecca & Brian Mullins, the 100 guests made their way inside for the cocktail hour with help from The Umsteads’ Carrie, Heavenly & Amanda.

For the cocktail hour I had a mix of soft rock, standards and classic soul paying.  The 100 guests enjoyed drinks, passed hors d’oeuvres and the Classic Carolina Photobooth in the prefunction area.  After pics were done by Brian and Rebecca as well as video by Nathan & Ashley from Oak City Films, the guests made their way into the ballroom for dinner and dancing.  The room looked beautiful with floral arrangements by The English Garden.  They took their seats and I went out to line up the wedding party for intros.  They were introduced into the room to “Bring ‘Em Out” by T.I. and Jennifer’s Father entered wearing a kings hat.  Classic!  I LOVE that guy.  As Jennifer and Shane entered I started their first dance, “It Is You (Waltz version)” by Dana Glover from Shrek for their choreographed dance.  Jennifer was then joined by her Father for their dance to “I Loved Her First”, but I started his favorite song “Rappers Delight” first (just for 10 seconds) to play a joke on Jennifer’s Mother.  Sorry Jackie! It was hilarious though. After their dance, Shane escorted his Mother to the floor for their dance to “What A Wonderful World”.  Jennifer’s Father welcomed everyone and Patty Brooks blessed the meal.  The soup, salad and entrée’s came out after a surprise solo to “At Last” by professional singer Sheila Starr Washington that was amazing. During dinner we had toasts by the Maid Of Honor and 2 best men and I continued the same mix of music as the cocktail hour.

After dinner we had the Nantucket Grill cake cutting to “Grow Old With You” by Adam Sandler followed by an anniversary dance to “Can’t Help Falling In Love” by Elvis with the winning couple married 47 years but, this day would have been Jennifer’s Grandparents 62^nd anniversary.  I turned on my dance floor lights and opened the floor with some Motown and top 40 that quickly filled it for the next 2 hours.  Guests danced to top 40, line dances and oldies wearing glow sticks as well as enjoyed the photobooth.  I even played a polka for Shane’s family.  We ended the night with “Sweet Caroline”, but they were not ready to leave yet so I played “Cruise” by Florida Georgia Line by request from one of the best men.  After that, guests made their way to the lobby for a ride over to Ruckus Pizza for an after party.  What a fun night and wonderful couple!  Thank you Jennifer, Shane and Jackie and congratulations!

Meaghan & Gordon’s Epic Wedding at The Stockroom and All Saints on November 7th

I was back to The Stockroom for the 2^nd wedding in 2 days and I was thrilled to be there againwith planners Kathy and Sally Oakley!  I always love playing there, and this time it was for Meaghan & Gordon’s wedding.  Gordon loves music maybe as much as I do and I was excited to play for him, their family and friends. I got back to the stockroom to set up then walked down to All Saints Chapel to start music for the pre-ceremony.  Gordon had picked some awesome indie rock & acoustic rock for this playlist.  The church was filled and it was time for the ceremony by Reverend David L. James to begin.  The whole wedding party walked down the aisle to beautiful piano piece, “Zanarkand” from the Final Fantasy X soundtrack. Meaghan walked down the aisle with her father to the traditional Bridal March.  After a short ceremony they recessed to “Best Day Of My Life” and I walked back to The Stockroom to start music and await the guests arrival.

For the cocktail hour I had a mix of indie rock, soft rock and classic soul playing for the 150 guests while they enjoyed cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.  Photographer Julie Livingston (YAY!) arrived and started setting up so I knew the wedding party couldn’t be far behind.  They arrived and I invited guests to find their tables that had floral arrangements by The English Garden.  I introduced the wedding party to “A Little Party Never Killed Nobody” by Fergie and Meaghan and Gordon came in to thunderous applause.  They came to the head table and took their seats while Meaghan’s father welcomed everyone.  The Donovan’s Dish buffet opened and I continued the same mix as cocktails.

After dinner the staff moved the buffet tables for dancing and we had a few toasts before Meaghan and Gordon had their first dance to “You Are The Best Thing” by Ray LaMontagne.  Meaghan & her father then danced to “What A Wonderful World” and Gordon and his mother to “In My Life” by The Beatles.  I opened the floor with some Motown, oldies and top 40 and it filled for the next 3 hours.   We only paused briefly for a cake cutting to “How Sweet It is” and an anniversary dance to “Dancing In The Moonlight”, then back to dancing for all.

There were so many great moments during the evening!  Two of the gentlemen guests made a limbo stick out of their ties (while wearing them) that Meaghan and Gordon went under, 70-80% of the guests dancing all night, Gordon dancing with his shirt completely unbuttoned, but tie still tied (ha ha!) and finding out that they have been together for 10 years and he was her first kiss! 

I ended the night with a request by Gordon, “Let Me Clean My Throat” mixed into “Kangaroo Court” by Capital Cities.  After that, guests made their way downstairs for a sparkler exit.  It’s nights like this that make me still love my job as a DJ after 33 years!  Thank you Meaghan, Gordon and Sally!

Samantha & Tim’s Wedding at The Stockroom on November 6th

Samantha & Tim chose downtown Raleigh’s urban Stockroom at 230 for their ceremony and reception on November 6th.  This was my first of two weddings there this weekend both with planner extraordinaire Sally Oakley.  For this one I was thrilled to work also with Reverend Robin Renteria, photographer Shane Snider, florist Mel Day with Dogwood Tree Floral Design and Catering Works for food.  Even though I wasn’t providing music for the ceremony, I got there way early to see everyone and set up.

After the touching ceremony held by Robin, guests made their way to the back bar while the staff flipped the room for dinner and dancing.  The room was ready and Shane was done with pics so I invited guests to find their seats while I went out to line up the wedding party.  Each wedding party couple had their own song for intro’s from indie rock to EDM and hair bands.  Samantha and Tim entered to “Party Rock Anthem” and came all the way through the room to the back wall where the dance floor and I were to have their first dance to “Carried Away” by George Strait.  They followed with a welcome to everyone and the vegan buffet opened.  During dinner I had a mix of country, soft rock and some classic soul playing.

 

After dinner we had a few toasts that ended with Samantha’s fathers and then the cake cutting to “How Sweet It Is”.  Samantha made her way to the floor and had her dance with her father to “I Loved Her First” and Tim danced with his mother to “Never Alone” by Jim Brickman featuring Lady Antebellum.  I opened the floor to everyone with some oldies and top 40 that kept people dancing for the next couple hours.  Towards the end I had a fun hip-hop set that included 2Pac, Dr Dre, Jay Z, Nelly and Drake.  We ended the night with “Wagon Wheel” and guests made their way outside for a bubble exit.  What a sweet couple and a fun night.  Thank you Samantha, Tim and Sally!