Kim & David’s Wedding at Washington Duke Inn on December 6th

Kim and David booked me around 2 weeks before the wedding and I’m so thankful I was available!  They are the sweetest couple and I loved playing for them at Durham’s Washington Duke Inn!  The ceremony was held inside in the foyer out front of the Presidents Ballroom where the reception would later be held.  There was an easily 20 foot Christmas tree already there to decorate the room.  For music they had a wonderful classical violinist playing.

After the short service officiated by David’s Uncle, guests made their way into the small room next to the Presidents Ballroom for cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and the Classic Carolina Photo booth that was busy the whole time he was there.  During the cocktail hour I played a mix of rock, classic soul, top 40 and standards.  After pics were taken by photographer Rachel from Thirteen Moon Photography and video by Damien Maass & Kevin Alexander, the 100 guests made their way next door to the Presidents Ballroom to find their seats.  I left some music ands went out to the hallway to line the wedding party up and get them ready for their introductions.  I introduced the group of bridesmaids into the room to “Single Ladies”, the Groomsmen to “Gangnam Style” and finally Kim & David to Shania Twain’s “From This Moment” until they hit the dance floor then I scratched into “Happy” and the room went wild!  So great.  They took their seats and David’s father welcomed everyone including the guests from Singapore where Kim is from.  During dinner I had the same mix as cocktails playing.

After dinner we had a few toasts and the cake cutting to “Sugar, Sugar”.  Kim and David made their way to the floor after for their first dance to “Thinking Out Loud”.  After they finished I invited all the married couples to the floor for a longest married couple dance to ”Endless Love” and half the floor exited after the 5 year mark. Ha ha..  I opened the floor to everyone with “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg” and the floor filled instantly for the next 2 hours.  Kim had picked a lot of great songs so I didn’t get a chance to play all the requests, but it didn’t matter.  They danced to everything from top 40 and oldies to sings a alongs and disco.

 

The guests made their way to the lobby for the rose petal exit, but the older guests weren’t ready to leave, so came back and danced for another half hour.  What a fun crowd to play for.  There was one time during dinner that Kim and David visited each table of friends and all stood in a circle screaming to the top of their lungs until they couldn’t any more, then all did a shot.  I had never seen that before, and love it!!

Ana & Reggie’s Winter Wedding at Highgrove Estate on December 5th

I was thrilled to play for Ana and Reggie at their wedding in Fuquay-Varina at Highgrove Estate on a picture prefect December 5^th night!  The ceremony was held outside in the back and overlooks a lake and hill.  They had a trio playing live classical music and a singer for a couple tracks during the ceremony.  I ran mics for the singer and trio, two ministers and for Ana’s brother who did a reading during the ceremony.  The ceremony was beautiful and included communion by their second minister.

After the ceremony, guests made their way to the outside patio for cocktails and passed hors d’oeuvres. During this time I had a mix of soft and indie rock, standards and classic soul playing for the 150 guests while photographer Megan Kime and videographers Memories Of A Lifetime got some shots of the wedding party around the grounds.  After the cocktail hour was over, guests started making their way inside the ballroom where I was for dinner and dancing.  They found their seats and I went inside the house to line up the wedding party.

 

I introduced the wedding party to “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” by Stevie Wonder and Ana & Reggie came right in to the dance floor for their first dance to Ray LaMontagne’s acoustic version of “You Are The Best Thing”.  I had not heard it until this and love it!   They took their seats after the applause settled down and Ana’s father welcomed everyone and their minister blessed the meal.  The family style dinner came out by Angela and the staff at Highgrove and I continued the same mix as cocktails.

After dinner we had a few toasts and the cake cutting to L.O.V.E. by Nat King Cole and Ana joined her father on the floor for their dance to “What A Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong.  As the song was fading out I mixed into the chorus of The Stones “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” to surprise her father since he used to sing it to her as a child.  So sweet!!  Before opening the dance floor to everyone we did an anniversary dance to “The Way You Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra with the longest married couple being 56 years!  I then opened the floor to everyone with some Motown and current top 40.  Shortly the Krispy Kreme flambé station opened.  OMG!!!  So good and I always look forward to it.

We ended the night with Zac Brown’s “Chicken Fried”, ‘Sweet Caroline” and finally their last dance to Glen Hansard’s “You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere”.  What a wonderful family and group to play for!  Thank you Ana, Reggie, Kenneth & Shirley and congratulations.