Anna & Jeremy’s Dance Party Wedding at The Cotton Room on April 23rd, 2016

I love a Bride & Groom that love to dance at their wedding and don’t care who’s watching!  This is why I loved playing for Anna and Jeremy.  Their ceremony was held at the First Presbyterian Church in Durham followed by cocktails and reception at The Cotton Room in Durham with planner Michelle.  I was at the Cotton Room ready for the guests to arrive.  As they arrived I had a mix of classic and current bluegrass playing with Bill Monroe, The Carter Family, Avett Brothers and Old Crow Medicine Show in the mix, even Durham’s Carolina Chocolate Drops was in there! 

After photographer and videographers from Silver Feather Studios were done, they headed over and got ready for the introductions.  The white linen drapes closing off the dining area of The Cotton Room opened and I invited guests to take their tables that had floral arrangements by Mews Design on them. The wedding party was ready and I introduced them all as one big group to “Marry You” by Bruno Mars.  Anna and Jeremy then entered to thunderous applause to Avicii’s “Levels”.   They came to the sweetheart table and were joined by Anna’s parents for a traditional polish blessing and sharing of bread, salt and vodka.  They then came to the dance floor and had their now second dance to “Today Was A Fairytale” by Taylor Swift.  Anna danced with her father to “Because You Loved Me” and Jeremy danced with his mother to “Forever Young”.  They took their seats back at the sweetheart table and the plated salads came out.  During dinner I had a mix of 50’s and 60’s ballads playing.  Before the entrée’s came out we had the toasts and I swear Jeremy’s father and brother could be stand up comedians!  Their toasts were great.  After the toasts the entrée’s came out.

 

After dinner we had the Ashley’s Cake cutting to “Cake By The Ocean” by DNCE and after they cut the cake they made their way to the dance floor to start dancing to it.  That’s all it took to fill the floor for the next 2 hours.  Most of the playlist was current and 2000’s music with a little 80’s and 90’s thrown in.  We paused briefly for the bouquet toss to “Where Dem Girls At” by David Guetta and garter toss to “Big Pimpin’”, then back to dancing until the end of the night.

We ended the night with “Piano Man” with everyone in a huge circle, then the encore last dance to “One More Time” by Daft Punk before heading to the first floor for the sparkler exit.

All photos courtesy of Silver Feather Studios

Whitney & Josh’s Wedding at The Sutherland on April 22nd, 2016

Whitney and Josh chose Wake Forest’s historic Sutherland for their wedding ceremony and reception with planner Ashlee.  Originally they planned on the side garden for their outdoor ceremony and groom’s terrace for the cocktail hour, but Mother Nature had other plans.  So, we moved it all into the pavilion.  No problem!  The rain did not damper the mood at all.  Take that Mother Nature! LOL!  The guests arrived and made their way to the pavilion decorated with beautiful floral arrangements by Southern Petals. I had a mix of classical pop songs playing by Vitamin String Quartet.  The parents thru the bridesmaids walked down the aisle to “Jesu, Joy Of Man’s Desiring” and Whitney and her father to a guitar version of “Canon In D”.  After the ceremony that included a solo of “At Last” sung by Whitney’s Aunt during the blending of the sand, they recessed to “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” and guests made their way to the bar for refreshments and hours d’oeuvres.  During the cocktail hour I played a mix of rock, country and classic soul.

After some pics were taken by Michelle from Magnolia Photography and videographer Alex D’Amato  invited guests to their tables and lined the wedding party up for introductions.  They were introduced to “This Will Be” by Natalie Cole and they all had their own dance into the pavilion.  Whitney and Josh came in and right to the dance floor for their first dance to “Don’t Think I Can’t Love You” by Jake Owen.  This was the song Jake was playing at his concert the first time Josh told Whitney he loved her.  So sweet!!  Everyone took their seats and Whitney’s father welcomed them followed by a blessing by her Uncle.  The buffet opened and I continued the same music mix as cocktails.

 

After dinner we had toasts and the cake cutting to “How Sweet It Is” by James Taylor.  Whitney joined her father on the floor for their dance to “My Girl” with a big awwwww from the crowd and Josh escorted his mother to the floor for their dance to “Don’t Blink” by Kenny Chesney.  I opened the floor with some beach music and Motown that filled it for the next 3 hours.  During that time I played top 40, oldies, beach music, country, line dances, 80’s and some sing a longs.

We paused briefly for the bouquet toss to “P.Y.T.” and garter removal and toss to “Danger Zone”.  We ended the night with a huge circle singing “Sweet Caroline” and finally a sparkler exit.  What a fun night and wonderful couple!  Congratulations Whitney, Josh, Toni and Chris and thank you!

Amanda & Michael’s Beautiful Wedding At The Umstead Hotel on April 16th

I had the absolute pleasure of DJing Amanda and Michael’s beautiful wedding reception at The five star Umstead Hotel and Spa on April 16^th.  I was thrilled to be working with Carrie from The Umstead, planner Tia from Erin McLean Events,  Photographer Cara Galati from F8 Photo Studios and videographers Reel Weddings. 

The ceremony was held out back and officiated over by Minister Kayelily Middleton and live musicians from Arioso Stings providing music. They all always do an amazing job!  After the ceremony guests made their way around the back of the building to the outdoor cocktail hour and again Arioso Strings covered the music.  After pics were taken by Cara, the wedding party joined the cocktail hour and got ready for introductions.

The doors to the ballroom opened and guests found their tables that were decorated with floral arrangements by the Watered Garden. I left music playing in the ballroom and went to line the wedding party up.  They came into the room as a huge group to “Crazy In Love” and Amanda & Michael came in and right to the dance floor for their first dance to “She’s Got A Way” by Billy Joel.  Amanda’s father welcomed everyone and the three course meal came out of soup, salad and entrees.  During dinner I had a mix of rock, country and classic soul playing.  I even snuck a few Italian crooners in for Michael’s parents.

After dinner we had a toast by the Matron of honor and then the parents dances.  Amanda and her father danced to “How Sweet It Is” by James Taylor and Michael and his mother to “Unforgettable” by Natalie and Nat King Cole. Then, as a surprise Amanda danced with Michael’s father and Michael danced with Amanda’s mother to “The Way You Look Tonight” by my favorite, Frank Sinatra.  It was so sweet and special! 

The Shutterbooth Disney Photo Booth opened with fav Elisabeth and the dance floor opened to some Motown and top 40 that packed it for the next 2 hours.  We paused after about 30 min for another toast by the Best Men and Sweet Memories cake cutting to “I’ll Be There For You” from Friends, then back to dancing til the end of the night.

We ended the night with some 80’s and current hip hop before the last dance to “Time Of My Life” from Dirty Dancing and then a confetti exit from the front of the hotel.  What a fun night and great group!  Thank you Amanda, Michael, Mrs. Diamond, Giggles, Carrie and Cara for everything!

Lina & Emerson’s Wedding at Embassy Suites Brier Creek on April 9th

After the wedding ceremony at Holy Infant Catholic Church, the 70 guests made their way to Brier Creek’s Embassy Suites for Lina and Emerson’s Cocktail hour and reception.  The cocktail hour was held in the hallway in front of the ballroom and I had a mix playing of rock, country and even some Latin music to honor Lina’s Colombian heritage.

After photographer Griffin Davis got some shots, the wedding party headed over to the hotel and rested before being announced into the room that was decorated with floral arrangements by Tre Bella.  The doors to the ballroom opened and I went to line the wedding party up with help from Embassy Suites’ Ashley.  They entered to “Dynamite” by Taio Cruz and Lina & Emerson to “Everything” by Michael Buble.  They came to the floor and had their choreographed first dance to “Lucky” by Jason Mraz and it was awesome!  I could tell they practiced it alot.  Lina then had a choreographed dance with her Father to “The Way You Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra and Emerson escorted his Mother to the floor for their dance to “Forever Young” by Rod Stewart.  Lina’s Father welcomed everyone and the salads and entrée’s came out.  During dinner I continued the same mix as cocktails.

 

After dinner we had a longest married couple dance to “Remember When” by Alan Jackson with the winners being at 51 years.  I then opened the floor to everyone with some oldies, top 40 and 80’s that brought about half of the guests out to the floor.

We paused after a while for the toasts and the Simply Cakes cake cutting to “Sugar” by Maroon 5 and then back to dancing to line dances, top 40, salsa, merengue and 80’s.  We paused again shortly for the bouquet toss to “Single Ladies” and then back to dance music until the end of the night.  After their last dance to “Save The Last Dance For Me” by Michael Buble, they had a bubble exit.  What a sweet couple and great group to DJ for.  Thank you Lina & Emerson and congratulations!

Mia & Jonny’s Beautiful Wedding at The Carolina Inn on April 2nd, 2016

I was so excited to DJ Mia & Jonny’s wedding reception at The Historic Carolina Inn on April 2^nd with some of my favorite fellow vendors in Kristen from The Inn, photographer Cara from F8 Photo Studios and planner extraordinaire Stephanie & Lauren from Viva L’Event!  The weather was perfect for their outdoor ceremony with 120 guests.

 

After the ceremony guests made their way inside to the Chancellor’s Ballroom for cocktails and passed hors d’oeuvres.  After some pics were taken by Cara, the wedding party was ready to be introduced and I invited guests to their seats.  The parents and wedding party entered to “Timber” by Ke$ha & Pitbull and Mia and Jonny to “GDFR” by Flo Rida.  They came to the dance floor and had their first dance to “I’ll Be” by Edwin McCain for a couple minutes, then into “Harlem Shake” with the wedding party joining them on the floor for a short group dance.  It was pretty great!  Jonny then welcomed everyone and the salads and entree’s came out.  During dinner I had a mix of soft rock, classic soul and standards playing.

After dinner we had toasts by the Maid Of Honor and Best Man and the cake cutting to “Sugar” by Maroon 5.  Get it?? Mia joined her father on the floor for their dance to “Days Like This” by Van Morrison and Jonny escorted his mother to the floor for their dance to “Nothing Else Matters” by Metallica.  Before opening the floor to everyone we had a longest married couple dance to “You Are The Best Thing” by Ray LaMontagne with the winning couple married 59 years!!  I opened the floor to everyone with some Motown and top 40 that filled it for the next 3 hours.

We paused briefly for the bouquet toss to “Single Ladies” and garter toss to “Pour Some Sugar On Me”, then back to dancing to some current hip-hop and dance music.  We ended the night with “Turn Down For What”.  What a fun night and awesome crowd to DJ for!  Thank you Mia, Jonny, Mary, Cara, Kristen & Stephanie for an amazing night!