A Classy Wedding at Durham’s Bay 7

I never met Sara or Gregory until their wedding day, but was thrilled to be their DJ!  I knew they didn’t want the typical cheesy wedding, which is not my thing either.

The Wedding Ceremony

Their wedding ceremony was held on the 2^nd floor of Bay 7.  The 170 guests arrived and they had a live pianist and trumpeter providing music.  I ran a mic for one of my favorite ministers Barbara Lodge as well as for the 2 readers.  After the ceremony, the guests made their way downstairs for the social hour. The room looked beautiful designed by planners Erin & Giggles (Tia) from Erin McLean Events!   They had floral arrangements by Tre Bella and lighting by Get Lit. 

The Introductions and First Dance

During the cocktail hour I had a mix of soft rock, classic soul and standards playing.  After pics were taken by Robin & Stacy from Robin Lin Photography I invited the guests to their seats and went back upstairs to line up the wedding party.  They came down the stairs to “Marry You” and Sara & Greg came down to thunderous applause for their first dance.  They danced to a cover of “Shut Up & Dance” by Anchor + Bell.  I had never heard this version but I may like it better than the original!  They took their seats and Sara’s Father welcomed everyone followed by Greg’s Grandfathers blessing of the meal.  The salads and entrées came out and I played indie rock & classic soul during dinner. Angel and the staff at Bay 7 are always amazing at getting dinner right out!

The Dancing

After dinner we had the toasts and Ashley Cake cutting to “I and Love and You” by Avett Brothers.  The cake was on a beautifully hand painted floral tablecloth made just for this wedding.  After that Sara danced with her Father to “Walk With You” by Edwin McCain and Greg & his Mother to “Bendita Tu Luv” by Mana.  I opened the floor with some Motown and top 40 that filled it within 1 minute.  The Zim Zoom photo booth opened and I invited everyone to sign the guest book. 

We paused briefly for the Anniversary dance to “The Way You Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra.  Before opening the floor again, we had the bouquet toss to “Crazy In Love” and garter toss to “Love Shack”.    I ended the night with some sing a longs that had everyone in the room on the floor singing “Sweet Caroline”, “Piano Man” and finally “Wagon Wheel” with everyone holding glow sticks.  Sara and Greg made their way up the stairs and waved goodbye to everyone.  What a fun wedding!!!

DJ Randy Bennett  www.bunndjcompany.com/RandyB

A Downtown Raleigh Wedding at Merrimon-Wynne

I was thrilled for Jarvis & Meredith’s wedding in downtown Raleigh at The Merrimon-Wynne House on April 21st!  They are such a wonderful couple and so happy together!

The Wedding Ceremony

The ceremony was held on the lawn under a huge tree.  The weather was perfect!  As the 160 guests arrived I had a mix of R&B and rock love songs playing.  The grandparents and parents came down the aisle to “Endless Love” by Diana Ross & Lionel Richie.  Jarvis & his Groomsmen were next to walk the aisle to “All Of Me”.  The Bridesmaids followed to “Wonderful Tonight” by Vitamin String Quartet and finally Meredith & her Father to “A Thousand Years” by The Piano Guys.  After a short ceremony by officiant Scott Simmons, the wedding party recessed to “Love On Top”. The guests made their way in the house for cocktails and passed hors d’oeuvres.

The Introductions & First dance

After pics & video were taken photographer Kelly Bledsoe & Two Suits Films the guests were invited into the carriage house where I was ready to go.  I introduced the wedding party to “Can’t Stop The Feeling” and our newly married couple to “That’s What I Like”.  They came in and had their first dance to “Can’t Let Go” by Anthony Hamilton.  They took their seats and Meredith danced with her Father to an acoustic version of  The Allman Brothers song “Soulshine” covered by Warren Haynes.  After their dance her Father welcomed everyone and blessed the meal.  The Rocky Top Catering buffet opened after salads were served and I had a mix of R&B and rock playing.

The Dancing 

Towards the end of dinner Meredith & Jarvis snuck in the house for a private Simply Cakes cutting with their parents and grandparents.  When they were done they came back in the carriage house for the toasts.  I opened the floor with an anniversary dance to “Let’s Stay Together” and then to everyone with some R&B that filled t for the next 1 ½ hours.  We paused for the bouquet toss to “PYT” and garter toss to “Blurred Lines”.  “The Wobble” brought everyone back out to the floor and they stayed there till the last dance to “Wagon Wheel” by Darius.  I sent everyone to the front of the house for a sparkler exit to end the night.

DJ Randy Bennett  www.bunndjcompany.com/RandyB

Rich & Jennifer’s Wedding At Washington Duke Inn

After a chance meeting on a flight, Jennifer and Rich’s trip to the wedding alter started. I was honored to provide music for their ceremony and reception at the Washington Duke Inn on Good Friday.

The ceremony was held inside and the walls were draped with white linens.  As guests arrived I had a mix of light classical music playing.  Rich walked down the aisle to “Trumpet Voluntary” and the bridesmaids to “Bella’s Lullaby”.  Jennifer and her Father entered to George Winston’s version of “Canon In D”.  After a short blessing by Reverend Luffy, singer Beverly Kain sang “How Great Thou Art” acapella.  It was just beautiful!  After the ceremony that included a reading and “I Believe In You and Me” (again by Beverly) during the unity candle, they recessed to “The Wedding March”.  While pics were taken by Steve Coad from Simply Photos & video by David Spector, the 100 guests made their way out back for the social hour.  I had a mix of soft rock, classic soul and standards playing.

After the cocktail hour, the doors to the ballroom opened and everyone found their seats.  Jennifer’s Father welcomed everyone and blessed the meal. During dinner I had a mix of classical and classic jazz playing.  After dinner we had a series of toasts and then their first dance to “Come Away With Me” by Norah Jones.  Jennifer danced with her Father to “What A Wonderful World” and Rich and his oldest Sister did a mean cha cha to “I Want It That way”.  I opened up the floor to everyone then and it filled instantly to Motown & oldies, top 40 and lots of 70’s music.

We paused for the cake cutting to “Top Of The World” by The Carpenters then they were surprised with an adorable 6 year old flower girl (Lydia’s) karaoke version of “From This Moment” by Shania Twain.  She did an amazing job and totally surprised everyone!  She had practiced it during singing lessons she had since January just for this wedding and you could tell.  After that I opened the floor again til the end of the night and last dance to “Could I Have This Dance” by Anne Murray.

What a fun wedding and wonderful couple to DJ for!

An NC Plantation Wedding At Highgrove Estate

Dana & Mike chose Fuquay-Varina’s Highgrove Estate for a perfect Saturday evening wedding.  I was thrilled to DJ again for Mike’s family.  I had DJd his sisters wedding in 2015 where he served as the officiant.  

The ceremony was held in the back looking over a pond with a wooded hill in the background.  Dana’s brother served as their officiant and they had a 4 piece bluegrass band provide music.

After the ceremony, the 130 guests made their way to the back patio for cocktails and passed hors d’oeuvres.  They also enjoyed the Classic Carolina Photobooth. During the cocktail hour I had a mix of country, soft rock & standards playing. Two Shilling Photography got some great shots of the wedding party!  After they were done the doors to the ballroom opened and guests made their way to their seats.  The room looked beautiful with floral arrangements by Springwell Gardens.

I introduced the wedding party to “Can’t Stop The Feeling” by Justin Timberlake and they came in and lined up in front of the sweetheart table.  Dana & Mike came in and right to the floor for their first dance to “Dancing Shoes” by Green River Ordinance.  It was so sweet, they were singing it to each other like they were the only ones in the room.  After their dance Dana & Mike’s Fathers welcomes everyone and Mike’s stepfather blessed the meal.  The salads came out and the buffet in the house opened shortly.  During dinner I had the same playlist as cocktails playing.

After dinner we had the parents dances to “Lullabye” by Billy Joel and “You’re Gonna By” by Reba.  An anniversary dance followed to “Everything” by Michael Buble with Dana’s Grandparents winning at 65 years married!  I then played their wedding song “Body & Soul” by Tony Bennett for them to continue dancing.  So sweet!!  I opened the floor with some Motown and top 40 that instantly filled it.  I knew it was going to be great from the past wedding!  We paused after a while for the toasts and cake cutting to “Sweetest Devotion” by Adele.  A line dance filled the floor again till the end of the night and last dance to “Hold On” by Wilson Phillips.  They made their sparkler exit from the front porch to “Something Just Like This” by Coldplay.

What a fun night and great to see some old friends again!  Congratulations Dana & Mike!

Photo courtesy of Two Shillings Photography