A Pirates Wedding At Melrose Knitting Mill

Alyssa and Drew, both ECU Pirates, had their wedding reception at downtown Raleigh’s Melrose Knitting Mill on August 26^th.  I provided music for the reception on the second floor above Mulino’s, a wonderful Italian Restaurant.

After the early afternoon ceremony at Sacred Heart and a couple hours break, the guests made their way to Melrose Knitting Mill. Their cocktail hour was held at the outdoor patio around a pool at Mulino’s.  The weather was absolutely perfect!  After pics were taken by Corey & Mike from Cor Photography, Alyssa and Drew joined their guests for the rest of the cocktail hour.

The 2^nd floor reception room opened and guests started making their way upstairs with help from Steph with Chad Biggs Events. The room looked beautiful with arrangements by North Raleigh Florist! I introduced the wedding party to “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” and Alyssa & Drew came in for their first dance.  They had their dance to “Nothing Can Change This Love” by Sam Cooke followed by the Parents dances.  Alyssa danced with her Father to “Landslide” and Drew & his Mother to “Humble & Kind”.  Her Father welcomed everyone and her Grandfather gave a very touching speech and blessing.  At 59 years married he had some great advice!  The buffet opened shortly and I had a mix of classic soul, rock and few standards playing.

After dinner we had toasts and opened the floor with some Motown and top 40 that soon filled it for the next 2 hours.  They went hard on the floor!!  My whole table was shaking the whole time! LOL.  We paused for the cake cutting to “You Are The Best Thing” and bouquet & garter toss, then back to dancing until the end of the night.  I ended the night with “Sweet Caroline” and finally a sing a long to the ECU alma matter and finally “Love On Top” by Beyonce.

Thank you Alyssa & Drew and congratulations!  Go Pirates!!

Photo courtesy of Cor Photography

A Fairytale Wedding At Barclay Villa

Melissa and Kyle chose Angier NC’s Barclay Villa for both ceremony and reception.  It is a beautiful venue and looks exactly like a castle!  I was thrilled to play there for their wedding on August 19th!!

As the guests arrived they gathered in the front sitting room until making their way around back for the ceremony.  They took their seats and witnessed the fairytale ceremony in front of a gazebo. The wedding party entered to “All Of My” covered by Daniel Jang.  Melissa and her Father entered to “A Thousand Years” by The Piano Guys.  Minister Glen did an amazing job!  After the ceremony they recessed to “Marry You” by Bruno Mars.  The guests were invited to the pool on the opposite side of the property for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.  I had a mix of rock, soul and standards playing while photographer Carolina MediaStar and videographers Reel Weddings got some shots.

After the cocktail hour, the 100 guests made their way to the 2-story ballroom that looked and smelled amazing with arrangements by Brides and Bouquets.  I left music playing and went upstairs to the billiard room to line the wedding party up with help from their planner, Jeff from At Last Weddings & Events.  They came down the grand staircase to “I Gotta Feelin””.  Melissa and Kyle came down and right into their first dance to “Can’t Help Falling In Love” by Haley Reinhart. The Parents dances followed and Minister Glen blessed the meal.  During dinner I played the same music mix.

After dinner we had the toasts and I opened the floor with a request from Melissa’s 76 year old Grandmother, “Proud Mary” by Tina Turner.  She got right up to dance and guests soon followed.  That was really all it took to keep them dancing all night.  I played a huge mix of oldies, top 40, some 80’s and even a few hip-hop songs for Melissa and her bridesmaids.  We paused for the cake cutting to “Sugar” by Maroon 5 and then an anniversary dance to “Unchained Melody” with winners married 56 years! WOW!!

Back to dancing until the end of the night after a bouquet & garter toss.  I loved seeing her Grandmother dancing all night and a traditional Hawaiian dance performance from her Father’s side of the family. We ended the night with “Over and Over Again” by Nathan Sykes & Ariana Grande before a sparkler exit.  Thank you Melissa and Kyle and congratulations!

Photo courtesy of Carolina MediaStar

James and Alyssa’s Wedding In The Clouds

I was so thrilled to DJ James & Alyssa’s wedding high above downtown Raleigh at The City Club on the 29^th floor of the Wells Fargo Building.  The view is breathtaking through the floor to ceiling windows lining one wall.

The ceremony was held in front of the windows for the 120 guests and officiated by my friend Ed Sansbury.  The Parents & Grandparents entered to “Air On A G String”.  The Groomsmen and Bridesmaids entered to “Canon In D” followed by Alyssa & her Father to “The Bridal March”.  After a short ceremony with a reading by her Uncle they recessed to “Allegro: Spring” from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons.  Ed invited guests to the lobby for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.

During the cocktail hour I had a mix of rock, classic soul and standards playing.  After the room was “flipped” by the staff and pics were taken by photographer Greg Knott, the guests made their way back into the room for dinner and dancing.  I left music playing and went to line the wedding party up with lots of help from planner Laura Strickland.  The room looked and smelled beautiful with arrangements by Tre Bella.

I introduced the Parents to “It Had To Be You” from Harry Connick and the wedding party to “24K Magic”.  Alyssa & James came in to a loud roar and had their first dance to Michael Buble’s “Everything”.  Next, Alyssa danced with her Father to a slowed down version of “Brown Eyed Girl” that I made for her and James & his Mother to “Sweet Baby James”.  Get it??  Her Parents welcomed everyone and her Maternal Grandfather blessed the meal.  During dinner I played the same music as cocktails.

After dinner we had toasts and cake cutting to “How Sweet It Is”.   Before opening the floor to everyone we had an Anniversary dance to “The Way You Look Tonight” with Alyssa’s Grandparents winning.  I started out with some beach music and top 40 that soon filled the floor.  After about an hour came the big surprise to Alyssa and James!  Mr. Wuff from NC State showed up and ran into the room to the Wolfpack fight song.  It caught everyone off guard and was an awesome moment!  He started dancing with Alyssa and the crowd went nuts!  Alyssa & James met at an NC State tailgate so him being here was very special.

After a couple hours of dancing we finally ended the night with “Sweet Caroline” and “Wagon Wheel”.  I invited guests down to the bottom floor for their exit and to take donuts on the way out.  What a fun wedding!  Thank you James & Alyssa and congratulations!

A Thai Wedding Reception at The Carolina Inn

Fon and Colin were married earlier in Bangkok. They live and work in Singapor. They already had one reception in Thaiand, but wanted to have another for their American friends and family at The Carolina Inn in Chapel Hill.  I was a little nervous to play after their DJ there had a crazy karaoke party going on for them!

The cocktail hour was held in the hallway and I had a mix of classic soul, rock and standards playing.  The 160 guests made their way into the ballroom after pictures were taken by photographer Mary McLean. Kathy from Sally Oakley Events did an awesome job getting everyone to their tables.  I introduced the wedding party to “Shape Of You” and Fon and Colin to “Something Just Like This”.  They came to the floor for one of the most special moments I have ever seen at a wedding!  Fon’s Bridesmaid Lalita sang “Thinking Out Loud” while they had their first dance.  It was just beautiful and was one of the highlights of the reception for me.

After that the wedding party took their seats ad Colin welcomed everyone.  His Father and Sister came up and did a mock “Newlywed Game” with them. Ummm, I think they got 1 answer right.  But, it was a lot of fun and you can tell they adore each other!  Maggie Silton blessed the meal and the appetizers and salads came out before the buffet opened.  During dinner I had a mix of love songs playing.

After dinner they showed a video of the wedding in Thailand and then had the toasts and Nantucket Grill cake cutting to “Latch” by Disclosure.  I LOVE that song!  I opened the floor with some Motown but when I mixed into top 40 the floor filled and stayed that way for the next 2 hours.  I played a lot of top 40 / dance music and some 80’s for the older guests. The last half hour was a Fon karaoke party where she was singing along with every song into the mic and passing it around. So great!!  I ended the night with “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “Sweet Caroline”.  But, they weren’t ready to leave yet, so I played “In The Ayer” by Flo Rida before inviting guests to Spanky’s for the after party.

What a fun night and amazing crowd to play for!  Thank you Fon, Colin, Betsy and Kathy and congratulations!

Laura and Matt’s Wedding At Melrose Knitting Mill

I never met Laura and Matt until their wedding day, July 29^th.  They are from New York City and we just talked briefly to go over the timeline prior.  Laura was so excited for her day that she was about to burst!  So great!!

Their cocktail hour was held on the downstairs patio of Mulino’s Italian Kitchen. I had premixed the cocktail hour music with a mix of rock and country.  They LOVE Florida Georgia Line!  After the cocktail hour the guests made their way upstairs for dinner and dancing at Melrose Knitting Mill.  Planner Steph from Chad Biggs Events did a great job getting the 130 guests up stairs.  The room looked beautiful with floral arrangements by Laura’s Aunt Pam with Flowers, By Design.

I introduced the wedding party into the room to “Something Just Like This” by The Chainsmokers. Laura and Matt came in and had their choreographed dance to “Die A Happy Man” by Thomas Rhett.  Laura’s Father welcomed everyone and Barbara Goss blessed the meal.  After dinner we had the toasts and parents dances.  Matt danced with his Mother to “Do I Make You Proud” by American Idol winner Taylor Hicks.  After that Laura and her Father danced to “My Little Girl” I followed that with his favorite song to get everyone on the floor. “Party Rock Anthem!!!!” Yes!!  It filled the floor with young and old and I continued a top 40/EDM mix for 20 minutes before slowing it down.  An anniversary dance followed with the winners being married 57 years.

I opened the floor for a half an hour more before pausing for the Ashley Cake cutting to “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Of Not”.  Always so delicious!!!  They went back to dancing until the end of the night.  I even played “Born To Hand Jive” from Grease to relive Laura’s childhood memories. We ended the night with the last dance to “Wagon Wheel”. I invited everyone downstairs for the sparkler exit.  I can’t wait to see the pics from Brandon at Southern Love Studios and full video from Oak City Films!

Photo courtesy of Souther Love Studios