A Merrimon Wynne Wedding On St Patrick’s Day

I was first a wedding DJ for Laura and Nissan in 2015 when they attended a friends wedding  I did.  It was so awesome that that couple (Meaghan and Gordon) were in this wedding party at The Merrimon Wynne!!

I was there for Laura and Nissan’s ceremony and reception.  The ceremony was held on the side lawn facing the carriage house. I ran mics for their officiant, Father Christopher, Nissan and two readers.  Guitarist Matthew Kanon handled the music and it’s always a pleasure to hear hi play!  After the ceremony the 200 guests were invited into the house for cocktails and passed hors d’oeuvres.  During the cocktail hour I had a mix of indie rock and dance playing.

After pics were taken by Blue Barn Photography and video by Twenty-One Films the guests were invited into the carriage house for dinner by planner Stephanie from Viva L’Event.  I lined the wedding party up with Stephanie and got them ready for intros.  The wedding party entered to “My Type” by Saint Motel and lined up n front of my table. Laura and Nissan danced in to loud applause and had now their second dance as husband and wife to “Sea Of Love” by Lily & Madeleine. Her Father welcomed everyone and Father Christopher blessed the meal.  The salads and entrees came out by Donovan’s Dish and I started another indie rock playlist.

Towards the end of dinner we had the toasts and they had a private cake cutting with just their parents and grandparents.  The parent’s dances followed back in the carriage house.  Laura and her Father danced to “I Will Be There” by Odessa.  Nissan and his Mother’s dance was next to “Forever Young” by Rihannon & Iron & Wine.  I opened the floor to everyone with “Uptown Funk” and it instantly filled!  It was just crazy !! For the next 2 hours the floor was filled to EDM, Hip-Hop, a few 80’s songs and remixes, and some mid 2000’s hits.

We ended the night with the Wave Racer remix of “All My Friends” by Snakehips before sending everyone to the front for a sparkler exit.  Thank you so much Laura, Nissan and Stephanie!!  This was a St. Patrick’s Day I will never forget!

A Photographers Wedding at The Merrimon Wynne In Raleigh

It is such a huge honor to be asked by a professional photographer to be her wedding DJ!  Sarah and Clint had me provide music and mics for their ceremony and reception on March 10^th at Merrimon Wynne in downtown Raleigh.

The ceremony has held on the side lawn of Merrimon Wynne and faced the side porch of the house.  As the guests found their seats I had a playlist of classical music playing.  The Bridesmaids and Sarah walked down the aisle to “A River Flows In You” by Robin Goldsby.  They recessed to an instrumental of “White Dress” by Ben Rector.  Their officiant John Muller invited guests into the house for the cocktail hour and I had a mix of rock, country, classic soul and standards playing.

After the cocktail hour planner / Bridesmaid Stephanie Shaul and her staff invited the 175 guests into the carriage house for dinner and dancing.  After photographer  Erica Serrano and videographers Charis Weddings were in place it was time for introductions.  The room looked beautiful with floral arrangements by Bowerbird Flowers!  I introduced the wedding party to “Feel So Close” by Calvin Harris and Sarah and Clint came in for their first dance.

They danced to “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran and her parents welcomed everyone and blessed the meal.  The Beau Catering food stations opened shortly and I went into a dinner mix of country, rock, classic soul and standards.  After dinner we had the toasts and then came the dancing!!

Before opening the floor to everyone we had the parents dances.  Sarah and her father danced to “My Little Girl” by Tim McGraw.  Clint escorted his mother to the floor for their dance to “The Man You’ve Become”.  I opened the floor with “Dancing In The Moonlight” by Toploader that filled it with shaggers and dancers. After that some Motown and top 40 kept it filled for the next 2 hours.

We paused for the cake cutting to “I Choose You” then back to dancing until the bouquet toss to “Pretty Girl Rock”.  It was an awesome dance floor packed with young and old all night and some great dance moves going on.  We ended the night with “Shout” from Animal House before exiting from the front of the house.

Thank you so very much Sarah, Clint and Stephanie!  I had the best time playing for you!!

Photo courtesy of Erica Serrano Photography

The Cotton Room Welcomes Vietnam For A Wedding

Hilary and Minh had both their ceremony and reception at Durham’s Cotton Room and I was honored to be their wedding DJ.

Their wedding ceremony was held in the middle of the room and surrounded by white linens and a backdrop made of white paper flowers.  It was so beautiful!  Their music was performed by pianist Michael from Save The Date Music and he did an amazing job!  Minister Katherine Edwards held the service.  I always love working with her!  They also had an interpreted for the guests from Vietnam and streamed it live for those who could not make it.  After the ceremony the 140 guests made their way to the cocktail hour while the staff flipped the room for dinner and dancing.

During the cocktail hour I had a mix of standards, R&B and acoustic rock playing.  Photographer Hung Phung got some great pics of the wedding party in front of the white paper flower wall and also outside during the cocktail hour.  When pics were done and the room was set, the white linens opened and the guests found their seats for dinner.

I introduced Hilary’s Parents along with the wedding party to the Alesso remix of “Something Just Like This” by Chainsmokers.  Hilary and Minh were introduced to “Symphony” by Clean Bandit as they made their way to the head table.  Her Father welcomed everyone and the salads and entrees came out.  During dinner I played the same playlist as cocktails.

After dinner we had several toasts and the dances.  Their first dance was to “The Way You Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra followed by the Father/Daughter dance to “Daughters” by John Mayer.  Minh danced with his Grandmother to “Because You Loved Me” by Celine Dion.  After that we had the cake cutting to “Sugar” by Maroon 5 but the guests couldn’t wait to hit the floor so started dancing.  I had 50 people dancing during the cake cutting!  So great!!  That never happens.  After that I mixed into “Uptown Funk” that filled it for the rest of the night.  We paused for the bouquet toss to “Diva” and then back to dancing to some EDM, Hip-Hop and a few K-Pop song.

We ended the night with a shirtless groom on top of his buddies shoulders dancing to “Marry You” by Bruno Mars and a sparkler exit from the main floor.  Thank you so so much Hilary and Minh and congratulations!!

A Picture Perfect Wedding At The Angus Barn Pavilion

Paige and Bryan had both their wedding ceremony and reception at The Angus Barn Pavilion on an absolute perfect weather day!  I was there to be their wedding DJ for both ceremony and reception on February 24th.

The ceremony was held at the pond for the over 300 guests.  As they found their seats I had some light classical music playing.  The Grandparents and Parents entered to “Air from Water Music” and the Bridesmaids to “Air On A G String”.   Paige and her Father entered to “Canon In D”.  After a short service by minister Owen Barrow, they recessed to “Dog Days Are Over”.  What a great song!!!  The guests were invited to the cocktail hour by minister Owen. 

During the cocktail hour I had a mix of standards, soft rock and classic soul playing.  The wedding party and Paige and Bryan were taken around the beautiful grounds for pics and video by Philip Herndon and Big Dog Little Bed.  The Classic Carolina Photobooth was open for guests to get pics taken also.  After the cocktail hour the guests were invited in to the pavilion for dinner and dancing by planner Kathy from Sally Oakley Weddings & Events.  The room looked beautiful with floral arrangements by English Garden.

I introduced the wedding party to “Bring ‘Em Out” by T.I. and Paige and Bryan came in and to the floor for their first dance.  They danced to “You’re Still The One” by Shania Twain followed by the parents dances.  Paige and her Father dance to “I Loved Her First” by Heartland and Bryan and his Mother were next.  He picked their song from a movie they watched hundreds of times when he was a child.  So special!!  So, they danced to the theme to “Homeward Bound”.  Paige’s Father welcomed everyone and blessed the meal.  The salads and entrees came out and I continued the same music mix as cocktails.

After dinner we had the toasts and cake cutting to “How Sweet It Is”. I opened the floor to everyone with some Motown and top 40 that filled in instantly.  For the next couple hours I played top 40 oldies, 80’s sing a longs and even some Blink 182 & Jimmy Eat World!!  We paused for the bouquet toss to “Single Ladies” and then back to dancing.  We ended the night with “Sweet Caroline” by they weren’t ready to leave for the after party at Good Fellows yet, so I played “Shout”.  After that they made their way outside for a sparkler exit before boarding the buses for Chapel Hill.

Thank you so much Paige, Bryan, Mr & Mrs Purcell and Kathy!!  I had a blast playing for you all!  Also, a shout out to a past couple of mine who were there as guests, Amy & Pat Meiburg!!  So great seeing you both again.

Photo courtesy of Herndon Weddings

A Wedding Reception High Above Downtown Raleigh

Jean and Brad’s wedding reception was held at The City Club on the 29^th floor of the Wachovia Building in downtown Raleigh and I was thrilled to be their wedding DJ!

The ceremony was held at Edenton Street Methodist Church that afternon.  After the ceremony the 130 guests made their way to the City Club for the reception.  The cocktail hour was held in the front bar area.  After pics & video were taken by Renee Sprink and Twenty-One Films the ballroom opened and guests found their way inside. Jean and Brad were the only ones to be introduced to “I Gotta Feelin’”.  They came in to loud applause and right to the dance floor for their choreographed first dance to “Fly Me To The Moon”.  They did a great job! As it ended I invited everyone to the food stations and went into a dinner mix of love songs.

After dinner we had an anniversary dance to “The Way You Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra with the winners married 51 years.  I opened the floor to everyne with some beach music and oldies that filled it for the next 2 hours.  After about 30 minutes of dancing we paused for the cake cutting to “I Found Love (Cindy’s Song)” by The Winans, then back to dancing to lots of 70’s, 80’s and some current top 40.

I ended the night with “Sweet Caroline” before sending everyone downstairs for a sparkler exit. I had so much fun playing for everyone there and working with some of my favorite vendors!  Congratulations Jean and Brad and thank you so much for everything!