A Preston Woodall House Wedding in Benson, NC

I haven’t been at DJ for a wedding at Preston Woodall House in Benson, NC in a while, but always have a blast when I do. The grounds are beautiful and Nick and the staff are wonderful to work with!  

This time I was there for Janet and Jay’s wedding ceremony and reception on April 21st, 2018.  The ceremony was held in the back yard and officiated by secular minister Kenna Covington.. . As the guests arrived I had a mix of classical covers of hard rock songs playing. I think that was Jay’s idea.  Jay, the groomsmen and bridesmaids all entered to 2 cover of “Perfect” by 2 Cellos.  Janet and her father entered to “Hoppipolla” by Sigur Ros.  I love that song!!  After the short ceremony they recessed to “On Top Of The World” by Imagine Dragons.  Kenna invited the 80 guests to the house for cocktails while Terry & Sarah from Carolina MediaStar got some great shots.

After the cocktail hour the doors to the ballroom opened and I left music playing while I lined the wedding party up with lots of help from Nick.  They entered to “Can’t Stop The Feeling” and Janet and Jay came in to loud applause..and screaming..lol.  They had their first dance to “I Wanna Grown Old With You” by Bride & Groom.  Janet’s father welcomed everyone and the appetizers, salads and entrees came out.  The food was all amazing!!  During dinner I had a mix of rock, country, soul and standards playing.  

The cake cutting followed to “Love You Madly” by Cake,  then the the toasts and a fun shoe game hosted by groomsman Teddy Pierce.  We had an anniversary dance after that to “First Day Of My Life” by Bright Eyes.  Love that song too!!  I opened the floor to everyone with some Motown and top 40 and turned on my dance floor lights.  I also had purple uplighting around the room to match the linens.  The floor stayed filled for the next 2.5 hours to top 40, EDM, 90’s and some 80’s.  It was great seeing Janet’s parents out dancing hard to EDM with her college friends!!

We paused for the bouquet toss and the very original garter toss.  I have done over 1,000 weddings and never seen this.  Jay knelt down like he was taking her garter off, then lifted his leg and HE had it on.  She removed it and he threw it.  So great!! We ended the night with “Bye Bye Bye” by N’Sync and a sparkler exit from the front porch.  Thank you so much for everything Janet, Jay & Nick!

Photo courtesy of Carolina MediaStar

A Museum Of Art Post Wedding Party in Raleigh, NC

It’s not often I am a wedding DJ a week after the wedding, but I was for Melissa and Daniel on April 20^that The Museum Of Art in Raleigh NC.

 

It was such a beautiful affair!  They were married the weekend before in Beauford SC with a small intimate ceremony. The next week they had a blow out party at The Museum for 100 friends and family.  The party was in the original building on the bottom floor in the restaurant.  They also had the back patio opened and I had a wireless speaker outside playing the same thing as inside.  I was thrilled to be working with photographer Megan Kerns again!

As the guests arrived they had a catered heavy hors d’oeuvres buffet out and I had a mix of soft rock, classic soul and pop playing.  After a coupe hours the guests started dancing and the floor was soon filled. I played a mix of beach music, Motown, top 40, 90’s and ended with a great 90’s and early 2000’s hip-hop set.  So great!!  I LOVE Ja Rule!!

Congratulations Melissa and Daniel and I can’t wait to play for you again in June at Mary English and Jeff’s wedding!!

Photo courtesy of Megan Kerns Photography

A Mims House Wedding for Tara and Trevor

The Mims House in Holly Springs NC is about as beautiful a venue to be a wedding DJ at as you can get!  I was thrilled to be here for Tara and Trevor’s wedding on April 14^th with planner Priscilla from Orangerie Events! YAY!!

Tara and Trevor had me for their ceremony music and mics and the reception.  As the guests arrived for the ceremony on the front porch of the175 year old house, I had a mix of contemporary love songs playing. The weather was absolutely perfect all night for this outdoor wedding! The bridesmaids came down the aisle to “Canon In D” before Tara and her Father.  Their song was a surprise to Trevor, “From This Moment” by Shania Twain.  It was so sweet!!  After a short ceremony they recessed to “Lost In This Moment”.  The guests were invited to the porch and outdoor patio for cocktails and I played “Whatever It is” as they left.

During the cocktail hour I had a mix of country, classic soul and rock playing. Guests enjoyed passed hors d’oeuvres by Belle’s Catering and refreshments.  After pics were taken by Traci Huffman the wedding party joined the last part of the cocktail hour.  When they were ready I introduced the wedding party to “Can’t Stop The Feeling” and Tara and Trevor to “TNT” by AC/DC.  They came to the outdoor dance floor and had their first dance to “Die A Happy Man”.  Tara’s parents welcomed everyone and her bridesmaid Cassie blessed the meal.  The buffet opened in the house and I continued the mix of country, rock and soul.

After dinner we had the cake cutting to “Today Was A Fairytale” followed by the toasts.  I opened the floor with “Build Me Up Buttercup” that filled it for the next 2.5 hours.  I hated even having to play a couple ballads.  They were dancing really hard!

We ended the night with “Friends In Low Places” and finally “Sweet Caroline”.  Thank you so much for everything Tara, Trevor and Priscilla!!!

A Carolina Inn Wedding for Lauren and Warren

A week after DJing lunch with the Easter Bunny at The Carolina Inn, I was back to be the wedding DJ for Lauren and Warren.

Their ceremony was held at Duke Chapel before guests came over to The Inn for the reception.  The Chapel is just breathtaking, as you can tell by the pic from Thirteenth Moon Photography.  As the 150 guests arrived for the cocktail hour in the hall I had a mix of standards, soft rock and classic soul playing.  When pics were done and some video by Justin from One Love Productions, the doors to the ballroom opened. The guests found their seats with help from Becca and the girls from C and D Events.  I introduced the wedding party to “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” and Lauren and Warren came in for their first dance to “Thinking Out Loud”.  Lauren’s Father welcomed everyone and Reverend Dolinger blessed the meal.

The room looked beautiful with floral arrangements by Bloom Works! The salads came out and the food stations opened shortly. During dinner I had the same mix playing.  After dinner we had the toasts and Catering Works cake cutting to “How Sweet It is”.  After that I opened the floor with some beach music and top 40 that filled it for the next 2.5 hours!  It was so great seeing young and old dancing together to everything from 70’s disco to current hip-hop.

We ended the night with a huge sing a long to “Don’t Stop Believin’” and “Livin’ On A Prayer” before a sparkler exit from the horseshoe driveway.  Thank you so much for everything Lauren, Warren, Chaim and Becca! This wedding was off the hook!!

Photo courtesy of Thirteenth Moon Photography

A Cotton Room Wedding for Brandon and Karl

Brandon and Karl had me as their wedding DJ for both ceremony and reception on April 6^that Durham’s Cotton Room.

 

The ceremony was held on one side of the room with floor to ceiling windows lining the wall.  The other side was floor to ceiling white linens.  It is just beautiful there,  especially with floral arrangements by Petal & Oak! They had music performed by harpist Amy Cortis and I ran mics for their minister and readers.  After the ceremony the guests were invited to the bar for cocktails and passed hors d’oeuvres. During the cocktail hour I had a mix of 80’s & 90’s rock playing mixed with some oldies.

After pics were done by photographer Peter Somers and the room was ready, the white linens opened and I invited the 120 guests to their tables.  I introduced the wedding party to “Celebration”. They took their seats and Karl welcomed everyone.  Brandon’s Father toasted the couple and the food stations opened.  During dinner I played a mix of 70’s through current top 40 and rock.

After dinner they had their first dance to “Thinking Out Loud”followed by the parents dances.  Brandon and her Father danced to “You Are The Sunshine Of My Life” and Karl & his Mother joined them after a minute. Before opening the dance floor we had the Simply Cakes cutting to “Sugar, Sugar” by The Archies.

I opened the floor with some Motown, 70’s and top 40 that people danced to all night.  We ended with a college fav or Brandon and her friends, “Rebecca” by Pat McGee Band.  I LOVE that song and haven’t played in in years!!  Their last dance followed to “A Thousand Years” and a sparkler exit from the front of the building.

Thank you so much Brandon and Karl and congratulations!

Photo courtesy of Mikkel Paige Photography

An Amazing Wedding AT JB Duke Hotel in Durham on March 25th

I never met Debra and Alex until I was the wedding DJ at JB Duke Hotel on their wedding day, but felt like we have been friends forever. They are that nice!  

Their ceremony was held in part of the ballroom and officiated by Reverend Ed Sansbury with music provided by the violin and guitar duo Violet Bell. After the ceremony, the 200 guests made their way to the lobby for more music by Violet Bell while the staff flipped the room and I set up.  This was my first time at JB Duke Hotel and I am absolutely in love with it!!!  

When pics were finished by photographers Rebecca and Brian Mullins (and the Duke game was over), the doors to the ballroom opened and the guests found their seats.  I introduced only Debra and Alex.  They came in to a cover of The Specials “No Wondering Why” and they danced in and continued to on the floor like they do in their kitchen to this song.  They now had what was their second dance as husband and wife to “You Are The Best thing” by Ray LaMontagne.  After that Debra made a toast in honor of her late Father and Alex danced with his Mother.  They had their dance to “Child Of Mine” by Carole King and Debra’s Mother welcomed everyone.  The salads and entrées came out and I had a mix of blues, indie rock and classic rock playing.  

After dinner we had some big group pics taken and the cake cutting to “The Way I Am”.  A Few toasts followed and then the dance floor erupted to “The Hora”.  Nothing like 180 guests doing the Hora within 2 minutes!  After that, some Motown, oldies, 70’s 80’s and top 40 kept them dancing for the next couple hours.  I even got to see Alex’s parents do a few ballroom dances!

We ended the night with “Wagon Wheel” and finally the original recording of “Make You Feel My Love” by Billy Joel.  Thank you so much for everything Debra and Alex and congratulations!!

Photo courtesy of Brian Mullins Photography

A Sweet Southern Wedding At Grand Marquise On Garner

Being a wedding DJ is always rewarding, but when the Bride & Groom are so nice it makes it even better!  Alexis and Graham are just that and I was thrilled to be their DJ on March 24th!

Their ceremony & reception were both held inside of Garner’s Grand Marquise Ballroom.  I provided mics and music for both.  As guests arrived for the ceremony I had a playlist of love songs playing including a few country songs.  The wedding party entered to “Feather” from Forrest Gump and the Flower Girl and Alexis to a classical version of  “La Vie En Rose”.  After a short ceremony by their officiant Dr. Bost they recessed to Coldplay’s “A Sky Full Of Stars”.  He invited guests to the hallway for their cocktail hour while planner Alex from A Noble Events & Design and the staff flipped the room for dinner.  During the cocktail hour I had a mix of country, rock and classic soul playing.

When the room was ready the doors to the ballroom opened again and the 150 guests found their seats.  The arrangements by Brides & Bouquets looked beautiful!  When photographers Brandon and Beth from Southern Love Studios and videographers First To Last Films were ready I introduced the wedding party.  They came in to “Hypnotize” by Biggie and Alexis and Graham entered from the top of the stairs.  There was a loud roar of applause as the came down.  They had their first dance to “Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran, her Father welcomed everyone and Dr Bost blessed the meal.  During dinner I had the same playlist as cocktails playing.

After dinner we had toasts and parents dances.  Alexis and her Father danced to “Daddy” by Abby Anderson.  This is a new Father/Daughter dance and it’s just beautiful.  I’m sure I will be playing this one again!  Graham escorted his Mother to the floor for their dance to “A Song For Mama”.  I opened the floor to everyone with some beach music and Motown that filled it with shaggers and dancers.  Some Top 40, beach, 70’s, 80’s and 90’s kept them dancing for the next 2 hours.  We paused for the cake cutting to “Time Of My Life” from Dirty Dancing then back to dancing until the garter and bouquet toss.  We ended the night with “Closing Time” and a balloon exit from the front of the building.

Thank you so much Alexis, Graham, Alex and your girls!  I had the best time and wish I could have played for a couple more hours!!

Photo courtesy of Southern Love Studios

A Wedding at The Umstead Hotel 45 Years In The Making

As a wedding DJ I love a great love story, and Susan and Mark’s is a really good one!   They met when they were 16 and 17, dated but nothing serious.  Then, started dating again and 20 and 21, but still nothing serious.  But, after 40 years they saw each other again and now on March 23rd it was the right time!

Now in their 60’s it was time for their wedding at The Umstead Hotel.  The ceremony was held inside for the 40 guests and Arioso Strings covered their music for that and the cocktail hour.  After the cocktail hour was over the doors to the salon opened and guests found their seats.  The room looked beautiful with floral arrangements by Watered Garden.  I’m sure photographer Joe Payne got some great shots!

I introduced Susan and Mark to Harry Connick’s instrumental “It Had To be You” and they came in for their first dance to “Devoted To You” by The Everly Brothers.  Her Matron Of Honor said a toast and William Thorne blessed the meal.  The soup, salads and entrees came out and I had a mix of 50’s and 60’s love songs playing.  I even played “The Ballad Of The Green Berets” for Mark and his fellow Green Berets!  

After dinner we had a champagne toast by Mark’s Brother and the cake cutting to “Sugar, Sugar”, then opened the floor with some 50’s and 60’s dance songs and ballads.

Thank you so much for having me as your DJ Susan and Mark and sharing your wonderful love story with me!!

Photo courtesy of Joe Payne Photography