Alison and Joe’s wedding ceremony and reception were both held in Fuquay Varina at Highgrove Estate and I was thrilled to play for them and their 180 guests on November 24th!
Their ceremony was held in the back overlooking a wooded hill that is just beautiful at this time of year. The rain stopped right before the ceremony. I ran a mic for their officiant and they had a quartet from Arioso Strings provide music for the ceremony and cocktail hour. They always do an amazing job! After a short service the guests were invited into the house and the back patio for cocktails and passed hors d’oeuvres.
After pics were taken by Lauren and David from Red Cardinal Studio and video by Sugar Shack Films, the doors to the ballroom opened. The room looked beautiful with our uplights and floral arrangements by Flowers On Broad Street! I left music playing and went inside the house to line the wedding party up for introductions. I introduced them to “Crazy In Love” and Alison and Joe to an edit I made her of “Diamonds” by Kanye West. They had their first dance to “This Magic Moment” by The Drifters followed by the Parents dances. Alison and her Fathers dance was to “Have I Told You Lately” by Rod Stewart and Joe and his Mothers to “Simple Man”. Her Father welcomed everyone and their minister blesses the meal. The salads came out and the entrees were served family style. During dinner I had a mix of standards, classic soul, soft rock and country music playing.
After dinner we had the toasts and Sweet Memories Cake cutting to “How Sweet It Is”. I invited all the married couples to the floor for an anniversary dance to “The Way You Look Tonight” and then opened the floor to everyone with some Motown and Top 40 that filled it by the end of the first song. For the next hour and a half the floor stayed filled to top 40, 80’s, oldies and a couple slow songs.
We paused for the bouquet toss to “Single Ladies” and garter toss to “Bad To The Bone” before the last dance to “You Are The Best Thing” by Ray LaMontagne. I invited everyone to the front of the house for a sparkler exit and said goodbye to Alison and Joe.
Thank you so much for everything Alison, Joe and Lisa! I had the best time and can’t wait to see you again at the Hurt wedding next September!