A New Years Eve Wedding for Elizabeth and Winston at Forest Hall

After 74 other weddings, 2018 came to a close with Elizabeth and Winston’s epic wedding at Forest Hall in Pittsboro NC on New Years Eve.

When I arrived to set up, the wedding party was outside taking pictures and I could tell that this was going to be an absolute blast!  The ceremony was held on one side of the venue and I was there for mics and music.  They had the cocktail hour before the ceremony.  As the 100 guests arrived I had a mix of standards and indie rock playing.  They enjoyed drinks from both the bar and coffee bar along with some light munchies.  The ceremony was about to get under way and they found their seats.  The Grandparents thru the Bridesmaids entered to “Wouldn’t It Make A Lovely Photograph” by Ray Lamontagne.  Elizabeth entered to “I Get To Love You” by Ruelle.  I LOVE that song!!  After a short service officiated by their friend Thomas that included communion, they recessed to “Weathered” by Jack Garratt. The wedding party went out to the hall to line up for introductions and the guests made their way to the adjoining room for dinner.

After lining the wedding party up with lots of help from planner Chelsy from The Gathering Company, I introduced them to “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)”.  Mr &. Mrs Bob Vance from Vance refrigeration (inside joke), I mean, Elizabeth and Winston came in to loud applause and found their seats at the head table.  They welcomed everyone and her Father blessed the meal.  The City Barbeque buffet opened and I continued a standards and indie rock playlist.

After dinner we had the toasts and I invited everyone back to the main room for the first dances.  They had their first dance to the acoustic version of “Depth Over Distance” by Ben Howard followed by a dual Parents dance. Their Parents dance was to “What A Wonderful World” then came an anniversary dance with the winners at 38 years married.  I opened the floor to everyone with some Motown and top 40 that filled it for the next 2.5 hours.  I played lots of 70’s, 80’s, top 40 and some Latin & 2000’s hip-hop.  The Duck Donuts station opened for the last hour as did the mac and cheese station.  YUM!!  

We did the New Years countdown and sang Auld Lang Syne before ending the night with “Candy Shop” by 50 Cent and a glowstick exit. I can’t wait to see the pics of that by Kathleen from Amelya Jayne Photoghraphy!

Thank you so much Elizabeth, Winston and Chelsy!!  I couldn’t have had a better time celebrating New Years Eve!!

A WinMock Wedding For Brittney and Nick in Bermuda Run

Brittney and her family used us back when her Sister Katie was married and I’m so glad we were asked to play for them again! This time around we were at WinMock at Kinderton near Winston-Salem on December 29^th, 2018!!  

The ceremony and reception were both held in the Winmock Barn and I was there to provide mics and music all night.  The ceremony was on the second floor.  As the 120 guests arrived I had a mix of classical pop playing.  The ceremony music was all from the Father Of The Bride Soundtrack (so appropriate!!!).  The Grandparents & Parents entered to “Snow Scene” and Bridesmaids to “Canon In D”.  Brittney and her Father entered to “End Credits” from the soundtrack.  During their service that was officiated over by Pastor Dave McIntosh, they had communion while her Mother sang to an instrumental of “The Prayer” by Celine Dion. She did an amazing job!!  After the ceremony they recessed to “End Credits” and the guests were invited downstairs for the cocktail hour by planner Melissa from Relish Design Company.  

During the cocktail hour I had a mix of beach music, country and soft rock playing.  While the staff flipped the room for dinner, photographer Aura Marzouk and videographers Sugar Shack Films got some shots. After the room was ready the guests were invited back upstairs.  I introduced the wedding party to “Best Of My Love” by The Emotions and Brittney and Nick to “Signed, Sealed, Delivered”.  They had their first dance to “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran.  Brittney’s Father joined her on the floor for their dance to “Isn’t She Lovely” and Nick and his Mother to “You’ll Be In My Heart”.  Her Father welcomed everyone and Pastor Dave blessed the meal.  The salads and entrees came out and I continued the same music mix as cocktails.

After dinner we had the Maxie B’s cake cutting to “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)” followed by the toasts.  I opened the floor to everyone with some beach music and 70’s funk, then top 40 that brought young and old to the floor to dance.

We paused for the bouquet toss to “Ladies Night”, garter removal to “Kiss” by Prince and garter toss to “Sharp Dressed Man”, then back to dancing.  We ended with “Time Of My Life” from Dirty Dancing, but I wasn’t ready to end yet.  So, some sing a long rock songs from the 80’s kept them singing and dancing until the glow stock exit from the front of Winmock.  

Thank you Brittney, Nick, Tammy and Melissa.  I was thrilled and honored to play for you!!

A Melrose Knitting Mill Wedding For Meghan and Dustin

My first wedding of the last weekend of the year was for Meghan and Dustin at downtown Raleigh’s Melrose Knitting Mill on December 28^th.  It was such a great way to start the end of the year!

The ceremony was held on one side of the room and I was there to run a mic for their officiant Kayelily and also all the music. Their Mothers entered to a classical version of ”Stand By Me”, The Groomsmen to “Perfect” by The Piano Guys and Bridesmaids to their cover of “Begin Again”. Meghan entered to The Piano Guys cover of “Rewrite The Stars” from The Greatest Showman movie. After the ceremony, they recessed to “Home” by Phillip Phillips and Kayelily invited the 85 guests downstairs for the cocktail hour.  The staff flipped the room for the reception and photographer Katherine from George Creatives got some shots.

After pics were done and the room was set, the guests came back upstairs for dinner and dancing.  I left music playing and lined the wedding party up for intros with lots of help from planner Blake from Melrose.  I introduced them to “Can’t Stop The Feeling” by Justin Timberlake.  Meghan and Dustin came in to loud applause and had their first dance to “Can’t Help Falling In Love” by Kina Grannis.  Meghan danced with her Father to “I Loved Her First” and Dustin and his Mother then Stepmother danced to “Never Alone”.  Meghan’s Father welcomed everyone and blessed the meal. The salads came out and the buffet opened shortly.  During dinner I had a mix of rock, classic soul and standards playing.

After dinner we had the toasts and Simply Cakes cutting to “How Sweet It is”.  I opened the floor while the staff served the cake with some Motown and Top 40 that filled it for the next 2 ½ hours.  We paused to honor Dustin and all the other military past and present with “The Ballad of The Green Berets”, then back to dancing.  I even played “Rhinestone Cowboy” for their Grandmothers.  I still LOVE that song!!

We ended the night with “New York, New York” before sending everyone outside for a sparkler exit. Thank you so much Meghan, Dustin and Blake!  I had a blast!!

A Carolina inn Wedding in Chapel Hill for Michelle and Eric

Michelle and Eric chose Chapel Hill’s beautiful Carolina Inn for both wedding ceremony and reception on December 16^th.  I was thrilled to be there for both!

When they told me the wanted lots of swing music, I knew I was going to LOVE being their DJ!  The ceremony was held in the courtyard behind the main lobby.  They had a heated tent to keep everyone warm and I was set up in there.  I ran mics for their minister (Michelle’s Uncle), Eric and a reader as well as all the music.  As the 120 guests arrived I had a mix of classical pop songs playing.  Her Uncle entered and asked everyone to silence their phones and the ceremony was under way.  Their Mother’s entered to an instrumental of “Perfect” and the wedding party to an instrumental of Ingrid Michaelson’s cover of “Can’t Help Falling In Love”. Michelle and her Father entered to “Canon In D”.  After the service that included a reading and hand-written vows, they recessed to “Joy To The World”.  Planner Betsy from McLean Events ushered everyone to hallway outside the Old Well Room for cocktails and passed hors d’oeuvres. 

During the cocktail hour I had a mix of standards and swing playing. After pics were taken by Michelle’s cousin/photographer Kenzie from Hart Films, the doors to the ballroom opened and I went to line the wedding party up with help from Betsy.  I introduced them to “Crazy In Love” and Michelle and Eric came in for their first dance to “L-O-V-E” by Nat King Cole.  One of my favorite songs ever! After that I opened the floor to everyone with “Runaround Sue”, “Brown Eyed Girl” and “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” that filled it for 20 min or so before we broke for dinner. Her Father welcomed everyone, her Uncle blessed the meal and the salads and entrees came out. During dinner I played more standards and swing.

After dinner we had lots of toasts and the cake cutting to “Sugar” by Maroon 5.  She joined her Father on the floor for their dance to “Isn’t She Lovely”. Eric escorted his Mother to the floor next for their dance to “How Sweet It Is”.  I opened the floor to every again with some 70’s and 80’s that filled it.  We paused for the bouquet toss to “Single Ladies” and an anniversary dance to “Always and Forever” by Luther Vandross.  This was so special because it was her parents wedding song!  Back to dancing until the end of the night to more 80’s sing a longs and some 2000’s hits.

We ended the night with “Save The Last Dance” by The Drifters.  I invited everyone outside for a sparkler exit and when the room as empty, Michelle and Eric had one more intimate private dance to “Better Together”.  I love when couples do this so much!!

Thank you Michelle, Eric, Betsy and Kristen!!  I LOVED playing this wedding!!

Photos courtesy of Hart Films

An NC State Wedding for Courtney and Tyler

Courtney and Tyler are HUGE Wolfpack fans, so of course they had their ceremony and reception at Park Alumni Center on NC State’s centennial campus! I HAD to wear my NC State cufflinks and red paisley tie for their wedding on December 15th.

The ceremony was held in the main ballroom in front of one of the fireplaces decorated with gorgeous flowers by Dogwood Tree Floral Design. The oval room is already beautiful with marble floors.  As the 85 guests arrived I had a playlist of Christmas songs playing by Trans-Siberian Orchestra. The Parents entered to “Jesu, Joy Of Man’s Desiring” and wedding party to “Bella’s Lullabye”.  Courtney and her Father entered to an edit I made of “Christmas Canon”.  After a short service they recessed to an edit I made them of “Christmas Eve/Sarajevo” by Trans-Siberian Orchestra.  Their minister invited everyone to the lobby for cocktails and I had a mix of classic rock and country playing.

After pics were taken by Krysta from Six Foot Photography and the room had been flipped for the reception, they guests were invited back inside by planner extraordinaire Sally Oakley. I introduced the wedding party to “Don’t Let me Down” by The Chainsmokers and Courtney & Tyler came in for their first dance to an edit I made of “Like The Rain” by Clink Black. After the first dance, her Father joined her for their choreographed dance to a medley I made them that started with “Sister Christian” then into Skynyrd, Lil Jon and Nantucket.  It was so great and caught everyone off guard!! Great job!!  Tyler danced with his Mother to “Simple Man”, her Father welcomed everyone, her Uncle gave a toast and their minister blessed the meal. During dinner was more country and classic rock.

 

After dinner I opened the floor for a short time for the kids then paused for the cake cutting. After the cake cutting a surprise guests arrived to join in the dancing on the floor. NC State mascot Mr Wufcame from the lobby and got tons of selfies and high fives! He joined them on the floor to dance for an hour. There was even a dance off between tables 5 & 6.  I think it was decided as a tie. We had the bouquet toss to “Lady Marmalade” then back to dancing to some current hip-hop before the last song.  They had a last dance to “Wagon Wheel” before I invited everyone to the front for a sparkler exit.  As they were leaving I played “Fly Away” by Lenny Kravitz.

Thank you Courtney, Tyler and Sally!  I had a blast!!

A Rose Hill Wedding for Reecha and Heath

I was so excited to finally be DJing Reecha and Heath’s wedding at Rose Hill in Nashville, NC on December 8^th! They were originally supposed to have their wedding in September, but Hurricane Florence had other plans for the day.

Their ceremony was held inside Nathan Hall and I ran a mic for Reverend Kayelily Middleton and all the music. The room looked gorgeous with floral arrangements over the fireplace.  As the 200 guests arrived I had a mix of contemporary love songs playing. When the ceremony was about to begin, Kayelily entered and instructed the guests to silence their phones.  The Parents entered to “Setembro” by Quincy Jones.  The Bridesmaids entered to “A Thousand Years” and Reecha to “Perfect” by Andre Soueid.  After a short service that included a blending of the sand with all 5 of their kids, they recessed to “Happy”.  Kayelily invited guests to the Manor House next door for cocktails and passed hors d’oeuvres. During the cocktail hour I had a mix of rock, R&B and standards playing.

After the room was flipped and pics and video were taken by Southern Love Studios and Morgan Scott Films, planners Jennifer and Nicole from Vision Events invited guests back to Nathan Hall for the reception. I left music playing and went to line the wedding party up.  I introduced the Parents, flower girl and ring bearer to ”Can’t Stop The Feeling” and wedding party to “Forever” by Chris Brown. Reecha and Heath came in to the panjabi hit “Kala Chashma”.  They danced from one end of the room to the other and then had their 2^nddance as husband and wife to “Every Time I Close My Eyes” by Babyface.  I love that song!!!  Heath danced with his Mother after that to “Unforgettable” and Reecha danced with all 5 kids to “Mama” by Boyz II Men.  So sweet!!! Heath welcomed everyone and the youngest son, Braedon, blessed the meal. During dinner I had a mix of rock, reggae and R&B playing.  At the end of dinner a guests preformed an Indian love song karaoke that got people dancing.  

After dinner we had toasts and a cake cutting with a birthday announcement for Reecha’s daughters 21^stbday along with 5 others . Before opening the floor to everyone Braedon, his brother Bryce and a few other boys did a dance routine to “Fortnite Rap Battle” and one of Reecha’s bridesmaids along with 4 other ladies did a dance routine that started with a Celia Cruz song and ended with J. Lo.  I mixed into “Suavemente” and a couple India dance songs that filled the floor!!  It was so great mixing all different styles of music together and keeping everyone dancing. Reecha’s daughter Chelsea even sang her favorite song “U Got It Bad” by Usher to surprise her!

We ended the night with “Don’t Stop The Party” by Pitbull before a sparkler exit.  Thank you so much Reecha, Heath, Nicole, Jennifer and Walter. I had the best time and so glad I was able to play for you!!

A Wakefield Barn Wedding For Melissa and Bradley

There is nothing better than a beautiful barn wedding, and Melissa and Brad’s wedding at The Historic Wakefield Barn in Wake Forest, NC on December 2^nd was no exception.

The ceremony was held on the top floor of the barn and I provided mics and music.  As the 160 guests arrived I had a mix of classical covers of contemporary songs playing.  The Grandparents through the Groomsmen entered to the Christian rock song “Come Away” and The Bridesmaids and Melissa to “Our Song Will Be”.  After a short service that included two bridesmaids leading a sing-a-long while playing guitar to two Christian rock songs, the wedding party recessed to “No Matter Where You Are” by Us The Duo.  Their officiant, Jessie, invited guests downstairs for a social hour where I had a playlist of indie rock and Christian rock playing. 

While photographer Lindsey Cash and videographers Twenty-One Films got some shots of the wedding party and the staff flipped the room for dinner, I set up my lights. The room was ready and looked beautiful with floral arrangements by Expressions Of Love.  I left music playing and went to line the wedding party up for intros with lots of help from the Barn’s Blake.  I introduced them all to “Born To Be Yours” by Kygo and Melissa and Brad had their first dance to “Heaven’s Knife” by Josh Garrels.The wedding party took their seats and Melissa and her Father had their dance to “Daughters”.  After that Brad and his Mother had their dance to “I Wish” by Heather Headley.  Melissa’s Father welcomed everyone and her Godfather blessed the meal which included a poem he read at her parents wedding.  So sweet and special!!  The salads came out and shortly the buffet opened. During dinner I played more soft rock and Christian rock.  

 

After dinner we had the toasts and opened the floor to everyone with “Boogie Shoes”.  It filled the floor in minutes and kept them dancing until the Simply Cakes cutting to “How Sweet It Is”.  Right back to dancing and a packed floor until the last dance to “That’s Amore” by Dean.  They made a huge circle around Melissa and Brad during this song and everyone sang it at the top of their lungs.  It was one of my favorite moments of the night (there were many!!).  After the last dance I invited everyone outside for a sparkler exit.

Thank you Melissa, Brad and Blake.  I had an absolute blast!!

A Sutherland Wedding for Carrie and Dathan

Even thought it was a little rainy for Carrie and Dathan’s wedding at The Sutherland in Wake Forest, NC on December 1^st, I was thrilled and honored to be there!

The ceremony was held in the side walled garden that was covered with a beautiful clear top tent.  I was there to play music and run a mic for their friend, Matt who was their officiant.  As the 100 guests arrived I had a mix of contemporary love songs playing.  The wedding party entered to “Where Are You Christmas” by The Piano Guys and Carrie and her Father to their cover of “A Thousand Years”.  After a short service that included a unity candle, they recessed to “In Case You Didn’t Know” by Brett Young.  This is one of my favorite country songs!  The guests were invited to the reception hall for cocktails while pictures and video were taken by photographer Joe Payne and Twenty-One Films.

During the cocktail hour I had a mix of soft rock and country playing.  The room looked beautiful with floral arrangements by Embellished Blooms. After pics were taken I went in the house to line the wedding party up with lots of help from Gina & Lindsay from A Southern Soiree.  I introduced the wedding party to “Bring ‘Em Out” by T.I. and Carrie & Dathan to an edit I made them of “All Of The Lights” by Kanye.  They came in to loud applause and had their first dance to “Yours” by Russell Dickerson. Carrie’s Father welcomed everyone and Matt blessed the meal.  The Rocky Top food stations opened and I played more rock and country during dinner.

After dinner we had toasts and cake cutting to “You Make It Easy” and sang “Happy Birthday” to Dathan’s Father who was celebrating his Bday that day.  The Parents dances followed while the staff served the cake.  Carrie & her Father danced to “My Little Girl” and Dathan and his Mother to “My Wish”.  I opened the floor to everyone with some Motown and top 40 that soon filled it for the rest of the night.  I played lots of hip-hop, top 40 and a few 80’s songs while guests enjoyed cake and the Andia’s Homemade Ice Cream station.

We ended the night with a last dance to “You Make It easy” (yes, the cake cutting song) before sending everyone out with Lindsay and Gina for a sparkler exit.  Thank you Carrie, Dathan, Linday, Gina (and Andia for the ice cream!!!).  I had the best time!!