A Melrose Knitting Mill Wedding For Lindsay and Stephen

I was so excited to play for Lindsay and Stephen at Melrose Knitting Mill in downtown Raleigh NC and finally get to meet them on April 26^th!

The ceremony was held upstairs with live musicians.  After a short service, the 150 guests made their way downstairs to the pool area for a cocktail hour.  While photographer Danielle from Blissmore got some shots of the wedding party, I set up and got ready for introductions.

After pics were done, the guests made their way back upstairs and found their seats.  The tables looked beautiful with floral arrangements by Watered Garden. I introduced the wedding party and Lindsay and Stephen to “You Make My Dreams Come True”. They came to the dance floor in front of me and had their first dance to “You Are The Best Thing” by Ray LaMontagne.They took their seats and we had the parents dances.  Lindsay and her Father danced to “Tupelo Honey” by Van Morrison. One of my fav songs and albums! Stephen escorted his Mother to the floor for their dance to “You Are The Sunshine Of My Life”. Her Father welcomed everyone and Pastor Mark blessed the meal.  

 

The salads and entrees came out soon and during dinner I had a mix of standards and soft rock playing. After dinner we had the toasts and cake cutting to “Build Me Up Buttercup” and guests started dancing to it.  So, some Motown and top 40 soon filled the floor for the next 2 hours.

We ended the night with “Wagon Wheel” and “Sweet Caroline”.  I invited guests downstairs

for a sparkler exit. As soon as everyone was gone except Danielle, Me, Blake from Melrose, Lindsay and Stephen, I played one more last private dance song just for them.  “Speechless” by Dan + Shay had us all in tears. I LOVE a private dance at the end of the wedding!!

Thank you Lindsay, Stephen and Blake!  That was such a beautiful and fun wedding!!

A Highgrove Estate Wedding For Tara and Mike

I couldn’t wait to DJ Tara and Mike’s wedding at Highgrove Estate in Fuquay Varina on April 20^th! I was excited to finally meet them, but also to see the new renovations at Highgrove!!

The ceremony was held in the new back ceremony site and the rain stopped just in time.  The service was held by Reverend Barbara Lodge with music provided by a quartet from Elegant Ensembles. As soon as the ceremony ended the sun came out and lite the trees in the background for pics and video by Walters & Walters and Twenty One Films.  It was just beautiful and I LOVE the new renovations!!!

They held the cocktail hour outside and Elegant Ensemble stayed to play for that.  They do a great job covering pop love songs! After pics were done and the room was ready, I took over the music and guests found their seats inside the reception room. The room looked beautiful with 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 the Wedding party to “Crazy In Love” and Tara & Mike to “Without You” by David Guetta & Usher (Love that song!!). They came to the dance floor and had their first dance to “I’ll Never Love Again” by Lady Gaga. This was the final song in “A Star Is Born”.  After their dance the wedding party took their seats and we had the Parents dances.  Tara and her Father danced to “Lullabye” by Billy Joel and Mike and his Mother to “I Hope You Dance”. Her Father welcomed everyone and the salads came out before the buffet opened.  During dinner I had a mix of standards, soft rock and classic soul playing.

After dinner we had the toasts and cake cutting to “How Sweet It Is”. I opened the floor to everyone with some Motown & Disco songs, then right into some top 40 and dance. It packed by the first song and stayed packed for the next 1.5 hours.  Considering there were only 60 guests, it was an awesome dance floor with lots of energy!!  We paused for the bouquet and garter toss, then right back to dancing.  

We ended the night with “Despacito”, but they weren’t ready to leave yet.  They started chanting “One more song!!” So,“Bye Bye Bye” by N’Sync was the new last dance.  They had a sparkler exit from the front of the house.

Thank you so much for everything Tara, Mike and Amanda!!  That wedding was so fun!!

Photos courtesy of Walters & Walters

A Wedding At Mayton Inn For Kylie and Matthew

Kylie and Matthew had both ceremony and reception at The Mayton Inn in downtown Cary NC on April 13^th and I was thrilled to supply music for both.

The ceremony was held on the back patio under a tent just in case of rain. As the 100 guests arrived I had a mix of light classical music playing.  The alter looked beautiful with floral arrangements by Tre Bella! When the ceremony was about to begin, guests took their seats and I found Reverend Barbara Lodge to attach her mic.  The Parents and Groomsmen entered to “Jesu, Joy Of Man’s Desiring” and Bridesmaids to “Air On A G String”.  Kylie and her Father came down the aisle to “Canon In D”.  After a wonderful service by Barbara, they recessed to “Signed, Sealed, Delivered”. Barbara invited guests inside for the cocktail hour with help from planner extraordinaire Sally Oakley.

During the cocktail hour inside I had a mix of beach music, classic soul and soft rock playing. After pics were taken by Jason from Veritas Digital Photography the guests found their seats and it was time for the wedding party introductions.  I acknowledge the Grandmother and Parents, then introduced the wedding party to “We Are Family”.  Kylie and Matt were introduced to “You Make My Dreams Come True”. They came in to loud applause and took their seats at the head table.  The food stations opened shortly and I went right back to music during dinner.

After dinner we had the toasts and Once In A Blue Moon cake cutting to “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)”. The cake was delicious!! Then, we all sang Happy Birthday to Kylie’s 92 year old Grandmother!! After the cake cutting and after Kylie cleaned all the cake off her face (thanks to Matt.. LOL), they had their first dance to “This Magic Moment”. The Parents dances followed to “Stand By Me” and “How Sweet It is”.  I opened the floor to everyone with some Beach music and Top 40 that had young and old dancing for the next couple hours.

We ended the night with a last dance to “Save The Last Dance For Me” and a sparkler exit.

Thank you so much Kylie, Matt and Sally!!  I had the best time!!!

Photos courtesy of Veritas Digital Photography

An Umstead Hotel Wedding for Molly and Tom

I will never get to DJ Taylor Swift’s wedding (probably not), but I came very close with Molly and Tom’s wedding at The Umstead Hotel on April 6^th.

Their ceremony was held out back of The Umstead overlooking a pond with beautiful floral arrangements by Wylde Flowers. Their ceremony music was performed by the phenomenal Arioso Strings.  After the service planner Megan from A Southern Soiree (with help from Aneesa from Harmony Weddings) invited the 150 guests upstairs for the cocktail hour and reception. During the cocktail hour I had a mix of classical covers of pop songs playing.

After the cocktail hour the doors to the ballroom opened and I left some pop music playing while I went to touch base with Molly and Tom for introductions.  I introduced just them to “You Make My Dreams Come True” and they came in to loud cheers.  They had their first dance to The National’s “Dark Side Of The Gym”. They were singing it to each other like they were in their kitchen alone. So sweet!! After their dance her Father welcomed everyone and Pastor Kevin blessed the meal.  The food stations opened and I had a mix of jazz standards playing.

After dinner we had the toasts and Ashley’s Cake cutting to “You Are The Best Thing”.  I had the strawberry cake!! J. While the staff cut the cake and served it we had the parents dances.  Molly and her Father danced to “You’ve Got A Friend” by Carole King.  LOVE that version!  Tom and his Mother had their dance to “Return To Pooh Corner”.  Such a great song.  I opened the floor to everyone with some Motown and 70’s that shortly filled it for the rest of the night.

During the dancing I played lots of 70’s and 80’s, Of course lots of Taylor Swift, some

current top 40 and even a J-Pop song for Tom’s friends.

We ended the night with “Run Away With Me” by Carly Rae Jepsen before a confetti exit.  I’ve seen some of the sneak peek pics by Photographer Mina Von Feilitzsch and can’t wait to see more!!

Thank you Molly, Tom, Megan, Aneesa and Kaila!  I had the best time!! Oh, and a big Happy Birthday to Tom who’s birthday was the day before.

Photos courtesy of Mina Von Feilitzsch