A Cotton Room Wedding for Hailee and Anthony

I never met Hailee and Anthony until their wedding day, but I was thrilled to be their DJ at The Cotton Room in Durham, NC on July 27^th just from our initial phone call.

Their ceremony was held in the middle of the room with the back and sides draped from ceiling to floor with white linens.  I provided a lapel mic for their officiant, Cam, as well as a wireless hand held mic for their singer Natalie. She sang 3 songs accompanied by her Mother Jennifer on piano, who also played the pre-ceremony music and recessional beautifully.  It was such a wonderful touch to have musicians from their church provide music!!

After a short service the 130 guests made their way to the back of the rom for a social hour while the staff flipped the room for dinner. During the social hour I had a mix of soft rock, country, classic soul and standards playing.  After pics were taken by photographer Danielle from Blissmore photography and video by Stuck In Love Films, the white linens opened again and guests found their seats.  The tables looked beautiful with floral arrangements by Tre Bella.  

I left music playing and lined the wedding party up for intros with help from planner Katharine with Katharine Mann Events. I introduced the Parents to “Celebration” and wedding party to “Bring Em Out”.  They lined up in front of me and Hailee and Anthony came in to “Hey Look Ma, I Made It”.  They had their first dance to “Eyes On You” by Chase Rice, Hailee’s Father welcomed everyone and Cam blessed the meal.  The buffet opened and I continued the same music mix.

After dinner we had the toasts and Cinda’s Cake cutting to “How Sweet It is” (I had the chocolate!! So good!!!). The Parents dances followed while the staff cut the cake and served it.  Hailee and her Father’s dance was to “I Loved Her First” and Anthony and his Mother’s to a Dean Martin cover of “Always”.  I LOVE that song, but had never heard it by Dean until they asked.  

I opened the floor to everyone with some Motown and 70’s that filled it for the next 2 hours!  We paused for the bouquet toss to “Man, I Feel Like A Woman” and a risqué garter toss to ”Bump & Grind”.  After the garter toss I played “Thunderstruck” for the wedding party’s drinking game, then back to dancing to top 40, a couple line dances, some hip-hop and sing a long songs.  

We ended the night with “Shout” and “Bye, Bye, Bye”.  I invited everyone outside for a sparkler exit. After everyone was gone Hailee and Anthony had one last private dance to the piano version of “Then” by Brad Paisley. I LOVE when. Couples do this last “private dance”!

Thank you Hailee, Anthony and Katharine!!  This was an epic wedding reception!!

A Cookery Wedding For Sarah and Joey

When Sarah and Joey told me they envisioned a ‘Swing and oldies” themed wedding reception at The Cookery in Durham, NC on July 26th, I was THRILLED that they wanted me as their DJ!!

Their ceremony was held at The Divinity School’s Goodson Chapel on Duke Campus.  After the ceremony the 150 guests made their way over to The Cookery where I was for the reception.  As the guests arrived for the social hour I had a mix of swing and Jazz as well as 50’s and 60’s hits playing.  I LOVED the playlist!  Guests enjoyed refreshments and passed hors d’oeuvres by caterers Donovan’s Dish while photographer Brian and Rebecca from Brian Mullins Photography got some shots at the Chapel.

When Sarah and Joey arrives I introduced them with help from planner Cody from Cherished Occasions Productions and they had their first dance to an edit I made them of “Unforgettable” by Nat King Cole.  The Parents dance followed that started with Sarah and her Father to “Beautiful In my Eyes” by Joshua Kadison.  This was the song that came on the radio as soon as her Father saw her after she was born and he got in the car.  So perfect!!  After a minute Joey and his Mother joined and then towards the end the parents joined with their spouses and Joe and Sarah danced together.  Loved that so much!!  Her Father welcomed everyone and blessed the meal.  He invited the guests next door to the banquet hall for dinner where I had a speaker and another playlist of oldies and swing playing.

After dinner we had the Arielle Tessinari cake cutting to “How Sweet it Is” and I invited guests to enjoy Two Roosters Ice Cream and join us back in the front room for dancing, coffee and cake.

After the front room was full and guests had had their ice cream, we had an anniversary dance to “You Make Me Feel So Young” by Frank Sinatra with the winners married 57 years. I opened the floor to everyone with some Motown, oldies and swing that kept you and old dancing for the next hour. The adorable little flower girl danced hard the whole time!! We ended the night with a last dance to “Save The Last Dance For Me” by Michael Buble.

Thank you Sarah, Joey and Cody!  I had the best time!!

Sarah and Mason’s Wedding At The NC State Park Alumni Center

I always love playing the NC State Park Alumni Center’s grand oval black and white Ballroom!!  This time was for Sarah and Mason and their 100 guests on her Parents (33 years) and Grandparents (61 years) anniversaries!

Their ceremony was held at Highland United Methodist Church.  After the ceremony, the guests made their way over to the reception.  I had a wireless speaker in the foyer for the cocktail hour playing standards, soft rock and classic soul.

After pics were taken by Brian Mullins Photography, I invited guests to their seats and to enjoy their already plated salads.  The room looked beautiful with floral arrangements by Brides & Bouquets!  I left music playing and went to line the wedding party up with help from the Alumni Center’s Adelaide.  I introduced them to “How Sweet It Is” by James Taylor and Sarah and Mason had their first dance to the music video version of “Hold Back The Night” by James Bay.  After their first dance Sarah and her Father had their dance to “What A Wonderful World”. He looked so happy dancing with her!! Mason and his Mother’s dance was next to “I Hope You Dance”.  Her Parents welcomed everyone and Reverend Ponder blessed the meal.  During dinner I had the same music mix playing at cocktails.

After dinner we had the Rachel Bailey Cake cutting to “You Make My Dreams Come true” followed by the toasts.  I opened the floor to everyone with some beach music, Motown and Top 40 that filled it for the next 1.5 hours. Sarah had added lots of great indie dance music like Cut Copy, Passion Pit and Avicii that was fun for me to play for dancing!

I ended the night with a couple throw back hip-hop songs that turned into a dance off before the last dance to “Swept Away (Sentimental Version)” by The Avett Brothers.  They had a sparker exit before heading out.

Thank you Sarah, Mason, Richard  & Ruth and Adelaide!!  I had the best time playing for you!!

A Highgrove Wedding in Fuquay-Varina For Annie and Grant

I was so honored to be asked to DJ another Mitchell daughter’s wedding!  This time was for Annie and Grant at Highgrove Estate in Fuquay-Varina NC.  I had done Annie’s sister Emily’s wedding in October and LOVE the family!!

Their ceremony was held in the back of the property overlooking a beautiful pond & wooded hill. I provided a mic for Reverent Jeff and also all the music.  As guests arrived I had a mix of acoustic rock and country playing.  The Grandparents, Parents, Reverend and Grant entered to “Better Together”.  The wedding party through Annie entered to an edit I made her of “Yours (Alternate Version)” by Robert Shirey Kelly.  It is such a beautiful song!!  After a short service, they recessed to Rascal Flatts cover of “You Make My Dreams Come True”.   Reverend Jeff invited guests to the back patio for a social hour and I started a mix of soft rock & country music.

After pics and video were done by photographer Annie Brown and videographer James Martin, the doors to the ballroom and it didn’t take much to get guests out of the heat and into the air conditioning.  The room looked beautiful with floral arrangements by Flowers In Broad Street. I left music playing and went inside the house to line the wedding party up for introductions.  I introduced them to “Duo” by Ben Rector. Each couple had their own fun dance and lined up in front of the fireplace. Annie and Grant came in to loud applause and had their first dance to “Still Falling” by Hunter Hayes.  Her Father welcomed everyone and Reverend Jeff blessed the meal.  The family style dinner came out and I played more rock and country.

After dinner we had the toasts and cake cutting to “How Sweet It is”.  The Parents dances followed while the staff cut and served the cake.  Annie and her Father had their dance to “My Girl” and Grant & his Mother to “My Wish”.  I opened the floor to the very appropriate “Good Day For Marrying You” by Dave Barnes. Some beach music and top 40 shortly filled the floor for the next 1.5 hours.  We paused for the bouquet toss to “Single Ladies” and garter toss to “Your Man” by Josh Turner. The outdoor milkshake station opened and I went back to dance music for the rest of the night. 

We ended with a last dance to “Dancing In The Moonlight” by Toplaoder and a sparkler exit. Thank you Annie, Grant, Jane, Robbie and Angela!  I was honored to play for y’all again!!

A Rickhouse Wedding for Alexis and Stephen

I was so glad that Alexis and Stephen had me for their wedding DJ on July 13^that The Rickhouse in Durham, NC!  When I first met them in February I knew this was going to be a fun time!!

The ceremony was held at Immaculate Conception Church earlier in the day.  The 80 guests had a little bit of a break before heading over to the Rickhouse for the reception.  When they started arriving I had a mix of rock, country, standards and classic soul playing.  I even had music playing on the back patio that overlooks the old Durham Bulls Stadium. The room looked beautiful with candles everywhere and floral arrangements by Tre Bella. 

When Alexis and Stephen were ready for intros, I invited the guests to their seats and lined the wedding party up with help from planner Amanda with A Swanky Affair. They came in to “Can’t Stop The Feeling” and Alexis and Stephen to “Shut Up and Dance”. They took their seats and Stephen welcomed everyone.  Her Father blessed the meal and the salads came out before the Rocky Top buffet opened. During dinner was same music mix as cocktails.

After dinner we had the toasts and Nothing Bundt Cakes cutting to “Sugar” by Maroon 5. The formal dances followed.  For their first dance they chose the brand new acoustic version of ”Speechless” by Dan + Shay.  It was so sweet!!  Alexis and her Father had their dance to “My Little Girl” and Stephen and his Mother to “Humble & Kind”.  The mini bundt cake display opened as did the dance floor to some oldies and Top 40 that filled it.  I even played a special edit I made of the Bills version of “Shout” for all the guests from Buffalo!!  I know photographers Shaun and Danielle from Visual Rituals got some great shots of that.

For the next 2 hours guests danced, enjoyed the s’mores station outside and taco station inside.  We ended the night with some sing a longs before the last dances to “Sweet Caroline” and finally “Bye, Bye, Bye” by N’Sync.

Thank you so much for everything Alexis, Stephen and Amanda!!

A Sutherland Wedding For Brianna and David

When I first met Brianna and her Parents, I knew this was going to be a day full of love and celebration at The Sutherland in Wake Forest, NC on July 6^th! 

Brianna and David’s wedding ceremony was held at Crossroads Fellowship and officiated by her Father.  That is so special!!  After the ceremony, the 200 guests made their way to The Sutherland where I was set up for the reception.

As the guests arrived for the social hour in the walled Brides garden, I had a playlist of country and soft rock playing that they had given me.  The guests enjoyed refreshments and visiting while photographers Whimsicalous Photography and videographers Black Dog Films stayed at the church with the wedding party to get some shots.  They also had a live painter that was starting a portrait of Brianna and David.

After pics were done and the wedding party arrived, the guests were invited into the pavilion where I was for dinner and dancing (and to get out of the heat). I left music playing and went to line the wedding party up with help from planners Christy and Lena from The Sutherland. I introduced them to “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” and they all came in to loud applause. They had their first dance to an edit their friend made of “Flesh Of My Flesh” by John Lucas. The Parents dances were next with Brianna and her Father first. Their dance started with “Butterfly Kisses” then into a minute of ”Brown Eyed Girl”.  It was such a sweet dance and you could tell that they had been waiting for this moment!!  David and his Mother caught everyone off guard with their choreographed swing dance to “It Is Well With My Soul”. These may be my favorite set of Parents dances yet!! Her Father welcomed everyone and blessed the meal.  The salads were already served and the Cook Shack buffet opened shortly. During dinner I played more country and soft rock.

After dinner Brianna and David snuck away with the photographers to get some more pics and I opened the floor for 20 min or so with some 70’s that filled it with almost everyone in the room by the end of the first song.  When pics were done, I cleared the floor and we had a shoe game.  The cake cutting followed and guests were invited to the dessert stations for personal Nothing Bundt Cakes and a Howling Cow Ice cream sunday bar. Brianna and her family used to stop by there after the NC State Fair!

 

I opened the floor back up with some Beach music and line dances along with some top 40 and Hip-Hop that kept the floor packed for the next 2 hours. We paused for the bouquet toss to “Singles Ladies” before ending the night with ”Don’t Stop Believin’” and “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran.  They had a sparkler exit from the parking lot.

Thank you so much Brianna, David, Mr & Mrs Teague, Christy and Lena!!  I loved every minute of this wedding!!

Photos courtesy of Whimsicalous Photography