My Final Wedding of 2010’s for Kaylie and Donovan at Market Hall

My final wedding of the 2010’s couldn’t have been better!!  Kaylie and Donovan and their 100 guests had the best time at Market Hall on December 30th!!

Their ceremony was held at Market Hall and they had a live duo playing provide music.  After the ceremony, they had another group of musicians playing for the cocktail hour.  I set up for the reception during the cocktail hour.  At the end of the cocktail hour guests found their seats and I took over the music.  I got Kaylie and Donovan ready for intros with planners Ashley and Trent from Something Fabulous Weddings and Events. They came in to loud applause and had their first dance to “What A Wonderful World” by Sam Cooke. I LOVE that song!! Her Mother welcomed everyone and the salads came out before the buffet opened. During dinner I had a mix of classic standards playing.

After dinner we had the toasts and dual parents dance to “You Are The Sunshine Of My Life”.  After 45 seconds I invited all the parents and their children to join them on the floor.  It was so nice!!  I opened the floor to everyone with “Dancing In The Moonlight” that started the 2.5 hour dance party. The floor was full all night!! We paused for an energetic Hora dance, then back to dancing until the end of the night.  I can’t wait to see the pics from photographer Audrey from Rose Trail Images!

We ended the night with “Sweet Caroline” before a sparkler exit and guests took cookies on their way outside.

Thank you Kaylie, Donovan, Trent and Ashley.  That was a great way to end the decade!!  

Photos courtesy of Rose Trail Images

A Merrimon Wynne Wedding for Marina & Chris

Marina and Chris had such an amazing wedding reception at The Merrimon Wynne House on December 29^th!  I was THRILLED I was their DJ!!

Their ceremony was held at downtown Raleigh’s Historic All Saints Chapel. It is the perfect example of a “little white church”! After the ceremony, the 130 guests started over to Merrimon Wynne where I was set up for the reception.  The cocktail hour was held in the house and they had the music covered there.  After pics were taken by Cara from F8 Photo Studios planner Kathy from Sally Oakley Events invited guests to the Carriage house for the reception.  I left music playing and went inside the house with her to line the wedding party up for introductions.

 

I introduced the wedding party to “September” and Marina and Chris to “You Make My Dreams Come True”.   They had their choreographed first dance to “Millionaire” by Chris Stapleton.  The Parents dances followed with Marina and her Father dancing to “Brown Eyed Girl”. Chris and his Mother danced to “My Wish” before a welcome by Marina’s Father and blessing by her Uncle. The Rocky Top catered buffet opened after the plated salads were finished.  During dinner I had a playlist of jazz standards and Brazilian jazz playing.  I LOVED it!!

After dinner we had the toasts and opened the floor with “The Cupid Shuffle”.  That’s all it took to fill the floor for the next 2 hours. While guests were dancing, Marina and Chris grabbed a few family members and snuck into the house for a private Nothing Bundt Cakes cutting.  During dancing I played lots of top 40, 80’s, some Greek dance songs and even “In The Mood” for a Grandmother. We ended the night with “Die A Happy Man” before the sparkler exit.

Thank you Marina, Chris, Abby and Kathy!!  That was a BLAST!!!

Photos courtesy of F8 Photo Studios

A Merrimon Wynne Wedding for Kailtyn and Mike

Kaitlyn and Mike had the longest wedding reception I have done and I had the best time playing all night at downtown Raleigh’s Merrimon Wynne House!!

Their ceremony was held outside on the lawn and the weather was perfect! Her Brother officiated and he did a great job.  I ran his mic as well as all the music. As the 100 guests arrived,  I had a mix of contemporary love songs playing. The Grandmothers, Mothers and Groomsmen entered to “Here Comes The Sun” and Bridesmaids to “Love On Top”.  Kaitlyn and her Father entered to “What A Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong. After a short service they recessed to “Simple” by Florida Georgia Line.  I invited everyone inside the house for the cocktail hour while Danielle from Blissmore Photography and videographer Phil from Twenty-One Films got some shots of the wedding party.

After the cocktail hour the guests were invited into the Carriage House where I was by planner Stephanie from Viva L’Event for dinner and the epic dance party. The room looked amazing with florals by Meristem Floral! I introduced the Parents to “This Will be (An Everlasting Love)” and wedding party to “All I Do is Win”.  Kaitlyn and Mike came in to loud applause and had their first dance to the duet version of “From This Moment” by Shania Twain.  Kaitlyn and her Father had their dance to “I Loved Her First” and Mike & his Mother to “The Man You’ve Become”.  Her Parents welcomed everyone and the plated salads came out. Shortly the Rocky Top Catered buffet opened on the pergola. During dinner I had a mix of soft rock, country, classic soul and standards playing.

Towards the end of dinner guests started dancing to some 70’s pop and beach music before we paused for the toasts and anniversary dance to “That’s Amore”.  The winners of the dance have been married 57 years!  I opened up the floor again to everyone with some Motown and top 40 that kept them dancing for the next 4 hours!!  That’s right, 4 hours of dancing!!  I played lots of oldies, 80’s, current top 40, a couple line dances, some hip-hop and sing a longs. 

We ended the night with everyone in a big circle singing to “Country Roads” by John Denver before I invited them to the front of the house for a sparkler exit. After everyone had left, Kaitlyn and Mike had an intimate private last dance to “Stay With You” by John Legend.

Thank you Kaitlyn, Mike, Lecia, Haleigh & Stephanie.  That was such a fun wedding!!

A Sutherland Estate Wedding for Kory and Brandon

I was thrilled to be back at The Sutherland Estate in Wake Forest for another wedding.  This time was for Kory and Brandon on December 14^th.

They had me provide a mic and music for their ceremony on the side lawn.  As the 90 guests arrived I had a mix of contemporary love songs playing. The wedding party including Kory walked down the aisle to an instrumental of Michael Buble’s cover of “You and I”.  After a short service they recessed to “Marry You” by Bruno Mars.  Their officiant invited them to the other side of the house for a cocktail hour on the Grooms terrace.  During the cocktail hour I had a mix of rock, country and classic soul playing.

I left for the pavilion and started music in there for those who were too cold outside.  After pics were done by JP Lord Photography, it was time to introduce Kory and Brandon. They came in to loud applause and had their first dance to “Dancing Away With My Heart” by Dillon Carmichael. Such a great song!!  Kory danced with her Father and Step Father next, then Brandon and his Grandmother.  Hey Step Father welcomed everyone and Brandon’s brother blessed the Rocky Top meal.

 

After dinner we had a cake cutting to “How Sweet It Is” followed by the toasts.  I invited guests to help themselves to the cupcake display and opened the dance floor with “Dancing In The Moonlight” that brought young and old out. We paused for a bouquet toss to “Single Ladies” then back to dancing until the last dance to “Everybody” by The Backstreet Boys and a sparkler exit.

Thank you Kory, Brandon, Laurae, Christy and Lena. I had the best time!

Photos courtesy of JP Lord Photography

A Lavender Oaks Farm Wedding for Shannon and Sean

What a beautiful venue Lavender Oaks Farm is to have a wedding! It was the picture-perfect site for Shannon and Sean’s wedding on December 7^th.

Their ceremony was held in front of a stone fireplace outside next to the lavender field.  It smells amazing!  As the 150 guests arrived I had a mix of classical covers of pop songs playing. When it was time for the ceremony to start, officiant Kevin Holland asked everyone to silence their phones and the Parents entered to “Can’t Help Falling In Love” by Drew Jacobs.  The wedding party entered to a cover of “Marry Me” by J Benjamin. Shannon’s processional was to “A Thousand Years” by The Piano Guys. After a short service that included a wonderful reading by her Grandfather, they recessed to “Marry You” by Bruno  Mars. Kevin invited them into the Barn for the cocktail hour while photographer Amber from Six Foot Photography got some shots.

During the cocktail hour I had a mix of standards, soft rock, classic soul and pop songs playing. Guests enjoyed hors d’oeuvres by Beau Catering and Six Foot Photography’s photo booth. When it was time for introductions, I invited guests to their seats and left music playing while I lined the wedding party up with help from Karen from Lavender Oaks Farm. I introduced them to “Can’t Stop The Feeling” and Shannon and Sean to “Good As Hell” by Lizzo. They came in to loud applause and had their first dance to “I’ll Be” by Edwin McCain.  LOVE that song!!  Their Father’s shared a welcome and the family style entrees came out shortly.  

After dinner we had the cake cutting to “How Sweet It Is” by Marvin Gaye followed by the toasts. Shannon had a dance with her Father to “My Wish” and Sean and his Mother to “You’ll Be In My Heart”.  We had an anniversary dance to “100 Years” with Shannon’s Grandparents winning the longest married contest.  I opened the floor to everyone with some Top 40 and 80’s that filled it shortly.

We ended the night with a last dance/sing a long to “Closing Time” before a glow stick exit.

Thank you Shannon, Sean and Karen.  I loved every minute of this wedding!

Photos courtesy of Six Foot Photography