Jessi & Stew’s Downtown Wedding at The Stockroom at 230

Jessi and Stew chose some great music for their ceremony and reception at The Stockroom at 230 on November 26th. It made it really unique to them and I was happy to help them out!

As guests found their seats for the ceremony I had an 18-minute traditional Irish song playing performed by Clash front man Joe Strummer.  The Grandparents thru the groomsmen entered to “Claire De Lune” and the bridesmaids to “Pitter Patter Goes My Heart” by Broken Social Scene.  Jessi entered to ‘Sweet Child O’ Mine” by Vitamin String Quartet and the ceremony was under way by Minister Kayelily Middleton.  After a wonderful ceremony the wedding party recessed to “Brown Eyed Girl”.  The 130 guests went downstairs to the Mahler Gallery for the cocktail hour while the room was being flipped for dinner and dancing.

The room was ready and pics were taken by photographer Michelle Gunton. It looked beautiful with floral arrangements by Kelly Odom! The guests made their way back upstairs for the reception and were greeted by Stew & Jessi as they came in. During the Rocky Top catered dinner I started with “Moondance” and then played a mix of Samba/Bossa Nova songs by Stan Getz.  After dinner we had toasts and the Sugarland cake cutting to “Somebody Sweet To Talk To” by She & Him.  They made their way to the dance floor for their first dance to “Coming Home” by Leon Bridges (one of my favorite albums in the last 2 years).  The parents dances followed and an anniversary dance to “This Will Be” by Natalie Cole. 

I opened the floor to everyone with some beach music and Motown that soon filled it with you and old.  Guests dance to top 40, 80’s, 2000’s and some oldies inside and enjoyed the Classic Carolina Photo Booth out in the hallway.  We ended the night with everyone on the floor to “Shout”.  What a fun night with a lot of thanks to Sally Oakley Events!

DJ Randy Bennett  www.bunndjcompany.com/RandyB

Jordyn & Casey’s Plantation Wedding at Rose Hill

This is one of the sweetest couples I have played a wedding for!  I was so happy to be the DJ for their ceremony and reception at Rose Hill in Nashville NC on November 19th.

Their ceremony was held in the back looking over a pond with white swans swimming in, despite the really strong wind.  Jordyn’s mother found some awesome versions of “Canon in D”, “The Bridal March” and “Wedding March” on line for me to use.  I will def use these again!  After the ceremony by Minister Francios, they recessed and the guests made their way into the house for cocktails and passed hors d’oeuvres. During the cocktail hour I had a mix of soft rock, classic soul, standards and country playing for the 100 guests. 

After the cocktail hour, the guests made their way next door to the ballroom for dinner and dancing.  The room looked beautiful with our uplights that matched the linens and floral arrangements by Brides & Bouquets.  They found their seats and I introduced the wedding party to “Uptown Funk”.  Jordyn & Casey came in for their first dance to “Stay With You” by John Legend.  After that came the parents dances and a heartfelt welcome by Jordyn’s father.  The salads and entrée’s came out and I continued the same music mix.

After dinner we had the toasts and Simply Cakes cutting to “Sugar, Sugar”.   I opened the floor to everyone with some Motown and top 40 that filled it with young and old for the next 3 hours.  The Classic Carolina Photo Booth was a huge hit all night!  We paused briefly for the bouquet & garter toss, then back to dancing till the end of the night.  We ended the night with “You Shook Me All Night Long” and a sparkler exit.  What an amazing night thanks to planner Carly from La Fete!  I can’t wait to see the pics by Rachel & January with Thirteenth Moon Photography and video by Thomas Blake Films!

Congratulations Jordyn and Casey and thank you for your service to our country Casey!

Photo courtesy of Thirteenth Moon Photography

The City Comes To A Country Wedding At Het Landuis

Emily & Theo’s Wedding at Het Landhuis in Pittsboro NC 

Emily & Theo came all the way from Los Angeles to have their dream wedding at Het Landhuis in Pittsboro NC on November 13th  Their ceremony was held in the woods and overlooked a pond.  As guests made their way down the stone stairs they were greeted with music from a live bluegrass trio.  They found their seats that were old white church pews.  It couldn’t have been more perfect!  Emily’s Uncle officiated the ceremony that included a couple readings.  After the ceremony, the guests made their way to the lawn near the house for cocktails and the trio shortly continued playing music.

After some pics were taken by Rachel & January with Thirteenth Moon Photography, the 100 guests found their seats inside the tent and got ready for the delicious Beau Catering dinner.  After dinner the guests made their way across the street to the Barn where I was ready to rock on the second floor.

When the guests started coming in for dancing I played some classic soul and within 2 songs the floor was packed with you and old! After a few songs Emily & Theo had their first dance to “These Arms Of Mine” by Otis Redding and I invited everyone to join them after a couple minutes.  They had picked a great playlist that they knew their family and friends from LA and NY City would love, and they did. I even had a set of indie dance music that went over great.  We paused briefly for the cake cutting on the first floor, but some guests stayed to dance.  We ended the night with “Scenes from An Italian Restaurant” by Billy Joel with everyone singing it.  They weren’t ready to leave yet, so I finished up with “Somebody To Love” by Queen before their exit.

What a wonderful and unique wedding and great couple!  Congratulations Emily & Theo and your parents.

Photo courtesy of Thirteenth Moon Photography

Taylor & Joe’s Plantation Wedding

Taylor and Joe chose Wake Forest NC’s beautiful Sutherland Estate for their ceremony and reception on November 12^th.  The weather for the outdoor ceremony was picture perfect.  I was thrilled to be working again with Photographer Renee Sprink, Videographers Twenty-One Films, Raleigh Catering, Ashlee from The Sutherland and florist The English Garden!

The ceremony was held in the walled garden on the side of the house.  I provided a mic for Pastor Michael Mullins and music.  As the guests arrived they engraved a platter for the Bide & Groom and found their seats.  I had some classical pop music playing.  The wedding party entered to “Canon In D” and the flower girls, ring bearers and Taylor to “Turning Page” by Sleeping At Last.  They had a unity tree ceremony with dirt from several important locations around the country added to a tree they will plant at home.  Very sweet and special!!  After the ceremony they recessed to “Marry You” by Bruno Mars and the 120 guests made their way to the other side of the house for cocktails in the grooms terrace.  During the cocktail hour I had a mix of country, rock, classic soul and standards playing.

The guests were already inside the enclosed pavilion and ready for the party to start! I introduced the wedding party to “I Gotta Feelin’” and Taylor & Joe came in to thunderous applause.  They took their seats and her parents welcomed everyone followed by a blessing by the Pastor.  The plated salads came out and the buffet opened shortly.  During dinner was the same playlist as cocktails.

After dinner we had the Cinda’s Cake cutting to “Sugar, Sugar” by The Archies and the toasts.  The staff got the cake ready and Taylor & Joe had their first dance to an acoustic version of  “Ever The Same” by Rob Thomas.  After that she danced with her father to “The Girl You Think
 I Am” by Carrie Underwood and Joe danced with his mother to “Humble & Kind” by Tim McGraw.  I opened the floor to everyone and the s’more & cake stations opened.  They danced hard for 3 hours to top 40, oldies, some 80’s & 2000’s.  We paused for a lantern lighting and release to “Those I’ve Loved” by Eric Church in memory of their Grandparents and an anniversary dance to “Have I Told You Lately”.

We ended the night with “My Way” by Sinatra in memory of Joe’s Grandmother Nan and finally “I’ve Had The Time Of My Life” from Dirty Dancing before a sparkler exit.  What a fun night and great group!

DJ Randy Bennett  www.bunndjcompany.com/RandyB

A Fairytale Wedding At The Barclay Villa Castle

Heather & Ken’s Fairytale Wedding at The Barclay Villa 

I had been anxiously waiting for Heather and Ken’s wedding to get here since the day I met her, her mother and beautiful daughter!  She was so excited for her day and I wanted to make it perfect for them on November 11th.

The ceremony was held at the gazebo on the side on The Barclay Villa.  I provided mics for their minister Katherine Edwards and Ken.  The wedding party entered to “Hallelujiah” by Lindsay Stirling and Heather to a song she found on Vimeo.  After a wonderful ceremony that included a sand ceremony to “Thinking Out loud” by Daniel Jang, they recessed to “Can’t Take My Eyes Of You” by Frankie Valli.  The guests made their way to the cocktail hour at the pool on the other side of the house. I had a mix of country, rock and standards playing.

After some pics were taken by Sanders Photography, the guests made their way into the grand ballroom for dinner and dancing with help from Courtney from Chrisabethella Catering.  The room looked beautiful with a huge fireplace on one end, balcony along both sides, my red uplighting, floral arrangements by Forest Hills Florist and a wide stairway to the second floor.  I introduced the wedding party into the room and they had their own personalized song to come in to.  Heather & Ken entered to “Wedding Day” by Seal & Heidi Klum and had their first dance to “We Found Each Other In The Dark” by City & Color.  Heather danced with her father to “My Little Girl” and Ken and his Grandmother to “Because You Loved Me”.  Her parents welcomed everyone and blessed the meal and the food stations opened.  During dinner I played the same music mix.

After dinner we had the toasts and opened the floor with some Motown and top 40 that brought young and old out.  The flower girls danced, I think, more than anyone all night!  They were the cutest, especially Lexi!  We paused for the 6 tier cake cutting to “Sugar” by Maroon 5 and a shout out to Heather’s Mom for her birthday, then back to dancing to top 40 and hip-hop.  We ended the night with “Take me Home Tonight” by Eddie Money and a sparkler exit from the front of the building.