An Amazing Fearrington Barn Wedding For A Twin!

I was back to the Fearrington again for the second wedding this month, this one for Cathy & David and it was absolutely amazing!!  I was thrilled to be playing for Cathy’s family again as I DJd her twin sister Laura’s wedding to Les 2 years ago.

They held their wedding ceremony in the Garden Terrace and it was officiated over by David’s Best Man, Greg.  As guests arrived I had a mix of contemporary love songs playing including some country.  The wedding party entered to “Thinking Out Loud” and Cathy to “Make You Feel My Love” by Adele.  After a short ceremony with hand written vows they recessed to “Rather Be” by Clean Bandit.  The guests made their way to the Barn for the cocktail hour & reception and photographer Riley Maclean got some shots.

During the cocktail hour I played a mix of country, rock and classic soul.  The wedding party showed up towards the end of the cocktail hour and I invited guests to find their seats.  I introduced them to “Crazy In Love” and Cathy and David entered under both their new last names as they blended their last names into a completely new last name.  LOVE IT!!!!  They had their first dance to “Die A Happy Man” by Thomas Rhett.  After that, Cathy’s father welcomed everyone and the food stations opened.  During dinner I played the same playlist.

After dinner we had toasts and David danced with his mother to “Sweet Child O’ Mine” by Sheryl Crow.  Cathy and her father danced to “Who Loves You” from Jersey Boys and invited all the guests to join them after a minute that filled the floor.  Everyone was singing and dancing to it.  What a great start to the dancing!  I invited all the married couples to join them after that for an anniversary dance to “Fly Me To The Moon”.  The floor opened to everyone and I kept them dancing for 3.5 hours.

We paused briefly for the cake cutting to “Stay, Stay, Stay” by Taylor Swift and bouquet toss to “Man, I Feel Like A Woman” then back to dancing after I played “Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life” for Cathy’s parents Bridge (I mean British…) Club again.  We ended the night with “Time Of My Life” from Dirty Dancing and a sparkler exit.

I was so happy and honored to DJ for the Johnson Family again and to play for  David’s friends and family.  Congratulations Cathy & David!!

DJ Randy Bennett  www.bunndjcompany.com/RandyB

Photo courtesy of Riley Maclean Photography

A Winter Wedding At Fearrington Village

Virginia & Chase has such a magical winter wedding at The Fearrington on December 10^th! Their ceremony and reception were just beautiful.

The ceremony was held in the Garden Terrace in front of a huge roaring fire with minister Barbara Lodge.  As the guests arrived I had a mix of classical pop songs playing.  The parents entered to an acoustic guitar version of “In My Life” and the bridesmaids to “I’ll be there”.  For Virginia’s entrance her cousins played guitar and sang “I Will” that sounded amazing and so very special!!  After a heartfelt ceremony with written vows and a handfasting ceremony, they recessed to one of my favorite 80’s songs “I Melt With You” by Modern English.  Barbara released the guests and invited them to the barn for cocktails while photographer Krystal Kast got some shots.

The entrance to the barn was decorated with lite Christmas trees on both sides and a table down the middle with seating assignment cards.  During the cocktail hour I had a mix of classic soul and indie rock playing.  After Krystal was done with pics, Virginia & Chase joined their 100 guests for a short time before being introduced.  I introduced them to “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” and her parents welcomed everyone.  They had their first dance to The Velvet Underground’s “I’ll Be Your Mirror” and the food stations opened.

After dinner we had the toasts before the parents dances. Virginia met her Father on the floor to dance to Sam Cooke’s Nothing Can Change This Love”.  Chase escorted his Mother to the floor for their dance to “My Wish” by Rascal Flatts.  It was a surprise song for Chase.  I opened the floor to everyone with some Motown and top 40 that filled it for a marathon 3.5 hours!  We paused briefly for the cake cutting to “Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps” by Cake, then back to dancing to some 80’s alternative and 2000’s hits. 

We ended the night with “Time Of My Life” from Dirty Dancing and a sparkler exit.  Thank you so much Virginia & Chase and congratulations!

DJ Randy Bennett  www.bunndjcompany.com/RandyB

Photo courtesy of Krystal Kast Photography

An Urban Chic Wedding In Raleigh NC

Kim and Casey chose downtown Raleigh’s very chic Melrose Knitting Mill for both their wedding ceremony and reception.  It is such a beautiful room with brick walls, hardwood floor and large windows along both long walls.

Their wedding ceremony was held on the second floor and had a wall and backdrop of white linens.  Elegant Ensembles provided live music and I ran mics for Casey’s Father (who was also the minister) and for 2 readers.  After the ceremony guests made their way downstairs for cocktails and the staff flipped the room. During the cocktail hour photographer Amy Allen and videographers Morgan Scott Films got some shots.

After the cocktail hour, the 130 guests made their way back upstairs for dinner and dancing with help from Chad from Chad Biggs Events.  The room looked beautiful with floral arrangements by North Raleigh Florist.  I introduced the wedding party to “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” and Kim & Casey to “You Make My Dreams Come True”.  They came to the floor and had their first dance to “Tenerife Sea” by Ed Sheeran.  We had the Parents dances after that and a welcome by Kim’s Father.  The salads came out and the buffet opened shortly.  During dinner I had a mix of jazz standards playing.

After dinner we had the toasts and Simply Cakes cutting including an awesome TMNT grooms cake!  For the cake cutting I played “How Sweet It Is”.  I opened the floor with some beach music and Motown that shortly filled it for the next 2 ½ hours.  We paused briefly for the bouquet toss to “Wanna Be” by The Spice Girls and garter toss to “Sexyback”, then back to dancing.  We ended with a packed floor to “Friends In Low Places” and “You Are The Best Thing”.  They made their way back down stairs for the sparkler exit and lived happily ever after!

Thank you Kim, Casey and Chad and congratulations!

Photo courtesy of Amy Allen Photography

A Family Affair at Melrose Knitting Mill

Lisa and Nick were married at downtown Raleigh’s Melrose Knitting Mill above Babylon Restaurant. I was thrilled to be there for the joining of their family of 5!

The wedding ceremony was held on one side of the room.  I provided a mic and music for this.  The mothers entered to “Make You Feel My Love” by Adele, the wedding party to “Photograph” by Ed Sheeran and Lisa to “Gone, Gone, Gone” by Phillip Phillips.  After a short ceremony by Minister Bob Albritton they recessed to “Better Together” by Jack Johnson.  The minister invited guests downstairs to the pool for cocktails while the room was flipped.

After pics were taken by photographer Kelsey Nelson and video by Focus Media, the 50 guests made their way back upstairs for the reception.  I introduced the wedding party to “Give Me Everything” by Pitbull including the new family of Mr & Mrs Argueta!  They had their first dance to “Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran followed by the parents’ dances.  Minister Bob blessed the meal and Lisa & Nick thanked everyone for coming.  I started the dinner mix of soft rock, classic soul and standards while the dinner was served.

After dinner Lisa’s father gave a very heartfelt and poignant toast about the strength of family that made me open the floor with “We Are Family” and “celebration” that filled it soon.  Top 40, oldies, Latin and line dances kept them dancing all night long.  We paused for the Simply Cakes cutting to “Sugar” by Maroon 5 and bouquet & garter tosses, then back to dancing till the end of the night.  We ended with “Timber” by Pitbull and a sparkler exit.  The night ran so smooth because of Steph with Chad Biggs Events!

Photo courtesy of Kelsey Nelson Photography