A New Years Eve Wedding at Merrimon-Wynne

I met Elizabeth a few years ago when she was an excited bouquet catcher at Emily Sexton’s wedding that I DJd.  I was thrilled and honored to be her DJ and watch her throw the bouquet for a change (She has caught 9 that I know of).

Elizabeth and Joe chose downtown Raleigh’s Merrimon-Wynne house for both ceremony and reception on New Years Eve 2016.  They had the ceremony in the carriage house for the 225 guests with a guitarist and singer that provided music.  I ran mics for the singers, minister and Joe.  After the ceremony that included a couple readings, they recessed to “Multiplied” by Needtobreathe.  The guests made their way inside the house for cocktails while the staff flipped the room for the reception.

After the room was set the guests were invited back to the carriage house for dinner and dancing by planner Becca from C and D Events.  I introduced the wedding party to “Now That We Found Love” by Heavy D and Elizabeth & Joe to “Lose Yourself” by Eminem.  They had their first dance to “Photograph” by Ed Sheeran.  Joe’s father welcomed everyone and chef Beau from Beau Catering described the 3 food stations. During dinner I had a mix of standards, soft rock and classic soul playing.

Towards the end of dinner guests started dancing so I went into “dancing mode” for the music that filled the floor for 30 minutes.  We stopped for the toasts and Hayes Barton Cake cutting to LOVE by Nat King Cole.  The past brides also presented Elizabeth with pics of each of her bouquet catches at their weddings and a retired personalized jersey.  So great!!  Elizabeth then danced with her father to Matt Johnson’s cover of “Brown Eyed Girl” and Joe danced with his sisters to “The Dance” by Garth Brooks.  I can’t wait to see pics of all of this from photographer Ashley with Story Photographers and Chris from Eden Anne Films! 

I opened the floor again with some top 40 and 2000’s dance hits for the rest of the night.  We paused for the bouquet toss to “Empire State Of Mind” then back to dancing until after midnight and the New Years countdown.  They had a sparkler exit from the front of the Merrimon-Wynne house.  What a fun night and great way to celebrate New Years!  Congratulations Elizabeth and Joe.

DJ Randy Bennett  www.bunndjcompany.com/RandyB

Photo courtesy of Story Photography

Chantal & Alex’s Wedding at Bay 7

Chantal & Alex had a wonderful wedding ceremony and reception at Bay 7 in Durham NC on December 30th!  I provided sound for the ceremony and music for the reception.

The ceremony was held on the first floor of Bay 7 and officiated over by Rabbi Gruber.  The room looked beautiful with floral arrangements by Tre Bella.  Music was performed live by Save The Date Music.  After a short ceremony that included reading and signing of the marriage contract, the 100 guests made their way upstairs for cocktail and live music by a pianist.

After some pictures were taken by photographer James from Walters & Walters, planners Amanda & Katherine from A Swanky Affair invited guests back downstairs for dinner and dancing.  I introduced Chantal & Alex and they came down the stairs to their sweetheart table.  Both their parents welcomed everyone including all the guests from Russia and the salads and entrees came out.   During dinner I had a mix of standards, soft rock and classic soul playing. 

After dinner the Shutterbooth photo booth opened, we had the Ashley Cake Cutting to “Sugar, Sugar” and the toasts.  They made the way to the dance floor for their first dance to “Zichiti L’Ahov” (A Hebrew song) and I invited everyone to join them after a couple minutes, and they did.  Chantal danced with her Father after that and Alex with his Mother.  I opened the floor with “Hava Nagila” and it filled very shortly.  For the next 2.5 hours the floor was filled to 80’s, 90’s and early 2000’s hits as well as some oldies thrown in.  I ended the night with Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” that turned into a big sing a long before everyone left for the after party at Tyler’s next door.

What a fun night and great couple!  Congratulations Chantal & Alex.

DJ Randy Bennett  www.bunndjcompany.com/RandyB

Photo courtesy of Walters & Walters

A Christmas Wedding At The Fearrington

Christina & Cody’s Christmas Wedding 

I was thrilled to DJ Christina & Cody’s beautiful wedding at The Fearrington 2 days before Christmas!  They are the nicest couple and I am so happy for them!  It was also great running into a past couple and parents of a Bride I had DJd for before.

The Ceremony

Christina and Cody chose Pittsboro NC’s Fearrington Village for both their ceremony and reception on December 23rd.  I supplied music for both.  The ceremony was held in the Garden Terrace in front of a fireplace.  As guests arrived I had a mix of contemporary love songs and Christian Christmas songs playing.  They had singers for the processionals and during their first communion as husband and wife. After a beautiful ceremony officiated by Christina’s Grandfather in the beginning, they were married and recessed to “The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year” by Andy Williams.  The guests made their way to a tent on the walkway for the cocktail hour.  During the cocktail hour I had a mix of jazz standards and Christmas music playing.

The Introduction and Dances

After pics were taken by photographer Erica Serrano and video by Twenty-One Films, the guests were invited to the barn by planner Jessica from Happily Ever After for the reception.  After the 150 guests found their seats I introduced our new married couple to “White Dress” by Ben Rector.  They came in and had their first dance to a shortened edit I did for them of “Tenerife Sea” by Ed Sheeran. Christina then danced with her father to “The Girl You Think I Am” by Carrie Underwood. Cody & his mother followed dancing to “I Can’t Begin To Tell You” by Bing Crosby and Christina’s father welcomed everyone before her Grandfather blessed the meal.

During the served dinner I had more standards and Christmas music playing.

The Dancing 

After dinner we had the toasts and anniversary dance with the winners being married 57 years! Wow!!  I then opened the floor to everyone with some oldies and top 40 while the photo booth opened.  We paused briefly for the cake cutting to  “LOVE” by Nat King Cole and a Happy Birthday sing a long to a surprised Maggie.  The bouquet and garter toss followed then back to dancing to top 40/hip-hop until the end of the night.  Their last dance was to “Today” by Brad Paisley that is soon to be a HUGE wedding song and then a snow & silver bells exit from the front of the barn.

Thank you so much Christina & Cody and Merry Christmas!  AND, a huge THANK YOU to Cody for your service to our country!!!!

DJ Randy Bennett  www.bunndjcompany.com/RandyB