An Epic Wedding at Bay 7 in Durham NC

Shannon and Thomas had what I would call an epic wedding reception at Bay 7 on March 25^th.  The 200 guests went hard for 3 hours on the dance floor!

Their ceremony was held at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church with the reception at Bay 7 both in Durham.  The guests started arriving a little early and I had music going and was ready to rock.  During the cocktail hour on the 2^nd floor I had a mix of rock, country and classic soul playing. Of course, some Sinatra and Dean Martin too.  Shannon and Thomas soon joined them for the remainder while photographer Lindsay & Cara from F8 Photo Studios took some shots downstairs.  The table settings looked beautiful with floral arrangements by The English Garden.

I invited the guests downstairs for dinner and dancing and went upstairs to line up the wedding party.  They were introduced to “Wow” by Beck and finally our Bride & Groom to “We Ready” by Archie Eversole.  So great!!  They came downstairs and right to the floor for their first dance to “Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You” by Frankie Valli.  Shannon’s Father introduced her Grandfather who gave a very sweet, funny and heartfelt speech and Thomas’ Father blessed the meal and the salads and entrees came out.  During dinner I played the same mix as cocktails.

After dinner we had the toasts and Cinda’s cake cutting.  The Mother Son dance followed to “Circle Of Life” from Lion King.  So funny.  Shannon then joined her Father on the floor for their dance that started with “Tupelo Honey” then caught everyone off guard when it went into “Cotton Eyed Joe”!  That’s all it took.  The guests soon rushed the dance floor for that and “Rock Lobster” right after.  The floor stayed filled for the next 3 hours.

We paused briefly for the bouquet toss to “Run The World” by Beyonce and garter toss to “Who Let The Dogs Out”, then back to dancing to top 40 and hip-hop. We ended the night with some sing-a-longs and finally “All My Life” that had everyone making a big circle around them and singing.  As the guests left for the streamer popper exit they took a custom mason jar as a favor.  This wedding was so fun and the dance floor was awesome every minute!  Thank you Shannon & Thomas and congratulations.

James & Lindsay’s Wedding at The Cotton Room

I was thrilled to DJ for Lindsay and James at The Cotton Room in Durham on March 19th!  They are so nice and have great taste in music.

The ceremony was held along the far brick wall of The Cotton Room with floor to ceiling windows.  As the 90 guests arrived I had a mix of classical versions of pop songs playing.  The Grandparents, Parents & Groomsmen entered to “Wonderful Tonight” by Vitamin String Quartet.  The Bridesmaids entered to Feist’s “1234” covered by Vitamin String Quartet and Lindsay & her Father to Led Zeppelin’s “Going To California”.  After a short ceremony that included a beautiful cover of “Can’t Help Falling In Love” by a couple friends (one being a Groomsman), they recessed to “Everyone” by Van Morrison.  Their minister invited guests to the back of the room for the cocktail hour while the staff flipped the room for dinner and dancing.  During the cocktail hour I had a mix of classic rock & soul, standards and soft rock playing.

Pics were done by Ariana from Silver Feather Studios and the white linens opened revealing the room and guests found their seats.  I introduced the wedding party to “Home” by Edward Sharpe and our new Bride & Groom to “Heroes” by David Bowie (my favorite Bowie song).  They came to the floor and had their first dance to “These Arms Of Mine” by Otis Redding (my favorite Otis song also).  Lindsay’s father welcomed everyone and the buffet opened.  During dinner I had a mix of classic soul playing after I played “September Song” by Sinatra for James’ Grandparents.

After dinner we had the toasts before the parents dances.  Lindsay danced with her Father to “What A Wonderful World” and James & his Mother to “Sweet Baby James”.  We had an anniversary dance to “Young At Heart” with James’ Grandparents winning at 61 years married!!  I opened the floor to everyone with some Motown and top 40 and it filled by the end of the first song.  One of the best parts of the night was James’ Grandfather laying in the middle of the dance floor and dragged around by his feet is a circle.  So great!  His Grandparents danced a lot that night.  I wish I could take them to every wedding I do! 

We paused briefly for the donut cutting to “Sweet Pea” and then back to dancing till the end of the night.  We ended with everyone in the room in a big circle to “Piano Man” and “Sweet Carolina” before the last song “Cicadas & Gulls” by Feist.  A sparkler exit followed and they lived happily ever after…

DJ Randy Bennett  www.bunndjcompany.com/RandyB

Photo courtesy of Silver Feather Studios

Megan & Derrick’s Wedding in The Old Well Room

Megan and Derrick were married at one of my favorite venues, The Carolina Inn, in Chapel Hill on March 11^th, 2017.  I was thrilled to be back here and work with some of my favorite co-vendors in Tiffany from The Inn, Carrington from Erin McLean Events, photographer Renee Sprink and baker Ashley Cakes!

The ceremony was held in another ballroom with music provided by Save The Date Music.  After a short ceremony by my buddy Reverend David James, the 150 guests made their way to the hallway outside the Old Well Room for cocktails and passed hours d’oeuvres.  After pics and video were taken by Renee and Sugar Shack Films the doors to the ballroom opened and guests found their seats.

I introduced the wedding party and our newly married couple to “Levels” by Avicii.  They came in to thunderous applause and had their first dance to “How Sweet it Is” by James Taylor.  They took their seats and Megan’s father welcomed everyone followed by a blessing by Reverend James.  The salads and entrées came out and I played a mix of classic soul, standards and rock during dinner.

After dinner we had toasts and the two Ashley cake cuttings to “Sugar Sugar”.  Megan then joined her Father for their dance to “My Little Girl” and Derrick escorted his Mother to the floor for their dance to “Landslide”.  Before opening the floor to everyone Megan asked her Grandfather to join her for a special dance to “You Are My Sunshine” by Johnny Cash.  It was so sweet and he sang it to her while they danced.  I opened the floor to everyone with some Motown and top 40 that filled it for the rest of the night.

We paused briefly for the bouquet toss to “Jump Around” and group pics with the Pi Phi and Sig Ep alumni, then back to dancing.  Their playlist was a blast with beach music, oldies, top 40, some 70’s and 80’s and sing a longs all night.  We ended with “Closing Time” by Semisonic before a blue and white pom pom exit and after party at Top Of The Hill.

DJ Randy Bennett  www.bunndjcompany.com/RandyB

Charles & Mandy’s Wedding at Merrimon-Wynne

Mandy & Charles are so nice and I was honored to be their DJ at Merrimon-Wynne on a perfect March 4th day!  I was beyond thrilled also to work with some of my favorite co-vendors in Stephanie from Viva L’Event, Cara from F8 Photo Studios, Kaila from the Merrimon Wynne House, Beau Catering, Fresh Affairs and Andia’s Homemade Ice Cream!

Their ceremony was held on the side lawn under a cloudless blue sky.  As the 75 guests arrived I had a mix of classical versions of pop songs playing.   The Grandparents and Mothers entered from the house to “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik”, the Groomsmen and Charles to “”God Only Knows” by Vitamin String Quartet, Bridesmaids and children to “Canon In D” and finally Mandy & her Father to “The Bridal March”.  After a short ceremony by Officiant Perry Hardison, they recessed to “The Wedding March”. The guests were invited into the Merrimon Wynne house for cocktails and passed hors d’oeuvres while pictures were taken.

After the cocktail hour the guests were invited into the Carriage house where I was set up for dinner and dancing.  They found their seats and the wedding party was ready to be introduced.  They entered to “I Gotta Feelin’” and the adorable children to “Sesame’s Treat” by my buddy Chris & Smart E’s.  Finally it was time for our Bride & Groom to come in to “Pour Some Sugar On Me”.  They came in to thunderous applause and had their first dance to “From This Moment” by Shania Twain.  Mandy then danced with her Father to “When You Need Me” by Springsteen and Charles had a surprise dance with his nieces to “Wildest Dreams’ by Taylor Swift.  SOOO cute!!!  Chef Beau welcomed the guests and described the meal and dinner began. During dinner I had a mix of classic and indie rock playing.

After dinner guests were ready to hit the floor so I started playing dance music.  Within 3 songs the floor was filled to Motown and top 40.  The Andia’s Ice cream station opened shortly and after everyone had their fill, the hit the floor for more dancing till the last song. I ended the night with “Sweet Caroline” before a glow in the dark tambourine exit from the front of the house.  Love it!!!!

Thank you Mandy, Charles, Stephanie & Kaila!!!  I had an absolute blast as it looked like everyone did.

DJ Randy Bennett  www.bunndjcompany.com/RandyB