An Amazing Merrimon Wynne Wedding in Raleigh

I was so thrilled to DJ Becca & Byron’s wedding at downtown Raleigh’s beautiful Merrimon-Wynne House on May 20^th that I broke out the turntables and purple vinyl.  This was the first time I have DJd a wedding with vinyl in 20 years.

Their ceremony was held on the side lawn for the 180 guests.  Arioso strings did a great job providing music and I ran a mic for Reverend Steve Snipes.  After a short ceremony the guests made their way inside the house for cocktails, passed hors d’oeuvres and to get out of the heat.

After pics were taken by Photographer Cara Galati of F8 Photo Studios and videographers Thomas Blake Films the guests were invited into the carriage house by planners extraordinaires Stephanie & Lauren from Viva L’Event.  Such a great group of vendors to work with! I introduced the wedding party to “24K Magic” and Becca & Byron to “Let Me Clear My Throat”.  So great!!  The energy went thru the roof until I calmed everyone down for their first dance.  They danced to “Tupelo Honey” by Van Morrison and then welcomed everyone as the wedding party took their seats.

Fav caterer Beau from Beau Catering welcomed everyone and described the food stations located in the house.  During dinner I had a mix of soul, classic rock and top 40 playing.  After dinner Becca danced with her Father to “Forever Young” by Dylan and Byron & his Mother to “There You’ll Be”.  I opened the floor to everyone with Motown and top 40 that filled it for the next 2 hours.  The dance floor stayed packed the whole time and the guests looked like they were having the time of their life!  We paused for the bouquet toss to “Bootylicious” and garter toss to “She’s A Bad Mama Jama”.  A heartfelt toast by Byron’s brother followed before the floor opened again.  We ended the evening with “Ignition (remix)” and a sparkler exit from the front of the house.

I had such a great time with this couple, their guests and some of my favorite vendors!  Thank you everyone and congratulations Becca & Byron.

DJ Randy Bennett  www.bunndjcompany.com/RandyB

The Final Royal Wedding

Stephanie & Joshua's wedding at Highgrove Estate 

I met the Royals in 2014 when I DJd the oldest daughters wedding.  The family is so fun and happy that I was thrilled to be asked to DJ both of the young twin sisters weddings, the final being this past Sunday, May 14^th at Highgrove Estate. 

Stephanie and Joshua had their ceremony in the back overlooking a lake and wooded hill.  It is just breathtaking there!  They had a live guitarist and violinist provide music.  After the ceremony the guests made their way to the back patio for cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and continued live music.

After the cocktail hour was over and pics & video were done by Dave & Tara Parker and Brynn Daurity, the doors to the ballroom opened and the 80 guests found their seats.  I introduced just Stephanie & Joshua and they came right in to their first dance to “It’s Your Love” by Tim McGraw & Faith Hill.  They took their seats and her Father welcomed everyone with a roast of Josh.   I love Phil’s roasts and was really looking forward to this! Josh’s Father then blessed the meal and the salads and family style entrees came out.  During dinner I had a mix of soft rock, country & classic soul playing.

After dinner we had the toasts by Stephanie’s sisters and Josh’s hilarious best man, then the cake cutting to Def Leppard.  After she cleaned all the cake off her face thanks to Josh, she danced with her Father to “My Wish” and Josh danced with his Mother to “Celebration” that soon I had everyone join them for the last half of the song.  That’s all it took to fill the floor.

We Paused for the bouquet toss to “lady Marmalade” and Garter removal to “Hot In Herre”.  I invited the single guys out and we had the garter toss to “Danger Zone”.  A line dance to “Copperhead Road” got everyone right back out there until the end of the night.  We ended the night with “In Case You Didn’t Know” by Brett Young and a sparkler exit from the front of Highgrove.

This was a bittersweet wedding for me.  I was thrilled to see The Royals again and play for Stephanie and Joshua, but a little sad knowing all the weddings are now over.  I hope to see my Royal Family in the future! 

DJ Randy Bennett  www.bunndjcompany.com/RandyB

A Downtown Raleigh Wedding at Oro Restaurant

I was so thrilled to DJ Rebecca & Matt’s wedding on May 6^th at downtown Raleigh’s fabulous Oro Restaurant & Lounge!  I knew this was going to be a great one and that they were big dancers after seeing them at Kim & Casey’s wedding I DJd in December.

Their ceremony was held at Mahler Gallery on Raleigh’s Fayetteville Street for 80 guests.  After the ceremony the guests made their way to Oro just 2 blocks away.  During the cocktail hour I had a mix of soft rock, classic soul and standards playing.  After pics were taken by Taylor and her crew from Blue Barn Photography, they made their way to Oro for introductions.  I introduced Becca & Matt to thunderous applause and they had their first dance to “You Are The Best Thing” by Ray Lamontagne.  I invited guests to take their seats for dinner and the salads came out.

After the salads and appetizers were out we had the toasts and the family style entrées came out shortly.  During dinner I had the same music mix playing.  Guests actually started dancing toward the end of dinner.  I cleared the floor for the parents dances to “What A Wonderful World” and “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”.  Some Motown brought everyone, I mean EVERYONE, back onto the floor for the next 2 1/2 hours.  They went hard!!  I played oldies, top 40, some hip-hop and even dropped The Killers on them with everyone singing it. 

I ended the night with “Wagon Wheel”.  What a fantastic wedding and crown to play for!  Thank you Matt & Becca and congratulations!

DJ Randy Bennett  www.bunndjcompany.com/RandyB

A WWE Themed Wedding in Upstate NY

Kassie & Adam had me come to Rochester NY to DJ their wedding on April 29^th.  I was beyond honored to be asked to come there for them and so glad I did!

Their ceremony was held in a courtyard behind the ballroom at Lake Shore Country Club.  As the 120 guests arrived I had a mix of light classical music playing.  The wedding party entered to Canon In D and Kassie to “Here Comes The Bride”.  A groomsman officiated the ceremony and even included a quote by wrestler Ted DiBiasi.  After the ceremony they recessed to Bruno Mars’ “Marry You”.  The guests made their way inside for the social hour while photographer Dave Justiano got some shots of the wedding party & families.  During the social hour I had a mix of rock and country playing.

After pics were taken their guests found their seats and the wedding party was in the next room preparing for their intros.  Each couple entered to a wrestlers theme and even had props to look more like the wrestler.  So great!  Kassie & Adam entered to Hulk Hogan’s theme and had the crown screaming!  After the guests settled down they had their first dance to “Bless The Broken Road” and their officiant blessed the meal.  The salads came out and I continued the same music mix as cocktails.

After the salads were passed we had the toasts and the entrées came out shortly.  After dinner we had the cake cutting to “Pour Some Sugar On Me” followed by parents dances.  Kassie danced with her Stepfather to “He Didn’t Have To Be” by Brad Paisley followed by Adam’s dance with his mother to “The Perfect Fan” by The Backstreet Boys.  The photo booth opened and I opened the floor to everyone with some Motown and top 40.  Guests danced for 3 hours to everything from line dances to top 40 with some oldies mixed in.  We paused for the bouquet toss to “Single Ladies” and garter toss to “The Rocky Theme”.  Both catchers were actually a couple so he put the garter on her to “The Stripper”…haha. 

We ended the night with “Piano Man” and “New York, New York” but, Adam wasn’t done yet.  He surprised the crowd with an ending speech in the style of WWE’s “The Rock”.  It was so great and he did an awesome job!  Thank you Kassie, Adam, Debbie & Michael and congratulations!

DJ Randy Bennett  www.bunndjcompany.com/RandyB