A Wedding at The Merrimon-Wynne House | DJ Randy B

I always love being a wedding DJ at The Merrimon-Wynne House in downtown Raleigh and was really looking forward to Allie & Chase’s wedding on July 2^nd! 

The Wedding Ceremony 

The wedding ceremony was held in the side lawn and I provided a mic for their officiant.  Music was covered by a quartet from Arioso Strings.  After a short ceremony the 180 guests made their way inside the house for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.  After the cocktail hour the guests made their way to the carriage house where I was set up and ready.  I went in the house to line up the wedding party with lots of help from Merrimon-Wynne’s Danielle and planner Kathy from Sally Oakley Events. 

The Introductions and First Dance

I introduced the wedding party to “Good To Be Alive” and Allie & Chase came in to loud applause.  They had their first dance to a country cover of “Thinking Out Loud” by Dylan Scott followed by a welcome by her Father and blessing by a groomsman.  The Catering Works buffet opened and I had a mix of rock and country playing.  After dinner we had toasts and a private cake cutting inside before the parents dances back in the carriage house. 

The Dancing

Before the parents dances we invited groomsman Kyle up for a surprise Happy Birthday sing a long that totally embarrassed him..lol.  Allie then danced with her Father to “When You Need Me” by Bruce Springsteen and Chase and his Mother to “A Mother’s Song” by T. Carter Music.  We opened the floor to everyone with Motown and top 40 that filled it for a short 1 ½ hour dance party.  We paused for the bouquet toss to “Single Ladies”, garter removal to “Danger Zone” and toss to “You Sexy Thing”.  They went back to dancing till the end of the night and the last dance to “You Make My Dreams Come True”.  I invited the guests to the front of the house for a sparkler exit and played the NC State fight song as they exited.  I can’t wait to see the rest of the pics and video from Blest Studios!

Thank you so much Allie, Chase, Kathy and Danielle!  I had an absolute blast!!

DJ Randy Bennett  www.bunndjcompany.com/RandyB

Photo courtesy of Blest Studios

A Highgrove Estate Wedding | DJ Randy B

When you picture being a wedding DJ at a southern plantation house, this is exactly what comes to mind!  Kelly & Zach hosted 150 guests to their beautiful wedding in Fuquay Varina at Highgrove Estate on July 1st.

Their ceremony was held in the back of the house and overlooks a picturesque lake and woods.  They had a live violinist provide music for this part.  She was wonderful!  After a short ceremony, the guests made their way to the back terrace for cocktails while photographer Libby McGowan got some amazing pictures.  During the cocktail hour I had a mix of soft rock & country playing.  After the cocktail hour the doors to the ballroom opened and I invited guests to find their seats.  The room looked beautiful with floral arrangements by Fallons Flowers.

I introduced the wedding party to “Give Me Everything” by Pitbull and Kelly & Zach to “Who’s With Me” by Flo Rida.  They came in to thunderous applause and had their first dance to “She’s Got A Way” by Billy Joel.  Kelly’s Father welcomed everyone and her Godmother blessed the meal.  The family style dinner came out and more rock & country music were played.

After dinner we had the toasts and cake cutting to “How Sweet It Is”.  Kelly joined her Father on the floor for their dance to “Blue Skies” by Willie Nelson and Zach & his Mother to “Simple Man” by Lynyrd Skynyrd.  Before I opened the floor to everyone we had an anniversary dance to “The Way You Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra.  I opened the floor with some beach music and top 40 that filled it by the end of the first song.  We paused for the bouquet toss to “Dear Future Husband” and garter toss to “The Thong Song”, then back to dancing to some hip-hop until the end of the night.  We ended with “Don’t Stop Believin’” and finally “Take Me Home Tonight” before the sparkler exit from the front of the house.

What a fun wedding and great group to play for!  Thank you Kelly & Zach and congratulations!

DJ Randy Bennett  www.bunndjcompany.com/RandyB

Photo courtesy of Libby McGowan

A Merrimon-Wynne Summer Wedding

Lee and Amy’s wedding at the historic Merrimon-Wynne House in downtown Raleigh was full of surprises for the guests and me.  They are such a fun couple and I was thrilled to be their wedding DJ on June 24^th!

The Wedding Ceremony 

The ceremony was held on the side lawn and Sally with Sally Oakley Weddings & Events made a brilliant decision to start early to beat the rain.  I’m so glad she did!!  As the guests found their seats I had a mix classical versions of pop songs playing.  Lee & the wedding party entered to “Superman Theme” (LOL!! Lee’s choice was perfect!) and Amy entered to The Bridal March.  After a short service they recessed to “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Vitamin String Quartet and guests went into the house for the cocktail hour and to beat the rain.

The Introduction 

After pics were taken by photographer Edde Burgess and video by the amazing Nathan from Oak City Films, the guests made their way to the carriage house for dinner and dancing.  I introduced the wedding party to “Let My Love Open The Door” and they came in for their first dance.  They had their dance to Ed Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud” and then welcomed everyone.  The buffet opened and I had a mix of rock, country and standards playing.

The Dancing

After dinner we had the toasts and Amy & Lee went in the house for the private cake cutting.  They had 5 cakes for guests to choose from all made by Hayes Barton Cafe.  So great!!  After that they came back into the carriage house for the second surprise.  Lee serenaded Amy to Michael Buble’s “Everything”.  He did an amazing job and everyone loved it!  I invited the married couples to the floor and had an anniversary dance to Sinatra’s “The Way You Look Tonight”.  “My Girl” and some disco followed and filled the floor for the next 3 hours.  Amy literally danced to every song all night!  I even saw an older gentleman dancing shirtless to “Hot In Herre”!!  Classic!!!  We ended the night with “Time Of My Life” from Dirty Dancing and finally “Good Riddance” by Green Day for their last song before a sparkler exit.

What a fun reception and wonderful couple!  Thank you Lee, Amy & Sally!

A Soldiers Wedding At The Umstead In Cary | DJ Randy B

I was honored to be James & Lauren’s wedding DJ at one of my favorite venues, The Umstead Hotel in Cary NC on June 17th, 2017. James is in the Army as were some guests and groomsmen.  

Their ceremony was held in the picturesque back lawn of The Umstead with music provided by Arioso Strings that always do an amazing job!  After a short ceremony, the 140 guests made their way to the reception area. Cocktail, passed hors d’oeuvres and music again by Arioso Strings welcomed them.  After pics were taken by Cara from F8 Photo Studios, the doors to the ballroom opened and guests found their seats with help from The Umstead’s Amanda and A Southern Soiree’s Alyssa..  The room looked & smelled amazing with floral arrangements by Tre Bella!

I introduced the wedding party to “Downtown” by Macklemore and Lauren & James came in to loud applause.  They took their seats and Lauren’s Father welcomed everyone followed by a blessing by her Godfather.  The 3 course meal came out and I had a mix of rock, classic soul, country & standards playing.  After each course we had a different toast that made the time fly by.  After all the toasts and a thank you from James & Lauren, we had the Cinda’s Cake cutting to “Lucky”.  They made their way to the dance floor for their first dance to “Can’t Help Falling In Love” by Elvis and then the parents dances. Lauren danced with her Father to “Father & Daughter” by Paul Simon & James & his Mother to “Sweet Baby James”.  I opened the floor to everyone with motown that filled it instantly.  I cleared the floor for a flash mob dance to “Uptown Funk” that her Aunt started.  It was so fun and really set the tone for how fun this reception was going to be!  The floor stayed packed after that for the rest of the night.  I think I even saw a few sets of feet in the air from the dance floor at a couple points toward the end of the night.  

We paused for the bouquet toss to “Love On Top” and garter toss to “Fat Bottom Girls”.  Some classic rock sing a longs ended the night with the last song of “Rosalita” by Bruce Springsteen.  Thank you so much Lauren, James, Amanda & Alyssa.  I had a blast and loved every minute of the reception!  AND, thank you James and other military for your service to our country!!!!

DJ Randy Bennett  www.bunndjcompany.com/RandyB

A Washington Duke Inn Wedding in Durham

Meredith and Dan are such a nice couple and I was thrilled to be their wedding DJ at The Washington Duke Inn on June 10th!  I was also very excited to work with Angie from The Inn, photographers Jenn and James Walters, planner Amanda Scott from A Swanky Affair  and florist Watered Garden!

After a short ceremony at Duke Chapel, the 100 guests made their way across campus to the Washington Duke Inn for the cocktail hour and reception.  The cocktail hour was held in the hall outside of the ballroom and I had a mix of classic soul ,soft rock and standards playing.  As the social hour was ending the doors to the ballroom opened and I invited guests to find their seats.  I left music playing and went out to line up the wedding party with help from Amanda.

They were introduced into the room to “I Believe In A Thing Called Love” by The Darkness (LOVE that song!!!) and Meredith & Dan to “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)”.  They came to the floor and had their first dance to a live version of Roberta Flack’s hit “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”.  I love that song a lot, but may like this version even better! They took their seats and Meredith’s Father welcomed everyone.  The salads and entrees came out and I had the same music mix playing.

After dinner we had the toasts and cake cutting to “L.O.V.E.” by Nat King Cole and then was the epic Father/Daughter dance!!!  It started with “Unforgettable” by Natalie & Nat King Cole.  After a minute Dan & his Mother joined them for the remainder of the song.  The song faded out and they left the floor..BUT, it wasn't done.  a record scratch sound effect caught everyone off guard and then I went into a medley of “The Twist”, “Thriller”, “Bye, Bye,Bye” and “The Wobble” that I made special for them.  Then, went into the ending of  “Carolina In My Mind” to finish it out.  Her Father was such a great sport and was having a blast!  You could tell he practiced it and did a great job.  I invited all the married couples to the floor for an anniversary dance to “Can’t Help Falling In Love” with Dan’s Grandparents winning.  I opened the floor to everyone with Motown and Top 40 that filled it for the next 2 hours.

I ended the night with “Sweet Caroline” and finally “At Last” by Etta James.  They made an exit down the hall to wedding wands before the after party at Alivia’s in downtown Durham.  What a fun night and great crowd to DJ for!  Thank you Meredith & Dan and congratulations.

DJ Randy Bennett  www.bunndjcompany.com/RandyB

Photo courtesy of James Walters Photography