A Jazzy Wedding At The Fearrington

Miranda and David chose The Fearrington for their ceremony and reception on a beautiful November day.  They are music lovers and I was thrilled and honored to be their DJ!

After the afternoon wedding at The Fearrington, guests got to rest for a bit, enjoy the grounds and cows or get coffee at The Goat before heading over for the reception.  The cocktail hour and reception were both held at The Fearrington Barn.  The patio had market lights strung over it and looked beautiful!  They had John Brown’s Little Big Band provide music for the cocktail hour and dinner.  During the cocktail hour the 160 guests visited inside the barn and outside on the patio where they could hear the wonderful jazz coming from inside. 

When pics were done by photographer Krystal Kast, the guests started making their way inside for dinner with help from The Fearrington’s Gilda.  The hall to the barn had thousands of lights covering the walls and ceiling. It looked so amazing!!  John Brown introduced Miranda & David and they came in for their first dance to “Can’t Help Falling In Love” performed by the band.  David’s daughter did an awesome job welcoming everyone on my mic and their minister blessed the meal.  I released guests to the food stations and John and his band started the dinner music.  They even had an impromptu cover of “At Last” by one of their guests during dinner.  She did a great job and it was very touching!

After dinner they had the cake cutting to “Mack The Knife” by John Brown’s band and then I took over for David and his daughter’s dance to “What A Wonderful World”.  I opened the floor to everyone with some Motown and top 40 that filled it for the next couple hours.  I played a lot of 70’s and 80’s mixed with some current top 40.  I ended the night with David’s daughter’s sing a long (and acting out) Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” before their last dance to “In My Eyes” by Peter Gabriel and a sparkler exit.

Thank you so very much Miranda, David and Olivia and congratulations to you all!

Photo courtesy of Krystal Kast Photography

An Amazing Wedding At Prestonwood Country Club

Prestonwood Country Club is always beautiful, and was no exception for Christine & Kyle’s wedding on November 4th.  The large ballroom was breathtaking with amber uplighting by us and floral arrangements by Dogwood Tree Floral Arrangements.

The cocktail hour for the 180 guests was held in the hallway outside of the ballroom.  After pics were taken by photographer Brian Fleming the doors to the ballroom opened for guests to find their seats.  There were a lot of gasps when people first saw the room!  I left music playing and went to line the wedding party up for introductions with help from Prestonwood’s Sondra.

I introduced them to “Back In Black” and Christine and Kyle appeared at the top of the stairs for their entrance to The Star Wars Theme!  So great..  They came down the stairs to thunderous applause and came to the floor for their first dance.  They danced to 2 minutes of an Anthony Hopkins composed classical piece called “And The Waltz Goes On”.  Yes, the actor.. Christine’s Father welcomed everyone and the salads came out. Soon the buffet opened and I played a mix of rock, classic soul and standards during dinner.

After dinner we had the cake cutting at the top of the stairs to “The Way You Look Tonight” by Sinatra followed by the parents dances.  Christine danced with her Father to “Hello World” by Lady Antebellum and Kyle & his Mother to “What A Wonderful World”.  I invited all the married guests to the floor for an anniversary dance to “Unforgettable” with the winners married 59 years!  I open the floor to everyone with some Motown and top 40 the filled it for the next 2 hours.

We paused for the bouquet toss to “Single Ladies” and garden toss to “Mission Impossible Theme”.  I went right back to dance music until the end of the night that kept them dancing and singing.  I played lots of early 2000’s hits, a few line dances and some classic 70’s and 80’s dance songs.  We ended the night with a huge sing a long circle to “Sweet Caroline” before a pom pom exit.  They had both NC State and Caroline pom poms.  As the guests left I played the “Star Wars Throne Room Theme”.

 Thank you Christine & Kyle and congratulations!

Photo courtesy of Brian Fleming Photography 

A Beautiful Fall Wedding At Highgrove Estate

Lauren and Chris chose Highgrove Estate in Fuquay-Varina, NC for both ceremony and reception on a picture perfect November 3rd day.  I provided a mic for their minister and music for the reception.

As the 80 guests arrived for the ceremony they were treated to live music by Mary Page and another from Arioso Strings.  After a short ceremony that included a bible reading by her Grandfather, they were married and made their way to the back patio for cocktails.

During the cocktail hour I had a mix of country and soft rock playing.  After pics were taken by Bill from Thirteenth Moon Photography the guests were invited into the ballroom for dinner and dancing.  The room looked beautiful with arrangements by Flowers On Broad Street.

I introduced the wedding party to “Shut Up And Dance” and Lauren and Chris came in for their first dance to “We Found Each Other In The Dark” by City & Color.  We had the parents dances next.  Lauren danced with her Father to “My Little Girl” and Chris & his Mother to “Mother Like Mine” by The Band Perry.  Lauren’s Father welcomed everyone and blessed the meal.  The salads and family style entrees came out and I played a mix of standards during dinner.

After dinner we had the toasts and I opened the floor with some Motown and Top 40 that soon filled it.  We paused for the cake cutting to “Sugar” by Maroon 5 and bouquet toss to “Single Ladies.  The coffee and s’more stations opened and I went back to dance music until the end of the night.  I played a great set of early 2000’s hits that Lauren and her girls had a blast dancing and singing along to!!

We ended the night with “You Are The Best Thing” and a sparkler exit from the front of the house.  Thank you Lauren and Chris and congratulations!

A Fall Wedding At Bay 7 In Durham NC

Laura and Paul had both their ceremony and reception at Bay 7 in Durham on October 29^th and it could not have been more sweet and touching!

As guests arrived for the ceremony on the first floor, they had a live trio playing music made up of piano, violin and guitar.  They were so good!!  There’s no way I could compete with these guys.  I provided a mic for their minister Diane during the ceremony.  After a short ceremony, Diane invited the 130 guests to the second floor for the cocktail hour while Kelly and the staff at Bay 7 flipped the room for dinner.

During the cocktail hour the trio played again, this time adding vocals.  The music was standards mixed with indie rock.  It was almost like if you listened to the Willie Nelson “Stardust” album being played by The Avett Brothers.  It was so good!!  After pics and video were taken by Smitten & Hooked and Dansby Productions I invited guests back downstairs for dinner and dancing.

I introduced the wedding party to “I Gotta Feeling” and Laura & Paul with his children to “Happy”.  This was one the cutest groups ever!  They came to the dance floor and Laura and Paul had their first dance to “Swept Away (Sentimental Version)” By The Avett Brothers.  They welcomed everyone, Paul’s Father blessed the meal and Laura released everyone to the buffet at the same time (LOL).  But, I made them wait to be released by the staff.  The food was amazing!!  The first table was a delicious seafood boil followed by beef, mac & cheese, veggies…  During dinner I had a mix of standards, classic soul, classic & indie rock playing.

After dinner we had the cake cutting to “Cake By The Ocean” followed by the toasts.  Laura joined her Father on the floor for their dance to “What A Wonderful World” and Paul & his Mother to “My Wish”.  I opened the floor with “My Girl” and Paul flew to the floor.  That’s all it took to get people dancing.  The floor filled by the end of the song and stayed that way for the next 2 hours to everything from oldies to top 40.  The loved sing a longs!

We ended the night with “A Thousand Years” by Christina Perri and a sparkler exit from the top floor.  Thank you Laura and Paul and congratulations!

One Of My Favorite Couples Get Married In Asheville

I have known Melissa from the wedding industry for years and just recently got to know Jeff better.  From the moment you meet these two you instantly love them and feel like you’ve been friends forever.

They asked me to DJ their wedding over a year ago in the most original way ever!  Home made brownies and a hand made request card left on my doorstep.  I mean, how can I say no???  I love them so much anyway. 

They had their reception in downtown Asheville at The Venue.  It is a really cool location with large windows, hardwood floors, a roof that looks like a barn and brick walls.  The cocktail hour was held on the front room and I had a mix of classic soul, 60’s rock and some indie rock playing.  Guests enjoyed drinks and a selfie station.  After pics and video were taken by Anchor & Veil and Sugar Shack Films, I invited the 140 guests to the ballroom for dinner and dancing.  I introduced the wedding party to “Party Rock Anthem” and Melissa & Jeff to “Best Day Of My Life”.  They came right to the dance floor for their first dance to “Just The Way You Are” by Billy Joel.  Melissa’s Father then welcomed everyone and Monsignor John Wall blessed the meal.  The buffet opened shortly and I played a mix of indie rock and classic rock during dinner.

After Melissa and Jeff went around to say hi to every table we had the cake cutting to “Sugar, Sugar” and “With This Ring’.  The toasts came after that starting with GINA the matron of honor (who’s wedding I DJd also) and then Craig the best man.  The parent’s dances followed and started with Jeff and his Mother.  They danced to “Never Alone” by Lady Antebellum and then Melissa and her father danced.  Their dance started with “When You Need Me” by Springsteen, then into “Dancing In The Moonlight”.  I only played that for a minute then started “Uptown Funk” that soon filled the floor.

For the next 2.5 hours guests danced to top 40, oldies, 80’s & 90’s and some early 2000’s hits.  Towards the end of the night Melissa surprised Jeff with Skyline chili dogs from Cincinnati for everyone and even scared the dickens out of Gina and Craig with mascot heads.  So funny!!!!!!  The blinking tambourines came out till the end of the night for dancing.  We ended the night with “Friends In Low Places” with everyone in a large circle dancing and singing.  They had a sparkler exit from the front of the venue before everyone headed across the street for an after party at Off The Wagon Piano Bar.

Thank you so much for everything Melissa and Jeff!!  I was honored to be your DJ!

Photo courtesy of Anchor & Veil

Kate and Calvin’s Wedding at Gravy

Kate and Calvin chose Gravy in downtown Raleigh for their ceremony and reception on a perfect fall day!  I was there to provide mics and music for the ceremony and provide the soundtrack for the guests to dance the night away.

As the guests arrived for the ceremony in the open-air patio I had a mix of classical music playing.  The Grandparents and Parents walked down the aisle to “A Thousand Years” and Calvin to an instrumental of “Elvira” that brought some laughs with it.  The wedding party entered to “Swept Away (Sentimental Version)” and Kate to “The Lovers Waltz” by Jay Ungar.  After a short ceremony by Officiant Michael Sisco, they recessed to a 101 Strings cover of “Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You”. 

The 125 guests made their way to the back of the patio for the cocktail hour and I had a mix of rock, classic soul and standards playing while the staff cleared the ceremony seating.  After pics were taken by Karen Salinas Photography and video by Dean Garris, it was time for the introductions.  They had a couple friends, Nash and Dustin, provide music for the introduction and first dance.  I introduced the parents and Kate & Calvin, and they came in for their first dance to “Someone Like You” originally by Van Morrison.  Kate then danced with her Father to fav Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York”.  Calvin escorted his Mother to the floor for their dance to “The Wonder Of You” by Elvis before Calvin’s Father welcomed everyone and blessed the meal.

I invited guests to find their seats inside and out on the patio and the Gravy buffet opened shortly.  During dinner I played a mix of soft rock and indie rock.  After dinner they cut the cake privately and had a few toasts. Calvin’s son Grayson even gave a toast and told a funny joke!!  Great job Grayson.  I knew it was going to be a great dancing crowd because they started dancing towards the end of dinner.  I opened the floor with some Motown and top 40 that filled it for the next 2.5 hours.  I played lots of Top 40, 80’s, some 90’s & 2000’s hip hop and some oldies.

We ended the night with Tina Turner’s “Proud Mary” and a sparkler exit.  Thank you Kate & Calvin and congratulations!!

Photo courtesy of Karen Salinas Photography