A Photographers Wedding at The Merrimon Wynne In Raleigh

It is such a huge honor to be asked by a professional photographer to be her wedding DJ!  Sarah and Clint had me provide music and mics for their ceremony and reception on March 10^th at Merrimon Wynne in downtown Raleigh.

The ceremony has held on the side lawn of Merrimon Wynne and faced the side porch of the house.  As the guests found their seats I had a playlist of classical music playing.  The Bridesmaids and Sarah walked down the aisle to “A River Flows In You” by Robin Goldsby.  They recessed to an instrumental of “White Dress” by Ben Rector.  Their officiant John Muller invited guests into the house for the cocktail hour and I had a mix of rock, country, classic soul and standards playing.

After the cocktail hour planner / Bridesmaid Stephanie Shaul and her staff invited the 175 guests into the carriage house for dinner and dancing.  After photographer  Erica Serrano and videographers Charis Weddings were in place it was time for introductions.  The room looked beautiful with floral arrangements by Bowerbird Flowers!  I introduced the wedding party to “Feel So Close” by Calvin Harris and Sarah and Clint came in for their first dance.

They danced to “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran and her parents welcomed everyone and blessed the meal.  The Beau Catering food stations opened shortly and I went into a dinner mix of country, rock, classic soul and standards.  After dinner we had the toasts and then came the dancing!!

Before opening the floor to everyone we had the parents dances.  Sarah and her father danced to “My Little Girl” by Tim McGraw.  Clint escorted his mother to the floor for their dance to “The Man You’ve Become”.  I opened the floor with “Dancing In The Moonlight” by Toploader that filled it with shaggers and dancers. After that some Motown and top 40 kept it filled for the next 2 hours.

We paused for the cake cutting to “I Choose You” then back to dancing until the bouquet toss to “Pretty Girl Rock”.  It was an awesome dance floor packed with young and old all night and some great dance moves going on.  We ended the night with “Shout” from Animal House before exiting from the front of the house.

Thank you so very much Sarah, Clint and Stephanie!  I had the best time playing for you!!

Photo courtesy of Erica Serrano Photography

The Cotton Room Welcomes Vietnam For A Wedding

Hilary and Minh had both their ceremony and reception at Durham’s Cotton Room and I was honored to be their wedding DJ.

Their wedding ceremony was held in the middle of the room and surrounded by white linens and a backdrop made of white paper flowers.  It was so beautiful!  Their music was performed by pianist Michael from Save The Date Music and he did an amazing job!  Minister Katherine Edwards held the service.  I always love working with her!  They also had an interpreted for the guests from Vietnam and streamed it live for those who could not make it.  After the ceremony the 140 guests made their way to the cocktail hour while the staff flipped the room for dinner and dancing.

During the cocktail hour I had a mix of standards, R&B and acoustic rock playing.  Photographer Hung Phung got some great pics of the wedding party in front of the white paper flower wall and also outside during the cocktail hour.  When pics were done and the room was set, the white linens opened and the guests found their seats for dinner.

I introduced Hilary’s Parents along with the wedding party to the Alesso remix of “Something Just Like This” by Chainsmokers.  Hilary and Minh were introduced to “Symphony” by Clean Bandit as they made their way to the head table.  Her Father welcomed everyone and the salads and entrees came out.  During dinner I played the same playlist as cocktails.

After dinner we had several toasts and the dances.  Their first dance was to “The Way You Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra followed by the Father/Daughter dance to “Daughters” by John Mayer.  Minh danced with his Grandmother to “Because You Loved Me” by Celine Dion.  After that we had the cake cutting to “Sugar” by Maroon 5 but the guests couldn’t wait to hit the floor so started dancing.  I had 50 people dancing during the cake cutting!  So great!!  That never happens.  After that I mixed into “Uptown Funk” that filled it for the rest of the night.  We paused for the bouquet toss to “Diva” and then back to dancing to some EDM, Hip-Hop and a few K-Pop song.

We ended the night with a shirtless groom on top of his buddies shoulders dancing to “Marry You” by Bruno Mars and a sparkler exit from the main floor.  Thank you so so much Hilary and Minh and congratulations!!

A Picture Perfect Wedding At The Angus Barn Pavilion

Paige and Bryan had both their wedding ceremony and reception at The Angus Barn Pavilion on an absolute perfect weather day!  I was there to be their wedding DJ for both ceremony and reception on February 24th.

The ceremony was held at the pond for the over 300 guests.  As they found their seats I had some light classical music playing.  The Grandparents and Parents entered to “Air from Water Music” and the Bridesmaids to “Air On A G String”.   Paige and her Father entered to “Canon In D”.  After a short service by minister Owen Barrow, they recessed to “Dog Days Are Over”.  What a great song!!!  The guests were invited to the cocktail hour by minister Owen. 

During the cocktail hour I had a mix of standards, soft rock and classic soul playing.  The wedding party and Paige and Bryan were taken around the beautiful grounds for pics and video by Philip Herndon and Big Dog Little Bed.  The Classic Carolina Photobooth was open for guests to get pics taken also.  After the cocktail hour the guests were invited in to the pavilion for dinner and dancing by planner Kathy from Sally Oakley Weddings & Events.  The room looked beautiful with floral arrangements by English Garden.

I introduced the wedding party to “Bring ‘Em Out” by T.I. and Paige and Bryan came in and to the floor for their first dance.  They danced to “You’re Still The One” by Shania Twain followed by the parents dances.  Paige and her Father dance to “I Loved Her First” by Heartland and Bryan and his Mother were next.  He picked their song from a movie they watched hundreds of times when he was a child.  So special!!  So, they danced to the theme to “Homeward Bound”.  Paige’s Father welcomed everyone and blessed the meal.  The salads and entrees came out and I continued the same music mix as cocktails.

After dinner we had the toasts and cake cutting to “How Sweet It Is”. I opened the floor to everyone with some Motown and top 40 that filled in instantly.  For the next couple hours I played top 40 oldies, 80’s sing a longs and even some Blink 182 & Jimmy Eat World!!  We paused for the bouquet toss to “Single Ladies” and then back to dancing.  We ended the night with “Sweet Caroline” by they weren’t ready to leave for the after party at Good Fellows yet, so I played “Shout”.  After that they made their way outside for a sparkler exit before boarding the buses for Chapel Hill.

Thank you so much Paige, Bryan, Mr & Mrs Purcell and Kathy!!  I had a blast playing for you all!  Also, a shout out to a past couple of mine who were there as guests, Amy & Pat Meiburg!!  So great seeing you both again.

Photo courtesy of Herndon Weddings

A Wedding Reception High Above Downtown Raleigh

Jean and Brad’s wedding reception was held at The City Club on the 29^th floor of the Wachovia Building in downtown Raleigh and I was thrilled to be their wedding DJ!

The ceremony was held at Edenton Street Methodist Church that afternon.  After the ceremony the 130 guests made their way to the City Club for the reception.  The cocktail hour was held in the front bar area.  After pics & video were taken by Renee Sprink and Twenty-One Films the ballroom opened and guests found their way inside. Jean and Brad were the only ones to be introduced to “I Gotta Feelin’”.  They came in to loud applause and right to the dance floor for their choreographed first dance to “Fly Me To The Moon”.  They did a great job! As it ended I invited everyone to the food stations and went into a dinner mix of love songs.

After dinner we had an anniversary dance to “The Way You Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra with the winners married 51 years.  I opened the floor to everyne with some beach music and oldies that filled it for the next 2 hours.  After about 30 minutes of dancing we paused for the cake cutting to “I Found Love (Cindy’s Song)” by The Winans, then back to dancing to lots of 70’s, 80’s and some current top 40.

I ended the night with “Sweet Caroline” before sending everyone downstairs for a sparkler exit. I had so much fun playing for everyone there and working with some of my favorite vendors!  Congratulations Jean and Brad and thank you so much for everything!

My First Wedding of 2018 At The City Club in Raleigh

Lauren and Nick chose downtown Raleigh’s City Club for me to DJ their wedding ceremony and reception on January 20th.  It’s located on the 29^th floor of the Wachovia Building and has a beautiful view of North Raleigh through the floor to ceiling windows.

Their ceremony was held in the main ballroom and I ran mics for Minister Ed Sansbury and Nick. The Grandparents and Parents came down the aisle to “Arioso from Cantana” and Nick through the Bridesmaids to “Can’t Help Falling In Love”.  Lauren walked down the aisle with her Father and Stepfather to a classical cover of Ed Sheeran’s “Perfect”.  After a short ceremony they recessed to “Bless The Broken Road” by The O’Neill Brothers.  Ed invited the 125 guests to the lobby for cocktails while the staff flipped the room.

During the cocktail hour I had a mix of standards, classic soul and soft rock playing.  Photographers Cara and Dax from F8 Photo Studios were there to get some shots of the wedding party & newlyweds.  After pics were done and the room was ready, the guests were invited back into the main ballroom for dinner and dancing.  The room looked beautiful with floral arrangements by Mews Floral Designers along with our amber uplights.

I introduced the wedding party to “You Make My Dreams Come True” and Lauren  and Nick came in to loud cheers.  They had their first dance to the original version of “Perfect” followed by the parents dances. Lauren danced with her Father to “Crazy” by Patsy Cline.  This was the song he used to dance with her to when she was an infant to calm her down.  So sweet!!!  Nick danced with his Mother to “Stand By Me” after that.  Lauren’s Father welcomed everyone and his friend blessed the meal.  The salads and entrees came out and I went back to music.

After dinner we had the toasts and cake cutting to “How Sweet It Is” by James Taylor.  I opened the floor with “Build Me Up Buttercup” followed by some Motown and Top 40 that filled it for the next 2 hours!  We paused for the bouquet and garter toss, then back to dancing.  I ended the night with “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” but they weren’t at all ready to leave yet.   I played one more song for them to sing and dance to before leaving for the sparkler exit.

What an amazing night and great way to start out my 2018 weddings!  Thank you Lauren and Nick and congratulations.

Photo courtesy of F8 Photo Studios