A Doctor Who Themed Wedding for Alison and Hunter at The City Club

The City Club in downtown Raleigh has got to have the best view or Raleigh! Located on the 28^thand 29^thfloor of the Wells Fargo building, it was the perfect location for Alison and Hunter’s Doctor Who themed wedding on January 11^th, 2020!

The ceremony was held on the 28^thfloor and I provided mics and music.  As the 125 guests arrived I had a mix of instrumental songs from Doctor Who soundtracks playing.  Reverend Ed Sansbury entered and asked everyone to silence their phones and the ceremony started. The wedding party entered to “A Thousand Years” and Alison and her Father to “Canon In D”. After the service that included a reading by Hunter’s Godmother, Musical performance of “Can’t Help Falling In Love” by Hunter’s Sister on guitar and her wife on vocals and short video clip of a wedding from Doctor Who, they recessed to “I Am The Doctor” from Series 5 of Doctor Who.  Ed invited guests to the 29^thfloor lobby for cocktails and I started a mix of rock, country and classic soul.

During the cocktail hour guests enjoyed refreshments, hors d’oeuvres and taking pictures in front of the life size Tardis from Doctor Who.  It was AWESOME!!  After pics were taken inside the ballroom by photographer Joe Payne and videographer Phil from Twenty-One Films, the guests were invited to their tables for the reception. The room looked beautiful with arrangements by Dana’s Paper Flowers and an amazing view of Raleigh.  I left music playing and lined the wedding party up with help from planner and family friend, Ann.  The wedding party entered to the Doctor Who TV Theme (of course).  Alison and Hunter came in to loud applause and had their very special first dance.  They danced to “Because You Loved Me” sung by Ann’s son Dominic.  He did an AMAZING job!! The first minute of the song was danced to by Alison and Hunter alone, then their parents joined them, then their spouses joined them, then I invited everyone to join them for the last 2 minutes of the song.  It was just wonderful!  Her Father welcomed everyone, Hunter’s Godfather gave a heartfelt toast and Reverend Ed blessed the meal. During dinner was a mix of rock, standards, country and classic soul.

After dinner we had an anniversary Dance to “The Way You Look Tonight” with the winners married 48 years! As a gift, Alison gave her a bouquet.  So sweet!  His Aunt Sue then told a story about the history of the cake cutting knife, and we had the Edible Arts Cake cutting to “Sugar, Sugar”. We surprised photographer Joe with a cupcake for his Birthday and opened the floor with some Motown and Top 40 that filled it for the next 2 hours.  Guests danced to 80’s, top 40, oldies and a couple line dances.  I even played “Please, Mr. Postman” by The Carpenters for Alison’s Father that retired from the Post Office after 33 years.

We ended the night with “We Are Family” as a last dance for everyone.  Thank you Alison, Hunter and Ann.  I was honored and thrilled to be your DJ!

Photo courtesy of Joe Payne Photography

A Merrimon Wynne Wedding for Katie and Jim To Start The New Decade

To start the 20’s off, I was back at Merrimon Wynne for Katie and Jim’s wedding on January 4th.  I LOVED their 80’s playlist and was thrilled to DJ for them!

Their ceremony was held inside the carriage house and I provided mics and music for them.  As the 100 guests arrived I had a mix of classical pop playing.  The Parents entered to “A Thousand Years” by Daniel Jang. Jim to “Shallow” and The Wedding Party to “Perfect” both also by Daniel Jang.  Katie and her Father entered to “Can’t Help Falling In Love” by Daniel.  Katie looked beautiful with hair and makeup by the girls at Makeup by Ashley Mooney! After a short service by Reverend Perry Hardison that included a unity candle and wine box ceremony, they recessed to “Somewhere Over The Rainbow”. Perry invited them to the cocktail hour in the house while that staff flipped the Carriage House for the reception.

After the cocktail hour, guests came back to the Carriage House and I left music playing while I lined Katie & Jim up for introductions. The room looked amazing with floral arrangements by English Garden! I introduced them to “Sit Next To me” by Foster The People. They came in to loud applause and had their first dance to “Ho Hey” by Lumineers. She had a dance with her Father after that to “Wild World” by Cat Stevens followed by a welcome by Jim and Katie and blessing by her Uncle. During the Rocky Top Catered dinner I had a mix of soft rock and 80’s playing.  

After dinner we had the toasts and I opened the floor with “Boogie Shoes” then 80’s for the rest of the night. They had some of my favorites in their request list including “I Melt With You”, a couple Duran Duran songs, The Go-Go’s and Violent Femmes.  I ended the night with “Time Of My Life” from Dirty Dancing and finally “Stand By Me” before a sparkler exit.  Guests took Krispy Kreme donuts on their way to the front of the house.

Thank you Katie, Jim and Kaila!!  I had the best time.  I can’t wait to see the photos by Emily Lahmann!!

My Final Wedding of 2010’s for Kaylie and Donovan at Market Hall

My final wedding of the 2010’s couldn’t have been better!!  Kaylie and Donovan and their 100 guests had the best time at Market Hall on December 30th!!

Their ceremony was held at Market Hall and they had a live duo playing provide music.  After the ceremony, they had another group of musicians playing for the cocktail hour.  I set up for the reception during the cocktail hour.  At the end of the cocktail hour guests found their seats and I took over the music.  I got Kaylie and Donovan ready for intros with planners Ashley and Trent from Something Fabulous Weddings and Events. They came in to loud applause and had their first dance to “What A Wonderful World” by Sam Cooke. I LOVE that song!! Her Mother welcomed everyone and the salads came out before the buffet opened. During dinner I had a mix of classic standards playing.

After dinner we had the toasts and dual parents dance to “You Are The Sunshine Of My Life”.  After 45 seconds I invited all the parents and their children to join them on the floor.  It was so nice!!  I opened the floor to everyone with “Dancing In The Moonlight” that started the 2.5 hour dance party. The floor was full all night!! We paused for an energetic Hora dance, then back to dancing until the end of the night.  I can’t wait to see the pics from photographer Audrey from Rose Trail Images!

We ended the night with “Sweet Caroline” before a sparkler exit and guests took cookies on their way outside.

Thank you Kaylie, Donovan, Trent and Ashley.  That was a great way to end the decade!!  

Photos courtesy of Rose Trail Images

A Merrimon Wynne Wedding for Marina & Chris

Marina and Chris had such an amazing wedding reception at The Merrimon Wynne House on December 29^th!  I was THRILLED I was their DJ!!

Their ceremony was held at downtown Raleigh’s Historic All Saints Chapel. It is the perfect example of a “little white church”! After the ceremony, the 130 guests started over to Merrimon Wynne where I was set up for the reception.  The cocktail hour was held in the house and they had the music covered there.  After pics were taken by Cara from F8 Photo Studios planner Kathy from Sally Oakley Events invited guests to the Carriage house for the reception.  I left music playing and went inside the house with her to line the wedding party up for introductions.

 

I introduced the wedding party to “September” and Marina and Chris to “You Make My Dreams Come True”.   They had their choreographed first dance to “Millionaire” by Chris Stapleton.  The Parents dances followed with Marina and her Father dancing to “Brown Eyed Girl”. Chris and his Mother danced to “My Wish” before a welcome by Marina’s Father and blessing by her Uncle. The Rocky Top catered buffet opened after the plated salads were finished.  During dinner I had a playlist of jazz standards and Brazilian jazz playing.  I LOVED it!!

After dinner we had the toasts and opened the floor with “The Cupid Shuffle”.  That’s all it took to fill the floor for the next 2 hours. While guests were dancing, Marina and Chris grabbed a few family members and snuck into the house for a private Nothing Bundt Cakes cutting.  During dancing I played lots of top 40, 80’s, some Greek dance songs and even “In The Mood” for a Grandmother. We ended the night with “Die A Happy Man” before the sparkler exit.

Thank you Marina, Chris, Abby and Kathy!!  That was a BLAST!!!

Photos courtesy of F8 Photo Studios

A Merrimon Wynne Wedding for Kailtyn and Mike

Kaitlyn and Mike had the longest wedding reception I have done and I had the best time playing all night at downtown Raleigh’s Merrimon Wynne House!!

Their ceremony was held outside on the lawn and the weather was perfect! Her Brother officiated and he did a great job.  I ran his mic as well as all the music. As the 100 guests arrived,  I had a mix of contemporary love songs playing. The Grandmothers, Mothers and Groomsmen entered to “Here Comes The Sun” and Bridesmaids to “Love On Top”.  Kaitlyn and her Father entered to “What A Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong. After a short service they recessed to “Simple” by Florida Georgia Line.  I invited everyone inside the house for the cocktail hour while Danielle from Blissmore Photography and videographer Phil from Twenty-One Films got some shots of the wedding party.

After the cocktail hour the guests were invited into the Carriage House where I was by planner Stephanie from Viva L’Event for dinner and the epic dance party. The room looked amazing with florals by Meristem Floral! I introduced the Parents to “This Will be (An Everlasting Love)” and wedding party to “All I Do is Win”.  Kaitlyn and Mike came in to loud applause and had their first dance to the duet version of “From This Moment” by Shania Twain.  Kaitlyn and her Father had their dance to “I Loved Her First” and Mike & his Mother to “The Man You’ve Become”.  Her Parents welcomed everyone and the plated salads came out. Shortly the Rocky Top Catered buffet opened on the pergola. During dinner I had a mix of soft rock, country, classic soul and standards playing.

Towards the end of dinner guests started dancing to some 70’s pop and beach music before we paused for the toasts and anniversary dance to “That’s Amore”.  The winners of the dance have been married 57 years!  I opened up the floor again to everyone with some Motown and top 40 that kept them dancing for the next 4 hours!!  That’s right, 4 hours of dancing!!  I played lots of oldies, 80’s, current top 40, a couple line dances, some hip-hop and sing a longs. 

We ended the night with everyone in a big circle singing to “Country Roads” by John Denver before I invited them to the front of the house for a sparkler exit. After everyone had left, Kaitlyn and Mike had an intimate private last dance to “Stay With You” by John Legend.

Thank you Kaitlyn, Mike, Lecia, Haleigh & Stephanie.  That was such a fun wedding!!

A Sutherland Estate Wedding for Kory and Brandon

I was thrilled to be back at The Sutherland Estate in Wake Forest for another wedding.  This time was for Kory and Brandon on December 14^th.

They had me provide a mic and music for their ceremony on the side lawn.  As the 90 guests arrived I had a mix of contemporary love songs playing. The wedding party including Kory walked down the aisle to an instrumental of Michael Buble’s cover of “You and I”.  After a short service they recessed to “Marry You” by Bruno Mars.  Their officiant invited them to the other side of the house for a cocktail hour on the Grooms terrace.  During the cocktail hour I had a mix of rock, country and classic soul playing.

I left for the pavilion and started music in there for those who were too cold outside.  After pics were done by JP Lord Photography, it was time to introduce Kory and Brandon. They came in to loud applause and had their first dance to “Dancing Away With My Heart” by Dillon Carmichael. Such a great song!!  Kory danced with her Father and Step Father next, then Brandon and his Grandmother.  Hey Step Father welcomed everyone and Brandon’s brother blessed the Rocky Top meal.

 

After dinner we had a cake cutting to “How Sweet It Is” followed by the toasts.  I invited guests to help themselves to the cupcake display and opened the dance floor with “Dancing In The Moonlight” that brought young and old out. We paused for a bouquet toss to “Single Ladies” then back to dancing until the last dance to “Everybody” by The Backstreet Boys and a sparkler exit.

Thank you Kory, Brandon, Laurae, Christy and Lena. I had the best time!

Photos courtesy of JP Lord Photography

A Lavender Oaks Farm Wedding for Shannon and Sean

What a beautiful venue Lavender Oaks Farm is to have a wedding! It was the picture-perfect site for Shannon and Sean’s wedding on December 7^th.

Their ceremony was held in front of a stone fireplace outside next to the lavender field.  It smells amazing!  As the 150 guests arrived I had a mix of classical covers of pop songs playing. When it was time for the ceremony to start, officiant Kevin Holland asked everyone to silence their phones and the Parents entered to “Can’t Help Falling In Love” by Drew Jacobs.  The wedding party entered to a cover of “Marry Me” by J Benjamin. Shannon’s processional was to “A Thousand Years” by The Piano Guys. After a short service that included a wonderful reading by her Grandfather, they recessed to “Marry You” by Bruno  Mars. Kevin invited them into the Barn for the cocktail hour while photographer Amber from Six Foot Photography got some shots.

During the cocktail hour I had a mix of standards, soft rock, classic soul and pop songs playing. Guests enjoyed hors d’oeuvres by Beau Catering and Six Foot Photography’s photo booth. When it was time for introductions, I invited guests to their seats and left music playing while I lined the wedding party up with help from Karen from Lavender Oaks Farm. I introduced them to “Can’t Stop The Feeling” and Shannon and Sean to “Good As Hell” by Lizzo. They came in to loud applause and had their first dance to “I’ll Be” by Edwin McCain.  LOVE that song!!  Their Father’s shared a welcome and the family style entrees came out shortly.  

After dinner we had the cake cutting to “How Sweet It Is” by Marvin Gaye followed by the toasts. Shannon had a dance with her Father to “My Wish” and Sean and his Mother to “You’ll Be In My Heart”.  We had an anniversary dance to “100 Years” with Shannon’s Grandparents winning the longest married contest.  I opened the floor to everyone with some Top 40 and 80’s that filled it shortly.

We ended the night with a last dance/sing a long to “Closing Time” before a glow stick exit.

Thank you Shannon, Sean and Karen.  I loved every minute of this wedding!

Photos courtesy of Six Foot Photography