A Highgrove Estate Wedding for Shelby and Jake

What a nice family and couple!!  I never met Shelby and Jake until their wedding at Highgrove Estate in Fuquay Varina on October 27th, but had a nice chat with her Mother, Janni a year ago.

Their ceremony was held in the back overlooking a beautiful fall colored hill.  As the 150 guests arrived I had a mix of acoustic guitar covers playing.  The guests found their seats and the ceremony was under way.  The Grandparents, Parents and Groomsmen entered to a cover of “Fields Of Gold” by Harvey Reid.  The Bridesmaids and Jr. Bridesmaids entered to the first party of “Can’t Help Falling In Love” by Kina Grannis.  Officiant Kevin asked everyone to stand, the doors to the house opened to reveal Shelby and Her Father, and I started the second half of the song.  It was timed perfectly!  After a short service they recessed to “September” by Earth, Wind & Fire.

After the ceremony, the guests were invited to the back patio for cocktails and passed hors d’oeuvres. I had a mix of standards playing that was heavy on Sinatra and Buble.  After pics were done by Amber from Six Foot Photography, the doors to the ballroom opened and I invited guests inside for dinner with help from Britnie from Highgrove.  I introduced the wedding party to “This Will be (An Everlasting Love)”.  Shelby and Jake came in to loud applause and had their first dance to “Just The Way You Are” by Billy Joel.  Her Father welcomed everyone and blessed the meal. The salads and family style entrees came out and I had a mix of soft rock playing.

After dinner we had the toasts and cake cutting to “How Sweet It Is”.  Shelby joined her Father on the floor for their dance to “Walk With You” by Edwin McCain.  This is one of my favorite Father/Daughter songs!  Jake escorted his Mother to the floor for their dance to “My Wish”.  I opened the floor with “Brick House”, “Play That Funky Music” and some Top 40 that filled it.

The Krispy Kreme flambe station opened outside and guests enjoyed that as well as dancing.  We paused for a bouquet toss to “Man, I Feel Like A Woman” and garter toss to “American Woman”, then back to dancing.  We ended the night with a last dance to “At Last” before a sparkler exit.

Thank you so much Shelby, Jake, Janni and Britnie!  I had the best time!!

An NC State Park Alumni Center Wedding for Sheila and Mike

I was so thrilled to play for Sheila and Mike’s wedding and to take on the task of blending both American and Persian music and customs together at NC State’s Park Alumni Center on October 26th!

Their American ceremony was held earlier in the day at the new Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral. After the service, the 150 guests had a little break before heading over to the Alumni center for the reception.  The cocktail hour was held in the foyer and on the 2^ndfloor.

After the cocktail hour, the doors to the oval black and white ballroom opened and guests found their seats. The room looked beautiful with floral arrangements by Daniel’s Florist.  I left music playing and went to line the wedding party up for introductions with help from planner Stephanie Shaul. I introduced them to “Marry You” and Sheila and Mike to “Can’t Stop The Feeling”. They came in to loud applause and sat down at the back of a decorated stage for a Persian ceremony hosted by her Uncle.  After the ceremony her Father welcomed everyone and Mike’s Mother blessed the meal. During dinner I had a mix of soft rock playing.

After dinner we had the toasts and dances.  They had their first dance to “Faithfully” by Journey.  Sheila’s Father joined her on the floor for their dance to “I Hope You Dance” and Mike and his Mother to “You’ll Be In My heart”. Before the cake cutting, her Sister and cousins did a Persian knife dance to “Ay Gole Royaee” that flowed into the Publix cake cutting.  

While the staff served the cake I opened the floor with some Motown and Top 40 for 15 minutes, then blended into a Persian music set that took the energy thru the roof!!  It always does!!  So fun.  I went back and forth with American and Persian music for the next 2 hours only pausing for a couple ballads and the bouquet and garter toss.

I ended the night with “Sweet Caroline” and “Wagon Wheel” before sending everyone outside for the sparkler exit.  After everyone was gone except Photographer Chelsea Allegra, videographers Bryce and Jessie from Muddy Trails Film Co. and Sheila and Mike, they had a private last dance to “At Last”.

What a beautiful and fun wedding!!  Thank you Sheila, Mike, Stephanie and Hannah!!  I will never forget this wedding!

A Sutherland Wedding for Alanna and Chris

I finally got to meet Alanna and Chris just a week before their wedding. They are so funny and I was thrilled to play for their wedding at The Sutherland in Wake Forest on October 20^th.

The ceremony was held in the bricked garden and I ran mics and music for them.  As the 80 guests arrived to take their seats, I had light classical music playing. The Parents entered to “Ancient Stones” by Jeremy Soule. Chris lead his Groomsmen and Bridesmaids in by skipping in to Vivaldi’s “Autumn Op. 3. So great!!! Alanna entered to “The Morrowind Theme”.  After a short, very sweet and sometimes funny ceremony that included hand written vows, they danced out to “Never Gonna Give You Up” by Rick Astley. The cutest!!

The guests were invited to the covered grooms terrace for cocktails and I had a mix of rock, R&B and oldies playing. Guests enjoyed refreshments and hors d’oeuvres while Nieto Photography and Oak City Films got some shots of the wedding party and pavilion.  After the cocktail hour, Donna & Lena from The Sutherland invited guests into the pavilion for the reception.  I left music playing and went inside the house to line the wedding party up for intros with them.

I introduced the wedding party to “Can’t Stop The Feeling” and Alanna and Chris to “Turn Down For What”. They had their first dance to “Safe & Sound” by Capital Cities followed by her dance with her Father to “Isn’t She Lovely” by Sinatra.  I have hundreds of his songs, but had to search for this one.  It’s awesome!!!  Her Father welcomed everyone and the plated salads came out by Rocky Top Catering before the food stations opened.  During dinner I had the same music mix as cocktails.

After dinner we had a short shoe game where they agreed (mostly) on the answers, and then the toasts. We had a Cakes By Chelsea cake cutting to “Cake By The Ocean”, then opened the floor with “Build Me Up Buttercup” and some Top 40.  The floor filled and they had a blast dancing to Top 40, 70’s, 80’s and a few 90’s tracks.  We paused for a bouquet toss to “Single Ladies” then back to dancing.

I ended the night with “Last Dance” before a sparkler exit.  Thank you Alanna, Chris, Nancy, Donna and Lena.  I loved playing for you and hopefully your knee will heel soon Chris!!

Photo courtesy of Nieto Photography

A Merrimon Wynne Italian Wedding for Ashlie and Ryan

When both Bride and Groom are Italian and lots of fun, I am thrilled to be their DJ!!

Ashlie and Ryan chose downtown Raleigh’s historic Merrimon Wynne House for their wedding ceremony and reception on October 19^th.  I arrived early and set up my sound system for the ceremony.  As the 150 guests arrived I had a mix of soft rock playing.  The Parents entered to “The Love Theme From St. Elmo’s Fire”. The wedding party to the Ed Sheeran part of “Perfect Symphony”.  Officiant Barbara Lodge asked guests to stand and Ashlie and her Father entered from the house to the Bocelli verse of “Perfect Symphony”.  After a beautiful service by Barbara, they recessed to “Heaven” by Bryan Adams.  They were invited into the house for cocktails and I had a mix of Italian crooners playing inside.

After pics & film were done Pamela Jahnke and Thomas Blake, the guests were invited into the carriage house for dinner and dancing. The room looked gorgeous with floral arrangements by Meristem Floral! I lined the wedding party up with lots of help from Catherine with Events by La Fete! I introduced the Parents to “Rock Of Ages” by Def Leppard and wedding party to “Can’t Stop The Feeling”.  Ashlie and Ryan came in to “Hot For The Teacher” and loud applause.  They had their first dance to “Thank You For Loving Me” by Bon Jovi. Her Father welcomed everyone and her Uncle blessed the meal.  The Rocky Top catering food stations opened and I had a mix of classic rock and Italian crooners playing.

After dinner we had the toasts followed by the Parents dances.  Ashlie and her Father were first to an edit I made them that started with “When You Need Me” by Bruce Springsteen, then into “Nothin’ But A Good Time” by Poison. So great!! Ryan and his Mother danced to a shortened edit of “Mother” by Sugarland I made for her.  I opened the floor to everyone with the Italian classic “The Tarantella” and the Limoncello shots came out!!  Some oldies and top 40 followed and kept the guests dancing for the next 3 hours.

We ended the night with Joe Cocker’s “With A Little Help From My Friends”, Garth’s “Friends In Low Places” and finally “New York, New York” that had everyone in a huge circle singing and dancing.  Thank you Ashlie, Ryan, Bill, Catherine and Kaila.  That was an awesome wedding!!

Photo courtesy of Pamela Jahnke Photography

An Oaks at Salem Wedding for Sarah and Niko

Sarah and Niko are so nice and I was thrilled to be at the beautiful Oaks At Salem in Apex NC for their wedding on October 18^th.

Their ceremony was held across the pond and I ran a mic for their officiant Steve.  A quartet from Arioso Strings was there to handle the music.  They always do just an amazing job!!  After a short service the 90 guests were invited back to the house for cocktails.  I had a mix of rock, classic soul and standards playing.

After pics were done by photographer Carly Fogelman, the guests were invited to their seats for the introductions.  I introduced them to “I Gotta Feeling” and Sarah and Niko to “Best Day Of My Life”. They had their first dance to Dan + Shay’s song “Speechless”. Sarah danced with her Brother’s next to “Unforgettable” and Niko escorted his Mother to the floor for their dance to “Humble & Kind”.  They took their seats and the Rocky Top Catered buffet opened in the house. During dinner I had a mix of rock, country and Motown playing.

After dinner we had the toasts including one by some random stranger that build their house, Natascha. We had the Once In A Blue Moon Cake cutting in the house to “Sugar” by Maroon 5. While the staff cut the cake for serving I opened the floor with some Beach and Motown, then top 40 that filled it for the next 2 hours.  They had a blast dancing to line dances, top 40, 80’s and even Eden XO “Weekend” for Niko.

We ended the night with a last dance to “Closing Time” before a sparkler exit.  Thank you Sarah, Niko and Becky.  I had the best time!!

Photo courtesy of Carly Fogleman Photography

A Melrose Knitting Mill Wedding for Athar and Teddy

I was so excited to play at Athar and Teddy’s wedding at Melrose Knitting Mill in Raleigh NC on October 13^th. The challenge was to not only play American music, but incorporate Palestinian dance music for Athar’s side of the family. Challenge accepted!

Their ceremony was held on one side of Melrose and the room was divided by a floor to ceiling white linen. I ran a mic for their officiant Kathie McCutcheon.  They had a string trio from Corda Entertainment cover the music.  After a short service, the 175 guests were invited downstairs for a social hour.

After pics were done by photographer Carley Page the staff flipped the room for dinner.  When the social hour was over Sarah from Melrose invited everyone back upstairs for dinner and dancing.  I left music playing and lined the wedding party up for introductions as guests found their seats.  I introduced them to “I Gotta Feeling” and Athar and Teddy to “Best Day Of My Life”.  They came in to loud applause and had their first dance to “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran. Teddy’s Mother joined him for their dance to “Child Of Mine” and she welcomed everyone after the dance. Athar’s Uncle Joe blessed the meal and the salads came out. During dinner I had a mix of soft rock, R&B and standards playing.

After dinner we had a few toasts and the opened the dance floor.  I started with some Motown and top 40 for a short set, then mixed into a set of Palestinian dance music that had both families dancing together and the energy went through the roof!! Of the 175 guests there had to be 150 on the floor dancing to dabke.  It was so great seeing both cultures dancing together and having such a great time!! I went back and forth with American and Palestinian music for the next 2 hours with a great dance floor the whole time.

We ended the night with “Sweet Caroline” before a sparkler exit.  Thank you Athar, Teddy, Cincy and Sarah.  I will never forget how much fun and truly special this wedding was!

Photo courtesy of Carley Page Photography

A Museum Of Art Wedding for Georgia and Jackson

I had never met Georgia and Jackson until their wedding on October 12^th at The Museum Of Art in Raleigh, but had a meeting with his very sweet Mother and talked to her about their wedding.

The ceremony was held in the back “garden” and I provided a mics for their officiant, Aaron, as well as a hand held one for prayers by 7 different people. The site looked beautiful with floral arrangements by Watered Garden.  They had a live cellist and violinist provide the music.  After the service that ended with both Georgia and Jackson breaking a glass, the guests were invited inside for the cocktail/dinner hour.

During the cocktail/dinner hour I had a mix of indie rock, classic soul and standards playing that Jackson mostly gave me.  I LOVED his playlist!!  Guests enjoyed passed hors d’oeuvres, small plates and looking at the museums exibits. Half way thru photographer Rebecca Ames finished up pics of the wedding party and I introduced them to “This Will be (An Everlasting Love)”. They came in to loud applause and joined the 180 guests for the rest of the cocktail/dinner hour.

After dinner we had the Cinda’s Cake cutting to “How Sweet It Is”. The toasts followed from the dance floor while the Museum staff cut the cake.  After the toasts, Georgia and Jackson had their first dance to bluesy/R&B cover of Shania Twain’s “Still The One”.  I had never heard this version before, but it is amazing!! Georgia had a dance with her Father next to “isn’t She Lovely” and Jackson and his Mother to “Count On me”.  I opened the floor to everyone with some Motown and Top 40 that filled

it for the next 2 hours. I mean FILLED!!!  We paused for a 150 people deep dance to the “Hora Medley” then back to dancing.

I ended the night with one of my favorite songs ever, “Valerie” by Amy Winehouse and finally “You Make My Dreams Come True” by Hall & Oates before a sparkler exit.

Thank you Georgia, Jackson, Sally and Morgan!  That was an amazing wedding!!