A Carolina Inn wedding for Meagan & Evan

2019-09-18T13:14:16-04:00By Joe Bunn|

I knew from the minute I met Meagan & Evan that their wedding was going to be a blast. They were super detailed in the planning of their event and knew exactly what they wanted. Picking the beautiful Carolina Inn was just the first of many good choices they made!

I love being involved in a wedding from the ceremony through the reception because I get to see it all come together. Meagan looked amazing with her makeup done by Radiant Beauty and hair by Lillian Self. The photos from Bronwyn Duffield Photography are sure to be great.

The ceremony was done in the Bryan Courtyard, with cocktail hour taking place in the Old Well Wing. Tre Bella’s flower spread was amazing to see! I introduced Mr. & Mrs. Saltzberg to “Hey Look Ma- I Made It” by Panic at the Disco. Great entry song! The Bride and Groom had their first dance to “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran, and it was pretty perfect. We listened to a sweet welcome from the Parents of the Bride before the food was blessed and dinner commenced. I played a mix of light music while everyone enjoyed their delicious food. The gorgeous cake from Ashley Cakes was cut to “Cake f. 99 Percent” by Flo Rida. The cake was vanilla with lemon curd and buttercream icing- definitely a crowd favorite!

After great food, and even better cake, the Father and Daughter dance started to “My Girl” by the Temptations. The Groom then danced with his mother to “Good Riddance- Time of your Life” by Green Day. The song selections were the cherry on top of a perfect reception! After the solo dances were done, we opened the dance floor up to some amazing music from throughout the 2000s. With almost two hours of everyone tearing up the dance floor, we ended the night to “Last Dance” by Donna Summer. The Bride & Groom exited to a beautiful sparkler exit that I’m sure 21 Films captured perfectly.

Congratulations Meagan & Evan!

Photo courtesy of 21 Films

A Fun Wedding Weekend With Brooke and Ryan

2019-09-14T09:02:12-04:00By Randy Bennett|

I didn’t realize until closer to the wedding (and neither did they) that both Ryan and his Mother had separately hired me from venue referrals for both the rehearsal dinner and wedding on September 6^thand 7^th.  I knew I didn’t want to duplicate anything from night to night for this wonderful couple & their guests. Challenge accepted!

Brooke and Ryan’s rehearsal dinner was held on Friday at The Angus Barn Pavilion for 100 people.  As the guests arrived I had a mix of soft rock, classic soul, standards and a few country songs playing. They enjoyed visiting, cornhole on the back patio, passed hors d’oeuvres and the veggie and cheese display.  What do they do to that cheese to make it so good???

After the cocktail hour I invited them to take their seats for dinner.  His Father, Dave welcomed everyone and Pastor Nathan blessed the meal. The salads and entrees came out and I continued the same music mix as cocktails.  After dinner we had a shoe game and 6 toasts while guests enjoyed champagne and dessert.  Instead of opening the dance floor (that was holding over until Saturday) I played a mix of sing a long “Beachy/Yacht Rock” songs like “Build me Up Buttercup”, “Dancing In The Moonlight” and “Still The One” for guests to visit more before heading out.

Saturday- Wedding Day!!!!

I arrived at The Historic Wakefield Barn super early to set up for the ceremony and hang out with my fellow vendor friends. Shelley from Expressions Of Love Florist was getting the ceremony site on the 2^ndfloor ready. Photographer Nancy Ray was taking pics of Brooke, Ryan and wedding party separately around the property with videographers Chris & Toni from Heart Stone Films and Steph from Southern Oak Events was making sure everything was perfect.

As the 200 guests arrived for the ceremony they were treated to live music by a quartet from Arioso Strings. I ran a mic for Pastor Nathan as well as a hand held mic for a reader.  After the ceremony they were invited to the 1^st floor barn stables for cocktails and more music by Arioso Strings while the staff flipped the 2^nd floor for dinner and dancing.

When the room was ready guests came back upstairs and I lined the wedding party up for introductions. They were introduced to “(This Will Be) An Everlasting Love” and lined up in front of the head table.  Brooke and Ryan came in to loud applause and had their first dance to “Forever Like That” by Ben Rector.  They sang it to each other like they were the only ones in the room. It was so sweet!!  Brooke’s Father welcomed everyone and Brooke and Ryan blessed the meal.  During dinner I played a similar playlist to the night before, but different songs (of course).

After dinner we had a couple toasts and opened the floor with some Motown and top 40 that FILLED it by the end of the first song!  The floor was packed for the entire 2 hours!  We paused for the cake cutting to “How Sweet It Is” and a bouquet toss from the top of the mezzanine to “Single Ladies”, then back to dancing until the end of the night.

We ended with a last dance to “Wagon Wheel” before sending everyone downstairs again for a sparkler exit.

Thank you for everything Brooke, Ryan, Amy, Dave, Greg and Steph!! I was honored to play for you all weekend!

An Umstead Hotel Wedding for Morgan and Mark

2019-09-05T23:28:21-04:00By Randy Bennett|

I always LOVE playing at The Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary, NC!  This time, it was for Morgan and Mark’s wedding on September 1^st (the day before my Birthday).

Their ceremony was held earlier in the afternoon on the back lawn of The Umstead with Minister Ed Sansbury and music by Save The Date Music.  Morgan and Mark had lots of things for the 80 guests to do on their few hours break before the wedding reception later in the evening.

When I arrived I was greeted with a “Happy Birthday” from several staff members of The Umstead. Then, I saw a box left for me on my DJ table by baker Ashley Cakes!  Not going to lie, I kinda teared up a little.  My favorite cake that she makes (snickerdoodle) with my logo on top waiting for me!!  OMG!  So, I delicately moved it under my table and set up for the reception (and dreaming of eating that cake later!!).

The cocktail hour was held in the prefunction area outside of the ballroom I was in and The Umstead handled the music.  When the cocktail hour was over, the guests were invited inside the ballroom by planner extraordinaire GINA from A Southern Soiree.  The room looked beautiful with floral arrangements by Tre Bella, as did Morgan with makeup by Ashley Mooney. I can’t wait to see more pics from photographer Danielle from Blissmore Photography! I left music playing and went to line the wedding party up with Gina.  I introduced them to “I Gotta Feeling” and Morgan and Mark to the chorus of “Something Just Like This” by Coldplay.  They came in to loud applause and Morgan’s Father welcomed everyone.

The soup, salads and entrees came out and I played a mix of jazz standards during dinner.  After dinner we had the toasts and Ashley’s Cake cutting to “Sugar” by Maroon 5 that turned into a food fight..LOL!!  After they were cleaned up, they had their first dance to “25 Years” by Dan Rodriguez.  Morgan danced with her Father to “Butterfly Kisses” and Mark and his Mother to “My Wish”.  We had an anniversary dance to “L.O.V.E.” with the winners at 45 years married.  I opened the floor to everyone with “Brick House” and some 70’s then Top 40 that instantly filled it for the next 2 hours.

After dancing hard all night, it was time for the last dance to “Time Of My Life” from Dirty Dancing before a confetti cannon exit from the back patio. Thank you for everything Morgan, Mark, Danielle, Gina, Ashley Cakes and Kayla!

Photos courtesy of Blissmore Photography

A Merrimon Wynne Wedding for Kayla and Gabe

2019-09-05T17:18:37-04:00By Randy Bennett|

When I met Gabe in October last year I just knew there was going to be an epic dance party for his wedding at Merrimon Wynne on August 31st!!

Their ceremony was held on the side lawn and officiated over by Gabe’s Brother Ben.  He did an amazing job, especially since this was his first wedding.  As the 150 guests arrived I had some light classical music playing.  The Grandparents thru the wedding party entered to an instrumental of “A Thousand Years”.  Kayla and her Father entered to Wagner’s “Here Comes The Bride”.  After a short service they recessed to “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” and Ben invited everyone into the house for cocktails and passed hors d’oeuvres by Donovan’s Dish.  During the cocktail hour they had a playlist Gabe had made playing.

After pics were taken by Photographer Jordan Maunder, planner Amanda from Amanda Blair By Design invited everyone into the carriage house for dinner. The carriage house looked beautiful with a hanging floral arrangement by Wylde Flowers! After everyone was seated, I introduced the wedding party to “I Gotta Feeling”. They came in to loud applause and had their first dance to “Beyond” by Leon Bridges.  LOVE him!!! The Parents dances followed with Kayla and her Father’s dance to “How Sweet It Is”.  Gabe escorted his Mother to the floor for their dance to “My Wish”.  Her Father welcomed everyone and the food stations opened on the lawn.  During dinner I had a mix of classic soul, standards and soft rock playing.

After dinner we had a couple toasts then went right into an epic 3 hour dance party!  I started with a few Motown songs then into some Top 40. For the next 3 hours I played lots of 70’s, Top 40 and a great EDM set at the end of the night with fists pumping!! We ended the night with a last dance to Donna Summer’s “Last Dance”.

Thank you so much Gabe, Kayla, Haleigh and Amanda!!