The B-Sharp Entertainment Blog

My third July wedding reception was for Jennifer and Sean; they’re friends with my sister and had planned on having their reception under a large tent in Jen’s mom’s backyard. However, about three months before the big day, they decided to change their plans. As a result, the big day became much smaller, the guest list became limited to close friends and family, and the event became one that will be one of my most favorites for years to come.

The ceremony and reception were held at a summer cottage on the shores of Waquoit Bay in Falmouth MA; it belongs to my grandmother and has been in our family for a number of generations. Although I’ve been there just about every summer since birth, I had never seen it set up for a wedding (I still haven’t figured out where Sean managed to hide all of the furniture). Had I known about its potential as a wedding venue, I might have chosen it for my own reception back in 2006!

The afternoon began with the ceremony on the beach; my wireless sound system came in handy for this, as it was portable enough for me to take down the stairs and onto the sand with no troubles. Afterwards, Jen and Sean’s 40 guests gathered on the side lawn for cocktails and then came in for dinner. Despite the lack of air conditioning on one of the hottest days of the year, everyone was in great spirits. After a short toast by the best man, we were treated to a photo slideshow of the bride and groom, put together by Jen’s sister Stephanie.

The food, provided by The Crazy Chefs Caterers, was outstanding. In addition to providing the projector and screen for the aforementioned slideshow, I also set up some special lighting to highlight the cake table, appetizer and dessert stations.

Once dinner service was finished, the bride and groom opened the dance floor with their first dance of the evening – Sonny & Cher’s “I Got You Babe”. Everyone loved it, and quickly filled the dance floor at the start of the next song.

The night ended at 11 pm with a dance to Israel Kamakawiwo’ole’s version of “Somewhere Over The Rainbow”. And somehow, all of the furniture found its way back into the cottage the very next day.

Congratulations, Jen & Sean!

The room prior to the guests' arrival.

The Appetizer Table

Jen & Sean's Ceremony

The Dance Floor at 10 PM

Karen and Adam’s wedding ceremony and reception took place on July 18, 2008 at the Hawthorne Country Club in Dartmouth MA. Karen’s aunt served as the wedding coordinator and had been referred to me by the staff at Hawthorne, and was always happy to see me when she stopped by the local bridal shows. By the time Karen and Adam’s wedding day arrived, I felt like one of the family.

I arrived at Hawthorne a few hours early for this event, as the temperature outside was in the high 90s and I wanted plenty of time to load in, set up, and get comfortable. 90 minutes later, Karen and Adam’s 160 guests began to arrive, staying indoors until it was time for the ceremony to begin. The ceremony was perfect, with Justice of the Peace (and New Bedford City Councilor) David Alves officiating. David’s great to work with, as he’s quick-witted and able to keep the ceremony moving at a steady pace.

Once the ceremony had finished, everyone moved back inside for cocktails and hors d’ouvres, followed by the introduction of the wedding party, a blessing, toasts, and dinner. After dinner, the dance floor quickly filled and stayed that way for much of the evening. However, once the temperatures had cooled off outdoors, the adjacent deck was also a popular spot.

Congratulations, Karen and Adam!

Introduction Music: “The Boogie Bumper” – Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
Karen & Adam’s Intro Song:
“You’re The First, The Last, My Everything” – Barry White
Karen & Adam’s First Dance: “Me And You” – Kenny Chesney
Song played during the cake cutting: “When I’m 64″ – The Beatles

A view from the deck, where the ceremony took place.

My setup at Hawthorne Country Club

Upstairs at Hawthorne Country Club

Karen & Adam's First Dance

The Dance Floor at 10 PM

I’ve got a couple of recent weddings to blog about, but I figured I’d break up the wedding recaps with this picture from the Patriot Triathlon that I provided sound for on July 5th. Go Pats!

My 4th of July weekend festivities started on Thursday night – Beth & Steve’s wedding reception at Raffael’s in Walpole. When Beth first contacted me, she had July 3rd in mind but wasn’t able to confirm it right away because her now-husband Steve is in the Marines and was being sent overseas. Fortunately, Steve was back in the states a couple of weeks before the big day, so everything went smoothly.

Beth & Steve’s idea of getting married on a Thursday was genius – after all, who doesn’t want to leave work early (or take the day off!) and get a head-start on the weekend? All of their guests were clearly in the mood to celebrate, which made for an outstanding reception. For me, the party was over at 11:00 pm, but they could have danced all night. More weddings should be like this one!

Introduction Music: “For Those About To Rock” – AC/DC
Beth & Steve’s Introduction Music: “Theme from ‘Rocky’” – Bill Conti
Beth & Steve’s First Dance: “Me And You” – Kenny Chesney
Song played during the cake cutting: “You’re My Best Friend” – Queen
Bride/Father Dance: “I Loved Her First” – Heartland
Groom/Mother Dance: “My Wish” – Rascal Flatts

A view of the room before guests arrived:

My setup:

The wedding cake – red, white and blue!

The dance floor:

The newlyweds’ last dance of the night:

My second June 2008 wedding was Melissa & Stephen’s reception at the Harding Allen Estate in Barre, MA. It was a nearly two-hour drive for me, but I don’t mind traveling so I was happy to make the trip up 495, past Worcester and through the towns of Paxton, Rutland, and Oakham. Up until then, I wasn’t aware those towns existed.

The location itself was really very unique – an old mansion with an elaborate garden terrace and an adjacent function room. Getting in and out wasn’t entirely easy (I actually had to walk all of my gear in through the garden), but the Harding Allen staff were very accomodating and did all they could to make things as easy as possible for me.

Of course, the reception itself was fantastic – everyone had a great time and the dance floor was never empty. At the end of the night, the owners of the estate asked for my business cards and offered to add me to their referral list. Hopefully, I’ll be back there soon.

Introduction Music: “The Boogie Bumper” – Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
Melissa & Stephen’s Introduction Music: “More Today Than Yesterday” – Spiral Staircase
Melissa & Stephen’s First Dance: “Something In The Way She Moves” – James Taylor
Song played during the cake cutting: “More” – Bobby Darin
Bride/Father Dance: “The Way You Look Tonight” – Frank Sinatra
Groom/Mother Dance: “You Are The Sunshine Of My Life” – Stevie Wonder
Last Dance: “You’re Nobody ‘Til Somebody Loves You” – Frank Sinatra

The garden terrace at the Harding Allen Estate:

Inside the reception room:

The dance floor at 10:00 PM: