Brendan’s Blog - The DJ’s Notes, Real Weddings, and more!

This October has been my busiest month ever, and all of the events I’ve worked have been absolutely spectacular. Now that the month is winding down, I’ll have more time to post about those events and talk about some other exciting things happening over the next few months.

The event I did last night was phenomenal - Jen & Trevor’s wedding reception at Hawthorne Country Club. I’ll have a full recap of it soon, but I wanted to share the email I received from the bride just after noontime today:

Brendan-

Thanks-Jen

I was fortunate to work for TWO wonderful couples during the first week of October; the second wedding of the weekend was Chantelle & Donnie’s ceremony and reception at Lake Pearl Luciano’s in Wrentham. I’ve done a number of events at Lake Pearl, but this was the first where I was providing ceremony music in addition to the reception entertainment.

Chantelle & Donnie hired me in September 2007, and we met again in September of this year to go over all of the details of their wedding day. It was a great meeting - they were really organized with everything so it made getting to know them a lot of fun. I was especially flattered when they told me that I was their favorite vendor to work with; they told me that of all of the vendors they’d hired, I was the only one who seemed truly excited about their wedding day. I admit that I do look forward to my events more than most wedding vendors might. In fact, I’ve worked with plenty of people who treat each event like just another job, while I feel truly privileged to be part of my clients’ special occasions. When I stop enjoying what I do and appreciating the people I get to work for, that’s when I’ll hang up my headphones.

Back to Chantelle & Donnie’s wedding: it started at 1:00 pm with an outdoor ceremony, followed by cocktails and hors d’ouevres in Lake Pearl’s Lounge. Later, guests made their way into the Treetop room and were treated to amazing love story video produced by Richard Kim of KVB Productions. It was my first time working with Richard, but I can tell you this: He’s a class act. I’ve seen lots of photo slideshows, but this presentation was totally different - a 10 minute program including interviews with the bride and groom, talking about how they met, the times they’ve spent together, and when they knew for sure that their relationship was like no other. When the presentation was finished, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. You can view the video here.

After a mid-afternoon meal, the dancing began, with an assortment of great dance songs picked out by the bride and groom. Some of the highlights included Chantelle’s PERFECT lip-sync to “We Are Family” (you would have thought that she was once a member of Sister Sledge), and Donnie’s outstanding dance moves during Run DMC’s “It’s Like That” - it’s Donnie’s most favorite song. We finished off the afternoon with a perfectly choreographed last dance, to Frank Sinatra’s “The Last Dance”. It was a WONDERFUL afternoon!

Congratulations, Chantelle & Donnie!

Introduction Music: “I Feel Good (I Got You)” - James Brown
Chantelle & Donnie’s Introduction Music: “Let’s Get It Started” - Black Eyed Peas
Chantelle & Donnie’s First Dance: “Truly” - Lionel Richie
Last Dance: “The Last Dance” - Frank Sinatra

The Treetop Room at Lake Pearl

The place cards are laid out and ready...

One of the outdoor ceremony locations at Lake Pearl.

Monogrammed cocktail napkins are a great way to personalize your event.

The wedding cake.

The bride and groom sharing a dance.

The view from the DJ booth at 6:00 pm.

In this area, most of the local bridal fairs happen during the months of January and February. That’s why I was happy to hear about LeBaron Hills Country Club’s Bridal Show taking place on Sunday, November 23rd from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. I’ve really enjoyed my LeBaron Hills events over the course of the past year or so - they’ve made some big improvements in the management of their facility and the waitstaff is always happy to serve you. As soon as I got the call asking me to take part in the show, I didn’t have to think twice about saying yes.

The show will be featuring about two dozen vendors, from DJs to Florists, Bakeries and more; all are top-notch and referred by LeBaron Hills to their clients. Admission is free and cocktails and hors d’ouevres will be served. You can get more information about the show here. I hope to see you there!

Every once in a while I get the privilege of working for a couple who really goes above and beyond to put their own unique “stamp” on their wedding day. These receptions sometimes require a little more planning and coordination on my part, but they’re always worth the extra effort because they’re sure to be remembered in the years that follow. One of the first really unique receptions for me took place back in 2003 at the Red Lion Inn in Cohasset; it featured a game of “Cranium” led by the bride and groom and played by all of their guests, followed by a karaoke sing-a-long. Another memorable reception was Caryn & Sean’s wedding last October; I wrote about it in this post.

This year’s most memorable reception just might be Keith & Stacey’s celebration at the Old Yarmouth Inn in Yarmouthport, MA. When they first hired me back in September of 2007, I had no idea just how much I’d enjoy working for them. That’s partially because we never met in person before they decided to hire me. They had found me on the Massachusetts Online Wedding Guide, enjoyed some of my early blog posts, and spoke with me on the phone only once or twice before signing a contract. When I did finally meet them in January, it was at a bridal show - they took a drive down to Dartmouth to see me and check out some of the other vendors, even though I’m pretty sure they had already booked all of the important ones by then.

When we met again in September to go over all of the details for their reception, the one thing I heard pretty frequently was that “…we want to do something different”. For starters, that meant providing ceremony music in a really small chapel with no electrical service:

It also meant that the bride and groom would be serving Hostess cupcakes in lieu of a traditional wedding cake:

And it meant that the dancing would be taking place in the Old Yarmouth Inn’s bar area, which is about as big as my living room. No complaints from me about that - I love being able to say that the dance floor was packed from the moment Keith & Stacey started their first dance:

After that first dance, everyone took their seats in the dining room, where we were treated to a number of toasts and lots of singing. Note to future clients: if you tell me you’d like your guests to sing a song with lyrics that include the word “love” in order to see you kiss your new husband or wife, there will be more singing and laughter than you could ever expect.

Speaking of singing and laughter, Keith and his co-workers put together a vocal tribute to the bride in the months leading up to the wedding. This included the groom serenading his new wife with a rendition of Sonny & Cher’s “I Got You Babe”.

You’re probably wondering about the woman in costume… that’s Keith’s co-worker, Denise. Denise paid tribute to Keith & Stacey with her parodies to songs from “The Sound Of Music”, because Keith claims to be an expert on all things Do-Re-Mi. I knew about the songs - I had sent her the instrumental tracks prior to the wedding. However, I don’t think anyone expected the Austrian attire.

Before and after the musical tribute, Keith & Stacey’s guests filled the dance floor while I supplied a variety of party hits. Among the requests: “My Humps”, “Super Freak”, Danity Kane’s “Damaged”, and “Baby Got Back”.

Needless to say, Keith & Stacey’s wedding reception will definitely be one that their guests and I will never forget.

Congratulations, Keith & Stacey!

Introduction Music: “I’m Shipping Up To Boston” - Dropkick Murphys
Keith & Stacey’s Introduction Music:
“You’re The First, The Last, My Everything” - Barry White
Keith & Stacey’s First Dance: “Let’s Stay Together” - Al Green
Song played during the cake cutting: “How Sweet It Is” - Michael Buble
Bride/Father and Groom/Mother Dance: “What A Wonderful World” - Louis Armstrong

Jen & Mike hired me to DJ their wedding back in January of this year; they were referred to me by Victor Rodrigues at Party Time DJs in Pawtucket RI. I was really excited about this wedding from the start, as it was taking place at the Glen Manor House in Portsmouth RI. Glen Manor House is a beautiful venue, one that I hadn’t been to in almost ten years. In fact, I’m pretty sure the last time I was there I was still lugging around turntables and spinning records.

Despite the rain (were there ANY sunny Saturdays in September?), the bride was in great spirits - I’ve worked for a number of brides over the years that I know would have been devastated if it rained on their wedding day. Fortunately, Jen & Mike had backup plans for everything. The ceremony location was moved indoors, and the chairs were moved from the dining room and arranged beautifully in the ballroom.

Glen Manor House has a pretty unique layout, in that the room where guests dine is not the same room where dancing takes place. So, to start the reception, the bride and groom entered the ballroom to the thunderous applause of their guests and had a first dance to Jack Johnson’s “Banana Pancakes”. The title of the song might be funny, but the opening lyrics fit the occasion perfectly.

After a few toasts, the guests took their seats in the dining room, and then returned after dinner and started dancing almost as soon as they re-entered the ballroom. Seizing the opportunity, I immediately picked up the tempo and welcomed them with some classic party hits. Before too long I had a sizable request list going, with songs ranging from Kenny Chesney’s “Beer In Mexico” to When In Rome’s “The Promise”. I played them all, mixed in a few slow songs from time to time, and then finished off the night with an amazing set of floor-fillers and newer music, from House Of Pain’s “Jump Around” to Estelle’s “American Boy”.

Congratulations, Jen & Mike!

Introduction Music: “Calabria 2008″ - Enur feat. Natasja
Jen & Mike’s First Dance: “Banana Pancakes” - Jack Johnson
Song played during the Cake Cutting: “When I’m 64″ - The Beatles
Bride/Father Dance: “The Way You Look Tonight” - Rod Stewart
Groom/Mother Dance: “In My Life” - The Beatles

An exterior shot of the Glen Manor House. It's much bigger than it appears here.

The ballroom at Glen Manor House, ready for a wedding ceremony.

Ceremony music was provided by the International String Trio. Outstanding!

The wedding cake.

The bride and her dad stayed behind while guests took their seats for dinner, then shared a private dance.

The dance floor was filled from the moment things got started!

A shot of the dance floor just before the night's end.

It’s no secret that I absolutely love my clients. While I’m sure there are many DJs who are in business simply because of the opportunity to party every weekend while making some extra cash, there’s one underlying reason why I do this job: I really like the people I get to work for. The only downside is that I generally don’t see them much, if at all, after their events have taken place. With that said, it was truly an honor to be part of Corinne & Ralph’s wedding day. It will be one of the most memorable and treasured events of my DJ career.

Corinne had first contacted me last October; I was the DJ at her sister’s wedding last September on Cape Cod. I was happy that she liked my work and wanted to check my availability, but also a bit surprised - the wedding was taking place near Utica, New York - not exactly close by. After sending a quote for my services and not knowing what to expect, I received the news: “We would really love to have you as our DJ”. Fast forward to yesterday, when my wife and I made the 300 mile trip to the reception location - Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, NY. We arrived at 3:00 pm, which gave me plenty of time to check out the venue, set up for the wedding and relax a bit before my 7:00 start time.

The reception actually began at 6:00 in a smaller room at Turning Stone, with an elaborate selection of hors d’ouevres and music provided by a harpist. One hour later, one of the smaller room’s walls opened up to reveal a HUGE dancefloor and seating for nearly 400 guests. I invited them in with some great upbeat selections - from an outstanding instrumental rendition of Kool & The Gang’s “Get Down On It” to Dean Martin’s “Ain’t That A Kick In The Head”. Corinne & Ralph’s guests really liked my choices - some were even dancing a bit while finding their way to their seats.

After introductions (there were lots of Italian names, which required lots of practice on my part), the bride and groom shared a first dance and then took their seats. After a blessing and then a toast by the best man, the Turning Stone waitstaff emerged from the kitchen to “Be Our Guest” from Disney’s Beauty & The Beast. This was well-received by the guests; it’s something that Turning Stone does at every wedding reception they host.

After dinner, the cutting of the wedding cake and some special dances, I opened the dancefloor with a slow song and then went right to some of Corinne’s requests - with so many guests and so much food to be served, we didn’t have as much time for dancing as I’d hoped. The dancefloor quickly filled; in fact, I’m pretty sure that the bride danced to almost every song that I played. For the most part, I stuck with a mix of oldies (”Runaround Sue”), some party classics (”Love Shack” - a request from one of the guests), and more recent hits from the likes of Rihanna and Black Eyed Peas. I also threw in a number of Frank Sinatra songs, as Ralph’s family really enjoys Frank’s music. We finished the evening with “New York, New York” (complete with ‘Chorus Line’-style kicks), and then a song that I picked out at the very last second - Earth Wind & Fire’s “September”. While it wasn’t quite the 21st night (we were just a day too soon), it was the perfect finish to an absolutely wonderful day. After saying goodnight to the newlyweds and their families, I packed up my gear and headed up to my hotel room on the 17th floor - it offered a tremendous view of the New York countryside.

In the morning, my wife and I joined Corinne & Ralph’s family and friends for a post-wedding brunch - there was an invitation tucked into the gift bag that was in our hotel room when we arrived. That’s why I mentioned the earlier “downside” - not seeing my clients after their events have taken place. When my wife and I walked into the room, Ralph got up from his seat, walked right over to us, shook my hand and told my wife “It was awesome… he did an awesome job”. I was elated beyond words.

I really hope that all of my clients feel the same way that Corinne & Ralph do. More importantly, I hope I get to see Corinne & Ralph again. If I had the opportunity to travel to New York and entertain their families again, I’d do it in a heartbeat.

Parents’ Introduction Music: “Eye Of The Tiger” - Survivor
Wedding Party Introduction Music: “This Is How We Do It” - Montell Jordan
Corinne & Ralph’s Introduction Music: “Party Like A Rockstar” - Shop Boyz
First Dance: “This Is The Time” - Billy Joel
Song Played During The Cake Cutting: “Pour Some Sugar On Me” - Def Leppard
Bride/Father Dance: “You Are The Sunshine Of My Life” - Stevie Wonder
Groom/Mother Dance: “I Hope You Dance” - Lee Ann Womack
Groom/Grandmother Dance: “Al-Di-La” - Jerry Vale
Last Dance: “New York, New York” - Frank Sinatra
Farewell Dance: “September” - Earth Wind & Fire

The Oneida Room at Turning Stone, before guests arrived.

The Dancefloor - Those two narrow speakers fill the room like you wouldn't believe.

The table setting.

The Wedding Cake

The bride, dancing with her father.

Twirling napkins to 'Lazy Mary'.

Everyone was on the dancefloor, and there was still some extra room!