The B-Sharp Entertainment Blog

There are so many great things to say about Maggie & Matt’s wedding reception that I could easily begin this blog post in any number of ways.   What I will tell you is this: If their reception is the indicator, then 2010 is going to be a tremendous year for weddings.

Some other things you should know:

1.)  Although their wedding took place on Cape Cod, the couple lives in the Washington DC area.   We created the evening’s timeline and took care of all music details by phone and through the use of my online event planning system; it wasn’t until they arrived at the reception venue that we met for the first time in person.

2.)  Maggie and Matt were referred to me by their reception venue, the Coonamessett Inn.   They’ve been recommending my services to their clients for the past three years, and some of my most memorable wedding receptions have taken place there (a great example is Caryn & Sean’s wedding from 2007).

3.)  Maggie and Matt are lots of fun, and so are their friends and family.  This not only made my job of entertaining them very simple, it made the entire reception truly unforgettable.

The evening began with cocktails, and a background music soundtrack of upbeat songs from the likes of Paul Simon, Jack Johnson, Feist and The Temptations.  After introductions of the wedding party, the newlyweds entered to a standing ovation and thunderous applause,  making their way to the dance floor for the first dance.  Toasts were given by the best man and maid of honor, and food was served.  Maggie & Matt opted for the Coonamessett’s Gold Reception, which offers a number of food selections and cabaret-style seating.  I’ve always found it to be a very good choice, as it allows guests more time to mingle and enjoy the reception without requiring them to sit through a lengthy dinner service.

Of course, not having to stay seated also makes more time for dancing, and there was plenty of it at this reception.  In fact, many of Maggie & Matt’s guests were dancing for nearly an entire hour before the cutting of the wedding cake.  After the cake was cut and the ceremonial parent dances took place, guests were treated to two performances that I’m sure they’re still talking about:  First, the groom felt it necessary to show off his “jazz hands” talents to the tune of Michael Sembello’s “Maniac”.  It was well-received, but not nearly as well as his acapella performance of “Duke Of Earl”, accompanied by his groomsmen.   Everyone loved it.

Did I mention that we had lots of time to dance?  For the next three hours, I provided a 45-song soundtrack for dancing, covering everything from 80′s new-wave hits to 90′s R&B and a number of more recent selections.  It was a fantastic evening.

Congratulations, Maggie & Matt!

Introduction Music: “Gonna Fly Now (Theme from ‘Rocky’) – Bill Conti
Maggie & Matt’s First Dance: “You Make Me Feel So Young” – Frank Sinatra
Song played during the Cake Cutting: “Better Together” – Jack Johnson
Bride/Father Dance: “Wildflowers” – Tom Petty
Groom/Mother Dance: “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” – Iz Kamakawiwo’ole
Bouquet Toss: “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It) – Beyonce’
Last Dance: “Swallowed In The Sea” – Coldplay
Farewell Song: “Float On” – Modest Mouse

Our equipment setup at Coonamessett Inn

Maggie & Matt's Wedding Cake

A chowder station was offered in place of the standard raw bar.

This is the view from the Coonamessett Inn Ballroom

Maggie & Matt's First Dance

Later, the newlyweds show off more of their dance moves.

The dancefloor at 8 PM.

The last dance.

I’ve actually known about this for a couple of months now, but the secret’s out: B-Sharp Entertainment is a recipient of the 2010 WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Award! This is my second consecutive year receiving this award, and I’m proud to be recognized as one of the top wedding entertainers in the region. Receiving this award is a testament to the high level of service I provide to my clients, as winners are selected based on recent reviews and extensive surveys from over 500,000 newlyweds nationwide.

To view the other award winners in Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts, click here.
If you’d like to see winners from other regions, use this link.

About WeddingWire: WeddingWire is the only online wedding planning resource designed to empower both engaged couples and wedding vendors. WeddingWire enables engaged couples to search, compare and book over 100,000 reviewed wedding vendors nationwide, from wedding photographers to wedding cakes. WeddingWire also offers an online community and a suite of cutting-edge planning tools, including wedding websites and wedding checklists, all at no charge.  WeddingWire has partnered with Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. (NYSE: MSO) to provide its network of local vendors and online wedding-planning tools in the Weddings section of www.MarthaStewartWeddings.com.

January may not be the most popular month for weddings here in Massachusetts, but Jennifer & Stephen had a great reason to choose the coldest month of the year for their wedding: they got married in Jamaica!  Although I wasn’t invited to the ceremony (which took place one week earlier at an all-inclusive resort in the presence of their immediate family), I was thrilled when they asked me to be part of their reception here in New England.

The party took place at Jones River Trading, a one-time tack mill with a history dating back to the Civil War era.  The venue is as unique as can be, with a bar imported from Ireland, an array of antiques, furniture and artwork, and an assortment of items that you just don’t see in most venues (including, but not limited to, a huge wooden kayak that spans the length of the dance floor).   This was my first event at Jones River Trading, and my first time working with photographer Elizabeth Horne, who provided the images shown below.

The reception began at 6:00, with the newlyweds arriving for photos and guests arriving for cocktails.  Music selections for the first hour included reggae, salsa and latin styles, to set a festive tone throughout the room.   After the introduction of members of the wedding party,  Jen & Steve walked into the room to cheers and applause, and then began their first dance, a choreographed Salsa routine to Tito El Bambino’s “El Amor”.

After dinner, a cake cutting and parent dances, I invited all of Jennifer & Stephen’s guests to the dance floor, and from there it was a non-stop celebration until the very last dance at 11:00  .    In addition to great music ranging from Stevie Wonder to Shakira, Fergie and Kesha, I also provided lighting to add a wash of color to the venue’s wood floor.  This definitely helped make the space more inviting for dancing, and Jennifer & Stephen loved it.

Introduction Music: “Get The Party Started” – Pink
Jennifer & Stephen’s First Dance: “El Amor” – Tito El Bambino
Song played during the cake cutting: “Pour Some Sugar On Me” – Def Leppard
Last Dance: “Turn Your Lights Down Low” – Lauryn Hill
Farewell Song: “Send Me On My Way” – Rusted Root

Photos courtesy of Elizabeth Horne Photography

Tables were named after Jennifer & Stephen's favorite vacation spots.

The wedding cake featured a seashell theme.

Introducing the newlyweds...

The First Dance

Jones River Trading is truly a one-of-a-kind venue.

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

Dance Fever

Jennifer shows off her best moves.

Congratulations, Jennifer & Stephen!

Despite a rough economy, 2009 was actually a very good year for me, business-wise. To finish it off, I was thrilled to be selected to provide the entertainment at Kristen & Tom’s New Year’s Eve wedding at the gorgeous Westin Providence. Kristen was referred to me by Glenn & Anne Turgeon at All 4 You DJ.

The evening began at 7 pm, with the wedding ceremony performed by Rev. Michael Egan. This was my second time working with Michael, and he’s easily one of the best officiants in the area. After the ceremony, guests made their way up to the hotel’s third floor for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres; I used my Bose L1 Compact speaker system to fill the room with contemporary sounds from the likes of Dave Matthews, Matt Nathanson, and Norah Jones. All of the music for the cocktail hour was programmed from my main console and sent to the cocktail hour room wirelessly. The advantage to this setup vs. using a separate mixer/player or iPod is that the audio transition from room to room is absolutely seamless, so guests moving from the cocktail hour area into the main ballroom hear the same song playing without any interruption or delay.

Kristen & Tom didn’t give me much in the way of musical direction, so I pretty much had free reign as far as the playlist was concerned. Basically, my instructions were simple: Play great music, make sure everyone has a great time, and coordinate the New Year countdown at midnight. Tom did throw in a few requests during dinner, which I happily played for him (all of my meetings prior to the event had been with the bride and her mom, so this was my first time meeting the groom). Fortunately, all of the songs I suggested for the evening’s formalities fit well with Tom’s musical tastes.

The New Year’s countdown was timed perfectly, and the “Happy New Year” hats and headpieces supplied by the newlyweds were a big hit – the dancefloor was packed, thanks in part to a music mix that included everything from Flo Rida to The Outfield, Pitbull to Michael Jackson to the Beatles. We wrapped up the party at 1 AM, with a sing-a-long of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin” and a slow dance to East Mountain South’s “So Are You To Me”. If you’re not familiar with that one, check it out… it’s a perfect wedding song.

Kristen & Tom’s First Dance: Steady As We Go – Dave Matthews Band
Song played during the cake cutting: Sweetest Thing – U2
Groom/Mother Dance: I Hope You Dance – Lee Ann Womack

Photos are provided courtesy of Gabrielle Marks Photography – Gabrielle and her husband Matt are fantastic to work with, and they did a great job capturing the excitement of the night.

The Bride and her Mom, walking down the aisle

Party on the dancefloor

Rhode Island's got talent!

Party In The USA - Hands Up!

The dancefloor at midnight - Happy 2010!

The bride and groom sharing a kiss at midnight.

B-Sharp Entertainment is proud to be taking part in the 2010 Lafrance Hospitality Company Bridal Fair. It’s happening on Sunday, February 7th from Noon to 3 pm, and it’s taking place at Rachel’s Lakeside in Dartmouth. Lafrance is the name behind some of the area’s best-known venues, including White’s of Westport, Rachel’s Lakeside, and one of my personal favorites, Bittersweet Farm.

This year’s show is sure to be a hit, with a fantastic array of vendors and a continuous fashion show by Carmen Fashions Bridal and Slade Formal Wear. Please stop by and see the B-Sharp display in the Bellagio Room, Booth 7. We’ll have our Bose sound system set up, and we’re looking forward to speaking with you about your upcoming wedding.

Here’s the complete list of participating vendors, as of this writing:

Angela Greenlaw Photography
B-Sharp Entertainment
Blockhead Band
Brycin Productions
Christine’s Academy of Dance
Creative Visions
Decoflations
Delightful Designs
Designer Cakes by Ann’s Place
Erickson’s Florist
Folia
Hampton Inn – Fall River/Westport
Holiday Travel
Illustrous Day Spa
KC Photography
Kristyn Nordstrom Photography
M.C. Music Productions
Milestone Flower Shop
Music on Wheels
Nancy’s Bakery
New Episode Salon & Spa
ProSound Entertainment
Salon Salon Limo
Scotty’s Limo
Silva’s Store
Video Excellence
Wingate Photography
Xavier’s Flower Shop

Brides-to-be can pre-register for the show here.

Rachel’s Lakeside is located at 950 State Road, Dartmouth MA. For more information about the show, please call them at 508-636-4044.