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

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

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!

Jon & Kim’s wedding reception at Hawthorne Country Club in Dartmouth was my last wedding of August; I was recommended to them by Larissa McLaughlin at Blush Beauty Bar in New Bedford (Larissa’s mom used to work at Hawthorne, so she’s had a chance to see me work many times).

Jon & Kim met in high school and have been together for a number of years, so their family and friends were definitely ready to celebrate - this was absolutely a party crowd. I knew that the bride and groom were fans of country music and classic rock, and it was evident from some of the requests that I’d be playing a wide variety of music. Case in point: I received requests for songs by Phil Vassar, Peter Frampton, and the Gap Band in the same hour.

Jon’s grandfather served as the best man - he’s in his 90s and did a great job with toasting the bride and groom. Because Jon’s a firefighter, “Fire” by the Ohio Players was a big hit with the dancing crowd (at Jon’s request, I played it twice). Unfortunately, I don’t have any pictures from this event, but a great time was had by all. Congratulations, Jon & Kim!

Introduction Music: “Crazy Train” - Ozzy Osbourne
Jon & Kim’s Introduction Music: “I Feel Good (I Got You)” - James Brown
Jon & Kim’s First Dance: “You’re Still The One” - Shania Twain
Song played during the Cake Cutting: “When I’m 64″ - The Beatles
Bride/Father Dance: “I Loved Her First” - Heartland
Groom/Mother Dance: “A Mother’s Day” - Jim Brickman
Last Dance: “Amazed” - Lonestar

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!

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

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 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:

June 7th is/was one of the most popular wedding days for 2008 - last year’s big one was 7/7/07, so it’s no surprise that I had lots of inquiries about 6/7/08. Fortunately, Sarah and Christopher reserved my services last August. They were referred to me by a few different sources, including the then-coordinator at their venue and the bride’s neighbors, whose daughter’s wedding I did a very long time ago.

The June 7th weekend was one of the hottest on record so far this year, but the guests at this wedding didn’t seem to mind at all - everyone was keeping cool and in great spirits as they arrived at LeBaron Hills Country Club in Lakeville. The bride spent an extended amount of time in France during college, so there was a subtle French theme for this reception - large vases of fleurs-de-lis on each table, and some French pop songs during cocktail hour and dinner. Because of the heat, many of the guests opted to stay indoors instead of watching the golf action from the patio, but everyone really admired at the efforts that had been made to give the room a unique atmosphere.
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My second Memorial Day weekend wedding was Kirsten & Mike’s reception at LeBaron Hills Country Club in Lakeville. I love working there because it’s very close to my office. However, they always seem to have a new manager there each year. I’m happy to report that the current manager, Andrew, does a fantastic job and is super-easy to work with.

Kirsten and Mike were referred to me by Dana Pierce; they were planning their wedding from out-of-town, and were very specific about what they wanted from their DJ: great personality, no cheese, and lots of lighting. Kirsten’s from the New York/New Jersey area and has experience as an event planner, so she was expecting me to bring 110% to her reception. I do that for all of my clients, so I was definitely up for the assignment. And from start to finish, this one was perfect.
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