2020…

This was supposed to be THE year. I’m not gonna lie, I got a lot lazy with my blogging in 2019. Blogging is hard for me. It’s hard for me to remember to take pictures at weddings or videos. I often wonder how some of the other DJs do it. I get so caught up in the night that, like the guests, I just don’t pull my phone out. Then I kick myself on the way home for not having what I need to share about such an awesome night. So I made a decision, in 2020 I was gonna be on it. I was gonna document and share everything I could about my awesome events.

Then Covid happened. And it sucked and its still sucking to this day. I have had to watch so many couples move their events to next year. Hard works and dreams just put on hold to a date they could find that works for them. And I hate it!

My hope is that this goes away in 2021. That we can move back to some normalcy. That people can plan to marry the person they love on the date they want and invite as many people as they want without worry of someone getting sick.

And when we get there…I will be right here, writing about them all!

Erica & Rayzor – June 23, 2018

I had the best time playing for Erica & Rayzor on June 23rd at the Firefighters Lake Club.

The ceremony was held in the back overlooking Lake Springfield.  I supplied a mic for the minister & the music for the ceremony.   After the ceremony, the guests made their way inside for the cocktail hour.  Aimee Lynn Photography got some shots of the wedding party around the property.

After the cocktail hour I introduced the wedding party to Bring Em Out by T.I.  We had our toasts to start the evening and then Hamilton’s served up an awesome meal for the guests.

For their first dance they danced to Earth, Wind & Fire’s Reasons.  They chose this because they used to dance to it together when they were 15 at their moms house.  Erica and her Dad danced to Tim McGraw’s “My Little Girl” & Rayzor and his mom danced to Rascal Flatts’ “My Wish”.  They Tossed the Bouqet & the Garter and also had a dollar dance.

Erica’s guests danced to everything that night. They were an awesome group to DJ for.

 

Photography – Aimee Lynn Photography

Catering – Hamilton’s Catering

Giuliana & Ryan – June 16, 2018

I was so excited to play for Giuliana, Ryan and their guests at The Inn at 835 on June 16th.

The ceremony was held in the rose garden at Washington Park. I provided a mic for the officiant and also handled the music.  The Bridal Party walked down to The Piano Guys’ Beethoven’s 5th Secrets.  Giuliana, escorted by her dad, walked down to meet Ryan to Yiruma’s River Flows in You.  Once they were married the walked out to the Vitamin String Quartet’s version of I’m Yours.

It was a hot day and the guests didn’t waste anytime getting back to the Inn and the coolness of its air conditioning.  Once the Bridal party arrived I introduced them into the reception to Marry You by Bruno Mars.  We started off the night with toasts from both the bride and grooms fathers and then their MOH Jenna & BM Branden closed out the toasts.

For their first dance they danced to La Vie En Rose by Daniela Andrade.  For the Father/Daughter dance they danced to Ben E King’s Stand by Me & for the Mother/Son dance they danced to Stevie Wonder’s You Are The Sunshine of My Life.  Giuliana tossed the bouqet to Megan Trainor’s Dear Future Husband.  Before we opened up the dance floor we brought all the married couples out for an Anniversary Dance to Eric Clapton’s Wonderful Tonight.

I don’t know who danced more, The Illinois Guests or the Wisconsin Guests but these guys stayed on the dance floor all night long.  These guys made my job easy.  It was truly an honor to be part of their day.

 

Catering – Inn at 835

Photography – Elouise Photographie

Officiant – Jeff Whitehouse

Lauren & Joey – June 9, 2018

I was back to the Artisan’s Building for another amazing wedding, this time for Lauren & Joey on June 9th.  I was so thrilled to play for them!  I have known these two love birds since they were in high school.

The ceremony and reception were both held in the Artisan’s Building on the Illinois State Fair grounds.  I ran the mics for the officiant and their live musicians.  After the ceremony, the bridal party & family did family pictures while the guest enjoyed cocktail hour.  After the pics were done by Holly Stark Photography we lined up the bridal party for their introduction.  I introduced the bridal party in to Ram Jam’s Black Betty.  After the introductions, Lauren & Joey cut their cake and then it was straight into toast from the Best Man & Maid of Honor.

After Dinner we kicked things off with their first dance, Lonestar’s “Amazed”.  Lauren danced with her Dad to Tim McGraw’s “My Little Girl” and Joey and his mom danced to The Pretenders’ “I’ll Stand by You”.

Their guests danced the night away.  It was truly a pleasure to be part of their special day.

 

 

 

Photography – Holly Stark Photography

Videography – Shay Little Photography & Videography

Officiant – Paster Roger Tyler