Melissa & Alden at Edgewood with Video Quest Productions and Hall Creations Photography

My first wedding of the 2016 wedding season and it was a blast.  Two people, deeply in love. Two exceptional families.  One of my favorite venues.  A crowd ready to party.  And two phenomenal wedding professionals recording it all.  What a way to kick off the season!

Alden and Melissa.  What can I say about these two?  Absolutely head over heels in love.  Fun to work with from day one.  From families that exemplify love, commitment, and unwavering faith, they exude an aura of purpose and of life, and most importantly love for one another.  There were so many moments that I choked up a bit- watching their total commitment to one another.  It makes me want to be a better husband and reminds me of those moments in my life that are so important and indelible.  Maybe the best word to describe their love and wedding is "exuberant".  A special couple having their day and evening in a special place.

Edgewood.  Definitely special.  One of my favorite venues.  The uplifting architecture and gorgeous setting is punctuated by the best service and staff on the Lake, and probably in the entire area.  Many of their employees have been with Edgewood for over twenty years and one I spoke with one yesterday who just passed 35 years. And the food!  Not your ordinary fare!  Dinner was plated/served and the guests chose from prawns, fillets, and pheasant.  I had the pheasant and it was fantastic!  Servers are efficient and friendly yet unobtrusive and they make my job so easy because of all these qualities and because of their vast experience.  It's a well-oiled machine that I am always happy to be a part of.

The weather was a bit iffy with some drizzle, so the decision was made to have the ceremony inside instead of out on the green.  Normally, this would be quite a disappointment but not so much at Edgewood.  The building, with its glass and wood and stone already has an ethereal vibe, and in the center it is almost cathedral-like, and that is where the efficient staff seamlessly placed chairs and moved furniture to make the ceremony happen on time.  I played Alison Krauss's "I Will" when the parents and grandparents were escorted in, and then "Tonight" by Secret Nation for the Bridal Party. An absolutely radiant Melissa and her dad Israel then entered to "I Do" by Jessie James Decker.  I looked at Alden when she came up the stairs and he was so full of emotion seeing his bride in her dress for the first time- it reminded me of my same moment 29 years ago.

Capturing all these moments were Jason of Video Quest Productions and Angie of Hall Creations Photography.  They are true professionals who worked well with each other, the staff, the bride & groom and myself all throughout the evening.  I don't think I've worked with Angie prior to last night but I'd love to work with her again.  Jason is a consummate professional when I've had the pleasure of working with several times and his work is unbelievable.  He showed me a few shots during the evening and I know Alden & Melissa will be so happy with his record of their day and evening.  Look up his work on his website. Stunning.  And a great introduction to the beauty at Edgewood.

After Melissa and Alden kissed and exited their ceremony to Justin Moore's "Til My Last Day", we all moved to the gorgeous North Room for cocktails and appetizers.  After photographs, the Bridal Party entered, each pair to their own song- everything from Avicii to Kygo; from Drake to Justin Timberlake.  When Alden & Melissa were ready to enter, I played a snippet from "Tombstone", Alden's favorite film and then Jason Aldean's "Lights Go On" and they came in to thunderous applause.  Very fun!  In a minute or two- no longer- salads were being served by the ultra-efficient Edgewood staff and dinner was on!

"I Love You This Big..."

Following some great toasts by the dads and by the Bridal Party and finished up by Alden himself, they started the dancing with their First Dance, "I Love You This Big" by Scotty McCreery.  The joy and love between the two newlyweds was palpable as they slowly swayed, singing the lyrics to one another.

Melissa found a perfect song to dance with her dad Israel- "Daddy" by Addy Anderson.  It was my first time playing it and I know it won't be my last.  What a great song!  Alden and his mom Julie followed with another favorite of mine, "A Mother's Song" by T. Carter Music.  A Money Dance followed and then dancing began in earnest.  I played lots of fun songs for an enthusiastic crowd, starting with Major Lazer and ending the night with Drake.  Lots of Old School, lots of Country, lots of happy dancers :)

Midway through the dancing they cut the cake to George Strait's "It Comes Natural" and then tossed the garter and bouquet. "Hey You There" by Soulja Boy got the girls amped up and then "Danger Zone" by Kenny Loggins did the same for the guys when Alden removed the garter.  But what was best about the garter was the toss.  I played the NFL theme and the guys went crazy!  Literally there were 7-8 guys in midair fighting for the garter, and an injury or two in the aftermath!  What a great group!

I really could not have asked for a better way to start off my 2016 wedding season.  Thanks to everyone at Edgewood- such a pleasure as always!  Thanks to Angie and Jason- so great to work with you two!  Finally, thanks to Melissa and Alden.  The whole planning process was fun and it was so great to be a small part of your magical day and evening.  All the best you two!

Last Dance!

Sandy & Jorge at Edgewood with Blake's Floral Design

For my last wedding of 2015 I could not have picked a better setting than beside Lake Tahoe while snow showers accentuated the winter wonderland all around us.  That was the case yesterday up at Edgewood.

Sandy and Jorge wanted a winter wedding: somewhere their friends and family from the Bay Area could easily travel to and somewhere special.  Of course Edgewood fit the bill.  As this winter has been a good one for snowfall so far, the beach and golf course were covered in a foot of snow and the sleet became flurries which became snow showers as the day wore on. Most of my weddings at Edgewood have been during the summer, and they are glorious with the distant mountains across the Lake, the greener than green links, and the expansive views seen through the unique architecture of glass and wood, but a winter wedding there is maybe even more breathtaking. The windows allow you to feel a part of the wintery scene while still being warm and dry inside. Just a fantastic venue anyway, and with it punctuated by the snowfall- magical.

I really loved Sandy's whole plan for her wedding- simple yet elegant. She had so many great ideas!  One of my favorites (coming from a family with a famous quilter in it) was that instead of a guestbook, everyone signed quilt blocks which are to be made into a memory quilt after the wedding. Another idea I thought really unique was the favors she gave out to her guests. There was a nice laser inscribed wood ornament tied to a beautiful poem and a pair of mittens.  The guests absolutely loved them!

Her flowers were spectacular, and totally fit in with her winter color scheme.  Sharon at Blake's Floral Design, a fellow Weddings of the West member really hit a home run, and Sandy kept talking about how she was so pleased with how her bouquet looked- just as she envisioned.  Sharon always arrives super early to arrange her flowers and deliver the bouquets so she really never sees her work in context- with a beautiful bride in her dress and holding her handiwork, so I took a picture during the reception.  Great job as always Sharon!

Jorge and Sandy were married at a church offsite and they arrived and were able to take some pictures before all the guests got to Edgewood.  After some amazing appetizers and cocktails, I introduced the bridal party to Kool & the Gang's "Celebration" which Jorge and Sandy had picked.  Soon after that, Father Carl was saying a benediction before the meal and then Sandy & Jorge were hitting the fabulous brunch buffet.

Fabulous is an understatement.  If you have read other blog entries of mine, you know I am a fan of Edgewood and of their chefs :)  This buffet was one of my favorites ever!  Here is a (probably incomplete) list of the offerings of the buffet:

Several types of really great rolls & butter.

Their decadent pasta salad (my favorite- I'm drooling thinking of it right now).

A beautiful green salad.

Their fruit platter with ripe everything- my favs were the raspberries, blueberries & blackberries.

A hot pasta dish.

Fantastic cubed squash with herbs (drooling again!).

A kind of breakfast mashed potato dish (yum!).

Mounds of top-notch bacon,

Chicken breasts in sauce.

Eggs Benedict.

Hollandaise sauce.

Carved ham (drooling again!)

Carved tri-tip.

Plus a full omelette station with all the fixings and a chocolate fountain with pineapple, pretzels, poundcake, rice krispie treats and marshmallows to dip into the chocolatey goodness. Wow!

Debbie and her crew were fantastic, as always.  Edgewood (and the Grove down in Reno) are how I judge service at all the venues I play. The service is efficient, friendly, and professional and sets the standard.  I love how Edgewood could just rest on their beautiful surroundings, fabulous architecture and sterling reputation and not worry so much about service and food. But no, they strive for excellence in every facet and it shows. And that is the dedication and experience you want for a wedding and reception.

After brunch, toasts were made and the cake was cut (accompanied by Plain White T's "1-2-3-4") and dancing began with Jorge and Sandy's first dance, Jason Mraz's "I Won't Give Up". Roberto, Sandy's dad then danced with her to "Wind Beneath My Wings" followed by an Anniversary Dance that they picked, Dan Fogelberg's "Longer".

The rest of the afternoon we danced to Cupid Shuffle, Usher, Flo Rida and lots of other songs.  I especially loved the guests (and bride and groom) stepping outside for a momentary picture in the snow flurries. Lots of great pictures with big snowflakes in their hair. Pretty magical.

I want to thank Jorge and Sandy for inviting me to be a part of their amazing day- you two really are a special couple!  Thanks to Sharon at Blake's Floral Design for her usual exceptional floral artistry.  And thanks to Debbie and all of the crew at Edgewood from the servers to the cooks to the people putting tables up and taking them down at the end of the day. Just a solid bunch of professionals. Edgewood should be very proud of them all.  Here's to a amazing 2015 and looking forward to many more tremendous weddings in 2016.  

Happy Holidays and New Year everyone!

Amanda & Brett at Edgewood Tahoe

The world is a different place now than when I began deejaying weddings back in 1988. Brides used to have to rely on adds in the yellow pages or on seeing a DJ at a wedding fair for an impression on what that DJ could offer. There was no Youtube to view previous work or Yelp or Wedding Wire for reviews from contented (and not so contented) couples. Truly it is so much better now- a couple can make an informed decision from a variety of sources, and even Skype or FaceTime with prospective vendors hundreds or thousands of miles away. But one thing hasn't changed in all those years: the best advertising is word of mouth from happy clients. Nothing is better than that. It is someone who loved what you did for their event and would hire you all over again if they had the chance. And they, when a friend or loved one has a special day coming up, wholeheartedly recommend you to that person. It is a compliment that cannot be measured in words or even by a stellar review, and it gets me even that much more fired up than I already am to make sure the new couple's day matches or exceeds that of referring couple.

The bride arrives!

I still go down to SoCal several times a year to do weddings & events for people that I developed relationships with over many years even though I haven't lived there since 2000. I have been deejaying in Reno/Tahoe now for 4-5 years and it pleases me to no end that a large percentage of my business now is due to referrals from happy brides and grooms from my work up here. Such was the case with Brett and Amanda. They had heard of me through Nicole and Jason (see blog entry) whose wedding I was privileged to attend and perform at in 2012. Knowing how great Jason & Nicole and their friends and family were made me super excited to be a part of Amanda & Brett's big day.

Absolutely stunning day!

Brett & Amanda don't live in the area, but like so many couples wanted their day to be set in the spectacular natural beauty that is Lake Tahoe, and they picked my favorite venue up there: Edgewood. Edgewood Tahoe is a first-class establishment right on the lakeshore. Not only is the scenery gorgeous, but the building's architecture is uplifting and perfectly complements the pristine lake and the meticulously cared-for golf course that surround it. Going hand in hand with the postcard views both inside and out is the attention to detail and dedication to professionalism exhibited by the entire staff from groundskeepers to bartenders and from coordinators to wait captains. Edgewood is special, and so are they to be employed there. Professional, efficient, competent, and friendly are words that come to mind immediately when I think of Edgewood staff. Delicious is what comes to mind when I think of their food. You won't get the same old cuisine there- every dish is amazing! Two of my favorites aren't what you'd normally expect. The sliders they do for appetizers are outstanding and leave your guests salivating for dinner.  And when dinner arrives, everything is superb but my favorite is their grilled veggies and pasta salad. The veggies are colorful and always perfectly cooked- not to crunchy but not limp, and the pasta salad is filled with artichoke hearts and other goodies that take it beyond normal pasta salads. Anyway, I digress. Back to the happy couple!

MOH April toasts the newlyweds

I was in constant contact with Amanda throughout the process, mostly by email, and I loved the fact she'd think of one important detail and send it to me immediately. She sent me a timeline pretty early on and I'd adjust it accordingly as we'd add songs or events, all the way up to their wedding day. Having everything down and set months ahead is great, but I could see their ideas develop to fruition as she'd send me changes and adds, and it seemed like a more dynamic process that way.

Group shot on the deck!

Their ceremony took place on the green, right beside the Lake and next to the North Room. It was a gorgeous day as only Tahoe can deliver, and my poor photography even looks semi-decent in those surroundings. Michael Buble's "Close Your Eyes" played while the bridal party entered and after a planned dramatic pause, Amanda in an absolutely stunning dress arrived just as Hunter Hayes began singing in his song "Wanted". Reverend Ron Sayed delivered a thoughtful ceremony and when he introduced them to the crowd's cheers & applause, Brad Paisley's "The World" escorted the newlyweds down the aisle. It was a picture-perfect moment in a picture-perfect day!  The guests then headed up to my vantage point on the deck just outside the North Room for drinks and appetizers while family and the BP posed for  pictures right below them.

First dance as husband & wife!

As pictures concluded, I invited everyone inside to their tables, we welcomed Brett & Amanda to their reception, and a fabulous dinner buffet commenced. Champagne was ready right after dinner and no time was wasted as toasts were made to the B&G. The efficiency of Edgewood- I've written about it in previous blogs- is first-class. I started to check to see if the champagne was going to be poured soon only to find them ready to pass out 150+ filled flutes right at that moment! I've been doing this a long time and for a venue to get a jump on me is rare, but it happens often up at Edgewood.

This young man dedicated a song to Amanda...

and then had the moves to back it up!

Instead of going right into dancing after the toasts, Brett invited everyone to go out on the deck for a group shot. Just a great picture of a great and supportive crowd! Once they had gotten the shot, everyone went back inside and watched Amanda & Brett dance to "Give It All We've Got Tonight" by George Strait for about a minute or two before Gil cut in for the Father-Daughter Dance. Gil, Amanda's dad, contacted me secretly to choose the song, and it was a great surprise to Amanda when "My Little Girl" by Tim McGraw came on. Truly the most sentimental dance of the evening!  Gil was gracious in that soon afterwards we were calling up Tito, Amanda's step-father to step in. A class act from a classy dad. Mitchie, Brett's mom was soon up and dancing with her son and then the bridal party joined everyone. An unforgettable moment and a great photo op! The Black-Eyed Peas then started the general dancing off, and it really never faded all evening- matter of fact the dance floor became more and more crowded as the evening wore on. There were many memorable moments throughout and when it was time to head back to the hotel, Thompson Square's "If I Didn't Have You" was a great choice the newlyweds made for their last song. I had an absolute blast- I got to visit with and remember Nicole & Jason's wedding and be a part of an equally memorable day, that of Amanda and Brett. Thanks to Edgewood for everything they do so well.  Thanks to Nicole & Jason for their referral and above all thanks to Brett & Amanda for allowing me to be a small part of a magical day and evening. I love what I do and people like you two are why. All the best and many, many years of happiness!

Jason & Nicole!

"Little White Church" played during the toss!

A great crowd... So fun!

Karah & Leng at Edgewood Tahoe

The digital world we live in now makes life so much easier in a variety of ways. I used to have to lug a half-dozen crates of records and four cases of CDs around to events. Now a pair of Macbook Pros gives me instant access to tens of thousands of songs without any of that weight or bulk. 

Communication is light-years ahead of where it was when I started deejaying. My website and blog are representing me 24/7 all across the country and the world and people can read reviews on a plethora of sites. I am never far away from my clients, whether by phone, email or text. And I can meet with them no matter the timezone or distance. My office is wherever I am & wherever my brides and grooms are.

Karah and Leng live in the Midwest and decided to celebrate their love with their friends and family on the shores of Lake Tahoe. Through the net they found my website and blog, read some past client reviews, and contacted me about their big day. Pretty soon we were chatting about their vision for their wedding day via Facetime and soon thereafter I was happy to be chosen as their DJ.  

Meeting with your primary wedding professionals is key, especially your photographer & DJ. You want to know if you are comfortable with them, that they have your best interests at heart, and that the chemistry is right so they will capture your true nature in those pictures or through the music and vibe that you want to create.  Skype & Facetime allows for face-to-face meetings even with hundreds or thousands of miles between us. I love technology!

Karah & Leng decided on Edgewood Tahoe, one of my favorite venues anywhere, let alone up at the Lake. Edgewood has wow factors that are unequaled on so many levels. First the location.  The gorgeous golf course fronts sandy beaches with unparalleled views of water and mountains. The building is an architectural gem that even exceeds the spectacular surroundings it sits in. The wood, stonework and wide, tall windows bring the outdoor beauty inside and meld with it flawlessly.

My view setting up

But just as important as the location and ambience is the level of service that the Edgewood is famous for.  The employees are top-notch, friendly, and professional at all times. Walter & Rosalyn were my main contacts throughout the night, and they and their staff were exemplary in every way. Over the years there I see the same faces over and over which indicates to me that in a business fraught with employee turnover, Edgewood hires and retains the best people, and those people enjoy working there and providing that high level of service. Everyone from the bartenders to the waiters to the cooks and maintenance staff seems to love working there and to love what they do, and it shows.

The pensive groom right before the ceremony

The South Room was decorated beautifully and right outside on the terrace chairs were set up for the ceremony.  Some thunderclouds rolled in overhead just before the ceremony time and sprinkled a bit, but as always up at Tahoe in the summer, you can wait ten minutes and the clouds will speed past and sunshine will again reign. Edgewood's folks just wiped down the chairs and  we were ready to go a few minutes later.  Stepdad Dave was the officiant and he did a great job, mixing traditional and personal perfectly and soon thereafter Leng and Karah were married and off posing for pictures on the gorgeous grounds and on the beach. When they returned to the reception, they and their bridal party entered to the Killers' "All the Things That I've Done", an inspired and unique choice.  Leng & Karah have distinct and progressive musical tastes, and all throughout the evening I was able to use the songs and artists they love to make it that much more about them.  I played everything from Elvin Bishop and Allison Krause to Temper Trap and Snow Patrol. Eclectic and sophisticated, just like the bride & groom.

The dinner was amazing as usual... maybe even better than amazing.  I've blogged about the food and service at Edgewood before- how even their simple dishes like grilled veggies and their pasta salad are the best I've ever had.  But even with these standouts, my new favorites there are the flat-iron steak and the parmesan chicken. Absolute yumminess! They put the buffet on the dancefloor and when everyone has eaten their fill, they begin pouring champagne for the toast and in 2:44 (I timed them as I am always amazed at their efficiency) the entire buffet line was taken down and the dancefloor ready for the first dance. Usually I am the one prodding the venue to move along- at Edgewood they are always a step ahead of me, which again shows their flexibility and professionalism.

After some great toasts the cake was cut and we went into the first dance and then the Father-Daughter dance. The guests and bridal party then settled into a fun night of packing the dancefloor.  There were lots of great requests but my favorite was for "Everybody" by Backstreet Boys by Leng's sister.  I wasn't expecting the response when I started it up: the groom's family knew all the dance moves to it, like a music video or something!  Leng later told me that his sister made everyone dance to it when they were kids and it was so fun to watch them laughing and totally in sync with each other. These are the moments that everyone will remember forever, and I was so pleased to be a part of it.  Leng and Karah, thanks again for allowing me into your amazingly special day!

Wendy & Michael at Edgewood

Had a blast being a part of Wendy & Mike's ceremony and reception up on the shores of Lake Tahoe at the always elegant Edgewood.  The rainstorms stayed away and the temperature was perfect for a lakeshore, sandy beach wedding.  Wendy walked in to a beautiful rendition of "Canon in D" and the newly married couple exited to Jack Johnson's "Better Together".  Following cocktails and appetizers on the deck, the guests were seated in the South Room and Mike & Wendy made their Grand Entrance accompanied by Queen's "Your My Best Friend".   The typically delicious Edgewood buffet followed: I am always amazed by the quality of the food and the professionalism of the servers that work there.  Walter and his staff are friendly, professional, and truly care about their guests.  And they are efficient as well.  For example, the buffet line was on the dancefloor, and when it came time to toast and dance, he and his crew had the entire line down and the dancefloor cleared in less than four minutes.  I know, because right as they began I started a song that was 3:51 long, and they were completely done before it was over.  Amazing!

Lots of great dancing ensued throughout the evening.  Most memorable were a very animated bunch of dancers during "Thriller" and a great sing-along version of "Baby Got Back".  I was pleased to be able to download and play a Blackhawk song for a couple celebrating their 7th anniversary as well as play a few other romantic favorites for couples including songs by Allison Krause and the Turtles.  Not only do I get to see the magic when the bride and groom dance their first dance, but I get to see it relived on the faces of family and guests when I play their important song.  What a great job I have!  Thanks Edgewood!  Thanks Wendy & Michael for having me play your ceremony and reception!  Wishing you lots of happy, wonderful years of marriage...