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...