Jeremy & Stacey at Gar Woods Grill & Pier on Lake Tahoe with the String Beings, Petal to the Metal, and Kelly Gesick Photography

There could not have been a more glorious Spring day for Stacey & Jeremy's big day this past weekend up beside beautiful Lake Tahoe. They said their "I do's" at a church in what Van from the String Beings said was a very lovely ceremony. In case you are unfamiliar with the String Beings, they are a string group that has provided ceremony and cocktail music at many of my functions, and they do a first-class job. Their repertoire is immense and I had the pleasure of being set up behind them at the reception and watched them work their musical magic. It is neat to see two violinists and a cellist playing completely different melodies and notes but interweaving together into something that is more than the sum of the parts. They played classical pieces, Beatles songs, and beautiful standards that illuminated the ceremony and cocktail hour with musical light. I have tens of thousands of songs and plenty of great choices for cocktail hour but there is nothing quite like a competent string group to really set a sophisticated tone.

The String Beings

Jeremy and Stacey chose Gar Woods Grill & Pier on Lake Tahoe's North Shore as their reception site. It has the vibe of a barefoot bar in the Caribbean but with food, drinks, and service to match the loftiest restaurant in the state. Throw in the spectacular Lake views, and you really have a top-notch venue. When out-of-towners come in, we like to take them on a drive around the Lake and invariably we end up at Gar Woods for lunch and are never disappointed. Weddings there are special. The entire upstairs is reserved for the event, so you really feel as if you are in private club. I am always amazed at the friendliness and efficiency of the people working there. Monica was the banquet captain, and she was always in motion, making sure every guest was treated superbly. The wait staff are exceptional as well. I would rank them up there with the best in the area- neck in neck with such other stellar venues such as Edgewood and The Grove at Southcreek. All three venues deliver extraordinary service, and I think it is the high standards they set coupled with the longevity of their staff. Russell, one of the super friendly and helpful waiters that night is a great example. He took care of countless requests with friendly expediency. He told me that it is like a big family there at Gar Woods that he himself has been a part of for better than 16 years. And then there is the food and drinks. Stacey and Jeremy really took care of their guests. Not only were appetizers awaiting their arrival, as well as wine, beer and Wet Woodies, the guests each got to select their entree from a special menu Stacey and Jeremy had chosen, which were then cooked to order. Very impressive (and delicious!).

The guests arrived, enjoyed the appetizers and cocktails along with the String Beings' music, found their appointed tables and drank in the views. Some walked out to the dock, others out onto the balcony and a better setting that afternoon could not be imagined. Geese shared the almost windless Lake with paddle boarders and the occasional pleasure cruising boat. Soon I announced the arrival of the newly married couple accompanied by appropriate string music from the Beings and the reception  really began.

Two other hardworking professionals really contributed to Stacey & Jeremy's special day: Sandy from Petal to the Metal and Kelly from Kelly Gesick Photography. 

Sandy is a true floral artist whom I am always happy to work with. Her designs are gorgeous and her attention to detail is phenomenal. I have blogged about her work in the past and she is a wedding professional whom I wholeheartedly recommend. Her flowers for this occasion were various shades of white and simply but elegantly presented, and they really set the mood that Stacey wanted to establish. I think they complemented her dress and those of her bridesmaids perfectly. Sandy was at the venue even before I arrived, and that is saying something as I always arrive earlier than anyone. She worked hard to make sure that everything was perfect and, while I am no floral expert, I think it was. Petal to the Metal rocks.

So as a wedding DJ who also is the coordinator for the reception I am always on the lookout for the photographer. Their arrival is a sign the the bride & groom are not far behind and I like to work closely with him/her to make sure we are in unison for the events and that the pictures will turn out perfectly. I soon noticed a woman in a lovely red dress with a couple of cameras in her hands coming up the stairs- it was Kelly Gesick. Her husband Jeff was the Best Man, and instead of the usual photographer attire (nice but functional) she was decked out as beautifully as any other guest or bridal party member (excluding Stacey of course) and was furiously shooting away. Throughout the evening she was everywhere taking the usual shots but also taking candid photos of guests and family reacting to the wonderful evening around them. She really went above and beyond, was easy to coordinate everything with, and still was able to enjoy herself as a guest here and there. Just super to work with!

Getting back to the reason why we were all gathered there: Jeremy & Stacey...

They were able to mingle a bit before the waiters took orders for the entrees and then delivered the salads, but soon everyone was enjoying the fabulous Gar Woods deliciousness.  I have to say, the guests were really dinging their glasses all night, probably the most insistent crowd I can remember.

Stacey & Jeremy didn't seem to mind the command performances though :)

Soon the Best Man Jeff opened up the toasting with an articulate soliloquy that I thought one of the finest toasts I'd heard in a while. He was followed by the Maid of Honor and sister of the bride Stefanie who also hit it out of the park with her toast. Dads and other family and guests followed, ending with a heartfelt thank you from the newlyweds. Just as the last glass was tipped and drained, the sunset began to set and Kelly took Jeremy & Stacey out to the pier for some spectacular pictures. People began to congregate on the balcony to watch the newly married pair so I opened the door near me and pointed a speaker out so they could have a soundtrack while they posed. A little Bruno Mars and Dixie Cups punctuated Kelly's great picture taking :)

Sunset pix with Kelly Gesick

Soon they were back inside and cutting their cake accompanied by Norah Jones' "Come Away With Me", but Jeremy had a surprise for the onlookers. When they had sliced their first piece and were ready to feed it to one another, I mixed in the theme from Mortal Kombat- very fun! There were a lot of surprised but joyously vocal guests pumping their fists and urging them to mash each other. A very playful moment magnified by a little inspiration. Very fun!

Groovin slowly...

The First Dance was next, and the song they picked for it was exceptional: "Groovin Slowly" by the John Butler Trio. It captured their uniquely fun personalities, their love for one another, and the admiration of their guests like no other song in recent memory. Friends were holding on to one another singing it, swaying to the music just as Jeremy & Stacey were doing the same on the dance floor. I love it when couples choose songs that they identify with, that have special meanings to them and their loved ones, and are just different from the average choice. Whenever I play that song from now on, I will remember fondly that moment in time when the world revolved around them, and so will everyone else there that shared in that moment.

Stacey then danced with her father Steve to "Butterfly Kisses" and I passed on their gracious invitation for all of the other fathers & daughters to join them halfway through. Then Jackie danced with her son Jeremy to "In My Life" by the Beatles and more special moments were created. Some OAR led off the open dancing and the dance floor rocked all night long, with everything from Zeppelin to Garth Brooks and Journey to the No Doubt and everything in between. Lots of great requests and dedications all throughout the evening. My two favorites were a grandmother's dedication of Taylor Swift's "Never Grow Up" for her granddaughter and another guests Fountains of Wayne dedication for Stacey's mom :)  All the guys sang it to the mother of the bride and people were singing it to her late that night in the parking lot as I loaded up. So awesome!  That's the kind of crowd that a DJ like me loves- fun, involved, and ready to dance! Fortunately most of my crowds are like that. It is a direct reflection of the bride & groom, and as you can tell I get to play for the best brides and grooms :)

Last dance

As the night at Gar Woods ended, I played Semisonic's "Closing Time" and the friends and family of Jeremy & Stacey encircled them as they had one last dance. Such an amazing venue, crowd and couple!  Thanks to everyone at Gar Woods for going above and beyond. Thanks to Van and his String Beings for their artistry. Thanks to Sandy at Petal to the Metal for her beautiful handiwork. Thanks to Kelly Gesick for being both a great guest and a fantastic photographer. But thanks most of all to Stacey & Jeremy. I really enjoyed being a part of your fabulous evening and I wish you all the best in your new adventure as husband and wife. Congrats you two!

Kyle & Marika at the Rancho San Rafael Ranch House with Opa Cafe, Delicious Designs, and Petal to the Metal

I love ethnic weddings. That affection may come from the Italian ones I attended as a child but I really think that it is the fact that celebrating your family background can be a profound part of the wedding experience and really make your wedding unique. Your family gets to celebrate their heritage and your guests get to experience what may be to them new traditions, music, and food. I have had the privilege of being the DJ at many different ethnic weddings over the years- this summer's batch included Guatemalan, Danish, Bosnian, Native American, German, and the one I have chosen to blog about today, Greek.

Kyle and Marika are a fun, energetic young couple that wanted to have a fun and memorable wedding and reception that both told a story of who they are and also paid tribute to Marika's Greek heritage. I met with them several times prior to the big day and their planning and excitement was infectious. I always look forward to every event I am privileged to be a part of, but it was even a little more so with them.

They chose the Ranch House at Rancho San Rafael Park for their ceremony and reception. It is a beautiful spot filled with nooks and corners inside, an intimate lawn & grove outside for ceremonies, and a central open courtyard that is perfect for tables and the reception events. I arrived early on that Sunday afternoon to find Kyle, Marika's brother Taso and many others sprucing up the Ranch House with decorations, lots of color, and photos attached to lines crossing the courtyard, which I thought unique and fun. I loved the bridesmaid dresses too: all different dresses in different shades of purple with cowboy boots. The fantastic flowers and bouquets from Petal to the Metal really tied everything together, and when Kyle wore his straw cowboy hat it put an exclamation point on their vibe and style- very country chic!

The ceremony was held on the back lawn and reflected their personalities: bright and fun. The parents and bridal party entered to a favorite of mine, Alison Kraus's cover of the Beatles "I Will", which set the tone perfectly as we all awaited Marika's walk down the aisle. She emerged to the traditional "Bridal Chorus" with her mom and dad, and the joy on Kyle's face on seeing her was noticed even by me, way in the back working on the tunes. A simple ceremony followed and then they retraced their steps, this time as husband & wife to the traditional "Wedding March."  I really loved the fact that they included their dogs in the ceremony as well.  Again, a super-fun couple!

Tradition was the word of the day as the guests entered the Ranch House finding Greek delicacies from Opa Cafe awaiting them inside. Opa Cafe did a tremendous job the entire event with both staffing and the appetizers and the buffet.  I love Greek food and found their tzatziki sauce especially addictive, but for me the star of the evening food-wise was the moussaka- so light and delicate and flavorful! Yum! Everything was delicious as well and most of the guests wandered back inside to the buffet line for seconds and thirds.

When pictures were done, I introduced everyone during the Grand Entrance. First, to the strains of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" came the parents Mike & Janet and Steve & Judy. Then came the 2 ring bearers and flower girl accompanied by Pharell's "Happy." then the extensive bridal party entered to EMF's "Unbelievable", followed at last by Stevie singing "Signed Sealed Delivered" as we welcomed Kyle and Marika to their reception. Champagne toasts were then made and we opened up the buffet line.

Opa!!!

After dinner, a very fine Greek tradition began: Ouzo toasts. If you haven't had Ouzo, it is a clear liqueur distilled with anise seeds that give it a black licorice taste. Unlike sambuca it isn't sweet but crisp and and fragrant, and it will keep you warm around a campfire on a cold winter's night (believe me, I know). It was fun seeing dozens of shot glasses filled with the Aegean nectar and everyone partaking in the traditional "Opa" toast as they wished the bride & groom happiness. Now I never drink when I DJ.  Not only is it unprofessional to be drinking a beer as you introduce the first dance etc, it also obviously effects your performance when weaving songs together. Some do drink- maybe it works for them, but I don't as a rule.  Well rules are meant to be broken, especially when the father of the bride and the father of the groom bring me up a shot and insist that I partake with them in honor of Marika & Kyle. So I did one, and only one Ouzo shot. Hard to say no to Steve & Mike  :)

Next Marika & Kyle cut their cake and it and the accompanying cupcakes were extraordinary. Leigh Anne from Delicious Designs is my absolute favorite baker and this is why: not only were the cake and cupcakes beautiful, they tasted even better than they looked, and Leigh Anne always goes the extra mile to please. Not only were several normal flavor combinations, there were special cupcakes made for vegans and people who needed a gluten/dairy-free alternative. Here were the flavors:

Champagne cake with peach filling & vanilla buttercream icing

Champagne cake with blueberry filling & vanilla buttercream icing

Champagne cake with strawberry filling & vanilla buttercream icing

Vegan Chocolate cake with fresh strawberries & chocolate ganache

Red Velvet cake with cream cheese icing

Gluten & dairy-free Red Velvet cake with dairy-free vanilla buttercream

Wow, huh?  I never have cake/cupcakes at weddings unless it is by Delicious Designs.  I had a Champagne/strawberry one and it was fabultastic.  And if that isn't enough, she made a special surprise for Marika & Kyle- actually for their dogs: peanut butter cupcakes that were dog friendly (I did not know that some ingredients in baked goods aren't good for our canine friends). Above and beyond!

"Rock me mama like a wagon wheel"

"Rock me mama any way you feel"

"Hey mama, rock me..."

After the cake was cut and cupcakes devoured, it was time for the First Dance. Marika & Kyle chose "Wagon Wheel" but couldn't decide whether they liked the original by Old Crow Medicine Show or the later version by Darius Rucker best.  The solution?  Play both!  I started with OCMS and mixed it flawlessly to Rucker's rendition, got a few people nodding their heads, and watched as Kyle & Marika spun around the floor.  I love my job! 

Father-Daughter/Mother-Son Dance

More special dances rounded out the evening. A combined Father/Daughter-Mother/Son Dance with Bobby Helm's "Special Angel" got everyone going when Marika & Steve and Kyle & Janet invited everyone up to join them on the dance floor.  An Anniversary Dance featuring Nat King Cole's "LOVE" was a hit along with lots of other requests. It was a fun dance floor, but that fun was taken to an even higher level when Steve and Judy led everyone in some traditional Greek serto and syrtaki dances.  Very, very fun!

When it came time to toss the bouquet and garter, Marika chose "One Fine Day" by the Chiffons for her toss, and Kyle chose "Can't Touch This" by Hammer for his. We just segued into another serto or syrtaki and I am sure even more Ouzo was consumed- I have never seen so many Ouzo bottles at one time before :)

When all was said and done, I had an absolute blast. As the evening wound down and as friends and family pitched in to gather gifts, put away food, and tidy up the Ranch House I noticed Steve & Judy, Marika's folks busy doing umpteen things as I was beginning to break down my equipment.  I thought they might want a moment to themselves so I played their song "Through the Years" and they stopped their hustle and bustle for a moment and danced together like they were the only ones in the universe. A fantastic ending to a fantastic day. Again, I love my job.

Judy and Steve having a last dance :)

Thanks to Rancho San Rafael Park for allowing us use of the Ranch House. I think it is my 7th or 8th time there and every event has been memorable and fun.  Thanks to Petal to the Metal for their inspired arrangements and bouquets which really fit the couple and their vibe. Thanks to Opa Cafe for their hard work and superlative food. Thanks to the always amazing Delicious Designs for their one-of-a-kind cake and cupcakes. Most of all, thanks to Kyle and Marika.  You and your family and friends made me feel more like a guest than a hired hand and I was honored to be a small part of your special day and evening. Best of everything you two!