Lucy & Sid at The Grove at Southcreek

My first wedding of 2019 happened to be on the first day of the year, and it set the tone for what will surely be a phenomenal year of weddings!

Sid and Lucy have grown and almost-grown children. They have grandchildren. They both were doing well as successful single parents when they met and sparks flew. Sparks, heck! More like Fourth of July fireworks! I get to work with so many fantastic couples, many so very deeply in love with one another, but I think Sid and Lucy topped that parameter. When we met they were so aware of each other. It's like their consciousness exceeded themselves and included each other. There are constant touches, both conscious and unconscious. When one is across the room the other seems to know instinctively where the other is and how they are. It is so special to be a part of a celebration of two people, whom after spending perhaps half their lives apart, raising exceptional children and excelling at their professions, experience the love of their lives. They are living proof that true romance is alive and well and out there for those who seek it, no matter where you are in life.

They contacted me rather late last year. The whole thing was conceived and put together quickly- they were just going to elope, but thought better of that, and after meeting their families and friends I can see why. They wanted to share one of the happiest moments of their lives with the people they love. No better motivation than that.

They decided on The Grove at Southcreek. No better choice. Gigi and her staff are the best in Reno, maybe the best in NoNV/Tahoe, and speaking to Gigi and Ruthie prior to the event, I could tell that they looked forward to Lucy & Sid's day as much as I did. It was an intimate gathering, with the ceremony at the far side of the room, with me opposite near the roaring fireplace. The day was clear and sunny- if you didn't know the date you'd think it was 75 degrees outside instead of a crisp 30 degrees. Jen was the Grove's coordinator that day, and she and her crew did a wonderful job, as always. No finer group to work with.

Mark Frady was their officiant. Mark is an exceptional wedding professional. He loves what he does. He is devout but not zealous. He truly believes in the sacred nature of marriage and tries to imbue some of his copious wisdom to the couple standing before him, all with a friendliness and air of someone who tries not to take himself too seriously. Every time I witness a ceremony that he performs, I glean a little nugget or two that I can apply to my marriage. In other words he set a tone that was perfect for their moment. I am always happy to work with Mark.

The guys came in with Mark as "Waitin' on a Woman" by Brad Paisley played in the background. Then Lucy appeared. She was resplendent (you don't hear that word often lol) in a sleek golden dress: absolutely beautiful on her wedding day. Sid looked like he had a tear or two in the corner of his eye as she walked down the aisle accompanied by her sons. In the midst of the ceremony they recited personal vows that got everyone a little teary. I, for one, felt enormously privileged to witness this public assertion of their love, so tangible and powerful. After their vows, Mark had all of their children and their two moms stand up with them, showing the two families uniting into one. Lucy had a bouquet that split into two parts, which she presented to her and Sid's moms. So special and unique!

Soon they were kissing, Mark was introducing, and I played them down the aisle to the Beatles' "All You Need Is Love"- especially fitting, I thought.

Immediately a Bloody Mary/Mimosa Bar opened up, with specially crafted cocktails for the thirsty guests and participants, and the efficient Grove staff removed the chairs and put a brunch buffet line in its place. Sid's brother Todd then gave an invocation and shortly after that people were enjoying a fabulous Grove brunch (did I mention that their food is extraordinary?) along with their mimosas and vodka-tomato concoctions.

Bless the Broken Road

The toasts were free-form and many in number. Heartfelt. Happy. Then I started up Rascal Flatt's "Bless the Broken Road" and introduced the newlyweds fr their first dance as husband and wife. Both of them had told me that the lyrics of the song really struck a chord with their lives and their romance and while they danced, oblivious to the gazes of all us onlookers, Sid softly sang the words to Lucy and Lucy to Sid. A love is so magnificent, so powerful, and so tangible.

A family dance ("Unforgettable" by father and daughter Cole) ensued where Sid danced with his daughter and Lucy with her sons, and all the sons and daughters and mothers and fathers came out to share the song and the moment. True emotion witnessed yet again on this magical day.

Dancing ensued and it was great to see such enthusiasm in the early afternoon. I played lots of country and threw in some rock and pop here and there, everything from Cash to Strait, Lincoln Brewster to Alison Krauss, Van Morrison to Tim McGraw. An Anniversary Dance followed a fun group photo op and the celebration continued for several hours.

For their last dance I found another version of "Bless the Broken Road" on a Christian CD by Selah and Lucy and Sid had one last dance to sing to each other. Magical.

When all was said and done, hugs exchanged, personal items gathered up, I watched as Sid and Lucy approached every single person working their event- the photographer, the wait staff, bartender, kitchen staff and Jen and myself to personally thank them for helping them on their wedding day. Such a classy gesture from such a thoughtful and happy couple. What a way to kick off 2019!

Thanks to Mark Frady and Jen and all of the Grove staff for the excellent job you did! Thanks to the friends and family that made the day so special and fun. And thanks, of course, to Sid and Lucy for allowing me to be a part of their wedding and celebration. People like you make me a better DJ and reaffirm why I do what I do. All the best to you and yours and Happy New Year!

One more dance

Dustin & Ashley at the Gatekeeper's Museum with Take the Cake Events and Reverend Mark Frady

I had the privilege to be the DJ for Ashley and Dustin's wedding up at the Gatekeeper's Museum recently, and I have to say it is one of the highlights of an already fantastic wedding season for me. 

First off, the bride and groom are just special people. So fun to chat and Skype with beforehand, they made me feel at ease from the first moment on. Their love is so natural and complimentary that it magnifies everything they do together, and it overflowed into the music and event selections as to put their indelible mark on the entire day and evening. Their family and friends then added even more celebration and love to their day- what a great group of people!

Speaking of great people, Dustin & Ashley hired some phenomenal vendors to make their day special- and I am not just talking about the DJ :)

Cassie & Pattye of Take the Cake Events were their coordinators and I am always so thankful to be working with them. There are many coordinators out there, at many different levels of aptitude. To tell you the truth, sometimes I'd rather have no coordinator at all instead of some I deal with. You need to be at the top of your game to be a great coordinator- it takes organization, foresight, empathy, the ability to multi-task, improvise, and above all great people skills. Take the Cake Events' Pattye & Cassie have all of these attributes and more- they have a passion for what they do and it shows from their pre-event planning, to setup, to help coordinating the ceremony to staying later than anyone else cleaning and gathering up everything from the site. I am always amazed at their dedication and all the little things they constantly do to keep everything running smoothly. I'd work with them at every event if I could!

My view of Ashley and her dad coming down the aisle :)

Rev. Mark Frady was their officiant, and he is always so great in what he does. He makes couples feel at ease, lending a smiling, calming influence to the ceremony and sets a mood that is fun yet still thoughtful and meaningful. 

The ceremony site at the Gatekeeper Museum is in this clearing overlooking the beach and Lake, and it is at the same time rustic yet elegant. Mountains in the background, shade for the guests, sunlight on the happy couple- it is a perfect Tahoe framing of the moment.

The bridal party entered to Springsteen's "Secret Garden", followed by Ashley and her father coming in to the always perfect "Crazy Love" by Van Morrison. Inspired choices by Ashley & Dustin! After a beautiful ceremony with some of the most touching vows that I have witnessed in many a wedding, they exited to cheers and Hall & Oates' "You Make My Dreams." Again, a perfect song for that magical moment.

The guests then moved closer to the museum, into the bigger clearing where the reception began. Although it is maybe 30 yards from the ceremony site, it seems like a wholly different venue, as it is open and expansive where the ceremony area is smaller, closed, and intimate. There is plenty of room for tables, a dance floor, a bar and other assorted areas that beg to be explored. It is nice that the Gatekeeper Museum keeps it private and secure as only another 100 yards away is the bridge and Tahoe City. You would not know it though, as you have several acres of pines all to yourselves. One neat aspect of their day was that some trees were flowering, and in the breeze thousands of small white flowers drifted by as the evening progressed. Most fell on the river nearby, but it gave the whole atmosphere a ethereal feel.

When pictures were done, I introduced the bridal party to the Jackson 5's "ABC" and then the bride and groom with "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" by Stevie Wonder. Soon everyone was enjoying dinner and the fantastic scenery. When people had finished, toasts were made and then the cake was cut accompanied by "Jackie Wilson Said" by Van Morrison. I have to say, the song list Dustin & Ashley provided was perfect for not only these events, but also for dancing and for cocktails and dinner. I love when a couple has a definite musical point of view, and they do, and it made everything that much more special and true to them.

Then it was time to start the dancing. Breaking in the dance floor, Dustin & Ashley danced their first dance to Ray LaMontagne's "You Are the Best Thing" and I loved how Dustin sang it to Ashley as they twirled. Ashley and her dad Ed then danced to "If I Could" by Ray Charles, which is an overlooked gem of a song, and so fitting for their moment together. Dustin and his mom Sally then had their special moment, dancing to "Here Comes the Sun" by the Fab Four. 

Ashley and her father Ed

Ashley's folks Carol and Ed led off a special Anniversary Dance (they were celebrating 30 years) with their first dance song "You Make Me Feel So Very Happy" by Blood, Sweat & Tears. That kinda set the tone for the rest of the evening- happy friends and family keeping this DJ on his toes with a full dance floor and plenty of inspired requests all night long. My kind of party!

"You Make Me So Very Happy"

I really have to thank all of the family and guests who made me feel so welcome and who danced the night away. I had so many great conversations and played so many requests that were special to a certain couple or that just took the party to the next level.

Thanks to Rev. Mark Frady for doing what he does with such spirit and passion. Thanks to the Gatekeeper's Museum for such a gorgeous venue. Thanks, thanks, thanks to Cassie and Pattye at Take the Cake Events.  There are some people who can take an event far beyond what the bride and groom can envision: Cassie & Pattye are two of those people.

Finally, thanks to Dustin and Ashley. It was so great getting to know you in the time we shared prior and during your amazing day. It was so great and fulfilling to have been a part of that day. A super couple with great family and friends. 

Fantastic crowd!

Elisa & Tommy at Rancharrah with Ken Lewis Photography, Dish Catering, Reverend Mark Frady, and The Socks

I had the most fantastic wedding and reception to start off my 2014 season a few weeks back and it can be attributed to the amazing bride and groom, their friends & family, the outstanding vendors who worked tirelessly, and to the beautiful grounds of their special venue, Rancharrah.

Ceremony- DJ's view :)

First off, Tommy and Elisa are one special couple. They were such a pleasure to meet and chat with and they had a vision of their day that really reflected their likes and points of view while taking great care of their guests from the moment they arrived. They gave me an extensive music list but also encouraged requests throughout the evening. We met several times prior to the big day to perfect a special mix of three songs that they learned a dance to for their first dance. They were very involved in planning and it showed- from the cocktail tables with custom "Mad Libs" to fill out, to the lawn games for their guests while they were off taking pictures, to the acknowledgment of guest's anniversaries and birthdays, to a completely green candy table that matched their colors, no detail was overlooked and it gave their day such an intimate and personalized vibe.

Onlooker- don't think he was on the guest list...

Secondly the setting they chose was spectacular- the Rose Garden at Rancharrah. Their ceremony site, flanked by trees and backing up to a pasture with horses seemed to make the most of the gorgeous day. I am continually impressed by the professionalism, friendliness, and the willingness to go above and beyond that Brandi, Rosie, and their crew at Rancharrah exhibited before during and after the event. Their dedication is certainly worthy of the surroundings- both are exceptional.

The Socks!

Third, they hired some of the best wedding vendors in Reno to make their dream become a reality. To start it off, they had a great band, The Socks to play for seating, ceremony, and cocktails. I was very impressed with their talent and musical range and they seemed to set a perfect tone for the nuptials and cocktail hour. Next they had one of the best officiants there is do their ceremony: Mark Frady. I love the way he puts his couples at ease- the way he styles their ceremony around them, and the obvious delight he has being a part of their most important day. He is always a pleasure to work with, and I was astonished at the time and effort he put in to a surprise for the B&G: framing their marriage certificate and printing a booklet with their names and personalized vows that he gives to them and their immediate family members. Such a class act! 

Ken Lewis even framed me!

Catching all of these special moments was Ken Lewis of Ken Lewis Studio, another inspired choice for a wedding professional. Ken has great photographic talent but the thing I admire most about him is that he is everywhere during the day and evening, capturing shots that many other  photographers might miss. He really documents the entire event and his subjects are so comfortable with him that they lower their guard and he captures their true personalities. One more thing Ken did- he had an assortment of various frames at one end of the Rose Garden where guests could come to and pose for a picture. Their personalities really came out holding a frame and acting happy or silly- kind of a classy, different Photo Booth concept. Very cool!

Best Man Michael's toast

Finally, Tommy & Elisa chose Dish Cafe as their caterer and as usual their food was extraordinary. They had these cold soup shooters and fresh bruschetta for appetizers that really were a hit. When the dinner buffet was set up, I saw many head back to the line for seconds and thirds. It is nice to know that even with the success they have had with "Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives", their quality has remained at such a superlative level. Yum!

First dance! My iPhone does not do them justice...

When the reception got underway, the BP entered to "Could You Be Loved" by Bob Marley and the newlyweds entered to Michael Franti's "Hey Hey Hey". Following the Dish Cafe's delicious dinner, some great toasts were given. I liked the fact that every toaster had a unique way of presenting their toast whether it was sentimental, funny, anecdotal or just full of love for the B&G. It really set the stage for a video presentation projected up on the tent wall. Again Elisa & Tommy personalizing their day. Dancing then began with the mix we perfected- three songs by Elvis, When in Rome, and the Mowgli's that they danced a beautifully choreographed routine to. Such a great moment and all the guests were on their feet clapping and cheering by the end. Magical.

Anniversary Dance

Elisa then danced with her dad Mike to "Over the Rainbow" by Iz, graciously allowing me to invite all the dads & daughters up midway through so they could have a special moment as well. Tommy and his mom Heidi then danced to "What a Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong and again welcomed the other moms and sons up to dance halfway through. I love when couples do this! It really touches their guests and makes an already memorable event even that much more so. The dance floor then never really emptied as the night progressed. With Tommy & Elisa's song list and requests from the crowd it was a DJ's dream. When Fun's "We Are Young" finally closed out the evening that had already gone into extra hours, every voice sang as loud as they could and happily wished the newlyweds well. What a way to kick off the 2014 wedding season!

Last song- everybody singing "We can go high-er than the sun!"

Thanks to Brandi & Rosie and everyone at Rancharrah. Thanks to Ken Lewis for his pictures and his enthusiasm. Thanks to Mark Frady for an inspiring yet down to earth ceremony. Thanks to the crew from Dish Cafe for their delicious food and to The Socks for their great music. Finally, and most importantly, thanks to Elisa & Tommy for allowing me to be a small part of their incredible day and evening. You guys rock! Many, many years of happiness and love!

Elisa & Tommy!

Brandon & Jillian at the Grove at Southcreek with Rev. Mark Frady and Mix Cupcakes

  It is great when you know some of the family and friends of a bride & groom before you even meet them or do their wedding.  This is the case with Jillian & Brandon's wedding which I was so happy to be a part of this past weekend.  I have had the absolute pleasure the last couple of years to DJ Brandon's mom Rita's work holiday party and have had a blast doing so.  It is not a large crowd, but they are super fun & friendly and dance all night long and it is always one of the highlights of my Christmas season.  This past holiday season I met the future bride & groom at the party and was pleased when they decided to have me at their big day at The Grove at Southcreek.

  It was one of those beautiful spring days in  Northern Nevada where the temperature is perfect but clouds come in and out, and you wonder if a thunderstorm is in the works.  Thankfully no rain was forthcoming but the sun coming into and out of the clouds really made the light perfect for those professional photographers out there- the pix I took, well you can see why I'm a DJ and not a photographer. 

Jillian, Rev. Mark Frady, Brandon

  I am always happy to see Reverend Mark Frady at a ceremony.  He is one of the best & most experienced officiants in the area, and he has an unflappable wit and huge smile that puts brides & grooms instantly at ease.  He is not afraid to deviate from his script, making it a personal experience for everyone there, and his ability to roll with changes and soothe nervous almost newlyweds is unmatched.  I threw him an unintentional curve ball when the lapel mic I equipped him with started to cut in and out.  I immediately began running up towards the dais with a backup mic, but he just asked if everyone could hear him without amplification, waved me off, and continued with his hearty reverend voice. A true professional.  His service is always a perfect blend of familiarity, love, commitment, and inspiration and  the guests and bridal party were completely immersed in his words and the moments he perfectly framed with them.  Jillian walked down the aisle to "I Cross My Heart" by George Strait, bringing a tear to Brandon's eye (First Looks have nothing on seeing your bride for the first time coming up the aisle).  When Rev. Frady pronounced them husband & wife, they departed down the aisle to "Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not" by Thompson Square to the cheers of everyone.  A perfect ceremony.

First Dance

  While family and the bridal party stayed outside for pictures, everyone else moved inside to the beautifully decorated Grove for cocktail hour.  Jillian & Brandon had a picture-filled guestbook and also a thumbprint tree for their guests to sign (and press) and a slideshow of the two of them through the years was on the big screen as well as the bar & fireplace monitors.  A candy table occupied many of the younger guests as well as many who were just young at heart.  When pictures were through, the bridal party entered to cheers while "Long Cool Woman" by the Hollies played in the background.  Brandon & Jillian entered last and made their way to the dance floor for their first dance, "Cowboys & Angels" by Dustin Lynch.  As soon as the last note was played, and the clapping & cheering subsided, Julie, the Grove's event coordinator informed me that dinner was ready.  That is what I love about the Grove- such attention to detail and timing!  The Grove served the bridal couple at their sweetheart table and everyone else went through the delicious and quick buffet line.  I know I've typed about him in the past, but executive chef Shakka's food is always extraordinary.  People were going back for seconds and thirds.  I love how his simplest foods are over-the-top good.  Like sauteed veggies and real mashed potatoes with herbs or perhaps leeks that make them so delicious.  Needless to say the guests were not disappointed.  After some great toasts by the Best Man, Maid of Honor, dad and groom, the newlyweds moved over to the cake table.  They cut a small cake and didn't mash each other too badly, but the dessert highlight were the many different cupcakes piled all around the cake.  I found out it was Mix Cupcakes of Reno, and though I don't know them or haven't had their cupcakes before, I am a fan!  The many flavors and the sheer beauty of the cupcakes really sets them apart, and later when the dancing was in full swing and everyone had had their fill of them, I wandered over to the cake table and picked a Reeses-topped cupcake that was absolutely fantastic.  Yum!

Rita and Brandon

  Speaking of dancing, Jerry danced with his daughter Jillian to "Just Fishin" by Trace Adkins to start off the night.  Then Rita danced with her son Brandon to Lynryd Skynyrd's "Simple Man" followed by a great money dance. The Black Eyed Peas started the fast dancing and it never really let up except for slow songs to let them catch their breath and an Anniversary Dance and the Bouquet & Garter.  I played a lot of country, but also a lot of newer pop and hip-hop along with many of everyones favorite novelty and line dances.  One guest requested "Billie Jean" and proceeded to start an MJ dance-off that really fired up the crowd.  What a great group!  Easy for a DJ when practically everything you play is enthusiastically danced to.  All too soon the evening wound down, with Brandon & Jilly exiting to sparklers and off to their honeymoon.  I can't thank them and Rita enough for allowing me to be a part of their special day.  Thanks also to Reverend Mark Frady and Julie, Roberto & Shakka and everyone else at the Grove that took their day and evening to the next level.  Congrats Brandon & Jillian!