Michelle & Justin at Skylandia Park with As You Wish Catering

Weddings for me are magical- moments that inspire me and make me strive to be a better husband and DJ. All are special and unique but some are more magical than others. It is sometimes hard to put your finger on why. In Justin and Michelle's case, it was apparent from the first.

The biggest factor in a perfect wedding and reception is the couple getting married. I am lucky in that my brides & grooms are mostly professionals, closer to thirty than twenty, and that they have found me because they don't want ordinary for their day. My couples know what they want and don't want for their big day, and it is a privilege to make their dreams become reality.

From the moment we FaceTimed, I knew their day was going to be special. They have an ease about them, an aura of happiness and positivity that is infectious. Their love for each other is always apparent- it's like they are the embodiment of living life fully and joyfully. And they have found the perfect partner in the other. That old adage, being greater together than the sum of their parts is absolutely true. I was enchanted- not a word I use often- and excited to be a part of their special day.

Tahoe and more specifically Skylandia has a special place in Michelle's family. It is a gorgeous area on the North Shore and a place where memories become sacred, to paraphrase Nicole, their phenomenal officiant. When Justin, a native of Colorado, visited for the first time, he became interwoven into the magic of the place and every subsequent visit to Tahoe includes walks in the park and selfies on the dock. So when they decided to marry, no other spot seemed more fitting for their vows.

My ceremony view

I had never been to Skylandia, so when Justin & Michelle came up to the Lake several weeks ago I met them there for our final planning meeting. It's more of a locals spot as the usual beach parks are right on the highway. Skylandia takes some perseverance  to discover. A beautiful forested area stretches in three directions and a rocky bluff overlooks the beach and has views all the way across to South Lake Tahoe. It is a place where almost everything has to be brought in, but is away from crowds and tourists- not always a given on the North Shore.

Hey! That's me! :)

When I arrived on Saturday, tables were decked out, chairs were set up for the ceremony, lights were strung between trees with photos hanging from the strands, and a dance floor was set up waiting for me. Power is not available there, so I brought my Honda 2000. It is a workhorse- it quietly provided clean and plentiful power for 7 hours without fail. It sips the gasoline as well- I don't think it used much more than a gallon.  I was early and set up by 2:30 for a 4pm ceremony, but as people began to arrive around 3pm, I started a nice background mix to set a fun tone.

Loved their seating chart!

I was a bit worried as the winds were gusting that day and the sun was in and out of the clouds. It felt more like Spring than July, but as the ceremony got closer, the winds started to die down and weren't a factor.  It really was a group effort from Justin & Michelle's friends and family- there were several people making sure things were set up and perfect when I got there and friends brought their Photo Booth. Their props/hats/masks etc were probably the best I'd seen at an event. Quality, fun stuff that really got people happy and silly.

The ceremony was fantastic. With the Lake at her back, Nicole wove nuptials that were specific to Michelle and Justin- telling their story, eliciting laughs, some happy tears, and finally huge applause as Justin & Michelle became Mr. & Mrs.

Pictures followed while the guests enjoyed cocktails and appetizers courtesy of As You Wish Catering. I was very impressed with As You Wish. I have worked with them before, and their standards of personnel and food and beverage service are the highest. Many times during the evening As You Wish went above and beyond, cleaning broken glasses on the dance floor, helping people find belongings and countless other little things that make an exceptional  wedding vendor. Their BBQ-themed dinner fit the setting perfectly and was efficiently served and delicious. I am sure they were happy to work at Skylandia, as it is just a couple of blocks from their office/kitchen.

Several games were set out for the cocktail hour. Some bocce and corn hole matches were played and witnessed and Justin & Michelle's "guestbook" were some large Jenga pieces that people would sign and then play with- just a fun vibe throughout.

Michelle and Justin had a Grand Entrance punctuated by a little Usher, and dinner was immediately served. After dinner, the two Mikes (Justin & Michelle's dads) gave poignant toasts followed by Jerica and Jessica, their Best Woman and Maid of Honor respectively.  I get to witness many toasts and these four really were great. Following Justin thanking everyone for being a part of their day, the dancing started, and never really ceased except to cut the cake and toss the bouquet and garter.

First Dance

"Die a Happy Man" was Michelle & Justin's First Dance, and it was neat because one of their beloved dogs, Aspen, joined them at the end of the dance :)  Next up was Michelle and her dad dancing to what else but "Michelle" from the Beatles. Michelle had danced with her dad at his wedding, so they already had some fantastic history with the song, and halfway through I invited all the other fathers & daughters to come up and join them in the dance. Always tugs on the heartstrings a bit!

Justin had a surprise for his mom when the Mother Son dance started. I played "Wonderful World" by Satchmo for twenty or thirty seconds then scratched out and started up "La Bamba" by Ritchie Valens. Everyone including mom was surprised and it became the joyous start to open dancing. I invited everyone up and soon we were deep into an oldies set that just set the tone for the rest of the night. 

Family and friends were really tremendous throughout the day and evening. So many people came up not just to request songs but to just chat and I had some fantastic conversations throughout the evening. Most of the crowd came from a good distance away and their love for the newlyweds was very apparent. I think Michelle and Justin have that effect on people. If you knew them, how could you possibly miss their wedding day, even if you call Colorado or the East Coast home?  My favorite conversation was with Michelle's grandfather. After a lively rendition of "Tequila" with everyone singing along and doing their best PeeWee Herman dance, he came up to me and told me that he was in the room when Danny Flores wrote the song. It was a B-side instrumental to the Champs' first record but it became the star instead of the A-side. What were they doing as Flores wrote the song you might ask? Drinking tequila, of course :)

I played a great mix of oldies, 90's pop and hip/hop, rock & roll and a little country and the dance floor never emptied. Lots of fun requests meant a happy crowd and a happy DJ. We went an extra hour until the dreaded Tahoe 10pm curfew reared its ugly head. Finally, as I was packing up, everyone headed down to the pier for a last group shot and some fireworks went off nearby. Coincidence? Probably :)

Thanks to everyone at As You Wish Catering for a stellar job. Thanks to the family and helpers that spent a lot of time getting Skylandia just right. Thanks to all the guests who made me feel like one of them instead of a hired hand. And finally, thanks most of all to Michelle and Justin for including me in their day and evening. I am honored to be a part of many fantastic receptions and this one was one of my favorites. If you can't tell, I love what I do!

Congrats you two!

Jenna & Travis at The Gatekeeper Museum with Dish Catering & A Simply Splendid Event

Sometimes no matter how much you plan and envision your day unfolding, mother nature intervenes and you just have to deal with less-than-perfect weather.  Twenty-six years ago, I married my wife inside a church on a rainy day.  We spent the reception inside the hall we rented but it didn't diminish the day or the joy we shared with our guests. You just make do.  Lake Tahoe can be notoriously fickle weather-wise.  Usually it is later in the summer when thunderstorms rush overhead- rainy one moment and beautiful the next.  It seems that even if the rain is coming down hard, you can wait ten minutes, wipe off the chairs, and have a gorgeous outdoor ceremony and reception.

Travis & Jenna brought all of their friends and family up to Lake Tahoe from Arizona for their dream destination wedding, held on the pristine grounds of the Gatekeeper's Museum in Tahoe City.  The weather before and after their date was beautiful with few if any thunderstorms.  But a freak low-pressure system, usually only found much earlier or later in the year brought constant rainfall, of course centered right on their special day.  Surrounded by their loved ones and friends, Jenna & Travis wouldn't let a few raindrops dilute their dream wedding and indeed it turned out beautifully because of their character & vision, the support in every way possible from their remarkable families, and help from some very dedicated and special wedding professionals.  They made some pretty great decisions that made a less-than-perfect day pretty darn perfect.

First off, they hired Melody Holland from A Simply Splendid Event as their coordinator.  She is one of my favorite people to work with as she doesn't rest a moment while she works an event.  She did countless things, both small and large to make the event not only a success but a resounding one at that.  She coordinated with all of the other vendors, lending a hand and guidance where needed.  She made every guest and family member feel comfortable and constantly adjusted for the rain and the countless other issues that occur in every event.  She always makes sure she takes into account the bride & grooms wishes and overall vision.  Some coordinators feel they need to leave their "stamp" on things, sometimes obscuring the original ideas of the clients.  Melody goes above and beyond to make their vision come to life and exceed their expectations while still maintaining that theme or idea that they had for their day.  And that vision was spectacular.

The second great decision they made was to get a clear tent to cover their dining and other events.  Many times I see a white tent used, which functions well but except for a side or three constricting the view of the outside.  With the tranquil surroundings of forest, river and lake surrounding the Gatekeeper's Museum, they elected to spend a bit more and get a clear-sided tent. That was an inspired decision!  All of the beauty that made Jenna & Travis want to marry in this temple to nature was still there for everyone, visible even in the hardest downpour.  There were lights strung within as well, which illuminated and also gave it a magical feel when the sun went down.  With Melody's help and direction, all the tables and chairs, vendors and guests were covered and it really felt intimate inside.

The third great decision they made was hiring Joe with Dish Cafe & Catering.  The Dish Cafe is a favorite of my wife and I.  It is a small lunch spot in Reno in an ordinary office building that makes extraordinary food.  Indeed it is so good that it was featured on "Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives" and everything they do is delicious, handmade, and sourced locally when possible.  I have had their food truck fare as well, but this was my first time with their catering side and we were not disappointed!  They arrived in a small SUV and proceeded to pull delectable dish after delectable dish from it.  Their hors d'oeuvres were both simple and complex, with cheese & crackers, amazing salamis, and skewers of chicken that reminded me of a Persian version of satay.  While guests devoured the appetizers, Joe and his helper readied the main courses, a Mexican feast that included several homemade salsas and tremendous marinated chicken, savory beef that reminded me of rib meat sans the bones, and pork carnitas that were my personal favorite.  The rain did not dampen their spirits or efficiency, and they made a point of chatting with the guests in line and helping out with beverages and other details wherever they could.  Very pleasant people with very yummy food!

Finally I think the thing that I liked the most about the day and evening was the spirit of togetherness and fun exhibited by their friends, family, and bridal party.  Everyone pitched in to help make the day special and fun.  Dad built all of the gorgeous wood tables that everyone sat at and ate on.  They were fashioned in Arizona, taken apart for transport, packed in a U-Haul trailer and driven all the way up just for the day.  Groomsmen lit and moved portable heaters.  Bridesmaids passed out shawls to all the ladies.  Guests helped put beer on ice and moved chairs from the ceremony site to the tent.  When we found out we were short on bottle openers for the beer & wine bottles, guests brought out their utensils and the party continued without a hitch.  Later, when the reception had ended, at least half the guests remained to help clean up, gather up gifts, fold chairs and take apart the wooden tables.  A communal effort that demonstrated the bonds of love and friendship that brought them 750 miles to help celebrate Travis & Jenna's day.

I really enjoyed video chatting with Jenna & Travis prior to their day.  They have a great chemistry between them and shared ideas for their events and music selection that really made their day unique and their own.  They have a love for music and turned me on to a couple of artists that I was unfamiliar with but really liked when I heard them- Band of Horses being one.  Another song of theirs which I will add to my repertoire is "Love Never Fails" by Brandon Heath, a great choice for a sand or candle ceremony. 

When the rain let up and some actual sunshine began peeking through the clouds, the ceremony began. The bridal party walked in to "I Will" by Alison Kraus and Jenna appeared accompanied by Van Morrison's "Sweet Thing."  After they had been pronounced husband & wife and kissed, they used another Van Morrison song, "Glad Tidings" for their recessional.  They took off into the wilds beside Lake Tahoe for pictures and the aforementioned appetizers and drinks came out for the guests.  When they returned, they and their bridal party entered to Muse's "Starlight" and the real reception began.

The sun, which hadn't made much of an appearance all day began to break through, and the rest of the evening had bouts of light drizzle but for the most part was much drier than earlier.  Dancing commenced on the deck near the museum with Jenna & Travis dancing to "Into the Mystic" followed by a Brother-Sister and Mother-Son dance danced to Iz's "Over the Rainbow".  Lots of dancing then followed with an Anniversary Dance thrown in for good measure.  When it came time to toss the bouquet and garter, Yello's "Oh Yeah" gave the moment a great vibe.  

Throughout the night I spoke with the friends and family that had travelled up to witness the nuptials and really felt welcomed and at ease with every one of them.  Despite the rain, everyone was having a great time and made the most out of every moment.  Just a tremendous crowd filled with love for the bride and groom.  Sometimes adversity on a wedding day pulls everyone together even more than before, and this was definitely the case this time.  Thanks to Melody and Joe for all their hard work and a special thanks to Travis, Jenna, and their family & friends for including me in their day and making me feel so at home and a part of their moment.  Love conquers all, even a little rain on the shores of Lake Tahoe...