Caitlin & Steve at West Shore Cafe with Photography by Monique

For my 100th blog post I couldn't have written about a more fun couple and wedding than Caitlin & Steve's ceremony and reception on Lake Tahoe last month.

Technology is amazing! The first time I met these two in person was on their wedding day yet through FaceTime/Skype we were able to meet several times prior to they Big Day and we really connected, plotting musical selections, timelines- fleshing out the general vibe they were trying to achieve on their day. They have definite musical points of view and we were able to weave these throughout the ceremony, cocktail and dinner hour, and into the dancing. I love it when I can play special songs and create an absolutely unique experience that reflects the bride & groom. The whole day and evening seems to become even more special and magical.

The bridal party enters

A large part of the magic that night was the exceptional group of family and friends gathered in a beautiful forested meadow overlooking Lake Tahoe being served professionally by fantastic servers and bartenders- everything seemed to click perfectly. The venue they chose is fast becoming one of my favorites, the West Shore Cafe & Inn. It is a unique destination that has a myriad of possibilities for weddings and events. There is a gorgeous lakeside restaurant, patio and dock that is also a working Inn so the bride and groom and other VIPs can stay right on the property if they so choose. There is an adjoining grove/meadow that is just shaded enough by some towering pines to make an outdoor wedding and reception a comfortable and gorgeous affair without a need for a tent or covering. Finally they have a bar across the highway where your after party can continue well after midnight.  Add those perceptive, friendly and efficient staff members and you have a stellar venue that is easily one of the best on the Lake.  Throw in some of their fantastic food and drink and you don't need to look anywhere else.

I was particularly indebted to Natalie and Hoke from West Shore Cafe.  Natalie helped coordinate everything and did it with professionalism and a fantastic attitude. Not only does she make all of the guests feel right at home, but also the wedding professionals like me who are just coming in for a couple of weddings a season. Hoke (if I'm spelling that correctly) helped me several times with different issues and was a great example of the type of people that make up the WSC family.

Madeline & Luke

The ceremony site is on the eastern edge of the grove and overlooks the gorgeous Lake. The weather was perfect that afternoon and I had a non-musical role in providing microphones and amplification for the officiants and for the two young guitarists providing the seating and ceremony music. Family members Luke and Madeline provided exceptional background and processional guitar music as the bridal party made their way from the back of the grove to the ceremony area. It is a beautiful walk through the trees to the Lake and to watch Caitlin and her dad come in was spectacular for all present... especially Steve :)

The ceremony itself was presided over by two officiants, David & Eric, who I thought did a fabulous job- serious yet tinged with happiness and fun. They alleviated Caitlin & Steve's nervousness through a bit of humor and you could just tell they were so happy and honored to have been chosen to do this for the soon-to-be newlyweds.  When Steve & Caitlin had kissed and been presented to everyone as husband & wife, Luke & Madeline played them out to much applause and happy cheers.

First Dance!

Monique from Photography by Monique is always great to work with and she soon had various family members posing with the newlyweds while everyone else enjoyed the spectacular views along with equally spectacular cocktails and yummy appetizers. Soon the pictures were done, and I gathered up the bridal party for the Grand Entrance. Everyone came in dancing with a unique twist to TI's "Bring Em Out" and Steve and Caitlin followed and went directly into their first dance, "Dance With Me Baby" by Ben Rector.  Fantastic moment!

BM Kevin leading off the toasts

Caitlin & Steve wanted more of an informal vibe so they had two food stations then open up for everyone, without calling up tables by number or what have you. Everyone enjoyed a delicious dinner at their leisure and soon it was time for the toasts. The best man and brother of Steve, Kevin led off the toasting with a funny yet touching tribute to his brother and his new bride and the same came next from Caitlin's sister & MoH Emily. By the time Caitlin's dad Dave came up, I was thoroughly impressed with how the two families had welcomed and loved their new addition- Caitlin or Steve- and how much fun they seem to have when they get together. Very cool families!

Father-Daughter & Mother-Son Dance

Following the bubbly, Dave and Caitlin made their way to the dance floor to start the Father/Daughter dance. They danced to Adele as I then introduced Steve and his mom Jocelyn who joined them on the floor as "Here Comes the Sun" by the Fab Four started. Soon after that I invited, on Steve & Jocelyn's and Caitlin & Dave's behalf, all the fathers & daughters and mothers & sons up to join them. I absolutely love when the bride & groom do this!  It makes one more special moment that will be remembered the rest of everyone's lives- including the guests and other family in on the most sentimental dance of the evening.  Why have an ordinary reception?  Have a reception that everyone will judge all receptions to follow by.  Including your guests in on certain events is one way to make this happen, and Steve & Caitlin's reception was indeed a reception that everyone will set their bar by.

Dancing then began in earnest and I really enjoyed the crowd. They rocked the dance floor all night. Steve & Caitlin had an amazing dessert bar set up, with brownies, cookies and other goodness and so a formal cake cutting wasn't really done. They also did not throw the bouquet or garter but no one missed it and it was great to make their vision of their day and evening come to life.  After sunset pix and some phenomenal dancing, a surprise that Caitlin's parents Dave and Joanne engineered was sprung on the newlyweds.

I announced over the mic that "we'd lost Kai", one of Caitlin's younger brothers and apparently one who has a history of getting separated from the family. Kai himself then appeared, introduced himself, and then brought his parents and siblings out where they proceeded to do a choreographed dance routine much to the surprise of Caitlin & Steve and the rest of the crowd.  A great surprise and some great dancing!

We danced until 10pm (the usual stopping point for amplified music around the Lake) and then the guests and bridal party migrated across the street to an after party at that bar that I am sure went deep into the night and early morning hours. Such a fun group!

Thanks to Natalie and Hoke and everyone from West Shore Cafe for their hard work and big smiles. Thanks to Monique from Photography by Monique for her professionalism and ease to work with. Thanks to Madeline & Luke for the tremendous job they did with the ceremony guitar music and to Eric & David for their fun officiating.

Finally thanks most of all to Steve & Caitlin for including me in their exceptional day and evening. I had a blast and will remember your wedding and reception for a long time to come. The best of everything, always you two!

TMCC's Royal Father Daughter Ball with CTR Photo Booth and Zinser Photography at The Grand Sierra Resort

I have had the distinct privilege of deejaying the Royal Father Daughter Ball at the Grand Sierra Resort's Summit Pavilion several times now and it is always one of the highlights of my year. I am a huge fan of father-daughter dances during wedding receptions- they are so heartfelt, personal, and memorable for everyone involved. Imagine that same joy multiplied by 1200. That is the Royal Father Daughter Ball.

This year, my daughter, who has attended previously as a participant got to try her hand at spinning the tunes and being the MC (with a little guidance from me).  She did a great job, and I think she even scratches better than her old dad!  It was nice to see all the fathers & daughters dancing to songs that a father and daughter were playing. She played everything from Psy to Ylvis to Meghan Trainor interspersed with slower, Father-Daughter style songs like "Cinderella","My Girl" and "Butterfly Kisses". As always, the number of requests exceeded the time we had to play them, but we put a huge dent in the request list.

If you have never attended the Ball, here's what goes on. There are a hundred or so tables set up, as well as two large dance floors and many daughter-friendly appetizers and treats on side tables. Every one of the 1200 dads & daughters are dressed to the nines- some dads were even in tuxes or uniforms.  In the front of the ballroom, farthest from the dancing are backdrops manned by the amazing folks at Zinser Photography who capture professional portraits of beautiful daughters & proud dads so they can always remember their special night. Zinser Photography has been doing the portraits at the Ball for years and they are great to work with and their photos live up to the specialness of the evening. My daughter and I got ours taken right before the doors were opened to everyone.

On the sides of the room are photo booths provided and manned by Carson Tahoe Reno Photo Booth and they are very popular throughout the night. I see girls clutching and comparing photo strips all throughout the evening, and the people at CTR Photo Booth do a great job making each girl's experience fun and memorable.

There are raffle drawings every 20-30 minutes with items that are definitely geared towards the girls. They had art kits, iPhone decorators, and other creative prizes as well as one goodie bag of dad friendly tools. They aren't trips to Disney World or iPads or what have you, but they are exciting for the young ladies, and all the proceeds from the raffles and the admissions go to a scholarship fund at TMCC, so it is a win-win.

The dancing starts from the moment they open up the doors to the ballroom and doesn't end until the very last moment. The songs are gone through by yours truly to make sure the lyrics and content are all acceptable to kindergartners through middle schoolers. I vary the playlist quite a bit, from a few 60's fun songs to songs from today to all of the group dances that they especially love. Nothing like a thousand people doing the "YMCA" or "Cupid Shuffle" at once! The most requested artist this year was Taylor Swift with the song being "Shake It Off" but I think the best moment of the evening was when my daughter played "Let It Go" from Frozen. The whole room stopped whatever they were doing and every little girl (and quite a few dads) sang every word and made every gesture. Very cool!

Once again I was so honored to be a part of the Royal Father Daughter Ball. Thanks to everyone at TMCC for the elegant soiree they put on for such a great cause. Thanks to the GSR for doing a great job with the room and food & drink. Thanks to all the daughters who danced and danced and danced. Thanks to all the dads who made it a point to create such fabulous memories with their daughters- something they'll remember fondly for the rest of their lives. Thanks to Evan and everyone at Zinser Photography as well as Mike and everyone from Carson Tahoe Reno Photo Booth. Both operations are top-notch. Finally thanks to my daughter with whom I shared some indelible memories both behind the mixer and on the dance floor. 

Finally, dads, grandfathers, guys...  Don't pass up an opportunity to have this experience with your little girl. It's something you cannot put a price tag on and they sell out every year. Start looking for the chance to buy tickets this upcoming summer- you won't regret it!

Hailey & Dustin at the Grove at Southcreek

Had another extraordinary event at The Grove at Southcreek a few weeks back. As you might notice from other blog entries, I truly enjoy the people and professionalism at The Grove. They really help a bride and groom realize their wedding day dreams.

Hailey and Dustin are a great couple. They have that youthful exuberance that is ready to take on and take in the world together and it was great to be a small part of their day and evening. Dustin is a member of our armed forces and it was especially gratifying to be able to give something back to him  for all the sacrifices he makes for us. I really enjoyed Hailey's processional as she picked "At This Moment" by Shania Twain, and then really picked a perfect moment in the song to emerge from the doorway and down the aisle to her wedding. Beautiful bride, dress, and moment in time!  When all the "I do's" had been said, kisses kissed, and newlyweds introduced, the happy couple left the ceremony with Blake Shelton's "God Gave Me You" punctuating their recessional. Just a beautiful ceremony on one of those days photographers love- a bit cloudy for that special lighting.

Speaking of lighting, I was able to try out a new fixture I had acquired at Mobile Beat 2014 this past spring. It is a moving head fixture that really gives me a lot of options for lighting effects and allows me display a personalized gobo monogram if the brides and grooms want that extra little personalization. This was theirs up above me at The Grove. I moved it all around throughout the evening and I was impressed by the colors and brightness. Very fun and a great option for those brides & grooms that want that little something extra.

The happy couple soon returned from pictures and were welcomed to their reception as Kool & the Gang's Celebration punctuated their Grand Entrance. Dinner was served immediately thereafter and everyone enjoyed the deliciousness that emerged from The Grove's kitchen. As plates were being pushed away, the Best Man Robert opened up the toasts with a funny video of Dustin singing while driving a Humvee that got everyone laughing and cheering. The Maid of Honor Whitney then had her own touching toast and Dustin & Hailey then toasted everyone who had come to share in their day. Edwin McCain's "I Could Not Ask For More" then started up and I had the honor of introducing them for their first dance as husband and wife. So awesome!

More special dances followed: a Mother/Daughter dance with Carrie Underwood's "Mama's Song", a Mother/Son dance featuring "My Wish" by Rascal Flatts and then a fun Money Dance. After that we just let loose for a while dancing to country, hip hop, Motown and even a bit of EDM (many thanks to the groomsman who turned me on to Disclosure). Before long however, I noticed that there was a very healthy rivalry between the bridesmaids and the groomsmen and with a few strategic requests, they engaged in a spirited sing-off! I declared the ladies the winner after a few songs each which was very controversial (amongst the guys). Super fun! What a great crowd!

Cutting the cake!

I little while later they were cutting their cake with Toy Story's "You've Got a Friend in Me" in the background and then they were tossing the bouquet and the garter to Beyonce and LMFAO. The rest of the night was filled with tons of dancing and we went into overtime. I want to thank Kathleen and everyone at The Grove for such a phenomenal job. They are so accommodating, professional and thoughtful with both their guests and even with the lowly DJ. I have to say that the Grove is my favorite venue to work with, and the Reno/Tahoe area is filled with exceptional venues and staff.

Thanks most of all to Hailey and Dustin. Just a magical afternoon and evening and I was so lucky to have been able to be a part of it. Best of luck to you two and thanks again for your service Dustin!

Stefanie & Jeff at Somersett with Belinda Grant Photography and Los Mariachis Viajeros

I had such a good time at Stefanie & Jeff's wedding and reception a couple of weekends ago! I knew it would be a blast when I was communicating with Stefanie back and forth about her timeline and songs. She really had a complete vision as to how her day would enfold, and it was so gratifying to see it come to life and to be a part of it.

I usually don't post a lot of pictures, especially of decor and the small touches that go into a reception, but I think I should with this wedding. Stefanie really thought of everything and put her own spin on her day.

First she chose Somersett. Somersett is a planned community in northwest Reno nestled between hills with a golf course threading through the community and great views of the surrounding Sierras. In the middle of the property is the community center complete with a clubhouse, community pools and sports facilities, and a commercial area with several shops and restaurants. I have had the privilege of deejaying their community holiday swim parties and it is a well-run organization with great people making sure everything runs smoothly. This day was no exception.  They had their ceremony out on a golf tee with the mariachi group Los Mariachis Viajeros providing the seating music. When the time came, I played the processionals- "Sweet Child of Mine" by Vitamin String Quartet for the bridal party and a beautiful version of the "Bridal Chorus" (Here Comes the Bride) for Stefanie and her dad. When Stefanie and Jeff were married and had kissed and been introduced by Pastor Dan to everyone, I played "Happy" as their recessional. After that, the guests went into the clubhouse for cocktails and more Mariachi Viajero music while I moved across the street to the upstairs reception room, the Loft.

Up in the Loft I really appreciated all the work Stefanie and her sisters and friends had put into the room. Near me, right beside the dance floor they had baskets of flip-flops for their guests so they could ditch the high heels and dance the night away. The bar had a great selection of tequilas, Mexican beer, and Mexican bottled coke and other sodas to lend an authentic flair to the evening. Better yet, there was a bucket of coozies with Jeff & Stefanie's names and date on them as a special remembrance of the evening. Very cool!

They had a photobooth, a candy table that was very well stocked, and everywhere the decor matched the red roses placed all around the room.

Finally the favors to take home (not including the coozies) were small little cacti and other succulents. So unique yet so fitting for occasion.

As the guests began to arrive from the clubhouse, traditional Mexican appetizers were served- several types of ceviche, home-made salsas, and chips and quesadillas. Yum!  The guests enjoyed themselves while the bridal party finished up pictures with Belinda Grant. Belinda is a phenomenal photographer who I am always excited to work with. She has a very journalistic style as well as taking stunning posed shots. She'll see something happening on the dance floor or at a table and rush over to capture it. A great example of this was as Stefanie and Jeff were walking downstairs towards the reception, she saw a geometric pattern in the pavers below and had them pose as she took pix from the balcony above. Spontaneous but really cool! I tried to get the same shot on my iPhone watching her, and you can imagine how much better her shots are!

Right after that we all welcomed the bridal party in to the Black Eyed Peas' "I Gotta Feelin" and then Stefanie and Jeff entered as "Timber" by Pitbull played. The Mariachis Viajeros then took over the music for a while and I was impressed by their ability. The best mariachi group in Reno by far. They moved around the room and played while the dinner buffet was being readied. Uriel, Stefanie's father was such a cool host and dad. He was constantly checking that everyone was having fun and he requested some music from the Viajeros that I realized was all about northern Baja California. Being from San Diego myself I asked him about it, and it turns out that he is from Mexicali, a border town very near my family's camping spot that I have been going to since I was small. We talked about the area, music, and San Felipe and I really felt so at ease with Uriel and Stefanie's family. He even helped sing a Norteno song below and really got the crowd into it. Such fun!

Uriel and Los Mariachis Viajeros!

The buffet line then began, and Belinda Grant has a great specialty shot that I really like: as I released a table, those tablemates  would come up to the dance floor and get a picture taken by Belinda before they joined the buffet. Such a fantastic idea! Here are the bride & groom & head table starting it off- I know Belinda's shot was 1000% better than mine. That's why I'm a DJ and not a photographer...  :)

After dinner, Maid of Honor and Stefanie's sister Jocelyn led off the toasting with an emotional and funny tribute. Dads Uriel & John and other bridal party members gave nice toasts as well and right after that they cut their cake. After enjoying a few bites Jeff & Stefanie then started off the dancing with "Crystal Blue Persuasion" by Tommy James & the Shondells. Such a unique and inspired choice!

First Dance!

Uriel then came up to dance with his daughter for the father-daughter dance. Unlike most of these dances I see, they chose a fast song, Elvis's "Jailhouse Rock" and it brought the crowd to their feet. 

Soon thereafter we were dancing non-stop with a huge variety of music, from Elvis Crespo to Avicii to the Beatles and Pitbull.  At the first slow break we had a perfect Anniversary Dance, with Antonio and Maria the longest married at 40 years. Other than the bouquet and garter tosses, the dancing never let up. Such a fun crowd, so much so that we went an hour over our original stopping point :)

Thanks to the terrific people at Somersett for all their hard work. Thanks to Belinda of Belinda Grant Photography, a true professional and just a great person to work with. Thanks to the talented Mariachis Viajeros. And finally thanks to Jeffanie (Jeff & Stefanie) for letting me be a part of their memorable day and evening. Felicidades you two!

Jason & Nicole's Wedding at Sunnyside Resort on Lake Tahoe

Sunnyside Resort up at Lake Tahoe was the spectacular setting for Nicole & Jason's ceremony and reception late this summer.  It was a bright and sunny Saturday without a cloud in the sky, and the deck was filled with loved ones and friends sharing their special day.  Nicole had handkerchiefs placed on every chair embroidered with "Cry Happy Tears" and her aunt Kelly performed a uplifting and personal ceremony that had everyone using their handkerchiefs one moment and laughing the next.  Nicole entered to Vitamin String Quartet's version of Clapton's 'Wonderful Tonight' while her bridal party preceded her with VSQ's 'Bittersweet Symphony'.  When the newly married couple exited the ceremony, their recessional was Iz's 'Over the Rainbow', which always is a crowd favorite.

View from the dock.

The DJ's view!

As the bridal party and family took pictures around the resort, the guests were treated to appetizers and mimosas and I played classic rock as per the bride and groom's choice.  It was fun entertaining not only their guests but the people coming for lunch at Sunnyside's terrace.  It was a fun and happy crowd all around.  A lot of that has to do with the great staff at Sunnyside.  Everyone is attentive, efficient and and very amicable, led by the competent duo of Mel & Erin coordinating the event.  They were outstanding- always making sure every small detail was correct and that every guest was happy and taken care of.  Same with the wait staff and even management- they couldn't do enough for everyone, even keeping the DJ hydrated and fed.  And the meal was outstanding!  I was lucky enough to have lived in Guatemala for a year, and the fishing down there is amazing.  We would catch mahi-mahi (dorado) all the time and eat it fresh, so I am not eager to try mahi at local places here, as it always tastes a bit old.  Not so at Sunnyside!  The mahi was flown in the night before and tasted like it had just been caught- boy was I impressed!  Apparently they are affiliated with resorts in Hawaii, and they have it shipped directly to them.  The rest of the food was delicious as well, even if it wasn't shipped quite as far to get there.  Bravo to the chefs and management.  First class!

Jason & Nicole's first dance as husband & wife!

After the tremendous meal and some heartfelt toasts, the newlyweds cut their baseball-themed cake and then came back out onto the deck and danced their first dance to "Amazed'" by Lonestar.  The Father/Daughter & Mother/Son Dance then followed (Aerosmith's "Don't Want to Miss a Thing") and then open dancing.  Nicole & Jason are big fans of modern pop and club music and that was the soundtrack of the rest of the afternoon, with some slow songs interspersed here and there to bring in the romance factor.  The bride & groom had some great moments taking pix near and in the lake, and when they left the reception, they rode off on a jet ski!  Very cool and unique!

Dancing on the deck

It was great to play for such a fun crowd and I got some neat requests from bridal party members and guests for their first dance songs, allowing them to re-live their wedding days as well.  "Blue Hawaii" by Elvis was one such request from a pair of grandparents, and they immediately were on the floor beaming like newlyweds.  I love being able to recreate special moments, as well as help create new ones.  Thanks to Nicole and Jason for inviting me to be a part of their day.  Thanks to their great crowd of family & friends who were so great to talk with, and thanks to Mel & Erin and everyone at Sunnyside for their hard work and dedication.  What a spectacular afternoon!

Virginia & Mike at Silver Legacy's Silver Baron Ballroom with Philmclips Video & Zinser Photobooth

I had the pleasure of being a part of Mike & Virginia's reception at the Silver Legacy Casino's Silver Baron Ballroom along with Zinser Photobooth and Philmclips Video.  Mike & Virginia did a lot of planning for their big evening and it helped make a great reception a phenomenal one!  The 300 or so guests came to the Silver Legacy from an offsite ceremony and immediately felt right at home with appetizers and drinks.  They had the always fun Zinser Photobooth ready for their guests, and it was busy all night.  Phil from Philmclips was everywhere, capturing the sights and sounds, and the bride & groom, aware that there were several new mothers and some toddlers amongst the guests had arranged for a "Mom's Room" adjacent to the ballroom for changing and nursing.  What a nice idea!  Virginia & Mike had all kinds of touches that personalized the night and made it very special for not only them but their friends and family.  For example, for the Grand Entrance they had a song for each of their eight of their bridal party couples: everything from Dobey Grey's "Drift Away" to Black-Eyed Peas to "Lean Like a Cholo"... Very cool choices that the BP loved and responded to coming in.

The buffet was delicious and the Silver Legacy had two lines going on either side, getting the hundreds through quickly.  And while they had a cake to cut, they had for the main dessert a strawberry shortcake bar.  Their innovation did not stop there.  They had a great idea for their first dance... 

Michael and Virginia First Dance from craig musni on Vimeo.

They started with a nice slow song and then it evolved into an epic dance that they choreographed themselves.  My two favorite moments were when they revealed to everybody that they were expecting and when Virginia showed her "boots with the fur".  Awesome!  It took us a few meetings and me many tweaks to the mix but it was so worth it!  I forgot my camera that night, but Phil from Philmclips came to the rescue with this snippet.  A great guy to work with and just a great guy!

Following the epic first dance was a Father-Daughter Dance with "My Wish" by Rascal Flatts and a Mother-Son Dance with Skynyrd's "Simple Man."  A night-full of fun dancing ensued with occasional neat special touches by the bride & groom.  For the Anniversary Dance, I played "At Last" by Etta James and Virginia & Mike had me especially honor 2 couples who had their anniversary on the very same day.  Classy gesture.  They also had me acknowledge several birthdays.  It was a great crowd and I played all kinds of music to a packed dance floor late into the night.  What a great party!  Congrats to Mike and Virginia and thanks for including me in your fantastic night!

Leah & Will at Montreux Golf Club with Tiers of Joy Celebration Cakes

I had an awesome time last night at Will & Leah's reception at the gorgeous Montreux Golf Club.  Absolutely great people all around: the bride & groom, their families & friends, and the super staff at Montreux.  

Leah & Will are a great match.  When you meet them, you can tell immediately that they are a couple.  They look great separate- both are tall and good-looking, but they walk into a room and a glow of warmth & confidence & ease just fills the space.  There is no doubt that they are together and are each other's soulmates.  They provided me with an inspired songlist of slow, romantic ballads during cocktails, a great selection of jazz during dinner and some fun dancing selections for later.  That they appreciate music was immediately apparent as the guests' tables were all named for love songs.  

The bridal party entered to "The Final Countdown" by Europe and the newlyweds to "All You Need is Love" by the Fab Four.  Indeed, the Beatles were quite apparent throughout the evening as their first dance was "Till There Was You" and right before that... well I'm getting ahead of myself.

The Father-Daughter Dance

After their Grand Entrance, the servers started bringing out the salads and then the main courses.  The waiters do this incredible ballet when they serve: four or five of them, each with two of three plates.  They wind their way through the tables and simultaneously serve everyone seated at a table.  When I saw their coordination, I was impressed, as the guests had three choices from the menu for their main course!  Not an easy task, but they made it look seamless and were very efficient as everyone had their meal in no time at all.  They were very kind to feed a hungry DJ as well, and I had swordfish on mushroom risotto with delicious sauteed veggies.  One of the best meals I have had the pleasure of trying this year!  Billie, Montreux's coordinator is always hovering around, making sure everything is going smoothly and that everyone is happy- bride and groom, guests, and even the help (me).  It is such a pleasure to work with her and all of the staff there- true professionals!

Will serenading Leah!

The toasts were great, but one line from Gary's toast (Leah's dad) really stuck with me.  He said that 35 years ago, on his wedding day, he looked down the aisle, saw his bride-to-be, and he had never seen anything so lovely.  Until today...  Wow.  Just a proud, happy father.  After the toasts, Will had a surprise for Leah. I helped him with a pair of microphones and with the same guitar that his dad had serenaded his mom on their wedding day years ago, he sang and played a Beatles tune just for his new bride.  What a perfect moment.  Then they danced their first dance, and the evening was off and running.  Gary & Leah then danced to "Unforgettable" by Nat & Natalie, and then all the married couples came up onto the dance floor for the Anniversary Dance, one of my all-time favorites, "At Last" by Etta James.  There were so many couples, the dance floor overflowed into the tables.  There were at least a dozen couples over 20 years, and half that over 40 years!  The longest married couple (54 years!) had also travelled the farthest (Hawaii) and I found out their wedding song, "April Love" by Pat Boone and played it for them later that night.

Cake by Tiers of Joy

The cake was from Tiers of Joy here in Reno at the Victorian House, and it was delicious- red velvet.  Tesla & Leigh Anne do such an amazing job with not only the look of their cakes, but its taste as well.  I don't usually have cake at an event, but with cake from Tiers of Joy I always make an exception.

Leah & Will and everyone at the end of the evening

Dancing was a blast with music from all genres keeping the floor hopping.  The Motown set was especially busy, and I was introduced to a couple of new (to me) songs that rocked the house: "Gangnam Style" by Psy and one that I recently heard in Spain, "Ai Se Eu Tu Pego".  They are now in my library.  Thanks to Leah's folks for making me feel so at home.  Thanks to Billie for her hard work making everything run perfectly.  And thanks to Will and Leah for allowing me to be a part of their night.  It is getting old, me saying this, but I love my job!

Holly & Shawn at Arrowcreek Country Club with Jeramie Lu Photography

Holly and Shawn were married at Arrowcreek Country Club this past weekend and I was honored to be part of their day.  The ceremony was held out on the grass overlooking Reno and was special in a few aspects.  First, several of the bridal party members were friends or were in weddings I had previously deejayed- it was nice to be a part of such a great group again.  Secondly, Shawn's grandmother officiated the ceremony and did a great job.  What a cool thing for your grandmother to pronounce you husband & wife!  Finally, Shawn & Holly's vows were heartfelt, honest and full of love for one another.  They exposed their deepest feelings for one another in a light and very human way which moved everyone.  Some of the best vows I've heard in 24 years of doing weddings.

Dave & Cristin walking in to 'Count on Me" by Mat Kearney

Holly & Dad entering to "She is Love" by Parachute

Holly & Shawn leaving to "Faster" by Matt Nathanson

Danielle and her staff at Arrowcreek are fun and efficient.  Danielle is the wedding/event coordinator and she was busy making sure everything went well all day and through the end of the night.  I have to give some props to Blake the bartender as well.  I was setup near the bar and he really connected with the crowd and always was smiling and upbeat.  Arrowcreek has several rooms inside and a tent outside.  We were in the interior rooms- a dining area, the bar & me, and then the dancing area.  It isn't an ideal setup but it worked okay. 

  The bridal party entered to "News Team Assemble" from Anchorman followed by "Ma Sheba Ba" from Zohan.  Holly & Shawn then entered to "Drive By" by Train.  After dinner some great toasts were made, the cake was cut and everyone moved to the dancing room for "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz, Shawn & Holly's first dance.  Regular dancing then ensued with songs from LMFAO to Zac Brown; from Journey to Frank Sinatra.  I was especially pleased that I could play "Like Red for a Rose" for Bevan & Phil whose wedding I was privileged to deejay almost a year ago (here for their blog post).

Bevan & Phil

I had the privilege of working with Jeramie Lu of Jeramie Lu Photography who is a true professional.  He and his second and third shooters captured the day and even placed a iPad on a table with pictures taken before the ceremony while Holly and Shawn were getting ready.  It was a great way for the guests to see some of the behind-the-scenes shots and a preview of the wedding photos.  Jeramie is always easy to work with, a professional, and his work is outstanding.\

  Thanks and congratulations to Shawn & Holly, their families, and friends!

Some Cupid Shuffling