Genevieve & Holland: May 22, 2010
Genevieve & Holland’s wedding marked my first visit to Regatta Place – it’s as close to the harbor as you can get, as it sits on Newport’s Goat Island, near the gorgeous Belle Mer and the well-known Hyatt Regency, two of many Rhode Island wedding venues. Because most of my Newport wedding experiences have taken place at other locations, including Astor’s Beechwood and Castle Hill, I was looking forward to new scenery. Not that I’m complaining… I mean, can you really grow tired of Newport?
Genevieve & Holland found me by way of one of my colleagues, Victor Rodrigues, a/k/a Victor from Party Time. He gets overwhelmingly positive reviews from his clients, so I’m honored that he recommends my services when he’s not available.
There was another reason why I was looking forward to this wedding: outstanding vendors! Genevieve and Holland assembled an all-star team, which included photographer Faith Dugan, day-of coordinator Colleen Kimmel, and the steel drum sounds of George Zecher. This was my second time working with George; he’s a lot of fun and a terrific musician. His tropical renditions of well-known hits from the likes of Elton John, Jimmy Buffett and Bob Marley segued perfectly into my dinner mix of reggae and summer-inspired tunes.
The chilly late-spring temperatures of Newport worked to my advantage, as they kept everyone under the tent for dancing, save for some of the older couples who opted to make an early exit. For the folks that stuck around, I provided a seamless set of current hits, and accommodated all of the evening’s requests, which ranged from Usher’s “OMG” to Madonna’s “Ray Of Light“.
The night ended with the bride, groom and their guests dancing to the carnival-like strains of Bruce Springsteen’s “Jersey Girl” (a favorite of Genevieve’s). It was a perfect finish to a wonderful wedding reception.
Wedding Party Intro Music: Love Is My Religion – Ziggy Marley
Bride & Groom’s Entrance: I’m Yours – Jason Mraz
Genevieve & Holland’s First Dance: Making Memories Of Us – Keith Urban
Cake Cutting: January Wedding – Avett Brothers
Bride/Father Dance: My Little Girl – Tim McGraw
Groom/Mother Dance: You Are So Beautiful – Joe Cocker
Last Dance: Jersey Girl – Bruce Springsteen
Farewell Song: Sweet Home Alabama – Lynyrd Skynyrd
Tables were tastefully decorated for the event.
The Wedding Cake
The extensive patio at Regatta Place
George Zecher on Steel Drums.
The view of Newport Harbor from Goat Island
Under the tent at Regatta Place
The dancing crowd at Genevieve & Holland's reception
Jessica & Michael: May 15, 2010
Jessica & Michael first met me at the LeBaron Hills Country Club Bridal Show last November, and they chose me to be their DJ based on a recommendation by Andrew Beuttler, the Sales & Catering Director at LeBaron Hills. I was the DJ at Andrew’s wedding last October, and one of the reasons he and his wife Taryn chose my services was because of my willingness to accommodate music styles that one might not expect to hear at a wedding reception while also mixing in songs that their guests would know and enjoy.
For Michael & Jessica’s wedding, the order of the day was Classic Rock. I was happy to serve up a cocktail hour mix of Led Zeppelin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Rolling Stones and Aerosmith that was well-received by their guests, and I included some more recent artists as well, including the Counting Crows and Kings of Leon.
Prior to cocktail hour, I provided the music for Jessica & Michael’s wedding ceremony. My Bose L1 Compact sound system is perfect for ceremonies, as it can be set up almost anywhere.
Dinner at this reception didn’t last for very long, as this was definitely a party crowd. I picked up on this as soon as Jessica & Michael entered the room: Not only did guests give a standing ovation to welcome the newlyweds, they all moved in closer to the dance floor without any prior instruction by the DJ. It was absolutely magical, and the start of a perfect evening.
Wedding Party Introductions: “Good Times Roll” – The Cars
Jessica & Michael’s Intro Song: “Do Ya” – Electric Light Orchestra
First Dance: “Thank You” – Led Zeppelin
Cake Cutting Song: “In My Life” – The Beatles
Bride/Father Dance: “Father And Daughter” – Paul Simon
Groom/Mother Dance: “Over The Rainbow/What A Wonderful World” – Iz Kamakawiwo’ole
Last Dance: “She’s Got A Way” – Billy Joel
Farewell Song: “Don’t Stop Believin’” – Journey
Jessica & Michael's Wedding Cake
Jessica & Michael's First Dance
Party on the Dancefloor
Tiny Bubbles... and a great party!
The last dance.
Katie + Keith: April 30, 2010
Good things come to those who wait… and there was lots of waiting in between the time Katie & Keith reserved my services (March 2009) and their wedding day, the last day of April 2010. They first met me at the Rachel’s Lakeside Bridal Fair back in February 2009.
The setting for their wedding reception couldn’t have been more perfect – Independence Harbor in Assonet MA. I grew up in neighboring Freetown, where I first started my business, so I’ve been fortunate to work there on a number of occasions ranging from high school senior banquets to wedding receptions (of course!).
Katie & Keith had perfect weather for their special day; you really couldn’t ask for a better afternoon. Their guests arrived promptly at 6 for cocktails, and the newlyweds entered the room at 7 to Jagged Edge’s “Let’s Get Married”. After a first dance and a toast by the best man, Katie & Keith’s guests were treated to a fantastic meal featuring soup, salad and an entree. While dinner was being served, I set up a slideshow presentation created by one of Katie’s bridesmaids; the show was approximately 10 minutes long and featured pictures of the bride and groom’s childhood years, leading all the way up to their engagement photo. Everyone loved it, and the 80-inch Insta-theater screen that I provided for the show allowed everyone to see no matter where they were seated. Our projector and screen rental options have proven to be very popular, and I have screen options up to 12 feet.
Once the dancing began, it was non-stop until 11:30. What made me especially happy was seeing both Katie & Keith on the dance floor for much of their reception. At Independence Harbor, the bar is in a separate area and the expansive outdoor deck can be a DJ’s worst enemy and an easy distraction for guests. So, it’s really fantastic when the couple that everyone is there to celebrate with brings their energy (and their guests) to the best spot in the room. I should note that Katie & Keith gave me very little musical guidance, preferring to let me decide what songs to play and how to keep everyone dancing. As a result, guests were treated to a wide range of music, from old songs to new songs, disco to love songs. Some of the more memorable songs played during their reception include Ke$ha’s “Tik Tok”, The Weather Girls’ “It’s Raining Men” (a request), and Bell Biv Devoe’s “Poison”.
We ended the night with two songs requested by the bride and groom: Peter Cetera’s “The Glory Of Love” (which turned into a group-sing) and Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ On A Prayer”. It was truly an exceptional reception.
Congratulations, Katie & Keith!
Introduction Music: Could You Be Loved – Bob Marley
Katie & Keith’s Introduction Song: Let’s Get Married – Jagged Edge
First Dance: Heaven – Bryan Adams
Song played during the Cake Cutting: Pour Some Sugar On Me – Def Leppard
Bride/Father Dance: Tupelo Honey – Van Morrison
Groom/Mother Dance: A Song For Mama – Boyz II Men
Garter Removal: I’m A Slave 4 U – Britney Spears
Bouquet Toss: Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It) – Beyonce
Last Dance: The Glory Of Love – Peter Cetera
Farewell Song: Livin’ On A Prayer – Bon Jovi
Independence Harbor's Deck and Private Grounds
Independence Harbor's Function Room
Our DJ setup, with color-changing LED uplighting on the stage.
The Wedding Cake
Dinner service at Independence Harbor
The bride dancing with her father.
Slow dancing.
The dance floor at 11pm
The Glory Of Love
The Bon Jovi sing-along.
Maggie + Matt: April 24, 2010
There are so many great things to say about Maggie & Matt’s wedding reception that I could easily begin this blog post in any number of ways. What I will tell you is this: If their reception is the indicator, then 2010 is going to be a tremendous year for weddings.
Some other things you should know:
1.) Although their wedding took place on Cape Cod, the couple lives in the Washington DC area. We created the evening’s timeline and took care of all music details by phone and through the use of my online event planning system; it wasn’t until they arrived at the reception venue that we met for the first time in person.
2.) Maggie and Matt were referred to me by their reception venue, the Coonamessett Inn. They’ve been recommending my services to their clients for the past three years, and some of my most memorable wedding receptions have taken place there (a great example is Caryn & Sean’s wedding from 2007).
3.) Maggie and Matt are lots of fun, and so are their friends and family. This not only made my job of entertaining them very simple, it made the entire reception truly unforgettable.
The evening began with cocktails, and a background music soundtrack of upbeat songs from the likes of Paul Simon, Jack Johnson, Feist and The Temptations. After introductions of the wedding party, the newlyweds entered to a standing ovation and thunderous applause, making their way to the dance floor for the first dance. Toasts were given by the best man and maid of honor, and food was served. Maggie & Matt opted for the Coonamessett’s Gold Reception, which offers a number of food selections and cabaret-style seating. I’ve always found it to be a very good choice, as it allows guests more time to mingle and enjoy the reception without requiring them to sit through a lengthy dinner service.
Of course, not having to stay seated also makes more time for dancing, and there was plenty of it at this reception. In fact, many of Maggie & Matt’s guests were dancing for nearly an entire hour before the cutting of the wedding cake. After the cake was cut and the ceremonial parent dances took place, guests were treated to two performances that I’m sure they’re still talking about: First, the groom felt it necessary to show off his “jazz hands” talents to the tune of Michael Sembello’s “Maniac”. It was well-received, but not nearly as well as his acapella performance of “Duke Of Earl”, accompanied by his groomsmen. Everyone loved it.
Did I mention that we had lots of time to dance? For the next three hours, I provided a 45-song soundtrack for dancing, covering everything from 80′s new-wave hits to 90′s R&B and a number of more recent selections. It was a fantastic evening.
Congratulations, Maggie & Matt!
Introduction Music: “Gonna Fly Now (Theme from ‘Rocky’) – Bill Conti
Maggie & Matt’s First Dance: “You Make Me Feel So Young” – Frank Sinatra
Song played during the Cake Cutting: “Better Together” – Jack Johnson
Bride/Father Dance: “Wildflowers” – Tom Petty
Groom/Mother Dance: “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” – Iz Kamakawiwo’ole
Bouquet Toss: “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It) – Beyonce’
Last Dance: “Swallowed In The Sea” – Coldplay
Farewell Song: “Float On” – Modest Mouse
Our equipment setup at Coonamessett Inn
Maggie & Matt's Wedding Cake
A chowder station was offered in place of the standard raw bar.
This is the view from the Coonamessett Inn Ballroom
Maggie & Matt's First Dance
Later, the newlyweds show off more of their dance moves.
The dancefloor at 8 PM.
The last dance.
WeddingWire Bride’s Choice: 2010 Award Winner!
I’ve actually known about this for a couple of months now, but the secret’s out: B-Sharp Entertainment is a recipient of the 2010 WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Award! This is my second consecutive year receiving this award, and I’m proud to be recognized as one of the top wedding entertainers in the region. Receiving this award is a testament to the high level of service I provide to my clients, as winners are selected based on recent reviews and extensive surveys from over 500,000 newlyweds nationwide.
To view the other award winners in Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts, click here.
If you’d like to see winners from other regions, use this link.
About WeddingWire: WeddingWire is the only online wedding planning resource designed to empower both engaged couples and wedding vendors. WeddingWire enables engaged couples to search, compare and book over 100,000 reviewed wedding vendors nationwide, from wedding photographers to wedding cakes. WeddingWire also offers an online community and a suite of cutting-edge planning tools, including wedding websites and wedding checklists, all at no charge. WeddingWire has partnered with Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. (NYSE: MSO) to provide its network of local vendors and online wedding-planning tools in the Weddings section of www.MarthaStewartWeddings.com.
