Carlton College Great Hall - Northfield
12/31/07 10:11 Filed in: Events
Event Date: 12/22/2007
Location: Carlton College Great Hall - Northfield
Couple: Sunshine and Doug
This wedding was booked at the last minute. The 22 was the only Saturday in December that we had not booked and we were pleased when Sunshine and Doug emailed us to meet. A photographer we had just worked with a month or so ago referred us to them. They were going to go without a DJ, like an Ipod wedding kind of thing, I think. Then, at the last minute they changed their minds and met with us. They did not sign right away. They waited the weekend and then called early in the following week. I was not sure they wanted a DJ from the initial meeting, however, Karl and I laid out what we do for our clients and I think in the end they decided they would like the help. I always tell people that want their family to take care of the music that their family could be there having a good time and not worrying about anything. Let us take care of everything so you and your family can just celebrate. Sometimes money is a factor, however, one should never skimp on the entertainment. Cut something else out.
They called and said they thought we could definitely bring something to the mix and wanted to hire us. We were thrilled. A full December is a blessing. Sometimes things slow down for a DJ in the winter months but that just did not happen this year. We went to the Great Hall at Carlton College the night before the wedding to observe the rehearsal because we were going to do the ceremony as well. I really liked their ceremony music choices. They needed a lot of input from me on this and I was glad to help. The bride had picked the Ingrid Michaelson song, The Way I Am for the unity candle and Canon in D for her entrance but needed help for the rest. We showed up at six like we agreed. We had to call a security guard to let us in the room because it is a college campus and things were closed for the evening. The guard let us in and I loved the room. Big lounges/couches against the walls. High tables in the back. Huge, High ceiling, massive fireplace. Christmas tree and decorations everywhere. It was a very inviting room. Bride and Groom were an hour late to hour meeting because they stopped at a wake.
When they showed up things happened quickly. We met the family and wedding party and got a good feel for how the next day would develop. They wanted a lounge feeling, more of a party then a wedding. We have done this before and it can work extemely well. We picked out the rest of the ceremony music, I asked the rest of the questions I had written down and felt very good about the upcoming nuptials and party to follow.
We showed up early on Saturday got setup and tried to be helpful to staff or wedding party if needed. They ended up using our black duct tape for the brides dress. Oh I should tell you the bride was in a beautiful, pink gown and the bridesmaids were all in white w/black belts. I have seen this before but not a lot. It actually made the bride stand out more if that was possible. She was beautiful, she had her red hair up and her hot pink dress was shoulderless. She looked like a princess. The guys were in jeans and black shirts with white ties except the groom who had a hot pink tie on.
So we got everyones mics on and were all ready when the pastor asks where is the unity candle. We go in the back and ask the bride and she says someone is at Target right now buying it. So the wedding started a little later then expected but went off beautifully. The guests loved the Ingrid Michaelson song. There was just a nice, comfortable feeling during the wedding. Lots of love and goodwill floating around.
Soon the reception began. Social hour was out in the hallway while they took down all the chairs used for the wedding. We put an extra speaker in the hallway for this. All the guests came back in after about half an hour and we did a Grand Entrance, it was high energy and a lot of fun, they hammed it up. Then the bride and groom thanked all for coming and invited them to eat. It was not a sit down, it was hor deaurves. We played Rat Pack music mixed with some easy listening current stuff. I like Colby Collait, Michael Buble and Jack Johnson to name a few. The mood was anticipation and excitement. Groom takes the mic and tells everyone his gift for his bride. The week before the wedding he had not been very available to his bride-to-be and this frustrated her to no end. Turned out he had been working on/tricking out a Yamaha motorcycle for her for a wedding gift and yes it was pink. She was so surprised and thrilled. A real good move on the grooms part. I played Born To Be Wild for them at this point. The bride also did not know what the first dance was, the groom picked it out and surprised the bride with it. It was a Clint Black song. The bride and groom really liked country but the group as a whole were all over the place. They requested Tom Petty, Eddie Money, Outfield, Matchbox 20, The Darkness etc... It did have a loungy feel to it. People really dance to the typical wedding dance music I usually play. We played the Bride and Grooms favorite songs which were mostly country.
I helped cut the cake because there was no one there who wanted to do it. The Pastor helped me because I got behind. There was a chocolate coating on the exterier and I was trying to cut the pieces thin enough for the cake to go around and it was hard to cut that chocolate exterier and not have the cake separate. We finally got it all served up and they did not run out of cake so we cut it ok. At the end of the night The Bride and Groom gave us a big hug and said nice things to us about our performance. Sunshine said her dad was impressed with us which meant a lot to me because he does a similar job to DJing at his church.
It was a GREAT end to a GREAT year! We went out with a bang. I pray 2008 is even better. This little business is really turning into something amazing. My Karl has some mad skills and always finds a way to make things even better. I might think things are fine right now but he will show me how they can be even bettter. He is an expert at the WOW factor. Our customers in 2008 can expect great things from him. He definitely has their best interests at heart. I will do my part and try to improve and be the best I can be. I plan to take some more dance lessons and continue with the Toastmasters. We are also taking some workshops to learn new things that we can offer our clients. I am very excited about the future.
Carol
Location: Carlton College Great Hall - Northfield
Couple: Sunshine and Doug
This wedding was booked at the last minute. The 22 was the only Saturday in December that we had not booked and we were pleased when Sunshine and Doug emailed us to meet. A photographer we had just worked with a month or so ago referred us to them. They were going to go without a DJ, like an Ipod wedding kind of thing, I think. Then, at the last minute they changed their minds and met with us. They did not sign right away. They waited the weekend and then called early in the following week. I was not sure they wanted a DJ from the initial meeting, however, Karl and I laid out what we do for our clients and I think in the end they decided they would like the help. I always tell people that want their family to take care of the music that their family could be there having a good time and not worrying about anything. Let us take care of everything so you and your family can just celebrate. Sometimes money is a factor, however, one should never skimp on the entertainment. Cut something else out.
They called and said they thought we could definitely bring something to the mix and wanted to hire us. We were thrilled. A full December is a blessing. Sometimes things slow down for a DJ in the winter months but that just did not happen this year. We went to the Great Hall at Carlton College the night before the wedding to observe the rehearsal because we were going to do the ceremony as well. I really liked their ceremony music choices. They needed a lot of input from me on this and I was glad to help. The bride had picked the Ingrid Michaelson song, The Way I Am for the unity candle and Canon in D for her entrance but needed help for the rest. We showed up at six like we agreed. We had to call a security guard to let us in the room because it is a college campus and things were closed for the evening. The guard let us in and I loved the room. Big lounges/couches against the walls. High tables in the back. Huge, High ceiling, massive fireplace. Christmas tree and decorations everywhere. It was a very inviting room. Bride and Groom were an hour late to hour meeting because they stopped at a wake.
When they showed up things happened quickly. We met the family and wedding party and got a good feel for how the next day would develop. They wanted a lounge feeling, more of a party then a wedding. We have done this before and it can work extemely well. We picked out the rest of the ceremony music, I asked the rest of the questions I had written down and felt very good about the upcoming nuptials and party to follow.
We showed up early on Saturday got setup and tried to be helpful to staff or wedding party if needed. They ended up using our black duct tape for the brides dress. Oh I should tell you the bride was in a beautiful, pink gown and the bridesmaids were all in white w/black belts. I have seen this before but not a lot. It actually made the bride stand out more if that was possible. She was beautiful, she had her red hair up and her hot pink dress was shoulderless. She looked like a princess. The guys were in jeans and black shirts with white ties except the groom who had a hot pink tie on.
So we got everyones mics on and were all ready when the pastor asks where is the unity candle. We go in the back and ask the bride and she says someone is at Target right now buying it. So the wedding started a little later then expected but went off beautifully. The guests loved the Ingrid Michaelson song. There was just a nice, comfortable feeling during the wedding. Lots of love and goodwill floating around.
Soon the reception began. Social hour was out in the hallway while they took down all the chairs used for the wedding. We put an extra speaker in the hallway for this. All the guests came back in after about half an hour and we did a Grand Entrance, it was high energy and a lot of fun, they hammed it up. Then the bride and groom thanked all for coming and invited them to eat. It was not a sit down, it was hor deaurves. We played Rat Pack music mixed with some easy listening current stuff. I like Colby Collait, Michael Buble and Jack Johnson to name a few. The mood was anticipation and excitement. Groom takes the mic and tells everyone his gift for his bride. The week before the wedding he had not been very available to his bride-to-be and this frustrated her to no end. Turned out he had been working on/tricking out a Yamaha motorcycle for her for a wedding gift and yes it was pink. She was so surprised and thrilled. A real good move on the grooms part. I played Born To Be Wild for them at this point. The bride also did not know what the first dance was, the groom picked it out and surprised the bride with it. It was a Clint Black song. The bride and groom really liked country but the group as a whole were all over the place. They requested Tom Petty, Eddie Money, Outfield, Matchbox 20, The Darkness etc... It did have a loungy feel to it. People really dance to the typical wedding dance music I usually play. We played the Bride and Grooms favorite songs which were mostly country.
I helped cut the cake because there was no one there who wanted to do it. The Pastor helped me because I got behind. There was a chocolate coating on the exterier and I was trying to cut the pieces thin enough for the cake to go around and it was hard to cut that chocolate exterier and not have the cake separate. We finally got it all served up and they did not run out of cake so we cut it ok. At the end of the night The Bride and Groom gave us a big hug and said nice things to us about our performance. Sunshine said her dad was impressed with us which meant a lot to me because he does a similar job to DJing at his church.
It was a GREAT end to a GREAT year! We went out with a bang. I pray 2008 is even better. This little business is really turning into something amazing. My Karl has some mad skills and always finds a way to make things even better. I might think things are fine right now but he will show me how they can be even bettter. He is an expert at the WOW factor. Our customers in 2008 can expect great things from him. He definitely has their best interests at heart. I will do my part and try to improve and be the best I can be. I plan to take some more dance lessons and continue with the Toastmasters. We are also taking some workshops to learn new things that we can offer our clients. I am very excited about the future.
Carol
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