Jamie and Jake - Gale Mansion 01/25/2008
01/27/08 16:18 Filed in: Events
We had two meetings with Jamie/Bride and I left each meeting with great feelings of what was to come. She had booked us off of Bethany's wedding (Great Party!!) and Bethany was going to be the matron of honor. Bethany's husband John was going to videotape so we got to work with a former groom on a professional level. We had a lot of fun joking around with John now that we were not working for him.
Starting with the rehearsal, we were providing the music and mics for the ceremony so we went to the rehearsal like we always do. It was our 4th time at the Gale Mansion and I was looking forward to working there again. I love that place! If you have never been there you should or at least check out their website www.galemansion.com. Jamie had two of her songs picked out for the ceremony and she wanted help with the rest so we set up the computer and while they practiced walking down the aisle I played some songs we had picked out. Meanwhile Karl is chatting with John/former groom and family members. They liked the songs we chose and Jamie told me later that her mother was so relieved and happy that Jamie chose us for her wedding because she really liked our music choices and felt confident that we would do a good job. What a great compliment! That evening was the first time I met Jake and I was so impressed with him. He so obviously loves Jamie, he is a marine with a big heart, about to go to school for law enforcement. My father is a retired police officer so I have a lot of respect for people in that line of work. We ran through the ceremony a couple times and then everyone left for Rehearsal Dinner.
I spent the rest of the week working on a playlist for the reception based on the info Jamie had given us and conversations we had with others at the rehearsal. I was really looking forward to this wedding, Jamie was a pleasure to work with and I could not wait to see her in her wedding dress and getting married. Also, I love the Gale Mansion and the people who work there treat us so wonderfully. I was just full of anticipation and couldn't wait to get started.
Friday came and we loaded up and headed north to Minneapolis. Load in was fine but the setting up was made a little difficult because of the circumstances. The ceremony was in the room where dinner would later be and we were in another room where they were stashing the tables so they could set up faster after the ceremony. It made it harder to move around but everyone got their stuff done with minimal problems, mostly space related. That is just how professional everyone was. We were even joking around about it. We got all set up or I should say Karl did because I did him a favor and stayed out of his way. I think he appreciated it.
The wedding party and families were arriving at the same time as we did. They went upstairs to get dressed and some of the family members were busy with last minute touches. The cake person was there at the same time too. It was Buttercream and once again I love this bakery! I have had their wares a few times now and have never been disappointed. Their frosting is so refreshing. Not icky sweet. Jamie & Jake had cupcakes on a beautiful stand instead of the traditional tiered wedding cake. This made a beautiful display. The stand was glass or plastic and there were about five levels and bottom level widest to smallest on top. There were Raspberry cupcakes with fresh raspberries on them, there were carrot cupcakes and almond.
We set up and soon all the guests started to arrive and were quickly ushered to their seats. The wedding party was right on time, lining up for the ceremony. I could not believe it. I did not have to go and remind or hurry anyone, they were very punctual. So we began the ceremony and we played Forever Love, Instrumental by O'Neil Brothers for parents entrance, went into Enya, Only Time for the wedding party procession, Canon in D for the bridal procession, To Make You Feel My Love Instrumental version for unity candle, Wedding March, by Mendohlsson for the wedding party recession/exit. It was very beautiful and Jamie, always so quick with a kind word, commented right away that she thought it was very lovely and that we did a good job.
All the guests were then escorted out to the lobby area for a brief social time. The bar was out there so most people got a drink. In the meantime the staff of the Gale Mansion quickly turned the ceremony room into a dining room with amazing speed and accuracy. We were all impressed by this transformation and the speed which it occurred. I heard many guests commenting to the manager how wonderful the tables looked.
After opening the doors again and inviting all the guests into the dining room we lined up the wedding party for the grand entrance. Jamie chose It Had To Be You by Harry Connick Jr. for wedding party entrance and At Last by Etta James for the bride & groom entrance. It was very romantic and fit right in with the atmosphere at the mansion.
Then Dave the officiant (great guy, very funny too!) gave the blessing and salads were served. It was a buffet style dinner so the head table and reserved family tables went first. Then Karl released the other guests tables but he made them work for their supper. Jamie & Jake had given us a list of questions about themselves and Karl asked these questions to the guests. They had to get a correct answer before they could eat. Don't worry the questions were easy and only one table got it wrong. They were still going to the buffet within 5 minutes. It was an entertaining way to release tables and I would recommend it to anyone. The guests got to learn a little bit more about Jamie & Jake and had some fun with it too.
Then I was smelling all this wonderful food but we had told Jamie we did not need dinner. The manager came by after everyone had eaten and said please, there is extra food go ahead and eat. What a blessing because I was starving for some reason. Maybe she could tell. Jennine was so kind to us all evening, she was really looking after us and helping in any way possible. I intend to send a thank you card because she was incredible. Then there were toasts and cupcakes and Jamie and Jake walked around to each table, thanking their guests for coming. There had been a receiving line out in the lobby, after the ceremony but they just added this little special touch. I think guests really liked this extra time with the them.
Around 9:00 we started the first dance. They picked the classic Can't Help Falling In Love With You by Elvis. This took place in the dance room off of the dining room. We had a speaker in both rooms so everyone could hear music and announcements. Of course the speaker in the dining room was not up as loud as in the dancing area.
We then invited Jamie's father Jim to dance with his daughter, What A Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong and Kenny G. They did some fancy footwork at the end and some spinning, very entertaining. Next we invited Jennifer to come out and dance with Jake for the mother and son dance. This was A Song For Mama by Boys 2 Men. I actually started to cry during this dance. Here is this big, strong, handsome Marine dancing with his mom and she is crying and he is hugging her and you could just tell how much he loved his mom and how special she felt to be having that dance with her son. Very emotional. I know I am going to cry when I dance with my son at his wedding. He better not elope.
Then we started off the dance. We only had about 2 and half hours for the dance and no requests so as DJ's we had to decide which songs were going to work the best for this group of people. We had input from Jamie and some from family and so we began. Not trying to brag but the dance floor was packed all night. There was crazy energy all night and I think we could have gone even longer. They liked the 90's club music, some of the artists we played were Haddaway and Daft Punk later in the evening. We started out with classic oldies like Beatles (Bride loves the Beatles) Jackson 5, Aretha Franklin etc.. and Jamie had picked out some lovely slow ones like Fade Into You by Mazzy Star and Sweet Jane by the Cowboy Junkies, Stand By Me by Ben E. King. We were told all evening and while we were tearing down that we had played amazing songs and did a fantastic job. Jamie & Jake came up at the end of the night hugged us and said it went better than even they thought it would. I cannot tell you how high I was feeling. I did not want it to end. The family members told us they would refer us to everyone and the venue said they would refer us as well. As a DJ you cannot ask for more. It was like they were handing me bags of gold. I was elated. The whole evening was charmed and people left feeling very good, including us. I had a hard time getting to sleep when I got home because I felt so happy.
Jamie & Jake had a wonderful wedding and reception to start off their marital journey and I know many wonderful things will come to them. They are good people. I also think they are strong enough to handle any hardship that might come their way.
Best wishes Jamie & Jake, thank you so much for letting us be part of your wedding day.
Carol Morgan
www.collsound.com
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