Wedding Ceremony with Personality

One of the things I often tell my clients is to infuse their personalities into the wedding ceremony. It doesn't have to be so serious and so formal. Have some fun. Show your personalities. Try using some cool music you love instead the usual classical music or traditional church organ. Do something different or unique that stands out. Wedding ceremonies can sometimes be boring for the guests, so make it fun! (laughter is the best). The day will be much more memorable for you and your guests. Here is a great example.

Wedding Vendors Giving Back

What a SUPER event! I have been wanting to organize a volunteer event for professionals in the wedding industry for a while. Well, it finally happened! Yesterday, 25 of us gathered at the Second Harvest Food Bank in San Jose to help sort food that would be distributed to people in Silicon Valley who really need it. It was a lot of fun and a very worthwhile cause. It was great to see how enthusiastic everyone was about giving back to the community.The photo below is of me with some of my fellow members of NACE. (National Association of Catering Executives) From left to right: Robbie Schlosser of the Magnolia Jazz Band, Amy Frugoli from Twitterpated Weddings, Photographer Claudia Akers, L.T Beaton from Palo Alto Hills Golf and Country Club, (and of course me in the back towering above!) The event was such a great success that I will be starting a new volunteer group solely made up of Wedding Industry Vendors who will volunteer once a month. I am so excited! I will have a new website and Facebook page for this group very soon. Here is another photo of me being silly with my buddy Jessie Garcia from PlayitLoud Productionz. Jessie is an awesome DJ and so kind to volunteer for this event.

Magnolia Jazz Band

Here is a clip of the wonderful Magnolia Jazz Band playing at the "Over The Top" NACE event (National Association of Catering Executives). This band is well-known in San Jose and the Bay Area for providing very cool music for wedding receptions and parties.

A Peacock Wedding Dress? NO WAY!

I am beginning to realize that I HAVE NOT seen it all. (And I thought I had) Here is a "stunning" peacock wedding dress. This unique dress took eight handicrafts men two months to finish and had a price tag of $1.5 million. It is decorated with 2009 peacock tail feathers and 60 Haitian jades. I know some cultures consider peacock feathers to be lucky but...come on! I would rather have my bride dressed up as Big Bird.

Advice: Pictures During The Reception

For most couples, the majority of their pictures with the family and bridal party are taken directly after the ceremony while the guests are enjoying the cocktail-appetizer hour. However, some photographers like to take the Bride and Groom away from the reception to snap a few photos or to capture a sunset shot. This is okay but please be aware of the time and don't stay away too long. Remember, your guests want to have a great time and party with YOU. If they don't see you, they may assume that you have left and that the reception is ending soon. This kills the energy in the room and people will start to leave. This can be easily avoided. Simply schedule the majority of your family and bridal party photos before your grand entrance. Always let your DJ know ahead of time if you are going to leave the reception area for photos so that he can plan something to entertain the guests while you are gone. Remember: Your wedding reception is going to fly by very quickly. Make sure that you are there to enjoy it!

7 First Dances

Jan and Russ decided that their wedding day wouldn't be just about them. They also wanted it to be special for their 125 friends and family who joined them at the Hotel De Anza in San Jose. For starters, Jan's Mom, Betty, was her Matron of Honor! How cool! Apart from their own First Dance, Jan and Russ also asked me to play the First Dance songs of 6 other married couples who were at the reception. Of course, I didn't play them all back to back. (I just kind of sprinkled them in throughout the evening) It was neat to see the expressions on their faces as I played each song . For some, I'm sure it was the first time they danced to their special song since their actual wedding day. Photo by Kimberly Parish.Special Dance Songs For Jan and Russ:

First Dance: "Making Memories of Us" by Keith Urban
Father-Daughter Dance: "What a Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong
Farewell Dance: "When You Say Nothing At All" by Allison Kraus

No Beating Around The Bush.

Keeping with the Halloween Theme, I thought I'd share with you a super-funny picture from my friend Stacie Tamaki, creator of The Flirty Guide. Her dog, Kitai, is one of the coolest and cutest dogs I have ever met! Every year, he wears something different for Halloween. He has been featured in numerous newspapers and websites. He was flown to New York to appear on the Today Show on NBC and he even has his own website! (http://www.cutestdogever.com) You can see more of his cute pics there. He is famous! I need to get his Pawtograph. How cute!

May The Force Be With You!

I've done all of types of themed-weddings over the years. Although Hawaiian and Disney Weddings are the most popular, I've also done many others including a Halloween Wedding where all of the guests dressed in costumes. (see http://richamooi.blogspot.com/2007/10/spooky-wedding.html) But every now and then, someone takes that idea to another level! Hey...how about a Star Wars Wedding!

Falling in Love at the YMCA

I guess you are probably expecting a joke right about now but there isn't one! Tim and Marissa really did fall in love at the YMCA. (They both used to work there) 200 Guests joined them for a celebration of their love at the Opera House in Los Gatos. Of course, I was not surprised that YMCA was the top song on their request list! Here are the Bridesmaids having some fun to that song. Photo by Deanna Graham
Since Tim is obsessed with sports, Marissa surprised him with a special 49er Cake that was the shape of a football. The guests got a kick out of that. (No pun intended) Here is a shot I took from the balcony of the guests having fun on the dance floor. They were a lively bunch!Special Music Selections - Ceremony:

Weddng Party: "Canon in D" - Pachabel
Bride's Song: "Always a Woman" - Billy Joel (instrumental)
Kissing Song: "Friday, I'm in Love" by The Cure

Other Special Songs:

First Dance: "These are the Days" by Van Morrison
Father-Daughter: "I Loved Her First" by Heartland
Groom-Mother: "The First Lady in my Life" by Paul Todd
Farewell Dance: : "These are the Days" by 10,000 Maniacs

Side Note: The song titles of their First and Last Dances were the same! (Different Artist though) That was a first for me.

Holiday Parties

It's that time of year already? It's amazing how time flies. Many companies are now planning their annual Holiday Parties. It's nice to see that, even with the economy, companies know how important it is to reward their employees for a year of hard work. I am looking forward to another wonderful Holiday season. (It is one of my favorite times of the year) Here is a picture of a fun corporate party that I did for Equity Office in San Jose. This event was held at the Corinthian Event Center.

What a Unique Wedding Date!

Looking for something cool to make your wedding day stand out even more? All you have to do is get married on October 10th of next year. Why, you ask? Because the date of your wedding would be 10-10-10. How cool is that!

Second Harvest Food Bank in San Jose

My favorite local non-profit is the Second Harvest Food Bank in San Jose. I volunteer there as a Team Leader a few times of month and it is very rewarding. They are always looking for volunteers and/or donations of food and money. If you can help out, that would be awesome! Here is short video about the food bank and what they're all about.

Ritz-Carlton - Half Moon Bay Wedding

Annie and Greg told me that there was only one thing that they wanted to do on their wedding day. (besides kiss a thousand times) They wanted to dance! It was very clear to me how much they valued the DJ. They had a wonderful reception at the Ritz-Carlton in Half Moon Bay. As you can see by this photo, they accomplished their goal of being on the dance floor non-stop! Now that's what I like to see!

The Bride's Unforgettable Surprise

Spanish people are known for being very passionate. I know that first-hand because my girlfriend is from Spain! Check out the video of this Spanish Bride (Venesa) who surprised her husband-to-be (Jose Carlos) by singing to him during their wedding ceremony in a church in Andalucía. Her voice is absolutely amazing. You may not understand what she is saying, but you certainly will be able to feel the emotion. The song had the guests (and the groom) in tears. (Happy tears!)

Size Doesn't Matter

Andreea and Robert had only 45 guests at their wedding reception at Palo Alto Hills Country Club. Some people think that it is not necessary to have a DJ for events of this size. I am so glad that Andreea and Robert did not feel that way! (I can't imagine going to a wedding reception without dancing!) Here is a picture of me with the happy newlyweds at the end of the evening.This was the first Romanian-Scottish reception that I got to DJ and it was such a treat. The guys in the Bridal Party wore the traditional Scottish Kilts. I also had a chance to play music from both countries as well as many of the usual fun dance songs that you would hear at an American Wedding. Here are there special dance selections:

First Dance" "Fly Me To The Moon" by Frank Sinatra
Bouquet Song: "Single Ladies" by Beyonce
Farewell Dance: "Come Away With Me" by Norah Jones

Funny Stuff: The Best Man Christopher gave a very entertaining toast. He started by saying "My toast will be the "Kilt Version" ...short enough to keep it interesting...but long enough to cover the important bits".

Big Time San Jose Wedding

Gina and Serge wanted to party...and they did! Here is a great pic from an awesome wedding reception that I did at Silver Creek Valley Country Club in San Jose. This is what it's all about!

The Father-Daughter Dance

It is a very special moment in a wedding reception when the Bride dances with her Father. I get asked pretty frequently what are some good songs specifically for that occasion. Here are some of the most popular songs:

I Loved Her First – Heartland
Cinderella – Steven Curtis Chapman
Find Your Wings – Mark Harris *
Butterfly Kisses - Bob Carlisle
Daddy's Little Girl - Al Martino or Mills Brothers
My Girl - Temptations
The Men in My Little Girl’s Life – Various Artists
Turn Around – Various Artists
Isn’t She Lovely – Stevie Wonder
Daughters – John Mayer (not easy to dance to)
Times Of Your Life – Paul Anka
Because You Loved Me - Celine Dion *
Find Your Wings - Mark Harris *
Wind Beneath My Wings - Bette Midler *
Unforgettable – Nat King Cole *
What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong *
Through The Years - Kenny Rogers *
The Way You Look Tonight - Frank Sinatra *
Can You Feel The Love Tonight - Elton John *
Have I Told You Lately - Rod Stewart /Van Morrison *
Hero - Mariah Carey *
Child of Mine- Carol King *
The Greatest Love Of All – Whitney Houston *
In My Life – The Beatles *
Blessed – Elton John *
You Are The Sunshine Of My Life – Stevie Wonder *
What a Wonderful World/Somewhere Over The Rainbow – Israel Kamakawowo’ole *
Kind And Generous (Thank You) – Natalie Merchant *

* denotes song can also be used for Groom-Mother Dance or Both

It's Electric!

Kathy and Travis had an awesome wedding reception at Hotel Valencia in Santana Row with 200 of their favorite people in the world. As for music that evening, the song "Electric Slide" was at the top of their request list. Here is a picture of Kathy having fun with some of the guests to that song. Obviously, this guy on the right wanted to dance to the song so badly that he didn't even have time to put down his Corona!

I STILL Gotta Feeling

Unless you have been hiding under a rock, (And I have no problem with that if you're into those types of things!) you know that the song "I Gotta Feeling" by the Black Eyed Peas is THE song of the year. Whether you are tired of the song by now or still enjoy it tremendously, check out this one-shot video of the song from 172 students in the communications department at the University of Québec in Montreal. Very impressive.

Five For Fighting

You may know the term "Five for Fighting" from San Jose Sharks hockey games when a player receives a 5-minute penalty for fighting. But it is also the stage name for American singer-songwriter John Ondrasik. He is known for his platinum-hit songs "100 Years" and "Superman (It's Not Easy)". I got a chance to meet him yesterday at an intimate little party of 40 people at Hotel De Anza in downtown San Jose. He performed a few songs for us which was very cool since all he had was his acoustic guitar and his beautiful voice. No band! Here is a little video that I shot of him performing "Superman (It's Not Easy)".


John is a very cool guy and compassionate too. (And he is a big supporter of our Troops overseas) He was instrumental in helping to deliver more than 200,000 CDs to US troops around the globe and to offer the music from the CD as free MP3 downloads for them as well. What a guy.

How Long Is That Wedding Dress?

Okay, I seriously need to think about adding a new category to my blog called "Absolutely Ridiculous". Why, you ask? Take a look at this picture! A Bride in China had a wedding dress with a train that was almost as long as a football field! OMG! After seeing that first photo, (and taking a little time to recover from the shock) I stumbled upon another gem that almost gave me a heart attack. Not to be outdone, ANOTHER Bride in China decided she wanted to set the world record for the longest wedding dress in the world. How long was it? 1.2 MILES!! And if that wasn't enough, she decided it would be prettier with 9,999 red silk roses. I am speechless. Here is the pic.
Good luck dancing in that!

When Harry Met Sally

Stefanie and Steven love the movies so much that they made that the theme of their wedding reception. Their 105 guests at The Opera House in Los Gatos sat at tables with names like My Cousin Vinny, Forest Gump, Toy Story, Goodwill Hunting, and Shawshank Redemption. (Some of my favorite movies!) They requested songs from the movie soundtracks to Saturday Night Fever ("Stayin' Alive") and Grease (You're The One That I Want") to play during the Bridal Party Introductions. And to top it off, their wedding favors were popcorn! That's right, just step right up to the popcorn bar and fix yourself a box of caramel or cheese popcorn. (They flew it in from Steven's home town of Chicago) Will that be for here or to go? For here...right now PLEASE!

But wait...there's more! Here is a pic of their place cards (that looked like movie tickets) to let each guest know what table they were going to be sitting at. The guests thought that this was just the coolest idea! Fortunately, the air conditioning at The Opera House works very well because it was almost 100 degrees outside. (BTW, it's an awesome place for a reception too) The guests were a lot of fun and requested a whole bunch of songs which I was happy to play. The most popular song of the night by far though was "I Gotta Feeling" by the Black Eyed Peas. Here are their special song selections:

First Dance: "You Turn Me On" by Bob Schneider
Father-Daughter Dance: "The Way You Look Tonight" by Michael Bublé
Cake-Cutting Song: "How Sweet it is" by James Taylor

I think Steven danced more than anyone else in the room. It was so much fun to watch him. Here they are dancing with their friends to the song "Have I told You Lately That I Love You" by Rod Stewart.
Side Note: Stefanie and Steven met on Match.com 2 years ago. A very sweet couple and very fun.

Where was Goofy?

Ryan had the perfect plan for his proposal. Since Jamie absolutely loved Disneyland, he would propose to her right in front of the castle, at the park, with the help of Goofy. (He had pre-arranged everything with Disney park officials) Actually, Goofy was the one who was going to drop down to his knees with the ring and propose to her. Then, Ryan was going to cut him off, grab the ring, get down on one knee, and propose to her himself. It was the perfect plan...fun, cute, and very romantic. Well...it could have been the perfect plan. Disneyland Management called Ryan 5 days before their trip down south to let him know that characters are no longer allowed to be involved in engagements due to liabilities. What a shame! Ryan could not sleep for 5 days. He wasn't sure what to do. After much thought, he ended up proposing to her in front of the castle anyway and she, of course, said yes...but without the help of Goofy! Well, at least he still gets to marry his true love! The celebration at Peachwood's Steakhouse in Santa Cruz went a lot smoother for them and their 140 guests. Just look how cute they are!
Here are their special dance choices:

First Dance: "From This Moment" by Shania Twain
Father-Daughter: "My Little Girl" by Tim McGraw
Groom-Mother: "Proud" by Steven Curtis Chapman

They had a great time and even had an opportunity to sing "Happy Birthday" to Ryan's grandmother, Dorothy, who turned 87! And now, they're off to Italy! Arrivederci!

Tequila at the Opera House!

This Bride and Groom can dance! I had the pleasure of being the DJ-MC for Al and Laura's Wedding Reception at the Opera House in Los Gatos. Al is also known as "Indiana Al" on San Jose radio station 95.3 KRTY. Here is a little video snippet from that super-fun wedding reception.

Can I borrow your house?

Friends sure can come in handy sometimes! Grace and Paul would probably agree with me. When they were not sure where to have their wedding, their good friends graciously offered up their incredible home in Los Altos. It was the perfect spot for an intimate gathering of 65 people. Check out this backyard complete with million-dollar view and infinity pool. I took this picture while the best man Kirby was toasting the Bride and Groom. It was such a beautiful evening. Grace and Paul preferred music from Michael Bublé, Frank Sinatra, U2, Jason Mraz, Stevie Wonder, and the Black Eyed Peas, just to name a few. Here are the special dances they chose:

First Dance: "You and I" by Michael Bublé
Bride-Son Dance: "When You Wish Upon a Star" by Steve Tyrell
Farewell Dance" "Everyday" by Dave Matthews

They planned their wedding from Florida where they now live. Most of the guests came from out of town too...Canada, New York, Conneticut.Many of the guests ended the evening by jumping in the pool. (I am not going to show you those wild pics...sorry!) But here is a pic I took of Grace and Paul dancing with their guests before the half-naked pool party started. lol. By the way, Summer is over! Happy Fall.

Te Amo (I Love You)

Jessica and Stephen pulled off the perfectly-choreographed First Dance. Keep in mind that it was not your average song nor your average dance. In fact, 99.9% of couples would never attempt this type of dance. They decided to pick a Salsa! (Now that's adventurous!) This was by far one of the best first dance's I have ever witnessed. I only hope that I can get a copy of the video in the future to show you. All 175 guests at The Garden Court Hotel in Palo Alto were blown away and were standing and cheering them both on. It was awesome...and so was the rest of the evening. Here is a shot of them after dinner (Jessica with her dad and Stephen with his Mom) Photos by Charles Le.The energy in the room was electric as the guests danced to a variety of music from artists like Journey, Kool and the Gang, Michael Jackson, and Justin Timberlake. Jessica also requested some great Latin music from The Gipsy Kings, Ricky Martin, Shakira, Elvis Crespo, as well as others. Here are their special dances:

First Dance: "Te Amo" by Maelo Ruiz
Father-Daughter Dance: "The Way You Look Tonight" by Steve Tyrell
Cake-Cutting: "L-O-V-E" by Nat King Cole
Bouquet Toss: "Single Ladies" by Beyonce

Later in the evening, they let loose even more with some fun hats and inflatable toys and guitars that they brought along. It was great to see them all having such an awesome time.
At the end of the evening, they asked me to announce that the party would continue around the corner at "The Blue Chalk". Like most Latin weddings, they demonstrated that they had an endless supply of energy and that they were certainly not afraid to use it!

Don't Be Scared To Be The First

You never know what impact you may have on others! Watch this video to see what one person started...very cool.

The Amazing Oak

Most couples visit countless facilities in their quest to find the perfect place to have their wedding. This process can take weeks, or even months. For a handful of others, the decision of where to have their wedding can take only 30 seconds. Such was the case for Samantha and Julio who chose to have their wedding in her parent's backyard in Monte Sereno. And when you take a look at this picture, you will probably understand why. It was an incredible backyard with the most amazing Oak Tree. I could not stop staring at it...absolutely beautiful.

A Wild Bay Area Wedding!

Okay...that was so fun! Jeffrey and Lauren had an incredible wedding day and so much of it was do to their meticulous planning and, of course, their wedding vendors! :) It was an absolutely beautiful day at Casa Real in Pleasanton where 160 people showed up to celebrate with the two of them. Photos by the incredible Rhee Bevere. Fun!Jeffrey and Lauren's Special Dances:

First Dance: "You Are The Best Thing" by Ray La Montagne
Father-Daughter: "My Wish" by Rascal Flatts
Groom-Mother" "The Way We Were" by Barbra Streisand

They danced to a variety of music but preferred Motown, 80's, and current hits. Here is a fun shot of Jeffrey and Lauren airborne!
So compassionate and so kind: Jeffrey, Lauren, and their parents really showed what type of people they are by choosing to make donations to three organizations in honor of their guests. What a super-classy gesture on their part. The organizations were:

Diabetes Research and Wellness Foundation
Best Friends Animal Society
Mazon - A Jewish Response to Hunger

Speaking of the parents, here is a great photo of Lauren's Mom, Bobbie, having some fun on the dance floor. I love to see the parents cut loose!

Better Late than Never!

Kerry and Joel have been meaning to celebrate their 40th birthdays for almost a year but life kept on getting in the way. Well, they finally did it! They even asked all of the invitees to dress up in the decade that they were born which was a lot of fun. It kind of felt like an early Halloween Party! That's Kerry and Joel in the front-right dressed up as Farrah Fawcett and John Lennon.They requested a lot of great music from the 60's and 70's including classic rock, motown, and disco. What a cool birthday party!

I'd Like To Check You For Ticks

I was cracking up when somebody told me the name of this song. Even if you don't like country music, you should be able to appreciate the lyrics to the song "Ticks" by Brad Paisley. Very clever. Here is the video:

Brad Paisley - Ticks

Survivor

Ken is a fish. Okay, let me re-phrase that. Ken loves to swim. Yeah, that's better. In fact, he has a swimming family. Ken and both of his brother's swam in college. All 3 of his kids (Christina, Brandon, and Stephen) have All-American status in swimming. Ken himself has National and World Records for his class. It is very impressive. I've never met someone so passionate about swimming. You'd never think that someone in such prime, physical condition would have a heart attack. But Ken did have a heart attack...in the pool at Stanford.

Fortunately for him, there were doctors and trained medical staff all around the pool and they saved his life. Expert diagnosis and care at Stanford Hospital led to a procedure that placed 5 stents around his heart to open several blockages due to Advanced Coronary Artery Disease. His friends and family were shocked that this could happen to him but obviously relieved that he was given a second chance. So that's what this party was about...a celebration of life. It was an opportunity to celebrate his second chance. Here is a beautiful photo of Ken with his wife Maureen and their children on the beach in Hawaii.
About 80 of Ken's closest friends and family were there to celebrate with him. It was a wonderful night of friendship, music, and food. As I introduced Ken to the guests, I surprised him by playing the theme from the TV Show "Survivor". That put a big smile on his face. Two of the people who helped save Ken's life were in attendance as well and Ken honored them and gave them gifts as a thank you. And to make sure everyone was prepared in case something happened in the future, Ken had the guys give a mini CPR presentation. It was a very nice evening and a strong reminder for everyone in attendance that life is precious.

Erin and Michael

I have had many types of clients over the years. Some are extremely detail-oriented. They like to give me excel spreadsheets and graphs and charts of their wedding day. Some even give me enough music requests for 3 or 4 wedding receptions. (That always makes me laugh!) Erin and Michael were just the opposite. Don't get me wrong...they were organized. They even requested some fun songs. But they were just so easy-going about everything which I thought was cool. They skipped the big formal Bridal Party Introduction and the Bouquet and Garter toss as well. Basically, they wanted to hear some great music, dance, and enjoy the time with their friends and family. And they did! Here is a pic of me taking some notes. I didn't even know the photographer took this picture until he sent it to me! Photos from Dai P. LuongErin and Michael chose Villa Ragusa in downtown Campbell to celebrate their wedding. I've been there many times and it is a great place for events! It was an intimate gathering for 60 of their friends and family. They danced to a variety of music from Michael Jackson to the Beatles and Justin Timberlake. Here are some of their special dances:

First Dance: "The Luckiest" by Ben Folds Five
Father-Daughter Dance: "What a Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong
Farewell Dance: "Breathless" by Better Than Ezra
Here is a fun pic of the Groom, Michael, having fun on the dance floor with his friends and new wife Erin! Nice moves...and looking sharp!

You're The One That I Want

Margarita and Patrick had a very unique wedding day. For starters, it was on a Thursday!! Obviously, weddings during the middle of the week are very rare but Margarita and Patrick are not your average couple. They wanted to do something completely different to make it more memorable and they succeeded! They celebrated with their friends at The Brazilian Room at Tilden Park in Berkeley. What an incredible night! Here is a great "before" photo of them. Photos by Lucie XYZ. Many of my clients love the movie Grease. (and the music from the movie!) I love it too. However, this was the first time that one of my clients had an actual "Grease Theme". That's right, they all dressed the part and even performed a few songs! The guests were quite surprised and very entertained. Here is a picture of Sandy (oops, I mean Margarita!) performing with The Pink Ladies. That was cool!Margarita has an incredible spirit about her and you can't help but feel happy and positive in here presence. We had a lot of fun planning all of the details of the wedding day. We even got together for lunch one day for some killer Indian food as we brainstormed the big day. I just received a sweet e-mail from her thanking me. I am the one who is so thankful and honored that I got to be a part of their very special day.

Advice: Dimming The Lights

Many venues think it is very romantic to dim the lights once the dancing starts. Others think that people won't dance if the lights are too bright. (Wrong!) Don't get me wrong, dimming the lights a little is okay. Some people take it to the extreme though. I was at a venue just a few weeks ago where the person in charge dimmed them so low that we could barely see each other. It felt like a cheesy dive-lounge. I was waiting for some Frank Sinatra impersonator to pop out and start singing.

Personally, when I dance with my girlfriend, I want to be able to see her face! The sad part is, the video and photographer's work usually suffers because they have to use those bright flashes and lights that blind and annoy everyone. And who pays the ultimate price? You do! You will see shadows and more in your photos and video. I usually have to go and tell someone to turn the lights back up. Make sure you tell the person in charge of your reception at the facility ahead of time not to dim the lights too low at your reception. You will be glad you did. (And so will your photographer and videographer)

Penn State vs. Cornell

Was that a Wedding Reception or College Night at the Crowne Plaza Cabaña Hotel in Palo Alto last night? Okay, it was a Wedding Reception. (Although the collegiate spirit was definitely in the air!) Leah went to Penn State. Alex went to Cornell. 2 great Universities. Fortunately, Leah and Alex agreed to put their scholastic differences aside to get married. lol. What a fun crowd....all 270 of them!

Here is a pic of Leah and Alex dancing with their guests. The woman to the right of them in the picture in the beautiful coral and white dress is Leah's cousin Cindy with her husband Eric. They had an awesome Rock & Roll Wedding that I got to DJ a few months ago. Neither of them knew that the other hired me as their DJ so it was a great surprise for all. They had two completely different weddings but both were very fun.I knew this was going to be one of those super-fun, crazy nights just by the energy and enthusiasm of the guests as I was introducing everyone. They were very lively and everyone clapped along to "I Gotta Feeling" by The Black Eyed Peas as I introduced the parents and Bridal Party. As Leah and Alex entered the room, they asked me to play a different song... "Don't Stop til ya Get Enough" by Michael Jackson. It was fun to watch them dance their way into the room. I took a lot of requests last night and they danced to a variety of music including Italian and Salsa.

Here were their special dance songs:

First Dance: "Broken" by Jack Johnson
Father-Daughter: "Surfer Girl" by the Beach Boys
Groom-Mother: "You are The Sunshine of My Life" by Stevie Wonder

Janice and David

Janice and David hired me to be the DJ and MC for their Wedding Reception at The Adobe Lodge on the campus of Santa Clara University. They didn't have to interview any other DJ's because I was the DJ at her sister Eunice's Wedding Reception in 2008 and they knew exactly what they were getting and that there would be no surprises. (Of course, I was the one who was completely surprised when her sister showed up to the wedding pregnant!) Oh my God! What happened? lol.

After the ceremony at The Mission, the 125 guests enjoyed cocktails and dinner outside on the lawn. They later came inside for the dancing and cake. Here is a great shot of them entering the dinner area as I introduced them to the guests for the first time as husband and wife.
Their Special Dances:

First Dance: "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" - Izzy (Israel K)
Father-Daughter: "Isn't She Lovely" - Stevie Wonder
Groom-Mother: "Have I told You Lately" - Rod Stewart
Farewell Dance" "Let's Get it On" - Marvin Gaye

Th night was planned out perfectly. It was amazing how things just flowed. The guests were fun. The dinner was perfect. They had a great variety of music for everyone. The toasts were absolutely incredible. (Especially when David toasted his new wife Janice after they cut the cake) It was one of the most beautiful, heart-felt, and romantic toasts I have ever witnessed. I wish I had a copy of it to share with you. Obviously, this man is head-over-heels in love with this woman and he has no problem communicating it. Good job David!

A Date With Destiny

This is a love story that will put a warm feeling in your heart and a smile on your face. And if you are like me, you will probably get a whole bunch of goosebumps as well. Mike and Katie's story didn't start out so pretty. In fact, it was quite scary. But I am sure you will agree that the end result is wonderful, magical, and definitely inspirational.

When Mike was 17, he had a near-fatal ski accident in Ontario, Canada. He had 7 jaw fractures, a broken nose, a broken cheek bone, and worst of all, a hematoma in his left frontal lobe that required immediate brain surgery. After the surgery, he fell into a coma for almost a week. Doctors told him he would never be the same again. They were wrong.

When Katie was 18, she was involved in terrible high-speed auto accident with 5 of her friends, the morning after her High School Prom. That accident left her with a traumatic brain injury, fractured skull, punctured/collapsed lungs, and severe neck and spinal cord damage. She was in a coma for 3 months. When she came out of her coma, she was paralyzed for over a year. She had to learn to walk again. Now, she walks 18 miles every Saturday with her mom, just because she can!

2 accidents. 2 comas. 2 hospitals. 2 completely separate lives.

Fast forward to 2008...Mike and Katie meet through online dating site e-harmony.com and noticed that they had amazingly similar characters, personalities, spirits, passions, and energies. Neither of them knew about each other's accident and coma, since they were not mentioned in their profiles. They met, had an amazing connection almost instantly, and fell in love. One year later, they got married! And something even more crazy? The husband of their Pastor who married them was in a motorcycle accident and was also in a coma. What are the odds? How many people do you know who have been in a coma? Was this the aligning of the planets? Fate? Destiny? A miracle? Yes!

They shared this with me: "Throughout each of our recoveries, the love and support of family and friends were paramount to helping us each come through to live complete, enriching, and wonderfully blessed lives again."

You can't help but have such happiness for them and cheer them on! Here is a fun photo of them both having a great time dancing.Obviously, this day was not only about celebrating their love...it was also about celebrating life. Mike and Katie had a beautiful wedding and celebration for 70 of their closest friends at the Stanford Park Hotel. It was an extraordinary day. They picked out most of the fun music for the evening, and both of their brother's Dave and Andrew were guest MC's. They even played a fun game where the guests got to step up to the Microphone to tell a joke. If it was a funny joke, they kissed! Fortunately, most of the jokes were funny so there was a lot of kissing.
Here is a great shot of Mike letting loose and having some fun on the dance floor. My kind of guy! Special songs they picked out for their reception:

First Dance: "At Last" - Etta James
Father-Daughter Dance: "My Girl" - The Temptations
Farewell Dance: "You're The Inspiration" - Chicago

Overall, it was an awesome night and a very special treat for me to be there. I still get goosebumps when I think about them.

Incredible Cakes

Okay, check this out. These cakes are amazing! This is world-renowned Cake Chef Omar Addihaoui from Kuwait. He makes some outrageous cakes for events up to 1000 people. Here are some of my favorites. Let me know which one is you favorite!

Allied Arts Guild

Last night I had the pleasure of being the guest auctioneer for a wonderful event called "Tally Ho" at the Allied Arts Guild in Menlo Park. All proceeds benefited Lucille Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford. It was a wonderful event with great food and wine, and it was a pleasure to volunteer my services.
Allied Arts Guild is a very cool property that provides an inspiring environment for working artists, beautiful gardens and shops for visitors, and support for critically ill children at Lucille Packard Children's Hospital. It is also available for private events and weddings. (Coincidentally, I DJ'd a wedding reception there last year!) Check out their website HERE. They are celebrating their 80th Anniversary. It is a beautiful place and all profits go to the hospital. How cool!

Hot Hot Hot

You can never tell about the weather in the Bay Area. Most of the time, the weather is close to perfect. Saturday however was a different story. It was HOT at The Ranch Golf Club in San Jose yesterday for Ian and Joanna's wedding! I could tell the people were very relieved to come inside after the ceremony to cool off for dinner and dancing. Fortunately, they still had energy for some fun! Photos from Jeff Warren at Vince Tarry Photography.They requested a wide variety of music including great songs from: The Temptations, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, The Four Tops, Justin Timberlake, Usher, Maroon 5, Tupac, and Beyonce. Here are the songs they chose for their special dances:

First Dance: "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz
Father-Daughter/Groom-Mom: "Kind & Generous" - Natalie Merchant
Farewell Dance: "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You" by Lauryn Hill

Here is a great shot of a traditional Jewish Dance called "The Hora". It is always so much fun to watch because practically everyone in the room gets involved and they always have a great time.

Wende and Cubie

Now that was a party! Wende and Cubie only had 88 people at their wedding reception at the Monterey Peninsula Country Club last night, but it felt like 200 because of the energy. Yes, they were ready to party. Here is a fun picture of the Groom, Cubie, having a great time on the dance floor with his groomsmen, his Dad, and the rest of the guests.

First Dance: "You Are The Sunshine of My Life" - Stevie Wonder
Father-Daughter Dance: "What a Wonderful World" - Israel "Iz"

Groom-Mother Dance: "Circle of Life" - Elton JohnIn an awesome sponteaneous moment towards the end of the reception, some of the guests decided it would be a great idea to lift Wende and Cubie up over their heads. It was so much fun to watch. I love when my clients get wild and crazy! That's what parties are all about!