A Wedding DJ Blog in San Jose By Rich Amooi

Winner! Bride's Choice 2012

2012-01-17T12:49:00.001-08:00

Wow! This is amazing, 3 years in a row. I'm so grateful for this award and for the recognition. Thank you!

NACE Gives Back

2011-12-15T15:05:00.000-08:00

What a great night! I'd been wanting to make this happen for while and we finally did it! I got together with a few generous people from the Silicon Valley Chapter of NACE (National Association of Catering Executives) and headed over to the Second Harvest Food Bank in San Jose for a night of volunteering. What did we do? We stuffed carrots into bags! It's funny how something so simple can help the community so much. Try it for yourself and find out how rewarding it really is.Front Row: Robbie Schlosser (Magnolia Jazz Band), Natti Thomson (North American Theater Technology), Silvi (my wife), Lyndsay Catterton (The Wild Geranium), Stacie Tamaki(T he Flirty Guide). Back Row: Robert Kusters (Silicon DJ) Claudia Akers (Claudia Akers Photography), Me, and Carl Mindling (I MC Events)

What is that man doing with his jacket?

2011-12-07T10:48:00.000-08:00

I think this guy was pretending his jacket was a horse...or maybe he was trying to dry something that spilled on his crotch. Either way, it was fun to watch and, as you can see, the guests enjoyed it too! That's what I love most about weddings and other events that I get to DJ: seeing the fun, the excitement, the wild party unfolding right before my eyes... Kate and Nate had a super-charged wedding reception at Rosewood Sandhill, in Menlo Park. They danced to a variety of music, including a few Irish songs and songs from her college days at the University of Arizona. Here are some of the other special requests:

First Dance: "Lucky" by Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat
Father-Daughter: "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling" from Cats
Cake Song: "A Kiss To Build a Dream On" by Louis Armstrong

Happy Halloween from Mr. and Mrs. DJ!

2011-10-31T12:59:00.000-07:00

Til Death Do Us Part

2011-10-27T09:38:00.000-07:00

It's a very common phrase in wedding ceremonies. You've probably heard it a thousand times! Me too. I just never expected a Bride and Groom to show us what "the death part" would look like...on top of their cake! It's the perfect cake-topper for a Halloween Wedding. SPOOKY!

I Heart You!

2011-09-06T13:40:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to my video buddy Dave Ethridge (AVR Films) and his wife Meg! They celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary on the beach in Half Moon Bay. Dave surprised Meg by inviting family and a few friends (including me and Silvi) as they renewed their vows right there! We all formed a heart in the sand and waited for their arrival.It was such a beautiful ceremony and the weather was perfect. It's so cool to see how much Dave loves his wife and how excited he was to celebrate this milestone in their marriage.After the ceremony, we all went to Moss Beach Distillery for a wonderful dinner. What a beautiful evening! Special thanks to the incredible Rhee Bevere for the amazing photos, including this one below of me and Silvi as we admired the happy couple.

Rain, Rain, Go Away.

2011-08-11T14:45:00.000-07:00

Your Wedding day has arrived. You've been planning it for months (or years!) and it's finally here. Then, unexpectedly, it rains. On you. On your guests. On everybody. During the outdoor ceremony! OMG! Don't Freak out!! Mike and Alice did not freak out. And they were rewarded. So were their guests at beautiful Rosewood Sandhill in Menlo Park.
You may not want to hear this, but things can unexpectedly happen on your wedding day. How you react to those things will be a big indication of how your wedding day will actually turn out. Having the right attitude makes all the difference in the world. You can freak out about the rain, or get upset about the centerpieces that should have had 18 roses but only had 17, or about the kid who pulled the Bride and Groom Cake Topper off of the cake and ate it. Or, you can just blow it off (even laugh it off) as something very insignificant in comparison to the big picture. Mike and Alice decided to laugh it off. And smile it off! It was such a treat to watch. Beautiful Photos by Vero Suh Photography.The guests (me too!) could feel Alice and Mike's positive energy and everyone fed off of that. It was amazing to watch (but not surprising). They did not let the external circumstances affect their moods. (Or maybe they were just incredible actors!) And because of that, it turned out to be one of the most incredible evenings.
Bottom line: You can obsess over the little things and let them ruin your wedding day. Or, you can just focus on what matters most (Love!) and have a blast. It's your choice. As you can see, Mike and Alice were all smiles all the way to the end of the night. Here are a few of their special song requests for the reception:

Bridal Party Introductions: "Sirius" by Alan Parsons Project
First Dance: "Ain't That a Kick in the Head" by Dean Martin
Father-Daughter Dance: "Moon River" by Henry Mancini
Farewell Dance: "Every Time I Close My Eyes" by Babyface

BTW, kudos to the incredible staff at Rosewood Sandhill and Wedding Planner, Jean Marks, and her staff. They Rock!

Take Me Home Tonight!

2011-07-13T16:20:00.000-07:00

About 30 minutes before the end of the reception, I had to make an announcement regarding the centerpiece giveaway. But before I could even utter a word into the mic, a woman starting singing "Take Me Home Tonight" by Eddie Money at the top of her lungs. I'm not sure where she got her motivation from. A fond memory? Alcohol? Whatever it was, it caught on like wildfire. All of a sudden, the entire room was singing the words to the song!It was the wildest thing. How did everyone in the room know the words to that song? I didn't wait to find out. I knew I only had a few seconds to react to their madness or the moment would be lost. I quickly found that Eddie Money song in my library and started playing it. EVERYONE WENT NUTS!! They all rushed the dance floor and danced and sang like they were at a concert! It was an awesome moment that took the energy level to an all-time high for the evening. The Bride and Groom, Stephanie and Gary, rocked out with 225 of their closest friends and family at the Saratoga Country Club.

Fun! Fun! Fun! It was an incredible reception! Stephanie and Gary are my favorite type of client because of 3 reasons:

.
1) They wanted to dance.
2) They wanted to party.
3) They wanted to dance.

Happy Friday! Yahooooo!

2011-05-20T08:07:00.000-07:00

MS Walk 2011

2011-05-06T16:47:00.000-07:00

I was the Master of Ceremonies for the MS Walk 2011 in downtown San Jose last weekend. It was another great event and thousands showed up to walk and raise money. I knew a little about the disease but was surprised to learn that two out of three people who have it are women. There are 12,000 people with MS in the Bay Area. I'm so glad I had the opportunity to help. Click HERE if you would like to help.

Wedding DJ Interview

2011-03-17T15:39:00.000-07:00

I was honored that Oren Arieli from AwesomeShot Studios asked to interview me about the DJ business. Here's the video.

Mix 106.5 Live

2011-03-07T18:12:00.000-08:00

I am often asked what it's like at the radio station when I'm on the air. I recorded this short video to give you a glimpse of what I do.

Project Runway Event at Macy's

2011-02-22T20:29:00.000-08:00

I had the pleasure of being a part of a very special event in the I-N-C Department at Macy's. They presented the new collection from Irina Shabayeva, winner of Project Runway, Season 6. I played some fun music and was the MC as the women shopped until they dropped!

Bride's Choice 2011

2011-02-01T13:01:00.000-08:00

I'm honored that I received this award again. I'd like to thank my mother for making me possible. Seriously, Wedding Wire is a great website if you're looking for reviews of wedding vendors in your area. Check it out.

The Top Songs From 2010

2011-01-03T11:09:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! This is a pretty cool resource to have if you are planning an event. It is jam-packed with the most popular songs from 2010 based on millions of requests across the country. There are 2 PDF's that I would love to share with you. You can download them for free!

PDF #1 is for popular songs at weddings and parties and includes:

• Top 200 Most Requested Songs
• Top 200 Most Requested Pop Songs
• Top 100 Most Requested Songs of the 2010's
• Top 100 Most Requested Songs of the 2000's
• Top 100 Most Requested Songs of the 1990's
• Top 100 Most Requested Songs of the 1980's
• Top 100 Most Requested Songs of the 1970's
• Top 100 Most Requested Songs of the 1960's
• Top 100 Most Requested Songs of the 1950's

Download it HERE

PDF #2 is specifically for the special songs needed during a wedding reception and includes :

• Top 50 Most Requested Bride & Groom First Dances
• Top 50 Most Requested Bride & Father Dances
• Top 50 Most Requested Groom & Mother Dances
• Top 50 Most Requested Bridal Party Dances
• Top 50 Most Requested Bouquet Toss Songs
• Top 50 Most Requested Garter Toss Songs
• Top 50 Most Requested Cake Cutting Songs
• Top 50 Most Requested Wedding Introduction Songs
• Top 50 Most Requested Last Dances
• Top 50 Most Requested Money Dance Songs

Download it HERE.

That's it for now! I wish you a happy, positive, and fruitful 2011!

Far from Plain

2010-12-15T14:36:00.000-08:00

Silvi and I enjoyed a great night of music at Mix 106.5's Very Merry Mixer at the Campbell Heritage Theater. The invite-only, intimate concert for 800 people featured The Plain White T's, and Lee Dewyze. We parked ourselves in the fourth row and had the camera ready!We were fortunate to meet the artists as well and take pictures with them. Here we are below with Lee, the American Idol champion. Silvi was proud to point out that she may have been taller than him, if you included her hair as part of the measurement. The Plain White T's are a very talented bunch of guys and reminded us of the Beatles. I will post a video that I shot of them as they sang, "1,2,3,4," a very popular song at weddings, and one that was featured in a Hallmark Cards commercial earlier this year around Valentines Day.

Of course, they sang their popular Grammy-nominated song, "Hey There Delilah," and their latest hit, "The Rhythm of Love." Here is a shot of us with the band at the end of the night before they headed back to their rooms at Hotel DeAnza. What a fun night and a great way to kick off the holiday season!

Just because

2010-12-04T16:32:00.001-08:00

Okay, I know, I have been absent for a while on my blog since I have been so busy. So, to make myself feel better, I will post a picture of Silvi and me in the snow last week on Thanksgiving. There! My work is done...for now.

Halloween Bowling

2010-10-27T12:18:00.000-07:00

The African King and his Ballroom Dancer wife went bowling the other night at 300 across from Oakridge Mall! It was all part of an event for Silicon Valley NACE (National Association of Catering Executives) We had so much fun and I got to network with other professionals in the Special Event/Wedding Industry. I also won a prize for high game!

A Roaring 20's Wedding

2010-10-18T09:44:00.000-07:00

Steve and Christine did not initially set out to do a Roaring 20's themed wedding; it just happened! And judging by the response of their guests at the Allied Arts Guild in Menlo Park that evening, it was a huge hit.

They started with cool table names, which included Sinatra, Crosby, Clooney, and Hepburn. Then, they bought a 1925 Sonora Phonograph from Craigslist, along with a big box of 78 rpm records. They asked me if I wouldn't mind changing the records on the phonograph during the dinner and, of course, I said yes. I had no idea, though, that I would have to change the needle after every record! I even had to wind up the phonograph every 5 minutes since it did not run on electricity. It sure is a lot easier to play music these days! It was a lot of fun, though, and the music was beautiful. Here were some of their special songs requested:

Bridal Party Introductions: "When The Saints Go Marching In" - Louis Armstrong
First Dance: "Cheek to Cheek" - Fred Astaire
Father-Daughter Dance: "As Time Goes By" - Rosemary Clooney

They also dedicated the song "Our Love Is Here to Stay" to Christine's parents who were celebrating their 40th Wedding Anniversary.

Keeping with the theme, they arrived in a 1927 Stutz. What a cool car! I want one!

Big Brothers, Big Sisters

2010-10-10T08:22:00.000-07:00

I have been blessed with an awesome business, wonderful family and friends, and a beautiful wife (imported from Spain!) To show my appreciation, I love to give back to the community, that is, to do something for someone else, without expecting anything in return. I was thrilled when Big Brothers, Big Sisters called me, looking for a DJ to donate their services for their fundraiser. I played a variety of music from the 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's, as well as current hits from the radio, as the guests ate tasty food, sampled wine, and participated in the silent auction to raise money. It was a wonderful night and I am grateful that I could help out. My wife (my angel), Silvi, wanted to help too, so she volunteered to be my assistant! How sweet! I just need to kiss her now!

I STILL Gotta Feeling

2010-09-09T10:37:00.000-07:00

It's amazing the lasting power of the song "I Gotta Feeling" by the Black Eyed Peas. This song has been so popular over the last year and just doesn't want to die. Here is short video clip of guests dancing to that song at a super-fun wedding I did for Patty and Adam last weekend at the beautiful Hotel Oceano in Half Moon Bay. Mazel tov!

OMG! Wedding Stories

2010-08-08T09:23:00.000-07:00

One of the wild wedding stories that I submitted has been published in the new book "OMG! Wedding Stories: Hilarious, Outrageous, Embarrassing, Shocking, & Bizarre Wedding Stories". Hint: It has something to do with all of the groomsmen jumping in the pool with their tuxedos on before the start of the reception. This book is now available in all major bookstores or on Amazon.com. How cool!

I'm Married!

2010-08-06T09:42:00.000-07:00

I met a Spanish Princess at Starbucks. Next thing you know, we're married! OMG! How did that happen? haha! It was a wonderful wedding day and I look forward to sharing some pictures soon. Here is a fun picture of me sticking my tongue out at my beautiful bride Silvi. I did it just as the reverend said it was important to have humor in a relationship. Our incredible photographers, Lucie XYZ, had impeccable timing to capture that since I did it so quickly. I love it!!

A Persian Wedding

2010-08-03T13:28:00.000-07:00

Persians love to dance (Of course, I already knew that since I am Persian!) Here is a short clip of the action at Sheeva and Mark's Wedding. at The Opera House in Los Gatos.

Engagement Rings only $19.99 at Target!

2010-06-01T21:24:00.000-07:00

I took this photo with my left arm stretched out in front of us just 5 minutes before I proposed to Silvi. As for the proposal, everything did not go according to plan (but we wouldn't want to change a thing!)

My plan was simple: get the ring, spend a romantic weekend by the ocean, and pop the question. The day before Silvi and I were leaving for our romantic getaway in San Simeon, I found out “the real” engagement ring would be not be delivered on time. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to propose another weekend or get a “stand-in” ring until the real one arrived. I decided to look for another ring the day we were leaving. I told her that I wanted to stop by a friendly, neighborhood Target store to get some of those jalapeño-flavored pretzels that I love. The first Target had only size 7 and 8 rings but her finger is a cute little size 4.5! After the second Target store, I found out they didn’t carry any smaller sizes so I decided to buy her a size 7 ring with a fake 2-carat diamond. I felt like a high-roller walking out of the store with that ring.

I removed all of the songs from my Ipod and then added only one song: “Eres Para Mi” (You are for Me) by Julieta Venegas. This was the first song I bought for her when we first started seeing each other almost 2 years ago. On a bench by the ocean, I told her to listen to my ipod. As she was enjoying the song and singing out loud, I stopped a couple from Holland who were walking by and asked if they could snap some pictures because I was getting ready to propose to my girlfriend. They were so excited to be a part of it and said yes. The man took a practice picture of me hugging her and the camera died instantly! He said, “Don’t worry, I have the exact same camera as you and I always carry an extra battery”. He reached into his shirt pocket, pulled out a freshly charged battery, and stuck it in our camera. Amazing! What are the chances that a guy from the other side of the world would have an extra battery that fit our camera? He ended up taking about 20 photos.

Silvi loved my proposal and we had a very romantic weekend. She also loved that I got down on one knee too. She has her real ring now but will keep "the cheapy" forever because it will always be a part of our history (and she thought what I did was funny). I am so glad she has a sense of humor! Here is a picture of us with the couple from Holland. They were so sweet.

Disco anyone?

2010-05-27T10:25:00.000-07:00

Lucy and Steve requested a variety of fun music for dancing at their wedding reception at the beautiful Los Altos Hills Golf & Country Club. Their guests were having a wonderful time when I decided to switch it up and throw on some disco. To everyone's surprise, Lucy's Dad, Toby, headed to the dance floor to show us his moves. He was, without a doubt, the hit of the party! Here he is dancing to "Stayin' Alive by the Bee Gees. Photos by Teresa Halton Photography Steve and Lucy wanted a classy and fun reception and that's what they got. It was so much fun to watch them dance too. Instead of a traditional wedding cake, they had cupcakes. Yummy!

Special Requests:

First Dance: "Unforgettable" - Natalie and Nat King Cole
Father-Daughter Dance: "Wind Beneath My Wings" - Bette Midler

Here is a picture of the happy couple dancing their first dance.

Hawaiian and Korean Wedding

2010-05-11T12:40:00.000-07:00

Brianna and Jason got a chance to incorporate a few cool cultural traditions into their wedding day at The Ranch Golf Club in San Jose. The groomsmen had beautiful lei's around their necks and the guests were treated to a special Hula performance after dinner. The Best Man, Dan, did a Korean Toast as part of his Best Man's speech. It was great to see all of the 130 guests join him as they yelled something in Korean several times. What were they yelling? I DON'T KNOW! But there was awesome energy in the room and it was fun to watch! Special Music Requests:

First Dance: "Simple as a Sunrise" by Na Leo
Uncle-Bride Dance: "There You'll Be" by Faith Hill
Farewell Dance: "Making Memories of Us" by Keith Urban

Jason and his Grandmother Betty joined Brianna and her Uncle Randy for the second dance. Halfway through the song, Jason's Mom Robin stepped in to dance with her son. It was a very special moment.

My Favorite Wedding Photos

2010-04-29T11:39:00.000-07:00

This photo of Josh and Julie says so much that I don't have to say anything at all!

My Stanford Class

2010-04-22T10:06:00.000-07:00

It has been suggested to me (more than a few times) that I should write a book about all of the crazy things I've seen at wedding receptions. Not a bad idea. Boy, do I have some stories to tell!

I love writing. It's one of my other passions. It started back in the 80's when I wrote some song lyrics. Being in the radio business, I've also had the opportunity to write hundreds of radio commercials over the last 20 years (I still write a few each week).I recently enrolled in another creative writing class at Stanford (to get my creative juices flowing) and it's been an incredible experience. I have goals of writing a few screenplays and a book. My first screenplay is a romantic comedy and the story is centered around a crazy wedding!

My teacher, Malena Watrous, is amazing and has helped me tremendously. She just published a book of her own that was a New York Times Editor's Choice! Her book is called "If You Follow Me". I bought a copy but haven't read it yet (I am finishing up on a David Sedaris book!)

I Can DJ Blind-folded!

2010-03-17T08:44:00.000-07:00

Sound crazy? Perhaps. But after Tim and Gerri's reception, I would put money on it. Why? Because, for the entire reception, I was stuck behind a big curtain and none of the guests ever saw me. EVER! And I could not see them! Let me explain...

The Bride, Gerri, warned me ahead of time that there was a mural on the back wall of the stage showcasing a barn, some cows, and a pasture. I'm pretty sure I even saw some cow "droppings" on it as well. Of course, they didn't want anyone to see this very "unique" mural so they pinned the curtain closed on the stage and then stuck me behind it. That's right! THE DJ WAS BEHIND THE CURTAIN! It was very odd. I was like the person who makes the announcements at a department store (you always hear their voice but you don't know where they are). Attention shoppers, we have a great deal in our garden department!

Now, I'm not a guy who needs to be in the spotlight. But, in order to read the crowd, it helps to actually see the crowd! Not an easy task when they bury you backstage with the broken chairs and empty kegs! It was a challenge and I had to adapt (and as long as they danced, I didn't really care). But every now and then I would walk downstairs and peek outside to make sure there were people on the dance floor. Yup, still dancing! The funny thing is...they had so much fun that they paid me to stay an extra hour!
Overall, it was a great reception but definitely one of the weirdest experiences of my career. Hey! Next time, I will try DJ'ing with both of my arms tied behind my back and my mouth taped shut. I will be the Harry Houdini of the DJ world.

Hey, that was my water!

2010-02-27T16:29:00.000-08:00

So, there I was, watching everyone dancing on the dance floor at my event, when something odd happened. Actually, it was more funny than odd. A woman came off of the dance floor, walked over to my side table, picked up my glass of water, and started drinking it. She finished what I had in the glass and then walked away!

My first thought was, Man, she certainly was thirsty. My second thought was, Hey, that was my water! I looked around to see if maybe there was another glass of water or another drink close by (maybe she was just confused and grabbed the wrong one). Nope. No other drinks in the area! I guess she was so thirsty that she was on a mission to find the closest glass of something, anything, to quench her thirst. Yes, I was the victim of water theft. I called security and had her removed from the facility. (Okay, I made the last part up)

2010 Bride's Choice Winner!

2010-02-03T13:30:00.001-08:00

What a great day! I was just notified by Wedding Wire that I won the Bride's Choice Award for 2010! The Bride's Choice Awards recognizes and celebrates excellence in quality and service within the wedding industry, as determined by over 500,000 newlyweds. Hey Mr. DJ is among the top 5 percent of all wedding professionals in the country. Thank you so much! Check out my reviews at WeddingWire.com.

Who was that man?

2010-01-25T12:31:00.000-08:00

Was he a wedding crasher? Maybe a kid trapped in a man's body? I may never find out...

Everyone was in the mood to dance. But there was one particular man who stood out more than any other person. It was not because he wore a bright-red Hawaiian shirt. It was not because he actually danced with a chair at one point. (no joke) He stood out because he yelled "WOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOO!" while he danced...ALL NIGHT. I'm surprised he didn't lose his voice! This guy must have danced with every single person at the reception. You know that saying "there's one in every crowd"? Well, he was that "one". Here's a classic shot of him defying gravity with another man. (photo by Kristin Jacobson ) As you can see by this picture, the guests loved him. Of course, the guests were in party-mode so they loved everything. The reception for Jennifer and John was held at Ralston Hall in Belmont. 120 Guests were in attendance for this lively reception. What a fun night! No bouquet. No garter. Just lots of dancing.

First Dance: "At Last" - Etta James
Father-Daughter: "What A Wonderful World" - Louis Armstrong
Farewell Dance: "Your Everything" - Keith Urban
Odd request of the night: "Fat Bottomed Girls" - Queen (requested by the bride!)

Wedding Ceremony with Personality

2009-12-11T09:29:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-17T08:36:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-08T17:31:00.000-08:00

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!

2009-11-04T09:41:00.000-08:00

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

2009-10-30T07:48:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-28T07:31:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-10-27T08:45:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-10-26T09:43:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-23T10:20:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-21T09:08:00.001-07:00

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!

2009-10-19T10:07:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-15T17:42:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-14T09:46:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-13T20:37:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-12T09:51:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-09T10:57:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-05T16:10:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-10-02T08:07:00.001-07:00

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

2009-10-01T20:10:00.000-07:00

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

2009-09-30T10:02:00.000-07:00

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?

2009-09-29T10:39:00.000-07:00

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

2009-09-28T07:53:00.000-07:00

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?

2009-09-27T12:37:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-09-24T11:12:00.000-07:00

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?

2009-09-22T09:08:00.000-07:00

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)

2009-09-18T13:44:00.000-07:00

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

2009-09-16T20:03:00.000-07:00

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

The Amazing Oak

2009-09-16T08:32:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-09-09T10:45:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-09-07T19:31:00.000-07:00

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

2009-09-04T08:42:00.000-07:00

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

2009-09-01T08:59:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-31T14:13:00.000-07:00

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. Luong Erin 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

2009-08-28T09:22:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-19T08:50:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-16T12:24:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-12T10:00:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-04T11:18:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-28T20:43:00.001-07:00

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

2009-07-26T10:57:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-19T11:49:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-12T13:19:00.000-07:00

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!

A Spanish Wedding

2009-07-10T14:06:00.000-07:00

I just returned from 18 days in Spain and had the pleasure of attending the wedding of my girlfriend's Brother, Óscar and his fiancée Marta. It was a beautiful (and hot) day in L' Scala ( a cool little pueblo 90 minutes north of Barcelona). We all thought about jumping in the Mediterranean Sea many times since the wedding was at a resort right on the water, but we knew that soggy suits and weddings wouldn't mix. Here is a photo of us in the hotel room before the wedding. Silvi bought me a cool tie for my birthday that matched her dress. She is so sweet!
We had such a great time and I was very surprised at how much music in English is played on the radio stations over there. (And at Weddings too!) It was also interesting to see the differences between weddings over there and those here in the Bay Area. One big difference is that the officiant and the witness sign the marriage license right in the middle of the actual ceremony. I have never seen that before here. They also like to throw rice and rose petals directly after the rings as shown below.Man, those Spanish people love to eat! There were over 15 different appetizers that lasted over 90 minutes and we stuffed our faces. The food was incredible. I thought maybe it was just an appetizer-only reception until they informed us that we needed to head to the dining room because the main meal was ready to be served. We wobbled inside to find our reserved seats.

The one odd thing that I noticed is that the DJ did not say one single word during the entire reception or interact with the guests. Nothing! That was a little odd to me since the Master of Ceremonies role is so important here. I requested some of Silvi's favorite songs and she was a happy-camper as we danced to "Mambo #5" and "Suavemente".

What a great night. But it did not end there! 7 hours after the ceremony, it was announced that we would all be going to another location to start the second celebration organized by some of their friends. What?!? Another party? Wow! I was also told not to worry because there would be plenty of food available. Unbelievable. What a wonderful wedding and vacation. I can't wait to go back again. (Although next time I will eat less)

New York, New York.

2009-06-07T08:24:00.000-07:00

Alex and Jason live in New York but came back to the Bay Area this week to get married. (I typically have 7 or 8 clients every year who plan their weddings from out of state.) I had a feeling this was going to be a wild party when I saw the Bride and Groom doing tequila shots on the dance floor with about 10 people long before the dancing even started! I was right...it was wild and crazy! They arrived in style in this very beautiful and unique 1939 Chevrolet Master Deluxe. Very cool.About 120 guests celebrated with Alex and Jason last night and they came from all over the United States to attend. It was a super-fun evening and I even got to play some Latin music! Here are some of their special requests:

First Dance: "To Know Her is To Love Her" by The Beatles
Bride-Brother Dance: "What a Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong
Groom-Mother Dance: "Have I Told You Lately" by Rod Stewart
Farewell Dance: "New York, New York" by Frank SinatraAlex had a huge smile on her face for the entire evening which doesn't surprise me because she was always so happy and positive during the planning process. (And of course, she is in love!) It was such a treat for me to be their DJ. And now they are married and off to Fiji! Have fun!

Let's Do It Again.

2009-06-06T09:42:00.000-07:00

13 years ago, Kristen and Tony got married. But they decided to skip the big wedding and use the money to buy a house instead. They had an intimate little gathering for about 20 people in their backyard with simple sandwich trays and some beer. They didn't even do a First Dance!

Fast forward 13 years later (and 3 daughter's). Kristen and Tony decided to re-new their vows and have a real celebration with their friends and family this time. Around 80 guests celebrated with them last night. The funny thing is, around 25-30 of those 80 guests were children. That's a lot of kids! I did an event several years ago with that many kids and it made me want to invest in a tranquilizer gun. lol. But these kids were awesome and behaved so well and I really enjoyed playing their requests. (and boy did they request a lot!)
Tony and Kristen planned a very simple, fun, and informal reception which I loved. They skipped the formal introductions and bouquet and garter as well. Everyone knew this night was going be different when they arrived and found lollipops on all of the tables. It was very cute. And of course the kids (and some of the adults) loved them.
Here it is, finally, their First Dance! ("I Cross My Heart" by George Strait) Better late than never! It was beautiful. Tony's buddy Joe, who works with him as a firefighter in Campbell, performed the very sweet vow-renewal ceremony. What a fun night.

You Make Me Wanna Shout!

2009-06-04T15:43:00.000-07:00

Okay, this is very short video clip from Erin and Stephen's Wedding Reception that I DJ'd a couple of weeks ago. I just love it because practically every single person there was on the dance floor.

An International Affair

2009-06-01T11:19:00.000-07:00

Last night's reception for John and Jane at Silver Creek Valley Country Club was fun and VERY unique. It was the first time I ever DJ'd a Canadian-Vietnamese Wedding. How cool! What else made it so unique? Over 50% of the guests traveled from out of town to be there! Guests came from Canada, Boston, Norway, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Viet Nam, Las Vegas, Seattle, Rhode Island, Michigan, and Virginia. WOW!If you are into sweets, you would have loved John and Jane's reception. They had the traditional wedding cake as well as a candy table AND a chocolate fountain with plenty of goodies to go dipping.

First Dance: "From This Moment" by Shania Twain.
Side Note: Obviously John and Jane appreciate photo and video very much because they had 4 Photographers and 2 Videographers documenting their wedding day.

I Get a Kick Out Of You.

2009-05-31T14:12:00.000-07:00

I was excited to find out that my clients Mark and Mimi were both into soccer. (I played for 25 years) Mimi played for the women's team at Stanford. Mark played for the Men's team. They met, played soccer, fell in love, played soccer, got married, and will be moving to New Zealand very soon. ( Where I am sure they will be playing soccer as well)Mark and Mimi are so sweet. One of the Maid's of Honor (Jennie) said during her toast that they are the perfect Hallmark Card. I agree. 150 guests celebrated with them at the Corinthian Event Center in downtown San Jose. The guests were not shy and requested a lot of songs which I was happy to play. Since they were a younger crowd, they preferred more current music for dancing. Photos by Brett Szemple.

Here are some of their special song requests:

Bridal Party Introduction: "Theme from Baywatch"
First Dance: "This Kind of Love" by Sister Hazel
Father-Daughter Dance: "Heavenly Day" by Patty Griffin
Groom-Mother Dance: "I'll Stand By You" by Jennifer Austin
Farewell Dance" "Magic" by Colbie Caillat

Side Note: Mark had a broken toe on his wedding day! (He broke it playing soccer, of course!) But you would have never known by how much he danced! He was a dancing machine!

The Floor Plan

2009-05-26T08:50:00.004-07:00

Want more energy and fun at your reception? Put the DJ directly in front of the dance floor! It's that simple! I've done some weddings where they have put tables directly in front of me and my speakers, stuck me all the way in the corner, or even worse, behind a curtain! (see posting: I Can DJ Blind-folded) As a Master of Ceremonies, it is very important that I can see the majority of the people in the room to welcome them, gain their trust, and to engage them. That's part of the process of creating and building energy. (difficult to do if they can't even see me!)

I realize in some cases, it's just not possible to have the DJ in front of the dance floor due to the shape of the room or the number of tables. If you have to put tables in front of the DJ or his speakers, make sure the guests at those tables are younger. The last thing we all want is for grandpa's earpiece to explode. Have fun!

Erin and Stephen

2009-05-24T12:45:00.000-07:00

What a great wedding reception for Erin and Stephen and 140 of their closest friends and family at the Palo Alto Hills Country Club. Erin was ready to dance and party since she just graduated from Stanford. It was so cool introducing them as Mr. Stephen and Doctor Erin Cook. There were many fun guests from Stanford University and UC Santa Barbara who were ready to party too. And they did!Erin and Stephen did a fake first dance with "Truly, Madly, Deeply" from Savage Garden. We had it planned out perfectly. After about a minute of the song, Stephen looked over to me and gave me the "thumbs down" sign so I cut-off the song. Then, I used my tremendous acting skills (lol) and went to the dance floor to ask him what the problem was. He said "This is what I get for letting Erin pick out the music". Everyone was laughing. I asked him if I should play something else. He said "PLEASE!". So, I went back and played the real first dance that they chose: "What I like About You" by The Romantics. It was upbeat and fun and the guests absolutely loved it!
What a fun night. Erin's Dad Rhett and Stephen's Brother Cameron made a couple of very entertaining toasts that had everyone smiling and laughing. And as you can see by the pictures, they had a great time dancing too. Here are some other special songs they chose:
Bridal Party Introductions: "Beautiful Day" by U2
Father-Daughter Dance: "You Had Me From Hello" by Kenny Chesney
Farewell Dance: "I've Had The Time of My Life" (From Dirty Dancing)

NO WAY!

2009-05-21T16:32:00.000-07:00

This was someone's wedding cake. I AM SERIOUS! They said that it was a Texas-Family tradition (for their family) to have an Armadillo Cake like this in addition to the main cake. When I saw that cake, I stared at it for what must have been 20 minutes...in total dis-belief. I seriously thought that I was dreaming. In fact, I still don't believe it!
When they started cutting slices for the guests, the raspberry filling oozed out like blood so the cake actually looked more like road-kill. You should thank me for not posting a picture of that! What do you think? Would you have this cake at YOUR reception?

A Rock & Roll Wedding

2009-05-19T09:30:00.000-07:00

When I arrived at Eric and Cindy's wedding reception to set-up, I noticed there was no guest book for people to sign on the table near the entrance. OH NO!! What happened? Did someone steal it? Were they just trying to conserve paper? Maybe someone forgot to bring it! Not quite! Eric and Cindy had the guests sign their electric guitar instead! (Eric plays guitar) What an awesome idea! Here is a picture.
Cindy and Eric certainly did many other non-traditional things on their big day which I just loved! Got a sweet tooth? Well, just step right up to their huge candy table and enjoy some M&M's, Snickers, Red Vine's, Skittles, Mike & Ike's, Tootsie Rolls, and a ton of other candy. YUMMY!
In front of each place setting on the dinner tables, there was a guitar pick attached to a card that read: "In Lieu of traditional favors, a donation has been made to "Rock For Kids" in your honor." What an awesome idea because most people don't know what to do with those favors anyway. (unless you can eat them) Rock for Kids is a non-profit organization that provides support, hope, and inspiration to under-served children and teens. Here is their website.
To continue with the rock theme, they asked me play " Welcome to The Jungle" by Guns and Roses during their introduction which I happily did. Here are their other special songs:

First Dance: "That's How Strong My Love Is" - Otis Redding
Groom-Mother Dance: "Unforgettable" - Nat King Cole

What a fun night. What a unique night. What a sweet night for a super-sweet couple! (pun intended)

Second Harvest Food Bank

2009-05-12T09:51:00.000-07:00

It is always a great feeling to give back to the community. I am a Volunteer Team Leader at the Second Harvest Food Bank in San Jose and I volunteer there 2 to 3 times a month. I recently organized a volunteer session with some employees from radio station 94.5 KBAY. Here is a photo of us after we finished stuffing Bell Peppers into 800 Bags. It was a lot of fun and, of course, very rewarding.With the current economy, the Food Bank is suffering which is sad because the need now is greater than ever. If you can help financially, or by volunteering, please visit their website HERE for more information. They are an awesome organization almost completely run by volunteers. Thanks for your support!

Party Time!

2009-04-27T09:19:00.000-07:00

It was very clear from the beginning that this group of fun people came to party! That's what I like to see! Good friends Daunielle, Simone, Leti, and Rick decided to combine their four Birthday celebrations into one and throw a very-cool party at The Hotel De Anza in downtown San Jose. 120 of their closest friends showed up on Saturday night for a raging party. This is the "before" photo of the guests of honor. It didn't take too long before people were getting crazy on the dance floor. They requested some classic party songs like "Livin' on a Prayer" by Bon Jovi, "Baby Got Back" by Sir Mixalot, and "You Shook Me All Night Long" by AC/DC. They had a great time. How did they end the evening? I'll give you a hint...Tequila was involved. lol. That was fun! I think more people should combine their birthday parties. What a great idea!

Fun! Fun! Fun!

2009-04-23T10:12:00.001-07:00

I was browsing through my photo albums this morning and enjoying all of the fun photos from my client's weddings when I stumbled upon this gem. This one is one of my favorite photos from a wedding I did at the Kohl Mansion in Burlingame. (Julie and Josh were the Bride and Groom)I just love the energy, the excitement, and especially the reaction of the Bride and Groom as the guests lifted their chairs in the air. That was such a super-fun reception.

¡Hola!

2009-03-04T15:09:00.000-08:00

I started studying the Spanish Language about five years ago because I thought it would be cool to speak another language. I also felt some sort of a connection to the Latin Culture (the music, the food, the people). Well, 5 years later, here I am...fluent in Spanish. I can't believe it. (And neither can my family and friends) I so enjoy speaking Spanish.
But the coolest part of being bilingual is that I can use it for my business as well. In fact, I already have! I did 3 Weddings in 2008 where I made all of the announcements in Spanish AND English. (And without an accent!) How cool is that? I also have a great appreciation for Latin Music and that part of my library has exploded in size! I have now been to Mexico (4 times), Costa Rica, Colombia, and have a trip planned to Spain for this summer. Hmm? What language should I learn next?

I'm a Flirty DJ!

2009-02-24T11:37:00.000-08:00

I was so honored and excited when I was invited to be a member of The Flirty Guide. This is a very exclusive website with some of the best Wedding Vendors in the Bay Area as members. It also happens to be one of the coolest websites for Brides to get very unique and fun ideas for their wedding day. Are you flirty? Check out the website by clicking on the banner below and find out for yourself. Have fun!

Daddy's Little Girl.

2009-02-15T07:05:00.000-08:00

Valentine's Day...what a great day to get married! For Lisa and John, it was over a year and a half of meticulous planning before the day finally arrived. What a great success it was. I really enjoyed getting to know them. And I really got a kick out of Lisa's Dad Steve. He invited me to his home for wine and cheese last year during the planning process. He even invited me to join him for breakfast on another day. What a cool guy. So cool, that he surprised his daughter by arranging for singers from Opera San Jose to sing a few songs during the dinner. It was so beautiful and so romantic. The 150 guests who came to the Sainte Claire Hotel in downtown San Jose to celebrate with Lisa and John had a great time.It was a fun, lively crowd that danced to a great variety of music. Here are some special songs that Lisa and John picked:

First Dance: "Sway" - Michael Bublé
Father-Daughter Dance: "Daddy's Little Girl" - Al Martino
Groom-Mother Dance: "Into The Mystic" - Van Morrison
Cake-Cutting Song: "Sugar-Sugar" - The Archies
Farewell Dance: "The Way You Look Tonight" - Michael Bublé
What a night. From Steve's heart-felt welcome speech and the perfectly-choreographed First Dance to the fun bubble-blowing finale, it was a night to remember for all...especially for the Father of the Bride.

Happy New Year!

2009-01-01T10:41:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to take a moment to wish everyone an absolutely wonderful and fruitful New Year filled with love, passion, success, hugs, kisses, and whatever else your heart may desire.

Fun at The Opera House!

2008-12-02T07:23:00.000-08:00

I've had some incredible wedding receptions at the Opera House in Los Gatos. Chris and Mary's celebration was no exception. Listen to the reaction of the guests after I told them the party was almost over. They were not ready to go! The highlight was definitely when the guys lifted the Groom in the air on the dance floor. Enjoy!

Rain, Rain, Go Away!

2008-11-17T14:05:00.000-08:00

The clouds were very dark in the sky. Everyone was certain it was going to rain. And just 10 minutes before Debbie and Troy's Wedding Ceremony on the lawn outside in front of the beautiful Hayes Mansion in South San Jose...it started drizzling. OH NO! The 200 guests were arriving and taking their seats and everyone was wondering what was going to happen. Were we going to have to quickly move the ceremony inside? (That was Plan B) It's always good to have a Plan B. The Bride Debbie decided to go for it and hope for the best. As she walked down the aisle to "Come Away With Me" by Norah Jones, the rain sprinkled on her and the guests. As Pastor Malcom MacPhail welcomed everyone and read a few passages...the sprinkles continued. But just as Debbie and Troy started to exchange their vows, something magical happened. The sky cleared and the sun shined through! It was the most beautiful blue ever! It felt like something out of a movie. (I'm pretty sure I was not the only one who got goosebumps when it happened) The ceremony was beautiful and it ended with "It's a Beautiful Day" by U2. Then, it was time to party!It was a super-fun night for my clients. Smiles were everywhere and the dancing was lively and fun. They danced to just about everything including Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Justin Timberlake, Usher, Rihanna, Journey, Bon Jovi, and everything in between. I took lots of requests as well which is always a lot of fun for me. What a night!

First Dance: "Bless the Broken Road" by Rascal Flatts

Father-Daughter Dance: "Cinderella" by Steven Curtis Chapman

Grease is the Word.

2008-09-01T17:59:00.000-07:00

Something very funny happens when I play a song from the Grease Soundtrack at a Wedding Reception. People come alive! It's as if they were all closet-actors just waiting for the right moment to showcase their acting and singing abilities. I never get tired of watching the transformation and the craziness. Of course, it happened again Sunday evening at Scott and Jillian's Reception. Here is a great picture of the Bride having fun with a few of the guests during the song "Summer Lovin". Photo from Genesis Photography.

Need a Lift?

2008-08-25T08:07:00.000-07:00

Russell and Shannon had their car towed to their wedding reception. But wait! The Bride and Groom were in the car! lol. That was so funny. You should have seen all of the heads turning on the streets of downtown Campbell Saturday night as they rode by on the back of the tow truck. Russell's Family owns Alongi Brother's Towing so now you know the connection. That was classic. My clients are the best!

Can you get me a drink?

2008-07-08T09:58:00.000-07:00

Most employees at wedding facilities and catering companies wear tuxedos when they work. For that reason, I am sometimes mistaken for a waiter since I wear the same thing. It's pretty funny. It's not uncommon for me to hear things like "Where's the bathroom?" or "Can I have another glass of Merlot?". The funny thing is that I never tell them that I am the DJ. I just answer their question or get them what they need and then move along. Here is a great letter that I received from a client.

Dear Rich,

Wow! You are amazing! Our wedding day would not have been the same without you! The music selections you made were perfect and you really did a great job of catering to all of our guests' eclectic tastes. Thank you for handling our special requests as well! And you definitely get the gold star for the wedding vendor who went above and beyond the call of duty...not only did you make the necessary last minute adjustments due to uncooperative Mother Nature, but when Mac and I saw you going to find more water for table #1 we almost fell over...haha...that was brilliant (sorry about that!)

So in a nut shell...THANK YOU VERY MUCH! We couldn't have asked for a better DJ!

Sincerely,
Amy & Mac Brandt

Happy Anniversary!

2008-06-15T09:11:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to send out a big "Happy Anniversary" to my brother David and his wife Melissa. Here is a great pic of their First Dance at Pebble Beach. Their song was "Let's Stay Together" by Al Green. It was a very fun and memorable night. Photo by George Delgado.

Oh What A Night!

2008-06-05T08:55:00.000-07:00

This was another one of those magical nights.They were ready to party! Adriana and Mike had an awesome reception for 250 people at a new facility in Pleasanton called Casa Real. That was fun! First Dance: "There's Nothing Like You and I" - The Perishers

Father-Daughter Dance: "My Girl" - The Temptations

Groom-Mother Dance: "Funny Face" - Donna Fargo

Oh What a Day!

2008-05-29T07:59:00.000-07:00

I just found out that I was voted Best DJ in Silicon Valley for the second year in a row by readers of the San Jose Mercury News. The results are in today's newspaper. I want to thank everyone for taking the time to vote for me. I'm speechless.