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.