Gotta love the off-season.  We only had two weddings the weekend of the 23rd and Evan did them both – enjoy!

Judy and Jacob, 1/23/2010, China Garden Restaurant, Arlington, VA

DJ:  Evan Reitmeyer

The setting:  A grand chinese restaurant with 120 of their closest friends!

The first dance:  “Lucky” by Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat

A fun surprise:  The bride’s brother-in-law produced a great video slideshow along with video from Judy and Jacob’s ceremony (they were married in Costa Rica in December). 

Something unusual:  The cake!  The happy couple bought a sheet cake with a picture of the two of them cutting their other wedding cake in Costa Rica – funny!!

Thoa and Horacio, 1/24/2010, The State Theatre, Falls Church, VA

DJ:  Evan Reitmeyer

The setting:  The very historic and retro State Theatre provided the perfect setting for this movie-themed wedding!

The first dance:  “No One” by Alicia Keys

A unique touch:  Basically everything having to do with the decor – it’s was awesome!  Red carpet in the lobby for guest arrival and papparrazi pictures, a popcorn vendor cart, custom romantic movie montage before the ceremony, a custom backdrop on stage to make it look like an outdoor garden, and then a full-room transformation for the reception including the staff at the State Theatre hanging dozens of chinese lanterns suspended above the crowd!  Holy smokes!

The playlist:  The couple had very eclectic tastes, and the music ranged from latin music to current pop to ballroom.  It was a lot of fun!

Here are some bad pictures I took with my camera phone:

Their custom movie poster! (last names removed by me)

The view from where I was on stage with the chinese lanterns. Sorry for the awful quality picture!

Here's a terrible picture of me set up on stage beneath their ceremony arch. Definitely the most elaborate stage I've been on in a while!

First person to comment on this post wins two tickets to the Washington DC Couture Wedding Consortium bridal show on Saturday (yes, this Saturday) at the Decatur House in DC!

Even if you don’t win, you should still go – it will be a really cool, intimate bridal show.  Plus, you can meet some awesome bloggers and enter to win a $2500 eco-couture gown from Cotton Bride! 

Click here to register online, and save 25% if you use the code DCCWC25!

Hurry up!

Today we have fabulous news!  We’ve been accepted as members of Style Me Pretty’s Little Black Book, an amazing international directory of the wedding industry’s elite vendors.  Making the list is no joke – Abby Larson and the lovely staff at Style Me Pretty throroughly research each vendor who applies to ensure that they’re the best of the best.  They grilled us for almost an hour and checked our reviews and references, it was quite a process!  Of course, we’re so excited to have been accepted – the Little Black Book is one of the most visible advertising spaces available anywhere in the industry. 

We couldn’t be happier about joining such an exclusive community of top-quality vendors, Style Me Pretty is an incredible resource for brides and we’re really looking forward to being a part of it!  Check it out!

Aaaah, January.  This has actually been a busy January for us, but on the weekend of the 16th we had one couple who got all of our undivided attention.  Here they are!

Lisa and Sean, 1/16/2010 – Overhills Mansion, Catonsville, MD

DJ:  David Johnson

The setting:  The classic, historic Overhills Mansion was a hospitable backdrop for a winter wedding celebration.

The first dance:  ”For Once in My Life” by Harry Connick, Jr.

The music:  A fun, upbeat mix of 50s rock, Motown and lots of hits from the 70s!

A unique touch:  The bride and groom wanted a very low key, welcoming event that would focus on the enjoyment of their guests — they kept the formalities to a minimum and really emphasized the food, music and dancing!

A fun moment:  A group of younger guests kept very busy on the dance floor right to the end of the night!

Behold, the weddings we did the weekend of January 9th and 10th, 2010.  Enjoy!

Alyson and James, 1/9/2010 – Belle Haven Country Club, Alexandria, VA

DJ:  David Johnson

The setting:  The beautiful Belle Haven Country Club was bedecked in a winter theme, complete with stunning white branches with red birds as accents.

The first dance:  “The Lovers’ Waltz” by Jay Unger and Molly Mason

The music:  The couple had many swing music fans as guests, who enjoyed everything from waltzes to salsa!

A touching moment:  During the groom’s dance with his mother, the bride had her grandfather join her on the dance floor as well.

Outstanding vendors:  Nicole Duncan and the staff at Belle Haven were great, as was photographer Tara Harman, who gave us pictures!

Alison and Rob, 1/9/2010 – Carnegie Institution, Washington, DC

DJ:  Evan Reitmeyer

The first dance:  “Beyond the Sea” by Bobby Darin

The music:  The bride and groom gave me a great list to start with, and a lot of latitude to make it all work.  Guests enjoyed everything from downtempo electronica to indie rock to international music and current dance hits.  It was great!

A touching moment:  All of the toasts were amazing, it was clear that there was a lot of love in the room.  I almost got choked up!

Outstanding vendors:  All I can say is, WOW.  This was a “green” wedding (love it!) and the vendor team was AMAZING.  Catering by Michelle Fishman and Main Event Caterers, flowers and decor by Katie Martin at Elegance and Simplicity, not to mention one of our faves, Cherry Blossim String Quartet who played the ceremony and cocktail hour.  Darla Keefer at the Carnegie Institution was great to work with beforehand, and photographer Greg Gibson was outstanding as well! 

Cassie and Mark, 1/9/2010 – Engineer’s Club, Baltimore, MD

DJ:  Michael Bell

The setting:  The historic and classically appointed Engineers Club in the Mount Vernon neighborhood of Baltimore — one of our favorite places to play!

The first dance:  ”I Could Not Ask for More” by Edwin McCain

The music:  Lots of current pop hits as well as 80s throwbacks kept the dance floor full.

A unexpected surprise:  The groom’s best men had set up a secret, surprise slideshow, complete with music, that was projected onto the entire back wall of the atrium right after the first dance.  It was funny and cute!

Naomi and Omri, 1/10/2010 – Sixth and I Synagogue, Washington, DC

DJ:  Michael Bell

The setting:  With elegant stained glass windows and soaring, vaulted ceilings, the Sixth and I Synagogue was a breathtaking venue for a special celebration.

The first dance:  ”Hatinasi Li” by Regev Hod

The music:  Lots of Israeli tunes mixes with current hits and oldies.

A funny moment:  The bride looked very nervous during the hora!  Thankfully, no one was hurt and it was a lot of fun to watch!

A touching moment:  The bride’s grandfather gave a special blessing.

Outstanding vendors:  Matt Goldenberg of Sixth and I, Tracey Brown of Paper Camera Photography, and Elaine Liss of Cuisine Catering were all amazing!  Tracey even gave us pictures!

Columbia, MD – January 19, 2010 - WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, just announced MyDeejay has been selected to receive the 2010 Bride’s Choice Awards™ for Disc Jockeys!

The annual Bride’s Choice Awards™ recognizes and celebrates excellence in quality and service within the wedding industry, as determined by recent reviews and extensive surveys from over 500,000 newlyweds.

MyDeejay is among the top five percent of all vendors in the WeddingWire community, which includes over 100,000 wedding professionals across the US and Canada. Awards were given to winners across 19 different service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers.

“We are excited to recognize and honor the success of the top wedding professionals within the WeddingWire Community” said Timothy Chi, WeddingWire’s Chief Executive Officer. “The annual Bride’s Choice Awards™ program has given us the unique opportunity to highlight the best wedding professionals in each region as reviewed by brides and grooms who have utilized their services in the past year.”

We are happy to announce that MyDeejay is among the very best wedding DJs within the WeddingWire Network, which includes WeddingWire and Martha Stewart Weddings. We would like to thank our past newlyweds for nominating us for the 2010 Bride’s Choice Awards™.

For more information, please visit our WeddingWire Storefront today at http://www.weddingwire.com/biz/mydeejay/bdf24b61eddc9c15.html.

About WeddingWire, Inc.
WeddingWire is the only online wedding planning resource designed to empower both engaged couples and wedding vendors. WeddingWire enables engaged couples to search, compare and book over 100,000 reviewed wedding vendors nationwide, from wedding photographers to wedding cakes. WeddingWire also offers an online community and a suite of cutting-edge planning tools, including wedding websites and wedding checklists, all at no charge. For wedding vendors, WeddingWire provides free online management tools creating the only market opportunity that gives businesses control over their clients, reviews, leads and performance. In addition, WeddingWire has partnered with Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. (NYSE: MSO) to provide its network of local vendors and online wedding-planning tools in the Weddings section of www.MarthaStewartWeddings.com. For additional information, please visit www.WeddingWire.com.

Jennifer and Michael, 12/27/2009 – Sheraton National, Arlington, VA

DJ:  Anthony Simpson

The setting:  The classic and dramatic ballroom of the Sheraton, with its elegant holiday decor, made the wedding very festive for the season.

The first dance:  “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis Presley

The music:  The couple’s very close-knit group of friends and family enjoyed Motown and 80s music, but the most popular songs were singalong-style party favorites like “Sweet Caroline” and “Shout.”

A funny moment:  The biggest hit of the night, without a doubt, was Billy Joel’s “Piano Man,” during which the groom crowd surfed atop a group of his friends!

An interesting fact:  This couple met at one of the weddings I previously deejayed, and both the bride and the groom from that wedding were in the bridal party at this one!

Leslie and Ryan, 12/31/2009 – The Belvedere, Baltimore, MD

DJ:  Anthony Simpson

The setting:  The classic styling of the Belvedere lent itself well to an elegant winter wedding celebration.

The first dance:  ”You Are” by Lionel Richie

The music:  A wide variety of hits kept the dance floor packed, with everything from classic Motown to vintage and current pop and hip hop.

A fun moment:  Champagne was served to accompany the countdown to midnight, after which the guests really celebrated to House of Pain’s “Jump Around!”

Julia and Zan, 1/2/2010 – Overhill’s Mansion, Catonsville, MD

DJ:  Evan Reitmeyer

The setting:  A historic mansion just outside Baltimore.

The first dance:  The bride and groom shared a beautiful waltz to “Edelweiss” from The Sound of Music.

The playlist:  A mix of everything from classic oldies to country to rock and current pop.

A funny moment:  The couple played the University of Michigan fight song for their cake cutting, and the crowd got really into it – there must have been a lot of alums there!

Outstanding Vendors:  The staff at Overhills was great, and it was nice to catch up with photographer pal Brian Slanger again.  He gave us pictures!

Lauren and James, 1/2/2010 – Fort Belvoir Officers Club, Fort Belvoir, VA

DJ:  Michael Bell

The setting:  The classic Fort Belvoir Officers Club, with its gorgeous wintry views, was adorned with the couple’s colors of deep pink and white.

The first dance:  “You’re the One That I Want” from the movie Grease — it was a choreographed routine and lots of fun!

A sentimental moment:  The bride’s father danced with his daughter to Heartland’s “I Loved Her First,” and at the end of the dance he invited the groom to dance with his new bride along with a handshake and hug.  Everyone clapped, and it was very touching to watch.

Outstanding vendors:  Amanda Gilley from AKG photography was great, and gave us pictures!

Angela and Mike, 1/2/10 – Harbor Court, Baltimore, MD

DJ:  Anthony Simpson

The setting:  One of Baltimore’s most elegantly appointed luxury hotels, the Harbor Court Intercontinental.

The first dance:  ”Thank You” by Led Zeppelin

A unique touch:  The couple’s first dance was actually performed live by friends on guitar and vocals — it was a beautiful and special way of honoring the wedding.

A funny moment:  The groom’s grandparents, who have been married over 60 years, shared a special dance to Nat King Cole’s “Unforgettable” — a guest came over at one point and moved the gentleman’s hand higher up on his wife’s back.  It made a sentimental moment funny as well!

Outstanding vendors:  Melanie and the staff at the Harbor Court were wonderful, as was photographer friend Jen Lowe.  Jen gave us pictures!

Out with the old, in with the new!

We’re thrilled to announce the rebranding of MyDeejay.com to simply MyDeejay, Inc.  We’ve changed much more than just the name of our company — we’ve launched a new website design with lots of fresh content, reinvented our marketing and added some new faces to our team.

It’s important to point out that these changes represent so much more than what we call our company and how we present ourselves.  In the seven years that MyDeejay has been in business, we’ve set so many precedents and had such an impact on the DJ industry, and transforming our name and image is just the next step in what has been an incredible journey.  We got all new printed materials as well – 100% recycled, of course!

Our new folders and oversized postcards!

Our new business cards - they're little!

Of course, MyDeejay remains the same company.  Our commitment to providing the best customer service in the industry, and to being the most innovative DJ company in the area, remains as strong as it has been.  In fact, we’re more passionate than ever!

If you haven’t already done so, take a few minutes to browse the rest of our site, and don’t hesitate to let us know what you think!  We look forward to a great New Year and can’t wait to celebrate it with you at your next event!

The weekend before the Christmas holiday, December 18th and 19th, 2009, included several very festive and fun weddings that wwere phenomenal in spite of Mother Nature’s plans!  Read below for more.

Rachel and Stefan, 12/18/2009, Belmont Country Club, Ashburn, VA

DJ: Evan Reitmeyer

The setting: A beautiful and historic golf club set on a championship golf course in Ashburn, VA.

The first dance: “Whatever It Is” by the Zac Brown Band

The music: Everything from big band to Black Eyed Peas – the guests were really grooving on the dance floor!

An unexpected surprise:  That would be the massive blizzard that rolled in while we were at the reception.  I expected more guests to leave early, but a lot of them stayed to tough it out on the dance floor!  The ride home to Columbia took me 2 1/2 hours, but well worth it for a great wedding and a happy couple.

Grace and Garrett, 12/19/09 – Harbor Court Hotel, Baltimore, MD

DJ:  Evan Reitmeyer

The setting: One of Baltimore’s most beautiful and storied hotels, in the middle of the worst blizzard to hit the area in five years.

The first dance: “The Rest of My Life” by Blessid Union of Souls

The music: An eclectic mix of classic party songs, 90’s alternative, and Christmas music.  This was a great crowd and probably would’ve danced to anything I played!

An unexpected surprise: We knew the snow was going to be bad early in the week, but I was really surprised by how many of their guests still came out in the blizzard!  By my count, they had roughly 130 of 160 guests, which was outstanding given the condition of the roads.  This weekend was a great testament to our company’s dedication to our clients – we have no “back out” clause in our contract and our DJs took special measures to ensure the success of every single wedding on our schedule that went forward as planned. 

Outstanding vendors: Everyone involved gets a gold star for dedication on this one, over 15 inches of snow in less than 24 hours and nobody backed out.  Melanie Davis and her entire crew at the Harbor Court were great, and it was such a pleasure to work with photographer Anne Sachs again, who gave us pictures!

Emily and Chris, 12/19/09 – Chesapeake Bay Beach Club, Stevensville, MD

DJ: Jeff Brown

The setting: All of the snow and ice didn’t at all diminish the elegance, warmth and charm of the Chesapeake Bay Beach Club.

The first dance: “Dance All Night” by Ryan Adams

The music: The couple had put a tremendous amount of work into carefully designing their own specific set list, which reflected the mood they wished to set for each part of the evening.

A touching moment: The bride and groom made some special remarks in honor of their grandparents, and played a special song for them to dance to (”Moonlight Serenade” by Glenn Miller)

A fun surprise: The sparkler sendoff the couple had planned still took place, in spite of the weather!

Outstanding vendors: As usual the CBBC staff was on the ball, and did an amazing job given the circumstances.  Photographer pal John Waire was fabulous as well, and even gave us pictures!

Katie and Kaipo, 12/19/09 – Navy Marine Corps Stadium, Annapolis, MD

DJ: David Johnson

The setting: The fourth floor of the stadium offered a beautiful view of the snowstorm outside!

The first dance: “More” by Bobby Darin

A special touch: The groom was a recent graduate of the Naval Academy and had been the quarterback of the academy’s football team.  The bride had his jersey framed and put on display at the wedding, had a helmet set out for guests to sign with their well wishes, and had a personalized groom’s cake made in the shape of a football on the Navy stadium field!

A unique tradition: The groom’s family is Hawaiian, and in honor of his heritage, his mother presented the bride with a lei, and the bride’s mother presented the groom with one as well.

Outstanding vendors:  Obviously the entire team gets kudos for pulling off a great wedding under some pretty tough circumstances!  Wedding planner Raquel Shutt was fabulous, as she always is, and photographer pals Jen Cody and Sam Taylor of egomedia photography were great and gave us pictures!

UPDATE 1/4/2010: It’s official!  We stil have some formatting issues to clean up, but otherwise the site upgrade and new design is up and running.  Enjoy!

UPDATE 1/1/2010: The backend was updated successfully and now we’re working with our web developer on the new design. You’ll probably notice some display issues, hopefully nothing too major. We’re very excited about the changes, let us know if you run into any problems!

We’re in the process of upgrading our content management system and blog backend today, so you may notice some display issues on our website.  Please pardon our dust, we should have all of the kinks worked out by tomorrow morning!

~Evan