Couple:  Beth and Brad

Wedding Date:  May 2, 2010

DJ:  Michael Bell

All of my clients are awesome, but every so often I get to work with a couple that I really share a special connection with.  Beth and Brad were one of these couples.  Beth’s uncle was my favorite teacher in high school, and from there, we all built an amazing rapport that made working their wedding not seem like work at all!

The wedding took place at the very hip Pier 5 Hotel in downtown Baltimore.  After a breathtaking waterside ceremony and an elegant cocktail reception, guests moved into the beautiful and modernly appointed ballroom inside.  Beth looked absolutely stunning, and her many bridesmaids were gorgeous in green dresses.

Beth and Brad shared their first dance as husband and wife to “Maybe I’m Amazed” by Paul McCartney, one of those songs that is unique for a first dance, yet everyone knows and loves it.  Their guests really got into a mix of oldies, hip hop, dance hits and songs from the 80s.

There were lots of special Jewish traditions at this wedding, including the motzi and, of course, a very spirited hora!  Later, Beth and her sorority sisters recreated their pledge dance to “Sandstorm” by Darude, which was a lot of fun!

I was fortunate to work with some amazing vendors on this wedding — Heather Johnson and her team at the Pier 5, photographer Maria Vicencio and her husband Drew Miller (who provided us with these amazing shots!) and Jim Skipper of Black Tie Video.  Can’t wait to work with them all again!  Congratulations, Beth and Brad!

Couple:  Debbie & Mike

Wedding Date:  May 30, 2010

DJ:  Anthony Simpson

This wedding was so special — it was fun, relaxed, and really captured the very essence of family.  Debbie and Mike were a real pleasure to work with, and I enjoyed getting to know them and playing a part in their special day.

Debbie’s and Mike’s guests gathered at the Waterford at Fair Oaks in Fairfax, Virginia, which was decked out with florals from Sylvain’s Florist.  Everyone enjoyed the Waterford’s plentiful catered buffet and a beautiful wedding cake by Victoria’s Cakery, and then it was time to party!

After a sentimental first dance to Tim McGraw & Faith Hill’s “It’s Your Love,” the couple shared one of the most touching and special family dances I’ve ever seen.  First, Debbie danced with her son Justin to Phil Collins’ “You’ll Be in My Heart,” then invited her daughter Taylor and Mike to the dance floor for a short chorus of “We are Family” by Sister Sledge.  Then, Mike and his mom shared the traditional mother/son dance.  Everyone really enjoyed this part of the reception.

At the couple’s request, after an early mix of Motown and 80s rock, I really tailored the playlist to the younger guests in attendance, and created a club-like atmosphere with lots of classic hip hop like Run DMC, Bell Biv DeVoe, and House of Pain.  Everyone also got into some hits circa 2000-2003, and of course I had to include quite a few songs from the couple’s favorite group, OutKast!  It was one of the most fun weddings I’ve deejayed in a long time.

Special thanks to the amazing Elaine Studley and the team at Hay McKenna for the beautiful images, and many congratulations to Debbie, Mike, Justin and Taylor!

Weddings are typically an occasion for both giving and receiving — the happy couple welcomes their guests with elaborate (and expensive) food, drink, music and favors, and in turn are showered with all kinds of gifts and well-wishes.

One trend we’re loving, though, is the effort many couples are now making to mark the significance of their union with an effort to raise awareness and support for charitable causes.

For brides and grooms who have enough chip-and-dip bowls and bath towels, JustGive.org and the I Do Foundation has made it easy to create a registry for charitable donations instead of traditional wedding gifts.  You can also make a charitable donation in lieu of purchasing typical wedding favors, and the organization will, upon request, provide a printable PDF that you can print and frame for your guest tables announcing the gift you’ve made.

An organization called Changing the Present also has a very cool system for charitable wedding favors.  You can pick what you wish to donate — books for children, treats for sanctuary animals, concrete for playgrounds, among many other choices — and design your own custom favor cards.

Brides Against Breast Cancer and the Pink Envelope Project accepts donations in exchange for beautiful pink favor cards that can be distributed at the wedding.  You can also accept guests’ donations  as gifts in the corresponding pink envelopes.

The American Diabetes Association will also, with a minimum donation, provide complimentary personalized scrolls, tent cards, or bookmarks for you to give to your guests at the wedding.

What a beautiful way to celebrate a new life together!

Couple:  Katie & Brian

Wedding Date:  April 17, 2010

DJ:  Evan Reitmeyer

Katie and Brian were wonderful to work with – they were one of my “long-distance” couples.  Since they live in North Carolina, we “met” over the telephone in the fall just before our son Alex was born and I could tell right away they would be a lot of fun!  They had seen Anthony at a friend’s wedding and, as luck would have it, he was already booked on their date but I was available.  We were able to keep in touch via email, and even managed to squeeze in a (short) face-to-face meeting a few days before the wedding once they got into town.

The reception was in one of my favorite rooms for a wedding in DC – the Rotunda at the Ronald Reagan Building.  It’s perfect for a smaller group (Katie and Brian had about 80 guests) and has great wood finishes and a dome ceiling.  Danielle Johnson from the Reagan Building was great to work with, and I got to work with one of my pals, photographer Amie Otto, who gave us some great pictures!

The centerpieces were lovely, and were done by our friends Gerry and Rebecca at Petal’s Edge!

Katie and Brian shared their first dance to a classic, “Someone Like You” by Van Morrison.  Then it was time to get down!  Their guests were fabulous on the dancefloor and I was able to work in everything from 60’s motown to 80’s rock and current dance music.  I was tired just watching!

Everyone took a break for a few minutes to enjoy the cake, courtesy of Cakes by Linda, and then it was back to to dancefloor!

Everyone seemed to have a great time, it was such a pleasure playing for Katie and Brian and their families and friends.  These ladies look like they’re showing off their rings, so maybe I’ll get a chance to do it again before too long! 

Congrats to Katie and Brian on hosting such a beautiful, fun event!