Everyone knows that your wedding day is the one day when you’re allowed to do everything your way.  I find that the people who have the best receptions are those who are willing to remember that their guests are the most important part of the celebration.  This weekend I was able to DJ for Lindsay English and Adam Schwab’s wedding at the Harmar House in Pittsburgh, PA.  These two were sure to include their friends and family in the special day, which made it one that everyone was able to enjoy.

It was clear from the beginning how important their guests were to Lindsay and Adam.  They spent time visiting with everyone, and allowed for many different styles of music so that all their guests would want to get up and enjoy the celebration.  After dinner they had a few special dances which were emotional and beautiful.

With lots of time to enjoy themselves, we were able to cover music from all genres including country, rock, swing, 80′s, and modern music.  It was awesome.

The large dance floor at the Harmar House gave lots of room for everyone to join in the party.

It’s great for me as a DJ to get to get to work with such honest and giving people.  Because Lindsay and Adam  were sure to put their focus on their friends and family, their day was one that was special to everyone.

Just last week I wrote about what a great luxury it is to have a wonderfully long reception. But what can you do if you have a standard amount of time to celebrate on your big day?  Well this weekend I was DJ for the wonderful reception of Nicole Kreyling and Matthew Junker, and these newlyweds made sure to make the most of every moment at the elegant Southpointe Golf Club in Cannonsburgh, PA.

The golf club looked tremendous as always.  I do my best to make sure my equipment doesn’t take away from the beauty of the venue.

Nicole and Matthew are a sweet and fun couple, and their musical style was exactly the same.  They picked a great mix of their favorite tunes for dinner, that created a modern and relaxed atmosphere.  I was thrilled at the end of the night when Nicole told me that the music was perfect.

Not only did the newlyweds and bridal party arrive promptly for the reception, but Nicole and Matthew used the time between courses to visit with their guests.  This meant that right after the cake was served we were able to jump into their special dances.

With the formalities out of the way, there was TONS of time for everyone to really celebrate and party!

It’s so easy to let the wedding day slip by without having the chance to do everything you’d like.  Nicole and Matthew were able to pull off their big day with tons of time for visiting, photographs, dancing, singing and loving every moment.  This smart couple is headed off to Hawaii where I’m sure they’ll be able to find the time to enjoy the perfect honeymoon.

Venue: Southpointe Golf Club

People will tell you that your wedding day will go by too quickly.  You plan so many details of the big day just to watch it fly by and before you know it, the last song is about to play.  Every once in a while, I’m lucky enough to DJ a wedding that has plenty of time for everything a bride & groom could wish for.  Vanessa Kreuer and Mark McPherson planned for a day that would allow them time to enjoy every moment of their reception at the Candlelight Room in Washington, PA.

Vanessa and Mark had a beautiful purple color scheme that really looked great in the Candelight Room.

The entire day was very relaxed and evenly paced.  With the ceremony scheduled for 1PM there was plenty of time for everything since the reception didn’t end until 11 o’clock.  This meant plenty of time for socializing, eating, and then lots and lots of dancing.  The playlist included tons of great music for everyone!

The newlyweds’ first dance was romantic and sweet, just like this beautiful couple.

Once it was time to dance, everyone crowded the dance floor for over 2 1/2 hours!

A little over a year ago I DJ’ed the reception of Mark’s sister Erin.  I was so thrilled to see her and Adrian again.

Around 9:30 I found Mark and Vanessa while they were staring intently at Mark’s watch.  They couldn’t believe they had been dancing for so long, and the celebration was far from over.  It was great fun for me as a DJ to be able to play many requests and really watch everyone have an amazing time.  Mark and Vanessa planned the perfect day that they and their guests we able to relax and enjoy every moment.

Photography: Photos by Nick
Videography: Pittsburgh Wedding DVD
Venue: The Candlelight Room

People will always tell you that time on your wedding day will come and go too quickly. It is truly something you can’t understand until you experience it for yourself. Because there is only so many hours at the reception, I encourage all of my clients to make the most of the time they’ll have. It’s so important include the things that are special to you and to be certain not to waste precious moments or to let others rush you away from enjoying yourself throughout the day. I recently had the pleasure of DJing at the reception of Brooke Warren & Greg Baker. Greg & Brooke used their time EXTREMELY well all day and were able to include everything they wanted in their perfect celebration.

The wedding and reception were held at the beautiful Oglebay Resort & Conference Center. Both the outdoor ceremony and cocktail hour featured music from an amazing string ensemble provided by Pittsburgh Music Live. Brooke & Greg requested special songs for the trio to play during cocktail hour that were familiar and lovely.

Brooke & Greg were tons of fun to work with. They wanted to make sure their reception matched their style and I think they did a remarkable job. It was a great mix of fun and elegance that really led to an awesome party. We ended up staying at the resort for much longer then we originally had planned, which left a lot of room for some terrific requests.

One of the hardest parts of the event is knowing when to switch from quiet socialization to the dancing portion of the evening. Greg & Brooke handled this great and knew when it was time to get the party started. Once the dance floor opened, guests of all ages went wild. Brooke’s grandfather made a tribute and even sang for everyone. (See the George Foreman post below).

This may be one of my all time favorite pictures. Every bride should get to be so happy!

I feel that the reception is an opportunity for newlyweds to show their friends and family a bit about who they are as a couple. I love the fact that Brooke & Greg were so true to themselves in the planning of the reception. The entire day was full of special, unique and touching moments that clearly reflected the love they share.

Venue: Oglebay Resort & Conference Center
String Ensemble Pittsburgh Music Live
Photography: Studio Bash

George did an amazing job and everyone cheered after his performance. He asked if I could record it for him since he sings at various events in Florida, I was so happy to help out in helping create this special memory.