Pittsburgh Wedding DJ for Weddings and Receptions. Disc Jockey in Allegheny County

Monday, July 23, 2012

Alexandra and Ryan (Phipps Conservatory DJ)

One of the first questions every newly engaged couple is faced with is determining how many guests should they invite to the wedding. While many immediately think of how much fun the reception would be with 200-300 people, they miss out on how special the day can be with a smaller, more intimate group. Alexandra Cervenka and Ryan Slack might not have had the largest guest list in Pittsburgh, but their celebration at the Phipps Conservatory Garden Tent was huge.

Cervenka Slack Wedding

Phipps Conservatory made the perfect venue on this beautiful summer day. They arranged and decorated the large tent in a way that made it feel the perfect size for their 65 guests.

When it came to music, Lexie and Ryan chose some special selections for the evening but wanted to leave lots of room for people to make requests and have fun. Their playlist incorporated everything from jazz, motown, disco, rock and a few top 40 hits too.

After cocktail hour, the bride and groom entered the Garden Tent and began their first dance to Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together”.

Once it was time, the guests took advantage of every moment we had to celebrate.

I had first met Lexie and Ryan a couple of years ago at the reception of Lisa and Armando Padilla (where they had caught the bouquet and garter!).

Phipps employees commented to me on what a fun group this was and how the dance floor was packed all night.

As a special twist at the end of the night, the newlyweds presented their guests with a fantastic popcorn and italian soda buffet. Everyone then jumped on a shuttle bus to head downtown and see the post Pirates game fireworks display! What appeared to be what some would call a small wedding, ended as one the largest celebrations anyone had ever seen.

by EricTags: 4 Hour, Fireworks, Intimate, Outdoor Wedding, Short, Small Wedding, Tent

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Rachel and Stephen (Power Center Ballroom DJ)

Every time a couple says “I Do”, it’s a unique and fantastic occasion. Everyone wants to create a day that reflects their style and personality. It’s always a thrill for me when people use music as a way to share a bit of themselves with their guests. That was certainly the case for the reception of Rachel Mackanin and Stephen Gatusso, held at the Duquesne Power Center Ballroom in Pittsburgh, PA.

The Power Center Ballroom has large, fantastic windows, which is a great way to show off Pittsburgh to out-of-town guests.

Rachel and Stephen helped create a playlist for their celebration that was perfect for their friends and family. Dinner music featured great rock music from the 70’s and 80’s – I’ve never received so many great comments about background music!

From the moment the bridal party entered the reception, it was clear that this was going to be a night like no other. The couple even had their first dance to Led Zepplin’s “Thank You”. What a great way to set off the evening!

Of course, by the time dinner was over, the guests were all ready to rock the dance floor!

While I always tell the people I work with that they only need to tell me about the music that’s most important to them, it’s always amazing when a couple is this passionate about music. Rachel and Stephen used music to make sure their guests had a fun and memorable night. The couple now is now off on their rockin’ honeymoon in St. Lucia.

by EricTags: 70's, 80's, Classic Rock, Dinner, Hair Bands, Unique

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Kate and Dan (Ferrante’s Lakeview Wedding DJ)

One thing that can be a bit scary on your big day is allowing friends and family to add some unexpected surprises to help make things even more special. While I’m always careful to check with the bride and groom before I allow anything too crazy to happen, sometimes these moments can create the memories that you’ll always cherish. The reception of Kate Kennan and Dan Rizzo at Ferrant’e Lakeside in Greensburg, PA included a lot of fantastic events and more than a few surprises.

Kate and Dan planned a day that was fun for everyone, and never had a dull moment. Their families pitched in with some great surprises which included fireworks, a video slideshow, and one of Dan’s talented relatives singing a song!

I love that Kate and Dan used the playlists here on my website to plan the music for their celebration. They were able to figure out what aspects could be joined together to create their own list that really suited their style.

The newlyweds held their first dance and bouquet and garter toss immediately after dinner so the celebration could get started.

Later in the evening, the guests surrounded Kate for a traditional dollar dance. It was awesome!

I met Kate and Dan two years ago at the reception of Kala and Matthew Lenart. It was so much fun seeing them tearing up the dance floor all night!

I was completely humbled to see how excited Kate and Dan were to have me as part of their amazing celebration. These two adorable newlyweds were able to create a wedding that that was as fun and creative as they are. As the night came to an end, the room was still filled with guests who weren’t ready to leave. Clearly, Kate, Dan and their families, had given everyone a night that no one would soon forget.

by EricTags: Fireworks, Monogram, Singer, Slideshow, Surprises

Sunday, July 1, 2012

Kristen & Tom (4 Points Sheraton DJ)

In my experience, most brides don’t ask much of their fiance’s, besides just showing up at the church on time. Every once in a while, the groom is tasked with finding and hiring the entertainment. I was excited that this was the case when Tom Verlihay contacted me about his wedding day with Kristen Stern. Their reception was held at the Four Points Sheraton in Cranberry, PA.

Kristen and Tom knew music would play a big part in their reception, and worked with me to create a great playlist that really clicked with their guests. The bridal party entered to a variety of songs which really set the mood for what was going to a be a celebration to remember.

After their entrance, when Tom and Kristen had their first dance, it was clear how connected these too are as they laughed and smiled the whole time.

While most people feel that they have some pretty wild friends and family, the guests at this wedding truly were ready to get a little crazy!

I think the best compliment I received was when Kristen told me how glad she was that Tom had chosen to hire me for their reception. At the end of the evening, it was clear that none of the guests were ready to leave, so many of them headed over to the after party to continue the celebration. The newlyweds are now off to St. Lucia for some well-deserved relaxation after their perfect day.

by EricTags: Four Points Sheraton

Monday, June 25, 2012

Heather and Brian (Marriott North DJ)

Everyone talks about how quickly your wedding day will pass by. With so many things to do and guests to visit with, most couples never want to see their day end without having time to truly get to enjoy every moment. Heather Kriberney and Brian Miller had a fantastic reception at the Marriott Pittsburgh North in Cranberry, PA, that they made even better by giving everyone a little extra time to celebrate.

I knew we were ready for a great time when I saw that the newlyweds provided dancing sandals for their friends and families.

Heather and Brian asked me to choose entrance music for each member of their bridal party, which featured quite a few couples. They wanted the songs to get newer and eventually lead up to the newlyweds’ entrance of Rihanna’s “We Found Love”. See what songs I came up with along with all the other great music that was included in this wonderful evening.

Heather and Brian’s first dance was sweet and romantic.

After the guests enjoyed various treats including cookies, cake and a chocolate fountain, it was time to hit the dance floor.

There was a tremendous amount of excitement from everyone when we announced we’d be staying late. Even with the bar closed, no one was ready to go home. Heather and Brian ended up with an awesome night that allowed them plenty of time to visit, have photos taken, and dance the night away. After a very full day, these smart newlyweds will rest for a few days before their Jamaican honeymoon.

by EricTags: After Party, DJ, Overtime, Wedding

Saturday, June 16, 2012

Lauren and Andy (Phipps Conservatory DJ)

Obviously, people first think about music when hiring a DJ for their wedding. While I encourage the couples I work with to make as many song choices as they wish me to play on the big day, sometimes it just takes a few songs to make the day unique and special. Lauren Holly and Andy Millsaps made some key suggestions for their reception at Phipps Conservatory which I know I’ll never forget!

They set a great tone for the party as they entered the reception to U2’s “Beautiful Day” while their guests waved custom-made foam fingers. Such a great start to a fun evening.

After their entrance, the newlyweds danced to “You Never Can Tell” by Chuck Berry, including all the great dance moves from the movie “Pulp Fiction”.

Lauren and Andy made lots of other fun choices for the evening, and Lauren even let her dad surprise her with a special song for the father/daughter dance. (It was a unique version of Bob Dylan’s “Forever Young” from the movie Parenthood.) Be sure to see the entire list that made for an awesome celebration.

After the festivities were completed, everyone had a great time enjoying some traditional wedding songs as well as modern hits.

It was such a pleasure working with Lauren and Andy. They allowed me to use my experience to be certain their guests would enjoy themeslves and dance all night long, but they also made the right suggestions which created special memories that are truly their own.

by EricTags: Foam Fingers, Fun, Song Choices

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