Atrium

You could tell how much Justin and Eric are loved by how many people helped make their wedding happen. Family members made more than 150 dozen cookies, others helped prepare the buffet, and still more pitched in on an incredible grazing table filled with charcuterie. It wasn’t just a reception that people showed up to attend. Friends and family helped create it. I get to see a lot of different kinds of celebrations, and there is something especially meaningful about a day where so many people are genuinely invested in making it wonderful for the couple.

The celebration took place at Smith Farms Events in Fredonia, PA, with the farm setting giving everyone plenty of room to spread out and enjoy the evening. The pavilion became especially important when the weather decided not to cooperate. Instead of changing the feeling of the day, the rain simply brought everyone together under one roof. Once guests settled in, it felt comfortable, relaxed, and ready for a big celebration.

With the ceremony moved inside the pavilion, close friends Denton and Ashley officiated together, making an already personal moment feel even more connected to the people Justin and Eric love. The ceremony was sweet and heartfelt, and soon everyone was ready to celebrate. Justin and Eric shared their first dance surrounded by family and friends before each groom had a special dance with his mother. Those moments gave the reception a warm start before the energy began building toward what would become a very different kind of dance floor.

The music moved from Celtic, new age, and cinematic instrumentals during the ceremony into indie folk, alt-country, and Americana for cocktails, followed by country ballads and more Americana during dinner. Once dancing started, Justin and Eric gave me room as their DJ to read the crowd, and that made the party incredibly fun. Disco and funk could give way to 2000s pop and hip-hop, then pop-punk or classic rock depending on what the room wanted next. Guests added plenty of great requests of their own, and the floor stayed busy because the music could move with them instead of following a rigid plan. One surprise cue even brought Justin’s dad and sister onto the floor for a completely wild family dance that had everyone cheering.

What I’ll remember most about Justin and Eric’s wedding is how many people contributed something to it. Food, cookies, music requests, laughter, help behind the scenes, and plenty of enthusiasm on the dance floor all came from people who clearly wanted these two to have an incredible day. That kind of support is something you can’t manufacture, and Justin and Eric were surrounded by it.

Music wasn’t just part of Emily and Michael’s wedding. It helped shape the entire day. They brought in three different live groups, each giving a completely different part of the celebration its own personality, while still keeping everything elegant, relaxed, and centered around their guests. As a wedding DJ, I’m obviously going to notice the music, but this was something special. From quiet moments in the woods to a huge finale under the night sky, it felt like the music kept giving everyone another reason to stop, listen, dance, and enjoy being together.

The ceremony at Trillium Woods took place in the outdoor amphitheater tucked back among the trees, which immediately gave the day a peaceful, intimate feeling.

Throughout the reception, little personal details kept popping up, including anniversary cards at each table for guests to fill out and custom matchboxes featuring Emily and Michael’s very handsome pup. There was also an awesome cookie table, because this is still a Pittsburgh wedding after all. Later, the outdoor tent became the center of the party, with plenty of room for everyone to fill the dance floor.

Innocenti Strings provided the music as guests gathered in the amphitheater, and Emily and Michael made the ceremony even more personal by sharing their own spoken words with each other. Cocktail hour shifted the mood completely as Noel Quintana & The Latin Crew brought a lively Latin flavor to the celebration, carrying that live energy into dinner. Then came an ending nobody would forget. River City Brass Band joined the celebration for the grand finale with “Uptown Funk” closing out the dance floor before leading the guests out of the tent for a custom drone show!

That variety carried into the DJ portion of the reception too. Once dancing got going, I mixed Motown, 80s pop, classic rock, and 90s dance favorites, giving every generation something they could jump into. The crowd was ready for all of it. After hearing strings, Latin rhythms, and live musicians throughout the day, nobody seemed interested in sticking to just one style, and that made the dance floor especially fun. By the time the live brass joined us for the finale and the drones appeared, the whole night had built toward this wonderfully big, joyful finish.

I’ve been part of a lot of weddings where music plays an important role, but Emily and Michael took that idea somewhere completely different. I loved how each group added something new without ever making the day feel like a series of performances. It all felt connected to who they are and to the experience they wanted to give their family and friends, and that final combination of live brass, dancing, and lights over the woods is something I’ll remember for a long time.

Madalyn and Ben wanted their family and friends to know they were more than just guests at their wedding. They were part of it. That feeling carried through the entire reception, from the way the newlyweds welcomed everyone during dinner to the packed dance floor later that night. The entire wedding day was centered around making sure everyone felt included and appreciated.

The reception took place at The Atrium in Prospect, PA. The space gave everyone plenty of room to enjoy dinner together before the celebration turned into the high-energy party Madalyn and Ben had imagined. It also allowed the night to move easily between dancing inside and an amazing fireworks break outdoors. Nothing felt rushed or disconnected.

Instead of standing in a traditional receiving line, Madalyn and Ben greeted their guests at the buffet and personally handed them their plates. It was such a simple, thoughtful choice, and it gave them a chance to connect with everyone as dinner began. Their sweet first dance to Dan Auerbach’s “Never in My Wildest Dreams” brought everyone around the floor, followed by parent dances with song choices that had been kept as surprises for the newlyweds. Later, guests stepped outside for nighttime fireworks before heading right back in for even more dancing.

Dinner had a relaxed, classic feel with jazz standards, old-school crooners, and smooth soul playing while everyone ate and visited. Once the dance floor opened, the energy changed fast. Disco, throwback hip-hop, country, rock singalongs, and dance-pop kept the room moving, while a steady stream of great requests helped me shape the party around the people who were actually there. The floor stayed packed for more than three hours. Everyone danced like crazy, and even after the fireworks, they came back inside ready for another round.

Madalyn and Ben put family first, but they also knew how to give everyone permission to let loose and have fun. They were surrounded by some of the nicest, most enthusiastic people I could have asked to celebrate with. That kind of warmth is what made the night feel so special, and it is what I will remember most about them.

Some weddings have a theme. Megan and Hirschy’s wedding had a whole world. On a gorgeous spring afternoon at The Atrium at Eisler Farms in Prospect, Pennsylvania, their friends and family showed up to celebrate two people who are deeply in love and completely unafraid to be themselves, and the result was one of the most unique receptions I’ve been a part of in years.

The Atrium is a great venue for a day like this. The ceremony was held in the greenhouse, which on a sunny April afternoon was filled with warm natural light. Megan walked down the aisle to “Zelda’s Lullaby”. She’s a lifelong fan of the franchise, and the choice set the tone perfectly for everything that followed. The recessional was sweeping and cinematic, and by the time they walked back up the aisle together, you could already feel what kind of night this was going to be.

Cocktail hour was an immersive set of video game soundtracks, anime scores, and Studio Ghibli piano that quietly rewarded anyone paying attention. Meanwhile, the ballroom was coming together beautifully — purple accents and uplighting gave the space a warm, celebratory glow that held up all the way through the last dance.

The grand entrance brought the energy up fast, and the couple came in ready to celebrate. Their first dance was a Japanese pop song that not everyone in the room may have known, but everyone felt — it was intimate and emotional and completely theirs. The father/daughter dance carried its own story: Megan and her dad share a love of anime, and they chose a song from that world for their dance together. It was one of those quietly meaningful moments that guests might not have fully understood but absolutely felt. Hirschy and his mom danced to a warm, classic choice that brought a completely different energy that was tender and nostalgic.

Dinner music stayed in the same universe the couple had built all day, video game scores, anime soundtracks, and ambient orchestral pieces that worked beautifully as background for an hour of good food and great conversation. These weren’t random picks; every song meant something, and the cumulative effect was a reception that felt curated from start to finish.

When the dancing started, the crowd jumped in without hesitation. They were happy to ride the familiar hits (classic soul, 90s pop, party anthems), but they were just as ready when the set shifted into anime and game tracks. My favorite moment was when the Mii Channel theme came on, and the newlyweds danced and swayed with their friends. I’ve played a lot of weddings, and I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a dance floor react quite like that. It was pure joy, and it was exactly right for this group.

As the night wound down, there was one more moment that capped everything off perfectly. Once it was dark outside, guests gathered with lighted wands, lined up, and cheered Megan and Hirschy through as they ran between them. It was a great sendoff for a wonderful couple.

This is exactly the kind of wedding that reminds me why I love being a Pittsburgh wedding DJ. Megan and Hirschy never lost sight of their guests. They wanted everyone to have a great time, even while programming a playlist that was deeply, specifically for them. That balance is harder to pull off than it looks, and they nailed it.

Western PA offers an abundance of great wedding venues, making it challenging to pick the ideal spot for your big day. From barns to hotels to museums, there are so many options to match your style and tastes. Jess and Jason found their perfect location at The Atrium in Prospect, PA, which made for a stunning setting for both their beautiful ceremony and lively reception.

The Atrium provided a picturesque backdrop for Jess and Jason to start their journey together. The venue had ample space for friends and family to relax, mingle, dance, and celebrate. After exchanging vows in the greenhouse, guests enjoyed the delightful summer weather both indoors and outdoors.

Jess and Jason curated an outstanding playlist that perfectly suited their fun-loving crowd. The music choices kept everyone on their feet, dancing and celebrating throughout the night.

As the evening came to a close, it was heartwarming to see all of the couple’s closest friends and family members cheering them on before their final dance. Jess and Jason’s thoughtful planning ensured that their wedding was a truly unique celebration, leaving lasting memories for everyone who attended.

The coolest thing about weddings isj that they not only join together two people in a lifetime commitment but also join two groups of friends and families in their love of the newlyweds! Stefanie and Erik’s wedding at the Atrium in Prospect, PA was one that allowed all of their guests to truly feel part of the big day, and part of the happy couple’s new life together.

I can’t imagine a better choice of venue for Stefanie and Erik to hold their ceremony and reception. It was a perfect summer day as their guests gather for an amazing celebration.

Stefanie’s sister and brother helped keep the atmosphere awesome as they performed a great customized song set to the Friends TV theme song (this will be available on my Instagram soon)! Everything Erik and Stefanie prepared for their special day was focused on making sure every one of their guests would have an incredible time. The result was a beautiful day followed by an epic dance party that only had to end so their friends and family could get to the after-party!

This past Sunday I played at the ceremony and reception of Kelsey Ernst and Kevin Fodness. I’ll start off by saying that this was the most customized and unique wedding that I’ve ever played. Kevin was amazingly detailed and provided me with all the music he wanted played during their big day. While I’ll admit that at first it was a bit of a daunting task, it really turned out to be a total blast!

First off, I got to play for the ceremony… which I love doing. The bridal party entered to Yael NaÔm – New Soul, which is probably best known as the song from the new Macbook Air commercial, then afterwards they walked back down the aisle to The Barenaked Ladies “If I Had $1,000,000” (I love BNL, probably my favorite band ever).

What is probably most obvious from these photos is that Kelsey and Kevin had a 20’s theme to their wedding and many of the guests dressed up in zoot suits and flapper dresses, you could tell that everyone had SO much fun and so a lot of the music played during cocktail hour was upbeat swing, it really kept the mood fun and celebratory.

Kelsey and Kevin completely understood how much fun it can be for both them and their guests by finding unique ways to change up the normal wedding and reception. Not just with the music they chose, but they also by including things their guests would enjoy such as a custom coffee counter and I don’t think anyone will ever forget the amazing Ice Cream bar.

Kelsey and Kevin were fun and fearless, and their efforts really paid off big, I’m so happy they involved me so much in their plans, it was a fantastic day!