Photo by Jeff

gorgeous autumn days we’ve had so far.  The reception started at 3:30, allowing guests to fully enjoy the panoramic view of the Hudson River during cocktail hour.

I spied on the couple outside during their photo shoot.  Chris held Kimberly in a tender embrace as the sun set behind them; she was so elegant in her long white gloves.  The he tickled her and photographers Vicki and Allan snapped away to capture the delightful playfulness between them.

THE DETAILS:  The bridesmaids wore merlot dresses.  The Dutchess Manor’s famous rose centerpieces this time w ere cream, white, yellow and rustic orange.  Photos of Kimberly and Chris as children and then together were displayed during cocktail hour.  Favors were classic Jordin almonds and chocolates wrapped in ribbon tied purple boxes.

Photo by Steph

The couple’s love for each other was the most inspiring centerpiece of the evening.  As Chris’ brother and Best Man put it, “No one cares about anything the way these two care for each other.”

Photo by Steph

The Maid of Honor revealed how she met Chris when he visited Kimberly’s dorm and taped her favorite candies to her door…and how years later proposed on a gondola ride in Italy.

This group needed no urging to party!  They were all over the Tarantella, several Greek dances and even Jay-Z made an appearance.

One of my favorite moments was watching Chris doing the lawnmower on the dance floor.

My heart was warmed just looking at this loving couple.  Thanks for having us, guys!  It was truly an amazing day.

Dutchess Manor

Photos by Allan Levine Photography

Video by Artistic Images

In our 9 plus years as a wedding DJ Hudson Valley team, Jeff and I have seen A LOT of weddings.  Hundreds, actually.

So what makes one Dutchess county wedding different from the next?

The one thing that makes your wedding completely different than any other…an experience that your wedding guests have never seen before…the one thing no wedding in the world has ever seen before is…

YOU.

Yes, that sounds incredibly obvious.  But indulge me and think about it for a second.

Your guests have never seen you walk down the aisle in “the” wedding dress…

They’ve never heard your First Dance song while he twirls you around the dance floor…

They’ve never felt how real your love is and understood how your wedding really represents you in every shade, sight and sound in the elegant environment you’ve chosen for your wedding.

Why do I bring this up?

The key to really wowing your wedding guests and have them saying yours was the best wedding EVER is sharing your story with them.

The more your wedding guests understand what makes you who you are, why you and your fiance are meant for each other and what your relationship is all about…the more connected they feel.  When they’re connected emotionally, they get involved.

When your guests feel connected and involved…they HAVE FUN.

The key to wowing your guests isn’t spending lots of money or giving them favors so exotic that no one has ever seen them before.

It’s letting them experience YOU.

When you do that something magical happens.  And the FUN begins.  When your guests feel like they are a part of your wedding…not just strangers observing it, but honored guests who are creating it with you…the music starts and they won’t be able to keep themselves away from the dance floor.

So when Jeff and I encourage you to share your story with your guests, we really have a selfish motive.  We want your party to be the slam dunk, non-stop dancing party we know it can be.

Plus, I’m a sucker for hearing a good Hudson Valley wedding love story.

I’m just a romantic sap, after all. *grin*

Our first wedding of the New Year with our friends at the Dutchess Manor—we couldn’t have asked for a better start to our 2009 wedding season!

The Dutchess Manor was still decked out in its holiday glory, all white lights and Christmas trees. Guests arriving for cocktail hour were greeted by Jeff’s inviting guitar melodies and the enticing odor of steamed mussels, pesto and marinara pasta, and beef sate hors d’ouevres.

Christina and Jeff chose the Dutchess Manor’s signature red roses with white flowers and delicate fern for their centerpieces. A red neon sign in the shape of a pair of lips was a fitting tribute to the couple (married name LIPP) on their gift table.

CAKE SAVINGS IDEA: Instead of a cake, Christina and Jeff treated their guests to individual cupcakes with red or white icing. The couple actually cut a small white cake decorated with red flowers before the cake feeding; then guests helped themselves to cupcakes, chocolate dipped strawberries, cappuccino and espresso. Not only are cupcakes a cute option for guests, it’s a great way to save! (I predict we’ll see more wedding cupcakes in 2009.)

Jeff and I couldn’t keep these partiers off the dance floor. The kids ruled the night with requests for “Apache” by the Sugarhill Gang, Britney Spears, and Beyonce’s new anthem for the ladies, “Single Girls (Put a Ring On It.)” A packed dance floor is certainly my favorite way to ring in the New Year!

Christina asked us to play the Hokey Pokey, so I knew we’d have to get creative or risk offending Jeff’s sense of coolness. Instead of announcing, “Folks, it’s time to do the Hokey Pokey!” (so that the bulk of the guests could slink out of the room while a few enthusiasts ran to the dance floor) we pulled our favorite “fake out.” I invited all the guests to share a “special moment” with the newlyweds by forming a big circle on the floor and coaxed everyone up…then we sprang the Hokey Pokey on them. BINGO! Instant participation, with everyone laughing at themselves.

It was our pleasure to work with photographers Vicki and Allan in the very same room where they got married last June. Two of the hardest working photographers we know, the couple kept constant coverage on the dance floor…with that husband-wife team warmth we’re suckers for. John from Best of Times Video was capturing the action with his unobtrusive presence right along with them.

Dutchess Manor

Photos by Allan Levine Photography

Video by Best of Times Video

We met Vicki and Allan working a wedding at the Thayer Hotel way back in July of 2004. They had just moved to the area and were ramping up their photography studio, Allan Levine Photography. We hit it off with Vicki, the sweet, funny California girl (“Like, totally!”) and Allan, whose idea of a good time includes describing the intricacies of his camera lens and reciting his favorite lines from the Honeymooners. It turned out they were engaged, and they wanted us to DJ their wedding.

Months went by. Years passed. We bumped into Vicki and Allan here and there, and every time they were struggling to pick a date. FINALLY Vicki found us again. I suggested several locations for the wedding, and Vicki ended her search at the Dutchess Manor.

It was the perfect place for Vicki and Allan. Dean and his staff treated them like gold and the elegant, newly renovated room showed off the gorgeous view of the river.

I knew Vicki would have a blast, but Allan surprised us all with his unbridled enthusiasm on the dance floor. He was a CRAZY MAN for YMCA and Dancing Queen. (We managed to persuade him not to subject his guests to the Sex Pistols.) All this from the man who swore he didn’t dance.

It’s the power of love, folks.

I’ll never forget the love between Vicki and Allan as they gazed into each other’s eyes at the end of dinner, dancing to The Rainbow Connection sung by Kermit the Frog. (When they thought no one was looking.)

We’re always friends with our couples by the time the wedding arrives, but it was an extra special pleasure to share such a fun-filled day with Vicki and Allan.

Let’s party again for OUR 10 year anniversary in another four years!

Dutchess Manor