Photo by Steph

couple’s wicked sense of humor and love for each other shone through the entire day.

Jeff performed acoustic guitar for the ceremony overlooking the Hudson River. What a gorgeous view!

Krisanne and Bob had us introduce the bridal party to “I’m Shipping Up to Boston” by the Dropkick Murphys in honor of their favorite team, the Boston Red Sox. Of course, we timed it just right so that the Best Man and Maid of Honor (huge Yankees fans) came in to the line, “We’re shipping up to Boston…”

Confession: it is an MC’s worst nightmare the he will mispronounce the couple’s name. But I did it that night…on purpose!

I introduced them as Mr & Mrs Krisanne…at the couple’s request…then paused and explained that my “mistake” was because Krisanne filled out the paper work. I just love the fun, irreverence of this couple!

THE DETAILS: The Bridesmaids wore lavender dresses, except for the Maid of Honor, whose dress was dark lilac. They carried bouquets of white calla lilies. Lavender napkins and the famous Dutchess Manor roses matched the bridal party colors. The cake had dark purple ribbon between the layers, tiny purple polka dots and sugar calla lilies.

The couple’s constant ribbing and teasing (after chants of, “Let’s go Yankees!” by the guests, Krisanne threatened to throw out the next person who even said the word Yankees) couldn’t hide their sensitive side. These guys obviously love each other, their families and friends with their whole hearts.

It was so heart-warming to watch Krisanne and Bob dancing together to “Then” by Brad Paisley, barely moving, lost in that moment. Jeff and I knew how close they are right away; we caught them making out in our driveway after our very first meeting!

It was a beautiful day, an amazing party and a night full of love. Thank you so much for having us!

Dutchess Manor

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

The newly renovated ballroom at the Dutchess Manor was the perfect compliment for Jessica and Dean’s wedding.  The bridesmaids’ pale yellow dresses, yellow roses accented with purple (Jess’ favorite color) and the gorgeous multi-color bouquets really popped.

We met Jessica and Dean a few months ago and I knew they would have type of love fest wedding we like best.  They brought their baby daughter, Mya, who giggled and smiled at our goofy pitbull during the entire meeting.

Jessica and Dean were introduced to “Welcome To the Jungle” by Guns ‘N Roses, a head bangin’ start to the evening.  When they danced to “Heaven,” the piano version by DJ Sammy, they held each other’s gaze with that dreamy smile that says, “I can’t believe we’re here, and I am so happy it’s you.”

It’s true, the month before the wedding took the newlyweds on an emotional rollercoaster: illness, the passing of a loved one.  But at the wedding the couple’s bond with their guests was even stronger.  There was so much love in the room, so much genuine gratitude and appreciation for each other, that I was moved to tears more than once.

It was the Best Man’s speech that really got me.  He talked about how for years he’d taken it for granted that all families and friends were as close as theirs.  But now he knew how lucky he was to be there, in that moment, with his loved ones who weren’t afraid to let it show.  Brian also revealed other things he knew, such as, “I know that Jess gives high fives really hard…and I know that Dean yells at the guys on the video games, even though he’s the one controlling them…and I know that Mya is damn cute…”

If you’ve ever gotta propose a toast, remember this: heart felt words (and tears) combined with humor is a winning combination every time.

I was really in love with the flowers at this wedding.  The cake was decorated with fuschia roses and delicate orchids.  Jess even tossed a “fortune bouquet,” something I’d never seen before.  The bouquet was made up of small bunches of yellow daisies that burst apart when thrown so that each single lady could take home a flower, and attached to each mini-bouquet was a love fortune note.  A lovely twist on the traditional bouquet toss.

 

Dean has absolutely no excuse to ever forget his wedding day, since it also happens to fall on his birthday.  Jessica arranged for a groom’s cake decorated with Dean’s former sports car to celebrate the occasion.

The night ended in a circle as the guests swayed with arms around each other and sang, “New York, New York” by Frank Sinatra.

I must have been heavily influenced by all the love and emotion flying around, because I recorded a reverie on our Flip Mino about why I love weddings that night.  If I can get Jeff to edit a few pieces together soon, I’ll post them up here.  (If you leave a comment bugging him about it, maybe he’ll jump on it faster…)

Dutchess Manor

Photos by Mark Greenstone of Majestic Studios

Cake by Pastry Garden

Back at the Grandview for a spectacular spring day at the wedding of Catherine and Scott.

From the moment we heard about how they met while skeet shooting (yes, I had to look that up…it’s competitive shooting at targets) I knew this couple was for us.

Catherine and Scott officially married one year ago, but chose to celebrate with family and friends on the final day of their first year as husband and wife.

Rather than writing love letters to each other, Catherine and Scott wrote a love letter to their guests, thanking them for all the love and support that made them who they are.  Lori O’Toole took this cool ring shot on a print out of their letter…

 

And check out their cool first dance song by Morcheeba.  The guests joined them for a little electronica…

I was loving the details of the decor Catherine chose for the Grandview ballroom: small arrangements of white tulips on each table, chocolate brown napkins and a lovely white cake with brown icing.

It was our second wedding that weekend with photographer Lori O’Toole (hip hip hooray for a double dose of Lori) and I peeked into her camera at the images she’d captured of Catherine and Scott on the streets of Beacon that morning.  The couple lounged under umbrellas, conjuring the image of a European cafe, and posing against the brick of Beacon’s stand out architecture.  Ultra hip and cool.

And of course, the Grandview staff outdid themselves once again.  One of these days I’m dedicating a blog post just to them…that’s how much they rock!

Catherine and Scott ended their party in a circle of friends dancing to U2′s “Beautiful Day.”

It truly was.

Grandview

Photos by Lori O’Toole Images

Michelle and Eric set a fun, quirky tone for their wedding reception immediately when they were introduced, while mock boxing, to the theme song from Rocky.

They chose the perfect song for their first dance, “Falling Slowly” by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, from the movie Once about the romance between Irish and Czech lovers that they saw together on their third date.  Perfect because Michelle is Irish and Eric is Czech.  The first time I heard this beautiful song I hijacked Jeff and made him listen to it immediately.

The newlyweds handed me last minute love letters written to each other, Michelle’s mentioning how she looked forward to “fighting over the walker when they were 90 years old.”

There was no mistaking the couple’s personality in every moment of the wedding.  With Irish waltzes and traditional Czech songs, the White Stripes and lots and lots of the Beatles, it was clear how important music is to Michelle, Eric and their family of musicians.  I won’t embarrass anyone in particular (Michelle’s brother Johnny the dance floor ham) by recounting who broke it down to “You Should Be Dancing” and “Billie Jean” with particular zest.

I enjoyed giving the guests a brief summary of the bouquet and garter tradition at the request of Michelle, the history buff…although it’s safe to say the single ladies were more interested in scratching and clawing after the bouquet than in my little history lesson.

Michelle’s grandfather sang the Irish Wedding Song a capella for the newlyweds, his weathered hands trembling as the read the sheet of lyrics he had carefully prepared.  His lovely, warbling tenor brought Ireland into the ballroom of the Plum Bush, with Michelle and Eric smiled and leaned into each other as they listened.

Though Jeff and I finished our night at the Plum Bush, the party moved on to the Cold Spring Depot where the family musicians would entertain themselves for the rest of the night.  Judging by the energy in the room, I’m betting they shut the bar down!

Plumbush Inn

Photos by Lori O’Toole Images

Video by Jason Barbosa

I was so impressed with the way Stacey and Dana integrated eco friendly choices into every aspect of their wedding without overstating their very passionate beliefs.  The self-proclaimed “tree huggers” set up a small table with pictures and explanations of the green elements of the wedding, among them:

• Recycled invitations and RSVPs by telephone or email.
• The Garrison’s local organic menu and green cleaning practices.
• Wedding favors of wildflower seeds in biodegradable cotton butterflies and donations to the National Resource Defense Council.
• Purchasing carbon off-sets from the Bonneville Environmental Fund.
• Locally grown organic, in season flowers.

Stacey and Dana put an equal amount of thought into their music selection.  The bridal party was introduced to “Linus and Lucy,” the boppin’ piano instrumental made famous by Charlie Brown, and the newlyweds were announced to “Everyday” by the Dave Matthews Band.

Stacey and Dana shared their first dance to Ben Harper’s intimate and achingly beautiful song, “Happy Everafter In Your Eyes.”  (Confession: I couldn’t stop listening to it the week before their wedding!)  Here’s a live version so that you can get a taste…

The colors trumpeted the arrival of spring: the bridesmaids in bold fuschia carrying bouquets in a riot of color…lavendar, blue, yellow, red, fuschia, orange and white…as if the wildflowers Stacey and Dana loved so much had sprung up inside the River Room of the Garrison.

I can’t say enough about what a wonderful job the folks at the Garrison did with Stacey and Dana’s green wedding.  Every detail was executed flawlessly, from the bride’s walk down the aisle to the table arrangements to the elegant presentation of delicious entrees of poached salmon and tender filet mignon.

Music included the couple’s favorites: Dave Matthews, Jack Johnson, G. Love and the Special Sauce…with a dash of Grateful Dead.  Jeff and I were thrilled to weave together the music and memories in such a personal and meaningful way for Stacey and Dana.

It’s like I always say…we have the best couples!

We do.

Garrison

Photos by Michael Gold

Flowers by Carmel Flower Shop

Ashley and Chris married in the Garden Room of the Villa Borghese, a beautiful ballroom with a window looking out over the soon-to-be blooming garden outside.  Jeff performed his original piece, “Union,” on acoustic guitar for Ashley’s walk down the aisle.  Her father drew the veil back from her face when they reached Chris at the end of the aisle, and Ashley and Chris couldn’t take their eyes off each other, laughing, smiling, blushing.

And that kiss!  The newlyweds smooched throughout their entire First Dance to Edwin McCain’s “I Could Not Ask For More,” and Chris even dipped Ashley with his lips still pressed to hers.

The guests moved into the Villa’s Grand Ballroom for the reception.  I’ve captured a few of the details on video so that you can see Ashley’s colors: red and white, with black accents.  Check out the black shoes and gloves on the bridesmaids.

Ashley and Chris’ wedding was a blend of North meets South, reflecting their different families and backgrounds.

Chris’ brother and Best Man, Michael, summed it up in his toast.  “Ashley used to say, ‘How come you get married so young in the South?’  Then she met Chris, and she knew.”

NEW MOTHER-SON SONG ALERT: Chris and his mother danced to “On This Day” by Steve Zucarello.

Ashley took a special moment to dance with her mother to “Because You Loved Me” by Celine Dion.  If you’re debating a Mother-Daughter dance…but you’re not sure how it fits in with “tradition”…let me tell you, the guests loved it.  It was one of the sweetest moments of the entire night and they had me ask all the guests to join in.  If you’re tight with your mother, sharing a dance with her or dedicating a song to her is something she’ll never forget.

Ashley’s girlfriends arranged a surprise send-off for the end of the night, guests lined up outside with a corridor of sparklers and well-wishes as the newlyweds climbed into the limo.  Next stop for Ashley and Chris, skiing in Colorado!

Villa Borghese

Photography by Kathleen Hertel – We met Kathy and her assistants Colleen and Elizabeth for the first time.  Kathy shoots in Florida, Maryland, and New York (quite the traveler!) and was a pleasure to work with.

Cake by La Deliziosa Pastry Shoppe

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

Jeff and I peeked out the bay windows of the Dutchess Manor ballroom at Kerri as she posed for photos outside in her wedding gown and a white faux fur wrap. Mark from Majestic Studios shooed away from her soon-to-be husband, Chris, until the ceremony.

Though the weather was clear, the air smelled of snow and the sky had the sharp gray cast of winter.

Jeff played acoustic guitar for the guests as they filed in to the ballroom for the ceremony and Judge Chase took his place at the front. “Like all brides on their wedding day, she has the option to keep us waiting. And the bride has decided to pick up that option.”

The guests chuckled. Jeff strummed his version of Canon in D for the Matron of Honor’s procession down the aisle. The ring bearer trailed behind her, followed by the tiny flower girl, who wandered around the broad aisle, forgetting to drop her flowers until she was reminded by her mother.

Finally, Kerri entered the room on her father’s arm and the guests stood in hushed reverence as Jeff played his version of the touching song, “Such Great Heights” by Iron and Wine. Kerri flashed a quick smile at Jeff as she passed on her way to meet Chris at the end of the aisle.

The couple had written their own vows, and Chris recited his from memory, with a volume and clarity that bespoke the certainty of his commitment.

After the ceremony, guests spilled into the bar and cocktail room where songs from Kerri and Chris’ music collection played, including Death Cab For Cutie, Ben Folds, Smashing Pumpkins and Simon and Garfunkel.

WINTER CENTERPIECE IDEAS: Instead of traditional flower arrangements, Kerri and Chris filled glass vases with red and gold ornaments and mounted a candle on top, an elegant winter wonderland wedding touch.

I was overjoyed to read the love letters Kerri and Chris had written for each other. Both referred to their journey through the ten years since they’d met. Their words were so romantic and heart-felt that I’ve just got to quote some of my favorite parts.

Kerri:

“We have always kept real perspective of the fact that we are choosing to spend our life, this one life we have, together. The vows we made today are promises we have always made, without the formality of words.”

Chris’ dedication began with a warning to family and friends to prepare themselves for a level of romantic sentiment they are unaccustomed to hearing from him. Then:

“After ten years, having spent the vast majority of those 3,653 days together, I can still say without hesitation that I love you. I always feel strange when we’re congratulated about that, as if staying together has been some kind of challenge or obstacle to be overcome. I’ve never seen it that way, because loving you has been the easiest, most natural thing I’ve ever done.”

Kerri’s eyes filled with tears as she listened to his words.

After being touch by the love of such a couple, the guests couldn’t help but enjoy themselves. Instead of kissing on command when their guests clinked their glasses, Kerri and Chris asked me to inform the crowd that they would have to “earn” a kiss by singing a song with the word “love” in it…into the microphone. This resulted in a lovely, off-key serenade by Chris’ brother and two friends, the three of them linking arms and singing “Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman” by Bryan Adams.

CAKE ALTERNATIVE: Kerri and Chris treated their guests to lemon and hazelnut cup cakes for dessert, stacked in tiers behind their sweetheart table. They opted not to “cut the cupcake,” but invited guests up to help themselves while the staff served chocolate covered strawberries to each table.

I am so grateful to be a part of Kerri and Chris’ unfolding story. Thanks, guys!

Dutchess Manor

Photos by Majestic Studios