Last Saturday, I was excited to be DJing my first wedding for the DJ D-Mac & Associates team. Jonathan & Kim choose a spectacular beachfront venue, the Philip Merrill Center, headquarters for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation in Annapolis, Maryland. The center is one of the world’s most energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly buildings!
After setting up for cocktails, dinner and dance, I had the best seat in the house for a ceremony which actually took place on the beach itself! The waterfront atmosphere couldn’t have been any better, with slightly overcast skies minimizing sand & water glare, and a solo guitarist playing appropriate tunes under a nearby tree. The ceremony was short and heartfelt with handwritten vows being exchanged, and then the wedding party headed up to the deck for cocktail hour and Hors d’oeuvre. I felt that the raw bar was an especially nice touch….those oysters looked amazing! The guests clinked glasses of champagne while grooves like Down To The Bone – A Universal Vibe, and Bathysphere – Where’s Vicky (Quantic Mix), set the mood for the next hour.
Bossa Nova and Brazilian sounds became the backdrop for the move into a glass-enclosed dining room. The Bride & Groom opted for a family style meal with a variety of fresh meats and seafood. Toasts included a tribute by the Groom’s sister, the Bride’s best friend, and a touching speech by the Bride’s father. After wards, the guests headed out to the main deck for deserts (with multiple cakes for everyone to choose from!), drinks, and of course, the first dance. The couple choose Van Morrison – Moondance for a reason…..during the piano breakdown, they used the opportunity to grab as many of their friends and family as they could, and expand the dancefloor to it’s farthest edges. I couldn’t have asked for a better spark to get the party started. I was easily able to move into Charanga 79′ – Good Times, Stevie Wonder – Do I Do (U-tern Edit) and a variety of styles including lots of 80s hits for the groom, such as Erasure – Chains of Love, and Depeche Mode – Just Can’t Get Enough (Schizo Mix).
It wasn’t long before it got seriously nuts. A circle with dance battles developed once I dropped Pitbull – Give Me Everything, and that further morphed into a completely packed floor with hands high in the air, singing along to Black Eyed Peas – I Gotta Feeling, and Lady Gaga – The Edge Of Glory (P. Robinson Remix). As the night wound down, I moved from the high energy into the sentimental, ending with couples slow dancing to The Police – I’ll be Wrapped Around Your Finger. Honestly, they were such a great crowd, I would have loved to keep them later. But as the venue closes at 11, I had to settle for high fives, hugs, and smiles to close out the night.