Eddie and Amber saw us TWO years ago at a bridal show and said “we HAVE to have you… and the BOSE… and that sub!” They are a young, Christian, enthusiastic couple who had MANY ideas about an exciting New Year’s Eve wedding celebration with their closest friends and family.

So the challenge? The location was a church gym; A gym with a balcony that allowed some of the lighting to have a higher vantage point.

The easy part? I worked with Joette from Party People Celebration Company and Marilyn with Flowers by Marilyn. EASY WORK! These two ladies, coupled with Monica (my lead lighting designer) and Derek (senior tech) made the gym transformation super easy. I promise you won’t even recognize that it’s a gym!

Oh yeah, and there was a WICKED COOL balloon drop!!

So what did the lighting include?

• Well, we had 4 totems around the dance floor lit in a cool white (camera didn’t show it as cool) with a moving head on top of each one.
• Baby blue uplights adorned the entire room, even warming up the swag and drapes that Joette set up
• White trussing held scanners (which were used as spotlights), special requested effects lights, and dance floor floods. Trussing was lit up in wedding colors.
• The balcony held two leikos which projected a really nice pattern on the wall. The pattern rotated super slowly!
• The balcony also held floods which lit the entire area where the tables were placed. A couple of blacklights gave the white décor a very subtle pop. We didn’t want to saturate it.
• Blue and green stars grazed the area between the balloon drops.
• A blue liquid sky made a special appearance that transformed this beautiful wedding into a chic night club!

LOTS of beautiful pics and three videos… two timelapses and an event recap! What an AMAZING New Year’s Eve!!!!!!!

Oh yes, and a Snap Yourself Silly Photobooth added to the perfect ambiance!!!

First time lapse (from up high):

Second time lapse (floor level):

And the event itself!

I gotta admit, this was a wicked cool wedding. Sean and Jennifer are an awesome couple who love to have fun and wanted to have a wedding celebration that reflects just that. With a very diverse playlist (Soulja Boy to Steve Earl), they were open to all ideas I had for them.

The Huntington Hills Golf & Country Club (Northside Lakeland) looked beautiful thanks to swags and drapes by Flowers by Marilyn. Our lighting décor also gave the perfect touch. Both Sean and Jennifer were awed by how beautiful the room looked!

Package chosen:
*Entertainment Coordinator
*Ceremony System
*Dance Under Stars
*Dance Lighting
*Full room uplighting
*Under-table lighting
*Pinspot Lighting (to highlight the cake cutting)

See the awesome pics and video below! Thanks to Tim Hicklin from Storybook Weddings for encouraging my wife to piggyback the camera behind his so we can take advantage of his camera light!

We have worked with McDonald’s Habitat for Humanity’s Christmas Party for quite some time now. As usual, it’s another fun Bubble Party thanks to our BubbleMania Division.

The kids loved the bubbles, games, prizes, and even a surprise visit by Santa!

Wifey had the camera for a family gathering, so I shot these with the iPhone (it’s been a while!). Check out the pics and video below!

BubbleMania Parties is the most fun division of A Premier Entertainment. The concept is simple: FUN, INTERACTIVE games and dances with BUBBLES.. LOTS AND LOTS of bubbles! I love working with little kids (I’d be a Kindergarten teacher if not a DJ) and this allows me to bring them something awesome!

Check out the photos and video below. Big thanks to Babson Park Elementary for the signed release forms!!

Many of you know that I believe one of the BEST perks of my job is when I get invited to eat from the food available…. so when I was asked to DJ the corporate Halloween party for Terrie Lobb Catering, you can imagine how thrilled I was, (I love their punch oh-so-much, too).

The party was held at Terrie’s backyard, which was the perfect size for the event. There was a corner set for a piñata contest (only three casualties, myself included, haha), a corner for our Snap Yourself Silly Photobooth, another for the bar (food was in the house), and of course the dance area which also hosted our game show.

Working solo, I had to set up my iPad to control the game show system. This was the first time I ran the game show and MC’d at the same time.. it was a cinch!

Check out the pics and video below! I had a blast and I know they did, too!

Crazy stuff, I’ve known Stephanie since she was eight. Her sister, Sarah, even took a job at our old skating rink. I also did the weddings for mutual friends Jeff & Casey and Adam & Bethany. Needless to say, I know this crowd always goes crazy.

Once again, Eaglebrooke (Lakeland), got to put up with me… but with rewards this time. Eaglebrooke had a totally new look thanks to our lights.

We had (write this down, and ask for it at your wedding):

• Cake Table side flood
• Memorial Table Flood
• Sweetheart Table Pinspot
• Accent wash over both sides of the dance floor over the tables.
• Accent wash on the floor.
• Dance floor color changing floods
• Dance floor centerpiece lighting
• Blue Liquid Laser Ceiling Projection
• Blue Uplights
• Undertable Light

A club member walked in and said “Oh.. sh**.” Yeah, my feelings exactly.

I set this up solo because my wife had to be sent to the hospital. An idiot slammed into us (he was picking something up of the floor) and it did damage to her back. Luckily she was released and decided to join me for the reception. Folks, my wife is a trooper and she can beat up your wife.

I got to play with my new American Audio headphones… these things are LOUD!

Check out the photos and video below.. trust me, this is a MUST-SEE!!!

There’s no other way to say it… these two ROCK! Gary and Joyceann are the couple you instantly fall in love with. They’re the nicest, sweetest people and always down for a good time! The ceremony and reception were held at the Imperial Swan in Lakeland. They are under new management, so I’m excited to see the new changes.

The reception was a blast, too. While the guests weren’t too big into dancing, they rocked out to some great music selections from artists like Warrant, Heart, Shinedown, ACDC, and so forth. We even got to play a lil’ Steve Miller Band.

Check out the photos and the video recap!

Cameron and Courtney are one fun couple– and their guests proved to be in the same mindset. The wedding started off with a lot of energy and ended just as upbeat.

The ceremony worried Sagar and I, as the weather pulled through and was clear (and overcast, yay) just long enough for the ceremony and photos to occur. Luckily, the storms ended about 30 minutes before the ceremony began. *whew*

The reception itself was a blast, as I got to play quite a few songs that are on my personal favorites list, including Cheap Trick’s “I Want You To Want Me.” Their first dance, Lady A’s I Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, is also one of my favorite songs. Check out the video to see more!

We did the blindfold bait ‘n’switch garter replacement, per their request (these are always fun), but no one expected the switchee’s pants to come off– LOL!

The Magnolia building was well lit with our standard light show and also adorned with our laser starfield. Check out the photos and video clip below!

What an amazing reception! Kelly MC’d this one while I handle DJ duties (like the last two times) and the energy was intense!

To start things right, the location was Eaglebrooke which is always amazing. The crab-stuffed shrimp was amazing! The lakeland-based club was adorned with our uplighting, dance floor lighting, and monogram. Working with Tim Hicklin of Storybook Weddings, Kelly Day Photography, and Sassy Soiree made the night go ultra-smooth!

The music itself was very upbeat and I had a blast mixing all sorts of genres.. check out the video and photos to see what I mean!

And the video.. you can watch it in HD right on my blog now!

Pure insanity: there’s no other way to describe it. They saw Gino and I’s performance at Iris and Jason’s wedding, and loved everything that we had to offer. They told me that their crowd would be just as wild…

….and they delivered! The dancing, joking, mixing, and partying was non-stop the moment the dance floor opened. The ceremony (at the Lake Mirror Dungeon) was beautiful, even when it was so hot; the reception, at the Terrace Hotel, did not disappoint either. The food was delicious. My favorite part was where they started cheering for us at the end of the night.. talk about a compliment!

Check out the photos and video below!

Watch in HD!

Every wedding has a unique playlist, but as a DJ, I see many songs requested again and again; this isn’t a big deal as I enjoy all kinds of music, but Kirby and Sharon’s wedding playlist was exceptional! They made no specific requests (other than Elvis and Black Eyed Peas), they just wanted to party all night.

As the evening went on, their intimate wedding reception (hosted at the Lake Mirror Tower in Downtown Lakeland) quickly tuned into a party. Though it was a small dancefloor, it had no effect on the energy that was unleashed. Suddenly, I got to play songs that I don’t often get to play: 867-5309, 500 Miles, Any Way You Want It, Are You Gonna Be My Girl, My Sharona, and What I Like About You… sweet!

Then I got some requests for music that have not been requested before, including David Bowie’s Golden Years and the Safety Dance… wow!

Check out the photos and video summary below!

Watch in HD!

Before I kick off prom season, I had a GREAT time jammin’ out with Florida Southern’s Kappa Delta chapter; the sorority hosted their “Emerald Affair” formal night at the (awesome) Cleveland Heights Golf and Country Club. As usual, CH’s food was fantastic. If you’re in the Lakeland area, stop by for their delicious Sunday Brunch!

Kappa Delta got our basic Premier Package, but seeing as how I attended FSC, I had to do this event. Armed with loud sound (being used for the next day’s prom) and a 4Bar basic light show– I set up and rocked the night away! Josh was in the room behind me with our Snap Yourself SIlly Photobooth.

Check out the photos and video! Rock on Kappa Delta, you ladies (and respective dates) were AWESOME!

Watch in HD!

TK and Jessica wanted to party and party hard. They had a big variety of tastes in music and so did their family and friends… after our last meeting prior to the wedding, I knew that Monica and I would have a blast. They did a great job planning their own wedding, as the Admiral’s Inn in Winter Haven was completely transformed; Our uplighting, flood lighting, monogram, stars, and under table lighting added the perfect final touch!

As we provided DJ and MC services for the ceremony and wedding reception, Snap Yourself Silly provided a photobooth that was used the entire time, including all the props!

Check out the photos below as well as the video summary. Though TK and Jessica left, the party continued for another hour, and several guests stayed all night… especially for a special performance of Bohemian Rhapsody from Dave and Mike.

Video summary:

Watch in HD!

…and below is Dave and Mike having a good time. No the room wasn’t empty, the guests were on the other side while others were piled up in the photobooth!

Watch in HD!

Michele heard about us from her friends Alan and Sheri whose Lakeland Wedding I DJed a while back. They wanted a fun reception that would keep their friends and family dancing or having fun at all times– despite it being Superbowl Sunday (Packer VS Steelers).

It wasn’t too hard from my end– these people came to party and have a good time. Held at the Magnolia Building, the room layout included both the ceremony and reception. They didn’t have any lights, but that wasn’t the look that they wanted and they didn’t need it with the elegant design they chose!

Check out some amazing photos and an awesome video taken with my new HD DSLR!

Watch in crystal-clear HD!

Eaglebrooke held it’s third annual “Celebrity Night” to raise money for the American Cancer Society. With silent auctions, live auction, and a delicious meal served by the members, this was the best way to raise money for such a great cause! Check out some photos and video— video is shot with my new Canon… IN HD!

Watch in HD!

For the fourth year in a row, we helped KIley and her team create an incredible time for their guests. With amazing gifts, music, bubbles, glow sticks, Santa, and McDonald’s food— what else is needed to create an amazing party? In anticipation of an upcoming McDonald’s event, Monica MC’d the event and danced with the little ones while I handled music. Check out some cool photos and the video below!

DJs, I used the VMS4 for this one.. expect a review after a few events. Everyone else, click the link below for more!

Watch in HD!

Jodi and Jose had one vision in mind: a stunning wedding reception that exuded elegance but thumped like a nightclub when we cranked it up. Yup, there’s a DJ for that.

Now there’s something about the name Rodriguez that is synonymous with night club receptions, so keep ‘em coming!

That being said, we had one challenge: Jose is deaf and couldn’t hear the music. Using our powerful 4SchoolsOnly subwoofers and the awesome 4Bar setup, along with the 7′ video screen showing music videos, Jose was ableto feel and see the music.

While the Bayanihan offers LED uplights like we do, LEDs cannot do browns or certain teals accurately. Jodi and Jose’s colors were Aqua Teal and Brown… LEDs cannot produce these colors (brown– fugghedaboutit) so halogen uplights had to be brought in with carefully matched gels.

They were a great crowd– Kyle and I had such a blast! Check out photos and videos below!

And the video… I took an idea from a DJ friend, Jason Jani, about introducing what we’re offering in each video!

Watch in HD!

I still remember short lil’ Adam when he came to my skating rink dressed in spongebob Pajamas.

Now he’s much older, one of our DJs, and a client. Not necessarily in that order, haha.

His wedding was an afternoon wedding, but you certainly can’t tell that thanks to Eaglebrooke’s roll-down curtains. With some lighting, we can make the place look like a late evening wedding/night club. With Joann doing the linens, Maggi doing the cakes, Bob Snyder for video, KC Photography for the beautiful photos, and of course A Premier Entertainment for DJ, MC, lighting, game show, and our special Dance on the Clouds feature, Adam helped create a wedding reception that took the breath from Bethany.

This wedding was a piece of cake for me, and professionalism almost flew out the window. I’ve known a lot of these people for a while… Sarah and Stephanie from the skating rink (and I’m doing Stephanie and Bryan’s wedding soon), I performed at Casey and Jeff’s wedding. We saw Sally Mele, who’s daughter, Erica, used us for her wedding; (Hmm, that wedding cake looks familiar, lol). Last but not least, most everyone there was also at Bethany’s birthday bash.

The hardcore party tradition continues!

Check out the video below for the beautiful Dance on the Clouds and the real fun game show!

Video!

Watch in HD!

What a fun group… then again, I know most of them!

Adam used to come to my skating rink all the time and is also a good friend.

We’re also doing his wedding on October 16th…

He’s also a DJ for our company.

So of course his fiancé, and guest of honor tonight, Bethany became part of the gang.

As for everyone else? Quite a few worked/went to the skating rink and the rest I saw at Casey and Jeff’s wedding!

The setup was simple… couple of black lights, a Bliss, FatBeam lasers, Triphases… but the results were spectacular thanks to our amazing Hazer. This was held at the Bramble Ridge in Lakeland, where my wife‘s party was also thrown!

People drank. People danced. People drank. People danced more. People drank even more. You get the hint. Luckily, my good friends here are party drunks… they more they drank the harder they partied!

I will give you a warning on the video below.. it has some unedited music. Be careful watching this at work!

Video! (WARNING)

Click here to watch this in HD!

Christina (Kelly’s wife) told Kelly (our CEO and one of my best friends) that we had a bridal show at Eaglebrooke Sunday.
Christina told Kelly not to worry as she, Kyle and I would handle said show.
Christina called Kelly the day of and told him Kyle forgot the paper for our SnapYourselfSilly Photobooth!
Kelly drove to Eaglebrooke to drop off paper.
Kelly = Not happy.
Kelly opens the doors.
SURPRISE!!!
Kelly = Happy!

Christina did a great job pulling this all together.. and the food at Eaglebrooke was DELICIOUS!! Beth did a great job setting up the room as well!

Check out the pics and video below!

Click here to see it in HD

Ok, now I’ve been to Eaglebrooke MANY times, (How many? Click here for an idea!) but I have to say: this is the most beautiful set up I’ve seen at Eaglebrooke.

Then again, it should be. Natonia and Alfredo, with the help of Tarra Parnell, coordinator extraordinare, chose a dream team of Lakeland/Polk County vendors. Monica and I attended to music, lighting, and MCing. Jenny of KC Photography handled some exquisite shots. Tim and Patty Hicklin of Storybook Weddings took some cutting-edge video. Flowers by Marilyn did an amazing job with the linens and drapery and made Eaglebrooke look amazing. Beth and her staff did an amazing job, as always, offering top-notch service and food… and to top off an impeccable meal, a delicious cake was provided by Andrea of Sweetcakes!

The food… ohh man, you know I could go on for HOURS talking about how good it was. I’ll just say this: I had the salmon. The filet was easily a foot long, smothered in butter and light lemon juices, and fell apart the moment you looked at it hard enough. Delicious is an understatement here, folks!

Not only did it look beautiful, with our colorful uplighting and “Dance on the Clouds” feature, but it was a real fun party as you’ll see the video. (Lots of Latin music, too, helps being bilingual!) Three highlights are the soul train as the wedding party dance, Tarra’s son bustin’ out some MJ moves, and Natonia’s 90 year old grandfather moving it to some Earth, Wind, and Fire.

You just can’t rock any harder than that! Check out the photos and video below!

Package chosen:

• Entertainment Coordinator
• Dance Floor Lighting
• Uplights
• D’Elegance Under the Stars, custom (Sans Stars)

And two quick videos.. the first one shows the First Dance, courtesy of Storybook Weddings!

The second video is the event log.. check it out!

Watch in HD, click here!

This was an early reception, spanning from 5 to 9… but after 9:00 rolled around, Charles and I were beyond tired! Why? This was a pure party crowd. Then again, I knew most of the guests from school or from the Lakeland Skate Center. Adam and Bethany were good friends, current clients (their wedding is in October 16, 2010), but Adam also works fun us… Sarah, Stephanie and Josh are all friends from back in the rink days; Sarah and Josh worked alongside me there.

I’m used to plenty of dancing during afternoon receptions; but this wedding transcended beyond that. Charles and I worked up quite a sweat watching this crowd. Even Michele and Rachel from R&M Photography were scrambling to get the action which spanned all over the Cleveland Heights Golf and Country club.

As usual, I enjoyed the food there followed by an amazing dessert by Its a Piece of Cake by Maggi. Delish! Thanks to Casey and Jeff for the extended invitation for the food!

So yes, check out the photos and AWESOME video below!! Please leave a comment– I’d love to hear your thoughts!!

And of course , the video! Click the link below it to watch it in HD!

WATCH IN HD

You should already know that my wife is an amazing tech and could blow away most people when it comes to lighting and video set ups… however, she also DJs for the company!

After she finished assisting me at the party at the Village at Lake Ned, we drove to the next event where I assisted her. Johnny called us wanting to throw a special party for his mother-in-law, Candi. He didn’t think there’d be a lot of dancing, just a sporadic set every now and then, but these people danced ALL NIGHT LONG! It was awesome!

As usual, my wife rocked the house and I’m über-proud of her!

So we invited about 100 RSVP’d people… and 50 showed up… that means 50% of our friends suck (actually 40, since a few had a VALID excuse for not being able to show up last minute). However, this also means we have 50 amazing friends (some who drove from almost 4 hours away) to have a blast with us!

The setup was incredible… LED floods, blacklights, lasers, and awesome centerpiece effects coupled with MASSIVE sound that shakes the place, and the party took off quickly.

A private performance from my good friend Thrill da Playa took the party to a whole new level. Thrill da Playa isthe frontman for the 69 Boyz (Tootsee Roll, Kitty Kitty, and many others) and producer of MANY platinum hits (The Train, Space Jam Theme, Whoot! There It Is, etc).

Check out the photos (courtesy of Alex Gilliard Photography) and video below!! A special thanks to It’s a Piece of Cake by Maggi for the DELICIOUS cupcakes and Joette with Party People Celebration for the AWESOME centerpieces!

Most importantly, thanks to everyone who came!!!!

And Alex took some HD video with his AWESOME 7D:

I got the opportunity to entertain at another charity auction at Eaglebrooke. This was for St. Joseph’s and their theme was Havana Nights. Ohmygoodness, let me tell you how AMAZING the food was: arros con pollo (which the Tico in me made into Gallo Pinto thanks to ample amounts of onion and butter), pork, plantains del orno, and a superb tres leches to top it off.

Sure, Tres Leches is from Nicaragua (not according to Nestle, haha)… but every Hispanic country serves it nowadays.

It was a small dancing crowd of about 15-20, but they danced all night!

Check out some photos and video below!

Facebook is still possessed, let’s go YouTube!

Oh man… this wedding was just crazy good!!!

Megan and Vince are such an outgoing couple! We shared quite a few laughs during our final consult. Megan told me her family loved to dance, and she wasn’t kidding: we had a 90 year old guest and her son who danced non-stop– including during the cocktail hour and dinner!!!

Vince is one of the most easygoing, fun grooms I’ve ever seen. He didn’t leave the floor the entire night. He introduced me to think group called Slightly Stoopid. It’s a former punk band now turned reggae group– and I loved everything I heard!

The Bok Tower was such an amazing place to work at! Rita treated me like family, even though this was our first time working together. The best part is I got to work with Terrie Lobb, who provided the most delicious food ever. She even had chocolate covered strawberries stuffed with cheese cake. It was TO DIE FOR!!!

Couple cool things… Megan decided to do the coolest photo shoot as she took over my role! Check it out!

Then we had a young man named Ashton who wanted to play Mariah Carey’s “Always Be My Baby.” I let him cue the song up and play it as he became DJ Ashton!

Check out the photos and video below! The first set of photos are mine, and the second set, marked with ©RM, were provided by  R&M Photography. They were the ones who referred Megan and Vincent to us. Thanks!

Package Chosen:

• Entertainment Coordinator
• 4Bar Light Show
• Wireless Cocktail Hour System

Facebook seems haunted… here’s a YouTube video!

All day– as in 2 to 8PM!

Mark & I instantly got along as he’s a light tech as well. After our final consult, he asked to check out our warehouse and we geeked it up while Brenda shook her head.

The location was Bramble Ridge in Lakeland— a GREAT location for those looking for a pretty, budget-conscious building. The Karaoke and 4Bar Light Show were a hit… check out the photos and video below for more info!

One of the guests from last week, Bob, was a guest and he partied hard! BEP’s “I Gotta Feeling” got played a few times that night!

Eaglebrooke’s 2nd Annual Celebrity Night to raise funds for the American Cancer Society went off without a hitch!

Amazing food, a “drag” show put on by members, tons of dancing, auctions, and lots of alcohol were the perfect ingredients for a great night!! Members donated their time to become the staff at Eaglebrooke. Together, they raised $6,200!!! CONGRATS!

By the way, these members dance NON-STOP!!!

Check out the photos and video below!

My setup is to the left… on the right is the setup of another performer.

Steve and Ashley threw an epic wedding— how epic? Well, the party didn’t stop even after they left!! I’ve been looking forward to this wedding since Kelly and I did the wedding for Steve’s brother, Russell, and his wife, Tiffany. I knew their family and friends were here to party and my prediction wasn’t off at all. Not only did they dance throughout the entire night… but even after Steve and Ashley left for their honeymoon in Maui, the party kept going for ANOTHER HOUR!!!!

For me, the most memorable part will be the energy the introduction contained. Wait till you hear how LOUD everyone got when Mr. and Mrs. Villarette made their first entrance!

Check out some great photos and video below. The last photo was taken by Heather Ahrens of HA! Photography.

The sound system… before cord cleanup, lol

Kyle, Ashley, Steve, myself!

And the video!!

Rich and Melissa Galinat had an incredible reception— Pete and I had a blast and we were honored to be part of their amazing reception!

Both their families are huge Steelers fans, so we had some fun sneaking a few fight songs in between things. Rich’s grandfather caught on quick, as he’s a big sports buff.. and he danced– even after Rich gave me a challenge and said he wouldn’t dance. I enjoyed talking to him and his wife (Rich’s grandmother, of course)….. they shared that they used to love dancing and have shared 62 years of marriage together. WOW! Can you believe that????

Once we opened up the dance floor, the kids had a blast dancing with the adults. Rich and Melissa stayed on the floor the entire time. They were so energetic, I was worn out watching them! I got to play a little bit of everything– from rock to country to rap!

I’ve attached some photos below as well as a great video!

Highlights:

• Taps was played for Steve, the guy who caught the garter as we gave a “moment of silence” to his bachelorhood!
• Rich did the moonwalk to Billie Jean!
• Pete and I were invited to enjoy dinner with the family. The Lakeland Hilton Garden Inn is AMAZING and their food is spectacular!
• 90s Alternative, Motown, 60s, and 70s & 80s rock were all played during dinner!

Package Chosen: Entertainment Coordinator

Pics and video below!

Delicious cake!!!!

Pete stands in front of my console. Nothing much to see… move along, people, lol. Pete was a great assistant– I enjoy picking on him!

First dance!

Melissa dances with her dad…

Rich dances with his mom…

These two little ones were dancin’ away during dinner!

And the floor opens!

Lynn (Hilton’s Captain), myself, Melissa, Rich, and Pete.

Lynn and Sherman (Banquet Mgr) as well as the cook migrated from the Imperial Swan. The Swan’s loss was the Hilton’s gain— they are an amazing team!

Immediately following Collin & Jerrika’s amazing reception from the day before, Nick & Tammy’s wedding was not only just as fun, but officially marked the end of my “BEST WEDDINGS EVER” month!

First off, Tammy gave me a list of her favorite artists and songs, covering the greats such as Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Billie Holiday, and even Ella Fitzgerald. This made an incredible cocktail hour list that defined her vision for her wedding: elegance, class, style, but fun.

As she danced with her father and Nick danced with his mom, they created special slideshows for them to be shown on our large LCDs hung elegantly with white trussing. I have to mention that to my knowledge we’re the only DJs in this area that offer REAL white trussing…Much more elegant than a large aluminum structure hanging in the middle of your reception room!

Mr. and Mrs. Edds created slideshows for their first dance as well as a few special surprises.

Monica and I had a special treat working with a wedding coordinator team who recently took on a new team member… Jessica Santiago is not only a family member on our church, but I also did her wedding (as well as Erica and Matt, who are related to her).

For the dance, 80s music really hit the sweet spot, as well as a large Michael Jackson Megamix. (RIP to the KING OF POP!)

And I must say…. the Lakeland Yatch Club is not only a beautiful room with an amazing staff (Thanks, Bill!) but their food is top notch. I enjoyed my Chicken Cordon Bleu (thanks for inviting us, Tammy & Nick!).

Andrea, president of Sweetcakes, managed to amaze us once again! You may recall from Jonah and Haley Brock’s wedding reception that she made a groom’s cake shaped like a deer’s head. This cake was incredibly realistic. This time, the groom’s cake was a dinosaur… you MUST see this. Andrea is truly the queen of cake design!

One last thing: a big thanks to Nick, who serves in the Air Force, for serving our country and keeping our freedoms… well, free. Your efforts always go appreciated and we keep you and your fellow men & women in our prayers!

Package chosen:

• Entertainment Coordinator
• Dual LCD package with multiple slide shows

Now, mosey yourself to the link below to see photos and video. Photos are provided by Jenny from KC Photography!

As Nick & Tammy’s friends and family came in, this is was their welcome screen.

My wife setting up the last minute details. Notice the elegant white trussing.

Doin’ the intros.

Nick pulling his wife in for a kiss. The whip was a fun prop they used to tie in his favorite movie: Indiana Jones!

Andrea (Sweetcakes) made the coolest cake– ever!!!

IT’S EVEN GOT LIL’ CLAWS!!!

Dancing!

Myself, Monica, Tammy, Nick!

And a video!

Eric and Robyn are a lot of fun! Though their wedding was in the afternoon, with the Florida sun shining bright, it didn’t stop them from dancing!

Good thing, too…. we need to continue my “BEST WEDDINGS EVER” Month!

You have to see the videos to believe how many people danced in the middle of the afternoon. The location, colors, setting, and everything was perfect and seemed to really fit their personalities!

First, the location was the beautiful Huntington Hills in Lakeland, Florida. Denise is one heckuva Chef, and her staff is always prompt, effective, and smiling! The big windows allow plenty of sunlight to come in, but their effective AC system keeps the place comfortable. It’s amazing how many weddings one has to do in a Florida Summer before you really appreciate air conditioning.

The colors were chocolate and apple green elegantly splashed throughout the whole room.

And of course, Maggie made the cake. It was delicious– you’re darn right I had some. Yum!

Lots of unique things were done, and I want to share a couple:

• Father Daughter Dance: The Hokey Pokey — the ultimate in cheese became something fun and special for Robyn and her father Bud
• Families were encouraged to bring in their own homemade cookies for a “cookie buffet.” It was very unique and delicious! Any wedding with Snickerdoodles, Chocolate Chip, and Oatmeal is a good wedding!
• Instead of a guestbook, there were cards to be filled out. Guests were able to fill out their best wishes in these cards, seal them up, and place them in the bowl.
• This wedding was another example of using colors wisely. Their wedding colors matched Huntington Hill’s signature colors perfectly!

Package chosen: Premier, upgraded to Entertainment Coordinator compliments of us.

Check out some great photos and a video in the link below!!

Half of the head table!

My setup!

Myself, Robyn and Eric!

And a YouTube video!

June kicks off the “BEST WEDDINGS EVER!” month!

Almost three years ago I did a wedding for Mr. and Mrs. Acevedo. This promptly led to creating an amazing reception for two more family members: Mr. and Mrs. Santiago. We got along so well that they invited me to their church, New Hope, in Winter Haven, FL. This has been the best decision in my life– I’ve finally found a church I can call home.

Fast forward to yesterday, Matt and Erica came to my office needing the wedding of the century. Knowing their family and friends, very little effort would be needed to accomplish this– and boy was I right. This was a party from the very beginning on out!

The photographer, Danny Cruz (with his son, Brandon) and Tim & Patti (with Storybook Weddings Videography) did an amazing job capturing all the special events. We felt very welcome not only as vendors but as guests by everyone there.

The ceremony was at Victory Church in Lakeland, FL and the reception was at the Lone Palm in Kathleen.

Highlights:

• Harry & Shannon Acevedo’s son, Davin, is 2 years old— he wasn’t even born when I met these two– how time flies!
• Very energetic introduction with a remix of Beegees with Lil Jon, Boom Boom Pow, and Right Round!
• MERENGUE!! NEED I SAY MORE?
• Lots of interaction without bordering on cheesy!
• My wife was there– despite her injured knee, she couldn’t lift anything up, but she handled the music very well! (I love working with her.)

Package Chosen:

• Entertainment Coordinator
• Extra Extra Extra Bass
• Uplights in Pink
• Extra Hour

It truly was a party– check out the many iPhone photos and videos, soon! As soon as I get footage from Tim, I’ll make sure to share it!

My setup… the pink uplights look orange thanks to the iPhone’s cam.

Cocktail hour arrangement… pretty hearty! Ha ha– get it? GET IT?

180+ people!

Preppin’ before guests arrive.

Uplights behind the candy buffet.

A beautiful cake by Karen (from Lakeland).. the tiers were THICK!

Everyone went for the Dove Chocolates!

The limo arrives. As you can imagine, the curb was NOT made for a limo that long to pull up. My eyes tell me this is a Lincoln conversion, judging by the chassis. Either way– it’s absolutely beautiful.

Dancing begins!

Tim, the videographer, getting his roll on!

Erica dancing with Anthony (the ringbearer).

As you can (slightly) tell, the uplights threw a hue of pink around the room!

Tim watching me DJ.

Monica, myself, Erica, and Matt.

And a YouTube video!

Erica & Matt– I wish you both the best! See you in church.. we love you guys!

Josh & Jennifer O’Neal had a secret they didn’t tell me: they were BIG partiers! She told me she liked to dance, but she didn’t tell me that she & Josh could kickstart a reception!

The wedding started at the Hollis Gardens in Lakeland, FL. The ceremony was highlighted by two gentleman singing. Nathan sang Kenny Chesney’s Me & You while uncle Roy sang “I Do (Cherish You).” Wow.. they’ve got a set of pipes on them!

As for the reception, the catering was amazing!! Chef Terrie Lobb (who makes exquisite edible treats) reminded me why I love this job.

Fast forward to the reception: the sound was amazing. The Sorosis Building (also known as the Junior League Center) has nothing but wood paneling on the walls. Can you imagine what that does to the already-rich sound of my BOSE system? Oh yes, sound was at a perfection. The acoustic panels guaranteed NO echo or harmful reverb.

You have to check out the video located in the break below. Jenny, with KC Enterprises Photography, did a great job with the photos as always!

Highlights of the day:

• Great singing during ceremony
• The grandfather being the life of the party
• Everyone dancing to Soul Man
• The ending song

Package chosen:

• Entertainment Coordinator
• Ceremony System
• Monogram

So check out the photos and videos at the link below! Leave a comment if you enjoy what you saw, please!

Ceremony was beautiful!

The amazing BOSE sound system provided enough sound without pulling away from the beauty that is the Hollis Gardens.

Grand Entrance– very unique!

Terrie Lobb’s amazing display. The palm tree is made from shrimp! MMmmm….

Each table was elegantly laid out….

Our system was cleverly hidden using plants that Jen & Josh provided. The sound was NOT affected!

The monogram!

Wiki-wiki-ing!

Dancing would not stop!!

Derek, my assistant, always does a great job coordinating and keeping an eye on the technical things while I focus on the music.

This, too, can be your DJ! lol

Don’t get me wrong– it’s never “all about the DJ” but who doesn’t like photos of cool equipment?

An overall view of the room before the party started.

This gentleman here was the life of the party! I hope I can be that full of energy when I’m his age. He really made the night!!

He did a great job doing the worm!

Josh shares some special father/son time. His son was adorable and was fascinated by the DJ equipment. I gave him one of my LED lights that we use as flashlights.

More dancing!

A great bouquet catch!

And now.. the replacement.

Bob, the videographer, was invited to enjoy some of the most delicious groom’s cake we’ve tasted!

Yes.. we were rockin’ out hard!

Monogram up close.

Myself, Jennifer, Josh, and Derek (his DJ name is now DJ Dent… long story, haha).
Check out the video below!!!

I absolutely love Lake Ashton… the food and service are stellar. It’s even better when you have AMAZING weather and the bride and groom are the best people to work with. Yup… this wedding went VERY well.

Christine and Blake wanted to have a good time… whether people danced or not wasn’t their main concern as much as it was making sure that everyone left with a smile on their face.

My wife and I enjoyed setting up, there was a member of Lake Ashton practicing for the talent show… he blessed us with his talents on the piano playing songs from Van Halen’s “Jump” to Queen to Disney… for the first time ever, I asked for a request!

The emotion flowed through Lake Ashton during the ceremony, Christine and her father, Davis, were so excited that they shared tears of joy before David escorted his little girl down the aisle.

The reception was  a blast! The photographer, Sofia (http://www.PhotographyBySofia.com), was a lot of fun to work with and I hope to be sharing some of her photos here soon! Christine and Blake worked really hard to plan their special day to make sure their guests felt special, too… and I think they achieved that goal!

The uplighting was awesome… we designed it to change colors throughout the evening…. during dinner, they alternated between their wedding colors.
Check out some great iPhone photos as well as a cool YouTube video. The lighting setup was elegant (no trussing, no ugly tripods, but it flooded the room with color… even the uplighting changed color according to mood!)…. YouTube doesn’t do a great job of keeping the video as bright as it was originally, so click the HQ to see a better quality video.

Package chosen:

Entertainment Coordinator

Colorchanging Uplighting

Light Columns

Dance Under the Stars

D’Elegance Lighting

Ceremony System/Coordination

Kyle MCed this wedding and I let loose DJing tonight! WOW am I still pumped up! The energy was through the room from the moment we walked in those doors. It was a beautiful sunny, yet breezy day at the Hollis Gardens and Magnolia building.

I really wish we shot more video because the crowd really turned this wedding into a night club… well, nightclubs WISH they could turn into this wedding. Mixing the hottest music remixed to house/break beats, the floor wouldn’t stop moving.

I want to focus on this picture for a minute:

What do you notice? Look how elegant the DJ setup is. Megan and Jesse wanted the head table in front of the stage with us behind them… they were confident that our setup would be clean and discreet so their photos would not be ruined. The small-footprint lightshow is part of our new D’Elegance series and has JUST AS BIG AN IMPACT as our normal light shows. Look how elegant it sits on top of the 4″ thick BOSE speakers.

The uplighting changed colors throughout the evening and was synchronized to the music and mood.

Package Chosen:

• Entertainment Coordinator
• D’Elegance Lighting (Dance Floor Lights, Monogram, Static Uplights)
• Upgraded static uplights to color-changing, wireless uplights
• Reception Under the Stars
• Ceremony System

Check out some GREAT photos taken by KC Enterprises. www.polkphoto.com. Their blog should be up soon with even more photos from one of the crunkest weddings I’ve been to.

Oh yes, and a great video, too!

Click below!

McKesson chose Tigertown (Detroit Tiger’s training stadium) in Lakeland, FL…. the only problem is that it’s an empty, metal hangar. How the heck can you beautify this place?

With the right vendors. That’s how.  

Enter Joette of Party People (http://partypeople.homestead.com) with her AMAZING balloon sculptures. Instead of boring you with text, I have supplied plenty of photos and video!

Our next step in transforming the hangar was lighting. They didn’t opt for uplighting, except in the Balloon Tunnel and entrance room. 

We used a two-column setup with LEDs that flooded the room with blue (it was a Winter Wonderland theme) with moving head lights that projected snowflakes on the dance floor.

The balloon arch surrounding the floor absorbed the lights and was bursting with color!

Enjoy some great pics and video below!

Update: Welcome DJChat and BalloonHQ members! Be sure to leave a comment!

Here’s Joette next to her giant balloon arch!

White trussing. While most DJs may use metallic trussing, we prefer white as it is more elegant. 

The left wall of the balloon tunnel.

Here’s the arch! No flash used, this is our LEDs at work!

You can see our dual-totem setup!

Here’s the arch, glowing in color!

The entrance room. Joette provided LED Christmas lights and rope light around the room while we supplied blue uplights.

SNOWFLAKES!

More white trussing.

Karen and Neville Williams. When they chose a DJ for this party, we were the obvious choice… after all, we did their wedding three years ago!!!

Here’s me. I’m blurry, lol.

This is my light tech, Derek, doing my job while I’m taking photos.

This little guy here is the life of the party. He was dancing and clapping to every song!

McKesson gave away some awesome gifts… but people had to run up to get them! This guaranteed hilarity!