Stephanie Wilson & Trevor Anderson

When: Saturday, August 6th, 2011 Where: DoubleWood Inn, Fargo, ND 1st Dance Song: "Then" by Brad Paisley Three different wedding receptions going on here, at the Doublewood, tonight, causing a little guest confusion in the halls.  It also meant that, while we did our toasts, the room next door was blasting music already.  Not cool.  We were alright, but no one should have to give a speech with a muffled, but still loud, version of 'Shout' playing in the background. We did some different things with our opening songs.  For her dance with her dad, Steph made up a mix: start with 'Cinderella', which suddenly rips into.  The wedding party started out fast with Usher's "DJ Got Us Falling in Love."  I followed up quickly with a surprise black light dance.  I handed out 30 or so pairs of white gloves, turned down the rest of the lights, and made it glow.  Check out the video for what I mean.  It's a great effect when used for the one song (and doesn't turn your wedding dance into a night club). For the garter, we sold raffle tickets, then brough up eight winners who competed via musical chairs.  Cutthroat business.  Ashley won by disqualification when the other three guys all sat down without the music stopping.  They thought the music had stopped because, ironically, I got on the mic to warn them not to sit down without the music stopping.  The crowd voted them out. Things fired right back up after the bouquet/garter, so I did a stroll:  everyone forms two lines, facing each other.  The couple on one end dance on down the middle (see the video).  You only attempt this while things are going great.  It's not really something guests will do until they trust you to be fun.

Kristen Litzinger & Jared Young

When: Saturday, July 30th, 2011

Where: Ramada Inn, Grand Forks, ND
1st Dance Song: "All or Nothing" by Theory of a Deadman

Decorative up lighting again tonight.  Purely as decoration, though.  There are no floruscents to contend with at the Ramada. 

The only rough spot for Kristen and Jared today was at the church.  The unairconditioned church.  The pastors sped the service up slightly to make sure everyone was OK.  One choice that seems down right genius now is the groomsmen had no suit jackets.

Their request list was four songs, all line/group dances.  Otherwise, it was about 10 songs on the 'do not play.'  Easy to work with, but, I do actually prefer a bit more direction than that.  For example, I learned, during social hour conversation, that Kristen's favorite movie of all time is "Girls Just Want to Have Fun."  It's a thoroughly 80's movie.  That's something I can work with.  Play the namesake song, and suddenly a lull in the dance turns into 20 ladies dancing in a circle around the bride.

Elva Perez & Brandon Frank

When: Saturday, July 23rd, 2011

Where: Community Center, Wyndmere, ND
1st Dance Song: "Then" by Brad Paisley

Things are looking up.  Temperatures have returned to relative normal and this community center has AC.  I also setup decorative up lighting.  This room has those giant floruscent lights every school gym has, which means, with the lights, it's either all or nothing.  With the up lighting around the room, we were able to leave the floruscents off. 

I've never seen a staff serve so many people so quickly in a buffet.  150 guests in some 12 minutes.

Photobooth tonigh was provided by Black Tie Photobooth.  If you are looking for one, he's easily the first and only I'd recommend.  Not only was his equipment top notch (HQ photo prints in about 12 seconds), he seems to do everything the right way, but he is as cheap or cheaper than anyone else I've seen.

A slight change in tradition.  Elva danced with her dad first, who handed her off to Brandon.  From there we quickly added the wedding party, all married couples for an anniversary dance (48 years was our longest marriage).

A rare moment tonight, the Chicken Train (by groom's request).  A big circle forms, one person in the middle has a broom as a dance partner, and everyone gets a turn.  It's silly but who cares.

Kasey Swiers & Nolan Klinkhammer

When: Saturday, July 16th, 2011

Where: Community Center, Bejou, MN
1st Dance Song: "Then" by Brad Paisley

Today's temperature got up to 162*F.  Or at least very close to it.  Thankfully the city hall here in Bejou is air conditioned  Oh, wait.  It's not.  Nuts.  That's fine when it's just me setting up but once 150 people pile in here and start moving, sweet mollases, it's hot.  We were dying by 9pm, but couldn't open up the doors until after sunset, or we'd be trading intense heat for swarms of mosquitos.

I'm only here for the dance.  Nolan and Kasey had their dinner at the church in Mentor, where they were married.  She didn't bring a toss bouquet, so I supplied one of mine (what?  You don't keep a few spare toss bouquets in your van?).

These guys were definitely ready to dance.  It would have taken a pretty bad DJ to clear these folks off the floor.  I got to play almost anything you can think of.

To the left is the result of a concrete floor and spilled drinks on a wedding dress.

Gina & Josh Wagner

When: Saturday, July 2nd, 2011

Where: Teamsters, Fargo, ND
1st Dance Song: "Love of a Lifetime" by Firehouse

Tonight was marred by some delays.  You wouldn't know it, but having only a single stall bathroom for a reception of 250 people can really slow things down as wedding party members are forced to stand in line for their turn.



Hello to some old clients, the Wagners, married about three years ago and guests at (what feels like) many, many weddings.  Pictured here is their new baby boy with their uncle Josh.

No song list from Gina and Josh.  Just after the dance started they snuck outside to finish their pictures (an open shutter, then drawing a heart using sparklers).  This made for a slow start to the dance.  Once they came back in, the requests started and we got rolling right until everybody was disappointed it was time to go, three hours later.

Lacie Fogelson & Casey Hanson

When: Saturday, June25th, 2011

Where: Avalon Events Center, Fargo, ND
1st Dance Song: "You Make Me So Very Happy" played live

Today's ceremony was also at the Avalon, and I took care of sound for that, too.  This meant a mic for the pastor, reader, singer, and inputs for a cellist and guitarist.  It didn't go the way I had planned but went well and that is all that matters.

Our singer (Andi Thoreson who also sang at her sister's wedding two years ago), the cellist and guitarist also performed the first dance song for us.

Some interesting touches tonight.  The guest book was plates (china) guests signed with a silver pen.  This will let Lacie mount these on the wall later.  The Avalon held two receptions tonight.  To make sure guests knew they were in the right spot, a front door, painted with chalkboard paint, had Lacie and Casey's names on it.  I also received a request list made by guests who listed songs on their RSVPs.

Or only real issue was that it appears Lacie and Casey were both struck with food poisoning from something they ate during pictures.  They ducked out about 11pm, a little over an hour early.

As usual, more great work by wedding photographers Shawna Noel and Kory Wallen.   Well, I guess I don't actually know that... we haven't seen the pictures yet, but history suggests it will be more outstanding work on their part.(no, these aren't their pictures.  Their pictures are good)

Katie Jo Johnson & Carlos Ballinas

When: Saturday, June18th, 2011

Where: Under a tent, Battle Lake, MN
1st Dance Song: "As Time Goes By" by Buena Vista Social Club

"Hi Robert!  I'm so sorry it took so long to get back to you.  I think things were more crazy after the wedding than before:)  Again thank you for everything you did for our wedding reception!  I don't think it could have gone any better than it did.  If you need any recommendations just let us know!"

Katie and Carlos were actually married January in Mexico, and again yesterday, in Minneapolis.  Today is a reception only at her parents' lake house.

I stole a baby (OK, babysat) during dinner when I sent her mom and family up to the buffet.  Her name is Laney, she is 4 months old and she giggles when you hold her up so she flies like Superman.

Since Carlos and his family are from Mexico, we used a translator during the prayer, and during some of the event explanations.  Their first dance song is in Spanish (somehow I can't find the Spanish title, though).

Turns out, at weddings in Mexico there is a tradition of carrying the groom in and tossing him in the air, all set to the Funeral March.  Fantastic.  We followed that with "A La Vibora De La Mar," which is, as best as I can describe it, a cross of a conga line, circle dance, and limbo.  No footage for that one because, no one told me about the song in advance, so I bought it, downloaded and was playing it from my smart phone, which I had been using to catch some of these moments.  Maybe I'll be able to get some footage from the videographer.

One other very random request:  "Achy Breaky Heart" by Billy Ray Cyrus.  Apparently they line dance to a Spanish version in Mexico.  That's a first time playing it for me.  I also got to play a bunch of salsa music.

Brooke Melicher & Tim Hanson

When: Saturday, June11th, 2011

Where: Holiday Inn, Fargo, ND
1st Dance Song: "Grow Old With You" by Adam Sandler

A night opposite from last, this one with about 140 guests, in much more modest ballroom (the Holiday Inn is great, it's just not the size of a football field).  Brooke, Tim, and the wedding party arrived via clydesdale drawn hay ride (and I missed pics).


To involve the guests quickly (and give the photographers a better background), we brought up all the guests to form a circle around Brooke and Tim for their first dance song.  Not an issue since the song is only 90 seconds long.  The second song, Brooke and her dad, Paul, danced to a minute long version of "You Never Can Tell" by Chuck Berry (most recognizable these days from Pulp Fiction).

No dollar dance, bouquet, or garter tonight.  The only interuption to the dance was when a young lady, Destiny, asked to sing "The Way I Am."

One amusing moment: a guest from the wedding next door came over to request a song... for next door.  Turns out that DJ didn't have "Into the Mytic" by Van Morrison, so I got it for him on an mp3 player I use for backup.

Ericka Erdmann & Garret Kollin

When: Friday, June10th, 2011

Where: Shooting Star Casino, Mahnomen, MN
1st Dance Song: "Then" by Brad Paisley

The reception hall was set for more than 500 people.  The room was as long as a football field.  Quality sound for that size room with that many people is tough, but if you do it right, everyone can easily hear the speeches, the room is full of sound, but not too loud, except on the dance floor which is loud enough (and that is one heckuva run-on sentence).

While Ericka and Garret wanted to recognize their mom and dad (respectively) with a dance each, she did let me shorten them.  I created digital edits of their first dance song, her dance with her dad, and his with his mom so that all three songs lasted about eight minutes instead of the full twelve.  The songs still sound intact instead of the old, awkward fade down halfway in.  Instead of another slow song for the weddng party, Ericka had me play "Dynamite" by Taio Cruz.  Something upbeat and fun can work, just warn your wedding party in advance and get them onboard.  In our case, it was also after 9pm and a bit easier to get people going.

No dollar dance, but we did toss the bouquet, and a scavenger hunt to give away the garter.  Out of left field, Ericka asked if I could do something I haven't in a couple of years, and even then it was at a Christmas party: the frozen t-shirt contest.  Five guys race to put on t-shirts that have been soaked and frozen.  Fantastic for it's silliness, definitely something you do late, in our case, 11pm.

Yingxi (Rona) Shi & Jeff Kuntz

When: Monday, May 30th, 2011

Where: Turtle River State Park, Grand Forks, ND
1st Dance Song: "Eyes on Me" from Final Fantasy

This was actually an outdoor ceremony and indoor reception.  The couple met as students in the UND meteorology department.  There was a brief panic in the morning when lightning knocked out the area's power, but the park runs on propane, not the electrical grid, so my mad scramble for a generator on Memorial Day Monday was unnecesary.  There was some misting rain as we all arrived for the ceremony, but in all, the day was quite beautiful.  The ceremony went off without a hitch, though the pastor's mic was on mute, his voice carried fine.  The reception, however, was perfect til about 9:30pm, when tornados were spotted around Grand Forks, sending many of our meteorologists on their way, and the rest of us to safety.  Which wasn't too bad, since we had to be done at 10pm (per park rules) anyway.

I'm very used to pronouncing difficult names, but that's usually Polish or Norwegian.  This is Chinese, a whole new set of phoenetics.  If you're wondering, Rona's name is pronounced like 'Ing-She'.  That's the easy one.  Have fun trying to pronounce Shaoyue or Zhe.

The reception was pretty traditional.  Rona's parents flew in from China for this, and her dad wanted to do a speech, done with a translator (her cousin), who learned just how hard that is to do well.  Not everything in Chinese translates easily into English very well, or at least, not literally, but he did a pretty good job.

Rona and Jeff choreographed their first dance song, all five minutes of it, making a great impression on the guests.  For those who can, 12 lessons or so is all it takes to put something together that will get noticed.