Kelly Olson & Chauncy Hendershot

When: Saturday, May 29th, 2010

Where: Holiday Inn, Minot, ND
1st Dance Song: "Better Together" by Jack Johnson

Chauncy had his heart set on doing the robot for their introductions. When the time came, we walked the entire wedding party out to the dance floor, where they all froze. As I introduced each to Pretty Light's "Hot Like Sauce", each pair came to life and made their way to the head table. A great opening, but could have been better if I'd brought some lasers, but what can you do (other than bring the lasers, I suppose).



Instead of a traditional guest book, a type writer. Type your names, a joke, whatever. They also had a table cloth for guests to sign. A dessert table set out (looked fantastic). Custom shot glasses for favors, available up at the bar. Just order a 'Hendershot' and enjoy. Centerpieces included a cleverly redisguised lights. Taped up with green (or maybe its fabric), bundled together, it looks like a little lighted tree. Beverage napkins were custom printed with a little phrase: "chauncy=crazy; Kelly=Awesome; Chauncy + Kelly = Crazy Awesome."


I digitally edited their first dance song, cutting out the middle verse and chorus. This made the song just about two minutes long, and a more enjoyable first dance for them (and I do it for free!). As a side note, when you think of songs that fill a dance floor, its not usually "Don't Stop til You Get Enough" by Michael Jackson. Can you even think of the tune? In my first hour, though, it was the big song. Good. That song is as danceable as anything.

No dollar dance, tonight. Bouquet and garter tosses. One dance off to Missy Elliot's "Lose Control." Two of her cousins wrote some new lyrics to the Archie's "Sugar, Sugar." I caught the video and audio (video to the right). One of the groomsmen also sang karaoke "Pride and Joy" and was pretty good though he had to dodge a couple of drunks who tried to join him.

Elisa Benson & KC Flynn

When: Saturday, May 22nd, 2010

Where: Touch of Magic, Grand Forks, ND
1st Dance Song: "Drive On" by Jack Ingram

A few less responsibilities for me. A Touch of Magic has some very specific rules about what the DJ can and can't do. This means I didn't really start work until I got everyone ready for the speeches. Jazz on Tap handled the dinner music and welcomed Lisa and KC into the room.

Place cards assigned the seating. No dollar dance, no garter. Some excellent speeches here. One dad, best man, maid of honor, a bridesmaid, and a groomsmen. That's usually a bit long, but each was good, relatively short (under 3 minutes), and kept it moving.

For the bouquet toss, I brought out her brother, Alex. As the lone single groomsman, and recently turned 21, I figured he could use an introduction to our single ladies (not really though). He flew in from Australia. Another guest, from Argentinia. So no excuses about how you couldn't make it all the way from Fargo, people.

Nothing too demanding for their playlist. KC had some songs not to play, and Lisa likes the 80's. Their friends like newer top 40 and AAA rock (Modest Mouse, MGMT, Feist). Strict instructions that anything JT or MJ was to be played (Justin Timberlake and Michael Jackson for those with the free time to say entire names).

Also present were superstar photographers, Shawna Noel and Kory Wallen. They setup a photo booth for guests until 10pm. All three of the photos here are courtesy of them (me, to the right) so that you nice folks don't have to look at my photography (It's bad. Just terrible pictures). Thanks, guys!

The weather took a turn towards 'Lightning' as the evening went on. When I went to load out my gear at the end of the night, it was a massive downpour and my tuxedo and I were soaked by the time I got to my car. But at least I forgot a change of clothes, right? Ugh.

Megan Malnory & Brad Fredrickson

When: Saturday, May 15, 2010

Where: Holiday Inn, Fargo, ND
1st Dance Song: "Then" by Brad Paisley

"Dear Robert, thank you so much for the fabulous job DJ'ing our wedding reception. Seeing you in action at Kali & Dan's wedding, we knew you'd be great and we wouldn't have to worry about anything. Your fun and engaging personality really helped make the reception wonderful, and I can't count how many compliments we got from our guests about you. Keep doing what you're doing! :)" -Brad & Megan Fredrickson

Megan & Brad were at a wedding I worked in September of 2008. As a result, they felt full confidence in me. We met once last year, but only emails between then and the reception. That's their choice, but always make me nervous for some reason. I guess I just prefer face to face to be clear on what they mean when they say what they want.

They hired me to make their video slide show. Traditional style, but they made it shorter (seven minutes down from ten) and swapped their song choices with two of mine (Eight Days a Week by the Beatles and I Love You, You Imbecile). I noticed, during the video, that the groomsmen kept cheering for certain things. The Vikes, Twins, Fighting Sioux. After the video I tried a little experiment.... simply saying the work 'Vikes' over the mic got a big cheer from them. Good to know.

No Chicken Dance, no hokey pokey, no dollar dance. Requests were all over the place... Justin Bieber to an Irish jig and one for Whitney Houston's I Want to Dance with Somebody." The list included "Queen of Hearts" by Juice Newton. At Megan's mom's wedding 28 years ago that song was a big deal, and they were singing so loudly the police came and broke up the party. Its been a tradition ever since for mom and her siblings.

Ashley Bezdicek & Riley Morgan

When: Saturday, May 1st, 2010

Where: Community Center, Minto, ND
1st Dance Song: "Waltz Across Texas" by Willie Nelson

The Minto Community Center is my favoritest place. They have 48 speakers in the ceiling making it easy to be heard in the entire (very large) room. It keeps it loud on the dance floor and no where else.

Early in the dance, I got a special request for a very old waltz. Ashley wanted it for her grandmother, a widower, who danced to it with her husband. Unfortunately, the only version I could dig up on short notice sounded like a recording off the radio. In 1946. It was still appreciated, all the same.

No bouquet toss and no garter tonight. Just a dollar dance for the events.