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.