Jackie Baird & Chad Osowski

When: Friday, November26th, 2010

Where: Community Center, Minto, ND
1st Dance Song: "Better Together" by Jack Johnson

They really decked out the community center. Chair covers, a raised head table with lit backdrop and candlelight. Decorations courtesy Darcy Van Hoff. All three together make a great impression when you walk into such a large room. The raised head table, in particular, is almost necessary if you want to be seen at all.


Since the dance didn't start until after 9pm, we did the dollar dance, bouquet toss, and a garter raffle all in a row, just after 10. The garter raffle got us eight winners, who then competed in a sort of scavenger hunt to determine a winner. Very cutthroat business. When I asked for a picture of the bride and groom, one guy, instead of getting a camera, grapped the four foot tall picture collage display at the greeting table. Well, OK then.

Two different couples I worked for a few years back are here, and both are expecting babies first half of next year. Congratulations, but please don't name him Hershey.

Chad picked their first dance song, and it was held back as a surprise for Jackie. She didn't find out until they walked out onto the floor, which they did during the last 30 seconds of their video slide show. It setup the first part of their first dance with pictures of themselves as the backdrop. I thought it worked very well.

That hat Chad is wearing was a gift earlier in the day. His captain's hat for his fishing boat.

Awesome older song I'll never get to play again but that worked great here: "We Built This City" by Starship I also got to play Nelly's "Country Grammar." Despite how much it played when it came out, I don't think I've heard it or had it requested for at least five years.

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Christie Canfield & Tyler McFarland

When: Saturday, November13th, 2010

Where: A Touch of Magic, East Grand Forks, MN
1st Dance Song: "Then" by Brad Paisley

"Robert, Thank you so much for being a part of our wedding! You did a great job and we truly appreciate it! Happy Thanksgiving!" - Christie & Tyler McFarland

This is my first wedding in a few weeks. To earn the evening out, from 7am to 2pm, I watched both my three week old son and 20-month old daughter so my wife enjoy part of her day.

Christie and Tyler had these very simple, but very elegant centerpieces of yellow leaves on stems. They looked like flowers and fit the fall weather. That seemed how everything was tonight. Simple, elegant, and a perfect fit. Almost effortless (though I doubt it was).

Normally, if a couple is showing a video, I get a copy in advance and take care of things. At a Touch of Magic, that is supposed to be done for you. However, the DVD didn't work with the player, it would have left off the last three minutes. Instead, I took care of it with my gear and managed to get it to work to the end.

Things really got going after 10pm, so Christie had me continue for a little over an extra hour.

Random song request that went over great, but wouldn't ever play anywhere else: T.I.'s "What You Know." I had it, but don't think I've ever played it before. Doubt I will again. That's OK, Tyler and his buddy, Flash, love it. Also, "Forever Your Girl" by Paula Abdul, from Christie's list.

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Get Hitched: A Wedding Show for the Modern Bride

When: 6-9pm Tuesday, November 9th, 2010

Where: Plains Art Museum, Fargo, ND

A big thank you to all who attended (more than 100). It was our first year and went as well as we could have hoped. In all the years and all the shows I've worked, I've never enjoyed it so much. I had a chance to talk with five or six couples at length, but apologies to those who couldn't wait for me to be free.

A special thanks to the organizers, largely photographer Katie Lewis, but also the greatest human beings on the planet, photographer Shawna Noel and Kory Wallen (they may have recommended me to a few of their clients).

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