#Mom and Groom Mexico first dance

[abweddingphotographermexico]

First dance Groom and Mom Riviera Cancun Mexico First dance Groom and Mom Riviera Cancun Mexico A very precious moment.... the wedding day is almost finished and the night is coming.

[laurabartcnx]

ring + laurabuck

send me 💍 + A SHIP and i’ll tell you—

where they get married: Surprisingly, they had gotten married in Stark Tower. It was rushed, but Laura didn’t mind it any.

when they get married: It was a winter wonderland theme, it was official in the early afternoon.

what traditions they include: White dress, not seeing the bride until she was walked down the aisle, the first dance. The cake in the face

what their wedding cake looks like

….who smashes cake into whose face: Laura. Bucky almost took it all too. Talented man who can stuff his face right.

who proposed to who first: Bucky.

who walks down the aisle and who waits at the altar: Laura walked herself down the aisle. Bucky was nervous and Cap having to keep reminding him she wasn’t gonna leave him.

what their wedding dresses / suits / other look like

Bride:

Groom:

what their wedding colour scheme is and what sort of decor they have: Blue and grey. They wanted to make the skyline in the winter.

what flowers are in the bouquet: Babys breathe and roses.

what their vows are: Bucky kept his simple, Laura’s was an old vow her family had passed down for years.

if anyone’s late to the wedding: They had to put money in a jar.

who’s in the bridal parties / groomsmen / other: Cap was the Best Man, and Natasha was her Maid of Honor.

what their bridal party / groomsmen / other are wearing. Tasha wore a simple black dress, and Cap wore his uniform.

who gives speeches at the reception: Laura thanks everyone in joining them on their special day, crying heavily. Tasha and Cap teamed against them and told them embarrassing stories. Laura’s parents also made a speech saying how happy they are their baby girl married a strong man, and how her mom’s prediction she’d marry a solider was true.

who catches the bouquet( s ): One of Laura’s cousins (But she always was aggressive for the bouquet. She caught it at 4 other weddings and STILL isn’t married)

what their wedding photos are like 

what sort of food they have at the reception: Laura and Bucky decided to have Carnival foods: Corn dogs, cotton candy, all the fun foods.

who cries first during the ceremony: Bucky Laura

how wild their reception gets: Laura had a few shots before her wedding to settle her nerves, so when the reception came to be she was pretty plastered but Tony took the cake.

what their rings are like

what sort of favours they have: Candles, and Steins for those who wanted them. Little candy bags for the kids.

where they go for their honeymoon: They went to Sunny Mexico and stayed in a resort, then to Italy and finally France.

something memorable that happens during the party / ceremony: Laura almost broke a light kicking her shoes off! And one of her best friends’ kids almost stole the garter from Bucky,

who officiates the ceremony: Nick Fury.

what song their first dance is to: I’m Making Believe by the Ink Spots.

who gives who away as they walk down the aisle: Natasha walked Laura down the aisle.

@ziminiiyvolk (Hi babes! I miss you!

[kootenaygoon]

So,

The dancers didn’t realize it, but they were on fire.

I gazed silently across the grass from my fold-out camping chair, watching the kids dance barefoot in the purple glow, and found myself transitioning between the music being played onstage at Kamp in 2017 and the worship concerts I used to sit through back at Camp Qwanoes. How long ago was that now, 17 years? I could see the filthy sandals on my feet, the ethereal glow of the projector, the band calling out for holy fire to descend on the chanting congregation. Becca was nowhere to be seen, so I was slowly submerging into this mushroom-induced reverie, flashing through all the different times I’d ever opened my voice up to God. 

Refiner’s fire, my heart’s one desire is to be holy. Set apart for you, Lord. 

When I was in high school I spent years writing and re-writing a novel that was supposed to be my testimony. It was called The Way Things Are. The main character Jethro ran away with his girlfriend Charity to rob gas stations, fleeing her abusive father, then ended up coming to Christianity after a bunch of criminal hijinks. It was more interesting than my real testimony, which was that I’d become the pseudo-son of our youth pastor Trent and devoted my life to becoming his disciple. Of all the kids in the Powerhouse youth group, I was his favourite. Trent had a special connection with God, a calling, and that’s what I wanted for my life. I didn’t want to be some boring suburban kid without a purpose. I wanted someone to hand me a light sabre.

I took a sip of my drink and felt my mental circus shift, dislodging me back into the moment. My feet felt like they were kissing the dew, making out with the slick blades of grass, and I sighed with satisfaction. The last time I got this high off mushrooms I ended up swimming in the Gulf of Thailand, talking to the moon as if it was my mother. I always learned things from these trips, even if it was something dark.

It was during one mushroom trip that I named my blog Literary Goon.

“Do you remember you used to promise that you would give me your first born child? As payment for all those Chinese lunches, those trips to the mall? Do you remember we made that deal?” Trent asked, sitting down in Becca’s spot. 

“You thought we were kidding around, but I was dead serious.”

I sat up straight, pulling my knees to my chest. I was a teenager again and Trent looked exactly like I remembered him, though he was haggard from being in prison for 11 years. “I was a kid myself, man. I didn’t know what I was saying. I didn’t even think I was going to get married.”

“You wanted to be my Padawan apprentice.”

I took another sip of my drink, trying to man-handle my mind. Maybe I could get somewhere a little less dark, a little bit less fucked up. “You know they found child pornography on your computer? The Delta Police. They found it on your computer in the youth trailer.”

He frowned. “I know.”

“And Vick told me about that picture he found, of a naked boy, in your leather jacket. He said you talked your way out of it. Said it wasn’t yours. But who has pictures of naked boys in their pockets?”

He looked up at the Kamp performers. This guy Frase was performing while his girlfriend Emily break-danced. Becca was in the thick of it. She seemed to know everybody here. “But you know me, Will. You know I would never hurt anybody.”

“Maybe not. You were definitely gay, and all repressed about it, and you definitely crossed some lines. Maybe not in Canada, but in Mexico? In Mexico, I think you’re guilty. I think you did something you can’t even admit to yourself. You fucked those kids, Trent.”

He hung his head. “There’s no such thing as perfect people.”

There was no turning back now. I was emotionally invested in this conversation, and I’d been yearning to have it for over a decade now. “I built my whole worldview around you, do you understand that? My whole Christian belief system was based on the things that you taught me. So when they arrested you, I lost it all. I lost all my faith, Trent. What do I have left now? I’m just this fucking loser shit-head who doesn’t understand the goddamn universe.”

Tears trickled down his face, making him look Christ-like. “I told you: don’t let my situation be an excuse for you to turn your back on God. I can suffer through lots of things, but I can’t know that I was the reason you lost your faith in God.”

I stood up. “You know what? Fuck God. Tell Him I said that.”

Right at this moment Becca appeared, her face glistening from dancing. Purple fire danced in her eyes. Frase’ soundscape surrounded us like a giant bubble, a glistening planet-like orb that contained us in this forest. I didn’t want to do any more time traveling, didn’t near to scour my emotional landscape right now. I just wanted to have fun. But sometimes I felt like I didn’t know how to have fun anymore, didn’t know how to interact with real people. 

Refiner’s fire, my heart’s one desire is to be holy. 

“You’re being so lame, you should come dance,” Becca said. “It looks like you’re sitting back here talking to yourself like a crazy person.”

I shook my head. “I can’t deal with movement right now. The mushrooms are kicking in and I just need to hang tight, okay? I need to stay in control of this.”

She laughed, then spun away into the darkness. Had she even really been there? I turned and Vick was beside me, jostling, as we stood in line to approach the front of the St. David’s sanctuary. There had been an altar call, and Trent was calling believers to the front railing to experience the Holy Spirit. The kids who went sprawling backwards when he touched their foreheads were considered “slain in the spirit” and volunteers jumped up to lay pink blankets over them as they seized in holy bliss.

“Do you think it feels like getting high?” Vick whispered, vibrating with excitement. “They say it’s like electricity going all through your body.”

“It’s never worked for me. I didn’t feel it.”

“This time will be different. This time you’ll feel it. Trust me.”

But now we weren’t in line for salvation, we were in line for mushroom milkshakes in Thailand. They tasted like chocolate milk that had gone bad. My soul sluiced through the realities of all these different Will Johnsons, bringing me from one insane mind orgasm to the next. These were the sorts of revelations you couldn’t put into words, the kind of experiences that thunder out their meaning for years after they’ve died. All this time I’d been hunting rapists with Andrew Stevenson and the truth was staring me blunt in the face: Trent. I wanted to forgive him.

He was the key to everything. When they’d first arrested him in Tijuana, as we raced through those labyrinthine streets in our gleaming white van, I prayed to God like I’d never prayed before. The Devil had surfaced, had revealed his skeletal face, had swept Trent out of our lives. There was some special purpose he had for my pseudo-father, down there in Hell, preaching to the heroin-addicted denizens of a gulag I would never see. Back then I prayed for a machine gun, for a helicopter and a SWAT team with the fire power necessary to break him out of prison. We were Eminem and Dr. Dre. He’d saved my life, now it was time to save his. 

“So you think he’s guilty?” Vick asked, watching the purple fire consume the Kamp dancers. He took a long drag of a joint, then passed it to me.

I was annoyed. “Everyone says ‘where there’s smoke, there’s fire’. And there’s so much fucking smoke, Vick. Anybody with eyes can see it. I think back to our relationship and I’m pretty sure I was being groomed, right? Like I was probably inches away from getting molested by this guy.”

Vick squinted. “But he never touched you?”

“He put his arm around me when we watched movies sometimes. He tickled me. I mean, we were affectionate. And I knew he was weird, but I’m weird too.”

“Yeah, but you’re not a pedophile. You’re not a goof.”

I sat back down in my chair and rubbed my eyes until I was back in the Thai ocean, the water lapping around my face as I monologued to the sky. I felt like everything was worth it so I could experience this moment. This was the reason I was born, this was what all those years were leading up to. My mother had beckoned me down to Earth and now she was shimmering benevolent in the heavens.

“I understand it now, Mom,” I said, beginning to laugh. “I understand everything.”

The Kootenay Goon

[generationphotoandgift]

Wedding: October 7, 2017

Ceremony: Timberhouse at Rolling Acres Country Club, Beaver Falls, PA  

Reception: Timberhouse at Rolling Acres Country Club, Beaver Falls, PA

Hair: Samantha Horne from Christine’s Salon and Spa in Hopewell

Makeup: Jessica Olsavsky

Florist: EcoFlowers

Bakery: Family Friends

Entertainment: Tim Cain from JL Entertainment

Colors: Plum and Gray

Honeymoon: Riviera Maya, Cancun, Mexico.

Let me just start this blog post by saying that sometimes the stars align, you meet someone that brings you joy, they enrich your lives and will forever hold  a special place in your heart. While there is no doubt that Theresa and Nate have this but here, I am talking about my relationship with this couple. Theresa is truly one of the sweetest, most hard working individuals that I have ever met and she can no longer be called a client, I knew this, I felt this about 5 minutes into meeting her…she is my friend and I treasure her.

Our day started at Theresa’s sisters home with pre-ceremony coverage, where I truly believe that I witnessed a family dynamic that is unparalleled on so many levels. The entire family gets along so well and it made everything run so smoothly that we were able to leave and arrive at the Timberhouse to continue the getting ready photos. Once we completed the pre-ceremony coverage with Theresa complete with photos of her very soon to be in laws, we proceeded to another area to get photos of Nate and his family and groomsmen.

I have met Nate a few times but the stunning woman that is his mother has got to be the reason to which I had the honor of photographing Theresa and Nate’s wedding. Nate’s mother, Susan AKA Sue is so sweet and a long time friend of ours. She is an amazing chocolatier and the owner, operator of Noland Chocolates. Seriously, if you have not tried her chocolates, they are a must! They are so delicious and creamy and the take away box that Theresa and Nate packed up for me at the end of the night seriously saved my sanity of the weeks following their wedding haha. October is always a crazy month for me with several, always popular October weddings and my amazing daughter Addison’s birthday is on Halloween, which since she was born has become a month long celebration with Pumpkin Festivals and Fall farm visits all month long.  But truly Sue Noland’s chocolates are amazing and I insist you try them I promise you won’t be disappointed!

FAVORITE MOMENT OF THE DAY: Pre-ceremony…who knew that it could or would happen so soon! Theresa and Nate’s only photo request was that we capture their prayer prior to the ceremony. You will see tons of wedding samples on Pinterest that have a photo of the bride and groom on either side of the door, to preserve that precious first moment of seeing each other as being that moment that she walks down the aisle but this, this was different. These two are starting their lives together is the best way, they are putting God first! A marriage requires three people for it to be whole, to be successful, for it to be long lasting and true. Those three people are a bride, a groom and God.  These two…they just get it!

We had gorgeous 82 degree weather and the Timberhouse steps set the stage for this amazing couple to get married. The ceremony had all the perfect elements to unite these two, there was family, friends, laughter, tears, pure joy and excitement!

Following the ceremony we use those same steps for family photographs, I LOVE how you can see the reflection of the gorgeous fall trees in the reflection above that window, immediately followed, by bridal party and bride and groom portraits. This Rolling Acres Golf Course and Timberhouse have so many options for photography that we just simply walked across the street to capture all those special moments.

After heading in to the reception, they made quick work of the first dance, toasts and blessing. Now in talking with the couple they expressed extreme interest in sunset photos, based on our timeline that sun was going to set right in the middle of dinner, while I wouldn’t normally interrupt a couples dinner for photos,  let’s be honest, we need that break for food as well, but Theresa said to come get her and we will go.  So we hit up the buffet line after immediate family, scarfed our food and got back to work. Boy o Boy am I glad we did! The sunset portraits are definitely my favorites, the sky was fairly clear and the colors are spectacular. I also LOVE getting that photo on the front steps of the Timberhouse with the warm ambient light indoors contrasting with the cool twilight sky outdoors.  I feel these moments are essential to a successful wedding; it gives the couple a moment to calm down, regroup and realize just how quickly this day is flying by and to really savor the moment of THEIR day!

Following dinner we started the dancing off with parents dances. Theresa and her father, followed by Nate and Sue and in quick succession was Theresa and her step father, bridal party and open dance floor. Open dance floor, there wasn’t an open space on that dance floor that wasn’t being occupied but a guest dancing the night away! Everyone was having so much fun and it was a blessing for us to capture all the love in that room. Speaking of love and it may just be my second favorite moment of the day, let’s talk about Nate’s dad Pat and his mad dancing skills, now I don’t want to call myself judgmental but maybe I just happen to lump all men into a category of non-dancers and bad dancers LOL.  I see a lot of my dad’s “type” in Pat, strong, hardworking, amazing providers and fantastic fathers…but my Dad will slow dance with my mom but that is 100% absolutely it, my Dad would never even consider “fast” dancing on the dance floor! I truthfully don’t know why I do this judgment, my husband is a dancer, he’s quite good also, he has good rhythm and doesn’t look goofy at all. I just never in a million years expected that from Pat, to the point where my husband was jealous and taking notes haha. Kidding of course, but it was one of those moments where I thought to myself, everyone should have video at their weddings because this is fantastic! Theresa, please tell me someone, anyone captured this!

We left shortly after the garter and bouquet but not before hugging and congratulating my dear friends Theresa and Nate. That’s when Theresa asked if WE could get a picture together, I don’t get very often but once in a while and let me just say, its super sweet and I treasure it each time it does happen, it really shows me that I have made some sort of impact on this bride, I am appreciated and an important part of their day. While I HATE having my photo taken just as much as nearly every groom I encounter, which is why I am behind it haha.

I will forever treasure Theresa and Nate, as clients whom I was honored to photograph on their wedding day, but more importantly I am blessed to call them friends. We made a promise on her wedding day that just because the wedding day was “over” that we would remain friends and stay in touch, I intend to keep that promise because I made a vow many years ago to surround myself with kindness, with people who have good values and integrity, people who love the Lord and recognize their blessings as much as I do and those who just simply make me feel good.

These are the Hands

These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and full of love for you, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow, and forever.

These are the hands that will work alongside yours, as together you build your future.

These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, and with the slightest touch, will comfort you like no other.

These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief fills your mind.

These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes; tears of sorrow, and tears of joy.

These are the hands that will tenderly hold your children.

These are the hands that will help you to hold your family as one.

These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it.

And lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged, will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.

[emilyemcnabb]

Hannah and Garrett’s wedding at Firefly Gardens

High school sweethearts, Hannah and Garrett, tied the knot at the beautiful Firefly Gardens outside of Dallas, Texas in a celebration filled with joyful details. Fresh Flowers and Gatherings created some of the happiest florals we’ve ever set eyes on in a palette of yellows and peaches. Paired with dusty blue accents in the tablescape and bridal party the effect was like a crisp spring day filled with sunshine and smiles. The bride stunned in a Stella York dress with intricate floral appliqué and the groom added floral flair with a patterned tie. Lucille Photo was behind the lens capturing all the details in these images that are sure to make you crave that perfect spring day.

What made the wedding special and unique? 

We had fun incorporating a traditional Czech Grand March in the reception. The dance was always a highlight of mine from family weddings I attended as a little girl. It was easily one of our favorite moments of the day! We also had a red balloon in our wedding decor which always meant “I love you” when we texted the red balloon emoji to each other. I didn’t know someone was bringing the balloon and I was so emotional seeing it in the reception.

Tell us about the gown and where/how you found it!

My dress is designed by Stella York and I immediately fell in love with the delicate, floral lace. We custom tailored the bust to add lace trailing up the shoulders from the sweetheart neckline. As soon as I put it on I started crying. It’s from Joann’s Bridal in West, TX which is actually where my mom found her wedding dress years ago! That was not planned at all, but funny how life works that way. I also found it on my birthday! Best. Birthday. Ever.

What were some touches added to make the wedding personal?

My family really made our wedding so special. My mother in law made delicious blue mint favors and my sister in law wrote everyone’s name on them in calligraphy. My brother in law is a pastor and married us and it made the ceremony that much more personal! We really had a wonderful team that wanted to help us and love us on our day.

What was the most memorable part of the day? 

The entire day was so wonderful it’s hard to choose, but Garrett and I both agree our final dance together was absolutely our favorite moment. We picked our second favorite “first dance” song (Make You Feel My Love by Adele), the room was empty and still, and we got to soak in the last moments of our perfect day. I couldn’t have asked for a better ending.

Tell us how you met and became engaged.

The groom and I are high school sweethearts and we’ve been together for almost 9 years! We started dating as a senior and junior in high school, but he had a crush on me for two years before we actually started dating. We dated through college and finally got engaged on a cruise to Mexico. We were both so happy to finally tie the knot!

Photography: Lucille Photo // Florals: Fresh Flowers and Gatherings // Invitations: Kismet Print Co. // Venue: Firefly Gardens // Dress Designer: Stella York // Dress Boutique: Joann’s Bridal // Hair: Corenne Hess with Revel Workshop // Makeup: Katy Moore with Luxe Salon // Bridesmaid Dresses: Lulus / Asos / Azazie / Weddington Way / Show Me Your Mumu // Men’s Attire: The Black Tux // DJ: Leforce Entertainment // Catering: Mama Cuca’s // Film Scans: Photovision

  The post Hannah and Garrett’s wedding at Firefly Gardens appeared first on Grey Likes Weddings | Wedding Fashion & Inspiration | Best Wedding Blog.

[weddingplans12-blog]

Stacey and Ryan’s Intimate Vintage Mountain Wedding - Bridechilla Wedding Planning

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Stacey and Ryan’s Intimate Vintage Mountain Wedding - Bridechilla Wedding Planning

​Ryan and I have been together for 7 years. We met at a party at my parents’ house after my stepdad hired him for his first job out of college. After that summer, we both went back to school in different states and decided to stay long-distance between Texas and Oklahoma to see where things went. I just kept thinking to myself that I would stay in this relationship as long as it made me happy and not worry about the future!

After a couple of years, I decided to move back to New Mexico to be with Ryan and my family. We moved in together, got a dog, and loved traveling and playing board games with friends.

When Ryan got a job in Colorado we faced a turning point in our relationship. We made the decision to stay committed to each other and he proposed on an Alaskan cruise with the 7-year-old map he had drawn to my parents’ house from the night we met. We both moved up to Colorado and have been enjoying camping, hiking, and skiing in the mountains.

We ditched the Pinterest Board and Started from Scratch

Like every couple, we really wanted the day to feel like our own. I had a whole Pinterest board before we got engaged, but I chucked it out the window because it was all rustic with lace and mason jars—and I felt like I was planning somebody else’s wedding (no hate on that theme; it’s beautiful). And we started from scratch. Making the decision to get married in Colorado was hard because that meant both families would have to travel, but we decided to do what was right for us—and we wanted the mountain venue!

Navigating the challenges of planning a big event as introverts

One of our biggest priorities (and challenges) was keeping the day intimate. As introverts, neither of us wanted to stand in front of a crowd of people we only knew half of. We chose our venue because of the slightly smaller size, and saved money by choosing a Friday date. We also decided that kids (save our nieces) weren’t appropriate for this venue or the kind of event we were having. It was hard to do this, but in the end it all worked out for the better. I’m also a professional designer and love to do projects, so it was really important to me to include special handmade details throughout the day. I spent months hand-crafting our custom invitation suite and made a few signs using barn wood from Ryan’s family farm in Oklahoma. About 10 months before our wedding, a very special cherry tree in my parents’ backyard fell over—and after crying about it for a good 20 minutes, I took my mom’s offer of using it for the wedding and hand-lettered each guest’s name onto a slice of wood for their place card. I thought that would be a detail that was only important to me, but our guests took them home afterwards and have been doing all kinds of fun things with them!

My favorite part of the entire day happened right after the ceremony. There’s a small amount of time that the bride and groom get alone together before everyone else comes in for the recessional and our feeling of elation was so high at that point. I’ll never forget the kiss we shared right then and what it felt like to have done it!

Okay, okay. And I know I’ve rambled for a bit but I have to share the most classic part of the day. First, it downpoured right before our outdoor ceremony (yes, we had a plan B). And I had no idea. Guests afterwards kept asking me if I was freaking out, but really, I was just glad about this:

When I arrived at the venue, I walked up to the doorway with my brother and our photographer. As we approached the doorway, I heard a hissing noise—and looked over to see a large rattlesnake reared up, fangs bared, and rattling/hissing 10 feet away from my brother! We backed away, used a different entrance, and the venue called a ranger but eventually the snake just went away on its own. So rain wasn’t the worst thing that could have happened to us and it gave us some great perspective and a great story.

My invitations. I know a lot of people throw fancy invitations in the FIB, but I spent hours and hours on mine and loved every minute. We got so many compliments on them and people really appreciated the attention to detail.

My dress. Y’all… the cost of wedding dresses can be INSANE I know. We splurged a little more than I had planned on mine—and it wasn’t even my mom or grandma’s favorite. But I loved it so much and it made me feel so incredible.

The. Open. Bar. And I don’t mean this in a “you’re a bad host if you don’t have one” way, because, ew. We didn’t think we had it in our budget, but we found a company in Colorado that did it for just $16 (yes, SIXTEEN) dollars a person for the entire night (whaaaat?!). So we spent the money on it and it really helped loosen everyone up for the dancing and socializing. And our guests were grateful for it. I have photos of my cousins hanging out with my friends from college. Of Ryan’s uncle dancing in the middle of a group of my aunts. Everyone mingled and I don’t think it would have been the same without the bar.

​Okay… I know this sounds cliche and like I am seeing our day through rose-colored glasses. There was a lot of stress leading up to the day and it wasn’t a fun year planning. But I wouldn’t have changed a thing.

Oh, this. Meeting with wedding planners wasn’t worth it. I didn’t end up hiring one, which made me really nervous because of our short timeline for setup. But I put a trusted aunt of mine in charge and my family tackled everything beautifully! I did make sure everything was ridiculously (and y’all, I mean ridiculously) organized for them, but they were happy to help and another vendor would have just gotten in the way. Not sure I would have the same advice to others unless they have ready and willing people like mine!

Everything traditional beyond the first dances! No bouquet toss, no garter toss, no cake cutting… just a really fun party! And we got feedback from everyone about how much fun it was instead of feeling like a checklist of things to get done during the night.

We also threw the traditional timeline in the FIB and did a first look, which was fabulous because it calmed us both down before the ceremony, and we were able to get photos out of the way so we could enjoy cocktail hour!

Transportation. People are adults. They can get somewhere on time and drive responsibly on their own.

Our traditional American rehearsal dinner also went in the FIB. At first I didn’t want to do this—I wanted a nice wedding party dinner in an intimate setting without the whole family around—but as the planning went on I found that I didn’t think the money was worth it, and just went with my mom’s suggestion of using the fabulous AirBnb they had rented with a barn area out in the back. My MIL had tacos brought in and we ended up inviting the whole extended family—which was GREAT after all because then everyone had been around each other before the wedding so it was more relaxed and much less divided on the wedding day.

​ Try to just feel gratitude, not guilt. I spent a lot of time worrying about other people—how much my bridesmaids were spending to travel, how awful of a person I was for not inviting all of my parents’ friends when they were helping us pay for the wedding, how everyone would have to take time off for our Friday date. And in the end, everyone was so happy to be there and to be a part of it. They all had a fantastic time and I learned that while it’s YOUR special day, it will be special for others too.

Also, hire professionals. They’re good at their job and they’ll make everything better for you.

​ Bridechilla helped to keep me sane! There were so many times that I felt so alone throughout the process. It was great to have a community of people to reach out to who would respond with understanding and not judgment.

Source

Stacey and Ryan’s Intimate Vintage Mountain Wedding

[sandiegodjstaci]

Samantha & Omar's Bilingual Mt. Woodson Castle Wedding

Samantha & Omar's Bilingual Mt. Woodson Castle Wedding

Of all the San Diego wedding DJs out there, Samantha and Omar chose me to DJ and MC their Mt. Woodson Castle wedding on Saturday, April 28, 2018. Sam was actually at work one day stressing about finding a bilingual San Diego DJ when her co-worker Marisol, who was having her own bilingual wedding the week before, said, “Call DJ Staci.” How do ya like dem apples???

  (c) San Diego DJ Staci

THE LOVE STORY

Samantha & Omar met in August 2012 when Samantha was showing off some sweet yoga moves…something like the “Snap & Bend.” Once they started dating, S&O used to go on long walks after work in the park. They said they loved each other on one of those walks. Here’s what Samantha told me: “Omar had a huge bash for Jaden’s 4th bday party & had too much to drink. He had to end the night early. Samantha stayed with him, nursing him & that’s when Omar said ‘I love you’ the first time.” Interestingly, Omar disputes this story despite having no memory of that night…hmmmm

  (c) San Diego DJ Staci

On May 4th, 2017, Omar and Samantha were on a cruise to Mexico. After several gorgeous days on board the ship, Omar decided to propose–outdoors–on the day they received storm warnings. Most of the decks of the ship were closed due to the weather…but finally Omar found a satisfactory location. Poof–Samantha turned around, and Omar was down on one knee, explaining why he loved her. Samantha was so cold, she rushed back inside before saying YES….to a question Omar hadn’t even asked yet actually!!! Afterwards, Omar showed Samantha a bunch of pre-recorded congratulations messages from friends & family.

Together, the newlyweds enjoy cruises, movies, Disneyland, and playing with Jayden & their dog Potato. Their honeymoon plans include some staycation time at their new house in Oceanside.

  (c) San Diego DJ Staci

THE UNPLUGGED CEREMONY

Samantha & Omar got married under a beautiful, old tree at Mt. Woodson Castle as a harpist played. The only song I played was their recessional after Omar smashed the glass: Phillip Phillips’ “Home.”

THE MT. WOODSON CASTLE WEDDING RECEPTION

After Samantha, Omar, & Omar’s son Jayden were officially introduced to Bruno Mars’ “Marry You” they did their First Dance to “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran. They had planned on playing the Shoe Game after dinner but decided to scrap it last minute (good call since we only had an hour for dancing). After toasts from the Matron of Honor Janna, Best Man/Son of Groom Jayden, and Father of the Bride Sheldon, they cut their cake to Sara Bareilles’ “I Choose You.”

  (c) San Diego DJ Staci

Omar then danced with his mom to Boyz II Men’s “A Song for Mama.” The only country song at this Mt. Woodson Castle wedding was for Samantha’s Father-Daughter Dance: Brad Paisley’s “Today.” We took a group photo on the dance floor then opened the dance floor with a Longest Married Couple Dance. I did my thing for an hour then Samantha & Omar asked for N’Sync’s “Bye Bye Bye” as they Last Dance.

  (c) San Diego DJ Staci

THE PLAYLIST

For the cocktail hour/dinner music at this Mt. Woodson Castle wedding, the bride and groom requested my “Feel Good” Soft Variety Playlist. For open dancing, they wanted a lot of Top 40/Pop, 90s, and Electronic Dance Music, some Oldies, 80s, and 70s, and one or two slow dances. Omar asked for 25% of the music to be Spanish–Salsa, Cumbias, and Reggaeton. As Jayden and a few of his cousins were in the house, S&O asked for only PG-13 music.

The “must play” list consisted of: Justin Timberlake – Can’t Stop the Feelin’, Don Omar – Danza Kuduro, Bruno Mars – 24k Magic (faster club remix), Walk the Moon – Shut up and Dance, CNCO – Hey DJ, Juanes, & the Spice Girls. Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” was a “play if you can.” The “do not play” list included: Big Band/Rat Pack, Rap, R&B, YMCA, Chicken Dance, Macarena, Billy Joel, and any line dances (although “Cupid Shuffle” was given a pass).

Again, I was honored to be the one and only San Diego wedding DJ Samantha and Omar trusted with their bilingual English/Spanish wedding. Thank you! See more at #CastroCastleWedding.

  (c) San Diego DJ Staci

SAN DIEGO WEDDING VENDOR LIST

Here is the amazing team of San Diego wedding vendors I had the pleasure of working with on this Mt. Woodson Castle wedding:

Venue ➔ Mt. Woodson Castle

Day-Of Coordinator/Caterer ➔ Personal Touch Dining

DJ/MC  ➔  Staci Nichols

Photography/Videography ➔ Dapper Images

Photo Booth ➔ IndyBooth

Officiant  ➔  friend Brent Roberts

Cake Bakery ➔ Flour Power

Florist ➔  House of Flowers (the groom’s family’s business)

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[generationphotoandgift]

Ceremony:  Sts. Peter and Paul Church, Beaver, PA

Reception: Doubletree Moon Twp., PA    

Make Up:  European Flair

Hair:  European Flair

Florist:  Parkway Florist, Greentree, PA

Baker: Cakes by Tammy

Entertainment: The band Walk of Love lead singer Sean Kememer

Colors: Steel blue

Honeymoon: Mazatlan, Cancun, Mexico

I graduated from Freedom Area High School, class of 1999…at Freedom (when I went there) it was K-4 in two separate elementary schools, 5-8 in the middle school and 9-12 in the high school. I was terribly anxious going into 9th grade, the nervousness of a freshman that I would like to think most feel. I walked into my first period class and was met with a man named Mr. Byrnes, freshman English, as I thought, oh I got this, I enjoy English and I am decent enough on the subject so I didn’t feel the need to fret. Mr. Byrnes was a small man but he commanded the room as no other teacher I had ever encounter, he was strict, he was tough, he didn’t put up with crap(to put it as best as I can), he was also one of the best English teachers I ever had. I learned so much that year and fell in love with writing.

So when I had a consultation with Mr. Martin Byrnes and Miss Meagan Susa it hadn’t even occurred to me that it could be the son of MY Mr. Byrnes.  I may sound like a nosy photographer, but it is simply my way of getting to know my client when I ask how you met, what do you do for a living, etc. Martin informed me that he was a high school English teacher, I immediately thought, “wait a minute, is your father Mr. Byrnes? “. The answer would obviously be yes, whether it was MY Mr. Byrnes or not, but within minutes, here I was meeting the son of MY Mr. Byrnes. (Fun Fact: Both my parents as well as my brother are graduates of Freedom as well, both my parents had Mr. Byrnes for freshman English as well)

Now as I write this blog post, I hope that Martin will not be correcting my grammar and spelling. HAHA

Blog posts are informal, right?

I was thrilled when Martin and Meagan entrusted me with the privilege of photographing their wedding day. Meagan and Martin are not only incredible people, but I was very much looking forward to seeing MY Mr. Byrnes again after all these years.

I drove to the home that Meagan and Martin share for the pre-ceremony coverage, we captured Meagan, her mom and her bridesmaids getting ready. They have a gorgeous view and large picture window that is a photographer’s dream, natural light flooding the room, we finished the portraits of Meagan and headed to the church to do the pre-ceremony coverage of the groom.

Arriving at Saints Peter and Paul church in Beaver is like heading home, I have a lot of weddings here and Father Bob is just the sweetest person you will ever meet. We photographed the groom and his family as well as the groomsmen. It was great to finally see Mr. Byrnes, whom might I add, has not changed one bit and this man has not aged at all.

I knew from our initial meeting that this wedding was going to be different, wonderful and full of uniqueness. Martin’s uncle is a priest, they have a good friend who is a priest as well as this being their home parish, Father Bob would be there as well. The three men together would conduct a beautiful ceremony full of love, laughter and happily ever after(insert cheesy line here, haha).

Following a lovely mass, we headed to the alternate location, this couple decided upon Robin Hill Park. This is such a gorgeous location no matter the time of year. I have photographed many couples, family and children at this location; it offers a beautiful “mansion” turned events center, gazebo, walking trails, fire pit, pergola, stone wall, vintage and modern details and a quaint cabin all on the premises.  

It was now time to get these newlyweds to the reception at the Doubletree in Moon Twp., PA. Upon entering the reception, Meagan and Martin, shared their first dance to the DJ provided music immediately followed by the cutting of their cake and speeches. I love to see couples take liberties with their details, next to the cake we noticed a “vintage” photograph of a bride and groom kissing next to their cake and this was a photograph of Meagan’s grandparents on their wedding day standing next to a cake that looked as though appeared their cake could have been modeled after.

After dinner is the perfect time to take those few family, friend’s photos that may have been restricted due to the timeframe allotted at the church. This newlywed’s day was no exception, following dinner we snagged a few more photographs with family and friends and began the dancing portion of the evening.  Martin danced with his mom and Meagan with her brother, you know it’s funny prior to 2014 I would find myself getting emotional at the father-daughter dances during weddings and I still do but there is nothing quite like watching a man dance with his mother. I think the birth of my son changed that for me. I now imagine myself one day dancing with my son at his wedding to a girl I will no doubt love and approve of every sense of the word. My children are my world and as Addison and Gabriel get older(I’m not of course, so I don’t exactly know how it is happening), I realize just how precious these moments are. On my wedding day, dancing with my father is one of my happiest memories, after suffering from a major heart attack (they call it the widow maker) just one year prior, I know exactly how precious that moment was, but the longer my amazing career spans the more I realize how precious the moment must have been for my parents. You raise these tiny humans all this time, you hope for their future, their education, their choices in friends and spouses and their happiness  and all you want ultimately is for them to grow up to be happy and healthy. The joy that my children bring me is unparalleled, they are the light in my darkest of days, the hope for the future, the chaos in the quietest of moments and this time in my life may be the calm before the storm but all I know is that I want my children to be happy, a happiness that fills them to the brink of spilling over, just like Meagan and Martin.

Now it’s time to get this party started! Meagan and Martin chose to have a band at their reception. It never ceases to amazing me how totally different the vibe is at a band versus DJ experience, now to each their own but concert going is truly one of my favorite pastimes, particularly in my teens and 20s, these days I don’t get to head to as many concerts as I would like but never the less that spirit is within me. I love the inhibition that happens to the wedding guests when a live band hits the stage. Many times at a DJ wedding reception you will have waves of dancers and by that I mean, if the DJ is playing Marvin Gaye or Sam Cooke, you’re not going to find too many 20 something’s on the dance floor as in the same scenario when that DJ plays the remix to Imagine Dragons Thunder. (Fun fact: I had ONE of my first old lady moments not too long ago, when hearing this song on the radio, I thought they were saying Fun Dip, my daughter still makes fun of me by singing “Fun Dip! Eat the Fun Dip. Fun Dip! Eat the Fun Dip. Lightening and the Fun Dip!) At a wedding reception where you have a band performing I have seen many 90 year old couples out there dancing the night away to Black Eyed Peas, Let’s get it started and many teens and kids sweeping the dance floor to AC/DC you shook me all night long!

It is just not all that often that growing up you get an inside look into the home and family life of your school teachers, you see them as an authority and those things are kept private. (Except when your best friend is the daughter of one of your middle school teachers, shout out to Beth Foster and Patty Donaldson LOL ) But to get a small glimpse into the life and love of one of my teachers has been both a blessing and an honor. To Meagan and Martin, may all your days be filled with sunshine and happiness, may you always hold one another in times of pain and sorrow, and may you be surrounded by love always and in all ways.

PS. Martin and Mr. Byrnes, please go easy on me. LOL

Not talkin' 'bout a year No not three or four I don't want that kind of forever In my life anymore Forever always seems to be around when it begins but forever never seems to be around when it ends So give me your forever Please your forever Not a day less will do From you People spend so much time Every single day Runnin' 'round all over town Givin' their forever away But no not me I won't let my forever roam and now I hope I can find my forever a home So give me your forever Please your forever Not a day less will do From you Like a handless clock with numbers An infinite of time No not the forever found Only in the mind Forever always seems to be around when things begin but forever never seems to be around when things end So give me your forever Please your forever Not a day less will do From you

[sandiegodjstaci]

Carolyn & Jonathan’s Stunning Encuentro Guadalupe Wedding in Ensenada

Carolyn & Jonathan’s Stunning Encuentro Guadalupe Wedding in Ensenada

Of the handful of bilingual San Diego DJs that handle Mexico destination weddings, Carolyn and Jonathan chose me to DJ and MC their Encuentro Guadalupe wedding in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico, on Saturday, October 28, 2017.

  (c) San Diego DJ Staci

  (c) Kennedy Fotografia

  THE LOVE STORY

Carolyn & Jon met in the summer of 2004 when their mutual friends were dating. It was quite appropriate that we celebrated the their marriage in Mexico as it was a late night on the dance floor in Tijuana when they first said ‘I love you.’ Together they enjoy escaping to different places like Mexico, Yosemite, or Catalina Island.

  (c) San Diego DJ Staci

  In fact, in July of 2015, while snorkeling on Catalina Island, Jonathan had Carolyn’s friends work with him to make it seem like he’d discovered a ring inside a shell buried on the ocean floor. He showed it to Carolyn, who said, “Oh cool, a ring!” So he awkwardly said, “Umm…honey this is for you” (she wasn’t really getting it). Finally, Carolyn realized what was happening. At that point, they swam to shore so Jonathan could officially get down on one knee and propose.

  (c) Kennedy Fotografia

  (c) San Diego DJ Staci

  THE ENCUENTRO GUADALUPE WEDDING RECEPTION

After a local trio played for the outdoor Ceremony & Cocktail Hour, I took over up inside.  Carolyn & Jon were introduced to Bruno Mars’ “Marry You.” They went straight into their First Dance to Ray Lamontagne’s “You Are The Best Thing.” After an amazing four-course meal consisting of beet salad with feta cheese, grapefruit, and arugula, then canneloni with lamb, spinach, and ricotta cheese, then pork with onions and hot sauce. And finally, the dessert course was flan with coconut and almonds. We played the Shoe Game, then there were four brief toasts.

  (c) Kennedy Fotografia

  Jon then danced with his mom to Lionel Richie’s “Hello,” the song playing when Jon was born & said his first ‘hello’ to his mom. Carolyn danced with her dad to James Taylor’s “How Sweet It Is.” We took a group photo on dance floor then kicked off dancing with JT’s “Can’t Stop The Feeling.”

  (c) Kennedy Fotografia

  THE PLAYLIST

For the dinner music playlist at this Encuentro Guadalupe wedding in Ensenada, the bride and groom requested:

Pretty Girl – Hayley Kiyoko

Want You Back – HAIM

The Less I Know The Better – Tame Impala

Fast Lane – Rationale

Rose Quartz – Toro y Moi

Tech Noir – Gunship

3 Libras – A Perfect Circle

Girl And The Sea – The Presets

Gone, Gone, Gone – Phillip Phillips

Moondance – Van Morrison

Feel It All Around – Washed Out

The Chain – Fleetwood Mac

Kiss From A Rose – Seal

Home – Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

Crazy Love (Live Version) – Ray Charles

Oye Como Va – Santana

The Way You Look Tonight – Frank Sinatra

Days Like This – Van Morrison

Day Dream – Edward Sharpe

Burn Rubber On Me – The Gap Band

Cardiac Arrest – Bad Suns

Stop Me – Mark Ronson

Lonely Roller – Steven A. Clark

Days Like This – Van Morrison

If I Could Change Your Mind – HAIM

I Lived – One Republic

Send My Love (To Your New Lover) – Adele

Steve McQueen – M83

Heads Will Roll – Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Sweet Thing – Van Morrison

Somebody Else – The 1975

Walking On A Dream – Empire of the Sun

Girls Dem Sugar – Feat. Mya – Beenie Man

Smooth – Santana

  (c) Kennedy Fotografia

  (c) Kennedy Fotografia

For dancing, Carolyn & Jonathan requested mostly Top 40 and 80s with some 60s/70s Old School. Their “must play” list consisted of:

Work It – Missy Elliott

The Way You Make Me Feel – Michael Jackson

Cake By The Ocean – DNCE

Cheap Thrills – Sia

You Dropped A Bomb On Me – The Gap Band

Lovesong – The Cure

Let’s Stay Together – Al Green

Shut Up and Dance – WALK THE MOON

Ignition (Remix) – R. Kelly

September – Earth, Wind & Fire

“So Into You” – Tamia

Wobble line dance

Closer than This – St. Lucia (last dance)

  (c) Kennedy Fotografia

  (c) San Diego DJ Staci

Again, I was honored to be the one and only San Diego destination wedding DJ Carolyn and Jonathan trusted with their Encuentro Guadalupe wedding in Ensenada. Thank you! See more at #BodaDeBarrett.

  (c) San Diego DJ Staci

(c) San Diego DJ Staci

MEXICO DESTINATION WEDDING VENDOR LIST

Here is the amazing team of San Diego wedding vendors I had the pleasure of working with on this Encuentro Guadalupe wedding:

Venue/Catering  ➔  Encuentro Guadalupe (Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico)

DJ  ➔  Staci Nichols

Photographer ➔ Eduardo Kennedy from Kennedy Fotografia

Cake Bakery  ➔ Wonder Cakes by Yasmin

Florist  ➔ La Libelula Floreria

    (c) San Diego DJ Staci

  (c) Kennedy Fotografia

          Like DJ Staci's vibe? Get instant access to her San Diego wedding DJ packages here.

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[emilyemcnabb]

Alma and Luis’ wedding Quail Ranch

Alma and Luis’ wedding at Quail Ranch is filled with colorful details that compliment the venue’s Spanish style and add personality to the day designed by In Focus Events. The full, bold florals by Unique Floral Designs are filled with giant dahlias, hydrangeas, peach roses, and accented by deep plum and magenta blooms. We’re loving the groom’s retro flair—all the way down to his personal vintage cadillac get-away ride. And, the hand-painted Mexican piggy bank gifts are adorable. See all the details and the pure joy of the lovely couple in these images by Jenny Smith & Co.

What made the wedding special and unique?

There are many things that made our wedding special. For both of us, seeing all our family and friends come together was the most special thing. I had family fly in from Mexico which was very meaningful for me. My uncle was also our officiant and did a wonderful job. For Luis, having the Cadillac on site was special for him. Since he purchased the car he has dedicated a lot of time to fixing it up and envisioned getting married in it. We loaded up the car the day before the wedding and came back in it as a married couple.

Tell us about the gown and where/how you found it!

I wanted something I could dance in and envisioned something fitted at the top and flowy at the bottom. When we went shopping my sister actually picked out the dress. I was a bit hesitant at first because it was part of Martina Liana’s separate collection, so a bit unconventional, but once I tried it on I loved it. The corset was very romantic and fit the Spanish style of the venue. I first found the dress in Pasadena, CA but had one more appointment at The Dress in Santa Barbara, CA so I waited. When I arrived at my appointment in Santa Barbara the owner pulled out the same dress for me. I tried it on one more time and just knew it was the one. I kept swaying side to side in it; I could see myself at the wedding.

What were some touches added to make the wedding personal?

My mom bought these beautiful hand painted piggy banks from our hometown in Mexico. She found an artist to paint them for us and write our names and wedding date on them. They became not only our wedding favors but also the name cards for our guests. The display table had a sign that read, “Be rich in love,” to fit the piggy bank theme. Our guests loved them! In addition to the piggy banks my mom also picked up some blue tiles with numbers from Mexico to serve as our table numbers. They were a nice touch to the Spanish style of the venue.

What was the most memorable part of the day?

I would have to say reading our vows and the poems we selected. We each wrote our own vows and selected a poem to read during our ceremony. I read Ana Castillo’s poem, I Ask The Impossible, which I have always loved. Luis surprised me when he decided to write his own poem! It was a very emotional moment for both of us.

Tell us how you met and became engaged.

The short version: We met through a mutual friend, Ambar, who was also one of my bridesmaids. At the time, Ambar worked for the UFW (United Farm Workers) and Luis was at a fundraising event she had organized. They connected over some Santana shoes that Luis had bid on. Fast forward to my birthday celebration at the Conga Room where Luis was there celebrating one of his friends. He asked me to dance and Ambar encouraged me to give him a chance since she knew him. We had a great time dancing and the rest is history.

  Alma + Luis : Quail Ranch Simi Valley CA from David Chaidez Cinema on Vimeo.

Photography: Jenny Smith & Co. // Planner: In Focus Events // Paper Goods: Hadley Designs // Florals: Unique Floral Designs // Venue: Quail Ranch // Entertainment: DJ Lunatic // Ceremony Music: Mariachi Imperial de Mexico // Videography: David Chaidez Cinema // Hair & Make Up: Girl Meets Bongga // Photo Booth: PixaBooth // Dessert: Porto’s Bakery & Cafe // Rentals & Lighting: Party Pleasers // Catering: Command Performance Catering

  The post Alma and Luis’ wedding Quail Ranch appeared first on Grey Likes Weddings | Wedding Fashion & Inspiration | Best Wedding Blog.

[sandiegodjstaci]

Ivelisse & Kapua’s Cabo San Lucas Mexico Destination Wedding

Ivelisse & Kapua’s Cabo San Lucas Mexico Destination Wedding

Of all the Mexico destination wedding DJs out there, Ivelisse and Kapua chose me to DJ and MC their Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach wedding in Cabo San Lucas on Saturday, July 15, 2017.

THE LOVE STORY

Ivy & Kapua met in August 2008, when a mutual friend suggested they meet. Kapua was living in Houston and getting ready to move to Arizona. Ivy was living in New Jersey. They initially connected via email (back when MySpace was the king of social media). Then they talked on the phone for 4 months before Kapua flew Ivy to Arizona.

On July 3, 2015, Ivy picked up Kapua at the airport at 6:00 AM. They were both very tired so they went back to her place and took a nap. Exciting story, isn’t it? When they woke up around 10:00 AM, Kapua took the ring out of his suitcase and gave it to her. Ivy  described this proposal to me as ‘completely unromantic’ lol. They remained together in a long-distance relationship for 8 years until Ivelisse made the cross country move to California last September. For their honeymoon, they are planning a pub crawl in Ireland and Scotland.

  (c) San Diego DJ Staci

THE CEREMONY

At the gorgeous Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach chapel, the wedding party entered to “Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World,” Relaxation Guitar Maestro. The bride and her dad walked down the aisle to “From this Moment,” Shania Twain. After the couple’s friend and pastor PJ from The Rock church in Houston performed their short and sweet ceremony and pronounced them husband and wife, they walked back down the aisle to “Viva la Vida,” Vitamin String Quartet.

THE RECEPTION

Down at the poolside Swan Terrace at Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach, the wedding party and newlyweds were introduced to “Casanova,” Rebirth Brass Band. Ivelisse & Kapua went straight into their First Dance to “You and I,” Stevie Wonder. We ate, toasted, and then the newlyweds danced with their daughters, college student and Maid of Honor Alyssa and baby Sanowie Grace, to “If I Could,” Regina Belle. Then Kapua danced with his mom to “Kasamento,” Frank Pangelinan. Ivy danced with her dad to “Dance with my Father,” Luther Vandross. After a group selfie on the dance floor, we started dancing!

  The dance floor was so hopping and the bride was digging the tunes so much that she opted to skip the cake cutting and we just tossed the bouquet without stopping the dance music (just right during dancing). The last dance was “My First, My Last, My Everything,” Barry White. Then all the guests got shuttled down to the beach to light floating wishing lanterns to top off the night.

  (c) San Diego DJ Staci

THIS MEXICO DESTINATION WEDDING PLAYLIST

For the cocktail hour/dinner playlist at this Mexico destination wedding at Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach, the bride and groom requested Samba/Boleros, Motown/R&B, and Flamenco Guitar. Later during the meal, they wanted soft variety: “I Choose You,” Sara Bareilles, “By your Side,” Sade, “All My Life,” K-Ci & Jojo, “Thinking Out Loud,” Ed Sheeran, “I Want to Thank You Heavenly Father,” Alicia Myers, “Two Occasions,” The Deele, “You are the Best Thing,” Ray LaMontagne, “Cheek to Cheek,” Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga, “Young and Able,” Current Swell, “Didn’t Cha Know,” Erykah Badu, “Let’s Stay Together,” Al Green, “Always Be my Baby,” Mariah Carey, “The Way You Look Tonight,” Frank Sinatra, “Is This Love,” Bob Marley, “Idilio,” Willie Colon, “Eres mi Religion,” Mana, “As,” Stevie Wonder, “Into the Mystic,” Van Morrison, “Try a Little Tenderness,” Otis Redding, and “Never Too Much,” Luther Vandross.

For dancing, Ivelisse & Kapua requested “Step in the Name of Love,” R.Kelly, “Bailando,” Enrique Iglesias, “La Gozadera,” Marc Anthony, “Danza Kuduro,” Don Omar ft. Lucenzo, “Hey Ya!,” Outkast, “Blurred Lines,” Robin Thicke, “I Gotta Feeling,” Black Eyed Peas, “Rapper’s Delight,” Sugarhill Gang, “Shape of You,” Ed Sheeran, and “In Da Club,” 50 cent.

After hanging out with both the bride’s crew & the groom’s crew around the pool bar in our swimsuits for the 2 days prior to the wedding, I added a few more songs to the list based on what the guests were telling me. The groom played football at Tulane and most of his friends were old football buddies from New Orleans–they insisted on some “New Orleans bounce” (a sound I am unfamiliar with). I ended up playing “Get Ready, Ready,” DJ Jubilee  based on their suggestions. I also added “Perculator” by Cajmere and “Poison” by Bel Biv Devoe based on conversations I had over Tequila shots and poolside pizza with everyone.

Again, I was honored to be the one and only Mexico destination wedding DJ Ivelisse and Kapua trusted with their big day. Thank you! See more at #FinallyConley.

SAN DIEGO WEDDING VENDOR LIST

Here is the amazing team of San Diego wedding vendors I had the pleasure of working with on Saturday:

Venue/Caterer/Day Of Coordinator/Florist/Cake ➔  Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach (Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico)

DJ ➔  Staci Nichols

Photographer ➔ Irela Garcia Photography

Officiant ➔ PJ Franklin

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