Suzanne and Kyle Have An Amazing Wedding at Merrimon Wynne

 [Originally at A Merrimon Wynne Wedding for Suzanne and Kyle by Randy Bennet]

The Merrimon Wynne House in downtown Raleigh NC was the perfect setting for Suzanne and Kyle’s wedding ceremony and reception on a hot May 24thday.

The ceremony was held inside the carriage house due to the heat.  Great decision!  The room looked beautiful with floral arrangements by Wylde. After a short service the 150 guests were invited inside the house for cocktails by planner Catherine from La Fete and Abby from Merrimon Wynne.  The staff from Rocky Top Catering flipped the carriage house for dinner and I set up on there.

After the room was ready and pics were taken by Photographer Elise Holsonback, the guests were invited back to the carriage house for dinner and dancing.  I left music playing and went to line the wedding party up.  I introduced them to “Bring Em Out” by T.I. and Suzanne and Kyle came in to loud applause.  They had their first dance to “Love Me Now” by John Legend.  Suzanne danced with her Father to “My Girl” and Kyle & his Mother to “Hey Mama” by Kanye and the wedding party shortly joined them.  Her Father welcomed everyone and the food stations opened on the pergola.  During dinner I had a mix of rock, country and classic soul playing. 

Read the rest at https://bunndjcompany.com/raleigh/a-merrimon-wynne…suzanne-and-kyle/ or read more awesome stuff at https://bunndjcompany.com/about/

It was a smart idea for this couple to hold the ceremony inside the carriage house. Hot days and formal wear can be a little distracting.

The Best Wedding Dance Party

[Originally at A Parlour At Manns Chapel Wedding for Mandy and Cole by Randy Bennet]

Mandy and Cole had the best dance party for their wedding reception at The Parlour at Manns Chapel in Pittsboroon May 23rd!

Their ceremony was held inside the Chapel and officiated over by their friend Michael.  After the ceremony the 80 guests came outside for the cocktail hour and live music by an acoustic duo.  They were so good!!

After the cocktail hour I invited guests to the open air tent in the courtyard for dinner with help from planner Cheryl-Anne from Kast Events.  The tent was decorated with floral arrangements by BlueBird Meadows. The family style dinner catered by Snap Pea came out and it was delicious!! During dinner I had a mix of soft rock and classic soul playing.  After dinner we had the touching and heartfelt toasts by several guests and attendants, and then I invited everyone into the chapel for dancing.

Read the rest at https://bunndjcompany.com/chapel-hill/a-parlour-at-man…r-mandy-and-cole/ or read more awesome stuff at https://bunndjcompany.com/eastern-north-carolina/ 

One of the most memorable parts of a wedding is the dance party. As a DJ I absolutely love it when my crowd can’t wait to dance. This party was so fun!

 

 

Lydia and Conrad Get Hitched

 [Originally at A Noah’s Event Venue Wedding for Lydia and Conrad by Randy Bennet]

I didn’t get to meet Lydia and Conrad until the day of their wedding at Noah’s Event Venue in Morrisville, Saturday May 25th.  I had talked to her Mother though and always enjoyed our talks and was excited to play for them.

The ceremony was held across the hall from the reception room where I was set up.  They had a live cellist, Megan from Carolina Music Planner provide music for the Ceremony and cocktail hour.  She is just amazing!

After the cocktail hour the doors to the ballroom opened and the 100 guests found their seats.  I left some music playing and went out in the hall to line the wedding party up.  I introduced them to “Just Can’t Get Enough” by Depeche Mode!  So great!!  Lydia and Conrad came in and had their first dance to “Dream A Little Dream Of Me” by Ella & Louis. Her Father welcomed everyone, his Mother gave a toast and the Rocky Top Catering buffet opened.  During dinner I had a mix of standards, classic soul and soft rock playing.

Read the rest at https://bunndjcompany.com/raleigh/a-noahs-event-ve…lydia-and-conrad/ or read more awesome stuff at https://bunndjcompany.com/blog/ 

It’s always fun when a couple wants to do an anniversary dance. It is so incredible that the winners had been married for 50 years. I’m sure that Lydia and Conrad were really inspired by that. 

Beautiful Wedding At Duke Garden

[Originally at A Duke Garden wedding for Jenny and Eric by Joe Bunn]

Man, even with the first heatwave of the summer, Jenny and Eric’s wedding at Duke Gardens was perfect from start to finish. The bride and bridesmaids looked beautiful thanks to Posh Salon, even with that heat! Bombadil was the ceremony band, they are truly amazing! I was blown away at the love in the air as Eric’s older brother served as Jenny and Eric's officiant.

Cocktail hour was held on the lawn, with delicious hors d’oeuvres and drinks served for all. Dinner commenced under the tent, with Soigne Events catering. Man the food was so good! I introduced the beautiful couple as they started their first dance to “The Luckiest” by Ben Folds.The smiles amongst the family and friends were pretty great to witness. The bride and her father danced to “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstong while the mother and her son danced to “How Deep is the Ocean” by Barbra Streisand & Jason Gould.

The pressure is real while you are DJing for a 4 time Grammy winner but this couple was truly a pleasure to work with. The dance floor stayed packed and the lovely couple certainly had a great time!

 

A Beautiful Wedding Day With Katie and JB

 [Originally at An Umstead Wedding for Katie & JB by Joe Bunn]

The Umstead is always a beautiful place to see a wedding reception happen. Each time it’s completely customized to where you almost can’t tell it’s the same place!

While I set up for Kate & JB’s reception, I got to hear Arioso Strings play throughout the cocktail hour. You should honestly check them out, it was amazing! It’s going to be a great wedding reception when you get to introduce the wedding party to “Uptown Funk” by Bruno Mars. The atmosphere in the room as the party entered was phenomenal! When it was time to introduce the Bride & Groom I played “You're the One that I want” by Olivia Newton- John & John Travolta. Classic. The first dance for the happy couple was to “Love Someone” by Lukas Graham. Sweet song for a sweet moment. Directly after, the Father & Bride dance commenced to “Walk with You” by Edwin McCain while the Mother & Son danced to “You’ll be in My Heart” by Phil Collins. Tissues anyone?

Read the rest at https://bunndjcompany.com/raleigh/an-umstead-wedding-for-katie-jb/ or read more awesome stuff at https://bunndjcompany.com/celebrations/

This couples wedding was so fun to be a part of! All the songs they picked went over so well and the crowd really had a great time.

Hillary and Anton’s Perfect Wedding Day

 [Originally at A Carolina Inn Wedding for Hillary and Anton by Joe Bunn]

Hillary and Anton had a beautiful wedding at Carolina Inn all set up by C & D Events(Caroline is awesome!). Fresh Affairs did a fantastic job with the floral arrangements throughout the venue, which was only made better by the classic feel of the Inn. The Mint Julep Jazz Band played throughout the ceremony and they were pretty phenomenal! The bride looked amazing with her hair and makeup done by Krystal Lehman from Wink Hair & Makeup.

Read the rest at https://bunndjcompany.com/chapel-hill/a-carolina-inn-w…illary-and-anton/ or read more awesome stuff at https://bunndjcompany.com/faq/

Having a Jazz Band play the ceremony was amazing. I love when couples choose to switch things up and do something a little different. It really turned out great for this couple!

What To Spend Your Wedding Budget On (and What to Pass On)

 

[Originally at Expert Wedding Budget Tips: Skip or Splurge? by JACQUELINE TYNES]

Local pros suggest where to go big and where to go without when it comes to wedding day expenses.

Want to know what wedding details you should splurge or save on so you can start planning your budget? We reached out to some of the top vendors in the area to hear their advice on what wedding services you should put your money towards. From specialty cocktails to beauty products, here’s what some area experts have to say about going big and going without. This article was featured in our latest issue, which you can check out here.

 

➸ Splurge: Great service. It doesn’t matter how good the food is if it is late or cold.

• Skip: Obscure, overly complicated specialty cocktails. They slow things down.

—Danielle Couick, Magnolia Bluebird

➸ Splurge: Fake eyelashes—they make a huge difference in photos.

• Skip: Expensive perfume or a garter—which isn’t in many photos anyway.

—Astrid Woltering, Astrid Photography

➸ Splurge: Two important vendors: First, your videographer. Saving voice memories of your parents’ toasts and friends and family dancing and speaking is invaluable! Second, a great photographer: Your photos are a tangible takeaway from the day and important for years, generations, to come.

• Skip: Wedding favors! My team ends up begging guests to take favors at the end of the night.

—Kaitlin Przezdziecki, Cheers Darling Events

➸ Splurge: A big floral entry installation—something really grand and romantic to greet guests as they arrive to a venue, or a tent, or a garden.

•  Skip: Smaller floral elements such as corsages, boutonnières, pew markers, and flower-girl petals. They are fading in popularity, and you can often save a good chunk of change by skipping these smaller details.

—Lauren Anderson and Rachel Bridgwood, Sweet Root Village

➸  Splurge: Lighting can transform your reception. If you want guests to feel a certain way walking in, you achieve that through creative lighting schemes. Creative lighting can also afford more opportunities for unique photos.

• Skip: Fashion tape! It doesn’t work. Instead, make sure you have your outfit tailored properly. Fashion snafus will make you self-conscious and less able to relax in front of the camera.

See the rest of the tips at https://www.washingtonian.com/2020/07/13/skip-or-splurge-wedding-expenses/ or read other awesome stuff at Bunn DJ Company

When you’re getting ready to get married, it’s important to know where your priorities are. Think about which parts of the day are the most important to you. Then focus on them! And of course, always pay particular attention to your music. A good DJ can make a huge difference is how the reception goes.

A Rainy Day Wedding

 [Originally at A Wet Chapel Hill Carriage House Wedding for Blair and James by Randy Bennet]

 A rainy reception is an understatement for James and Blair’s wedding at The Chapel Hill Carriage Houseon June 8th, 2019. BUT, it turned out to be a blast!

Their Ceremony was held at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church.  After the service, the guests started over to The Carriage House for the reception. As the 120 guests arrived I had a mix of soft rock musicians from NC (James Taylor, Old Crow, Avett Brothers..) along with classic standards by Sinatra and Dean Martin. Guests enjoyed cocktails and passed hors d’oeuvres by Caterers The Mediterranean Deli.

After pics were finished by Ally & Bobby Photography, the guests escaped the sprinkles from the sky and found their seats under the pavilion.  I left music playing and lined the wedding party up with planner Cheryl Anne from Kast Events.  I introduced them to “Summertime Romance” by Johnnyswim and Blair and James to “Found A Heart” by Emily Hearn. They came to the floor and had their first dance to Nat King Cole’s “Unforgettable”.  They took their seats, her Father welcomed everyone and his Father blessed the meal.

Read the rest at https://bunndjcompany.com/chapel-hill/a-wet-chapel-hil…-blair-and-james/ or read more awesome stuff at https://bunndjcompany.com/corporate/

I love that this couple didn’t let the rain get them down. Things don’t always go to plan but being able to roll with the punches always makes for a happier less stressful day!

Forrest and Caitlin’s Melrose Knitting Mill Wedding

 [Originally at A Melrose Knitting Mill Wedding for Caitlin and Forrest by Randy Bennet]

Downtown Raleigh’s Melrose Knitting Mill was the setting for Caitlin and Forrest’s wedding on June 1st.  I was so excited to be there for both ceremony and reception.

The ceremony was held on the second floor and officiated over by Reverend Perry Hardison.  He always does a great job and has the best laugh!!  I ran a mic for him while the music was covered by Arioso Strings. After a short service the 110 guests were invited downstairs to the pool area of Mulinos for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres while the staff flipped the room.

After pics were taken by Photographer Megan Kerns and the room was set, the guests were invited back upstairs for dinner and dancing. The tables looked beautiful with purple floral arrangements by Expressions Of Love. I left music playing and lined the wedding party up with help from planner Jessica from Southern Oak Events.  I introduced them to “I Gotta Feelin”” and Caitlin and Forrest to “Marry Me’ by Jason Derulo.  They came to the floor and had their first dance to “Die A Happy Man” by Thomas Rhett.  Love that song hard!!  The wedding party took their seats and we had the Parents dances.

Read the rest at https://bunndjcompany.com/raleigh/a-melrose-knitti…tlin-and-forrest/ or read more awesome stuff at https://bunndjcompany.com/school-dance/ 

This wedding went so smoothly. Having experienced vendors that work well together is so important. There's really no better way to make sure everything goes smoothly.

Clair and Linwood’s Wedding at Rose Hill Plantation

 [Originally at A Rose Hill Plantation Wedding For Claire and Linwood by Randy Bennet]

I always have the best time DJing at Rose Hill Plantation in Nashville, NC and Claire and Linwood’s wedding on June 15th was no exception!

Their ceremony was held on front porch of the huge plantation house.  I ran a mic for officiant Heidi Gessner and also one for Linwood to pick up their vows. Harpist Laura Byrne handled the music on the porch and did an amazing job!  Claire and her Bridesmaids looked beautiful with hair and makeup by the ladies at Makeup By Ashley Mooney. After a short service ,Heidi invited guests into the house for cocktails and passed hors d’oeuvres while Amber from Six Foot Photography got some shots of the wedding party around the grounds. Laura provided live harp music during the cocktail hour also.

After the cocktail hour the 150 guests were invited to the banquet hall for dinner and dancing by Kaisey and Chad from Chad Biggs Event Planning and Design.  I left music playing and went to line the wedding party up for introductions with them. The room looked beautiful with floral arrangements by Chad with Perfect Palette Floral!

I introduced the wedding party to “Eye Of The Tiger” and Claire and Linwood to “Dear Life” by High Valley. They came in to loud applause and had their first dance to “Heart Like A Wheel” by Eric Church. The wedding party took their seats and Claire and Linwood thanked everyone for coming.  Her Parents welcomed everyone and her Step-Father blessed the meal. The food stations opened around the room and I had a mix of country, rock, standards and classic soul playing. They also had a photo booth from ShanSound open all night that people had a blast with!

Read the rest at https://bunndjcompany.com/raleigh/a-rose-hill-plan…aire-and-linwood/ or read more awesome stuff at https://bunndjcompany.com/lighting/

This wedding was so beautiful. Between Harpist Laura Byrne covering the ceremony music, and the amazing decorations this wedding is really one to remember. 

Night at the Museum with Rebecca and Avery

 [Originally at A Museum Of Life and Science Wedding for Rebecca and Avery by Randy Bennet]

I have had fond memories of The Museum of Life & Science in Durham since the last wedding I did there back in 2012. Rebecca and Avery’s wedding on June 9th just added more great memories!!

Their ceremony was held under a tent next to the Butterfly House where the cocktail hour would later be. I ran a mic for Avery’s Sister, Zoe who was also their officiant and she did a great job!!  As the 100 guests arrived I had a mix of acoustic guitar covers playing.  The Grandparents and Parents entered to an instrumental of “Carolina In my Mind” and Groomsmen to a guitar cover of “Here Comes The Sun”. The Bridesmaids entered to “You’ve Got A Friend” and Rebecca and her Father to “Can’t Help Falling In Love” by an acoustic guitar. After a short service with vows written by Rebecca and Avery, they recessed to “Rockelbel’s Canon In D” by The Piano Guys. Zoe invited guests inside the butterfly House for cocktails and I had a mix of classical music playing inside.

After the cocktail hour, the guests were invited to the Aerospace Room of the Museum by planners Something Perfect for the dinner and dancing.  I left music playing and went to line the wedding party up for introductions.  I introduced them to “Celebrate” by Ingrid Michaelson and Becky and Avery to “Crave” by Parachute.  They had their first dance to “Buy You A Rose” by AJR followed by the Parents dances. Rebecca and her Father dance to “Forever Young” by Rod Stewart and Avery & his Mother to “You Are My Sunshine” by Elizabeth Mitchell.  It’s such a great version of this classic song!!

Read the rest at https://bunndjcompany.com/durham/a-museum-of-life…ebecca-and-avery/ or read more awesome stuff at https://bunndjcompany.com/photo-booth/

I love it when couples decide to write their own vows. It makes the ceremony so much more personal and gives the guests a glimpse of why they fell in love with each other.

Wedding Trends From A Raleigh Wedding Planner

 

[Originally at Raleigh wedding planner reveals wedding trends for 2020 by Amber Rupinta]

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Triangle wedding planner Erin McLean, owner of McLean Events, has been in the wedding industry for thirteen years.

She's seen a lot of trends over the years but said one that has always stood the test of time has been personalization.

"I definitely think personalization is always going to be a thing," McLean said. "It's your wedding, it should be personal to you. So, I think that with the rise of Pinterest and Etsy and all these great sources they're wanting to find items that really represent the two of them. So, if it's like a sketch of their dog on a drink stirrer--which we've done before--or things like that are really personal to them, I definitely think that's always going to be here."

Personalization is key for couples this year as the 2020 wedding season gets underway. McLean said a few trends she has seen are bold colors, after parties, and mixologists.

"I'm definitely seeing that the clients don't want the parties to end," she said. "I think a lot of couples are waiting until they're a bit older to get married, they've been together longer and they're ready to throw a good party and they know what they want as well."

Etsy recently revealed their 2020 wedding trends and found many couples are throwing tradition out the window with 70s inspired searches up 18 percent in the last six months compared to the same time the previous year. Etsy also found non-traditional wedding parties including bridesmen and best women, bridal pantsuits, vintage rings and wellness favors on the rise. The e-commerce site which is focused on handmade or vintage items listing inclusivity, sustainability, and individuality as top themes.

Read the rest at https://abc11.com/wedding-planner-raleigh-bridal-party/5971641/ or read other great articles at Raleigh’s Best DJ Company

2020 has been a crazy year for weddings (and Raleigh events in general). But it’s always inspiring to see NC couples making the best out of situations. There absolutely are ways to make your wedding fantastic no matter what’s going on with the world.

Christina and Thomas’s Happily Ever After

 Christina and Thomas’s Happily Ever After 

[Originally at A Cookery Wedding for Christina and Thomas in Durham by Randy Bennet]

I was honored to be NY Jets long snapper Thomas and Christina’s wedding DJ on June 22nd at The Cookery in Durham, NC!

Their ceremony was held at Duke Chapel and the 150 guests made their way over to The Cookery for the reception after.  As they arrived for the cocktail hour I had a mix of rock, top 40, light EDM and classic soul playing.  Guests enjoyed passed hours d’oeuvres, signature cocktails and the Zim Zoom photo booth.

After the cocktail hour in my room, I invited guest to the banquet room next door for dinner with help from planner Jayme from Hazel Weddings And Events.The tables looked beautiful with floral arrangements by Tre Bella! After everyone was seated I introduced the Parents to ”Celebration”, wedding party to “This Girl” by Kungs Vs Cookin’ on 3 Burners and Christina and Thomas to “Signed, Sealed, Delivered”. She looked amazing with hair and makeup by WINK and dress by Alexias Bridal! They came in to loud applause and took their seats at the sweetheart table.  Christina’s Father welcomed everyone and the Durham Cateringbuffet opened shortly.  During dinner I had a mix of classic soul, standards and soft rock & pop playing.

Read the rest at https://bunndjcompany.com/durham/a-cookery-weddin…thomas-in-durham/ or read more awesome stuff at https://bunndjcompany.com/weddings/ 

This wedding was such a blast! All the vendors pulled their part off perfectly for this lovely couple. It was also really cool to do a wedding for a member of the NY Jets!