Portland OR Wedding DJ: Debbie & Jeff (8/4/13)

Published August 5, 2013 | By Rich Ellis

Each Summer, I provide sound and music for many wedding ceremonies and most of them require a second sound system with the ceremony and reception normally held in two different places on the same property.

However, for Debbie and Jeff’s wedding on Sunday, August 4, 2013, I was needed to provide sound at two different venues located on opposite sides of the Portland area with the ceremony at Leach Botanical Gardens in Southeast Portland and the reception at Bridgeport Brewery in Northwest Portland. I set-up my sound system for the reception earlier.

Portland Oregon Wedding DJ Ceremony Highlights:

Bridal Party Entrance: Bright Eyes – The First Day Of My Life
Bride Entrance: Ingrid Michaelson – Can’t Help Falling In Love
Bride/Groom Exit: Ray LaMontagne – You Are the Best Thing

Following the ceremony, guests enjoyed champagne and conversation for about an hour before leaving for the reception scheduled to begin at 6:30pm. The distance between the two venues is 13 miles (about 20 minutes) using I-84. However, that freeway was closed this weekend for repairs, making the trip for everyone much longer than planned.

I chose to take Powell Blvd West to the Ross Island Bridge and cut over to I-405. This seemed to be the preferred choice for most people though and it felt like an eternity for me getting to Bridgeport, but I was still there before most guests and the bride and groom walked in right after I did 🙂

Portland Oregon Wedding DJ Reception Highlights:

First Dance: Adele – To Make You Feel My Love
Bride and Father Dance: Louis Armstrong – What A Wonderful World
Groom and Mother Dance: Carole King – Child of Mine

Rhythmic oldies ruled the dance floor most of the night as guests really got into classics from The Temptations, Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder and more, plus the latest dance hits were well received.

This party was still going strong at my scheduled end time of 10:30, so Debbie and Jeff decided to retain me for overtime and guests really let loose singing at the top of their lungs the chorus to five straight songs, including ‘Some Nights’ from fun and Journey’s ‘Don’t Stop Believin’.

Post Event Satisfaction Survey:

“I could not recommend Rich Ellis (PRO DJs) enough! Rich was extremely helpful throughout the entire planning process and he definitely came through on the day of the wedding. He played all of the (somewhat abstract) music that we suggested, but also balanced it with more popular music that everyone would recognize. I have been working in the wedding industry for over 10 years, so I have seen hundreds of DJs. Seeing that the wedding was not in my home town (so I could not pick a local DJ that I know), I had to go with someone I didn’t know. To be completely honest, Rich was even better than the best DJs I’ve come to know over the past 10 years in the industry. He got the dance floor going and kept it full the entire night. He didn’t play any of the cheesy stuff and everything flowed perfectly. He really is a professional. If anyone is considering him for their wedding, do it. You won’t be sorry. Also, he was much more affordable than some of the other DJs I contacted. I just wish I lived in Portland so I could recommend him to more friends. I’m also happy to answer questions and take emails from anyone who is looking for a client’s experience.”
-Jeff Murico