Rich Ellis
Waverley Country Club Milwaukie Wedding
It was a perfect early fall day for Kristin and Michael’s Waverley Country Club Milwaukie wedding on Monday, September 24, 2018. Under sunny skies and a comfortable high of 75 degrees, the ceremony was held outside on the lawn overlooking the Willamette River.
Waverley Country Club Milwaukie Wedding Ceremony Highlights:
- Wedding Party and Bride Entrance: Train – Marry Me
- Bride/Groom Exit: Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell – Ain’t No Mountain High Enough
Following the ceremony, most guests gathered on a nearby patio outside, but some made their way to the dining area where I had a second sound system setup for the reception. Background music was a variety of soft rock hits from artists such as Stevie Wonder, Coldplay, and bride and groom favorites, Supertramp, The Lumineers, Frank Sinatra and more.
Waverley Country Club Milwaukie Wedding Reception Highlights:
- Grand Entrance: Bruno Mars – Marry You
- Cake Cutting: Maroon 5 – Sugar
- First Dance: Elvis Presley – Can’t Help Falling In Love
- Bride and Father Dance: Van Morrison – Tupelo Honey
- Bouquet Toss: Michael Buble – Haven’t Met You Yet
- Garter Toss: Michael Jackson – P.Y.T.
- Last Dance: Semisonic – Closing Time
It may have been a Monday night, but judging by the dance floor, it certainly didn’t feel like it. Guests were in the mood for dancing and the floor filled quickly for the opening slow dance and the fun fast songs that followed, including requests for The Contours “Do You Love Me” and “Boogie Wonderland” from Earth, Wind & Fire.
This was a fun group who appeared to have a great time enjoying the hits from Justin Timberlake, Bruno Mars and the Cupid Shuffle to Hall & Oates, Rick Astley and more.
Congratulations Kristin and Michael!
Bat Mitzvah DJ Shakes Up Neighborhood Bash
Zoe and her friends had a blast at her celebration party as Bat Mitzvah DJ Rich Ellis shook up the family home in Southwest Portland on Saturday, September 8, 2018.
While the adults enjoyed drinks and conversation in the dining room and back deck, the kids were the stars of this one and pretty much had the dance floor in the living room to themselves from the beginning.
There were also other activities, such as a henna tattoo artist in the basement, but Zoe and her friends would return time and again to dance to their favorite songs, plus play some games, including two insane rounds of “Coke & Pepsi” and the limbo.
The familiar beats couldn’t keep the adults away though and they hung in the foyer, watching the kids and dancing to few tracks. Zoe’s mom wasn’t sure if the chair raising would work (her dad was healing from a broken foot), but we found several strong people to carry the chair as everyone danced “The Hora.”
From there, the kids brought the house down for nearly two hours, dancing and getting crazy to current hits “I Like It” from Cardi B and Drake’s “In My Feelings,” plus recent favorites, “Can’t Hold Us,” “Cupid Shuffle,” “Hand Clap” and more.
Mazel Tov Zoe and thank you mom Rachel for again choosing PRO DJs. Rich was the DJ at brother Zach’s bar mitzvah in 2015.
Union/Pine Portland Wedding And Reception
Hosia and Andy’s Union/Pine Portland wedding and reception was held on Friday, September 7, 2018. This venue features a sunken ballroom that serves primarily as the dance floor. However, in this case, it was also used for the ceremony. With my table located near the main pathway, between the bar and overlooking the ballroom, the setup for a DJ is a little awkward, but everything worked out fine.
Union/Pine Portland Wedding Ceremony Highlights:
- Wedding Party and Bride Entrance: Stringspace – In My Life
- Bride & Groom Exit: The Cookies – I Never Dreamed
Just under 100 guests were in attendance and following the wedding, most gathered near the bar for cocktails before moving to an adjacent room for dinner, where I set-up a wireless speaker for dinner music and the toast. Background music requested by the newlyweds was a mix of 20’s, 30’s, 40’s (big band, crooners, etc.), such as Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole and their personal favorite, Billie Holliday.
Union/Pine Portland Wedding Reception Highlights:
- First Dance: The Ronettes – When I Saw You
- Bride and Father Dance: The Beatles – Something
- Last Dance: Crystal Fighters – At Home
Shortly after starting the music for the father/daughter dance, Hosia asked me to invite everyone out to join them. This was followed by “The Hora” and a chair raising for the just married couple.
From there, guests had a great time dancing to music from The Beatles, Temptations, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Hosia’s favorite pop girl groups from the 50’s and 60’s. The newlyweds also requested some 90’s hip hop, Spice Girls, Backstreet Boys and recent hits from Justin Timberlake
Best wishes Hosia and Andy and thank you mother of the bride, Vicki for choosing PRO DJs.
Post Event Satisfaction Survey:
- Event Date: Saturday, September 7, 2018
- Event Type: Wedding Reception
- Event Location: Union/Pine
- Event Staff: Rich Ellis
- Quality of Customer Service via Telephone: N/A
- Quality of Customer Service via Internet: Excellent
- Quality of Customer Service at Event: Excellent
- Friendliness of your Entertainer: Excellent
- Promptness of your Entertainer: Excellent
- Professionalism of your Entertainer: Excellent
- Entertainer’s Performance: Excellent
- Entertainer’s Appearance: Excellent
- System Appearance: Excellent
- Sound Quality: Excellent
- Overall Volume Levels: Excellent
- Music Selection: Excellent
- Incorporation of Your Requests: Excellent
- Lighting Effects: N/A
- Equipment Appearance: Excellent
- Overall Customer Service: Excellent
- Planning Assistance: Excellent
- Entertainer’s Cooperation with Other Vendors: Excellent
- Overall Performance Rating: Excellent
- Would you recommend this service to others? Yes
Summer Wedding Camas Meadows Golf Club
It has been one hot summer in the Pacific Northwest with a record 30 days at 90 degrees or warmer and smoke from nearby wildfires making outdoor events not as pleasant as we normally expect this time of year, but for the last week of August into September, the smoke has cleared and temperatures moderated.
The best weather of the year so far landed just in time for Aimee and Zach’s wedding and reception held at Camas Meadows Golf Club on Sunday, September 2, 2018.
It was picture perfect and a comfortable 78 degrees for the 50+ guests attending when the ceremony began at 5pm in the gazebo on the golf course. With my main sound system set-up for the reception, I used a second mixer and cordless lapel microphone to provide music and sound for the wedding.
Summer Wedding Camas Meadows Golf Club Ceremony Highlights:
- Parents Seating and Wedding Party Entrance: Josh Groban – You Raise Me Up
- Bridal Party and Bride Entrance: Train – Marry Me
- Bride & Groom Exit: Ellie Goulding – Your Song
The reception followed immediately in the tent above near the parking lot. As guests walked up the hill, I greeted them with a set of oldies as requested by the newlyweds, including music from the Beatles, Four Tops, Beach Boys and more. Immediate family, the wedding party and bride and groom stayed in the gazebo area for photos.
Around 6:40, I cued up their entrance music and announced Aimee and Zach’s arrival. The dinner buffet was opened right away and for background music, I played a set of classic jazz selections as requested by the groom. Champagne was served for the toast about an hour later.
Summer Wedding Camas Meadows Golf Club Reception Highlights:
- Grand Entrance: Bebe Rexha f/Florida Georgia Line – Meant To Be
- Cake Cutting: Isley Brothers – Shout
- First Dance: Boyce Avenue – All Of Me
- Bride/Father Dance: Tim McGraw – My Little Girl
- Groom/Mother Dance: Israel Kamakawiwo’ole – Somewhere Over The Rainbow
- Money Dance: Ludacris f/Pharrell – Money Maker
- Bride/Son Dance: Lee Brice- Boy
- Bouquet Toss: Cyndi Lauper – Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
- Garter Toss: Deniece Williams – Let’s Hear It for the Boy
- Last Dance: Blake Shelton – Who Are You When I’m Not Looking
The money dance got this group going and served as the official opening of the dance floor. From there, the classic oldies were especially popular early on, including “Twist & Shout” and “In The Mood.” There were still a few guests that needed a warm-up, so I managed to squeeze in a slow dance before things got too crazy.
I had not played “YMCA” in a while, but it was requested by the bride and well-received by friends and family.
There was one more showcase dance for Aimee and her young son Aiden, which she asked to have all the other mothers and sons in attendance participate.
For the final hour, we had a great run on the dance floor with most everyone having a fun time dancing to “Can’t Stop The Feeling,” “Uptown Funk,” the “Cupid Shuffle,” “Footloose” and more. The bride’s grandmother also requested “The Hokey Pokey” which I played right before the final slow dance.
Congratulations Aimee and Zach and thank you for choosing PRO DJs.
Post Event Satisfaction Survey:
“Thank you for helping to make our wedding the special day that it was.”
-Aimee B (Aimee Boyd & Zachary Zandt Wedding) – Washougal, WA
- Event Date: Saturday, September 2, 2018
- Event Type: Wedding & Reception
- Event Location: Camas Meadows Golf Club, Camas, Washington
- Event Staff: Rich Ellis
- Quality of Customer Service via Telephone: Excellent
- Quality of Customer Service via Internet: Excellent
- Quality of Customer Service at Event: Excellent
- Friendliness of your Entertainer: Excellent
- Promptness of your Entertainer: Excellent
- Professionalism of your Entertainer: Excellent
- Entertainer’s Performance: Excellent
- Entertainer’s Appearance: Excellent
- System Appearance: Excellent
- Sound Quality: Excellent
- Overall Volume Levels: Excellent
- Music Selection: Excellent
- Incorporation of Your Requests: Excellent
- Lighting Effects: Excellent
- Equipment Appearance: Excellent
- Overall Customer Service: Excellent
- Planning Assistance: Excellent
- Entertainer’s Cooperation with Other Vendors: Excellent
- Overall Performance Rating: Excellent
- Would you recommend this service to others? Yes
Jordan’s Portland Bar Mitzvah Hotel Eastlund
Jordan was fired up and looking sharp in his watermelon covered shirt for his Portland Bar Mitzvah party held on Saturday, August 25, 2018 at Hotel Eastlund in SE Portland, Oregon.
His friends seemed to match his energy and it wasn’t long before most were participating in the games I had planned including Coke & Pepsi and the Limbo, as well as Basketball vs. Lacrosse (Jordan’s two favorite sports).
The kids sat at one long table and following the games, were served dinner around 6:30pm while the adults enjoyed cocktails and conversation until they were seated for dinner about 15 minutes later. Background music for dinner featured artists: OneRepublic, Marvin Gaye and a request for Rod Stewart’s “You’re In My Heart” from Jordan’s parents.
As dinner was winding down, our guest of honor’s dad, Bob welcomed guests visiting from all over the U.S. before starting a slideshow that ended with Jordan on video singing Justin Beiber’s “Baby” at a Hillsboro Hops baseball game recently. Bob wanted to re-create this live, so as soon as the video ended, I started the song and handed off microphones to Jordan and his friends.
Next up was an appearance by Portland Trailblazers mascot “Blaze” who danced with the kids to a recording of Blazers’ star Damian Lillard’s hit song “Run It Up.” I then invited all of the adults out for “The Hora” and chair raising.
Guests had a great time dancing to everything from “Stayin’ Alive” and Jordan’s family requests for “Dancing Queen” and “PYT” to “Uptown Funk”, “September” and more.
Mazel Tov Jordan and thank you mom Anna and dad Bob for choosing PRO DJs.
Post Event Satisfaction Survey:
“Rich did a great job at my son’s Bar Mitzvah. He kept the energy at the right level throughout the evening. He kept the kids entertained during cocktail hour with games, which allowed the adults to mingle without a lot of distraction. Then, when it was time to focus on dancing, he played a great mix of music that had young and old alike dancing. We requested a couple slow dances and those were added in at just the right time. Great, memorable evening.” -Anna Winthrop
- Event Date: Saturday, August 25, 2018
- Event Type: Bar Mitzvah
- Event Location: Hotel Eastlund, Portland
- Event Staff: Rich Ellis
- Quality of Customer Service via Telephone: Excellent
- Quality of Customer Service via Internet: Excellent
- Quality of Customer Service at Event: Excellent
- Friendliness of your Entertainer: Excellent
- Promptness of your Entertainer: Excellent
- Professionalism of your Entertainer: Excellent
- Entertainer’s Performance: Excellent
- Entertainer’s Appearance: Excellent
- System Appearance: Excellent
- Sound Quality: Excellent
- Overall Volume Levels: Excellent
- Music Selection: Excellent
- Incorporation of Your Requests: Excellent
- Lighting Effects: Excellent
- Equipment Appearance: Excellent
- Overall Customer Service: Excellent
- Planning Assistance: Excellent
- Entertainer’s Cooperation with Other Vendors: Excellent
- Overall Performance Rating: Excellent
- Would you recommend this service to others? Yes
