The summer wedding season for 2017 ended this weekend, but as the calendar flipped to the first of the month, the weather held on for a nice day at Leah and Eric’s October wedding at Mt. Hood Organic Farms in Parkdale, Oregon
 
The wedding ceremony took place on the lawn just outside the Cottage & Carriage House and guests were greeted by a Mariachi band who also played all the ceremony music. I setup a separate sound system to provide a lapel microphone for the officiant and vows.
 


 
Afterwards, everyone followed the Mariachi band down the gravel road to the Apple House for the reception, where the band continued playing music for the cocktail hour as guests engaged in conversation, danced, and played lawn games while the newlyweds took pictures with Mt. Hood in the background.
 



 
I was setup in the Green House, but also positioned a separate speaker inside the dining area to provide background music for dinner and for the toasts that followed.
 
Mt. Hood Organic Farms October Wedding Reception Highlights:

• Cake Cutting: James Taylor – How Sweet It Is
• First Dance: Frank Sinatra – Fly Me to the Moon
• Bride and Father Dance: Louis Armstrong – What A Wonderful World
• Groom and Mother Dance: Louis Armstrong – What A Wonderful World
• Bouquet Toss: Spice Girls – Wannabe
• Garter Toss: Inner Circle – Bad Boys (Theme from Cops)

Thanks to the Mariachi band, who also played a few selections during dinner, this group brought loads of energy to the dance floor from the first song as they got right to it and didn’t let up until the last song. From the classic hits, such as ‘Twist & Shout’ and ‘Billie Jean’ to recent favorites, ‘Can’t Stop The Feeling’ and ‘Despacito,’ the cool evening air was an afterthought.
 




 
It was good to see Kelly and Eric who referred me to Leah’s mom Laura for this event. I was the DJ at their wedding in July 2014 also held in Parkdale.
 
Congratulations Leah and Eric and thank you for choosing PRO DJs.
 

 
Kelly and Keith’s Fort Vancouver Artillery Barracks wedding reception was held on Saturday, September 16, 2017 in Vancouver, Washington.
 
They were married a month earlier on a cruise in Puerto Rico and the Carribbean, so this was a reception for their friends and family who were not able to attend.
 

 
Fort Vancouver Artillery Barracks Wedding Reception Highlights:

• Grand Entrance: Stevie Wonder – Signed Sealed Delivered…
• Cake Cutting: Queen – You’re My Best Friend
• First Dance: Al Green – Let’s Stay Together
• Last Dance: Sister Sledge – We Are Family

Guests had a great time dancing to a wide variety of hits, including ‘Uptown Funk’, ‘Cupid Shuffle’, ‘Celebration’, ‘Can’t Stop the Feeling’ and more.
 


 
Congratulations Kelly and Keith and thank you for choosing PRO DJs.
 
Post Event Satisfaction Survey:

• Event Date: Saturday, September 16, 2017
• Event Type: Wedding Reception
• Event Location: Fort Vancouver Artillery Barracks
• 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: 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

 
Erica and Sean’s Leftbank Annex Wedding took place on Saturday, September 9, 2017 in Portland, Oregon.
 
And it was good to be inside on this day as we received the first rain since early June. With the Rose Quarter in the background, everyone was comfortable as they witnessed the exchange of vows in an intimate setting.
 

 
Leftbank Annex Wedding Ceremony Highlights:

• Groomsmen Entrance: Neil Young – Heart of Gold
• Bridesmaids & Bride Entrance: Lady Gaga – The Cure
• Bride/Groom Exit: Dire Straits – Money for Nothing

The entire room was arranged for dinner after all guests made their way to the back of the room for cocktails. For background music, I played a mix of classic hits, including artists Marvin Gaye, Beatles, Bob Marley and the groom’s requests for Neil Young and Built to Spill.
 

 
Leftbank Annex Reception Highlights:

• Grand Entrance: Andrew Gold – Thank You For Being A Friend
• Cake Cutting: Beatles – Twist & Shout
• Bride and Father Dance: Eric Clapton – Wonderful Tonight

The dance floor covered a lot of ground, but guests weren’t shy about getting out there and having a good time gettin’ down to Prince, Michael Jackson, Justin Timberlake and more, including requests for 2Pac and Kendrick Lamar.
 



 
Congratulations Erica and Sean.
 

 
Suzy and Zak’s Troutdale House wedding took place on Labor Day, September 4, 2017 in Troutdale, Oregon.
 
A wildfire that had started in the Columbia River Gorge over 50 miles away two days earlier had suddenly shifted west and was now only about 15 miles away when they exchanged vows outside in the garden area.
 
The air was smoky, like being inside a barbecue. However, there would be no denying the moments of this special day that included the bride surprising the groom with her father not just walking her down the aisle, but also serving as the wedding officiant.
 

 
Troutdale House Wedding Ceremony Highlights:

• Bridal Party Entrance: Eric Satie – Gymnopedie #1
• Bride Entrance: Fleetwood Mac – Songbird
• Bride/Groom Exit: Stevie Wonder – Signed Sealed Delivered…

The reception followed inside The Troutdale House and with the air conditioning on high, felt like a different world from what was happening outside, but it set guests at ease and they enjoyed conversation and background music that featured a variety of 70’s classics as requested by the newlyweds.
 

 
Troutdale House Wedding Reception Highlights:

• Grand Entrance: Talking Heads – This Must Be The Place
• Cake Cutting: Sam Cooke – Nothing Can Change This Love
• First Dance: Stevie Wonder – My Cherie Amour
• Bride and Father Dance: Johnny Cash – You Are My Sunshine

The dance floor at this venue is a long, narrow aisleway in front of the bar. Guests filled this area from the opening slow dance to a number of fast songs that followed, including hits from Michael Jackson and The Beatles.
 


 
Suzy and Zak also requested songs from their favorite artists David Bowie and the Talking Heads, plus the bride’s favorites, ‘Time Warp’ from the Rocky Horror Picture Show and ‘I Believe in a Thing Called Love’ by The Darkness.
 

 
Congratulations Suzy and Zak! Thank you for choosing PRO DJs.
 
Post Event Satisfaction Survey:
 
“Just amazing! I’ve been recommending Rich since the event just a week ago! The most professional and helpful of all vendors I worked with – simply excellent and thought of many details that I hadn’t considered, even those not directly related to the music. I know the group didn’t dance much (it was the group, not the music), but we had an absolute blast! Thank you!”
-Suzy & Zak

• Event Date: Monday, September 4, 2017
• Event Type: Wedding & Reception
• Event Location: Troutdale House
• 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: 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

 
Despite wildfires raging nearby in the Columbia River Gorge, it was a non-smoky celebration at Katie and Devin’s Bridal Veil Lakes Wedding on Sunday, September 3, 2017.
 
The night before, a fire started in the Gorge at the Eagle Creek Trail about 23 miles to the east. This was in addition to the Indian Creek fire that had started previously near the same area. The air was filled with smoke as I left the Portland area and I was concerned there would be a heavy haze at Bridal Veil Lakes, but somehow, the air was clear and it was a fabulous day to celebrate.
 

 
Bridal Veil Lakes Wedding Ceremony Highlights:

• Wedding Party Entrance: Ryan Darling – I Choose You
• Bride Entrance: Ellie Goulding – How Long Will I Love You
• Bride/Groom Exit: Israel “IZ” Kamakawiwo?ole – Somewhere Over the Rainbow

I setup two sound systems for this event with my main system in the reception area and a second for the wedding on the other side of the lake. Following the ceremony, guests walked the nature trail to the main reception area. I played a mix of background music that featured favorites of the bride and groom. Artists included: Ed Sheeran, Sara Bareilles, Louis Armstrong, Zac Brown Band and others.
 
Included with this package was a video projector and screen as requested by Devin’s family to play a video of the best man’s toast. In addition, the groom’s father also performed a surprise lip sync for his son to settle a bet. This required a lot of planning and a song edit in my sound studio, but it went off perfectly and was well-received by everyone in attendance.
 

 
Bridal Veil Lakes Wedding Reception Highlights:

• Grand Entrance: Stevie Wonder – Signed Sealed Delivered…
• Cake Cutting: Archies – Sugar Sugar
• First Dance: JJ Heller – When I’m With You (The Boat Song)
• Groom and Mother Dance: Tim McGraw – Humble and Kind
• Bride and Mother Dance: Jackson 5 – Ill Be There/Justin Timberlake – Can’t Stop The Feeling
• Bouquet Toss: Weather Girls – It’s Raining Men
• Garter Toss: Kenny Loggins – Danger Zone

After the first dance and the groom’s dance with his mom, Katie also danced with her mom. This began with about a one minute of ‘I’ll Be There’ by The Jackson 5, before skipping to ‘Justin Timberlake’s recent hit ‘Can’t Stop The Feeling’ that included a flash dance from members of the wedding party.
 

 
The flash dance created a burst of energy and the dance floor was on. The rest of the night everyone enjoyed getting down to ‘Uptown Funk,’ ‘Hey Ya,’ and newlywed requests for the ‘Cupid Shuffle’, ‘Footloose’ and ‘Cotton-Eye Joe’.
 



 
Best wishes Katie and Devin!
 
Post Event Satisfaction Survey:
 
“Mr. Ellis was simply amazing. He worked well with the other members of the organizational team (Caterer, Coordinator, Photographer). He worked well when we had to change things up at the last second and he was always very professional.” -Katie Marie Ralston & Devin Bowyer

• Event Date: Sunday, September 3, 2017
• Event Type: Wedding & Reception
• Event Location: Bridal Veil Lakes
• 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: 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