Rich Ellis
Nothing But Fun At Boring Oregon Wedding
It was another beautiful Northwest Summer day for Monica and David’s Boring Oregon wedding held at Reardon Nursery on Friday, July 17, 2015.
With very little rain since late May, Mt. Hood is looking bare, but still provides a picturesque backdrop.
Boring Oregon Wedding Ceremony Highlights:
- Wedding Party Entrance: Vitamin String Quartet – All I Want Is You
- Bride Entrance: Bridal Chorus (Wagner)
- Bride/Groom Exit: Derek Bourgeois – Serenade Op. 22
The tent area was arranged for dinner after all guests made their way to the backyard of the nearby house for cocktails. When they returned, I played a mix of light classic jazz and standards, as requested by the newlyweds, including Frank Sinatra, John Coltrane, Glenn Miller and more.
Boring Oregon Reception Highlights:
- Cake Cutting: James Taylor – How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)
- First Dance: Turtles – Happy Together
- Bride and Father Dance: Heartland – I Loved Her First
- Money Dance: Beatles – In My Life
- Anniversary Dance: Nat King Cole – When I Fall In Love
There was plenty of daylight when the dance floor was opened to everyone and despite the heat, we had quite a few guests ready to cut loose to the classics early on, including ‘Twist & Shout,’ ‘In The Mood’ and ‘My Girl.’
After the bride and groom returned from taking pictures at sunset, the energy picked up a little more as the mix included contemporary hits ‘Happy,’ ‘Single Ladies,’ ‘Cupid Shuffle’ and more. We had a good run until after dark before wrapping with a final slow dance.
Best wishes Monica and David.
Dance Floor Sizzles At Hot Mt. Hood Wedding
It’s the hottest June on record in the Northwest and Millie and Tony’s Mt. Hood Wedding was a scorcher as the temperature peaked at 103 about the time their ceremony began on the front lawn at Mt. Hood B & B in Parkdale, Oregon on Friday, June 26, 2015.
Fortunately guests were able to relax in the shade under the tent with plenty of ice water on hand before being seated. Classic umbrellas were also available during the ceremony, but didn’t disturb the always amazing view of the mountain up close.
Mt. Hood Wedding Ceremony Highlights:
- Wedding Party Entrance: Allison Krauss & Union Station – When You Say Nothing At All
- Bride Entrance: Chris Ledoux – Look At You Girl
- Bride/Groom Exit: Pharrell Williams – Happy
Following the wedding ceremony, most guests returned to the tent area, while others enjoyed a cocktail on the lawn. I played a mix of background music that included everything from Jack Johnson and Queen to Lady Antebellum and Kenny Chesney.
For the reception, my main sound system was set-up earlier in the dining area located behind the house. After everyone found their seats, I introduced Millie and Tony and then they danced their first dance. Background music during dinner was a softer variety of favorites that included Jason Mraz, Tim McGraw and Norah Jones.
Mt. Hood Wedding Reception Highlights:
- Grand Entrance: Bruno Mars – Marry You
- First Dance: Leighton Meester & Garrett Hedlund – Give In To Me
- Cake Cutting: George Strait – Give It All We Got Tonight
- Bride and Father Dance: Trace Adkins – Just Fishin’
- Groom and Mother Dance: Patsy Cline – Crazy
- Bouquet Toss: Shania Twain – Beyonce – Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)
- Garter Toss: Shania Twain – Marvin Gaye – Let’s Get It On
- Last Dance: Neil Diamond – Sweet Caroline
One nice thing about hot summer days is they turn into warm summer nights and even with plenty of daylight still when the dance floor opened around 7:15pm, many people were excited to join in for the first slow dance and then move and shake to the fast songs that followed.
Guests enjoyed the classic hits… everything from ‘Brown Eyed Girl’ to ‘Boot Scootin’ Boogie’ and a conga line broke out during ‘Stayin’ Alive.’
As twilight settled in, a slow dance kept the floor full before a solid of mix of today’s music from Pitbull, Luke Bryan, the smash ‘Uptown Funk’ and more, kept the fire lit until the end.
Best wishes Mille and Tony!
Post Event Satisfaction Survey:
“Great DJ. Very easy to work with and followed through with everything we had talked about!” -Ameliah Guisto
- Event Date: Friday, June 26, 2015
- Event Type: Wedding & Reception
- Event Location: Mt. Hood Bed and Breakfast
- 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
Summer Season Starts With Big Canby Wedding
Nearly 250 guests attended Erika and Ryan’s Canby wedding and reception on Saturday, June 20, 2015 at Oak View Acres in Canby, Oregon.
The weather was perfect on the eve of the first official day of summer and the ceremony held outside featured a spectacular view of Mt. Hood.
Canby Wedding Ceremony Highlights:
- Wedding Party Entrance: Taylor Swift – Love Story (Acoustic)
- Bride Entrance: Christina Perri – A Thousand Years
- Bride/Groom Exit: Coldplay – A Sky Full Of Stars
Following the ceremony, I moved my sound system inside, but the giant sliding doors remained opened so guests could enjoy the nice evening outdoors and inside.
Background music for cocktails and dinner was a mix of acoustic and cheerful songs, as requested by Erika. The playlist included selections from Jack Johnson, Jason Mraz, OneRepublic and more.
Canby Wedding Reception Highlights:
- Grand Entrance: Black Eyed Peas – I Gotta Feeling
- Cake Cutting: James Taylor – How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)
- First Dance: Sleeping At Last – Turning Page
- Bride and Father Dance: Krystal Keith – Daddy Dance With Me
- Groom and Mother Dance: Johnny Cash – In My Life
- Bouquet Toss: Shania Twain – Beyonce – Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)
- Garter Toss: Shania Twain – Jimi Hendrix – Foxy Lady
- Last Dance: Van Morrison – I’ll Be Your Lover Too
The feel of a warm summer night appeared to make everyone feel good and ready to have a good time as the dance floor packed immediately for the first open slow dance and then really got going to the fun fast songs, including the newlywed’s requests for the ‘Cha Cha Slide,’ The Jackson 5, Michael Jackson and more.
A good mix or favorites from the past and current hit songs, such as ‘Shut Up and Dance,’ Uptown Funk and more kept things movin’ non-stop.
Congratulations Erika and Ryan and thank you for choosing PRO DJs.
Portland Bar Mitzvah DJ At Tiffany Center
Mazel Tov Ethan! Portland DJ Rich Ellis performed at his Bar Mitzvah celebration on Saturday, May 9, 2015 at the Tiffany Center in Downtown Portland, Oregon.
Guests began arriving in the Crystal Ballroom on the 2nd floor around 6pm to a variety of background music that continued through cocktails and dinner.
As expected, the kids finished eating first and began to get a little restless. With the dining area positioned around the dance floor and Ethan’s mom hoping the background music could continue for the adults during dinner, I suggested taking the kids to an open area on the other side of the room to lead some games that did not require music. She agreed and about 30 young people had a great time with the football vs. soccer team race (Ethan loves both sports), Sharks and Minnows and a balloon stuffing contest.
I then returned to the stage and opened the dance floor with a mother/son dance (Fiddler on the Roof – Sunrise, Sunset) before launching into ‘The Hora’ and inviting everyone out to celebrate Ethan with the chair raising.
The party was off and running with both kids and parents dancing together the rest of the evening to everything from ‘Celebration’ to ‘Happy.’ There were also a lot of swing dancers with this group and they showed their stuff to ‘In The Mood’ and ‘Jump Jive ‘An Wail.’ A solid mix of classic hits and today’s best music kept everyone in a good mood and made for a fun evening.
Thank you mom Shira for choosing PRO DJs.
Post Event Satisfaction Survey:
- Event Date: Saturday, May 9, 2015
- Event Type: Bar Mitzvah
- Event Location: Tiffany Center
- 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
Oregon Wedding DJ At Green Villa Barn
Oregon Wedding DJ Rich Ellis had the opportunity to perform at Elena and Byron’s reception on Saturday, April 25, 2015 at Green Villa Barn in Independence, Oregon.
The ceremony and reception were held in the main ballroom with a video slideshow planned for the start of the wedding. Live music for the ceremony was provided by the Willamette University Apollo Quartet while I monitored the microphones.
The newlyweds wanted anything Rat Pack for background music during cocktails and dinner, including Frank Sinatra, Michael Bublé, and Big Band/Jazz such as Glenn Miller and Dave Brubeck.
Oregon Wedding DJ Reception Highlights:
- Cake Cutting: Average White Band – Cut the Cake
- First Dance: Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong – Dream a Little Dream of Me
- Bride and Father Dance: Bruce Springsteen – When You Need Me
- Groom and Mother Dance: Louis Armstrong – What a Wonderful World
- Bridal Party Dance: Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars – Uptown Funk
- Bouquet Toss: Meghan Trainor – Dear Future Husband
- Garter Toss: Henry Mancini – Pink Panther Theme
- Last Dance: Eric Clapton – Wonderful Tonight
Following the formal dances, I opened the dance floor to all guests. It was a great turnout and perfectly set-up the surprise swing dance lesson that followed, led by Elena, who is a dance instructor in her spare time.
Everyone appeared to have a lot of fun dancing to the classic hits and current favorites, including Byron’s favorite, Michael Jackson, Pharrell Williams ‘Happy,’ the latest smash ‘Shut Up and Dance’ and more.
I appreciated the feedback received afterwards from the father of the groom… “Thanks so much for the superb job you did at my son’s wedding. The music was spot on and helped make it a great evening!” -Tom Farley.
Best wishes Elena and Byron and thank you for choosing PRO DJs.