Big Fun At Remote Grand Ronde Wedding
Alexandria and Matthew’s Grand Ronde wedding and reception took place on Saturday, July 22, 2017 at the groom’s family home in Grand Ronde, Oregon.
It was beautiful, warm sunny summer day, but this remote location off Highway 22 was surrounded by trees that offered lots of shade to make everyone feel comfortable.
Grand Ronde Wedding Ceremony Highlights:
- Wedding Party Entrance: Louis Armstrong – What a Wonderful World
- Bride Entrance: Live Guitarist – Can’t Help Falling In Love
- Bride/Groom Exit: Rusted Root – Send Me On My Way
With a travel theme in mind, the newlyweds requested background music for the reception that had a Parisian feel, such as Pink Martini, as well as Spanish, plus the classic crooners, like Frank Sinatra. I played a mix of vocal and instrumental music from artists such as Miles Davis, Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong and more.
Grand Ronde Wedding Reception Highlights:
- Grand Entrance: Bob Marley – Is This Love
- First Dance: Griffin House – Better Than Love
- Bride/Father Dance: Heartland – I Loved Her First
- Groom and Mother Dance: Tom Petty – Wildflowers
- Bouquet Toss: Beyonce – Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)
- Last Dance: Bon Jovi – Livin’ On A Prayer
It was clear that many guests were ready to expend some energy and took off dancing right away when the dance floor opened to everyone following the mother/son dance.
And this was with most of the family gathered on the opposite side of the yard for photos. No matter, a second dance floor opened in the grass while they waited their turn to be photographed 🙂
As the sun began to set, all guests (both young and older) had a wild time movin’ and shakin’ to a setlist that featured 80’s classics ‘Footloose’ and ‘Thriller’, along with recent hits, ‘Uptown Funk,’ ‘Can’t Stop the Feeling’, ‘Shut Up and Dance’ and more.
As I was getting ready to leave at the end of the night, I appreciated the immediate feedback from the bride and groom and members of their wedding party, who told me they had the best time.
Congratulations Alexandria and Matthew and thank you for choosing PRO DJs.
Post Event Satisfaction Survey:
“Rich did a great job keeping everything organized and professional. Great DJ and very friendly!” -Alexandria Baz & Matt Tritten
- Event Date: Saturday, July 22, 2017
- Event Type: Wedding & Reception
- Event Location: Grand Ronde, OR
- 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
Gearhart Wedding At McMenamins Sand Trap
Megan and Patrick’s mid summer Gearhart wedding was held Saturday, July 15, 2017 at McMenamins Sand Trap Bar & Grill in Gearhart on the Oregon Coast.
I arrived just as the ceremony was beginning on the beach nearby for setup in the downstairs private room located just off the golf course. When guests arrived for the reception, they could find a table inside or visit outside while playing lawn games. I had a speaker inside and out so background music was heard everywhere.
Gearhart Wedding Reception Highlights:
- Grand Entrance: Earth Wind & Fire – September
- Cake Cutting: James Taylor – How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)
- First Dance: Kip Moore – Hey Pretty Girl
- Bride and Father Dance: Lee Ann Womack – I Hope You Dance
- Groom and Mother Dance: Elvis Presley – The Wonder of You
- Last Dance: Eric Church – Wrecking Ball
The dance floor opened to everyone around 8:20pm, but there was still a lot of daylight and other activities to distract the 100+ guests, but still we had several couples dance a few numbers in the early going.
Over the final 30 minutes, darkness set in and the dance floor filled up for a set of 80’s classics, as requested by the newlyweds, including ‘Your Love’ by the Outfield, ‘Come On Eileen’ from Dexy’s Midnight Runners and ‘Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey. Foreigner’s ‘Juke Box Hero’ also got this group going as many shared fond memories of that one while growing up in Madras, Oregon.
Congratulations Megan and Patrick and thank you for choosing PRO DJs.
Salem Bar Mitzvah DJ At Convention Center
Salem Bar Mitzvah DJ Rich Ellis performed at Nathan’s Bar Mitzvah party on Saturday, July 8, 2017 in the Croisan Creek Room at the Salem Convention Center in Salem, Oregon. This event began at 7pm with dinner background music.
The room handled the 100+ guests comfortably for dinner and dancing, but there wasn’t enough room for some of the games. I noticed another (empty) room adjacent to this one and checked to see if we could use it temporarily. And so all the kids joined me there for rousing versions of Coke & Pepsi and Running Tic Tac Toe.
We then returned to the main ballroom for one more game that the parents could watch and be involved with, a scavenger hunt, before opening the dance floor with ‘The Hora’ and chair raising.
Nathan’s family really wanted their guests to dance and posted signs around the room encourging everyone to participate.
There was no need to worry though as most everyone joined in the fun and danced to a variety of fun hit music… everything from ‘Happy’ and ‘Uptown Funk’ to ‘Play That Funky Music’ and the ‘Cha Cha Slide’. Nathan loves to rock though and his requests for Green Day and Fall Out Boy were well received, plus his metal-loving grandmother was super excited to dance to Judas Priest’s ‘Livin’ After Midnight’ 🙂
Mazel Tov Nathan and thank you parents Deb and Mike for choosing PRO DJs.
Big Time Portland Bat Mitzvah Dance Party
DJ Rich Ellis had the opportunity to perform at Anita’s Bat Mitzvah Dance Party on Saturday, July 1, 2017 at Congregation Beth Israel in Portland, Oregon.
Anita’s dad Ben had the pleasure of selecting the artists for the background music. For cocktails, he wanted an R&B, World, Afro Cuban vibe that included artists: The Indestructible Beat of Soweto, Baba Maal, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Amy Winehouse and more. For dinner, he suggested aoustic rock and mellow pop music, including artists: Nirvana unplugged, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Natalie Merchant, Pink Martini and others.
Before dinner, the plan was for the kids to play some games, but the photo booth and henna tattoos proved too much of a distraction. Following dinner was a slideshow and family toast.
Next, Anita introduced and talked about her family and friends during the candle lighting ceremony and then ‘The Hora’ got everyone out of their chairs immediately to begin what turned out to be a big time Saturday night Bat Mitzvah dance party.
The floor was packed for nearly every song from start to finish and the 200+ guests in attendance brought the energy for big hit songs, ‘Happy,’ ‘Uptown Funk’, ‘Can’t Stop the Feeling’ and more and my scheduled peformance time was not enough, so an extra 30 minutes was added to keep the party going.
Mazel Tov Anita and thank you Lolly and Ben for again choosing PRO DJs. I had the opportunity to perform at sister Ava’s Bat Mitvah in 2015.
Post Event Satisfaction Survey:
“Rich was wonderful to work with. He met our needs thoroughly and was incredibly flexible as the course of our event changed from what we originally thought. He helped us a great deal with
timing of certain things we wanted and also completely went with the flow when needed. He stayed on a bit longer as our guests were fully on the dance floor still at the end of our agreed time! Rich is incredibly professional, super friendly and is an excellent DJ. This is the 2nd time we have hired him to DJ an event and we were very pleased both times. I have since recommended Pro DJ’s and will continue to!” -Lolly Jamerson and Ben Sandler (Anita’s Bat Mitzvah)
- Event Date: Saturday, July 1, 2017
- Event Type: Bat Mitzvah
- Event Location: Congregation Beth Israel
- 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
Picturesque Summer Mt. Hood Oregon Wedding
Sonna and Ryan’s Mt. Hood Oregon wedding took place at the residence of the bride’s aunt on Friday, June 30, 2017. The bride also grew up in the Parkdale area and returned home from the muggy heat of Oklahoma to celebrate her big day in the comfort of a perfect Northwest summer day.
Mt. Hood Oregon Wedding Ceremony Highlights:
- Wedding Party Entrance: Piano Guys – A Thousand Years
- Bride Entrance: Christina Perri – A Thousand Years
- Bride/Groom Exit: Heavy D & The Boyz – Now That We Found Love
Since the tables and chairs were already setup for the reception, guests spent the next couple hours relaxing and enjoying conversation with family and friends. The newlyweds took most of their photos before their wedding, but there were plenty more to take with extended family.
Mt. Hood Oregon Wedding Reception Highlights:
- Grand Entrance: Stevie Wonder – Signed Sealed Delivered…
- Cake Cutting: Four Tops – I Can’t Help Myself
- First Dance: George Strait – I Cross My Heart
- Bride and Father Dance: Trace Adkins – Just Fishin’
- Bride and Stepfather Dance: Rascal Flatts – My Wish
- Groom and Mother Dance: Trace Adkins – Then They Do
- Bouquet Toss: Beyonce – Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)
- Garter Toss: Weather Girls – It’s Raining Men
- Last Dance: Neil Diamond – Sweet Caroline
It was perfect timing as the dance floor opened to everyone at twilight. With around 80 guests in attendance, most passed on a slow dance to warmup, but were not shy about hitting the dance floor for the first fast dance song. The Beatles ‘Twist & Shout’ brought many out to the tiny dance floor, that quickly overflowed onto the grass for the tracks that followed, including: ‘Happy’, ‘Cupid Shuffle’, ‘Brown Eyed Girl’, ‘Can’t Stop the Feeling’ and more.
Congratulations Sonna and Ryan and thank you Maid of Honor, Mille for recommending me. I had the opportunity to perform at her wedding two years ago.
Post Event Satisfaction Survey:
“Rich did a fantastic job! He was prompt and helped walk us through each step of planning in regards to processional music to first dances. He brought all of his own equipment and set up/broke it down himself. We really appreciated all of his hard work and for guiding us on our special day! Highly recommend.” Â -Sonna Winkel & Ryan Scott Weddle
- Event Date: Friday, June 30, 2017
- Event Type: Wedding & Reception
- Event Location: Parkdale, OR
- 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
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