Gay Wedding
Griffin House Wedding Hood River Oregon
Gemma and Jess’ wedding and reception was held at Griffin House in Hood River, Oregon on Friday, September 2, 2022.
This was my first time as DJ at this venue, a beautiful spot overlooking the majestic Columbia River Gorge with the ceremony lawn providing the best view to exchange vows.
Griffin House Wedding Ceremony Highlights:
- Jess Entrance: The Nationals – I Need My Girl
- Bridal Party Entrance: Rufus du Sol – Next to Me
- Gemma Entrance: LCD Soundsystem – Oh Baby
- Newlyweds Exit: Sonny & Cher – I Got You Babe
With the wedding, cocktail hour and dinner/dancing in three separate areas, three sound systems were required to make everything go as smoothly as possible. This included a lapel microphone for the ceremony officiant and handheld cordless microphones for the vows and toasts.
Guests gathered on the Welcome Terrace for cocktails and a welcome toast from the newlyweds before moving to the lawn + tent for dinner and dancing.
Background music was provided to me as Spotify playlists by Gemma and Jess and included a wide variety of selections from Death Cab for Cutie, Beyonce, AC/DC and more.
Griffin House Wedding Reception Highlights:
- Grand Entrance: Alvvays – Archie, Marry Me
- First Dance: Kacey Musgraves – Oh, What a World
- Gemma and Father Dance: Ella Fitzgerald – Cheek To Cheek
- Anniversary Dance: Nat King Cole – Unforgettable
- Last Dance: LMFAO – Sexy And I Know It
This was a fun group and the celebration really took off after the newlyweds returned from their sunset photos and glow sticks were handed out.
The dance floor was packed for nearly two hours with an amazing energy. I played everything from “One More Time” and “Love Shack” to requests for Madonna, Lady Gaga, “Disco Inferno” and more.
Early on, a beer shotgun competition with Gemma and her family also broke out in the grass behind where I was setup 🙂
Congratulations Gemma and Jess and thank you for choosing PRO DJs.
Post Event Satisfaction Survey:
“Rich was a huge part of our amazing wedding experience! He was professional, prompt, worked great with our other vendors, and most of all was so easy to work with on our end. The wedding was flawless. Thank you Rich for helping us to have a great wedding!!”
-Gemma Hobbs & Jess Sexton Wedding
- Event Date: Friday, September 2, 2022
- Event Type: Wedding & Reception
- Event Location: Griffin 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: 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
CedarVale Events Wedding Hubbard Oregon
Ashley and Brittany’s wedding and reception was held at CedarVale Events, a former family farm in Hubbard, Oregon on Friday, August 19, 2022.
The wedding was scheduled to begin at 3:30pm, but the entire wedding party was stuck in traffic on I-5, leading to a one hour delay. Everyone there took it in stride though and it was a perfect day to enjoy the space. Background music was a mix of Jazz covers of popular songs.
I setup a second sound system for the ceremony which took place under the towering cedars. This peaceful spot is very inviting and provided a perfect amount of shade for everyone.
CedarVale Events Wedding Ceremony Highlights:
- Bridal Party Entrance: Vitamin String Quartet – In My Blood
- Brides Entrance: Helen Newby – Linger (Cranberries Cover)
- Brides Exit: The Paper Kites – Bloom
While the brides had their photos taken, guests returned to the open clearing area for drinks and appetizers, along with lawn games including cornhole. The buffet opened for dinner around 6:30pm.
CedarVale Events Wedding Reception Highlights:
- Grand Entrance: Four Tops – Ain’t No Woman (Like The One I’ve Got)
- Cake Cutting: Norah Jones – Come Away With Me
- First Dance: City & Colour – Northern Wind
- Bride and Father Dance: Tom Petty – Wildflowers
- Bouquet Toss: Lizzo – Juice
- Last Dance: Semisonic – Closing Time
This group of less than 50 guests were not shy when the dance floor opened with a slow song and all the uptempo selections that followed, from ABBA and Daft Punk to Neil Diamond and Justin Timberlake, plus the brides requests for Paramore, Tegan and Sara, Cascada and more.
Congratulations Ashley and Brittany and thank you for choosing PRO DJs.
Columbia Gorge Hotel Wedding Hood River
Gary and Jonathan’s Columbia Gorge Hotel wedding and reception was held on Saturday, August 28, 2021 in Hood River, Oregon. The return of warm summer weather for cocktails behind the hotel and the ceremony on the Point Lawn overlooking the Columbia River, led to a magical evening on the West Lawn for the reception.
My secondary sound system provided background music for the cocktail hour that began at 4pm. Selections were a mix of R&B along with some standards (Ella, Rat Pack, etc.) as requested by Gary and Jonathan. For the ceremony, the hotel set-up their sound system and I played the music selections via my iPad.
Columbia Gorge Hotel Wedding Ceremony Highlights:
- Wedding Party Entrance: Etta James – At Last
- Exit Song: Black Eyed Peas – I Gotta Feeling
Following the ceremony, the newlyweds had additional photos taken while guests moved to the West Lawn for dinner. Background music selections were similar to those chosen for the cocktail hour, but a little softer tempo. Featured artists included: Otis Redding, Sade, Earth Wind & Fire and more.
Columbia Gorge Hotel Wedding Reception Highlights:
- Grand Entrance: Justin Timberlake – Can’t Stop The Feeling
- Cake Cutting: Marvin Gaye – How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)
- First Dance: BeBe and CeCe Winans – I Found Love
- Groom and Mother Dance: Carole King – Child of Mine
On a beautiful summer evening, the stage was set for a magical night and Gary, Jon and their families and friends wasted no time getting this party started as I opened the dance floor with one of their requests from Pink.
I played everything from Earth, Wind & Fire’s ‘September’ to the ‘Cupid Shuffle,’ plus requests for Whitney Houston’s ‘I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me),’ Cher’s ‘Believe’ and more.
Congratulations Jonathan and Gary and thank you for choosing PRO DJs.
Post Event Satisfaction Survey:
“Rich did an excellent job at our wedding. I will recommend him to future friends who are going to have an event that will need a DJ.” -Jonathan Bailey and Gary Boyer Wedding
- Event Date: Saturday, August 28, 2021
- Event Type: Wedding & Reception
- Event Location: Columbia Gorge Hotel
- 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
Vow Renewal Anniversary Celebration
Hope and Sally celebrated their anniversary by renewing their vows at Ainsworth House & Gardens in Oregon City, Oregon on Thursday, July 29, 2021.
The ceremony was held outside and the celebration followed inside where I played music for dinner (selections from Vitamin String Quartet as requested by Sally) and dancing. During the ceremony, the couple offered five tips for a successful relationship. Later before their first dance, they provided a sixth tip – “there is always time to dance.”
Vow Renewal Anniversary Celebration Highlights:
- First Dance: Haley Reinhart – Can’t Help Falling In Love
- Last Dance: Wind & The Wave – Chasing Cars
The couple invited their guests to join them about half way through their first dance. Many then stuck around for uptempo music from the 80’s until now, including “Shut Up and Dance,” “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me),” “Shake It Off” and more.
Happy Anniversary Hope and Sally and thank you for choosing PRO DJs.
Post Event Satisfaction Survey:
“Thank you so much for your help in making our ceremony such a success. We really appreciate it.” -Hope and Sally McKinnis
- Event Date: Thursday, July 29, 2021
- Event Type: Anniversary Celebration
- Event Location: Ainsworth House and Gardens
- 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
PRO DJs Portland 2018 Events Review
Reflecting on 2018, PRO DJs has put together video slideshows of the many weddings and events we have performed over the past year.
WEDDINGS:
CLIENT FEEDBACK:
Rich was amazing from start to finish. He helped plan, answered our questions whenever we had them and coordinated with other vendors the day of the wedding. The music was great and exactly what we asked for. I will be recommending Pro DJs to everyone I know who needs a great DJ. Very professional and organized. Made our wedding day that much better! -Michelle Love (Michelle & Heather’s Wedding) – Salem, OR (4-14-18)
Rich made everything so much easier! Being new to this idea of putting on a BIG wedding, it was marvelous to have a professional DJ who knew just what to do and kept everything on track. Thank you so much! Our daughter and son-in-laws special day could not have gone more smoothly! -Ronda Wallace (Laura Wallace & Nick Reyes Wedding) – Hood River, OR (6-2-18)
Thank you so much for the wonderful job you did with the music. Everyone had a wonderful time and we will be happy to refer others to you. Rich Ellis provided a marvelous service. We had a slide show of our lives together and Rich coordinated song selections that were beautifully suited to the mood of the slides. I was so delighted! -Mary & Dave Krug (50th Wedding Anniversary) – Portland, OR (8-19-18)
Thank you (Rich) for helping to make our wedding the special day that it was. -Aimee Boyd & Zachary Zandt Wedding – Washougal, WA (9-2-18)
BAR MITZVAHS & BAT MITZVAHS:
CLIENT FEEDBACK:
Thanks, Rich for making Yael’s Bat Mitzvah a real blast. -Daniel Raider (Yael’s Bat Mitzvah) – Portland, OR (3-3-18)
We would use Rich again! -Heidi Wolfson (Rebekah’s Bat Mitzvah) – Beaverton, OR (3-24-18)
Steve was awesome. Really great. We were very happy with his professionalism and charm. -Julia Pickar (Max’s Bar Mitzvah) – Portland, OR (5-5-18)
Steve made the party amazing! -Sharon Friedman (Mara’s Bat Mitzvah) – Portland, OR (6-9-18)
We had another wonderful event with Rich! The music was great. Kids and adults all had a great evening. -Jaime Kean (Lucy’s Bat Mitzvah) – Portland, OR (6-16-18)
Rich was a super resource and made our event! HUGE THANKS! -Leticia Kleinberg (Maia’s Bat Mitzvah) – Portland, OR (6-30-18)
We’ve been to many Pro DJ events and many with Rich. We couldn’t wait to have him at our event. He’s so easy to work with and such a gentle soul. He know kids, knows how to read a room and knows how to make a party rock!!! Thank you for a most fabulous evening!! -Jennifer and Ken Zeidman (Ruthie’s Bat Mitzvah) – Portland, OR (7-14-18)
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 (Jordan’s Bar Mitzvah) – Portland, OR (8-25-18)
I just wish I had another kid so I could look forward to having Steve be our DJ again! Will have to work on that!!! -Debbie Plawner (Miriam’s Bat Mitzvah) – Portland, OR (10-13-18)
He (Steve) was and is always a spectacular partner in the event. There is a reason so many people choose you all. He is amazing. All the kids know him. He can read a room well and know just what to do! -Marisa Brown (Eleanor’s Bat Mitzvah) – Lake Oswego, OR (10-20-18)
CORPORATE & KARAOKE:
CLIENT FEEDBACK:
Rich did great. We will definitely book him for future events. -Ashton, Graffeo Chiropractic Clinic – Portland, OR (1-6-18)
Rich was the Best! It was a pleasure working with you and thank you for making our company picnic a success! I know we will be working with you again in the future. -Kathy Korb, DSV Road Transport Company Picnic – Portland, OR (8-12-18)
Everything was wonderful, there is nothing I can think of that could have been done better. Rich was a great DJ/KJ, and I would highly recommend Pro DJs for any event. -Shelly Garteiz, BillerudKorsnäs Company Karaoke Party – Portland, OR (12-4-18)
We would like to go ahead and reserve for (December 2019) at Embassy Suites again. -Contract Furnishings Mart Company Holiday Party – Tigard, OR (12-8-18)
Rich did an Excellent job! Everyone had a great time! -Carly Gray, The Home Depot Holiday Party – Portland, OR (12-9-18)
Rocked the event!!!!! Dj was perfect!!!!! I’m going to hire again! -Tracy Burback–Munoz, Private Karaoke Christmas Party – Battle Ground, WA (12-15-18)
Click Here for more photos, feedback and event recaps.
