What a difference a day makes. Yesterday was the final day of a heatwave in the Portland area and we hit 97 degrees. Today we woke up to a little bit of rain and 60 degrees. This was sweet relief for those attending Valerie and Damian’s wedding and reception held at the Enomoto Barn in Newberg, Oregon on Saturday, August 18, 2012.
 
It seemed like only a few weeks ago that I last saw them at Chrissy and Todd’s wedding in McMinnville and that’s because it was only a few weeks ago – Click Here :). The ceremony was scheduled for 2:30pm outside on the front lawn of the main residence.
 
Ceremony Highlights:

• Bridal Party Entrance: Matthew Lister – Storybook Love (Princess Bride)
• Bride Entrance: Train – Marry Me
• Bride/Groom Exit: OneRepublic – Good Life

Guests gathered on the second floor of the barn for the reception where I had a second sound system set-up. Valerie and Damian are big sports fans and wanted a grand entrance similar to the team introduction at a Portland Trailblazers game, so with the Blazers theme music, I put on my best sports announcer voice and introduced the wedding party, including the main event “and no longer single” the bride and groom.
 
Reception Highlights:

• Grand Entrance: Alan Parsons Project – Sirius
• Cake Cutting: Prime Time NFL Football Theme Song
• First Dance: Ray LaMontagne – Hold You In My Arms
• Bride and Father Dance: Israel Kamakawiwo’ole – Somewhere Over The Rainbow
• Groom and Mother Dance: Israel Kamakawiwo’ole – Somewhere Over The Rainbow
• Last Dance: Marvin Gaye – Let’s Get It On
• Exit Song: Frank Sinatra – Theme From New York, New York

Even with the cooler weather outside, a barn with a tin roof can get real toasty inside, but this group with sweat pouring and skin glistening, preservered to make a great party!
 
Post Event Satisfaction Survey:
 
“Rich was fantastic! We enjoyed him at all of our other friends weddings and were thrilled to have him at our special day! We danced the night away and enjoyed every minute of our friends and family! Thank you again for accommodating all of our fun but crazy requests! Would use prodjs anytime in the future!!!”  -Valerie Munoz

• Event Date: Saturday, August 18, 2012
• Event Type: Wedding & Reception
• Event Location: Private Residence – Newberg, Oregon
• 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

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Under a bright blue sky and the occasional jet taking off from nearby Portland International Airport, Eileen and Quang were married on Saturday, August 11, 2012 at Columbia Edgewater Country Club.
 
The ceremony took place outside on the front lawn. The only source of power was an extension cord used for the sprinkler system timer. This meant I had to set-up my sound system in the landscaped area… it worked out nicely though in providing some camouflage for my gear.
 
Wedding Ceremony Highlights:

• Bridal Party Entrance: Canon in D (Pachelbel)
• Bride Entrance: Here Comes the Bride (Wagner)
• Bride/Groom Exit: Ode to Joy (Beethoven)

The reception was held inside the main ballroom. The back deck was also open for the cocktail hour and I ran a wireless speaker outside for those on the deck, but with the temperature in the upper 80’s, nearly every guest elected to stay inside and enjoy the comfortable air conditioning.
 
Wedding Reception Highlights:

• Grand Entrance: Jagged Edge – Let’s Get Married
• Cake Cutting: 3rd Storee – If Ever
• First Dance: Savage Garden – Truly, Madly, Deeply
• Bouquet Toss: Beyonce – Single Ladies
• Bridal Party Dance: Black Eyed Peas – Let’s Get It Started
• Last Song: All-4-One – I Swear

When the dance floor opened, so did the photo booth with fun props on the opposite side of the dance floor. There were many people dancing while waiting in line, but on some songs, they just couldn’t resist and spilled onto a packed floor. 70’s disco (Earth, Wind & Fire, Sister Sledge) were especially popular early on with a good run of the latest hits generating lots of excitement over the final hour.

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It was a gorgeous day in the Columbia River Gorge for Sarah and Chris’ wedding on Wednesday, August 1, 2012. Bridal Veil Lakes is visually stunning and a great place to get away from the noise of the city without really getting away, as it is only 30 miles east of Portland.
 
The ceremony was held on the opposite side of the lake. Guests arrived to the sound of the running creek nearby combined with a mix of acoustic music I provided.
 
Wedding Ceremony Highlights:

• Bridal Party Entrance: Patti Griffin – Heavenly Day
• Bride Entrance: Train – Marry Me
• Bride/Groom Exit: Patti Griffin – Heavenly Day

Following the ceremony, the guests walked the scenic route around the lake to the main reception area. This gave me a chance to move my sound system for the reception and dancing.
 
Wedding Reception Highlights:

• Grand Entrance: U2 – Beautiful Day
• Cake Cutting: Jack Johnson – Better Together
• First Dance: John Legend – Stay With You
• Groom and Mother Dance: Lynyrd Skynyrd – Simple Man
• Bouquet Toss: Beyonce – Single Ladies
• Garter Toss: Michael Jackson – The Way You Make Me Feel
• Last Song: Semisonic – Closing Time

Anytime is a good time for a party and this group proved it in bringing lots of energy to the dance floor. Current Top 40 hits went over best and Sarah’s request for the ‘Cupid Shuffle’ made everyone forget it was a Wednesday night 🙂

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The Bayou Golf Course in McMinnville, Oregon features a Southern-styled Mansion and perfectly manicured front lawn, minus the hot, sticky weather you might experience at an outdoor event held in the South this time of year. For Chrissy and Todd’s wedding on July 28, 2012, it could not have been a more pleasant day at 79 degrees and no humidity.
 
The last time I performed a wedding here was over 10 years ago during the winter and it was held inside. The Gazebo overlooking vineyards and the golf course provides a great view for Summer weddings and this was the first time I can remember the entire guest seating area for the ceremony was shaded by trees (see photo).
 
Wedding Highlights:
 
Ceremony

• Bridal Party Entrance: Pachelbel – Cannon in D Major (Song for Sienna)
• Bride Entrance: Harry Gregson-Williams – “Bridget’s Theme”
• Bride/Groom Exit: Bruno Mars – Just The Way You Are

Reception

• Grand Entrance: Black Eyed Peas – I Gotta Feeling
• Cake Cutting: Sugar Land – Stuck Like Glue
• First Dance: John Legend – Stay With You
• Bride and Father Dance: Natalie & Nat King Cole – Unforgettable
• Groom and Mother Dance: Rascal Flatts – My Wish
• Reception Exit Song: Pat Benetar – Shadows of the Night

It was good to see several couples in attendance who had used PRO DJs previously, including Alice & John (6/25/11) and Nicole & Jim (9/3/11). I am also performing at Valerie’s wedding in three weeks… she was the coordinator for this event. They were all rockin’ the dance floor for nearly three hours to the latest hits and some classic 90’s I hadn’t spun in awhile, including requests for the Backstreet Boys, Spice Girls and Bel Biv Devoe 🙂
 
Congratulations to Chrissy and Todd and thank you for choosing PRO DJs. -Rich
 
Post Event Satisfaction Survey:
 
“We were very happy with the services we received! No improvements needed!! Rich helped us keep the momentum going! The dance floor stayed busy by incorporating song requests from guests!”  -Chrissy Thompson

• Event Date: Saturday, July 28, 2012
• Event Type: Wedding & Reception
• Event Location: Bayou Golf Course/McMinnville, Oregon
• 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

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With Reser Stadium rising up in the background on a beautiful summer day, the garden of the Alumni Center at Oregon State University in Corvallis was a picturesque site for Jessica and Matt to exchange vows on Saturday, July 14, 2012.
 
It was a warm, sunny day and during the microphone soundcheck before the ceremony, there was no breeze. However, that changed during the ceremony as the wind suddendly started blowing. While it felt nice to cool off a little, it also presented a bit of a challenge with the officiant’s lapel microphone, especially with the wind constantly changing direction. I was able to adjust the volume though as needed and everyone could hear just fine.
 
Following the ceremony, guests were escorted to the foyer of the Alumni Club and enjoyed cocktails and conversation as a live trio performed. Earlier I had set-up my main sound system in the ballroom. When the doors opened, I continued where the trio left off with a mix of classic jazz and standards. Jessica wanted a French theme or bistro feel for dinner that included Pink Martini.
 
Wedding Reception Highlights:

• Grand Entrance: Flo Rida – Good Feeling
• Cake Cutting: Jack Johnson – Better Together
• First Dance: Jason Aldean & Bryan Adams – Heaven
• Bride and Father Dance: Michael Buble – The Way You Look Tonight
• Groom and Mother Dance: Same
• Dollar Dance: Bruno Mars – Count On Me
• Bouquet Toss: Beyonce – Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)
• Garter Toss: Tone Loc – Wild Thing
• Last Dance: Marvin Gaye – Let’s Get It On

I had a feeling this group would get right to it on the dancefloor and they partied as advertised. From oldies to current hits, young and older guests, they loved it all… ‘Stayin’ Alive’, ‘Moves Like Jagger’, ‘Billie Jean’, ‘Sexy and I Know It’, ‘Call Me Maybe’ and more, the place was hoppin’.
 
‘Let’s Get It On’ was a great choice by the newlyweds to finish a high-energy, fun evening. Jessica and Matt, it was a pleasure. Congratulations! -Rich
 
Post Event Satisfaction Survey:
 
“Rich did an amazing job with all the music through the night. Once the dancing started it didn’t stop until they turned the lights on us! Thank you!”  -Jessica Lee

• Event Date: Saturday, July 14, 2012
• Event Type: Wedding & Reception
• Event Location: OSU/Corvallis, Oregon
• 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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