The Pomery Living History Farm in Yacolt, Washington located near the Lewis River in the Lucia Valley, was the setting for Allison and Ethan’s wedding on Saturday, August 27, 2011. It was a long drive out to the country that ended on a picture-perfect farm, large enough to have the ceremony and reception in two different locations on the property, but only a small part of the total 677 acre size of the entire farm.
 
It was a little warm sitting in the sun for the ceremony, but still a great day with the temperature no more than 85 degrees. I was able to set-up my sound system behind some trees near the house to keep it partially hidden from view, yet I had a a great view myself for coordinating the music selections.
 
Wedding Ceremony Highlights:

• Bridal Party Entrance Song: Bach – Air on the G String
• Bride Entrance Song: O’Neill Brothers – Canon In D Major
• Bride/Groom Exit Song: Shania Twain – From This Moment On

Following the ceremony, I moved the sound to another part of the farm that was much larger for accommodating the 150 guests for dinner and dancing.
 
Wedding Reception Highlights:

• Grand Entrance: Black Eyed Peas – I Gotta Feeling
• Cocktail/Dinner Music: Variety
• Cake Cutting: Colbie Caillat – You Got Me
• First Dance: Dave Matthews – You and Me
• Bride and Father Dance: Tim McGraw – My Little Girl
• Bride and Stepfather Dance: Faith Hill – There You’ll Be
• Groom and Mother Dance: Boyz II Men – A Song For Mama

Around 6:30pm, the dance floor was opened to everyone with a few classic hits to get things going, but current music was the star of the night as Ethan and especially Allison wanted to dance to everything popular on the radio right now. Guests packed the floor for Usher, Pitbull, Flo-Rida and other hot performers of today. I was scheduled to end at 8pm, but most guests were still there and having a great time, so I was asked to play another hour.  The reception ended just after sunset.
 
It was a special day for Ethan & Allison.  Best wishes and thank you for choosing PRO DJs.
 
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With traffic whizzing by on a Friday evening, including excited Hood To Coast participants passing through downtown Portland on their way to Seaside, you would think an outdoor wedding ceremony at street level would be a little noisy. Well, it was a little, but the World Trade Center Courtyard is more intimate than it appears and Erika & Walter’s wedding went smoothly with a mix of pre-recorded music and two songs sung live using my cordless microphone and music tracks provided by the singer. While my mobile DJ sound system is not set-up for musical instruments, I have done this many times previously and the quality is similar to karaoke.
 
Wedding Ceremony Highlights:

• Bridal Party Entrance Song: Pachelbel – Canon In D
• Bride Entrance Song: Andrea Bocelli – Con Te Partiro
• Live Performance: Wendy Johnson – All My Life
• Live Performance: Wendy Johnson – True Companion
• Bride/Groom Exit Song: Mendelssohn – Wedding March

The reception was held on the Skybridge Level on the third floor of the Trade Center. With the all glass ceiling and walls, this is a great setting for any event and provides a nice view of Waterfront Park.
 
Wedding Reception Highlights:

• Grand Entrance: Black Eyed Peas – Let’s Get It Started
• Cocktail/Dinner Music: Variety
• Cake Cutting: Dean Martin – That’s Amore
• First Dance: Mariah Carey – My All
• Bouquet Toss: Beyonce – Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)
• Garter Toss: Queen – Another One Bites the Dust
• Last Dance: K-Ci & JoJo – All My Life (Wedding Mix)

Around 9:45pm, the dance floor was opened to all guests and everyone enjoyed a variety of favorites, including music from Michael Jackson, Usher, Billy Idol and Vanilla Ice.
 
Congratulations Erika and Walter. Thank you for choosing PRO DJs. -Rich
 
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They couldn’t have picked a more beautiful place for their wedding ceremony and reception. It was a warm day with a light breeze through the Hood River area. The winery Paige and Andrew chose for their wedding had a spectacular view of Mt. Hood.
 
I arrived early to set up and do sound checks. I was ready to play soft music for the family and staff that was there early setting up as well. Before long, guests started to arrive and walked into the amazing scenery and sound. Once the ceremony started, everything was picture and sound perfect. Guests, Groomsmen, Bridesmaids, Bride and Groom were dressed for the occasion of a lifetime. With custom picked music to send the wedding party down the aisle, the ceremony was beautiful. Once Andrew and Paige completed their vows and were officially husband and wife, we were ready to celebrate.
 
Guests walked up from the lower lawn to the reception area as cocktail music by Michael Bublé, Jack Johnson, John Mayer and others played in the background. Dinner was served buffet style by great local caterers. After the toasts and cutting of the cake, it was time to dance. Andrew and Paige chose ‘Everything’ by Michael Bublé as their first dance as husband and wife. Paige then danced with her father and Andrew danced with his mother. After that, we opened up the dance floor to all. I played everything from Alan Jackson to Sir Mix-A-Lot. Guests were dancing the entire evening. It was a blast.
 
Thank you Paige and Andrew for inviting us to be a part of your wedding. We had as much fun as you did. Congratulations!! -Rhett
 
“RHETT WAS THE ABSOLUTE MAN! We will be recommending him to any future brides/grooms we know. COULD NOT BE HAPPIER WITH EVERYTHING HE DID. Everyone at the wedding commented on how great the DJ was. Thanks Rhett!” -Andy Willis/Paige Worden
 
Post Event Satisfaction Survey:

• Event Date: Saturday, August 20, 2011
• Event Type: Wedding
• Event Location: Gorge Crest Winery/Underwood, WA
• Event Staff: Rhett Acelar
• 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

 
Wedding DJ: A return trip for me to the Troutdale House in Troutdale, Oregon turned out to be the hottest day of the summer so far. Around 4pm, we hit 96 degrees and with the mild temperatures we have had this year, it felt much warmer. This led some guests to move their chairs under a tree off to the side for the ceremony held in the park (see picture below). Everything went smoothly though, as Lori and Zach said their ‘I Do’s’ in front of an adoring group of guests.
 
The reception was held inside the house and the A/C was a welcome relief. The dinner hour was very comfortable, but once the dancefloor packed and guests were movin’ and shakin’, the heat returned and it looked sweltering out there, especially as I was playing a timely request for Nelly’s ‘Hot In Herre’ 🙂
 
Wedding Highlights:
 
Ceremony

• Bridal Party Entrance Song: Eric Clapton – Wonderful Tonight
• Bride Entrance Song: Eva Cassidy – You Take My Breath Away
• Sand Ceremony: Israel Kamakawiwo’ole – Somewhere Over the Rainbow
• Bride/Groom Exit Song: Stevie Wonder – Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I’m Yours

Reception

• Grand Entrance: Billy Idol – White Wedding
• Dinner Music: Classic Rock and R&B
• Cake Cutting: Beatles – When I’m 64
• First Dance: Bob Marley – Is This Love
• Bride and Father Dance: Cat Stevens – Wild World
• Groom and Mother Dance: Same
• Bouquet Toss: Sex in the City Theme Song
• Garter Toss: Jimi Hendrix – Foxy Lady

Congratulations Lori and Zach. Thank you for choosing PRO DJs. -Rich
 
Post Event Satisfaction Survey:
 
“Amazing DJ to work with. Acted with complete professionalism and was available with any questions I had along the way.” -Lori Magee

• Event Date: Saturday, August 20, 2011
• Event Type: Wedding
• Event Location: Troutdale House by the Sandy River/Troutdale, 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: Good
• 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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The University Club in downtown Portland was the setting for Nina and Matt’s wedding reception on Saturday, August 13, 2011. The ceremony took place not too far away at St. James Lutheran Church at 5pm. Guests then arrived at the club and enjoyed cocktails and appetizers on the main level before coming upstairs for dinner in the main ballroom.
 
Reception Highlights:

• Grand Entrance: Michael Franti & Spearhead – Say Hey (I Love You)
• Dinner Music: Instrumental Jazz
• Cake Cutting: James Taylor – How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)
• First Dance: Michael Bublé – Everything
• Bride and Father Dance: Joe Cocker – You Are So Beautiful
• Groom and Mother Dance: Kenny Chesney – Never Wanted Nothing More
• Bouquet Toss: Beyonce – Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)
• Last Dance of Evening: Michael Bublé – Save The Last Dance For Me

I have had the pleasure of being the DJ at some fun celebrations this summer, but from the opening bell, this group was especially fired up and brought a ton of energy immediately to the dance floor. From classics like ‘Billie Jean’ and ‘Shout’ to current favorites ‘Dynamite’ and ‘Party Rock Anthem’, it seemed like everyone, regardless of age, danced to every song. The bride and groom had listed quite a few slow songs on their request list, which proved to be a little bit of a challenge with this high-octane group, but I managed to play most of them, including ‘Unforgettable’, ‘What A Wonderful World’ and ‘Wonderful Tonight’.
 
Nina and Matt, it was a pleasure. I really enjoyed your guests. Thank you to Nina’s mom Shirley for the opportunity to be a part of this occasion. -Rich
 
Post Event Satisfaction Survey:

• Event Date: Saturday, August 13, 2011
• Event Type: Wedding Reception
• Event Location: University Club/Portland, 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
• Comments: You did a wonderful job.
• Would you recommend this service to others? Yes

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