General
Portland Wedding DJ Plays Castaway Reception
Portland Wedding DJ Rich Ellis had the opportunity to perform at Karri and Kevin’s wedding and reception held at Castaway in Portland, Oregon on Sunday, October 11, 2015.
Following a blustery day on Saturday, it turned out to be a beautiful day for their wedding and the ceremony began at 4:15pm sharp.
Portland Wedding DJ Ceremony Highlights:
- Wedding Party Entrance: Smashing Pumpkins – Mellon Collie Intro
- Bride Entrance: “Love Theme” from The Saint Soundtrack
- Bride/Groom Exit: Mother Mother – Bright Idea
The reception began immediately following the wedding. Guests enjoyed cocktails and conversation as I played a background set featuring big band and crooners of the 40’s of the 50’s, such as Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and Nat King Cole. The dinner music that followed was a little softer and included classic jazz favorites from Stan Getz, Joe Pass, Miles Davis and others.
Portland Wedding DJ Reception Highlights:
- Grand Entrance: James Bond Theme
- First Dance: Milo Greene – Silent Way
- Bride and Father Dance: Glenn Miller – Moonlight Serenade
- Groom and Mother Dance: Eva Cassidy – Time After Time
- Anniversary Dance: John Legend f/Ludacris – Tonight
- Cake Cutting: Bobby Valentino – Angel
- Bride/Son and Groom/Mother Dance: Pharrell Williams – Happy
- Anniversary Dance: Beatles – Here, There & Everywhere/Al Green – I’m Still in Love With You
- Bouquet Toss: Madonna – Lucky Star
- Garter Toss: Huey Lewis & The News – Power of Love
There were a lot of married couples in attendance and the anniversary dance had a great turnout with friends of the family, Jim & Arlene being acknowledge as married the longest at 61 years.
The newlyweds rehearsed a routine to Walk the Moon’s ‘Shut Up and Dance’ to kick off the dancing for all guests and motioned for everyone to join in… it was a great start to a fun Sunday night.
The dance floor was rockin’ to all the big hits, including ‘Shout,’ ‘Footloose,’ ‘December, 1963 (Oh, What A Night) and bride favorite, ‘Walking On Sunshine.’
Best wishes Karri and Kevin and thank you for choosing PRO DJs.
CUSTOMER FEEDBACK:
“Rich – Thank you so much for doing your part to make our wedding day a success! We have enjoyed working with you!” -Karri Pasteris & Kevin Garaventa
Private Residence Gresham Oregon Wedding
Karen and Leon held their Gresham Oregon Wedding at the private residence of their next door neighbor on Saturday, September, 19, 2015.
The last weekend of the summer couldn’t have been more perfect wth sunshine and a comfortable high of 75 degrees.
Gresham Oregon Wedding Ceremony Highlights:
- Wedding Party Entrance: Pachelbel – Canon In D
- Bride Entrance: John Legend w/Lizzy Starling – All of Me
- Bride/Groom Exit: Frank Sinatra – Come Fly With Me
Following the ceremony, a group photo was taken with a drone as the cocktail hour got under way. For background music, I played a variety of classic hits, including favorites from Stevie wonder, OneRepublic, Queen and more.
Gresham Oregon Wedding Reception Highlights:
- Cake Cutting: James Taylor – How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)
- First Dance: Perry Como – And I Love You So
- Bride and Father/Groom and Mother Dance: Louis Armstrong – What A Wonderful World
- Bouquet Toss: Lenny Kravitz – American Woman
- Garter Toss: Marvin Gaye – Let’s Get It On
- Last Dance: Haley & Michaels – Giving It All (To You)
The feel of a warm Indian summer evening seemed to get most guests in the mood for dancing and the floor filled quickly for the opening slow dance and the fun fast songs, including a swing dance that followed.
As twilight set in, the dance floor was overloaded, but many people just danced wherever they were standing, enjoying hits from the Black Eyed Peas, Billy Idol, Bee Gees and more.
Congratulations Karen and Leon!
Post Event Satisfaction Survey:
“Rich was spot on with his selection, timing, interaction with guests. He kept the show moving in the right direction. 5 stars I would and will use PD again I will recommend them in a second. I couldn’t thank Rich enough.” -Leon Hummel
- Event Date: Saturday, September 19, 2015
- Event Type: Wedding & Reception
- Event Location: Private Residence/Gresham
- 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
Wednesday Wedding In Downtown Portland
With Megan and Mitchell’s Wednesday wedding at Adrianna Hill Grand Ballroom in downtown Portland, Oregon, I have performed at a wedding everyday of the week this year, except Tuesday.
The ceremony began at 6pm in the main ballroom on Wednesday, September 17, 2014. Mitchell had been hoping to have Celtic music playing during the prelude, but Megan wanted something with a little more tempo, so they settled on techno violinist Lindsey Stirling and the groom made his entrance to Lindsey’s ‘My Immortal.’
Wednesday Wedding Ceremony Highlights:
- Wedding Processional/Bride Entrance: London Symphony Orchestra – Beauty and the Beast
- Bride/Groom Exit: Skies of Arcadia OST – Blue Rogues’ Theme
To allow the room to be turned for dinner and the reception, guests made their way upstairs to the balcony after the ceremony for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. The newlyweds went with a ‘Masquerade Ball’ theme for their big day and everyone was given a mask to wear before returning to the ballroom for dinner and dancing.
Wednesday Wedding Reception Highlights:
- Grand Entrance: Blue Swede – Hooked On A Feeling
- Cake Cutting: American Authors – Best Day Of My Life
- First Dance: OneRepublic – If I Lose Myself (Acoustic)
- Bouquet Toss: Carly Rae Jepsen – Call Me Maybe
- Garter Toss: Nelly – Hot In Herre
- Last Dance Song: Miley Cyrus – When I Look at You
After their first dance, Megan and Mitchell wanted a group photo taken of everyone wearing their masks.
I then opened the dance floor with ‘At Last’ from Etta James, which had a nice feel for the theme and many couples slow danced to this classic.
Judging by the energy and participation on the dance floor, you would never know it was a Wednesday night.
This was a big time celebration that felt like a Saturday night with the dance floor packed to classic hits ‘In The Mood,’ ‘We Are Family,’ ‘Brown Eyed Girl’ and more. Recent hits ‘Party Rock Anthem,’ ‘Happy’ and ‘I Gotta Feeling’ were also very popular.
Best Wishes Megan and Mitchell and thank you Adrianna Hill Event Coordinator, Jessie Robinson for recommending PRO DJs.
SW Washington Wedding DJ: Ashley & Grant (8/31/13)
After a week of high humidity and more rain than needed in the summertime, it was nice to get back to warm, sunny weather for Ashley and Grant’s wedding on Saturday, August 31, 2013.
A family friend hosted the ceremony and reception at their picturesque home on the Columbia River in Cathlamet, Washington. I have driven Highway 4 to Long Beach in the past, but hadn’t stopped here. After driving through town, I crossed a bridge and the wedding was held on an island right in between Washington and Oregon.
SW Washington Wedding DJ Ceremony Highlights:
- Bridal Party Entrance: Christina Perri – A Thousand Years
- Bride Entrance: The Band Perry – All Your Life
- Bride/Groom Exit: Michael Franti & Spearhead – Say Hey (I Love You)
Guests gathered for the reception under the tent while I played a variety of music that included some Country favorites as requested by the newlyweds.
After dinner and before the toast, Ashley and Grant held a wish lantern ceremony where large lanterns with real candles inside, were released as guests offered them their best wishes.
SW Washington Wedding DJ Reception Highlights:
- Grand Entrance: Natalie Cole – This Will Be
- Cake Cutting: Pat Benatar – Hit Me With Your Best Shot
- First Dance: Shaniah Twain – When You Kiss Me (Sung Live by Ashley’s Cousin, Charlene)
- Bride and Father Dance: Chris Cagle – Dance Baby Dance
- Groom and Mother Dance: Shinedown – Simple Man
- Dollar Dance: Kalai – Divide Me
- Bouquet Toss: Flo Rida f/David Guetta – Where Them Girls At
- Garter Toss: Baauer – Harlem Shake
- Last Dance: Thompson Square – If I Didn’t Have You
It was a beautiful night to rock the dancefloor and everyone was excited to get going. From the opening slow dance to a mix of classics and currents, they brought a ton of energy that lit up the floor.
The groom’s mom had an especially good time, dancing to nearly every song and adding a little spice by emptying three cans of dance floor powdered wax for extra slipping and sliding fun 🙂 Fortunately, no one took a tumble and guests had a little easier time shuffling during ‘Party Rock Anthem’.
Post Event Satisfaction Survey:
- Event Date: Saturday, August 31, 2013
- Event Type: Wedding Reception
- Event Location: Cathlamet WA
- 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
PRO DJs Portland Launches Mobile Website
Serving Northwest Oregon and Southwest Washington, PRO DJs Portland now has a mobile website to help improve navigation of available information from our main website on iPhone and Android mobile devices, such as the online calendar to check availability and to officially book your event.
Our mobile site was implemented using mobile website builder ‘DudaMobile,’ a free service that allows businesses and individuals a quick and easy way to convert their desktop site to a mobile site in only minutes.
Now, when you visit www.prodjsportland.com on your mobile device, you will be automatically forwarded to the mobile site, that features the most popular functionality of the full desktop version, including testimonials, getting a quote and access to online planners and music request lists.
If you haven’t done so, please check it out. Your feedback is appreciated. Happy Holidays!
