Events
Exciting Night At Boring Backyard Wedding
As the calendar flipped to October, the temperature dropped and rain fell off and on outside, but nothing could dampen the love and joy inside the tent at Lora and Leslie’s Boring backyard wedding and reception held on Saturday, October, 1 2016.
There were lots of nerves leading up to the ceremony, but those nerves were channeled to positive energy that set the tone for a fun and exciting night to follow.
Boring Backyard Wedding Ceremony Highlights:
- Wedding Party Entrance: Rainbow Connection
- Bride & Bride Entrance: Rainbow Connection
- Bride & Bride Exit: Brooke Hogan – About Us
Decorations featured hanging scarves and other props of the newlyweds beloved Portland Thorns and Timbers soccer teams. As guests ate and drank, I played a variety of background music selections that included requests from Lora and Leslie for Melissa Ethridge, Indigo Girls, Beach Boys and Sara Bareilles.
Boring Backyard Wedding Reception Highlights:
- Grand Entrance: Gwen Stefani – Hollaback Girl
- Cake Cutting: Little Mermaid Sound Track “Kiss The Girl”
- First Dance: Louis Armstrong – LIVE from friends Tracy & Crystal “Rainbow Connection”
- Friend Dance: Theme from Golden Girls
After the ‘Friend Dance,’ Lora and Leslie wanted me to open the dance floor with Miley Cyrus’ ‘Party In The USA’. This group was fired up and this was the perfect choice to really start the party.
From the classic hits, such as ‘Respect,’ and ‘Billie Jean’ to recent favorites, ‘Shut Up and Dance’ and ‘Uptown Funk,’ this very large dance floor was filled to capcity most of the evening. 98 percent of songs chosen were uptempo. Once slow dance though was played in the tradition of the 80th minute at Portland Thorns games, ‘Keep On Lovin’ You’ from REO Speedwagon.
Congratulations Lora and Leslie and thank you for choosing PRO DJs.
Eleanor’s Bat Mitzvah Party At Kennedy School
Eleanor’s memorable Bat Mitzvah party took place at McMenamins Kennedy School in Northeast Portland, Oregon on Saturday, September 10, 2016.
When looking for a DJ for her daughter’s big night, her mom noted the following: “Must engage all the kids so they all feel included; must have “Jewish” feel with The Hora. I’m not interested in a DJ who just blasts music – the DJ must engage directly with the kids and get camp friends interacting with school friends, etc.” I appreciate that I was chosen for this event and it was a pleasure performing for Eleanor and her friends and family.
For arriving guests I played a variety of background music that included requests for ‘Best Day of My Life’ from American Authors, Train’s ‘Hey, Soul Sister’, ‘Graduation (Friends Forever)’ from Vitamin C and the appropriately titled, ‘I Love Eleanor’ by Wes Cunningham.
After the kids had a chance to eat, they had a great time playing games, including a scavenger hunt, Coke & Pepsi and the limbo. Eleanor’s mom Amy was insistent The Hora be danced correctly, so she took a few minutes to demonstrate for everyone before I started the music.
There was a lot of energy and the dance floor was hoppin’ all evening to hot hits such as ‘Uptown Funk’, ‘Billie Jean’, ‘Shut Up and Dance’ and more.
Mazel Tov Eleanor and thank you mom Amy for choosing PRO DJs.
Post Event Satisfaction Survey:
“Rich Ellis was amazing both before the event with all the planning and during the event. He did a fabulous job getting the kids playing games and dancing. They were on the dance floor the entire evening and everyone (kids and adults) had a wonderful time. Rich really made the party a huge success!!!” -Amy Blumenberg (Eleanor’s Bat Mitzvah)
- Event Date: Saturday, September 10, 2016
- Event Type: Bat Mitzvah
- Event Location: Kennedy School, Portland, 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: 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
Hot Sherwood Wedding at Country View Events
Our moderate Northwest summer came to an end this week as the hottest temperatures of the year settled in for Emily and Scott’s Sherwood wedding on Saturday, August 20, 2016.
Mt. Hood normally looks spectacular from Country View Events in Sherwood, Oregon, but at 99 degrees, a persistent haze made it seem distant. With traffic delays, many guests were not able to arrive on time and the wedding start time of 6pm was pushed back 30 minutes, but no worries, when we did start, everything went smoothly.
Sherwood Wedding Ceremony Highlights:
- Wedding Party Entrance: Train – Marry Me
- Bride Entrance: Train – Marry Me
- Bride/Groom Exit: Meghan Trainor – Dear Future Husband
Fortunately, a slight breeze moved in to provide some comfort for the nearly 200 people in attendance as the reception got under way. Background music for cocktails and dinner featured a variety of artists, including OneRepublic, Jimmy Buffet and Marvin Gaye.
Sherwood Wedding Reception Highlights:
- Grand Entrance: Bruno Mars – Marry You
- First Dance: Landon Austin – Once In A Lifetime
- Groom and Mother Dance: Elvis Presley – The Wonder of You
- Last Dance: Meghan Trainor – Like I’m Gonna Lose You
When the dance floor opened, we had only a few couples and their kids interested in cutting a rug, but eventually everyone else got going and we had a good hour plus long run of dancing fun to hits from Outkast, Michael Jackson, Bruno Mars and more.
Congratulations Emily and Scott and thank you for choosing PRO DJs.
Delightful Day For Boring Oregon Wedding
Jennifer and Michael’s Boring Oregon wedding took place on Saturday, August 6, 2016 on a delightful summer day.
The location was a private residence, but could have been mistaken for a commercial venue. It had everything many couples look for, including a large pond that bordered the dining deck and lots of space for the ceremony and dancing.
The ceremony was held in the somewhat secluded front yard that featured many trees and lush green grass.
Boring Oregon Wedding Ceremony Highlights:
- Wedding Party & Bride Entrance: Rachel Platten – Stand By You
- Bride/Groom Exit: Guns N’ Roses – Sweet Child O’Mine
Following the ceremony, I moved my sound system to the dance floor area while guests made their way around the other side of the house to the dining area. While they enjoyed drinks and refreshments, I played a mix of background music from a variety of artists that included bride and groom favorites: Train, OneRepublic, Harry Connick Jr, Frank Sinatra, and Michael Buble.
Boring Oregon Wedding Reception Highlights:
- Grand Entrance: Van Halen – Jump
- Cake Cutting: Thompson Square – Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not
- First Dance: Lee Brice – I Don’t Dance
- Bride/Father and Groom/Daughter Dance: Louis Armstrong – Georgia on My Mind
- Anniversary Dance: Ed Sheeran – Thinking Out Loud
With all the attractions of the surrounding property, the dance floor was a little slow to start, but not for too long… only five songs after I opened the floor to everyone, many guests couldn’t resist the energy of songs like ‘Billie Jean’, ‘Uptown Funk’, the bride’s request for ‘Raise Your Glass’ from Pink and more.
Congratulations Jennifer and Michael and thank you for choosing PRO DJs.
July Wedding At Camas Meadows Golf Club
After a couple of hot days in the mid-90’s, no one could have asked for better July wedding weather than a peak of 80 degrees on Saturday, July 30th, 2016. Sabelita and Jason’s big day at Camas Meadows Golf Club was both picture perfect and comfortable for the 100 guests attending.
The ceremony took place at 3pm in the gazebo on the golf course with the reception immediately following in the tent near the parking lot. As guests walked up the hill, I greeted them with a variety of uptempo background music that included such artists as Stevie Wonder, OneRepublic, U2 and more.
After taking photos, the newlyweds arrived for the reception about 20 minutes earlier than planned, but luckily I caught them before they walked in so I could cue up their entrance music. Following their introduction, they went right to their first dance, during which many guests from the bride’s family began pinning money on the couple. We had a money dance scheduled for later, but they just couldn’t wait 🙂
July Wedding At Camas Meadows Golf Club Reception Highlights:
- First Dance: Jason Dy – Be My Lady
- Bride/Father Dance: Tom Petty – Wildflowers
- Money Dance: Blake Shelton – God Gave Me You & Ed Sheeran – Thinking Out Loud
- Bouquet Toss: Beyonce – Single Ladies
- Garter Toss: Brett Eldredge – Drunk On Your Love
- Last Dance: Thomas Rhett – Die a Happy Man
A rousing round of the ‘Shoe Game’ followed the toast and cutting of the cake and Sabelita and Jason had fun trying to match each other’s answers. When the final question, “Who do you love most in the whole wide world?” was asked, Jason quickly raised Sabelita’s shoe, but the bride was slow to react before finally raising Jason’s shoe… the crowd loved it.
The dance floor opened just after 6pm and guests needed a few songs to get warmed up, but with the bride and her friends providing a spark, nearly everyone was participating and having a fun time dancing to ‘I Gotta Feeling,’ ‘Uptown Funk,’ the ‘Cupid Shuffle’ and more.
Congratulations Sabelita and Jason and thank you for choosing PRO DJs.
