Events

Vancouver WA Wedding DJ At Royal Oaks

Published September 8, 2015 | By Rich Ellis

Vancouver WA Wedding DJ Rich Ellis performed at Lora and Derek’s wedding and reception on Sunday, September 6, 2015 at Royal Oaks Country Club in Vancouver, Washington.

The warmest and possibly driest summer on record in the Pacific Northwest turned mostly cloudy and wet half way through Labor Day weekend. The plan was to hold the wedding ceremony outside on the back deck and the reception inside. The wet weather may have forced everything inside, but it is nice to have that option… this is not always the case for most summertime weddings.

Vancouver WA Wedding DJ Ceremony Highlights:

Weding Processional Entrance: Piano Wedding Masters – Butterfly Waltz
Bride Entrance: Dog Music – Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring
Bride/Groom Exit: Four Tops – Baby, I Need Your Lovin’

As the room was turned for the reception, guests visited in the foyer, bar, upper dining area or partially covered deck outside. For cocktails and dinner, the newlyweds requested a variety of classic hits that included The Beatles, Al Green, Jimmy Buffett and Motown favorites.

Vancouver WA Wedding DJ Reception Highlights:

Grand Entrance: Curtis Mayfield – Move On Up
Cake Cutting: Four Tops – I Can’t Help Myself
First Dance: Elvis Presley – Can’t Help Falling In Love
Bride and Father Dance: Heartland – I Loved Her First
Groom and Mother Dance: Rascal Flatts – My Wish
Money Dance: Frank Sinatra – The Way You Look Tonight
Anniversary Dance: Beyonce – Orleans – Still The One

There were a lot of people dancing during the background music (always a good sign) and from the opening slow dance to uptempo songs that followed, it seemed as though all 150 guests were on the giant dance floor for the entire first hour.

I played everything from ‘In The Mood’ to ‘Happy, from ‘Billie Jean’ to ‘Shout.’ This place was rockin’ for over two hours and everyone appeared to have a great time.

Congratulations Lora and Derek and thank you for choosing PRO DJs.

Post Event Satisfaction Survey:

“Rich was absolutely great. His feel for music truly showed throughout the night. He knew what to play and when to play it. A consummate professional as well. He is a true pro.”
-Lora Frizzell & Derek Breniman

Event Date: Sunday, September 6, 2015
Event Type: Wedding & Reception
Event Location: Royal Oaks CC
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: Good
Entertainer’s Cooperation with Other Vendors: Excellent
Overall Performance Rating: Excellent
Would you recommend this service to others? Yes

Posted in Events, Wedding DJ

Portland Bar Mitzvah DJ Shakes Sauvie Island

Published August 31, 2015 | By Rich Ellis

Portland Bar Mitzvah DJ Rich Ellis performed at Elias’ Bar Mitzvah held at his family home on Sauvie Island on Saturday, August 29, 2015.

The wind and threat of rain made things interesting, but the tent held up well and everyone had a great time dancing and playing games.

Thank you to David Kinder from Kinderpics Photography for providing some photos.

Mazel Tov Elias and thank you Daniel for choosing PRO DJs.

Post Event Satisfaction Survey:

“Thank you for coordinating with Sue Cool and making sure the sound throughout the event was excellent. Your help and positive quality was invaluable. A sincere thanks!” -Daniel Raider

Event Date: Saturday, August 29, 2015
Event Type: Bar Mitzvah
Event Location: Sauvie Island
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: Good
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

Posted in Bar Mitzvah, Events

Smoke From A Distant Fire At Mt. Hood Wedding

Published August 25, 2015 | By Rich Ellis

It was a smoky celebration at Lindsay and Kevin’s Mt. Hood Wedding on Sunday, August 23, 2015 as Northwest wildfires in Oregon and Washington brought a haze that made Mt. Hood in the background appear as a silhouette.

It was a comfortable day though with a high temperature in the low 80’s at Mt. Hood B & B in Parkdale, Oregon… my third trip to this fabulous venue this Summer.

Mt. Hood Wedding Ceremony Highlights:

Wedding Party Entrance: Lumineers – Ho Hey!
Flower Girl/Ring Bearer Entrance: House of Pain – Jump Around
Bride Entrance: Adele – Make You Feel My Love (Acoustic Piano Version)
Bride/Groom Exit: Bruno Mars – Marry You

Following the wedding ceremony, guests relaxed with a cocktail on the lawn or enjoyed a cup of gelato from a special stand setup nearby. I played a mix of background music that included a casual mix of popular and folky songs from artists loved by the bride and groom, such as Mumford & Sons, Michael Buble, Of Monsters & Men and more.

For the reception, my main sound system was set-up earlier in the dining area located behind the house. After I introduced Lindsay and Kevin, the buffet was opened for dinner. Background music was a softer variety of alternative favorites that included Jason Mraz, Norah Jones and Dave Matthews Band.

Mt. Hood Wedding Reception Highlights:

Grand Entrance: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis f/Ray Dalron – Can’t Hold Us
Cake Cutting: Jack Johnson – Better Together
First Dance: Ray Lamontagne – You Are The Best Thing
Bride and Father Dance: Tim McGraw – My Little Girl
Groom and Mother Dance: Boyz II Men – A Song For Mama
Last Dance: Whitney Houston – I Will Always Love You

I played a few older songs at the beginning, including an opening slow dance that packed the dance floor, but this group really responded to the recent hits like ‘Happy’ from Pharrell Williams that featured the groom’s family passing out the big brown hats that Pharrell wore in the video.

The rest of the night everyone enjoyed getting down to ‘Uptown Funk,’ ‘Blurred Lines,’ and even some Taylor Swift, as requested by the bride.

Best wishes Lindsay and Kevin!

Post Event Satisfaction Survey:

“Rich really made the audio & music elements of our wedding so easy because we knew he had every aspect covered. The event planner tool on the website made song selection very easy and helped with ceremony and reception structure. In speaking with Rich the week before the wedding, he took the time to understand our wants and he “got our vision” instantly. He is very personable and provided some excellent recommendations based on his extensive experience. It translated into a perfectly seamless event. Some of our favorite memories from the wedding were on the dance floor, so thanks to Rich for reading the crowd well and bringing out everyone’s dance moves. We received compliments several friends and family members on our DJ after the wedding!”
-Lindsay Pearce & Kevin Rogers

Event Date: Saturday, August 23, 2015
Event Type: Wedding & Reception
Event Location: Mt. Hood Bed and Breakfast
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

Posted in Events, Wedding, Wedding DJ

Horning’s Hideout Wedding In North Plains

Published August 17, 2015 | By Rich Ellis

Cecelia and Steven held their Horning’s Hideout wedding in North Plains, Oregon on Saturday, August 15, 2015.

There was competition with another wedding that featured a Mariachi band, happening at the same time across the lake, but it was a perfect day with a high temperature in the mid 70’s.

Horning’s Hideout Wedding Ceremony Highlights:

Wedding Party Entrance: Tyrone Wells – Happy As The Sun
Bride Entrance: Piano Guys – A Thousand Years
Bride/Groom Exit: Norah Jones – Come Away With Me

The reception followed with tables arranged for dinner in the grass where the ceremony had just taken place. There was a lot of room to roam and you could hear the background music I was playing that featured a mix of jazz favorites, nearly everywhere.

Horning’s Hideout Wedding Reception Highlights:

Cake Cutting: Brad Paisley – She’s Everything
First Dance: John Legend – All of Me
Groom and Mother Dance: Beatles – In My Life
Bouquet Toss: Iggy Azalea f/Charli XCX – Fancy
Garter Toss: Jimi Hendrix – Foxy Lady
Last Dance: Marvin Gaye & Tami Terrell – Ain’t No Mountain High Enough

There were about 50 guests in attendance and that was down to 30 after the first dance. We had a few takers early, but this small, yet spirited group, really picked it up as twilight set in.

The big hits were ‘Gold Digger,’ ‘Watch Me Whip,’ ‘Blurred Lines’ and the best man’s request for ‘Cupid Shuffle.’ The bride spontaneously led a conga line during ‘Party Rock Anthem.’

Congratulations CeCe and Steve and thank you Steve’s dad Darren for choosing PRO DJs.

Post Event Satisfaction Survey:

“Rich was the ultimate professional. He was prompt, courteous and played even the obscure requests. I would highly recommend him for ANY event, but especially wedding dance!”
-Darren Martin (Ce Ce McLain & Steven Martin Wedding)

Event Date: Saturday, August 15, 2015
Event Type: Wedding & Reception
Event Location: Horning’s Hideout
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

Posted in Events, Wedding

Portland Wedding Reception At Kennedy School

Published August 12, 2015 | By Rich Ellis

Brittany and Kelly’s Portland wedding reception was held on Tuesday, August 11, 2015 at McMenamins Kennedy School in Portland, Oregon.

With a 10am start, a former school building may have been the perfect venue for a weekday reception and nearly 30 years as a DJ, I think I have now performed at a wedding every day of the week.

About 50 guests made up of family and close friends attended. The newlyweds wanted the feel of the post World War II era and requested 1940’s/early 1950’s selections for background music. Artists included the Glenn Miller Orchestra, Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra.

Portland Wedding Reception Highlights:

Grand Entrance: Dean Martin – Ain’t That A Kick In the Head
Cake Cutting: John Legend – All of Me
First Dance: Death Cab for Cutie – Follow You Into The Dark
Bride and Father Dance: Temptations – My Girl
Groom and Mother Dance: Israel Kamakawiwo’ole – Somewhere Over The Rainbow
Bridal Party Dance: Will Smith – Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It
Last Dance: Percy Sledge – When A Man Loves A Woman

1pm on a Tuesday doesn’t normally scream party, but don’t tell these people. The dance floor almost felt like a Saturday night as nearly all 50 guests turned out for the opening slow dance, ‘At Last’ and then got down to ‘Hey Ya,’ ‘Gettin’ Jiggy With It,’ ‘YMCA’ and more.

Congratulations Brittany and Kelly and thank you for choosing PRO DJs.

Post Event Satisfaction Survey: