Milwaukie OR Wedding DJ Rich Ellis performed at Gabrielle (Gabe) and Kevin’s wedding and reception on Saturday, September 2, 2017 at Gray Gables Estate in Milwaukie, Oregon.
 
The warmest and possibly driest summer on record in the Pacific Northwest heated up a little more on the first day of Labor Day weekend as the high temperature hit 97. However, nearly the entire venue was shaded by many trees surrounding the property to provide comfort for the 100 or so guests.
 
Milwaukie OR Wedding DJ Ceremony Highlights:

• Weding Processional Entrance: John Legend & Lindsey Stirling – All of Me
• Bride Entrance: The Piano Guys – A Thousand Years
• Bride/Groom Exit: The Lumineers – Ho Hey

 
As The Garden area was turned for dinner and dancing, guests visited near the bar, the covered deck outside The Ballroom or inside the ballroom or Manor House Lawn. For cocktails and dinner, the newlyweds requested a variety of alternative songs that included The Lumineers, Ingrid Michaelson, The Head and the Heart and more.
 

 
Milwaukie OR Wedding DJ Reception Highlights:

• Grand Entrance: Beyonce – Crazy In Love
• Cake Cutting: Cake – Love You Madly
• First Dance: Elvis Presley – Can’t Help Falling In Love
• Bouquet Toss: David Guetta f/Flo Rida & Nicki Minaj – Where Them Girls At
• Garter Toss: Kenny Loggins – Danger Zone
• Last Dance: Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros – Home

Gabe and Kevin requested that all guests join them for their first dance about halfway through their song selection. It was a good turnout that lasted a few songs, but it was not only a hot day, but uncharacteristically humid for the Portland area. As a result, what seemed like most everyone headed inside The Ballroom to take advantage of the air conditioning.
 

 
Eventually most cooled down enough to return for the party and as the sun set, the mostly younger crowd packed the floor and danced to more recent hits, including ‘Can’t Stop the Feeling’, ‘Uptown Funk’, ‘Despacito’ and more.
 

 
The groom requested that Billy Joel’s “Piano Man” be played for him and his fraternity brothers and then everyone gathered around the newlyweds for the final song before heading off to the Red Star Tavern at the Hotel Monaco in Downtown Portland for the afterparty.
 

 
Congratulations Gabe and Kevin and thank you for choosing PRO DJs.
 
Post Event Satisfaction Survey:
 
“Everything was great! Exactly what we needed, and perfect music selection.”
-Gabe Sasse & Kevin Stokes

• Event Date: Saturday, September 2, 2017
• Event Type: Wedding & Reception
• Event Location: Gray Gables Estate
• 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: Good
• Overall Performance Rating: Excellent
• Would you recommend this service to others? Yes

 
Oregon Wedding DJ Rich Ellis had the opportunity to perform at Krystin and Joel’s wedding and reception on Sunday, October 2, 2016 at Gray Gables Estate in Milwaukie, Oregon.
 
Rain fell most of the day, but cleared up in time for the 6pm ceremony held outside near the Koi Pond where I setup a second sound system.
 


 
Oregon Wedding DJ Ceremony Highlights:

• Wedding Party Entrance: Beatles – Here Comes the Sun
• Bride Entrance: Ben E. King – Stand By Me
• Bride/Groom Exit: Ray LaMontagne – You Are the Best Thing

The original plan was to also hold the reception outside in the Large Garden, but with the threat of an occasional shower, the newlyweds decided to move the celebration inside. Krystin and Joel were very involved in the music selection. In fact, they chose all songs played during cocktails and dinner… an eclectic mix that included music from Van Morrison, Lincoln Durham, Ella Fitzgerald, Alabama Shakes and more.
 
Oregon Wedding DJ Reception Highlights:

• Grand Entrance: Mumford and Sons – I Will Wait
• Cake Cutting: Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong – Our Love Is Here To Stay
• First Dance: White Buffalo – Love Song #1
• Bride and Father Dance: Fleetwood Mac – Landslide (Live, “This is for you, daddy” said at start)
• Groom and Mother Dance: Tom Petty – Wildflowers
• Last Dance: Billy Idol – White Wedding

Following the formal dances, I opened the dance floor to all guests with ‘At Last’ from Etta James. It was a great turnout.
 


 
Everyone appeared to have a lot of fun dancing to the classic hits and current favorites, including ‘December 1963 (Oh, What A Night) from the Four Seasons, Walk the Moon’s ‘Shut Up and Dance’, and the newlywed’s requests for AC/DC and Queen.
 




 
After all these years as a DJ, it’s still nice to hear “you’re doing a great job,” and Krystin and Joel said they had a great time. Best wishes to you both as you travel the world together. Thank you for choosing PRO DJs.
 

 
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