Skyline Club wedding March 3rd 2018 - Jenny and Max

Photos courtesy of Nate Crouch Photography - Highy recommended!

Six ways to add more dance time and keep the momentum of the party going!

Six ways to add more dance time and keep the momentum of the party going!

• Shorten the cocktail hour from one full hour to 45 or 50 minutes. No one will even notice.

• Cut the cake before dinner so that the catering staff can slice and plate the cake during dinner, and not after.

• Instead of having the cake served to the tables, have a dessert station where guests can help themselves to dessert after they finish their meal. I once saw a wedding where cupcakes where part of the table centerpieces and guests did not even have to get up from the table to get their dessert.

• Instead of having the toasts after dinner, have them between the salad and entree. Nothing is usually happening during that time anyway. A bonus is that the bridal party and the guests are still seated and don't have to be called back to their tables.

• Combine the Father Daughter and Mother Son dance into one dance.

• Instead of a traditional bouquet and garter toss (which I see being eliminated more and more), have the DJ do a Dedication Dance Off!. I have all the guests form a circle and have a fun upbeat song playing – I then call different groups into the center of the circle and recognize them and have them show off their dancing skills
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  Example are: All the out of State guests, all the guests under 21, co-workers of the bride, etc. Then have the DJ invite all the single women to the center of the circle and announce that the bride will be throwing the bouquet into the center of the circle. Same thing with the garter toss with the single men being called into the center of the circle and the groom tossing the garter.

Congratulations, you have just added a minimum of 30 minutes of dancing and made your celebration even more fun!

For more ideas like these emeil Mark Beecher at mark@grapevinedj.com

Keely and Andy - January 3rd 2015 - Indiana Roof Ballroom

I could not have been happier than to start 2015 with one of the nicest couples at one of the nicest venues in town - The Indiana Roof Ballroom! These Butler grads had an amazing wedding with family and friends that came ready to celebrate! The day was drizzly but there was no way that was going to stop this couple from having a seriously rockin' party. Maybe all the energy came from the hot chocolate bar? Here are a few pics.
Cake by Classic Cakes

a seriously rockin’ partyseriosly rockin' party

a seriously rockin’ party

First dance - Thinking out loud by Ed Sheeran

Father Daughter dance - Landslide by Fleetwood Mac

 Mother Daughter dance - Ain't no mountain high enough by Marvin Gaye

       

Nicole and Bill - November 15th 2014 - SkyLine Club Indianapolis

It was a great pleasure providing the music for Nicole and Bill's wedding celebration at one of my favorite venue's, The Indianapolis Skyline Club! The blue up lighting looked great but my favorite detail were the personalized drink koozies : ) Special thanks to Cassie Conforti from Conforti Photography for use of her gorgeous photos! Also thanks to Kaitlin Garrison at the Skyline Club for overseeing all the details.

 

 

    

 

     

 

Introductions songs: Sexy Back - Justin Timberlake/ Crazy in love - Beyonce
Cake cutting song: How sweet it is - James Taylor
First dance: Everything - Michael Buble
Father Daughter dance: In my life - Beatles
Mother Son dance: The Weight - The Band
Bouquet and garter toss: Girls just want to have fun - Cyndi Lauper/Danger Zone - Kenny Loggins
Last dance - Piano man - Billy Joel

To insure that guests can clearly hear the announcements, toasts, blessing, background music etc - I place a Bose speaker at the other end of the Skyline club's dining room then run the music wirelessly from my main set-up.

Laura and Nichole - August 16th 2014 - Canal 337

When I met with Laura and Nichole they were such a fun couple I knew I wanted to share in their special day - The pair were legally married in Hawaii but wanted to celebrate in a big way with friends and family who could not attend. A second wedding ceremony was held on the second floor of Canal 337 (Formerly Creation Cafe and Euphoria Events).  Those closest to the two witnessed the couple as they exchanged rings and vows. The reception followed downstairs with the cocktail hour on the patio overlooking the canal giving photographer Debbie Meyer plenty of time to shoot photos of the 2nd time newlyweds. Guests then moved inside and saw a beautiful room decked out for the occasion. Lindsey Romack and her staff from Ooh la la Events did an amazing job with planning and the décor. Grapevine provided the blue up-lighting and the couple's heart design projection on the dance floor. Thomas catering did their usual job of surpassing everyone's expectations - Food stations throughout the room served Ahi Tuna, Pulled pork on a biscuit, Buffalo wings and bleu cheese macaroni plus a mashed potato bar! The late night treat was a ice cream "lollipop" quick-frozen in liquid nitrogen - A sparkler exit and a gondolier voyage up the canal were just a couple of other highlight from this magical day. 

Photos from my point & shoot camera.
  

Introduction song - Now that we found love - Heavy D and the boyz

Cake cutting - Grow old with me - Adam Sandler

First dance - You had me from hello - Kenny Chesney

 Fathers - Daughters dance - What a wonderful world - Louis Armstrong

Wedding planner Decor & Flowers – Lindsey Romack Ohh la la Events

Venue manager -  Kelly Robertson

Caterer - Thomas Catering

Event designer - Lori Witherell

Photography Debbie Meyer - Meyers Studio

Cake - Confectioneiress

Ice sculpture - Josie & Sons

DJ Mark Beecher - Grapevine Productions

Wedding ceremony Bose sound system.

 

Jennifer and Joel - June 21st 2014 Scottish Rite Indianapolis

Jennifer and Joel fit together perfectly and I had the pleasure of providing the sound for their wedding ceremony and the music for their very fun reception at Indy's fairy tale venue, Scottish Rite Cathedral! Special thanks to photographer Kristen Hornberger for allowing the use of her photo's and to Wedding Planner and floral and decor designer Lindsey Romack of Ooh La La events for her flawless execution at tying all the details together.

The wedding ceremony was held in the South lounge with the harp music played by Elizabeth O'meara

 Guests then proceeded to the mezzanine overlooking the ballroom for the cocktail hour.

At the end of the cocktail hour, guests were invited to make their way to the railing to witness Jennifer and Joel's first dance. Photo below by Grapevine (I got a lucky shot).

 A fabulous dinner by Thomas catering, a gorgeous cake by Classic cakes and a fun photo booth from Indy Photobooth all awaited the bride and groom's friends and family. 

 

Oh yeah - and lots of dancing (more pics on the way)!

At the end of the night, Jennifer and Joel departed with a sparkler send off and Joel surprised Jennifer with an awaiting carriage; just to complete the fairy tale experience!

Jennifer and Joel, thanks for letting me be a part of your special day and enjoy your Alaskan Cruise!

First Dance - You are so beautiful - Joe Cocker
Introduction song - Suit and Tie Justin Timberlake
Cake cutting - Cut the cake - Average White Band
Father Daughter dance - Child of mine - Carole King (shorter edit)
Mother Son dance - Days like this - Van Morrison
Sparkler send off - My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light Em Up) Fall Out Boy

Surprise requested fun song of the night -Donkey - Jerrod Niemann  : )

Most memorable moment -  Jennifer's Dad gave a welcome speech with words of wisdom by "philosopher" Chris Rock - Hilarious!