My Sister's Big Fat Greek / Portuguese Wedding...

When my sister announced her engagement and plans for the wedding day naturally I offered to Dj the wedding. I didn't want her to spend money on hiring a Dj and I really didn't want to have another Dj be subjected too the constant badgering by my mom and her sister asking to play even more Greek music!

One thing I didn't consider though when I volunteered was the logistics of the wedding day. I mean normally I head to the hall 1.5-2 hours b4 the gig, set up and away I go. But that day I had to deal with my wife getting her hair done, loading the car with equipment & 2 kids (the Caravan is a wonderful thing), a luncheon at my moms, setting up, attending the wedding and then finally getting to the hall for family pictures, finish setting up and being ready to get the night going. Pheeeeeewwww!

The wedding ceremony was held at the Sts. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church in traditional Greek fashion. My daughter was a flower girl...however after a car ride nap with ensuing crankiness in time when she was to perform her duties...she ran down the carpet to see her mommy so fast the camera wasn't fast enough to snap a pic! With my sister being Greek and her husband Portuguese the priest offered his blessing in both languages...well in English as well to make it a third. Here are few pics from the church.

My Dad Giving the Bride Away!

Almost Married!

The reception was held at the Mississauga Grande and the glassed in Atrium made for a great place to snap some family pictures and host a cocktail hour. With the ceremony and family pictures out of the way it was time to get dinner and the party started. Luckily for my sister we have a brother who is great with the mic and he gladly took on MC duties oh...and he also made the wedding cake! I picked all the intro music which turned out great...it got the 200 or so guests going and made for a wonderful final entrance to the new wedding couple. They moved straight into their first dance with Aerosmith's "Don't Want to Miss a Thing."

Djing any ethnic type of wedding can be a difficult task especially when you don't know the music. I had a good handle on the Greek side of things, my mom made sure of that... and a sit down with my sis' brand new sister-in-law helped me with the Portuguese music. I was asked to limit the Greek and Portuguese music though but it didn't take long after starting the set off with some latest top 40 for my mom and her sister to come and bug me. My mom loves to dance so can't really blame her.

The Happy Couple...Stella & Nelson

Except for a brief spell of daughter sleep deprived crankiness...like her mother she gets REALLY cranky when she goes past her normal sleep schedule...and actually learning how to DJ one handed with daughter in my arms...the night went without a hitch.

Congrats guys!

Here is the play list on the night...

1 - Moves Like Jagger (Clean) - Maroon 5
2 - Party Rock Anthem (Main) - LMFAO
3 - The Time (Dirty Bit) - Black Eyed Peas
4 - I Got That Feeling (Radio) - Black Eyed Peas
5 - Village People - Y.M.C.A
6 - Don't Stop Till You Get Enough - Michael Jackson
7 - I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor
8 - Dancing Queen - Abba
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Greek Set
Portuguese Set
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10 - We Found Love  - Rihanna ft. Calvin Harris
11 - Shake Senora - Pitbull ft. T-Pain
12 - Danza Kuduro (Single) - Don Omar ft. Lucenzo
13 - Good Feeling (DJ Intro Clean Mix) - Flo Rida
14 - Give Me Everything (DJ Intro Clean Mix) - Pitbull ft. Ne-Yo, Afrojack & Nayer
15 - Do You Remember  - Jay Sean
16 - Rain Over Me (DJ Intro 1 Clean) - Pitbull ft. Marc Anthony
17 - Where Dem Girls At (Clean) - David Guetta (Bouqet Toss)
18 - I'm Drinking Rum & Redbull - Beenie Man & Fambo (Garter Toss)
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Greek Set
Portuguese Set
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19 - Life (Is What You Make It) - Colonel Lite and Frighty
20 - Murder She Wrote - Chaka Demus
21 - Twice My Age - Shabba Ranks
22 - Action - Nadine Suntherland
23 - Pass the Dutchie - Musical Youth
24 - Just Can't Get Enough (Main) - The Black Eyed Peas
25 - Sexy And I Know It (Single) - LMFAO
26 - Beautiful People (Extended Mix) - Chris Brown
27 - Memories - David Guetta ft. Kid Cudi
28 - Call on Me - Eric Prydz
29 - One More Time - Daft Punk
30 - Up & Down - Vengaboys
31 - We Like to Party - Vengaboys
32 - Mallorca - Loft
33 - Yeah - Usher
34 - Home Alone - R. Kelly
35 - Headlines - Drake
36 - Suavemente - Elvis Crespo
37 - Bon, Bon (DJ Intro Clean Mix) - Pitbull
38 - Only Girl (In The World) - Rihanna
39 - Suavemente (Kiss Me) - Nayer
40 - Co-Pilot (Single) - Kristina Maria
41 - Club Can't Handle Me  - Flo Rida
42 - Ghosts N Stuff (Extended Vocal Mix) - Deadmau5 ft. Rob Swire
43 - Rise Up (Club Mix) - Yves Larock
44 - One Life Stand (Extended Remix) - Ian Longo
45 - Mr. Saxobeat (Extended Mix) - Alexandra Stan
46 - Dirty Talks (Single) - Wynter Gordon
47 - S & M Remix (Main) - Rihanna
48 - Levels (Original Mix) - Acivii
49 - Rule The World (D-Unity Remix) - Steven Lee & Granite
50 - Shots (Clean) - LMFAO featuring Lil Jon
51 - Oh My Gosh (Remix) - Usher
52 - Billie Jean - Michael Jackson
53 - Amazed - Lonestar
54 - Night Fever - Bee Gees
55 - Amazed - Lonestar
56 - I Thought I'd Seen Everything - Bryan Adams
57 - I Will Always Love You - Whitney Houston

Saverio & Alison's Wedding

Having a wedding in late September can sometimes result in very unpredictable and unwanted weather. The days leading up to the wedding was cold and dreary with most probably thinking summer was gone for good. Not this wedding day though! The clouds cleared, the sun came out and the temperature rose to result in a picture perfect day which is what you want especially when hosting your wedding at a golf course.

Saverio and Alison were wed at the at the Wyndance Golf Club in Uxbridge with roughly 120 guests witnessing the event. Alison is the sister of a friend of mine, Ryan another fellow hockey referee in Markham. Both Ryan and Saverio work for the Toronto Police Service which is why Alison, unbeknownst to Saverio, was escorted to the ceremony in a 1957 Chevy Toronto Police Crusier with the old school siren blaring making the golfers on the 18th probably nervous. It was a nice touch and definetly made for some good picture taking after the ceremony.

Alison's ride - '57 Chevy Toronto Police Cruiser!

The ceremony and cocktail hour was held outdoors before the guests filed into the dining room which was nicely decorated and intimate since the room was designed for smaller groups and we were definetly close to capacity. The wedding party was introduced by myself with Alison providing me with a little background info on each person (another nice touch) and of course appropriate entrance music including "Celebration" by Kool and the Gang, "Let's Get It Started" Black Eyed Peas, "Save A Horse Ride A Cowboy" Big and Rich, "Shook Me All Night Long" AC/DC and "The Way You Make Me Feel" by Michael Jackson.

Room and Set-Up

Myself along side fellow reffing buddy Ryan...brother of the bride

"Save a Horse Ride A Cowboy?" In the past I rarely received requests for country music. I knew nothing of it, so usually shied away from it claiming I didn't have any when asked except perhaps "Achy Breaky Heart." But ever since I agreed to DJ an all country affair last year I had to get up to speed and found myself appreciating this genre of music. "New Country" is a whole lot of fun and being a mobile DJ you need to be versatile so I can now line dance with the best of them...well not so much.....

Probably the most memorable point of the evening for me was the father of the bride's speech when he handed Saverio a cigar that he had saved from when she was born!  I had never seen that before and with him being a very loving family man...brought the room to tears.  (luckily my daughter is only 3...got some time...)

With the speeches over and the bride and groom making rounds after dinner the dancing got going late, roughly 10pm and with the party ending at midnight I only had 2 hours to work the dance floor. With a smaller crowd and varying musical tastes it was a lot of work to keep everyone moving and the dance floor full. In the end though the night was a great success. With a beautiful ceremony, awesome food, lovely guests and a super easy going Bride and Groom you can't go wrong....oh plus no one got arrested ;)

Here is the track-list for the night:

1 - She's Everything - Brad Paisley (First Dance)
2 - Don't Know Why - Norah Jones
3 - The Time (Dirty Bit) - Black Eyed Peas
4 - Party Rock Anthem (Main) - LMFAO
5 - I Got That Feeling (Radio) - Black Eyed Peas
6 - Don't Stop Till You Get Enough - Michael Jackson
7 - Village People - Y.M.C.A
8 - Fire (Album Mix) - Raghav
9 - September - Earth Wind & Fire
10 - Thank God I'm A Country Boy  - John Denver
11 - Boot Scootin Boogie - Brooks and Dunn
12 - Friends in Low Places - Garth Brooks
13 - Fire Burning  - Sean Kingston
14 - Give Me Everything  - Pitbull
15 - Do You Remember - Jay Sean
16 - Firework (Radio) - Katy Perry
17 - Club Can't Handle Me - Flo Rida
18 - Hot N Cold (Single) - Katy Perry
19 - A Little Respect - Erasure
20 - Home For A Rest - Spirit Of The West
21 - All Summer Long (Radio Edit) - Kid Rock
22 - Stuck In The Middle With You - Stealers Wheel
23 - Single Ladies - Beyonce (Garter Toss)
24 - Dancing Queen - Abba
25 - Billie Jean - Michael Jackson
26 - Night Fever - Bee Gees
27 - All Night Long - Lionel Richie
28 - We're Here For A Good Time - Trooper
29 - Spirit In The Sky - Doctor & The Medics
30 - Only Girl - Rihanna
31 - Co-Pilot  - Kristina Maria
32 - We No Speak Americano  - Yolanda Be Cool
33 - Dynamite - Taio Cruz
34 - DJ Got Us Fallin' In Love - Usher ft. Pitbull
35 - Mr. Saxobeat - Alexandra Stan
36 - One Love  - David Guetta
37 - Hello  - Martin Solveig ft. Dragonette
38 - I Know You Want Me (CalleOcho) - Pitbull
39 - Sexy Chick - David Guetta ft1. Akon
40 - Dirty Talks (Single) - Wynter Gordon
41 - Tonight (I'm Loving You) - Enrique Iglesias
42 - If We Ever Meet Again - Timbaland
43 - Party Rock Anthem (Main) - LMFAO
44 - Save A Horse Ride A Cowboy - Big & Rich
45 - Honkey Tonk Stomp - Brooks & Dunn
46 - Toes - Zac Brown Band
47 - American Honey - Lady Antebellum
48 - Someone Like You (Single) - Adele

Andrew & Michelle's Wedding

This past Friday some friends of mine Andrew and Michelle decided to tie the knot.  I've known Andrew now for almost 10 years, both of us meeting for the first time while refereeing minor hockey in Markham.  The wedding was held at the beautiful Eagle's Nest Golf Club in Maple Ontario which just happens to be minutes from home.  It was a picture perfect day with ceremony held out side under blue skies and the sun shining bright.

Michelle & Andrew just married!

After cocktail hour and some wonderful h'ors we moved the party into the 'Great Hall'.  The wedding party was introduced to the 150 or so guests with a pre-recorded voice over from Michelle's uncle, the official voice of the NFL whom has appeared in multiple Coor's light commercials! The intros were paired up with some great music energizing the room.  Andrew and Michelle entered to "When Love Takes Over" by David Guetta feat Kelly Roland, joining the rest of the wedding party for a pre-emptive dance party while the room cheered them on...it was going to be a fun night!

Me and the better half Tasha on the patio

My full rig was used for the evening:

2 Yorkville NX550 mains with 2 Yorkville Elite LS700p subwoofers
Ecler Nuo 4 Mixer with 2 Denons S3500 TT
PC Laptop using Traktor Scratch Pro II with a Kontrol X1 controller.
Line 6 Handheld cordless Mic
2 American DJ Spot 250s with an American DJ  Revo III

Set-Up

Set-Up

The Dance party started a little later then usual allowing guests to watch a fantastic fireworks display courtesy of Canada's Wonderland viewable from the deck surrounding the main room which overlooked the golf course.  During this time I played some great warm up music.

With the dancing beginning late at 10:30 the room was definetly ready to go!  I got them started with some disco tracks... 'September' by Earth Wind and Fire followed by 'Celebration' Kool and the Gang, 'YMCA' The Village People and Michael Jackson's "Don't Stop Till You Get Enough'.  The party was briefly interupted for the garter and bouquest toss however with Michelle's song selection of 'Where Dem Girls At" by David Guetta feat Nicki Minaj and Flo Rida the dance floor packed up once again leading into a good run of top 40 high energy dance tracks.  The party really hit it off though when I dropped "Home for a Rest" by Spirit of the West.  I cut out the music during all the chorus' and the crowd happily filled in the lyrics by singing at the top of their lungs...

Hands in the air seemed to be Michelle's signature move!

With it being Canada day I had to make tribute to some Canadian artists.  "Summer of 69" by Bryan Adams, "Informer" by Snow and "Let Your Backbone Slide" by Maestro Fresh Wes were all added to the playlist!

In all it was a pretty memorable evening.  When the lights came on at 1:50am the dance floor was still full and wanting more!  "Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson and "Brown Girl In The Rain"  by Boney M rounded out the night with the crowd showing their appreciation towards myself and my choice of music.  Of course having a successfull party can always be helped by a crowd who wants to party and dance the night away!

Myself with the Groom Andrew

Here is the set-list...

1 - Nothin On You (DJ Intro Clean Mix) - B.O.B. ft. Bruno Mars
2 - Billionaire - Travie McCoy ft. Bruno Mars
3 - Grenade (Radio) - Bruno Mars
4 - Hold My Hand - Sean Paul ft. Keri Hilson
5 - I Don't Want To Miss a Thing – Aerosmith (First Dance)
6 - Bright Lights Bigger City - CeeLo Green
7 - Makes Me Wonder - Maroon 5
8 - Sunday Morning - K-os
9 - Every Morning - Sugar Ray
10 - No Rain - Blind Melon
11 - Dani California - Red Hot Chili Peppers
12 - Electric (Radio Single) - Shawn Desman
13 - Empire State of Mind - Jay-Z ft. Alicia Keys
14 - Ever On (Father/Bride, Mother/Groom dance)
15 - I Hope You Dance - Lee Ann Womack
16 - September - Earth Wind & Fire
17 - Celebration - Kool & The Gang
18 - Village People - Y.M.C.A
19 - Don't Stop Till You Get Enough - Michael Jackson
20 - The Final Countdown – Europe (Garter Toss)
21 - Where Dem Girls At (Clean) - David Guetta (Bouquet Toss)
22 - I Got That Feeling (Radio) - Black Eyed Peas
23 - Firework (Radio) - Katy Perry
24 - Do You Remember - Jay Sean
25 - Give Me Everything - Pitbull ft. Ne-Yo, Afrojack & Nayer
26 - Party Rock Anthem (Main) - LMFAO
27 - One Love (When Love Takes Over) - David Guetta
28 - Hello (Club Edit) - Martin Solveig ft. Dragonette
29 - Rise Up (Club Mix) - Yves Larock
30 - Stereo Love (Extended Mix)- Edward Maya & Vika Jigulina
31 - Club Can't Handle Me - Flo Rida
32 - DJ Got Us Fallin' In Love - Usher ft. Pitbull
33 - Born This Way (Radio) - Lady Gaga
34 - Only Girl (In The World) - Rihanna
35 - Home For A Rest - Spirit Of The West
36 - 500 Miles - Proclaimers
37 - Summer of '69 - Byran Adams
38 - Rasputin - Boney M
39 - Life (Is What You Make It) - Colonel Lite and Frighty
40 - Murder She Wrote - Chaka Demus
41 - Twice My Age - Shabba Ranks
42 - Who Am I - Beenie Man
43 - Punkie - Sean Paul
44 - Long Time - Tanto Metro & Devonte
45 - Pass the Dutchie - Musical Youth
46 - Home Alone - R. Kelly
47 - Yeah - Usher
48 - Moment 4 Life - Nicki Minaj ft. Drake
49 - Night Fever - Bee Gees
50 - All Night Long - Lionel Richie
51 - Good Times - Chic
52 - Super Bass (Clean) - Nicki Minaj
53 - Sexy Chick - David Guetta ft1. Akon
54 - Memories - David Guetta ft. Kid Cudi
55 - Ghosts N Stuff (Extended Vocal Mix) - Deadmau5
56 - Call on Me - Eric Prydz
57 - One More Time - Daft Punk
58 - It Takes Two - Rob Base & Dj E-Z Rock
59 - Informer - Snow
60 - Let Your Backbone Slide - Maestro Fresh Wes
61 - We Like to Party - Vengaboys
62 - Up & Down - Vengaboys
63 - I Know You Want - Pitbull
64 - Calabria 2008 (MIMS Remix) - Enur feat. Natasja
65 - Dynamite - Taio Cruz
66 - Like A G6 - Far East Movement
67 - We No Speak Americano (Original Mix) - Yolanda Be Cool
68 - Bon, Bon - Pitbull
69 - Hotel Room Service - Pitbull
70 - Oh My Gosh - Usher
71 - If We Ever Meet Again (Digital Dog Full Remix) - Timbaland
72 - 2012 It Aint the End - Jay Sean ft. Nicki Minaj
73 - Tonight (I'm Loving You) - Enrique Iglesias ft. Ludacris
74 - Hold It Against Me (Single) - Britney Spears
75 - One Life Stand - Ian Longo and Jay Wainwright
76 - More (Red One DJ Intro DJ Outro Clean Mix) - Usher
77 - Day N nite (remix) - Kid Cudi vs The Crookers
78 - S & M Remix (Main) - Rihanna Featuring Britney Spears
79 - Dirty Talks (Single) - Wynter Gordon
80 - Right Round (Remix) - Flo Rida
81 - Getting Over You - David Guetta & Chris Willis
82 - Billie Jean - Michael Jackson
83 - Brown Girl In The Rain - Boney M