Lights, Camera, Music

[Lights, Camera, Music originally posted from Dow Oak Events]

“When we went with Dow Oak, we looked at all their website pictures and figured it would look cool. But we didn’t know how cool it would actually look when everything was set up! The lights and the music were so perfect. We were seriously blown away. We would absolutely recommend Dow Oak 1,000 times. I actually had people emailing me afterward saying what a good time they had, and that means the world. Thank you so much Dow Oak!” –WeddingWire

Free Reign

It was a cold evening, but the love in the air warmed the crowd. Amanda and Nick invited us to one of the most beautiful evenings one could participate in. From having the Jurassic Park theme song for the ceremony to a great dance list all the way from Kool & The Gang to Bob Marley… this was definitely a memorable one. Greensboro, North Carolina has some of the best weather year-round, making it one of the most prime wedding areas.

We love taking any requests, but we also love when we have free reign over the dance portion of the night. It really is when we do the best. And we can really get the party going. We had a lot of creative leeway with this one, and we loved it. And all the guests were definitely having a blast too. No one wanted to leave the dance floor.

Awesome Memories

We were super glad to have been a part of this evening. The lights, the music, and the dancing were all awesome. We want everyone to have a good time. And when they do, we have a good time. And we had an awesome time.

Shout out to Jason with Veritas Digital Photography for the amazing pictures; you can see more of his work at www.veritasdp.com. Thank you to the Camas for letting us be a part of your special day!

Vendor Team

DJ — Dow Oak Events

Photographer — Veritas Digital Photography

Final Thoughts

We’ve found that on many occasions, the pictures after don’t do it justice. But we can safely say that this is not one of those occasions. You can feel the energy of the night in them, and being able to capture those moments is a special talent.

And as a final note, we just need to say… We absolutely love what we do. Being a part of the unique and personal ways couples celebrate is why we do it. And we loved being a part of this celebration. It’s always awesome to see how couples choose to celebrate.

We’ve learned that being a wedding DJ isn’t just about playing music. So we take our role seriously. Facilitating such a big day is a serious job! That’s why we always give every wedding or event our all.

Vegan Tacos Are What's Up

“Finding the right DJ was one of the things we were worried about during our planning. But after talking with Dow Oak Events, we knew we made the right choice. Everything with them was just so easy! From getting the right songs down for our introductions to playing the perfect dancing music for the reception… it all went perfectly. We truly could not have asked for a better experience. Definitely recommend!!” –Google

Ain’t No Mountain High Enough

I left Greensboro, drove down the highway, found myself on a winding road… and ended up in paradise. This venue… let me tell you, talk about a view. Whew, I couldn’t get over how far you could see. You can’t get a view like that anywhere, especially not when combined with such a beautiful ceremony spot. And a great area for a reception. They even had a built-in photo capturing area! In other words, it was awesome.

Dream Couple

While Mauriceo and I were down at the reception location, Brenda was up a mountain. She drove all the guests up to the ceremony location. And while I was setting up the DJ area, Mauriceo was preparing a vegan taco menu. (Side note: vegan tacos are definitely what’s up).

Zach and Meighan were a dream couple. They were some of the most polite and funny people I have had the pleasure of working with to this day. I would have done this wedding 100 times over. And loved it every time.

Above all, when a bride and groom are in synch, it absolutely shows. That was something you could see with these two. That also makes for a very smooth and enjoyable wedding day for everyone.

In conclusion, a HUGE thank you to Taylor Heery, a true professional. Wonderful pictures, and such a great experience to be around her. Best of luck to the Ryans! Thanks for having us!

Vendor Team

Wedding Planner / Day of Coordinator : Brenda Jane , mountainfiesta@gmail.com , www.mountainfiesta.com

Photographer : Taylor Heery Photography , hello@taylorheery.com , 

https://taylorheery.com/

DJ : Dow Oak Events , booking@dowoakevents.com , 

https://www.dowoakevents.com

Catering : Chef Mo Catering , chefmocatering@gmail.com , 

www.mountainfiesta.com

Venue : Mountain Fiesta , mountainfiesta@gmail.com , 

www.mountainfiesta.com

Final Thoughts

It was amazing to see the personal touches added to this wedding. The awesome venue, super good food, all of it. It was so clear that the Ryans made this whole day their own.

And as a final note, we just need to say… We absolutely love what we do. Being a part of the unique and personal ways couples celebrate is why we do it. And we loved being a part of this celebration. It’s always awesome to see how couples choose to celebrate.

We’ve learned that being a wedding DJ isn’t just about playing the music. So we take our role seriously. Facilitating such a big day is a serious job! That’s why we always give every wedding or event our all.

https://youtu.be/A1XyhUkdPh4

Winter Wedding Wrap-Up

Read the original post: Winter Wedding Wrap-Up from The Best DJ Company in North Carolina or read it below.

A Different Kind of Blog Post

Though we enjoy flexing our creative muscles through describing with words the awesome celebrations we create, we thought we'd go in a different direction with this blog.

We had a busy December bringing the party to office get-togethers, private events, and winter weddings. But after seeing these two videos from December weddings we DJed, we knew we had to include them in a post.

 

The Rand-Bryan House

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BHyZ5PYMv4&feature=youtu.be

 

We always have a great time whenever we're a part of any celebration any time of the year. But we have a soft spot for winter weddings.

This one was no exception. Held in the Rand-Bryan House just 20 minutes outside of Raleigh, we were happy to be a part of Jenna and Logan's celebration. We could write a lot more about it, but in this case, we'll let the video do the talking.

The video was created by Jon Warlick Media, and it's seriously awesome. It really does a great job capturing the intimate atmosphere of the whole day.

 

The Cadillac Service Garage

https://youtu.be/XednYlnHtlE

 

This next December wedding was captured by Alec Hutchins. Though it was cold outside, it was absolutely a party at the Cadillac Service Garage, just down the road from our office in Greensboro.

Similar to the first video, there was so much about this wedding that we could write about. From song selections to great first dances, there were many many awesome moments. But, in a similar vein, we'll let this video speak for itself.

 

Videos, Videos, & More Videos

If you want to take a look at any of the other fantastic videos these two have done, they have many more examples on their sites:

 

Jon Warlick Media

https://www.jonwarlick.com/films

Alec Hutchins

www.alechutchins.com

 

 

New Wedding Trends: Tiny Beer Donkeys

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[Originally posted at New Trend: Miniature Beer Donkeys Serving Drinks At Weddings by Jenifer Sako] 

When two people fall in love and decide to get married, they often choose to marry surrounded by family and friends. After the wedding, a reception usually follows with music, food, cake and burros.

What’s that you say? Burros don’t belong at weddings?

In Texas, they do. Ever since 2015, when folks in the Texas Hill Country wedding business sat down and thought, “What do people really want at their nuptials and how can we provide it?”

Someone may have said burritos, but everyone else heard burros, and then some genius said beer burros and hot damn if that’s now how a beautiful wedding tradition is born.

Local caterers approached Alisha Randig of Texas Hill Country Events, telling her about customer requests for donkey servers. So obviously Randig searched through Craigslist and purchased two. One she named Annie Oakley and the other John Wayne. One thing led to another, and eventually, her little herd grew to six.

Now these lovable, friendly animals are in high demand serving favors, snacks and, yes, beers, at weddings and other special events throughout Texas.

Of course, the idea of donkeys serving alcohol spread like wildflowers. Little Burro Events in California has these sweet little pack animals serving up food and beverages at weddings and other events

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Continue reading at https://stories.wimp.com/these-beer-burros-serve-drinks-at-western-weddings-and-i-want-an-invitation/ or read other awesome things at DowOakEvents.com/blog

If I saw one of these in person, I would lose my mind. So it’s probably a good thing I’ve never encountered a wedding with a beer burro. But maybe someday… someday…

A Perfect Wedding Photo Shoot in Scenic Greece

[Originally posted at The Bride, the Groom and the Greek Sunset: A Perfect Wedding Picture by Jason Horowitz]

SANTORINI, Greece — The bride wore a sparkling tiara and a flowing red wedding gown, her fifth matrimonial ensemble of the day. The groom wore a silver tuxedo and the fatigued look of a guy who had spent the last dozen hours posing for pictures.

The photographer gave instructions. Re-enact the proposal on bended knee. Twirl in the dress. Kiss the bride’s hand.

But it was nearly sunset, and the couple still hadn’t captured that perfect Santorini picture to display at their traditional wedding in China next month.

So their photographer, who is based in Shanghai, rushed the pair across the island’s whitewashed roofs and narrow cliffside footpaths, coaching them in Chinese at various scenic outlooks.

Above a luxury hotel renowned in China as the setting for a popular romantic comedy, he told the weary groom to lift his betrothed in an over-the-threshold pose. The third try was the charm.

For a grand finale, the couple stared into one another’s eyes on a rooftop, and the photographer framed their silhouettes around the blood-orange sun, sinking behind them into the shimmering Aegean Sea. It was the stuff pre-wedding-picture dreams were made of.

“Santorini is famous in China,” said the 29-year-old groom, Yao Kai, after the final click of the camera.

A view of the coastal town of Oia on Santorini. Credit…Laura Boushnak for The New York Times

Tourists gathered on top of the ruins of Oia Castle to take photos of the famous sunset. Credit… Laura Boushnak for The New York Times

Pre-wedding pictures have become a multi-billion-dollar business in the Instagram age — particularly for Asian couples.

Many Chinese brides and grooms who plan for traditional ceremonies back home go first for professional photographs under the Eiffel Tower in Paris, at Big Ben in London, and in the English countryside. (“A Downton Abbey effect on Chinese pre-wedding photo shoots,” the South China Morning Post reported.) New Zealand and Antarctica are the latest pre-wedding destination hot spots.

But the deep blues and white-out whites of Santorini exercise a particular hold on the romantic imagination of many an Asian nearlywed.

Continue reading at 

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/06/world/europe/greece-santorini-wedding-photography-chinese-couples.html or find more great stuff at https://www.dowoakevents.com 

Generally I’m not a huge fan of destination weddings, but I might be willing to make an exception for this. There definitely are a lot of very cool places out there, but I don’t typically think of Greece. However… after reading through this I may have to reconsider. It legitimately looks so awesome that now it’s somewhere I would really like to go. And apparently you can get awesome photography done there as well, which seems like an added bonus. Maybe I’ll go and just get them to take pictures of just me?

We're Coming Back Here for the Blueberries

[We’re Coming Back Here for the Blueberries originally posted from Dow Oak Events]

The Best Weddings for the Best Couples

This was such a great day for a wedding in Greensboro, NC. The weather was 100% perfect (just look at those pictures). Not only was the temperature perfect, but Mary and James were also the happiest, most cheerful couple you can imagine.

We love providing the best for the best. And any time a couple is as polite and fun as Mary and James, it’s easy to go way above and beyond.. And we weren’t the only ones who felt that way. Everyone, from friends to vendors, did exactly that

Our favorite thing is seeing a dance floor full of people throwing down. When everybody’s having a good time, we’re having a good time too. Reminds us why we’re in this business

“It was an absolute pleasure to work with Dow Oak events and DJ Erik! All of the music sounded soo good. We were worried nobody would be dancing and the dance floor would just be empty all night… boy we were wrong!! Erik knew just what to play and when to play it. He definitely did a fantastic job and we’ll be sure to recommend him!” –WeddingWire

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

We also had an awesome time at Heritage Hills. Definitely, a local venue to keep in mind. We understand they also do blueberry picking when they’re in season, so we may have to keep an eye on that…

The pleasure of working with this couple and these vendors really was ours. We always love working with anyone who’s trying to have a good time. And that was definitely the case with this one. Everyone was so laid back and just enjoying themselves and the day, and that made it an awesome wedding for everyone.

Thank you to Heritage Hills for hosting and thank you to the Blakes for having us! We always love a Greensboro wedding and this was definitely no exception.

Vendor Team

Venue
Heritage Hills
www.heritagehillbanquets.com

Entertainment
Dow Oak Events
www.dowoakevents.com
booking@dowoakevents.com

Photographer
Maria Sollecito Photography

Officiant
Jac Grimes
www.triadweddingofficiant.com

Caterer
Pepper Moon
www.peppermooncatering.com

Cake
Easy Peasy Decadent Desserts
www.easypeasydnd.com

Transportation
Sterling Carriage

Final Thoughts

And as a final note, we just need to say… We absolutely love what we do. And meeting new people and being a part of the personal touches they add to their wedding celebrations is why we do it. We loved being invited to be a part of this celebration. It’s always awesome to see how couples choose to celebrate.

We’ve learned that being a wedding DJ isn’t just about playing music. So we take our role seriously. Facilitating such a big day is a serious job! That’s why we always give every wedding or event our all.

And it was so easy to give this one our all. The Blakes and all the vendors absolutely made it our pleasure. Best of luck to everyone involved!

Throwin' It All the Way Back

[Throwin’ It All the Way Back originally posted from Dow Oak Events — Asheville’s Best Wedding DJ]

“Erik did an amazing job at our wedding! We hired him sort of last minute as our other DJ fell through, but I was SO GLAD that we found him! He worked with me tirelessly before the wedding to make sure he knew what songs we wanted to be played. I was even texting him last-minute corrections on the day of the wedding, and he responded quickly and calmly — two VERY important things for a bride! He did a great job “reading the crowd,” and kept us all dancing long into the night.

Several of my friends remarked that the dance floor stayed crowded all night, and even went as far as to say that it was the best dance party at a wedding that they’d been to. Overall, we were extremely satisfied with Erik’s services and would not hesitate to hire him again!” –The Knot

Reading the Room

Wowza. Now that is a review. It definitely hits on all the things we pride ourselves on. Quick response, reading the room and keeping the dance floor packed. Sometimes even when things don’t seem to get off to a stellar start, they end up being some of the best!

That was definitely the case here. One of the first weddings we have evidence of doing was a last-minute fill-in. A buddy of ours was friends with the bride and had referred us. We were even texting with her on the way to figure out some last-minute music requests. We were scrambling. But we were able to grab a phone hot spot during the drive to download a few songs just in time.

Throwbacks and Pop Hits Galore

This sounds like it would be a recipe for disaster. But honestly, it was one of the biggest dance parties we’ve ever seen.

The guests definitely didn’t expect such a crazy mix of dance music oldies and modern jams coming from a 24-year-old. At the time, we didn’t have all of the awesome gear we have now, either. But luckily, our skill in mixing speaks for itself.

Pixels on Paper was the photographer, and thanks to them… we do have some awesome pictures.

Vendor Team

DJ — Dow Oak Events

Photographer — Pixels on Paper

Final Thoughts

It’s crazy how so many things end up going so differently than you expect. And that was the case here, but in the best possible way. We ended up having such an awesome time, and we know all the guests did too. A great wedding all around!

And as a final note, we just need to say… We absolutely love what we do. And meeting new people and being a part of the personal touches they add to their wedding celebrations is why we do it. We loved being invited to be a part of this celebration. It’s always awesome to see how couples choose to celebrate.

We’ve learned that being a wedding DJ isn’t just about playing music. So we take our role seriously. Facilitating such a big day is a serious job! That’s why we always give every wedding or event our all.

Greensboro Vendor Spotlight: The McAlister-Leftwich House

Read the original post: Greensboro Vendor Spotlight: The McAlister-Leftwich House from DOE Wedding DJs or read it below.

Our Favorite Local Wedding Vendors

The next post in our series of shout-outs to our favorite local vendors is an awesome Greensboro venue: The McAlister-Leftwich House. The following post was written by Kaitlin Holland of the McAlister-Leftwich House, a boutique wedding and event venue in historic downtown Greensboro, NC. The McAlister-Leftwich House specializes in helping their clients and couples create an experience of refined Southern hospitality for all who enter through their doors.

 

 

4 Things to Consider Before Touring Your Wedding Venue

Beginning the process of touring wedding venues is exciting but it can also feel overwhelming. It’s probably the first big step you are taking in your wedding planning process and oftentimes couples are eager to get started right away, but sometimes they don’t know what information they need to gather as they begin their venue hunt. We frequently meet with couples that have been engaged for a matter of days and while they are early in the process, it’s important to think through a few key factors before choosing your venue. (You could tour without knowing this information, but it’s definitely necessary to know it before you book!): 

 

1. Ballpark your guest count. All venues have a max capacity (ours is 150!) so it will save you time to have a rough estimate before touring. You don’t want to tour a venue with a max capacity of 100 when you’re expecting 200 guests. Notice the word I used there - expecting. Remember, the number you invite will not be the number you expect! In fact, most weddings will have about 65% (maximum 70%) of their invitees show up on the big day. I know this can be crazy to think about, but your friends and family may have prior commitments, they might not be able to get off work, they might not be able to travel in. To give some perspective, we find if our couples are inviting 200 or less guests they will meet our 150 cap.

 

2. Have an idea of your budget. I get it, chances are this is the first time dealing with the wedding industry and it’s hard to know what things cost! And the venue is normally the first big number you receive. Sticker shock can set in, but remember that oftentimes a venue includes much more than just a rental so you’ll be able to mark other items off of your list! (For example, the McAlister-Leftwich Experience includes tables, chairs, a Bridal & Groom’s Suite, a custom bar, and more!) Also, getting the best monetary deal on your venue will very rarely yield the best experience for you and your guests. We treat our clients relationally, not transactionally. It’s important to us that our clients feel the same way about their time working with us!

 

3. Decide on your date and if it’s flexible. If you really love the venue you may be subject to their availability. If that’s the case, have a general idea of the month or season you’re hoping to get married in but go in with an open mind. Many venues, McAlister-Leftwich House included, offer different rates for Friday/Sunday weddings versus Saturday weddings, as well as seasonal rates. And, if you’re looking to get hitched in a hurry, oftentimes venues will give special rates for open dates in the near future (we are running a promotion for Spring 2020 dates right now).

 

4. Come up with your non-negotiables. Do you definitely want an outdoor ceremony and/or dining? Do you want to get ready on site? Do you want to be close to hotels/trains/airports? Decide on what your non-negotiables are and tour venues that fit those parameters. But don’t have too many or you’ll make your search like a needle in a haystack! Analysis paralysis is real and could definitely kick in if you have too many boxes you are trying to check off in the very beginning. Think through what’s most important to you and your guests and make other items a nice bonus if the venue can fit that criteria. Also keep in mind, some venues have limitations depending on the season (ie, an outdoor venue that can’t accommodate indoor events during the winter months), so be sure you think through the type of experience you want before booking your date. For example, at the McAlister-Leftwich House we can do an entire wedding indoors without the requirement of renting a tent as a rain or inclement weather plan. That isn’t the case everywhere, so make a note of additional costs you might rack up if you do have to implement your “Plan B.”

  

Remember, you don’t need to have it all figured out right away. Just as the venue can help direct your design decisions, it can also help you direct your guest count, budget, and date (if you’re willing to be flexible).

However, taking these aspects of your wedding into consideration will help you choose the right venues to tour and it will help those venues serve you better as you dream up your wedding day together!

See more about events at The McAlister-Leftwich on their blog.