Check Out This Guy's Teeth…

[Check Out This Guys Teeth… originally posted by Dow Oak Events]

“Booking a DJ turned out to be the hardest vendor for us to book! We were on the fence between going with a band or DJ, and I was very hesitant to book a DJ. I had been to several weddings where the DJ was “off” on the music, and it set a bad tone for the day. With three months left till the wedding, we still had not booked anything.

Then I stumbled upon Dow Oak Events on wedding wire. I was so impressed by their high reviews. The amazing prices that they offered and the wide range of services they provided we amazing. (Especially compared to every other DJ I had contacted).

So I emailed Dow Oak, and within 10 minutes I had a response from DJ Erik, who we ended up booking for out day! Erik was quick and responsive to all our emails and questions. We set up a meeting to go over music styles, what to expect on the day, and the overall aesthetic that we were aiming for.

Payment was so easy with Dow Oak, as they have an awesome client portal that manages everything. You just fill out the client form with all important songs, speeches, plus a “Must Play List” and a “Do not play list.” This was very important to me, since I had a specific vision.

Dow Oak let us set up a playlist for our cocktail hour/dinner then a separate one for dancing. This was PERFECT. Erik used our exact playlist for the cocktail hour and dinner to set the right jazzy ambiance I was going for. He then used our reception playlist as inspiration to mix awesome dance music. Which keep out guests on the dance floor!

I had so many guests comment on how amazing the dance music was. And above all, how it was one of the best weddings they had been to! Erik was polite and fun for all of our MCing and made sure that the entire day was exactly how I wanted it!

Take it from someone who was very wary of “cheesy DJs,” Dow Oak Events did an awesome job! The ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner, and reception… Everything was perfect! Definitely reach out to them for your next event!” –Google

Awesome Memories

WOW. What an AWESOME review! We had to post this just because we were so thankful for such a heartfelt response. We were happy to provide all the services for this big day. Above all, we have to give credit to the one who captured the entire day, Amanda Sutton… I mean… just LOOK at these pictures!

We can only hope to work with someone able to pull off such beautiful pictures. One of the perks of being a wedding DJ is awesome pictures of ourselves

Above all, we want the newlyweds to have a good time. With that in mind, we usually focus on them. However, this couple made sure that we were open to taking guest requests. And to us, this shows a couple who cares about their guests. Undoubtably, a great quality.

Awesome Venue

Of course, we can’t forget about the venue, Summerfield Farms. It’s always one of the top choices in North Carolina. Just look at how beautiful it is. Without a doubt, we always love being invited to Summerfield Farms. Not only is the venue itself amazing, but the staff is also all phenomenal. For now, we can’t think of anything else to say but see you next time!

NOW BEFORE WE WRAP THIS UP…

As for the title of this entire blog. Now, while you most likely thought we were talking about the guy in the opening photo (biting the garter)… We weren’t…

…This is one of our DJs, Graham Blossom.
Look at that…

Vendor Team

Venue
Summerfield Farms
3203 Pleasant Ridge Road, Summerfield, North Carolina 27358
info@summerfieldfarms.com 336–643–2006
https://summerfieldfarms.com/

Photography
Amanda Sutton Photography
amandasuttonphoto@gmail.com 828–228–8522
https://www.amandasuttonphotography.com

DJ
Erik and Graham with Dow Oak Events
booking@dowoakevents.com 336–213–7528
www.dowoakevents.com

Catering
Above & Beyond Catering
cwhite@aboveandbeyondcatering.com 336–215–7172
https://aboveandbeyondcatering.com

Flowers
Mickey with Sedgefield Florist
mickeyatkinson@aol.com 336–299–5810

Final Thoughts

These pictures say more than we ever could. Capturing a specific vibe is not easy. However, Amanda Sutton Photography absolutely nailed it.

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.

In conclusion, 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.

We Like To Party

[We Like To Party originally published by Winston-Salem’s Best Wedding DJs]

“We loved loved LOVED working with Erik and Dow Oak Events! They totally made it a night we’ll never forget. The music was PERFECT and they just did an amazing job all around. 10/10 would recommend!!!” –The Knot

One of Our Top Examples

This one was so memorable. We had to dig back through our files to make sure it made it to our blog. Meaghan and Andrew Moore, sometime in July of 2017 (yes, it is old enough to lose some of the information). And let us just say… there are some weddings that truly remind us of why we got into this career. And this may be one of our top examples.

We have nothing but good things to say about this couple, night, and venue. Everything and everyone worked together so well. It really did make this one of our favorite weddings. It really makes the night the best for everyone involved. The Millennium Center is definitely an awesome venue, and we’re always happy to work there. And working there with the Moores was definitely a good time.

Awesome All Around

The very talented Yasmin Leonard captured the mood of the party better than we could have imagined. Once we got the pictures, we were blown away. A true master of her craft would be an understatement. The Winston Salem Millennium Center and the staff was a pleasure to work with. They really opened the doors for us to focus 100% on the music. Which as you can see in these pictures… worked. We can’t say enough fun things about this day. But they say a picture is worth a thousand words… so here are some pictures!

Vendor Team

Venue
Millennium Center
101 W 5th Street, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27101
lgcarlyle@gmail.com 336–723–3700

Photography
Yasmin Leonard Photography
www.yasminleonard.com/inquire 336–848–0003
https://www.yasminleonard.com

Entertainment and Lighting
DJ Erik with Dow Oak Events
booking@dowoakevents.com 336–213–7528
www.dowoakevents.com

Final Thoughts

This was one of the hypest crowds we’ve ever had. Literally every single guest was on the dance floor. I mean, look at the video. When everyone is living it up and having a good time, we’re having a good time.

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.

Time to Salsa

[Time to Salsa originally posted by DowOakEvents.com]

“We had a very specific vision of how we wanted the music to go, so we were a little nervous about finding the right DJ. But when we talked to Dow Oak Events, we knew we made the right choice. They knew a TON about all the different genres we wanted, and they knew exactly how to make it all go together so seamlessly! We knew they’d be good, but not THAT good!” –WeddingWire

At the House of Love

First thing: those hanging lights are a part of the venue. And that… is awesome.

Without a doubt, this wedding at Villa de l’Amour was one of the smoothest High Point Weddings we’ve done. And we have the vendor team to thank for that. Truly, Jenn with Knot Your Average Events and her team are some of the absolute best in the business. And as DJs/Event Facilitators, this is super important to us. However, it doesn’t just make our lives easier. It makes everyone’s lives easier. In other words, we really can’t say enough good things about her.

Furthermore, check out the pictures. With Allen Nop Photo, we knew they would be off the chain. On top of everything, there was awesome Italian food. So there was really nothing but good things going on here. While we figured it would be good, we didn’t know how good it would be.

Nothing But Good Things

Now, let’s talk playlist. We went from wedding classics into Latino beats and salsa style dancing. Anyone can get down with that. Believe us, everyone did. Danza Kuduro, Suavemente, Mi Gente… these people knew their stuff. The dance floor was absolutely packed. How could it not be with music this hype? Obviously, it was a party.

Thanks to Kristine and Joe for letting us be a part of your big day!

Vendor Team

Venue
Villa de l’Amour “House of Love” Wedding Venue
317 S Hamilton St High Point, North Carolina
villadelamour.events@gmail.com 336–847–1509
www.villadelamourweddings.com

Photography
Allen Nop with Allen Nop Photo
allennopphotography@gmail.com 336–686–3905
https://www.allennopphoto.com/

Coordinator
Jennifer Ball with Knot Your Average Events
jenn@knotyouraverageevents.com 910–617–2271
https://www.knotyouraverageevents.com/

Officiant
Perry Hardison
perryhardison@gmail.com 919–618–3359
www.perryhardisonweddings.com

Linens
Party Reflections, Inc.

336–852–6085
www.partyreflections.com

Catering
Maria’s Gourmet Catering and Foods To-Go
Maria’s Gourmet Catering
mariasgourmetcatering@gmail.com
https://www.marialovesfood.com/

DJ
Dow Oak Events
booking@dowoakevents.com 336–213–7528
www.dowoakevents.com

Cake
Publix Events
events.1582@publix.com 336–905–8617
www.publix.com

Flowers
Eliot Thomas with The Garden Outlet
eliot@gardenoutletnc.com 336–643–0898

Hair/Make-up
Face Forward

Ice Cream Truck
Mr. Cone Ice Cream

Final Thoughts

We really enjoyed going back through the pictures from this wedding. To be sure, you can feel the energy in them. It was a day we would totally describe as “vibrant.” Which is something you can feel in the pictures.

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.

In conclusion, 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.

There's Always Something New: A Dog Groom?

[Originally at After Covering More than 7,000 Weddings, Something New: A Canine Groom by Vincent M. Mallozzi]

As a Society News reporter at The New York Times, I’ve covered more than 7,000 weddings across three decades, from the current president’s son to the son of a gun who refused to submit a photo, he said, “because, to tell you the truth, my fiancée and I are not very good looking.”

If I may be a bit lyrical here:

I’ve also married, in print at least, scores of doctors, lawyers, handymen and corporate chiefs, as well as athletes, bartenders, mortgage lenders and father-daughter pastors with conflicting theological beliefs. They all arrived in various increment to be stamped with a kind of sacred ink that makes them news fit to print.

Nurses, actors, politicians, men and women in blue, soldiers, spacemen, musicians and M.B.A.’s and Ph.D.’s from N.Y.U. I thought I had covered every kind of “I Do,” including a few, I swear to you, exchanged by two who had been on death row. I know. I know. But believe me, it’s true.

Then came a call that topped them all — from a public relations woman named Laurie Monteforte — about a woman named Lilly Smartelli, 55, of Phoenix, who is dreaming about marrying her best friend, Bernie, who happens to be her dog.

See the rest at https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/01/reader-center/dog-wedding-reporting-lilly-smartelli.html or see more great stories at www.dowoakevents.com 

I initially thought this would be the mother of all click-baity articles. But after reading more of it, I came to see it was actually… very sweet. I’m almost hesitant to post it with other things like wedding-themed bounce castles, to be honest. But it definitely is worth the read. 

A Whole Lotta Rhythm Goin' Round

[A Whole Lotta Rhythm Goin’ Round originally posted by Dow Oak Events — Raleigh’s Best Wedding DJs]

“So happy we went with Dow Oak Events! The music selection was excellent, and they were so respectful and easy to work with. Wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to anyone looking for amazing DJs!” –Google

All the Hits

A dance party we’ll never forget, let me tell you. We were rocking a straight-up party of funk music, all the way from Prince and Earth Wind and Fire to the Bee Gees. And we can’t forget about all the awesome hip hop all-time hits like Gettin’ Jiggy Wid It and Return of the Mac mixed with some newer stuff like Cardi B. There were at least 50 people on the dance floor at any given time, and that’s the way we like it. 

This Raleigh wedding started low-key but ended up being an absolute rager. Also, on a side note, the first dance song was “Your Song” by Elton John, which nobody ever chooses. But is one of our all-time favorites. So we would say Lee and Sarah had arguably some of the best musical tastes we have come across.

Smooth Sailing

Samantha was a “day of” coordinator, but to us, we would have never known. She was so on top of things you would think she had been preparing forever. We LOVE working with vendor teams like this one (and eating great food like what was provided by City Barbeque!). With everyone working together so well, it really did make for an awesome wedding.

Of course, Photography by Katie looks phenomenal. Talk about top-of-the-line work. Without a doubt, we would suggest 10/10.

Thank you and congratulations to Sarah and Lee Dunn. Surely amazing taste makes for an amazing wedding!

Vendor Team

Venue
Rand-Bryan House
2518 Benson Rd. Garner, NC 27529
info@rand-bryanhouse.com 919–995–1663

Photographer
Katie Menaugh with Sarah Kate Photography
sarahkatem1970@gmail.com 252–342–5077
www.sarahkatephotographync.com

DJ
Dow Oak Events
booking@dowoakevents.com 336–213–7528
www.dowoakevents.com

Coordinator
Samantha Mead
dayofdetails.nc@gmail.com 717–682–4649

Catering
City Barbeque
lwittig@citybbq.com 919–623–2532
www.citybbq.com

Florals
Chapel Hill Florist
chapelhillfloristltd@gmail.com 919–929–2903

Hair
Wedding Hair by Liz

Makeup
Contour Kissed — Makeup Artistry

Dress
BHLDN

Jewelry
Kendra Scott

Final Thoughts

The music, the food, the dancing… This all came together so well. And that’s all there is to it. It’s amazing when it works out like that. This was one of those times. All the energy and love in the room was electric. Which is something we won’t forget for a long time.

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.

Kittens, Not Cocktails

---

[Originally posted at Couple Holds Wedding ‘Kitten Hour’ Instead Of Cocktail Hour by Elyse Wanshel]

Newlyweds Iz, 26, and Colleen, 27, who asked to be identified by just their first names to protect their privacy, were married in August at a Quaker meetinghouse — a venue that did not allow alcohol.

This created an obstacle for the pair, who wanted their guests to be entertained at the venue while they had their post-wedding family portraits snapped by a photographer.

Colleen (above) and Iz provided a “kitten hour” instead of a cocktail hour for their guests.

After Colleen suggested doing something with a falcon (which Iz adamantly opposed) the couple came up with a plan that paid tribute to two special friends that couldn’t make it to their nuptials — their older, disabled rescue cats, Ladybird and Pangur.

---

“When we were brainstorming something alcohol-free for our guests to do while we took family pictures, kittens came up and things flowed from there,” Colleen told HuffPost.

---

The result was a “kitten hour” instead of a cocktail hour — where guests could play and snuggle with six kittens from the Seattle Animal Shelter.

Iz and Colleen foster cats from the shelter and donated to the rescue before their wedding. They also asked guests to donate to SAS as wedding presents.

Read the rest at https://www.huffpost.com/entry/wedding-kitten-hour-cocktail-hour_n_5bedff4fe4b0510a1f2f2005 or read more awesome stuff on our blog.

I totally have a weakness for all things cat-related. I admit it. When I saw this I knew I had to put it on here. Not only is it such a unique way to spice up a cocktail hour, it involves cats. I don’t think I’d be able to go to this reception without adoption literally all the cats there. Soo maybe it’s a good thing I was not on the guest list.

This Cake Was Ridiculous

[This Cake Was Ridiculous originally posted at Dow Oak Events — Greensboro’s Best Wedding DJs]

We’d read great things about Dow Oak Events, and it’s no wonder! So many people had so many good things to say about them so we had very high expectations. And they went above and beyond them! Not only were they professional and courteous, they had evvveryone dancing! We’d happily tell anyone thinking about hiring a DJ to go with Dow Oak Events.” –The Knot

Everybody Dancing

A huge thank you to this great team of vendors that provided all of the services to make the perfect wedding day for Ashley and Stephen Terranova. It was a great day at Summerfield Farms (when is it not in Greensboro though?).

Libby was able to capture every memory with her artistic abilities (can we take a second to refer to this picture of the guy break dancing… I wish I could do that!). All the way from a bagpipe ceremony to a choreographed father/daughter dance (thank you Ashley and Randall), there was enough excitement to last a lifetime.

To top it all off, there was not one single music request, leaving the dance floor open 100% for Dow Oak song selections, and you can trust that is always a great decision! Giving us creative freedom is a sure-fire way to get everyone on the dance floor.

Some of the Best Vendors Around

We always love working with Summerfield Farms. We’ve had nothing but amazing experiences, and this time was definitely no different.

And we just have to talk about the cake.

We know Maxie B’s is always phenomenal. But this cake definitely took it to a new level. People couldn’t get enough of it. Even we wanted seconds. A cake that good isn’t something that happens every day (trust us).

Vendor Team

Venue
Summerfield Farms
https://summerfieldfarms.com/

Photos
Libby McGowan of Libby McGowan Photography
LMCGOWANPHOTO@GMAIL.COM WWW.LIBBYMCGOWAN.COM

Video

Jesse Ashe with Carolina Story
https://carolinastoryfilmco.com/

Catering
Above and Beyond
https://aboveandbeyondcatering.com

Cake
Maxie B’s
https://www.maxieb.com

Flowers
Advance Florist
https://www.advancefloristandgifts.com/

DJ
Dow Oak Events

booking@dowoakevents.com
www.dowoakevents.com

Transportation
Prettiest Pieces Lounge Rentals theprettiestpieces@gmail.com
https://www.theprettiestpieces.com/

Final Thoughts

So many things came together to make this a seriously memorable wedding. The cake, the venue, the other vendors… But what made it so memorable for us was the music. We take a lot of pride in what we do. And having complete creative control lets us showcase that perfectly.

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.

Lighting That Really Shined

Read the original post: Lighting That Really Shined from Greensboro’s Best Wedding DJ or read it below.

Capturing the Vibe

 

Vibe and ambiance. Two words that are very important to us. And also two words that describe this wedding. Through the perfect music and the perfect lighting, we were able to capture the total atmosphere that Ingrid and Jose were going for. And atmosphere is really what it's all about.

We often have couples ask us about ways to make the day their own. How do you create a wedding that celebrates tradition but doesn't seem generic? Or transition from a more serious ceremony into a full-blown party?

The answer we give is simple: it's all about the vibe. But the vibe isn't just one thing, either. It's a feeling that comes from the music, food/drinks, lighting, and the decor of the venue itself. All these seemingly different and distinct factors coming together into one feeling is the vibe. And that vibe is what we pride ourselves on helping create for every couple we celebrate with.

So when Jose and Ingrid described the vibe they wanted for their big day, we knew we wanted to do our part to help create it. First, we figured out what kind of music this couple liked, and what kind of music they wanted for the big day. Then we determine how to best pair those two (it's important to have music you actually like on your wedding day after all!).

 

A Custom Celebration

 

Next, after we had a feel for the music choices, we moved on to lighting. We believe lighting works best when it compliments all the other aspects of the day. It's in a supporting role that it can really shine (pun).

So after seeing what the music would be for the intros, for dinner, and for dancing, we were able to determine what the perfect lighting for every moment would be. And when it works... it works. Especially in a venue like Castle McCulloch (one of our local favs). The way the lights compliment the old castle stone is something that just has to be witnessed.

What started with a grand entrance to warm tones and acoustic guitar music transitioned into a party with tones of blue and green curtesy of the dance floor lighting and the uplighting. And through controlling the music and the ambiance, we were able to take the mood from low-key to hype (exactly what Jose and Ingrid wanted). And with a party playlist featuring Tyga, Travis Scott, and Luis Fonsi... we knew it would be a party.

The vibe is also something that isn't easy to capture. It takes a talented photographer to not only be able to capture the moments, but the emotions and the atmosphere as a whole. And that's something the very talented Bert Reed was able to with these photos. Seriously, the rest of them are also this awesome.

 

---

 

Vendor List

 

Venue
Castle McCulloch
https://ift.tt/2Tvbbm1
booking@dowoakevents.com

 

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

 

Photography
Bert Reed Photography
https://ift.tt/32JQDdE
bertreedphotography@gmail.com

 

---