The weather in Northwest Florida is quite fickle. Indeed, it can change by the minute. Fortunately, for Matt and Hannah Radicz’s wedding, it didn’t stop us from partying the night away!
Matt and Hannah’s reception was held poolside at The Villas condominiums in luxurious Seacrest Beach, FL. Some severe thunderstorms moved into the area and poured down rain, but they didn’t stay long. Everything had dried off by the time the reception was to be held.
For this event, there was no planner; Matt and Hannah were working with a very tight budget. Situations like these are where I shine, as I truly believe in rolling up my sleeves and getting my hands dirty. While I took the pressure off of the Bride and Groom and let them go enjoy their special day, I made sure to check on the catering food, make sure the cake cutting utensils were all in place, and much more. I love to multitask!
The highlight of the evening for me was the Groom and his brother/Best Man performing John Legend’s “All of Me” for his Bride. Matt had contacted me a few weeks prior and told me he wanted to surprise Hannah with a performance. I was nothing but delighted to help facilitate it! She was very touched by his gesture, and cried tears of joy all throughout.
It takes more than a little black rain cloud to stop B-Boy from keeping the party rolling, and party we did that day! Congratulations, Matt & Hannah!
**EDITOR’S NOTE****
We recently received a wedding wire review on this event from the bride. Here’s what she had to say:
“DJ Dan Davis made our reception so much fun! He was very responsive from day one, met with us at a coffee shop with last minute notice because we were only in town for a day. We planned our wedding from a distance and he was very efficient with communicating via text & calls. It was the least amount of stress compared to planning with other vendors! He played all of the requests that we specified including 2 songs for the father/daughter dance. He was very in touch with us throughout the reception checking with the groom & I to make sure everything was OK and to assure we were happy with his services. He got everyone up & dancing easily. All of our guests, including us, were dancing all night and having a blast! The value was also essential for us being on a tight budget. Thank you so much Dan Davis for making our reception a success!!!” – Hannah Lee, Panama City Beach, FL (event date: 9/13/14)
I had the pleasure of DJ’ing Keith Holtel and Erica Kleinholz’s wedding this past Summer. They were from Cincinnati, Ohio and picked the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa in Destin, FL as their wedding venue. Their 62 guests came from all over the country.
When the reception started, I could just tell that they were going to be a great crowd. Everything went smoothly and the event had an elegant vibe to it on the Sunset Deck. However, not even 15 minutes after the Grand Entrance, the Florida summer rain decided to make an appearance. We made the decision after dinner to move the reception inside to one of the ballrooms since it continued to sprinkle intermitently. As you can imagine, the delay in having to reset caused the mood to shift a bit. I knew I had to do my best to entertain these people and swing the momentum! I mean, this is one of the biggest days of their lives and there’s no way I was going to let a little rain ruin this beautiful ocassion.
As soon as I got re-set, I instantly threw on some upbeat dance music hits! This proved to be the remedy. From that moment on, they went into full party mode and we kept it slammin’ all night! It was definitely one of the best crowds I’ve ever DJ’d for. Thank you Erica and Keith for letting me be a part of your big day! Best of luck to you both!
**EDITOR’S NOTE****
We recently received a wedding wire review on this event from the bride. Here’s what she had to say:
“We had a destination wedding in Sandestin so we didn’t really know what to expect. The wedding was beautiful and DJ Charles was right there on the deck for the Father/Daughter and Mother/Son dance. It was great. THEN it started to rain so they moved us inside to another room and everyone’s mood wasn’t the greatest. DJ Charles’ flexibility and professionalism to pack all of his equipment up and move inside was awesome. Once he got set up, DJ Charles got the party started again and the reception turned out to be just as great as the ceremony. Thanks DJ Charles for rocking the house and making it a perfect night.” – Erica Kleinholz, Destin, FL (event date: 6/17/14)
As a full time wedding and event DJ entertainer, I have had the opportunity to witness countless wedding celebrations and been privileged to meet some really amazing people. One of my most recent clients were the Heckman’s. Their wedding took place at the beautiful Western Lake Park, a part of Watercolor Inn in beautiful WaterColor, Florida, and their reception took place on the property at The Lakehouse. Talk about a beautiful setup! As you can see in the pictures below, this was a gorgeous setting!
I could tell from the very beginning that Ashley and Tyler were going to be a blast! From their #tyandashgettingweird wedding hashtag to the conversation during our planning meeting together, I knew that I had to pull out all the stops for their reception. They definitely wanted a fun, energetic, party-like atmosphere to share with all of their guests and that is exactly what we did. Playing classics like “Twist & Shout” to modern hits like “Feel So Close”, we rocked all ages all night long! It was definitely a terrific highlight from my 2014 wedding catalog!
**EDITOR’S NOTE****
We recently received a wedding wire review on this event from the bride. Here’s what she had to say:
“Our DJ (Duane) was great. He knew the right music to play and got people on the dance floor even before the cake cutting! He was super accommodating as well, regarding our song selection and if we wanted to change up songs halfway through playing another. Duane can get the party started for sure!” – Ashley Martin, WaterColor, FL (event date: 9/20/14)
I’m a sucker for stories and this couple’s propsal story was a great one. Stephanie and Shaun met in Washington DC and began dating very soon thereafter in June 2012. Shaun worked on Captiol Hill for a congressman and Stephanie worked for a non-profit. Ten months later, in April 2013, Shaun invited Stephanie to a event that was honoring his boss at the Capitol. Shaun took her out to the Speaker’s balcony (which just so happens to have one of the best views of the city) for an alleged picture to send to his mom. Stephanie noticed a guy taking pictures of the city with a camera. Turns out that this whole thing was just an alibi as he had an elablorate propsal planned. He finally let her in on it by saying, “I have a confession. We aren’t going to an event for my boss tonight.” Stephanie noticed the guy with the camera taking picures much more rapidly and realized he was taking pictures of them. Shaun then went into a speech that Stephanie cannot remember and got down on one knee and asked if she would marry him! She could not believe it was actually happening, so she asked, “Is this for real?” and he said, “Yes.” She said yes and of course started crying/laughing/shaking! Way to go Shaun!
I know this beautiful couple from the church my wife and I attend and they are completely in love with each other. I love that. I love when a wedding is an authentic celebration of love and commitment. When I asked them what they would rate their crowd on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being hard to get out of their seats and 10 being party animals) , they said, “8”. I rolled my eyes. I’ve done weddings for church friends before and I’d say “4” is usually a safe bet. Well, they did get the number wrong…but the opposite direction. These guys were a 10 without batting an eye. Incredible energy from beginning to end.. it felt like they were there with no other motive than to celebrate.
The ceremony and reception took place at the beautiful Huntington Harbor Yacht Club in Huntington Beach, CA. If you’re looking in the Huntington Beach or surrounding areas for a wedding venue, this is a phenomenal one to consider. It’s multi-functional with a serene and peaceful view and the staff is incredibly accomodating and helpful. We worked with amazing vendors who helped make the wedding come to life. The wedding was coordinated by her aunt, Christine Wells. The ceremony was officiated by friends of the bride and groom and former B-Boy groom himself, Jordan Lynch. Catering was provided by Rhonda and her team from Davenport Catering while Alison Meyer from Just Ask Alison was the cake maker. Jocelyn Girouard of 1703 Event Studios was the florist on hand. Photography was done by Elaine from George Street Photography and they also provided videography services as well.
We had a very eclectic crowd but all were willing to explore dancing to each other’s genres. It was a beautiful event that reminded everybody there why so much time and detail go into these days; people will look back on that day and remember a beautiful event and partying the way a wedding should.
It was a perfect day for getting married in Sandestin, FL! As guests started arriving at the Bayview Room and Terrace for cocktail hour, you could see them tapping their feet as they listened to the smooth jams of one our live musicians, Wes Heath, on the guitar and vocals. Everyone was smiling and talking about the beautiful ceremony they had just witnessed.
Once everyone made their way inside for the reception, I knew we had an amazing crowd! They were full of energy which is a key ingredient for an epic party! After introducing myself as the Emcee and my partner in crime for the evening, Dan Davis, as the DJ, we kicked into “Love Never Felt So Good” by Michael Jackson for the bridal party introduction. Each VIP bridal party member danced their way inside the reception hall. After the last of the bridal party made their way in, we shut the doors and I got the crowd ready for our bride and groom. The anticipation was at the apex when those doors finally swung open. The crowd exploded with a deafening roar of cheers for the new Mr. and Mrs. Becker!
The night went flawlessly! People were laughing, dancing and having an all-around good time! Earlier at the ceremony, the grandmother sustained a minor injury and had to go to the hospital. Both her and her husband weren’t able to make the reception early on. After getting word from our coordinator that they would be able to make an appearance later on, I had her cue me when they arrived. I called everyone out to the dance floor with Art and Brittany standing at the front so when the front doors swung open and I announced them in, they went crazy yet again! It gave the party a second wind. Brittany, our bride, got to dance with her Grandfather to “Fly Me to The Moon” by Frank Sinatra. As the music played, you could see a huge smile on the grandmother’s face as she witnessed her first granddaughter dancing with her husband.
As for the dancing, it didn’t take hardly any time to get everyone up and partying. With New Yorkers in the house, we hit them with “Juicy” by Notorious B.I.G. and, of course, they knew all the words. For all the Chicagoans (where the bride and groom live), we dropped “Homecoming” by Kanye West and everyone went nuts. We finished the night with “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey and ended on a high note.
This was definitely one of those weddings where I realized I have the greatest job in the world. I love to DJ weddings and play a part in a couple’s special day! Thanks for having us Art and Brittany! We wish you both the best!
As B-Boy Productions’ resident Hilton Sandestin DJ/Emcee, I had the privilege to perform for the wedding of Nikki Young to current University of Tennessee men’s basketball head coach, Donnie Tyndall. Their ceremony took place on the white sands of the beach. The weather was gorgeous, the attire was casual, and the smiles were abundant!
Nikki and Donnie said their I-do’s, the crowd of loved ones and onlookers alike erupted in a cheer as they kissed, and within minutes the wedding guests were making their way up to the deck to enjoy some refreshments and the Florida evening air as the sun began to set and the newlywed couple tended to having their photos taken.
I have discovered in my time as a destination wedding DJ that the term “cocktail hour” is often a misnomer, considering one hardly ever actually lasts a full hour. But on this particular occasion, the bride and groom were in no hurry to rob themselves of one moment in the gorgeous outdoor surroundings offered by the Hilton’s beachside verandas. They joined their guests on the Sunrise Deck as the cafe lighting took over for the retired sun, and the merry crowd mingled and consorted for the entirety of the hour. I was happy to lurk a bit in the shadows, manning my laptop as the music offered a subtle soundtrack to the merriment around me, because it gave me a chance to observe the attendees and get a bit of an idea what sort of celebration they would be up for as the night progressed.
As cocktail hour came to a close, we moved indoors to the Coral Ballroom, for the reception. Inside the long and majestically high-ceiled hall, a massive dance floor and plenty of spacious seating around ornately decorated tables awaited their guests. A long banquet table for the bride and groom to sit flanked by their bridesmaids and groomsmen ran along the main wall in plain view of every guest.
Nikki and Donnie, along with Donnie’s two young daughters, made their grand entrance into the ballroom to “Rocky Top,” the fight song of UT, as their friends and family cheered their arrival with as much gusto as any sports crowd. As I had instructed them, they made their way to the dance floor to share their first dance … but that’s when a surprise was sprung on the bride. Donnie appeared on the large screen in a prerecorded message, offering a poetic tribute of love — which he “rapped” — to his new bride. The mixture of humor and genuine emotion on display as the video version of Donnie cracked a bit in his delivery had Nikki, and plenty others, giggling through happy tears. At the video’s conclusion, I cued up “Whatever It Is” by the Zac Brown Band, and Donnie and Nikki were in each others’ arms sharing their first dance as husband and wife.
Nikki remained on the dance floor as I invited her father to join her. Dad and daughter shared a few short minutes of closeness to the tune of Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide” — which then suddenly transitioned into “Happy” by Pharrell. All sappiness abandoned, Nikki and her dad let loose and cut a rug, much to the delight of all in attendance. At Donnie’s turn to dance with his mother, the classic “Wind Beneathe My Wings” by Bette Midler proved a perfect choice.
Upon the conclusion of dinner, the Best Man offered a toast to the happy couple as did the Maid of Honor. Then I introduced another video presentation featuring a photo slide show of both Donnie and Nikki as they grew up. From baby pictures to present day, the memories played upon the screen and in the end there was hardly a dry eye in the room. I offered the microphone to the groom, who managed to say a brief but very heartfelt thank you to everyone before we moved ahead with the cake cutting and other festivities. The bouquet toss mustered a sizable crowd of fairly competitive single ladies, but the catch ended up going to one of the youngest (and most petite) girls in the group. Donnie removed Nikki’s garter to the sultry vibes of Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On”. Once again, the catch — or more accurately, the scoop, was scored by a very young lad who clearly wasn’t quite sure what it was he had there (I’m sure it will occur to him sometime when he’s older).
The crowd proved eclectic in their musical tastes, shaking it down to everything from golden oldies and 70’s disco, to 90’s hip hop and today’s hottest country! One of Donnie’s young daughters entertained with an impromptu karaoke of “Fancy” by Iggy Azalea.
Being on vacation in Florida, everyone related well to “Toes” by Zac Brown Band. Figurative boots were scooted to “Wagon Wheel” by Darius Rucker. I took great pleasure in teaching the bride (and a few unwashed others) how to do the “Cupid Shuffle.” Great classic rock hits like “Shout” and “Do You Love Me?” rounded out the energy of the night, and the evening drew down with the dance floor covered in couples as Jason Mraz sang “I Won’t Give Up” and finally, the legendary Elton John mused “I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues.”
For the multitude of memorable moments packed into this one single evening, I can’t help but consider Donnie and Nikki’s wedding to be one of the best I’ve had the pleasure to be a part of! When by the end of the night it genuinely feels like you’re not just DJ’ing another “gig,” but instead you’re celebrating with a room full of new friends — it makes it hard to stop. My hope for this happy couple is for all that same joy and exuberance to continue on beyond their wedding day and into the full length of their marriage. Because if so, their life together will be an absolute blast!
***UPDATE [This review just came in from Nikki on ourYelppage]***
“My husband and I just had the most amazing wedding on the beach in Sandestin, FL. Our DJ, Josh, was amazing! He was so professional and did a fantastic job. He called me a month before the wedding and went over the playlist with me. I felt assured he would do a great job and that is what ‘brides to be’ need! He did everything I asked and then some! The songs he picked were perfect for every occasion (grand entrance, dinner music, etc.). If you are a ‘bride to be’ looking for an experienced, friendly, professional DJ for your wedding…look no further than B-Boy and DJ Josh B.” – Nikki Tyndall, Sandestin, FL (event date 8/2/2014)
I truly believe that WaterColor Inn is one of the most stunning wedding venues on the planet. Having performed all over the country as a wedding DJ, I say this with extreme conviction. So when Catie called us to inquire about our services and mentioned they had just booked that venue, I was so happy for them. Multiply that excitement by 110% when she asked me personally to perform at her wedding!
Although she was extremely laid back, Catie and I were in contact frequently up to her wedding day. I love it when a bride takes that much interest in the entertainment portion of her wedding. We threw formality song suggestions back and forth many times until we found songs that fit them perfectly.
On the day of the wedding, the weather was stunning. We set up on the lawn for the cocktail hour and reception while the ceremony took place on the beach. With our 2 person DJ/Emcee package, DJ Charles handled the ceremony sound technician duties while one of our guitarists provided the ceremony music.
Image Courtesy of Paul Johnson Photography
At the reception, we kicked into “The Wobble” immediately following the first dance and the entire crowd came out onto the dancefloor. Talking about setting a dancing tone right off the back! Wow! They were ready to party.
As I started playing for dinner, a huge cloud formed over us. I tried my “music karma” in getting the sun out there with this Beatles selection.
In true Florida fashion, within all of about 90 seconds, a slight drizzle started. We quickly covered our gear and waited for it to pass. As soon as it did, we went back out and started again. The weather kept threatening and when the wind picked up, it was obvious that Mother Nature had other plans.
We quickly packed up our gear and moved inside one of the ballrooms and carried on with the rest of the night. The crowd was in such a great mood despite the weather ordeal. It was probably one of the best dancing crowds I had all summer long.
What really stood out to me, however, was the love that this family shared. The toast tributes to both the bride and groom were so touching.
Image Courtesy of Paul Johnson Photography
It was great sharing this wedding with some of the local area wedding industry all-stars. We had Cheryl from WaterColor coordinating the event, Paul and Mecheal from Paul Johnson Photography, Celia and Danny from Momentus Films, and the crew from Fisher Flowers and Events.
Image Courtesy of Paul Johnson Photography
We send out heartfelt best wishes to both Catie and Russ!!! With that, we’ll leave you with this awesome highlight video from Momentus Films.
When I first met Lauren and Alex at the Commons in Destin, FL before they booked us, I just knew that they would be a fun group. Although laid back, they both had a “cool” factor and I was really looking forward to sharing their day with them and their guests. They had a vision for what they wanted and being one the few Destin wedding DJs that has seen just about everything, I loved the fresh and creative spin that they were putting on their wedding!
I started following them both on Instagram and was stoked to see that Alex was totally into fly shoes like I am. Sure enough, he and his groomsmen were sporting some dope kicks at the wedding. But I digress…
The wedding was great on so many levels. We worked with some talented professionals – Christine Walker from RSVP Destin, Michael from Michael K Photography, Sally from Florals By The Sea, Heidi from Bake My Day Destin and of course Jackie from the venue, Rutherford’s 465. A few years back when I was living full-time in Destin, it seemed like I worked with this crew just about every weekend so it was exciting to be reunited with some of the best in that local market again.
As far as our staff goes, we had Eric Partin officiating, Cam Ray playing keys for the ceremony and cocktail hour, and then I got to work the reception with DJ Josh B as the wedding DJs. The venue, itself, is such a modular space and the couple took full advantage of the multiple levels that it offers. Sally and her crew did an awesome job with the décor throughout from lounge seating on the deck to sweeping linens from the inside ceiling, etc.
When it came to the dancing, this crowd was ready! The space is so well lit that everything just popped! Each song seemed to go over perfect and the dance floor filled almost immediately. In our venue review, we used a ton of photos from this wedding so to not be repetitive; we leave you with this highlight reel we put together. We wish Alex and Lauren many happy years together!
We’re headed back to New York City in our latest venue review. Today we’re looking at the Atrium Dumbo, a restaurant/event venue in the Dumbo neighborhood of Brooklyn where we just recently DJ’d a wedding.
One of the hallmarks of a great DJ is not only have great skills (that should be a given) but also doing your homework on the event and being well prepared with plenty of back-up options in case of an emergency. Part of our internal procedures is doing a site inspection of any new venue we haven’t worked at prior to the event (when possible). Some of our DJs get booked to play all over the country and seeing a venue beforehand isn’t always an option.
Because this was in our backyard so to speak, I went and did a site inspection a few weeks before the wedding day. Right off the bat, I loved the layout! It is a multi-level space with 3 floors.
This venue works best for guest counts between 80-120 people. The bride mentioned they had a sound system in-house which they (both the client and the venue) preferred we use. I’m usually opposed to this because it has been my experience that most in-house systems aren’t “DJ Friendly”. Especially for restaurants, in-house sound systems are usually installed for low-level background music and not intended for dance parties. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to test the system due to customers being in the space at the time I visited but the manager assured me all the DJs who’ve worked there have used the system and actually prefer it because they have multiple speakers throughout the space so everyone can hear clearly. It was only at the event that I realized I should have pushed harder to test the system (more on that later).
Another perk of this venue is that it is close to the East River so a lot of couples who have their reception at the Atrium Dumbo, will have their ceremony at the Brooklyn Bridge Park (a 2-3 minute walk) which makes for some amazing shots with the Manhattan Bridge as your backdrop. One thing to note about the park is that there is NO power so all speakers and PA must be battery-powered. Luckily, we have battery-powered systems. It is also a bit windy being so close to the water, so it’s important to have windscreens for mics.
When I arrived the day of to plug into the venue system, there was no sound. Of course, this was a little disheartening and I panicked for a moment as this was a little out of my control. The manager called someone who was able to walk us through getting the system on. The only issue once we got the sound working was that it was super quiet. I couldn’t push too hard or the speakers in the space would distort. I tested opening announcements and no one could hear me.
And this is where the back-up comes in. I ended up plugging in my ceremony sound system as well so I could double up the sound. Thank God I had it. Without it, the event would’ve been extremely tough to not only create a dancing environment but to make any announcements for people to hear unless everyone was completely silent. So until they update their sound system, bring your own! You’ll thank me later.
Where this restaurant really shines, however, is with the food…both in quality and presentation. They kitchen is very visible and clean so it’s actually kind of neat to watch it all unfold from the third level. The staff was extremely nice to everyone and seemed to really enjoy working as a team. The only thing that seemed off was that the staff wore their plaid shirt uniforms. Not sure if that fits with a formal wedding reception event but it could be that the bride wanted it at this wedding.
With transportation, train stations are close by for locals who are coming from Manhattan and cabs frequent this area so you can get one pretty quickly. If you drive in, there is an all-day parking garage close by. With construction happening nearby, street parking is tough to come by.
If you’re looking to break away from the traditional “wedding venue” and have a trendier feel, I’d recommend this venue. Just make sure the DJ brings his own sound gear.
We continue our thoughts on the best Destin Wedding beach houses. Before we jump into it, a few things to keep in mind when considering booking one for your event:
Always check with the owner of the house to make sure you can have a wedding/private event function there and be sure your rental contract has verbiage stating this. Don’t go just by what the website says. More times than note, the website is not up-to-date and it may come back to bite you later.
The city/county noise ordinance should always be considered. The area has a strict curfew outside (usually 10PM). So if you’re planning on having the reception outside, this is definitely something to take note of.
This picture above is of the back deck. As you can see, it is very spacious. This is one of the few that lead right out to a private beach where you can have your ceremony. You can easily add a tent to the deck if you need it in case rain becomes an issue. We’ve done mostly 30-40 person weddings at this location. The house is massive at 6000 square feet! It has 4 floors, 7 bedrooms, 8.5 baths and sleeps 24-25 people. This is a perfect house for a small wedding.
This three-story house has a 4th story observation deck with 360 degree views. The house sleeps 24. Comfortably, you can entertain up to 40 guests in the private backyard. The public beach is a short walk where most of the ceremonies occur. We usually set-up on the porch of the backyard close to power and most of our clients who use this house typically hire a caterer who does a buffet style set-up.
This is a community of homes that are available and close to public beach access. If you have between 25-35 people, these homes are ideal. One of the ones we tend to work at quite often is the Santorini House. It has 8 bedrooms and sleeps 24 people. If you go to their website, you’ll find a ton of different options that can fit exactly what you’re looking for. At most of these, we DJ the party outside in the private backyard or sometimes in the front yard that has a white picket fence to make it feel more private.
This home is unique because it has a very large back deck where you can have a more casual reception, provided the weather doesn’t have rain in the forecast. Should rain be a possibility, the living room space can make for a great back-up plan as it’s quite large and it is easy to move furniture around. This house is perfect for entertaining 30 or so guests. Right down the steps from the deck, you can have your ceremony on your own semi-private beach. The house itself sleeps 18.
This 3 story home is one of our faves. You’re a 60 second walk from the beach. The architecture and amenities will blow away your guests. We’ve DJ’d on the deck and inside this home. It sleep 15 and would entertain 30-40 people easily.
This is another home that we’ve worked at quite frequently. Santa Rosa Beach is away from the heavy traffic so a lot of people gravitate towards this area. This particular house is actually inside of a gated community which makes the event feel even more private and is just a short walk to the beach. The house also has a spacious backyard with a pool (you can do so many cool things decor-wise with a pool – lighting, candles, etc.). We typically set-up back there when DJ’ing events. The 3 story house itself is spacious as it sleeps 16.
This house shares beach access with a few other neighboring homes as shown in the picture. However, it boasts a nice private back deck (with a pool) for entertaining small crowds of 30-40 people. It sleeps 12. Additionally, it’s close to a few restaurants (723 Whiskey Bravo is a good one) which would be perfect for a rehearsal dinner.
So there you have it! We have other beach house recommendations we can give you but for this blog focus, we’ll leave you with these. Like we’ve mentioned in the post, we’ve worked with each of these properties and know your guests would thoroughly enjoy any one of these!
