The tonal shift from wedding ceremony to wedding reception can be a stark one. As wedding DJs, we don’t always know what to expect from beginning to end. We’ve met the couple, but we don’t know their friends and family. Will they dance politely, swaying to the music with drink in hand? Will it be a joyful party full of laughter and mirth? Or will it be a bacchanal of epic proportions—the kind that makes you wonder just what was in those drinks, anyway?
At Gracie and Samantha’s March wedding, Baltimore wedding DJ Steve Hartka got to experience the transition first-hand, from the beautiful ballroom ceremony to the amazing energy and joyful atmosphere of the dance floor.
It all happened at The Belvedere, one of our favorite Baltimore wedding venues. This historic Beaux Arts building brings Old World glamour to the city, and is a local favorite for weddings and special events. Capturing the magic was photographer Mel Kay, who takes stunning wedding and family photos all over Maryland.
After the 150 guests were settled in The Grand ballroom, they got the chance to look around the magnificent space. They would have seen the luxurious golden cornice ringing the room and the intricate vaulted ceiling with sparkling chandeliers overhead.
In such a classic space, one would expect a string quartet, or perhaps simple piano music to guide the wedding party down the aisle. So the guests must have been surprised when I’ll Be There For You by The Rembrandts (aka the theme from Friends) began to play! For the processional, the brides chose Can’t Help Falling in Love by Kina Grannis.
After the ceremony, the brides swept out of the room to Paper Rings by Taylor Swift. The wedding party and the guests filtered out across the hall for cocktail hour, while the Grand Ballroom was reset for the reception.
When it was time to introduce the wedding party, this crew had another surprise in store. Instead of choosing a single song for the entire wedding party, Samantha and Gracie let each member or couple in the wedding party choose a short snippet of music for their own entrances. So we got to enjoy a selection of songs, including Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen, Bust a Move by Young MC, and hilariously, Stacy’s Mom by Fountains of Wayne for one of the mothers of the brides’ entrances.
The brides then made their entrance to Hold My Hand by Jess Glynne, before moving into their first dance to This is How You Fall in Love by Chelsea Cutler. Samantha and her father took a spin to The One Who Knows by Dar Williams, and Gracie and her dad danced to (surprise!) Hotel Room Service by Pitbull.
Next, the brides had another twist ready. Instead of sitting back and letting their friends and family do all the talking, they prepared a roast of their bridal party, which had the crowd in stitches.
Then it was time to party! DJ Steve kept the dance floor’s energy high all night. One of his more popular moves was a mash-up of Africa by Toto with Rake It Up by Yo Gotti and Nicki Minaj.
For the last song of the night, the couple chose the eternal crowd-pleaser Mr. Brightside by The Killers.
Samantha and Gracie’s wedding was a joy from beginning to end, full of fun, energy, and more than a few surprising moments. We were thrilled to be a part of it!
To start planning the soundtrack to your special day, contact us today! Our couples get unlimited planning sessions with their DJs, so you can ask all your questions and get plenty of advice from our wedding pros.
All photos by Mel Kay Photography
Published on:
Friday, May 27, 2022
