SOUNDINMIND

BRIAN & CATHERINE, BENSALEM PA

2012-01-29T15:45:00.000-08:00

Happy January! Soundinmind rung in the new year celebrating the marriage of Brian and Catherine. The couple were married on a chilly day in a lovely mansion overlooking the Delaware River. This wedding was especially exciting because of the fanfare provided by a troop of bagpipes and drum line to announce the newlyweds! The reception was also sprinkled with Irish heritage; the Claddagh ice sculpture, Irish step dancing, and the Jameson Sisters, who play the harp and violin. What a way to warm up a chilly night. Enjoy!

[venue]

The Pen Ryn Mansion

[date]

January 13, 2012

[reception: entrances]

"Another One Bites The Dust" - Queen

[first dance]

"I've Got You Under My Skin" - Frank Sinatra & Bono

MATT & ASHLEY, PHILADELPHIA PA

2011-11-12T10:45:00.000-08:00

Snow, in October? Yes, Philadelphia was graced with a dusting on Matt & Ashley's big day, quite an unexpected treat. While the precipitation was a nuisance for hair, heels, and equipment safety, it certainly did not hamper the good times had by all. Matt & Ashley were married at a unique Philadelphia venue, The College of Physicians on 22nd street. Their ceremony was held on site in the beautiful library, surrounded by volumes of medical information. Cocktail hour followed immediately, down a grand marble staircase in the lobby area. Guests were encouraged to visit the Mutter Museum (bones, eyeballs, etc.), which was also within the facility. After initial libations, guests were whisked back up the stairs to enjoy an enchanting reception room; tall ceilings, lots of antique portraits, and tea lights hanging on rustic (homemade!) centerpiece branches. Guests enjoyed a photo booth and lots of wild dancing. Enjoy!

[venue]

Philadelphia College of Physicians

[date]

October 29, 2011

[cocktail hour]

various classical

[reception: entrances]

"I've Got A Feeling" - Black Eyed Peas

"The Theme From Love Boat" - Jack Jones

"The Final Countdown" - Europe

"Sound and Vision" - David Bowie

[first dance]

"Moon Dance" - Van Morrison

[father/daughter dance]

"Wonderful World" - Louis Armstrong

[mother/son dance]

"What's So Funny 'Bout Peace, Love, and Understanding" - Nick Lowe

[last dance]

"Midnight Service at the Mutter Museum" - Murder City Devils

ILYA & ANGELA, SPRING LAKE HEIGHTS NJ

2011-11-12T07:05:00.000-08:00

Ilya & Angela were married outdoors on a beautiful fall day in central New Jersey. The foliage was at it's peak as they exchanged their vows under a lovely pergola decked out with fall colored floral arrangements. After the ceremony, where we learned 'the story of their love' guests enjoyed an indoor cocktail hour overlooking the lake and beautiful trees. The reception was a fun eclectic mix of Angela's Italian family and Ilya's wild Russian family. There was lots of 'mazel tov-ing' going around with some special Russian songs provided by the groom's family, and of course, in Russian/Jewish tradition, the bride and groom were hoisted in their chairs and bounced around in celebration. The night wouldn't be complete without a sampling of Ilya's 90s favorites: Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, and N'Sync. To cap off the reception, guests all circled around Ang and Ilya and sang together "Always Be My Baby" while swaying in unison. When I initially heard this predetermined plan, I was a bit skeptical, but by the end of the reception (with plenty of signature cocktails thrown back) everyone gladly joined in and sang along with Mariah at the top of their lungs. It was quite the defining moment of the reception and I've never seen anything so loving and special. Cheers!

[venue]

The Mill at Spring Lake Heights

[date]

October 22, 2011

[ceremony music]

"Salzburg Symphony No. 1"

"Waking Up" - One Republic

"Cannon in D" - Johann Pachelbel

"You're So Cool" - Hans Zimmer

[reception: entrances]

"Skokiian" - Louis Armstrong

[first dance]

"Stay With You" - John Legend

[father/daughter dance]

"Sunrise, Sunset" - Robert Goulet

[mother/son dance]

"The Perfect Fan" - Backstreet Boys

[anniversary dance]

"You're Still The One" - Shania Twain

[cake cutting]

"Sugar Sugar" - The Archies

[last dance]

"Always Be My Baby" - Mariah Carey

TOM & JULIE, NEWARK DE

2011-11-10T10:41:00.000-08:00

Tom and Julie, a couple kids from Delaware, exchanged their vows on a lovely evening in early August. The warm evening air set the stage for a heartfelt outdoor ceremony on the Deerfield golf course. Luckily, no stray golf balls interrupted the ceremony. This endearing couple were married by the same pastor who married Julie's parents years ago! With some wedding ceremony classics for the processional (Cannon in D, Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring), the newlywed Cotters set the tone for fun when the recessed to Hey Ya and were swept away on an Escalade inspired golf cart.

The bridal party were introduced into the enchanting ball room to Black & Yellow and didn't disappoint with their moves. The bride and groom immediately took the floor for their first dance, Better Together, and while the guests FEASTED on the impressive cuisine, the maid of honor and best man toasted their best wishes to the new couple. Guests got interactive when Julie and Tom asked their guests to sing a song with the word "love" in it when they wanted them to kiss. My favorite of the night was Tom's mom singing "I love you, a bushel and a peck!" (Guys and Dolls classic!)

With little time to enjoy their meal (brides and grooms eat?), Julie shared a dance with her dad, My Little Girl- Tim Mcgraw (aw!). Tom whisked his mother around the room to Moonlight Serenade- Glenn Miller Orchestra, a unique song choice for a mother/son dance, but completely sophisticated and classy!

The night progressed into dancing, prompted mostly by the wild bridal party. The night wouldn't have been complete without the bride's extended family joining in to celebrate their Greek heritage. Dancing to some festive Greek songs, they joined hands and sang along.

What a fun night with a great couple! Wishing Tom & Julie all the best!

50th ANNIVERSARY PARTY

2011-11-10T10:24:00.000-08:00

A refreshing summer treat - to leave behind the pomp and circumstance of DJing a wedding, to celebrating in a backyard, poolside, and celebrate 50 years of marriage. Stacy and Karen hosted a lovely evening for their parents, where friends and family gathered to eat, drink, and dance. The food was top notch: scallops wrapped in bacon, bruschetta misto, meats, and other delicious treats. Served up by the groom of 50 years himself, it's easy to see why this couple remains happily in love!

The song choices for the night ranged from salsa, to oldies (but goodies), to current party music. As usual, dancing got started during The Electric Slide. A controversial song at best, this song sealed the deal at this party. The Electric Slide is one of those songs that you either love (because all the moves are choreographed), or absolutely despise because of it's inherent cheesy-ness. While some brides scoff at this 80s classic, it can fill a dance floor.

Short and sweet, but it seems as though a good time was had by all. It's back to big time weddings next weekend as we celebrate Tommy & Julie's big day!

This night of DJ music was donated by SoundInMind as part of a raffle a few months ago, to support Great Valley School District.

WEDDING ETIQUETTE

2011-11-10T10:22:00.001-08:00

Check out this article by Katherine Bindley of the Huffington Post. Even the most unassuming bride and groom will likely experience at least one of these faux pas..

Maybe you think of wedding etiquette as pertaining only to the bride, but there is, in fact, a long list of do's and don'ts you should abide by as a guest, from the moment the invitation arrives in the mail until after the happy event has occurred.

Some rules of conduct are obvious: do not to get embarrassingly drunk, plant one on the groom or write a check at the reception that corresponds to how much you estimate the wedding cost per head (yes, according to our experts, people actually do this). Others are less intuitive but still essential to being a stellar guest.

To guide us, we enlisted the help of Sharon Naylor, who has written over 35 books about weddings, and Anna Post, who hails from the etiquette empire that bears her great-great-grandmother's name, theEmily Post Institute.

Without further ado, here is HuffPost Women's Guide to Weddi-quette:

Do's:

1. RSVP.

If there's anything that gets on brides and grooms' nerves before the wedding, it's guests failing to RSVP in a timely manner. "RSVP as soon as humanly possible," Naylor advised. "Within a couple of weeks, send it back, even if the deadline is far off. It's just good manners," and it's essential to determining how much the wedding will cost. "There is so much expense to planning, and most of that expense is dictated by the numbers on the guest list," Post added.

2. If you were invited to the ceremony, don't just show up for the reception.

"The ceremony is the most important part," said Naylor, adding that guests should make all efforts to attend. Even when the invitation bears those three little words, "full Catholic Mass," it’s in poor taste to show up to the open bar without first attending the main event.

3. Dress as the style of the invitation suggests.

"If it’s a causal invite with sea shells and sand dollars, we're probably not talking long silk dresses," Post said. And on the flipside, "If it is gilt-engraved and scripted and formal, we're probably not talking cotton sundresses."

If you're unsure of the dress code, ask someone familiar with the wedding, perhaps a bridesmaid or member of the bride's family, but not the bride herself. She has her own dress to worry about.

4. Arrive at the ceremony on time.

Leave plenty of time to get to the wedding itself -- even enough time to get lost on the way.

If you must be late, there's protocol for that, too. Don't think, "I'll slip in while the bride is coming up the aisle. No," Post said. "If you're really late, stand in the back or slip quietly into a back pew or row once the processional is completely finished."

5. Send a gift, even if you can't attend.

Etiquette dictates that if you were invited, you owe the couple a gift, even if you can't make it to the wedding. "People lose friends over this," Post said. "I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't remind people to take care of this: one invitation to a wedding ceremony equals a wedding gift."

6. While we're on the topic of gifts, shop from the registry.

If you don't, "It comes off as 'I knew what you wanted but I didn’t care,'" Naylor explained. "Or it comes off as 'I had this laying around and I'm re-gifting,'" even if you actually purchased a new gift specifically for this couple.

7. Sit at your assigned table

"There's a lot of thought that goes into these seating arrangements," Post said. Yes, the bride and groom actually spent time thinking about the various relationships their guests have to one another, and there could be a very good reason the cute guy you want to sit next to is at the other end of the room. Maybe his crazy ex-girlfriend will cause a scene and take you out for flirting with him. Who knows? Only the bride and groom, so don't mess with the seating.

8. Bring an appropriate guest (if you have actually been invited with a guest, that is -- but we'll get to that in the Don'ts).

If you have a sulky boyfriend who will keep you in the corner all night, or one with an unpredictable temper after too many Jack and Cokes, leave him at home.

Don'ts:

1. If you weren't invited with a guest, don't show up with one.

Do not pencil your significant other's name onto the RSVP card, and do not call and ask the bride for a +1. "It is just beyond not okay," Post said, adding that it's one of the top ten complaints she gets from couples. "Once the bride and groom have come to their decision, it is what it is. Asking them to change is disrespectful, and it puts them in an awkward position."

The only exceptions, according to Post, are if you're married, engaged or cohabitating. In that case, modern day etiquette says the bride should have included your romantic other in the first place, and you can very diplomatically and politely broach the conversation with her.

2. Yes, the "no bringing uninvited guests" rule includes your kids.

"People think 'Oh this wedding would be great chance for everyone to meet my new baby! Or to see my kids!' No, just don’t bring an uninvited child." Naylor said. The couple may not have the space and the budget, or they may just prefer not to have children present; they are allowed to have an adults-only wedding.

3. Don't dress to compete.

Even if you worked out all spring, look better than you ever have before, and are dying to show off your beach-ready bod, a wedding is not the time. If your personal style tends toward the revealing, "Tone it down," Naylor said. And don't, don't, don't wear white.

4. Don't be disrespectful of the couple's religious or cultural traditions.

That might mean covering your shoulders in church or temple, or being quiet during a ritual you don't quite understand. "When those kinds of things are going on, you be quiet and you pay attention," said Naylor.

5. Don't be all about your own wedding.

If you're getting married soon after the wedding you're attending, congratulations! Today, however, belongs to the bride of the moment. "Consider your own wedding to be off topic," Naylor said.

6. Don't use your phone.

Don't Facebook, Tweet or text, and certainly don't make a phone call during the wedding or the reception. "Who are you Facebooking? Who are you texting? People who didn’t get invited?" asked Post. "That’s lovely but you're job is to be at the wedding, not reporting on the wedding.”

7. Don't leave before the cake is cut.

It's an old rule, but Post says there's a good reason for it: "It's considered a quiet sign to elderly guests that it's okay to leave," she explained. That’s when it's acceptable for you to depart as well.

8. Don’t share wedding photos -- yet.

While the barrage of day-after wedding photo postings are inevitable, Post explains that brides are very sensitive about their image. It’s best to wait until either the bride or the groom have publicly posted pictures before you post your own. Otherwise, said Post, "You’re kind of Facebook scooping them … on their own big day."

BRYCE & CHRISTINA, PHILADELPHIA PA

2011-11-10T10:21:00.000-08:00

Christina and Bryce tied the knot in Old City Philadelphia on May 28th. After the ceremony at the church a few blocks away, guests were whisked away via trolley to the Fuel House on 3rd and Arch. (Betsy Ross House, anyone?) This venue was true modern chic, with white floors, walls, and floor to ceiling curtains. After a whimsical cocktail hour with signature cocktails and hors d'oeuvres, guests moved to the upper level to enjoy dinner and heartfelt toasts.

Dancing was quick to follow as dinner came to a close. Guests left the comfort of their chairs for a spot on the pearly white marble dance floor.

Father of the bride shares a moment with one of his daughters, draped in beautiful dupioni silk fit for the occasion.

The night wouldn't be complete without the mother of the bride requesting the Dougie, encouraging the eclectic mix of guests to join in. With the bride's family from New Jersey and the groom's from Kansas, it was a perfect mix of Americana. Shots of Limoncello passed during dancing (homemade by the mother of the bride!), provided extra encouragement for bashful dancers. The dance floor was flooded with old and young, with friends reuniting and new acquaintances becoming.. more friendly.

And in true military fashion, some Top Gun serenading of the bride..."you've lost that loving feeling!" echoed calamitously by the groomsmen, military members, and other excited men.

The night was capped off by the crowd shouting to the DJ booth "encore, encore!" but sadly the time limit had been reached, and the venue asked the party to come to an end. Best of luck to Bryce and Christina, a beautiful couple who didn't miss a beat!

DUSTIN & JACLYN, PHILADELPHIA PA

2011-11-10T08:45:00.000-08:00

"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife." Jane Austen spoke these words of truth almost two hundred years ago, but they still hold true. Except today, they come along with gorgeous photos appearing almost immediately after the event on your social network of choice. It is through these photos that we will explore what every wedding crasher wants; a chance to enjoy the glory of an exquisite celebration. Creative musings of the escapades of Sound In Mind DJ start here:

What better a way to begin a blog about Sound In Mind than to begin with the wedding of its owner. In order to accomplish this feat, interns were utilized for the first time in Sound In Mind's decade long history. A special thanks to the strapping college interns plucked from the University of Delaware for their talent, expertise, and willingness to work for food. Jean Carlo Vilalta and Steve Rosenkrantz were a big part of making the night a success. Look for them in other upcoming events as they climb the corporate ladder.

While in the hands of interns, the night turned out to be a smashing success. A delightful dinner with soft, old world Italian music, paired with the informal feel of the venue gave way to some serious dancing as the night progressed. After a quick first dance with no formal introductions, family and friends shook off their jitters to some oldies. As the night progressed, onlookers from the street outside mistook the reception for a new club. Without exaggeration, almost every guest invited, and some not, packed the dance floor leaving the wait staff very jealous for their chance to bust a move; if only they weren't busy serving up delicious cuisine.

For those who were too busy dancing and missed their dessert, boxes were provided and all went happily home with a local Philadelphia cupcake in hand. Whether it was the limoncello, conversation, or dancing, fun was had by all!

Song Choices:

[First Dance] L.O.V.E.- Nat King Cole

[Father/Daughter Dance] Mac the Knife - Bobby Darin