Rustic Country Wedding at Walnut Grove | Moorpark, Ca.

Every so often we do not meet with the bride and groom right away. Sometimes we get a call from a family member or friend that has been given the duty to find the best Wedding DJ. In this case our DJ, Brian got the call from the Bride's mom, Dana. She came in with all the great questions. One of the things that made her feel at home and taken care of is that our company has done many, many amazing weddings at The Walnut Grove and was one of the first preferred vendors on list 10 plus years and still is to this day. It was this and the confidence that she received from Brian that her daughter's rustic country wedding would go off without a hitch.

So many personalized pieces were brought in by Holly & JT to make it their own unique wedding

The Walnut Grove Wedding Ceremony

Prelude: Joshua Radin - Beautiful Day, Easton Corbin - Baby, Be My Love Song, Blake Shelton - Mine Would Be You, Brad Paisley - She's Everything, Hunter Hayes - Wanted, Brett Young - In Case You Didn't Know, Kane Brown - Heaven, Tim McGraw & Faith Hill - The Rest Of Our Life, Guitar Tribute Players - Tin Man (Instrumental)

Parents & Groom Processional: Shem Doupe - Enchanted (Taylor Swift Cover) (Piano/Cello)

Wedding Party Processional: The Piano Guys - Beethoven's 5 Secrets

Bride's Processional: The Piano Guys - A Thousand Years (Christina Perri Cover)

Recessional: Granger Smith - Happens Like That

The Cocktail and Dinner Music

(Short description of clients music tastes)

Cocktail Music (Adult Contemporary, Standards, Country) Lauren Daigle - Trust In You, Grace Vanderwaal - Moonlight, Lady Antebellum - Our Kind Of Love, Chris Young W/ Cassadee Pope - Think Of You, The Bird and the Bee - I'm Into Something Good, Dan Croll - Home, Donavon Frankenreiter f Jack Johnson - Free, John Mayer - New Light, Zac Brown Band - Homegrown, Keith Urban - Sweet Thing, Brad Paisley - Crushin' It, Nat King Cole - L.O.V.E., Harry Connick, Jr. - We Are In Love, Michael Buble - How Sweet It Is, Ingrid Michaelson f AJR - Celebrate, Michael Franti & Spearhead - A Little Bit of Riddim (Ft. Cherine Anderson), Drake f Wizkid & Kyla - One Dance, Redbone - Come And Get Your Love, Natasha Bedingfield - Unwritten, Daryl Hall & John Oates You Make My Dreams,

Grand Entrance

Weddinng Party:Diplo, French Montana & Lil Pump ft. Zhavia Ward - Welcome To The Party

Bride & Groom:Post Malone - Wow

First Dance:Florida Georgia Line - Blessings

Second Dance: (invited wedding party and all guests to join B&G) Justin Timberlake - Can't Stop The Feeling

Dinner Music Chase Rice - Eyes On You, Matt Stell - Prayed For You, Chris Lane - I Don't Know About You, Chris Janson - Done, Luke Bryan - To The Moon And Back, Edwin McCain - I'll Be, Tim McGraw - My Best Friend, Rebelution - Safe And Sound, Bob Marley - Is This Love, Stevie Wonder - Isn't She Lovely, Florida Georgia Line - Smooth, Jon Pardi - Head Over Boots, Trace Atkins - (This Ain't) No Thinkin' Thing, Rolling Stones - Gimme Shelter, Beach Boys - Wouldn't It Be Nice, King Harvest - Dancing in the Moonlight, Spinners - The Rubberband Man,

Father/Daughter Dance:Tim Mcgraw - My Little Girl (From The Motion Picture Flicka)

Mother/Son Dance:Rascal Flatts - My Wish

Although Holly and JT are big Country fans, they wanted a nice mix of Motown, 80's Rock & Dance, 90's Pop/Dance and Current Hits.

Dance Music (partial list) James Brown - Get Up Offa That Thing (Funky Redrum), Marvin Gaye Got To Give It Up, Pt. 2, The Temptations Ain't Too Proud To Beg, Chris Brown Forever, Pink - Raise Your Glass, Tim McGraw - I Like, I Love It, Sam Hunt - House Party, 50 Cent - In Da Club, Snoop Dogg feat. Pharrell - Drop It Like It's Hot, Rihanna Feat Drake - Work (Mr. Collipark Remix) Drake - The Motto (SM Remix), Luke Bryan - Country Girl (Shake It For Me), Kenny Chesney - She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy, Taylor Swift - Shake It Off, Fetty Wap - Trap Queen (Clean Edit), Yg f 2 Chainz, Big Sean, Nicki Minaj - Big Bank (Clean Edit), Nelly f City Spud - Ride Wit Me, Mase - Feel So Good

Last Song(s) of the Night —> Luke Bryan - I Don't Want This Night To End, NSYNC - Bye Bye Bye

Other Special Moments:

Cake Cutting --> Maroon 5 - Sugar

Bouquet Toss: --> Carly Rae Jepsen - Call Me Maybe

Garter Removal/Toss --> Hot Chocolate - You Sexy Thing

Holly & JT's DANCE MUSIC RECIPE

Genres --> Variety, Country, Motown, 80's Rock & Dance, 90's Pop/Dance and Current Hits (line dances = OK, no YMCA)

MUST-PLAYS

Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz f Ying Yang Twins - Get Low, V.I.C - Wobble (Clean Edit), Cupid - The Cupid Shuffle, Rej3ctz Ft. Chris Brown- Cat Daddy (tail end of the night),

DO-NOT-PLAYS

No typical "wedding" party songs (Celebration, Sweet Caroline, We are Family. etc.), Ed Sheeran, LMFAO, Old Town Road, Despacito

Read the bride's glowing 5 star Wedding Wire review below

Holly & JT's Wedding at Walnut Grove Review.png

Moorpark Wedding Vendor List

Here is the amazing team of wedding vendors we had the pleasure of working with on this Ventura County Wedding:

Venue: The Walnut Grove

Coordinator: Michele Spring - Mia Bella Weddings

Caterer: Command Performance

DJ/MC/: Cheers Entertainment - DJ Brian

Photographer: Toby Tucker Photography

Officiant: Justin Tran

Camping Wedding Walnut Grove | Moorpark, Ca.

We have a little more time our hands lately being locked in our home bubble. With this down time, we are going to post some of our wonderful recent weddings from last year that did not get posted. Hoping to show future celebrations very soon.

Out of all the Ventura County Wedding DJ's, Stephanie and James Chose our very own DJ Brian to help create their very fun and unique celebration.

Right out of the gate, Stephanie and James had a clear idea they wanted their day to reflect their love of camping and chill vibe. Another request was, no traditional formalities. For most other entertainment companies, would push them to do the "tried and true" formula, but we get fired up when brides and grooms want to completely make it their own and with the help of the wonderful Katie from Mia Bella Weddings, that's exactly what we did.

The Walnut Grove Wedding Ceremony

Prelude: Folk, singer/songwriter ( B&G handpicked with DJ suggestions) Landon Pigg - Falling IN Love AT A Coffee Shop, America - I Need You, Amos Lee - Flower, Billy Joel - Just The Way You Are, Nilsson, Harry - Everybody's Talklin, Ben Howard - Only Love, Jack Johnson - Better Together, Bright Eyes - First Day of My Life, Plain White T's - 1,2,3,4 (I Love You), James Taylor - Sweet Baby James, The Mamas & The Papas - California Dreamin', Fred Benedetti & Peter Pupping - Here Comes the Sun, Creedence Clearwater Revival - Have You Ever Seen The Rain

Processional:"The Wind" - Cat Stevens (No wedding party, Stephanie and James walk down together)

Recessional:"Head Over Heals" - Tears For Fears

The Cocktail and Dinner Music

Stephanie and James are young "old souls" and have a love for great 60's, 70's with some 80's and 90's music sprinkled in. If fact by their request Brian stayed in these eras and played only a few guest requested current hits. B&G approved of course. :)

Cocktail Music --> Virtual Insanity - Jamoroquai, Strawberry Letter 23 - Brothers Johnson, I Just Want To Celebrate - Rare Earth, American Woman - The Guess Who, Dance With Me - Orleans, Africa - Toto Happier - Marshmello X Bastille, On Top Of The World - Imagine Dragons, Fly Like An Eagle - Steve Miller Band, The Things We Do For Love - 10Cc, I Can't Go For That - Hall & Oates, Break My Stride - Matthew Wilder, Something About You - Level 42, Come And Get Your Love, Redbone, Gimme Little Sign - Brenton Wood, Groovin' - The Young Rascals, Hold On, I'm Comin - Sam & Dave, Down On The Corner - Creedance Clearwater Revival, Everyday People - Sly & The Family Stone, I'll Be Around - Spinners, Lowdown - Boz Scaggs, The Oogum Boogum - Brenton Wood, Higher Love - Steve Windwood

Dinner Music --> Let's Stay Together - Al Green, Into the Mystic - Van Morrison, Turn Me On - Norah Jones, One Fine Day - Natalie Merchant, In Movies - Ray Lamontagne, Sunflower - Post Malone & Swae Lee, I Found You - Kina Grannis & Imaginary Future, Over the Rainbow - Melody Gardot, You're The Inspiration - Chicago, Tiny Dancer - Elton John, Put Your Records On - Corinne Bailey Rae, Wouldn't It Be Nice - Rebecca Pidgeon, The Way I Am - Ingrid Michaelson, Pre Dance: I'm Into Something Good - The Bird and the Bee, Build Me Up Buttercup - The Foundations, Hey Ya - Obadiah Parker, Rubberband Man - Spinners

Dance Music Mixed Live (partial list) --> (floor opener)I Want You Back/ABC mix - The Jackson 5, It's Your Thing - The Isley Brothers, Mr. Big Stuff - Jean Knight, Dancing Queen - ABBA, Stayin' Alive - Bee Gees, Finesse - Bruno Mars You Sexy Thing - Hot Chocolate, Funky Goes To Hollywood - Wild Cherry vs. Frankie Goes To Hollywood, One More Time - Daft Punk, I Gotta Feeling (Phenixx re-work) - DJ Phenixx, I Got More Than A Feeling - Boston vs. Black Eyed Peas, This Is What You Came For - Calvin Harris & Rihanna, Dancing in the Moonlight - King Harvest (Brides favorite song)

Last Songs of the Night --> Good Lovin'- The Rascals, All Night Long - Lionel Richie, The One You Say Goodnight To - Kina Grannis

Dessert: Smore's and Pie Station - Mmmmmm.....

Birthday: Surprised friend & officiant Carrie on the dance floor with song and cake

With no traditional formalities (Grand Entrance, First Dance etc.), we had over 2 hours of danicng. As you will see in the video below, Stephanie and James are dancing all night with their friends and family.

Moorpark Wedding Vendor List

Here is the amazing team of Moorpark wedding vendors we had the pleasure of working with on this Walnut Grove Wedding:

Venue: The Walnut Grove

Coordinator: Katie McJimsey - Mia Bella Weddings

Caterer: Command Performance

DJ/MC/: Cheers Entertainment - DJ Brian

Photographer: Burgandy Blue

Florist: Sarah (sister of the bride)

Photo Booth: Snappy Camper

Officiant: Carrie (friend of Bride & Groom)

Hiring a Coordinator for your Wedding Day

We have been working with coordinators for a good while now. When we started seeing couples hiring coordinators in the early 2000’s there were just a handful of talented coordinators in the area with great reputations and a desire to help brides and grooms enjoy the process of planning a wedding as well as create an atmosphere so that the couple could actually attend their event instead of working their event.

We immediately saw the benefit to having someone at the event keeping things going smoothly from a totally different perspective. We equate the relationship between an entertainer and coordinator like running a great dining room at a fine restaurant. The entertainer is in charge of the front of the house which is everything the guests see and the coordinator takes care of the back of the house which is all the behind scene things that are so crucial in executing a flawless event.

After a few years of working with these handful of professionals there was a sudden surge of coordinators on the scene. It seemed to be that a lot of these folks were hanging up their shingle right after planning their own wedding and deciding it was something they could do professionally after one go at it as the bride.

The process for a coordinator is exactly the same and a key question you should ask the person you are interviewing is “How many events have you coordinated?” If they have a sufficient amount under their belt and you feel comfortable with them then this might be the person for you. Here are some great signs that you have hired a professional coordinator:

* They should be extremely organized

If they are all over the place, which you can tell in a 15 minute conversation over the phone or in person, then they will be that way while planning and doing your event.

* They should have great attention to detail skills

A coordinator who can show you an example of her detailed timeline in the interviewing process and discusses things that you didn’t even think of is a clear sign that she/he will not leave any stone unturned. You will be amazed by how many items a coordinator has on her checklist.

* They have a calm demeanor about them

We think this is so important. We've seen all kinds of coordinators and the most successful events have coordinators who stay calm even in the most stressful situations. These are our favorite professionals to work with.

* They are team players

We actually love working with coordinators who understand that in order to create a successful event it must be a team effort. Staying in communication with all the vendors before hand and working together from beginning to end will make a huge difference and a magical day.

How Much Time Do You Need To Plan A Wedding Part 2

Yes the list is long and the clock is ticking away as you plan your event. Let’s take a deep breath and pull out a piece of paper and pen. Now that you have your venue in place, its time to sit down with your fiancé and make a list of vendors in order of priority. This will undoubtedly help you with your budget. Really talk about each vendor in depth. How will the DJ/live band, photographer, flowers/décor, videographer, officiant, cake and wardrobe affect the outcome of your special day and it is a different answer for each couple but by asking that question, you will be able to consciously put your vendors in order of priority.

The second suggestion before signing any contracts is to do your homework on value and price of each vendor. What we mean by this is call all your vendors and ask them what they will provide, what the cost is, but most importantly ask yourself if you feel comfortable with this vendor. You will be doing a lot of interviews! Don’t rely on what is advised on the web because these are average prices across the US and not specific to any area. For example an average price for a DJ across the US is around $700 but in Los Angeles the starting price for a professional wedding DJ is around $1200. So make the call.

We know it sounds a little crazy but get all your numbers first for every vendor and create an excel spread sheet (which most of my brides work on while preparing for their event) so you can make really good decisions and hopefully stay within your budget. This is the best reason to plan a year in advance. You will have all your vendors hired way ahead of time and most likely, you will hire the vendors who you really want because they are available and stay in budget.

For most wedding celebrations the next obvious vendor on your priority list is actually one of two. They are your wedding reception entertainment and photographer. Your wedding DJ or live band will be in charge of creating some great memories and your photographer will be in charge of capturing those memories for you to have for a lifetime. They are 80% of importance yet most couples only spend 10 to 15% each of their overall budget on these vendors. Again, ask yourself the question, “How will the wedding DJ or live band and photographer affect the outcome of my important day”?

As we mentioned in our last blog, We are going to give you a list of my favorite vendors in each category. Well the obvious choice for your wedding reception dj or live band would be Cheers Entertainment or I’m a Girl DJ. They are hands down the best of the best! =)

As for photographers We have three. They are in no particular order and each one has their very own style. You will see in their work which one is the best fit for you!

Embrace Life Photography

Toby Tucker Photography

So Talented!Rachel Rose Photography — So Talented!
Rachel Rose Photography

How Much Time Do You Need to Plan a Wedding?

It’s that time of year again when we have an onslaught of inquiries from couples who just got engaged. Between the holidays, New Years Eve and Valentines Day it seems that December, January and February may not necessarily be a time of year for weddings but the office is bustling with phone calls and emails about availability. So you may ask yourself “how much time do I need to plan for my wedding celebration?” The truth of the matter is that everyone is different. Some couples can do it in 3 months (which we wouldn’t advise) and others need a whole year depending on work/school schedules, how organized they are and if they are planning a wedding outside their area.

Honestly, we think one full year will do it. As a wedding entertainment company our wedding DJ/MCs and Bands can be booked on events as far as 2 years in advance. The earlier you book the better your chances are of getting the vendors you really want! More importantly it will eliminate an enormous amount of stress that really starts to build up as you get closer to the big day. The more you have finished ahead of time the less of a “to do list” you will have 3 weeks prior to your event when you really want to be enjoying the experience. You don’t want to be running around like a chicken with your head cut off, seriously. Each Month we will be sharing with you some very easy steps in planning your wedding reception as well as our favorite vendors we love to work with. So let’s get started!

Finding your Wedding Venue

First step is to find your venue and set the date. It’s much more difficult to hire your vendors without the date set in stone. Take some time to visit the places on your “fav” list. Usually they will all be in the same area so you can schedule a few tours in one day. Remember, if you can only do a tour on the weekends because of work schedules, plan on getting up bright and early Saturday morning and heading out the door as a venue may not be able do a tour in the afternoon. Most places are preparing for a wedding that evening. Make sure you bring lots of questions including…

Do they have your date available?
How many guests can the room (area) hold?
What does the site fee include?
Is there a sound ordinance?
How many hours does the package include and how late can the party go?
Is there an on sight coordinator and if not do they require you to hire a coordinator ?

After seeing a few venues and asking the important questions, you will be able to make a conscious decision on the property that best suites your needs. Here are a few of our favorite wedding venues in the Ventura and Los Angeles area!

Westlake Village Inn, Westlake Village, CA

Sunset Hills Country Club, Thousand Oaks, CA

Wedding Cheers-ful Vendor - Rachel Rose Photography

Who are the Cheers-ful Vendors...Only the best wedding professionals this Los Angeles Wedding DJ company has the pleasure of working with. Rachel Rose is one of our friends and friendors in Ventura Ca and soon to be moving her operation to the Big Island. We recently had the pleasure of sitting down with her for breakfast and mimosas and talking about her move and her love of wedding photography. The minute you meet her, she makes you feel so comfortable. Between her genuine charisma and zest for life, and of course her impeccable eye and creativity results in amazingly beautiful images. We look forward to many future events together and… Mimosas. Read more about Rachel and her wonderful company here:

From Rachel: We are a professional destination wedding photography company and specialize in storytelling photography. We have a very modern style, with a photo-journalistic and candid approach. We have a pay it forward mentality and enjoy connecting with each person we have the opportunity to work with to capture their special event. Our photos have a timeless feel and our clients feedback often reveals we are extremely easy going and are very comfortable to work with.

With over ten years experience, we began our career in photography in 2003 and established "Rachel Rose Photography" in 2009 when we were working weddings full time. Our company branched out to the Hawaiian Islands as well in 2011, hiring another lead photographer and expanding our services. Published in Alaska Airlines Magazine, Hawaii Bride and Groom Magazine, SnapWeddings, etc.

We are wedding professional experts and can help you plan your perfect day. Experienced, dependable, and personable! We care!

"Some people work to live, I myself, live to work." It is in an incredible feeling to be part of something so special and be able to create a timeless product for our clients that will forever hold those memories for them to look back on. -Rachel Rose, owner/ lead photographer

Please visit www.RachelRosePhotography.com for more information!