wedding

Sophie and Josh’s Puerto Vallarta Party - Beach Wedding in Mexico

Sophie and Josh make their grand entrance at their beachside wedding in Puerto Vallarta.

Sophie and Josh make their grand entrance at their beachside wedding in Puerto Vallarta.

What a wedding experience this was!

I’ve DJ’d numerous beach weddings, all beautiful and filled with energy and love. But this one might be the best.

Sophie and Josh orchestrated a destination wedding that brought them, their friends and family to the warm sands of Puerto Vallarta. The ceremony and dance party took place on December 1, 2018 on a private beach at the Hyatt Ziva Resort.

They kicked it off by dancing to the Ed Sheeran’s, Perfect, which emulated exactly what the entire weekend was.

At the end of the evening, Sophie wanted to dance to Lady Gaga’s,“You and I,” a song that I’ve always thought is a great way to end a wedding. But even better, fireworks were scheduled to go off during the final dance.

To make the moment extra special, I researched different versions of the song, trying to find a live version that would work better than the radio version. And I found a version that Lady Gaga performed on the Jimmy Kimmel Show.

At the climax of the song, the fireworks shot off and aside from Gaga being there on the beach with us, I don’t think the moment could have been better.

This dance party was one of my all time favorites, for a couple that means so much to me. Having the trust of a client so much that they will fly me to their wedding is the great endorsement I could ask for.

Here’s a look at the rest of the setlist.

First Dance
Ed Sheeran & Beyonce - Perfect

Father/Daughter Dance
Joe Cocker - You Are So Beautiful

Open Dancing First Set

  • Prince - Kiss

  • Bruno Mars - 24K Magic (Promo Only Clean Edit)

  • Usher - Yeah

  • Party Break - Montel Party Break

  • House of Pain - Old School Jump Off

  • Aretha Franklin - Respect (Select Mix Remix)

  • KC & The Sunshine Band - Boogie Shoes (Hot Classics Remix)

  • Earth, Wind & Fire - September

  • Lady GaGa - Just Dance

  • Pink - Raise Your Glass

  • Flo Rida - Low

  • Guns N Roses - Sweet Child O Mine

  • Avicii - Wake Me Up

Open Dancing Second Set

  • Al Green - Let's Stay Together

  • Jackson 5 - I Want You Back

  • Beyonce - Crazy In Love

  • Queen, Notorius B.I.G. - Fat Bottom Girls Hypnotize (Acapella In To Instrumental)

  • Notorious B.I.G. - Hypnotize

  • Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg, Tupac - Next Episode To California Love (DJ Ragoza Segue)

  • Mariah Carey f./ODB - Fantasy (Intro Edit)

  • Miley Cyrus f. Jay-Z - We Can't Stop (DJ Scooter Twerk Remix)

  • Miley Cyrus - Party In The U.S.A.

  • Britney Spears - Baby One More Quickie (Acapella In)

  • Spice Girls - Wannabe

  • Whitney Houston - I Wanna Dance With Somebody

  • Pitbull, Ne-Yo - Time Of Our Lives (Select Mix Remix)

  • Eric Prydz - Call On Me (Aylen & Dani Deahl Remix)

  • Metallica - Enter Sandman

  • Journey - Don't Stop Believin' (Live)

  • Sister Sledge - We Are Family

  • K.C. & the Sunshine Band - Get Down Tonight

  • Katrina and the Waves - Walking on Sunshine

  • Justin Timberlake - Can't Stop The Feeling!

  • Mark Ronson, Bruno Mars - Uptown Funk (Select Mix Remix)

  • Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey - The Middle

  • Third Eye Blind - Semi Charmed Life (Pat C's Mashup) (Clean) (Short Edit)

  • Lit - My Own Worst Enemy

  • Lady Gaga - The Edge Of Glory

  • Rihanna ft Calvin Harris vs Tiesto & Dzeko - We Found Jackie Chan (BPM Supreme Bootleg)

  • LMFAO - Party Rock Anthem

  • KiD CuDi feat Steve Aoki - Pursuit Of Happiness (Steve Aoki Remix)

  • Bingo Players - Cry (Just A Little) (A-Trak & DiscoTech Remix)

  • Flo Rida - I Cry

  • Salt N Pepa - Push It (Mayeda Remix) (Short Edit)

  • David Guetta - Sexy Chick

  • Kesha, Pitbull - Timber (Select Mix Remix)

  • Don Omar ft Lucenzo - Danza Kuduro (BPM Supreme Break Intro)

Last Dance

Lady Gaga - You And I (Live From Jimmy Kimmel)

A stunning fireworks display caps off an amazing wedding day for Sophie and Josh.

A stunning fireworks display caps off an amazing wedding day for Sophie and Josh.

Kayla and Gino’s Wedding Dance Party at the San Diego Rowing Club

Kayla and Gino with their wedding party at the San Diego Rowing Club.

Kayla and Gino with their wedding party at the San Diego Rowing Club.

The San Diego Rowing Club offers one of the nicest “hidden” event venues in San Diego. And that’s the location that Kayla and Gino celebrated their September 15, 2018 wedding with family and friends.

The location right on Mission Bay, allow for a beachside ceremony and then a great space to put on a great dance party. For their first dance, Kayla and Gino chose the classic, Coming Home, by Leon Bridges.

The rest of the night was filled with great dance tunes for a crowd that wouldn’t leave the floor.

Here’s a look at their setlist, as well as more pictures from Ashley Strong Photography.

First Dance
Leon Bridges - Coming Home

Dinner
Colbie Caillat - I Do
Lauv - I Like Me Better
Gym Class Heroes - Stereo Hearts
Bill Withers - Lovely Day (Full Phatt Remix)
Stevie Wonder - Knocks Me off My Feet
Maroon 5 ft SZA - What Lovers Do (Slushii Remix)
Taylor Swift vs Lauryn Hill - Blank Space (DJ Skillz Throwback Blend)
Lauryn Hill - Doo Wop (That Thing)
Beyonce - Naughty Girl
Bruno Mars - That's What I Like
Duke Dumont f./Jax Jones - I Got U
Vance Joy - Fire And The Flood
Cage The Elephant - Cigarette Daydreams
George Ezra - Budapest
Marshmello ft Khalid - Silence (Illenium Remix)
Portugal. The Man - Feel It Still (Gryffin Remix)
RedFoo - Brand New Day (Instrumental)
Maroon 5 - Sugar
Childish Gambino - Redbone
Maroon 5 f./Cardi B - Girls Like You
Natalie La Rose f./Jeremih - Somebody
James Brown - Soul Power

Father/Daughter Dance
Tim McGraw - My Little Girl

Mother/Son Dance
Van Morrison - Days Like This

Open Dancing
Al Green - Let's Stay Together
Jackson 5 - I Want You Back
Walk The Moon - Shut Up And Dance
Salt N Pepa - Push It (Mayeda Remix)
Flo Rida - Low
Cardi B f./Bad Bunny & J Balvin - I Like It
Marvin Gaye - How Sweet It Is
Jess Glynne - Ain't Got Far To Go
Beyonce - Crazy In Love
Drake - In My Feelings (Mr. Collipark Remix)
Miley Cyrus f. Jay-Z - We Can't Stop (DJ Scooter Twerk Remix)
Miley Cyrus - Party In The U.S.A.
Usher - Yeah
Party Break - Montel Party Break
House of Pain - Old School Jump Off
Earth, Wind & Fire - September
Michael Jackson - Don't Stop Till Get You Get Enough (Hot Classics Remix)
Rick Springfield - Jessie's Girl
Otis Day & the Knights - Shout
Van Morrison - Brown Eyed Girl
Buster Poindexter - Hot Hot Hot
Quad City D.J.'s - C'mon 'N' Ride It
Cupid - Cupid Shuffle
Mark Ronson f. Bruno Mars - Uptown Funk
Vanilla Ice - Ice Ice Baby (Select Mix Remix)
Bel Biv Devoe - Poison
ZEDD, Maren Morris & Grey - The Middle
Third Eye Blind - Semi Charmed Life (Pat C's Mashup)
Bruno Mars - 24k Magic (Rock It Scientists Hype Edit) (Dynamiq Cutdown)
Ying Yang Twins Feat. Lil' Jon - Salt Shaker
Juvenile ft Lil Wayne & Manny Fresh - Back That Azz Up
Dr Dre ft Snoop Dogg, Kurup & Nate Dogg - The Next Episode
Queen, Notorius B.I.G. - Fat Bottom Girls Hypnotize
Too Short - Blow The Whistle (BPM Supreme Break Intro)
Eastside Boyz - Get Low
Kesha - Tik Tok
LMFAO - Party Rock Anthem

Last Dance

Journey - Don't Stop Believin’

Ian and Betsy Beautiful Family Wedding - San Diego Botanic Garden

Ian and Betsy were married at the San Diego Botanic Garden on July 20, 2018

Ian and Betsy were married at the San Diego Botanic Garden on July 20, 2018

Weddings are generally the beginning of two lives together. But often times, it is more than just two; and it can be the beginning of a new family life together.

Such was the case with Ian and Betsy wedding day, July 20, 2018. There love for one another was equal to that of their own children. It was touching to see how much these two wove together their kids into various parts of the day. From the ceremony, to the grand entrance and all of the dancing, this day was not just for them, but for their amazing family.

What a pleasure to be a part of all of that. Here’s a look at their setlist.

First Dance

Blake Shelton - God Gave Me You

Dinner
Bay Ledges - Safe
Charlie Puth - Some Type Of Love
The Lumineers - Ophelia
Mr. Probz - Till You're Loved
John Mayer - Half Of My Heart
Capital Cities - Safe And Sound
Noah Cyrus f./Labrinth - Make Me (Cry)
Khalid - Location
Vance Joy - Fire And The Flood
A Tribe Called Quest - Award Tour
Colbie Caillat - Bubbly
Naughty By Nature - Jamboree
Bill Withers - Lovely Day
Steve Winwood - Higher Love
Maroon 5 ft SZA - What Lovers Do (Slushii Remix)
Blackstreet, Blinky Blink, Mase & Mya - Take Me There
Mark Morrison - Return Of The Mack (Select Mix Remix)
Stevie Wonder - Sir Duke
Carl Carlton - She's a Bad Mamma Jamma

Open Dancing
Frank Sinatra - The Way You Look Tonight
Al Green - Let's Stay Together
Beatles - Twist & Shout
Justin Timberlake - Can't Stop The Feeling!
Mark Ronson, Bruno Mars - Uptown Funk (Select Mix Remix)
Beyonce - Crazy In Love
Chris Brown - Run It
Montell Jordan - This Is How We Do It
Kanye West - Touch The Sky
Marvin Gaye - Got To Give It Up
The Temptations - My Girl
Van Morrison - Brown Eyed Girl
Jersey Boys - December 1963 (Oh What A Night)
Isley Brothers - This Old Heart of Mine
The Temptations - Ain't Too Proud To Beg
Frank Sinatra - Summer Wind
Louis Armstrong - Cheek to Cheek
Drake - God's Plan
Flo Rida - Low
Bruno Mars - 24K Magic
Usher - Yeah
Nelly - Hot In Here
Michael Buble - Everything
Natalie Cole - This Will Be an Everlasting Love
Jackson 5 - I Want You Back
James Taylor - How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You
Rascal Flatts - Bless the Broken Road

Vendor Team
DJ/Master of Ceremonies:
Justin Kanoya, DJ Kanoya Productions
Catering: Miho
Venue: San Diego Botanic Garden
Photography: Lillywhite Photography(all photos in this blog, courtesy of Lillywhite Photography)

Stephanie and JJ’s Scripps Seaside Forum Wedding Party

Stephanie and JJ kick off their Scripps Seaside Forum wedding with the Hora.

Stephanie and JJ kick off their Scripps Seaside Forum wedding with the Hora.

When Stephanie and JJ contacted me, their wedding was just over one year away. It’s a pretty good feeling when a couple wants to secure my services that far in advance. When their wedding day came around, June 24, 2018 at Scripps Seaside Forum, I wanted to make sure it was extra special for them.

Their first dance was the to classic R&B jam, “All My Life.” The rest of the night, was filled with great dance tunes

Here’s a look at their setlist.

First Dance
K-Ci & JoJo - All My Life

Father/Daughter Dance
Heartland - I Loved Her First

Mother/Son Dance
Forever Young - The Tenors

Open Dancing First Set
Jackson 5 - I Want You Back
Bruno Mars - 24K Magic
Usher - Yeah
B-52's - Love Shack
Frank Sinatra - The Way You Look Tonight
Al Green - Let's Stay Together
Earth, Wind & Fire - September
Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
Justin Timberlake - Can't Stop The Feeling (Select Mix Remix)
Mark Ronson, Bruno Mars - Uptown Funk (Select Mix Remix)

Cake Cutting
James Taylor - How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You

Open Dancing Second Set
Michael Buble - Everything
Frank Sinatra - Come Fly With Me
Kenny Loggins - Your Mama Don't Dance
Van Morrison - Brown Eyed Girl
Rolling Stones - Honky Tonk Woman
Bon Jovi - Livin' On A Prayer
Neil Diamond - Sweet Caroline
John Mellencamp - Jack and Diane
Wild Cherry - Play That Funky Music
Beyonce - Crazy In Love
House of Pain - Old School Jump Off
C&C Music Factory - Gonna Make You Sweat
Bell Biv Devoe - Poison
Diana Ross - I'm Coming Out (Hot Classics Remix)
Aretha Franklin - Respect (Select Mix Remix)
The Temptations - My Girl
Van Morrison - Moondance
The Temptations - Ain't Too Proud to Beg
Sister Sledge - We Are Family
K.C. & the Sunshine Band - Get Down Tonight
Flo Rida - Low
Salt-N-Pepa - Push It (Mayeda Remix)
Michael Jackson - P.Y.T
Otis Day & the Knights - Shout
Beatles - Twist & Shout
Young MC - Bust A Move
Whitney Houston - I Wanna Dance With Somebody
Madonna - Holiday
Michael Jackson & Justin Timberlake - Love Never Felt So Good

Last Dance
Journey - Don’t Stop Believin' (Live)

Kori and Joey's Wedding Dance Party at Calimigos Ranch; Malibu, California

Kori and Joey’s first dance at their Calimigos Ranch Wedding.

Kori and Joey’s first dance at their Calimigos Ranch Wedding.

Calimigos Ranch was the location for Kori and Joey’s summer wedding. Nestled in Malibu, it was the first time I traveled to this incredible venue. It was an amazing dance party, topped off with a special rendition of “Jump Around” for all of the fans of the Wisconsin Badgers.

Here’s a look at the full setlist:

First Dance
Celine Dion - How Does a Moment Last Forever

Dinner
Solange - Cranes In The Sky
LP - Lost On You
HAIM - Want You Back
Kings Of Leon - Use Somebody
Gavin DeGraw - Chariot
Bay Ledges - Safe
Stevie Wonder - Knocks Me off My Feet
Toto - Africa
Backstreet Boys - I Want ItThat Way
Mark Morrison - Return Of The Mack (Select Mix Quick Trax)
Duke Dumont f./Jax Jones - I Got U
Gerry Rafferty - Bakerstreet (Select Mix Remix)
Lauv - I Like Me Better
Prince - I Wanna Be Your Lover
Bruno Mars - Marry You
Cheat Codes f./Fetty Wap - Feels Great
George Ezra - Budapest

Father/Daughter Dance
The Temptations - My Girl

Mother/Son Dance
Blake Shelton - Forever Young

Open Dancing
Pharrell Williams - Happy
Bruno Mars - 24K Magic
Usher f. Lil Jon & Ludacris - Yeah
House of Pain - Old School Jump Off
Nicki Minaj ft Drake - Truffle Butter (Jester Remix)
Beyonce - Crazy In Love
Miley Cyrus - Party In The USA
N.E.R.D. ft Rihanna - Lemon (Mr. Collipark Remix)
Jackson 5 - Want You Back (Z-Trip Acapella In Remix)
Naughty By Nature - Hip Hop Hooray to O.P.P.
ZEDD, Maren Morris & Grey - The Middle
Third Eye Blind - Semi Charmed Life (Pat C's Mashup)
Elvis Presley - Can't Help Falling In Love
Beyonce - Single Ladies
Earth, Wind & Fire - September
Michael Jackson - P.Y.T
Salt N Pepa - Push It (Mayeda Remix)
Avicii, Aloe Blacc - Wake Me Up
Andy Grammer - Honey, I'm Good (Select Mix Remix)
Flo Rida - Low
Otis Day & the Knights - Shout
Tupac - California Love
Dr. Dre - Next Episode
Sam Hunt - House Party (Bpm Supreme ReDrum)
Darius Rucker - Wagon Wheel
Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
Mark Ronson, Bruno Mars - Uptown Funk (Select Mix Remix)
Boyz II Men - Motownphilly
Journey - Don't Stop Believin'
Walk The Moon - Shut Up And Dance (Select Mix Remix)

Last Dance
Jennifer Warnes - I've Had The Time of My Life