Are you having trouble picking music?

Try these playlists out:

Ceremony Music:



Cocktail/Dinner Music:



Need help choosing songs for your Groom & Mother or even your First Dance?

Try these: Steve's Picks

Still stumped? Email me or give me a call!Permalink

Relaxed, Refined, and Romantic in Perkasie

Adrienne & Mark
June 27, 2009
The Lake House Inn
Perkasie, PA
Web Site

I greatly admire unique venues like The Lake House Inn in Perkasie. In addition to being nestled in a semi-secluded area and surrounded by the placid waters of Lake Nockamixon, it is similar to Cairnwood and Knowlton Mansion in the sense that it is a "home away from home".

When you treat your guests to a reception at the Lake House Inn, you are exposing them to the artistic and flavorful culinary creations of Jeffrey Miller Catering, the luxury of a relaxing atmosphere, and all the natural beauty their eyes can take in.

I had the privilege to work with one of the very few photographers I confidently recommend to my clients, Mike Kehr. I heavily recommend you check out his web site and his blog. He is truly one of the very best artists and photojournalists I have ever had the pleasure of working with.

Now... on to the matter at hand: Adrienne and Mark's wedding reception was a BLAST! To quote one of the banquet directors from the catering staff:

"I have never seen absolutely every person on the dance floor from the moment dinner ended until the last song was played. These guys are AMAZING!"

It really was. From the moment Mark "decapitated" the Nittany Lion groom's cake until the final song was played, there was not a single person sitting at a table. It was awesome!

Don't believe me? Check out the video below.

Congratulations, Adrienne and Mark!



Click here to see some photos from their reception!

Agenda

5:30-6:25 PM Cocktail Hour

6:25 PM Grand Entrance
Parents: "Sweet Emotion" by Aerosmith
Bridal Party: "Nothin' But A Good Time" by Poison
Bride & Groom: "Bad Medicine" by Bon Jovi

6:30 PM First Dance
"Strangers In The Night" by Frank Sinatra

6:35 PM Blessing & Toasts

6:40-7:55 PM Dinner

7:55 PM Cake Cutting
"Love & Marriage" by Frank Sinatra

8:00 PM Bride & Father Dance
"The Way You Look Tonight" by Frank Sinatra

8:05 PM Groom & Mother Dance
"You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Loves You" by Dean Martin

8:10 PM-10:30 PM Open Dancing

9:00 PM Bouquet Toss
"Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)" by Beyoncé

9:05 PM Garter Removal
"Foxy Lady" by Jimi Hendrix

9:10 PM Garter Toss
"Pretty Fly For A White Guy" by Offspring

9:15 PM Putting Garter Back On
"I Got A Man" by Positive K

10:25 PM Final Song
"Take Me Home Tonight" by Eddie Money

Bucks County DJs - Steve CrocePermalink

Honor, Courage, Commitment

Rachel & John
June 21, 2009
Talamore Country Club
Ambler, PA
Web Site

Talamore Country Club is a beautiful venue! The wrought iron stair rails, wall-to-wall hard wood floors, giant cathedral-like windows... It's awe-inspiring.

The day began with an elegant outdoor wedding service, surrounded in lush and well-kept grounds. I must say again, the pain-staking care that is given to the greenery here is quite obvious.

The music for the ceremony and cocktail hour was provided by Sophisticated Strings, a very talented group who does a superior job at providing a great soundtrack for people's wedding memories.

While the guests enjoyed their cocktail hour, Rachel and John could be seen taking some fun post-ceremony photos with an accomplished photographer named Douglas Lockard. When the formal photos were finished, Douglas and I had an opportunity to share some stories of weddings past and get coordinated for the upcoming reception time.

John currently serves in the United States Navy as a Lieutenant, thus Rachel and John's entrance into the reception was complete with a saber arc that flanked the main staircase on either side. Before Rachel and John were allowed to pass by each pair of swords, the swords were lowered and the bride and groom were instructed by the detail staff to share a kiss. At the end, John's friend, Lt. Higgins "welcomed" Rachel to the Navy with a well-placed swat to her bustle with his sword. It's a pretty cool tradition I always enjoy witnessing.

Since it was a late-afternoon into early evening Sunday reception, it was a pretty laid-back affair. However, there was plenty of dancing and fun had by all. But... it was not exclusively ME who was providing the entertainment.

At Talamore Country Club, there resides one of the most energetic, charismatic, and downright awesome banquet directors in the business. His name... Garland. This guy is the proverbial MAN! What a pleasure to work with such a passionate and engaged professional like Garland! I look forward to the opportunity of working alongside him again in the future. He was GREAT!

Congratulations, Rachel and John!



Agenda

4:30-5:25 PM Cocktail Hour

5:25 PM Grand Entrance
Bridal Party: "Start Me Up" by The Rolling Stones
Bride & Groom: "Crazy In Love" by Beyonce & Jay-Z

5:30 PM First Dance
"Swallowed In The Sea" by Coldplay

5:35 PM Blessing & Toasts

5:40-6:55 PM Dinner

6:15 PM Bride & Father Dance
"Cinderella" by Steven Curtis Chapman

6:55 PM Cake Cutting
"How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)" by James Taylor

7:00 PM-9:30 PM Open Dancing

8:00 PM Bouquet Toss
"This One's For The Girls" by Martina McBride

8:05 PM Garter Removal
"American Woman" by Lenny Kravitz

8:10 PM Garter Toss
"Sexyback" by Justin Timberlake

8:15 PM Putting Garter Back On
"Danger Zone" by Kenny Loggins

9:25 PM Final Song
"Ever Ever After" by Carrie UnderwoodPermalink

Oggi, sposi un mio amico...

Melissa & Daniel
June 20, 2009
The "D" at Deerfield
Newark, DE
Web Site

What an amazing reception venue! This giant ballroom is the perfect location for large groups of friends and family celebrating a once in a lifetime event. This ballroom's wide open space and uncluttered decor is a fantastic canvas for specialty lighting, especially uplighting.

Melissa and Daniel's cocktail hour was observed in a remote ballroom, complete with a concert-grade pianist. Very elegant.

There was some strange weather on this day! Out of nowhere, an intense rainstorm flew in and doused the country club in some pretty hard-driving rain. In a matter of minutes, it was gone as fast as it had come and was replaced by a warm sun.

The reception moved along very nicely, thanks largely to a very efficient and well-managed group of service staff. I feel inclined to point out that the maître d' at Deerfield, a gentleman by the name of Steve, had a very effective managerial style.

I always find it a pleasure to work with another professional who treats his/her staff with respect. You might be surprised to find how rare this actually can be. Steve's ability to "get the most out of his staff" was a luxury I am sure the bride and groom unknowingly appreciated.

One very cool highlight I should mention... Because Daniel is a Delaware State Trooper, during the removal of the garter, the dance floor was rushed by police who handcuffed Daniel and made him remove the garter without the benefit of using his hands. Use your imagination...

Melissa and Daniel have a GREAT group of friends and family! With the exception of a small "cigar session" held on the terrace, they were ALL OVER the dance floor from start to finish!

Personally, I had a GREAT TIME!

Congratulations, Melissa and Daniel!



Agenda

5:00-5:55 PM Cocktail Hour

6:00 PM Grand Entrance
Parents: "We're Havin' A Party" by Southside Johnny
Bridal Party: "Boom Shak-A-Lak" by Apache Indian
Bride & Groom: "Tambourine" by Eve

6:05 PM First Dance
"When You Say You Love Me" by Josh Groban

6:10 PM Blessing & Toasts

6:15-7:35 PM Dinner

6:45 PM Bride & Father Dance
"My Girl" by The Temptations

6:50 PM Groom & Mother Dance
"My Wish" by Rascal Flatts

7:40 PM Cake Cutting
"Hit Me With Your Best Shot" by Pat Benatar

7:45 PM-11:00 PM Open Dancing

9:30 PM Bouquet Toss
"Single Ladies" by Beyonce

9:35 PM Garter Removal
"I Like The Way" by Bodyrockers

9:40 PM Garter Toss
"Start Me Up" by Rolling Stones

9:45 PM Putting Garter Back On
"Touch Me" by Bingo Players Vs. Chocolate Puma (Bart B More Remix)

10:55 PM Final Song
"(I've Had) The Time Of My Life" by Bill Medley & Jennifer WarnesPermalink

"To the right, to the right..."

Jenny & Jeff
June 19, 2009
RiverCrest Golf Club
Oaks, PA
Web Site

RiverCrest Golf Club & Preserve is one of the most beautiful venues around, hands down. Their immaculate grounds and spacious countryside surroundings make you feel very comfortable and "at home".

As guests began arriving and enjoying the cocktail hour, Jenny and Jeff made their way out to the course (with their bridal party) for some candid and posed group shots.

Their photographers, Jason Levan and Nick Spence of Ultimate Images are two of my most favorite shooters to work with.

Their relaxed and easy-going approach really encourages the bridal party to loosen up and flash some full and genuine smiles.

After the introductions, Jenny, Jeff and I had worked up a great surprise for their friends and families.

The first dance song began while Jenny and Jeff shared their first dance as husband and wife. About halfway through, the song began to "skip". All of the sudden, the "needle scraped across the record", then the "Cupid Shuffle" began. Jenny and Jeff's bridal party joined the bride and groom on the dance floor to do the Cupid Shuffle while up on a screen (hanging above my DJ equipment) a video played. On the video was Jenny's elementary school class doing the Cupid Shuffle. To hear what the track sounded like, click here.

The crowd exploded with excitement.

From that point on, the night was an overwhelming success!

Congratulations, Jenny and Jeff!



Agenda

7:00-7:55 PM Cocktail Hour

8:00 PM Grand Entrance
Bridal Party: "Let's Get It Started" by Black Eyed Peas
Bride & Groom: "Party Like A Rockstar" by Shop Boyz

8:05 PM First Dance
"Then" by Brad Paisley

8:10 PM Blessing & Toasts

8:15-9:35 PM Dinner

8:55 PM Cake Cutting
"Hit Me With Your Best Shot" by Pat Benatar

9:00 PM Bride & Father Dance
"Through The Years" by Kenny Rogers

9:05 PM Groom & Mother Dance
"What A Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong

9:40 PM-12:00 AM Open Dancing

10:00 PM Bouquet Toss
"Ladies Night" by Kool & The Gang

10:05 PM Garter Removal
"You Shook Me All Night Long" by AC/DC

10:00 PM Garter Toss
"Sharp Dressed Man" by ZZ Top

10:00 PM Putting Garter Back On
"Mustang Sally" by The CommitmentsPermalink

Rain, Rain Go Away...

Alicia & Dean
June 13, 2009
Manor House at Commonwealth
Horsham, PA
Web Site

Despite a torrential downpour, Alicia and Dean's wedding at the Manor House at Commonwealth was fantastic.

The day began with Alicia and Dean's wedding ceremony. Originally slated to take place on the lush green grass of the golf course, it was moved indoors. I had the pleasure of spending some time before the ceremony with my good friend at Shaw Strings, Virginia Schawacker.

Virginia (affectionately known by everyone as "Mom") and her team had all learned to play some selections by U2, Verve, and Peter Gabriel for the ceremony. I must admit, nothing compares to hearing a live string performance of "Bitter Sweet Symphony".

Before Alicia and Dean's ceremony, I presented Alicia with a vial of rain water I collected as both a "good luck charm" and offered for her to save it for the day they would Christen their first child.

I remarked that while many people might say "rain on your wedding day is good luck", no one ever explains why. My feeling is that since rain is water and water is the the source of all life, rain might just be God's way of saying he is going to breathe new life into an already strong relationship. It seemed to put the weather in a whole new perspective for her and eventually, Dean.

By the time the dancing hours were winding down, it was clear that everyone in attendance was very happy and had the highest of hopes and expectations for an awesome couple.

Congratulations, Alicia and Dean!



Agenda

6:30-7:00 PM Ceremony

7:00-7:55 PM Cocktail Hour

8:00 PM Grand Entrance
Bridal Party: "Philadelphia Freedom" by Elton John
Bride & Groom: "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" by Stevie Wonder

8:05 PM First Dance
"You're My Home" by Billy Joel

8:10 PM Blessing & Toasts

8:15-9:35 PM Dinner

8:55 PM Cake Cutting
"Accidentally In Love" by Counting Crows

9:00 PM Bride & Father Dance
"Count On Me" by Jefferson Airplane

9:05 PM Groom & Mother Dance
"My Wish" by Rascal Flatts

9:40 PM-12:00 AM Open Dancing

Permalink

Hey... Remember stevecroce.com?

Jessica & Lloyd
June 12, 2009
Cairnwood
Bryn Athyn, PA
Web Site

Wow. I haven't had a single blog update since January! What can I say other than "I'm sorry" and "I'm amazed that Blogger hasn't closed this place down, due to abandonment.".

So... Without further ado, let's get down to business!

Hosting your wedding ceremony and/or reception at Cairnwood is like having your event in a wealthy family member's home. This home is built like an French palace!

The reception began with guests arriving and being escorted to the tented terrace. The talented artists at Eventions provided a great visual experience in the form of specialty lighting on the canvas above. As the sun went down, it looked almost as if their guests were dining under the stars. Amazing.

Friends and family were also treated to the performance of live music in the form of a string quartet and live vocalist. It was a very classy addition to the affair. I just wish I could remember the name of the group.

Jessica and Lloyd had also secured one of the most awe-inspiring photographers I have ever known, Cliff Mautner. Cliff continuously encounters the highest expectations and surpasses them with ease. I would encourage you to check out his work on his blog.

I had an outstanding time being a part of this wedding celebration! Considering the layout, it's always a very unique experience at Cairnwood. The real challenge is having the ability to move guests from one part of the mansion to the next, without making them feel "herded". In the end, my experience at this difficult venue proved to be a great asset in entertaining this wild crew. What a great party!

Congratulations, Jessica and Lloyd!



Agenda

6:00-6:55 PM Cocktail Hour

7:00 PM Grand Entrance
Bridal Party: "The Way You Make Me Feel" by Michael Jackson
Bride & Groom: "Let's Get Married" by Jagged Edge feat. Run-DMC

7:05 PM First Dance
"This Year's Love" by David Grey

7:10 PM Blessing & Toasts

7:25-8:55 PM Dinner

8:55 PM Cake Cutting
"How Sweet It Is" by James Taylor

9:00 PM Bride & Father Dance
"I Loved Her First" by Heartland

9:05 PM Groom & Mother Dance
"The Way You Look Tonight" by Michael Buble

9:10 PM-12:00 AM Open Dancing

9:45 PM Bouquet Toss
"You Sexy Thing" by Hot Chocolate

9:50 PM Garter Removal
"Bad Things" by Jace Everett

9:55 PM Garter Union
"Don't Cha (Ralphi's Hot Freak Remix)" by Pussycat Dolls

Permalink