From thoughtful planning to a packed dance floor, Jaxton and Gracie’s wedding at the Indiana Memorial Union was a wonderful example of how preparation and collaboration create a seamless celebration. It was a pleasure to provide DJ services for their cocktail hour and reception, and to help guide the evening’s flow while creating memorable moments for them and their guests.
An Elegant Cocktail Hour and Smooth Reception Flow
I had exchanged some messages with Jaxton and Gracie in the months leading up to the wedding, and they came prepared for our planning meeting. Their detailed schedule made it easy for me and ensured the day ran smoothly from start to finish.
They had other arrangements for the ceremony, so I set up for their cocktail hour and reception in the Alumni Hall at the Indiana Memorial Union. We expected to fill the room with over 200 guests! It was a beautiful snowy day, a real treat for the bride and groom. During the cocktail hour, we played a mix of traditional Sinatra-style music that complemented the elegant atmosphere of the well-adorned Alumni Hall. I checked in with the day-of coordinator, Arley, and the organist, Molly, whom Gracie’s mom had hired to play some music at the end of cocktail hour. As always, this proved to be fruitful, as we were able to resolve some differences in our notes before starting the celebration.
We kicked off the reception with a grand entrance and a blessing from the best man. I dismissed tables for dinner service, and because the catering setup in the Solarium allowed multiple lines, dinner moved quickly. I didn’t have much time to chat with guests, but I did get to meet two couples whom Jaxton and Gracie had already referred to me, as well as a friendly family who shared how welcoming Gracie’s family had been when they first became neighbors. It’s always a pleasure to meet such wonderful people!
Since we were ahead of schedule, I confirmed that Jaxton and Gracie and the photographers were ready, and we moved right into a sweet toast from Gracie’s mom. We followed it up with the cake cutting, the first dance, and parent dances. I then announced an anniversary dance. Gracie had provided some very specific cutoffs, and it was fun to see their friends laugh when I called for “seven months and three weeks.”
One of the highlights of the evening came when Gracie got on the microphone to thank her mom and invited her to dance to High School Musical’s “We’re All In This Together.” After a moment, we invited all mothers and daughters to join them on the dance floor for a dance party. At the end of the song I mixed right into “Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough” and invited everyone else to join. This was such a fun and special way to open the dance floor and created a special, high-energy moment early in the night.
A High-Energy Dance Floor with Personal Touches
I played some classics and then mixed in a few 2010’s pop hits. The dance floor ebbed and flowed but overall it was lively and fun. I played a few hip-hop tracks from Jaxton’s playlist, though they felt a bit heavy for the crowd. I transitioned to some lighter pop selections from Gracie’s list and also played a couple of special requests for the kids. About halfway through the evening I played a slow song and invited couples to join Jaxton and Gracie on the dance floor, then returned to the lighter pop that had worked best earlier.
At Gracie’s request I announced the winner of the Heisman Trophy, IU quarterback Fernando Mendoza. After getting two requests to play Fernando by ABBA I decided to play it! When I announced last call at the bar, the energy was coming down, so I played a few chill tracks, including Olivia Dean’s Man I Need followed by Gwen Stefani’s Sweet Escape. Gwen Stefani was one of Gracie’s requests so I was delighted to see Jaxton shouting “if I could escape…” along with the music. To bring the energy back up, I played a few pop sing-alongs: You Belong With Me, Last Friday Night, and Die Young. This was just the right thing and made for a fun shared moment on the dance floor.
With about ten minutes remaining, I announced that we had just a few songs left. The dance floor filled up as I mixed some high-energy favorites: Everytime We Touch, Can’t Hold Us, and their must-play Mr. Brightside. The energy was electric, and at the end everyone was cheering as Jaxton and Gracie danced together up on the stage. We wrapped up the night with the final song they’d selected, Closing Time.
I ended up playing the dance set for about three and a half hours! I was nervous about this going in, but I was nowhere close to running out of music. I still had some sets prepared that I didn’t get to. The dance floor wasn’t full the entire time, but it was never empty! We played a little bit of something for everyone and definitely created many moments for Jaxton and Gracie to enjoy celebrating with their family and friends.
If you’re planning your wedding and want a DJ who values preparation, collaboration, and creating meaningful moments, I’d love to connect and hear about your vision.