The evening of July 23, 2011 marked a very special night for two extremely excited individuals. It was the night Julie Van Vossen and Ivan Lopez would share their vows and pronounce their love and commitment to each other, becoming a unified “Mr. & Mrs. Lopez.”
This event took place at the beautiful Marriott Beachside Resort located on the island of Key West, off the coast of South Florida. Following the ceremony, as five p.m. struck the clock, the party of newlyweds, family, and friends moved outside to the Marriott's terrace to enjoy the warm summer's evening weather for cocktail hour, hosted by yours truly, DJ Mike Berrios of MB Entertainment (www.mbentdjs.com). Those who weren't such a fan of the heat were able to mingle inside the foyer with the comfort of the refreshing a.c. As the guest were able to enjoy a variety of delicious beverages and give their congratulations to the bride and groom, a combination of contemporary hits and 80's throwbacks sang through the speakers to provide a light, upbeat vibe to the hour.
As cocktail hour flew by, and six 'o clock rolled around, it was time to move the party to the ballroom. The introductions came as followed:
Ushers: “Don't Happen Twice” by Kenny Chesney
Rest of the Wedding Party: “I Got a Feeling” by Black Eyed Peas
Newlyweds: “Welcome to the Jungle” By Guns and Roses
The newlyweds introduction was immediately followed by their fast dance, wh
ere their movements melted together as they glided together through the center of the floor to “Because of Your Love” by Kenny Chesney. After their first dance together as an officially married couple, the newlyweds received a blessing from Ivan's father, followed by a toast from Ivan's best man and Julie's maid of honor. A deliciously prepared meal of marinated beef and chicken, cooked to absolute perfection, was served following the toasts, and the guest were able to laugh, chat, and fill their stomachs. Vendor meals were also provided to myself, the photographers, and videographers. I would like to give my personal thanks and compliments to the chef, as the meal was incredible.
As everyone finished their meals, happy and full, it was officially time to crank up the volume and get the party started. Beginning with the special personalized dances, and ending with the whole party moving and grooving to the beat, the playlist included the following:
Father/Daughter Dance: “In Your Daughter's Eyes” by Martina McBride
Mother/Son Dance: “Like My Mother Does” by Lauren Alaina
Cutting of the Cake: “How Sweet It Is” by James Taylor
Contempary Hits: “Give Me Everything” by Pitbull, “Get on the Floor” by Jennifer Lopez, “Raise Your Glass” by Pink, Etc.
80's Set: “Thriller” by Michael Jackson, “Jessie's Girl” by Rick Springfield, “Love Shack” by B-52'S, Etc.
Bridesmaids performed to “Hold On” by Wilson Phillips.
Closing Song: “Time of Your Life” by Green Day
