Stacey and Alex's wedding was not only my first wedding for 2019, but my very first at the Craftsman Inn in Fayetteville. (Considering it's one of the closest venues to my house, I'm surprised I hadn't been booked here sooner!) The entire venue recently underwent a massive renovation and it looks wonderful. Check out the photos inside this post.

For Stacy and Alex's ceremony, a divider wall was deployed to split the banquet hall in two. The ceremony was held with chapel-style seating on one side of the wall, while dinner tables and chairs were waiting "on deck" on the other side of the wall.

After the ceremony concluded, everyone was directed to go out and around to a separate room -- on the other side of the "closed" half of the main banquet space -- for cocktail hour. I had a second sound system in there to provide background music.

As soon as guests exited for cocktail hour, the Craftsman staff went right to work -- opening the divider wall, moving chairs and tables, and assembling the dance floor. I was busy too -- low ceilings around the perimeter of the room meant I had to move my DJ station about 10 feet out from the corner before I could set-up my overhead dance lighting truss.

(For my next wedding at the Craftsman, things will start out similarly. But I'll have to move the sound system to the opposite end of the room because the dance floor will be positioned differently. So check back later to compare the differences!)

Although there was a lot to do, we were all done with just a few minutes to spare before it was time to open the big doors, welcoming guests to flow back into the ballroom from the cocktail hour. As guests took their seats, we lined-up the wedding party for their introductions. Speaking of -- here are Stacey and Alex's song selections for the key moments of their wedding day.

Stacy and Alex's Key Song Choices

Ceremony

• Processional: Steve Petrunak / Over the Rainbow (instrumental)
• Grand Entrance: Ruelle / I Get to Love You
• Recessional: Hall & Oates / You Make My Dreams Come True

Reception

• Alex's parents intro: Los Lonely Boys / Real Emotions
• Stacy's mom's intro: Fountains of Wayne / Stacy's Mom
• Wedding party intros: Jagged Edge / Where the Party At
• Newlyweds' intros: Jay-Z & Beyonce / Bonnie & Clyde
• First Dance: Tracy Chapman / The Promise
• Groom / Mother Dance: Rod Stewart / Forever Young
• Cake Cutting: James Taylor / How Sweet It Is
• Last Dance of the Night: Ed Sheeran / Perfect

Photo Album Highlights

Stacy and Alex had a wonderful crowd that kept the dance floor going right up to the end of the night! An incredible start for my 2019 wedding season. Here are some of my photos -- I have even more photos on my Facebook page!  Scroll down for a direct link to the album.

Click any photo to see larger version

And if you want to see even more, check out AlterImage Photography. By the time dinner was over, Rick already had a "sneak peek" of his shots from the earlier portions of the day on display on a large monitor right in the banquet hall.

Stacy was also quick to review my services -- here's the awesome 5-star review she posted on TheKnot:

As my husband and I were planning our wedding, we were overwhelmed by all the decisions that needed to be made but hiring Peter was an easy one. Peter was so professional and reassuring throughout the whole process. We appreciate that he made time to meet with us to discuss our ceremony and reception and he respond to all emails in a timely manner. He provided us with a timeline of exact how our wedding day would flow. He also forwarded the timeline to our photographer and venue coordinator. Our wedding day went so much smoother because everyone knew exactly what was happening and when. At our reception it was clear he understood how to engage the guests and keep them on the dance floor! He went above and beyond our expectations and we would recommend Peter over and over again!

- Stacy

Thanks again to Stacy and Alex for choosing me as your DJ, and thanks to Kayla and her crew at The Craftsman Inn for being such great hosts! Looking forward to my next wedding at The Craftsman -- which as I write this, is coming up this weekend!