Even though I've done a few weddings at Turning Stone Casino before, this was my first at the resort's Shenandoah Clubhouse, which is an entirely separate building from the main casino complex. The elegant building overlooking the golf course was a perfect backdrop for Natalie and Benjamin's big day!
When the clubhouse is open, there's a golf pro shop and a restaurant on the lower level. The reception ballroom is on the upper level. Guests can use an elevator or take either of two sweeping staircases from the lobby.
Ceremonies can be held outside near the course, weather permitting. Although rain forced Natalie and Benjamin's ceremony indoors, the cocktail hour was still hosted downstairs, in a covered outdoor area adjacent to the course.
I was pleasantly surprised when staff moved the floral arch from the ceremony to the space behind my setup. It really added to the usual look of the setup, especially once I added some uplighting to accent the flowers. (The scent of the fresh flowers was a nice perk, too!)
Natalie and Benjamin's Key Song Choices
- Wedding party intros: Bruno Mars / 24K Magic
- First Dance: Chris Stapleton / Joy of My Life
- Bride / Mother Dance: Fleetwood Mac / Landslide
- Groom / Mother Dance: Mac Miller / I’ll Be There
- Cake Cutting: Greta Van Fleet / You’re The One
- Last Dance of the Night: Jordan Davis / Detours
Aside from these key moments, Natalie and Benjamin didn't have many requests. Rather than having to make sure I hit every song on a "must play" list, I was able to just go with the flow, read the room and play "whatever."
Before guests arrived, I dropped a couple of cards on each table, with a link to an online song request form that I initially launched for the first few weddings after the pandemic restrictions were lifted. Once guests were seated for dinner, requests started rolling in! It was fun to sort through the requests and determine which ones would ultimately play on the dance floor.
Shenandoah Clubhouse Wedding DJ Photo Highlights
As always, this is just a select handful of my photos -- I have even more photos of Natalie and Benjamin's Shenandoah Clubhouse wedding reception on my Facebook page! Scroll down for a direct link to the album.
Click any photo to see larger version
And here's some of the great work from the crew at SandraLee Photography:
Thanks again to Natalie and Ben for choosing me as your wedding DJ! It was a blast, and I wish you all the best for many years of love and happiness together!
