I've heard many positive things about Bayshore Grove, but every time I was asked to DJ a wedding there, I had to decline because I was already booked elsewhere for their date. Until now! Emilei and Josh found me before anyone else with an 8/10/24 wedding date, so I finally got the chance to check out this venue on the shores of Lake Ontario!
As an alumnus of the broadcasting program at SUNY Oswego, I'm aware of the awesome sunsets that you can see over the lake. Although it's actually several miles east of the port city, Bayshore Grove offers a waterfront view that's just as impressive, if not better. And the venue offers multiple indoor and outdoor settings to make the most of the scenic view.
Emilei and Josh got married at the pergola near the water, with the lake serving as the backdrop for their vows. Afterward, cocktail hour was held on a spacious deck that wraps around the lake side of the venue's main building. Everyone moved into the building for toasts and dinner. Once all were fed and energized for dancing, Emilei and Josh enjoyed their first dance outside in an open-air area, and then we moved everyone just a few feet over, to an open-air but covered pavilion to dance the rest of the night away. The pavilion allowed everyone to enjoy the summer breeze off the lake, but the roof offered protection in case of rain.
To make it all happen, I had two sound systems going. One was in the pavilion, ready for the primary dance floor portion of the evening. The other system was inside the building where dinner would take place, and was used to cover the ceremony, cocktail hour and dinner. In the map below, you can see how the wireless speakers were moved as needed to cover the ceremony, cocktail hour and dinner.
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Things were so busy, I didn't have a chance to take my own photos during the ceremony, so credit to Loryn Payne Photography for the ceremony photo. Note how the wireless speakers are up front to make sure everyone can hear the ceremony (especially with the lake waves crashing in the background), but far enough over to the sides so they're not visible in the first kiss photo or any other key close-ups from the ceremony.
Emilei and Josh's Key Song Choices
Ceremony
- Processional: Dixie Cups / Chapel of Love
- Flower Girls: Allison Krauss / I’ll Fly Away
- Grand Entrance: Shania Twain / From This Moment
- Recessional: Drifters / This Magic Moment
Reception
- Wedding party and newlyweds' intros: Beyonce / Love on Top
- Photos at Each Table: moe. / Billy Goat
- First Dance: Chris Stapleton / More of You
- Groom / Mother Dance: Bryan Adams / Everything I Do
- Father / Bride Dance #1: Bob Carlisle / Butterfly Kisses
- Father / Bride Dance #2: Will Smith / Just the Two of Us
- Cake Cutting: Cinderella Soundtrack / So This is Love
- Bouquet Toss: Linda Ronstadt & Aaron Neville / Don’t Know Much
- Last Dance of the Night (for everyone): Donna Summer / Last Dance
- Private Last Dance (newlyweds only): Drew & Ellie Holcomb / You and Me
Emilei planned quite the surprise for Josh for her entrance to the ceremony. Not only did she have me list the song as "redacted" on their timeline, but she sung her own version of the opening lines, which I was able to edit into the song.
For introductions, the newlyweds chose to save some time by having the entire wedding party enter as a big group, rather than announcing everyone's names. Then, Emilei and Josh went around to each table for a photo with guests, which is a great way to make sure you have at least one photo with everyone who was in attendance.
Bayshore Grove Wedding DJ Photo Highlights
Even though the reception went until 10, Emilei and Josh had me play their "last dance for everyone" song at 9:45, with a shuttle bus ready to take everyone back to Oswego immediately after. Once the guests cleared out, the newlyweds enjoyed one final dance just for themselves, back at the lakeside pergola where the ceremony took place, under the moonlit skies. You'll see it in the last photo below.
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For more photos, I'll defer to the professional: Loryn Payne Photography came from Rochester to document Emilei and Josh's big day. Below is a sampling of their engagment shoot from Loryn's Instagram and you can see many more photos from the wedding on her website!
Thanks again to Emilei and Josh for choosing me as your wedding DJ! And thanks also to George Broadwell from Bayshore Grove for being a great host, very cooperative and easy to work with. A wonderful venue I hope to DJ at again someday soon, and an awesome couple and crowd made it a great night all around. Best wishes to Emilei and Josh for many years of love and happiness!
