Hey, Mister DJ

There are four things that the Bear has requested for our wedding. 

1. Military uniforms (check)

2. Open bar for the reception (check, check)

3. Red Velvet wedding cake (still working on it)

4. A DJ

How could I say no to any of that?  


Truth be told, I was relieved that he wanted a DJ because hiring a band can be a very expensive proposition.  Think about it, hiring a band means you're essentially responsible for paying each person.  And then there's the issue of space.  As in, where would we fit a band at our small reception site?  Lastly, we have really varied tastes in music. From hair metal to Motown, indie rock to hip hop, we're all over the music map.  Try finding a band that can leap from Stevie Wonder to Black Eyed Peas in a single bound and not break the bank, I dare you. 

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So, we're hiring a DJ!


I hit the internet, full speed ahead.  All I wanted was a cool and professional DJ that would keep us dancing all night--and NO CHEESE. That meant no line dances, no mic-hogging,  no props for our guests, and a great mix of music that we like.  After what felt like hours of research I stumbled upon the best intro I have ever read on a vendor's website, ever.  See for yourself:

• We spin music that is different & creative without being obscure. You will love it & so will your guests.
• We never EVER use wacky lights, smoke machines or hang banners at any event.
• We never play line dances or the standard boring wedding or party fare.
• We arrive dressed for a party, not dressed like clowns.
• We emcee your wedding or party more minimally than the average wedding DJ.

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Popshop! DJs are exactly what I had in mind.  They actually have a list of songs that they will not play unless you request them.  Songs like, "Macarena," and "The Electric Slide," will not be heard unless you, the host, make a point of asking for them.  Oh yeah!  One less thing to worry about!


I reached out to them and in a few days I was on the phone with a DJ that suited my tastes.  We spent about 40 minutes chatting about music and what I want to hear on our wedding day.  There was a back and forth element to our dialogue that I hadn't felt in previous conversations with other DJs. He wasn't just pitching his services to me, he was listening to my ideas and getting excited about them too!  And that, my friends, sealed the deal.  


We're going with Popshop!  




So what about you?  Did you hire a band or a DJ?  Or are you going the DIY route?

Mix Tape #6 - Motown!

I just had my first meeting with a potential DJ, and I'm starting to get excited!  I won't get into the conversation, but I will say that we were on the same page where music is concerned.  One thing he was down with was my love of Motown!  Seriously, ask the Bear how many times I've trapped him in my car forcing him to listen to my karaoke versions of my favorite Motown songs--too many times to count (now that's love!).  


It wouldn't be our wedding without a little Motown, that's for sure.  So here's a little taste of what's in store at our reception.  

Keeping the list to ten songs was not easy!  Pretty sure we could devote most of the reception to Motown alone and still have a blast.  But I think we're going to keep it to the dinner portion of the evening.  

What about you?  What are some of your must-play songs or genres?

Tuesday (Tunes Day)

Tunes day!  Get it?! Tunes...Tues... Get it but think it's lame?  


Ah well, here's the newest mix tape for Bear.

This playlist is pretty much all over the place.  It starts with a song from Muse and goes straight into Jeff Buckley.  As always, there is an explanation to just about everything. 

"Starlight" - We saw Muse when we were at the Voodoo Experience a couple years back.  Although we didn't have time to stay and watch their whole set, we enjoyed what we saw.  We've gone every year since we started dating and unfortunately we're going to miss the festival this year due to Bear's deployment. Hopefully, we'll be able to go to the next one. 

"Book of Love" - Not sure when I first heard this with him.  This not-so-lovey-song reminds me of laying back in the car, and singing.  I'm a sucker for car karaoke and he doesn't mind. Perfect fit, if you ask me.

"No One's Gonna Love You" - I listened to this album by Band of Horses almost nonstop, when we first started dating. It was the only thing, before the beverage cart came around, that would calm my nerves on the flight to Austin.  

Mix Tape #2: The Love Continues

Here's the next "mix tape" I made for the Bear. 

It's a little off-kilter as far as playlists go.  I go from Empire of the Sun to Jason Mraz--start to finish.  Never thought I'd mention both of them in the same breath, but there they are nonetheless.  Each and every song on this list represents a moment, a memory, a piece of our relationship.  So while they don't fit together on the surface, they come together to form the narrative of the past few years for us. 


Take "Lucky" by Jason Mraz for example, I avoid it at all costs on the radio.  For one, it was played way too many times on the radio for my sanity's sake.  And two, I didn't want to hear it so much that I lost the connection to it's significance.  One lazy day in Texas, I lounged on Bear's bed and surfed the internet to pass the time, while he cleaned his room.  I was checking out some newly released albums from the week, when I came across a preview of "We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things," and I reluctantly started listening to it.  While I've always had a soft spot for singer/songwriters, I tried to stay away from most new music in that genre (note: past tense, I'm over that now).  I clicked around on the internet until we came to #6.  I gasped and stood up just a few seconds into the song.  Bear stopped what he was doing when he heard the lyrics, and scooped me up.  Just like that we started dancing, listening to a song that pretty much summed up the beginning our our relationship. He had just returned from Iraq, we'd just fallen in love. Pretty perfect if you ask me. 


Anyway, enjoy!

Happy Friday: Uptempo Love

Here's a love song that's a little different from the norm.  Try not to tap your toes to this one, I dare you.  

Get a load of some of the lyrics:

Home, Let me come Home
Home is Whenever Im with you
Home, yes I am Home
Home is wherever Im with you


Lalalala Take me Home
Mama Im Coming Home


I follow you into the park, thru the jungle thru the dark
Girl aint never loved one like you
Moats and boats and Waterfalls, Alleyways and payphone calls
I been everywhere with you
Laugh until we think we'll die, barefoot on a summer night
never could be sweeter than with you


The song is called "Home" by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros.  It was released in 2009 by Vagrant Records/Rough Trade Records, on the album titled "Up From Below."

Enjoy!  And have a great weekend! 

Sweet Sounds of Love

I'm a sucker for a good love song.  Bring on the cheesiest, most toothache-inducing songs, because I'm your girl--my knowledge of sweet ballads is pretty lame most of the time, except now.  


Because now that we're planning our wedding, it's time to put my evil powers to good use!  I've had a playlist on my iPod titled "Sappy, Sickly, Sweet," for a while now, it's where I keep all my favorite tracks.  And I love how it's become nearly a soundtrack for the past few years of our relationship--whether the Bear likes it or not.  Hopefully he likes it, because he asked me to send him some music, and I did.  I sent him a bunch of albums he's going to like, and then, I burned some of this playlist because I'm bringing back the mix tape!  That is what I call killing two birds with one stone:  I get to 'research' all the awesome love songs I want, and he gets his music.  Win-win.  


Here's the first "mix tape" I made him, just about each one has meaning to us. 


Enjoy!