This past September was perhaps the busiest month of my DJ career. Many of the blog posts I have written over the last few weeks have been weddings we have done at Cairnwood Mansion, as it seems we are providing a DJ for a wedding there almost every weekend at this point… so I hope you guys are ready for one more post about a rocking Cairnwood wedding. Stephanie and Steve were a couple I met at a Cairnwood Open House, so they were Cairnwood from the get-go. A few weeks after our initial contact, they made an appointment to meet at our office in Huntingdon Valley. I encourage all clients to meet one of or DJ staff in person, before they make a decision on whether they would like to book Cutting Edge Entertainment. Some companies will show you pictures, reviews, even video, however nothing compares with actually meeting your potential DJ face to face. After sitting down with Stephanie and Steve for about an hour, we just clicked, and they chose me to DJ their wedding… The rest is history.

This wedding was a lot of fun for me to do, and I know I say that often, but it’s true – perhaps of all the wedding I DJ, but Stephanie and Steve’s guests truly came ready to party. After dinner concluded it was party time, and this crowd was ready to go. I played everything from “Your Love” by the Outfield to “Party Rock Anthem” by LMFAO. It was an awesome party, but of course it could not have been as good if not for the superb team I worked with. First there was Terri and the crew from Robert Fair Caterers, who did an amazing job (as always) providing a five star meal. I also got a chance to work with photographer Ryan Schwartz who was kind enough to let us feature his photos from the wedding. However, like all weddings the most important ingredient to a fun wedding is an awesome bride and groom. Stephanie and Steve were perfect, their high energy really propelled the celebration to a whole other level.

To the both of you, I wish you all the best, and thank you again for the opportunity to work with you and help create a great event.

~Richie

The bride and groom were nice enough to write the following review on my performance on Wedding Wire, and allow me to share it here on our blog.

Richie is exactly what couples look for in a DJ; motivated, accommodating, professional and personable. From start to finish, Richie was an absolute Ace in terms of coordination and planning. At no point did we have to chase Richie about details, if anything he was consistently following-up with us. Our wedding was at Cairnwood Mansion, in Bryn Athyn, PA, and not only is Richie highly recommend by the venue, but demonstrated working knowledge of the layout. We had full control over the music played, which provided a wide variety of music and excluded anything that we didn’t want to hear (line dances or heavy rap music). In addition, Richie gauged the audience on the dance floor and adjusted accordingly, essentially achieving exactly what we wanted, a fun environment with a great mix of music and keeping everyone on the dance floor. An absolute pleasure to do business with, I would recommend Richie in a heartbeat.

Images courtesy of Ryan Schwartz

Cairnwood

Robert Fair Caterers

This summer, I was the DJ at so many Cairnwood Mansion weddings that I think I’ve lost count.  It’s definitely one of my favorite venues at which to DJ not only because the folks there are awesome, but, admittedly, because it is only a few minutes drive from our office. I have been there many times either for weddings or attending their open house, where I meet potential brides and grooms checking out the venue.  In fact, it was at an open house when I met an amazing mother of a bride to be, Judie. Judie shared with me all about her daughter and soon to be son in law, and promised that this was going to be one of the most fun weddings of all time.  After a few phone calls and a meeting they decided I was the right DJ for the job.  I highly encourage all future brides and grooms  to meet their DJ in person before making a decision to book a DJ.  Sure you can view our website and read reviews online, but in my opinion the best way to know if a DJ is right for you is by meeting him or her in person.  For m,e I prefer meeting brides and grooms, because I like to get to know them, listen to what they envision for the reception, and of course find out what kind of music they like.

Lindsay and Justin were one of the most fun and easy going couples I have worked with. Getting to know them was more like making new friends then working with a client, and as it turned out we had so much in common. Their wedding was one of the highlights of my summer, and by the pictures featured here you can tell this was one great crowd.   Of course when I DJ a wedding I consider it a team effort, and the wedding can not be successful unless all of the wedding professionals work in sync. The caterers for the wedding were Jamie Hollander Catering, where the father of the bride – Mark – is a Chef. Allure West Studios did an awesome job capturing the images of the event. Natalie and Jung are a superstar husband and wife team that do great work.  Finally, a successful wedding can’t be complete without the bride and groom, and Lindsay and Justin were perfect.

A few weeks after their wedding Lindsay posted the following review of my performance on Wedding Wire.com

Richie did an absolutely amazing job and my husband and I could not be happier!! He is very professional and personable. We went through a time line before hand, so we knew exactly what to expect on the day, and things couldn’t have gone any smoother than they did. He is extremely patient and helped us pick out all of our songs – from the entrance song, to the last dance. The dance floor was packed the whole night and people were fighting to keep their spot on the dance floor. He played a variety of songs, including all of our requests. All my guests were raving at how much fun they had due to Richie and his amazing DJing skills!!! I would highly recommend working with Richie at Cutting Edge DJs.

Thank you, and congratulations to Justin and Lindsay.

~Richie

Images courtesy of Allure West Studios

Cairnwood

www.cuttingedgedjs.com

Being a member of any industry for over a decade – in my case, seventeen years to be more specific – can give you a unique perspective on how to perform on any given night. Many people think that monotony can set in and that “job” can become simply that, a job. However, when you spend your weekends “working” to entertain and provide a service that creates lasting memories it never really becomes “work”…even when the locations are often repeated.

On October 22, 2011 I had the honor of performing as the DJ at Cairnwood Mansion for the wedding of Jennifer Malloy to Ryan Brennan. Cairnwood is one of the venues that I find myself at on a regular basis, but its one that NEVER gets old. It’s like the “Transformer” of wedding venues, in that it can be designed and redesigned based on the individual vision of the bride and groom. This night was no different; the back patio was covered with a full-length tent that insulated the guests from the elements –it was unseasonably cold, even for October- but created a custom entrance between the tent and the castle.

The reception began with a bang as the entire bridal party entered the hall to the official hit of 2011, “Party Rock Anthem” by LMFAO. This led to the introduction of Jennifer and Ryan to “I Wanna Go” by Britney Spears. This short, yet super-hype, introduction only laid the foundation for what became a dancing machine. Before the fun continued the bride and groom shared their first dance to a custom edit of “All I Ask Of You” from the Phantom of the Opera.

As the night progressed we bounced between classic dance tracks and a few of today’s current jams. It really didn’t matter what flow we decided on, Jennifer and Ryan had friends who knew how to party. This is where Cairnwood truly shines; the dance area always looks filled. Some may describe the room as intimate, but it looks fantastic when it’s filled with “body groovin’”.

Thank you to the staff of Feastivities, and to Cairnwood Mansion for their hospitality and courteous service.

Thank you to the John and Doris Costello for the amazing images.

Congratulations Jennifer and Ryan on your perfect day. Best of luck to both of you on your journey together.

To Ryan…persistence really does pay off!

~Brian

Images courtesy of Costello Photography

Cairnwood

www.cuttingedgedjs.com

One of the best things about being a DJ is that I get to be a part of some amazing events, particularly weddings. Writing about weddings on the blog is kind of my way of paying tribute to the job I love so much. I’m able to develop a really strong connection with so many of the brides and grooms I meet. As we sit down and begin to talk about the wedding, it’s like talking to friends about this awesome party we are going to have. I also love sharing the enthusiasm with my clients. Weddings are once-in-a-lifetime events, which sometimes have months of planning, dreaming, and anticipation that boils down to that one magical day.

Patrick and Jackie’s wedding reception was held on Friday May 27th at the Cairnwood Mansion. Luckily for me and the other DJs at Cutting Edge Entertainment, Cairnwood is an amazing site we’ve performed at quite often. In fact, we have more blog posts about Cairnwood Weddings than we do about any other venue. The staff there – along with many of the preferred caterers and photographers – has worked alongside Cutting Edge Entertainment countless times. The vendor list at Cairnwood is based on recommendations from their other professionals and previous blog posts we wrote about Cairnwood, which made Cutting Edge Entertainment Patrick and Jackie’s number one choice for their DJ entertainment. It was a great joy to get to know the bride and groom and share this amazing day with them. Their family and friends were very enthusiastic dancers, and once I got behind the mixer and did my thing, the party didn’t stop.

My assistant DJ for the night was Zach, who rocked a pink vest and tie that evening. Zach has been a member of the Cutting Edge team for close to five years now. He is a talented, hard working guy, who splits his time up between working at Cutting Edge, college, and working as an EMT. Zach is a valued member of our team, and can pretty much do it all, like setting up and running our intense light shows or actually being behind the mixer and beat mixing perfectly with his ears, not needing the aid of a computer screen. A proud member of Cutting Edge Entertainment’s extended family is Allure West Photography, which is run by the dynamic duo of Natalie and Jung. Over the past year, I have gotten the chance to know them very well and I’m always pleased to find out a client was sent our way through their recommendation.

We also worked with Karen’s Caterering – one of the Cairnwood preferred caterers – and, as always, they were an absolute pleasure to work with. The team of servers, bartenders, and the great chef herself (Karen) always do a fantastic job. Working with them is always a treat and I know their clients appreciate all of the hard work they put into all of their events.

This was truly a great wedding, and one of the highlights of my summer. Patrick and Jackie will be four months happily married in a few days. I thank you for having myself and Cutting Edge Entertainment involved in your party, and I look forward to keeping in touch with you both. Wishing you all the best.

-Richie

Images courtesy of Allure West

Catering by Karen’s Catering

Cairnwood

www.cuttingedgedjs.com

It’s often said that even the best laid plans will go astray. It’s often said that you should always have a “plan B”. Well, what happens when you don’t even expect a “plan B” to be necessary and its needed anyway…think quickly and smile through the alterations!

A rainy day is the perfect time for a walk in the woods.
– Unknown

This may be the most concise quote to describe the wedding day of Noelle and John. It was an event that was in the same instance both classical beautiful, while being hectically fun. Simply stating that… although there may be rain overhead, that should not stop you for embarking on an adventure. Taking place at the immaculate setting that is Cairnwood, this day would kick off the greatest adventure for Noelle and John.

The day started like any other; a routine load-in, set-up and prep session. The ceremony was splashed by a gorgeous sun, which quickly led to a few unruly clouds. When the rain began to drizzle from the sky the staff, as well as the guests, forged ahead and ignore the drops…then, it began to rain. Thinking quickly, all of the necessary materials were transported to the Great Hall and the ceremony continued. Our bride and groom kept smiling throughout the entire scenario.

The Great Hall would continue to be the main setting for many of the evening’s formalities, including our first dance and toasts…or is that “roasts”? The next few chunks of the evening took care of dinner and a sugar-covered cake cutting. It’s becoming a rarity when the bride and groom will smother one another in icing, but they were awaiting it tonight.

Our parent dances officially opened the dance floor, as Noelle dance to “Daddy’s Little Girl” (Michael Buble) and John danced to a “Song for Mama” (Boyz II Men) with his mother. The dancing was a classic blend of dance hits and current tracks. John and his friends sang every work to a few Old-School hip-hop songs, while Noelle joined in to wave their arms to a little New Kids on the Block.

The night closed with a bang as Noelle and John shared the floor with their closest friends and family. Smiling all the way, they were ready to embark on their journey together.

Thank you, Noelle and John, for allowing Cutting Edge to share this special day with you. Congratulations!

-Brian

Images courtesy of Candid Moments Photography

Cairnwood

www.cuttingedgedjs.com

Of all the venues Cutting Edge Entertainment has the opportunity to DJ weddings; one of my favorite facilities is the Cairnwood Mansion. On Friday May 20th I found myself at Cairnwood once again for the wedding of Nick and Christa. Like all the couples who choose to have their wedding reception at Cairnwood, they were in love with the place. Having your wedding at Cairnwood is a change of pace from the ordinary ballroom, as it has a historic and architectural charm, while offering multiple rooms within one facility for guests to enjoy and explore. A couple could choose to have their grand entrance and first dance in the Great Hall (as Nick and Christa did), then you have the chance to enjoy your dinner outside on the terrace or in one of the many beautiful rooms inside. Then, finally, we dance the night away on the dance floor.

Christa and Nick had a classic theme for their wedding, which went well with the Cairnwood motif. The servers, bartenders, and even I – the DJ – were wearing a white tuxedo jacket and bow tie. We also brought out the Cutting Edge Entertainment gramophone, and used it as a prop, sitting it on the place card table to add to the theme. During cocktail hour we played music from the swing/big band era with artists like Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, and Glenn Miller. This complimented the classic feel of the wedding reception very well, and set the mood for a ‘swinging’ time to come. Once cocktail hour ended, guests were invited into the Great Hall where the bride and groom wowed their guests with a well rehearsed first dance, and as it concluded with the big dip, their friends and family erupted into applause. Afterward, the bride, groom, and their guests were treated to a delicious dinner courtesy of the great staff from Karen’s Caterers. As dinner ended we showed a photo montage the bride and groom worked hard on preparing, then quickly moved everyone into the living room on to the dance floor. When I met with the bride and groom before the wedding they told me they had a crazy, dancing crowd… boy were they right!

The photographer for the night was the very talented Nicole Leigh. Over the past few months I have gotten to know Nicole – an awesome photographer – and someone I consider a good friend (I will soon have the honor of being the DJ at her wedding as well).. I also had the opportunity to work with Karen, Carlos, and the rest of the awesome staff of Karen’s Caterers. They did such a great job accommodating the one hundred fifty-plus guests at the reception. As always, it was great to get to know and work with Christa and Nick, they’re an amazing couple and on behalf of the whole staff here at Cutting Edge Entertainment we want to thank you for letting us be a part of your magical day.

-Richie

Images courtesy of Nicole Leigh Photography

Karen’s Catering

Cairnwood

www.cuttingedgedjs.com

The month of May was certainly a busy one for everyone here at Cutting Edge Entertainment, with the last one of the month being the wedding I was to DJ for Jamie and Lincoln at the Cairnwood Mansion, working with Robert Fair Caterers. Working at Cairnwood is always a treat for me, and having the opportunity to work with the staff from Robert Fair was like icing on the cake. We provided music for the ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner, and of course for dancing. From the DJ perspective, Jamie and Lincoln were a great couple to work with. I initially met with them in October of 2010 and we stayed in touch all the way up to the day of the wedding. When a newly engaged couple chooses to book with me to DJ their wedding, I begin the most important part of my job long before the wedding day – building the relationship. Every wedding I do is different, so what may work at one wedding may not necessarily work at another. Getting to know the bride and groom doesn’t just help me learn more about what they want for their wedding, but the personal connection we make during this time helps me to achieve their individual vision of the way the day is to transpire.

Jamie and Lincoln were out on the dance floor nearly the entire night. With the bride and groom on the dance floor it makes my job as a DJ that much easier. Their energy and joy were contagious, and before I knew it, all of the guests were out there dancing. My assistant Zach and I had a great time at this reception, however it would not have been as great if not for Terri and Kerry Fair, along with the rest of the terrific staff at Robert Fair Caterers. The food was amazing, and put everybody in a great mood. Working together with the caterer and coordinating the time line flawlessly helped the party achieve a smooth flow. The photographer for the night was Joey Accardo, a good friend of the bride who also happens to be a talented photographer. Yet as always, the most important ingredient to having an awesome wedding is having an awesome bride and groom, and Jamie and Lincoln were definitely that and more. They have recently moved to New York City to start their lives together as husband and wife. I look forward to keeping in touch with them both and hopefully see them – this time as guests – at future events.

~Richie

Images courtesy of Joey Accardo and Jamie Miller Photography

Cairnwood

Robert Fair Caterers

www.cuttingedgedjs.com

It’s been over three months and I still can not get this wedding of my head, and Kerri and Miles are a bride and groom I will not soon forget, and their wedding at Cairnwood was, well, the perfect storm of awesomeness.

Although the reception itself was in December of 2010, I feel like the ‘party’ started long before, at the wrap up meeting at Cutting Edge Entertainment.  Kerri and Miles are the kind of couple that, when I met them, I was infected by their enthusiasm and excitement, both about their upcoming wedding and about being married.  As we went through the process of picking out songs for their reception and formalities (parent dances, cake cutting, introductions, etc), it was like a mini-party broke out right there in the conference room.  Miles just couldn’t sit down, and was up and dancing as we listened to some classic hip-hop, while Kerri had her hands in the air and flower girl Madison’s face was aglow with laughter and happiness.  I have to admit that Kerri and Miles are the kind of clients that make my job so much fun, and I’m lucky to do what I do, and meet such great folks.

The wedding day came that first Saturday in December, and although it was a little cold outside, inside we were warm and toasty… and things were only beginning to heat up The ceremony took place in the great hall of the mansion, and the bride and groom said their vows before their two hundred guests.  Once the ceremony concluded, cocktail hour began with music playing while hors d’oeurves were served and the drinks were flowing.  Once cocktails ended, dinner began with Bernadette and the rest of her catering staff from Jimmy Duffy’s “Wow’ing” the wedding guests with their food and presentation, although this comes as no surprise as they never disappoint.

And then dinner ended… and the party began.  For me, this will go down in the record books as one of those crowds that a DJ only dreams about. It almost seemed as if every single guest was on the dance floor the entire night.  I had so much fun as we had a dance off; with Miles and his crew versus Kerri and her friends.  Needless to say, I was in DJ heaven, I played a lot of funk from the 70s and 80s, kicking it with tunes like “Flashlight” from Parliament and “Bad Mama Jama” by Carl Carlton.  Then we played some classic hip hop party hits, like “Rappers Delight” by The Sugar Hill Gang and “It Takes Two” by Rob Base.  At the end of the wedding, there was only one complain I kept hearing over and over again…“My feet hurt!”

It’s the kind of complaint that makes a DJ smile.

We worked with Judy of JP Event Design on this event, and had a fantastic experience.  She had everything prepared and organized and was the glue for the entire wedding and reception.  It was a wedding with a lot of details and she attended to all them.  Judy is a planner with a passion for her job and lots of talent; and I hope I get the opportunity to work with her again very soon.  I also worked with Adrienne from Element Photography.  She is a great photographer, and as you can tell from the images here, takes some really amazing pictures.  It was great to work with her and I hope to get the pleasure of working together with her again soon.  In the end, it is all about the bride and groom, and Kerri and Miles were one of the best.  Good luck to you both! A great wedding, a great couple, and boy do I love my job.

-Richie

Images courtesy of Element Photography – www.elementphotonj.com

JP Event Design – www.jpeventdesign.com

Cairnwood

www.cuttingedgedjs.com

I’d like to dedicate this blog post to all of the mothers out there helping their son and/or daughter plan their wedding.

It was back in the Fall of 2010 when Tony Donato and I first met Gina, the mother of the groom. She was helping her son in his search to find a DJ for his wedding, while he was attending school in Florida. Gina was on a mission; to find the right DJ for her son and future daughter-in-law’s wedding reception. The event was to be held at Cairnwood Mansion, and since we have been at Cairnwood many times in the past, she was comfortable knowing that we would be able to put together a winning game plan for the party. The goal was to give Nicholas and Karolina the fairy-tale wedding of their dreams. Mom gave us a nice endorsement when she talked to her son, and a few days later after speaking with Nicholas on the phone, we were set for the wedding.

This was my first wedding of 2011, and I couldn’t have asked for a better start. I was working once again with Terri and Robert Fair Catering, and working with them so often over the past few years has allowed us to develop a seamless rhythm and great communication with one another, helping us to better achieve our mutual objective… to ‘Wow’ the wedding. Now you may be asking yourself, “Wow?” A lot of weddings are good, but to ‘Wow’ a wedding, there needs to be a synergy between all of the wedding professionals at the event. For instance, at this wedding, people walked into Cairnwood and were immediately blown away by how amazing and unique the mansion looked that night. As the guests were seated for a beautifully presented (and delicious) meal, they were impressed by the quality of service from the staff, and as they took their first bite into the food prepared by the chef, the only word they could muster to mutter out was, “Wow.” Finally, after the dinner was over we moved on to the dance floor. Guests flooded the area and everyone danced the night away. Once the night was over we heard a few different types of ‘Wows’. “Wow my feet hurt from all that dancing” and “Wow I sure am going to sleep great tonight.”

This was my first time working with Evan Leslie Images. Evan did a great job and I look forward to working with him again. I also want to thank him for letting me feature his pictures on our blog. I also want to thank Nicholas and Karolina, you guys were awesome to work with. Then, last but certainly not least, there’s Gina, it was great to get to know you and your family. You’re a great dancer and one very cool mom. It was a pleasure to be at your service.

-Richie

Images courtesy of Evan Leslie – www.evanleslie.com

Robert Fair Caterers

Cairnwood

www.cuttingedgedjs.com

October is always an extremely busy month for Cutting Edge Entertainment, and this October was no exception. My wedding at Cairnwood Mansion Friday October 1st got things off to a great start. Cairnwood is by far one of my favorite venues; I like the staff, the venue, and the fact that it’s located only a few short minutes drive from our office. However, the thing I like most about Cairnwood is that each and every wedding or party I do there is uniquely different. In other words, it never gets boring at Cairnwood. There are so many different caterers, decorators, planners, florists and other event professionals that all bring their own individual style, enhancing the event and adding something new and different to each party I do there.

The first Friday of October my bride and groom were Melissa and Charles. They are both graduates of Penn State University, and it wasn’t hard to tell that they were Nittany Lion fans, judging from the huge ice sculpture of the Penn State logo. Melissa and Charles wanted to keep the wedding simple and fun. The caterers set up food stations in each of the different rooms of the mansion. This gave guests a chance to walk around and explore as they visited each food station. Dinner flew by as the bride, groom, and caterer had anticipated, and we moved quickly into cake cutting, parent dances, and most importantly some much needed dancing. In my opinion, on Friday after a long week of work or school, it’s always good to let loose and party. The reception was great, with a lot of dancers in the crowd. I got to play a lot of my favorite sing-a-long tunes like “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond and “Build Me Up Buttercup” by The Foundations. Later on I played lots of new dance music like my new favorite jam “Dynamite” from Taio Cruz and “I Gotta Feeling” by the Black Eyed Peas.

It was an amazing start my busy October. Of course I couldn’t have done it without the help of my great DJ, the amazing Joey. He took some time off because of college, but I’m glad to see him back behind the DJ booth again. I worked with Robert Fair Catering again, and again Teri and her staff did a fantastic job. The party went flawless and they played a big part in it’s success. My good friend John and his wife Doris were the photographers. I recently learned that John is a pretty good tennis player for an old dude, and I hope to play him sometime soon. Hopefully he takes it easy on me.

Finally to Melissa and Charles, I speak for the entire staff of Cutting Edge Entertainment in thanking you both for choosing us for your big day. We wish you both all the best.

Richie

Photos courtesy of John Costello – www.costellophotography.com

www.cairnwood.org

www.cuttingedgedjs.com