Over the last year and a half, it seems like I have done more weddings at unique venues than I have ever done in the past ten years. Alyssa and Spencer’s wedding continued this trend. The Strathearn Historical Park in Simi Valley was the setting for this unique, vintage, and country-chic wedding. From the white gazebo and historical barn to the chicken coup, couples like Alyssa and Spencer, who have a flair for the non-traditional, can find their dream venue here.
Decorating and turning this rustic locale into a dream wedding was just one of the challenges Alyssa and Spencer faced. Alyssa comes from a conservative Christian family, and Spencer’s family is Mormon. They were a little worried that their families, most of whom were meeting each other for the first time, might not dance at their alcohol-free wedding. However, Alyssa and Spencer’s doubts dissipated when all of the family, as well as all their friends, packed the dance floor and had a “barn-raising” good time. Everyone enjoyed themselves and almost everyone stayed until the very end.
I have had the pleasure to work with many couples who had family situations much like Alyssa and Spencer. Many of them have been to weddings where the DJ was not carefully selected, and the more conservative guests just sat around or left early. I found that successfully DJing to religious wedding guests is a three-step process. First step is music selection. Carefully choosing songs that are clean, and in some extreme circumstances, non-suggestive goes a long way in making guests more comfortable. Next step is programming music sets that include a variety of genres that appeal to all ages and not just what is popular on the radio. Finally, and probably most importantly, is bonding with the crowd and creating a safe and fun environment that welcomes everyone. From the oldest party guests to the kids (and everyone in between), there needs to be a sense of community. This is achieved with icebreakers, humor, and a friendly attitude. Alyssa and Spencer had an absolutely beautiful wedding, and their guests had a wonderful time.
Dave’s recommended vendors for this wedding are:
- For couples looking for a unique venue to hold their own wedding, I highly recommend The Strathearn Historical Park in Simi Valley – simihistory.com – 805-526-6453