Dinise was a bridesmaid at a wedding I did for Donna and Duy Dinh back in September. She and her then fiancé Stephan had such a great time, they asked if I would come and MC/DJ their wedding. It’s always fun doing weddings for couples who have seen me, especially when the bride and groom from that wedding are in attendance. (Or in this case, one of the bridesmaids.) Watching a couple enjoy a wedding from the “other side” is a cool experience to behold. Dinise and Stephan put together a spectacular team to help them achieve their perfect wedding, starting at the always beautiful and amazing Pickwick Garden in Burbank. Although the ceremony was at a nearby church, Pickwick provided them with a beautiful ballroom, a delicious buffet, and a friendly and attentive staff. Dinise and Stephan’s good friends Jessica and Dustin from 3 Little Birds Event Planning were on top of every detail, making the reception not only look fantastic but helped it run so smoothly.
As the Grand Entrance began, the crowd was electrified with energy. By the time we introduced Mr. and Mrs. Dinise and Stephan Rene, all eyes were focused on the door into the ballroom. Of course, Dinise and Stephan couldn’t leave their new child at home, so Lola, their puppy, walked in with them donning a charming formal dress. Kudos to the bridesmaid who “wrangled” the dog so Dinise and Stephan could enjoy their first dance without being licked.
After dinner, we brought out Estella, Dinise’s Aunt, to dance with her niece. Estella was one of Dinise’s Aunt’s who helped raise her when she first came to America from the Philippines. However, Dinise’s big brother, Daryl cut in half way through the song, so he could dance with his sister. Dinise surprised him as I mixed the song into his “go to” karaoke song “I Just Can’t Wait To Be King” from The Lion King. Stephan brought his mom, Tomoko, out to dance to a special Elvis song he picked out for her as she is a HUGE fan of The King.
Once the dancing started, the party was in full swing. The wonderful photographers and videographers from Clair Chang Films not only captured all of the day’s activities, but they opened up a photo booth that was absolutely PACKED all evening. (Have you EVER seen so many people crammed in one photo???) The guests also tore into the beautiful dessert table across the room from us. As Dinise and Stephan made their way from the bar, to the Photo Booth, and to the Dance Floor, their guests followed them. Things definitely got a little weird on the dance floor when someone busted out the cathead mask, and it was passed all around the dance floor. However, probably the highlight of the evening was Josh’s perfect interpretation of Beyonce’s choreography for “Single Ladies,” performed with all the gusto, attitude, and sass you could imagine. This was a wedding that was not just about one main ingredient, but rather the delicious combination of all sorts of different elements. It is also a wedding I won’t soon forget!
Dave’s recommended vendors from this wedding included:
- Pickwick Gardens – www.pickwickgardens.com
- 3 Little Birds Event Planning – www.3littlebirdseventplanning.com
- Clair Chang Films – www.clairchang.com