I met Yumi and Ryan through TheKnot.com. We clicked immediately, and I have been looking forward to their wedding since January. Their ceremony was at the beautiful Wayfarers Chapel in Palos Verdes. Their reception was at the Doubletree in San Pedro, just a short drive away. The event coordinator and her crew beautifully decorated the ballroom. When the guests arrived, they were treated to cocktails on the patio overlooking the marina.
Once inside, the party started almost immediately. As soon as the ballroom doors opened, half of the guests headed straight for the photo booth and the other half to the bar. They were also anxious to dance, and we couldn’t get through dinner before Yumi’s family took to the dance floor. We made adjustments to the schedule, so we would not have to interrupt the dancing too much, only stopping to give the guests a break by doing a couple of wedding formalities. The party got pretty crazy, as some of the crazier partygoers hoisted Yumi up in a chair, parading her across the dance floor. Ryan’s punishment was even worse, as the guys managed to grab a tablecloth and flung him up into the air several times. However, everyone survived, and the party continued until Yumi and Ryan were too exhausted to continue.
The main concern for Yumi and Ryan was finding a DJ who could work with the cultural dynamics of their families. Yumi’s family was mostly Mexican, and Ryan’s family was mixed. I played a variety of both Spanish and English songs to keep everyone happy. Toasts were also given in both languages, so no one felt left out. One of the most amazing moments happened when Ryan’s Dad and Step Mom presented Yumi and Ryan with their surprise Honeymoon…an all-expense paid trip to the Dominican Republic, complete with an ocean front suite at an all-inclusive resort and a couple rounds of golf for Ryan. It was a wonderful night, and I think I had as much fun as the guests.
Dave’s recommended vendors for this wedding are:
- Samantha Hall Events – samanthahallevents.com
- Beautiful Photography – beautifulphotography.com
- 911 Photo Booths – 911photobooths.com