May 2022

For much of the world, 2020 was an incredibly difficult time. So many of us couldn’t wait to move onto the new year. When it comes to Marisa and Christopher, however, they couldn’t wait for 2022… because they got engaged in quarantine! After years of planning, prepping, and waiting, their special day finally came… and a special day it was!

Sunny, blue skies, and plenty of beautiful music; that’s what the day entailed. After a gorgeous offsite wedding in Sleepy Hollow, the party made its way over to the Westchester Country Club. Nestled just outside of Rye, NY, the site offered gorgeous views of the water just steps away from where everyone enjoyed cocktails. Our cocktail trio, Jack, Robert, and Matt, had a whale of a time underscoring the post-ceremony conversation with smooth, jazzy tunes. By the end of the cocktail hour, the entire party was ready for some dancing and dining!

As if Westchester Country Club wasn’t already gorgeous enough, the reception was out to raise the bar even higher! As the sun began to set on a gorgeous night, the party was still going strong, as the glow of the bandshell and string lights illuminated the faces of the happy couple, as they entered the party as husband and wife to “Can’t Get Enough of Your Love”! Shortly thereafter, it was time for the first dance, “I’ll Wait”, as the newlyweds spun around the floor, and there was not a single dry eye in the house. Slow dances are great, but it was time to turn up the tempo, as the “Tarantella” took over the dance floor! (And that wasn’t the only Italian songs of the night, either… between “Cella Luna/Lazy Mary”, lead by our very own Robert, and Sinatra hits, such as “Fly Me to the Moon” and “The Way You Look Tonight”, the party certainly had their fair share of Italian tunes!)

While the party was certainly still going, it was time to slow it down a bit with the parent and child dances. Marisa and Tony danced to “Nothing Can Change This Love”, and Christopher and Maureen danced to “Love Is a Verb”! And if that sweetness wasn’t enough, cake was on the menu (of course)! Our very own Carla treated the crowd to “B-A-B-Y” as the party partook in that sugary goodness. With everyone’s blood sugars sufficiently raised, it was time to get some serious dancing in. There were so many highlights of the night, but the party particularly loved Carla’s stellar performance of “I Wonder Why”, Kathryn’s killer riffs on “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You”, and Darius’ incredible take on the new-time dance classic, “Shut Up and Dance”. Of course, there were so many others over the course of the night (after all, who can deny that ABBA, especially “Dancing Queen”, is a surefire way to flood the dance floor), and there were memories made that no one would soon forget!

As the party moved on from the reception to the after party, and the night began to come to a close, it wouldn’t be the pretty weather or the amazing views that everyone talked about. But instead, the topic of conversation would be the radiance of Marisa and Christopher’s marriage, and the lovely time spent with the people they loved. And, for a quiet engagement made in the time of COVID, that was all Marisa and Chris could ever ask for.

Talk about a great way to kick off the New Year!

While other people were ringing in 2021 by celebrating with a champagne toast, Anne and Aron were taking a major life step instead–and getting engaged! (Talk about a way to end 2020 with fireworks!) Almost a year and a half later, the two tied the knot, on a sunny day, on a rooftop in Brooklyn; and we had the honor of tagging along to play some great music!

At the Box House Hotel in Brooklyn, the party took their seats, and “Can’t Help Falling In Love“, played beautifully on the piano by Pablo, welcomed the procession. Underneath the bright blue sky, Anne and Aron officially wed, and the party rejoiced! Everyone agreed that it was a “Beautiful Day” (just like the sun that accompanied the exit of the party), but cocktails were calling the party’s name!

After a few drinks, everyone’s stomachs were rumbling, and their feet were ready for some dancing! With a playful tune like “Feel So Close” sung gracefully by our bandmate Brian, the newlyweds entered, and the party could truly begin! With a beautiful mashup of “At Last” and “Dancing in the Moonlight”, Anne and Aron wowed the party with a stellar routine, as Katrina sang. But they wanted a taste of the action too. So that meant it was time for the Hora!

With the rugs properly cut, for the party braced themselves, because it was time for the parent/child dances… and that meant that not a cheek would be dry soon! “Your Song” and “Beautiful Boy” accompanied some truly beautiful moments, as Anne and Aron spun the floor with their Father and Mother respectively. Not to worry, however… because it was time for cake shortly thereafter! As everyone caught glimpse of the slice, Amanda treated us to the dulcet tones of “With or Without You“… but no one was without a little something for their sweet tooths!

Enough cake eating… the party was ready to live up to their title… and party! The rest of the night was spent with tons of merriment and dancing. Some of our favorite highlights include when Brian treated everyone to “Kiss” by Prince, and then joined forces with Katrina for “Shallow”, and the incredible treat of Mike’s rendition of “Stand by Me”! Before the night was done, there was also some other great songs– “Dancing in the Dark”, “Any Way You Want it“… the list goes on and on! As the night finally came to a close, everyone’s hearts were sufficiently full… and the memories were ones they would never forget!

When you’re in the process of deciding on wedding venues in New York City, you’re hardly ever at a loss for beautiful and historic locations. While every location is beautiful, there is nothing quite like the gorgeous beauty of the Boathouse at Prospect Park! With pristine white columns rising from the pavement to the roof, and magnificent water just steps away, the Boathouse is a perfect venue… and that’s why Kathleen and Anthony chose it for their special day!

Even if the weekend was shaping up to be particularly hot, that didn’t change a thing for our party! After a wonderful day of preparation, the ceremony was ready to begin! With traditional tunes underscoring the procession, bridal entrance, and recession, the ceremony went off without a hitch. Such classical scoring on the strings and keys, paired with the elegance of the Boathouse, made for the image of perfection. The band loved playing… and savored the cool weather!

From there, the party moved to cocktails! They enjoyed some jazzy tunes as they mingled, with our jazz trio, Dave, Justin, and Brian played gently underneath the small talk. As the cocktail hour ended, the party was ready for something heavier… both in terms of food, and dancing! The party settled in for the reception, and the night was kicked off! After everyone took their seats, the Bride and Groom entered to “Signed, Sealed, Delivered“, sung expertly by Tim!

It was time for the first dance. To tug again at the heartstrings, Kathleen and Anthony spun around the dance floor to “It Had to Be You“, in their first dance as husband and wife. From there, it was time for the Mother/Son dance! Anthony and his Mom danced to “What a Wonderful World”, sung by Tim, as the party looked on. Not a single cheek was dry! With this, the festivities turned for the sweeter… and it was time to cut the cake! As the moment arrived, Amanda serenaded the party to “How Sweet It Is“… and how sweet it was!

Everyone’s bellies were full, so it was time for some dancing… but not before the bouquet was thrown, as Amanda riffed out “Single Ladies“! After the Olympic struggle for the flowers, it was time to party! The entire party cut a rug to beloved hits such as “Dynamite“, “Gangham Style”, “Wannabe” and “And All For You”, amongst many others. By the time that the sun was setting on such a beautiful day, hardly anyone wanted to leave. Truly Kathleen and Anthony had THE perfect day.

Tash and Doug met in the summer of 2019 while on call at Mount Sinai St. Luke’s hospital. They were both at a local deli, “Milano’s Market”, grabbing a quick bite to eat when Doug worked up the courage to ask this beautiful woman to walk back with him. Even though the walk was only three blocks, they quickly discovered many common interests and knew this was going to be the beginning of an amazing journey together.

Despite the fact that most of their relationship was during the COVID pandemic, as well as being in separate states from each other, nothing stopped them from endless adventures and falling more in love. They explored NYC, Boston, Philly, Montreal, and even Costa Rica. They were also able to visit London just before the wedding, sparing Doug many Leigh family surprises on the day of the wedding.

Not only did they find common interests in board games, horror movies, NY Times crossword puzzles, cooking, and outdoor activities, but they are also taking on each other’s interests. Tash has tried kayaking and fishing, and Doug’s social media pages are now flooded with horses. Their love has also expanded to two kitty cats, Cheeto and Kiwi, that they adopted during the pandemic.

From both sides of the pond, Tash, Doug, and their families were so excited to finally celebrate the newlyweds at the beautiful Skylands Manor in Ringwood, New Jersey. This unique and gorgeous venue was the perfect place to set the scene for such a momentous occasion. As friends and family of the happy couple arrived, they were met with a beautiful Koi pond right down the center aisle with the Skyland castle in the background. The wedding party was processed to the Around Town Entertainment’s pianist playing “Mariage D’amour” by Jacob’s Piano. Before Tash started down the aisle, “Extraordinary Magic” was beautifully played, and everyone turned around to see Tash smiling on her father’s arm. Tash and Doug exchanged their vows as the koi swam and occasionally left ripples in the pond in front of them. Everyone cheered as the newlyweds kissed for the first time as husband and wife, and they skipped down the aisle to “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)” by Natalie Cole! After all the miles their friends and family traveled to finally celebrate, they were so excited to get the party started!

As the guests adjourned to the castle and enjoyed the cocktails on the grounds of the manor, they were accompanied by the Around Town Entertainment jazz trio. The jazz trio featured a pianist, guitarist, and bass played, and played everyone’s favorite classic jazz hits that paired beautifully with everyone’s drinks. The sun began to set, and everyone’s stomach were starting to rumble excited for dinner and to break it down on the dance floor.

Tash and Doug entered to the Altitude Band playing their most favorite song “Crocodile Rock” by Elton John, as their family and friends welcomed them as husband and wife! The newlyweds had told the Altitude Band about all their favorite songs, which the Altitude played and rocked their guests all night long. For their first dance, they danced to “Dance With Me” by Phillip Phillips. Some other favorites of Tash and Doug’s that were played included “How Long Will I Love You” by Ellie Goulding; “Dear Future Husband” by Meghan Trainor; “Extraordinary Magic” by Ben Rector; “Tennessee Whiskey” by Chris Stapleton; “Vivir Mi Vida” by Marc Anthony; and “Suavemente” by Elvis Crespo!

We’re so happy that after being held off for quite some time, all of Doug and Tash’s family and friends were able to join them for such a memorable and special occasion with the Altitude Band!

The salty sea air. Gusty ocean winds. The crisp sound of waves crashing. Guests of the #IlawMeSomeMelendez wedding enjoyed just this, as Morgan and Michael got married! The wedding, nestled into the beautiful Surf Club on the Sound, went off without a hitch, as the soothing sounds of the sea playfully danced underneath the music of the ceremony. The party, serenaded to “Just the Way You Are“, “Endless Love”, and “This Will Be”, by our pianist and harpist, Pablo and Tomina, was certainly joyous as Morgan and Michael tied the knot, and made it official!

The next step was cocktails, where our jazz trio treated the party to some sweet tunes in the upstairs section of the surf club. But everyone was ready to cut a rug, and that meant that it was time for the reception to begin! The Bridal party entered to a killer rendition of “Crazy in Love” by Lauren, and shortly thereafter, Morgan and Michael entered to “Signed, Sealed, Delivered”, a perfectly appropriate post nuptials bop! After Darius finished his pitch perfect rendition, he moved on to deliver (pun intended!) the next song of the night: the first dance! Morgan and Michael took to the floor, and everyone looked on fondly as “Glad You Exist” gently welcomed the new couple to the world as husband and wife.

While tugging on the heartstrings, why not move on to the Father/Daughter and Mother/Son dances? Raoul and Morgan shared a sweet moment as they danced around the floor to “I’ll Be There“, and Elizabeth and Michael finished off the tearjerkers with “Amor de Madre”, both beautifully sung by Karen! With so many tears shed, the party was in need of an energy boost, and what better way to do that than with some cake! The party all got their sweet tooth fill as Darius treated them to “Sugar“, a fitting tune!

With a sufficient amount of sugary goodness in their systems, the party was ready to take to the dance floor, and our A-List Band was ready to play! Fan favorites of the night included “Vivir Mi Vida“, “Felices Los 4”, and “Classic”, and everyone took part in line dances and freestyles alike! By the time that the final song played and everyone was heading home, there was plenty of celebrations had, and plenty of memories made. For Morgan and Michael, it was a perfect day, and one that they will never forget!

Although South Salem is known for its beauty during the autumn, Le Chateau is just as gorgeous during the late spring, as proven by the time spent this weekend with Jessica and Michael as they wed! The weekend proved to be perfect for a wedding spent in the Chateau, as the ceremony went off without a hitch, even with inclement weather simmering over the horizon. The early afternoon began wonderfully, with Alex accompanying the party with lovely piano trills, with tunes such as “You’ve Got the Love”, “I’ll Be”, and “You are the Best Thing” underscoring an already picture perfect day. After giving the heartstrings adequate time, it was time to party!

Cocktail hour proved to be a lovely time, but everyone was ready to cut a rug. And that meant that everyone needed to make it to the dance floor! After everyone settled, Jessica and Michael entered to the lovely bars of Malika singing “We Found Love”, a perfect blend of love song goodness and dance anthem! It got the night started on the perfect foot. From there, they slowed things down a bit for their first dance, “Just Like Heaven”, which was an angelic sight (pun absolutely intended).

Sure, weddings are about the bridge and groom, but everyone came to dance, too… so what better time than the present to break out the Hora?! Chairs were raised, as were voices, as everyone joyously took part in a beautiful moment of love and celebration. With the hunger for dance quelled for a time, the time for parent/child dances had come. Between Victor’s beautiful renditions of “Hallelujah” and “What a Wonderful World”, not a single tear had been spared. And everyone knows what makes tears better–cake! For cake cutting, the party was treated to “This Will Be”, a wedding staple, by Malika. And of course, the cake was good, too!

With tummies sufficiently filled, everyone was ready to take to the dance floor, and put the “party” in “wedding party”! Fan favorites such as “Shout”, “My Own Worst Enemy”, and “Hotline Bling”, made for the perfect dance anthems, as the Authority Band, and Malika, Victor, and Tim all crooned and sang the night away. They even made time for some specifically requested songs, including “Your Love” and “Think About You”, plus some Top 40 Hits.

Like Jessica and Michael’s love, it was truly a party for the ages!

After a long Saturday of gusty weather and tempestuous winds, it was nice to have something heartfelt to warm the bones. And for the lucky few, that warmth came from the beautiful wedding of Josh and Nicole at the gorgeous Brotherhood Winery! At every step of the way, the wedding party enjoyed sights of rustic beauty, with everything from the vineyard, to the classic stone structure of the building, to the giant barrels of wine kept on site. It truly was a perfect setting for a perfect day!

Surrounded by friends and family, Nicole and Josh wed on the lawn with the prepossessing, rolling hills of the winery behind them. With songs such as “Your Song”, “Perfect”, and “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” played so beautifully on the piano by our Altitude Band pianist Patrick, there was surely no dry eye in the house. By the time the lovely couple was wed, it was high time for cocktails. And after that… it was time to party!

While their time on the patio and the lawn was wonderful, the grumbling stomachs and dancing feet were calling for the reception, so the party made their way inside! After entering and jamming to songs such as “Dancing in the Dark” and “A Little Party Never Killed Nobody”, the parents and the bridal party had taken their seats. And that meant that it was time for the couple of the hour to arrive, and to “Back in Black” by ACDC no less! Suzann, Tim, and Nascha had a blast singing such fun songs. But now it was time to slow things down a bit… and get ready for the first dance! By the time that Josh and Nicole took the floor as Nascha crooned “Remedy” by Adele, there wasn’t a single tear unshed. But it was high time for some dancing; and that called for “Kalamatiano”! Everyone danced, clapped, and cheered. Such merriment was just enough of a recovery for everyone to get prepared for the next tearjerkers: the father/daughter and mother/son dances! Between “Forever Now” sung beautifully by Tim, and “My Wish” sweetly sung by Suzann, the party had earned another round of dances. So it was time to take to the floor once again, and cut a rug!

For their special day, Josh and Nicole wanted nothing more than to spend a happy night with their loved ones, surrounded by plenty of delicious food (and, of course, wine!) and beautiful music, and they certainly got exactly what they asked for. (And, of course, a few things being purchased off of their registry didn’t hurt either!)

It was summer 2017, and Ross had recently moved to NYC from Philly. He was still starting to get acclimated and learning his way around the Big Apple! With not many summer plans in place yet, both Samantha and Ross signed up at the last minute (literally each of them signed up 2 weeks before) to go on a Meor Manhattan trip to Amsterdam and Israel. Although they met briefly during the orientation, it really wasn’t until Amsterdam that they became acquainted. Throughout the early days of their trip to Amsterdam, they soon learned that they knew people in common via their Boca connections – Ross being from Florida and going to school in Boca and Samantha attending college there – what a coincidence! The big world they ended up traveling together in just got a little smaller, in the BEST way!

As the nights out progressed, Samantha finally agreed for her new travel “friend,” Ross, to buy her a drink. It was a great night of chatting and learning about one another but in a friendly manner. The trip continued on to Israel, and included many great talks and nights out, which eventually helped Ross charm his way into the possibility of being MORE than just a friend. With some unfortunate luck, the group’s flights home were canceled which ultimately led to people in the group being randomly split up between two flights. Did our happy couple ended up getting separated before sparks could fly? Well, Luck, irony, and/or fate intervened again and landed Samantha and Ross on the same flight home! Upon their arrival back to the USA/New York, they both wondered if their connection would outlast their trip…spoiler alert – it did! Three years later and their love is as strong as ever! The two are the best of friends and the love of travel and spontaneity that initially brought them together, played cupid and made them fall in love!

Three years later, Ross surprised Samantha with an “early birthday trip” in the midst of a global pandemic to their favorite/special place, Newport, RI. At the perfect time (happy hour over sunset with the sailboats in sight), Ross shocked Samantha and got down on one knee during their “classic Newport photo opp”, making this their most memorable trip to Newport yet!

The beautiful couple got married at Felina in Ridgewood, NJ. Ross and Samantha’s special day was meticulously planned by A Touch of Elegance Floral and Event Design! Before Samantha started down the aisle, the pianist from Around Town Entertainment played “You’ve Got The Love” by Florence and the Machine! Everyone saw Dan first see Alyssa on her father’s arm, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house! The two exchanged their vows and said their “I Do’s” and then practically sprinted down the aisle singing along to “Bittersweet Symphony” It was such an exciting moment, almost as exciting as the party after!

Then it was cocktail hour, where the guests were serenaded by the Around Town Band’s jazz trio featuring a bass, guitar, and piano! All the guests started to tap their toes along with many of the jazz classics the group played, getting excited to dance it out for the reception! As everyone entered into the reception room, the bridal party skipped into the room jamming it out to Mr. Worldwide’s “Give Me Everything” that was performed by the most requested wedding band in New Jersey, the Altitude Band. Ross and Samantha made their grand entrance as husband and wife to “Electricity” by Dua Lipa and the dance party kicked off!

The Around Town Band played many of Ross and Samantha’s favorite songs throughout the night such as “Danza Kuduro” by Marc Anthony, “I Like Me Better” by Lauv (the couple’s special favorite song), and “Despacito” by Luis Fonsi, which is Ross’ most FAVORITE song EVER!

It was truly a night to remember and we’re so happy to have been part of Ross and Samantha’s special day extra memorable!

Whether they knew it or not, Dan and Alyssa were always in each other’s lives. They went to the same elementary school for a couple of years, played ice hockey at the same rink, and even went to the same college, UMass Amherst our freshman year! Alyssa’s brother even played hockey with Dan when they were younger. Despite all the overlap, the two were definitely two ships passing in the night: right there, but just missing each other. That all changed in the Fall of 2018! The two went on their first date at Eli’s in Orange. After a month of some great dates, Dan popped the question! Well…not THAT question! They officially became a couple!

In January of 2019, they added another little buddy to their family. Well, not like THAT! Colt, their black labrador retriever, became a welcome addition until they decided that he needed a friend! Then came Dakota! Alyssa and Dan love spending time with their pups whether it be hiking, or traveling. Because they love their adventures with their furry family members, Alyssa planned a trip with one of her best friends, Gabby, to go to Acadia National Park. The two planned it out, and brought along Dan and Adam, Gabby’s boyfriend, and were extremely excited to go on such an amazing adventure! Little did they know, that Dan was actually planning on proposing to Alyssa that weekend! It was a surprise for everyone and Alyssa said that anyone who knows the Coudens sure knows they can’t keep secrets!

On their second night in Acadia, 8/8/20, Alyssa, Dan, Gabby, and Adam drove up Cadillac Mountain and parked their car. Alyssa saw that Dan was bringing his giant backpack, and asked him why. He said that it was because he wanted to bring his camera with him. She shrugged it off and she and Gabby kept marching up to the mountain. The two took some beautiful photos on the mountain of the stunning sunset over the water and then a couple asked us if they wanted them to snap a picture of the adventurous quartet together. Dan said “No!” a little too quickly… which raised everyone’s suspicions. About 15 minutes later, Dan suggested they take a photo at a different spot, and as they went to snap the picture, he got down on one knee and popped the question! Alyssa was in suck shocked she asked if he was actually serious! She said yes and it’s truly a day they’ll never forget, especially until their wedding day!

The beautiful couple got married at The Pavilion on Crystal Lake in Middletown, Connecticut. Before Alyssa started down the aisle decorated with beautiful bouquets from The Floating Dahlia, the pianist from Around Town Entertainment played “A Thousand Years.” Everyone saw Dan first see Alyssa on her father’s arm, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house! The two exchanged their vows and said their “I Do’s” and then practically sprinted down the aisle singing along to “This Will Be An Everlasting Love.” It was such an exciting moment, almost as exciting as the party after!

Then it was cocktail hour, where the guests were serenaded by the Around Town Band’s jazz trio featuring a bass, guitar, and piano! All the guests started to tap their toes along with many of the jazz classics the group played, getting excited to dance it out for the reception! As everyone entered into the reception room, the bridal party skipped into the room jamming it out to Queen’s “Fat Bottomed Girls” that was performed by the most requested wedding band in Connecticut, the Around Town Band. Dan and Alyssa made their grand entrance as husband and wife to “Knockin’ Boots” by Luke Bryan, and the dance party kicked off!

The Around Town Band played many of Dan and Alyssa’s favorite songs throughout the night such as “Grow Old With You” by Adam Sandler, “Steady Heart” by Kamerone Marlow, and even got everyone on the dance floor with the Cupid Shuffle!

It was truly a night to remember and we’re so happy to have been part of making Dan and Alyssa’s special day extra memorable!