Here at Around Town Entertainment, we do love getting the chance to see the beauty of the Northeastern United States. But, as an NYC based band, we do have our New York State pride–so when we get the chance to celebrate someone’s wedding in the Empire State, we are super excited! And this past weekend, we got to celebrate Geena and Kyle in Salem! Romantic, stately, and serene, the skyline may not be in view, but Le Chateau’s beauty is so vast that you hardly even miss it! So what else was there to do but get ready to party?

With the ceremony completed, Geena and Kyle had tied the knot just moments before–and we were already prepped to get started! The cocktail hour began, featuring the skills of our jazz trio. The party mingled and drank… and warmed up for the dancing that awaited them just beyond the next room! Finally, when the time came, the party set down their drinks and hustled over to their tables, ready for the main event!

And the main event had truly arrived! To kick off the evening, the band announced the entrance of the bridal party with “Getting Jiggy With It”! From there, Geena and Kyle officially debuted as husband and wife, and the band announced it with “I’m Your Boogeyman”! Once the cheers finally died down, Geena and Kyle got in position for their first dance, which the Around Town vocalists swiftly delivered! After their beautiful take on “Turning Page”, there was hardly a dry eye in the house–so why not rip the bandaid off, and head right into the parent/child dances? Geena and her father danced to “God Bless the Boy”, and Kyle and his mother danced to “Days Like This”, both sung beautifully by the male vocalist.

It was time for a sweet treat, and what better treat than some cake? While the cake was being dealt out, the band dealt out “Suga Suga”, a perfect fit for everyone’s sweet tooth! With so many traditional festivities done and passed, it was time for some good old-fashioned dancing! From the Jackson 5, to Madonna, to Nikki Minaj, and everything in between, the party broke out their dancing shoes and truly cut a rug! As the night finally came to a close, the city lights paved the way for everyone to return home. And what a gorgeous sight it was! Congratulations to the happy couple!

There are plenty of absolutely knock-you-out, starry-eyed places to hold a wedding in New York City. After all, the Big Apple is not at a shortage of beautiful sights, so to get married in some of those venues is a no brainer! But if the city that never sleeps is beyond your speed, there is a very reasonable alternative: why not take a little trip across the river to New Jersey? With the water just below, and the skyline stretching out on the horizon, it’s a formidable option for gorgeous views. And we’d know firsthand, as we got the chance to celebrate Chloe and Mark at the beginning of November at Battello!

With the big windows behind him, our Around Town Entertainment pianist, was already in place as the guests arrived, and welcomed them in with plenty of beautiful music! Over the course of the ceremony, he dished out perfect renditions of “Canon In D”, “Ocean Eyes”, and “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)”. And before they knew it… the knots were tied!

From there, it was time for the cocktail hour! A bassist, guitarist, and pianist made up the jazz trio, and as the attending party entered, they were already setting the tone of the evening with some jams! The evening continued to unfold as everyone drank and mingled. And back in the main dining room, we were preparing for a stellar reception!

When the clock struck 7, the guests shimmied their way over to the main event! Once the guests took their seats, the Around Town Band welcomed in Chloe and Mark with “I Wanna Dance With Somebody”! The crowd was perfectly warmed up, and good timing, too, as Chloe and Mark took their places for the first dance! The band served up a beautiful rendition of “I’ll Keep You Dry”, and from there, continued on to serenade both of the mother/child dances! Chloe and her mother danced to “Isn’t She Lovely”, and Mark and his mother danced to “Days Like This”.

After so many emotional moments, the party was ready to let loose, and perfectly timed, too–because we had plenty of perfect dancing songs ready to go! The band played Chloe and Mark’s favorite songs, including “Mr. Brightside”,  “…Baby One More Time”, and “Into the Mystic”! As the night continued on even further, with songs from Toto to Sade, everyone danced away into the late hours of the night!

When it comes to first dates, everyone has been on some lukewarm, unspectacular ones for sure. So when you hear about people going on amazing first dates… you know it’s definitely a sign! For Jen and Luke, they experienced the latter! On their very first date to Dandelion in Philly, they hit it off immediately, and the rest was history! Two years later, after spending some time in Miami, they returned to Philadelphia… and Luke proposed! With some of their closest friends with them, they celebrated their engagement in the city where it all began! Now, just a hop, skip, and jump away in beautiful Spring Lake, they got the chance to celebrate again. And this time, it was when they tied the knot!

After a gorgeous ceremony offsite, the guests and attending party stepped into paradise at Spring Lake Bath and Tennis Club! The reception was only an hour away, and while we set up in ballroom, our jazz trio was ready to warm up the crowd! With our cocktail hour underway, the Around Town Entertinament’s jazz trio set the tone with some gentle, jazzy tunes. The guests got the chance to discuss the beautiful ceremony and build their anticipation for the main event… which quickly arrived, as the cocktail hour came to a close!

As the guests arrived into the ballroom and found their seats, the Authority Band was already in place and ready to get the night started! The first song was announcing the bridal party,  “Higher Love!” From there, it was time for the main event: Jen and Luke’s debut as newlyweds! As they made their way to the dance floor, our saxophonist, killed “Jubel”, and hyped up the crowd! From there, it was time for the first dance: “Love You For A Long Time”!

There was hardly a dry eye in house! So why not pivot to the parent/child dances? Jen and her father danced to “Brown Eyed Girl”, and Luke and his mother danced to “Somewhere Over The Rainbow”! The party, now, was no longer interested in watching… they wanted to dance, too–and we were plenty prepared!

With the dance floor formally open to all, we were prepped with some crowd favorites! The Authority Band’s vocalist and guitarist lent us their voices for some legendary Spanish songs, including “Por Ti Volare”, “Danza Kaduro”, “Vivir Mi Vida”, “Suavemente”, and, of course,  “Despacito”! We also had some great crowd reactions to other hits, including “Pride and Joy,” “Glory Days,” and “Hot Stuff”! What a great event!

When the weather is as cold as it has been lately, it’s easy to get nostalgic for summer. The warm weather, the chill vibes, and the lack of strong windchill–what’s not to love! Before Ricki and Chris’ wedding this Saturday, we also got to reminisce in those summery times! Ricki and Chris met while they were both camp counselors! Even though the usual camp attire consisted of constant sweat, ponytails, and camp t-shirts, that didn’t deter either of them. And a few dates later, they were absolutely inseparable! Cut to just a handful of years later, and we’re getting ready to celebrate them at Royalton on the Greens!

The day kicked off with a gorgeous ceremony: our Around Town Entertainment pianist, was already in place as guests began to pour in. The late afternoon consisted of some of Ricki and Chris’ favorites, including “You Make My Dreams Come True” and “XO”! By the time that the final note of Hall and Oates played over the piano, and it was official, there was truly not a dry eye in the house! Ricki and Chris had officially tied the knot!

From there, the party was ready for some good old-fashioned mingling, which could only mean one thing: the cocktail hour had arrived! The Around Town jazz trio, was already prepped and ready to go! Everyone partook in drinks and some light jam dancing, and pre-gamed for the main event, which obviously the reception! By the time that the hour finally ended, everyone was ready for some dancing and grooving… and in the other room, the Around Town Band was ready for plenty of that!

Once the guests took their seats, it was time to roll out the red carpet for the man and woman of the hour. And what better way to do that than with some of Jamie’s stellar vocals on “Tell Me You Love Me”?! The cheers finally died down, and Ricki and Chris took their places for the first dance! The Around Town Band’s female vocalist dished out a star worthy rendition of “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)”, and by the time it was over… we agreed! From there, it was time for a lively break–how about a hora? The entire party got to their feet and got ready for the “Hava Nagila”, with our entire band and vocalists joining in!

After such a vibrant burst of energy, we pivoted to something a little more emotional… the parent/child dances! Ricki and her father danced to “Isn’t She Lovely”, and Chris and his mother danced to “Stand by Me”! By the time that the final note played, everyone was ready for a little treat… and that was a perfect time to break out the cake! As they slices were made, the Around Town Band also treated everyone to “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”! And, with a sugar rush successfully administered, it was a perfect time to change the pace of the evening… and head towards the dance floor!

From Billy Joel to Maroon 5, and everywhere in between, we had plenty of great crowd energy to spare for our dance floor-centric portion of the night! But, that said, we churned out plenty of Ricki and Chris’ favorites along the way! The band nailed “I Wanna Get Better”, with the vocalists also perfectly belting out “Semicharmed Life”, and serving up “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” gorgeously! It was a night full of wonder, love, and plenty of excitement, but it did eventually have to come to an end. And when the clock finally struck midnight, plenty of memories had been made!

Some couples truly define “meet cute” in a new way–we’ve all heard some super adorable tales of how true loves came to be. It’s a beautiful reminder of just how wonderful life can be, even when it feels mundane. And this weekend, we got to hear all about a textbook example of this with Julie and Dan! Their first meeting was simple: while Dan was at an internship in the city, and Julie was settling into a new apartment, and a new job. On the roof of a mutual friend’s apartment, Dan tripped over a wire, Julie witnessed and laughed–and the spark had officially flown!

Once they talked for hours, they knew they never wanted to be apart–and a quick cut to five years later, and we were attending their wedding! At Rockrimmon Country Club, the guests took their seats for the ceremony, and our ATE pianist Justin was already playing to set the mood! Once the processional began, “Just The Two of Us”, there was already hardly a dry eye in the house! From there, “Your Song” welcomed the bride, and before anyone could even prepare themselves, Julie and Dan were officially newlyweds, and heading down the aisle to “Dancing In The Moonlight”! With that, it was time to party!

The celebrations kicked off with a serene cocktail hour! Our jazz trio, with Justin, Jed, and Mike, was already prepped and ready to go! As everyone chatted about the ceremony, grabbed a bite to eat, and enjoyed the beautiful views, our trio was treating everyone to some soft jams! Everyone grooved to their heart’s content. And they had plenty of grooving left to do, as we made our way to the main dining room!

Before long, the guests took their seats, which could only mean that the reception had begun! With a stellar set of lights set up by Adrian, the main dining room had never looked better! And the guests were ready for some celebrating, which meant that it was time for the grand entrance! Brian served up “Feel So Close”, as Julie and Dan entered the party! (And no wires were tripped over. Wink, wink.) Seconds later, they made their way to the center of the dance floor, and Brian and Jamie were ready to deliver the first dance! And “You’re All I Need To Get By” was the perfect choice for such a beautiful couple–there wasn’t a single guest or musician in the building who didn’t feel the tug at their heartstrings!

From there, the entire party got the chance to get up and move, as it was time for the hora! With all vocalists joining in, the roof (and the chairs) were well raised! After the floor was cleared, it was time for Julie and her father’s dance! Together, they twirled to “You Are The Sunshine Of My Life”, which Brian crooned perfectly! And shortly thereafter, it was Dan and his mother’s turn, with Jamie’s gorgeous take on “In My Life”!

With plenty of excitement to spare, the party was more than ready for their time to cut loose! From Panic! to Kelly Clarkson, there were plenty of crowd favorites, but few moments compared to the crowd reactions for Jamie’s renditions of “High Horse” and “Don’t Stop Me Now”, and Lauren’s spin on “I’m Still Standing”! And by the time that the final note was played, hardly anyone could still stand–it was truly a party that left it all out on the floor!

When Erin and Andrew first met, it wasn’t in the hallways of school, or at the grocery store, or even at the park! In fact, when they first crossed paths, they didn’t even formally meet! Erin and Andrew matched originally on Bumble, and even though Andrew could extend the timer, Erin neglected to message Andrew first! (As is the rules on Bumble!) Cut to two years later. On Hinge, Andrew comes across a picture of a redhead in a genie costume–and knew he had to take advantage of his second chance! From there, they talked about their mutual love of puppies… and the rest is history!

At the beautiful Indian Trail club, Erin and Andrew were ready to tie the knot! Our guitarist, treated the attending party to “Everything” and “Can’t Help Falling In Love”… and before everyone knew it, it was official! As the Around Town Entertainment’s guitarist played the fittingly chosen recessional song, “Marry You”, and Erin and Andrew made their way down the aisle, everyone was ready to celebrate! Not too far away, the Around Town Entertainment’s cocktail hour jazz trio was ready to go! As the entire party entered, they were treated immediately to some dulcet tunes! Mingling and drinking, the party prepped for the main celebration: the reception!

When the clock finally struck 6, everyone knew it was time! Everyone took their seats. Then, the Altitude Band guided the bridal party entrance with “Party In The USA”! From there, they immediately pivoted to welcoming the man and woman of the hour: Erin and Andrew! With the Altitude Band’s spin on “I’ll Be There For You”, the newlyweds made their way to the dance floor–and did a funny pre-first dance to “The Trouble With Boys”! The crowd cracked up! Then, Erin and Andrew were really ready–and danced to “Until You” for their first dance!

From there, the entire party readied their tissues, as Erin and her father took the floor for their father/daughter dance, Tim’s rendition of “I Loved Her First”! Shortly thereafter, Andrew and his mother spun around the floor to “My Wish” for their mother/son dance! After such an emotional whirlwind, the party was ready for a sugar rush–so as the cake was sliced, the Altitude Band treated everyone to “Can’t Help Myself”!

After plenty of emotional moments, the party had more than earned their chance to dance and let loose! There were plenty of highlights over the course of the night, but the party went particularly crazy for “September” and “I Wanna Dance With Somebody”! By the time that the final song of the night, “New York, New York”, played the final note, it was time to say goodbye. But the entire celebration was so wonderful, it was sure to be a strong memory for years to come!

2012. Curiosity Rover lands on Mars. The Queen celebrates her Diamond Jubilee. The Giants win the World Series. And in New Jersey, another history-book making event was happening: Samantha and Keith were meeting for the first time! Sam and Keith both attended a party, and spark flew immediately! From there, they were inseparable; snow-boarding in Colorado, swimming with dolphins in Mexico, and, of course, hanging out by the Jersey Shore! When Keith finally proposed at Spring Lake, the answer was absolutely yes! (And they have the pictures to prove it!)

When the attending party arrived to the ceremony at Eagle Oaks, everything was absolutely perfect. The warm weather, with the fall foliage just visible on the trees, made for the perfect day! The Around Town Entertainment’s pianist and string musicians, were in position, and there ceremony began! With “Blackbird”, “This Must Be The Place”, and “Cleopatra”, the ceremony had a beautiful lineup of music. And before we knew it, it was over! They were officially married!

That could only mean that the cocktail hour had arrived! The entire party made it to the East Ballroom, and the Around Town Entertainment’s jazz trio, were all already prepped and ready to go! As everyone discussed the beautiful ceremony, drank, and caught up, our jazz trio lent some gentle jazzy tunes to the hour. And we were just in the West Ballroom, getting prepped for the big celebration: the reception!

As the cocktail hour ended, and everyone took their seats, we got the ball rolling! The Altitude Band kicked off the evening with “Let’s Get Loud” and “We Found Love” to introduce both and the bridal party, and the bride and groom themselves! The crowd cheered uproariously as Samantha and Keith made their debut as husband and wife! Once they made their way to their first position, the band served up their first dance on a silver platter: “Coming Home”, a perfect fit! From there, the attending party rolled with the emotional punches, and got prepped for the parent/child dances! For Samantha and her father, the Altitude Band played “My Little Girl”, and for Keith and his mother, “You’ll Be In My Heart”!

As a treat for enduring such an emotional set of songs, it was time for cake! The Altitude Band vocalist serenaded the crowd to “How Sweet It Is”, as they got a little sugar rush boost! And perfect timing, too, because it was time for some serious dancing! As the party got started, we broke out our best songs,  from “Levitating” to “Cold Heart”! But the true, iconic moment of the night was by far the guest singing spot: when we got a beautiful rendition of “Born to Run” by a friend of the bride and groom! By the time that we made it to the final song, no one wanted to say goodbye–especially not us!

Gel pens. Snow days. Truth or Dare. Hot dogs. Cursed Child. Every couple has their iconic symbols–and for Ashley and Jordan, they have had plenty over the years! After passing flirty notes in school, and bonding over Messenger, the two had to test the strength of their friendship as they progressed through high school, college, and even the years following when Jordan moved to Arizona. But the hardest test was that of their time together during the pandemic–when they knew their love was truly one in a million! When they finally decided to tie the knot, they asked us to tag along to provide their music–and we were happy to oblige!

At the beautiful Crystal Springs resort, the Around Town Entertainment’s pianist, played just outside as guests arrived for a beautiful ceremony! When all was said and done, and it was official, we were already prepped nearby in the Rotunda for the cocktail hour! Our jazz trio all played to their heart’s content, as the party arrived to mingle and drink! The foliage outside was just turning to those autumnal ruby tones, which made for great eye candy! By then, everyone was ready for the main event!

…and that could only mean the reception! In the Emerald Ballroom, the Around Town Band had already set up, making for a seamless transition to the next step! For the kick-off song, the band introduced the parents, junior bridesmaids, and flower girls to “About Damn Time”! Immediately followed,  was their rendition of “Back In Black”, which marked the entrance of the bridesmaids and the groomsmen! And, finally, for the stars of the evening, the Around Town Band’s vocalist guided the entrance of the man and woman of the hour with “Kill the Lights”! Ashley and Jordan looked absolutely beautiful together as they entered officially as newlyweds, and made their way towards the floor for their first dance! Spinning around the floor to “In Case You Didn’t Know”, there was not a single dry eye in the house… and that meant that it was time for a little emotional pick-me-up. Let the Hora begin!

As the cheers finally settled, and the dancing ceased, we slowed down a bit again for the parent/child dances! Ashley and her father danced to “Because You Love Me”, and Jordan and his mother danced to “The Perfect Fan!” With food in their stomachs and plenty of love in their hearts, the party was ready to truly let loose. That meant we were definitely overdue for some serious dancing!

From there, the night truly came alive! Between “Wagon Wheel” and “New York, New York”, as well as “Fireworks”, there was plenty of crowd favorites! But, that said, not many of them lived up to the true crowd pleaser… when Ashley got up on stage and treated us all to her rendition of “Valerie”! When they say “raise the roof“, they’re talking about the cheers that ensued after Ashley sang her final note! As the night came to a close, no one wanted to go home!

There’s a recurring trope in rom-coms that goes a little like this: person A and person B meet. Person A and person B feel an instant connection, but fate doesn’t line up quite as it should. Perhaps they are about to move, or finish their senior year, or start a new job… circumstances. Despite the odds, they don’t give up, and down the line, their patience and faith pays off. And the rest is history! Of course, everyone has seen a movie or two with this plot. But in real life, too, it happens all the time! Such is the case with Erika and Lou this past weekend! In their collegial junior year, Erika and Lou attended the same party. Determined to cross paths with Lou again, Erika promised to herself that the next time they saw each other, she would make a move. And that decision lead us directly to Senate Garage for their wedding this past weekend!

Although Halloween was just around the corner, the weather was nice and mild, which was perfect for the outdoor ceremony! Together, the Around Town Entertainment’s pianist and guitarist welcomed everyone to the ceremony. With everything from “All My Love”, to “Video Games”, and even Daft Punk, the hour was beautiful–and over before we even knew it! Still wiping away tears, the entire attending party was ready for the next step of the evening. And what better way to kick it off than with an hour of mingling? The cocktail hour was just heartbeats away from the ceremony space, and was full of chatting, banter, and pre-celebration!

The reception officially began! As everyone finished taking their seats, the bridal party made their dramatic entrance to “Let’s Groove”! (And groove they did!) By the time the cheers died down, Erika and Lou were making their way inside to the After Party Band’s “Another One Bites The Dust”. From there, they got into their positions for the first dance! In their debut dance as husband and wife, Lou and Erika spun around the floor to “Never Too Much.” With so much excitement at hand, the party was ready to participate, and stormed the floor for the Tarantella! After the chair lift was complete, it was time for the next tear-inducing tradition: the parent/child dances! Erika and her father danced to “My Little Girl,” and Lou and his mother danced to “Simple Man!”

From there, the evening turned into a romp! Starting off with the toss of the bouquet to “Let’s Get Loud”, the dance floor opened up for anyone interested in taking a spin! Between “Unforgettable,” “Dancin’ Queen”, and “Wagon Wheel”, there was absolutely no break in the energy! Congratulations to the happy couple, Erika and Lou!

Sometimes, it’s fun to get scared. When your adrenaline is pumping, and your heart is pounding, you get a little thrill that can honestly be quite fun! It’s why we love rollercoasters and scary movies! This kind of energy isn’t totally different than the excitement we feel every time we do a wedding. And it’s why we love doing them. If you’re looking to inject this sort of electricity into your wedding or event, you could always arrange for your date to be around Halloween. But there’s also plenty of ways to continue this sort of frightful excitement, while also staying seasonally appropriate! And it starts with, you guessed it… choosing the right music for the moment! To help you a bit, here are a few spooky choices for your weddings, 365 days a year!

1.) I Put A Spell On You – Screamin’ Jay Hawkins

With this song so deeply engrained in mainstream pop culture (especially when it comes to this time of year) it is almost a no-brainer to include it in this list. But often times, we think of the Bette Midler cover–a classic in its own right–when the original song is simply incredible! While this song may not come to mind as a first dance, it certainly is a choice that could enforce the scary season vibes. (And with a playful tone to it, no less!)

2.) Superstition – Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder is the king of dance-inducing tunes! “Superstition” contains plenty of references to Halloween themes, like “13”, “devil”, and more! This song is a usual on the Around Town Entertainment request list, since it’s a universally loved energy boost, and the perfect example of what we’re describing. Sometimes, scary can be fun, when there’s plenty of horns and instruments playing underneath it!

3.) Thriller – Michael Jackson

This one seems obvious, but it’s definitely one that people don’t always remember! Just as it was featured in 13 Going On 30, Thriller is a great vehicle for not only inspiring that mischievous vibe while also encouraging dancing. So much so that it comes with its pre-prepared choreography! When it comes to dance floor fillers, this one is an irresistible romp, regardless of whether you’ve studied up on the dance moves before your arrival to the event!

4.) Toxic – Britney Spears

Just as the other songs mentioned stand on their own two feet as classics, “Toxic” has rightfully earned the title, as well. With a subtly sinister, confidently proud string section, and lyrics that detail concepts that truly can be called toxic–both in the traditional and modern sense! The intensity of the song, and the almost hex-like ability to encourage dance, will definitely make your event all the more energetic!

5.) (Honorable Mention) Monster Mash – Bobby Pickett

Okay, okay… obviously this one isn’t the most ambiguous of seasonal timings. But that said, nothing can be quite as funny as hearing “Monster Mash” in the middle of April. If you’ve got a naturally humorous streak, and you’re looking for something to get a few laughs, this is definitely one to keep on the books. Sure, you’re gonna get a lot of questions–but your party will be all the spookier for it!