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Love Drawn to Life

Love Drawn to Life 600 400 adam Michaels

Couples everywhere have legendary proposal stories. Some of them have quiet, subtle, and personal meaning. Others are grandiose and over the top. And some are both! For Nicole and Michael, both are definitely the case! After commissioning one of their favorite artists, Kazuya Morimoto, Michael proposed to Nicole after she discovered the commissioned artwork at a carefully planned pop-up in West Village. It was this exact same artwork that they used for the cover of their Save the Date–and their families were there, too! (Just like for their special day!)

It is truly a love drawn to life. And we couldn’t be more excited to be part of it!

The special day in question took place in Tribeca, and the whole party was treated to beautiful weather! The ceremony had all the moving tunes, (played expertly by our Authority Band pianist and cellist) including “Marry Me” and “You Are the Reason” and “Everlasting Love”. Finally, officially wed, Nicole and Michael led everyone to the cocktail hour! Our cocktail trio, had a great time enjoying the bright blue skies (and cocktail conversation) with gentle, jazzy tunes. By the end of the cocktail hour, the party was ready for dinner– and dancing, of course!

As the party took their seats, Michael and Nicole entered to Victor’s rendition of “Gettin’ Jiggy With It”, which kicked the night off with a bang! After soaking in the cheers from the party, the newlyweds took to the floor for their first dance, “Lifetime.” It was so gorgeous that the party was hardly done drying their eyes before the next round of dances started: the parent and child dances! Nicole and her father danced to “Because You Loved Me”, and Michael and his mother danced to “My Boy”, in two stellar performances by the Authority Band!

During dinner, everyone was treated to something special: a performance of “Down By the River!” Later, as the party was done with their plates, it was time to live up to the title… and party! There were obvious highlights of the night, but particular crowd favorites included renditions of “Shout” and “Anyone“, which brought down the house (and Nicole and Michael liked them, too!)

By the time that the reception drew to a close, everyone had spent the night enjoying the picturesque views of Manhattan and the beautiful canvas that is the marriage of  Nicole and Michael: blank, but the beginning of something gorgeous. And we were certainly honored to be a part of it! (And yes, we were also very excited to make some art puns!)

All the Small Things

All the Small Things

All the Small Things 1958 1206 adam Michaels

As we all know, much of the world has been in quite a bit of turmoil over the last couple of years, especially 2020. So many of us couldn’t wait to move onto the next chapter of our lives and see the light at the end of the tunnel. For Jackie and Robert, however, the light at the end of their tunnel was just an arm’s length away in 2022–because they got engaged in quarantine! After so many years of waiting, they could finally pop the champagne when their special day finally came… and a special day it was!

After so much planning and prepping, Jackie and Robert were treated to perfect weather and blue skies. The Roundhouse in Beacon was a perfect spot! The ceremony was strong with hits from pop culture giants of the early 2000’s, such as “This Is What Dreams Are Made Of” and “Hesitate” (the perfect button of course being “How Sweet It Is”). By the time they tied the knot, everyone was ready for some partying, so they made their way over to the garden! Our cocktail trio, had a wonderful 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 the sun began to set on a gorgeous night, the party was still going strong, and everyone made their way over to the equally gorgeous Waterfall Room for the reception! Warm lights illuminated the faces of the happy couple, as they entered the party as officially husband and wife to “Remember This”, beautifully sung the Around Town Band’s female lead vocalist! Before everyone else got the chance to cut a rug, it was time for the first dance. It was a lovely choice, “How Would You Feel“! Of course, there wasn’t a single dry eye in the house, but it was time to shed a few more with the parent and child dances! Jackie and Jim danced to “What A Wonderful World”, and Robert and Teri danced to “Isn’t She Lovely”!

The party was ready to take to the dance floor, and they had a scream of a time! There were so many highlights of the night, but the party particularly loved the Around Town Band’s stellar performance of “River Deep Mountain High”, “It’s Gonna Be Me”, and “Wannabe”. Of course, there were so many others over the course of the night (after all, if we’re talking about Jackie and Robert’s wedding… we have to mention the Jonas Brothers, of course), and there were memories made that no one would soon forget!

As the party grooved to the final song of the night, “All the Small Things”, the party slowly came to a close. The amazing views, pretty weather, and 90’s jams were a  hit of course, but the real star of the night were Jackie and Robert! After spending so long waiting for their happy ending, it finally arrived. And it was just as beautiful and sweet as they imagined.

wedding venue

From UConn to Chuppah

From UConn to Chuppah 1280 853 adam Michaels

Some love stories are truly written in the stars. In the case of Amanda and Sam, that certainly is true!

Amanda and Sam met for the first time at the UConn, where they were both attending a welcome back to school event. Sam was a freshman, and Amanda was a sophomore–but that didn’t stop them from hitting it off. Soon after, Amanda was assigned to take him on an outing as part of a club mentorship… they hit it off, but stayed friends for a while. It wasn’t until their winter semester that they started dating. Even though all of that seems like yesterday, they got engaged in 2021, and Sunday, they tied the knot!

The weather was absolutely stunning for a late afternoon wedding, after a tempestuous heat wave just the day before! Le Chateau was the perfect setting; with beautiful greenery and bright skies, it was sure to be a wonderful day. After a gorgeous ceremony outside played with A-List band’s pianist, it was time to party. And everyone was ready to dance dance dance!

Quick cocktail session aside (played by our jazz trio of superstars), nothing could stand in the way of our party and their party (no pun intended)! After Amanda and Sam entered to “Forever“, there was no time to spare, and they got ready for their first dance. The A-List Band treated everyone to a pitch-perfect serenade of “Thinking Out Loud”, and there was not a single dry eye in the house! But everyone came to dance… so it was time for the Hora! Uproariously, everyone took part in the celebration, as the newlyweds tore up the dance floor surrounded by their friends and family.

Such an incredible moment of dance and song means that everyone earned a break. So what better time for a Father and Daughter dance? Just as everyone had recovered from the first dance, Amanda and her father spun around the floor to “Brown Eyed Girl.” After an upbeat break, it was time for some cake! And what better song than “Cake by the Ocean” to get everyone ready?

Post-dessert, everyone danced the night away, with everything from Dua Lipa to Elton John. By the end of the night, there were tons of stars in the Salem sky; but the biggest stars were Amanda and Sam, and everyone could not be more happy to celebrate such a lovely couple!

wedding

A Traffic-Stopping Love

A Traffic-Stopping Love 1600 1067 adam Michaels

Jordan and Sabina met when they were both working at JP Morgan. This wasn’t your typical office romance. In fact, they actually met through a mutual friend of theirs, Dan! After hitting it off, the two decided to go on their very first date at Upland in the way-too-hot summer of 2017. What started off as one date quickly became another and another and another until they knew they wanted to spend a LOT of time together, and not just at the office. That December, they became “official” on that magical New Year’s Eve. Together they went to a party to welcome in 2018 and Sabine heard Jordan call her his girlfriend for the first time. That settled it! Through Eagles games at Wogies, nights the two would spend cooking together, and all their many travels around the world including Costa Rica, Italy, and London, they grew more and more in love. Three years later, on New Year’s eve of 2020, the two celebrated their anniversary by heading out to Park City for a ski trip. Funnily enough, Jordan literally stopped traffic when he asked Sabina to marry him in the middle of the street! (How Jim and Pam of them!) Sabina definitely didn’t see this coming! What a wonderful surprise for the two of them and now they are SO excited to finally celebrate and tie the knot wth Around Town Entertainment!

The beautiful couple got married at The Rockleigh in Rockleigh, NJ. Sabina and Jordan’s special day was meticulously set up with gorgeous booms by Arcadia Floral Company! Before Sabina started down the aisle, the pianist from Around Town Entertainment played “A Thousand Years” by Christina Perri! Everyone saw Jordan first see Sabina 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 the ever-fitting and celebratory song “Happy” by Pharrell Williams. 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 Around Town Band played the most perfect song to get the party started: “Shut Up And Dance” by Walk the Moon. The bridal party skipped into the room jamming it out to the most requested wedding band in New Jersey, the Around Town Band. Jordan and Sabina had their first dance as husband and wife to “I Choose You” by Andy Grammer and the dance party kicked off!

The Around Town Band played many of Jordan and Sabina’s favorite songs throughout the night! It was truly a night to remember and we’re so happy to have been part of Jordan and Sabina’s special day extra memorable!

bandshell

Blue Skies, Bandshells, and B-A-B-Y, oh my!

Blue Skies, Bandshells, and B-A-B-Y, oh my! 800 500 adam Michaels

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.

wedding venue

A New Year Love

A New Year Love 1920 1280 adam Michaels

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!

Classically Elegant

Classically Elegant

Classically Elegant 800 533 adam Michaels

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.

wedding

From Across the Pond to the Koi Pond

From Across the Pond to the Koi Pond 2012 1490 adam Michaels

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!

location

Sea-lebrations on the Seashore!

Sea-lebrations on the Seashore! 1702 630 adam Michaels

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!

wedding

“This Will Be”… A Memory for the Ages!

“This Will Be”… A Memory for the Ages! 1600 978 adam Michaels

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!