Some weddings are beautiful. Some weddings are fun…and then there are weddings that have you smiling about them long after the day is done!
Kim and Alex’s wedding at Haw River Ballroom in Saxapahaw, North Carolina, is officially one of those weddings for me. In fact…(not to be dramatic when I say…) this one goes down in history as my favorite wedding ever ever. There! I said it!
Hear me out…the sweetest and most fun brides, vibrant and fresh florals, the most incredible neon veil, a dance floor full of lifts, a VERY LIT karaoke afterparty, Kristen Stewart?!?!?! This is the kind of energy every DJ dreams about! This celebration was overflowing with liveliness and LOVE.
Three years later,
we’RE back on the dance floor
One of my favorite things about being a wedding DJ is getting to see familiar faces again. Kim and Alex first met me at Toni and Emma’s wedding in 2023, and apparently, the dance floor experience made quite an impression!
Three years later, they made it a point to bring me back to celebrate their own wedding day. Do you know how special that feels? Being remembered, trusted, and invited to be part of another milestone in someone’s life is one of my favorite aspects of this work. If Toni and Emma’s wedding was any indication of what was to come, I should have known we were in for something special. (…and I did!)
At Toni and Emma’s 2023 wedding, I remember having chairs designated for lap dancing in the middle of the dance floor………..At Kim and Alex’s wedding? Somehow, this group found a way to take the party to another level. There were chair lifts (mazel tov!!), cheerleader style lifts, a full on football touchdown celebration, and a Kristen Stewart lift across a crazy crowd O_O I can’t make this up.
The energy was infectious. Nobody needed convincing to dance, nobody was afraid to be extra fun, and everybody seemed SO genuinely excited to celebrate the new Mrs. and Mrs. Stonehill-Rubish. This wedding was unapologetically THEM.
WE HAVE TO TALK
ABOUT THE DETAILS
Because this wedding was a reminder that a celebration doesn't have to follow a particular formula to be beautiful, meaningful, or memorable.
A glow in the dark neon pink and orange veil? YES, PLEASE. (Pics below!)
It was such a fun, unexpected detail and the perfect representation of a couple who wasn't afraid to embrace color and personality. Throughout the wedding, bright pinks, vibrant oranges, breathtaking florals, and mismatched wedding party dresses created an atmosphere that felt lively, intentional, and completely their own. There was no need to make everything match perfectly. The colors worked together beautifully, and every detail contributed to the overall feeling of the day.
Two words: FLOWER. BOYS.
Can we please normalize flower boys?! Anyone can help set the stage for a beautiful walk down the aisle, and this was such a fun reminder that wedding traditions can be adapted to reflect the people getting married!
Kim and Alex exchanged vows in the amphitheater at Haw River Ballroom, with unique sectional rugs covering the seating areas. The setting had so much texture and character, and it felt perfectly suited to a couple who wanted their day to feel as unique as their love. Their officiant, Nell, had grown up in theater with Kim, making her role in the ceremony especially meaningful. Having someone who knew Kim far beyond the wedding day lead them through this milestone was another lovely personal touch.
And another detail I adored? Each bride danced with BOTH of her parents.
There is something incredibly special about making room for those relationships within a wedding celebration. These are the kinds of moments that can mean so much to the people involved, and I'm always grateful to witness them.
When the venue IS THE VIBEEEE
Haw River Ballroom is a music venue, and that made the reception especially exciting from my perspective as a DJ. The space already had a professional sound system and lighting setup, which meant my sleek DJ booth and controller were all I needed to bring in for the reception. The real magic happened when the music, lighting, and crowd all came together.
Picture this: a room full of people dancing, disco balls everywhere, and a lighting setup that could transform the entire atmosphere. When I played “Pink Pony Club,” the WHOLE ROOM GLOWED PINK. I’m still not over it. (Video below, btw!)
The soundtrack started
long before the
dance floor opened
As much as I love a packed dance floor, one of my favorite parts of DJing is curating the music that sets the tone for the entire day.
For Kim and Alex's cocktail hour and dinner, I curated a sound that was different than anything I’ve ever played before. It leaned into soulful vocals, warm grooves, indie soul, and funk inspired tunes…Artists included Allen Stone, Leon Bridges, Vulfpeck, Lake Street Dive, and most importantly to the couple, The Dip. I loved building a musical atmosphere around artists they connected with personally. The right playlist doesn't just fill the silence between formalities - it gives guests a feeling to settle into. It makes room for conversation, good food, a little swaying in your seat, and the anticipation of what's to come! When it was time to turn things up, we were READY.
Behind the scenes:
how I brought it all together
A great wedding reception doesn't happen in isolation. There are so many moving pieces behind the scenes, and my job as the DJ was to help the day flow smoothly while making sure everyone could hear, participate, and celebrate.
For Kim and Alex, my services included:
Ceremony sound: I set up a sound system at the base of the amphitheater so guests could hear the ceremony music and speaking clearly. Major shoutout to Randall of Fireside Farm for so sweetly offering to carry the ceremony speaker down the amphitheater steps for me! That kind of thoughtfulness from fellow vendors does not go unnoticed or unappreciated!
Microphones for the ceremony: I provided two lapel microphones beneath the chuppah - one for the officiant and one for a bride, along with a separate handheld microphone on a stand for readings and well wishes.
Cocktail hour and dinner music: A carefully curated playlist that reflected the couple's taste and created the right introductory atmosphere for the reception.
Reception DJ services: With Haw River Ballroom's professional sound system already in place, I was able to focus on my DJ booth, music selection, transitions, and keeping the energy moving throughout the celebration!
I loved working alongside a vendor team that brought so much care and kindness to the day. Weddings are a collaborative effort, and when everyone is invested in making the experience wonderful for the couple, it really shows.
And just when you thought
the party was over…
Fun fact - Bubble exits are my ABSOLUTE FAVE! My camerawoman senses kick in when I think about how bubbles beautifully appear in photo and video. The texture and color that they add is magical! While most farewells/exits signal the end of a long wedding day…
Kim and Alex had a KARAOKE AFTERPARTY EXTRAVAGANZA, and let me tell you, these guests were READY. I was shocked and so excited to see that guests ran STRAIGHT to the stage when returning to the room after the bubble exit! They made SURE to be signed up for an epic performance.
After a day full of colorful details, meaningful moments, and a dance floor that refused to hold back, karaoke was the perfect way to keep the celebration going. It gave everyone another chance to grab a microphone, sing their hearts out, and make a few more memories together. Kim and Alex’s day felt like a celebration of the life they are building together, not a checklist of traditions that they needed to complete.
The vendor team that
made it happen
I genuinely loved working with this entire vendor team. Every person brought something special to the experience, and I'm so grateful to have been part of a day filled with such thoughtful, talented people.
Venue: Haw River Ballroom (Karina)
Coordination: Bull City Blossom (Kim & Mary)
Florals: Fireside Farm (Lisa & Randall)
Stationary & Signage Artwork: Sunshine Design by Lydia
Catering: Saxapahaw General Store
Rentals: American Party Rentals
Those wooden tables from American Party Rentals were gorgeous, the florals from Fireside Farm brought so much color and movement to the space, and the entire team helped create an environment that simply felt right.
My biggest takeaway…
Give people permission to celebrate in a way that feels JUST. LIKE. THEM.
Whether that means a neon embroidered veil, flower boys, a room full of disco balls, a dance floor full of questionable lifting decisions (please be careful, friends XD), or a karaoke afterparty that refuses to quit, the most memorable celebrations leave room for authentic personality.
As a DJ, I want to do more than play songs. I want to understand what makes a couple light up, what their friends will sing at the top of their lungs, and what kind of atmosphere will make the people they love feel free to celebrate.
Kim and Alex, thank you for bringing me back three years after Toni and Emma's wedding and trusting me to be a part of your day. Thank you for the color, the laughter, the music, the absolute CHAOS (the good kind!) on that dance floor, and the intense reminder of why I love doing what I do.
Planning a wedding and looking for a DJ who wants to make the celebration feel like YOU? I'd love to hear what you're dreaming up. Let's talk music and meaningful details - inquire here and we’ll schedule a discovery call soon!
