Like so many couples, when Peggy and Jerry booked with us they came to one of our Private Showcases.  But when our performance was done they were stuck with a dilemma.  They wanted me to MC their wedding but they also loved how Phil Walsh sang during the showcase.  They were torn between the two of us and of course I assured them that whoever they booked they’d be in great hands.  They ultimately made the right choice, er . . . I mean, they decided to go with me.

As their wedding approached and we met to discuss specifics, Peggy reminded me of this and asked if Phil was available for her wedding.  He was, indeed.  Then she asked, “Would he consider being your music mixer?” I told her I’d ask.

The way our system works, once one of our staff members gets through training and becomes an MC, the amount of events they music mix at trickles down and eventually stops altogether.  The money isn’t nearly the same and for someone like Phil, with a wife and a kid, when he’s off on a Friday night he usually wants to be home.  So Mr. Walsh probably hasn’t music mixed at an event in almost ten years.  But sure enough when I reached out to him he said he’d do it.  He not only agreed to mix but also to learn their wedding song so he could sing it for them.

When the night of the wedding came I just knew it was going to be an awesome night.  The weather was perfect for mid-June: warm and sunny but not hot and humid.  Their banquet hall, Clark’s Landing, sits right on the Manasquan River and between the views and the great weather it was just a perfect setting.  Peggy and Jerry had a summer/beach theme for their wedding and we accommodated that even starting with their cocktail hour music.

Then we moved upstairs and the party got going.  After energetic introductions and Phil singing Keith Urban’s “Only You Can Love Me This Way” we opened up the dance floor with great success.  From the first song to the last song of the party the dance floor was jammed with happy people.  There are some celebrations where the joy in the room is almost palpable and Peggy and Jerry’s wedding was one of them.  Plus, for me, working with Phil made this a special night.  He’s been with Elite Entertainment for over a decade and besides being a great entertainer, Phil and I have become friendly outside of work as well.  So even though we’ve played golf and gone to ballgames together, it’d literally been years and years since we worked a wedding side by side.  So getting to see him in action and also hear him sing a few songs was a real treat.

Besides hiring us to DJ their wedding, Peggy and Jerry also contracted our photography division (Elite Digital Images) and our videography division (Elite Video Productions) to capture their day.  The pictures in this blog were taken by Lynn Monaco of EDI and I can’t wait to see the final product from EVP.  Tom Monaco was behind the lens that night and it certainly looked like he was getting some incredible footage.

Congratulations to Peggy and Jerry!  I thank you for giving Phil and me a chance to work together again and I wish you a lifetime of health and happiness!