Hey remember me?! I’m back, computer intact and files in place…ready to get back to bloggin’! I hope I haven’t lost all of my readership, and I hope you’re all ready for a mix! I figured I’d come back with a bang – of love songs – for Valentine’s Day! This will appease your ears, but stay tuned because I have a treat for your eyes coming up. For now, push play and swoon away!

(pssst – If you need even MORE tunes after listening to the mix below, don’t forget about the one from last year!)

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

**Please note: If you are in a reader, you will probably need to click out to view the player and hear the tunes!**

Oh noes! The other night I opened my computer to see the Black Screen of Death. Apparently my logic board “went out” so my baby computer is in the repair shop. Rumor has it I’ll get it back sometime this week (with all the files intact – THREE CHEERS!). With all of my upcoming submissions, guest mixes, playlists, and more stuck on that computer, I’ll have to wait until I have it back to start really posting again. I’m crossing my fingers for a speedy and successful recovery, and I hope to be back before the week is out! For now I leave you with some ABBA…specifically S.O.S. If you guys aren’t singing this at the top of your lungs with all of your friends at a bar then you aren’t living life….amirite?!

John and Alissa’s wedding has me longing for Spring! These two had a gorgeous outdoor ceremony, complete with a funtastic dance party! They had a unique mix of music that described the couple and the amazingly fun dynamics of their friends and family.

Getting Ready: Ibrahim Ferrer (Buena Vista Social Club)
Wedding party processional: Orange Sky by Alexi Murdoch
Bride processional: Vivid by Greg Brown

Reception Entrance: Its Business Time by Flight of the Concords
First Dance: Be Mine by David Gray reworked into a slower song and sung by friend Isaiah Olsen
Mother/Son dance: What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong
Father/Daughter dance: I loved her first by Heartland

Dance Songs:
Please – Ray Lamontage
Apple Bottom Jeans – T-Pain
Let’s Dance – David Bowie
Juicy – Notorious BIG

Father of the Bride Toast: Score to The Godfather (…quite fitting for he is 100% Italian awesomeness!)
Last Dance: Let’s get it on by Marvin Gay

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Photos: Machado Photography
Cupcakes: Amy Bakes Cupcakes
Floral: April Flowers, SLO
Hair and Makeup: Rhonda Johnson

One week ago we opened the doors to the first ever Hi-Fi Weddings Fest, which was a huge hit! Like-minded vendors gathered to help show couples how to think outside of the box when planning a wedding. Everything from photographers, designers, dress makers, cake bakers, DJs, and more came together and rocked the wedding world here in Huntsville. You can bet that ideas are already flowing for next year and how we can make it bigger and better! For now, here’s a peek into last week’s Fest:

The first series of photos is from what Stephanie captured since I totally forgot my camera (oops, but yay for Steph!).

You can see our full post of shots on our White Rabbit Studios site!

The super cutie pie, Morgan Trinker‘s gorgeous photos:

Her full recap post here!

The talented team at Blue Vinyl Creative captured these awesome shots:

ou can view their full recap post here!

The lovely Lindsey‘s look:

The firecracker herself, Caroline Fontenot:

The super rad J.Clay (Jamie Clayton):

It wouldn’t be a fest without The Looking Glass! Check out some of the photo booth fun!

A HUGE thank you to everyone that came and made Hi-Fi Weddings Fest a Smashing Success!!! xoxo

TGIF!!! This is a double post since some of these favorites are actually from the week before! It’s jam packed with awesomeness! Stay tuned tomorrow, as I will recap all the fun that was had at the First Ever Hi-Fi Weddings Fest! It was an amazing day full of love and laughter…and I can’t wait to show you some of the goodness that some of the talented vendors captured! Back to today’s post: Friday Favs!

totally adore that wall!

WHATTA VIEW!!!

totally diggin’ this pendant backdrop…and her dress…and flowers…and entire wedding!

Beatles inspired wedding!

how neat! custom wood portraits of the bride and groom!

ooooOOOOoooo!

this wedding looks extremely fun!

victrolas are definitely hi-fi approved!

from the cupcake sign to the sweet entrance through the heart – this is gold!

some badass songs for you via the radass flash dance!

a wedding turned dance party turned pool party….YES PLEASE!

I will never be tired of fair shots!

GENIUS SEATING CHART!!!!

lovely dress m’lady!

This wedding is full of so many fantastic elements: love (of course), darling details, phenomenal photos, sizzling style, and one well thought out soundtrack. Luckily Hannah loved to talk about music, because she said it best when it came to picking their songs:

Our wedding was obviously pretty music heavy, because Chris and I run our own music licensing company….so all day long we’re thinking about the right choice song for the right moment! It felt like for each moment we had to really pick the PERFECT SONG. It helped that when we first started to date, we lived across the country from each other, and would regularly send each other songs via email–sometimes it was a direct message to the other person, and sometimes it was just a new song we were enjoying. It was all on one email chain that was called “The Neverending Mixtape”. Because you know when you like someone, you make them a mixtape. Well, not only did we “like” each other, we also wanted our mixtape to be never ending. So we each have a collection of songs we sent each other over the course of our relationship, and a lot of those were used in our wedding.

Some of the songs were independently picked by Chris, the music licensing professional! The song I walked down the aisle to (“Astral Weeks”) I had never heard before he played it for me, wondering if we should use that in the wedding. I thought it sounded crazy to use a song I’d never heard before to walk down the aisle, but now I am so glad! There has never been a time I heard that song without thinking of marrying Chris, and now there will never be!

CEREMONY:
Prelude:  “Is There Room?” – Rosebuds, “Heartbeats” – Jose Gonzales, “Wedding Dress” – Samamidon
Family Seating/Groomsmen: “Armellodie” – Gonzales
Bridal Party: “Metropol 47” – Mark Kozelek
Bride: “Astral Weeks” – Van Morrison
Exit Procession: “Prove Your Love” – Fleetwood Mac

RECEPTION:
Entrance: “You Can Have It All” – Yo La Tengo
First Dance: “Care” – Kaada
Groom + MOG: “This Will Be Our Year” – Zombies
Groom, Daughter, Bride: “Mucho Mungo/Mt. Elga” – Harry Nilsson (Bride joined the father/daughter dance a minute in)
Bride, MOB, + Family: “Daddy’s Home” – Cliff Richards (extended family joined the mother/daughter dance a minute in, in FOB’s memory)
Cake Cutting: “Too Good To Be True” – Lon Rogers & The Soul Brothers

PARTY:
My Girls – Animal Collective
Not the Only One – Bonnie Raitt
I Found A Reason – Cat Power
Heart It Races – Dr. Dog
This Song’s For You – El Michels Affair
A Little Respect – Erasure
Welfare Bread – King Khan & The Shrines
When I See That Girl Of Mine – The Kinks
Heartbeats – The Knife
The Other Side Of Mt. Heart Attack – Liars
Brand New Start – Little Joy
Buffalo Stance – Neneh Cherry
Another Girl, Another Planet – The Only Ones
These Arms Of Mine – Otis Redding
Holdin’ On Together – Phoenix
Automatic – Pointer Sisters
I Want You Around – The Ramones
Would You – Richard Swift
Wooly Bully – Sam the Sham & the Pharohs
I Second That Emotion – Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
Down The Street – Smoking Popes
Under Control – The Strokes
Whatever You Like – T.I.
Back In Your Head – Tegan And Sara
Ain’t Too Proud To Beg – The Temptations
Here Comes My Girl – Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
OMG – Usher
Whole Wide World – Wreckless Eric

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Photography: Edyta Szyszlo Photography

Not only am I totally in love with their record store romance, but those shots with their instruments are so hot! I hope they have an upcoming album to slap those puppies on! *hint hint*

Yeah these two are like peanut butter and jelly & beer and pizza – they just go great together. You’ll see what I mean…Debbie knows what I’m talking about, she spotted them first.

ADDED BONUS: These two wanted to share their top 15 engagement albums!

1. Santo & Johnny – Sleepwalk (this was the song that came on the ipod just seconds after we got engaged in Hawaii!)
2. Sonny & Cher – All I Ever Need is You
3. Elliott Smith – Say Yes
4. Rolling Stones – Wild Horses
5. Nirvana – Drain You
6. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – American Girl
7. The Shins – Phantom Limb
8. The Beatles – Something
9. Stevie Wonder – I Believe
10. Lady Gaga – Alejandro
11. Bon Ivar – Flume
12. Prince – Raspberry Beret
13. David Bowie – Ashes to Ashes
14. M.I.A. – 10 Dollar
15. Led Zeppelin – Misty Mountain Hop

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Photos: A Niko Productions

Click to listen, right click “save as” to download:
M.I.A. – Bad Girls

Today I needed a pick-me-up since the skies outside are cloudy and omnious. Leave it to MIA to turn any regular day into the need for a dance party! I’m totally loving everything she’s doing through her new set up, Vicki Leekx. Homechicka is rad, and this tune would make a great addition to a Bachelorette party mix or to your dance floor hits!

Still hankering for more music?! Check out all of the past Tuesdays!

I’m back!!! Holy cow. Want to know a FUN way to spend a Saturday? Get together some of the most creative people in the Southeast, mix in some amazing brides and grooms, add a dash of sweet music and you have one helluva great day! Thanks to everyone that participated in the first ever Hi-Fi Fest – it was truly a success! I can’t wait for round two! Onwards and upwards folks!

So remember when I cooed about these two cuties during their musical picnic engagement? Now they’ve tied the knot with a killer soundtrack…and a cd favor to boot! As self proclaimed vinyl and vintage fiends, these two paid attention to the details – both with the record-esque cd, 45s as decor, and the mix of classic and current tunes.

Oh, and one more fun fact before the drooling commences! The couple picked quite a few Elvis songs, because they’re both big fans AND Joey actually proposed to Jen at the futuristic mid-century house that Elvis and Priscilla lived and honeymooned at in Palm Springs. Yeah. That’s awesome.

CD Favor
Burning Love: Elvis Presley
Bring It On Home to Me: Sam Cooke
Be My Baby: The Ronettes
Something Stupid: Frank and Nancy Sinatra
Baby We’re Really in Love: Hank Williams, Sr.
Words of Love: Buddy Holly
Ain’t Too Proud to Beg: The Rolling Stones
Don’t Worry Baby: The Beach Boys
You’re the Only Star in my Blue Heaven: Jerry Lee Lewis
Jackson: Johnny and June Carter Cash
Promised Land: Chuck Berry
Route 66: The Rolling Stones

Wedding Music:
traditional church music

Reception Music:
Intro for bridal party: See See Rider (LIVE): Elvis Presley
Intro for Bride & Groom: Burning Love: Elvis Presley
Bride/Groom First Dance: Bring It On Home to Me: Sam Cooke
Father Daughter Dance: (first played about 15 seconds of Juvenlie’s ‘Back that Azz Up’ as an inside joke between dad & daughter), then ‘Family Tradition’ by Hank Williams Jr.
Mother/Son dance: Young At Heart: Frank Sinatra
Parents Dance: Only You: The Platters
Cutting the Cake: Knock Me A Kiss: Louis Jordan
Garter Removal: You Sexy Thing: Hot Chocolate
Bouquet Toss: Uptown Girl: Billy Joel

Reception Highlights:
Gimme Three Steps: Lynyrd Skynyrd
Sea of Love: Phil Philips
Start Me Up: The Rolling Stones
Vaya Con Dios: The Lennon Sisters
Before the Night is Over: Jerry Lee Lewis
Have I Told You Lately That I Love You: Elvis Presley
Polk Salad Annie: Elvis Presley
Pussy Control: Prince (one of the huge hits of the night)
Let’s Twist Again: Chubby Checker
Please Release Me: Jim Reeves
Sexbomb: Tom Jones
Summer Wind: Frank Sinatra
Get Low: Lil’ Jon
Twist and Shout: The Beatles
You Shook Me All Night Long: AC/DC
You Send Me: Sam Cooke
Sex Machine: James Brown
The Gambler: Kenny Rogers
Rebel Rebel: David Bowie
Good Lovin: The Rascals
Alejandro: Lady GaGa
Brown Sugar: The Rolling Stones
Keep On Dancing: The Gentrys
La Vie En Rose: Edith Piaf
It Ain’t Me Babe: Johnny Cash & June Carter
Superstition: Stevie Wonder
Help Me Rhonda: The Beach Boys
Back In Baby’s Arms: Patsy Cline
Call Me Irresponsible: Bobby Darin
You Got to Me: Neil Diamond
You Never Can Tell: Chuck Berry

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Photos: Alec Vanderboom

THE TIME IS HERE!

7 hours of music? check!
vinyl selected for DJ sets? check!
vintage clothes ready to be modeled? check!
stage ready for dancing? check!
photobooth background sparkling? check!
mix cd favors decorated? check!
big smiling faces? double check!

Today is set-up and super last minute prep for Hi-Fi Weddings Fest! I’m so excited (and I just can’t hide it) and I hope this to be the start of something great…and HUGE! Please excuse my silence online over the next couple of days – I’ll be too busy making real life happen! If you’re coming to this event be sure to say hello! Party hats on y’all!