Wedding DJ & Photo Booth at the Highgrove in Fuquay-Varina

Carolina Couple Wedding DJ & Photo Booth at the Highgrove in Fuquay-Varina Raleigh Wedding DJ Photo Booth Lighting at the Highgrove Estate Fuquay Varina North Carolina Raleigh Couple’s Wedding DJ Photo Booth Lighting and Outdoor Ceremony at the Highgrove Estate Fuquay Varina North Carolina
While we’ve done many events at the Highgrove over many years (since it was a tent in fact!), we don’t find ourselves out there too much these days. There are a number of factors at play including the fact that couples often don’t think about their entertainment until well into their process (aka after they accidentally blew a big chunk of their budget on things they didn’t mean to prioritize) and Stylus, while very affordable for many price ranges, isn’t the cheapest DJ in Fuquay-Varina, Apex, Holly Springs, Clayton, or even in Raleigh or Durham, NC.
While we value high-quality equipment, top-tier professional event experts, emergency back-ups, club-resident quality DJs, and an involved and extremely customizable planning process, there are lots of ways to cut corners that I’m just not comfortable delivering to clients. I’ll take my chances that couples value the same level of quality and standards that we have at Stylus.
With that being said, after performing at the Highgrove for so many years it’s always special to be back in a place that’s you’ve spent so much time in.
Because we know it so well, we are able to do some really remarkable things in that space, including dailing in all the sound and lighting and knowing exactly what we can get away with in that space.
This particular couple, Erika & Mike, were lucky enough to book us early last year, which meant they weren’t scrambling last minute for someone to #saveyourwedding. We worked with them to create the atmosphere, style, and vibe that would transform the event into THEIR event.
That’s usually one of the great unsung challenges that couples can face, making any given venue feel like it’s THEIR wedding instead of just A wedding. And they did a fantastic job with Florals by Fuquay-Varina Florist Expressions of Love  and a combination of decor and lighting from Stylus. Photography was by Rosy Shell Photography’s Rishelle.
They began their event with their Wedding Ceremony and it was one of the first times in a long time where guests were all in place before the ceremony began. Often you’ll see a few people straggling in if they had trouble finding a venue or if they’d gotten caught in traffic (or just delayed getting ready).
Many people don’t realize how organized we have to be in order to deliver a great wedding ceremony experience. It’s not just the songs for special moments (seating of the parents, bridesmaids entrance, groom or bridal processional), but it’s also all the microphones and timing cues that have to work in concert with the coordinator, officiant, and photographers and videographers. And let me tell you how hard it can be to put a bunch of microphones on or in the hands of people who don’t normally use them. We have to do some ninjitsu coaching when we can to help get the best possible sound.

Luckily, they were working with Angela who is a master at making great events work seamlessly at the Highgrove.
Here’s a brief look at our planning forms for the day and the additonal notes that get added because details often change last minute. We have to be on our toes!

 The ceremony was absolutely beautiful on that day, thanks in no small part to the choices the couple made on their dresses and suits, layout, location, vendors, and blessed luck with the weather!  Pastor David Pratt was a pleasure to work with!

Their Ceremony Music included:
Prelude Music: Classical, popular instrumental love songs

Seating of the PARENTS: CAN’T HELP FALLING IN LOVE by Alan Ng

Groom/Officiant Entrance Song: ALL THE SMALL THINGS – VITAMIN STRING QUARTET

Bridesmaids Song: YOU ARE THE REASON by Daniel Jang

Bridal Song: THOUSAND YEARS by The Piano Guys

Speakers/Readings: 2 readings / verses

Unity Ceremony: CANDLE LIGHTING – THE BLESSING by Cody Carnes, Elevation Music, Kari Jobe Recessional: A SKY FULL OF STARS by Coldplay
After the ceremony – everyone moved over to cocktail hour on the patio. One of the great things about the Highgrove is the bar on the patio, but it can present a unique challenge to overcome for certain events when guests have to leave the main reception hall to get a drink. Luckily, we know exactly how to manage it so everyone has a great time.
Erika & Mike also included a photo booth as part of their wedding entertainment package. We always take test photos to make sure the design is approved before the booth opens. We were actually able to accommodate guests wanting to do the photo booth three hours sooner than expected because we had set everything up so early.
Here’s a quick look at test print with me and my assistant Josh:

Couples can choose their layout, colors, design elements, number of pictures, backdrop, and so much more. We’ve done everything to make sure that when you get your photo booth with Stylus, you get way more than you were expecting!
The Reception began with energy and excitement as we introduced some of their key family and friends. We recognized their grandparents and parents from their seats (recommended in many cases) before bringing in the bridal party to Avicci’s song Le7els.
After the newly minted Mr. and Mrs. came in to Blink 182’s First Date they shared their first dance to Calum Scott’s song Biblical.
While some couples want to cut their first dance short, this couple spent the entire song just being in love and it was wonderful!
After a heartfelt welcome by the Father of the bride (whom we’ve been in contact with for nearly four months to make sure that his special surprise is ready) and a blessing by Pastor Pratt, the Highgrove’s crack team of catering staff delivered a bounty of delicousness from their in-house catering excellence.
After a dinner hour of delicous food and tunes by Elvis, Adele, Tony Bennet, Ed Sheeran, James Taylor, Ella Fitzgerald, and many hothers, it was time for toasts, cake, parent dances, and partying!

Cake Song 1: Four Tops – I CAN’T HELP MYSELF (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)

Cake Song 2: Archies – SUGAR SUGAR
Their Parent Dances were definitely unique. The father of the bride had reached out to us in 2021 to make sure that we could help him achieve his goal of a very special gift for his daughter on her wedding day. While she’d originally chosen the theme from Pinocchio (When You Wish Upon A Star by Cliff Edwards) he wanted to surprise her by recording “I Loved Her First” by Heartland.
Now, let me tell you how much time went into this:
First, we had to explain all his recording options since he was in Orlando, Florida and had no history or background with any type of audio. He eventually decided he was going to record it on his phone but when he sent us the file, his vocal elements were so off from not using a click track that we couldn’t use the original recording. We were able to get him to a workable solution by having him listen to the instrumental in his earphones while recording directly into another phone and sending us the file. From there, once we’d gotten his heartfelt performance, we were able to work our studio magic. There were over 100 edits in the finished project, and it was about to be heard, for the first time, by a woman who had no idea her dad had spent so much time creating an audio heirloom.
IT WAS POWERFUL AND BEAUTIFUL! We played her initial song through the end of the first chorus then her Dad signalled me to cut the music and bring him the microphone. He then explained that, while this was a lovely song, he had something he’d been working on and wanted her permission to share it with everyone. Once the song started playing her eyes got huge when she realized it was her dad singing – AND HER DAD DOESN’T SING! She burst into happy tears and squeezed him so tightly that it’s a wonder he was able to stay up. This song held so much meaning for them and the fact that he was singing it was truly special to their entire family.

After they tearfully and gratefully wrapped up their father daughter dance, Mike brought his mother onto the dancefloor for Shinedown’s acoustic version of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Simple Man.
After that, we invited all the married couples out for the Anniversary Dance (aka the dance of the years) with songs by Glen Miller, Etta James, and Billy Joel.
Then we flipped the switch on the party. Their playlist included:
Darius Rucker Wagon Wheel
Kings Of Leon Sex On Fire
Usher Feat. Ludacris & Lil’ Jon Yeah
Usher Feat. Pitbull DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love
Whitney Houston I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
NO HANDS – WAKA FLOCKAA-Ha Take On Me
Bee Gees Stayin’ Alive
Bon Jovi Livin’ On A Prayer
Bruce Springsteen Dancing In The Dark
Cardi B Feat. Bad Bunny & J Balvin I Like It
Cascada Everytime We Touch
Cure Just Like Heaven
Dan + Shay From The Ground Up
Dexy’s Midnight Runners Come On Eileen
Earth, Wind & Fire Let’s Groove
Earth, Wind & Fire September
Enrique Iglesias Feat. Pitbull I Like It
Flo Rida Feat. David Guetta Club Can’t Handle Me
Flo Rida Feat. Sia Wild Ones
Garth Brooks Friends In Low Places
Isley Brothers Shout
Jackson 5 I Want You Back
Killers Mr. Brightside
Lionel Richie All Night Long (All Night)
Lizzo Truth Hurts
Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee Feat. Justin Bieber Despacito
Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell Ain’t No Mountain High Enough
Michael Jackson Billie Jean
Neil Diamond Sweet Caroline (Good Times Never Seemed So Good)
Nicki Minaj Super Bass
Pitbull Feat. John Ryan Fireball
Pitbull Feat. Ne-Yo Time Of Our Lives
Pitbull Feat. Ne-Yo, Afrojack & Nayer Give Me Everything
Queen Bohemian Rhapsody
Rick Springfield Jessie’s Girl
Robin Thicke Feat. Pharrell & T.I. Blurred Lines
Sister Sledge We Are Family
Third Eye Blind Semi-Charmed Life
Toploader Dancing In The Moonlight
Walk The Moon Shut Up And Dance We partied for hours and, when it came time for the last dance, Dirty Dancing was the Songof the Night as everyone got excited for ‘I’ve Had the Time of My Life’ by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes. From there, it was outside for sparklers and a limo ride off to the rest of their lives together. WWe were thrilled to have helped Mike & Erika celebrate such a joyous event and we look forward to celebrating with you! Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Integer adipiscing erat eget risus sollicitudin pellentesque et non erat. Maecenas nibh dolor, malesuada et bibendum a, sagittis accumsan ipsum. Pellentesque ultrices ultrices sapien, nec tincidunt nunc posuere ut. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nam scelerisque tristique dolor vitae tincidunt. Aenean quis massa uada mi elementum elementum. Nec sapien convallis vulputate rhoncus vel dui.
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