Chalyn & Jen’s Sea Crusin’ Bahia Belle Steamboat Wedding

Of all the San Diego wedding DJs in the county, Chalyn and Jen chose me to DJ and MC their Bahia Hotel & Sternwheeler steamboat wedding on Saturday, August 18, 2018.

 

THE LOVE STORY

Chalyn & Jen met on January 28, 2017, at a party. As soon as they saw each other, there was an immediate connection, and they danced the night away that night. When the bar closed, Jen was very respectful & dropped Chalyn off at home and asked  her if she’d like to go out on a proper date. They both knew this would be something special. Jen said ‘I love you’ first. Jen said those three little words first & they have not stopped saying it since.

The only thing Jen wanted when she proposed was to surprise Chalyn and catch her off guard. On September 10, 2017, she did just that. Chalyn, Jen, & their friend Natalie went to a local winery that  had a lobster food truck. Chalyn knew that Jen had a shellfish allergy, but Jen ate some lobster anyway, saying it was no big deal. Later, the 3 went over by the grape plants to take a few photos. Right as Natalie was set to snap a pic of Chalyn & Jen together, Jen doubled over in pain saying she must be having an allergic reaction to the lobster. Chalyn bought it hook, line, & sinker. While Jen was doubled over, she snuck a ring box out of her pocket & asked Chalyn to always be with her. Chalyn was completely shocked. She responded by saying, ‘Shut up,’ crying, flailing her arms up in the air, & walking away.

Together, these ladies enjoy going to restaurants, seeing movies, drinking wine, going to the gym, and vacations. For their honeymoon, they plan to go somewhere warm.

 

THE BAHIA HOTEL WEDDING CEREMONY

5:30   ➔   Prelude ➔  Classical, Country Love Songs

6:00   ➔   First Processional  ➔  Perfect (Instrumental Version) – Piano Guys

Second Processional  ➔  Somewhere over the Rainbow – Israel Kamakawiwoole (Instrumental)

Recessional  ➔  I want Crazy – Hunter Hayes

 

THE STERNWHEELER STEAMBOAT WEDDING RECEPTION

8:50+/-  ➔  Toasts  ➔  whatever they are already drinking ➔  “Ladies & gentlemen, may I have your attention please for the toasts. Desert will be coming around right now as well. Please welcome our first speaker:

➔  Chalyn’s Matron of Honor & Cousin, Laurie S

➔  Jen’s Broomsperson Lisa B

➔  “Ladies & gentlemen, please join us back downstairs for the formal dances.”

➔  Parent Dance (Jen)  ➔  “Wind Beneath my Wings,” Bette Midler  ➔  frade in at 1:19, fade early: yes    ➔  “Jen is extremely grateful for her mom’s unwavering support throughout lifes’ ups and downs. Now let’s welcome Jen & his mother, Judy    Needler, to the dance floor to share a special dance.”

➔  Parent Dance (Chalyn)  ➔  “Slipping Through my Fingers,” Abba ➔  fade early: Yes  ➔  “Chalyn is so appreciative of all the emotional, financial, and physical support her mom has always provided. Her mom has always been an incredible role model, worker, friend, and parent. She taught Chalyn so many valuable life lessons about how to be a smart and strong person. Chalyn is so grateful to have her mom as a travel partner, confidant, and friend. And now let’s welcome Chalyn & her mother, Kathy, to the dance floor.”

Longest Married Couple Dance  ➔   “How Long Will I Love You,” Ellie Goulding

➔  Group Photo on Dance Floor: yes

➔  Open Dancing

9:50 PM  ➔   Announce: “The cake has been cut is will be served momentarily.”

11:45 PM  ➔  Last Dance  ➔  Last Dance – Donna Summer

 

THE PLAYLIST

For the cocktail hour/dinner playlist at this Bahia Resort Hotel wedding, the brides requested songs from…

Cocktail Music  ➔  Big Band/Old Jazz/Swing, Soft Country/Classic & Guitar Rock

Dinner Music  ➔  Soft Variety, relaxing music, classical, elevator music, preferably instrumentals, Toto- Africa

♥  T H E   M U S I C  ♥

Dance Music Rating  ➔  PG-13 early on then some R/X-rated as it gets later 

Priority During Dancing  ➔  maximum dancing/use my expertise to read the crowd

Play A Lot  ➔  Top 40/Pop, 80s Pop/Rock/New Wave, 90s R&B/Boy Bands/Pop, Oldies, 70s/Classic Rock, Electronic Dance Music

Play Some  ➔  Big Band/Rat Pack, New Country, Slow Dances, Abba, Neil Diamond, Def Lepard 

Play 1 or 2  ➔  Hip Hop, Danceable Rap  

♥  M U S T – P L A Y S  ♥

1. Sugar- Maroon 5, 2. Thank you for being a friend- Golden Girls Theme Song, 3. Born This Way- Lady Gaga, 4. We are Family- Sister Sledge, 5. I will survive- Gloria Gaynor, 6. Moves like Jagger- Maroon 5, 7. Dance with Somebody- Whitney Houston, 8. “Happy” by Pharell Williams, 9. Girls Just Want To Have Fun-Cyndi Lauper, 10. 867-5309/Jenny- Tommy Tutone, 11. Technotronic- Move This, 12. BeeGees

♥  P L A Y   I F   Y O U   C A N   ♥

Hit me with your best shot- Pat Benatar, “All I Do Is Win” by DJ Khaled, Black Belt- John Grant, California girls- Katy Perry and Snopp Dogg, Play that funky music- Wild Cherry, Cupid Shuffle, Cotton Eye Joe, YMCA, Toto, I only want to be with you- Dusty Springfield, Party Rock Anthem- LMFAO

♥  D O   N O T   P L A Y S  ♥

chicken dance,  heavy rap music

 

BAHIA STERNWHEELER STEAMBOAT WEDDING FLOOR PLAN – TOP LEVEL (DINNER)

 

BAHIA STERNWHEELER STEAMBOAT WEDDING FLOOR PLAN – BOTTOM LEVEL (COCKTAILS & DANCING)

 

Again, I was honored to be the one and only San Diego wedding DJ Chalyn and Jen trusted with their big day. Thank you! See more at #JustChalynWithTheNeedlers & #NeedlerNuptials.

SAN DIEGO WEDDING VENDOR LIST

Here is the amazing team of San Diego wedding vendors I had the pleasure of working with on this same-sex San Diego wedding:

Venue ➔  Bahia Resort Hotel/Sternwheeler Steamboat

Day-Of Coordinator ➔  Events Inspired

DJ/MC/Photo Booth/Lighting  ➔  DJ Staci, the Track Star

Photographer  ➔  ABM Wedding Photography

Videographer ➔  Stephen Cammell

Officiant  ➔   Alicia Doktor

Cake Bakery ➔  Flour Power

Florist ➔  Artistic Florals Inc