Home

For today's brides and grooms, the party's all about the music (and the DJs)

By STEPHANIE KALINA-METZGER For Public Opinion

It's June and thoughts turn to entertainment as brides and grooms prepare for the party of their lives.

For most, that means hiring a great DJ who can pull out his bag of tricks to keep the crowd kicking up their heels and partying until the wee hours of the morning.

Brett Wingert, Chambersburg, known as Disc Man, keeps the party alive by taking requests, "and The Loco-Motion always gets everyone up and moving," he says.

Wingert, who has been working as a disc jockey since 1983, said that although much has changed since I was married in 1999, much remains the same.

Yes, people still get down or boogie, or whatever the new "hip" term is, to "The Macarena," the "YMCA," "The Electric Slide" and the cringe-worthy chicken dance, which unfortunately hasn't fallen from favor. "Either you love the chicken dance or you hate it," said Winger.

Put me in that second column, please. Hubby and I gave it a big thumbs down when planning our wedding; I know -- big sticks in the mud, we are.

Jeffrey Walls of Chambersburg's High Voltage Disc Jockey Entertainment has been in the business more than a decade now, along with his wife, Brittney, and his business partner, Andrew Ricchi. Each has a specialty to cater to a large cross section of the crowd. "My wife and I are into the current stuff," said Walls, "and Ricchi specializes in older music, so that we can appeal to all ages."

One of the more popular wedding dances is the "Cha Cha Slide." It's an updated version of the "Electric Slide," which was very popular with the teenage crowd for a long time.

"Now the 'Cha Cha Slide' is catching on with the older crowd," said Walls.

I can see why. It's a line dance with "called" instructions, so there are no excuses for people like me to sit it out by feigning ignorance. A broken hip, maybe; a poor memory -- no way.

Donovan Yaukey, Phantom Shadow Entertainment Services, Shippensburg, has been a disc jockey for 26 years and assures me I am not alone in detesting line dances.

"Many brides in today's wedding market keep the line dances to a minimum," he said. "Most of them don't want a lot of cheese at the reception."

Their first dance

Married May 20, 2000, Chambersburg couple Richard and Tina (Barges) Piper opened the dance floor as husband and wife to the tune "Almost Paradise," from the "Footloose" soundtrack.

Tina then danced with her dad to Bob Carlisle's "Butterfly Kisses" and Richard led his mother across the floor to "Unforgettable," by Nat King Cole.

A father/daughter dance favorite, according to Wingert and Walls, is "I Loved Her First," by Heart Land, which features a vague threat: "She still means the world to me, so be careful when you hold my girl," the bride's nod to violence between father and groom should the union somehow go awry.

Timeless songs for the new couple, according to Walls, are "At Last," by Etta James (which I chose as my bride and groom dance), "Unchained Melody," by the Righteous Brothers, and "Mony, Mony," as sung by the not-so-righteous Billy Idol.

"The newer stuff comes and goes quick," said Walls.

Hmm ... I never thought of Billy Idol as a timeless classic. Guess you never can tell.

What has changed in the 26 years that Yaukey has been entertaining wedding audiences is that disc jockeys are taking more control of the entire party.

"Brides are more aware nowadays of the importance of disc jockeys," he says. "It's easier for everyone to get the music and the equipment now but you need to know what you're getting for your money and a good DJ needs to know how to orchestrate the entire reception," he said.

So, go ahead and party like it's 1999. Just make sure you hire a DJ fit for 2011.

We asked you

Responses to our facebook post, "What song topped the chart at your wedding?"

- Tiffany Moriarty Roth said their song was Dave Matthews Band's "Crush," in 2005.

- Tiffany Hassler said: "Getting married next year and our song is Metallica 'Nothing Else Matters.'"

- Shane' Naysha Smith: "I'm not married yet but I'd hopfully like to dance to "Broken Road" by Rascal Flatts or Brian McKnight's "Irreplaceble."

- Jason Hade wanted to make it clear: "We don't all wait for the wedding dance; some of us just wait for the bar to open."

Top 10 wedding dance songs

1. "Heaven," Bryan Adams

2. "Unchained Melody," The Righteous Brothers

3. "Forever," Kiss

4. "Love Me Tender," Elvis Presley

5. "Can't Help Falling in Love," Elvis Presley

6. "When You Say Nothing At All," Ronan Keating

7. "From This Moment," Shania Twain and Bryan White

8. "Just The Way You Are," Billy Joel

9. "You Made Me Love You," Al Jolson

10. "Don't Know Much," Linda Ronstadt and Aaron Neville

-- source: http://www.catalogs.com

Some favorite father/daughter dance songs for 2011

"I Loved Her First," Heartland

"My Little Girl," Tim McGraw

"My Girl," Temptations

"Cinderella," Steven Curtis-Chapman

"Isn't She Lovely," Stevie Wonder

"Stealing Cinderella," Chuck Wicks

"Daughters," John Mayer

"Over The Rainbow," Iz

"Dance With My Father," Luther Vandross

"Daddy's Little Girl," Al Martino

-- source: http://www.djshelpline.com

High Voltage Disc Jockey Entertainment is the areas affordable disc jockey service. Our Company has been in business since March of 2000 and we are growing strong.

We are the areas most affordable disc jockey service. Our home offices are located in ST Thomas, Pennsylvania, As a mobile disc jockey service we are equipped to meet all of your MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT NEEDS. We have the experience and staff necessary to make your special occasion a memorable one, and provide a service to fit you needs.

Weddings, Corp Events, Birthday Parties, Anniversaries, 50's 60's Sock Hops, 70's 80's Dances, Discos, Christmas Parties, Sweet 16 Parties, Graduations, School Dances, Pool Parties, and Charity Benefits.

This page was last updated: March 24, 2012

12 Years in Business

March 18, 2000 - 2012

12 Years in Business

March 18, 2000 - 2012

High Voltage Disc Jockey Entertainment

Promote Your Page Too

A Photo From 11 Years ago

from Left to Righ Jeffrey Walls, Andrew Ricchi, and Rodney Walls

Sub Contract Disc Jockey Services

Click here to Apply

THE NEW EQUIPMENT

By STEPHANIE KALINA-METZGER For Public Opinion

Check out our

page

When your shopping around for your DJ think about this for a minute. Other DJ can book you for your event but if they have something else come up they can just blow you off and cancel. Booking a DJ that provides you with a contract. We have contracts for all our events and we NEVER cancel for any reason.

BOOK IT!!!