Alexis and Bryan's wedding at Hotel Arista in Naperville had everything I love about a big, beautiful reception: more than 200 guests, a stunning room, a couple who cared about every detail of the music, and a dance floor that stayed full from the first song after dinner to the very end of the night.
First Look at the Room
I got to Hotel Arista early, and the reception space stopped me for a second. It's an elegant room, and Alexis and Bryan had a custom black-and-white checkered dance floor installed right in the middle of it.
Once my full DJ lighting setup was in place, everything came together. The booth and dance-floor lighting complemented the room instead of competing with it. When Alexis saw the finished reception setup, she was so impressed that she joked I was underselling myself because everything looked so beautiful. That's a compliment I'll take any day.
A Soundtrack With Two Influences
Their wedding brought together Mexican and American musical influences. Alexis and Bryan wanted the party itself to lean mostly American, with Latin favorites placed at the right moments, so the playlist was built around exactly that balance.
A mariachi band performed during cocktail hour, which was a beautiful way to kick off the celebration.
The Bulls Entrance
One of the biggest moments of the night was the grand entrance: a Chicago Bulls-inspired introduction built around the iconic Bulls intro theme.
It was the first time I had ever used that theme for a wedding entrance, and I'm glad Alexis and Bryan were the couple I got to do it with.
After Dinner, Nobody Sat Down
Once dinner and speeches wrapped up, the dance floor filled and stayed that way for the rest of the reception.
Bryan and his friends are big Space Jam fans, so I worked music from the movie into the party. Moments like that are why I ask couples so many questions before the wedding. A personal touch like that turns a good set into their set.
All night long, Alexis kept coming back to tell me how much she was loving the music. Seeing a bride that excited about her own dance floor never gets old.
One Last Toast at the Hotel Bar
After the last song, Alexis and Bryan invited me to join them and their guests at the hotel bar. We hung out and kept the celebration going a little longer, which was the perfect way to end a night like that.
