“Jackie did an amazing job as our DJ. She was very detail oriented and made sure she knew exactly all of our expectations for the big day. She even came and visited the venue site a week before to plan her set up and then came super early on wedding day to make sure she had everything set up with plenty of time. She did a great job and It was really cool having a girl Dj. :)” — Kassidy

A Little Bit O’ Country, A Whole Lotta Heart

2020 was obviously a hard year for all of us, it goes without saying. In the wedding industry, it took an enormous toll on those of us whose lives revolve around in-person events. It also meant that a lot of my clients had to reschedule all of the many moving parts of their wedding, multiple times- no small feat! Kassidy and Dylan had initially looked at holding their big day at a number of traditional venues, but ended up deciding to do it DIY style at their aunt’s charming family farm in the upper central valley of California, outside of Yuba City. While this decision may have been initially made in order to avoid the stress of constant rescheduling, it ended up being far more meaningful than it would have in any other location, and really reflected the family-oriented vibe of the couple.

A Country Themed Wedding on a Family Farm

This was my first wedding returning to the industry after the pandemic pause, and I was excited to see what my clients were thinking of. Kassidy and Dylan wanted a “country” theme to their wedding, and while barns, horse shoe ring tosses, and other such tropes are no strangers to matrimonial celebrations, I was immediately impressed by the personal touches that this gig held in store. Arriving for a site visit at the farm, I was greeted by Kassidy’s aunt Deann and her partner, who welcomed me warmly in the way that only down-home country people can.

The property was a little slice of bucolic heaven in an area known for its ranching and farming, with many fruit trees and horse pastures. The old farmhouse wasn’t just a prop, it was the real old family home! And the couple were to exchange vows beneath a majestic fig tree that had been planted by Kassidy’s grandfather. The family had been working on converting the barn into a space that could be used by the catering team, as well as many other touches to transform the working farm into a temporary venue that would simultaneously capture the magic of the moment, remember the history of the past, and create inspiration for the future.

I already mentioned how impressed I was by the beautiful touch of holding the ceremony under the storied fig tree. I also found several other small notes of Kassidy and Dylan’s exchange of vows to be especially beautiful. During a brief prayer, the couple braided a cross made of rope, which could be displayed in their home for years to come as a keepsake to remember this special day.

Respecting the Past & Looking Forward to the Future with Country Music Classics New and Old

Musically, Kassidy and Dylan chose country classics both old and new, which again I felt really resonated with their desire to respect the past as well as look forward to the future. Their ceremony used the modern classic “Bless the Broken Road” by Rascal Flatts, as well as more traditionally classic “Forever and Ever, Amen” by Randy Travis. The recessional was “(This Will Be) An Everlasting Love” by Natalie Cole, which might not be country, but is an undeniable expression of rejoicing!

This pattern was repeated throughout the night, with 80s and 90s era favorites from Tim McGraw and George Strait as well as new country hits from Morgan Wallen and Blake Shelton. I could tell that this couple wanted everyone to be happy with the music, from the littlest kids to grandma and grandpa.

Fun Wedding Music: Top 40 & Country Dance Go Together Like Jeans & Cowboy Boots

The dance party saw a branch out into more top-40 pop like Macklemore, Shakira, and the Black Eyed Peas (although I will note that when I played Miley Cyrus I did have to give a tip of the hat to her country royalty ancestry!). And of course, there was plenty of great country dance music, such as “Honey, I’m Good” by Andy Grammer and “Beer Can’t Fix” by Thomas Rhett. One tune that was a blast to play was “Do Si Do” by Diplo, which is technically an electronic jam, but with a country, almost square dance flavor, that played especially well to the crowd. However, if I had to choose one single moment to exemplify the entire night, it would be when I brought in “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” by Brooks & Dunn, and watched the ENTIRE crowd line dance perfectly in rhythm with this classic country hit.

At the end of the night, after the grand exit with shimmering sparklers by the happy newlyweds, I hugged Deann and thanked her for all her help as my official “site contact” and she giggled at the professional language. After all, she was just a down home country girl! But the experience proved to me that although obviously working with professionals at professional venues is wonderful, sometimes all it takes is a lot of heart (and hard work) to turn a humble farm into a something extra special.

— Jackie