Of all the San Diego wedding DJs out there, Bonnie & Joe chose me to DJ and MC their low-key Cafe Stoked wedding on February 20, 2016.
THE LOVE STORY
They met in 2004 when Bonnie introduced herself to Joe at a high school pool party. Like all mature high school boys do, Joe pushed her into the pool fully-clothed without a word. Hard to imagine they didn’t start dating then. No, it got friendly a few years later when Bonnie saw on Facebook that Joe was moving up to her neck of the woods in Chico. They met for beers and hit it off. Showing that she is what Waylon & Willie would call a ‘good-hearted woman,’ at the end of their first date, Bonnie & Joe jumped fully-clothed into a pool at a public park together.
The day after Bonnie & Joe’s second anniversary, they were out celebrating. Everywhere they went throughout the evening Joe would fake propose. ‘Oh Bonnie, being in Nordstroms has really made me think about us….’ or ‘Wow, picking up this cheesecake makes me think about the future…’ Bonnie finally told him, ‘You better stop it until you mean it.’ Well, less than an hour later, Joe took Bonnie to a spot near where they’d had their first date and got down on one knee for real. He gave her the princess-cut Tiffany’s engagement ring she had told him she wanted back in high school. She said yes before Joe finished his sentence!
THE CAFE STOKED WEDDING CEREMONY
Standing in front of Cafe Stoked’s lovely outdoor fireplace on a gorgeous San Diego morning, Joe (a fire fighter) & Bonnie vowed to love each other forever in front of all their family & friends. As the guests were taking their seats, I played piano covers. The wedding party entered to “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” by Gene Giordano. After a dramatic pause, the bride entered to “Moon River” by VioDance. After Joe kissed his bride, the newlyweds exited to “Are You Gonna Be My Girl” by Vitamin String Quartet.
THE CAFE STOKED WEDDING RECEPTION
After a FABULOUS brunch buffet (so good the guests couldn’t wait until the reception to dig in) and the newlyweds were officially introduced to the original “Are You Gonna Be My Girl” (by Jet), Joe & Bonnie danced their First Dance to “Landing Feet First” by Bayside (a custom version created specifically for their First Dance).
Then Joe danced with his mom to “Mother Like Mine,” by The Band Perry. To introduce the dance, I said: “Joe says, ‘My mom has always supported my aspirations. If I messed up as a kid, she was always understanding and my biggest defender. She taught me how to make a mean grilled cheese sandwich, and I admire that she never lost herself or her passions while raising me. I am proud to be the son of a true cowgirl.’ And Bonnie says thank you for teaching Joe how to treat a woman right! Let’s welcome Joe & his mom, Brenda, to the dance floor.”
Then Bonnie danced with her dad to “Sunshine of my Life,” by Stevie Wonder. To introduce the dance, I said: “Bonnie says, ‘When I think of my daddy, I think of laughing with him to the point of tears. My father taught me how to smile through life. He likes to quote this lyric from the song Simple Man: ‘Troubles will come and they will pass.’ Thanks to my dad, I know as long as I keep my head on straight and my family front & center, everything will be OK. I am my father’s daughter and beyond proud of it.’ Let’s welcome Bonnie & her dad, Tony, to the dance floor.”
THE PLAYLIST
For the cocktail hour and brunch at this Cafe Stoked wedding, the bride and groom requested: big band/old jazz/swing & soft variety & Postmodern Jukebox & Michael Buble/Harry Connick, and Brown-Eyed Girl.
Bonnie’s must-play list for dancing consisted of: “Sugar,” Maroon 5, “How Will I Know,” Whitney Houston, “Just Dance,” Lady GaGa, “Hey Ya,” Outkast, “Sexy Back,” Justin Timberlake, “Come on Eileen,” Save Ferris, “You Make me Feel,” Cobra Starship, “My Kind of Night,” Luke Bryan, “Shake It Off,” Taylor Swift, “Don’t Stop Believin,” Journey, “The Take Over & The Breaks Over,” Fall Out Boy, “Cha Cha Slide,” and “Electric Slide.”
Again, I was honored to be the one and only San Diego wedding DJ Bonnie & Joe trusted with their big day. Thank you! See more at #joemarriesbonnie or in the video here.
SAN DIEGO WEDDING VENDOR LIST
- Venue & Catering – Cafe Stoked
- Photography – Let’s Picture Something
- DJ – DJ Staci
Post by DJ Track Star Staci
I'm DJ Track Star Staci, an international DJ, MC, turntablist, & producer for 14 years. My clients have included: Lamborghini, Victoria's Secret, Reebok, and many more. My performances are trusted at A-list events like Comic Con, Entrepreneur of the Year, and movie premieres. I've rocked Sr. Frogs in Cancun, music festivals, the Vegas strip, celebrity events, & 500 weddings. Check my availability, get an instant fee estimate, or listen to some of my DJ sets or my original remixes & mash-ups.
