Of all the Mexico destination wedding DJs out there, Ivelisse and Kapua chose me to DJ and MC their Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach wedding in Cabo San Lucas on Saturday, July 15, 2017.
THE LOVE STORY
Ivy & Kapua met in August 2008, when a mutual friend suggested they meet. Kapua was living in Houston and getting ready to move to Arizona. Ivy was living in New Jersey. They initially connected via email (back when MySpace was the king of social media). Then they talked on the phone for 4 months before Kapua flew Ivy to Arizona.
On July 3, 2015, Ivy picked up Kapua at the airport at 6:00 AM. They were both very tired so they went back to her place and took a nap. Exciting story, isn’t it? When they woke up around 10:00 AM, Kapua took the ring out of his suitcase and gave it to her. Ivy described this proposal to me as ‘completely unromantic’ lol. They remained together in a long-distance relationship for 8 years until Ivelisse made the cross country move to California last September. For their honeymoon, they are planning a pub crawl in Ireland and Scotland.
THE CEREMONY
At the gorgeous Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach chapel, the wedding party entered to “Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World,” Relaxation Guitar Maestro. The bride and her dad walked down the aisle to “From this Moment,” Shania Twain. After the couple’s friend and pastor PJ from The Rock church in Houston performed their short and sweet ceremony and pronounced them husband and wife, they walked back down the aisle to “Viva la Vida,” Vitamin String Quartet.
THE RECEPTION
Down at the poolside Swan Terrace at Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach, the wedding party and newlyweds were introduced to “Casanova,” Rebirth Brass Band. Ivelisse & Kapua went straight into their First Dance to “You and I,” Stevie Wonder. We ate, toasted, and then the newlyweds danced with their daughters, college student and Maid of Honor Alyssa and baby Sanowie Grace, to “If I Could,” Regina Belle. Then Kapua danced with his mom to “Kasamento,” Frank Pangelinan. Ivy danced with her dad to “Dance with my Father,” Luther Vandross. After a group selfie on the dance floor, we started dancing!
The dance floor was so hopping and the bride was digging the tunes so much that she opted to skip the cake cutting and we just tossed the bouquet without stopping the dance music (just right during dancing). The last dance was “My First, My Last, My Everything,” Barry White. Then all the guests got shuttled down to the beach to light floating wishing lanterns to top off the night.
THIS MEXICO DESTINATION WEDDING PLAYLIST
For the cocktail hour/dinner playlist at this Mexico destination wedding at Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach, the bride and groom requested Samba/Boleros, Motown/R&B, and Flamenco Guitar. Later during the meal, they wanted soft variety: “I Choose You,” Sara Bareilles, “By your Side,” Sade, “All My Life,” K-Ci & Jojo, “Thinking Out Loud,” Ed Sheeran, “I Want to Thank You Heavenly Father,” Alicia Myers, “Two Occasions,” The Deele, “You are the Best Thing,” Ray LaMontagne, “Cheek to Cheek,” Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga, “Young and Able,” Current Swell, “Didn’t Cha Know,” Erykah Badu, “Let’s Stay Together,” Al Green, “Always Be my Baby,” Mariah Carey, “The Way You Look Tonight,” Frank Sinatra, “Is This Love,” Bob Marley, “Idilio,” Willie Colon, “Eres mi Religion,” Mana, “As,” Stevie Wonder, “Into the Mystic,” Van Morrison, “Try a Little Tenderness,” Otis Redding, and “Never Too Much,” Luther Vandross.
For dancing, Ivelisse & Kapua requested “Step in the Name of Love,” R.Kelly, “Bailando,” Enrique Iglesias, “La Gozadera,” Marc Anthony, “Danza Kuduro,” Don Omar ft. Lucenzo, “Hey Ya!,” Outkast, “Blurred Lines,” Robin Thicke, “I Gotta Feeling,” Black Eyed Peas, “Rapper’s Delight,” Sugarhill Gang, “Shape of You,” Ed Sheeran, and “In Da Club,” 50 cent.
After hanging out with both the bride’s crew & the groom’s crew around the pool bar in our swimsuits for the 2 days prior to the wedding, I added a few more songs to the list based on what the guests were telling me. The groom played football at Tulane and most of his friends were old football buddies from New Orleans–they insisted on some “New Orleans bounce” (a sound I am unfamiliar with). I ended up playing “Get Ready, Ready,” DJ Jubilee based on their suggestions. I also added “Perculator” by Cajmere and “Poison” by Bel Biv Devoe based on conversations I had over Tequila shots and poolside pizza with everyone.
Again, I was honored to be the one and only Mexico destination wedding DJ Ivelisse and Kapua trusted with their big day. Thank you! See more at #FinallyConley.
SAN DIEGO WEDDING VENDOR LIST
Here is the amazing team of San Diego wedding vendors I had the pleasure of working with on Saturday:
Venue/Caterer/Day Of Coordinator/Florist/Cake ➔ Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach (Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico)
DJ ➔ Staci Nichols
Photographer ➔ Irela Garcia Photography
Officiant ➔ PJ Franklin
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.
One thought
Steve
Dang I’d love to do a destination wedding in Mexico! Only one I’ve done was in Austin, TX. It was rad but no tequila!
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