Of all the San Diego wedding DJs calling America’s finest city home, Ashley & John chose me to DJ and MC their bespoke La Valencia Hotel wedding on Sunday, 5.26.19. The following write-up is based on San Diego DJ Staci’s crazy organized & detailed outline for this La Valencia Hotel wedding.
THE LA VALENCIA HOTEL WEDDING CEREMONY
This La Jolla landmark has their own sound system & mic for the ceremony. DJ Staci was inside setting up during this hotel wedding ceremony!
THE COCKTAIL HOUR & DINNER MUSIC
While San Diego DJ Staci offers couples pre-set cocktail & dinner playlists to choose from, Ashley & John opted to hand-select their background music for their La Jolla wedding.
Cocktail Playlist ➔ 1. California Girls” Beach boys, 2. “Reminiscing” Little river band, 3. “Lovely Day” Bill Withers, 3. “What’s going on” Marvin Gaye, 4. “Hungry heart” Bruce springsteen, 5. “Rich Girl” Hall and oates, 6. “Nothing from nothing” Billy Preston, 7. “How deep is your love” Bee gees, 8. “I just called to say I love you” Stevie Wonder. 9. “Oh what a night” Four Seasons, 10. “Gotta Give It up Part 1” Marvin Gaye, 11 “I wanna be your lover” Prince, 12. “Ain’t no sunshine” Bill Withers, 13. “Do You Believe In Love” Huey Lewis and the News, 14. “Today I Met The Boy I’m Going to Marry” Darlene Love, 15. “Friends” Beach Boys, 16. “Don’t you want me” Human League, 17. “I can’t stand the rain” Anne Peebles, 18. “What a fool believes” Doobie Brothers, 19. “Borderline” Madonna, 20. “Weird Fishes” Radiohead, 21 “My Only Swerving” El ten eleven, 22 “Searching” Roy Ayers, 23 “You’re still a young man” Tower of power, 24. “Never too much” Luther Vandross, 25. “That’s the way of the world” Earth, Wind Fire, 26. “One Fine Day” The Chiffons, 27. “Here comes the sun” Beatles, 28. “Eyes without a face” Billy Idol, 29. “Cruel summer” Bananarama, 30. “La Vie En Rose” Grace Jones, 31. “Graceland” Paul Simon, 32 “Let me in your life” Aretha Franklin, 33 “If I Ever Feel Better” Phoenix, 34 “Stuck in the Middle With You” Stealers Wheel, 35. “September” Earth Wind and Fire
Dinner Playlist ➔ 1 “Be My Baby” Ronettes, 2. “Claire de lune” Kamasi Washington, 3. “Our Way to Fall” Yo La Tengo, 4. “Ooh baby baby” Smokey Robinson, 5. “Poolside” Harvest moon, 6. “Tenderness” General Public, 7. “Will you still love me tomorrow” The Shirelles, 8. “TIL you come back to me” Aretha Franklin, 9. “Warmth of the Sun” Beach Boys, 10. “Red red wine” UB40, 11. “One on one” Hall Oates, 12. “Lovefool” Cardigans, 13. “What a Difference A Day Makes” Dinah Washington, 14. “Astral Weeks” Van Morrison, 15. “Out of my league” Fitz and the tantrums, 16. “Sunday kind of love” Etta james, 17. “Drive” Cars, 18. “Young Americans” David Bowie, 19. “Sleepwalking” Modest Mouse, 20. “Beyond Love” Beach House, 21. “Feel Like Making Love” D’Angelo, 22. “You give good love” Whitney Houston, 22. “Poses” Rufus Wainwright, 23. “Overjoyed” Stevie Wonder, 24. “Try a Little Tenderness” Otis Redding, 25. “Say A Little Prayer” Aretha Franklin, 26.“Crazy for you” Madonna, 27. “Dream Lover” Mariah Carey, 28. “Midnight Train to Georgia” Gladys Knight, 29. “Crimson and Clover” Shondells, 30. “I just want to be your everything” Andy Gibb, 31. “Say it isn’t so” Hall and Oates, 32. “Close To You” Cure, 33.“Over My Head” Alabama Shakes, 34. “Only You” Platters, 35. “Don’t Worry Baby” Beach Boys, 36. Doo Wop That Thing” Lauryn Hill
THE LA VALENCIA HOTEL WEDDING RECEPTION
MC Welcome ➔ “Good evening! Welcome to Ashley & Johns wedding reception!!! I am the Master of Ceremonies, DJ Staci. Please take your seats so we can officially welcome our guests of honor. Please be sure to post your photos today with #YorkFee. If you need to charge your devices, I do have a mini charging station up here including some universal chargers.”
“Tonight I’m going to be sharing a lot of stories about John & Ashley with you. To get rolling, les tackle the first &I love you.& On their 80th date—yes, Ashley counts them—they were in Korea Town in LA to celebrate their 6 month anniversary. They checked into a swanky hotel, went to dinner at a Korean BBQ restaurant, then hit a karaoke bar. John said those 3 little words after dinner Ashley quickly replied back! Awwww….. Ladies & gentlemen, put your hands together for the introduction of the wedding party.”
Grand Entrance ➔ “Chapel of Love” Dixie Cups
➔ “Show some love to Best Woman & Sister of the Groom, Heather, & Flower Girl, Claire!!!”
➔ “Please welcome Best Man, Patrick!!!”
➔ “Give it up for Junior Bridesmaid, Sophie!!!”
➔ “Show some love to Maid of Honor & Sister of the Bride, Amanda, and Flower Girl, Grace!!!”
➔ “Be My Baby” Ronettes ➔ “They first connected online then eventually met up on February 28, 2017, on Sunset Blvd. On their first date, they met at a restaurant stayed until close. Together they enjoy long talks, vacationing, visiting film festivals across the US, & walking their dog, Lula, at the beach. They are planning a honeymoon to Kauai. Ladies & gentlemen, get on your feet to welcome–for the FIRST TIME EVER— Mr. & Mrs. John F & Ashley Y!!!” ➔ keep playing “Be My Baby” Ronettes
➔ Newlywed Brief Welcome/Thank You Speech ➔ continue “Be My Baby” Ronettes
➔ Meal Served: plated ➔ Announce: “Dinner will be served momentarily. Also, at about 6:25 you can grab a glass of champagne from the bar for the toasts, if you like.”
6:25 PM ➔ Announce: “Just a reminder that you can grab a glass of champagne from the bar now if you like one for the toasts.”
6:30 PM ➔ Toasts ➔ Champagne available at bar at 6:25 PM ➔ Ladies & gentlemen, may I have your attention please for the toasts. Please welcome our first speaker:
➔ Maid of Honor & Sister of the Bride, Amanda
➔ Mother of the Bride, Claudette
➔ Father of the Bride, Tim
➔ Parents of the Groom, Joan & Russ
➔ Best Woman & Sister of the Groom, Heather
➔ Best Man & Brother of the Groom, Patrick
➔ First Dance ➔ “You’ve Got a Friend” (live), Donnie Hathaway ➔ fade early: no ➔ “On their 321st date, John & Ashley went on a last minute trip to Hawaii’s big island. She had heard him on the phone trying to get a reservation at a swanky restaurant there…she began to wonder if a marriage proposal was in her future…hmmm?! After splashing around in the water and watching a magical Hawaiian sunset, they returned to their stunning oceanfront room. John ordered champagne, & he asked her a very important question. We know how she answered because we are about to welcome Ashley & John to the dance floor for their first dance as husband and wife.”
➔ Combo Parent Dance ➔ “The Way You Look Tonight” Tony Bennett ➔ fade early: no ➔ “John admires that his mother has been married to his dad for HALF A CENTURY! About her father, Ashley says: Dad drove me to school everyday and always got me there early—FOR 12 YEARS–teaching me the valuable asset of punctuality. Now lets welcome John & his mother, Joan, with Ashley her father, Tim, to the dance floor to share a special dance.” ➔ open dance floor up to everyone
➔ Open Dancing
8:15 PM ➔ Bouquet Toss ➔ “Then he Kissed me” Crystals
➔ Longest Married Couple Dance ➔ “A Song for You,” Donnie Hathaway ➔ Announce: “We’d like to invite all of the married couples to the dance floor right now…The newlyweds would like to dedicate this song to all of the couples in the room, married or not.” ➔ Announce: “We’d like to give a special shout out to John’s parents, Joan & Russ, who will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on August 16th, as well as Ashley’s mom & her husband, Fred, who just celebrated their first wedding anniversary! Congrats!!!”
8:30 PM ➔ Photographer leaves
9:50 PM ➔ Last Dance ➔ “I Wanna Dance With Somebody,” Whitney H ➔ Announce: “There will be an after party from now until 2:00 AM in Cafe Rue, which is by the lobby. There will be free snacks & drinks available for purchase.”
➔ Send-Off ➔ “I Only Have Eyes For You” Flamingos
ASHLEY & JOHN’S DANCE MUSIC RECIPE
Requests ➔ line dances only if requested
Music ➔ PG-13/clean radio edits
Play A Lot ➔ Top 40, Oldies/Motown, 80s, Funk
Play A Few ➔ Disco, Classic Rock, Hip Hop, 90s, 2000s
Slow Dances ➔ “That’s What Friends are for,” Dionne Warwick, “You Give Good Love,” Whitney Houston
♥ M U S T – P L A Y S ♥
1. “All night long” Lionel Richie, 2. “You make my dreams come true” Hall & Oates, 3. “Poison” Bel Biv Devoe, 4. “Karma Chameleon” Culture Club, 5. “Respect” Aretha Franklin, 6. “Toxic” Britney Spears, 7. “Footloose” Kenny Loggins, 8. “Crazy in love” Beyonce, 9. “Finesse” Bruno Mars, 10. “Holiday” Madonna, 11. “Faith” George Michael, 12. “Can’t Stop The Feeling” Justin Timberlake
♥ P L A Y I F Y O U C A N ♥
“Cosmic Girl” Jamiroquai, “Feels so Good” Mase, “Dancing In the Streets” Martha & the Vandellas, “It Takes Two” Rob Base, “I like it” Cardi B for MOH Amanda, “You Drop the Bomb on Me” Gap Band, “Sexyback” Justin Timberlake, “1999” Prince, “No Scrubs” TLC, “Livin on a Prayer” Bon Jovi, “Twist and Shout” the Beatles, “It Feels Good” Toni Tony Tone, “Uptown Funk” Bruno Mars, “Treasure” Bruno Mars, “This Is How We Do It” Montel Jordan, “Push It” Salt N Pepa, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” Marvin Gaye, “Single Ladies” Beyonce, “Let’s Dance” David Bowie, “Bootylicious” Beyonce, “Hip to be Square” Huey Lewis, “Glamorous life” Sheila E, “Shoop” Salt & Peppa, “It feels so right” Sonique, “Call Me Al” Paul Simon, “Purple rain” Prince, “Hollywood Swinging” Kool and the Gang, “Signed Sealed Delivered I’m Yours” Stevie Wonder, “Bring It On Home” Sam Cooke, “You can’t Hurry Love” The Supremes, “Higher and Higher” Jackie Wilson, “All for you” Janet Jackson
♥ D O N O T P L A Y S ♥
Journey, trap, country, Lynyrd Skynrd, Bob Segar, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Michael Jackson, Pharrell’s “Happy,” AC/DC
LA VALENCIA HOTEL WEDDING FLOOR PLAN
SAN DIEGO WEDDING VENDOR LIST
Here is the amazing team of San Diego wedding vendors I had the pleasure of working with on this La Valencia Hotel wedding:
Venue/Caterer/Cake ➔ La Valencia Hotel
DJ/MC/Photo Booth/Lighting ➔ DJ Staci, the Track Star
Photographer ➔ Wally Wilson Studios
Florist ➔ Kimberly Buffington
Again, I was honored to be the one and only San Diego wedding DJ Ashley & John trusted with their La Valencia Hotel wedding in La Jolla. Thank you!
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.
