Mike Garback and Jen Mullett Wedding

The day was set for another outdoor wedding in front of the fountain at Traditions at the Links.  This time it was a little more personal being the wedding of a close family friend, complete with the adorable little Harper making the whole day about 100% cuter.

Guests were gathered outside the main building and gathered around the gazebo and fountain that is a cornerstone for weddings at Traditions.  Guests were seated as the ceremony began with the groom making his walk down the aisle with his Best Man not far behind. In a last minute addition, Mike chose a song to accompany him into his wedding (Eye of the Tiger – Survivor).  When Mike was in place, the Matron of Honor made her way down the aisle for the Processional (Somewhere Over the Rainbow – Israel Kamakawiwo’ole) while wheeling in a decorated wagon the lovely daughter of the bride and groom.  Finally, emerging from the 2^nd story clubhouse with her father on her arm, Jen made her way down the flight of steps and down the aisle for her wedding (Lover Lay Down – Dave Matthews Band).  Finally, after the pomp and circumstance of the ceremony, Mike and Jen were married and they left their ceremony to the Recessional (All You Need is Love – The Beatles) and into the beautiful reception that awaited them.

After an extended cocktail hour, the reception began in the main ball room at Traditions. To their credit, Mike and Jen had some pretty cool features for their guests to enjoy.  As it usually is, the candy buffet was incredibly popular, this one with an added touch of including a Dave Matthews lyric to accompany the confectionary concoctions.  They also had their ways of making their dance floor both exciting and comfortable offering glow toys and flip flops for those ladies who didn’t want to dance barefoot after taking off their uncomfortable shoes.  To round it off, something new for an SCSM wedding and my favorite feature of the wedding, Jenga pieces for the guests to sign and “build memories” with.  Very nice indeed.

The reception started with the introductions (Happy – Pharrell Williams), which were done very quickly with two sets of parents, a best man/matron of honor, and Mike and Jen walking in with their daughter, Harper.  Immediately after, Mike and Jen were on the floor, dancing their first dance (All of Me – John Legend) as their loved ones looked on.  After the first dance, there was a tandem Father/Daughter dance (It Won’t Be Like This For Long – Darius Rucker) featuring Jen dancing with her father at the same time Mike danced with Harper.  It was a wonderful moment and a highlight of the night.  Finally, following speeches and toasts, everyone settled in for dinner.

Dancing was a good time.  Everyone seemed to be pretty energetic and they were glowing… literally.  Group dances and slow dances were especially popular.  To accompany the specific moments of the day, Jen grabbed the microphone, sat down Mike on the dance floor and gave him a live performance of Beyonce’s Crazy in Love with her friends serving as backup dancers.  They also had a cake cutting (I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch) – The Four Tops), cutting a ceremonial cake at the top of a cupcake tower for their guests.  Later in the night, Jen and Mike also wanted a generations dance, getting all the married couples on the dance floor and finding out who’s been married the longest (Grow Old With You – Adam Sandler, When I’m 64 – The Beatles, Wonderful Tonight – Eric Clapton).

11pm brought the end of the night and with it, the final dance of the night.  Mike and Jen opted for a fast dance to close the night out (Love Never Felt So Good – Michael Jackson and Justin Timberlake) for a retro, but still modern feel.  The guests formed a circle around Mike and Jen as the song went on with them dancing in the middle.  Finally, as the song was moving on, the circle collapsed into a big dance party that everyone enjoyed.  It was a fitting end for a wonderful couple, off to enjoy life with Harper in tow.

Congratulations to Mike and Jen.  Thank you for choosing Salt City Sound Machine and we wish you the best of luck in the future!

Notable Songs

• Eye of the Tiger – Survivor (Ceremony – Groom Party Processional)
• Somewhere Over The Rainbow – Israel Kamakawiwo’ole (Ceremony – Processional)
• Lover Lay Down – Dave Matthews Band (Ceremony – Bridal Processional)
• All You Need Is Love – The Beatles (Ceremony – Recessional)
• Happy – Pharrell Williams (Reception Entrance)
• All of Me (Unplugged) – John Legend (First Dance)
• It Won’t Be Like This For Long – Darius Rucker (Tandem Parents Dance)
• I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch) – The Four Tops (Cake Cutting)
• Grow Old With You – Adam Sandler / When I’m 64 – The Beatles / Wonderful Tonight – Eric Clapton (Generations Dance)
•  Love Never Felt So Good – Michael Jackson/Justin Timberlake (Last Dance)