There’s something special about a wedding where the music genuinely sounds like the couple.
Erika Henry and Josh Camacho’s September wedding at A Secret Place Events in Jamestown, Missouri was exactly that—from a soulful cocktail hour and indie favorites to a dance floor that eventually turned toward pop, disco and hip-hop.
As a Columbia, Missouri wedding DJ, these are some of my favorite weddings to DJ. Erika and Josh gave me a clear picture of the music they loved while also giving me room to read their guests and build the night around what was working on the dance floor.
Wedding DJ at A Secret Place Events in Jamestown, Missouri
The afternoon started with an outdoor ceremony at A Secret Place Events in Jamestown.
The venue handled the couple’s ceremony music while I provided microphone coverage for the officiant. That gave us a simple transition from the ceremony into the reception without requiring the couple to worry about the technical side of the day.
For couples planning a similar setup, ceremony audio can easily be incorporated into your Jazzy Josh DJ & Events wedding services.
A Soulful, Groovy Cocktail Hour
At 4:00, we moved into cocktail hour with a warm, soulful and groovy soundtrack.
Erika and Josh’s musical inspiration included artists such as Leon Bridges, Durand Jones & The Indications, Thee Sacred Souls, Samm Henshaw, Bill Withers and George Benson.
Rather than simply hitting play on a predetermined playlist, I used their selections to establish the sound of the evening and worked complementary music around them.
That's a big part of my approach to wedding DJ planning: your requests establish what your wedding should sound like, and I use them alongside what I'm seeing from your guests to keep everything flowing naturally.
Introducing Mr. and Mrs. Camacho
The reception officially kicked off with the wedding party entering as a group before we welcomed Mr. and Mrs. Camacho.
Their entrance soundtrack was “Where Is My Husband” by RAYE, setting up a reception that definitely wasn't going to sound like a generic wedding playlist.
Dinner continued with a warm acoustic and indie feel inspired by artists including Big Star, Bright Eyes, Neil Young, Jack Johnson, Michael Bublé, Local Natives and The Temptations.
Between music, announcements, speeches and transitions, my job as the DJ and MC was to keep everything moving without making the reception feel overly programmed.
First Dance and Parent Dances
Following dinner, speeches and the couple’s unique table cake cutting, we moved directly into the formal dances.
Erika and Josh shared their first dance to “Thirteen” by Big Star, followed by a father-daughter dance to “Satellite” by Guster and a mother-son dance to “Unforgettable” by Nat King Cole and Natalie Cole.
Rather than letting the room settle again after the formal dances, we used them to set up one of the most important transitions of the night.
Building the Dance Floor With an Anniversary Dance
Erika and Josh wanted an anniversary dance—but with a twist.
Instead of beginning with everyone and gradually eliminating couples, we built the dance floor.
We started by inviting couples married for 30 years or more. Then came 20+ years, 10+ years, newer couples and dates, and finally everybody else. Their original plan specifically called for adding people throughout the anniversary dance rather than eliminating them.
By the end, we already had a room full of guests standing together on the dance floor.
And instead of stopping to make another announcement, we went straight into open dancing.
It's a small timeline decision, but it's exactly the kind of thing thoughtful wedding reception planning can accomplish. You don't always need to ask guests to dance if you can design the timeline so they're already there.
Indie, Disco, Pop and Hip-Hop
The first portion of open dancing kept things broad while maintaining Erika and Josh's personality.
Their requested direction included music from Chappell Roan, Jamiroquai, The O'Jays, WALK THE MOON, Estelle, Clairo, Father John Misty, Durand Jones & The Indications and Samm Henshaw.
As the evening progressed, we transitioned toward their late-night selections, including Beyoncé, Drake, Fetty Wap, GloRilla, Usher, Megan Thee Stallion, Kylie Minogue, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Ghost Town DJ's.
That's what I want a wedding dance floor to feel like: your music, your guests, and enough flexibility to bring those two things together.
Planning a Wedding at A Secret Place Events?
Congratulations again to Erika and Josh, and thank you for having Jazzy Josh DJ & Events be part of the celebration!
If you're planning a wedding at A Secret Place Events in Jamestown, Columbia, Jefferson City, Boonville, Lake of the Ozarks or elsewhere in Mid-Missouri, I'd love to hear what you're planning.
You can check availability and learn more about Jazzy Josh DJ & Events, and once you're booked, my online wedding planning tools help us build everything from your special dances and must-play songs to announcements and reception flow.
Jazzy Josh DJ & Events
Columbia, Missouri
Wedding DJ • MC • Ceremony Audio • Lighting • Photo Booth
(573) 832-3384
