Some weddings are memorable because of the venue. Some are memorable because of the music. Kyra and Josh’s wedding had both — a beautiful ceremony tucked into the woods, a relaxed tent reception on family property, and a dance floor that completely came alive once the sun went down.
I had the chance to provide ceremony audio, reception music, MC services, and dance-floor entertainment for their wedding here in Columbia, Missouri, and this one had a personality all its own.
If you’re planning an outdoor wedding and looking for a Columbia, Missouri wedding DJ who can handle everything from ceremony audio to the last song of the night, this is exactly the kind of event I love working.
A Woodland Ceremony Just Outside the Reception
The ceremony took place near a pond and wooded area on the family property.
Because the ceremony and reception were about half a mile apart, this wedding required two separate sound systems. The reception system was completely set up first, then I built a second ceremony setup near the pond so there was no need to move the main DJ system after the ceremony ended.
That meant guests could immediately transition into cocktail hour while the ceremony equipment was packed away.
Kyra and Josh also put a lot of thought into their ceremony music.
Their selections included:
“Dearly Beloved I” — Project Destati
“Concerning Hobbits” — Paul Hankinson Covers
“The Story” — Guitar Tribute Players
“First Day of My Life” — Brooklyn Duo
It was a great example of how ceremony music can feel personal without needing to follow the traditional wedding soundtrack.
Cocktail Hour With a Little Personality
Once the ceremony wrapped up, guests made their way toward the reception tent.
Instead of the typical acoustic-pop cocktail playlist, Kyra and Josh wanted something with a little more character.
We leaned into artists like:
Fleetwood Mac, Grateful Dead, Hall & Oates, Steely Dan, Eagles, The Beatles, Tom Petty and other classic-rock favorites.
They even specifically requested some Neil Diamond — with one important instruction:
No “Sweet Caroline.”
Fair enough.
The result was a cocktail hour that felt relaxed but still sounded like their wedding.
A Golf Cart Grand Entrance
One of my favorite details of the evening was their entrance.
Kyra and Josh made their way toward the reception by golf cart while “Walking on a Dream” by Empire of the Sun played.
Once everyone was inside and ready, I introduced the newlyweds and they went directly into their first dance.
Their song was “Some Paradise” by Houndmouth, using a shortened section of the track that they had chosen ahead of time.
That’s something I work with couples on quite a bit. A first dance doesn’t have to run four or five minutes just because the original recording does. Choosing a specific start point and ending point can make the moment feel much more natural.
If you're curious about how I help couples organize details like ceremony cues, introductions, dances, speeches and music requests, you can check out my wedding planning experience here.
Dinner, Toasts and Sunset Photos
Dinner had an indie and alternative feel with artists like MGMT, Florence + the Machine, Hippo Campus, Death Cab for Cutie and The Oh Hellos.
After dinner, Kyra and Josh stepped away for sunset photos while I prepared for the remaining toasts and special dances.
Once they returned, the best man and maid of honor gave their speeches, followed by Kyra’s father-daughter dance to “Ripple” by the Grateful Dead.
Then it was time to open the dance floor.
Pop-Punk, Emo and 2000s Throwbacks
This was definitely not a cookie-cutter wedding playlist.
Kyra and Josh wanted a mix of alternative music, pop-punk, indie, 2000s favorites and recognizable party songs.
Some of their requests included:
“A Thousand Miles” — Vanessa Carlton
“Dance, Dance” — Fall Out Boy
“All the Small Things” — blink-182
“Basket Case” — Green Day
“Shut Up and Dance” — WALK THE MOON
“Femininomenon” — Chappell Roan
“Holding Out for a Hero” — Bonnie Tyler
Post Malone
Paramore
The key was balancing their taste with what was happening on the dance floor.
At one point the crowd clearly showed that they wanted the poppier, danceable side of emo and pop-punk, which led into songs from Panic! at the Disco, Metro Station, Cobra Starship, Paramore, blink-182 and similar artists.
That’s one of my favorite parts of DJing weddings: the playlist gives me the direction, but the guests tell me where to take it.
And Then Came Thunderstruck
One of the most memorable moments of the night wasn't a traditional wedding activity at all.
The group had their own “Thunderstruck” game using the AC/DC classic, with guests pointing around the group as the song progressed.
It was loud, chaotic, hilarious, and completely fit this crowd.
Those kinds of moments are exactly why I don't try to force every wedding into the same formula.
Some couples want line dances.
Some want traditional reception games.
Some want a tent full of people screaming along to Fall Out Boy followed by a Thunderstruck drinking game.
My job is to figure out which wedding I'm at.
Ending the Night With Paramore
At the end of the reception, we gathered everyone back onto the dance floor for one last song.
Kyra and Josh had selected:
“Still Into You” — Paramore
It couldn't have fit the night better.
After a wedding full of indie music, pop-punk, 2000s throwbacks, singalongs and a packed tent, finishing with Paramore felt like the perfect ending.
Congratulations again to Kyra and Josh — and thank you for trusting me with such an important part of your wedding day.
Planning an Outdoor Wedding in Columbia, Missouri?
Outdoor weddings can be incredible, but they also create some unique DJ and audio challenges.
Separate ceremony locations, power access, weather plans, microphone coverage, equipment movement and reception timing all need to be considered before the wedding day.
That's why my wedding DJ service is built around more than simply showing up with speakers and playing music.
If you're planning a wedding in Columbia, Mid-Missouri or beyond, you can learn more about Jazzy Josh DJ & Events or check availability for your wedding date.
I'd love to hear what you're planning.
