Caitlyn & John

Caitlyn found me on Google in the summer of 2023 by searching for a DJ in Reno. That June I met her dad, Eric, in person, and from then on she and I planned everything by email.

She and John married on Sunday, September 17th, 2023 at Camp WeChMe at Galena Creek, a camp up the Mount Rose Highway with a big wood floored hall and bunk rooms, so guests could stay the night. It was a small, intimate wedding, and their one request on the contract was simple: "Help us have fun!" I set up in two places, a table outside for the ceremony and one inside the hall for the reception.

The ceremony was unplugged. The wedding party walked in to an instrumental of Everything by Michael Bublé, and Caitlyn came down the aisle to a piano version of I Cross My Heart by George Strait. For the recessional she asked me to start I Want Crazy by Hunter Hayes at the second verse, so they walked out right into the good part.

After cocktail hour, I brought in the wedding party, Kristen as maid of honor and Ryan as best man, and then announced Mr. and Mrs. John and Caitlyn Rawlins to September by Earth, Wind & Fire. Caitlyn came in with her bouquet up in the air.

Dinner was a buffet, and the toasts came from Ryan, Kristen, Caitlyn's mom Jennifer, and Carolyn and Howard, followed by an open mic. Then we played the shoe game. Caitlyn's sister Kristen sent me the questions ahead of time.

They cut the cake to Sugar by Maroon 5 and had their first dance to Carrying Your Love With Me by George Strait. Caitlyn danced with her mom to Mama's Song by Carrie Underwood, and John joined them partway through. Then every married couple came out for an anniversary dance to Your Song by Elton John.

For the bouquet toss Caitlyn picked Single Ladies by Beyoncé, with one note: stop it right after the toss, because she is not a fan. About twenty minutes into open dancing, everyone lined up for T-R-O-U-B-L-E by Travis Tritt, and from there it was country and 90s and 2000s hits, from Boot Scootin' Boogie to Friends In Low Places.

The last song of the night was Sure Be Cool If You Did by Blake Shelton. The next morning Caitlyn texted me: "Thank you for everything you did to make our night so special! We had a great time and the music and games were wonderful." I told her the truth: I do a lot of weddings, and hers was one of the fun ones.

In November 2024 Caitlyn emailed me a few of their photos from Blue Desert Photography. Thank you, Caitlyn and John, for having me up at Galena Creek.