Welcome!

Hello, and thank you for visiting!

I’m Matt Graumann, and I hope you have as much fun browsing and reading as I did creating the stories.

This photo was taken at Sunstone Winery (before any wine tastings!), my favorite valley wedding location.  Please contact either Ashley @ Sunstone or Tara Bassi for more details.

You can scroll down through the content, or visit the category folders on the right hand side of your screen.

Please return, as I’m frequently updating content including wedding profiles and other news.  My main website is: Matt Graumann Entertainment

All The Best,

Matt Graumann

1-800-581-5455

MatthewGraumann@sbcglobal.net

All posts and content copyright 2009 Matt Graumann Entertainment

Matt and Anne’s “Kids”:  Ace and Princess!

Spanish Hills Country Club Bridal Event – Sunday, January 10th, 2010 – 3PM-6PM

The Beautiful Spanish Hills Country Club Ballroom

(Uplighting by Matt Graumann Entertainment).

Time for another wonderful bridal showcase at one of the most wonderful country clubs in Ventura County!

Come chat and say “Hello,” sample some great food, and enjoy Spanish Hills’ service and atmosphere.

If you would like to attend, please contact Bridget Partida or Lanette Worthington at 805-388-5000; bpartida@spanishhillscc.com, lnoutary@spanishhillscc.com

It’s Almost Fall…Do You Know Where Your Lighting Is?

Hello everyone,

I’ve been using my wireless, remote controlled, uplighting system for the past year.  The results have been amazing, and my couples have been thrilled!

What does that mean in “non-techie speak?”

(Spanish Hills Country Club)

It means that we can match your wedding colors exactly.

No more royal blue, but not teal.

No more bright red vs. romantic red.

And, no more gaudy disco balls or flashing laser beams!

We can also do fades and changes throughout the evening, timed perfectly to your dances or other special moments.

I love summer.

But fall isn’t bad, either!

Girls Night Out! – United Way Fundraiser; Monday, November 9th, 2009

(Update!  September 21st, 2009):  We’re at it again!  Join us for another evening of fun for a great cause on Monday, November 9th, 2009, at Fiamme Restaurant in Westlake…

(Update!):  March 24th, 2009…Everything went great last night, what a fun way to raise money for an important cause!  If you missed this year, be sure to join us in 2010.

The room was loud with socializing and laughter, bidding was competitive, the fashion show rocked, two of the “Meatheads” serenaded the ladies, and, well…what happens at GNO, stays at GNO.

http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2009/apr/08/second-quotgirls-night-outquot-fundraiser-event/

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Calling all ladies (and guys, too!) for a fun evening to benefit female foster youth.  The United (Way) Women’s Leadership Council is hosting the event along with Meathead Movers, and myself as the entertainment.

Come enjoy great music, a silent auction, and other surprises beginning at 530PM at the Whale’s Tail in the Channel Islands Harbor.  It’s going to be an awesome event!

For reservations, please visit www.vcunitedway.org and click on “News and Events,” or call 805-485-6288 x221

Erin Loves Aaron – October 25th, 2008; The U.S. Grant Hotel

All Photo Credits:  Andre Niesing Photography – 949-395-5997

“Have Faith, Have Trust.”

Erin and Aaron Steed were at Darla and Jeremy Hoffman’s wedding back in June, 2008, and Erin (yes, it was a little confusing and funny with their names…) was one of Darla’s bridesmaids.

They had almost given up on their DJ search, but after Darla and Jeremy’s wedding, Erin called me.  We had a match and were ready to have some fun!

I should back up here for a moment, and say that their wedding location, the U.S. Grant hotel in San Diego, is a special place for them as they had a special Valentine’s Day dinner there (And I’m sure they’ll have future anniversary dinners there, too).  Luckily, logistically things worked out, as I grew up in San Diego, and I was able to visit family and stay the weekend.

The one word that kept coming up during our planning meeting and follow up contact (we both love our email!) was, “cinematic.”  Erin knew what she wanted (and their reception was in the “celestial ballroom”), so we picked out some movie themes and other “sparkling” selections that would enhance the “enchanted winter forest feeling” she was looking for.

As I got to know Aaron and Erin, I knew this was going to be a fun wedding, and I was also impressed by their business resume.  If you ever need a moving company in the tri-county area, you’ve got to hire a “meathead!”  Aaron and his brother, Evan, built Meathead Movers from the ground up, and they’ve got quite an operation going.

Everyone was off to San Diego, and since I was providing their ceremony music and sound, I also attended their ceremony rehearsal and dinner.  It was great to meet everyone, and we also finalized which version of “Ave Maria” Erin’s friend, Sophia, would be singing.

There were several highlights during their rehearsal dinner.  The first was getting to chat with Darla and Jeremy, again.  The second was they had their friend tape their actual proposal, which happened on an Ocean Bluff up at Shell beach.  After they showed that, I don’t think anyone didn’t have tears in their eyes, or at least a lump in their throat.  It was sooooo cinematic!  Later on, there were many personalized and entertaining toasts between Erin and Aaron and their wedding party.

The ceremony was amazing, and Aaron is this strong wrestler type of guy, but you should have seen his face when Erin began walking down the aisle.

The fun continued with a lively cocktail hour, and then we had Erin’s cinematic wintry music playing for the grand reveal of the ballroom and their entrance.  WOW!

After the wedding party danced their way up front…

…and dinner was underway, Aaron’s brother gave a toast I’ll never forget.  You see, Evan is also solidly built, and when he began, he was at a loss for words.  Suddenly, Enya’s “Only Time” started playing, and Evan expressed his feelings through a special, one of a kind, “interpretative dance.”

He brought the house down!

After an amazing personalized introduction before their first dance…

…the rest of the evening was sort of a blur, but I can’t forget James and Damiens’ groovy special dance routine…

…as everyone partied and danced until just after midnight.  The sing a longs to “American Pie” and “Sweet Caroline,” watching Aaron’s friends struggle to lift him up in a chair during the Hora, getting to play some great music from Erin’s play list, and the grand finale of “Kokomo” with all of their friends surrounding them arm in arm were just a few of the highlights.

Brings a smile to my face just thinking about their group!

Mr. And Mrs. Erin and Aaron Steed are now back from their honeymoon in Cancun, and catching up on business.  But I know that they’ll always make time for each other, even with their hectic schedules.

I heard a great quote from a recent wedding that was, “It doesn’t matter where you go in life, it’s who’s by your side that counts.”

Erin and Aaron, congratulations!

I know you love your “road trips,” and I know you have the right person by your side.

Nicole and Phil Lish – November 28th, 2008; Calamigos Ranch

All photo credits: Roman and Yvette Galvan
562-842-7146
galvanphoto1@yahoo.com

I first met Nicole and Phil in July, 2008, at Jerry’s Deli in Marina Del Rey for a dinner date to learn more about their wedding plans, and to see if we had a personality and style match.

After a few minutes, I could see that they were a great couple…Phil was cool, and Nicole was also a Psychology Major, so we were off to a good start!

They were looking for a “relaxed, organized, and comfortable” celebration without any “cheesiness”…but they didn’t want a boring DJ!  Since their wedding date was the day after Thanksgiving and all of their friends and family would be coming into town, they wanted to make sure that everyone would be glad they attended.

We had a match, and in October, we met at Calamigos to plan their timeline, special songs, and discuss some personalized ideas.  We kept in touch via phone and email, and when I received some of their finished “homework,” and as the song lists were finalized, I knew this was going to be an incredible celebration!

Since I was providing the sound and music for their ceremony, I also attended their rehearsal.  It was great to meet their parents, and Nicole’s Uncle Dave who would be officiating their wedding.  I thought that Nicole and Phil looked excited and happy; they didn’t seem nervous, at all.

Custom pre-ceremony and ceremony selections set the tone for a meaningful and emotional ceremony.  I think everyone held it together pretty well until Nicole began walking down the aisle with her father, Steve.

Then Uncle Dave read another personal dedication and tribute, and I, too, had to reach for a tissue.

Cocktails began with Nicole and Phil’s “Beatles Love Mix” of songs that got everyone ready for a unique and unforgettable grand entrance! We also did a special entrance for their wedding party, and everyone loved it!  I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves:

After dinner, we recognized special milestones for some of their guests, and also explained why there were 1000, hand folded cranes behind their sweetheart table.  Then Phil escorted Nicole to the dance floor, and everyone cheered them on to Billy Joel’s “I Love You Just The Way You Are.”

Next, Phil traded places with Nicole’s father so he could dance with his daughter, and a personalized dedication before their song created this moment:

Dancing requests included classic rock, group “sing a longs,” and the song of the night was “Bro Hymn” for Phil and his buddies, and that brought the house down!

After that, we had to tone things down a bit…LOL.

The evening ended with everyone surrounding Mr. And Mrs. Lish for one last dance, and then it was time to start their married lives together.

I got to know Nicole and Phil very well, and I know they will put in the time and effort for their marriage, just like Nicole did for her softball career, and Phil does at his job.

The best part of the evening was after I had already thanked them and said “goodbye,” and about 15 minutes later, they came up to me, we chatted some more, and gave each other a hug.

Several weeks later, Nicole and Phil’s thank you note arrived in the mail.  They had written many nice things, but most importantly, they stated, “…Our day turned into a great reflection of us.”

That’s what it’s all about.

Stacy and David Saenz – June 14th, 2008; The Intercontinental Hotel, Los Angeles

I met this wonderful couple through their wedding coordinator, Tobey Dodge, and we scheduled a lunch meeting at their hotel.

It was readily apparent that they knew their music, because when they were dating, they used to go out to clubs in San Francisco and stay out dancing until 3 or 4AM! I knew I would have to be on my toes, and we began talking about ways to incorporate their selections to create a loungey, fun, but not a “stuffy” affair.

They wanted all of their guests to enjoy themselves, because most would be travelling from out of town or out of country, and they definitely didn’t want the YMCA, the Macarena, or a corny game show host!

Since they are both busy and successful at their jobs, many emails flew back and forth across the country, and we also had a conference call or two to finalize their details and requests. We ended up with a really cool list of 50’s, 60’s and 70’s tunes, 80’s hip hop, 80’s pop, 80’s hair metal bands, 90’s hip hop, 90’s pop and rock, and some Top 40.

The big day arrived, the ballroom was looking beautiful, and the weather was perfect for their outdoor ceremony! Hearing Stacy and David recite their vows to each other was a highlight that set the tone for their reception celebration.

Suddenly, a Korean drum group signaled to their guests that dinner was next, and everyone followed them into the ballroom for a drum performance that had everyone cheering and applauding!

After a personalized introduction for their parents, I delivered a high energy and custom introduction for their wedding party, and then, with big smiles on their faces, David and Stacy glided into the ballroom to Sinatra’s “The Way You Look Tonight.”

Food was important to them, and the 5 course dinner didn’t disappoint! The socializing vibe included selections from Bocelli, some international and world music, Gypsy Kings, Jazz, and Sinatra.

After the toasts and the entrée, Stacy and David held hands at their family table for their personalized, funny, and touching special introduction before their first dance as husband and wife. Their guests really enjoyed it, and it was my honor to share their story.

Dancing and party time commenced, and I’m not sure who were better dancers….Stacy and her friends, or David and his buddies! We’ll call it a “tie,” as everyone was out on the floor having a blast. I’ll bet there were some sore feet the next morning!

Later on, Stacy and David had their ceremonial cake cutting and gave their “Thank You” toast to all of their friends and family.

Dessert and a cheese course was served, but the dancing kept going strong until midnight, and there was a big, happy group of dancers left on the dance floor when it was time to say “goodnight.”

After their wedding, Stacy and David were off to Italy and Croatia to “eat, drink, be merry, and relax at the beach.”

Just before they got engaged, Stacy and David were living in New York, and they discovered that the city is a great place to be in love…now they are back in the city, living in the West Village, just a few blocks north of the spot where David proposed.

Mr. And Mrs. Saenz, Congratulations!

I know you’ll discover that New York will be a great place to celebrate many future anniversaries.

Katie and Greg Pappianou – June 8th, 2008; The Westlake Village Inn

Three words come to mind when thinking about this wonderful couple.  Family, Fun, and…Fight On!

Guess where Katie went to school?

I met Katie, Greg, and Katie’s family through my friend Emily (thanks again, Emily!), as Emily’s sister went to school with Katie’s brother.

I remember sitting down in their family room and meeting everyone (including their dog, Liz), and that all of us couldn’t stop smiling and laughing!  I could tell right away that both of them had great families, and that’s an important ingredient for a successful wedding celebration.

They told me they were looking for a fun and traditional wedding with some personalized touches, but not a DJ who plays offensive music…or someone who would embarrass and upstage Katie (and Greg).  Since I don’t make it a habit to be a game show host, we had a match!

Katie and Greg both lived out of town, but staying in touch for our planning was fun, as Katie and I competed to see who was more organized (I think we tied).

I also want to thank Katie and Greg again, because before they even had their wedding, Katie referred me to one of her USC roommates, Kate, who was getting married to Matt (not me) on January 5th, 2008 (please see my previous post).  So I actually ended up performing at Matt and Kate’s wedding first, in front of Katie, Greg, and Katie’s parents….hey, no pressure!

In May, we met again to finalize their wedding program, and it was another fun time.  Katie’s parents are wonderful people with a great sense of humor, and before we knew it, June 8th had arrived.

Their ceremony at the Tuscan Garden site was both beautiful and meaningful.  But, what was this?  At the end of their ceremony, their guests remained seated as the wedding party walked out first, then Greg’s groomsmen stood at attention at the back.  Only then did Pastor Johnsen announce “Mr. And Mrs. Katie and Greg Pappianou!”, and as I played their recessional music, applause filled the air as they exited underneath an arch of swords!  Very official looking and dignified.

Everyone enjoyed cocktails as Michael Buble, Jack Johnson, Norah Jones, and Nat King Cole crooned in the background, and after recognizing their grandparents, parents, and wedding party with a personalized entrance, Ensign and Mrs. Greg Pappianou took the dance floor to “Young At Heart” by Frank Sinatra.

After dinner, everyone went to an adjoining room where the bar and dance floor were open!  How can I describe the rest of the evening?  Take a look:

One of the many dance highlights of the evening was “Shout!” Picture 60-70 people on the dance floor all jumping up and down at the same time…in a ballroom that’s on the second floor.  I hope they didn’t cause any permanent damage to the building!

Another unforgettable moment was when Katie surprised her Uncle Warren by inviting him to dance with her to “All I Want Is You”…no, not the U2 song…the one by Barry Louis Polisar.  That made his night!

Later on, Katie invited her sorority sisters to the dance floor and they sang a few songs together!

Then, (to the horror of any UCLA alumni that were in attendance), the “USC Fight Song” was cranked up, and the dance floor was full for the rest of the night.

Since their entire group was young at heart, there was still a big group of people that were invited out to the lobby for the big sendoff!

Katie and Greg, Larry and Wendy, thanks for everything, and I hope you had as much fun as I did.

Czarhia and Joe 8-8-08; The Castle Green

(All of Czarhia and Joe’s Photos courtesy of Forever True Photography)

It all started with an inquiry from my wedding coordinator friend Maita Henson Miyake of Simply Marvelous Weddings asking if I was open for the “lucky” 2008 date.

Normally it would be great to meet face to face, but since Joe and Czarhia live up north and have hectic work schedules, we traded a few emails and agreed to begin with a conference call.  We hit it off, and had fun discussing how they met (childhood friends!), their wedding plans, and some of Joe’s music requests.

I also learned that they wanted a fun, upbeat, yet relaxed summer wedding that wasn’t boring, and to make sure their parents could relax and enjoy things, too.  No problem!

We kept in touch and our schedules finally matched for a meeting over Memorial Day weekend at Lucille’s BBQ in the Long Beach Town Center.  If you’ve never been to Lucille’s (one of Rhia and Joe’s favorite places, and I believe it was where they went for their first date) you need to go!

Czarhia’s mom joined us, and promptly stated that she used to be a DJ, so hey, no pressure!  It was tough, but since I’m an organizer, and they were organized (thanks, guys!), we actually got a lot of planning done when we weren’t eating…

8-8-08. How can you not love that date?

All of their guests arrived in a festive mood for the reception celebration, and I could tell right away that it was going to be a party!

If you’ve never been to a Filipino wedding, the grand entrance is REALLY GRAND!  We recognized their cord sponsors, veil sponsors, and principal sponsors, parents, bible bearer, coin bearer, ring bearer, flower girls, ushers, their wedding party (they had some great dance moves!), and finally, Mr. And Mrs. Czarhia and Joseph Angeles!

It was all worth it, because the songs they chose helped to create an energy in the room that was just amazing!

Their special introduction before their first dance was entertaining and touching, and then Joe escorted Rhia out to the center of the dance floor where they showed off their choreographed moves to “Bubbly” by Colbie Caillat.  Very classy, and all of their guests voiced their approval with cheers and applause!

During dinner, we included some of their music selections that they had played at their engagement party, and rat pack classics (but NO Kenny G., LOL!).

After dinner, their friends Joyce and Brian sang “Bless This Broken Road,” and then party time really began as we got right into some their Top 40 and R&B requests.  They were also expert dancers to “Todo Todo Todo,” and they rocked the house to the “Cha Cha Slide.”

An hour and a half passed, and all of a sudden it was 11PM!
Michael Buble’s “Save The Last Dance For Me” ended the evening on a high note, as Czarhia and Joe continued their “Farewells” and “Thank you’s” before heading off on a road trip to San Diego, Disneyland, Las Vegas, and Monterey.

As I watched them, I thought, “What a cool group of friends, and what a great family.”

If you haven’t guessed by now, “8” is Rhia and Joe’s lucky number, and you take good luck when it comes your way.

But I’m pretty sure that Mr. And Mrs. Czarhia and Joe Angeles already knew that they were blessed.

Randy and Todd Wright – September 7th, 2008; The Adamson House

So by now you’ve seen some photo credits to James Hickey Photography on my website and blog.  Well, now you get to see a few more!

See?  Photo Credit:  James Hickey

James and his wife Monika are great friends with Randy and Todd, so that made their Wedding Entertainment Director search a “little” easier.

We connected, began emailing back and forth, and it was fun to learn about her dog, and also Todd!  Both of them have a great sense of humor, and Todd gave me a run for my money with his extensive musical knowledge (he used to live in San Diego, so you know he’s cool!).

During our planning, I confirmed that I understood that they were looking for great music and a non-cheesy Master of Ceremonies, and they also had some personal touches that they wanted to include in their wedding program.

In fact, a quote from Randy, “Thank you for all the HOMEWORK!  Actually, I was very impressed to see the planning that you go through to produce a personal and meaningful evening. I guess that just shows how inferior all the other entertainment hosts (sorry for lack of a more poetic term) have been at other weddings. Very exciting and we will of course love the sentimental aspect it adds!”

Don’t worry, I didn’t leave them hanging and trying to figure out everything by themselves…

After increasing the value of Apple’s iTunes stock, our playlists were set and ready (Randy and Todd, sorry that you had to do some “minor” cutting down from your original list!), and it was time to get married!

The Adamson House is a historic location right on the beach in Malibu, and the weather couldn’t have been more perfect.  At exactly 333PM, their ceremony began, performed by none other than their “Von Wright Family Singers.”

Another:  James Hickey Photography

I was able to accommodate these 3 professionally trained singers with my ceremony system (in addition to mic’ing their officiant, Todd, and playing their music tracks), and they did not disappoint.

Afterwards, guests were entertained by Todd’s special cocktail mix (of music), including selections by The Beatles, The Moody Blues, and Al Green, and then they went down below to the dinner area.

Grand entrance song for the family members?  “Gratitude” by Earth, Wind, and Fire.

Their entrance song?  “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy” by Blood, Sweat, and Tears.  All of Todd and Randy’s attention to their special songs was paying off!

It was quite the festive and social dinner party with stellar food and wine.  I didn’t expect anything less.  (I mean, I didn’t drink any wine or anything, but it looked stellar!)…

The toasts really brought their family and guests together, as did the personalized introduction (Todd’s proposal is one for the ages!) we did for Randy and Todd…

(I wonder who took this photo?)

…before their first dance to “Colour My World” by Chicago.  They chose this song because of Randy’s creative, artistic background, and because Todd loves the group Chicago.  See how smart they are?

For the dancing, everyone filled the floor and had a great time without the Chicken Dance or the Macarena…not that I would play those songs out of the blue, and anyway, Randy would have killed me.  Twice.

Their group danced the night away, and I took all of the credit (sorry, Todd!) as each song seemed to be a huge hit, and people who were at the bar would scream and run out to the dance floor.

Last One!  James Hickey Photography

To be fair, though, a lot of a DJ’s art and talent comes down to reading the crowd, and knowing which song to play at exactly the right time.

As it came time to say “farewell,” Louis Armstrong’s “What A Wonderful World” ended Mr. And Mrs. Randy and Todd Wright’s celebration the way they wanted.  Perfectly.

Randy and Todd, Anne and I just got a new puppy, and I think we should get together sometime soon with James and Monika.

Slideshow, anyone?

I’ve got the perfect soundtrack.

Sandra and Randy Reback – May 25th, 2008; The Bel Air Bay Club

New York City. Population: 9 Million.

A chance meeting on the uptown 3 train.

Sandra’s “cool” pair of sneakers sparked a conversation that turned into a lifelong commitment.

Sandra and her family contacted me via a referral from my friend and wonderful wedding coordinator, Tobey Dodge.

After meeting their four year old golden lab, “Twinkie,” and learning more about Sandra’s music tastes (not a lot of the typical “wedding standards”), I thought we were off to a great start!

(Rehearsal dinner at Spago)

The big day arrived, and families from both coasts gathered at their ceremony site on a bluff overlooking the beautiful Pacific Ocean.

Cocktails were upstairs by the ballroom, and a quartet of their friends provided some perfect “socializing” music.

Then the doors opened for dinner, and we recognized their family members before Mr. And Mrs. Reback made their entrance with happy and excited faces!  They made their way to their head table for a personalized introduction that was funny, touching, and very special, and then Randy escorted Sandra for their very first dance to “California Stars.”

Their friends and family only had a few seconds to recover after that special moment as we went right into the hora to set the mood for the rest of the evening!

After dinner, during the father daughter dance to the Beatles’ “Octopus’ Garden,” I still remember the look on Mr. Lloyd’s face as they danced around the room.  Absolutely priceless!

Go play the song (it’s playing on my computer as I type this), and I dare you not to smile!

During the dancing, of course we had to play “A New York State of Mind,” “Your Song” (dedicated to Sandra’s parents), some Stones, “The Twist,” a swing song or two, a few 80’s tunes, and favorites from Sandra’s play list.  The dance song of the night? “The House Is Rockin’” by Stevie Ray Vaughn.

I think I mentioned that Sandra had some great music selections and playlists?  For her cake cutting song, she found and chose a Caribbean steel drum version of “Under The Sea,” and it was a perfect fit as an ocean breeze gently drifted in from the open windows.

By 11PM, with farewells ringing in their ears and “Release the Stars” playing the background, Mr. And Mrs. Sandra and Randy Reback were off to their honeymoon in Maui and Japan!

What a celebration for a wonderful couple…I wonder if Sandra still wears her “cool” sneakers?