Minneapolis, MN – January 15th, 2016 – WeddingWire, the leading global online wedding marketplace, named Fulton Productions as a winner of the prestigious WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Awards® 2016 for DJ Services in Minneapolis!
                    
                    The WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Awards® 2016 recognizes the top five percent of wedding professionals in the WeddingWire Network who demonstrate excellence in quality, service, responsiveness and professionalism. The esteemed awards are given to the top local wedding vendors in more than 20 service categories, from wedding venues to wedding florists, based on their professional achievements from the previous year. 
                    
                    While many industry award winners are selected by the host organization, the WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Awards® winners are determined solely based on reviews from real newlyweds and their experiences working with Fulton Productions. Award-winning vendors are distinguished for the quality, quantity, consistency and timeliness of the reviews they have received from their past clients.
                    
                    “We are thrilled to celebrate such a high-caliber, committed group of professionals for the Couples’ Choice Awards’® eighth year,” said Timothy Chi, CEO, WeddingWire. “We are proud to continue to serve as the industry leader, with over 2.5 million consumer and peer reviews, and feature award-winning merchants such as Fulton Productions who understands the impact reviews have on their successful businesses.”
                    
                    As a Couples’ Choice Awards® winner, Fulton Productions is highlighted within the WeddingWire Network, which is comprised of more than 400,000 wedding professionals globally.
                    
                    Fulton Productions is proud to be one of the top DJ Service providers in Minneapolis in the WeddingWire Network. We would like to thank our past clients for taking the time to review our business on WeddingWire. We value all of our clients and truly appreciate the positive feedback that helped us earn the WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Awards® 2016.
                    
                    For more information about Fulton Productions, please visit our WeddingWire Storefront today at  http://www.weddingwire.com/biz/fulton-productions-minneapolis/b3bebbd29d23ab4e.html.
                    
                    To learn more about the Couples’ Choice Awards®, please visit www.weddingwire.com/couples-choice-awards.
                    
                    About WeddingWire, Inc.
                    WeddingWire, Inc. is the leading global online marketplace connecting consumers with event and creative professionals. Operating within a $200 billion industry, WeddingWire, Inc. hosts 10 million monthly unique users across its mobile and web platforms. Consumers are able to read over 2.5 million vendor reviews and search, compare and book from a database of over 400,000 businesses. Globally, it provides these businesses the technology they need to serve their clients through advertising, marketing and business management tools such as websites, payment processing, invoicing and contracts. Founded in 2007, the WeddingWire portfolio of sites serves couples and businesses across 14 countries in North America, Latin America and Europe, making it the worldwide leader in weddings with brands including Bodas.net, Casamentos.com.br, Matrimonio.com and more. The company employs more than 650 and maintains global headquarters in Washington, DC and international headquarters in Barcelona, Spain.  
                

About six months ago I met with a couple to discuss the details of their wedding and in our discussion they expressed interest in some unconventional approaches to the reception traditions. I was excited to see a couple so positively immersed in the planning of their wedding. They explained their thought process for the reception and I came to understand that the two were a spontaneous and creative pair (They’d just returned from a ski trip in Colorado). The theme of their reception night was going to be “games”! 

John Osberg
Tonight I was in Prior Lake, MN at "The Wilds" Golf Club. Man, I love golf courses (maybe I should learn someday). We were surrounded by beautiful fall scenery, and had a perfect warm fall day. Their ceremony was only complemented by the beautiful fall day. The highlight for me was the duo who did the readings, with impressive clarity. 

We moved inside for the reception and enjoyed a delicious Italian Buffet. Things moved right along, and I could tell the guests were itchin' to get dancing. By 7pm we were ready to go. We kicked of the night with the formal dances with the bride and groom, and immediately followed with the bouquet toss. As soon as those were done, the dance floor flooded. I tried my best to space out and plan the night, as we had until midnight to dance the night away. (Yes, five hours of dancing!) However, I quickly learned that I didn't need to take too many breaks for slow songs, as this was a group ready to party! 

A dance this long allowed me to play across the charts. I played 70s, 80s, 90s, 00s hits. I played top 40 dance songs. I played classic songs like the YMCA and the Chicken Dance. And as the night progressed the young crowed begged me to play club hits like "Get Low" and "Yeah!". Nothing was off limits, and the crowed stayed with me for the entire evening. At 9:30 (2.5 hours in) I made a played a (requested) song as a little bit of a joke to myself and the sharp ones in the group - "Livin on a Prayer." (Woaaah, we're halfway there..) It was a pleasure to DJ for them, and we fed off of each other all night. I'd play a set that would remind somebody of one of their favorite songs of the genre, and I'd be able to fit it right in. At the end of the night the bride "complemented" me on my dancing behind the decks, something that I can't control when I'm working with such a fun bunch of people.

-DJ OZ

John Osberg
Tonight I had the opportunity to DJ for a family friend. I was pleased to be where I had been last week, back at the Eagan Community Center.

This night was special for a number of reasons. First off, it was an absolute pleasure to DJ for a family friend. The bride actually happened to be somebody who had babysat me and my siblings from before I can ever remember. Her father was one of the leaders of my cub scout troop, and even though I didn't stick around long, I remember him helping me build my boxcar. Finally, it was the first time my parents would be able to see what I claim to do every weekend for a living. Mom, Dad, I hope I lived up to your expectations :)

The ceremony was officiated by the bride's father, something that he had never done up until that point. He mentioned that people would always ask and he would politely decline. However, when your daughter asks you a favor, you can't say no. 

We did the dollar dance about an hour into the dancing, and both the bride and groom had full lines, as it seemed everyone in attendance wanted their chance. Last in the bride's line was of course her father. Of course I thought to myself, "This is the perfect opportunity!" So as he walked up to tap the bride's partner on the shoulder, I faded my current song and faded in "Daughter of Mine." The look on their faces is why I love my job.

"Did you plan this?"

"No, did you plan this?"

Then the both looked at me and smiled as they waltzed to John Mcdemott's song.

The dance continued  with a packed floor right up until midnight. At the end of the night the bride's father came up to me and thanked me for the song and told me he would remember that moment for the rest of his life. I was humbled. It's simple things like this that make me love doing weddings. I'm always looking for an opportunity to make the night that much more special for somebody.

-DJ OZ

John Osberg
Tonight I was lucky enough to get a beautiful first taste of fall while I helped some newlyweds celebrate their marriage. The Eagan Community Center is a beautiful venue surrounded by nature, and I couldn't help but snap a few pictures as some fall colors start to arrive. 

I could tell right from the start what a close-knit group of people I'd be working with throughout the evening, and the speeches were very reflective of that. The wedding party and their guests all felt like one big family, and I knew I'd be packing the dance floor with the entire guest-list. 

As we finished up the first dances, we started of group dancing with the "Anniversary Dance" (Take a trip to Google if you need some background, I know I did when I started DJ'ing). I knew going into the dance that the Bride's grandparents were going to be the longest standing, as her mother told me prior to the dance that they were soon to be celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary. They weren't the only experts though, most of the married couples on the floor had at least 30 years under their belt! For their anniversary and to show the crowd that they've still got it, they did a little dance to "Begin the Beguine" by Artie Shaw. I was a little bit blown away by their genuine happiness and fun spirit as they danced to this classic tune. 

“Fly Me to The Moon” swung jazzily over my speakers, filling the modestly lit reception hall last night with a very classy vibe. It was as if Sinatra himself was on the premises—bringing with him the smooth gentlemanly and gentlewomanly “class” of his time. The men escorted their partners to their tables with “Vesper Martinis” in hand dotting elegant fashion clad head-to-toe. It was a fairly young crowd in attendance and they really had fun with the Sinatra/Rat Pack vibe of the cocktail hour. Between drinks, some couples rocked back and forth on the dance floor mixing contemporary and swing dance styles.
            The Bride and Groom made their grand entrance to the tune of Sinatra’s “New York New York” and the 60’s Jazz-feel carried over into the dinner hour and provided an electric undercurrent to the lively conversation at the tables

            After dinner and cake cutting we moved into the first dance and soon after the Father-Daughter Dance, the floor filled with excited guests to the tune of “Celebration”. I kept the groove at a swift upbeat pace for about a half-hour before introducing The Anniversary Dance (suggested to me by the Bride and Groom). The Anniversary Dance is a way of celebrating marriage in a romantically apt setting: a wedding! I called all of the married couples to the dance floor and explained the rules of the game over an eight measure loop of Jason Mraz’s “I’m Yours” intro.          

            As the song(s) play on, the DJ announces incrementally for couples to leave the dance floor. To begin,  couples who have been married for less than one day leave the floor (so the Bride and Groom are always the first to leave). This dance continues until just one married couple remains and everyone cheers in adoration and celebration of their long marriage. We cheered for the couples 40 years of marriage and then we cheered for everyone else’s marriages! This was a success and I followed it with “The Cupid Shuffle” to get everyone else (especially the non-married guests) back to the dance floor!

            It was a smashing success of a night and the night closed with one of my favorites: “The Piano Man”. The guests crowded into a massive circle with mutual purpose: to sing Billy Joel’s lyrics until the vocal chords give out. 

The ceremony concluded, and the bride’s family requested some Swedish folk music to be played while the guests enjoyed cocktails and yard games. Some of the guests included farm animals such as horses and chickens, and the cats and dogs were just as much a part of the fun. The sky grew darker, and sure enough it the stormy weather came in. Thankfully, it held off just long enough to enjoy the cocktail hour, as it was time to move into the reception anyway. Right next to the ceremony hill, we moved into the barn.

There were about 150 guests, and the barn wasn't huge. With the stormy weather, however, it really made for a special intimate evening. As we welcomed the wedding party back in with a grand entrance, the energy of the evening was already growing. 

John Osberg

Tonight I was at the Marriott Minneapolis Southwest. I’m always a fan of hotel weddings, and tonight was no exception. I also helped out with their ceremony which was right on site, in the back courtyard of the hotel. The venue was beautiful, the couple was married right in front of a big fountain in the midst of a garden. Their cocktail hour immediately followed the ceremony, and despite some cloudy skies, the rain held off for the entire night.

Welcoming in the wedding party was a hint as to what the night would hold. They came in rockin’ with enthusiasm, despite the cozy reception hall. Once we started dancing, there was no looking back. The floor was packed all night, and three hours flew by. During the bouquet toss, I had a brand new experience! The bride threw the bouquet just a little bit too far, and I was almost the lucky one to catch it – the bouquet bounced right off of my laptop screen into the hands of a lucky bachelorette.

I’m always happy to help out with ceremonies, and love being a part of the whole experience. I’ve always been a fan of having the ceremony and reception in the same location, it adds a greater sense of continuity and community with the bride, groom, and their guests.  


-DJ OZ

Last night I was given the honor of DJing a friend’s parents’ wedding at the Lake Elmo Event Center. The ceremony was to be outside and the reception was inside. When I arrived I stepped out of my car and squinted at the sky looking for signs of rain. All looked alright but my phone said there was a 50% percent chance of precipitation. I thought surely we’d be safe for the 3:00 outdoor ceremony and that maybe rain would come around 6:00 during dinner. I set up my speakers and the rest of my equipment in the beautiful masterpiece of a garden adjacent to the event center. The staff set up chairs and within an hour we were ready to go.

          Before the ceremony started, I walked back to my car to grab a few business cards when the skies opened up with a downpour of dense rain. My mind went into some sort of primal survival mode as I sprinted back to the ceremony site and threw my jacked over my NS6 controller and laptop. I unplugged all the chords from the controller and pulled the whole table under an awning. Then I ran for the speakers-- making sure they weren’t damaged and pulled them under the awning as well. I was panting and my clothes were soaked but the equipment was safe from the rain.
            A couple of staff members rushed to my assistance with towels and positive words. They helped me get the rest of the equipment dry and to safety. It was really great to be working with a staff that was so considerate and helpful and the staff at Lake Elmo Event Center was great! Tents were set in place and at the wedding couple’s request we moved all the equipment back outside and under the massive tent. The rain didn’t subside but no one really seemed to mind. It was kind of romantic. The guests watched the rain drip over the sides of the canvas as they made their way into the chairs under the tent. I cued Yiruma’s “River Flows in You” as the bridal party began their processional walk. The thunder roared all around us under the tent and created a very powerful addition to the gentle piano coming from my speakers.
           The ceremony was the kind of rainy romance you can observe in The Notebook and it was wonderful to be a part of. The reception was just as fun and romantic as the ceremony. The people in attendance were most interested in slow dances and as I started Jason Mraz’s “I’m Yours” the floor filled with couples aged 18 years old to 78 years old. I watched for a moment and was overcome with joy as I watched each couple’s unique styles as they spun slowly around the dance floor.
            Line dances, country music, and 80’s rock were all hits with the crowd but nothing filled the dance floor like the slow dances this particular night. Here are some of my favorites that I got to play:
Tiny Dancer – Elton John
Faithfully – Journey
Let’s Stay Together – All Green
You Are The Best Thing – Ray Lamontagne
I Won’t Give Up – Jason Mraz
Stand By Me – Ben E. King
Wonderful Tonight – Eric Clapton
Somewhere Over The Rainbow/What A Wonderful World – Israel Kamakawiwo’ole
            The hand on my watch pointed just 6 minutes before 11:00 and I grabbed the microphone to announce the last song of the evening. I faded in Piano Man by Billy Joel and the crowd roared with excitement. As if choreographed, the dance floor formed a circle. Each person had an arm around the person next to them and the circle swung back and forth to the ¾ beat of the song. It was a beautifully romantic wedding and I’ll remember the powerful and almost spiritual effect of the thunder during the ceremony for a long time.