PV finished up the weekend close to home at the Creek Club in Ion.  This is a great place to get married…as a matter of fact, we played my sister’s wedding at this same location in 2010 (www.ioncreekclub.com).  It is a nice area because you can use the outdoor space to have a great ceremony as well.  It is right on the water so you get some great pictures!  Speaking of great pictures, Anna with City Light Studio was on site taking some great ones and the pics on this post are hers!  Check her out at www.citylightcharleston.com.   The bride and groom took advantage of this feature as well.  They had a guitar player on the porch for the ceremony music and the band was setting up inside for the reception.  After a cocktail hour the bride and groom moved into the club for their introductions and first dances.  This was one of the best intros for the weddings parties that we have seen in a LONG time.  They each had a routine with props and it really brought the house down early in the evening setting up what would be a great night.  The bride and groom danced their first dance to Tim McGraws My Best Friend and the bride followed with a dance for her father and step-father.  The groom escorted his mom onto the dance floor as well for a dance on Mothers Day.  After the dacnes PV started with the live music and the food stations opened as well.  Some guests danced and some enjoyed the food and towards the end of the set they were all dancing.  We took a break and then came back on with a set full of beach music.  The crowd loved it but some of the younger guests were asking for some hip-hop.  The bride knew this would be the case so she had some of her favorites on the IPOD and while we took our second break we kept the dancers on the floor with some ”booty” music.  The dance floor stayed packed for the rest of the night.  We started off with our hip hop medley and they LOVED it.  The last song of the night was Shout and the crowd lifted the bride and groom high above thier heads in celebration.  The left with a boat departure off the main dock as the guest waived sparklers.  Another great party and a great way to close out Mothers Day weekend.  Happy Mother’s Day to all the wonderful mothers out there as well!  We love you!

PV was back in Beaufort for another wedding this past weekend.  This was at a local home in the area right on the water!  What beautiful pictures.  The wedding planner was Ashley Rhodes (www.ashleyrhodesevents.com) and this was the second time we have been lucky enough to work with her in the past two weeks.  The ceremony and reception was on site so we were there early to make sure that we had everything up and running before the ceremony started.  As a matter of fact, we provided ceremony sound for the couple as well.  We are able to set up a separate sound system and mic the officiant and even the groom to ensure that all the guests are able to hear the outdoor ceremony.  Check it out at www.charlestonceremonysound.com.  Once the ceremony was over we played IPOD music over the speakers and the guests mingled and enjoyed a cocktail hour.  Once the photos were done the bride and groom moved to the tent for their first dances.  They choose You Are the Best Thing by Ray LaMontagne played live by PV.  The father daughter dance was Be Young Be Foolish by the Tams played live by PV followed with Carolina Girls by the Catalinas played live by PV.  After those dances the food stations opened and so did the dance floor.  It took the guest a little while to warm up, but once the dancing shoes were on they did not come off.  The last song, or what we thought was the last song, had the groom on his back in the middle of the dance floor.  The crowd loved his moves so much that they asked us to play an extra hour at the end of the night.  A little overtime was good by us and we kept rocking for another hour!  What a fantastic night and at the end we were all feeling great.  Another great trip to the Beaufort area and we look forward to our next visit!  What a great place to play a wedding!

PV played a wedding this past weekend at the Island House (www.islandhouseevents.com) on John’s Island.  This is a beautiful location for a wedding and this was no exception.  A cool breeze off the Intercoastal waterway keep the temp and bugs in check!  The bride and groom got married on site as well so this was a one stop shop for a great wedding.  Three Little Birds cafe and catering (www.threelittlebirdscafe.com) was great and all the guest seemed excited about the food the whole night!   This is always good for us because good food means full bellies which means DANCING!  The bride and groom announced the whole wedding party all supporting neon sunglasses asthe song Sunglasses at Night playing on the IPOD in the background.  The bride and groom danced their first dance as a married couple to Whatever It Is by Zac Brown played live by PV.  After the dance the food stations opened and the band continued to play.  A short time after the toasts were done by the best man and matrons of honor.  The band played a few more songs and then took a break for the cake cutting.  After the cake cutting the band started back up with an Anniversary Dance.  This is where you get all the married couples on the dance floor and slowly ask those to leave that have only been married 1 year, 2 years, 5 years and so on.  The last remaining couple had been married for 44 years and the bride gave her bouquet to them as a gift.  That was the last scheduled event for the reception and the dancing started immediately!  The crowd packed the floor for the remainder of the night, including a ONE MORE SONG, ONE MORE SONG chant at the end of the night…which we agreed to and rocked Don’t Stop Believingas the last song of the night.  The bride and groom left that night in a limo but no official departure.  What a great night and congrats to the newlyweds.

The second stop of the Roadtrip Weekend was to Sheldon, SC which is just off of I-95 near Walterboro.  This was for a wedding on a private hunting plantation right in the middle of the forest.  It made for a great location for a reception.  The bride and groom got married at the historic Sheldon Church Ruins which was originally know as Price Williams Parish Church.  It was built by the French around 1745 and was burnt by the British during the Revolutionary War in 1779.  It was a great scenic backdrop for a wonderful ceremony.  The plantation is only a couple of miles from the ruins and the guests started to gather shortly after its conclusion.  The plantation was ready due to the excellent planning done by Ashley Rhodes Events (www.ashleyrhodesevents.com).  As the guests started to arrive the band started as well with some lighter music awaiting our guests of honor.  Taking a short break, the band was back on to announce the wedding party and invite the bride and groom to the dance floor for their first dance as a married couple.  After the first dances the food stations opened and the guest dug in for a great southern meal.  After the food and the cutting of the cake, the guests had plenty of energy for dancing.  The rest of the night the dance floor was packed all the way up until the last song of the night.  The bride and groom escaped with a sparkler departure and we were off headed back to Charleston!  What a weekend!

PV played a rehearsal dinner in Camden, SC at Springdale Hall to kick off a road trip weekend with 2 out of town shows.  Springdale Hall is located right on Camden Country Club overlooking the historic golf course.  If you have never been to Camden it is really a nice, historic South Carolina city.  The rehearsal was just as elegant as the city and the guests had a great time dancing the night away.  The bride and groom did the toasts that night and we provided them with our wireless mics to help make sure everyone heard the kind words.  After the toasts some of the guests ate, some danced and some enjoyed the beautiful outdoor area at Springdale Hall.  Overall, it was a great night and the bride and groom looked excited and ready for their big day the following night.

It was Easter weekend so we actually had a wedding on a Friday this past weekend.  The event was at the William Aiken House and was planned perfectly by Lizz at Southern Protocol (www.southernprotocol.com).  The bride and groom at the cerebration in the garden area of the William Aiken House and it was a great scene (see the attached pic).  Black and white dance floor with beautiful draping and fantastic floral on each table.   Good thing they hired Jennifer Bearden and her crew (www.jenniferbearden.com) because they are always on point and will make sure to get the whole night on the camera.  The band started with some light music as the guest started to arrive on site enjoying horderves and drinks.  The bride and groom we announced and then followed with a welcome from the father of the bride.  After the welcome, they opened up the stations inside the home and the band took a break while the guests had dinner.  After the dinner they had the cake cutting and then moved into the first dances.  The bride and groom danced to a Jason Mraz song on the IPOD while the father of the bride picked The Way You Look Tonight by Frank Sinatra played live by PV and the groom picked Stand By Me by Ben E King played live by PV.  After those dances the floor was open and packed for the rest of the night.  We played one long 2 hour set and the crowd was dancing the whole time.  They were not ready to leave at the end of the night but the bride and groom had to be sent off with a sparkler departure so the party came to an end.  Another great night with a great crowd!

Check out the testimonials page to see what the bride had to say about the band!

PV played a military wedding this past weekend for a groom who is a Leutenant in the US Navy.  The wedding was in the Barbados Room at the Mills House Hotel, downtown Charleston.  Jayne and her staff and great and really work hard to make it a perfect event for their couples.  The bride and groom were married at the Summeral Chapel and then head to the Mills House for the reception.  The guests were welcomed with a cocktail while they waited for the guests of honor.  As soon as the bride and groom arrived they went into their first dance which was Someone Like You by Van Morrison played by PV live.  The father stole the next dance with his daughter and picked a perfect song, The Way You Look Tonight by Frank Sinatra playing live by PV.  The groom escorted his mother onto the dance floor after that dance and danced to Dock of the Bay by Otis Redding played live by PV.  After their dances they went ahead and did the toasts for the evening so that they could concentrate on dancing for the rest of the evening.  The dance floor was open and the guest took advantage of it, even before grabbing a bite to eat.  I could tell this was going to be a great crowd!  The bride and groom frequented the dance floor all night which brought the guests to their feet each time!  The last song ended the night with the groom on the ground with his feet in the air!  What a great night!  THANK YOU to the groom for his service to our country! 

Check out the testimonials page to see that the bride had to say about the band!

PV was on the road this weekend for a wedding at the River Club at Coosaw Point.  This was the first time we have ever played at this location and what a beautiful place for a reception.  The weather was great for the reception, but on the way down we ran into some of the worst storms I have seen in a while.  Rain and hail with a visibility of about 20 yards at one point.  It was hard to see the cars right in front of you!  BUT, the sun came out and it ended up being on of the best days in a long time.  The River Club is a beautiful 3 story clubhouse right on the Coosaw River.  The party was on the main floor which was actually the 2nd floor.  The guests were greeted with a nice size bar where you grabbed a drink and then moved into the main ballroom.  The room was a tight squeeze and the bride was originally worried that we might be a little loud.  The good news about PV is that we have no on stage monitors since we use in ear monitors to hear ourselves.  This really helps when you need to keep the volume down.  Our drummer Brian did a great job keep the drums on time but at a great volume as well.  Once the guests poured into the room they actually helped with the sound but we got a total of ZERO complaints that night about the noise level.  Big thanks to our great sound man Kevin as well.  He showed off for this show!  The bride and groom were announced into the main ballroom and all three of the first dances were on the IPOD.  You are the Best Thing for the Bride and Groom, Unforgettable for the Father and his daughter and then Uptown Girl for the groom and his mom.  The last song was a surprise for the grooms mother and she loved it.  They moved right into the cake cutting and then it was time to dance!  The crowd was into the music from the first song til the last.  What a fun group!  All ages danced to all the beach and party tunes and when we changed gears to the rock and funk not a person left the dance floor.  It was packed all the way up until the last song.  The bride and groom left that night with a sparkler departure and it was a night to remember!

PV played a 60th birthday party this past weekend at Wild Dunes!  What a great event!  There were about 66 people at the party and they seemed to all be ready to dance.  The birthday boy actually lived in Charleston for a while and was a bog beach music fan.  PV played all the beach favorites like Miss Grace, Carolina Girls, Be Young Be Foolish, Myrtle Beach Days (even though we were on Isle of Palms) just to name a few.  It was a great group and a really fun kickoff to St Patty’s Day.  It was our first day event of the year and what beautiful weather with the beach in the background…cant ask for much more than that!  Thanks to our friend Doug Harrison who recommended us for the show!  Check out what the client had to say about the event:

“We wanted to thank you for the great music.  Everyone is still talking about “the band” and all the songs.  We even debated which songs were the best or our favorites.  Of course my favorite was SuperFreak!  I know that your music made the party.  Thanks a million!  We will always remember the party and that all had a great time.”  Benny Berdick

The band played one of the few public gigs this past weekend at the Wild Wing Cafe in Mt Pleasant.  It was great to see so many familar faces from past, present and even future wedding clients!  Always great to see all the friends and family as well which always make the wing really fun for us as well.  We not there again until May so check the website and we will keep you posted.  Thanks again!

PV played the Belle Hall Blast this past weekend at the Lighthouse on Shem Creek.  We missed this event last year as the dates did not work out so we were glad to be a part of it again this year!  This was the start of a long streak of gigs for the band and what a way to kick it off.  They have a silent auction and a live auction for this event and both did well for the school featuring great items donated from all kinds of local Charleston vendors.  The band started around 7:00 and played a long set til 8:45 when the silent auction ended.  The live auction started right after a raffle and went on until about 9:30.  That is when the dancing started and the band really got kicking.  The last half of the second set was packed with dancers and even a few guest dancers on stage.  What a great night and we were glad to see everyone coming out to help the school.   Stay tuned for some video footage from the event as we had Shawn with Lowcountry Lens filming the band (www.lclens.com).

What a great event!  This was the 6th year in a row that MUSC has invited us to play this event and it gets better each year.  Here is a list of this year’s wonderful charities: Crisis Ministries, The Community Center at St Matthews Church, Helping and Lending Outreach Support, Lutheran Hospice Lowcountry, Sea Island Habitatfor Humanity, MUSC Student Initiatives and Fight for Sight.  The event started at 7 Saturday evening with house music over the speakers as the guests arrived to the auditorium.  They always have LARGE silent auction that is the main way to donate and win some fantastic items.  Some of the many categories were sporting goods, jewelry, restaurants, getaways, home goods, apparel and art.  At 8:00 the emcee welcomed the group and introduce the band and the live music began for the evening.  The band played one set and took a break around 9:20 in preparation for the first table to close at 9:30.  After a few requests on the IPOD and counting down the second table, PV was back on and ready to party.  The crowd jumped on the dance floor and did not leave us until the last song.  We ended with our hip hop medley and a great version of Shout.  Thanks again to all the people who worked so hard on this event!  We cant wait to play again for you next year!

And what a great way to start out the New Year!  We played a wedding at the Country Club of Charleston this past weekend and it was a great event to kick off 2012!  The bride and groom got married off site and then came to the CC for the reception.  Around 830 we announced the bride and groom to around 300 guests waiting the new couple.  They moved into the first dance which was You Are The Best Thing by Ray Lamontagne played live by PV.  The proud father got the next dance with his daughter and he picked Darius Rucker’s song It Wont Be Like This For Long for the dance.  The groom followed that dance with his mother as they danced to Forever Young by Rod Stewart played live by PV.  After their dances the dance floor was open and the guests started showing off their skills as well.  The band only took one break and during that break was a welcome from the father of the bride and the cake cutting.  After eating some cake the guests rode a sugar buzz straight to the dance floor for the rest of the night.  As a matter of fact, if it was not for the photographer, Courtney Dox (www.courtneydoxphotography.com) we would have forgotten all about the bouquet and garter toss.  Courtney always does a great job making sure that the bride and groom get all the shots they want from the big day!  The bride and groom finished the night with Sign Sealed Delivered and left the building with a sparkler departure!  If this is any indication of the new year, then it is going to be a great one!

Comment from the Father of the Bride:

“You guys were truly phenomenal!  No one wanted the night to end as you guys had the party going (even us old guys who tried to keep “gatoring” alive).  I look forward to our next opportunity to enjoy PV.  Thank you so much for making LaBruce and Harrison’s wedding so special.”

Comment from the Bride:

“THANK Y’ALL!  It was an absolutely perfect weekend and y’all just added to the excitement of it all! Harrison and I could not have imagined a more fun, enthusiastic band for our wedding reception.  Thank you for everything you all did to make it easy and so much fun for all of us (and our guests who had a blast)!”

PV played our last event for 2011 and it was a wedding at the Carolina Ballroom in the Francis Marion Hotel (www.francismarionhotel.com/weddings).  What a great location to end the year…as a matter of fact, one of our first gigs in 2011 was in this same ballroom.  The bride and groom hadthe ceremony off site and then made their way to the hotel.  There was a cocktail hour outside of the main ballroom with an outdoor area overlooking the park decorate for the holidays.  After the cocktail hour the guests were invited into the ballroom for the announcement of the wedding party.  The bride and groom entered to a resounding applause and went into the first dance, a Better Than Ezra song on the IPOD.  As a matter of fact, all the dances were on the IPOD this time around.  The father daughter dance followed with What a Wonderful World and then the mother groom dance to I Could Not Ask For More by Edwin McCain.  After that the band started and played through dinner.  You can always tell it is going to be a good crowd when they dance during dinner.  The first break of the band allowed for the toasts and cake cutting.  After those events the guests were ready to dance.  We played a second set with most beach music that brought out the shaggers and dancers alike.  After one more SHORT break we were back on with a variety of rock, 80’s, country and hip hop.  We played everything from Sublime to Black Eyed Peas to Zac Brown Band.  What a great night!  The final song was Don’t Stop Believing and the crowd went down singing!  Congrats to the bride and groom and congrats to the band for a GREAT 2011!!!!

PV played a holiday party  for the Beach Company at the Cooper River Room at the Mt Pleasant Pier (www.cooperriverroom.com).  This was the first time that we have played this venue and it turned out great.   The weather was perfect so they were able to open all the doors to the outdoor area and the band was rocking on a stage inside the room.  They did door prizes at the break and we sang Happy Birthday as well to one of their founders.  After that the dance floor was full til the end of the night.  One more gig for the year and then we say goodbye to 2011.  Happy holidays to all!

PV played a debutante party this past weekend at the Winyah Indigo Society Hall in Georgetown, SC.  It was our first debutante party in a while and we had two guest musicians with us for the evening.  David and Brian were both attending a friend’s wedding in Charleston so Mark Stanley filled in on guitar and John Tankersley filled in on drums.  Mark Stanley is a great player out of Conway, SC who was gracious enough to join us for the evening.  What a treat!  John plays with the popular Charleston band Fowler’s Mustache (www.fowlersmustache.com) and took the night off from the thirsty bunch to come play with PV.  The evening kicked off with the Grand March and then moved into the introduction of the debutantes.  After they were introduced the band played one song and then everyone went downstairs to have a drink preparing for the party which started at 10.   PV kicked it off at 10 and went straight til 12 with the crowd dancing the whole night.  We were able to play everything from the Temptations, oldies, beach music, funk to the Black Eyed Peas and the crowd danced to each song!  We ended the night with SHOUT and then we are on our way back to Charleston.  Thanks again to Mark and John and to Georgetown for hosting the PV invasion.

PV played a wedding this past weekend out at beautiful Lowndes Grove Plantation (www.pphgproperties.com) and it could not have been better weather for an outdoor wedding in November.  Only in Charleston can you have the 70’s in November.  The band has a guest appearance by our good friend Allan on the Sax for the event.  Alan plays with numerous bands in the area and is a great player.  The bride wanted to have a sax at the wedding and that is another thing that Permanent Vacation can make happen to make each wedding perfect for the client.  The ceremony was on site as well and set up by David Singleton of Eventsublime, as well as the rest of the evening.  The photographers on site were Rick Dean and his crew of Rick Dean Photography (www.rickdeanphotography.com).  They were everywhere and captured all the shots throughout the night!  The bride and groom even hired a videographer as well for the big day.  Shawn Whittington with Lowcountry Lens (www.lclens.com) was shooting the whole evening so with the great pictures and video, no moment will go unforgotten!  After the ceremony the guest were invited to a cocktail hour in and around the beautiful house out at Lowndes Grove.  Once the bride and groom and the rest of the wedding party was done with the photos, the guests were invited into the tent where dinner was to be served shortly by the staff at Lowndes Grove and their full time in house catering done by Fish (www.fishrestaurantcharleston.com).  Before dinner the bride and groom were announced and shared their first dance as a married couple to At Last by Etta James, played live by PV.  The guest went crazy with the song choice as the bride and groom were dating for a LONG time before the marriage.  After the dance the bride and groom sat down for dinner and the band kicked it off with some music.  Even though dinner was started that did not stop the guests from dancing.  They started out with just a few couples but by the end of the first set the whole dance floor was packed tight!  The cake cutting and a few toasts were done during the first break and then the bride and her father kicked off the second set with their dance to My Girl by the Temptations played live by PV.  After that dance the floor stayed packed for the whole rest of the evening!  The bride and groom left that evening with a sparkler departure as a happily married couple.  Another great wedding in November…speaking of that…Happy Anniversary to my sister and her husband who celebrate their anniversary in November as well.  Happy 2 years!

See what the bride and groom has to say on our “Testimonials” page!

I think we may be considered the house band for the Cotton Docks these days!  This is the 4th wedding this year for PV out at Boone Hall andthe Cotton Docks.  This was a wedding with Melonye Evans from Viola Events (www.voilaevents.com).  We actually played Melonye’s wedding as well so it was great to see her again and in action as a wedding planner.  The location was designed beautifully and they had a great photographer on site to ensure that no memories would go forgotten.  Heather Forsythe (www.heatherforsythe.com) always does a wonderful job with the photos.  The two photos above were actually taken by her in the middle of the dancing!  What a great job!  The bride and groom were married off site and then invited the guests to the main house out at Boone Hall for a cocktail hour.  After the cocktail hour the guests moved down to the Cotton Docks for dinner and dancing.  It was a little chilly that evening but with the doors closed, the heaters on, the fireplace burning andof course the dancing, things were heating up.  A friend of the bride and groom introduced the wedding party while Bruno Mar’s Marry You was playing on the IPOD.  The bride andgroom danced their first dance to a special song that the groom picked out as a surprise for the first dance.  PV agreed to help with the surprise and learned the song to play live.  It was God Gave Me You by Blake Shelton andthe bride was overjoyed with the selection.  Smooth move by the groom!  The next dance was for the parents, bride and her father and the groom and his mother.  The picked Unforgettable by Nat King Cole and Natalie Cole on the IPOD.  Following their dances was a welcome by the father of the bride and a toast by the best man and maid of honor.  They planned a toast together and it was done really well.  Finally a blessing and the food stations opened as well as the dance floor.  The guests started dancing right off the rip and continued all night.  The bride andgroom spent the whole final set on the dance floor breaking it down with all their friends and family.  After getting a request for Don’t Stop Believing all night we finally pleased the crowd andplayed it along with Take Me Home Tonight as the last songs for the evening.  The bride andgroom left with flags waving in an old, classic Ford truck.  What a perfect way to leave the historical plantation.  Another great evening at the Cotton Docks.

PV played a corporate event this week out in the Carriage House at Magnolia Gardens for a wonderful company called Catapult Learning.  This is a great organization dedicating to helping kids K-12 who struggle with academics.  If you ever get a chance to support this organization or any similar ones we encourage you to do so.  The company was thanking their clients with a dinner and dancing while they were in town for a conference.  The event started out with a cocktail hour by the main house out at Magnolia and then moved to the carriage house for the dinner.  The menu was bacon wrapped filets with crab cakes, mashed potatoes and asparagus cooked perfect by Royal Grand Catering (www.royalgrandcharleston.com).  The music started out quiet as the guests enjoyed their dinner and then after a few speakers the band kicked it off and brought the crowd to the dance floor.  We kept them dancing the rest of the night and even had a guest singer come up to sing Mustang Sally and What I Like About You with the band.  The evening ended up perfectly and the buses took the guests back downtown for the night.  Thanks again to Jessica at Magnolia Plantation and Paula with Catapult Learning!

PV played a wedding this past weekend at Hibernian Hall downtown Charleston right next to the Mills House.  This is a historic building built in 1840 as a meeting location for the Hibernian Society which is still in existence today.  The bride actually used to work at the hall and she was excited to have her big day at this great location.  The ceremony was on site in the ballroom on the main floor of the building.  A cocktail hour followed the ceremony on the main level as well.  The guests then moved up into the larger ballroom on the second floor for dinner and dancing.  The room has large stage that presents the band well and the large room always has good acoustics.  The bride and groom got the event started with their first dance as a married couple to Into the Mystic by Van Morrison played live by Permanent Vacation.  The bride danced with her father in law as well to Stand By Me by Ben E King played live by PV and her groom danced with his aunt to What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong played live by PV.  After their first dances the food stations opened and so did the dance floor.   Regal Catering (www.regalcatering.net)  did the food for the evening and it was a big hit with the guests.    The band took only one break that evening and ended the night with Sexual Healing and Shout.  It was a great evening for a wedding and we always enjoy playing at the Hibernian.

PV was back at the Cotton Docks out at Boone Hall for a beautiful October wedding.  The bride and groom used the space to their advantage and had the ceremony on the dock and then the reception to follow.  We were actually able to help and provide ceremony music out on the dock as well (www.charlestonweddingsound.com) including piano music and mics for the officiant.  After the ceremony was over the guest moved into the covered area for a cocktail hour while the wedding party finished up with the pictures.  The bride and groom and the rest of the wedding party were announced into the reception while the IPOD was playing I GOTTA FEELING over the speakers.  There first dance was a Clay Walker song on the IPOD and then the food station opened for the evening and PV started to play.  Once the crowd had a full belly of food they were ready to dance.  The floor was packed all night right up until the last song by the band.  The groom and some of the groomsmen even got in on the singing action.   The bride and groom capped the evening off with a sparkler departure.  What a great evening…we even had a client ready to book the band on site for her wedding.  That is always a good thing!

We played a wedding for one of our great friends this past Sunday at the Cottage on the Creek which happens to be just down the creek from the wedding on Saturday.  They are both part of Shem Creek Events (www.shemcreekevents.com) and are great places to get married with a water view.  The band set up on the porch and the ceremony actually took place on site as well right beside the creek in front of the gazebo.  We were again able to provide ceremony music on the IPOD and microphones for the officiants as well (www.charlestonweddingsound.com).  The bride and groom took advantage of the beautiful views and grabbed some pics before heading upstairs for their first dances.  The kids were the first to the dance floor after the bride and groom and then as the night grew on everyone was dancing the night away.  The bride and groom were sent off using lavender and bubbles off to Ireland for their honeymoon.  Congrats to Mark and Lorin!

PV played a wedding this past weekend at the Lighthouse on Shem Creek in Mt Pleasant (www.shemcreekevents.com).  It turned out to be a great evening for a wedding on the creek with temps around 72 degrees!  The catering was planned perfectly by Christy Roper and the rest of the folks at Bricklane Catering (www.bricklanecatering.com).  Give them a call if you want the guest to remember the food for the taste and the presentation!  The band kicked off the event with the first dance for the bride and groom.  They picked a Pearl Jam song played on the IPOD.  After their dance the father of the bride welcome the guests and then asked his daughter to dance to What A Wonderful World.  The groom followed with a dance for his mom which started off with Mother Knows Best by the Beatles but then the band interrupted and broke into Twist and Shout!  The groom and his mother broke it down and then invited the rest of the wedding party onto the dance floor as well.  This moments will be remembered well as they hired a great photographer for the evening, Patrick Hall Photography (www.patrickhallweddings.com).  They had a photo booth set up as well so I am excited to see the pictures!  The stations opened after that dance and once the guests got a full belly and some drinks down they were ready to dance the night away.  We played the rest of the evening and sent the bride and groom off that evening out the main entrance into a black cab.  What a great evening with the bride and groom!  Congrats!!!!

PV played a grand opening party for the National Bean Market Museum in Lake City, SC and it was a great success.  This is a new museum just  opened in an old farmers market right in the middle of downtown Lake City.  The museum is dedicated to the history of the area andthe history of the building itself.  The single story brick building was built by the Public Works Administration in 1936 and became the largest truck auction bean market in the world.  This great building is also on the national register of Historic Places.  The Claflin University choir started the event with their glorious voices and then after a few speakers that evening PV kicked off the dancing portion of the evening.  The danced floor was packed andthe guest danced all the way up until the last song played by the band.  What a great event and if you are ever traveling through the Lake City area make sure to stop by for a piece of history!

We were lucky to get to play at a rare location in the Charleston area called Truluck Island.  This is a private residence but they were hosting a wedding this past weekend and we are glad to be a part of the party!  The actual wedding was on the beach out at Folly and John and I helped with the sound for the ceremony played live via IPOD!  There is no end to how PV can help with your wedding!  After the ceremony the guests made there way back to Truluck where the bride and groom kicked off the event with their first dance.  The groom was from Costa Rica so they danced to a Spanish influenced reggae song called Dulce Amor by Godwanna.  The band started it off after there dance and played for the rest of the evening.  We were outside and you could tell that the season are changing as the temperature was perfect, dare I even say a little chilly.  The sunset was beautiful and the bride and groom left that evening with a sparkler and small firework display.  What a great evening with beautiful views!

PV played a wedding out at Pepper Plantation (www.pepperplantation.net) in Awendaw, SC this past weekend and it was the second one at this location this year.  This is a great location because you can have the wedding ceremony on site as well; however, in the case the bride and groom got married off site and just hosted the reception at Pepper Plantation.  The placed looked great and Lowcountry Eats (www.lowcountryeats.com) was the caterer so the food was excellent as well.  Elaine and her crew always does a great job leaving the guests full and happy!  The bride and groom arrived and took a few pictures on site before moving into their first dances.  Their first dance as a married couple was to That’s How Strong My Love Is played by Taj Mahal.  Following that dance was the bride and her father dancing to The Way You Look Tonight by Frank Sinatra  and the groom and his mother dancing to What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong.  At this time the dance floor was open and everyone was ready to break it down.  At the end of the night the younger crowd was stilling going and helping us sing Wagon Wheel among others.  The bride and groom departed right out the front of the building with a sparkler departure and all was well.  Another great wedding!

PV just played an event out at the Pavilion Boardwalk in Wild Dunes for the 2011 SC Trade Conference.  We set up facing one of the pools with the ocean to our right.  What a pefect night for an outdoor event.  This was the last night for the trade conference with a full dinner, drinks and dancing.  PV has played this event in the past for few years in a row so it was nice to get back on the ticket.  They were really happy with the show and are planning on having us back again next year.  What a great night and thanks again to the folks in charge of the event!

PV hit the road for the upstate this past Saturday and a wedding at the Wyche Pavilion (www.peacecenter.org/facilities_rentals/wyche_pavilion.php).  We have played at the Peace Center in the past but never at the Wyche Pavilion.  What a great location as it sits right on the Reedy River in downtown Greenville, SC.  It was great weather, perfect for the venue!  The bride and groom took a trolley ride from the ceremony to the reception site and were announced into the Pavilion and then led in by a bagpiper!  Two bagpiper intros in one weekend was a first for us as well.  The bride and groom moved right into their first dance, Strawberry Swing by Coldplay played live by PV which we learned specifically for their dance!  The next dance was another one that we learned specially for the bride and her father, Forever Young by Rod Stewart.  The groom danced with his mom to What A Wonderful World by Louie Armstrong played live by PV.  After the first dances the bride and groom went ahead and cut the cake so that they could just concentrate on celebrating for the rest of the evening…and that is exactly what they did!  They danced the whole second set, through the break with the IPOD music and the whole third set as well.  What a great crowd!  There were a ton of great photo opportunities and they were in good hands because they hired Heather Forsyche (www.heatherforsyche.com) to come up from Charleston for the photography.  It was great to see a familiar, friendly face at an out of town wedding!  The last song for the evening was Don’t Stop Believing and they left the Pavilion over a really cool cable hung bridge across the Reedy River.  What a neat way to conclude a wedding and congrats to the happy couple!

It had been a while since we played out at Alhambra Hall but this makes our second wedding in a row at this great location.  The bride and groom took full advantage of the site as they had their ceremony on site as well.  What a great day for an outdoor ceremony.  We are able to help set up sound for an outdoor wedding and this is exactly what we did for these clients (www.charlestonweddingsound.com).  They had a bagpiper lead them down the aisle and into the reception as well right into their first dance which was The Way You Look Tonight by Frank Sinatra played live by PV.  The next dance was for the bride and her brother and they really kicked the party off by dancing to September by Earth, Wind and Fire played live by PV.  This was a big beach and shag crowd with a lot of members of SC shag clubs.  With that said, they picked a lot of beach music and really enjoyed dancing with the band.  It is always nice to get so many compliments from people who have been enjoying beach music for so long!  The bride and groom danced all night as well as all the guests.  The last song of the night was Shout and the crowd sent the bride and groom off with a sparkler departure!  What a great wedding shagging the night away!

See what the clients said about the band on our “Testimonials” page!

Located in the Old Village in Mt Pleasant , Alhambra Hall sits right of the mouth of the Cooper River overlooking the Charleston Harbor.  This is a popular place for weddings and PV was playing at this great location this past weekend.  The evening was planned wonderfully by McRae Weede with Host Events (www.hosteventscharleston.com) along with a list of great folks working the event as well.  The caterers for the evening were Cafe Catering (www.charlestonscafe.com) and they always do a great job with the food.  They used to be called the Bookstore Cafe and are still going strong but under a different name.  The photographer was out of Camden, SC and did a great job with the photos all evening.  The bride and groom have seen PV play a good many times and we were excited to see them tie the knot!   There first dance was to You Are The Best Thing by Ray LaMontagne played live by PV.  After a few words from the father of the bride, father daughter dance was to Have I Told You Lately by Rod Stewart played live by PV followed by the groom and his mother to Just the Way You Are by Billy Joel played live by PV.   After that the ice was broken on the dance floor and everyone joined us for the rest of the night.  They coupled decided to have an anniversary dance which singles out the couple that has been married the longest in the whole group.  This turned out to be a happily married couple of 46 years!  What a great role model for the newlyweds.  The bride and groom ended the night with Don’t Stop Believing by Journey played by PV and then departed with rose petals in a Black Cab!  Another great wedding and we are so excited for the bride and groom and their new life together!

PV played a wedding at the Tides Ballroom in the Sweetgrass Pavilion out at the popular Wild Dunes Resort.  This is a beautiful, almost brand new building and a perfect place for a reception.  The crew out there is lead by Samantha Hazard and they always do a great job (www.wilddunes/sweetgrass-pavilion-events.php).  Both the bride and groom were from out of town and they picked a great place for a destination wedding.  They started off the evening with a cocktail hour location just outside the ballroom and then were all invited in for the announcing of the bridal party.  After a rousing applause the couple went to their first dances followed by a welcome from the father of the bride.  The dinner stations opened after a blessing and the dancing started right then as well.  This was a great crowd of all ages that danced from song one til the end.  As a matter of fact, we played overtime for an additional hour because everyone was having such a good time.  The wedding was a huge success and the happy couple has many great memories.

We are back at the same location with the same great wedding planners!  Sara from Southern Protocol (www.southernprotocol.com) was lead on this event and it was a great night.  The bride and groom had the ceremony off site and then the guests first joined us at the William Aiken House around 7 for the cocktail hour.  The wedding party was not far behind and we announced into the reception at 730 for their first dances.  The bride and groom picked Someone Like You by Van Morrison as their first dance played live by PV.  The next dance was for both the bride and her father and the groom and his mother and they choose What A Wonderful World by Louie Armstrong played live by PV.  After a welcome from the father of the bride the band played a few songs before taking a short break while the guests moved inside for dinner.  After some great food the guests started to move back outside where we started with some beach and shag music which packed the dance floor.  Keeping the same theme for the most part of the second set kept the people dancing the whole time.  It was then time for a short break while the bride and groom cut the cake inside the house.  As soon as that was done the guests brought a sugar high back to the dance floor and did not leave us til the very end!  The last song was Shout and end up with the groom on his back, kicking his legs in the air.  After getting back to his feet, the bride and groom left the William Aiken House with a sparkler departure.  Another great evening with Southern Protocol!

We played a wedding this weekend for a friend of one of our good friends!  The bride is one of Lizz with Southern Protocol’s best friends (www.southernprotocol.com) and Lizz is a good friend of ours.  When she asked if we were available we were honored that she asked us to play for one of her friends.  It was a great evening and of course the planning was great since she had Lizz by her side.  The ceremony was on site at the William Aiken House and after the ceremony the guests enjoyed cocktails and the stations opened soon after as well.  After eating some wonderful food the father of the bride gave a welcome speech and the bride and groom cut the cake for desert.  As soon as they were done it was time for us to play the first dances for the evening.  The first dance was Into the Mystic by Van Morrison played live by PV.  The second dance was for both the bride and her father and the groom and his mother.  They picked Carolina On My Mind by James Taylor played live by PV as well.  After the dances the floor was open and it was Lizz’s kids that kicked the party off with some great dancing.  Not soon after the rest of the crowd joined in and it was packed for the rest of the night.  After screaming a little Journey the crowd sent the bride and groom off into the night with a sparkler departure.  Thanks again to Lizz for having us play the wedding and congrats to the bride and groom.

We played a wedding this past weekend at the carriage house out at Magnolia Plantation.  What a great site for a wedding!  You can have the ceremony on site as well but the groom graduated from the Citadel so they were married at the Summeral Chapel at the Citadel.  The guests were shuttled from the ceremony to the reception out at Magnolia and were ready to celebrate.  I bet you are wondering about the title of the post so I will go ahead with the details.  My wife is a wedding planner in the area as well and her wedding on the same day in Charleston had the head coach for the Atlanta Falcons as a groomsman in the wedding party.  This was pretty cool but turn out that our wedding had her beat hands down.  At our wedding the groom coaches with the Minnesota Vikings, his dad coaches with the Indianapolis Colts, another family member coaches with the Panthers and his uncle is the head coach of the San Diego Chargers.  If that was not enough, the bride’s father is one of the assistant coaches for the Chicago Bears and the wedding planner’s husband plays for the Chicago Bears.  I told you we had her beat!  This was a destination wedding for about half of the guests and the other half has Charleston/Citadel ties.  When you put these 2 groups together it equaled a GREAT party!  The bride and groom were announced into the carriage house and had their first dance as a married couple to Whatever It Is by Zac Brown Band played live by PV.  The bride and her father followed that dance with What A Wonderful World by Louie Armstrong played live by PV and then the groom and his mother dancing to Stand By Me by Ben E King played live by PV.  After the dances the bride and groom went ahead and cut the cake so they could concentrate on mingling and dancing for the rest of the evening.  The first set was somewhat calm as the guests were eating and talking.  We took a break and when we came back for the second set it was party time!  The bride and groom joined us on the stage at one point and we had a whole group singing Family Tradition (actually we played it twice by request, haha).  There were so many people we had to move our mic stands back just to give them room to dance.  We ended up playing an extra hour overtime because they wanted to keep partying.  We ended with Superstition and ended up playing a few songs on the IPOD as well.  What a great night and the groom, bride, their families and the rest of the people had a blast.  What a great evening!  It is always great to play for a crowd that parties HARD!  Congrats to the bride and groom and thanks for having us!

The band was back again at Patriots Point to what has become our most popular spot for 2011.  I like the location so much I think I have talked my little sister into having her wedding here in Oct of 2012.   I think this is our third wedding of the season at this location.  The people that work for Patriots are great, especially the catering manager Lacy Davidson (www.patriotspointlinks.com).  They have a great location where you can have the ceremony on site and then move right to the large tent overlooking the 18th green and the Charleston harbor.  Cant really beat that for your wedding pictures.  Speaking of pictures, the bride and groom had Jennie Beard (www.jbfreshphotography.com) as their photographer and guest as well.  Jennie is good friends with the couple and was working and attending at the same time.  What a great photographer and friend who always takes great pictures.  The bride and groom danced to Stand By Me by Ben E King played live by PV for the first dance and followed that up with the other 2 dances on the IPOD, I Loved Her First by Heartland and My Wish by Rascal Flatts respectively.  The stations open after the dances and the crowd enjoyed some great food from prime rib to crab legs!  The band took a break and came back to a well feed and dance ready crowd!  From the first song on the crowd packed the dance floor for the rest of the night.  We ended the night with a Funky Music Brickhouse medley and the bride and groom left that evening in a golf cart with a sparkler departure.  Another great wedding at Patriots Point.

I think this is first time that we have been back to the Creek Club in Ion since my sisters wedding.  What a great place for a ceremony and a reception.  They have a great lawn right outside of the main building that makes a perfect ceremony location overlooking the water.  That is exactly what happen for this wedding a well and the guests moved up onto the porch area for the cocktail hour.  The house has a long wrap around porch with great views of the water and seems to always have a nice breeze.  After the cocktail hour we announced the bride and groom into the reception to what was honestly the loudest welcome we have ever heard from their guests.  This was just the start to a great reception.  As soon as the first dances were over the music started and so did the dancing.  A lot of the time the crowd goes straight for the food but from the first song we played the people were dancing!  That is always a great thing to see from the band’s perspective.  We took one break and that did not slow the crowd down at all.  They continued to dance all the way til the last song before they sent the bride and groom off into the night.  Sparklers are always a popular send off, but they used glow sticks this evening and it was a really cool idea!  What a great evening and a big thanks for the girls at A Charleston Event (www.acharlestonevent.com) for all the help.  They always do a great job with the planning!

PV was back at the Legare Waring House for the second time within the past couple of weeks.  We had never played that location in the past and now we are seasoned veterans.  This time we set up in between the avenue of oaks and the main house, facing the house.  The ceremony was in the avenue of oaks which is a great place to get married.  The guests moved from the ceremony over to the tented area for the cocktail hour and PV started playing as soon as they filled the tent.  The bride and groom and the rest of the wedding party was introduced into the reception after a few more pictures and were all welcomed by the Father of the Bride.  This wedding had many out of town guests coming as far as Hawaii for the big day.  After the welcome the guests moved into the house where Granville Catering (www.granvillescafeandcatering.com) was set up with stations for dinner.  They always do a great job with the food and got the guests ready for the dancing later that evening.  After the cake cutting the bride and groom went back to the tent where they were ready for their first dance as a married couple.  They danced to Dancing in the Moonlight by King Harvest played live by PV.  The father daughter dance was My Girl by the Temptations played live by PV and the groom and this mother joined halfway through the song.  The dances and the rest of the evening was caught on video by Bradford Gilliam Video and Photography (www.bradfordgilliam.com).  He was everywhere and I know that the video is going to be something that the bride and groom will love to watch for a long time!  After that the dance floor was officially packed for the rest of the night!  The groom and his friends even got up and sang Wanted Dead or Alive by Bon Jovi over the IPOD and the crowd went nuts.  The last song was Dont Stop Believing and they were singing at the top of their lungs and jumping up and down!  What a great crowd!  The bride and groom left in a limo rented from A Charleston Wedding (www.acharlestonwedding.com) with a bubble departure!  A great end to a great evening at the Legare Waring House.

See what the bride and groom had to say on the “testimonials” page

PV played a wedding this past weekend at the Citadel Beach House out of Isle of Palms. If you are not familiar with this location it sits beachfront almost right across from the main entrance into Wild Dunes. They have a large lawn area behind the house which is perfect for a ceremony site. You really cant get much closer to the beach without being in the sand! The bride and groom has a steel drum players for the ceremony and also the cocktail hour which was located outside, alongside the beach house. The guests were invited into the house after the cocktail hour and PV began as they were all walking into the reception. After just a few songs the wedding party and the bride and groom were announced into the room with OMG by Usher playing on the speakers. The bride and groom’s first dance was Into The Mystic by Van Morrison played live by PV. Following that dance was the bride and her father dancing to Isn’t She Lovely by Stevie Wonder playing live by PV. Stevie Wonder actually wrote that song for his daughter so we get that request often for the father daughter dance. Last but not least the groom danced to What a Wonderful World by Louie Armstrong played live by PV. After the dances the band kept playing while the guests enjoyed some great food from Cru Catering (www.crucatering.com). Chad from Cru always does a great jobs and this was no exception. After the guests finished their meals the dancing began. PV only took one break and played as long as we could until the guys at the Citadel Beach House shut us down…a little abruptly if you ask me but I guess he didn’t care that evening. The bride and groom departed with the guests cheering and shaking rattles as they drove away. What a great evening and CONGRATS to the bride and groom!

See what the bride and groom had to say on the “testimonials” page

PV jumped in the tour bus and headed down to Hilton Head for a wedding at the Oceanfront Hilton resort.  It was a pretty easy trip and our first one to the island.  The wedding was at an outdoor Pavilion called the Shorehouse and we were pretty much as close to the ocean as we could get without having sand between our toes.  The bride and groom had the ceremony under the pavilion and then moved to another area of the Shorehouse for the cocktail hour while the staff turned the ceremony space into reception area.  After the cocktail hour the guests moved up to the main area for the first dance and a stations dinner.  The first dance was I Will by Alison Krause played on the IPOD followed by a welcome from the parents of the bride.  All of the guests came from out of town for the wedding so they were ready to dance from song number one.  The crowd was of all ages and they all really enjoyed every song.  The bride and groom were big Rolling Stones fans so we pulled out every song we knew for them that night…Jumpin Jack Flash, Honky TonkWomen, Sympathy for the Devil, Dead Flowers and Beast of Burden to name a few.  The father/daughter dance was played to kick off the second set and the mother and groom joined in as well halfway through the song.  Carolina in my Mind was very appropriate with all the work that went into the Carolina wedding.  It was a great evening that did not stop until the last note was hit by the band!  What a great group and a fantastic welcome to the Hilton Head area for PV.  Congrats to the bride and groom as we wish them the best.

PV played another wedding at the popular William Aiken House in downtown Charleston.  It is located right on King Street and until I started playing in the band, I really didn’t even notice it.  It is a great outdoor/indoor location in the heart of downtown Charleston so it attracts many weddings.  You can even have the ceremony on site as well which makes it a one stop shop.  They do require you to hire a wedding planner and we were lucky enough to work with one of the best once again in Sara with Southern Protocol (www.southernprotocol.com).  What a great job with the planning and the set up and just the overall flow of the evening.  The wedding party took some pictures at the church with who else but Rod and Tara with Red Shutter Studio (www.redshutterstudio.com).  In the past 5 weeks we have had one event with them every weekend but one.  Haha!  They really do a great job for their clients and I know that is why they keep getting booked wedding after wedding.  If you want a personal and professional touch to your wedding photos, then they are the ones to call.  The wedding party was then transferred from the ceremony site to the reception by the ever famous Charleston rickshaws.  The guests enjoyed the cocktail hour out on the lawn area and once the bride and groom arrived via horse and buggy and were announced, everyone moved inside the house for a buffet style dinner.  After dinner was the cake cutting and then to the outdoor tented area for the first dances.  The bride and groom danced to a version of the song Crazy Love with Ray Charles and Van Morrison together on the IPOD.  The other (2) dances were on the IPOD as well and then the live music started with PV!  We played one long set with no break from about 9 to 1050.  Once we got them up and dancing we did not want to stop the party with a short break.  The crowd danced the rest of the night and the bride and groom left the William Aiken House on the main gate with a sparkler departure.

This has to be a first for PV in a really long time because we played 2 shows in a row at locations where we have never been in the past.  Pepper Plantation (www.pepperplantation.net) is a fairly new location on a beautiful piece of land in Awendaw, SC.  They have done a great job with this site as it sits on a large pond and had a really nice bridal cottage for the bride and her bridesmaids to get ready in on the property.  The building for the reception is an open air room that has views of the pond on one side and views of the horses opposite the building.  Another great feature is that you can have the ceremony on site as well which makes this a one stop shop for the evening.  Another first that evening was that we worked with the same wedding planner (www.winshipproductions.com) and the same caterer (www.crucatering.com) that evening as the previous night.  This was nice because we were riding high from a successful night on Friday and that just kept going into Saturday.  The ceremony was on site and the guests were lucky to hear the voices of the Plantation Singers (www.plantationsingers.com) during the ceremony and the cocktail hour.  Immediately following the ceremony the bride and groom were announced and starting the dancing with their first dance Into the Mystic by Van Morrison.  The father daughter dance was The Way you Look Tonight by Frank Sinatra and the mother son was Stand By Me by Ben E King.  Dinner followed the dances and after dinner we moved a few tables and were ready to party!  The bride joined us on stage for When You Say Nothing At All by Alison Krause and the crowd was loving every moment.  She has a beautiful voice and brought happy tears to many of the guests.  She stayed on stage for Hey Ya as well which brought the house down.  The photographers on site were our friends from Patrick Hall Photograph (www.patrickhallphotography.com) and they were there to catch every moment.  They left that night with a flower departure in a old farm truck from the plantation…well at least as far as the bridal cottage where the limo was waiting.  What a great night!

See what the bride and groom had to say on the “testimonials” page

This is one of the few places in the Charleston area where PV has NOT played in the past.  The Legare Waring House is at Charlestowne Landing State Park and is a great place for a wedding.  They also have Founders Hall which is a brand new facility they built for weddings.  Check them both out at (www.legarewaringhouse.com).  While the band has not done a show here as a group, I have done ceremony sound for a ceremony in the past.  Most of the time the ceremony is done in the avenue of oaks and the reception is done closer to the main house.  This wedding was the opposite with the ceremony by the pond in the front of the house and the reception under a tent in the avenue of oaks.  What a beautiful site!  The wedding planners used the whole space very well (www.winshipproductions.com) with the cermony by the pond, cocktail hour by the house and then the reception and seated dinner in the avenue of oaks.  The guests were in luck as the bride and groom selected Cru Catering (www.crucatering.com) as their caterers for the evening.  They are one of the best in the area not only for their phenomenal food but also for their attention to detail on many levels.  The tented was decorated to the nines by Terri and the folks at Ohh Events (www.shopoutofhand.com).  The bride and groom enjoyed the cocktail hour and then made the walk to the avenue where they were announced and invited to the dance floor for their first dance as a married couple.  They picked out the song Whatever It Is by Zac Brown Band to be played live by PV.  After a turn and a lift to end the dance the crowd went wild.  The bride danced with both her father and step father to My Girl by the Temptations and Tupelo Honey by Van Morrison respectively both played live by PV.  The mother son dance was Stand By Me by Ben E King also played live by PV.  The happy couple sat down for dinner but the guests started dancing as soon as PV started after the first dances.  For most of the guests this was a destination wedding so they were ready to party the night away.  Not to mention the fact that most of the guests came to the event via shuttle so there were no worries about driving home that evening.  Dinner started around 745 and the party went to midnight.  The last set was full of rock and funk and the crowd loved it.  They danced all night up until the very last song and even had to hurry to make sure to catch the last shuttle into town.  It was a great evening in the avenue of oaks.

We were back for another great wedding at the Thomas Bennett House.  The ceremony and cocktail hour were on site as well and it was actually the second wedding in a row with the ceremony musicians.  Lauren Williams and her crew from Palmetto Strings (www.palmettostrings.com) were at the ceremony on Friday as well at the Island House.  They always do a great job and actually moved to the porch area for the cocktail hour to continue playing.  The guests were asked to move to the tented area and find their seats around 630 in preparation for dinner and the first dance of the evening.  The bride and groom picked How Sweet It Is by James Taylor to be played by PV.  After the dance, a welcome by the Father of the Bride and a prayer by the officiant the caterers sprung into action.  Cru Catering (www.crucatering.com) provided a sit down dinner for the guests that everyone was talking about all night long.  The cake cutting and toasts followed dinner and then then father daughter and mother son dances officially started the dancing for the evening.  It was a humid evening but that did not stop the dancers as they were ready to show off on the dance floor.  PV got a pretty good video of the first set so it may be posted on the web sometime soon.  Alan from Booty Call joined us for the second night in a row on the saxophone.  It was a great addition to the band and the guests really enjoyed the evening.  The bride and groom danced their last dance and then left the reception with a rose petal departure.  Thanks again to Alan for joining us 2 nights in a row and congrats to the newlyweds!

The island house (www.islandhouseevents.com)  is a great location for a wedding if you are looking for an outdoor wedding by the water.  You can literally jump into the river it is so close and they even have a boat dock for some great pictures.  The bride and groom had the ceremony on site as well which is a nice advantage.  After the ceremony, the guests moved to the tented area for a cocktail hour while the bride and groom finished up some great pictures with their photographer, Anna Naphtali out of Charlotte (www.annanaphtailphotography.com).  The sun was setting and the bride and groom were ready for their first dance as a married couple.  They also decided that they wanted to have horns for their big day which is something that we can provide for an additional fee.  We brought in Jeremy and Alan from Booty Call and they were great together and a great mesh with PV as well.  These guys are true professionals and really know how to play!  I could get used to this!  haha!  Gourmet Bay (www.gourmetbay.net) were the caterers for the evening and the food was great.  The bride and groom were scheduled to leave at 10:30 but when time came around they wanted more!  PV played until 11:00 for the dancing crowd and the bride and groom left that evening with a sparkler departure.  What a great evening and a big THANK YOU to Jeremy and Alan for playing with us.

See what the bride and groom had to say on the “testimonials” page.

Our first post of the wedding season was from the Cotton Docks and here we are again almost exactly 2 months later.  This was another great evening with the tide rolling in and a cool breeze making the temperature just right for and outdoor wedding.  As a matter of fact, I think the tide was the highest its ever been at the Cotton Docks.  It was a full moon and the tide looked as if it was going to overtake the dock at one point but it held its ground and made for some nice pictures.  The photographers for the evening were the guys from Patrick Hall Photography (www.patrickhallweddings.com) and they were everywhere that night.  They even had a photo booth area that was packed all night!  The bride and groom had the ceremony up by the main house at Boone Hall and then were lead from the main house to the Cotton Docks by bagpipes.  The docks were looking great with the help of the caterer Elaine and Low Country Eats (www.lowcountryeats.com).  The food stations were marvelous and they even had a surprise for later in the evening as a pizza station opened around 930 that night.  Perfect cure for the late night munchies from dancing!  The wedding party along with the parents of the bride and the parents of the groom were announced and then it was time for our guests of honor.  The bride and groom entered and broke the ice on the dance floor with their first dance to With This Ring by the Platters played live by PV.  The father daughter dance was My Girl by the Temptations played live by PV and then the mother groom danced to Have I Told You Lately by Rod Steward playing live by PV.  There were some familiar faces in the crowd for this wedding.  Two sisters were in attendance with their husbands, both of which PV played their weddings!  There were also 2 other couples that PV will be playing in June and one in August.  Needless to say, they knew us and were dancing all night.  Quite perfectly, the bride and groom choose Save the Last Dance by the Drifters as their last song for the band to play live and off they went, drifting into the night (pun intended haha!) with a sparkler departure.  Another wedding weekend complete with a happy bride and groom.

Dataw Island, SC to be exact!  We hit the road for a wonderful wedding at beautiful Dataw Island.  Located 10 minutes from Beaufort near Huntington Beach and Fripp Island, Dataw Island reminded me a lot of Kiawah Island just minus the resort.  Dataw is a private community that has 2 golf courses and a fantastic clubhouse where the band played for the reception.  The ceremony was off site at a local church and the guests arrived for the cocktail hour at 630 with the bridal party not to far behind.  It was high tide so I know that pictures by the water are going to be awesome.  Plus, it was Rod and Tara from Red Shutter Studio (www.redshutterstudio.com) so there is no doubt that every picture will be perfect!  After some pictures, the wedding party arrived and was introduced into the reception.  They came in to 2001, A Space Odyssey because they are both big Gamecock fans and then danced their first dance as a married couple to You Send Me by Sam Cooke played live by PV.  The father daughter dance was What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong played live by PV and the mother groom dance was You Are the Sunshine of My Life by Stevie Wonder played live by PV.  The mood was set for the evening and the country club looked great!  The decor was done by Melissa Barton and Leigh Warren with A Charleston Bride (www.acharlestonbride.com) as well as the planning for the whole evening.  Everything went smoothly and the bride and groom closed out the evening dancing and singing SHOUT before a sparkler farewell.

If you have never seen Cypress Trees Plantation then you are missing out!  It is located right off of highway 174 and is a wonderful setting for a ceremony and reception.  The bride and groom could not have hand picked a better day for the wedding as well.  I am pretty sure my car said it was 78 degrees on my way to the show!  That is amazing for May.  The ceremony was on site and the guest moved from the ceremony to the tented area for a cocktail hour after the vows.  We announced the whole wedding party and then the bride and groom came into 2001 since the groom was a USC graduate.  What a perfect way to start the party.  Their first dance was Making Memories of Us by Keith Urban played by the band.  The father daughter dance was one of the coolest things I have seen in a while.  The bride and her father had a mix of songs put together that started off with I Loved Her First by Heartland and then kicked it into high gear going from Sugarhill Gang to Black Eyed Peas.  They brought it early and the crowd loved it.  Those were some great pictures and they had the right people taking the pictures as well.  Rod and Tara with Red Shutter Studio (www.redshutterstudio.com) were the photographers for the evening and they always do a great job.  The groom picked Simple Man by Lynard Skynard played by the band for his mother’s dance.  The sun went down and the dancers came alive, including the bride and groom.  They were on the dance floor almost all night and even on the stage!  The groom played in a band in high school and joined us on stage with his lead signer for a great version of Keep Your Hands to Yourself.  What a great evening and they went off into the night with a traditional rose petal departure.  It was a picture perfect plantation wedding!

See what the bride and groom had to say on the “testimonials” page!!!

PV was right back at the beautiful Patriots Point Golf Links for another great wedding!  The bride actually used to work for the club and decided to get married there as well.  It rained for most of the day and the ceremony was outside at the club at 6.  Right about 5 the clouds started to part and and the sun came out!  I think this had something to do with a rain dance by the bride’s father.  It ended up being a being evening for a outdoor wedding.  The bride and groom picked Better Together by Jack Johnson for the band to play live as the first dance and then they both grabbed their dad and mom and danced to Tupelo Honey by Van Morrison live from the PV.  As the sun went down the dancers came alive and were ready to party!  We had a guest singer who did a great job for Steal My Kisses and the crowd continued to dance the whole night long.  Crazy Game of Poker ended the night with the crowd singing along loudly with the band.  A bubble departure and the bride and groom were off into the night as newlyweds!

See what the bride and groom had to say on our “testimonials” page!!!

Patriots Point has really done a great job hosting weddings with beautiful views of the harbor and great people to take care of the bride and groom. Lacy Davidson (www.patriotspointlinks.com) is the catering and sales manager and her crew really know how to treat the bride and groom to a great evening! Along with the Patriots crew, the bride and groom also hired Candice Hilse with Yoj Events (www.yojevents.com) to plan the evening. They did a great job with the decor and overall timeline for the wedding which really makes a huge difference for a successful day. One of the things I really liked was the creativity with the gifts for the guests. The groom just graduated from dental school and they had a sweet treat for the guests and also a toothbrush to clean your teeth after enjoying the treat! Really cool idea! The first dance for the evening set a good pace for the rest of the night as the bride and groom picked the shag song  With This Ring by the Platters. The bride and her father and the groom and his mother shared the next dance to Tupelo Honey by Van Morrison and let everyone else take after those dances. Beach music to start the evening and then rock and roll to end the party. As a matter of fact there were some musicians in the crowd as well. Four guys from the groom’s hometown took over the stage for a awesome version of Johnny Cash’s Folsom Prison Blues. The crowd went nuts and Permanent Vacation followed up with a few more songs before sending the bride and groom into the night with a sparkler departure. It was a perfect evening at the Point! 

See what the bride and groom had to say on our “testimonals” page!!!

PV was back at the historic Alhambra Hall for the first time in a while for us. What a great place for a wedding reception with fantastic views of the Charleston Harbor off the deck. Rory Metz with Jubilation (www.jubilation.com) was the wedding planner for the evening and the room looked great! Fantastic floral arrangements on each table and the fireplace mantels look great as well decorated with candles and magnolia leaves. Happy guests filled their bellies with the catering done by Regal Catering (www.regalcatering.net). The bride and groom danced their first dance as a married couple to When You Say Nothing At All by Alison Krause followed by the father and daughter dance to Heartland’s I Loved Her First and then the groom danced with his mother to What a Wonderful World by Louie Armstrong. After there dances the crowd took over and danced the rest of the night away. They were on the dance floor for every song from With This Ring by the Platters to Wagon Wheel by Old Crow Medicine Show. The last song was Dont Stop Believing with at little help from one of the guests in the wedding! Another great wedding and congrats to the bride and groom!