Planning a wedding takes a lot of work under almost any circumstances, but it can be especially challenging if you don’t live in the area where the ceremony and reception will be taking place. Malina and Mike live in Texas and don’t get back Jersey way all that often, but nevertheless they rose to the occasion and put together a day to remember.

The couple started things right by picking a very special North New Jersey banquet facility/reception site, the Skylands Castle, located in the New Jersey Botanical Gardens in Ringwood. Although it was foggy early on in the day, the skies cleared by early afternoon and the couple and their guests had full opportunity to enjoy the unparalleled beauty of the grounds and gardens at the Skylands.

The ceremony started in the garden behind the Castle at 6pm and was put together specially for Malina and Mike by the Celebrant, Cristina Kollet of Inclusive Ceremonies. Our pianist Ted and the Skylark Trio (a wind and string ensemble) were featured, both separately and together. Malina and Mike picked the selections and we customized the music for their ceremony. The music included “Such Great Heights” (originally by Iron & Wine) for the bride’s entrance, and “Kiss Me” (originally by Sixpence None The Richer) for the couple’s recessional. Barbara Cifelli (the leader, flutist and clarinetist of Skylark) wrote special trio arrangements for the above 2 tunes, and they helped create a memorable ceremony. Rich, a friend of the bride and groom’s, also sang a fine rendition of Jim Croce’s “Time In A Bottle” accompanied by both Ted and Skylark. Skylark and Ted continued their music at separate locations for the 1 ½ hour cocktail hour, while the guests had their first opportunity to sample and savor the superior culinary contributions of one of New Jersey’s finest on and off-premise caterers for weddings and special events, Frungillo Caterers. Linda, the maitre’d and event planner at the Skylands for Frungillo, ran the festivities smoothly and efficiently.

The reception moved into the main room at 8:30pm. Mike and Malina’s first dance was the Smokin’ Section’s version of Norah Jones’ “Come Away With Me”(see video clip), which the happy couple danced to by themselves, with Malina singing along on the dance floor. Immediately afterwards, the band kicked into a medley of “Nobody Does It Better” and “You Are My Shining Star” and most of the guests at the party joined Malina and Mike dancing in the center of the room. The energy level of the crowd was already quite high by the middle of the first set, and they were bopping on the floor to our versions of Stray Cats’ “Rock This Town” and Brian Setzer’s “Jump, Jive and Wail”. At dinnertime, both the best man Jeffrey (the groom’s brother) and maid of honor Samantha (Malina’s good friend from college days) offered quite amusing, yet heartfelt toasts.

During our set right after dinner ended, the women in the room really enjoyed “Dancing Queen” and things picked up even further for our rendition of Queen’s “Crazy Little Thing Called Love”. The hard-core dance crowd then got down heavily on an extended funk medley by the band (which included Rick James’, James Brown’s “Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag” and several other selections). Malina and Mike cut the cake to our guitarist Mikey Del singing Adam Sandler’s “Grow Old With You”(originally heard in the movie “The Wedding Singer”).

After dessert, the party was really rocking in earnest. The bride and her friends enjoyed our singer Rhonda Bennett’s renditions of Madonna’s “Holiday” and Beyonce’s “Crazy In Love”, and also Tommie Knight’s take on Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy”. The proceedings reached a fever pitch for our version of AC/DC’s “You Shook Me All Night Long”(see video clip).

Just when it seemed things couldn’t get any hotter or wilder, Mikey Del mixed it up with the guests and Malina right out on the dance floor for a wild guitar solo on “Play That Funky Music”(see video clip). Tommie kept them moving and grooving with James Brown’s “Sex Machine” (see video clip) and “I Feel Good”.

Unfortunately, it was just about time for the party to end. However, Malina and Mike had picked 2 perfect selections with which to conclude it…. Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ On A Prayer” and Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer”(see video clip) (which the band learned specially for the occasion). The day’s festivities were ably captured from beginning to end by a videographer who has a unique eye for celebrations, Taylor Phillips Videographer.