Alright, I am not writing this to tell everyone that my wedding show is some great thing.  I am writing it more as a way to reflect on how this entire journey of weddings came to be and how much I love what has happened.  It was all because of you.  You can check out the award I received on the onewed website here. If you didn’t click the link I will just tell you. It was “Best Wedding DJ / Band/ Music in Washington.  The brides, vendors, and other folks along the way who helped me and gave me the chance to do something different.  I was challenged, inspired, and always up for anything when it came to weddings and luck would have it that the Brides and Grooms were too.  I wanted to make a quick list of all of the people, crazy thoughts, differences about my show, and other ideas that I believe made an award like “Best Wedding Vendor of 2009″ possible…. Here we go…

First, the people I want to thank.

1. My Family. They push me, challenge me, and helped me believe “HELL YES I CAN DO WEDDINGS!”
2. Aleisha Dunne Mooneyham. She was my one and only hair ‘cutter’ (she hates that word) that let me play her wedding as my first show… Ya, shes nuts but that’s where it all started.
3. Pam Cooley. It was her passion and style in wedding photography and leaving the ‘day job’ that inspired me to think, “I can do that.”
4. Lisa Ragan. She is pretty much the best wedding planner. Why? Because she doesn’t complain when I am there.
5. Other Vendors and Brides. All of you who allowed me to play your weddings and believed that a moment can be created not only by dancing all night, but by singing along and creating a show that we will remember forever, thank you.  This award only exist because of you!
6. Last and (the one I forgot and was reminded that I did , but is the most important), onewed.com! If you have never seen the site, used the site, or even heard of it, now is the day.  The website is a way to bring all of the people involved with your wedding together to share ideas, plan the wedding, and much more.  They not only have everything you need to plan a wedding and help take out all the stresses related to it, they are there to help.  A lot of websites are just that, a website.  You don’t know who is behind the URL or the email.  Not here.  I have talked to them numerous times and they take the extra step that is so important in any business, reaching out and talking with your customers.  Thank you onewed! Check out the site here if you are even thinking about getting married!

Here are my thoughts on how it happened.

1. I DJ, yes. But it is so much more than that.  It is about the people, the songs, the moments that give you the chills when it is over because everyone came together on your big day.  After playing in bands and a one man live show it was the weddings that made it worth it.  It is about the songs that we all know and love. It is the dancing and singing to them and if they are rocking, just keeping them going.  It is about having live music at your reception because of this unique show but not paying $3000 for an entire band who is limited by the set list.  It is about you, and whatever you want for your wedding.  It is also the fact that I CAN’T PLAY EVERYTHING and I am just fine with DJ’ing your favorite stuff.  Remember, the amount I DJ and play LIVE is up to you.  It really doesn’t matter to me.
2. I love people.  Period the end.  I love meeting with the brides, vendors, whoever, it doesn’t matter. I could care less if we have a wedding in a barn or the Ritz Carlton (is that even a hotel?).  It isn’t about where, it’s about who.
3. I think music is the most important part of your day.  Alright, I guess the wedding rings, kiss, or other stuff could be but whatever.  The truth is that music is the part most people remember (unless you do something awesome like this at your ceremony which I am totally down for, JK Wedding Dance)
4. I play your ceremony too.  I play keyboard, piano, guitar, and sing at your ceremony.  So one person, one entire day of music is covered with no worries.  I will play/learn any song to sing during your big ceremony, play the processional/recessional music, then straight to the reception.  Hell, I will even write a song for you if you want.
5. I don’t mind brides who change their mind 500 times.  I’m used to it.  I will change your song 5 minutes before your big moment, (wouldn’t recommend though.)
6. It is amazing to meet so many great people. I just want to say thanks to those who I have met through this opportunity and I look forward to meeting many more of you!
7. I don’t stress, really ever.  I’ll leave that up to you and  your wedding planner.
8. Lastly, doing things a little different.  I believe that simple thought can be helpful to anyone in business, life, or music in general.  Mark Twain said it best, “Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.”

Here is the little banner award.

I am humbled right now and I look forward to a kick ass 2010!  I am in Seattle, WA now but I will also fly anywhere to play weddings so if you are interested…CLICK HERE! Feel free to call me anytime at 309-453-8175 and we can talk about your wedding and if my show would be a fit. (I will have to say I think we can make something work and I am cutting deals in Seattle right now to get 2010 rolling so feel free to negotiate the price … Here’s to a kick ass 2010.

(I wrote this post in about 5 minutes because of excitement so grammatical errors can take a back seat I hope!?)

You can follow Shane Mac on twitter here.