Hawily Ever After: Grand Entrances

With our DOC/DJ, Liz, we not only picked music, but also wrote fun scripts for the grand entrances. I think it really added something extra and fun.
Momma and Daddy Hawk were introduces as  "Disco Inferno" began to play...

...followed by the Hawk In-laws entrance to "Get Ready."

Once the parents were introduced, the fun with the bridal party began. Sissy Hawk was first up.

"At 12 years old, Sissy Hawk has devoted herself to swimming and she loves listening to music, just not Justin Bieber!"

"Please welcome Mrs. Hawk's little sister, Sissy Hawk!"

"GM J and Mr. Hawk have been friends since college. They were fraternity brothers in Delta Chi, and bonded over their love of sports. And even though he keeps his own hair very short, he makes his living selling hair products."

"A recent newlywed himself, give it up for GM J!"

"Mrs. Hawk and BM R have been friends since college where they bonded over going dancing and going shopping! Rachael is obsessed with her dog, Chloe –AKA 'stinky face'. The years may have gone by, and R is still the only person who can outlast Mrs. Hawk at the mall! Guess it’s a good thing she’s an accountant!"

"Mr. Hawk and GM R met in college and were fraternity brothers in Delta Chi! They bonded over college parties, flag football and watching sports! Rich is currently in law school and has high political aspirations! Try as he might, he just can’t get Aaron to debate politics with him! Please welcome GM R!"

GM R and Mr. Hawk met in high school and have been buddies ever since. BM K and Mrs. Hawk bonded over their love of reading and Dave Matthews! R is a huge Hokie football fan. K will sit and watch the games with him. R is also big Phillies fan! K will sit and watch those games with him too! They are a great couple and have been together forever. They just had a little girl seven months ago, and little M is the light of their sleep deprived lives. K and R!

"Mrs. Hawk and BM T have been friends since middle school. They were so close, they practically lived at each other’s houses. They were on the same dance team in high school and somehow survived being chased by all the boys. They were also obsessed with Austin Powers! While each in their own bedrooms they would start the movie together and recite the lines to each other over the phone! T!"

"The Best Man, J, is Mr. Hawk’s younger brother who loves to party. In fact, he is a very accomplished bar hopper! However, he is under the mistaken belief that he is the better looking brother. He loyal, he’s brutally honest, and he is someone you can always count in a pinch! Show your love for mister I’m the life of the Party, Best Man, J!"

"A is Mrs. Hawk’s best friend and Maid of Honor. They were sorority sister in Alpha Chi Omega, they had the same major, Economics, and they were roommates until Mrs. Hawk ditched her to go live with Mr. Hawk! A loves dogs and spends countless hours making sure that shelter dogs find loving homes. And finally, she loves football and watching the football players! Maid of Honor: A!"

We finally made our appearance as as T.I.'s "Bring 'Em Out" started to play.

Liz officially announced us as Mr. and Mrs. Hawk amidst plenty of cheers.

Liz called out the wedding party to dance out the rest of the song, but Mr. Hawk was being a bit reluctant.

With a little encouragement yanking from me...

...plus a hand from GM J, we got him out there for a moment or two.

The party had officially begun!

Will your wedding party be introduced individually?

All photos by Valerie Demo Photography

Miss a Hawk recap? Don't fret! Catch up here:

We review our planning journey
We rehearse and welcome our guests
The girls get pretty
I share my bridal details
Mr. Hawk becomes a groom
Our first look
We take photos at Crim Dell Bridge
We explore campus for more photography
The groomsmen ham it up
The bridal party channels their inner model
The entire wedding party regroups
My last moments as a Miss
Welcome to our wedding ceremony
The bridal party procession
Miss Hawk's walk down the aisle 
We're married!

We were surrounded by love during our impromptu receiving line

We take our family formals

All our reception details

I scarf bread ends while our guests enjoy cocktail hour

Let's Talk about the Tunes

I am quite the little music enthusiast. From country to hip hop and oldies to contemporary rock, I love it all. And although I consider myself an equal opportunity music enjoyer, I still have somewhat of a "discerning taste."  So when Mr. Hawk and I started discussing our music options, we knew that we wanted to go the DJ route for the ability to enjoy a plethora of music styles. But at the same time we didn't want just anyone behind the DJ booth. We wanted to avoid the super-cheeseball DJ that turned our wedding into his own personal stage. (Yes, I'm looking at you, Pauly D. I may be fascinated by the train wreck that is Jersey Shore, but stay away from my wedding!)

Image via Leisure Blogs, Photo by Darkroom Demons

I think I really hit the nail on the head when I found Liz Daley of Liz Daley Events. She came with tons of glowing recommendations, and when Mr. Hawk and I first met with Liz for our initial consultation, I instantly got good vibes. She was so personable and enthusiastic, but at the same time she was professional and meticulously organized. During our consultation she showed us videos from previous weddings she had worked, and we were able to view a small sampling of her incredibly expansive music library. She detailed her equipment and set-up and even let us know about her in-case-of-emergency backup plans. She really eased any fears I had. But I think what really sold me on Liz was her focus on us and how we could tailor the reception to be very personal and unique to us as a couple. She was all about making the event an unforgettable experience, where everyone would leave thinking, "that was just so Hawk and Mr. Hawk!" I knew with Liz that our reception wasn't going to be a cookie-cutter experience. After our consultation, I immediately quit my search. I knew I had found everything I was looking for (and MORE!).

I have a top-secret-for-now project up my sleeves to work on with Liz over the coming months, but hopefully I can share a few more details on that in the near future.

How was your journey to find wedding entertainment? Was it slow-going or easy-peasy like my experience?