Mia & Sam’s Rancho Guejito Wedding: A Dreamy San Diego Area Celebration

Mia and Sam with DJ Justin Kanoya, after a fun, sweaty dance party at their Rancho Guejito wedding.

On June 28, 2025, Mia and Sam hosted an unforgettable San Diego area wedding at the stunning Rancho Guejito Vinyeard in Escondido. Located in North County San Diego, Rancho Guejito offers sweeping vineyard views and majestic mountain backdrops—making it a top choice for couples searching for a picturesque San Diego wedding venue.

Their ceremony took place on the venue’s Terrace, which overlooks the vineyards and the rolling San Pasqual Valley hills. The ceremony soundtrack featured “A Thousand Years” by Christina Perri for the wedding party entrance, “River Flows In You” by Yiruma for Mia’s walk down the aisle, and “Lucky” by Jason Mraz for the joyful recessional.

With over 100 guests in attendance, the energy continued into the reception with spotlight dances that included “3 Rounds and a Sound” by Blind Pilot for their first dance, and “Landslide” by The Chicks for the father-daughter moment.

As their San Diego wedding DJ, I curated a high-energy playlist that kept guests on the dance floor all night. From timeless classics like Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together” to throwback party hits from Britney Spears, Shania Twain, and Ciara, to modern bangers from Pitbull, Taylor Swift, and Avicii, the dance set was a non-stop celebration. Highlights included “Mr. Brightside”, “Get Low”, and an epic Taylor Swift x Lynyrd Skynyrd blend.

It was a celebration of love, laughter, and good vibes—exactly how Mia and Sam envisioned it.

The Terrace wedding ceremony site at Rancho Guejito weddings in Escondido.

Here’s the full playlist, on Spotify.

The Terrace reception site at Rancho Guejito weddings provides an elevated view of the San Pasqual Valley.

Mia and Sam’s Rancho Guejito Wedding Vendors

Venue: Rancho Guejito Weddings
Planner: Lindsay Dean Events
Photographer: Photos by Salome
DJ: DJ Kanoya Productions
Caterer - Mexico City Cuisine 
Bakery: Sifted + Sugared
Bar: Hops + Grain

Rachael and Curtis’ Dance Party (with a St. Louis flair) - Martin Johnson House Wedding

Rachael and Curtis get married at the Martin Johnson House in La Jolla, California.

September 28, 2019 was a popular wedding date. I had multiple inquiries for the date, and for various reasons was not getting booked.

Then Rachael and Curtis came along …. And it was a perfect match.

Rachael attended college at Saint Louis University (and DJ Kanoya is from St. Louis), so it was fitting to ensure music (and jerseys) representing the Lou were at the wedding.

Every so often a client comes along that has ties to my hometown of St. Louis. And Rachael spent her college years there at St. Louis University.

During our planning call for the wedding, Rachael mentioned she attended SLU and "we need to get in at least one Nelly song." I was as excited as her to make this happen. ⁠

But I wanted to make it more memorable. ⁠

In more normal prep for a wedding, I grabbed my laptop, loaded up speakers, packed the cables and also snagged a couple of St. Louis Cardinals jerseys and a SLU Billikens jersey.⁠

As the dance floor unfolded, what I did not know is that Rachael is from Wisconsin and a handful of her friends and family were visiting from there. ⁠

And when Wisconsin Badger fans are in attendance, House of Pain’s Jump Around gets played as a nod to that football tradition.⁠

As we honored one college tradition, it was natural to ⁠transition to another, and that's when Nelly’s Country Grammar started.⁠

It was the perfect way to kick off the dance floor. There’s something about the Martin Johnson House that always is the scene of a beautiful wedding and a fun-filled dance party.

Here’s a look at the rest of the “non-Nelly” songs from the evening.

First Dance
J. Views feat. Wild Cub - Into the Light

Dinner
Solange - Cranes In The Sky
LP - Lost On You (Radio Edit)
HAIM - Want You Back
Stevie Wonder - Knocks Me off My Feet
The Isley Brothers - It's Your Thing (Select Mix Remix)
Taylor Swift - You Need To Calm Down (Clean Bandit Remix)
Toto - Africa
Lauryn Hill - Doo Wop (That Thing)
Christina Aguilera x Avicii ft Aloe Blacc - Genie In A Bottle x SOS (Simo Blend)
DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince - Summertime (Mayeda Remix)
TLC - No Scrubs (DJ Kerry Glass Remix)
Stevie Wonder - Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm Yours
Luther Vandross - Never Too Much (Hot Classics Remix)
Diana Ross - Upside Down (Mr. M!X Remix)
Eve - Who's That Girl (Stavros Martina Moombahton)
Dagny - More, More, More
PANG! feat. Sergio Sylvestre - Under the Bridge
Jubel ft. Neimy - Dancing In The Moonlight
Dan Shay - Tequila (R3hab Remix)
A-Ha - Take On Me (Kygo Remix)
Lauv - I Like Me Better (Select Mix Remix)
Khalid - Talk (Come And Talk To Me Blend)

Open Dancing
Kanye West ft. Ray Charles - Gold Digger (Richastic Remix)
Lizzo - Good As Hell
Taylor Swift ft Brendon Urie - ME! (Dance Pop Remix)
The Jackson 5 - I Want You Back (DJ Smerk 24k Magic Blend)
Usher - Yeah (Wedding Crasherz Break)
Kevin Lyttle - Turn Me On
House of Pain - Old School Jump Off
Nelly - Country Grammar
Frankie Yankovich - Beer Barrel Polka
Otis Day & the Knights - Shout
Sister Sledge - We Are Family
The Temptations - Ain't Too Proud to Beg
Tammi Terrell & Marvin Gaye - Ain"t No Mountain High Enough
Earth, Wind & Fire - September
Justin Timberlake - Can't Stop The Feeling!
Mark Ronson, Bruno Mars - Uptown Funk (Select Mix Remix)
Whitney Houston - I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Select Mix Remix)
Lizzo - Juice
Kesha - Tik Tok
Miami Sound Machine - Conga (Select Mix Remix)
Carly Rae Jepsen - Call Me Maybe
Spice Girls - Wannabe
Outkast - Hey Ya
Taylor Swift - Shake It Off
Panic! At The Disco & WILDLYF - High Hopes (DJ Scene Bootleg)
Lizzo - Truth Hurts (Spryte Hype Edit)
Tom Petty - Free Fallin’
Al Green - Let's Stay Together
The Temptations - My Girl
The Rolling Stones - Beast Of Burden (Select Mix Remix)
ABBA - Dancing Queen (Select Mix Remix)
Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons - December 1963 (Oh What A Night)
Wild Cherry - Play That Funky Music (Hot Classics Remix)
Bee Gees - Night Fever
The Jacksons - Blame It On The Boogie
Prince - 1999 (Select Mix Quick Trax)
Whitney Houston - How Will I Know (Select Mix Remix)
Bon Jovi - Livin On A Prayer
The Outfield - Your Love (Chachi Remix)
Icona Pop f./Charli XCX - I Love It
Kaskade & Brohug & Mr. Tape & Madge vs The White Stripes - Seven Nation Fun
Salt-N-Pepa - Push It (Mayeda Remix)
NSYNC vs Salt-N-Pepa - Tearin Up My Heart x Push It (Scooter Blend)
LMFAO - Party Rock Anthem
Vengaboys - We Like To Party (The Vengabus)
Walk The Moon - Shut Up And Dance (Select Mix Remix)
DJ Kanoya - Hey Baby Clap Chant
Rick Springfield - Jessie's Girl
Journey - Don't Stop Believin'
Jennifer Warnes - I've Had The Time of My Life
Beyonce - Crazy In Love
Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg, 2pac - Next Episode To California Love
2pac - California Love
Miley Cyrus - We Can't Stop (Scooter Twerk Remix) (Acapella Out)
Miley Cyrus - Party In The USA
Britney Spears - Baby One More Quickie (Acapella In)
Wilson Phillips - Hold On

Last Dance
Kygo & Whitney Houston - Higher Love

Vendor Team
DJ/Master of Ceremonies: Justin Kanoya, DJ Kanoya Productions
Coordinator: Signature Events
Catering: Abbey Catering and Event Design
Venue: Martin Johnson House

The dinnertime backdrop for a Martin Johnson House wedding is one of the best in San Diego.

David and Frank’s Perfect First Dance and Celebration - Coronado Community Center Wedding

David and Frank wave to their friends and family just moments after they were married.

David and Frank’s wedding took place on August 30, 2019 at the Coronado Community Center.

An emotional moment during David and Frank’s first dance.

And there was a moment during their first dance that legitimately took my breath away.

It started as most first dances do, a newlywed couple in the middle of a dance floor, surrounded by their closest friends and family. About one minute into the song, Beautiful In My Eyes by Joshua Kadison, Frank buried his face onto David’s shoulder.

I’ve been DJing weddings since 2002. And I’ve hit play on a song to start a first dance hundreds of times. I’ve watched couples awkwardly hold one another (it’s a bit intimidating to dance in front of a big crowd), embrace tightly, and sweep each other away in a choreographed routine … but there was never a moment like this.

The emotion was so real, so raw. I imagine it’s a similar feeling when a couple does a first look. There is so much pent up emotion waiting to spill out. Sometimes that emotional spill comes at other times, such as the walk down the aisle, the grand entrance, or often times at the end of the night.

But for David and Frank, it was this moment, the first dance. The moment of realizing that they were one and had each other forever.

The rest of the night was a party! With plenty of dancing to go around and a group of friends and family that did not quit.

Here’s a look at the setlist.

First Dance
Joshua Kadison - Beautiful In My Eyes

Dinner Music
Mariah Carey - We Belong Together
Anna Kendrick & Justin Timberlake - True Colors
Portugal. The Man - Feel It Still
Stan Getz - Eu vim da Bahia
Israel Kamakawiwo'ole - Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World
UB40 - Red Red Wine (Select Mix Quick Trax)
Jamiroquai - Virtual Insanity (Select Mix Remix)
Toto - Africa
Stevie Wonder - Knocks Me off My Feet
INXS - Never Tear Us Apart
Wham! - Everything She Wants
Tears For Fears - Everybody Wants To Rule The World (Edge Remix)
Nicolette Larson - Lotta Love (Joey Negro Yacht Disco Mix)
Dagny - More, More, More
Average White Band - Pick Up The Pieces (Pecoe Remix)
Kris Kross Amsterdam & The Boy Next Door ft Conor Maynard - Whenever
Dua Lipa - IDGAF
Taylor Swift f./Brendon Urie Of Panic! At The Disco - ME!
Foster The People - Sit Next To Me

Open Dancing
Beyonce - Love On Top
Chaka Khan - Ain't Nobody (Hot Classics Remix)
Earth, Wind & Fire - Shining Star (Hot Classics Remix)
The Jackson 5 - I Want You Back (DJ Smerk 24k Magic Blend)
Diana Ross - I'm Coming Out (Hot Classics Remix)
Mark Ronson f. Bruno Mars - Uptown Funk
Celia Cruz - La Vida Es Un Carnaval
Marc Anthony - Vivir Mi Vida (Main)
Zacarias Ferreira - Los Recuerdos
Taylor Swift - 22
Usher - Yeah (Wedding Crasherz Break)
J Balvin & Willy William - Mi Gente
Lizzo - Truth Hurts (BPM Supreme Slam Edit)
Taylor Swift - Shake It Off
Lady GaGa - Just Dance
Usher ft Pitbull vs DJ Snake - DJ Got Us Fallin In Love (BPM Supreme Slam Edit)
Shawn Mendes - If I Can't Have You (Gryffin Remix)
Earth, Wind & Fire - September Pt. 2 (Select Mix Remix)
The Gap Band - You Dropped A Bomb On Me (Hot Classics Remix)
Jennifer Lopez - Waiting For Tonight (Select Mix Remix)
Al Green - Let's Stay Together
Ella Mai - Boo'd Up
Journey - Don't Stop Believin’(Live)
ABBA - Dancing Queen
Wilson Phillips - Hold On
Lizzo - Good As Hell
Miley Cyrus f. Jay-Z - We Can't Stop (DJ Scooter Twerk Remix - Clean)
Miley Cyrus - Party in The USA
Britney Spears - Baby One More Quickie (Acapella In)
Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee & Justin Bieber vs Carlo Kou - Despacito (J Rhythm Edit)
Selena - Como La Flor (DJ Alonso Remix)
Daddy Yankee - Gasolina (BPM Supreme Slam Edit)
Post Malone - Wow. (PO Clean Edit)
Jonathan Groff, Original Broadway Cast of Hamilton - You'll Be Back
Kygo & Whitney Houston - Higher Love
Wilfrido Vargas - El Aficano
Lady Gaga - The Edge Of Glory
Flo Rida - Low
Nsync vs Salt N Peppa - Tearin Up My Heart x Push It (Scooter Blend)
Whitney Houston - So Emotional (Jolyon Petch Remix)
Icona Pop f./Charli XCX - I Love It
Freischwimmer ft. Dionne Bromfield - Ain't No Mountain High Enough
Lizzo - Juice
Marvin Gaye - Got To Give It Up
Cupid - Cupid Shuffle
Sir Mix-A-Lot - Baby Got Back (BPM Supreme Slam Edit)
Cyndi Lauper - Time After Time (Select Mix Remix)
Sister Sledge - We Are Family (Luca Debonaire & DJ Marlon Remix)
Ozuna - Baila Baila Baila (J Rythm Puro Pari Remix)
Queen - Fat Bottomed Girls

Last Dance
Rent - Seasons Of Love

Vendor Team
DJ/Master of Ceremonies: Justin Kanoya, DJ Kanoya Productions
Catering: Brothers Signature Catering and Events
Venue: Coronado Community Center

Dana and Olin’s Garden Party - San Diego Botanic Garden Wedding

Dana and Olin share a laugh just prior to their wedding ceremony at the San Diego Botanic Garden.

The San Diego Botanic Garden was the perfect setting for Dana and Olin’s August 2, 2019 wedding celebration. I continue to enjoy this setting for weddings, as it’s a great spot for a secluded celebration, but still have a party where guests can dance well into the evening.

Dana and Olin kicked the night off by dancing to Tom Odell’s, “Grow Old With Me,” and later chose a join parents dance to Adele’s, “To Make You Feel My Love.”

The rest of the night was full of current hits and 90s jams. The dancefloor closed out with with the Kygo/Whitney Houston collab, “Higher Love.” This was such an anthem during the summer of 2019, so it was the perfect way to cap a 2019 summer wedding.

Here’s a look at the rest of the setlist.

First Dance
Tom Odell - Grow Old with Me

Dinner Music
George Ezra - Budapest
Ben E. King - Stand By Me
Elton John - Rocket Man
Justin Timberlake - Mirrors
Redbone - Come And Get Your Love (Select Mix Remix)
Bill Withers - Lovely Day (Full Phatt Remix)
Toto - Africa (Select Mix Remix)
Taylor Swift vs Lauryn Hill - Blank Space (DJ Skillz Throwback Blend)
Lauryn Hill - Doo Wop (That Thing)
Beyonce - Love On Top
Dan & Shay - Tequila (R3HAB Remix)
Marshmello ft CHVRCHES - Here With Me (BPM Supreme Jump Off Edit)
Anne-Marie - 2002 (Select Mix Quick Trax)
Beenie Man ft Janet Jackson - Feel It Boy (DJ PonFetti Edit)
Stevie Wonder - Superstition Pt. 2 (Select Mix Remix)
The Rolling Stones - Beast Of Burden (Select Mix Remix)
Lauv - I Like Me Better (PeteDown Flavor Mix)
TLC - No Scrubs (Diggz Acapella Out)
Common, Stevie Wonder - The Light (I'm Yours) feat. Bobby Caldwell
Christina Aguilera x Avicii ft Aloe Blacc - Genie In A Bottle x SOS (Simo Blend)

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Parents Dance
Adele - Make You Feel My Love

Open Dancing
Al Green - Let's Stay Together
Jackson 5 - I Want You Back
Beyonce - Crazy In Love
Drake - In My Feelings (Mr. Collipark Remix)
Usher f. Lil Jon & Ludacris - Yeah (Acapella Out)
House of Pain - Old School Jump Off
Bruno Mars - 24K Magic (Select Mix Quick Trax)
Zedd, Maren Morris - The Middle
Third Eye Blind - Semi Charmed Life (Pat C's Mashup)
Boston - More Than A Feeling
John Mellencamp - Jack & Diane
Miley Cyrus f. Jay-Z - We Can't Stop (DJ Scooter Twerk Remix)
Miley Cyrus - Party in The USA
Britney Spears - Baby One More Time (Acapella In)
Wilson Phillips - Hold On
James Taylor - How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You
Ed Sheeran ft Justin Bieber - I Don't Care (Marquee Remix)
Rudimental f./Jess Glynne & Macklemore - These Days
Lost Kings f./Sabrina Carpenter - First Love
Lizzo - Truth Hurts (Clean Single Edit)
Panic! At The Disco & WILDLYF - High Hopes (DJ Scene Bootleg)
Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line - Meant To Be (BPM Supreme Future Bass Remix)
Big Pun ft Joe - Still Not A Player (Scooter Moombah Remix) (Acapella Out)
Camila Cabello ft Young Thug - Havana (BPM Supreme Moombah Remix)
Jagged Edge - Where The Party At
Herve Pagez ft. Diplo & Charli XCX - Spicy (Acapella In)
Lizzo - Juice
Flo Rida - Low
Nsync vs Salt N Peppa - Tearin Up My Heart x Push It (Scooter Blend)
Icona Pop f./Charli XCX - I Love It
Calvin Harris - Feel So Close
Flo Rida - I Cry
Kesha, Pitbull - Timber (Select Mix Remix)
Blur, Avicii - Song 2 Levels (Culture Shock Mash-Up)
Halsey - Without Me (Mr. Collipark Remix)
The Black Eyed Peas - My Humps (Kid Conrad Get Up Bootleg)
Jolyon Petch & Komes - Ain't Too Proud To Beg
Deep Purple - Smoke On The Water (Ship Wrek Edit)
Pitbull ft TJR - Don't Stop The Party (BPM Supreme Acapella In)
Don Omar ft Lucenzo - Danza Kuduro (BPM Supreme Break Intro)
Earth, Wind & Fire - September (Fuseamania Short Re-Drum)
Natalie Cole - This Will Be an Everlasting Love
ABBA - Dancing Queen

Last Dance
Kygo & Whitney Houston - Higher Love

Dana and Olin walk down the aisle as husband and wife. Their wedding ceremony took place inside the Walled Garden at the San Diego Botanic Garden.

Vendor Team
DJ/Master of Ceremonies: Justin Kanoya, DJ Kanoya Productions
Catering: The Abbey Catering
Venue: San Diego Botanic Garden
Photography: Jamie English Photographer (all photos in this blog post are courtesy of Jamie English)

Kayla and Gino’s Wedding Dance Party at the San Diego Rowing Club

Kayla and Gino with their wedding party at the San Diego Rowing Club.

The San Diego Rowing Club offers one of the nicest “hidden” event venues in San Diego. And that’s the location that Kayla and Gino celebrated their September 15, 2018 wedding with family and friends.

The location right on Mission Bay, allow for a beachside ceremony and then a great space to put on a great dance party. For their first dance, Kayla and Gino chose the classic, Coming Home, by Leon Bridges.

The rest of the night was filled with great dance tunes for a crowd that wouldn’t leave the floor.

Here’s a look at their setlist, as well as more pictures from Ashley Strong Photography.

First Dance
Leon Bridges - Coming Home

Dinner
Colbie Caillat - I Do
Lauv - I Like Me Better
Gym Class Heroes - Stereo Hearts
Bill Withers - Lovely Day (Full Phatt Remix)
Stevie Wonder - Knocks Me off My Feet
Maroon 5 ft SZA - What Lovers Do (Slushii Remix)
Taylor Swift vs Lauryn Hill - Blank Space (DJ Skillz Throwback Blend)
Lauryn Hill - Doo Wop (That Thing)
Beyonce - Naughty Girl
Bruno Mars - That's What I Like
Duke Dumont f./Jax Jones - I Got U
Vance Joy - Fire And The Flood
Cage The Elephant - Cigarette Daydreams
George Ezra - Budapest
Marshmello ft Khalid - Silence (Illenium Remix)
Portugal. The Man - Feel It Still (Gryffin Remix)
RedFoo - Brand New Day (Instrumental)
Maroon 5 - Sugar
Childish Gambino - Redbone
Maroon 5 f./Cardi B - Girls Like You
Natalie La Rose f./Jeremih - Somebody
James Brown - Soul Power

Father/Daughter Dance
Tim McGraw - My Little Girl

Mother/Son Dance
Van Morrison - Days Like This

Open Dancing
Al Green - Let's Stay Together
Jackson 5 - I Want You Back
Walk The Moon - Shut Up And Dance
Salt N Pepa - Push It (Mayeda Remix)
Flo Rida - Low
Cardi B f./Bad Bunny & J Balvin - I Like It
Marvin Gaye - How Sweet It Is
Jess Glynne - Ain't Got Far To Go
Beyonce - Crazy In Love
Drake - In My Feelings (Mr. Collipark Remix)
Miley Cyrus f. Jay-Z - We Can't Stop (DJ Scooter Twerk Remix)
Miley Cyrus - Party In The U.S.A.
Usher - Yeah
Party Break - Montel Party Break
House of Pain - Old School Jump Off
Earth, Wind & Fire - September
Michael Jackson - Don't Stop Till Get You Get Enough (Hot Classics Remix)
Rick Springfield - Jessie's Girl
Otis Day & the Knights - Shout
Van Morrison - Brown Eyed Girl
Buster Poindexter - Hot Hot Hot
Quad City D.J.'s - C'mon 'N' Ride It
Cupid - Cupid Shuffle
Mark Ronson f. Bruno Mars - Uptown Funk
Vanilla Ice - Ice Ice Baby (Select Mix Remix)
Bel Biv Devoe - Poison
ZEDD, Maren Morris & Grey - The Middle
Third Eye Blind - Semi Charmed Life (Pat C's Mashup)
Bruno Mars - 24k Magic (Rock It Scientists Hype Edit) (Dynamiq Cutdown)
Ying Yang Twins Feat. Lil' Jon - Salt Shaker
Juvenile ft Lil Wayne & Manny Fresh - Back That Azz Up
Dr Dre ft Snoop Dogg, Kurup & Nate Dogg - The Next Episode
Queen, Notorius B.I.G. - Fat Bottom Girls Hypnotize
Too Short - Blow The Whistle (BPM Supreme Break Intro)
Eastside Boyz - Get Low
Kesha - Tik Tok
LMFAO - Party Rock Anthem

Last Dance
Journey - Don't Stop Believin’