Melissa & Gus’ Dance Party - Hotel Del Coronado Wedding

I kicked off these wedding festivities by grabbing Melissa and Gus and saying, "this was a day I have been waiting on for nearly 10 years." Wait ... me? 

My former intern, Melissa, and her groom Gus, just as their wedding festivities kicked off. 

You see, Melissa and I used to work together. In fact she was my intern at the Port of San Diego. We shared many hours sitting together, working on projects and laughing. Occasionally, on Monday mornings, I would share my adventures of a wedding I DJ'd over the past weekend. It was then, she said, "when I get married - probably in like 20 years - you're DJing my wedding." 

Well, it only took eight years to find her life partner and it was as much fun as I imagined. 

Gus and Melissa's wedding at the Hotel Del Coronado (October 10, 2015), in the historic Crown Room was special with hundreds of friends and family joining in on the party. 

The Hotel Del Coronado Crown Room, with uplighting, monogram, DJ service and dance floor lighting all provided by DJ Kanoya. 

I've DJ'd the weddings of all three of these lovely ladies. 

A wedding cake with a spotlight nicely illuminates this focal point of every wedding reception. 

Here's the setlist for the night:

Bridal Party Entrance

• Queen - Don't Stop Me Now

First Dance

• Carlos Gardel - Por una Cabeza (True Lies Tango)

Dinner Music

• Maoli - Love Song
• Israel Kamakawiwo'ole - What a Wonderful World
• Atlantic Starr - Two Occasions
• Frank Sinatra - I Get A Kick Out Of You
• Tupac - Tupac Tribute Medley
• Sam Feldt f./Kimberly Anne - Show Me Love
• Vanilla Ace - Follow Me We Can Go (Clean) (Extended)
• Michael Jackson - Billie Jean (Kandy Space Remix) (Short Edit)
• Alesso - Heroes (Basic Tape Remix) (Clean) (Extended)
• Jay Z - Empire State Of Mind
• Chris Brown - Yo (Excuse Me Miss) (Main Version)
• Eve - Let Me Blow Ya Mind
• Rihanna - I Hate That I Love You
• Atlantic Starr - Two Occasions
• R. City f./Adam Levine - Locked Away
• Bastille - Pompeii
• DJ Cassidy - Calling All Hearts (Radio Edit)
• Ariana Grande f./Mac Miller - The Way
• Ella Henderson - Ghost

Cake Cutting

• Def Leppard - Pour Some Sugar On Me (2012 Re-Recorded Version)

Father/Daughter Dance

• Van McCoy - The Hustle

Mother/Son Dance

• Jennifer Lopez - Let's Get Loud

Open Dancing First Set

• K.C. & the Sunshine Band - That's the Way
• Mark Ronson, Bruno Mars - Uptown Funk (Select Mix Remix)
• Pitbull, Chris Brown - Fun (Select Mix Remix)
• Earth, Wind & Fire - September
• Michael Jackson - P.Y.T.
• Al Jarreau - We're In This Love Together

Selfies

• The Chainsmokers - #Selfie (Clean Radio Edit)
• Martin Garrix - Animals (Radio Edit)
• Clean Bandit ft Jess Glynne - Rather Be (Discotech Remix) (Extended)

Open Dancing Second Set

• Cupid - Cupid Shuffle
• Major Lazer & DJ Snake f./MO - Lean On
• Britney Spears & Iggy Azalea - Pretty Girls (Promo Only Intro Edit)
• Party Break - Montel Party Break
• Usher - Yeah
• The Weeknd - Can't Feel My Face (Select Mix Remix)
• Charlie Puth, Meghan Trainor - Marvin Gaye (Select Mix Remix)
• The Spinners - I'll Be Around (70s Classics) (Clean) (Extended)
• The Whispers - Rock Steady (Short Edit)
• Michael Jackson, Justin Timberlake - Love Never Felt So Good
• Michael Jackson - Off The Wall (Hot Classics Remix)
• Young MC - Bust A Move
• Gloria Gaynor - I Will Survive
• Emotions - Best Of My Love
• Santana - Cha Cha
• Cha Cha (Big Band) - Track08
• Bega, Lou - Mambo No.5
• Isley Brothers - Between The Sheets
• Notorious B.I.G. - Big Poppa (Intro Clean)
• 2 Pac - Keep Ya Head Up (Select Mix Remix)
• Marcia Griffiths - Electric Boogie
• V.I.C. - Wobble
• Dr. Dre ft Snoop Dogg - Nuthin But A G Thang (Intro Clean)
• Don Omar & Lucenzo - Danza Kuduro (Ft. Lucenzo)
• Sean Paul - Get Busy
• Natalie La Rose, Jeremih - Somebody (Select Mix Remix)
• Mariah Carey - Dreamlover
• Notorious B.I.G. - Mo Money Mo Problems
• Afrojack f./Mike Taylor - SummerThing! (Promo Only Clean Edit)
• Ariana Grande, Zedd - Break Free (Select Mix Remix)
• Walk The Moon - Shut Up And Dance (Promo Only Intro Edit)
• Meghan Trainor - Dear Future Husband
• Marvin Gaye - Let's Get It On
• Colbie Callait - Turn Your Lights Down Low

Last Dance

• Maroon 5 - Sunday Morning

Vendor Team:
DJ: Justin Kanoya, DJ Kanoya Productions
Uplighting: DJ Kanoya Productions
Slow Motion Video: DJ Kanoya Productions
Venue: Hotel Del Coronado
Florals & Design: TessFresh Flowers
Wedding Coordinator: Swann Soirees
Photographer: Atrero Photography
Videography: Norma Medina

Other weddings hosted by DJ Kanoya at Hotel Del Coronado

The Perfect Groom’s Speech - San Diego Wedding

Joshua and Jonathan were married on September 1, 2015 at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot.

I know saying “never” is, ahem, never a good thing. But in this case I hope to hold to that promise.

Today I am writing about a same-sex wedding, and I’m promising to “never” write about it again. Especially to never categorize a wedding as “same-sex," since after all, it’s a wedding, no labels needed.

When I served as a wedding DJ for my first same-sex wedding, I decided to write about it because the experience made me realize seeing two people on their wedding day essentially looks the same regardless of gender. And I just wanted to document that. That’s really all I had to say on the matter.

But then I DJ’d Joshua and Jonathan’s wedding and it was even more, dare I say, “unusual.”

In paraphrasing Joshua’s own words, it was a same sex, interracial wedding taking place on a military base …. on a Tuesday.

I had actually made that observation in my head early on in the evening, but when it came time for the two of them to address their guests, Joshua delivered one of the most perfect grooms speech I’ve ever heard.

And I wanted to make sure you heard it too.

Joshua and Jonathan’s Dance Party - Marine Corps Recruit Depot Wedding

Joshua and Jonathan’s wedding took place on September 1, 2015. Now look at a calendar. Yes, that is indeed a Tuesday. I’m pretty sure that this is the first time in my DJ career I’ve worked a Tuesday wedding. 

And no, it had nothing to do with a midweek discount, it was just a special date to Joshua. His grandparents, who he was close to, were married on that same date many years ago and he wanted something to have something to share with them. Pretty special.

Their wedding ceremony and reception took place at the Bayview Restaurant on the Marine Corps Recruit Depot. A great venue that is right on the shore of San Diego Bay and adjacent to Liberty Station.

They also had a unique idea, each escorting their mother-in-laws through their circular shaped aisle.

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Successful end to a Tuesday night wedding at MCRD in San Diego with these two grooms. Congratulations Joshua and Jonathan. 

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Joshua is also a friend of mine, a guy who I share weekly workouts and sweaty hugs with at November Project, a free fitness group that is in more than 20 cities across the United States and Canada.

This is the best I could do in finding a picture of Joshua and I. Not only are there no pictures of just the two of us, they are no normal pictures of us. 

J & J’s wedding party was great fun, especially since I had many other friends on the dance floor.

Here is their setlist and a few more photos at the end:
Mother/Son Dances

• Celine Dion - Because You Loved Me
• Minnie Rippington - Loving You

Parents Dance

• Luther Vandross - Here And Now

Open Dancing - First Set

• Al Green - Let's Stay Together
• Jackson 5 - I Want You Back
• K.C. & the Sunshine Band - Boogie Shoes
• Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
• Britney Spears - I'm a Slave For You
• Usher - Yeah (Wedding Crasherz Break) (Short Edit)
• Natalie La Rose, Jeremih - Somebody (Select Mix Remix)
• Britney Spears, Iggy Azalea - Pretty Girls (Select Mix Remix)
• Bell Biv Devoe - Poison
• Whitney Houston - How Will I Know (Select Mix Remix)

Cake Cutting

• John Legend - All Of Me

Open Dancing - Second Set

• Macklemore & Ryan Lewis f./Mary Lambert - Same Love (Radio Edit)
• Bob Marley - Could You Be Loved
• Fat Joe - Get It Poppin'
• Rihanna - S&M
• Icona Pop f./Charli XCX - I Love It (Promo Only Intro Edit)
• Britney Spears - Till The World Ends
• Taylor Swift - Shake It Off (Select Mix Remix)
• Tupac - California Love (Original Version)
• Notorious B.I.G. - Hypnotize
• Dr. Dre - Next Episode
• Naughty By Nature - Hip Hop Hooray
• Backstreet Boys - I Want it That Way
• Maroon 5 - Sugar
• Marky Mark & The Funky Bunch - Good Vibrations (Select Mix Remix)
• 2 In A Room - Wiggle It (Select Mix Remix)
• Technotronic - Pump Up The Jam

Last Dance

• Walk The Moon - Shut Up And Dance (Select Mix Remix)

Vendor Team

DJ/Master of Ceremonies: Justin Kanoya, DJ Kanoya Productions

Venue: Marine Corps Recruit Depot

Other weddings hosted by DJ Kanoya Productions

Angela and Kristofer’s Slow Motion Video - Hotel Del Coronado Wedding

What do you get when you have 16 members of a wedding party, bride, groom and another 100-plus guests? Some good times in the slow motion video booth.

Angela and Kris’ friends did pretty well.

For more insight on this wedding, check out my setlist and the amazing pictures from the Youngrens photo team.

A slow motion video booth is a great way to remember the people that attended your event as well as all of the fun they had while they were there. For more information, submit your event details on the "request for quote" page. To see videos from other events, visit DJ Kanoya Productions on Vimeo.

Wedding Reception Sing-along - Hotel Del Coronado

Some songs are just meant to be sung with a group of friends. And when those songs come on, you sing them very loud. I loved creating this moment, espeically loved seeing the bride with her group of girlfriends singing with a smile. 

Friends and family sing along to the Backstreet Boys, “I Want it That Way.”

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