Mother Nature Presiding @QueenMary Wedding

October 13, 2025 By Eric Zimmermann

Mother Nature Presiding @QueenMary Wedding

by Eric Zimmermann Elegant Music 323-270-3650

Mother Nature helped this wedding celebration by providing beautiful weather for guests who traveled great distances to attend. And she took care to appoint an attentive Seagull who dutifully presided over the wedding ceremony with dignity.

Complete Wedding Planning in Tune With Nature

This was a complete wedding – well planned.

Throughout the evening this wedding flowed naturally from one activity to the next.

There is beauty in this kind of wedding planning that establishes an organic sequence where the progress of the evening naturally unfolds effortlessly.

Here is a summary of this beautiful wedding:

This wedding started with a meaningful wedding ceremony conducted by Captain James of the Queen Mary.

In his opening remarks before the wedding ceremony Captain James announced:

“On behalf of Ashley and Brenden, we welcome you to this glorious day of their union. They kindly ask that during the ceremony we all be fully present in this sacred moment. They have chosen to have this time captured by their professional photographer, so we invite you to put away your cameras and phones and simply enjoy this celebration. Thank you for honoring their wishes.”

Interesting note:

During prelude music before Captain James addressed the guests, I played the vocal version of “Gabriel’s Oboe” by Ennio Morrocone. Very interested, Captain James came over and asked me who the vocalist was. I told him Sarah Brightman. And he said, “That is absolutely beautiful!” A short time later he let out an “Okay!” with a big smile when I started to play Prince’s “Purple Rain”. So yes, Captain James was himself “fully present” and enjoying the moment.

Here is what I played for the processionals and recessional as planned by Ashley and Brenden:

Groomsmen with Groom
Music: Sharp Dressed Man, ZZTop

Bridesmaids with Flower Girl
Music: Thousand Years, Christina Perri

Bride with Friends
Music: I Get To Love You, Ruelle

Three String Cord Tradition
Music: This I Promise You, NSYNC

Recessional
Music: White Wedding, Billy Idol

After the wedding ceremony I performed Solo Piano music during the cocktail hour and took requests from guests.

Then, as DJ and Master of Ceremonies I conducted the festivities of Ashley & Brenden’s wedding reception. Because of complete planning everything went smoothly with help from Wedding Coordinator Melissa Buffalo Blue Moon Event Planning.

Grand Entrance

First Dance

Dinner Music

Toasts

DJ Dance Music

Cake Cutting

More dancing :-)

Successful Wedding Guided by What Came Naturally

The guests of Ashley and Brenden contributed greatly to the success of this wedding. Their presence and fun loving attitude supported the bride and groom and really brought the party. Everyone one enjoyed the company of each other and naturally, everyone danced :-)

After about an hour of rather intense dancing I played what I think is perhaps “the perfect couple’s dance”. This song kept everyone on the dance floor.

Here is the back story of this iconic song performed by iconic artists:

This song is a “Show Tune” originally written by Meredith Willson for the stage production of “The Music Man” in 1957.

Later this song was made more popular by the 1962 “movie musical” adaptation of “The Music Man”.

This song was further popularized by the Beatles version of “Till There Was You.”

This is a familiar song for any audience.

But I really think it was Ray Charles and his interpretation that created the romantic atmosphere that kept everyone on the dance floor and in each other’s arms.

While filming I captured some playful banter between a father and son during this dance. See video: “Till There Was You” by Ray Charles.

Family and Friends in Wedding Celebration

Group Photo Queen Mary Wedding — Wedding Group Photo with Family and Friends

The Queen Mary is a classic location steeped in tradition that provides an ambiance that is perfect for celebration with family and friends.

See: Weddings Aboard The Queen Mary by Elegant Music

Congratulations Ashley and Brenden. Thank you for bringing us all together.

Sincerely, Eric Zimmermann

Master of Ceremonies Eric Zimmermann with Lectern and Speakers — DJ and Master of Ceremonies Eric Zimmermann Elegant Music

Master of Ceremonies

Pianist

Bandleader

Host of Wedding & Event Podcast

Elegant Music 323-270-3650

Beautiful Wedding @ Villa Sancti Di Bella Vista Malibu, California

September 7, 2025 By Eric Zimmermann

Beautiful Wedding @ Villa Sancti Di Bella Vista, Malibu California

Question: What contributed to the success of this wedding?

Answer: The bride, the groom, their families and guests; all contributed to creating this wedding:

A friend of the family officiated the wedding ceremony and later played traditional Irish tunes on the accordion.

I wrote a new quartet arrangement of Coldplay’s “Paradise” for the bridal party’ processional. See: Elegant Music Quartet Repertoire.

At the end of the wedding ceremony the bridal party broke into song singing “All You Need Is Love” for the Jessica and CJ’s recessional accompanied by the Elegant Music Quartet.

Elegant Music Quartet

The Father of the bride (a very creative guy) inspired by his daughter’s wedding put together an amazing medley of music excerpts for the Father Daughter Dance.

father-and-daughter-dance — Father Daughter Dance

These excerpts included:

Harry Chapin’s “Cat In The Cradle”

Bob Dylan’s “May you Stay Forever Young” performed by rapper will i am,

the traditional Irish song “Take Me Home To Mayo”,

an excerpt from a traditional greek dance and

“Butterfly Kisses” by Lee Greenwood.

Elegant Music Quartet @ Villa Sancti Di Bella Vista Malibu, California

Summary of a perfect wedding

So, the Irish side of the family brought the officiant who brought the accordion.

The New Jersey side of the family brought “the Springsteen”.

And the Greek side of the family brought the Ouzo (a dessert liqueur made from Fennel)

…and everyone danced!

greek-dance @ Villa Sancti Di Bela Vista DJ/Master of Ceremonies Eric Zimmermann — Traditional Greek Dance – Horos Tu Zorba (Zorba’s Dance)

Here is what I played as their DJ

Zorba’s Dance, Mikis Theodorakis

Start Me Up, Rolling Stones

You Shook Me All Night Long, AC/DC

Sweet Child O’ Mine, Guns N’ Roses

I Love It (feat. Charli XCX), Icona Pop

Dance To The Music, Sly Stone

You’re The First, The Last, Barry White

Wedding Reception Dancers @ Villa Sancti Di Bella Vista Malibu CA

More DJ Dance Music

Hey Bitty / Hey Micky, Tony Basil

Alright, Supergrass

Fireball, (feat. John Ryan), Pitbull

Fire Burning, Sean Kingston

I Love It, Icona Pop

Crazy In Love, Beyoncé Featuring Jay-Z

Uptown Funk (feat. Bruno Mars), Mark Ronson

And Everyone Danced More

Don’t Stop ‘Till You Get Enough, Michael Jackson

Let’s Stay Together, Al Green

Livin’ on a Prayer, Bon Jovi

Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It), Beyoncé

Honey, Mariah Carey

California Love, 2Pac, Dr. Dre & Roger Troutman

Walk This Way, Aerosmith/Run DMC

And Danced Even More

CAN’T STOP THE FEELING!, Justin Timberlake

Ice Ice Baby, Vanilla Ice

Cake by the Ocean, DNCE

Bust A Move, Young MC

September, Earth, Wind & Fire

I Can’t Help My Self, Four Tops Four Tops

Move Shake Drop Remix, DJ Laz ft. Flo Rida, Casely, Pitbull

Hypnotize, The Notorious B.I.G.

Disco Inferno, 50 Cent

Wedding Reception Dancers @ Villa Sancti Di Bella Vista Malibu, California

And danced some more.

All Is Fair In Love and Brostep, Skrillex

Locked Out of Heaven, Bruno Mars

Ignition (Remix), R. Kelly

Bailando (English Version) [feat. Sean Paul, Desemer Bueno & Gente de Zona], Enrique Iglesias

Ay Chico (Lengua Afuera), Pitbull

Back In Black, AC/DC

Two Hearts, Bruce Springsteen

villa-sancti-di-bella-vista-dancers father-of-the-bride-in-the-moment — villa-sancti-di-bella-vista-dancers-become-singers

Born to Be My Baby, Bon Jovi

Raise Your Glass, P!nk

Don’t Stop the Party (feat. TJR), Pitbull

Danza Kuduro, Don Omar & Lucenzo

Live Your Life (feat. Rihanna), T.I.

Don’t Stop Believin’, Journey

Jessica & CJ First Dance @ Villa Sancti Di Bella Vista DJ/Master of Ceremonies Eric Zimmermann Elegant Music 626-797-1795 — Jessica & CJ First Dance @ Villa Sancti Di Bella Vista

Congratulations Jessica and Christopher!

And a “very well done” to their friends and family who contributed to greatly to making this a beautiful wedding.

We all had a lot of fun!

Sincerely, Eric Zimmermann Elegant Music 323-270-3650

Master of Ceremonies

Pianist

Bandleader

Host of Wedding and Event Podcast

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We had fun @ Premiere Bridal Show Camarillo

August 16, 2025 By Eric Zimmermann

We had fun…

performing during the Premiere Bridal Show at the Camarillo Airport.

In planning your special event consider including some art or a performance;

something beautiful; something meaningful to you.

Parts of your wedding will include:

Ceremony,

Cocktail Hour,

Wedding Reception

with dinner and dancing.

Video - Article - Consultation - Quote - Wedding music planning by Elegant Music — Wedding Ceremony, Formal Garden @ Greystone Mansion Beverly Hills, CA

Music starts a wedding and continues throughout the celebration.

Each part of your wedding can have its own music:

Wedding Ceremony Music

Cocktail Hour Music

Dinner Music

DJ Dance Music.

Motion Pictures and Weddings

A motion picture is a composition utilizing many art forms such as story line, costume design, cinematography. These, are aesthetically arranged to create an emotional effect to entertain and inspire the viewer.

Unlike a motion picture which requires several takes of scenes and extensive editing…

your wedding will occur in “one take.”

So, planning and having one’s “ducks in a row” is important.

Creating an itinerary sketch in the early stages of wedding planning helps in many ways.

Even if you haven’t chosen a wedding date, it would be very productive to talk about your ideas for your wedding and to write those ideas down.

You will be amazed at how effective this simple organizing action can be.