Real New Jersey Wedding Entertainment: Lizzy & Kevin at The Clubhouse at Galloping Hill
Some couples hand us a song list. Lizzy handed us a vision. She teaches dance, and she walked in with her own rough cut of her processional music. Their wedding at The Clubhouse at Galloping Hill in Kenilworth was New Jersey wedding entertainment built around live music, ABBA, and a first dance planned to end with the whole room on the floor.
Here’s how it all came together.
A Galloping Hill Wedding in Kenilworth, NJ
The Clubhouse at Galloping Hill sits on the Galloping Hill Golf Course in Kenilworth, in Union County. Lizzy and Kevin kept the whole day on site, with the ceremony set outside and a backup plan to move it into the ballroom and flip the room during cocktail hour if the weather didn’t cooperate.
Their colors were bright white and champagne. For uplighting, they asked for warm neutrals, “not too orangey.” That’s a great note to give your team. Warm without going amber keeps a white-and-champagne room looking clean.
A Ceremony Built Around Live Music
This is where Lizzy’s vision really showed. She wanted a live violinist and pianist playing instrumental covers of love songs while guests arrived: “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” “I Will Always Love You,” “Can You Feel the Love Tonight,” plus a couple of Taylor Swift songs and Ellie Goulding.
Then the processional. The plan had grandparents, Kevin’s parents, Lizzy’s mom and seven pairs of bridesmaids and groomsmen walking to “Feels Like Home” by Chantal Kreviazuk. From there, the violin was set to drop out and the piano would play one line of “Here Comes the Bride” before rolling right into “Dancing Queen,” with the violin layering back in. They walked out to a live violin and piano version of “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” by Stevie Wonder.
That’s a lot of moving parts, and it’s exactly why live musicians matter. They can stretch a song or tighten it depending on how long the walk actually takes.
The Songs That Made Lizzy & Kevin’s Wedding
The grand entrance: “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!” by ABBA. Lizzy and Kevin kept the intro to just the two of them and asked for guests to be on their feet lining the dance floor. They were announced as Mr. and Mrs. Otto, with a dance set planned right after, before dinner. With “Dancing Queen” already in the ceremony, ABBA was clearly the theme. Need ideas for yours? Here are more grand entrance songs.
The father-daughter dance: “Isn’t She Lovely” by Stevie Wonder. Their plan put speeches at the end of dinner, then the parent dances. Lizzy danced with her dad, John, for about a minute and a half, cut after the first instrumental break. Short and sweet. That’s the right length for most father-daughter dances.
The mother-son dance: “I Hope You Dance” by Lee Ann Womack. Kevin danced with his mom, Susie, to a song that says what every mom is thinking. Same idea: no more than a minute and a half, cut after the first chorus. If you’re still choosing, here are more mother-son dance songs.
The first dance: “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” by Frankie Valli. Here’s the move I love. Lizzy and Kevin saved their first dance for after the parent dances. Just the two of them through the first chorus, then the MC invites everyone onto the floor for the rest of the song. With that song, the room knows exactly when the big part hits.
What Lizzy & Kevin Booked
Lizzy and Kevin booked the Mystical Cosmic Wedding Package and built the ceremony and cocktail hour around live music.
Put together, that means live music from the moment guests arrived until the doors opened for the reception. The sound systems don’t get much attention, but outdoor vows nobody can hear is the fastest way to lose a ceremony.
Keeping the Night Moving
Cocktail hour was in the pianist’s hands. Lizzy’s wish list was jazz, Sinatra and Bublé-style songs, lounge, Bridgerton-style instrumentals, yacht rock and country, with “Fly Me to the Moon” and “L.O.V.E.” called out by name.
Later in the night, Lizzy asked for one thing loud and clear: a big Taylor Swift moment, from “You Belong with Me,” “22” or “Blank Space.” Then a private last dance for the two of them to “All Your’n” by Tyler Childers. Details like that are what we plan for. If you want a team that runs your night like that, grab a quote and we’ll talk it through.
What NJ & NY Couples Can Take From This One
Don’t be afraid to have a vision. Lizzy showed up with a rough cut and still left room for the musicians to adjust. That’s the perfect balance. And think about when your first dance happens. Saving it for after the parent dances, then opening the floor, turns a spotlight moment into a party.
Congratulations to Lizzy and Kevin. Watch the highlight film above, and if you’re planning your wedding in New Jersey or New York, reach out. We’re booking dates now.
Wedding entertainment questions couples ask
Can we have live musicians for our ceremony and a DJ for the reception?
Yes. Lizzy and Kevin had a live violinist and pianist for the ceremony, the pianist carried through cocktail hour, and the MC and DJ took over for the reception. We handle the sound and the handoff so it all feels like one night.
Can our musicians play a custom arrangement for our processional?
Yes. Send the songs and the transitions you want, even a rough cut like Lizzy did. The musicians can stretch or shorten the music so you walk in at the right part.
When should we do our first dance?
Right after the grand entrance is the most common, but it’s your call. Lizzy and Kevin planned theirs after speeches and parent dances, then had the MC invite everyone onto the floor after the first chorus.
How much does wedding entertainment cost in New Jersey?
It depends on your package and the add-ons, like live musicians and ceremony sound. Here’s a breakdown of what a wedding DJ in NJ costs, and for your date and venue, grab a quote.
