Francina & Jake at The Palace at Somerset Park: A High-Energy Night of New Jersey Wedding Entertainment
Francina and Jake’s wedding at The Palace at Somerset Park was one of those nights where every choice pointed the same direction. They asked for a high-energy MC, picked songs with real personality, and brought a wedding party that came ready to celebrate. If you’re looking at New Jersey wedding entertainment, this one is a good look at what happens when the music, the mic and the flow of the night are all built around the couple.
A Palace at Somerset Park Wedding, Inside and Out
The Palace at Somerset Park sits in Somerset, New Jersey, and it gave Francina and Jake two settings in one day. They said “I do” outside, with their officiant Sebastian leading the ceremony, then moved inside to the East Wing for the reception.
The couple brought in their own violinist for the ceremony and cocktail hour, playing Bridgerton-style instrumentals while guests made their way in. Our job there was the sound. We mic’d the violinist so every note carried outdoors, and handled the ceremony and cocktail-hour audio so the transition into the reception felt like one continuous night.
Grand Entrance, First Dance and Parent Dance Songs
Here’s the music that carried the big moments. Look at the mix and you can tell these two didn’t pick songs off a list. They picked songs that sound like them.
The grand entrance song: “Life Is a Highway” by Rascal Flatts. The grand entrance was built in layers. Francina’s parents walked in to “Everybody” by Backstreet Boys, and Jake’s parents followed to “Lose Yourself” by Eminem. The bridesmaids came in to “Raise Your Glass” by Pink, the groomsmen to “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, and Gabriella and Shane, the matron of honor and best man, to “1985” by Bowling for Soup. They even added Sebastian and his wife Sharon to the lineup, walking in to “Bring Em Out” by T.I. Then Michael announced Mr. & Mrs. Jake and Francina Barbagallo, and “Life Is a Highway” took them straight onto the floor.
The first dance song: “Better Together” by Luke Combs. For their first dance, Francina and Jake went with “Better Together” by Luke Combs and asked us to keep it to about two minutes. That’s a smart call. It keeps the moment sweet and keeps the room with you, instead of guests drifting back to their drinks.
The father-daughter dance: “Ready, Set, Don’t Go”. Francina danced with her dad, Tino, to “Ready, Set, Don’t Go” by Billy Ray Cyrus. About a minute and a half in, the plan was to switch to “I Love This Bar” by Toby Keith. That kind of switch is one of our favorite father-daughter dance ideas. You get the emotional part, then the whole room gets to smile.
The mother-son dance: “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac. Jake shared his dance with his mom, Carol, to “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac. It’s a song about time and change, which is exactly why it works as a mother-son dance song.
Country, ’90s pop, Motown, pop-punk and hip-hop, all in one night. When the music sounds like the couple, the guests follow, and that’s what a good MC and DJ team builds on.
What They Booked: The Mystical Stellar Wedding Package
Francina and Jake booked our Mystical Stellar Wedding Package, and they made one smart change. The Palace already has an intelligent lighting upgrade built in, so instead of doubling up on the intelligent lighting in the package, we swapped it for ceremony and cocktail-hour sound. That covered the outdoor ceremony and the violinist without adding anything they didn’t need.
That’s the part I want couples to notice. A package is a starting point, not a box. If your venue already gives you something, we’ll move that budget to what actually helps your day. That’s exactly why I like to build your package with you one on one.
How the Night Flowed: Wedding DJ and MC in New Jersey
With Michael on the mic and Joey on the music, the reception moved through a lot of moments. Francina’s aunt Ivie gave the blessing. Tino, Gabriella and Shane each gave a toast. We announced the cake cutting, and then everyone headed outside for fireworks. No bouquet toss and no garter, so the night stayed focused on the people and the dance floor.
Every one of those handoffs needs someone keeping it on track. That’s the part we handle so you can actually be at your own wedding. If you’re planning something like this, grab a quote and we’ll talk it through.
What New Jersey and New York Couples Can Take From This One
Pick songs that sound like you, even if they don’t sound like a “wedding song.” Ask your venue what’s already included before you finalize your package. And if you’re bringing in live musicians, make sure someone is handling their sound. If you’re looking at this venue, take a look at Joseph and Desiree’s wedding at The Palace at Somerset Park too.
Our team has been running weddings across New Jersey and New York for over 20 years. You can see more of our wedding entertainment and our wedding DJs any time.
Francina and Jake, thank you for trusting us with your night. If you’re planning a wedding in New Jersey or New York, set up a call and tell us what you have in mind.
Wedding entertainment questions couples ask
Who is a good wedding DJ and MC for The Palace at Somerset Park?
Mystical Entertainment Group has run weddings at The Palace at Somerset Park, including Francina and Jake’s with MC Michael Marquez and DJ Joey DeRosa. We plan the ceremony, cocktail hour and reception flow with you ahead of time so the night runs the way you pictured it.
What is a good father-daughter dance song?
Pick a song that means something to the two of you. A fun option is to start with something emotional and switch to something upbeat, like Francina and Tino did, going from “Ready, Set, Don’t Go” into “I Love This Bar.” It keeps the moment personal and gets the whole room involved.
Can I swap something out of my wedding entertainment package?
Yes. If your venue already includes something, like a built-in lighting upgrade, we can swap that part of the package for something you actually need, like ceremony and cocktail-hour sound. Just let us know what your venue provides when we plan.
How much does wedding entertainment cost in New Jersey?
It depends on the package, the enhancements and how many parts of the day we cover. Here’s a breakdown of what a wedding DJ in NJ costs, and the fastest way to get a real number is to grab a quote.
