Natalie and Jared got married on September 26, 2026 at Skylands Manor in Ringwood, and the day didn’t go exactly to plan — which is honestly when New Jersey wedding entertainment earns its keep. The ceremony was set for outside on the grounds. Then the rain came, and the call was made to bring everything inside. What could have rattled a lot of couples turned into a ceremony I won’t forget. I was on the mic as MC, with Anthony Moubayed on the decks, and here’s how the night played out.
Skylands Manor in Ringwood, NJ — a Venue We Know Well
Skylands Manor sits inside the New Jersey Botanical Garden in Ringwood, up in North Jersey. It’s a historic manor surrounded by gardens, lawns and stone terraces, which is exactly why so many couples plan an outdoor ceremony there.
Skylands is also a venue that refers couples to us, and we’re one of their preferred entertainment companies. That relationship matters on a day like this one. When you know the room and you know the venue team, a weather change isn’t a scramble. It’s a plan everybody already knows how to run. It’s the same reason we keep coming back to the top wedding venues in NJ.
When the Rain Came: Moving the Ceremony Inside
Natalie and Jared planned smart. Their planner had the backup written right in: if the weather turned, the ceremony comes inside. On the day, it was a last-minute call because of the rain — and once that call is made, everybody moves. The Ceremony Sound System came inside with it, so the prelude music, the processional and the officiant’s mic were ready to go when guests took their seats.
And the vows… the vows were absolutely beautiful. With everyone gathered in close, it felt less like a plan B and more like the way it was supposed to happen. If you’re planning an outdoor ceremony, read up on how to plan for music with an outdoor wedding. The backup plan is part of the plan.
The Soundtrack: Ceremony, Grand Entrance & First Dance Songs
Natalie and Jared knew exactly what they wanted, right down to the second. Here’s the music that carried the day.
The processional: “Forever and a Day” by Benson Boone. Natalie walked down the aisle with her dad, Patrick. She asked us to fade the song out at 3:30 and skip the final ten seconds. Little details like that are why we go through the planner line by line.
The recessional: “Still Into You” by Paramore. The second the officiant said they could kiss, the song kicked in — cued to start mid-song at the exact spot Natalie picked. That’s the kind of timing you only nail when it’s planned ahead. (If you need ideas, here’s our wedding ceremony playlist.)
The grand entrance song: “First Date” by blink-182. The whole wedding party came out to “What the Hell” by Avril Lavigne. Then we brought in Mr. & Mrs. Jared Roberts, with the song trimmed so they walked out right where they wanted. Pop-punk entrance, no apologies. More ideas on our grand entrance songs list.
The first dance song: “You” by Miley Cyrus. They mapped out their own edit — a few cut points to bring it to about two minutes total. Short, sweet and all them. We made the edit for them. if you want to do the same.
What They Booked: The Mystical Cosmic Wedding Package
Natalie and Jared went with our Mystical Cosmic Wedding Package and built around it with a few choices that fit the day they had in mind.
Each piece did its job. The trio set the tone for cocktail hour without anyone having to talk over it. The amber uplighting warmed up the room. And the ceremony sound is what made the rain call easy — when the ceremony moved, the sound moved with it. Want to see what’s in each tier? Check our wedding packages, or build your package with me.
The Details: Speeches, Cake and Running the Room
Natalie and Jared told us to do what we felt was best on the mic, so we read the room. We introduced the full wedding party, announced parents at their tables, and kept the toasts moving — Natalie’s dad, Patrick, then the best man, Andrew, and the maid of honor, Chelsea. The couple spoke after the speeches too, with a plan to slide their words toward the end of dinner if the toasts ran long.
That’s the part we handle so you can actually be at your own wedding. If that sounds like what you want, grab a quote and we’ll talk it through.
Takeaway for New Jersey & New York Couples Planning an Outdoor Ceremony
Plan the backup like it’s the main plan. Write it down, know who makes the call, and book ceremony sound that can move with you. Then pick a team that knows the venue.
At Skylands Manor, where we’re preferred entertainment, that’s a big part of why a rain call didn’t change the feel of the day. You can see more of how we run wedding entertainment across New Jersey and New York here.
Natalie and Jared, thank you for trusting us with the mic. Rain and all, it was a great day. — John
Wedding entertainment questions couples ask
Who’s a good wedding DJ for Skylands Manor in Ringwood, NJ?
Mystical Entertainment Group is one of Skylands Manor’s preferred entertainment companies, and the venue refers couples to us. We know the room and the venue team, which matters when something like weather changes the plan.
What happens to the ceremony music if it rains at an outdoor wedding?
Have a backup plan written down before the day, like Natalie and Jared did. With a Ceremony Sound System, your prelude, processional, recessional and officiant mic move inside right along with the ceremony.
Will I know who my MC and DJ are before the wedding?
Yes. For Natalie and Jared, I was the MC and Anthony Moubayed was the DJ. Every MC and DJ on our team has their own page so you can get to know them first.
How much does wedding entertainment cost in New Jersey?
It depends on the package and the enhancements you add. Here’s a breakdown of what a wedding DJ in NJ costs, or grab a quote and we’ll price out exactly what you want.
