Today, I had the pleasure of DJing Kayla and Levi’s wedding at The Gathering Grounds outside of Bussey, Iowa. This was my first time at the venue, and wow, it was absolutely stunning! As you drive down the long gravel driveway, it opens up to a beautiful building—but the real showstopper is what’s behind it. There’s a gorgeous pond with a fountain in the middle, making it one of the most picturesque ceremony sites I’ve seen in a long time. It was the perfect backdrop for the perfect day!

When I arrived, I was eager to get everything set up, but the day quickly turned into something more. Bridesmaids and the day-of coordinator kept coming up to me with questions, and thanks to the pre-wedding planning meeting I had with Kayla and Levi, I had all the answers. Kayla was a bit nervous due to a few things that had happened before I got there, so I kept reassuring the bridesmaids to let her know that she was in good hands—she had hired a professional, after all. That’s one of the things we really pride ourselves on at The Sound Doctor DJ and Photo Booth—bringing comfort and calm to anxious brides, grooms, and couples. I think our experience working with high school students and staff in our day jobs really helps translate to making these special moments stress-free.
The ceremony went off almost without a hitch—except for that one bead of sweat that landed on my tablet and cranked up the volume during the pastor’s speech. That was embarrassing, but thankfully, everyone was understanding. After the ceremony, we moved on to cocktail hour, where I repurposed one of our battery-powered speakers from the ceremony. The beauty of these speakers is that they can be moved anywhere, making transitions smooth and easy—just another benefit of hiring us!
The reception kicked off with some fun and unique introductions. Kayla and Levi decided to have the groomsmen and bridesmaids enter in groups before making their grand entrance. Once they were all in, they kicked things off with a game of flip cup—guys versus girls—which was a super fun and unexpected twist I hadn’t seen before. The energy was high, and everyone was ready to celebrate!
After a blessing by Kayla’s uncle Jeremy, who also officiated the ceremony, we moved into dinner, cake cutting, and then the speeches. Right as we were wrapping up the speeches, Kayla’s uncle surprised everyone with an emotional tribute. He had walked Kayla down the aisle in place of her late father, and his words really touched everyone in the room.
Then it was time for the first dance between Kayla and Levi, which was a beautiful moment shared between them. After their first dance, Kayla and her uncle shared a special dance, accompanied by a slideshow we played on the front of our DJ booth and projected onto a screen provided by the venue. We take the time to ensure these moments are perfectly synced, and tonight was no exception—it was clear that this dance meant the world to everyone there.
Levi and his mom, Kate, also had a memorable dance moment. After starting with a slow song, we switched it up to an upbeat track, inviting everyone who had helped raise Levi to join them on the dance floor. It was such a cool way to kick off the dancing, and the floor was packed from that moment on.
As the night went on, we hit a bit of a snag—I lost power. But thanks to our trusty battery-powered speaker, I was able to keep the music going until we figured out the problem. Turns out, the outlet had tripped, but the amazing staff at the venue quickly helped me find a solution, and the party was back on track. We wrapped up the night with some throwback hits and kept the energy high until the very end.
One of the most touching moments of the night was Kayla’s bouquet dedication to her mother. We had discussed it during our planning meeting, and she decided to go with it after hearing about a similar moment I’d blogged about recently. When the moment came, I was choked up, and I could see that the entire room was just as moved. It was the perfect emotional exclamation point on an already unforgettable day.
All in all, it was a day filled with emotions, beautiful moments, and a lot of fun. Kayla and Levi were so happy with how everything turned out, and I’m beyond grateful to have been a part of their special day. We pride ourselves on bringing professionalism and heart to every event, creating moments that capture the essence of the day.
As always, be sure to check out our weekly blog posts for more wedding stories, tips, and inspiration. If you or someone you know is newly engaged and mentions reading one of our blogs when booking with The Sound Doctor DJ and Photo Booth, we’ll have a little something special waiting for you. 🎉
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