Wedding Season Is Back: Celebrating Natalie & Nick at Sacred Willow Farms

Wedding season is officially back, and I couldn’t be more excited to be behind the booth again. Tonight marked my second wedding of the year, and I had the pleasure of celebrating with Natalie and Nick Brown at Sacred Willow Farms in Prairie City, Iowa—a beautiful venue I got to experience for the very first time. (Spoiler: it deserves its own blog post soon.)

As soon as I pulled up, I knew we were in for a good night. I was greeted at the door by Nick, the groom himself, who gave me a quick tour of the venue. I hadn’t had time to do a full site visit ahead of the big day, but I had done my homework and knew the load-in would be easy—and it was. Nick and I talked through some design choices before Natalie joined us to confirm that we were still aligned with her vision. We were on the same page, and I was off to the races.

Once everything was wheeled in and set up, I had that feeling—where my setup and the venue just click. Sacred Willow Farms is a barn venue, but it’s different from the usual all-white, blank-slate barns. This one has texture. I was set up on a clean white wall, flanked by cedar plank-style side walls, and across from a gorgeous brick wall. Add uplighting to that kind of texture and… chef’s kiss. The brick, especially on the columns, really came to

life and added warmth and depth to the space.

The ceremony was held out back, and let me tell you—it was windy. Wind like that always makes setting up audio a little dicey, especially when you’re putting speakers on stands. I got the usual questions from family and the officiant about whether people would be able to hear everything. That gave me the chance to say one of my favorite things: “Don’t worry—you hired a professional.” A quick sound check later, and the look on Natalie’s dad’s face said it all—we were good to go.

The ceremony itself had a personal touch I loved. Instead of a traditional unity candle or sand ceremony, the couple shared a shot of whiskey—a nod to an inside joke between them. One night, Nick had picked up a bottle, and Natalie told him, “You can’t open that until you put a ring on it.” So they saved it for this moment. It was unexpected, it was hilarious, and it was so them.

After the ceremony, guests moved inside for cocktail hour—which had a twist. Tonight’s theme? Breakfast. Mimosas, donut holes, pastries… basically all the best sweet breakfast items you could imagine. It was different, fun, and fit the overall energy of the day perfectly.

Then came one of my favorite parts of the night: introductions. We used Cold Sparks for the grand entrance, and as always, people were blown away. They’re such a great way to add energy and a little “wow” factor to that moment. After a blessing from Natalie’s dad, Scott, we went straight into something I’ve only done a couple of times: auctioning off dinner tables.

That’s right—I became an auctioneer for the night. Now, I don’t have the lightning-fast voice of a pro, but I do know how to hype up a crowd. People were laughing, cheering, and throwing out bids. It made for a fun and interactive dinner start and raised a little money for the couple. Definitely a fun alternative to a dollar dance, and it kept the energy high.

Dinner—of course—continued the breakfast theme. As guests walked back with plates full of hash browns , bacon, and eggs, the entire venue smelled like the best brunch spot in town. It was clear from the start that this wasn’t going to be a typical wedding—and I loved that.

One of the most unforgettable moments of the night was Natalie and Nick’s magical first dance. As they stepped onto the floor, the room fell into a hush—and just as the music swelled, we lit up the moment with Cold Sparks. The crowd gasped, and it felt like something out of a movie. The sparks added that extra layer of romance and excitement, turning an already special moment into one that felt truly cinematic. You could see it on their faces—they were in their own world, surrounded by light, love, and the cheers of their closest people.

The dance floor started a little slow, which can happen when guests are full and relaxed, but once the bride, groom, and bridal party hit the floor, everything changed. The energy exploded. That’s something I always tell couples: your bridal party sets the tone. If they’re out there, your guests will follow. Tonight was proof of that.

The groom—yes, Nick—did the worm. I also gave him a quick DJ lesson behind the booth. I’m sure there are some videos floating around out there. Who knows… maybe I’ll have a backup someday!

We ended the night with a private last dance for the couple, Cold Sparks sparkling one last time in the background. It was the perfect ending to a night full of surprises, personal touches, and real joy.

Huge thanks to Natalie and Nick for choosing The Sound Doctor DJ & Photo Booth to help make your celebration unforgettable. It was an honor to be part of your story.

Stay tuned—I’ll be writing a full venue spotlight soon, because Sacred Willow Farms definitely deserves its own feature.

If you know someone who just got engaged and is on the hunt for an unforgettable wedding experience, send them our way! At The Sound Doctor DJ & Photo Booth, we don’t just play music—we design moments. From jaw-dropping Cold Spark entrances to dance floors that stay packed all night, we bring the energy, emotion, and expertise every celebration deserves. Dates are booking up fast, so don’t wait! Whether it's a barn venue like Sacred Willow Farms or a ballroom downtown, we’re here to help make their dream day come to life. Let’s create something epic together.