The rustic setting of Putnam County, NY’s Bird and Bottle Inn provided a unique setting for a memorable party; this was the first time that the Smokin’ Section had visited that particular New York state banquet facility/reception site. Mike, a singer who had performed in bands in the past originally found the Smokin’ Section through the internet, while his bride Laura (who heads her own firm, VOW Wedding Consulting painstakingly and very effectively orchestrated the day’s events for her own affair.
Early in the day, there had been several downpours and indeed, through mid-afternoon, the weather threatened to change some of Laura and Mike’s original plans for the day. However, by the time ceremony started at 3pm in the beautiful garden just behind the Bird and Bottle (and overlooking a babbling brook), the skies cleared up and the people there breathed a sigh of relief. The Smokin’ Section provided solo violinist Dave Rimelis, who set the mood for the ceremony with selections that included Vivaldi’s “Spring” and Bach’s “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring”.
Cocktail hour took place around the back and side of the classic and historic (built in 1761) restaurant and the guests had free reign over the whole outside area while our pianist Ted Brancato provided the musical background for them to enjoy their drinks and hors d’oeuvres.
The party got started in earnest at 5pm when the Smokin’ Section revved up the music for the reception under the big tent. The day’s events were faithfully recorded by Edisonian Studios and Tae Photography. The crowd needed no time for warm-up and were dancing to the band’s music even before the parents, bridal party and bride and groom were brought into the tent for the official introductions (to our version of James Brown’s “Sex Machine”, which the couple had requested as their walk-in theme). The bride’s father Nick made a heartfelt (and also humorous) welcome speech to the crowd, and the best man Cliff and maid of honor Elizabeth gave effective toasts to get the proceedings underway.
The couple made a special request of Otis Redding’s “These Arms of Mine”. The Smokin’ Section led off the dance set (after the couple’s first dance) with that selection and vocalist Tommie Knight got the crowd in the palm of his hands. Early on, the guests packed the dance floor for a medley that included Van Morrison’s classic rocker “Brown Eyed Girl” and James Brown’s “I Feel Good”. They enjoyed it just as much when the band mellowed it out for a trio of Sinatra and Swing classics including “The Way You Look Tonight”, “It Had To Be You” and “Fly Me To The Moon”. The crowd later on got their first taste of the groom’s vocal talents when Mike and 2 buddies from his former band got up and sang Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here”.
Later on, the Smokin’ Section whipped the guests into a frenzy and kept the dance floor packed with an extended medley that included our versions of the Commodores’ “Brick House”, Labelle’s “Lady Marmalade”, James Brown’s “Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag”, AC/DC’s “You Shook Me All Night Long”, Aerosmith’s “Walk This Way” and the Rolling Stones’ “Brown Sugar”. The crowd was in for a treat after dinner, as the groom Mike got up again and sang 2 tunes with the band, “Mama Told Me Not To Come” and Dean Martin’s “Ain’t That A Kick In The Head” (with our adaptation of the original full big band arrangement featuring the Smokin’ Section horn section). Following that, the guests danced to a medley of Romanian tunes. After playing Earth, Wind and Fire’s “September”, we ended things with our version of Etta James’ “At Last”, sending the crowd off into the quiet September evening in upstate New York.
Reception Site: The Bird and Bottle Inn, Garrison, NY 845-424-2333
Photographer: Tae Photography 212-216-0601
Videographer: Edisonian Studios
