David and Frank’s Perfect First Dance and Celebration - Coronado Community Center Wedding

David and Frank wave to their friends and family just moments after they were married.

David and Frank’s wedding took place on August 30, 2019 at the Coronado Community Center.

An emotional moment during David and Frank’s first dance.

And there was a moment during their first dance that legitimately took my breath away.

It started as most first dances do, a newlywed couple in the middle of a dance floor, surrounded by their closest friends and family. About one minute into the song, Beautiful In My Eyes by Joshua Kadison, Frank buried his face onto David’s shoulder.

I’ve been DJing weddings since 2002. And I’ve hit play on a song to start a first dance hundreds of times. I’ve watched couples awkwardly hold one another (it’s a bit intimidating to dance in front of a big crowd), embrace tightly, and sweep each other away in a choreographed routine … but there was never a moment like this.

The emotion was so real, so raw. I imagine it’s a similar feeling when a couple does a first look. There is so much pent up emotion waiting to spill out. Sometimes that emotional spill comes at other times, such as the walk down the aisle, the grand entrance, or often times at the end of the night.

But for David and Frank, it was this moment, the first dance. The moment of realizing that they were one and had each other forever.

The rest of the night was a party! With plenty of dancing to go around and a group of friends and family that did not quit.

Here’s a look at the setlist.

First Dance
Joshua Kadison - Beautiful In My Eyes

Dinner Music
Mariah Carey - We Belong Together
Anna Kendrick & Justin Timberlake - True Colors
Portugal. The Man - Feel It Still
Stan Getz - Eu vim da Bahia
Israel Kamakawiwo'ole - Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World
UB40 - Red Red Wine (Select Mix Quick Trax)
Jamiroquai - Virtual Insanity (Select Mix Remix)
Toto - Africa
Stevie Wonder - Knocks Me off My Feet
INXS - Never Tear Us Apart
Wham! - Everything She Wants
Tears For Fears - Everybody Wants To Rule The World (Edge Remix)
Nicolette Larson - Lotta Love (Joey Negro Yacht Disco Mix)
Dagny - More, More, More
Average White Band - Pick Up The Pieces (Pecoe Remix)
Kris Kross Amsterdam & The Boy Next Door ft Conor Maynard - Whenever
Dua Lipa - IDGAF
Taylor Swift f./Brendon Urie Of Panic! At The Disco - ME!
Foster The People - Sit Next To Me

Open Dancing
Beyonce - Love On Top
Chaka Khan - Ain't Nobody (Hot Classics Remix)
Earth, Wind & Fire - Shining Star (Hot Classics Remix)
The Jackson 5 - I Want You Back (DJ Smerk 24k Magic Blend)
Diana Ross - I'm Coming Out (Hot Classics Remix)
Mark Ronson f. Bruno Mars - Uptown Funk
Celia Cruz - La Vida Es Un Carnaval
Marc Anthony - Vivir Mi Vida (Main)
Zacarias Ferreira - Los Recuerdos
Taylor Swift - 22
Usher - Yeah (Wedding Crasherz Break)
J Balvin & Willy William - Mi Gente
Lizzo - Truth Hurts (BPM Supreme Slam Edit)
Taylor Swift - Shake It Off
Lady GaGa - Just Dance
Usher ft Pitbull vs DJ Snake - DJ Got Us Fallin In Love (BPM Supreme Slam Edit)
Shawn Mendes - If I Can't Have You (Gryffin Remix)
Earth, Wind & Fire - September Pt. 2 (Select Mix Remix)
The Gap Band - You Dropped A Bomb On Me (Hot Classics Remix)
Jennifer Lopez - Waiting For Tonight (Select Mix Remix)
Al Green - Let's Stay Together
Ella Mai - Boo'd Up
Journey - Don't Stop Believin’(Live)
ABBA - Dancing Queen
Wilson Phillips - Hold On
Lizzo - Good As Hell
Miley Cyrus f. Jay-Z - We Can't Stop (DJ Scooter Twerk Remix - Clean)
Miley Cyrus - Party in The USA
Britney Spears - Baby One More Quickie (Acapella In)
Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee & Justin Bieber vs Carlo Kou - Despacito (J Rhythm Edit)
Selena - Como La Flor (DJ Alonso Remix)
Daddy Yankee - Gasolina (BPM Supreme Slam Edit)
Post Malone - Wow. (PO Clean Edit)
Jonathan Groff, Original Broadway Cast of Hamilton - You'll Be Back
Kygo & Whitney Houston - Higher Love
Wilfrido Vargas - El Aficano
Lady Gaga - The Edge Of Glory
Flo Rida - Low
Nsync vs Salt N Peppa - Tearin Up My Heart x Push It (Scooter Blend)
Whitney Houston - So Emotional (Jolyon Petch Remix)
Icona Pop f./Charli XCX - I Love It
Freischwimmer ft. Dionne Bromfield - Ain't No Mountain High Enough
Lizzo - Juice
Marvin Gaye - Got To Give It Up
Cupid - Cupid Shuffle
Sir Mix-A-Lot - Baby Got Back (BPM Supreme Slam Edit)
Cyndi Lauper - Time After Time (Select Mix Remix)
Sister Sledge - We Are Family (Luca Debonaire & DJ Marlon Remix)
Ozuna - Baila Baila Baila (J Rythm Puro Pari Remix)
Queen - Fat Bottomed Girls

Last Dance
Rent - Seasons Of Love

Vendor Team
DJ/Master of Ceremonies: Justin Kanoya, DJ Kanoya Productions
Catering: Brothers Signature Catering and Events
Venue: Coronado Community Center

Lawrence and Katie’s Dance Party - Loews Coronado Wedding

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Everything is relative, but Lawrence and Katie had a big wedding, that's assuming 250+ guests is "big" to you. But that means a great party with so many friends and family.

Their reception took place at the Loews Coronado Bay Hotel. It was mid afternoon, but inside the massive ballroom you could have guessed the party was well into the late evening. Uplighting and a beautifully decorated/orchestrated by the talent of Crown Weddings.

Here's a look at the setlist:

Dinner

• Enki Nyxx - Lonely Heart  
• Sam Feldt f./Kimberly Anne - Show Me Love (EDX Radio Edit)
• Ben E. King - Stand By Me
• Disclosure ft Sam Smith - Latch (G Duppy Reggae Remix)
• Kaskade ft Estelle - Day Trippin  (Radio Edit)
• No Way Back ft Mike Beatz - Doin It Well  
• Ja Rule - Always On Time
• Mindi Abair - As Good As It Gets
• David Sanborn - Got to Give it Up
• Mindi Abair - The Joint
• Meghan Trainor f./Yo Gotti - Better
• Mike Perry f./Shy Martin - The Ocean
• Kygo f./Maty Noyes - Stay
• Pentatonix - Can't Sleep Love
• Echosmith - Bright
• Ellie Goulding - Love Me Like You Do
• Luther Vandross - Never Too Much (Radio Edit)
• Stevie Wonder - Knocks Me off My Feet (DJ Joey C Edit)
• Peter Gabriel - In Your Eyes
• TLC - Creep (Select Mix Remix)

First Dance
Ben E. King - Stand By Me

Parents Dance
Louis Armstrong - What A Wonderful World

Open Dancing

• Frank Sinatra - The Way You Look Tonight
• Al Green - Let's Stay Together
• Michael Buble - Everything
• The Temptations - Ain't Too Proud to Beg
• K.C. & the Sunshine Band - Boogie Shoes
• Earth, Wind & Fire - September
• Sia f./Sean Paul - Cheap Thrills
• Beyonce - Crazy In Love
• Queen - Crazy Little Thing Called Love
• Louis Prima - Jump Jive an Wail
• Stevie Wonder - Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours
• James Taylor - How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You
• Chris Brown - Fine China (Instrumental)
• Major Lazer f./Justin Bieber & MO - Cold Water
• Maroon 5 - Sugar
• Pharrell Williams - Happy (Pop Edit)
• R. Kelly - I Believe I Can Fly
• B-Real, Coolio, Method Man, LL Cool J And Busta Rhymes - Hit Em High
• E-40 - Tell Me When To Go
• Ciara - 1, 2 Step
• Griffith, Marcia - Electric Boogie
• Usher - Yeah
• The Chainsmokers f./Halsey - Closer (Promo Only R3hab Intro Edit)
• Drake f./Wizkid & Kyla - One Dance
• Mike Posner - I Took A Pill In Ibiza (SeeB Remix)
• Party Break - Montel Party Break
• Naughty By Nature - Hip Hop Hooray
• The Chainsmokers f./ROZES - Roses (Promo Only Quick Edit)
• Tupac - California Love (Original Version)
• Bruno Mars - 24K Magic
• V.I.C. - Wobble
• Iggy Azalea, Charli XCX - Fancy
• Pitbull f./Chris Brown - Fun
• Justin Timberlake - Can't Stop The Feeling (Select Mix Remix)
• Mark Ronson, Bruno Mars - Uptown Funk (Select Mix Remix)
• Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
• Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - Downtown (Promo Only Quick Edit)

Last Dance
Chaka Khan/Montell Jordan - Ain't No Mountain High Enough

Vendor Team
DJ/Master of Ceremonies: DJ Kanoya Productions
Coordinator: Crown Weddings
Venue/Catering: Loews Coronado Bay Hotel
Photographer: Petula Pea Photography
Videographer: Anthology Films
Florals: Splendid Sentiments

Other weddings hosted by DJ Kanoya Productions

Melissa & Gus’ Dance Party - Hotel Del Coronado Wedding

I kicked off these wedding festivities by grabbing Melissa and Gus and saying, "this was a day I have been waiting on for nearly 10 years." Wait ... me? 

My former intern, Melissa, and her groom Gus, just as their wedding festivities kicked off. 

You see, Melissa and I used to work together. In fact she was my intern at the Port of San Diego. We shared many hours sitting together, working on projects and laughing. Occasionally, on Monday mornings, I would share my adventures of a wedding I DJ'd over the past weekend. It was then, she said, "when I get married - probably in like 20 years - you're DJing my wedding." 

Well, it only took eight years to find her life partner and it was as much fun as I imagined. 

Gus and Melissa's wedding at the Hotel Del Coronado (October 10, 2015), in the historic Crown Room was special with hundreds of friends and family joining in on the party. 

The Hotel Del Coronado Crown Room, with uplighting, monogram, DJ service and dance floor lighting all provided by DJ Kanoya. 

I've DJ'd the weddings of all three of these lovely ladies. 

A wedding cake with a spotlight nicely illuminates this focal point of every wedding reception. 

Here's the setlist for the night:

Bridal Party Entrance

• Queen - Don't Stop Me Now

First Dance

• Carlos Gardel - Por una Cabeza (True Lies Tango)

Dinner Music

• Maoli - Love Song
• Israel Kamakawiwo'ole - What a Wonderful World
• Atlantic Starr - Two Occasions
• Frank Sinatra - I Get A Kick Out Of You
• Tupac - Tupac Tribute Medley
• Sam Feldt f./Kimberly Anne - Show Me Love
• Vanilla Ace - Follow Me We Can Go (Clean) (Extended)
• Michael Jackson - Billie Jean (Kandy Space Remix) (Short Edit)
• Alesso - Heroes (Basic Tape Remix) (Clean) (Extended)
• Jay Z - Empire State Of Mind
• Chris Brown - Yo (Excuse Me Miss) (Main Version)
• Eve - Let Me Blow Ya Mind
• Rihanna - I Hate That I Love You
• Atlantic Starr - Two Occasions
• R. City f./Adam Levine - Locked Away
• Bastille - Pompeii
• DJ Cassidy - Calling All Hearts (Radio Edit)
• Ariana Grande f./Mac Miller - The Way
• Ella Henderson - Ghost

Cake Cutting

• Def Leppard - Pour Some Sugar On Me (2012 Re-Recorded Version)

Father/Daughter Dance

• Van McCoy - The Hustle

Mother/Son Dance

• Jennifer Lopez - Let's Get Loud

Open Dancing First Set

• K.C. & the Sunshine Band - That's the Way
• Mark Ronson, Bruno Mars - Uptown Funk (Select Mix Remix)
• Pitbull, Chris Brown - Fun (Select Mix Remix)
• Earth, Wind & Fire - September
• Michael Jackson - P.Y.T.
• Al Jarreau - We're In This Love Together

Selfies

• The Chainsmokers - #Selfie (Clean Radio Edit)
• Martin Garrix - Animals (Radio Edit)
• Clean Bandit ft Jess Glynne - Rather Be (Discotech Remix) (Extended)

Open Dancing Second Set

• Cupid - Cupid Shuffle
• Major Lazer & DJ Snake f./MO - Lean On
• Britney Spears & Iggy Azalea - Pretty Girls (Promo Only Intro Edit)
• Party Break - Montel Party Break
• Usher - Yeah
• The Weeknd - Can't Feel My Face (Select Mix Remix)
• Charlie Puth, Meghan Trainor - Marvin Gaye (Select Mix Remix)
• The Spinners - I'll Be Around (70s Classics) (Clean) (Extended)
• The Whispers - Rock Steady (Short Edit)
• Michael Jackson, Justin Timberlake - Love Never Felt So Good
• Michael Jackson - Off The Wall (Hot Classics Remix)
• Young MC - Bust A Move
• Gloria Gaynor - I Will Survive
• Emotions - Best Of My Love
• Santana - Cha Cha
• Cha Cha (Big Band) - Track08
• Bega, Lou - Mambo No.5
• Isley Brothers - Between The Sheets
• Notorious B.I.G. - Big Poppa (Intro Clean)
• 2 Pac - Keep Ya Head Up (Select Mix Remix)
• Marcia Griffiths - Electric Boogie
• V.I.C. - Wobble
• Dr. Dre ft Snoop Dogg - Nuthin But A G Thang (Intro Clean)
• Don Omar & Lucenzo - Danza Kuduro (Ft. Lucenzo)
• Sean Paul - Get Busy
• Natalie La Rose, Jeremih - Somebody (Select Mix Remix)
• Mariah Carey - Dreamlover
• Notorious B.I.G. - Mo Money Mo Problems
• Afrojack f./Mike Taylor - SummerThing! (Promo Only Clean Edit)
• Ariana Grande, Zedd - Break Free (Select Mix Remix)
• Walk The Moon - Shut Up And Dance (Promo Only Intro Edit)
• Meghan Trainor - Dear Future Husband
• Marvin Gaye - Let's Get It On
• Colbie Callait - Turn Your Lights Down Low

Last Dance

• Maroon 5 - Sunday Morning

Vendor Team:
DJ: Justin Kanoya, DJ Kanoya Productions
Uplighting: DJ Kanoya Productions
Slow Motion Video: DJ Kanoya Productions
Venue: Hotel Del Coronado
Florals & Design: TessFresh Flowers
Wedding Coordinator: Swann Soirees
Photographer: Atrero Photography
Videography: Norma Medina

Other weddings hosted by DJ Kanoya at Hotel Del Coronado

Angela and Kristofer’s Slow Motion Video - Hotel Del Coronado Wedding

What do you get when you have 16 members of a wedding party, bride, groom and another 100-plus guests? Some good times in the slow motion video booth.

Angela and Kris’ friends did pretty well.

For more insight on this wedding, check out my setlist and the amazing pictures from the Youngrens photo team.

A slow motion video booth is a great way to remember the people that attended your event as well as all of the fun they had while they were there. For more information, submit your event details on the "request for quote" page. To see videos from other events, visit DJ Kanoya Productions on Vimeo.

Newsflash: Same-Sex Wedding Photographs Look Like Every Other Wedding

A fairly popular hashtag on social media in recent months has been #loveislove, a mantra that was linked to the Supreme Court decision that made gay marriage legal throughout the United States. 

On the surface, the tag made sense to me, because love is love. What else would it be?

As an MC at hundreds of weddings in the past decade, I've witnessed love first hand. Seriously, I don't know if two people have ever been more in love with each other than on their wedding day. It is love defined.

Same-sex marriage was legalized in California in early 2008, then was rescinded in the November 2008 election. The proposition that made same-sex marriage illegal in that election was thrown out in 2013 and since then -- and up until the nationwide ban was lifted -- California was one of the states where same-sex marriage was legal.

However it was not until 2015, coincidentally about one month before the Supreme Court decision was made, that I MC'd my first same-sex wedding in San Diego at the Hotel Del Coronado.

And yes, there is a difference. It was two men getting married. That's different than the previous 300 or so weddings I have been privileged to be a part of.

But the one thing that was not different ... love. Because, yes, love is love. 

Sure, there are things I had to be mindful of, like being mindful to not to say "bride and groom" (in general, just say the couples first names); asking politely which last name I would use for their introduction (the same thing I would ask any couple); and being non-chalant when inquiring if there would be a best man and maid of honor (just ask who will be making up your wedding party).

This idea is illustrated perfectly in this photo essay. Twenty-two wedding photos. Twenty-two gay couples that are in love with each other.

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Brian and Todd are toasted at the wedding on the beach in Coronado. They celebrated their wedding at the Hotel Del Coronado in May 2015.

This concept that love is indeed love finally struck me when I saw my couple, Brian and Todd, standing side-by-side as they listened to their friend give his toast. There they were, standing next to each other, basking in the euphoria that this was their wedding day. They were surrounded by people they love and people that love them back equally.

Until that moment, I will admit, I saw them as two guys ... as a gay couple. But at that moment, surrounded by love, they were not "just two gay guys" ... they were like every other couple on their wedding day.

They were two people in love. The gender didn't matter.

 Love knows no boundaries. It was "love is love" personified.