Set against the lush spring backdrop of Malibu, this intimate wedding at Calamigos Ranch’s Birchwood Room was nothing short of amazing—and so much fun. The celebration was intentionally on the smaller side, with the couple surrounding themselves with only their favorite people, creating a warm, relaxed, and joy-filled atmosphere. As the sun dipped low, guests enjoyed cocktails and dinner on the Birchwood Room’s stunning outdoor deck, soaking in the gorgeous evening air and natural beauty that makes this venue so special. Their music taste was wonderfully eclectic, but Country reigned supreme, setting the tone as the main soundtrack throughout Cocktail Hour and Dinner. Once the dance lights kicked on and the floor officially opened, everyone made their way inside, where DJ Brian took over the decks and brought the energy up to another level. With his incredible skills and instinct for the crowd, the dance floor stayed packed, turning an already beautiful Malibu evening into an unforgettable celebration.
All Photos captured by: Ellie Fuqua at Sun & Sparrow
Ceremony Audio Near the Waterfall
Outdoor ceremonies at Calamigos Ranch often include beautiful water features, but they can also present an audio challenge.
At this wedding, the nearby waterfall created more ambient noise than expected, which made lavalier microphones difficult to use. To keep the ceremony clear and easy for guests to hear, we switched to a handheld microphone.
The officiant did an excellent job passing the microphone back and forth during the vows, keeping the ceremony smooth while ensuring everyone could hear each moment.
Prelude: Brooklyn Duo - Hymn For The Weekend, Photograph, VSQ - In Your Eyes, Your'e My Best Friend, Viva La Vida, Guitar Tribute Players - Tin Man, The O'Neil Brothers - The Gift of Love
Parents, Groom Processional:—> 2 Cellos & Piano - The Flower Duet (from Lakme)
Wedding Party Processional:—> Brooklyn Duo - Canon in D
Bride's Processional:—> Sleeping At Last - Turning Page (Instrumental)
Recessional:—> American Authors - Best Day of My Life
Adjusting the Cocktail Hour Plan
Originally, guests were meant to stay downstairs for cocktail hour following the ceremony. However, the temperature dropped quickly that evening, and many guests decided to head upstairs to the reception deck early to stay warm.
Instead of trying to redirect everyone, we adapted to the flow of the event and continued the music from the main reception setup in the Birchwood Room.
Flexibility is key at any wedding, and small adjustments like this help keep the experience comfortable and enjoyable for guests.
Cocktail Music: Morgan Wallen - Me on Whiskey, Parmalee - Take My Name, Jordan Davis - Slow Dance in The Parking Lot, Kane Brown - Like a Rodeo, Nate Smith - World on Fire, Old Dominion - One Man Band, David J - Rest of Your Life
Grand Entrance - Wedding Party: Rihanna - This is What you came For
Grand Entrance - Wedding Couple: Yungblud - I Was Made For Loving You (custom edit)
First Dance: Russell Dickerson - Yours (wedding version)
Dinner Music: Brett Young - Mercy, Russell Dickerson - God Gave Me a Girl, Dylan Scott - Can't Have Mine, Megan Moroney - Tennesse Orange, Luke Combs - Beautiful Crazy, Dermot Kennedy - Two Hearts
VIDEO COMING SOON
An Intimate Reception with a Packed Dance Floor
Even though this wedding was smaller—just over 50 guests—the dance floor stayed lively all night.
The bride spent most of the reception on the dance floor, keeping the energy high and encouraging friends and family to join in. Megan and her friends were definitely the driving force behind the dance party.
By the end of the night, a strong group of guests was still dancing—always the sign of a successful reception.
Dance Music (partial list) Rihanna - Don't Stop The Music, Lady Gaga - Just Dance, Justin Timberlake - Sexyback, Post Malone, Morgan Wallen - I Had Some Help, Shaboozy - A Bar Song, Thurston Harris - Little Bitty One, Dion - Runaround Sue, NSYNC - I Want You Back, Britney Spears - Oops I Did It Again, Michael Jasckson - P.Y.T., Walk The Moon - Shut Up and Dance
Last Song(s) of the Night —> Elvis - Can't Help Falling in Love into AC/DC - Shook Me All Night Long
Special Moments:
Father/Daughter Dance --> Riley Roth - Give Me Away
Mother/Son Dance --> Drew Baldridge - Can She Have This Dance
Cake Cutting --> Spencer Crandall - My Person
(Couples) DANCE MUSIC RECIPE
Genres --> Country Hits, 50s Doo Wop, 70s, 80s 90s Pop, Rock, 2000s Dance
MUST-PLAYS Kane Brown, Lauren Alaina - What If's, Jason Aldean - You Make It Easy, Jaordan Davis, Luke Bryan - Buy Dirt, Morgan Wallen - Spin You Around (24/7), Van Morrison - Brown Eyed Girl, Whitney Houston - I Wanna Dance With Somebody
A Happy Ending to the Night
One of the best parts of the evening came at the very end when the bride came over to share how much she enjoyed the night and how much fun she had during the planning process.
Moments like that are always the best feedback. The overall vibe of the wedding was relaxed, joyful, and full of great moments.
Hiring a DJ for Your Calamigos Ranch Wedding
If you're planning a wedding at Calamigos Ranch, working with a DJ familiar with the venue can make a big difference.
An experienced Calamigos Ranch wedding DJ will know how to:
Navigate the two-hour vendor access window
Set up efficient ceremony and reception audio
Adapt to outdoor sound challenges like waterfalls
Keep the energy flowing between ceremony, cocktails, and reception
With its beautiful setting and flexible event spaces, the Birchwood Room is perfect for couples planning an intimate Malibu wedding with a lively reception.
Malibu Wedding Vendor List
Here is the amazing team of wedding vendors we had the pleasure of working with on this Los Angeles County Wedding:
Venue: Calamigos Ranch - Birchwood Room
Coordinator: Michelle Uziel - Here&Now Events
Photographer: Ellie Fuqua - Sun & Sparrow
Officiant: Zach Penprase (friend of the couple)
DJ/MC/: DJ Brian
