One Year Later: Natasha & Issac’s Dream Celebration at Olympia Banquet Hall
Some weddings are about the ceremony. Some are about the party. And then there are celebrations that are both—a long-awaited wedding reception and an anniversary party wrapped into one unforgettable night. That was Natasha and Issac's celebration at Olympia Banquet Hall in Van Nuys.
The couple had actually been married a year earlier in a very small ceremony. They had the commitment, the love, and the memories—but they never got to have the big celebration they had dreamed about with all their friends and family. So, one year later, they decided to change that. And let me tell you: they made up for lost time.
The Right DJ/MC Can Change the Entire Night
When couples are planning a wedding or anniversary celebration, it's easy to focus on the venue, food, flowers, photography, and décor. But, there's another decision that can have a tremendous impact on how the night actually feels: choosing the right DJ/MC.
A great DJ isn't just someone who presses play.
They're watching the room, reading the crowd, communicating with the couple and vendors, managing the timeline, making announcements, adjusting when things don't go exactly according to plan, and—most importantly—knowing when to push the energy and when to let a moment breathe.
Natasha and Issac's celebration was a perfect example of why that matters.
The Ceremony
Ceremony off Site
The Cocktail and Dinner Music
Cocktails: EWF - Shining Star, Stevie Wonder - Sir Duke, Karen - Tej, Jasmin - 10, ZHU - Move Like Ms. Jackson, The Weeknd ft Daft Punk - Feel It Coming (Redondo Rework), Me & My Toothbrush - Gold Member, Jason Mraz - I Feel Like Dancing
Grand Entrance - Wedding Couple: Frankie Valli - Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You
First Dance: Cody Fry - I Hear Symphony
Dinner: Jasmin - 100%, Van Morrison - Moondance, Ben Howard - Only Love, The Temptations - Just My Imagination, Jack Johnson - Do You Remember, Al Greene - Let's Stay Together, Natalie Cole - This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)
The Energy Was There From the Beginning
Natasha and Issac are one of those couples who bring their own energy into a room. You could feel it immediately.
Their friends and family were ready to celebrate from the moment they arrived. Olympia Banquet Hall looked incredible, the chandeliers were glowing, the room was beautifully lit, and there was a real sense of anticipation.
We had a little hiccup with the grand entrance—but sometimes those unexpected moments become part of the story. I simply called out the couple's first names to get everyone going, and suddenly, Natasha and Issac came walking into the roombefore their cue! No panic. No stopping the momentum. We just rolled with it.
We immediately moved into their first dance and then transitioned into the warm-up, getting everyone involved and setting the tone for the evening.
That's where having an experienced DJ/MC really matters. Weddings don't always follow the exact timeline written on paper. The ability to make adjustments in real time while keeping the guests engaged can make all the difference.
Keeping the Dance Floor Alive
After dinner, it was time to get everyone back on the dance floor. And, that's where the night really started taking off. We had a Mariachi band scheduled, but they were running a few minutes late. Rather than announce that we were waiting and let the room lose its momentum, we simply kept playing music and kept everyone dancing.
Natasha and Issac's moms were especially appreciative that we were able to keep the party moving while we waited for the Mariachi band to arrive. And when they finally showed up...they went for a full hour.
An entire hour of Mariachi, dancing, singing, and celebrating. It was exactly the kind of moment where the DJ/MC's job becomes less about following a schedule and more about managing the flow of the entire celebration.
VIDEO COMING SOON
Dance Music (partial list)
Last Song(s) of the Night —> Cascada - Everytime We Touch (Hardwell Remix), Robin Schulz x Timmy Trumpet - All The Things She Said, Armin Van Buuren Ft. Sharon Den Adel - In & Out Of Love
Special Moments:
Parents Dance (together) --> Phil Collins - You Will Be in My Heart
In-Laws Dance --> Louis Armstrong - Wonderful World
Mariachi Band
Cake Cutting --> Jack Johnson - Better Together
Bouquet Toss --> Shania Twain - Man, I Feel Like A Woman
EDM Set after Cake -->
(Couples) DANCE MUSIC RECIPE
Genres --> 2000s-2010s Top 40 Dance Hits, EDM Festival, Arminian & Russian Dance,
MUST-PLAYS Calvin Harris - Feel So Close, I Need Your Love (Ft. Elle Goulding) Sweet Nothing (Ft. Florence Welch), Disclosure - Latch, Avicii - Levels, David Guetta Ft. Sia - Titanium, Deorro - Five Hours, Bailar (Ft. Elvis Crespo), Cascada - Everytime We Touch EDM Set after Cake --> David Guetta, Benny Benassi - Satisfaction (Hardwell & Maddix Remix), Ida Corr - Think About It, Discoteka Avaria - Nebo (Remix 2003), Dj Kuba & Neitan - Blade, 50 Cent - In Da Club (Satisfaction Remix), DJSM & Sp3ctrum - Naughty Girl, Marlon Hoffstadt - It's That TIme (Fisher Remix), Deorro - Rock The Party, Wuki - Sunshine (Galantis Reshine), Basshunter - All I Ever Wanted, Beauz & Kevu - Ocho (VIP Ext. Mix), David Guetta Ft. Kid Cudi - Memories
Then Came Cake, Bouquet Toss... and Something Completely Different
After the Mariachi performance, we moved into the cake cutting and bouquet toss.
But Natasha and Issac had something else in mind.
They were ready for the EDM rave.
Originally, that portion of the night was scheduled to begin about 30 minutes later. But the couple was ready, the crowd was ready, and the energy was there.
So we made the call to start it early.
And wow.
For nearly an hour and a half, that dance floor was absolutely going.
The music was hitting. The venue lighting was going off. Glow sticks were everywhere. Guests were dancing, jumping, waving them through the air, and completely letting loose.
The Parents Were Out There Too
As the night went on, we did lose a few guests—because let's be honest, an hour and a half of nonstop dancing will separate the dancers from the spectators! But, the majority stayed and they went for it. Both sets of parents were on the dance floor, family members were dancing, friends were dancing and Natasha and Issac were right in the middle of everything. That's the kind of party every DJ/MC hopes for.
But it's also why choosing the right DJ matters so much. You can have a beautiful venue and an amazing crowd, but someone still has to connect all the pieces together and recognize those moments when the room is ready to take it up another level.
The Perfect DJ Is More Than the Music
For Natasha and Issac, the music was obviously a huge part of the night—but it was the timing, transitions, communication, crowd interaction, and ability to adapt that helped keep everything moving.
A grand entrance doesn't go exactly as planned?
Keep the energy going.
Mariachi is running late?
Keep the dance floor alive.
The couple wants to start the EDM set early?
Adjust the timeline.
The crowd is still going strong?
Give them the music and let them have their moment.
That's what a professional DJ/MC brings to a wedding or anniversary celebration. You're not just hiring someone to play songs. You're hiring someone to help create the experience.
A First Anniversary Worth Celebrating What made this celebration especially meaningful was knowing the backstory. This wasn't simply a wedding reception. It was Natasha and Issac finally getting the celebration they didn't have the opportunity to have the first time around.
Their first wedding anniversary became the perfect excuse to bring everyone together, celebrate their first year of marriage, and throw the party they had always envisioned. And...what a party it was.
The combination of an amazing couple, incredible family and friends, Mariachi, great music, Olympia Banquet Hall's lighting, and a packed dance floor created something truly special.
Natasha and Issac brought the energy. Their family and friends brought the love, and Cheers Entertainment helped keep that energy moving from one part of the night to the next.
And the result?
A first anniversary party that was, in Natasha and Issac's words, essentially the celebration they had been waiting a year to have. It was a celebration that truly lived up to the dream.
Happy first anniversary, Natasha and Issac! Here's to many more years, many more celebrations, and plenty more nights with the entire family on the dance floor.
Van Nuys Wedding Vendor List
Here is the amazing team of wedding vendors we had the pleasure of working with on this Los Angeles Wedding:
Venue: Olympia Banquet Hall
Photographer: Michael - Michael by Kriskan Photo
DJ/MC/: DJ Brian
