Wedded bliss and the party band

Perfect day for a wedding! Photo courtesy Susan Miller.

THE CHEESEBURGERS PLAYED the Bordenkircher wedding Saturday night near Mount Sterling, and we had a blast. It was a great example of how to organize a party and how to treat the band.

We are leery in general of playing weddings. It is a party, but receptions aren't always planned out and the band often feels like an afterthought. If we know the people involved, it makes things much easier. In this case, we'd met them a year earlier and they saw us play, so we all knew what to expect.

This event took place on the family property beside a beautiful lake. Coupled with perfect weather, it was a magical day.

The groom's father contacted us well in advance and made sure he knew what we needed. He met us when we rolled up to a huge tent beside the lake. He showed us the stage, thanked us profusely and told us to find him if we needed anything.

We felt at home from the start. They made sure to let us know we could eat and drink just like the rest of the guests. They had an itinerary and they stuck with the times and the plan. The Hy-Vee catering guys were very easy to work with and we got in and out for setup by working together.

A friend of the bride and groom played the first song. Ahhhhhh .... !

We played on a small wooden platform. No rickety flatbed trailers here! Generators provided power, and though we had a few bumps with the juice, it was mostly smooth.

The wedding party decided they were going to party. It's as simple as that. They let go and had a blast, dancing and laughing the night away. They made requests and by the end of the night we were playing "I've Got Friends In Low Places" and the place came unglued. We sort of knew it, and that's putting it politely. It might have been the single worst rendition of a Garth song, but it was near the end of the night and the wedding party loved it.

The Cheeseburgers love to play and we work hard to put on a good show, but we don't take ourselves too seriously and we go with the flow.

The groom's father is an experienced musician and he got up and sang several songs with us. One we didn't know but figured it out, and it was way too much fun.

The bride and groom stuck around to the very end, making sure we had light to tear down, giving us food to take on the trip back, and just generally making us feel like we were a big part of their special day.

Best of luck, Matt and Hannah. We had a great time, and thanks for letting us be a part of it.