Excerpt

Backyard receptions can be just as enjoyable as resort and hotel receptions. They can get just as wild if not more at times. The backyard environment is where I see the majority of my empty beer cup and beer can pyramids, carefully constructed at various dinner tables. The owners of the property will regularly go with beer cans and beer cups instead of bottles because they don’t want broken glass in or near their swimming pool.

During the wild Scott-Shepard backyard reception, I noticed a very robust, outgoing male guest nicknamed ‘The Baron’, who appeared to be intoxicated rather early into the event. Apparently his friends noticed this also. Together, they devised a plan to keep themselves entertained. They stacked empty beer cans into a bowling pin (beer can) pyramid. Then, they had The Baron lay down on his stomach on the dance floor, facing the beer cans. Two friends on each side of The Baron grabbed his legs and arms. They began sliding him on the dance floor like a human bowling ball, barreling down towards the pins (beer cans).

As The Baron was flying down the bowling lane (dance floor), there was just one small detail his friends neglected to mention to him. Two of the beer cans stacked on the top were full cans of beer, that were also open.

Crash! Splash! Strike. The Baron went right through all of the cans and got slightly wet in the process. While the guests were cheering, he got up, and picked up one of the full beers (now half full). He pounded the beer in five seconds, let out a cave man roar, sang one chorus from “We Are the Champions” and said, “Let’s do it again.” He bowled two more strikes and a spare before he decided to retire as the human bowling ball.

Needless to say, this group of supersonic partiers had the necessary ingredients for a high energy reception, though maybe not the classiest. At these weddings, I just play the music loud and get out of their way. I also make sure no one is table diving or mosh pit diving near my equipment, as these receptions seem to have high levels of wild, mayhem, and chaos. Way to bring the heat, The Baron.

“Crazy” Patsy Cline.



Allow me to back up and introduce myself. My name is Scott Keough and I love my job. I get to DJ and MC a different wedding every weekend. In essence, I get to party with one hundred new friends every Friday night. I then sleep in, wake up at the crack of 10:30 AM, and do it all over again.

Weddings are the ultimate party. Where else can you find grandmas, teenagers, and six year olds all out on the same dance floor, at the same time? Where else will grown ladies dive like professional centerfielders to catch a few flowers called a bouquet? Where else can you get a free dinner, drinks, dessert and get to dance with all of your friends with no cover charge?

It’s all there at a wedding. To quote Vince Vaughn from the movie “Wedding Crashers”, “I love wedding season!”

Okay, let’s talk some wedding 101. Wedding participants don’t always adhere to their ideal roles and appropriate behaviors. That’s good news for an author of a wedding story book.