A Spring Wedding at Willowdale Estate
There’s something genuinely special about spring weddings at Willowdale Estate. The mansion, the courtyard, the long shadows as the sun dips behind the trees — everything feels intimate and tucked away in its own little world. Rachel and Brandon’s celebration fit perfectly into that setting. From their ceremony in the courtyard to a seriously high-energy night under the tent, the whole day had this confident, joyful momentum that never really let up.
Ceremony in the Courtyard
Their ceremony took place at 5:30 PM in Willowdale’s courtyard, one of our all-time favorite places to play. It has such a classic “New England garden meets historic mansion” feel. ECS provided both sound and live performance, with an acoustic/electric guitar setup that kept everything warm and easy.
Rachel and Brandon leaned into a beautiful mix of older folk and classic songs for prelude, including ’60s acoustic influences and some James Taylor. For the processional, they chose “Here Comes the Sun” — played at a slightly slower pace — and Rachel walked down the aisle to “Hallelujah” (the Leonard Cohen/Jeff Buckley version), which we extended as she and Brandon circled each other under the chuppah. The recessional lifted the whole room right back up with “You Are the Best Thing” by Ray LaMontagne.
It all felt very personal, very them.
Cocktail Hour in the Mansion
After the ceremony, guests headed inside the mansion for cocktail hour — a cozy, wood-paneled contrast to the open courtyard. Rachel and Brandon asked for an instrumental duo performing jazz, blues, and a bit of Latin influence. The combination fit the space perfectly. It gave guests something lively to listen to without overwhelming the room.
A Big Entrance to Kick Off the Reception
At 7:00 PM, everyone transitioned to the tent for the reception. For their entrance, Rachel and Brandon kept things simple and fun: one introduction, no wedding-party roll call. Just:
“And now introducing, for the first time as a married couple… Rachel and Brandon!”
They made their entrance to “Kill The Lights” — Alex Newell, DJ Cassidy & Nile Rodgers — which is exactly as upbeat and joyous as it sounds.
And instead of saving the dance floor for later, they flipped the usual script: they invited everyone to join them immediately for the first dance. Their song — “If I Ain’t Got You” by Alicia Keys — was performed live, starting right at the lyrics and ending after the second chorus, as requested. By the time the last note faded, the entire tent was already warmed up and buzzing.
Without skipping a beat, we launched straight into an upbeat tune (their pick was “Let’s Get Loud” by Jennifer Lopez), which immediately spiraled into a full-on party. From there, we stretched into a long, extra-loud, extra-fun hora — nearly 12 minutes of nonstop dancing. The tent was shaking in the best possible way.
Blessing, Dinner, and a Smooth Flow into the Evening
Once the hora wrapped up, guests returned to their seats for the blessing, given by Cliff Delman. Dinner service began shortly after. Willowdale is an extremely well-run venue, and everything moved in a smooth, unhurried rhythm.
Rachel and Brandon didn’t want a full dinner set or anything that interrupted conversation, so ECS took a quick break to eat during the first course. Timing-wise, it worked out perfectly — the tent had a warm, lively hum without the need for additional music.
Unannounced Parent Dance Moments
One of the sweetest parts of the evening was something guests might not have even realized was choreographed. Rather than a formal parent dance announcement, the groom’s mom wanted a simple, organic moment. So at 8:27 PM, during the last song before entrées were served, we performed “What a Wonderful World.” No spotlight, no introduction — just a slow song that gave them space to share a quiet dance together while the rest of the room swayed along. It felt incredibly natural.
Toasts and a Quick Shift Back to Dancing
Toasts were shared by both sets of parents — Michael & Anne Glanz and Mark & Lisa Ellis — followed later in the evening by additional speeches from Rebecca, Joanna, Justin, and Jared. The flow was easy and unfussy, and guests stayed engaged the whole time.
Cake cutting happened off to the side around 9:45 PM with zero interruptions to the dance floor — just the way Rachel and Brandon wanted it.
The Dance Floor: High Energy, All Night Long
Rachel and Brandon wanted a classic, high-energy dance party — lots of throwbacks, lots of crowd favorites, and as few slowdowns as possible. Their “songs we love” list was extensive (and excellent), filled with everything from Motown to early-2010s pop, and they encouraged us to lean into the vibe and call the shots.
One must-play was “Shut Up and Dance,” which we saved for later in the night when energy was peaking — always a great move. Their crowd was loud, enthusiastic, and incredibly responsive, which made it easy to keep the momentum going right up until the tent’s strict cutoff time.
A Perfect Willowdale Night
Rachel and Brandon were a dream to work with — organized, upbeat, and really clear about wanting the night to feel celebratory from the very first moment. Willowdale Estate was the perfect backdrop for them: classic, cozy, and effortlessly elegant.
We loved celebrating with these two.
Cheers to Rachel & Brandon — and we hope to be back at Willowdale again soon.
