Kristin and Steven’s wedding at Hotel Manisses on Block Island was an absolute blast! As the DJ, I had the privilege of setting the tone for their special day.
I was lucky enough to book a room across the street from Hotel Manisses at the 1661 Inn, right across from the Abrams Animal Farm.
The ceremony kicked off at 2:00 PM with a fun twist—the processional was set to a piano version of The Office theme song, perfectly matching Kristin and Steven’s playful vibe. Since we were so close to the farm, some chickens made their way into the background, along with an especially vocal cow! We wrapped up the ceremony with The Beatles’ “All You Need is Love,” setting the stage for a day full of good times.
After the ceremony, guests enjoyed a lively outdoor cocktail hour while I mixed in hits from the 70s through today, keeping the energy high and the atmosphere vibrant.
By 4:00 PM, it was time to get the reception underway once we shuffled everyone inside to the lower-level restaurant. Mics were ready, toasts were prepped, and the wedding party made their grand entrance to “Shut Up and Dance” by Walk the Moon. The newlyweds, Mr. and Mrs. Steven Chapman, went right into their first dance to “Noam” by Maya Isacowitz. Since we had everyone’s attention, this was followed by the mother/son dance to “My Wish” by Rascal Flatts and the father/daughter dance to “My Girl” by The Temptations.
After some great toasts from Kevin, Christina, and Amanda, dinner wrapped up around 6:00 PM. We then cut the cake to Maroon 5’s “Sugar,” as we moved everyone back outside for more cocktails and dancing.
A Note on Logistics for Block Island Events
There are a number of additional logistical steps necessary when DJing a wedding on Block Island. For one, transportation. There are many ways to get on the island as a pedestrian, but only one by vehicle: the ferry. This is crucial, as DJs need to be able to bring all sound equipment with them, and lugging that around the island without a vehicle would be nearly impossible. In order to bring your vehicle on the ferry to the island, reservations are required by phone in advance. Well in advance. For high season, it is best to take care of this as soon as reservations open for the year in January/February. And you are required to book an actual time.
Once your transportation is secured, lodging is the next challenge. There are a number of options available, but none of them will be cheap. I have found a baseline hotel rate to hover between $400 and $600 for a standard room. Most hotels also require a significant deposit upfront, with many requiring you to pay the entire amount at the time of booking!
Another island quirk: Block Island has a 10 PM noise ordinance that is rather strict. This, in turn, has resulted in most venues ending their events entirely by the 10 o’clock mark, and many by 9 just to be safe.
If you are thinking of having your wedding on Block Island, reach out! I am part of the Block Island Chamber of Commerce and am on a number of preferred vendor lists!
Hotel Manisses Wedding Specs
Venue: Hotel Manisses
Guests: 75-100
Wedding Party: Yes
Wedding Party Introduced: Yes
Dinner: Family Style Meal
Music Likes: 70s, 80s, 90s, 00s, Today, Country
Agenda
2:00 PM Ceremony
2:30 PM Cocktail Hour
4:00 PM Reception
4:15 PM Grand Introduction
First Dance, Father/Daughter Dance, Mother/Son Dance, Toasts
5:00 PM Dinner
6:00 PM Cake Cutting
8:30 PM Conclusion
Song Selections
Processional:
The Office Theme Song – Piano rendition
Bride:
“All You Need is Love” by The Beatles
Recessional:
Wedding Party Intro:
“Shut Up and Dance with Me” by Walk the Moon
First Dance:
Father/Daughter Dance:
Mother/Son Dance:
Cake Cutting:
Photos: by <>
Having a wedding at Hotel Manisses?
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