DJ Nate Gonner

04/11/2024

After careful consideration, I've decided to retire as a professional DJ. Saturday was my final wedding and I will no longer be taking inquiries for future events. Thank you to all the people I've worked with and alongside over the past five years. If you're looking for a DJ, look no further than Complete Weddings + Events Central Illinois. They'll take good care of you.

16/10/2023

Always a pleasure working with Ryan Enbom!

"To infinity and beyond" 🚀 might be our new motto 😉

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

https://completewedo.com/central-illinois/request-pricing/

22/05/2023

Hey I know that guy.

We're almost fully booked for 2023 and we're filling up fast for 2024. Give us a buzz 📞 to get your DJ booked before all the popular dates are gone 📅

https://completewedo.com/central-illinois/dj/

03/05/2023

I wouldn’t recommend the following to any wedding with more than 80 people in attendance. However, if you’re a couple who is about quality over quantity, allowing any guest the opportunity to say a few words is an idea I’ve seen go over very well. Eighty percent of your crowd will be too shy to say anything, but those who do have the courage to speak steal the show. If you have a videographer lined up, this is excellent footage for them to use because the content is typically genuine & joyful. I’ve seen childhood friends, grandparents, cousins, and more share stories of yesterday’s happy times, and how great it is to be apart of another one tonight. If you're having a small, intimate celebration, opening up speeches to the room could be the highlight of the night.

I’m grateful to assist in creating joyous memories for newlyweds and their families. How can I help execute your dream wedding?

📞: 309-621-7883
📧: [email protected]

I hope you have a wonderful Wednesday and a better weekend ahead.

26/04/2023

COVID-19’s Social Distancing rules years ago helped create one of my favorite modern wedding traditions. The Dollar Dash is the 21st-century version of the Dollar Dance, pitting the bride and groom (or their bridal party) against one another in a newlywed fundraising game. Set to a music-related song (Steve Miller Band’s Take the Money & Run, Pink Floyd’s Money, Ludacris’s Money Maker, etc) you and your spouse or members of your bridal party (bridesmaids vs groomsmen) race around the reception hall grabbing cash from every table in sight. The newlywed or bridal team with the most money at the end is declared the winner. This is a perfect reception element for the competitive couple, giving early bragging rights to someone while the couple ultimately benefits. The ideal placement for the Dollar Dash is in-between toasts and spotlight dances after dinner.

I’m grateful to assist in the creation of joyous memories for newlyweds and their families. How can I help execute your dream wedding?

📞: 309-621-7883
📧: [email protected]
🖼️: tiktok

I hope you have a wonderful Wednesday and a better weekend ahead.

Dollar Dash: the bride and groom have a bet against each other. For ex. Ours was loser has to say yes to every request winner makes on the first day of the honeymoon. You have the duration of one song to run around to all your guests and collect money. The guests can pay you to do something. (You ha...

19/04/2023

A common theme at most weddings is a noticeable age gap in reception guests. A foolproof game plan to musically please the most people possible is to cater to the older guest early in the night. My Classical Dinner playlist features the best musicians from the 40-70’s, transporting the Baby Boomer attendees to a simpler time.It surprises many newlyweds at how little cocktail hour & dinner music they actually remember because of interactions with guests. So what's the big deal to have 90 minutes of music dedicated to the people who helped raise you?

Once all the reception activities conclude, we transition the music to modern-day hits and the older folks head out satisfied by the evenings' events. There's a lot of choices needing your attention on your wedding day, and in my opinion, the dinner music shouldn’t be one. Keep it simple, and aim to please the elders in the room, playing the hits from Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and other trailblazing musicians. I’m grateful to assist in the creation of joyous memories for newlyweds and their families. How can I help you execute your dream wedding?

📞: 309-621-7883
📧: [email protected]

I hope you have a wonderful Wednesday and a better weekend ahead.

16/04/2023

A fun loving group forming a Congo line to Shania Twain at last night's Nenonen wedding reception. Thank you to Parker and Mariana for having me, and to all those who stayed through the stormy weather to celebrate.

13/04/2023

Today's post comes from Bride, Madison.

"Nate Gonner was very pleasant to work with! He was so kind and considerate during the entire process from meeting me on a video call to the day of the wedding coordination. He made things go so smoothly and was incredibly kind and helpful through the entire process."

I’m grateful to assist in creating joyous memories for newlyweds and their families. How can I help execute your dream wedding?

📞: 309-621-7883
📧: [email protected]
📅: Molly & Jake Goodman (12-7-2022)
📍
I hope you have a terrific Tuesday and a wonderful weekend ahead.

12/04/2023

Being in the spotlight is sometimes uncomfortable for mothers & fathers expected to dance with their children at their wedding reception. A solution that I’ve seen work well is inviting other mother/son & father/daughter duos (both young or old are welcome) at the reception to join you on the dance floor. I like to give the photographer 30-45 seconds of just you and your parent to grab a few candid shots before welcoming other pairs in. This alternative allows children a glimpse into their future while other married adults get another chance to dance with their parents. Help out your shy parents and make a memory for so many at your reception by having mother/son & father/daughter pairings join you during your spotlight dance.

I’m grateful to assist in creating joyous memories for newlyweds and their families. How can I help execute your dream wedding?

📞: 309-621-7883
📧: [email protected]
📅: Molly & Jake Goodman Wedding Reception (12-7-2022)
I hope you have a wonderful Wednesday and a better weekend ahead.

05/04/2023

Some of the most breathtaking sunsets I’ve ever encountered have come while on the job. Should Mother Nature grant you a beautiful evening, I want you & your spouse to get Golden Hour photos. Trust me, your photographer will be on board, and it doubles as built-in newlywed-only time (there’s not much of it throughout your day). This sunset shot was taken on my personal Android Phone. Imagine what your photographer can do with much better equipment & technique. Take advantage of the investment in your photographer, and get a Golden Hour session set up during your reception. Mother Nature, please be kind to the newlyweds who view this recommendation.

I’m grateful to assist in the creation of joyous memories for newlyweds and their families. How can I help execute your dream wedding?

📞: 309-621-7883
📧: [email protected]
📅: Josh & Allison Jagers Wedding (5-28-2022)

I hope you have a wonderful Wednesday and a better weekend ahead.

29/03/2023

I want my newlyweds to stand out and your bridal party entrance is no different. It’s one of the main reasons I recommend limiting your wedding party intro to two songs. Having more than two songs, in my opinion, takes the shine away from the bride & groom entering the reception hall. Plus, playing 10 seconds of seven or eight different songs doesn’t sound as great as you might think. Keep it simple my soon-to-be newlyweds, and limit your wedding party intro to two songs max.

📞: 309-621-7883
📧: [email protected]

I’m grateful to assist in the creation of joyous memories for newlyweds and their families. How can I help execute your dream wedding?

📞: 309-621-7883
📧: [email protected]

I hope you have a wonderful Wednesday and a better weekend ahead.

22/03/2023

Finding a role for beloved family members to play on the newlywed’s special day can sometimes be challenging. I’m seeing more and more couples asking their favorite grandparent, sibling, relative, or pseudo-father figure to officiate their wedding ceremony. The photo you’re seeing is of Grandpa Mike officiating his granddaughter, Bryana’s, wedding ceremony from last month. What a worthwhile way to involve a person who means so much to you. Universal Life Church Ministries helped yours truly get ordained three years ago. The process takes less than five minutes, but the impact they’ll play will last much longer. Unless religious beliefs dictate otherwise, I’d recommend involving a cherished person as an ordained minister for your wedding ceremony.

I’m grateful to assist in the creation of joyous memories for newlyweds and their families. How can I help execute your dream wedding?

📞: 309-621-7883
📧: [email protected]
🖼️: Photography by Heather Ball (Bryce & Bryana Wilson; 2/3/2023)

I hope you have a wonderful Wednesday and a better weekend ahead.

18/03/2023

Come out and say hi at The Stables Open House from now until 3pm. I'd love to chat with you about how I can help assist in creating a joyous wedding day for yourself, child, or friend.

16/03/2023

I'm humbled and grateful to be part of The Stables Open House this Saturday (3/18) from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Stables is one of my favorite venues to work at, providing the staff & facilities of a big-city wedding venue with a down-to-earth small-town feel. See for yourself when you visit the Stables Open House this Saturday. When you do, say hi to the guy playing the tunes.

I’m grateful to assist in the creation of joyous memories for newlyweds and their families. How can I help you execute your dream wedding?

📞: 309-621-7883
📧: [email protected]

Don’t forget our Open House this Saturday March 18th for 10-3.
Our favorite vendors, L&J Hometown Catering - DJ Nate Gonner - Julie Frisk Designs will all be there too!
Book a 2024 date and receive our Open House special.
See ya there!

15/03/2023

I wish I could tell you everyone at your wedding is joyfully excited to be there to celebrate you. However, some guests came to make an appearance and grab a piece of cake. Let’s filter those fun suckers out of your day by cutting the cake before dinner. I like having the ceremonial event take place immediately after the newlyweds are announced into the reception hall. Who cares if you’re having dessert before dinner, it’s your wedding day, right?! Plus, how awkward is the alternative: cutting the cake after dinner while some of your guests are still consuming their meal? Have a sweet treat before you eat and make sure the party poopers leave early by cutting your cake before you sit down for dinner.

I’m grateful to assist in creating joyous memories for newlyweds and their families. How can I help execute your dream wedding?

📞: 309-621-7883
📧: [email protected]
📅 September 14, 2022-Blake & Anna Cornwell

I hope you have a wonderful Wednesday and a better weekend ahead.

11/03/2023

I'm grateful to announce I'll be the DJ for tonight's 80's & 90's Adult Skate at All Stars Sports Academy. Enjoy skating kid free with music from our childhood. See you tonight at 8 pm for fun on wheels.

Save the date & Pls share.

08/03/2023

A trend I’m a real fan of is bucking the Flower Girl tradition in favor of a Flower Man. The Flower Man, primarily the jester of your friend group, is chosen to wear the newlywed’s chosen attire (I’ve seen everything from tutus to flower man f***y packs) and lighten the mood with a childlike joyful flower-throwing routine. A Flower Man is perfect for the engaged couple who doesn’t have any friends or family with grade school-aged girls. Sneak in a laugh before you say I do by inserting a Flower Man into your ceremony.

I’m grateful to assist in creating joyous memories for newlyweds and their families. How can I help execute your dream wedding?

📞: 309-621-7883
📧: [email protected]
📅 10/1/2022-Darren & Lorinda Oltman

I hope you have a wonderful Wednesday and a better weekend ahead.

01/03/2023

Wedding photos are a treasured keepsake, but getting one with every guest can be challenging. If you’re a photo-loving newlywed needing a picture with everyone at your wedding, Group Photo is a go-to game for you. Using a photo-centric song (J Geils Band's Freeze Frame, Def Leppards’ Photograph, Lady Gaga's Paparazzi, etc), you & your spouse race around the reception hall with your photographer. The goal is trying to get a photo with every table grouping before the song ends. I tend to jump in these photos too and shout out to Cody & Ashley Haines for sharing their Group Photo with me. Do yourself a favor though, and do this activity before dinner.

I’m grateful to assist in the creation of joyous memories for newlyweds and their families. How can I help you execute your dream wedding?

📞: 309-621-7883
📧: [email protected]
🖼️: Taylor Katina's Photography

I hope you have a wonderful Wednesday and a better weekend ahead.