Welcome to our newest blog feature: vendors we love! Please meet Luke Joachim, AKA DJ CoolHand. This sharp-dressed, hard working cat always impresses us with his fresh beats and professionalism. Let’s learn more…
How did you discover your talent?
I started DJing back in high school as a way to throw parties. My first paid gig was a wedding and I was hooked ever since.
How did your business blossom?
I went to college in New Orleans for music. During my time there I started DJing for major acts and touring the country. It added clout to my wedding and corporate events so my business grew rapidly. Not to mention, it taught me how to deescalate the most stressful situations which has been helpful for all my events, especially weddings.
Do you work alone, or do you lead a team?
On the wedding day, I’m the DJ and MC. I may bring an assistant to help me setup and takedown my equipment, if I think it’s necessary. Our agency, Remixologists, is a team of the best DJs in New York and beyond.
What is your process with wedding clients before the wedding?
Couples that want a “non-cliche” wedding DJ contact me either via my website or Remixologists. We schedule a phone call and possibly a time to meet in Manhattan. If I’m the perfect fit, clients usually book within 6-18 months before their wedding. We make planning and music requests easy by using an online portal and including a sample timeline template that’s easy to fill in. Clients can send me music requests, however is most convenient for them via a playlist from their favorite music service or writing it directly into the template. There are specific songs for special parts of the night like the first dance, must-plays for dancing, a general playlist, and a do-not-playlist,which usually includes group dances like the YMCA. I have a full spectrum of clients from people that want to choose every single song and couples that leave it up to me to read the room. Both are creative challenges that keep my job interesting. My favorite part of my job is mixing the music live and making the party rock.How do you continue to grow as an artist?
I love DJing unique weddings that want the best DJ service in NYC. Clients often expand my music knowledge via their request for non-traditional and non-American tunes. I also run a podcast called DJ for Hire that promotes professionalism in the DJ industry by sharing my tips and interviewing other pro DJs.
Scottish and Irish Elopement, Autumn in New York City
Now that it’s officially autumn, it’s time for me to try my best to retire summer until next year (a struggle). On the eve of September turning into October, the weather here is GREAT and my hair no longer looks like a fright wig because of the humidity.
Autumn in NYC is a gift, a truly beautiful time when locals and visitors alike bask in the cooler temperatures, turning leaves (we have lots of trees in the city), cultural offerings, and everything that makes NYC great. Hence, we do lots of international elopements and intimate weddings every autumn.
Introducing Nuala (Irish) and her hubby Murray (Scottish). They had been dating for about a decade when they planned a week in the city capped by a City Hall ceremony. Jon Lemon and his cameras showed them the town, and the pictures are pretty incredible.
So, Nuala is a beauty, as well as pretty chill, with a good sense of humor and proportion. A dentist, she and Murray have lived and worked in several different countries during the course of their romance. They were both super relaxed as we got ready and told me stories of their adventures. I met them at their conveniently located (for me!) East Village apartment rental and we got to work.
Nuala’s style is so chic – she requested a big crown braid and soft, glowy, golden makeup, all of which complimented her gorgeous and perfectly-fitted lace dress. Murray sported a kilt and the accompanying finery, and they were ready for their moment!
Foodie Springtime Wedding at Green Building, Brooklyn
Sometimes a quiet little wedding just grabs hold of my heart and squeezes. This is the case with beautiful Joanne and her kilted groom, Duncan.
The bride came to me just a few weeks before the wedding – her first trial had not been in her style and she knew it was down to the wire. We met for a trial, after everyone had a long day at work. She and her groom work in the food industry, and she had been elbow deep in baked goods all day (sounds like a dream, but work is work). The best course of action was for all of us to have a drink. Whiskey all around!
Then the trial really picked up! Joanne wanted a very natural look with some enhancement, so I finished her look with a sheer coat of grape stain on her lips – it picked up the green flecks in her eyes.
She and Duncan have a ton of clever and generous friends, who were volunteering to do everything from florals and décor to baking the wedding cake. They were doing it their way, and they didn’t seem stressed – just busy.
On the wedding day, her friends (adults and little ones) joined us in their Brooklyn apartment for beauty, and the rainy Spring day was warmed by the love and support for this couple. This bride is a real beauty, inside and out, and she married a redhead in a kilt! Now, that’s SB Beautiful.
Venue: The Green Building
Photographer: Logan Roquemore Photography
Makeup: Sharon for SB Beauty
Hair: Rachel for SB Beauty
Disco Glam Summer Wedding, Smack Mellon in Brooklyn
When a client tells me her wedding vibe inspiration is “disco glam”, I trip over myself getting her the booking paperwork. Liz told me her one “must have” at the reception was a disco ball. Yessssss.
The lovely planner Alison introduced me to Liz, and I fell for her spirit and style immediately. Liz and Javier shared their wedding day of May 19 with another couple in England, but no royalty was overshadowing Liz’ gold glitter eyeshadow or winged lashes!
That Saturday provided moist weather in NYC, so I prepped her skin with Bioderma Sensibio Light Moisturizer, and worked Makeup Forever mattifying primer into her t-zone. After blending together a symphony of brown shadows to provide a backdrop for Liz’ intense blue eyes, I laid down a thin layer of Two Faced Glitter Glue to help the Naked Cosmetics Mineral Shadows in gold apply smoothly and stay put all night. Her lips were a beautiful blend of Bite Beauty pigments. (Look at those earrings!)
We loved working with her beautiful, smart, and interesting bridesmaids. One gal flew in from London for the wedding! Liz’ husband is from Argentina, and his gorgeous mother and aunt added much love to the prep time.
Liz had the chance to prep close to the Brooklyn venue – in the Brooklyn Heights apartment where she grew up! Her father hosted us all, making a comfortable setting with brunch and bubbles, beaming with love the whole day.
Congrats to Liz and Javier, and thank you for including us in your wedding day!
Planner: Alison Semmler
Photographer: Gui Benites /Weddings by Nato
Flowers: A.P. Bio
Gown: A LA ROBE
Venue: Smack Mellon
Makeup: Sharon for SB Beauty Team
Hair: Jenna for SB Beauty Team
Celebrating Pride Month with the Wedding of Amanda & Ashley
SB Beauty is proud to be an open and affirming company that celebrates marriage equality.
On June 26, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of the freedom to marry nationwide. Same-sex marriage has been legally recognized in the state of New York since July 24, 2011, under the Marriage Equality Act, which was passed by the New York State Legislature on June 24, 2011 and signed by Governor Andrew Cuomo on the same day.
Now, let’s look at some gorgeous wedding pictures and admire two SB Beautiful brides!
Ashley and Amanda booked our services far ahead of their October 2017 wedding – a year in advance. They had to be organized, since they have big families who live outside of the city and were gathering everyone for a fancy NYC wedding. When they came in for their trials, we saw that although they have very different styles, they are a perfect match.
Amanda wanted a clean, unfussy look, and then blew us away with her diamond-white structured dress! I just love the collar. Her hair is bobbed past her ears, and Anna, our hairstylist, collected her shorter bob into a chic (but not fussy) updo to match her style.
Ashley likes drama, so I happily dug in with lots of rock and roll liner, some fun Naked Cosmetics loose mineral powder eyeshadow colors, contoured cheeks, and an appropriately strong lash. Her hair? Fauxhawk, of course.
We loved the energy of this wedding, the family connection, and of course, the bright colors. Happy Pride!
Photography: Katie Osgood
Planning: Ashley Chamblin
Venue: Wythe Hotel
Florals: Sprout Home
Makeup: Sharon for #sbbeautyteam
Hair: Anna for #sbbeautyteam