Vendor Spotlight: Black Tie DJ Services

Before The Cabin at Old Spur was a venue, it was farmland with rolling acres of soybeans and corn. David Whatley walked that ground before anything was built on it, and he has been part of many of the weddings here since. He is a retired South Carolina State Trooper, a National Guard veteran who deployed to Iraq, and today an investigator for the Parham Law Firm. He is also one of our preferred wedding DJs, and after more than 300 weddings across the region, he brings a steady, practiced hand to every reception.

From a Front Porch to the DJ Booth

David did not set out to be a wedding DJ. Music was the dream long before it was the job.
Wedding DJ David Whatley under the pavilion at The Cabin at Old Spur

David Whatley of Black Tie DJ Services under our pavilion

“Music has always been a passion of mine. Long before Black Tie DJ Services existed, it was a dream of mine to perform live and be in a band. The business actually began as an acoustic duo playing 1980s music in local bars. One day, someone asked if I could provide music for their wedding. I took the equipment I already owned, loaded up iTunes, and did the best I could. Looking back, I struggled through that first wedding, but it sparked a passion that would change my life.”

That first rough wedding turned into a calling. In 2018 he committed to it fully, buying all new professional equipment and rebuilding the business around doing one thing well. Along the way the work took him some unexpected places. He has entertained members of the Duck Dynasty family, built lighting for Coach Dabo Swinney’s Prowl & Growl event, and opened for the Spin Doctors.

None of it replaced the careers that came first. David spent 29 years as a state trooper and 21 in the National Guard, including a combat deployment to Iraq. He credits those years for the way he runs a wedding.

“Those experiences taught me discipline, professionalism, and the importance of serving others. I bring those same values to every wedding I do. At the end of the day, I simply love people, and there is nothing more rewarding than being part of one of the happiest and most meaningful days in a couple’s life.”

He Watched This Venue Get Built

Most vendors meet a venue after it opens. David met this one before it existed.

“One of my favorite things about working at The Cabin is seeing how far it has come. I still remember walking the empty field where the venue now stands, before anything had been built. I was fortunate enough to be there from the very beginning, and it has been incredible to watch the vision become one of the premier wedding venues in our area.

“From the start, Bryon and the team were always open to ideas and suggestions, and it was obvious that the goal was to create something truly special. Over the years, I have watched The Cabin continue to evolve and improve, and it has been an honor to be a small part of that journey.”

Wedding DJ David Whatley with a couple under the pavilion at The Cabin at Old Spur

David Whatley, left, with a couple at our pavilion

No Two Weddings the Same

Ask David what makes a reception work, and he will tell you it is not a playlist.

“I believe every wedding should be as unique as the couple getting married. I do not rely on a standard playlist or use a cookie-cutter approach. Instead, I work closely with each bride and groom to bring their vision to life and create a celebration that reflects who they are.”

After 300-plus weddings, he has learned what fills a dance floor and what empties one, and he shares that with his couples so they can spend their reception the way they want to. Most of his planning happens directly with the bride, though not the way you might expect.

“When it comes to music, I ask the bride to give me examples of the music she loves. That does not make my job easier. It helps me understand the couple’s personality, musical taste, and comfort level. Every crowd is different, and I know how to read the room. As the evening progresses, we can gradually increase the energy, sometimes after making sure Grandma has made her exit! At the end of the night, I want guests to leave saying, ‘That was so them.’”

Bride and wedding guests raising LED foam sticks on the dance floor at The Cabin at Old Spur

Photo by Black Tie DJ Services

Built for a Property Like This One

Knowing the property from the ground up shows in how David works it. He runs two separate sound systems, one for the ceremony and one for the reception, so there is no teardown or gap between them. His ceremony rig is battery powered, which means clean sound anywhere on the grounds with no extension cords running through your photos. And his uplighting, custom gobos, and cold spark machines are behind some of the most striking reception images ever taken here.
David Whatley beside his DJ booth and lighting tree under the pavilion at The Cabin at Old Spur

Photo by Black Tie DJ Services

Custom monogram gobo projected on the floor beside a lit DJ booth facade at The Cabin at Old Spur

Photo by Black Tie DJ Services

The photo at the top of this post is from Austin and Janna Mizell’s wedding in April 2024, and it is one of David’s favorites too. Here is the full frame, spark columns and all.

Bride and groom dip and kiss between cold spark fountains at The Cabin at Old Spur

Photo by Life’s Treasures Photography

“During their reception, I was showcasing my cold spark machines, and they shared a beautiful dip-and-kiss that created one of those perfect moments in time. The photograph from that moment is still one of my all-time favorites because it perfectly captures not only the romance between them but also how our special effects can enhance a wedding without taking away from the couple. We still keep in touch today, and it has been wonderful watching their journey together.”

Bride and groom kiss between cold spark machines during a first dance at The Cabin at Old Spur

Photo by Life’s Treasures Photography

How to Book Black Tie DJ Services

David offers everything from a simple, elegant reception setup to a fully customized experience with uplighting, custom gobos, cold sparks, and dry ice cloud effects. As a retired state trooper, he is proud to offer discounts to first responders, military members, and medical professionals.

Facebook: facebook.com/Blacktiedjservices

Phone: (843) 610-9757

Email: BlackTieDJServicesLLC@gmail.com

Wedding guests dancing with LED foam sticks at The Cabin at Old Spur