|
Wedding |
|
Regardless of whether you are having a church or civil ceremony, there are several alternatives, open to you, that will make your special day a memorable one, for everyone that attends.
We will now explore the options open to you. Each idea has a link, which will take you off to other areas. This will include visiting some of our other sites. To return to this page, you will have to use the 'back' button on your browser. It may be wise to add this page to your favourites box in your browser.
Your Wedding Car Arrives At
The Church / Venue.
At this point the big day really begins. As you get out of the Wedding Car, you can be joined by a Highland Piper, elegantly dressed in a traditional Scot's uniform. Marching, with the moving sound of the pipes, he will lead you to the area where the ceremony will take place. If required he will also play during the signing of the register, as well as piping the bride & groom out of the ceremonial area. Remember, you don't have to be Scottish, to have a piper. Alternatively, if you are having the ceremony at an historic castle or stately home, Medieval Minstrels would set the seen perfectly.
In The Church / Venue.
Alternatively, you could
have a Harpist,
String Quartet, Vocalist,
Harp &
Flute Duo, Harp & Soprano Duo,
Cello Duo,
Solo Classical / Spanish Guitarist,
Pianist or
Solo
Saxophonist playing in the church/venue as you and your guests arrive,
during the signing of the register and as your guests leave.
These instruments lend an air of sophistication and elegance that cannot
be achieved with traditional organ music.
A solo
vocalist, duo, full choir or Gospel Choir
can be engaged if required. These can be an alternative to the musicians or
together they can compliment each other.
If you are having a Civil Ceremony it is still possible to have a Gospel Choir. The choir have a non religious repertoire which they use for such events.
The Wedding Breakfast.
It is now common practice to entertain your guests throughout the day, including while they are eating. Here family and friends will be wanting to talk whilst enjoying their meal. Any entertainment you supply would need to be background entertainment rather than 'full on'. A light background music can be supplied by Harpist, String Quartet, Vocalist, Harp & Flute Duo, Harp & Soprano Duo, Cello Duo, Solo Classical / Spanish Guitarist, Jazz Band DJ or a Pianist, are just a few examples. Another option would be a 'Close Up Magician' or a Caricaturist. He will visit your guests tables one by one performing his art. This will keep your guests occupied between courses. If you are having a themed wedding in a period / medieval venue, why not engage the services of some Medieval Minstrels. There are many other options, some of which are featured on our home page.
Engaging the services of a
Toastmaster
is a very wise move. His job is to make sure that everything runs smoothly. He
will advise you on etiquette and will usually meet with you before the wedding
day to discuss your requirements. He will ensure that caterers, entertainers
etc. all know what to do and when. If you wish he will announce the arrival of
each guest, introduce the best man etc. for their speeches. Most have a great
sense of humour and are often a good source of entertainment. Employing the
services of a
Toastmaster allows the best man, the brides parents to relax and enjoy the
day. A more detailed list of a
Toastmasters
duties can be seen be clicking one of the
Toastmaster
Links.
As this is a family event there are bound to be young children present. By now
they are starting to get board and fidgety. Their parents are getting angry or
embarrassed at what the 'little darlings' are getting up to. This is the most
common reason for people leaving the celebrations early. There are a couple of
options open to you, to try and avoid this. Engage the services of a Children's
Entertainer. This can be in the form of a Magician, Face Painter, Clown or the
old favourite, a Bouncy Castle.
The Evening Reception.
Most evening receptions will last at least four hours, some as long as six hours. How ever long, it will be the longest part of the day, and the part that will have the greatest impression on your guests, but sadly, often gets the least attention. This is strange, because not only is it the longest part of the day, but there are usually larger numbers of people present at this time.
What type of entertainment do you choose?
First of all you need to establish what you
are trying to achieve and what image you wish to portray. You may want the
evening to go with a bang, with a lively Band and or DJ. Alternatively you may
want to have something a little more refined or a mixture of the two.
A
Mobile Disco is practical and the most cost effective form of entertainment
available to you. The DJ will perform for longer periods of time and play a
wider range of music to suit the ages of your guests. If you have some favourite
tracks or particular styles of music you would like played he will be able to
accommodate you. There are different grades of
Mobile Disco available, but this being a special occasion you should try and
book a
5
STAR DJ or
Mobile
Nightclub. This will ensure you get an experienced, all round professional
DJ and high quality sound and lighting. Our DJ's will play the music you and
your guests want to hear and at a volume that is not offensive.
Beware The Bandits
There are, I'm sad to say, some very unprofessional DJ's around and we
have had numerous reports of those who haven't got a clue of how to entertain
and others who just don't turn up. Insist that your booking is contracted and
try to book through an agent. That way, if the DJ has an accident, has his
equipment stolen or something similar, the agent will usually be able to save
the day with one of his many contacts. Most agents will have a bank of DJ's
which they use regularly and have proven themselves over a period of time.
A good band, whether they play
Jazz,
Soul, Pop, Blues, Rock'n'Roll, Folk,
Ceilidh,
etc. can have an amazing effect on the atmosphere and even the stuffiest of
guests will find it hard not to get up and dance. There are many bands available
to you, each of which will specialise in their own type of music. General
function bands, play a selection of chart hits from the 60's to the 90's
which will appeal to the majority of your guests. Other bands like Jazz, Folk,
etc. are more specialist and appeal to a smaller sector. However, there is a way
to get the best of both worlds. We recommend that if you book a band, that you
also book a
Mobile Disco. There are two main benefits to this. The first and the most
important is that your average band will only play 2 x 45 minute sets or if your
lucky 2 x 1 hour sets. That leaves you without any entertainment for at least 2
hours. If you engage the services of a DJ as well, he will start the evening
off. Initially with background music, followed by the bride and grooms first
dance, then he will gradually build up the atmosphere and introduce the band.
They will then perform their first set. Once they stop for a break the DJ will
keep people dancing until the band are ready to start their second set. If you
do not do this the atmosphere will be lost and it can be very hard for the band
to get the audience back in the mood. It is usually better to end the evening
with the DJ. Depending on when the band finish, the DJ will keep people dancing,
then gradually slow things down. He will also be able to make any announcements
you may want made.
Hiring a band and a Mobile Disco need not 'break the bank'. Some of the better
function bands come complete with their own DJ which is built in to the price.
These are known as 'Band & DJ Packages'.
The above advice is based on our many years experience in the entertainment
industry. Obviously if you have requirements which are not 'run of the mill'
then our entertainers will be flexible and adjust where needed. If you would
like any further advice in organising your entertainment, we would be only too
pleased to help.
Things to watch out for when booking your venue!