Setting the standard...
Friday, 31 July 2009

One thing that every couple tells us is that they don't want a 'standard wedding.' Which is lucky really as it's clear that there's no such thing!

Everybody has a differing opinion of their perfect wedding and sometimes even the bride and groom don't agree! It was not easy keeping everyone happy at a recent reception when half the guests wanted trance music and the bride and her maids insisted on Take That and Girls Aloud. Still, with a bit of compromise, blows were avoided and the dancefloor stayed full. It's our job to mix your requests with other great tunes and ensure everyone has a good time, not always a simple task!

Living TV have a new show called Four Weddings which has been described as Come Dine With Me featuring weddings instead of dinner parties. It features a similar sarcastic voice over and has brides rating their competitors' weddings in an attempt to win a honeymoon. Every week features four weddings (hence the title) and they couldn't be more different. From a fairy inspired civil ceremony to a Greek Orthodox service, it certainly reflects the sheer number of options that couples have for their perfect big day. Some choose intimate dinners with no music whereas others hire troops of pipers or Irish dancers to keep their guests (and the TV audience) amused.

If you manage to catch it, it may just inspire you to book one of the venues featured or even wear a similar outfit. After all, your big day is about you and what you enjoy. A word of warning though, not everyone's tastes will match yours exactly. If you request a night of unbridled rock for your wedding disco, it may well lead to the DJ receiving death stares from older relatives who aren't big fans of Pendulum or Metallica!

It would create a far better atmosphere if you arranged a rock section (perhaps later in the evening) and gave the DJ a bit of freedom to play other genres. By all means create a Do Not Play list (some suggestions from me would be the Cha Cha Slide and Barbie Girl) so you don't have to suffer anything you hate, but a good DJ will guage the reaction to the music and play songs suitable for everyone. That way, every guest will have a great night and hopefully remember your big day as fondly as you will.

So, for a successful disco there are a few things that you should definitely do:

1) Create a playlist and get it to your DJ before the wedding
2) List your favourite genres as well as individual tracks
3) Pick a first and last dance, so you can end on a high
4) Give the DJ (a little) freedom to use his skill and entertain the audience

We can now download requests during the gig, if someone asks for a track that we don't have. This service relies on a phone signal, so if you're getting married in a basement room (or cellar, or cave or in the middle of nowhere) it's even more important to get the list over to us in advance. We can then arrive with everything you want to hear.

The evening reception is a major part of the day, so it pays to give it plenty of thought. Just don't forget to choose a professional entertainer (instead of a cousin or an ipod!) and rely on their experience.

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posted by James McCann @ 20:40, ,


Getting Wed? Think space!
Thursday, 30 July 2009

Believe it or not, the British summer is here! Even if the weather hasn't given you any clues, you will have noticed the abundance of wedding cars pootling around on Friday and Satuday afternoons. Ribbon sales have gone through the roof and at Get Wed, we are spending every weekend entertaining audiences across the North of England. And the Midlands. And down South. Actually, we're pretty much everywhere really!

For those of you who may be planning a wedding, I thought I'd pass on something that struck me at a couple of recent wedding receptions. So please keep reading, as I do have an important point (promise!)

We're often asked to provide the whole evening of reception entertainment, including live music and disco, but occasionally we are booked to work with a band. This has happened several times over the last few weeks and one thing has become abundantly clear:

BANDS NEED SPACE

It may sound obvious, but even after ten years in the entertainment industry, I was shocked at just how much cabling and equipment a five piece outfit required. I had a prime view as the only place for my DJ table was wedged in behind the keyboard player. From there, my view of the audience was obsucred by a skyline of mic stands, monitors, amps, speakers, bass bins, instruments and music stands with lyrics on. By the way, if you sing for a living, I strongly believe you should know your lyrics without needing them written down (best not get me started on this, we'll save that discussion for another day!)

Surprisingly, power sockets weren't a problem. I ran my sound equipment and lightshow from just one, and they happily powered their gear with the other seven (though I suspect one was being used to charge a mobile phone!)

We weren't working in a particularly large room and several tables had to be shifted to give the guys enough space. By the time they were set, they took up exactly half the room! Subsequently, dancing space was limited and numerous people went without chairs. Luckily there was a side room available for those without a seat but it did mean splitting guests up on a day that's supposed to bring people together.

Live entertainment is a brilliant way to ensure you and your guests have a fantastic time. The right performers can interact with the audience, fill the dancefloor and really make your wedding reception swing. They can play your favourite songs and charm your mother-in-law with a couple of oldies. There are other things to consider though. Boring and mundane things perhaps, but it's still vitally important that you get answers to these questions:

Will they physically fit into the venue, leaving room to dance and socialise?
How many power sockets do they require?
Will they be set and sound-checked before your guests are due to arrive?
HOW LOUD WILL THEY BE?

To find out all these answers, you should insist on meeting them in your reception space, ideally with a representative from the venue. Only then can you establish exactly what you want and ascertain whether they can provide it. Prepare a list of questions beforehand and probe until you're happy with all the answers.

You shouldn't have to compromise on your wedding day, especially when it comes to entertainment. The number of performers and acts out there means that you'll eventually find someone to provide your perfect entertainment in the space you have available. Just don't leave it too late, we're already taking bookings into 2011!

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posted by James McCann @ 15:34, ,


Read our Get Wed Blog...
Monday, 27 July 2009

The place to find more information about Get Wed and those behind it. Visit regularly for a host of wedding related treats...

posted by James McCann @ 21:25, ,