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Paul's Autumn Movements

Paul’s Autumn Movements!

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Paul’s Autumn Movements … the mind boggles!

Here’s the plan …

Paul's Autumn MovementsThis Sunday, 16th September Winchester Guildhall Wedding Fayre. This is a free to enter event with a free prize draw to win money saving vouchers including £250 off my services. Doors open at 11am through to 3pm. The postcode for The Winchester Guildhall is SO23 9GH. For more information about weddings at Winchester Guildhall click here.

Sunday 7th October Ampfield Golf Club Wedding Fayre. Again, a free to enter event with a free prize draw to win money saving vouchers including £250 off my services. Doors open at 11am through to 3pm

Both of the wedding fayres are organised by The Hampshire Wedding Group (click here). The HWG is a collection of hand picked expert wedding suppliers based in Hampshire. They offer engaged couples a range of services to cater for every aspect of their wedding day.   The group is compiled by recommendation accepting only the very best, highly experienced expert suppliers.

You can get an extra entry for the prize draw by pre-registering CLICK HERE and then attending the event.

Week commencing Monday 15th October “Creating Your WOW Wedding” evening. Another free to enter event with a free prize draw to win … actually, it’s a secret at the moment. The date and venue will be announced very soon.

Paul's Autumn Movements

That’s Paul’s Autumn Movements. Get those dates in your diary and complete this form to reserve your seats at the “Creating Your WOW Wedding” evening.

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Am I a wedding planner

Fortunately I know some great places ~ The Beaulieu Hotel

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When you work as a wedding supplier and your daughter asks you to recommend a venue for her wedding, the pressure of being the Father of the Bride really clicks up a notch or two. Fortunately I know some great places ~ The Beaulieu Hotel was top of my list.

Amy and Sean needed a venue that satisfied a number of requirements. It had to …

  1. Be big enough (around 100 people for the Ceremony and Wedding Breakfast, with more for the evening party).
  2. Offer great service.
  3. Be suitable for a band as well as a DJ for the party.
  4. Be located fairly close to Southampton.
  5. Have overnight accommodation.

They also wanted a venue where they would feel comfortable and be able to relax. I drew up an initial shortlist of three hotels which we visited together because, as I said before, fortunately I know some great places ~ The Beaulieu Hotel was always top of my list but I didn’t push it. The final decision had to be Amy and Sean’s.

My reasons for recommending The Beaulieu Hotel were based on many visits there to play at weddings over the last few years. The setting is fantastic and the service has always been great and my couples have always been very happy.

Fortunately I know some great places ~ The Beaulieu Hotel

The Weddings and Events Manager, Sophie, was a great help to Amy throughout the booking and planning process and was on hand to coordinate everything for the first part of the wedding day. The afternoon and evening were overseen by the General Manager, Terry, who ran everything with a professional eye and a calm, “nothing was too much trouble” attitude. The whole day ran smoothly throughout and the team at the venue were always helpful and courteous. All special dietary requirements were catered for and I can’t think of anything that I was unhappy or disappointed with.

Many of us stayed overnight after the wedding. The rooms were all excellent, as was the breakfast.

The Beaulieu Hotel was the perfect venue for Amy and Sean’s wedding and I cannot express how grateful I am for the wonderful day they created for us.

To find out more about weddings at The Beaulieu Hotel PLEASE CLICK HERE

The photos here are from those then by our official photographer Antony from LightBox Studios (click here)

If you’d like my opinions on any venues please drop me a line and I’ll be happy to help paul@thepartydj.co.uk

Fortunately I know some great places ~ The Beaulieu Hotel

Don’t Tell The Bride

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Don’t Tell The Bride is back! The series where the Bridegroom must choose every detail of his wedding, from venue to cake to wedding dress is back on a different channel.

OK, I know it’s ridiculous and you’ve got to remember that are making it for TV so it would be really boring if the Bridegroom knew what his Bride would like and gave her exactly that.

E4 is now the home of Don’t Tell The Bride and I believe they have done an 18 episode series! In fact they all seem to be viewable NOW, and not just the new ones – ALL the episodes ever made! So if you want to binge watch you can! CLICK HERE to go to 4 Catch Up

The first episode, this Carl & Rebecca, was screened last week and you can see it on All 4 whenever you want.

Here’s a taste of the new Don’t Tell The Bride

If you do The Twitters you can also go here

Here’s details of how you could take part from their Twitter feed …

Would you trust your partner to plan the biggest day of your life?

Don’t Tell the Bride has eloped to E4 and is looking for couples who want to tie the knot!

Could you plan a surprise wedding with £14,000 in 3 weeks? Or would you trust your partner to plan the biggest day of your life?

TO APPLY, click on this link: https://www.renegadepictures.co.uk/castings.aspx (opens in a new window)

Don’t forget to attach a picture and a quick video of yourselves!

Your application will be received by a member of Renegade Pictures and they will contact you directly if successful. Renegade Pictures will process and hold your personal data in accordance with the Data Protection Act and their privacy policy.

Programmes like this are a great way to get you thinking about ideas that are totally about YOU and what you both want. Sometimes they might inspire you, sometimes they might scare you and sometimes they’ll just make you laugh (or cry!). Just remember that are making it for TV and they don’t let the truth get in the way of a crazy story.

If you’d like help creating a wedding that is unique email me for a link to my “Your WOW Wedding” booklet and look out for my “Creating Your WOW Wedding” evenings coming up this Autumn. Email paul@thepartydj.co.uk

https://www.thepartydj.co.uk/creating-wow-wedding-20th-february/

WOW Wedding Speakers Club

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The WOW Wedding Speakers Club is a brand new service I’m offering.

I’ve been working hard to put together a schedule of dates for my Autumn WOW events in my continuing quest to stamp out boring weddings. These are open to anyone who is interested, not just couples who book me to provide their wedding entertainment.

The WOW Wedding Speakers Club is a brand new course I’ve been developing of four, 90 minute, evening meetings where I help people worried about making a wedding speech. It’s designed to be fun and informative and is open to anyone who has to make a speech. There are only 12 places available and there will be a fee (fully refundable if you are not 100% happy) to cover costs.

The first WOW Wedding Speakers Club series will run this October on Thursday’s 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th. Venue to be confirmed shortly. Spaces and availability are limited so if you are interested, and would like to know more, please let me know.

Also scheduled for Autumn are …
Creating Your WOW Wedding where I explain how to put the principles set out in my  ‘Your WOW Wedding’ booklet into your wedding day. If you haven’t already read the booklet there is a clickable link below.
September ~ either 19th, 20th or 21st.
October ~ either 17th or 18th
November ~ either 22nd or 23rd

Bridegroom’s WOW Workshop
Let me be perfectly honest here, it’s not really a workshop, it’s just a couple of hours in a bar where I tell the guys how they can make the most of the day and make sure their Bride has an amazing time.
November ~ either 6th, 7th, 8th or 9th

Full details of all events will be available nearer the dates but please contact me NOW if you are interested. Email paul@thepartydj.co.uk

Wow Wedding Speakers Club

September weddings

“Creating Your WOW Wedding” Eve ~ Recap

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It’s Creating Your WOW Wedding eve … not a day that’s written into modern legend yet – but you never know!

As promised yesterday, here to mark Creating Your WOW Wedding Eve is a run-down of the countdown and what I’ve covered …

30 ~ Weave CLICK HERE
Weave what you may ask!

29 ~ Others CLICK HERE
Who are they and how can they help?

28 ~ The Why CLICK HERE
The second W in WOW stands for WHY

27 ~ Back To Basics CLICK HERE
Why is your wedding like a movie.

26 ~ Help CLICK HERE
Choosing your team ~ 2 videos to watch

25 ~ Never Too Much CLICK HERE
When is you day full and what’s too much.

24 ~ Your Perfect Venue CLICK HERE
How do you find your perfect venue?

23 ~ More Venue Thoughts CLICK HERE
Does exactly what it says on the tin.

22 ~ Real Weddings CLICK HERE
Real Weddings are a great place for inspiration.

21 ~ Rainy Days CLICK HERE
What if it rains on your wedding day?

20 ~ Numbers CLICK HERE
The budget

19 ~ The After Party CLICK HERE
… and there’s more

18 ~ The Centrepiece CLICK HERE
There’s plenty more joy to be had

17 ~ Charity CLICK HERE
Could you help others through your wedding

16 ~ The Kiss CLICK HERE
Practise, practise, practise

15 ~ How Much CLICK HERE
Why do things seem to cost more for a wedding?

14 ~ Wedding Insurance CLICK HERE
It might sound boring but you need to think about it.

13 ~ Bouquets and Buttonholes CLICK HERE
Great advice from Carole at The Flower Stables

12 ~ Bring Back The Receiving Line CLICK HERE
What is it and why should you have one

11 ~ Read The Small Print CLICK HERE
A couple of fab tips from Jane at Winslowe House ~ Read the small print and look for flexibility.

10 ~ Ushers CLICK HERE
Use them!

9 ~ Ceremony Music CLICK HERE
Setting the tone for everything that follows.

8 ~ How’s It Going To Sound CLICK HERE
Music plays such an important part.

7 ~ Wedding Quiz CLICK HERE
Connect everyone with a great ice-breaker.

6 ~ Photographs CLICK HERE
Sharing your photos will help engage your guests.

5 ~ Friends Requests CLICK HERE
Get everyone involved in creating a great party.

4 ~ Baked With Love CLICK HERE
Bake some treats to use as favours.

3 ~ Evening Photos CLICK HERE
Don’t forget to capture the evening fun.

2 ~ The Red Arrows and Rainbows CLICK HERE
I took a look at other vents and moments to keep an eye on.

1 ~ Grand Finale CLICK HERE
Bringing your perfect day to a planned end

As I look back on Creating Your WOW Wedding Eve, I’m amazed out how much I’ve shared – it’s like I’m some kind of wedding expert. 😉

Once tomorrow is done I promise I’ll calm down – so please forgive me wittering on, but I’m so excited …
… after all it is flipping’ Creating Your WOW Wedding Eve! If you haven’t reserved your places email me NOW paul@thepartydj.co.uk

Why I Enter Wedding Awards Competitions!

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Why I enter Wedding Awards competitions … Well, for the last few years I’ve entered the National Wedding Industry Awards (WIA’s) and this year I’ve also entered the first Hampshire Wedding Supplier Awards and I know some people will wonder why.

I don’t believe I am the best wedding DJ in the World, or Great Britain, The South Of England, Hampshire or The New Forest. In fact for a while a few years back I may not even have been the best DJ in my house while Joe, my son, was learning the skills! I do, however, want to be the best DJ I possibly can be at every event I’m booked to play at.

Even with the depth of experience and knowledge that I have I continue to study, train and practice so that I can improve and move forwards. I wrote a post a while ago about personal development and training CLICK HERE. Entering these competitions means I have to review my work and I get genuine feedback from my previous couples.

Each award I’ve entered has been a genuine process where I believe the competition is fair. Obviously “you have to be in it to win it” and it may be possible to cheat, but what’s the point!

Once you’ve been nominated in The Wedding Industry Awards (WIA’s) you pay an entrance fee to register for the competition. Then you are asked to contact your clients and ask them to score you on various criteria and write a little about their wedding and your service. You start in a regional group, mine being South East (including London), and then the Regional finalists go through to the National Finals. I’ve been a Regional finalist for the last two years, in 2015 with Alan and Gary in The Party Hosts and last year in my own right. I’ve entered again this year and I’ll know in the next month if I’m going through to the National Finals.

This year the organisers of The Dorset Wedding Supplier Awards have started The Hampshire Wedding Supplier Awards. In this one I had to get testimonials from two couples and another supplier and I have blogged about that previously … click on the names to see the posts…
Hannah and Dan’s Beaulieuful Wedding
Gemma & Brian’s Wedding DJ Testimonial
Antony on me! A testimonial from a professional colleague
I also wrote another blog with full details of how the competition process worked in the Hampshire Wedding Supplier Awards ~ CLICK HERE

As I have been chosen as a Hampshire Wedding Supplier Awards Finalist in the ‘Musical Entertainment DJ’ category, I’ve also been entered into ‘Overall High Score’, ‘People’s Choice’, ‘Peer’s Choice’ and ‘Contribution to the Wedding Industry’ awards. The ‘People’s Choice’ award is one where you are supposed to ask your clients, friends and family to vote – which, to my mind, is just a ‘who knows the most people’ competition so I’ve decided not to promote myself in that category.

There’s one more BIG reason why I enter Wedding Awards competitions, I want future Brides and Bridegrooms, as well as everybody in the wedding industry, to know that there are DJ’s who offer more than just music.

So, that’s why I enter wedding awards competitions ~ wish me luck!

why-i-enter-wedding-awards-competitions

https://www.thepartydj.co.uk/creating-wow-wedding-20th-february/

Your Grand Entrance

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Your Grand Entrance

What is “Your Grand Entrance” and what will yours look like?

My ABC/123 video series where I try and give simple advice to help you plan a great celebration of your love has returned!  

In the series I’ve been working through a typical wedding timeline sharing my thoughts and episode 17 is about what I call “Your Grand Entrance.

As I say, this is still just the beginning, I’ve been working on various different options and ideas to help create amazing Grand Entrances … maybe I’ll post some more ideas soon.

The next video in this series is on Extended Grand Entrances and that should be live next week around the same time. You should be able to find 1 to 16 here and on my YouTube page.

Wedding DJ Southampton

Happy March Everybody!

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Great Hampshire weddings

February was quite a month with lots of Wedding Fairs, meetings, and my first WOW Wedding event. I haven’t posted as often as I’d have liked but hopefully that will change in March.

My campaign to stamp out boring weddings continues and I’m delighted to announce that following on from that first WOW event I’m in the process of scheduling three more this year and I’m also bringing back the Bridegroom’s Workshop full of great advice to help really make sure they make the most of their wedding day. I’ll be announcing the dates for the next events later this week so stay tuned!

Hampshire Wedding DJ