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It’s still happening …

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I had a phone call last Saturday lunchtime from someone needing a DJ for a wedding the same evening.  It appears the call was from an agent who had taken the booking at a very respectable local venue.

I’m not sure what the clients were paying for the disco but I was told by the agent “there’s only £180 in it”.  The call came in while I was on my way to drop Joe, our son, back at Uni in Loughborough and our day was planned out already. I declined the booking but did text the caller back an hour later to make sure the booking was covered – it was, thank goodness.  

So why do I feel the need to share this here …

As I indicated I don’t know the full story – how much the couple were actually paying, why the original DJ wasn’t available, or how much was being taken by the agent as their fee. I just think it’s sad this happens so often and that couples don’t seek out entertainers who they can trust to deliver on their wedding day.  I’ve never let a client down and, in the event of a major personal disaster and I can’t make a booking I have a long list of colleagues I can call on to step in and take over.  This isn’t necessarily about how much a DJ charges, it’s about how much you can trust your DJ.

 

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Cago Cottage

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Cago 1

A few months ago I had the pleasure of meeting Sam from Cago Cottage in Sway, Marie from Isabella Weddings introduced us at the Finest Marquee Hire open day. Since then I’ve visited the Cottage a few times and it really is a lovely place ~ and it’s available for wedding bookings with a really unique twist.

Cago Cottage is a beautiful 300 year old thatched cottage near Sway in the heart of the New Forest with 4 double bedrooms and is set in 2 acres of land. Basically this can become a blank canvas for you to create a truly unique, bespoke wedding day. Here’s the entry for Cago on the Hitched wedding site

A 300 year old cob wall thatched cottage with light oak exposed beams everywhere. Situated right next to the New forest, a beautiful old place (with full mod cons) which provides so much peace but at the same time offers so much fun for all to have – with the many sporting facilities in the vast grounds. Have the wedding day you truly wish for in a unique venue that is all yours, not just for the day but for the whole week of your wedding.

The cottage is without close neighbours so evening party music is not a problem. There is ample space for large marquees with up to 150 guests for a sit down meal, with lots of other facilities to have fun including boule / floodlit tennis / 5-a-side football pitch / snooker room and a massive tree house for kids to explore…! The cottage has 4 double bedrooms with 3 bathrooms, a large kitchen with a huge pine table that can sit 10/12 people. One bedroom and large family bathroom is downstairs (useful for an elderly couple…). Large BBQ outside with a huge outdoor dining table so you can enjoy the outdoor life as well. Plenty of parking for all cars in the adjoining field.

For more information about Cago Cottage call
Sam on 07791 657 309
Marie on 2380 424277 or 07973 423250
or talk to me on 07973 617153

Cago 2

Woodlands Lodge Hotel

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Woodlands Lodge

Here’s another one of my reviews that I’ve posted recently on the For Better For Worse website’s venue pages …

Situated a few miles out of Southampton, just off the A35 and easily reached from the M27, The Woodlands Lodge Hotel is brilliantly located for couples who want a New Forest Wedding.

I’m a DJ and Master of Ceremonies/Wedding Host, so I get to visit dozens of venues across the region and gain a unique behind-the-scenes insight and The Woodlands Lodge is among the most friendly hotels I’ve visited. Imogene and her team have created a really welcoming atmosphere that only a privately owned/run hotel could hope to achieve.

The venue has two rooms licensed for civil ceremonies and offer various options to accommodate different couples’ requirements for their wedding breakfast and evening reception.

If you are looking for a venue where you’ll feel at home, valued and relaxed I suggest you drop in for a chat with Imogene.

Woodlands Lodge Wedding Disco

Here’s a couple of pictures from a year ago today (10th December 2011) of my last wedding at The Woodlands Lodge for Matt & Kirsten’s Wedding.

Woodlands Lodge Wedding DJ

For more information about weddings at The Woodlands Lodge CLICK HERE.

You can download their current Wedding Brochure HERE Or you could just pick up the phone and give Imogene a call on 023 8029 2257.

Woodlands Lodge Wedding Brochure

Steph & Danny’s Wedding Party

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New Forest Wedding DJ

Here’s a very quick video from last Saturday’s wedding party for Steph and Danny at the New Forest Lodge Hotel in Lyndhurst. Their whole day was full of fun with casino tables after their wedding breakfast and then a photo-booth and me for their evening party. It was really a fun day for a lovely couple with lots of very special moments.

A Taste Of Glastonbury?

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Last night’s party was really great fun! The event was the Autumn party for The Buttercup Ball charity and was staged in a marquee supplied by Michelle and Mark from Finest Marquee Hire. Earlier during the day they staged a very successful open day and I met some great new suppliers, plenty of old friends and lots of lovely couples and people looking at staging marquee parties – more about all that later.

For anyone reading this in the future, I should point out that the weather yesterday was terrible, in fact the weather has been grim all week. Inside the marquee we were totally oblivious to what was happening outside, we were warm and safe and getting towards 200 braved the conditions determined to support the charities and have a party.

I was there to support local band Shuffle Alley who played two 45 minute sets of rockin’ covers with a couple of their own songs. Again more about the band later, but for now I’ll just say Jack, Chris, Justin and John are well worth checking out.


I played a mix of styles across the evening, but my final set after the band had finished was a hands-in-the-air mix of anthems from the 90’s to date.

So I got to play with a rock band in a very muddy field. Not quite Glastonbury, but the muddy walk from the marquee to the car park was fun in the early hours of this morning.

Something Borrowed Magazine

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I’m very excited to be working with Sam and Eleanor from Something Borrowed magazine which has just launched in Hampshire.

If you click on the image below you should get a larger version open up on your display.

If you’d like a copy of the magazine please email me at paul@thepartydj.co.uk with your postal address and I’ll send one to you.

Have You Thought About A Marquee Wedding?

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Marquee weddings can be the perfect solution to the reception venue question. You can have any size you want and the range of options and looks available is enormous. I have two very good contacts and one of them is holding an open day this coming Saturday.

I’ll be there all day so why not drop in and have a look. Michelle and Mark will be also be available to answer all your questions about their marquees, you can find out more about their company at www.finestmarqueehire.co.uk

There is also a charity event in one of the marquees the same evening. I’ll post more about this soon.

The Hampshire Wedding Show ~ Sunday 28th October

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My next Wedding fair is just a week away …

The Hampshire Wedding Show October 2012 from Creative Films on Vimeo.

Sunday 28th October
Southampton University
Free Admission
For more information CLICK HERE

See you there!

Sammy & Sam’s Wonderful White Horse Reception

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Sammy and Sam got married in Winchester Guildhall, just across the road from the bus station where Sam first set eyes on the girl of his dreams ~ there’s more to that story, but it’s not for me to share 😉

For their reception they chose The White Horse Hotel in the centre of Romsey, and what a great choice – a fabulous setting with great service and attention to detail. The White Horse has been a coaching Inn for over 600 years – for more information CLICK HERE

The wedding party arrived to brilliant sunshine and a drinks reception in the courtyard and the smiles never stopped.

Here’s a quick video I’ve put together from my snaps on the day – please remember I’m not a photographer or a videographer, this is just for fun.

Check out some fabulous photo’s by Sammy and Sam’s photographer – the brilliant Glen Jevon ~ see some proper pictures from Glen HERE.
Find out more about Glen HERE

and one more dodgy snap from me of the lovely Sammy and Sam.