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September weddings

Your Hampshire & Dorset Wedding DJ

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I’ve been advertising my services as Your Hampshire & Dorset Wedding DJ in Your Hampshire & Dorset Wedding magazine for a while now. For this latest edition I decided to take a full page advert with was prepared for me by my web and design guy Deon from Deon Design (CLICK HERE to find out more about his services)

Hampshire Wedding DJ

The magazine, as always, is full of interesting adverts and articles across its 132 pages at a cover price of £3.45 – it’s often included in goodie bags at wedding fairs.

I also submitted an article for their section on entertainment on how to find Your Hampshire & Dorset Wedding DJ

Here’s the article I sent in, they changed it a bit for publication in …

Hampshire Wedding MC

This is what I submitted …


Please beware, booking a DJ for your wedding can be a minefield. This person is going to be responsible, for entertaining your friends and family for the final hours of your wedding. The standard available varies dramatically – anyone can call themselves a DJ, so make sure you find a great one.

Like many things to do with a wedding, you will find there are a huge range of fees. There are many reasons for this but please consider this, do you want an amateur or an experienced professional. It’s a good idea to think about what is important to you when allocating your budget.

When to book your DJ is another question you may ask – the answer is possibly dependent again on how important you consider this service. I suggest, the sooner the better – a DJ, like a photographer and many other wedding related services can only be in one place at a time. Book your DJ and it’s one more thing ticked off the list, but don’t rush and use the tips I offer below.

It’s also worth considering that a DJ may be able to help you with much more than the evening party. Some DJ’s now offer an all-day service providing music from the ceremony throughout the day often with a personalised MC (Master of Ceremonies) service. The music the bride enters the wedding ceremony to sets the tone for the whole day.

Here are three pointers to set you on the right path. These criteria can be adopted when looking for all your wedding suppliers …

1. Consider and consult

Have you already seen one you liked?

Speak to friends and family – especially ones who’ve been married recently
Ask other suppliers for their recommendations

2. Research and question

Are they a proper business?
Have they been doing it long?

Do they have required certification – insurance and P.A.T. certificates?
Do they do what you want? (Style of music, type of presentation, etc)
Are they happy for you to contact previous clients?

Is the person you speak to actually going to be your DJ?

What happens in the event of them being unable to DJ for you?

Do they have good advice to help you?

Do they offer a guarantee?

3. Make it personal.

Do you really like them and want them to share in your wedding day?

So, in conclusion, seek the opinions of people you can trust, make sure this person actually can DJ and provide the service you require, and build a relationship with them.

There’s other stuff besides my Your Hampshire & Dorset Wedding DJ article Find out the other reasons you should buy Your Hampshire & Dorset Wedding magazine here

Hampshire Wedding expert

Kris & Amy’s Marvellous Marquee Wedding Reception

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Marquee Wedding MC

I LOVE marquee weddings.

Kris and Amy’s marquee wedding reception was jam-packed full of amazing details and brilliant surprises.  The weather on the day was a little uncertain – in fact the forecast said we would have rain but it stayed dry for us.

Amy and Kris chose Colin and Kate from Entity Photographic as their official photographers and I hope to post some of their fabulous pictures eventually – for now it’s just my dodgy snaps!

IMG_0016

They had a church ceremony and then it was back to the marquee which was on a farmland owned by friends.  Guests were welcomed by the brilliant F.B. Pocket Orchestra playing outside.  I was at a party last November where they played and I was really looking forward to seeing them again – I wasn’t disappointed!  If you are looking for a brilliant live hot-jazz band you really should check them out.

F.B. Pocket Orchestra

Arrival drinks and the bar were run by The Intoxicologist who regularly comes over from their Isle of Wight base to provide refreshments for discerning clients like Amy and Kris.

All around the marquee there were little extras like bags of popcorn (a personal favourite of the newlyweds), troughs of bottled water full of ice to keep them cool, a wheelbarrow full of fleeces for the evening and a spectacular “chandelier” made with jam-jars suspended from a ladder!

Marquee wedding DJ

Their wedding cake was absolutely stunning.   It was made by the brilliant Jill The Cakemaker and consisted of four tiers ~ Salted Caramel, Vanilla & Strawberry Jam, Elderflower & Champagne and a traditional wedding fruit cake.

Jill The Cakemaker

I was delighted to act as Master of Ceremonies and liaise with all of the various suppliers to make sure things ran smoothly.

Amy’s mum had a surprise for everyone with a butterfly release which we slotted in just before we went in for the wedding breakfast.

The canapes and wedding breakfast were by the incredible Chef Gary and the guests sat at beautifully decorated trestel-tables.

More friends and family joined us for the evening and there was plenty to do including a Photo Booth by Giggle Booth

Romsey DJ

Kris and Amy shared their first dance to Kodaline’s “The One” and when they kissed at the end of the song there was a huge confetti canon in the roof covering everyone in white confetti.

Evening food was supplied by Boyces Wood Fired Pizza who were also pizza providers at Kat and Gareth’s wedding – great pizza!

Later Amy did a special guest DJ set to a packed dance floor.

Party DJ set

Probably the biggest surprise we had to keep from Amy was a fantastic firework display provided by Pains Fireworks. Last year Kris gave me some tracks he wanted and I mixed them up into a 5 minute set that was then given to Pains and the display was custom built using that as the soundtrack ~ how cool is that!

Here’s that soundtrack …

There were loads more special touches but my fingers are tired, so below is the video I compiled to finish this post off.

So, if your planning a marquee wedding in Hampshire please call me … I absolutely LOVE them!

 

Happy First Anniversary Emma & Craig

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Emma & Craig

Today is the first anniversary of Emma and Craig’s wedding ~ WOW, where did that year go!

They chose the lovely White Horse Hotel and Brasserie in Romsey for their big day – a venue they love and visit regularly with their family and friends. In fact this week Ce, my wife, and I had a wonderful afternoon tea there courtesy of Emma and Craig.

White Horse

The White Horse is a real gem right in the centre of Romsey, and I would wholeheartedly recommend it not just for brilliant weddings and afternoon teas but even if you’re in town and just want a coffee in a more relaxed atmosphere than the coffee shops its surrounded by. The standards of service and quality of food are exceptional.

For more information about weddings at The White Horse talk to Sarah Bingham their wedding co-ordinator

Here are a couple of “official” photos from the brilliant Mia Hooper which Emma, Craig and Mia have allowed me to use on my website and in my current brochure.

White Horse Ceremony music

I was with them all day starting with their ceremony music. Emma entered to Pachelbel’s “Cannon in D” ~ this is one of my all-time favourite pictures, White horse wedding MC

This picture was taken at the end of the wedding breakfast and I’m going through the answers to the table quiz they compiled – I’m not sure how many guests knew they named the squirrel who frequented their back garden Sally and Craig’s coffee machine Claudia!

White Horse wedding DJ

Their first dance as a married couple was to “A Thousand Years” by Christina Perri.

Happy anniversary Emma and Craig and thank you for your kindness and friendship ~ here’s to love, laughter and happily every after ~ cheers!