Posts

real weddings

More Venue Thoughts ~ WOW Countdown ~ Day 8

“More Venue Thoughts” continues on from yesterdays post about “Your Perfect Venue”

more venue thoughts

In the last post I spoke about approaching finding a venue with a clear focus on what you actually need (CLICK HERE). So here are a few more venue thoughts …

If you are struggling to pick from a short-list, visit the venues again – especially if they are a hotel or restaurant – go in as a “regular customer”, have a drink in the bar or maybe a meal or afternoon tea, see how they treat you when they don’t necessarily know you are a potential wedding client. In fact, one you’ve decided on your venue, I recommend becoming a regular visitor and letting the staff who serve you know how much you are looking forward to getting married there – don’t over do it, don’t always appear like you are looking for special treatment, just build a relationship.

That goes for other venues you might be booking too – for example if you are having your wedding at a private venue stay in touch on a regular basis – ask for their advice and help whenever you need it (without being a pain in bum).

This approach goes for everything to do with your wedding – don’t just book things and then leave it for months and months, build real relationships with all your suppliers, even if it’s just following them on FaceBook and liking their posts from time to time. These people will do their best for you especially if they feel connected and valued – just like the family and friends you get involved in helping.

That’s Day 8 of my “WOW Wedding Countdown” where I’m trying to share some of my expertise with couples planning their big day. The point is to prove that attending my “Creating Your WOW Wedding” evening at Ampfield Golf Club on Tuesday 15th November is a wise investment of your time and money. The doors open at 7pm for a 7:30 start and evening should be done by 9:30pm, 10 at latest. It’s £10 per couple and that includes two people and any parents or other people who are part of their wedding plannin, that £10 goes straight to The Countess Mountbatten Hospice. The admission fee is guaranteed with a FULL money-back promise – if you stay to the end and feel the evening wasn’t great value for money I’ll refund you in full from my own pocket – the charity will still get your £10.

real weddings

WOW Wedding Countdown ~ 30 Days To Go!

So, I hear you ask, “what is the WOW Wedding Countdown”?

wow-wedding-countdown-30

Well in 30 days time, on 15th November, I’m hosting my Autumn “Creating Your WOW Wedding” event at Ampfield Golf & Country Club, and to give you a flavour of how attending might benefit you I’m going to do a WOW Wedding Countdown with a new tip every day.

To start the WOW Wedding Countdown off here’s the first W of the (slightly dodgy) WOW acronym …

WOW Wedding Countdown ~ 30
W = WEAVE your two personalities into your wedding day.
Fill the day with your favourite things.
Create a day that shows everybody who you are and what it means to you to share it with them.

The best way to wow your guests and get them engaged at your wedding is to give them an emotional experience of a wedding that is totally YOU! The secret to having a wedding that really feels like “you” is by weaving your personality into your wedding day as much as possible.

Just think about the interests and hobbies of both yourself and your fiancé in order to find the inspiration for dozens of ways to make your wedding totally unique. The music you love can provide a soundtrack throughout the whole day.

I’m going to explain how to incorporate your WOW factors throughout your wedding at my “Creating Your WOW Wedding” evening, if you liked to know more about the event PLEASE CLICK HERE, or email paul@thepartydj.co.uk

save-the-date

If you have any questions or would like to book a FREE consultation to talk about your wedding entertainment please get in touch – just follow the links. I’d really appreciate your support in sharing these posts and telling your friends about the event – thanks.

See you tomorrow for another tip in the WOW Wedding Countdown!

Le Chanteclerc Wedding Fayre

Lainston House Wedding DJ

If you are looking for a Lainston House Wedding DJ this event on Sunday is well worth attending 😉 …
because I’ll be there!

lainston-house-wedding-dj

Lainston House is, without a doubt, one of the top hotels in Hampshire. Located near Sparsholt and set in over 60 acres of beautiful Hampshire countryside, this is one of just a few 5 star hotels in the area. This really is a venue for couples who want the best.

Sundays wedding fair with PMN gives couples a great opportunity to take a good look around and also meet some great suppliers including yours truly. I was there for the spring wedding fair as were many of my favourite supplier friends and I was very impressed with what I saw. Always remember when attending wedding fairs that the various exhibitors are there to share their knowledge, so spending time talking to all of them is worthwhile – you never know what you may find out.

You may not have a 5 star venue budget but this is a great opportunity to see what it would be like and it may not be as expensive as you think!

I haven’t been a wedding DJ at Lainston House since my return in 2010 but I have DJ’d there in the past. I’d really like to play there again soon so hopefully Sunday will help me find a couple who want a WOW Lainston House Wedding DJ.

For more information about weddings at Lainston House CLICK HEREwedding-dj-lainston-house

Lainston House Wedding DJ

Le Chanteclerc Wedding Fayre

Wedding Fair Preparations

Happy Monday ~ it a new week and I’m very busy with Wedding Fair preparations.

If you are planning to a wedding and looking for fresh ideas and inspiration, wedding fairs are a great pace to start. What I like most about wedding fairs from a couples point of view is that you’ll get to meet real wedding experts.

However, be aware that …
1) not every supplier is an expert (even if they are exhibiting at a wedding fair).
2) find out if the person you are speaking to is actually the person who will be working for you
3) you don’t have to book everything you see

I made a video that may help you find the right suppliers for your wedding.

If you find this video useful there are plenty more available on my YouTube page.

On Sunday 9th October 2016 there are two excellent events you should consider attending. The first is the Hampshire Wedding Group Wedding Fayre at Ampfield Golf & Country Club near Romsey, Hampshire, SO51 9BQ. between 11am and 3pm. I am one of the founding members of this group and meet with the suppliers once a month – these are good people I can personally vouch for and recommend. Ce, my wife, will be representing The Party DJ at this event so make sure you say hello to her and all the exhibitors who really do know a thing or two about weddings.

At this event The Hampshire Wedding Group will be giving away over £3,000 worth of vouchers to spend with our expert suppliers. You can pre-register for the prize draw CLICK HERE.
Parking and entry is free but please consider donating a small amount to the charity we are supporting ~ The Countess Mountbatten Hospice, so they can continue their fine local work.

hwg-double

Also on Sunday 9th October there is the final Rhinefield House wedding fair. This is another event we always try and attend – it’s a fabulous venue and this event attracts many of the areas top suppliers. So, while Ce is at Ampfield, I’ll be talking to couples at Rhinefield House. Join us on the 9th October in association with Stylish Events for our wedding fayre in the New Forest, entry includes a bridal bag and show guide and you can win holiday vouchers worth £1000 – see the Stylish Events website for more information CLICK HERE.

c9751964-5e15-411f-b14f-9574b605ac89

If YOU attend both events and say hello to Ce and I we’ll even give you a bottle of Prosecco (well I’ll pop it around to you the following week).

Finally, don’t forget my WOW wedding event on Tuesday 15th November – for more details CLICK HERE.

So that’s it for now, tomorrow I’ll be back with another testimonial but today it’s back to those Wedding Fair preparations!

Episode 13 ~ Wedding Ceremony Music

Winslowe House DJ

“If Music Be The Food Of Love, Play on” ~ this episode takes it’s inspiration from that line in Shakespeare’s 12th Night.

Your wedding ceremony is the reason for everything and sets the tone for the whole celebration, so getting it right and making it really special should be a priority. It’s a great chance to stamp your identities on the day and show your family and friends that this is going to be the best wedding they’ve ever attended.

You’ll be looking for music to be played or performed …
… As your guests enter the ceremony space and are directed by your ushers to their seats
… for the Bridal party entrance – this is known as the processional
… during the signing of the register and subsequent photos
… and finally for your walk back down the aisle as husband and wife – this is known as the recessional.

For a civil ceremony you can can choose any music you want as long as it doesn’t have religious connotations. So if you want something crazy, you can. My only recommendation would be that you pick things you’ll be happy with in 20 or 30 years time when you look back on this most special of days.

Most venues will have some kind of music play-out system in place – but think about it – will what’s on offer really be able to captivate and enthrall your guests. The in-house system is often an iPod dock or a ghetto blaster,
… who is putting the music together for you?
… who is going to push the buttons for you?
… will it have enough oomph to create that special goosebumps moment?

I can help you with your musical choices and make special edits of tracks to make sure the right part of the song is playing at the right time – especially for the processional and recessional to enhance the moment. And I can supply a discrete, professional audio system

So, think carefully about what your going to choose and how to make sure those precious moments sound as good as they look and “If Music Be The Food Of Love, Play on”

Here’s the previous episode in the series

It’s Here!

New Website

There may be a few glitches to sort out (my fault) but I’m so pleased with my amazing new website. www.thepartydj.co.uk

A HUGE THANK YOU to the amazing Deon Design ~ what a guy!

Looking back with Meghann and Chris

This is the latest in the “Looking Back” series of videos and this time it’s back to March 2013 for Meghann and Chris’ wedding at Winchester Guildhall.

They had their ceremony, wedding breakfast and evening party in the King Charles Hall with drinks in the Wintonian Room and photos and a balloon release in the gardens next door.

You can see my original post about their wedding here, and here’s a video I cobbled together for Meghann and Chris at the time