Coming up with ideas to get your guests involved in your wedding can cause sleepless nights but we’ve found the perfect solution. How about getting them DJing at your wedding? Yes really.
Stick It On is an entertainment company with a difference. They provide the DJ equipment all you need to do is provide the DJ’s. Wedding guests are actively encouraged to make their way to the decks and do their best Rizzle Kicks or Mark Ronson impression for a 15 minutes slot. No experience necessary. It’s novices all the way and the only mission is to get everyone up on the dance floor.
So if your mates are reliving Pacha but Auntie Joan’s style is more Agadoo than Ministry of Sound you’ll be mixing it up all ways and getting everyone involved. The perfect recipe for a wedding your guests won’t forget.
Today on the blog is home-grown Kent talent, Adam Chandler, who we saw singing in style last weekend.
With his cool Rat Pack style Adam has been a wedding singer in Kent for over 8 years in the county where he was born and raised. Adam says “Weddings here are often the most beautiful as there’s so many picturesque venues and locations that only Kent can offer.”
If you think you’ve seen Adam somewhere before you probably have. He made it through to the last eight in the X-Factor finals with band Futureproof. Adam has also sang with the likes of Westlife, Shayne Ward, The Sugar Babes, Leona Lewis and Tom Jones to name just a few!
Find out more about Adam and details of his prices and wedding packages here.
Today on the blog our fantastic find is an entertainment company with over 15 years experience in the industry. We got to see Discologic in action at a wedding a few weeks ago and watch the packed dance floor enjoying the tunes played on the latest computer controlled sound and lighting equipment.
If you fancy adding something a bit extra on top of brilliant music they can also provide special effects such as Smoke, Dry Ice and Computer Controlled Moving Head & Laser systems, as well as colour theming your venue with unique lighting. There’s also an LED light up dance floor to help create the ultimate “wow” factor!
We spoke to Richard who says “our DJ’s are more than happy to play all your requests which we can take at the time of booking but also love requests on the night to make sure you and your guests get the music you want”.
Discologic have got a brand new website which showcases all their services so take a look now for more info and be ready to get your wedding party started in style!
Hurrah it’s my birthday tomorrow! I’ll be celebrating with a glass (or two) of my favourite tipple, Hendricks with a splash of tonic and a slice of cucumber. But no G&T is complete without plenty of ice so big it up for Especially Cool who take their love of ice to the next level!
Especially Cool offers all things Ice for any occasion, from table pieces and sculptures to full ice bars and even live sculpting shows. We love their sculptured vodka luge that would really give your wedding guests a night to remember!
Based in Maidstone the team work all over the Kent and provide a tailor made, professional ice experience. They’ll be showing you exactly what they can do at Bleak House in Broadstairs this Sunday (14th April) so if you fancy making your wedding Especially Cool (sorry couldn’t resist) go see them.
Today we’re welcoming Urban Soul Orchestra to the Wedding Dolls blog. If you love your music and want to make it a big part of your wedding day then this is the band you’ll need. With a funky, fresh and modern sound they take a contemporary string ensemble and give it a unique twist.
Mixing classic strings with percussion, bass, DJ and vocals, their talented musicians can play anything from chilled background music to floor filling big beats that’ll have your wedding guests up on their feet like a shot. From when the guests arrive to when they leave this band will definitely make a big impression.
The Orchestra have worked for 20 years in the UK music industry with famous names such as Leona Lewis, Take That, Keane and The Script to name just a few.
If you really want to give your wedding the added WOW factor then give them a listen or check out their wedding blog for more info.
Choosing wedding entertainers is never easy but some weddings just lend themselves beautifully to gorgeous and memorable music and that’s exactly what classically trained soprano, Catherine Cundy offers.
A live performer always adds a very special atmosphere to ceremonies and Catherine says “I offer a bespoke music service that is tailored specifically to each couple and their wedding. Whether it is in a church, a hotel, a registry office or another wedding venue I am able to sing at various times from the bride’s entrance through to the signing of the register and the bride and groom’s exit or even as a stand alone solo piece”.
Take a look at the video of Catherine in action.
Although based in Surrey Catherine does cover all of the south-east including Kent and is currently offering our blog readers an amazing 15% off any booking. Click here for more information and pricing.
If you managed to get your tongue around that blog title you’re probably already in need of a stiff drink. So read this, do a taste test and you’ll soon have one less wedding planning option to worry about….or a hangover….
1. Bubbles: If you are serving Champagne make sure it’s a decent one and that everyone gets to see the bottles, otherwise frankly it’s a bit of waste of your hard earned cash. If Moet isn’t an option try an alternative instead. Prosecco can outshine cheap Champagnes and we sourced a fantastic one through James Rogers & Sons Wine Merchants in Wadhurst High Street, which we need no excuse to roll out at every occasion. Just finished a blog post don’t mind if we do…..
2. OOOh lets get fruity: Adding a raspberry or strawberry to a glass of something sparkling really gives it a lift and adds a twist to an old classic or you can try adding a fruit cordial for a bigger punch.
3. Summer classics like Pimms are always on budget which is why it’s such a popular wedding drink. Just don’t water it down with too much lemonade and leave out half the fruit otherwise they look a bit miserable and are flat on the tastebuds. The only thing is though that one is never enough so make sure you double up the servings and have an alternative drink, such as bottled beer, available for guests who ‘don’t do’ Pimms.
4. Water is one of life’s necessities so give your guests a treat and liven it up. Water should always be on hand at any event and in plentiful supply especially on hot days and when guests are standing around for any length of time. Try adding some cucumber ribbons, mint or lemons to jugs of water along with lashings of ice. Sparkling water is also great for guests who don’t drink alcohol. Leave Sparkling water bottles on the water table and include some cordials including Elderflower and Ginger & Lemon or mix them in large glass containers and let guests help themselves.
5. A Signature Cocktail is a perfect way to bring out your wedding personality. Mixology Events in London run cocktail masterclasses where you can learn to create your own cocktails in a fun environment, plus you get to drink what you make. Go with a group of hens and stags and get your wedding cocktail off to a flying start!
6. When picking wine to go with a meal keep it simple. One white wine (either a Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc) and one Red (our choice would be Pinot Noir). At this point it’s well worth checking if your venue charges corkage as this may be the difference between sourcing your own wine or going with their options.
Poppy & Pearl Co
7. Never EVER serve drinks in plastic cups. Even if they’re the ‘posh’ variety. Not only do they feel cheap they also take away from the taste of the drinks and what they are served in make such a difference. Most supermarkets do free glass hire or for a really cheap and DIY alternative collect small jam jars to use as water glasses and add paper drinking straws.
8. Go local: If you’re sourcing your own alcohol try independent wine merchants and local brewery’s first. They are super knowledgable about the best option for you as well as being experts in local produce and will be able to save you the cost and stress of hopping over to France to get a duty free run of rough vino.
Today we’re welcoming to the blog our new sponsors the Rocksters whose dance floor fillers will get your wedding party jumping to the max.
From sounds of the 60′s right through to the present day the band’s 5 strong team will crack out fantastic tune after fantastic tune in their lively style for your wedding guests to dance and go wild too. We spoke to band manager, Dov, who gave us the low down on what you can expect, she says “the band normally plays two, one hour sets which gives you plenty of live entertainment throughout the evening. We are flexible and can fit around your running order of the day but generally we usually start the first set around 8:30pm and space the live sets out to end at 12am.”
If you’ve got any budding singers in your wedding party then Dov says “we’re often asked if it’s ok for a guest appearance on stage, or use of equipment for speeches which is fine with us. We’ll just need a bit of prior notice so we can work this into any set and we know what we might be singing and who with! There’s also no need to book an additional DJ, as the band can play iPod music through the PA during breaks in the live music.”
The band not only cover Kent but also Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Essex and London. Check out their full list of songs and demos here and start planning your evening entertainment that will be the envy of all!
If you’re big into Vintage Weddings and want to make a real statement on your wedding day make like a Royal and organise your own fly-past.
royal wedding flypast @getty
The team over at Kent Spitfire have a Spitfire IXe TA805 based at the historic former RAF Battle of Britain fighter station, Biggin Hill, that can be hired for weddings and events. The fly-past will give your guests a chance to experience the Spitfire’s iconic shape and unmistakeable noise made so famous above the Kent countryside. What a perfect way to bring back all the memories and emotions of the wartime era to add to your wedding day theme.
Team it with a 1940′s singer, roll out the bunting, wave those Union Jacks and be ready to shout “chocs away” vintage lovers!
What we love about weddings in Kent are the masses of fantastic entertainers which can fit in with just about any wedding style you can think of. Choosing your band though can be a daunting and difficult task for any Bride and Groom. But we’ve got a great solution! If you need a night out to chase away those January blues and want to sample Kent’s homegrown talent the following two acts are gigging in and around the county over the next month or two.
The first on our list is The Reyes, a modern 4 piece band covering songs such as Kasabian, Kings of Leon, The Killers, Stereophonics, Foo Fighters and Oasis to name just a few, as well as mastering classic bands like Led Zeppelin, The Kinks, The Beatles and many more.
Vocalist, Huw Whitethread, tells us “the band started up in 2005. We’re four best friends who all have a real passion for music and performing live, which really comes across when we play together – our performances are tight, lively, energetic and fun!”
Their standard fee for a Kent wedding set starts at £1,000 but are currently offering Wedding Dolls readers an exclusive 20% discount if you book them for your wedding before the end of March 2013. Make sure you quote “The Wedding Dolls” when you enquire.
Check out their gig list for dates and venues near you.
Next up is Fred Clark, a young Kent musician who over the last four years has played over 300 gigs and released four self-produced albums.
Fred tells us “I have played a variety of pubs, clubs, theatres, churches, birthday parties, corporate functions and weddings. I have a large repertoire of both original music and covers to suit all tastes, but I’m also more than happy to learn new material for each specific performance.”
Fred’s acoustic style is great for keeping guests relaxed as they arrive, or whilst they have a few drinks after the ceremony, as well as backing music for the wedding breakfast. Check out Fred’s list of gigs in Kent over the coming months.
So as you head out in the name of research there’s a few things to remember! Whether it’s background music to a full on band, don’t forget to think about your wedding style and the type of image and feel you want to create. Do you want a loud rock band to get everyone going in the evening or a singer to start you off with a DJ to carry on the party? Also think about how much space you’ve got in your venue and set up and dismantle times. Work this into your timing schedule and make sure you can do a full band justice or don’t drown out a wedding singer with other types of entertainment going on at the same time.
But most of all enjoy your gig research and have a drink (or two) for us!
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