Top 5 Tips to keep your wedding dance floor rocking.

1: Do let your Dj have some input into your track selection on the night. The experience will shine through and help create a seamless mix linking all your music requests together.

2: Do remember and consider the often forgotten last track and music finale of the evening. An uplifting anthem that everyone knows works best.

3: Do think of your guests when selecting the music. Varity is the key when you have a guest list of all ages.

4: Do remember if you’re booking a band, bands tend to play two sets. A Dj will keep the party going before the band, during the band break and when the band finishes their set.

5: Do consider where possible, having all the DJ equipment set up prior to the wedding breakfast. This will ensure everything is ready to go straight away. The sound system can then also be used for speeches and background music.

The Luxury Wedding Show London 2011

This autumn, London introduces the ultimate in luxury wedding shows, aptly named The Luxury Wedding Show London. The doors open from the 22^nd October 2011 at the prestigious Saatchi Gallery on the King’s Road for a weekend of lavish shopping.  This very exciting and über luxurious inaugural show boasts the finest hand-picked selection of wedding experts, where planning the big day is a luxury in itself.

The Luxury Wedding Show London brings the UK’s most influential names in the wedding industry together for an exclusive two-day event, catering for those bridal parties who are looking for the finest suppliers. Offering everything from accessories and bridal wear to the most stunning venues and honeymoon destinations, visitors can plan the most perfect wedding with minimal work.

Ashley Roberts, The Luxury Wedding Show London Event Director comments,

“Our first Luxury Wedding Show promises to be an extraordinary event. Bringing together the cream of wedding experts from across the UK, the show will be London’s premier bridal showcase with a host of specialists on hand to help create your perfect luxury wedding.”

Brides are invited to take a seat at the premiere catwalk show whilst sipping on a glass of POMMERY champagne and enjoy the latest collections from top bespoke bridal designers including Vera Wang, Monique Lhuillier, Peter Langner, Marchesa, Delpnie Manivet and Carolina Herrera, from Browns Brides and David Fielden.  

The most influential names in the industry will be on hand to give their expert advice and top tips.  Private consultations are available with premier wedding planner Mark Niemierko who opens his ‘studio’ for inspirational advice and top hairstylist Errol Douglas who will be able to help with any hair quandaries and answer any burning questions.  Other exhibitors on hand to give guidance include private concierge company Quintessentially, DJ Matt Maurice, bridal photographer Julia Boggio, floral designers McQueens and Phillippa Craddock and occasionwear designer Claire Thorogood.

Mark Niemierko comments,

 “Demand for premium expertise and advice at the highest end of the bridal market is extremely high. The Luxury Wedding Show London has a compelling proposition for discerning customers and high end service providers alike – It’s fundamentally the difference between business class and economy.

Visitor entry into this exclusive event is priced at £50 and includes:

• Access to over 100 handpicked wedding experts
• A premium goody bag - valued at £30 (please note the content of bags may vary)
• A glass of POMMERY champagne to enjoy during the catwalk show
• Reserved seating at the Catwalk Show
• The Look Book - The Essential Catwalk Programme
• The White Book – the essential guide to the show
• Guests can also visit the Niemierko Studio where personal sessions are available with premier          wedding planner Mark Niemierko to discuss and plan elements of the day.

Exhibitors include: bridal wear, accessories, cakes, caterers, cosmetics, favours, flowers, gift lists, honeymoon destinations, jewellery, lingerie, menswear, music and entertainment.

A Djs guide on music for weddings 2011 Part Two

Part 2. Keeping the dance floor full

With a varying age gap at most weddings, it’s a DJs time acquired talent in reading the mood of the guests and playing the right musical genre and tunes according to it. The funky floor fillers that still hit the spot early on include Steve Wonders “Superstition”, Curtis Mayfield’s “Move On Up” and James Brown’s “I Got You (Feel Good). On the same tip most of the Motown classics tend to keep the older movers and shakers happy and on their feet. Spreading the love factor with a touch of disco ups the tempo with the original “Relight My Fire” from Dan Hartman, Edwin Star’s “Contact” and Candi Staton’s “Young Hearts Run Free” all hitting the spot.

For mainstream dance / pop, think along the lines of Lady Ga Ga, Rihanna and Usher, although I tend not to play too many of these at weddings unless specifically requested for by my Bride and Groom.

If Indie and rock is your thing then the deep guitar bass intro of the White Stripes “Seven Nation Army” works wonders. The Killers “Mr Brightside” still manages to raise hands and if the guests are up for it, Nirvana’s “Teen Spirit” tends to blow the roof off. On a more classic rock tip, choose along the lines with the best of British with the Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Roxy Music and The Clash.

When working with my clients I always take into consideration their age and think about what they would have been dancing to in their late teens / early 20’s along with their background. With undoubtedly the biggest wedding of the year, Prince William and Kate Middleton could choose some club classics including Daft Punk’s “One More Time”, Modjo’s “Lady” and Fatboy Slim’s “Praise You” whilst the DJ shouldn’t be too cool in not keeping their old university chums happy with some School Disco Cheese, these would also go down a storm: Starting with the aptly named Queen “Don’t Stop Me Now” followed by the Beastie Boys (You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party), Backstreet Boys “Everybody”and Five’s “Keep On Movin’.

Often forgotten is how to close the dance floor. This has to be a classic that spans the ages. I play the last song and await the chants of “one more” before dropping an encore. Closing tracks that have recently worked for me include The Beatles “All You Need Is Love”, Madness “It Must Be Love” and Stevie Wonder’s “Signed Sealed Delivered” with encores from the Kings Of Leon “Sex On Fire, Guns & Roses “Sweet Child Of Mine” and The Source Ft Candi Staton “You Got The Love”

As for slow songs, other than the first dance I’d say this is a big big no to these!

Music Trends for 2011 Part One

Another great year of weddings passes us by with some excellent musical moments had once again. As we now look forward to another season of fine music for 2011, let me offer you another insight into what makes the marital dance floor move.

The First Dance

Musically the first dance is the attention grabber with Bruno Mars “Just The Way You Are” being the new track on the block followed by other recent favourites from Coldplay “Fix You” and Michael Buble’s more up-tempo “Everything”. As one would expect it’s the classics that grab a considerable amount of the attention with the timeless Etta James “At Last” still sounding incredible with every play. Frank Sinatra “For Once In My Life, Tony Bennett “The Way You Look Tonight” and Harry Connick Jnr’s “It Had To Be You” also deliver on a similar musical tip. For something a little more alternative take a listen to the 60’s classic from the Turtles “Happy Together”, The Ramones “Baby I Love You”, Goo Goo Dolls “Iris”and the more obscure Peter Grant’s fabulous version of “The First, My Last, My Everything. Soul classics from Al Green “Let’s Stay Together” and Jackie Wilson’s “Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher” are also still popular first dance requests. If cheese is the order of the day then the one and only Andy Williams “Can’t Take My Eyes Of You” is by far I think the best version of this all time party classic. Let’s slow it down again with Joe Cocker’s rendition of “You’re So Beautiful” and Paul Weller’s “You Do Something To Me” and speed things up for my finish with Lionel Ritchie’s “You Are Me Destiny”.

Part 2. Keeping the dance floor full.