Your Kent Wedding - Jul/Aug 2019 (Issue 85)

CHRIS HARDING MAGICIAN What can you bring to a wedding day? For me, there’s so much more to the job than just turning up and doing a few tricks. It’s all about how you interact with the guests and how you can use the magic and entertainment to eliminate those awkward moments and bring everyone together. What inspired you to become a magician?  The magic bug bit me as a child, and I’ve been fascinated ever since. There’s just something so appealing about how it can break down barriers. People and their varying perceptions of the world also fascinate me. The way magic can appear to alter the way we see things, even if just for a moment or two, is incredibly interesting. What’s your proudest achievement?  The very fact that I do what I love for a living makes me prouder than any of the awards and accolades I’ve been lucky enough to receive. Really it’s all about what you do for each couple on their big day that matters. Coming away having made an impact and receiving amazing feedback makes me most proud to do what I do. Find out more at: chrishardingmagic.com | 07745 179 524 @chris.hardingmagician @chrishardingmagician THE REDFORDS, MATTHEW AND GEORGE CROZER Tell us about The Redfords We’re a live, family-run band consisting of guitar, bass and drums, with male and female lead vocals. Having been asked to play at the weddings of various relatives, we eventually decided to work on making the band available to couples outside of the family. Ten years later, we’ve gone from strength to strength and love extending our Redfords family to include countless happy couples. We can cater for all musical needs from the ceremony to the reception and everything in between. What’s your style?  Our music will speak to every generation in attendance. Something we’re most proud of is our ability to read a crowd and adapt to their musical taste. We play a mixture of all genres and go with what keeps the energy high and the audience dancing. We add songs to our set nearly every week, which keeps the band current and means that we’re always upping the ante in terms of our repertoire.  What does a typical week look like for you?  Thursday at the East Quay Venue, Friday at Winters Barns, Saturday daytime at Cooling Castle Barn, Saturday evening at The Plough at Leigh and Sunday at Leeds Castle – a busy week! Find out more at: theredfords.com | 07711 432598 @theredfords | /the-redfords JUST TWO FLUTE AND HARP DUO, GRAHAM WEST AND KYLIE BARNES What can you bring to a wedding day? We cover all stages of the wedding afternoon and boast a wide repertoire, from classic pop and film to stage and contemporary music, as well as being able to perform music from other cultures. We create the perfect ambience for festivities without being intrusive. What’s the most unusual request you’ve ever played at a wedding? Probably Bruno Mars Marry You , which I was asked to play as a ceremony piece and drum on the soundboard of my harp as a percussive accompaniment to the flute melody line; it was an unusual technique that elicited some interesting glances from those present. What top tip would you give couples planning the music for their big day? When planning musical entertainment don’t forget that it might need to cover several hours’ worth of music across the day. Live music is flexible, it won’t skip, jump or be interrupted by incoming calls. It can cover any delays in the bride’s arrival at the ceremony and can keep guests entertained at the drinks reception and musicians will often take requests throughout the day. Find out more at: justtwo.co.uk | 07754 261355 @justtwokent | @justtwofluteandharpduo olegssamsonovsphotography.com alexakellyphotography.co.uk MUSIC & ENTERTAINEMENT 87