Your London Wedding - Jan/Feb 2020 (Issue 69)

From the music to the booze, our experts advise on the elements that make a reception to remember HOT TOPIC Let’s get this party started ALL NIGHT LONG? We love the idea of a live band but we’re worried that we’ll lose guests from the dancefloor between songs – any advice on creating the ultimate party atmosphere?  Tim says: There are a few professional bands out there who actually medley each song together throughout the set. Bands like this are rare, as it requires so much rehearsal and professionalism. Find a band that provides lights and a really good PA and ask to see live video of them to check how they sound. Tell them within your initial enquiry that you want each song to start immediately after the previous song, with no gaps. If they don’t medley each song together, they might still be able to minimise the gaps to almost nothing. The next tactic of keeping people on the dancefloor is to minimise their other options. Have most of your tables removed from the party room and book a venue where the bar is in the same room as the band; this alone can make or break a party. The third thing to get right is the time; if the band is on too early, people will feel inhibited and shy. Wait until they’ve had a few drinks and it gets dark. Have the band start at around 9pm and you’ll be onto a winner! Meet the experts: Tim Owen is owner and founder of ’80s party band, Miami Vibe. Miami Vibe | miamivibe80sband.com miamivibe80sband@gmail.com MIX IT UP Our wedding party is very mixed with guests aged from four to 90 – how can we get them all on the dancefloor; does a universally popular playlist exist? Elisabeth says: It’s to be expected that your wedding will be a collection of family and friends from differing age groups, and therefore it’ll be difficult to cater to everyone’s musical tastes but, if you aim to choose a list of songs that the majority of your guests would at least be familiar with, you can create a great party atmosphere. Below, are a few tips to help: 1) Remember that for the most part, the music choice should be something that you – the bride and groom – want to hear on your special day; use this as your main musical inspiration. 2) Add to this a selection of current pop hits plus a few songs from each era of music, i.e ’60s/’70s, ’80s/’90s and the naughties – think Motown hits, ABBA sing-a- longs and Rihanna. 3) Throw in a few popular rock anthems, for example Queen or Bon Jovi, and in no time, you’ve built a playlist that has something for everyone. If this sounds like a little too much to take on, consider relieving your stress by hiring a live band with years of experience entertaining guests of all ages. Meet the experts: Elisabeth Chidi is the founder and band manager of SoulPlay, a 12-piece show band. Soulplay | soulplay.co.uk | info@soulplay.co.uk  EXPERT ADVICE 113