PLANNING SOS 55 BOOGIE THE NIGHT AWAY June Gould (DJ June Cecilia) from SGDJ Weddings in Cardiff (www.sgdjweddings.com) shares her top tips for finding your wedding entertainment. Before booking a supplier, consider whether you have guests who will feel lost without entertainment because they don’t know many people. How long is your party? Do you have long gaps that you feel need filling? Have you a vision of the vibe you want? Many couples often regret not prioritising entertainment in their budget after the day. The most important element in a wedding after your vows is surely music. There is usually music playing for the ceremony entrance, exit and signing, plus when your guests are waiting and gathering prior to the ceremony and evening party. Your drinks reception and wedding breakfast music are considerations too. A professional DJ can take care of all day and evening music, talk you through the selection process and even edit music for you. While a musician, band or singer can often help you with an element of the day, such as the ceremony, the drink reception or part of your evening reception. It’s worth considering that if you have a band, you still need a DJ to take care of you the rest of the time as most bands don’t perform for more than two hours. Many entertainment services will be booked a year or more ahead of time, though some may have availability at late notice. It is surprising how some dates are extremely popular. Don’t book too many activities at the same time. It is better to keep your party together, particularly if you’re having a smaller wedding. When searching for a supplier, look at social media and websites. Check third-party reviews as well as web pages, such as Google, where the reviews can’t be edited by the supplier. If you see someone perform, then that is a bonus. Don’t presume with a DJ that what you see at one wedding is exactly what you would get at yours. A professional DJ like us will customise a service to suit your style. I worked with a caterer at two weddings within the same month. The caterer asked me before we began when I was going to do the games and activities. I explained that for this wedding, there were none, and in fact, there was no first dance either. The reception was entirely different from the other wedding. JUST ONE SLICE Deborah and Jon from Pretty Made Cakes in Bassaleg, Newport, (www.prettymadecakes.com) tell us how to find the perfect cake maker for your big day. It’s always important to start your research early when it comes to finding a cake maker. Although you may be thinking your wedding is 12–18 months away, most wedding cake suppliers are already taking bookings anywhere up to two or three years in advance. If your wedding is planned for the high season, you should consider that this is the most popular time of the year, so naturally there are many more couples looking. What should you be looking for in a cake supplier? When entrusting someone to be part of your wedding day, you want to be sure they are reliable, professional, creative and committed to delivering excellence. During your discussions, consider, for example, how they respond to your queries; are the responses personalised and taking into account details specific to your wedding day? We always carry out consultations over the phone, online and face-to-face. This is the best way for the client to get to know the cake maker and vice versa, so make sure you arrange these. Your cake maker should always be honest with you when giving advice on a cake. If something truly isn’t possible, then your cake maker will tell you and offer alternatives to consider. Wedding fairs are a great way to meet suppliers and often these interactions go a long way towards creating a bond and trust. In terms of coating, are you looking for fondant or buttercream? Do you have a theme for your wedding day that your cake will be part of? What about the decoration for the cake? These are the questions any cake maker will be asking you. One tip: create a moodboard or Pinterest board where you can gather your ideas and inspirations; this can really help a cake maker understand your vision and deliver a cake to match. When you commit to your cake maker and everything is agreed upon, ensure that you receive a contract with all the details agreed upon. Check over and don’t sign or part with any form of payment until you have checked everything is correct. When it comes to budgeting for a cake, consider that staying within the budget you have in mind might require some compromise. You may not get everything you desire within your budget, but open and honest conversations with your cake maker can often lead to amazing results. www.victoriaamrose.com
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