HOLD ME CLOSE My wife-to-be and I are having a December wedding and are worried the weather might ruin our photographs. How can we capture stunning pictures whatever the weather? I can completely understand your concerns, but try not to worry too much. Winter weddings can be fabulous! Think of a dusting of snow, glistening frost on the trees, atmospheric fog and beautiful golden hours, which happen far earlier in the winter and look even more beautiful when you’re tightly wrapped up in your partner’s arms. Even rain, as long as it’s not torrential, can be romantic when snuggled under umbrellas. The other plus point is most wedding venues have their Christmas decorations out by the end of November, so you’ll have the twinkle of fairylights or candlelight glistening in the background. Lots of photographers also carry off-camera lighting that can be used to create magical outside evening scenes. If you’re worried, chat through your concerns with your supplier, I’m sure they’ll be able to share their experiences and some ideas from previous weddings. Denise Winter | Photographer www.denisewinterphotography.co.uk BOOGIE ALL NIGHT LONG We’re looking for a fun band for our upcoming wedding. What questions should we ask before booking to ensure they’re the perfect supplier for us? Choosing the right band for your wedding can make or break the day. Here are our top tips for booking the perfect supplier for your big day: Set amount and length – The standard set length in the industry is 2x60 minutes but watch out as some will only provide 2x45 minute sets. Ask about flexibility on set length, as 2x60 min could also be 3x40min, whatever works best for your evening. Repertoire – Make sure that the band you book has a repertoire that suits your tastes. How flexible is the setlist? Do they pre-arrange requests? Can the first dance be played live? In between sets – What happens when they aren’t playing? For example, we provide a Spotify playlist that can be upgraded to a full DJ package in between and after the band is finished. Promo videos/live footage – Make sure you’re getting the same performers you’ve seen in the promo videos! Illness can’t be helped, but it’s important that you get the same supplier you’ve booked. Also, have a look at the live footage of the group. This will give you an idea of what to expect, how they keep their energy up etc. Optional extras – Will you have live music during your ceremony? Some background music during your drinks reception? Can you add musicians to your band or take away members to suit the budget? Public Liability Insurance – Check your company has PLI, as it would be a real shame for your venue to ask to see the certificate and the group not being able to provide one and be unable to play at your event. Some other things to think about are lighting, sound limiters, fuel and accommodation costs (location dependant), deposits and payment arrangements. Make sure your supplier is flexible and can mould itself to your big day. Don’t be afraid to ask them for advice on evening timings and other parts of your celebration. Overall the most important thing is that you and your guests have fun, so take some time to pick a group that will have you dancing the night away! Tom Wyman Band leader and director www.therocketscollective.com DANCE WITH ME Do you have any ideas of how we incorporate our Christmas theme into our first dance? Christmas is a wonderful time of the year for a wedding as everyone is in the mood to celebrate in style. Here are a few things that will help add some extra sparkle to your first dance: Christmas tunes are a great place to start for your first dance song. They are catchy, festive and can be slow, fast, cute, smooth, sexy and suit whatever style of dance you’re looking for. Some wonderful song choices include Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas is You and Frank Sinatra’s White Christmas. One of our favourites is Michael Bublé’s Santa Baby. Any of these would be a perfect music choice for your first dance. Think about what the second song will be. This song is THE song to get everyone up and onto the dancefloor with you. At this time of year, the choice is huge, and we all know that the floor fills up with songs such as Slade’s Merry Christmas Everybody and Brenda Lee’s Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree. If you’re having a band or DJ playing at your wedding, you could ask if they could add a Christmas sound to your first dance song or wedding dance playlist. The sound of bells or a carol rift would be a fantastic way to add some festive cheer. Some dance moves are perfect for this time of year, such as the Sparkly Star, where the couple can create a star shape with their bodies, the Christmas Cuddle, a spin towards each other and sway and the Merry Mistletoe where a cheeky kiss can be added into the dance routine that yes, as you might have guessed, happens under a bit of mistletoe. It’s so romantic and a great photo opportunity! However, you choose to commemorate your wedding, be sure to celebrate with a festive first dance! Lorraine Ansell | Dance teacher www.firstdancestudios.co.uk www.denisewinterphotography.co.uk 64
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