The Wedding Singer & DJ – James Barlow
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The Wedding Singer - James Barlow is one of the UK's most popular wedding singers and provides entertainment for over 70 wedding receptions each year throughout the UK.
You've set the date, found the perfect location, and probably the perfect dress. What's next? The entertainment for the reception! This is an important aspect that will help set the tone for the evening, and the industry can be competitive. Many bands and DJ's book 1-2 years in advance for weddings during the busier months, so start your search early.
Where to begin? You might get a referral from your reception venue. Many keep a list of reputable wedding vendors they've worked with often. Or maybe your friend or co-worker did all the dirty work for THEIR recent wedding. If you want to look on your own, though, look for agents in your area that represent both bands and DJs. Based on your budget, wedding size, and music tastes, they will be able to help you determine your best fit. I will touch on booking through an agent vs. directly through the band or DJ later in this article.
Who to book, a band or a DJ? Often times, a bride might want a DJ while her parents are hoping for a band. If budget is an issue, usually a DJ will be cheaper than a band because you are only paying for one person's time as opposed to four or more. You can often get a small band (3-4 members) for the price of a great DJ. But will a small band have the variety you are looking for, or the energy?
Brides who go with a band over a DJ do so because they feel a band brings a more lively feel to the night. There is more interaction between the stage and the crowd. Your guests will be more engaged as they experience the band rather than just passively hear the same recordings of songs they've heard for years. The sound is alive, being created in real-time especially for you and your guests. Many brides feel the higher cost is well worth the added life a band can bring to the room.
Brides who hire DJ's do so for the lower cost (usually), and because they want to hear their favorite songs exactly as they remember them. They might feel a band is "cheesy" or they worry about song variety. However, a good band will know how to avoid the "cheesy" label with great vocalists and a classy song list. Variety shouldn't be an issue either, as many bands will be willing to learn a few special song selections, and the rest can be played during the band's breaks via CD's or iPods.
Thinking of saving money by using your cousin as the DJ? Maybe you found a great band at an agency, but your co-worker knows the drummer and you think you can hire the band direct and save some cash. Think again. Some brides are looking for the cheapest way to get entertainment, but this might not be the best way to go. Remember these tips when considering booking through an agent or direct:
- Some people think they can save money by booking direct. This isn't always the case. Many acts will ask for less money for jobs booked through an agent because they can get more work through the agent than they can on their own. Also, when a band books through an agent, the agency does a lot of work for them, saving the band time. So in many cases, the cost would be the same either way.
- True, an agent might need to take a cut from what you pay before paying the talent, because they are doing all the paper work, communication, and preparation. But you are also getting INSURANCE when you go through an agent. If your DJ gets sick or something else keeps him from doing his job for you, you can call the agent and get another DJ on short notice. If someone in the band can't make it, the agent can find an appropriate fill-in from their roster and you might not even notice the difference. Without an agency and their roster, the band might have to cancel or call in an old friend who isn't up to par.
- Another reason to book through an agency is the agency itself is an instant referral for the band or DJ. No agency would keep an untalented or unreliable act on their roster for long, because word would get around that the company and its acts are not to be trusted. Worse yet, clients might refuse to pay for bad service. The agency would lose money on those acts and have no choice but to stop booking them. Don't be turned off by the term "agent." They really can help you.
- If you are considering using a friend as your DJ, can you trust that everything will run smooth? That they have proper electrical equipment to handle the voltage, and enough songs and variety for the whole night? What if their equipment should break? Or one too many drinks leaves them less capable? What if they think Guns N Roses' "November Rain" is proper dinner music when you'd rather hear Sinatra?
There's much to be said for experience on a night as special as this. You might feel comfortable booking someone straight from clips on a web site, but it is your right to request to see them live. They might even clear with another bride and groom to let you stand at the back of the room during their reception for a while to see how they do on the job.
Some bands use recorded clips on their web site or media samples rather than live clips. Ask them what you are hearing. If a band feels the need to promote themselves using songs they recorded in a studio, it might be because they don't sound that great live. A lot of improvements can be made in a studio that can't be duplicated live.
Finally, the million dollar question: How much does it cost? This can vary greatly. Currently in a medium-large city, the price for a DJ can vary from $500 - $1500. Some DJ's have assistants, and some offer option packages such as lighting, games, and dancers.
A band can vary from $1,000 to $10,000. This is because bands can come as small as two or three people using backing tracks and keyboards, to an 18-piece band with strings, horns, and multiple singers. The larger the band, the more the songs should be able to sound like the originals because all the instruments will be covered. Having multiple singers allows each to sing the songs that best fit their voices. (You might love Journey, but do you really want a female vocalist to sing their songs?)
If you love a particular band but they seem too large or out of your budget, ask if they would be available in a smaller size. Maybe the horn section can be trimmed and just the singer and the rhythm section are available. (But remember, then you're going to hear horn parts played by a keyboard.)
You're going to do a LOT of planning leading up to this day, and by then you'll just want to relax and have everything go smoothly. Of course that might not be possible, but your entertainment will set the tone for your guests' evening. Make sure you have an act you trust, an act you feel fits in with your party, and security if something should go wrong.
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Wedding Fayre
The Daily Mail called the book “an enthralling account of a dazzling, troubled life.” It occurred to me, as I pointed out last night in introducing Ms. Osborne to the guests, that it was also a life that had many parallels to that of Diana, Princess of Wales, whose two sons also lost their mother at a very young age, although under far different circumstances.
Lady Idina Sackville’s biographer- great-granddaughter withholds all judgment of the life whose memory was theretofore scandalous to her descendants. Idina was in many ways a thoroughly modern woman, although as an aristocrat with money to smooth the way a good part of the time, she was often willful and foolish. Her reputation which soon preceded her was that of a “nymphmaniac” for whom one man was never enough. She was a woman “who lived entirely in the present,” one friend recalled. Which may be why so many readers finished reading her life story wishing it would never end.
Some readers are familiar with a cousin of Idina Sackville, Vita Sackville-West, author and wife of Sir Harold Nicholson, as well as lover of Virginia Woolf and Violet Trefusis (the daughter of Mrs. Keppel – great-grandmother of the present Duchess of Cornwall). When Idina Sackville died at age 61 on November 5, 1955, Vita published an obituary in the Times of London:
“No more succinct or better epitaph could be given to Idina Sackville than the following lines from the Chinese poet Wu-ti 157-87 BC, translated by Arthur Waley:
The sound of her silk shirt has stopped.
On the marble pavement dust grows.
Her empty room is cold and still.
Fallen leaves are piled against the doors.
Longing for that lovely lady
How can I bring my aching heart to rest?”
The story of Lady Idina Sackville reminded me of an obituary published sixteen years ago in the Daily Telegraph of London, written by biographer Hugo Vickers about Loelia, Lady Lindsay, also one of that generation of Edwardians, notably one of the Bright Young Things, who became famous as the second wife of Bendor, the 2nd Duke of Westminster (England’s richest landowner who is now also remembered as a lover of Coco Chanel). Loelia was immortalized in popular fiction as Miss Moneypenny in the James Bond series by Ian Fleming, also an admirer. Again, it was a life of party and song, champagne and no regrets while it lasted.
An Edwardian by birth, Loelia Ponsonby became a leading 'Bright Young Thing' in the 1920s and went on to marry the 2nd Duke of Westminster - the legendary sybarite 'Bendor', whose yacht features in Noel Coward's play Private Lives.
Coward also wrote the foreword to the Duchess's well-received memoirs. He did so, he said, 'cowed by the steely inflexibility of her tone and a look in her eye that I suspect caused the late Duke of Westminster some uneasy moments'. Another friend, Ian Fleming, used her as the model for Miss Moneypenny in the James Bond books.
Loelia Mary Ponsonby was born on Feb 6 1902, the only daughter of the courtier Sir Frederick Ponsonby, later 1st Lord Sysonby. 'Fritz' Ponsonby was assistant private secretary to Queen Victoria, King Edward VII and King George V, and wrote Recollections of Three Reigns.
Having trouble conceiving? Head to the "UK Fertility Fair." Divorcing? "The Paris Divorce Fair" calls!
Welcome to the UK's first Fertility Show. The two-day event, which took place at the weekend, has been described as an "Ideal Home Exhibition for making babies" and will run annually at Olympia in west London for the next three years. Organised in association with Infertility Network UK (a charity that offers advice and information to people with infertility problems), there is a dizzying array of exhibitors; over 40 IVF specialists, clinics offering on-the-spot fertility tests and information on egg freezing, sperm banks, nutritionists, acupuncturists and the latest advice on donor conception.
Think wedding - or career - fair. A conference center, tables, "information." Brochures. Cards. The occasional freebie. Except the attendees are stressed out and anxious. And as the Guardian describes the fertility fair, it's a mix of actual respected specialists and "experimental" techniques that such a vulnerable population might be especially vulnerable to. To wit: "Positioned behind a reassuringly sensible looking stand run by Chelsea & Westminster Assisted Conception Unit is a business that calls itself "Fertility Astrology", which claims to be able to assess the quality of your eggs by mapping your stars." Nearby, though, there's an informative lecture by a specialist whom most of these people would normally not have access to.
The divorce fair is a similar mix. Actually, it's for "Divorce, Separation and Bereavement." Says Reuters, "There were workshops on "How to bounce back," "How to love yourself in order to bounce back," or, more prosaically, "The role of plastic surgery in reconquering one's self-image." Financial advice and experts on single-parenting are found next to the "School of Seduction." Oh, and if you're not quite there yet, "singletons or soon-to-be singletons could also hire the services of a private detective agency to uncover evidence of infidelity or hidden financial assets." I'm sure seeing that doesn't trigger anything negative for those trying to bounce back! Or, perhaps, it bounces them right into the plastic surgery booth?
What events like both of these do seem to provide is solidarity. Says one attendee at the Fertility Fair, "At least here you feel you're not alone; the only one going through this." And that surely goes double for the Divorce Fair - indeed, it's shocking that some enterprising dating service hasn't set up shop by the entrance. Neither article really gets into the success rates of such events, however one quantifies that - but surely, as much as anything, anyone attending, whether they come away with a helpful card or no, feels that they have taken matters into their hands and "done something" - which can be as important as anything. And there's always that to be said for making the essentially private overwhelmingly, openly public?
Bounce Back In Style At Paris Divorce Fair
Welcome To The Fertility Show
Send an email to Sadie Stein, the author of this post, at Sadie@jezebel.com.
You try and get everything prepared for your wedding, but up to this point have been too strung out to consider the wedding favors. You are having a truly formal wedding, and as such you want to guarantee the wedding favors fit with the general theme of the wedding. Therefore you want recommendation on the simplest way to find classy wedding favors.
In order to get thinking about what stylish wedding favors are, consider the other weddings that you have attended. If you have attended generally informal weddings, then you know the wedding favors there doubtless wouldn’t be in the class of chic wedding favors.
For example, some of the easiest wedding favors to get are matchboxes with the names of the bride and groom, along with the date of the wedding. However, how long do matchboxes really last? Not very long, and if you have children in the house they are not particularly safe to have around.
Also, if the couple does not have a lot of money and cannot afford a photographer or very elegant wedding favors, you have probably been to a wedding that includes disposable cameras at each table. Some people think they are there just to take home with them, but the reality is that they are supposed to be give to the bride and groom to be developed so that they can have wedding pictures.
{So, the question is, what exactly are elegant wedding favors?So, the issue is, what precisely are classy wedding favors?} There’s really no clear cut answer, because it all has to do with the final theme of the wedding. However, elegant wedding favors are often made out of silver. For example, if you really have an unlimited budget, you can have silver boxes especially made for each guest with your names and the date of the wedding engraved on the front.
{Other chic wedding favors frequently involve present bags for each guest. Other stylish wedding favors often involve present bags for each guest.} For each female guest, you can give them a bag that appears like a wedding dress, and for each male guest you will have a bag that appears like a tuxedo.
To make it simpler, the best idea is to restrict the quantity of things in each present bag to a specific number, and have it all be a similar thing. As an example, women might get cosmetics and a bracelet engraved with the date of the wedding and the names of the bride-to-be and bridegroom, while men can get cufflinks and perhaps vouchers to a sports event. You are certain to find the right elegant wedding favors with the right research.
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One of the most important aspects of planning a wedding is of course... planning to have great wedding pictures! You can have the most magnificent wedding in the world but if the whole wedding photography thing is substandard, it could be a sore point in your marriage for years to come. Avoid this by planning well.
Wedding Photography Tip #1 - Choose An Experienced Wedding Photographer.
One of the key elements is of course to choose a great wedding photographer. So big is your photographer's portfolio? Has he presided over a handful of weddings or close to a hundred? Experience is key here so the more events your wedding photographer has handled, the more expertise and confidence he brings to the table. It also helps to know if wedding photography is his profession or if it's just a hobby. You know which of the two is more important!
Wedding Photography Tip #2 - Settle On A Style.
It's best to know beforehand what kind of style you want. Do you wish to have color wedding portrait photography? Or do you prefer black and white wedding photography? Playful angles or a more conservative style? Proper poses or candid wedding photography? Settle this in advance so you know what you're going to get. Also find out if your photographer will use film or go for digital wedding photography. Ask him to explain the difference.
Wedding Photography Tip #3 - Do You LIKE Your Wedding Photographer?
Professional skill is not all there is to be considered when you hire a wedding photographer. You must also be able to get along with him or her. Do you guys feel comfortable around this person? Does he or she dress well and as such will be able to fit in easily with the proceedings? The last thing you want is tension on your wedding day. Make sure your guy is someone you really want around on your big day.
Wedding Photography Tip #4 - Is The Price Right? Make sure your wedding photographer is within budget. That's not to say that you should find the cheapest photographer available. However, don't unload your entire savings on the wedding photography aspect of your wedding. Find a happy balance. Shell out a fair amount to ensure that you get fabulous pictures that will give you great memories. But be reasonable with your spending and haggle if you can.
Wedding Photography Tip #5 - Finalize Delivery Dates.
In the hustle and bustle of things, don't forget to get a firm date on when you will receive your wedding photos. Obviously, it's nicer to have your wedding photo album as soon as possible, especially if you are planning to be away for quite some time on your honeymoon. However, do understand how long the process can take, what time frames are involved, as well as packaging details and the like. Arrange all this in advance so you have a good idea when to expect your treasured pics and what it will finally look like.
Wedding Photography Tip #6 - Understand The Contract.
Professional wedding photography often involves more than just a friendly handshake. You will probably be required to examine and sign a contract. Study it well and make sure that the terms are fair. Make sure that the payment schemes are correct and be sure to read the fine print when it comes to cancellations and other details. Also, be sure to know if the photographer himself will be there; sometimes an agency might send someone else instead.
Wedding Photography Tip #7 - LOOK THE PART!
So far, we've talked about the photographer and the processes involved in selecting a great one. But of course, a key aspect to a successful pictorial is how YOU look. You must be stunning! Granted you will have the best clothes, hairdos, and possibly even a designer wedding dress. But here's a good wedding photography tip that's often forgotten: be sure you have fabulous teeth on THE day! Smiling is everything and if there's one thing that can sully a picture it is discolored teeth.
Make sure your teeth are clean and white as can be. The best way to do this is to bleach them. You can do this at home using an over-the-counter tooth whitening product. There's little fuss involved and once your teeth are cleaned your smile will be absolutely picture perfect. You'll be amazed at the difference between an ordinary grin and a dazzling white smile on your wedding day!
So there you have it. Cover the wedding photography well by making sure that all functions like clockwork. The fees, the photographer's style, references - deal with them in advance so you don't lose sleep during and after the ceremony. Groom yourself properly making sure that your hair, wedding dress, suit, and teeth are immaculate. Then go have a blast! Wedding Guitarist Bristol
Ruben Nixon