I'd met with Liam and Ashleigh several weeks before their wedding and confirmed our discussion in writing so they had the opportunity to review the overall plan for the evening, reflect on it and change anything they weren't happy with.

The evening celebration was due to start at 7pm and finish at 12am. I arrived at the venue at 4.45pm and this gave me sufficient time to set up, check everything was working correctly and get changed after the set up.

On checking the audio playout on their song chosen for the first dance I noticed that around 2 minutes in the right hand audio disappeared. After and initial check on the speakers and audio settings I quickly realised that the track itself was faulty. I downloaded a new version of the song and checked the audio and it was fine. Note to self listen to the first dance and any other specifically chosen tracks in full before the day.

Cutting the Cake selected Maroon 5 and Sugar which was planned at around 7.55pm. I had to make sure the knife was in place for the cutting of the cake and discussed the arrangements with the photographer.
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First Dance - they chose the Goo Goo Dolls and Come To Me as the song for their first dance.

Just after the buffet  Ashleigh arranged to have a specific dance with her step dad Garry. He is a big Madness fan and the song she chose was his favourite Madness song – Baggy Trousers. He had no prior warning that this would happen.

Prior to the wedding night I discused the potential wedding set with Liam and Ashleigh to make sure the music reflected what they wanted.

They generally wanted  a broad mix of music although they both had a bias towards rock music. Some of the specific songs and genre’s we talked about that you would possibly like to include were:

• 80’s Rock: Bon Jovi – Livin on a Prayer, Journey – Don’t stop believing, AC/DC – Highway to Hell and You shook me all night long, Guns n Roses – Sweet Child O Mine, ZZ Top – Gimme All Your Lovin, Van Halen – Jump, Bryan Adams – Summer of 69, Run to You, Everything You Do, Queen – Don’t stop me now, Bohemian Rhapsody, Crazy little thing, Nickelback – Rockstar, Meatloaf
• Indie: Killers – Mr Brightside, Human, Kings of Leon – Sex on Fire, Fratelis – Chelsea Dagger, Goo Goo Dolls – Iris, Oasis – Wondewall, Don’t Look Back in Anger
• 90’s Pop – Steps, Five, S Club 7, B*Witched, Backstreet Boys, Robbie Williams etc
• Cheesey Dances – Tina Tuner – Proud Mary, Original Time warp
• Modern Dance Hits – Justin Bieber, Flo-Rida, Maroon 5 – Move like Jagger, Pharrell Williams – Happy, Rihanna, Calvin Harris, Justin Timberlake, Swedish House Mafia, Pitbull, Lady Gaga – Pokerface, Bad Romance
• Other stuff: Pink – Get the party started etc Madness, Monkees – I’m a believer, Daydream Believer, Bad Manners, Jam, Specials
• R&B – Beyonce – Crazy in Love, Single Ladies, Kanye West – Gold Digger, Blackstreet – No Diggity
• 90’s Dance classics – Not your favourite genre but no issues playing songs if they are requested.

Only one do not play song – Proclaimers – 500 Miles as this was the funeral song of a close relative and some people may find this upsetting.

During the night a hen and stag dance were incorporated the former featuring the Shania Twain song "Man I feel like a woman" and for the guys it was the Village People and YMCA.

A great night was had by all and some great compliments were received from the Bride and Groom who were delighted with how the night had gone and everything that had gone into making it a success.

I was booked by Lee and Rachel for their wedding disco around a year ago and since this time they had moved home making a client meeting more difficult.

Instead we settled for a telephone discussion which whilst not ideal it gave me the opportunity to discuss their requirements and give them some food for thought on some things they hadn't considered.

Our discussion was confirmed in writing together with highlighting the things they would give some further thought to.

The evening Wedding Celebration was taking place in the same room that the Wedding Ceremony is being held in so this would potentially allow an early set up of the Disco.

I agreed to talk directly to the wedding co-ordinator at the Copthorne Hotel about the access and parking arrangements and to disciss the drafft itinerary for the day

After a telephone conversation the following day with the wedding coordinator I arranged to set up early at around 2.30pm to ensure everything would run smoothly for the evening wedding disco and celebration. I also forwarded a copy of my Public Liablity Insurance as requested by the hotel.

The disco would start at 7.00pm which will run through till Midnight.

1. They have given some thought to the music for your evening. The key pieces of music you have in mind at the moment are:
   
2. Cutting the Cake -  Later confirmed Cake by the Ocean
3. First dance to be Ed Sheeran – Give Me Love. They would dance the first verse themselves and then are happy that I invite your guests to join you on the dance floor. There are standard versions of the song available one which is 3.39 minutes long and another which is 5.28 minutes long. It is the shorter version that you want.
4. After discussion with the wedding co-ordinator the cke cutting would take place at 8.30pm followed immediately by the first dance.
5. After the first dance they wanted the songs their respective parents dance to for their first dance at their wedding played.
6. Bouquet Toss – Rachel hadn't originally planned for a bouquet toss but after some discussion we agreed that we would make a bit of an event of it involving the “single ladies” in the room and anyone else that wants to join in probably just before the buffet with Beyonce – Single Ladies being used as the music.
7. Final Song of the night will be Green Day – Good Riddance (Time of your Lives)

They were both pretty flexible about the music to be played during the evening celebration and werehappy for me to invite requests.

You will have guests of a wide range of ages present so you are looking at a good mix of music from all decades and genres.

Some artists / songs / genres you mentioned were Oasis, Killers, Indie music, general party music including the likes of the Macarena, current charts and some quality 90’s and Noughties dance tracks.

They didn't want any Happy Hardcore or Children of the Night.

On the day itself my star cloth failed but as I set up early I had the opportunity to improvise and provide an excellent alternative which the venue staff commented positively about.

The evening was an outstanding success with a wide mix of music. The most requested song of the night was Gala - Freed from Desire (see above video for the finale version), other requests included 90's pop, 90's dance music, lots of oasis tracks and the Killers.

I liased with the venue staff to co-ordinate the announcements, the cake cutting and the removal of the cake from the dance floor to make way for the first dance and the evening buffet.

I liaised with the photographer over the timings and agreed what lighting to use so that the photographs weren't adversely affected by dotty style lighting. I also mentioned the bouquet toss which she was unaware of but would need to be present for. The timings I had were different to those which she had been informed of so her timings were adjusted accordingly.

The party went on till 1am with a packed dance-floor throughout two more songs after one and a rendition of "Don't look back in Anger" from the groom to finish the night off in style.

Some great feedback from the clients  "Lee and I would just like to thank you last night, everyone commented on how fantastic the music was, thank you so so much Ian you did a fantastic job x x x" Rachel Sellars