12:45 pm - Wed, Aug 4, 2010

1 note

Kieran and Lucie, Wokingham,31st July 2010

Another early setup this time in Wokingham. A lovely private estate set amid mature Willow, Oak and Beech trees with rolling lawns that seem to go on for miles. We arrive to the sound of the Wokingham brass band warming up. The champagne reception is nestled under a spreading Chestnut tree and the florists are putting the final touches to the table decorations. The Marquee is set to the rear of the large Victorian house and looks resplendent against the parkland landscape.

 

Set up takes about an hour including our sound check (normally Sweet home Alabama). A mic is set for the top table speeches and the brides iPod ready to go.

Having shown the event co-coordinator how to control the mic we leave our card in case of emergencies and head off the The Warren public house for a well-earned pub lunch. 

Our quite wait sitting peacefully in garden chez Warren for our stone baked Sicilian Pizzas and home made burgers is abruptly interrupted by the arriving sound of a car horn symphony by the bridal party passing on its way to the wedding breakfast.

At 8.40 all the guests all gathered on the dance floor to witness the cutting of the cake directly after we announced the first dance Kieran and Lucie had chosen “Perhaps Love” by John Denver. Our first set continued with songs at the same tempo to proved a seamless start to the dancing. 
 

 

The Redfords were pleased to see a couple from a wedding we had performed at last year and were happy to play a special request for them also. 2 first dances in one evening that is a first for us!

The evening was booked to finish at 01.00. The music was scheduled to be non stop from 20.45 onwards and so was arranged into 4 live sets that were interspersed with iPod play lists. All Band songs were chosen by Lucie and Kieran form our website setlist along with a few special request the band were happy to learn. 
 

 

Their guest list was truly international with large groups of friends from France, Ireland and India. The second play list was made up of traditional folk dance tunes form each country that allowed guests to show off their individual style of dance.

 

We are often asked the reason for having the see through screen in front of the drums. We use it when we are in a confined space or when the stage is relatively narrow, it stops the sound from the drums being picked up by the vocal microphones.

 

Towards the end of the last set we slowed the tempo down as they had chosen a last dance. As we played “Wonderful tonight” by Eric Clapton guests began showering Lucie and Kieran with streamers while they danced lovingly under a white parasol. As their last dance “Save the last dance for me” (The Drifters) the happy couple wandered from the dance floor hand in hand and made left to start the rest of their lives together.