From Olly and Becky, Commissioners House,Chatham Dockyard, Wedding Band.
We do get some great thank-yous and cards after gigs which we love. I had to post this comment from Becky and Olly it says it all. Sothanks Becky and Olly we had a great day too!
Hi George We are so sorry we wanted to send this email to you as soon as we got back from honeymoon last week but getting back into work has taken it’s toll and delayed things.
Olly and Becky, Commissioners House, Historic Dockyard Chatham, Kent, Wedding Band
The Redfords arrived early today to perform as the wedding band for Olly and Becky’s Kentish Nautical Wedding. The autumn temperatures are with us but the sunshine’s great.. Ideal for wedding pictures!! The photographers were up from Somerset. Becky was particular about having them record her wedding. And when they left we took over and got some great wedding documentary photos in the evening. 
We arrived at Commissioners House in the heart of the Historic Dockyard Chatham to find Becky and friends up to their eyes in table decorations, flowers and hair curlers. 
We set up in the Ballroom, which was to the left of the main entrance and measures about 40 by 20 feet. To its rear there are two sets of French doors leading to the gardens and the marquee beyond. Through the front windows you can look out over the parade ground towards the Yacht Masters House with the River Medway and Dockyard’s Georgian industrial skyline as a backdrop. 
The first dance was planned to start at eight o’clock but guess what.? You guessed it! It was an hour late!! That was great for us as by then the guests are ready to get down and shake it straight away!! 
The room was literally heaving for “Chasing Cars” Olly and Becky’s first dance and wow was it worth waiting for- they looked fabulous. Soon the rest of the guests joined in and the room was jumping. 
No need to play any more slow dances to get people in the mood it was straight in with the up tempo stuff. 
We were sharing the music with Ian Baker from Glitterball Disco who helped out with lighting and his choice of tracks fitted seamlessly with our live music. As we were quite late starting we had very short breaks between our sets so were soon back for the second set. 
As we walked from the dressing room through the entrance hall I noticed Vicky descending the grand staircase. She was carrying a young baby but wasn’t dressed like the other guests she was wearing slacks and a tee shirt and was a “Nanny “ from Babes Childcare Agency (what a great idea). 
Seemed like no time at all and we were into the last set and playing “Poker Face“ by Lady Gaga a recent addition to the set then shouts for more…more kept the band playing to just past the curfew. Sorry about that!! 
Becky and Olly left the Venue in traditional style in a black limo to start their new lives together I know form experience the feeling of being whisked form such a frenzy of activity into the relative calm of the back seat of a sedan..its surreal !! Good luck and God Bless. More photos from this event can be view at The Redfords Facebook photos page.
Claire and Jon, Hotel Du Vin, Royal Tunbridge Wells, 11th Sept 2010
A bit of a grey start to the day! It’s that fine rain that gets absolutely everywhere you don’t think its raining yet everything gets wet.
I’m sure Hotel du Vin is doubling for Dr Who’s Tardis Its frontage looks just like a small fine dining restaurant two or three sets of Georgian windows either side and above a impressive pillared entrance. In side it stretches to the left and right far beyond its façade. The Wedding breakfast and evening reception is to take place in the ballroom to the rear of the property. We are introduced to the room via a labyrinth of back room corridors through the Kitchens and finally through a set of those two way doors Manuel made so famous in Faulty Towers.. I’ve always wanted to have a go … its great!!
The room is clear other than a photographer and two or three assistants taking images of the bride and groom. We are on a deadline to be set before the wedding breakfast that begins in an hour. So all the gear must come in as quickly as possible through the kitchen and of course the two-way doors.
I’m sure we were inspirational for the photographer as the first ten and last fifteen minutes of our set up were taken up with pictures of the bridal party in amongst our flight cases and posing with guitars and drums.
After setting we were shown our room for the night, dropped of our personal gear and headed out into Tunbridge Wells to fine Prezzo’s with a little bit of help from the iPhone and Voucher cloud. Excellent value for money.. The food was good too.
The first dance tonight is “You do Something To me” by Paul Weller. Jon led Claire for the first half then we invited their close family and friends to join in and everyone was on the dance floor. At the end of the first set Tom our drummer rolled the drums for Claire and Jon cut to the cake just in time for the buffet.
The second set followed the buffet and hosted a mixed bag of dancers the mirrors created an illusion of the room being twice its size by now the rain had stopped and some were taking in the fresh night September air as the atmosphere inside was a little hot..
A short break to take on some liquid and we were into the last set with the dance floor full. American Pie and Time of your life closed the evening and gave us chance to sample the remains of the buffet and champagne.. Some nice cheeses in there and where do you get those biscuit’s from ?? Jon and Claire thanked us for being part of their special day explaining that they were staying the night then off on honeymoon to the Virgin Islands… all right for some.
What a nice couple they are! Good luck to them !
More photos from this event can be viewed on www.facebook.com/theredfords
Natalie and Paul, Eastwell Manor, Ashford, Kent, 4th September 2010
We’ve arrived early again!! Just in time to sample the delights of the Pavilion’s Hythe Bay Seafood Restaurant and bar. Fantastic food and reasonably priced.!! The Pavilion is attached to Eastwell Manor and houses the gym, swimming pool and golf complex. The whole estate seems to stretch for miles across some of Kent’s most beautiful countryside.
The room where we are to play is also being used for the wedding breakfast and looks very grand. A four-piece string quartet is playing outside the door the music is gently wafting throughout the house. There are other guests here too many of who are here to sample the Manors famous cream teas.
Our set up and sound check in the Rose Garden room was fairly quick. After a short break to change we were ready to begin. The Master of Ceremonies had finished his duties and left the building so just as well we carry a spare. (Our Sound Engineer is an accomplished Master of Ceremonies - and even has the long red coat!) He announced the entrance of the Bride and Groom for their first dance “Stuck On You “ by Lionel Richie a great choice for Natalie and Paul to dance to. “I Aint Got You” by Alicia Keys was the next song chosen by Natalie for a special dance with her father.
The acoustics of this room are great for a band!! The carpeted floor, heavy drapes hang at the windows and oak panelled walls really enhance the sound..ideal conditions!
As soon as the first set was complete the buffet started …. a great choice of the old favourites - toasted cheese sandwiches, bacon buttys, chips and cakes.
Its 22.50 we are just about to finish the second set and the duty manager informs us that the music has to finish at 23.00. !!!!! A short diplomatic discussion ensues and we secure an extension till 11.30!! (We are still not sure that Natalie or Paul were aware the wedding was to finish quite so soon) A quick 5-minute break and we are into the last set and “All the Single Ladies” prompts Natalie to throw her bouquet in traditional fashion.
Back into the music and the dance floor soon fills and stays that way until the last dance. Another great night!
There’s always a bit of time to kill when we finish playing as the evening winds down and guests retire to bed or start to make their way home. We normally use this time to change and prepare for the packing away. As it was such a nice evening and we hadn’t far to travel we decided to sit and relax outside in the moonlight. It was a great opportunity to meet with some of the guests who had enjoyed our performance.
Good luck to Natalie and Paul for the future!!
Emily and Tom, Caverswall Castle, Staffs, 3rd September, 2010
What a glorious day to start our September wedding diary. The run round the M25 up the M1 and along the A50 was uneventful. Very little traffic for a Friday and we arrived safe and early.
Caveswall Castle looks every bit the perfect setting for a fairytale wedding and we are to play in the dungeon!!
First things first though we need to eat… The local Red Lion pub on the village square doesn’t start cooking until six o’clock so a quick run back to the A50 and we happen upon yet another “Hungry Horse” … when will locals realise that to compete with the big boys all they need to do is be open at meal times!! We, like a lot of people, always look for a good country pub to eat in.
Our singer is travelling up from London by Virgin (alright for some!!) and needs picking up from Stoke-on-Trent railway station at 5.50pm just in time for him to miss the set up … again..
The Castle staff were concerned that our sprinter would not fit under the portcullis and that we would probably have to load in from the other side of the bridge through the gardens and conservatory and then down the stairs into the dungeon. A quick check reveals plenty of room … thank goodness..!
The Dungeon itself is quite a small room about 16 by 20 feet so some ingenuity is called for to use the space efficiently -just as well we carry all the gear with us. We manage to fit in quite well ready for Emily and Tom to cut the cake and perform their first dance together Andy Williams “ Cant take my eyes off of you”. I don’t think I’ve seen a dance floor so packed.. You couldn’t move for bodies.
With the first set over we were treated to a fantastic barbecue cooked and supplied by Clifton Meats of Blackpool. What a great evening. Here we are in the centre of England in September its 22:00 and we are outside enjoying the delights of barbecued steak, sausage, bacon and chicken.
When we start the second set with James Browns “Night Train” there is absolutely nobody on the dance floor but before we finished the second number we are swimming in bodies again. This family certainly know how to enjoy themselves which is great for us. One is particularly enthusiastic about joining the Redfords on stage!!
The third set begins on a high and then the police turn up!! Apparently the venue only has a temporary entertainment licence and the neighbours (who don’t like live music) actually live attached to the Castle. A quick adjustment with the sound levels and moving the bass guitar amp from off the window shelf and we are up and running again problem solved!
By 11.59pm precisely we are done!. Strict instructions from the Baron!! As the village clock strikes 01.00am we are opening the spike-studded gates and making our way over the bridge and home. The run down to Kent takes three and a half hours including a stop at the famous Watford Gap. By this time the temperature has dropped so just as well we are equipped with North Face jackets.
Good luck to Emily and Tom in their new life together.
