What is it about Weddings?

It shouldn't be true, but it is weddings are the most challenging form of party for entertainers and musicians. Fortunately we understand why this is, and so we know how to make sure that the weddings we provide entertainment for are successful but it isn't quite as easy as (we hope) we make it seem.

Weddings are different for several reasons. For the bride and groom it should be the happiest and most memorable day of their lives and, properly managed, it is. But anyone involved in organising a wedding needs to be conscious of some special factors:

• The age group will be very wide from grandparents to teenagers and possibly younger so tastes in music will vary enormously.
• There will be at least 2 separate family groups who may not know each other well, plus bride and groom's work colleagues.
• Some people may not want to dance or even be music fans.
• Some age groups will want the music volume much quieter than others.
• Because a wedding is so personal and so important, there is an understandable level of stress on the organisers, who naturally want everything to be perfect but may never have arranged anything equivalent before.

At Dark Blues Management we think being asked to play music at someone's wedding is one of the highest honours we can receive, and we go to extraordinary lengths to ensure that the entertainment we provide is exactly right for the situation. Our bands will of course learn the bride and groom's special song to start the dancing. We like to meet the bride and groom if possible, to make sure that we understand their feelings for the kind of party they want. Our sound equipment is specially designed to contain the volume on the dance floor and minimise the noise at tables where people wish to talk in comfort. And in the special case of The Dark Blues themselves, Nigel Tully who has personally played at over 500 weddings makes sure that he chooses songs from right across their amazing repertoire, so that all age groups feel that some music has been played for them.