You’ve chosen your all-important First Dance for your Wedding Day, you’ve given your DJ some ideas of your music tastes for the evening…but when it comes to good songs for weddings, have you thought about the very last tune of the day?

It’s not essential to control every aspect of the wedding reception music (that’s why you hire a vastly-experienced DJ like me!), however you might have a finalé song in mind; a lively (but not riotous) singalong track that means something special to you and your guests, and it would be a shame to miss such a golden opportunity to create one final lasting memory of the big day.

Listed below are ten songs that I regularly use at Essex Wedding receptions…some are obvious, others a little quirkier, but all are carefully considered according to the audience in front of me.

Ten Tracks I Think Make Great Wedding Songs

Baby I Love You – The Ramones

Originally released by The Ronettes in the 60s, The Ramones took their version into the UK Top Ten in 1980. It’s the perfect tempo for a ‘send-off’ song, with an undeniably catchy and easy to sing chorus. Legend has it that The Ramones hated their own version as it was forced upon them to record it, but it remains a superb cover nonetheless.

The Best – Tina Turner

Once again, this track is the ideal speed for a singalong. Incredibly commercially successful and definitely one for the aunts and uncles. I usually play the full album version, which has an ideal instrumental break just before the end in which to make my final goodbye announcements, leaving my audience in no doubt that this really is the last song of the night!

I’m In The Mood For Love – Jamiroquai with The Jools Holland Orchestra

A fabulous copy of a copy of a copy of a classic 1935 song! This interpretation is a full orchestral reworking of the ska version, originally by Lord Tanamo in 1965. It’s such a happy and upbeat number, it never fails to bring a smile to faces around the room…Jay Kay’s superb voice over Jools Holland’s wonderful arrangement. A real carnival ending!

American Pie – Don McLean

This song certainly needs little or no introduction! if your audience want to go out singing, this is right up there with all the very good songs for weddings. Not something I play without careful consideration though…not everyone knows all the words, especially for the full 8.36 version! If it’s requested during the night, I’ll usually save it for last.

Don’t Look Back In Anger – Oasis

This is the archetypal British party standard for getting everyone on vocals. Despite the rather inappropriate title (for a wedding!) it remains one of the most requested songs since its release in 1996. I often get asked for Wonderwall but that’s rather drab in comparison to what I think was Oasis’s highpoint.

All Together Now – The Farm

If I’m going to include some personal taste here, it has to be this absolute anthem from the Nineties. I tend to use this as my final song if the bride and groom are a little more mature….i.e. they were ravers in the 90s! I played a few ‘unofficial’ dance events back in the day, and this was my weapon of choice if I was the last DJ of the evening. Even if you weren’t there, it still has a great rising chorus to end upon.

The Wonder Of You – Elvis Presley

Yes, it’s old school for sure, but it is still one of the ultimate singalong songs in the world. The chances are, most will know the words and those that don’t will soon pick them up! It’s actually a cover of a late Fifties minor hit, and Elvis’s version was recorded live in Vegas in 1970….my favourite Elvis era – the jumpsuits, the rhinestones and the big brassy arrangements! I’ve tagged the recent orchestral reworking below, simply because it sounds even better!

Lovin’ Each Day – Ronan Keating

Whaaaa? Ronan Keating?! Has Ian gone mad? Let me explain….firstly, this is another tune with the perfect tempo for creating a send-off circle for the bride & groom. A catchy chorus too, and with appropriate wording that makes it one of the good songs for weddings. The hidden appeal here, however, is aimed squarely at the male contingent in the room. It’s not sexist or misguided to say that fellas are the more difficult (as a whole) to attract to the dancefloor…so why not pick a track they’ll connect with. And Ronan’s Lovin’ Each Day was used by Sky Sports for a few years as the theme tune to their Premier League football coverage. Over the years, Sky have used some brilliant songs as themes, such as Paul Weller’s Out Of The Sinking, Moloko’s The Time Is Now and the current one, Celeste’s Stop This Flame. But this one is the most fitting.

It Must Be Love – Madness

Sometimes you just have to play the most commercially successful songs to get the people up, and this classic Madness song from the early Eighties is not only a guaranteed singalong anthem, the words are also very appropriate. I’ve been known to play the original version by Labi Siffre from time to time, and there’s also a great cover by James Morrison too.

Finally, this song gained fantastic traction when Tom from McFly sang it during his own wedding speech and the video went viral. Unashamedly romantic and irresistibly catchy, this is modern pop music at its best.

It goes without saying that nothing is set in stone, these are just ten good songs for weddings that I’ve played regularly but by no means every time. Currently I’m using a Robbie Williams drum ‘n’ bass ballad remix at some weddings, which is taking the roof off (but it’s not available to share on Spotify!), and I could easily list another twenty anthems…but I hope this has been a helpful guide for that memorable final song of your fantastic wedding day!

Good Songs for Weddings – FAQs

What song is most played at weddings?

Music fashions change, but some tunes just stick around forever! Whitney’s ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)’ is still requested at 95% of wedding receptions, along with ‘Mr Brightside’ by The Killers.

What’s a song that gets everyone dancing?

See above! Or if we’re really struggling to fill the floor at a wedding, there’s always the ‘ABBA’ button! Tracks with dedicated moves are still popular, so Cameo’s ‘Candy’ is a sure-fire hit if a few know the actions.

What’s a great wedding entrance song?

I normally use a really upbeat tune to introduce the Bride & Groom into the room for the wedding breakfast. Songs such as ‘Marry You’ by Bruno Mars or ‘Love Is In The Air’ by John Paul Young work fantastically well.

The post Good Songs for Weddings! Ten Of The Best Songs To End Your Party first appeared on DJ Ian Scott.

Every happy couple dreams of their totally perfect wedding day….dry and warm weather, excellent food and drink, a wonderful idyllic setting with friends and relatives enjoying the day and of course a totally banging wedding party to finish!

Over the next few paragraphs, I hope to give you some important pointers on how to make your evening wedding party hit the heights, and also help you with some tips on unique touches to leave your guests with long-lasting memories of a fantastic night!

Your Wedding Party DJ

I have written many, many blogs about the required qualities of an Essex Wedding DJ and I would certainly encourage you to have a read, but here I will outline the most important things you need to ask, to ensure quality and professionalism;

1. Wedding Reception Experience – There are thousands of mobile DJs in the UK, and they are definitely NOT all the same! Hosting a wedding reception as a DJ is a whole different ballgame to playing in a local pub, club or village hall. For starters, this is pretty much the most important day of your lives, not to mention the most expensive! Your DJ needs to be fully versed in all the various traditions and ceremonies, plus they need to be incredibly flexible with their set list as the age groups at wedding parties go from 0-90! Pub & (especially) club DJs are used to playing one or two genres, whereas weddings require a very broad spectrum.
2. Clean & Tidy Kit – No-one expects you and your guests to be experts in modern electronics and audio quality, but there is visual standard that needs to be achieved by the DJ before taking on a wedding party. Wires secured and tidied away, speakers positioned safely, lighting out of reach of inquisitive little fingers, that kind of thing. We’ve all seen the local pub DJ setting up on a wonky table with wiring hanging precariously and that’s definitely not something we want to see at your big day!
3. Approachability & Accessibility – Obviously a quality that you’ll expect from all of your suppliers for your wedding, there’s nothing more attractive than helpfulness and understanding from your chosen DJ, particularly in the run-up to the day. They should be there at the end of the phone/email/video call to discuss any or all of your last-minute concerns. I hear untold stories of couples being ‘ghosted’ by their DJ for months on end prior to the reception…this is simply unprofessional and, understandably, quite worrying. The DJ will have their own thoughts about music and genres, and a great one will sit down with you and listen to your ideas before using their vast experience to suggest tracks in a similar vein or alternatives.

THE FUNCTION SUITE – How do you throw a good wedding party?

I am going to keep this part of the blog short and sweet! I have hosted wedding reception parties in hundreds of different venues, from grand country manor houses to tiny village halls and there is only one requirement I would 100% insist upon if it were my wedding party….the bar in the same room as the dancefloor. Or at the very least, an adjacent room where the music and announcements can be clearly heard and enjoyed. You would not believe how difficult it is (as a DJ) to try and fill a dancefloor when the majority of the guests are 20 yards down a hallway in a separate bar area! If you really value the  party bit of your wedding day, give this some serious consideration.

LAST ORDERS!

There’s a famous old showbiz adage….”Leave them wanting more!” and that is definitely something to be considered for your wedding reception party. Don’t be tempted by adding on late licences at the venue, because a wedding day is a long day for everyone concerned, and in the vast majority of receptions, midnight is the limit of endurance! Over the years, I have seen many cases where the Wedding DJ is playing to an empty room for the extended hour as most have gone to bed! And it’s not exactly memorable to just let the day fizzle out with a drunken uncle swaying alone on the dancefloor! Finish your special day in style, with loads of guests on the floor, celebrating as one!

ADDED EXTRAS – How to make a wedding day memorable?

Everyone wants their wedding day to be unique, right? You’ve booked all the usual formal stuff and now you’re checking out the quirkier touches…here are a few additions you might have already considered and some you haven’t!

• Live band/singer – Even though I’m a DJ, there’s nothing I love more than seeing a decent wedding band doing their stuff. I was in a band years before I became a pro DJ, so I am lucky to have a deep appreciation of both sides. When you’re looking for your ideal live act, it’s always best to consider a few important factors; are they experienced in performing at weddings? Do they cover a wide range of popular genres? Does your venue allow/accommodate live bands? And most importantly…do they come with or recommend a pro DJ? This last point is very important, and not just because I’m selling my own services. When a band take a break or end their set, you’re left with a dead spot in the night. All the room’s energy disappears, and no pre-recorded mix tape is gonna bring it back. Always book a DJ to work alongside your live act, even if it’s just for one hour…you won’t regret it!
• Saxophonists & Percussionists – A relatively new thing in the wedding market, and completely inspired by Ibiza bars and clubs. If you and your guests love dance music, then booking one (or both) of these is a real crowd pleaser. The best ones will simply play over the top of the DJ’s dance set, and it really lifts the dancefloor to new heights! One to avoid however, is the solo sax player doing a 40-minute set of playing the vocal melody over a karaoke backing track. It’s interesting for the first two songs, then it gets rather dull and uninspiring.
• Silent Discos – This is such an unusual concept, but almost everyone I know that have used this service absolutely loved it! It’s simple…put on a pair of headphones, select the style you want to dance to (usually two separate DJs at the controls) and head for the floor. You’ll be throwing different shapes to your friends, but that’s half the fun! It’s ideal for wedding venues in Essex with strict sound restrictions or parties based outside under canvas. For onlookers, it’s definitely weird, but great fun nonetheless.
• Themed Music – It’s a brave call to narrow down the music genres at your wedding reception, but it can totally work brilliantly. I have hosted over 1000 wedding parties, and some of the biggest and best have been themed. Genres such as Eighties, Rock n Roll, Soul Weekender, Ibiza Anthems and even 1920s Jazz Club have been a massive hit with the guests. A genuine unique twist, a break from the old routine if you like.
• Pyrotechnics – I’m not just talking confetti cannons here…there’s a growing market in West-End stage show style effects. Starting with the low fog dry ice for the First Dance, you can now add 10ft high ‘sparklers’ timed perfectly with your big moves, CO2 cannons that launch a noisy and powerful jet of harmless steam high into the rafters, or what about real flames? Venues don’t like that one, but you’ve seen them at big football matches and concerts, and smaller examples are available. From personal experience, I still recall using an awful bubble machine in the 90s. It looked a bit pathetic in the corner and it left the floor dangerously slippy! Now however, the bubble machines are huge and the output is immense. Another great effect to consider!

In 2024, there is so much choice to make your wedding reception party even more special than ever before. I hope that I have been able to give you some honest pointers above, and as always I’m here to answer any questions regarding my services or my recommendations.

Here’s to your fantastic party, whenever that may be!

The post How to Achieve An Unforgettable Wedding Party first appeared on DJ Ian Scott.

Some of the best wedding venues in Essex are historically-listed, there are literally dozens of important buildings that are now fully licensed for wedding ceremonies and evening parties. Quite often, they are a more expensive option, but the photo opportunities are stunning. There are so many alternatives in Essex, to suit all budgets and sizes, and I’ll discuss below some of the shining examples…

Focusing on barn weddings first…these are incredibly popular in Essex. There are a number of historically important barn venues in the county, and most are surrounded by acres of wide open space and farm land. A real getaway choice for your wedding day, giving opportunity to go totally rustic with your room decor, your cake and even your dress! And you don’t need a summer date either; lots of the established barn venues have all-year-round availability (and a Winter barn wedding is really lovely).

Country House Wedding Venues in Essex

Probably the most popular type of Essex wedding venue is the country manor/estate. These tend to come with onsite accommodation too for your guests, and offer a fantastic all-encompassing venue, with the added attraction of stunning architecture and lavish ballrooms for the evening reception. Sadly, they also tend to be the most expensive! Essex boasts a Tudor gatehouse, numerous Georgian manor houses and even a 1920’s Art Deco mansion.

For those on a more strict budget, there are modern hotels dotted all over the county which offer very competitive packages. Ranging from national chains to privately-owned small hotels, they can provide the same excellent services as the historic venues but without the scenery, although a number of them have dedicated pretty garden grounds for your formal photographs.

If none of those peak your interest, then how about a huge teepee marquee in private grounds? You’ll need to source caterers and all the other services yourself, but what a way to personalise every aspect of your wedding day! Only got a small budget? You may be surprised to learn that some of Essex’s village halls are way more classy than the draughty ones you remember! There are quite a few that are set up to host receptions, with good internal decor and excellent kitchen facilities.

How much is the average cost of a wedding in the UK?

According to the Hitched website, their latest figures for 2023 suggest that couples are now paying an average of £20,700, which is an astonishing 20% more than 2021! Of course, this figure includes honeymoon costs too, so it’s not just the wedding day itself. However, it is still a vast sum of money to spend and all the options deserve serious consideration.

What are the main costs to consider? The biggest cost of your Essex wedding day will usually be the venue itself. They are providing the room(s) for your ceremony, wedding breakfast and evening reception as well as the catering, the drinks and (sometimes) the entertainment. For a wedding breakfast for 80 guests plus an evening buffet, the average cost is around £8,500. After that, there’s the wedding dress of course, plus associated suits and dresses for the bridal party. Then there’s your photographer and your DJ/band. Wedding cars, bridal suite accommodation, flowers, champagne, rings, wedding cake…the list goes on!

What is a realistic budget for an Essex wedding? 

There are many ways to save money on your biggest day without too much compromise on quality and style. You can still have a fantastic day for half of the average cost above. If you are prepared to put in the hours, there’s some real bargains out there!

• Venue hire – Lots of Essex wedding venues offer cut-price packages for less popular months or even days of the week. Avoid Summer Fridays and Saturdays if you’re looking to keep costs down. Midweek dates in February or November are probably the best bargains out there. I’m sure your guests will happily spare a couple of days off work to join you!
• Venue type – As explained above, the historically-important and grand country estates tend to be the most expensive, so look around for established hotels in more remote locations than a town centre, etc. If that is still above your budget constraints, hiring a village or town hall could be the answer. You’ll have to provide the catering and bar services but that will definitely be cheaper than hotels. The drawback is you’ll probably have to get officially married elsewhere (local registry office, church) and guests will need to source local hotels for accommodation. You will save thousands though.
• Other Wedding suppliers – The two main service providers on your big day are the photographer and the DJ/entertainment. Obviously as a Wedding DJ Essex, I would never recommend that you cut costs too much for your entertainment, but there are ways to save money. Just ask your DJ to play the evening part of your wedding, as most venues can provide background music during the day for the wedding breakfast. Avoid extras such as starlight dance floors, novelty photo booths or L-O-V-E letters. If you are artistically minded, get a photographer who’ll be happy to pass you his raw images at the end of the day. You’ll save time and money editing them yourselves and also sourcing your own printed albums.
• Wedding Cars – I always find it quite strange that couples still hire luxurious cars even when getting married in a hotel/country house that hosts the ceremony, the breakfast and the reception…and the bridal suite! Let the bride get ready in the bridal hotel suite on site and the groom can arrive with his best man & groomsmen in one of their cars!
• Food – One of the most common complaints from evening guests is the lack of food later in the evening. The buffet usually appears and disappears between 8pm & 9pm, but after a few drinks, guests are getting peckish at 11pm! One super idea is to reduce the early evening buffet and then ask the venue to provide bacon rolls (and veggie options) towards the end of the night. I guarantee you’ll have never seen grub polished off so quickly! It’s a real winner and could save you money too.

Who pays for the wedding?

I think the traditional days of the bride’s parents footing the entire bill are long gone. Most couples that I chat with have been saving hard for a number of years, and parents help them along the way but rarely pay for the whole thing. There are no hard and fast rules in the 21st Century – it seems that ever-rising costs have put paid to traditional expectations.

If you’re looking to tighten the belts a little, a big saving can be made by not offering a free bar for guests at the reception. By all means, pay for the table wine and bubbly for toasting during the wedding breakfast, but I’m sure your guests won’t mind buying their own drinks in the evening. Free drinks used to be the norm, however I’m sure your friends and family will understand.

What are the best affordable Essex wedding venues?

Although I have performed at over 1000 Essex weddings, I rarely get involved in other costs…but I do hear things from time to time about value for money and here are a few of my choices;

• Smeetham Hall Barn, Bulmer – Right on the Essex/Suffolk border, this little gem doesn’t offer any accommodation but it does provide a superb characterful venue for your big day at a reasonable price.
• The Compasses, Pattiswick – A large remote country pub converted to a stunning wedding venue, full of charm and ideal for smaller, more intimate wedding parties. Has own accommodation too.
• Braintree Golf Club, Stisted – Yes it is a golf club but it’s definitely one of the nicer venues inside. Modern, bright and easily enough room for 100 diners.
• Ye Olde Plough House, Bulphan – A choice of two function rooms (including a large barn), the Plough hosts hundreds of weddings each year and remains a popular budget choice.
• Regent Ballroom, Stanford-le-Hope – The only town centre venue here, but owners Frank & Shaun have turned the first floor into a dedicated wedding suite, complete with indoor pagoda and floral decor to rival some of the better hotels!

So there you have it, a brief guide to getting hitched at some of Essex’s best wedding venues. It’s a great county in which to tie the knot, with so much choice ranging from golf clubs to listed barns and country estates to four star hotels. There are prices to suit every budget, and don’t forget to shop around for less popular dates or even cancellations to save yourself lots of money!

Start your Essex wedding venue search today…and don’t forget to call me for all your music requirements too!

The post Wedding Venues In Essex – A huge choice, so which one do I choose? first appeared on DJ Ian Scott.

Essex Weddings – The popular choice

My home county Essex is currently one of the most popular wedding counties in the UK. Its’ accessibility to London (and the major airports), its’ reasonably temperate climate and its rich history all provide a perfect place to get married. There are a wide variety of historic venues to choose from, such as ancient barns (Cressing Temple), Tudor palaces (Layer Marney Tower) or even castles (Hedingham Castle). Of course, for those wanting a more modern approach, there are a number of top country house hotels in Essex catering for the whole wedding day and accommodation under one roof (Orsett Hall, Parklands Quendon Hall, Gosfield Hall) and they’re all within reachable distance of public transport but still maintain that countryside feel. Being a county with so much choice, Essex wedding venues cannot afford the complacency of some more remote destinations, and therefore the standard of their services is generally very high. This is of course reflected in their choice of in-house DJ too, although bear in mind that you do not have to settle for the venue’s own act if you’re not confident or happy with them. Essex really does offer a diverse array of top quality venues and talent and the difficult choice is yours!

The role of the wedding DJ

As stated above, the role of your wedding DJ cannot be taken lightly. Each and every top professional DJ treats a wedding reception with extra special care. It’s not just another birthday party or corporate gig, a wedding is way more important and unique. For starters, they will want to get to know the bride & groom before the big day itself; their favourite genres, their music dislikes, popular family tunes and other personal info that a club DJ or a party DJ wouldn’t require…an essential insight before the wedding day. Taking a handful of requested songs and playing them at perfect points throughout the evening is the M.O. of a skilled wedding DJ, carefully maintaining the energy on the dance floor. Most contemporary DJs keep microphone use to a minimum, however an experienced wedding DJ should be able to hold the attentions of all the guests at any given point if the need arises, particularly when introducing the First Dance and the finalé. And there are many ways in which a Essex wedding DJ could personalise your event using traditional and modern techniques. A common addition is the ‘Mr & Mrs’ game, which can be played before the dancing begins. The DJ acts like a TV host, questioning the happy couple in turn (having already received their answers separately) and this usually creates a brief but welcome interlude for the assembled guests. Other personalisations can be achieved via LED lighting technology (huge letters spelling out their names on stage) or projected images onto a blank venue wall depicting their names and the date, etc.

What should you look for when seeking your perfect Essex wedding DJ?

• Experience. There really is no substitute for specific wedding reception experience. Your local pub DJ may be nimble in the mix but if they don’t understand the wedding etiquette and format of the day, there could be trouble. A wedding DJ of many years will know most pitfalls and be able to deal with them professionally.
• Multi-genre music knowledge. It’s very, very rare that a wedding reception party is based around just one or two styles of music. It’s nearly always a family affair of wildly contrasting ages and tastes, so your DJ needs to know when and what to play from an encyclopaedic knowledge in his head! And flexibility is key…if something isn’t working on the floor, there should be no shame in changing it up.
• Professionalism. This comes in many forms. You will find that the full-time professional DJs will usually be more attentive and focused than those who do the job part-time. Look for things like liability insurances, terms and conditions, timely regular contact, written contracts, back-up contingencies and willingness to meet face to face beforehand. Condition of the DJ kit is also a good indicator of how serious they are, plus of course their personal appearance. And a friendly, understanding manner.
• Recommendations. The holy grail for all DJs is to be recommended. It is the single biggest source of gigs that doesn’t cost a penny in advertising! Listen to your friends’ comments of DJs they’ve employed & enjoyed in the past. Sometimes the music styles may not suit, but it could be worth a chat with the Essex wedding DJ anyway. Check out the various wedding forums online too, but beware of fake reviews  (it’s really a thing!) – if someone has commented positively, try getting in touch by private message, they’ll probably be delighted to share their stories!
• The Fee. I’ll discuss this in more detail below, but to the couples who are booking their once-in-a-lifetime wedding DJ, the variance in pricing is mind-boggling. No matter what the DJ is charging, always ask exactly what you’re getting for the money. Whilst some of the more expensive acts will justify their fee with their vast experience, others may pump up their prices with technical add-ons such as LED letters and photo pods, which take little skill to set up and operate but generate better profits. Always remember what the core requirement of the DJ is….to play the right music at the right time to the right people.

How much does a wedding DJ cost in the UK?

As there are no official or regulatory bodies and 99% of mobile DJs are sole traders, the cost of a wedding DJ could be anything at all. Some part-time hobbyists might be happy with £150, whilst a DJ with a proven radio or nightclub background may well demand in excess of £5,000…it really is that different. The good news is that there is a DJ out there to suit every budget. According to various wedding service directories (Hitched, Bridebook, etc), the average price in the UK for a competent wedding DJ was roughly £500-£600, based upon a 6pm til midnight timescale. Many wedding DJs will offer extras such as dance floors, photo booths, dry ice machines and pyrotechnics but it’s best to clarify the breakdown of costs with your DJ for each element to make sure you’re getting good value (and also to ensure they’re not hiding a cheap Essex Wedding DJ act amongst clever add-ons and visuals!) In my personal opinion, a fee of £500-£800 for a six-hour service is a good price to pay for a DJ who satisfies all the professional criteria above. Beware any acts charging less than £300 (they might be good but there’s a strong chance they’ll take a better paying gig if it comes along) and also those DJs who start their pricing at £1,200 for the same service…you’ll definitely need to ask them to justify their fee!

Is it worth having a DJ at a wedding?

Of course I am going to say yes! But here are my reasons, all based upon my 35 years of experience…

• The evening reception becomes unstructured and although there may be background music playing, the encouragement and the music continuity are lacking, leaving the dance floor sadly empty.
• “We will put a Spotify playlist together for the evening.” Well that’s great if you possess the powers of a gifted psychic, because in my 35 years of hosting parties and receptions, I’ve never been able to judge the direction in which the music will go before the party starts. The playlist will also be largely personal tastes of the author, something a Essex Wedding DJ cannot afford to do!
• “We’ll use Spotify and guests can select their own tunes.” Disaster! You’ll spend the evening listening to half-songs until someone else changes the track to something they like instead. And repeat.
• “We’re booking a band instead.” Ahh, now this one is always tricky. Bands at weddings are largely very good, especially if they are experienced in wedding receptions. The problem arises when they stop for a break (or two) – often they’ll use Spotify (see above) to fill the gaps, thus sapping all the energy they’ve just worked hard to create. Always book a band AND an Essex Wedding DJ. That way, the party can continue seamlessly.
• “We’re not having entertainment after the meal, just evening drinks at the bar.” That’ll be an early night for everyone, then. You won’t be surprised to learn that without music and dancing, parties end pretty quickly!

Top Tips for finding the perfect Essex Wedding DJ

The definition of the perfect wedding DJ is entirely personal to you, musically speaking. However all the other information above should be considered when seeking your host for the big day. The most important thing, however, is your personal interaction with the act of your choice. Do you feel reassured when you ask them specific questions? Do you have confidence in their technical abilities and their music knowledge? Do they make you feel at ease? Essentially….do you like them as a person? A basic human instinct but still the strongest one! Once that is sorted, here’s some brief pointers to finding your DJ:

• Reviews and Testimonials – check out as much as you can online, including Trust Pilot and Google Reviews, etc. Even their own website should have some of their favourite ‘thank you’ letters (it’s great for the DJ’s ego!)
• If they have videos on YouTube or their social media pages, check them out. Most photos are normally just rig pictures of pretty lights so videos provide much better evidence.
• Use simple Google search terms such as ‘Essex Wedding DJ’, ‘Wedding DJ in Essex’ or enter your venue name and add ‘DJ’ after it.
• If they are recommended suppliers to a specific venue, give that venue a call and ask for their honest opinion of the DJ. Most venue staff will be happy to help.
• Follow up any recommendations on social media by messaging the originator and asking for more details about why they were so good. Again, people are always prepared to share happy experiences.
• And….go see them in action if you can! There are some venues that will sneak you through a discreet side door at someone else’s wedding to take a look!

Here are a few glowing reviews that I have received over the years, proving that we really can make a difference to someone’s very special day…

“We could not have asked for a better wedding reception. Ian played our guests’ requests on the night and kept everyone happy and dancing throughout.”

“It was a fantastic night & everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves. (Not being bias but it was the best wedding I’d ever been to)”

“On a professional note, you were damned good last night. Loved the way you judged the crowd. Everyone was rocking !!!”

Such comments are hugely rewarding, and on many occasions I have gone on to host their family member’s parties and weddings and engagements for years to come – from one wedding to becoming a family friend, having provided lasting and treasured times!

So….now to begin your search for your perfect Essex Wedding DJ … Professionalism, integrity, knowledge, skills and reliability, that’s what to look for. With a warm and friendly nature too. And some twinkly lights!

The post How Do I Find My Perfect Essex Wedding DJ ? first appeared on DJ Ian Scott.

Over the past two years, in conjunction with my colleagues at YourWeddingDisco, I’ve been asked to host many wedding receptions at the beautiful Smeetham Hall Barn in Bulmer, Suffolk. It’s a lovely airy barn, looking out over a very pretty lake, with authentic beams and a really inviting ornate stone dance floor. You can hold your ceremony in the barn or on the lawn in front of the main house, then enjoy reception drinks in the marquee whilst they turn the barn around for dinner.

From a DJ’s perspective, it’s an absolute joy to play there! The dancing area is easily big enough for over 100 people, the barn looks spectacular when lit with coloured uplights, and it is one of the few venues that allow us to use haze to accentuate the light show. And…the bar is nearby so you won’t miss your favourite track or request whilst getting the drinks in!

From 2024, Smeetham Hall Barn have removed the DJ service from their all-in wedding package deal, cutting down their admin to concentrate solely on the venue hire and the catering. This now means that all brides and grooms need to source their own DJ for the special day…and who better than the people who know it best! Between myself and my colleagues, we have hosted over 200 wedding receptions at Smeetham, and we would be delighted to host yours! I live just 15 minutes from Smeetham, and although it’s one of many venues I play, I’ve grown quite fond of the place! Please get in touch today for a chat and a quote.

The post Barn Weddings 2024 – Smeetham Hall Barn, Suffolk first appeared on DJ Ian Scott.