Nicola and Ian’s evening reception was one I’ll remember for a very long time to come!
I was booked just a few weeks before the big day (they’d been planning the day and booked the venue since before the Covid lockdowns). It was always uncertain on whether things would go ahead as planned or not.
Thankfully, they did!
The venue for the evening was the gorgeous Minstrel Court just over the Hertfordshire borders. It was my first time at the venue and I’m certain I’ll be back again many times (I impressed the venue owner to the point that I’m now on his list of suppliers which is given to couples planning on using the venue).
So to the evening's entertainment
We’re still in very uncertain times at the moment. Guests aren’t necessarily wanting to mix in an enclosed space, instead preferring to sit outside and chat where possible. I get that and it’s just one part of how my job has changed since Covid first appeared last year.
Instead of looking to ram a dance floor full of sweaty bodies, it can be a case of being in the room alone whilst playing music to the guests assembled outside, and much of the evening for Nicola and Ian went this way. We’d discussed this before the evening and they knew that a lot of the evening might happen outside on the patio before I even arrived.
Nicola and Ian had a routine for their First Dance (Amazed by Duncan James) which their guests watched before joining them on the dance floor to Johnny B Goode by Chuck Berry.
Other than the last song of the night being specified (Dancing in the Moonlight by Toploader), the brief for the rest of the evening was for music from the 1950s to the 1990s with just a smattering of more modern tracks.
As I’ve already mentioned, a lot of the guests were content to sit outside and listen (there were “shapes” being thrown on the patio at times – I saw them with my own eyes.
There were also a lot of small children present, so after about an hour and with Nicola’s permission, a small school disco type set was played (sorry…I don’t normally play Baby Shark at a wedding!)
As the evening grew colder outside, the guests migrated to the dance floor. With so many youngsters still there, requests were coming in for Disney tracks….who am I to disappoint?
All in all, not a bad night considering what everyone’s been through over the past year and with a lot of the general public still very afraid of indoor mixing. Those times and feelings will end eventually, but until then I’ll go with the flow and do the best I can to provide the best entertainment possible….even if it’s only to get feet tapping outside on the patio!
So, some photos
And finally, the playlist
A note of caution here. There was no specific playlist for the evening other than the brief of music from the ’50s to the ’90s. The evening went in various directions based on guest requests and due to entertaining the children as well. This certainly ISN’T a standard wedding set by any stretch of the imagination!
Duncan James – Amazed
Chuck Berry – Johnny B Goode
Buddy Holly – Rave On
Bill Haley & His Comets – Rock Around The Clock
Chubby Checker – The Twist
Lulu – Shout
Queen – We Will Rock You
Bee Gees – Stayin’ Alive
Michael Jackson – Billie Jean
Donna Summer – Hot Stuff
Bee Gees – You Should Be Dancing
Earth, Wind & Fire – DJ Beats: September
Barry White – You’re My First, My Last, My Everything (Single)
Abba – Dancing Queen
Abba – Mamma Mia
Kenny loggins – Footloose
B-52’s – Love Shack (Radio Edit)
Wham – Wake me up before you go go
Wham – I’m Your Man
Bananarama – Venus
*** start of younger guests’ set***
Justin Timberlake – Can’t Stop The Feeling
Mark Ronson Feat. Bruno Mars – Uptown Funk
Little Mix – Shout Out to My Ex
Pinkfong – Baby Shark
Idina Menzel – Let It Go
*** end of younger guests’ set***
Madness – Our House
Take That – It only takes a minute
Aha – Take On Me
Culture Club – Karma Chameleon
Katrina And The Waves – Walking On Sunshine
Phil Collins – You Can’t Hurry Love
Stevie Wonder – Superstition (Single Version)
Diana Ross – Upside Down (Single Version)
Stevie Wonder – For Once In My Life Album Version
Jackson 5 – ABC (Album Version)
***another set for the younger guests***
Taylor Swift – Shake It Off
Little Mix – Black Magic (Cahill Radio Edit)
Carly Rae Jepsen – Call Me Maybe
Calvin Harris & Dua Lipa – One Kiss (Promo Only Intro Edit)
Calvin Harris Feat. Rihanna – We Found Love
***end of second set for the younger guests and their mums***
Whitney Houston – I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
Robin S – Show Me Love
Haddaway – What Is Love
Snap! – Rhythm Is A Dancer
Eiffel 65 – Blue
Vengaboys – Up and down
Pulp – Disco 2000 (7′ Mix)
*** Daddy and Daughter dance ***
Frank Sinatra – The Way You Look Tonight
Journey – Don’t Stop Believin’
Bryan Adams – Summer of ´69
Bon Jovi – Livin On a Prayer
The Fratellis – Chelsea Dagger
Chumbawamba – Tubthumping
Robbie Williams – Rock DJ
Tina Turner – The Best
The Spice Girls – Megamix
The Weather Girls – It’s Raining Men
The Communards – Don’t Leave Me This Way
Tiffany – I Think Were Alone Now
Michael Jackson – Beat It
The Proclaimers – I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)
Rednex – Cotton Eye Joe
Tony Christie – (is this the way to) Amarillo
Dexy’s Midnight Runners – Come On Eileen
LMFAO – Party Rock Anthem
Vengaboys – Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom!
2 Unlimited – No Limit
The Prodigy – Everybody in the Place
Culture Beat – Mr. Vain
Corona – Rhythm Of The Night
Betty Boo – Where are you baby
***another set for the smaller guests***
Idina Menzel – Let It Go
Idina Menzel – Let It Go (From Frozen Dave Audé Club Remix)
Céline Dion & Peabo Bryson – Beauty and the Beast
Carmen Twillie; Lebo M. – Circle of Life
***end of smaller guests’ set***
Huey Lewis & The News – The Power Of Love (Single)
Cyndi Lauper – Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
ZZ Top – Gimme All Your Lovin’ (LP Version)
Kings Of Leon – Sex On Fire
The Killers – Mr Brightside
The Jam – Going Underground
Katrina & The Waves – Walking On Sunshine
Bonnie Tyler – Holding Out For A Hero
The Weather Girls – It’s Raining Men
Steps – Tragedy
Jimmy Somerville – You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)
The Darkness- I Believe In A Thing Called Love
ACDC – Highway to Hell
Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody
Oasis – Wonderwall
Queen – You’re My Best Friend
Duncan James – Amazed (first dance reprise)
Toploader – Dancing In The Moonlight
