A long-established Entertainment Agency, we can supply most of the entertainment you are likely to require for your special event.
We have bands of many genres which include function bands, rock & pop bands, string quartets, steel bands, jazz bands, barn dance (Ceilidh) bands, funk & soul bands, blues bands, Asian musicians, and these can range from
a solo musician to a larger band. We have mobile discos, video discos and karaoke.
In addition we have cabaret acts including comedians, magicians, singers, ventriloquists plus toastmasters/masters of ceremonies, singing waiters, photo booths, fun casinos, bouncy castles, silhouette cutters, lookalikes
and after-dinner speakers.
We aim to have virtually anything for your wedding, party, ball, ladies’ night, college, social club or private party.
Email: tonybennell@hotmail.com
Phone: 07885 204274
by Dheyna at Smitten Weddings
Smitten Weddings delivers elegant, naturally-inspired weddings that are uniquely you. My aim is to give couples a stress-free, fun wedding planning experience with stunning results. I am based in the Cotswolds, but will happily travel across the UK.
[Photo: Lindy Rogers Photography]
My approach is focused on ensuring your wedding captures your unique personalities; every wedding planning package is fully bespoke. I enjoy getting to know my couples, and by the time the wedding comes around, I will be a trusted, friendly face in the crowd, running things in the background so you can enjoy your special moment.
You may be wondering, what does a wedding planner actually do? How will a planner help me? Well, here are my top 10 reasons to hire a wedding planner.
- You can just focus on the fun! With a wedding planner, you can choose which parts of wedding planning you want to do, and pass on the rest! If you don’t want to keep track of payments or contracts – you don’t have to. If you’re not into Pinterest and creating mood boards, I can help with that.
- It saves you time. Surveys reveal year after year that couples can spend 200 hours planning their wedding! Think about what else you could be doing in that time…
- You will have extra support and expert knowledge. No-one is going to care as much about your wedding as you do… except your planner! When you have those late-night worries and nagging questions, you can send a quick message over and I will put you at ease.
- I’ll help you break down any creative barriers. You want a gorgeous wedding but could be struggling to unlock your creativity. I can give you images and ideas to get you going and narrow down what it is you really want.
- You can relax on your big day. A lot goes on on a wedding day – you don’t want to be dealing with everything yourself when it’s your special moment. Having someone trustworthy there to take the phone calls, check on the suppliers, ensure the venue looks perfect, and run any last-minute errands is so handy! You could leave this role to a bridesmaid or groomsmen, but you’ve asked them to be a special part of your day for a reason – you want them with you, not running around.
- Someone has to round up the guests. You need someone to grab the right people for photos at the right time. You need someone to line up your guests for the confetti throw. When the taxis arrive, you need someone to get people to actually go home.
- Someone has to round up the suppliers. Your venue coordinator is there to ensure the venue is providing you with what you want, they won’t be chasing up the other suppliers. When your band arrives and doesn’t know where to go, I’m there. If your cake baker is lost down the road, I will go find them. If your photographer left their flash in the car, I’m on it.
- Any small mishaps? Emergency kit bag to the rescue. Your bridesmaid gets a sudden headache? On it. The boys can’t attach their buttonholes? On it. Running out of tissues? On it.
- Any bigger mishaps? You won’t even know they happened. If any issues arise on the day, I’m there to handle it before you or your guests even notice.
- Go to bed knowing everything is sorted. When your special day starts to come to an end, you can go to bed safe in the knowledge that your cards and gifts have been put somewhere safe, your guests are all on their way home, and that everyone has had an amazing time.
[Photo: OWO Studio]
If you would like to find out more about wedding planning, or working with me, head over to www.smittenweddings.co.uk, where you can find planning tips and tricks on the blog, and follow us on Instagram and Facebook for inspiration.
The time has finally come, and you will be married soon. Planning your wedding is no small task. However, with the right advice, you can plan an event that will give you some of your best memories. Read on and you will find some tips that can turn potential chaos into beauty.
One of the things that you can do to make sure that everything looks good is to choose a bathroom buddy. This person can sit next to you in the bathroom to give you another set of eyes to analyze your Pakistani bridal wear, accessories, and the makeup that you will wear on your wedding day.
When planning your wedding, try picking out a theme for your big day. When you have a wedding theme, you will be focused on what you need for that theme. It can make your wedding decisions a bit easier since you know what theme you are going with. Having a theme can also make your wedding more memorable.
When you are walking down the aisle, look directly into the eyes of your groom at all times. This will be a special moment that you two will share for the rest of your life, as you will want to see each other when it happens. Look and smile at your groom to make the best of the moment.
When the ceremony is over and you’re happily married, don’t celebrate like you’re in the end zone of a football game. You and your spouse should plan what reaction you’ll have, and it’s best if you both smile graciously and walk down the aisle together holding hands. No jumping up and down or dancing!
Do not let your bachelor or bachelorette party end too late at night. Many people are sleep deprived the day of their wedding because they stayed up too late the night before. You may even want to consider having your bachelor or bachelorette party the weekend prior to your wedding.
Although the weather may be at its peak, you probably don’t want to plan your destination wedding for a time when most tourists are showing up at the location you’ve chosen. Try to aim for a time when there is a lull, like when kids go back to school in May.
To save money on your wedding, you may want to consider asking a family member or friend to make your cake. Wedding cakes can go for hundreds of dollars, which is an unnecessary expense if you know someone that is good at baking. Perhaps having a family member or friend make your cake can be their wedding present to you!
When taking your family to your destination wedding, a way for everyone to save money is by cooking your own meals. Plan ahead for meals outside the wedding day so that you’ll have a shopping list at the ready and cooks who know what they’re doing. Having a barbecue on the beach is an excellent way to enjoy your surroundings while eating well on a budget. You can wear light colour as nikah dress.
You can have a sit-down dinner if you desire, however, a buffet meal will be less expensive. The labour cost associated with a sit-down dinner can be very pricey because of the staff needed to accommodate the service needs. By offering buffet style you can allow your guests a bit more freedom and save much-needed dollars.
When you are choosing the right cake for your wedding, be sure to choose something that incorporates both of your tastes. There is nothing worse than a wedding cake that isn’t enjoyed by both the bride and groom as it shows a one-sided nature to the marriage already and can be quite a disappointment for one of you.
Pick bridesmaids that can be buddies for the children in the ceremony. Give them a care package with healthy treats, water, books, paper and crayons. All this can be used as a distraction when travelling between venues, or while waiting for pictures to be taken. Doing this will keep the children occupied, while still having them accessible.
For a destination wedding, start planning a year in advance. You will need to find out what kind of permit you need: language might be a problem if you are going abroad. You might need passports and visas too. Find caterers and other services in the area in advance to communicate with them as much as possible.
Do a lot of research about the weather if you are thinking about a destination wedding. Many romantic getaways have a hurricane season. Think about extreme heat, exotic bugs and diseases and perhaps even political unrest in certain countries. Have a backup plan in case your destination wedding becomes impossible.
Make sure that you and your wedding photographer are on the same page. Avoid any after wedding disputes by knowing exactly how many proofs, contact sheets, prints and electronic pictures you will be receiving and how much the package will cost you. Get it in writing so that there are no misunderstandings later.
Once you have a wedding to start planning for, do not forget to start focusing on your body and what you want it to look like for your wedding. The earlier you decide how you want to look or if you need to lose weight, the easier it will be to start a program and stick to it over the months leading up to your wedding.
Rent your wedding tuxedos as a group. Many shops will offer a quantity discount if your wedding party handles their rentals in this way. Try to use the same design of tuxedo for everyone, and just alter the bow tie if you want the groom to look different.
You can save money when planning your wedding by thinking of flower arrangement alternatives. Instead of a floral wreath on your flower girl, try using ribbons for a look that is elegant but still cost-effective. You have the option of using silk flowers, too. You are saving money while having a forever memento of your big day. They can be easily moved and you can even use the sale ones at your wedding reception.
Using these tips and others like them will help you get to the alter with a smile on your face. You can make the most of your day and the most of your budget and perhaps create a lifetime of fond memories.
James Matthews is a wedding photographer based in south wales who likes to photograph weddings a little bit differently.
they are a husband-and-wife team of wedding photographers based in Caerphilly near Cardiff, South Wales.
James is a Master Photographer with the Master Photographers Association and have won many photography awards including Wedding Photographer of the year with The Wedding Coordinator Magazine.
He has also been featured in South Wales Wedding Magazine on a number of occasions.
They have many reviews that can be seen on Trustpilot and our Facebook page
” CAN’T THANK JIM ENOUGH”
I can’t thank Jim enough for his efforts on the day. He went above and beyond his duties to get the best photo angle.
My husband and I are over the moon with the quality of the photographs and how quickly they came back. The time Jim took with us before the wedding sitting us down and talking us through everything and exactly what we wanted and what package we wanted. (no end of great packages offered) he travelled all the way to West Wales to photograph my wedding. He was there from start to finish and finish and finish ha. Some of the photos that came back I didn’t realise he had taken which my husband and I loved as it captured a true image and reflection of the day. He fitted in with the crowd and was an absolute hit with everyone. Very professional and would highly recommend to everyone. Why look anywhere else when you got all you need for your wedding right here
Contact:
James Matthews
01443 606013 or 07808151716
info@eyes2me.uk
www.eyes2me.photography
We love all things fun, especially things that will create memories. If you’ve ever been in a photobooth, you will know all of your inhibitions disappear, and the funny faces and mad rush to grab the props takes over. These are our top 5 reasons you should consider a photobooth.
1. They are fun! We think these photos just sum up how much fun and joy a photobooth can create! These photos sit on our fridge and we smile every time we make a cup of tea.
2. You can use a booth to help fill the gaps in your day. Perfect to keep your guests entertained when you have your photos together, or sneak off to spend 5 minutes with your new spouse.
3. Video! We didn’t know until we investigated that not only do you get the best photos, your guests can record videos too. A picture is a snap shot, and a video is a memory.
4. The photos can be put into the most brilliant guest book. You can look back on your wedding and remember all the fun you and your guests had. Fun photos and cute messages, what could be better.
5. They are super stylish! We love these photobooth from Picture Blast, as they won’t look overwhelming in your beautiful or small venue
If you are choosing a photobooth, what should you consider?
1. The company itself. You should trust your suppliers and know they will support you on your day, so check out those customer reviews.
2. Hire period. Think about how long you want the booth there for.
3. What’s included, so do you get photos, videos, and a guest book.
4. What type of booth. Do you want the stylish selfie pod, or the glamorous photo mirrors, or our favourites the traditional photobooths that draw you into a room of fun.
PictureBlast Recommends:
We get asked for our recommendations a lot! We here at PictureBlast love FeteStall. We love fun, trusted, experienced, and highly recommended suppliers, and these guys fit that bill! We can’t wait to have fun with your guys again soon!
Web: https://www.fetestall.com/
I have a confession to make. I thought running a photobooth was easy. I was wrong, so very very wrong! Let me explain.
Our started a five years ago. You see, I am a professional wedding photographer in Nottingham. One of the things I had noticed was that photobooths were incredibly popular as a way of entertaining your guests. Often they would have a line of guests queuing for their turn.
It seemed so easy, just put the booth up. Next add some props then let guests enjoy the party. Collect the easy money. Win!
The only downside was the size of the photobooths meant that it wouldn’t fit in our car. So we never really pursued the idea. Until the Magic mirror’s came along. All of a sudden, here was a ‘photobooth’ which could break down and fit into the back of our car.
All of a sudden, it seemed like a no brainer. I mean I am already at the wedding. Why not add a magic mirror booth to my services and earn more money.
I had visions of me setting the booth up, leaving it unattended whilst I partied the night away with the guests taking more photos on the dancefloor. I’d just occasionally need to pop back to make sure it’s all still working. I could just keep an eye on it from afar.
We invested a considerable sum into a magic mirror and soon were bundling the service in with our wedding photography and videography packages. After all, wedding photographer’s are one of the first services to get booked after the venue. So we had a natural advantage over other suppliers who couldn’t combine services like we could.
So what went wrong?
Well as it turns out, a lot! Firstly we massively underestimated the amount of work involved. You see it really wasn’t a case of turning up with the equipment, setting it up and letting it run itself.
We hadn’t factored in the loading and unloading at home. The unit is so large you can’t just pop it into a cupboard. Not to mention that not all venues have easy access to the room. So there was a lot of time we’d not calculated in carrying the heavy equipment from A to B.
Secondly we very quickly realised that you cannot just wander off like we naively imagined. You needed a dedicated member of staff to help drunk guests press buttons and collect the duplicate photos for the bride and groom. Not to mention if you didn’t keep a close eye on the props. They would naturally gravitate towards the dance floor and/or vanish into the night.
Thirdly as mentioned, I am a wedding photographer but my wife is also a wedding videographer. By the evening, we’ve usually already put in a ten to twelve hour day. Adding three more hours for the photobooth and another hour to pack it up and store it once we got home was making an incredibly long day even longer.
What we did next
After a few months, we realised that we’d made one of the biggest business mistakes ever. We both vastly underestimated the amount of work it involved. It’s not just a simple case of having fun and collecting easy money. Running a photobooth business is hard work! Very hard work!
We eventually sold it to a company that had experience in operating photobooths. Someone with the staff and expertise required to make it a success.
My Top Tips to couples
If you are looking for a fun way to entertain guests then hiring a photobooth is a great way to do this. However, I hope from reading this that you will realise that the reality of operating a photobooth is hard work and when you hire the booth for three hours that a lot more work goes into it than you may realise.
My Top Tips for Suppliers
If you are thinking about adding a photobooth to your business. Then I would strongly advise you to have a really good think about how doing so would fit into your existing services. Would you have the synergies that are needed?
Do you mind staying late at wedding receptions and can you tactfully deal with drunken guests who may not be listening or taking care of your very expensive photobooth?
If the answer to the above is yes then it can be a fun industry to be in.
You have probably heard of various buzz words to describe a documentary wedding photographer, like reportage photographer, candid photographer, natural, unposed…etc. Now you are probably wondering
“Is a documentary style of coverage for me?”
This page will answer those questions, and many more, while at the same time describing my approach to the unique and natural way of telling the story of your wedding day.
The best place to start is with a definition of the word “documentary”.
Here is a dictionary definition:
documentary
[dok-yuh–men–tuh-ree, -tree] adjective Movies, Television. based on or rec-creating an event, era, life story, etc., that purports to be factually accurate and contains no fictional elements: eg a documentary life of Gandhi
The idea is to present a factual record of a story without interfering, like a news reporter. This means an observer can look through a set of images and get a true understanding of what exactly happened, rather than ‘what did the photographer make people do’.
This is my main approach for wedding photography, I will not spend all day posing you for formal photographs, but instead I’ll provide you with a true and flowing record of what really happened at your wedding.
GETTING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR DOCUMENTARY WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER
I read an article that summed up a few important points to remember when looking for a documentary wedding photographer or photojournalist:
TRUST YOUR WEDDING PHOTOJOURNALIST (A.K.A. DOCUMENTARY WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER)
A photojournalist wedding photographer said: “We’re not selling a product, we’re selling a promise” “If you don’t trust your wedding photojournalist, then why did you hire them?”
If you’re constantly worrying about the photographers—are they getting good shots; taking enough pics; Do I look good? —then you’re not living in the present. “When you let that go, the imagery is much more confident, because you’re not thinking about it the entire time. You cannot worry. If you are being primped and prompted at every turn, you’re not going to enjoy your day, and the photos will reflect that.”
Some ask is it right for the groom to cry at his wedding? You have to be comfortable enough in front of your photographer to show whatever emotions are present, even if it means crying, and trust them to document that in a beautiful way. After all, you do not have to look good every second of the day. “You just have to trust that wedding photojournalists are artists and thereby trust their vision of your day,”
YOU CAN’T CONTROL EVERYTHING: ACCEPT IT
Trust is also closely related to giving up control. Part of trusting your photographer is being able to hand over the reins. Accept that you cannot control everything; that is why you hire professionals to carry out a shared creative vision. Realise that when you try to control too much, you’re actually hijacking the creative process.
For example, another photojournalist who is not a fan of the shot list said: “The family list is fine, but not the lists of all the moments: the candles, the garter toss, the bride walking down the aisle.” He once received a four-page list, down to the silverware on the table. “It was beyond duty,” he says, “And I was just going down, checking off the list.”
If you give a wedding photojournalist too long of a to-do list, it distracts them from what you hired them to do in the first place. Surely, you’d rather they shoot spontaneous, once-in-a-lifetime moments that can’t be predicted, and therefore, could never be included on a list. “I don’t want to think about all these expectations,” “I just want to tell the story.”
— by Meghan McEwen for The Wedding Photojournalist Association
BONUS MATERIAL ON GETTING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR DOCUMENTARY WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER
Over the years, I’ve picked up a few things too that will help you completely decide if you’d like a documentary photographer for your wedding. If you do choose a documentary approach, remember:
DON’T FOCUS ON THE NUMBER OF IMAGES OR TYPE OF ALBUM
Every wedding is different, and you can’t compare one wedding to another. Your results will totally depend on what is happening at your wedding. Are you having fireworks or a sparkler exit? Will your guests uninhibitedly get on the dance floor and not be camera shy? Are there some touching, emotional moments expected during your speeches? If so, these moments will be captured and naturally will contribute to more images that other weddings without these extra elements. Your focus should be on: The emotion in the images. The storytelling. etc. Does it matter if you get 500 or 300 images if you don’t like the images?
DON’T FEEL THE NEED TO ALWAYS DIRECT YOUR DOCUMENTARY WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER DURING YOUR WEDDING DAY
Remember your day will be documented in an unscripted manner and direction is counterproductive. Never worry whether the photographer has captured the cute bridesmaid walking down the aisle. Or the look of love in your eyes as you listen to your groom’s speech. When you do that, you’ll be less involved in the events happening around, resulting in less documentary moments to capture. This is also why some couples have an “unplugged wedding”. This is where during the ceremony they respectfully ask their guests to put away their cameras and phones and just enjoy the moment. It’s been noted that, while people are busy taking their photographs, they’re not actually immersed in the occasion itself. They become a casual observer. Instead, they’re experiencing everything behind a screen and this psychologically makes them detached from the emotion of the event. For more about an unplugged wedding read this.
AVOID THE PINTEREST LIST
From my perspective, receiving a long list of Pinterest-inspired images to recreate will take away from my creativity. That is because I’d only be thinking of the next image on the list rather than capturing what’s naturally unfolding in front of me. Besides, which would you prefer: Me to recreate images from someone else’s wedding that has no doubt been copied by numerous other photographers. Or would you rather I document your wedding, creating unique images that no one else will ever, or can ever have? If you know the answer get in touch with me now!
INFORM YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS BEFOREHAND HOW A DOCUMENTARY WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER WORKS
Family and friends will also need to understand my style. For most of the time, I won’t be at the front constantly directing like a wedding coordinator the whole day. That way, they won’t be constantly interrupting asking if a certain photograph has been taken. Or asking, “how about we put the bouquets on the train of the bride’s dress and photograph her and her maids looking over their shoulders at the camera”.
CHOOSE YOUR VIDEOGRAPHER CAREFULLY
There’s no use hiring a documentary photographer if your videographer has a style that involves a lot of directed footage. For example: asking you to button up your wedding dress several times or “pretend to put on your make up”, as they need to record it from different angles. We all need a shared understanding of how the day will be captured. If you want any recommendations, I’ve worked with some great videographers who’s style blends in well with the natural, unposed style of coverage.
Documentary photography is a wide-ranging form of fine art photography that can probably be defined in many ways. The goal of the documentary photographer is to create an accurate representation of the subject.
If you are planning your wedding in Newcastle Upon Tyne, Northumberland or anywhere in the North East of England and are looking for a wedding photographer, or would like to ask any questions please feel free to contact Tom Hibberd Photography.
Heather from Heather Card Makeup Artistry
Let Heather’s expertise, experience, passion and creativity give you the very best possible outcome and service you can expect to have for your wedding, special occasion or event, offering you a relaxed yet luxury experience promising beautiful, fresh, radiant results.
She will make you look and feel beautiful and confident for your Wedding, special occasion or event. Heather uses premium professional products and specialises in the art of airbrush makeup. What is ‘airbrush’ makeup I hear you ask.
Airbrush makeup is the technique of using compressed air to apply liquid based makeup with a soft-focus and even finish to the skin. Airbrush makeup really is the one stop shop for beautiful, healthy skin that will leave you feeling confident, radiant, fresh and flawless.
“Flawless and fantastic! The coverage is great and it feels like I have nothing on. I love it!”
Heather’s airbrush makeup boasts longevity, wear ability, it is HD ready and is the perfect choice for your wedding, event or special occasion photography and videography.
It is suitable for all skin types, tones and conditions including roscea and acne, it is waterproof and resilient.
“ worked wonders on my oily skin”
Heather offers her clients a bespoke, efficient yet relaxed luxury service with personalised packages to suit all your makeup needs. The instant quote and booking process on her website it is easy to use to cost your booking. There are even options to spread payments out once your date has been secured. Before your trial, she will discuss your requirements and you will have the opportunity to upload makeups that you are considering so that she is prepared. With all bridal bookings requiring a trial, your makeup on the day will be both refined and as requested; leaving you free to enjoy your wedding celebrations, knowing that you’re beautiful makeup will last through the day evening and into the night.
Heather Card • Heather Card Makeup Artistry
T. 0770 6824 464 E. info@heathercard-makeup.co.uk
W. www.heathercard-makeup.co.uk
Photography and Video Company
I provide
Wedding Photography
and Video Services to
Slough, London
and all areas where my work takes me. Primarily, I cover
Asian and
Indian
Wedding Photography, of all faiths
and religions, from small
intimate
wedding events to the more grander extravagant large scale
Weddings. To check out my
wedding portfolio, please visit my homepage
and
enquire with Amar G Media to find out what I can provide
for your special
wedding day.
Affordable Wedding Prices & Packages
I provide very affordable
and competitive prices & quotes
for Photography
and Video. As many of my clients like to work within a budget, I do try to provide prices that are very realistic
and affordable. At the end of the day, whatever the package or price, I maintain a high level of service
and quality media product. Most of my
wedding bookings are from Sikh, Hindu & Muslim Clients,
and i have bespoke packages
for these different types of events.
Photography Services
I also provide a range of Wedding and Photography services for all my clients. Pre Wedding Photoshoots, Pre-wedding photography, Full day wedding packages, Multiple Photographers, Retouch on select images, Videography, Photography and Video packages, Multi-day events and Luxury wedding albums. The service I provide is at the highest level you should expect for your wedding coverage.
Contact Amar on 0794857510
Dream hire & Deco is your event decorator and wedding venue stylist in Yorkshire. They aim to add sparkle and awe factor to your event be it a simple family/friends evening or a larger gathering according with your requirements. PictureBlast highly recommends this company!
They fully decorate or simply supply the necessary items for you to decorate your venue yourself. They Provide service decoration package in Yorkshire towns: Barnsley, Bradford, Doncaster, Halifax, Leeds, Huddersfield, Harrogate, Kirklees, Rotherham, Selby, Wakefield, Wetherby and York.
