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Meet local musicians and entertainers

Whenorganising your wedding budget, entertainment is something that’s going to take a large share. Nothing brings people together more than laughter and shared experiences, so it’s essential you hire a supplier who will keep your guests smiling throughout the day. To help inspire you, we’ve rounded up some of the best local companies.

Fetestall Attraction

weddings@fetestall.com | www.fetestall.com

If you have a venue with a stunning outdoor space, why not make the most of it with some garden games? Not only are they fun for your guests, but you will also be amazed at the photos you get too.

FeteStall Attraction has a selection of pretty and fun garden games that are perfect for cocktail hour. Whether you want a classic game of croquet at a stately home or some competitive hook-a-duck in the countryside, they have different games to suit every venue.

Beautifully handmade with all-day hire and rain-proof alternatives, FeteStall Attractions games are sure to add some fun to your special day.

“We exist because of my own experience getting married, so we know how important quality, trust and price are on your special day,” says the team at FeteStall Attraction. “We promise picture-perfect games with an easy process. We offer giant Jenga, skittles, quoits, tic tac toe, croquet and giant Connect 4, to name but a few. We also have a range of games suitable for indoor settings and decorations including light-up signs and postboxes available.”

Your First Dance

07739 529 470 | www.yourfirstdance.co.uk

Your First Dance create dance routines to help make your dream wedding come true. Whether it’s a traditional slow dance, or something a little more upbeat, Your First Dance cater for the simplest to the most extravagant routines.

“Apart from being good fun, dance lessons are a great way to take a break from the stress of planning your upcoming wedding,” says the team at Your First Dance. “Lose yourselves as we work together to create something magical for the dancefloor. You’ll be surprised with some of the things you can achieve in such a short amount of time by learning with Your First Dance.

“You don’t need any experience, as we will design your first dance to suit your song choice, ability and your own personal style. We know you’re not professionals, so we will create a bespoke lesson plan to ensure your steps are easy to follow, while still creating the wow factor for your big day. We are here to make sure you look fabulous and feel confident.

“Our principal at Your First Dance, April-Louise Salmon, learned to dance at the age of four and instantly fell in love with it. Refining her core skills, April learned her base training at the Jacqueline Couves School of Dance in Essex, training there from the ages of four to 19. At the age of 13, her talent was recognised, and she was invited to attend and audition for a ballet company in London. April studied and danced for the Chou Chou Dance Company and whilst at the company, she performed in Coppélia, Swan Lake and The Nutcracker at acclaimed venues such as the Hackney Empire, National Theatre Covent Garden to name but a few. April teaches modern, jazz, tap and ballet, and dance lessons in schools. Your First Dance also has dance instructors that can teach more specialist lessons such as ballroom, Latin and salsa.”

Vibe Entertainment

07876 347 787 | www.vibe-entertainment.co.uk

Vibe Entertainment is a team of professionals dedicated to giving you a great entertainment package for your wedding. “We love our entertainment company with a passion like no other,” says owner and founder Mark Field. “We are so much more than a DJ company, we use the latest tech from stage and screen to make your wedding a magical, fun experience. We offer brides and grooms great advice and services that seamlessly complement each other, from DJs to our new ‘catch the confetti machines’ and ‘360 Photo Booth’ with everything else in between.

“We can provide music and lighting for a small intimate wedding or TVs, dry ice, and confetti cannons for a large celebration. We offer a one-stop bespoke service that gives you as much or as little as your wedding requires. We believe a wedding is not complete without some special effects, it can be that one mind-blowing moment when everything comes together, such as a room full of confetti, someone dancing on clouds or our Spark FX fountains.

“We are best known for our award-winning video DJ service. We provide amazing technology combined with large-screen TVs to show your wedding images in real-time. Your guests can even upload their pictures of the day to the screens. We take pictures and videos and provide a variety of backdrops with some fun props for all the guests to have fun and get a great picture with the newlyweds.

“From the planning stages right the way through to the big day, we love that couples entrust us to make their wedding amazing. I love what I do, and people allow me to be a big part of their celebration, to share in the emotion and have fun, who wouldn’t want to do that every time they go to work?”

HELEN BARLEY 01384 877 572 | www.helenbarley.co.uk

Helen Barley is an experienced harpist in Kinver who specialises in weddings. “I’m passionate about providing enchanting music to make a couple’s wedding day really special,” says Helen. “I love playing at weddings, and perform covers in many different genres of music, offering a wide range of styles. I have several harps of different sizes, but my favourite to play is my ultra-modern, black carbonfibre harp. It has an amazing sound, which carries well without amplification, even outside. It also has the advantage of being extremely lightweight and doesn’t need a cover or a trolley, so I can easily carry it in one hand to wherever you need it. I love playing it for garden or woodland weddings and am happy to play outdoors in any condition, including wind, rain, snow or sun. My amplification system is totally wireless, so it can be used anywhere, in or out, without the need for electrical sockets. My transmitters are also wireless, so there are no safety issues with trailing wires.

“For couples who need help with music choices, or would simply like to meet, see the harps, and hear me play before their wedding, I offer a free consultation at my home. I give my full commitment to providing the perfect atmosphere for your special day.

“My charges depend on the date, location and part of the wedding you wish me to play for. I don’t charge by the hour but by the event, as weddings often run late. I will continue until the end of the ceremony/drinks/meal. I work alone and only play one wedding a day, so it’s essential to book as soon as you have secured your date and venue to avoid disappointment.”

Lumos String Quartet

lumosquartet@outlook.com | www.lumosstringquartet.co.uk

“Imagine your favourite movie without the soundtrack or road trips without the singalongs, those moments are still special however the inclusion of music elevates ‘special’ to ‘magical’, imbedding those events in our memories for life,” says Nick from Lumos String Quartet. “After having dated my now wife for a little over six months, it was a particular song that played on the radio that pushed me to the realisation that I loved this person. The song was Home by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, and it has held a special place in my heart because it fully encapsulates how I feel about my wife even to this day. It was one of my very few non-negotiable that it be played at our wedding, and I will never forget how overcome with emotion I was when she walked down the aisle to a string quartet playing that song. I recount that personal story to illustrate how I came to realise the importance of that special touch when it comes to the inclusion of music on you special day. I don’t remember the flowers, what we had for dinner, the colour of my shoes, or the table

Synergy Live Band

07927 659 390 | www.synergyliveband.com

Synergy Live Band in Shropshire performs live music for weddings and events. “As musicians we offer a vast array of modern and contemporary songs,” says the members of Synergy Live Band. “While maintaining the integrity of our performances, we blend together to create a unique sound for couples and their guests.

“We will work with you to help you through the key aspects of arrangements, but I will always remember catching my wife’s eyes for the first time on that day, right at the moment that the chorus to Home started playing.

“The Lumos String Quartet is an ensemble that has played together since 2019. We pride ourselves on quality and are dedicated to being an integral part to elevating your special day to be full of moments that you will carry in your heart for the rest of your life. We have a repertoire of hundreds of songs and are always updating our library. We’re also happy to take specific requests for music if you can’t find the songs you’re looking for. We’re happy to play before, during, and after the wedding ceremony and can provide ideal entertainment to your guests during canapés and through to your meal. Each package is tailored to your unique requests because every wedding is a reflection of the uniqueness of the couple. Simply give us an idea of what you want, and we will give you feedback on what we can offer to suit those wishes. Let the Lumos Quartet elevate your special day to one full of magical moments to be remembered for the rest of your happy lives together.” creating a playlist, choosing the wedding ceremony music, first dance, selecting your lively or subtle reception drinks music, playing a relaxed background set during your meal and providing you with high quality evening entertainment – whether that be a disco with iPod service, or our lively evening set to get people on the dancefloor.

“We provide couples with a complete stress-free service. For those who would prefer, we can even manage the wedding music for the entire day.”