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Meet local musicians and entertainers

Whether you’re tying the knot in the morning or having an evening soirée, there will be points during the day when your guests will need entertaining. To help give you some ideas, we’ve rounded up some of the best local suppliers.

MEET EMMA BREWER FROM FIRST DANCE STUDIOS

07966 513 981 | www.firstdancestudios.co.uk

I’m an award-winning choreographer based in Woking, Surrey. Twenty years ago, I found that many couples were floundering with how to look good on the dancefloor for their first dance. I started to teach couples and realised how much they enjoyed learning to dance and how much fun it was for them as well as for myself and my team. From teaching basic steps to full-on flash-mob-style routines, every couple has different needs for their big day. We love it so much that in many cases we end up being at the wedding itself.

Over the years, we have been honoured to listen to each couple’s first dance music before everyone else. The ever-popular Michael Bublé, Sinatra and Ed Sheeran make great first dance choices. However, we’ve had everything from heavy metal, Persian folk music, French 70’s classics and even the Muppet’s Bohemian Rhapsody. In terms of choreography, it’s the best challenge. We have a list of song suggestions available for those that can’t quite make up their mind. With so many great songs out there, it can be overwhelming, which is why we always guide couples to choose what works for them.

We’ve loved teaching couples steps, moves and combinations so they can feel confident in each other’s arms. The best part is watching a couple at the start of our very popular three-part package arrive nervous about what’s ahead and leave the last session wanting to bust out their moves. Seeing them grow in confidence, style and joy is our raison d’être.

From tangos and jives to rumbas and sambas, we’ve taught all dance styles. At First Dance Studios, we’ve seen dance trends come and go, especially with the popularity of Strictly Come Dancing and TikTok. However, our favourite remains the dances that the couples elevate to the next level in terms of personal significance.

We’re very excited about the next 20 years. We are actively growing due to popularity, and have a team of teachers across Surrey, Sussex and London ready to lead you onto the dancefloor. We endeavour to come up with more first dances, more couple to crowd connections for a great party and more fun.

www.andy-matheson.com www.andy-matheson.com

www.charliecampeyphotography.co.uk

MEET KEITH CONNORS FROM TWILIGHTS ENTERTAINMENT

07775 778 535 | www.twilights.co.uk

Planning a wedding can be overwhelming, but looking for your entertainment shouldn’t be. Twilights is a wedding entertainment supplier based in Surrey. For more than 20 years, our dynamic company has provided exciting wedding options to delight and mesmerise guests of every age.

We thrive on bringing couples’ most special occasion to life with a website teeming with ideas and inspiration. From DJs who get your party rocking to magicians and eloquent harpists, no matter the style or the theme, the team has the entertainment to match.

We offer bespoke packages to fit the couple’s budget and wedding style. We’re committed to delivering a friendly, reliable service that leaves a lasting impression on newlyweds and guests alike. Our company can cover weddings of any size throughout Surrey, Hampshire, and West Sussex, providing an attractive selection of entertainment services, including DJs, cloud dancing first dance, photo and video booths, selfie photo mirrors, ice cream bikes, venue styling, mood lighting, casino tables and love letters.

I’m a harpist with more than 14 years of experience playing a 29 string Celtic harp. Live credits range from St James’ Palace and The Dorchester to solo sets at Glastonbury and Latitude Festivals, as well as a Made In Chelsea celebrity wedding.

I specialise in a contemporary style, arranging pop, rock and soul classics from the present day going back to the 50s and 60s. My sets are like a DJ set on the harp with the music mixing in and out of everything from Bob Marley, Michael Jackson and The Beatles to Kings Of Leon, Ed Sheeran and Adele. I’m happy to learn requests for your ceremony, and I can send video clips of my arrangements. I’ve played at weddings held in churches, hotels, castles, hip London clubs, as well as festival-style weddings in muddy fields. One thing that I’ve learnt is that no two weddings are ever the same.

However you plan to have your day, I will do what I can to make it special with a personal performance for you. In one weekend in 2022, I'll be playing a Disney-themed wedding for a couple one day, followed by a ballroom-themed wedding the next day for a bride and groom who found each other in their 70s. The most unique wedding I ever played at was a church ceremony where the only guests attending were the couple, the vicar, myself and their pet dog who walked with the bride down the aisle. I stood as a witness as well as their harpist.

During lockdown 2020, when live music was suspended, I came up with the idea of ‘Live On Your Drive’, which saw me perform surprise pop up harp concerts at the end of people’s driveways (all outdoor and at a safe social distance) to help people celebrate birthdays, anniversaries and other special occasions. This ended up taking off across Surrey and was picked up by the BBC and local press. Throughout lockdown, I played at more than 100 concerts and I still get enquiries about this now.

As well as weddings and events, I also lead music sessions in children’s hospital wards during the week, performing live harp concerts for patients, families and NHS staff. I’m a resident harpist at Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital. I’m proud of this part of my work as I love that the music can help alleviate some stress and create a happy memory for people during a tough time in their lives.

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MEET PAUL HOLGATE FROM SUGARTOWN & SO SINATRA

www.sugartown.co.uk and www.sosinatra.com

Here at Sugartown & So Sinatra, we have celebrated 20 years of providing top-class entertainment for weddings and events. It’s been a fantastic journey, working with fellow professionals at some of the best wedding venues in Surrey, the UK and abroad. We’re a husband and wife team. I’m the performer with my So Sinatra and DJ shows, whilst my wife, Lucy, books the acts and takes care of all the contracts and travel requirements.

Working on events has been the perfect way to meet other professionals and build a portfolio of go-to acts that we can offer to our Sugartown agency clients. Sugartown can offer professional bands and DJs that will fill a dancefloor, surprise dinner performers that will transform a simple meal into a lifetime memorable event, atmospheric harpists, background acts and roaming acts from magicians to fire eaters. Sugartown has done it all and we’re keen to share our experience and knowledge with couples planning their weddings. Why not give us a call or email to discuss your plans and find out how So Sinatra & Sugartown can add the wow factor to your big day?

Cecily Beer

HARPIST For that extra touch of class

Add timeless elegance to your wedding by booking Cecily, the Resident Harpist of the Waldorf Hotel, Covent Garden. Based in Camberley, Surrey, Cecily will travel up to 100 miles to play for your special day. Her repertoire spans classical, 50’s to current pop, musical theatre, jazz, folk and even Bollywood.

Past high profile clients Cecily has played for include Her Majesty The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh; Prince Charles’ 60th Birthday; Time Out Magazine; and Ronnie Wood of The Rolling Stones. Popular parts of the wedding for the harp to feature are the ceremony, drinks reception or the wedding breakfast.

Watch Cecily in action

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CONTACT Contact Cecily on cecilyharpist@gmail.com or visit the website and fill out the online contact form

MEET HARPIST CECILY BEER

info@cecilybeer.co.uk www.cecilybeer.co.uk

I’ve been playing at weddings and events for more than 10 years. You will regularly see me in action playing during afternoon tea at The Waldorf Hotel in Covent Garden, where I’ve been the resident harpist since 2014. I’m accustomed to playing in different venues, from pubs and National Trust estates to marquees and five-star hotels across London. Whatever kind of wedding you’re planning, a harp can www.apwildingphotography.com www.apwildingphotography.com www.apwildingphotography.com Scan to view video always fit in somewhere.

I can play for your ceremony, your drinks reception and/or your wedding breakfast. The most popular choice is the ceremony and drinks package. This includes 15 minutes of music for your guests’ arrival before the ceremony, music for the bridal entrance, the signing of the register, the exit of the couple and up to 2x45-minute sets during the drinks reception.

My repertoire has often been received with comments such as “wow, it’s 26 pages long”, “what an eclectic mix”, and “I can’t believe how many different songs and genres of music you play”. From classical to musicals, jazz standards, Disney, film music and pop spanning from the 50s to the present day, you name it – I probably have it. I’m constantly adding music to my list as I love to learn new songs. If there is something particular you might like, which isn’t on my list, then I’m happy to see if I can learn it for you. Your wedding day should be personal to you, so if there’s a special piece of music you want to hear, then that’s incredibly important.

The harp adds sparkle and elegance with how it looks and sounds. I pride myself on creating the perfect atmosphere for your wedding day.

MEET DARREN EASTHAM FROM ANIMATION EVENTS LIMITED

08089 012 009 | www.animationevents.co.uk

Based in Epsom, Surrey, we have a range of fabulous photo booths and magic mirror photo booths. We offer complete wedding solutions, including award-winning DJs, wedding discos, star-lit dancefloors, moving lights and up lighters. We can provide everything needed to make your big day that extra bit special, whether it be one of our many excellent professional wedding DJs, fabulous function bands or a classical quartet. Whatever you decide, you can be safe in the knowledge that every detail will feel taken care of.

Our most popular “White Solution” is, without doubt, the perfect choice for those wishing to include spectacular entertainment in their reception. Every item is finished in white, including the DJ’s booth, dancefloor and photo booth. Alternatively, the “Dancing on Clouds” option creates beautiful photo opportunities during the first dance with confetti cannons for those who want to start married life with a bang.

We only invest in the best British made photo booths and mirrors, all of which are equipped with high-quality digital SLR cameras, studio-grade dye-sub printers and intuitive software. Our booths are green screen enabled to give you unlimited backgrounds, have the option of social media integration and have the ability to turn every smartphone at your event into an extension of the photo booth using our custom software. During your event a highly trained, friendly and fun event host will take care of everything.

With our all-inclusive hire option, every photo booth or magic mirror comes with props, green screen software and an event host to ensure the best fun is had by all. With unlimited use and prints, a guest book, an online gallery, a free photo moments app and everything you could need included at one great price.