Tips for weddings

Here are my top ten tips for weddings.

1. Let the parents get as involved as they like. It's their wedding too. Try to include their ideas, but don't let them overrule yours!
2. Find a venue where there is a pleasant, relaxed and courteous manner amongst the staff – to each other, not just to clients. It's just as important as having a great building or marquee and great food, and can help create a great atmosphere for the wedding party.
3. Make sure someone is given the job of encouraging your guests to move along at times where the party needs to move location. Crowds of people get comfy chatting and can get stuck in one place!
4. Plan the timings of the day fairly broadly. You don't have to look after every 5 minutes – your guests will provide a lot of entertainment for each other – and will be happy to chat.
5. Don't stress if timings go awry. Most weddings run late.
6. Delegate as much as you possibly can for the wedding day itself so that you can relax and enjoy yourselves without any responsibility.
7. The best weddings are those where bride and groom are most relaxed, go with the flow and allow things to happen. This creates a great permissive atmosphere. Enjoy yourselves.
8. People often fret about wanting their guests to dance – and it's true – dancing does make the party happen. But don't worry if people don't all hit the dance floor right at the start of the evening – most people have just finished a meal.
9. Still on the dancing theme; if you want dancing – get out there on the dance floor yourselves. The bride and groom taking the lead always encourages the guests to break the ice.
10. Please do a first dance even if you aren't dancers. It's a lovely part of the day for your family and friends. You can't go wrong. You can always invite everyone up to join you after a minute or so thus breaking the ice on the dance floor.

And if that's not enough, here are five more tips for weddings!

1.  Do your first dance with the band if possible for an unbeatable magic moment!
2. Have the band in the room where the party is. Incredibly, sometimes hotels will try to convince you that the band can play in a smaller attached room arguing that the sound will drift in. Don't do it! It doesn't work. Rather lose a table or two.
3. Don't invite any one more famous or with more celebrity status than yourselves! I was at a wedding attended by David Beckham. Everyone had to sign confidentiality agreements, so I can't reveal any of the details – but the lesson I learnt was the bride and groom should be the stars – don't let your guests overshadow you. OK, I can see everyone crossing DB off their wedding lists now – oops, sorry David!
4. Learn a first dance if want, à la Strictly Come Dancing. It can be fun and romantic; great for bonding and something wonderful to do together. BUT – don't worry if in the heat of the moment you get out of step after the first few bars – your public adores you – just hold each other close and feel the love – and the rhythm!
5. Wedding guests are likely to be from a wide spectrum of ages and have a wide variety of tastes in music. You are onto a winner if you can find a band to play at your wedding that will appeal to very varies ages and tastes and make the party happen!

The Oscar Bernhardt Ensemble or Oscar Bernhardt’s Charleston Charlies are professional, experienced and flexible wedding jazz bands. We're fun too! Get in touch for a no-obligation quote.

• Call us on: 0161 881 2798
• Or email us: oscar@oscarb.co.uk
• 19 Dartmouth Road, Chorlton-Cum-Hardy, Manchester. M21 8XL