Jenny & Andy
The weekend kicked off in style last night at Hartsfield Manor, Surrey at the wedding of Jenny & Andy.
This was our final wedding gig before next Thursday’s big date at The Kent Wedding Awards so we were keen to go out with a bang and this one certainly didn’t disappoint. We had played at Hartsfield Manor once before, considering it’s quiet location it’s not too far from the m25 and a nice straight forward journey. There is a beautiful approach to the venue via a narrow driveway and at this time of year where it’s getting dark early the pathway from the drive to the hotel entrance is lit with tea light candles.
On the two occasions I’ve been here it’s not really that obvious that this is actually a hotel and it does feel quite exclusive as there never seems to be obvious signs of hotel guests despite the fact that reception sits between the disco room and the wedding breakfast room. When I was setting up I noticed one couple walk by and admire the wedding cake, but they seemed to appreciate there was a wedding taking place and moved on …so if you are looking for a hotel wedding then this particular venue seems to attract higher end guests and once the wedding party moves into the disco room it all feels quite exclusive – the wedding party definately seems to take over.
The disco room is actually a unique L shaped lounge room with some nice furniture and a fireplace, there is an adjoining lounge room which is also used to accommodate guests who would prefer to sit and talk early in the evening. The venue staff clear the room around 6pm and lay a plain dancefloor for the disco, Jenny and Andy hired in some creative mood lighting from us to give the room a bit extra, we installed these in the fireplace, the window area, the dj backdrop, the archway and a couple in the smaller sofa room around the fireplace, set to purple and pink they really did add to the ambience. Lighting wise we didn’t want an overhead look for this one as it wouldn’t have looked right, because where the room is an L shape the DJ booth can’t sit symetrical to the floor …so rather than emphasise that, we positioned some floor standing lighting along the dance floor and colour themed them to tie in with the mood lighting for the first dance. Jenny and Andy had supplied a playlist of music which was mainly rock and indie orientated but with the instruction to accept guest requests and ensure the onus was on everyone having a great time.
The first dance got underway virtually on time, following this the newleyweds broke off to meet and greet the evening guests leaving several lively groups on the floor requesting music between themselves for the first couple of hours including a bit of everything really, rock, jive, pop, 90s and some 70s glam rock were all played …but I was holding back the bride and grooms favourite tunes anyway for later one when they returned to the floor when they would be really appreciated once the party was in full swing and the alcohol had kicked in. 
Just before 9pm someone requested Gangham Style and that lit the blue touch paper for a very lively hour taking us up to 10pm when I decided it would be a good time to start playing from the bride and grooms playlist, first I went with a family request for Tina Turner which brought the older guests into the now heaving room followed by a succession of rock music from the playlist ensuring Jenny & Andy heard all their favourites. The last hour was dominated by guest requests but I ensured that the final 5 songs came from the playlist including the requested last song, the groom came up and thanked me when it was all over …but what stuck with me was a comment by one of the guests who said “it’s been a great night, we can never usually get the bride and groom onto a dance floor”, well from my perspective you would certainly never of known that for the last couple of hours. You have to please everyone at a wedding and sometimes it’s not easy but if you know your audience and you have your playlist then there is a right sequence to deliver the music on the night to ensure that everyone goes home happy.
Article written by DJ Phil Webster
Click here to see more photos from this wedding on our facebook group. Here’s the set list from Friday, if you were at the wedding how about leaving us a comment.
19:42 : David Gray – Shine
19:47 : Van Morrison – Brown Eyed Girl
19:50 : Bill Haley and his Comets – Rock Around the Clock
19:52 : Beatles – I saw her standing there
19:55 : Jerry Lee Lewis – Shake, rattle and roll
19:58 : The Rolling Stones – Start Me Up
20:01 : Joan Jett & The Blackhearts – I Love Rock ‘N Roll
20:03 : Mark Ronson – Valerie (Feat. Amy Winehouse)
20:06 : Michael Jackson – Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough (2003 Edit)
20:10 : Peter Andre – Mysterious Girl
20:13 : Ace Of Base – All That She Wants
20:17 : CC Peniston – Finally
20:18 : Robin S. – Show Me Love
20:23 : Mark Morrison – Return of the Mack
20:27 : Fleetwood Mac – Gypsy
20:31 : Roxy Music. – Virginia Plain.
20:34 : T. Rex – Ride a White Swan
20:35 : Bryan Ferry – Let’S Stick Together
20:38 : Blondie – One Way or Another
20:42 : The Clash – Should I Stay or Go Now
20:44 : Robbie Williams – Candy
20:47 : Sam and the Womp – Bom Bom (Radio Edit)
20:49 : PSY – Gangnam Style
20:52 : Calvin Harris – Drinking from the Bottle (feat. Tinie Tempah)
20:55 : Florence + The Machine – Spectrum (Say My Name) [Calvin Harris Remix]
20:58 : Avicii – Levels (Radio Edit)
21:00 : Otto Knows – Million Voices
21:03 : JLS – She Makes Me Wanna (feat. Dev)
21:06 : One Direction – What Makes You Beautiful
21:09 : Olly Murs – Dance With Me Tonight
21:13 : Rizzle Kicks – Mama Do the Hump
21:16 : Carly Rae Jepsen – Call Me Maybe
21:19 : Shy Fx & T-Power – Shake Ur Body (feat. Di)
21:23 : Artful Dodger & Craig David – Re-Rewind (The Crowd Say Bo Selecta)
21:27 : Sweet Female Attitude – Flowers
21:30 : Beyoncé РSingle Ladies (Put a Ring On It)
21:33 : will.i.am – This Is Love (feat. Eva Simons) [Radio Edit]
21:37 : Maroon 5 – Moves Like Jagger
21:37 : Rihanna – We Found Love (feat. Calvin Harris)
21:42 : Dizzee Rascal & Armand Van Helden – Bonkers
21:45 : Swedish House Mafia – Don’t You Worry Child (Radio Edit) [feat. John Martin]
21:49 : Timbaland; Nelly Furtado, Justin Timberlake – Give It To Me
21:52 : Rudimental – Feel the Love
21:55 : DJ Fresh – Hot Right Now (Radio Edit)
21:59 : The Black Eyed Peas – I Gotta Feeling
22:03 : Tina Turner – Simply the Best
22:07 : Dolly Parton – 9 to 5
22:09 : Bruce Springsteen – Dancing In The Dark
22:13 : Toploader – Dancing In the Moonlight
22:16 : Police – Roxanne.mp3
22:19 : Muse – Supermassive Black Hole
22:22 : The Who – Pinball Wizard
22:25 : The Beatles – Help!
22:27 : Queen – We Will Rock You (Remastered)
22:29 : Kinks – You Really Got Me
22:31 : The Rolling Stones – (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction (Mono Version)
22:35 : Mud – Tiger Feet
22:38 : Bryan Adams – Summer of 69
22:42 : Bon Jovi – Living On a Prayer
22:45 : OutKast – Hey Ya! (Radio Edit)
22:49 : Kings Of Leon – Sex On Fire
22:50 : The Killers – Mr. Brightside
22:53 : Stereophonics – Dakota
23:00 : The Gossip – Standing In The Way Of Control (Original)
23:04 : The White Stripes – Seven Nation Army
23:04 : Arcade Fire – Ready to Start
23:06 : PSY – Gangnam Style
23:10 : Flo Rida – I Cry
23:12 : Whitney Houston – I Wanna Dance With Somebody (2000 Remaster)
23:17 : BeyoncÈ – Crazy In Love
23:20 : N-Trance – Set You Free (Original Mix)
23:22 : Faithless – Insomnia
23:26 : Sash – Encore une fois
23:30 : Yolanda B Cool – We No Speak Americano (UK Radio Edit)
23:32 : Nicki Minaj – Starships
23:33 : Azealia Banks – 212 (feat. Lazy Jay)
23:34 : LMFAO – Party Rock Anthem (feat. Lauren Bennet & GoonRock)
23:35 : LMFAO – Sexy and I Know It
23:38 : Calvin Harris – Feel So Close [Radio Edit]
23:40 : David Guetta & Rihanna – Who’s That Chick? (feat. Rihanna)
23:43 : Calvin Harris – Let’s Go (feat. Ne-Yo) [Radio Edit]
23:47 : Kasabian – Club Foot
23:51 : Bruce Springsteen – Born To Run
23:55 : Oasis – Don’t Look Back In Anger
00:00 : Florence And The Machine – You’ve Got The Love