Diana & Mike

Client: Diana & Mike Anglis

Event: Wedding

Venue: Fennes Estate, Braintree – website

Date: July, 19 2013

Package: Total Music Package

Music Requested: Latest Charts, Afrobeats, R&B, Party Classics, Guest Requests

Facebook Photos by: Julia Keeley – website

All images on this website © choicedj.co.uk & soundproofweddings.co.uk

The first wedding on the hottest weekend of the year to date was our first trip to Fennes Estate in Bocking near Braintree.

The venue where the meal and reception take place is a marquee, but its built within one of the outhouse buildings so although it looks very much like a marquee on the inside the protection it receives makes it suitable for weddings all year round. There is also a nice private garden area directly acessable from the marquee for guests to enjoy the sunshine and the marquee has its own bar and toilet facilities built into it.

This was a very large wedding with nearly 300 people with a large contingent coming from the brides Sri Lankan side of the family, I think it was possibly one of the largest wedding parties during the meal I have provided background music for, in fact Diana & Mike must of had to do a fair bit of research to find a venue large enough. I’m not 100% sure but I believe the bride and groom organised their own caterers to accommodate the Asian food aspect, I didn’t get to sample any food on the day but it looked great from where I was standing.

We went with smooth grooves as the background music for the guests arrival and during the meal, there were certainly plenty of approving moves and gestures from Diana’s family and friends as they entered the marquee to the sounds of R.Kelly and Horace Brown. The set up of the disco equipment took place on the stage provided which was located in the centre of the room in from of the windows looking out onto the garden, I think its usually on the other side of the room but understandably with so many people to fit in there had to be a few adjustments and I’m guessing Diana and Mike opted for a view towards the gardens from the top table.

Set up was a bit of a squeeze but we just managed to get the arch set up, the only issue was the sloping marquee roof at the side but it just went up at the front of the stage. The speakers were set up on the stage due to the tables being quite tight on one side and we had a microphone wired and ready to go straight over to the top table for the speeches. The marquee is fitted with air conditioning which was turned on just before the guests arrival although it was quite a warming experience for us with our position being right behind the window.

Diana and Mike made a lively entrance to “Celebration” by Kool & The Gang, Mike seemed keen to disassociate himself with that idea during his speech but it worked really well and it was an upbeat start to the meal. It was then over to a minister on Diana’s side of the family to take the microphone to say grace and bless the food before the meal was served, something unique that I have not experienced and a formality rarely seen at weddings in England.

With the background music continuing after the introductions, the speeches and cake cutting followed the meal before the bride and groom went off for a freshen up and to get changed before taking their first dance at around 830pm.

The evening got off to a lively start with Diana’s side of the family enjoying a large selection of the playlist which included R&B, Latest Charts, Soul, Hip Hop and some requests for Afrobeats which I had a few tracks to hand in my music library, the highlight being “Candy” by Cameo. The end of the night was mainly filled around Diana’s requests and finished off with UK Party Classics to accommodate Mike’s side of the family but overall it was a night and a wedding that certainly catered for everyone’s tastes in food and music.

Mike’s brother/best man Nick is actually booked in with us for his wedding next month so it was good to catch up and have a chat with him and wife to be Nathalie at this one …and we look forward to seeing them again in less than a month at Turkey Mill, all the best to you guys in your final preparations, fingers crossed for another great day of weather. Finally congratulations to Diana and Mike on your wedding and the future…and to Mike, all the very best for your happy holidays in Sri Lanka impersonating English opening batsmen Marcus Trescothick.

Tomorrow we are back in Essex at Hylands House in Chelmsford, a stunning Grade II* listed property, spectacularly restored to its former glory and situated in 574 acres of historic landscaped parkland just a stones throw from the V-Festival location next month.