The much anticipated wedding of Rachel & Robert was this Saturdays big event in Aldershot which turned into something of a marathon in the end …
Rachel & Robert Miller – Mons Barracks, Aldershot, 3/8/2013
package: – creative mood lighting package
music preferences: – House, 80s Soul, 70s Disco, Latest Charts & Guest Requests
all images on this website: – © choicedj.co.uk & soundproofweddings.co.uk
Much anticipated on my behalf because of Rachel’s love for House and Soul music … I had had my eyes on this one for a while and when the playlist came through I was so impressed with some of the tunes that in an unprecedented move I actually emailed Rachel to congratulate her on coming up with a playlist of original tunes very much suited to her and her friends tastes.
set up prior to wedding breakfast
It was definately a wedding with a difference for me, it was great to know that I was heading down to the Army Barracks knowing that it was in a private marquee with no restrictions over the sound, using effects to get the most out of the lighting and a private venue with a group of people that were guaranteed to let their hair down …I have done a few “Police do’s” over the years so I knew what to expect and with Pepper Pig not making an appearance on the hog roast till 1030 this one had “late night” written all over it.
The build up to the wedding had been tinged with sadness on the brides side as she had recently lost her mum, I arrived at the barracks at 2pm after a 2 hour journey fully determined to give Rachel the best possible night I could on a day that would hopefully be the shining light in what seems to of been a difficult year.
Temporary ID card and vehicle permit
Arrival was interesting …after checking in at the barracks one of the soldiers on the gate jumped in the van to escorted me to get a mug shot done for my temp ID card before directing me round to the marquee in the garden at Mons Barracks. I managed to get right up close to the marquee, in fact couldn’t have been closer right behind the access point adjacent to the dance floor in a lovely long marquee that looked great outside and in. With all the prep being done by the staff at the barracks it made a refreshing change and had a real “in house” feel to it, like it was friends working for friends.
Rachel had booked purple uplighters which I got installed first, I had taken down as much kit as I could fit in the van so I could set up a large light show which included an additional 4 uplighters, 4 plinths, 4 moving heads plus the arch complete with a pair of barreled lighting effects, laser and a further two spotlights to change the mood throughout the evening …I don’t think I’ve ever used so many cables for a job before ! There wasn’t any power to the marquee directly so I had to plug into a an extension which I was a bit concerned about with to start but I did about two hours of sound checks with the lights going late in the afternoon and it was all fine. I had a quick chat with groom Robert at about 5pm who was in his full military attire for the wedding along with the best man and ushers, in the words of the soldier who escorted me to the marquee, “everyone knows Sargeant Miller, he’s a really popular bloke and if your in trouble he’s the first person you go to” …I don’t know a lot about Roberts history in the forces other than hearing the best man use the words “he’s a war hero” during his speach, but I do know one thing …and that is that the man has the most immense hand shake I’ve ever experienced 😀
40’s Jazz during the wedding breakfast
With the wedding running about an hour late the guests entered the marquee just after 6pm, Rachel had gone for the posh option for background music …something different as I found myself downloading some 1940’s Lester Young Jazz earlier in the week which made a change from the usual Rat Pack or Buble option …the wedding party also had use of the microphone to the top table, but can you imagine any soldier needing a microphone to make himself heard = redundant mic despite there being 150 guests.
With the first dance taking place at 9pm for non dancer Roberts “only dance of the night”, I pretty much went straight into the latest chart stuff, some older dance classics and some requests by the Spanish contingent (Rachel’s side of the family) to keep things ticking over holding back the bulk of Rachel’s favourites until after the hog roast had finished when things started getting tasty on the dance floor just after 11. Usually at around 11pm you are building a high octane last hour of music but this one felt very young still and with groom Robert keen to part with some cash for overtime we ended up going through until nearly 230 literally banging out tune after tune on Rachel’s list, much may I say to the delight of one particular guest who clearly had great love for Barbara Tucker and soulful house in general.
It was an epic last couple of hours and ended on a flurry of “strong woman” anthems before one of the bridesmaids grabbed the mic and asked everyone to applaud the “frickin’ awesome DJ who had created some great memories” …slightly embarrassing moment but an honour to receive such an accolade …playing the Pasha extended version of “You’ve got the love” obviously worked a treat 🙂
Rachel and brother during “Sacrifice”
I’m pleased to say that towards the latter stages the non dancing groom was seen on the dancefloor for a prolonged period of time with his new wife but fittingly the final moments of the night were shared by Rachel and her brother in a 4 minute show of solidarity during the last song …”Sacrifice” by Elton John, Rachel’s mums favourite song. I know only too well how music can affect you when it comes to remembering people but despite the obvious emotion Rachel held it together and did her mum proud.
Congratulations to the new Mr & Mrs Miller and to the start of a new chapter in your lives, apologies for the lack of photos during the night …fortunately I didn’t have much of a chance to take them but if you can send any onto me then I will gladly post them for you or you are welcome to upload them yourself to my facebook group.
So a great day in Aldershot but I also managed to set a new record “getting home time” after a wedding, with the extra time I didn’t get packed up and away till nearly 4 …en route my eyes were struggling to stay open so I hacked it back as far as Cobham services on the M25 before pulling over for a power nap with the sky starting to light up around 5am. So on this occasion I failed to get to sleep before the dreaded sound of the birds starting to sing but I did manage to get a wretchedly uncomfortable 45 min power nap with a gear stick shoved into my groin and using my laptop case as a pillow with a spare t shirt covering up the passenger window …but it had all been worth it as I grabbed a coffee and some junk food to get me home eventually at 640 …that’s life on the road !
If you were at Rachel & Robert’s wedding how about leaving us a comment at the bottom of this page
click here to visit our facebook group to see more photos from this event
– PLAYLIST
First Dance What A Wonderful World Louis Armstrong
Celebration Kool & The Gang
Never Too Much Luther Vandross
Blame It On the Boogie Jacksons
Le Freak Chic
Get Lucky (Radio Edit) [feat. Pharrell Williams] Daft Punk
Blurred Lines (feat. T.I. & Pharrell) Robin Thicke
Need U (100%) [feat. A*M*E] Duke Dumont
La La La (feat. Sam Smith) Naughty Boy
Wake Me Up Avicii
Crazy In Love Beyoncé
Show Me Love Robin S.
I’m Gonna Get You Baby Bizarre inc
I Luv U Baby (Dancing Divas 1995 Remix) The Original
Push the Feeling On The Nightcrawlers
Rhythm Is A Dancer Snap
Valerie (Feat. Amy Winehouse) Mark Ronson
Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It) Beyoncé
Rock Ya Body MVP
Hips Don’t Lie Shakira ft Wyclef Jean
Danza Kuduro (Throw Your Hands Up) Lucenzo & Qwote
Outro Lugar Prok & Fitch & Salomé de Bahia
Oye Como Va (Joey Musaphia Main Mix) Tito Puente Jr.
Cada Vez (Grant Nelson Vocal Mix) Negrocan
You Don’t Know Me (feat. Duane Harden) Armand Van Helden
I Feel For You Bob Sinclar
Put Your Hands Up for detroit Fedde Le Grand
Music Is the Answer Celeda
Around the World (Radio Edit) Daft Punk
Love & Happiness (Yemaya y Ochun) River Ocean
Keep Pushin’ (Path of Club Mix) Boris Dlugosch & Booom!
Treat Me Right (Jon Cutler Version) Kim English
Love Come Down (Original Vocal Mix) Double Take & MC Kie
A Little Bit of Luck DJ Luck & MC Neat
Return of the Mack Mark Morrison
Rock Your Body Justin Timberlake
Love Come Down Evelyn “Champagne” King
Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough (2003 Edit) Michael Jackson
Dirty Cash Adventures of Stevie V
Can’t Get Enough (Vocal Club Mix) Soulsearcher
The Cure & the Cause (Dennis Ferrer Remix) Fish Go Deep & Tracey K
Night Life (Armand Van Helden Club Mix) Kim English
Beautiful People (Club Mix) Barbara Tucker
So Good To Me (Radio Edit) Chris Malinchak
Michel Teló – Ai Se Eu Te Pego
Gasolina Daddy Yankee
Play Hard (feat. Ne-Yo & Akon) David Guetta
Sexy and I Know It LMFAO
Tik Tok (Radio Edit) Bob Sinclar
#thatPOWER (feat. Justin Bieber) will.i.am
We Found Love (feat. Calvin Harris) Rihanna
Thinking About You (feat. Ayah Marar) Calvin Harris
Love Me Again John Newman
Gold Digger (Radio Edit) Kanye West & Jamie Foxx
Hypnotize Notorious B.I.G.
I Feel Love Donna Summer
A Little Respect Erasure
You Don’t Know Me (feat. Duane Harden) Armand Van Helden
Stop Playing With My Mind (Whiplash & Turner Vocal Mix) [feat. Darryl D’Bonneau] Barbara Tucker
Stay Together (Soulful Mix) Barbara Tucker
Church Lady Dennis Ferrer
No Reason (DJ Meri Vox Mix) Mambana
To Be In Love (feat. India) Masters At Work
When Doves Cry (Muthafunkaz Remix) Yass
The Way U Love Me (Yass Main Mix) Marc Evans
Riverside (Let’s Go!) [Warren Clarke Remix] Sidney Samson
Let the Bass Kick In Miami Girl (Radio Edit) Chuckie & LMFAO
No Reason (DJ Meri Vox Mix) Mambana
Diamond Life (Dance Ritual Mix) Louie Vega, Jay ‘Sinister’ Sealee & Julie McKnight
Keep Pushin’ (Path of Club Mix) Boris Dlugosch & Booom!
The Light (UBP Classic Mix) Michelle Weeks
Flashdance Deep Dish
Something Going On Todd Terry
Around the World (Radio Edit) Daft Punk
Promised Land Joe Smooth
Cada Vez (Grant Nelson Vocal Mix) Negrocan
Oye Como Va (Joey Musaphia Main Mix) Tito Puente Jr.
Nights Over Egypt The Jones Girls
Night to Remember Shalamar
Automatic Pointer Sisters
Ain’t Nobody Rufus & Chaka Khan
I’m Every Woman Chaka Khan
We Are Family Sister Sledge
Ladies Night Kool & The Gang
All Night Long Mary Jane Girls
Young Hearts Run Free Candi Staton
You Got the Love (Bootleg Mix) Source & Candi Staton
Finally (Extended Mix) Kings of Tomorrow
Sacrifice Elton John