Here are some of what we think are the best wedding songs and first dance ideas for 2021 - listen to them in the playlist below!
Interview - Hannah Lomas - Red Event Wedding Fayres
We recently reached out to Hannah Lomas of Red Event following a successful Online Wedding Fayre that we attended to see how the current climate has changed things for Wedding Fayres. We also wanted to see ask what the benefits of Wedding Fayres are for couples and suppliers? Find out in our latest blog post.
Tell us a bit about yourself and the services you provide.
Hi, I’m Hannah the owner of Red Event Wedding Fayres. I have a small event business that specialises in wedding fayres. We offer popular wedding shows around the North West of The UK hosted at some amazing wedding venues! Because of the pandemic we’ve now created a brand new Online Virtual Wedding Fayres which have become really popular too! I love what we do and absolutely love everything to do with weddings! I’m passionate about events and love to get my teeth into a project! I find marketing fascinating and love to analyse data to see what works creating a better service for our clients! Outside of work ironically I don’t like to plan too much! Unless it’s a holiday as I do love to travel but I would only plan the first day and roll with the rest! I am a lover of skateboarding, being in the outdoors, wine (of course), shopping!
When did you start your business?
I started organising Wedding Fayres in 2011 as a freelancer for 'The Wedding Guide' a regional magazine at the time. My first ever wedding fair was at Leasowe Castle on the Wirral, I was not sure what to expect but it was a really busy show! This gave me the confidence and realisation that I could set up my business specialising in wedding fayres. Red Event Wedding Fayres was proudly born and I haven’t looked back since!
What inspired you to create your business?
Before setting up Red Events I had studied event management at John Moores University. I quickly realised then that I absolutely loved projects and I was too bad at them either! I loved the feeling I got working and running live events and the variety of events kept me so eager and interested! I worked for free throughout the entire time at uni (and even the year after) for many companies to gain ‘on the job’ experience. Throughout Uni, I worked on many events such as festivals, Miss Liverpool beauty pageant, ladies that lunch, Charity events, Fashion shows, craft fayres and so many more. Although I loved the variety of work I had as a freelancer, as soon as I organised a wedding fayre I was so inspired by all the amazing suppliers and how beautiful their stand looked! Also, I loved the buzz in the room from couples getting married so excited to be connecting with the suppliers, and all through something I had organised and created! I quickly realised this was a path I was so excited to take! This is where I found my passion for the events industry! I love working on events as they feel like a project, I love planning every aspect and seeing the event coming together after months of preparation!
What are the benefits of using your service for Couples getting married?
There are so many benefits! Before the pandemic, I would say that face-to-face is a HUGE part of the wedding fair industry, but that has quickly changed. Although, thanks to zoom and skype this is still possible! Perhaps we just need social distancing consultations instead! You can plan you whole day in one afternoon saving you time! We pride ourselves on only booking only the most friendly and professional suppliers! We book only people who we would book! It’s important for us to have a friendly atmosphere at the wedding fayres so couples receive the best service and deserve for their wedding! It’s a fantastic way to see current trends and get ideas! Get to know your suppliers, it’s so important to connect with the supplier involved in your wedding day so they can help create your vision! You can try before you buy! It’s completely free! Most of our suppliers have special offers when booked through our fayres saving you money A great way to instantly connect with reputable businesses in the industry! A fun day out, especially if you bring along your fiance, bridal party, family and friends There are many freebies! _ Enjoy live catwalk shows & live music you can even have a mini makeover as well as see hair and makeup demos! We even have bridal pop up shops at some of our shows where you can try and buy your wedding dress on the day! Now hosting online virtual wedding fairs through our website you can contact suppliers online and arrange a social distancing meeting, call, email or zoom! We have tons of advice online from planning your wedding to the top themes and trends! Which let’s face it is great when everyone has an iPhone at hand these days!
What are the benefits of your service for Wedding Suppliers in North Wales and beyond?
Connect and meet with 100’s of couples who are actively planning their wedding in the local area. Receive bookings directly from our wedding fayres! Join a professional platform at our venue or online events for exposure for your business. Increase your followers across social media and more hits to your website! We also have lots of other marketing packages to offer suppliers, so whatever their budget we can help you in some way! Our events are a great place for networking and meeting other suppliers too.
What were the biggest challenges for you in making a virtual event, in comparison to an event at a venue?
I would say deciding the best way to host an online wedding fayre that would benefit suppliers and couples getting married! I knew I wanted complete control over the design and features and something I can develop and enhance further in the future. I decided to set up the URL www.theonlineweddingfayre.co.uk and create a new platform online on our website which we really enjoyed designing!! It is also great for insights too, so we can see what works and what is popular so we can improve the platform going forward to appeal more to couples getting married in the North West!
What is your favourite thing about the Wedding industry in North Wales?
I would definitely say all the lovely people I get to meet! Also, I love that I can be apart of helping businesses grow and creating beautiful weddings for couples who have met their wedding supplier through one of our fayres! After all, I wouldn’t be able to do what I do if it wasn’t for couples booking the suppliers through our events!
Website
Interview: Andrew Cockerill Photography
Wedding Photography is such a vital aspect of any Wedding Day. The job of being trusted to capture every single special moment is an important one, and Andrew Cockerill does just that. We at The Function Hub had the chance to interview Andrew and ask him a few questions about his work.
Tell us a bit about yourself and services you provide.
I'm a wedding photographer based in the heart of Snowdonia, Blaenau Ffestiniog. I work with modern couples who love to add a bit of their own personality and flair into their weddings.
When did you start your business?
The first wedding I photographed was my cousins in 2010, but started as a business in 2012
What inspired you to create your business?
Sounds cliche, but I love people. I spent years working in the hospitality industry, so interacting with people and different personalities is something I've always thrived on. Deciding to photograph weddings gave me the best of both worlds. The ability to be creative with my photography while giving me the perfect opportunity to build relationships and interact with people.
What are the benefits of using your service for couples getting married?
Photographs are an essential part of the day. This could be the first time your families and friends are all under one roof so it's always worth having a photographer there to capture you all together. Once your wedding day is over, having professional photos gives you the ability to always go back and revisit your day.
What part of the Wedding Day is your favourite to shoot?
This is a very tough one. There are so many amazing parts to the day. The emotions of the bridal prep, nerves during the ceremony, laughter during speeches and the amazing first dances all make the job worthwhile. However, if I had to choose one I think it would have to be the evening party. Everyone has had a few too many and are seriously tearing up the dance floor. I absolutely love getting into the middle of them all, strutting my stuff, and getting the photos of everyone completely rocking out!
What is your favourite thing about the Wedding industry in North Wales?
Definitely the community. Everyone is always willing to help each other out. There doesn't seem to be much competition between us all. No matter what the vendors are providing, everyone treats each other as colleagues and it not only helps by making our jobs extremely easy, it makes everything completely seamless for the brides and grooms!
Website
www.facebook.com/andrewcockerillphotography/
https://www.instagram.com/andrewcockerillphotography/
Interview: Southpaw Acoustic Duo
Southpaw Acoustic Duo is the brand new act formed of brother and brother duo Nathan and Sam Jones. In this blog post, they answer a few questions about themselves and their new project.
Who was the First act you saw live?
S: BUSTED!
N: He’s right, on both counts! Our parents took us to see the mighty Busted perform in this large tent thing in Liverpool. I’m sure it was their first tour so it was probably around… 2002?
S: So I would’ve been 8, and Nath 11. Wow!
What was your First-ever gig?
S: My first gig, if you could call it that, was a school concert with my first band Wasted Weekend. I was 13 and I played the bass guitar.
N: My first gig was shockingly also with my first band Long Shot (I know), it was a charity fun day at Llangoed village hall. I was on rhythm guitar duties and I must’ve been 15, and VERY nervous!
What first got you into music?
N: I’m sure I’ve told this story like a thousand times, but a friend from primary school brought the first Linkin Park record into school and I was gripped instantly! It then became the first record I ever bought. Sam’s was Las Ketchup if anyone was wondering.
S: Cheers mate, really wanted that out there! For me, it was just seeing my brother play the guitar at home. I got a bass not long after and started a band with my friends!
What is the one musical instrument you couldn’t live without?
S: My Baby Taylor, my first ever guitar & my main gigging guitar throughout my “music career”. It has a bright, resonant sound, and it’s tiny!
N: My Gibson Les Paul Junior. I waited 10 whole years for a lefty version, I’ll own this guitar forever… it’ll be the guitar my son puts on eBay when I’m gone.
What’s it like gigging with a sibling?
S: It’s pretty comfortable, there’s always plenty of banter and we have that natural understanding so we bounce off each other constantly.
N: Plus we usually travel together so that helps on long journeys!
Are there Any differences between playing as a duo and playing as a band?
N: With a duo, it’s all about dynamics, that’s why we switch instruments throughout the set. Some songs are super percussive, whereas some songs demand bass or electric guitar. it’s important to get that variety!
S: But most importantly, the set-up/set-down time is much shorter!
What is your Favourite song to play live as Southpaw?
S: The Proclaimers! [I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)] It gets the crowd singing and dancing every single time!
N: Agreed. It’s that or John Denver – Take Me Home, Country Roads. Always a highlight wherever we play.
What are each other’s greatest strengths?
N: I’d say Sam’s greatest strength is probably his acoustic guitar playing, he has that modern style nailed down, with the Sheeran style percussion and fingerstyle picking. That along with the smooth vocal style, which really rounds us out as an act.
S: I think Nath’s greatest strength would be his ability to pinpoint the right harmony for any given situation. It gives some of the songs that extra bit of authenticity, and in other cases, mixes things up a bit!
You can check out Southpaw’s profile by clicking here.
Watch them play ‘Take Me Home, Country Roads’ below!
Interview: Rhian Hastings Celebration Events
Recently due to ‘lockdown’ measures, some Wedding Fayre organisers have resorted to running their event online - one of whom is Rhian Hastings from Celebration Events Wedding Fayres, who are probably most well known as the brains behind the Venue Cymru Wedding Fayre. We had a chat with Rhian to see how lockdown has affected Wedding Fayres and the importance of continuing these events through the distancing period.
Tell us a bit about yourself and the services you provide.
My name is Rhian Hastings & I own Celebration Events. I organise wedding fayres across the North Wales coast, including the largest wedding fayre in the area, the Venue Cymru Wedding Fayre!
When did you start your business?
2007
What inspired you to create your business?
My own wedding! I wanted chair covers at my wedding & couldn't find any locally at the time, so sourced my own and ran with it. The venue dressing business took on my mum's wedding fayre business in 2012. The two worked nicely together as I met couples & suppliers along the way, and I could let them know about our forthcoming wedding fayres too.
What are the benefits of using your service for Couples getting married?
If a couple is looking for a supplier, then coming to a wedding fayre is ideal! You can meet the person face to face, as well as seeing their products in the flesh! I love the internet & the things you can find on there but I do think meeting someone & building up a relationship with them, as well as seeing, touching, tasting their products is an opportunity not to be missed! Some couples will spend a huge amount of time with their suppliers, whether it be on the day or in the run-up to the wedding. You need to know you can spend all day with them & I think first meetings at wedding fayres give you that initial chance. Wedding fayres also offer lots of on the day discounts that could come in very handy!
What are the benefits of your service for Wedding Suppliers in North Wales and beyond?
Attending our wedding fayres as a supplier gives our local suppliers the opportunity to meet our local couples face to face. They will be meeting their target market. Our wedding fayres are hosted in some of the top venues in the area, as well as having an online presence, whether it be on our social media platforms or within our website directory.
What were the biggest challenges for you in making a virtual event, in comparison to an event at a venue?
Timings! With showcasing as many suppliers as we do, to make the event as big as we can, so it’s beneficial for everyone involved; our couples & our suppliers..... it’s timing! From getting all the initial info out to our suppliers, downloading & saving all their info. Then it's on to plotting it all, scheduling it all across the different media platforms....it all takes time! 2 am is regular bedtime in the run-up to any event :)
What is your favourite thing about the Wedding industry in North Wales?
I love the suppliers! They are my colleagues, my friends & my supporters! I am very lucky to have the support I do from them & I think that we have all come together & supported each other so much since lockdown. Lockdown has just shown that we can all work together, and be there for each other, which in the long run works out, for the best, for our couples! At the moment there is so much support out there, and we all want to make sure that we all get through this.....not just for ourselves, but for our couples & for fellow suppliers! Our suppliers are so eager to get back out there, and anyone who has had to postpone their 2020 wedding to 2021 is going to be a very lucky couple.....you have keen, eager suppliers all ready & raring to go & they can’t wait to work on your wedding!!
Website
https://www.facebook.com/CelebrationEventsWeddingFayres/
https://www.instagram.com/celebrationev/
https://twitter.com/CelebrationEv
Interview: Euron Jones The Swing
The Function Hub is the home of North Wales Wedding Bands, and we feature some of the best musicians in North Wales as part of our bands. Here is an interview with Euron Jones of The Swing where we get to know a little bit about him and his musical history.
What was the thing that got you into music?
Having piano and guitar lessons while growing up!
Who are your musical influences?
The Beatles.
What is your favourite song to play live?
Don’t Look Back in Anger by Oasis.
What do you enjoy most about playing live?
The best thing is seeing the crowd enjoy themselves!
What do you feel is the hardest thing about being a wedding musician?
The amount of songs to learn at the beginning - but it’s all fine by the first gig!
Do you have any stand-out gigs that you've played in the past?
Most weddings’ second set - the crowd is always full of energy by then!
If you could create and attend a dream gig with 3 acts, dead or alive, who would they be and why?
The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix and David Bowie, as unfortunately I’ll never get the chance to see them.
You can watch Euron play Soul Man with the rest of The Swing on Facebook by following this link!
Blog: The Function Hub Sale
For the first time ever we are running a sale!
We are offering 25% off on selected bands and our duos until 12pm on Friday the 10th of July. We have come far as a company since starting out officially in early 2018, with over 150 events under our belts. A sale is something completely new to us, but we felt that it was time to celebrate the community that has been supporting us non-stop for over 2 years.
Here is a list of the acts that are included in the sale:
Four Kicks
From old school classics to modern day pop and rock, Four Kicks are ready to bring the party to your wedding or corporate event. Four Kicks are passionate musicians who specialise in Indie, Rock and pop, and are hugely experienced in the North Wales Weddings scene.
The Swing
Sophisticated and stylish male fronted four-piece swing & pop band that will take you back in time with a varied repertoire including swing, pop and floor filling classics. The perfect North Wales Wedding Band.
Wrapped Up
Powerful female vocalist complimented by a male vocalist, this trio is perfect for giving your event a big of showbiz glamour.
For fans of Tina Turner, Stevie Wonder, Dolly Parton, and anyone who loves a good duet.
Sound City
Sound City are an explosive function band performing hits from every decade. From old rock 'n' roll classics from the 50's and 60's to Indie, Britpop, Soul classics and an extensive Welsh Language catalog.
If you're looking for an experienced function band to get your party rockin', Sound City are certain to deliver.
Three Strikes
Festival Wedding Band ‘Three Strikes’ are ready to get those hands in the air as they bring those Glastonbury vibes to your event in North Wales.
Expect to hear the likes of Bruno Mars, Daft Punk, Ed Sheeran, Mumford and Sons and Arctic Monkeys.
The Fuse
The Fuse are an exciting, explosive and entertaining band with years of experience playing around North Wales. They have recently ventured into the world of North Wales Weddings. If energy is what you want from a band, then look no further - these guys are the bomb!
The 1965
Premium Wedding Entertainment from North Wales’ finest performers. If you’re looking for an extra special act for your wedding or corporate event, then look no further. Expect classics from Aretha Franklin, Michael Jackson, Beyoncé and Adele.
Southpaw Acoustic Duo
A band of brothers - Southpaw are a brand new Acoustic Duo for 2020. Perfect for Ceremonies, Receptions, and smaller Parties.
Interview: Jade Leung
Jade Leung is a Wedding Planner based in Llanrug. Here is an interview we had with her to let you know a bit about what it’s like to be a Wedding Planner in North Wales!
Tell us a bit about yourself and the services you provide.
I offer wedding planning and styling services. I work with modern couples who want a wedding that is both pretty and reflective of their own personalities. I make sure the planning proses is easy and that the day itself goes smoothly and is great for everyone involved from beginning to end. I also offer a hiring service that includes a small collection of modern wedding items.
When did you start your business?
The Summer of 2017, with the first wedding in the Winter.
What inspired you to start your business?
I’ve always enjoyed design, but I was never good enough at drawing pictures to do something with fashion or interior design. About 6 years ago I got some kind of ‘bug’ for weddings, and seeing how couples were planning extravagant days to show their love and affection. I’ve always believed that every couple should make their own rules and not follow any trends, and due to the fact I had been working in planning large events for years by then, the world of weddings seemed like a natural jump to me. I went at it to get a diploma with the Academy of Wedding Planners while I was on maternity leave with my second child, and that’s how it started!
What are the benefits to couples using your services?
Well, this is a hard question to answer without sounding full of myself! But I believe that the biggest thing is that I’m truly there for the couple to the extent that suits then. This can be the whole process, or just on the day itself. I feel like I’m a cool, calm person and I’ll solve any problem that might happen on the day, without anyone knowing that there was an issue in the first place! And of course, I’ll keep the place looking fantastic all day and night!
What is your favourite part of the wedding day to plan and why?
My favourite part is the styling - I absolutely love talking with the couples to see what ideas they have, and to help them make that a reality. From the stationery to the flowers, the bridesmaid dresses to the cake, and even the napkins! I like to think of every single detail! In terms of the day itself, my favourite part of the day is the first dance. As a planner, this point usually denotes the end of my work for the day, and I can leave everyone to enjoy the party soon after!
What are your favourite things about the wedding industry in North Wales?
It’s fresh! There’s so much local talent in North Wales and it’s a privilege to be able to work with so many of them. I feel like North Wales is an up and coming area in terms of pioneering new things in the world of weddings too, and every wedding doesn’t look the same any more! I’ve been very fortunate to be a part of a supportive community of people within the Wedding industry. We are all used to working on our own, so having a group of friends in the same boat is a blessing - especially in times like these!
What is your overall favourite thing about wedding planning?
Getting to know the couple and their story, and seeing them celebrate their love - soppy, I know!
You can find Jade at:
Her Website - https://www.jadeleung.co.uk/
Her Instagram Page - https://www.instagram.com/jleungwed/
Her Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/JLeungWed/
