Handy Tips
 
 
Handy Tips for a successful function

Planning a wedding is always a challenge. Even when you have found a venue, there are so many other things to decide upon, such as the menu, seating arrangements and place cards, and the list goes on!

Due to Something Purple's experience within this industry they have been able to compile the following handy tips, which include:

• Choice of music
• Positioning of the band
• Meals
• Guest seating



When it comes to music, you can leave the details in their trusty hands. Something Purple’s repertoire consists of a variety of music to suit all ages and tastes, and we are very experienced at "reading" the crowd on the night and choosing material to suit. We are more than happy for couples to go through our repertoire and inform us of their favourite songs (and songs they dislike). We will also accommodate all your requests when working out the order of songs on the night. But remember, although it's your special day, our aim is to entertain ALL the guests. If there are certain songs that are proven "crowd pleasers" which are prohibited by the bride or groom we will have to consider the success of the function and play the song to keep the audience happy where we have many requests on the night (thankfully this is rarely an issue).

If your chosen venue doesn't have a "stage", find out exactly where they plan to position the band. Ensure that there is enough room for the size of band you have booked. Also, find out if there are any loading instructions or access times, and let the band know with plenty of time to spare.
When working out your seating arrangements, seat older people as far away from the band as possible. We always aim to play at an acceptable volume level (especially in the early part of the evening) and will happily cooperate with your function manager if they suggest that the music should be softer or louder. However, in the later part of the night when everyone is dancing, the music is naturally louder, and many seniors may prefer to remain seated and talk. For the same reason, it is also a good idea to seat small children further away from the band. Babies and very young children may be affected by the sound level, especially when they get sleepy. Also, some children will want to run around, and may run the risk of hurting themselves or damaging equipment if they are positioned too close to the stage.
Unless your Reception Venue prefers to seat the band outside or in another room for their meals, it is a good idea to provide the band with a table close to the stage. This will ensure that they are always close by and accessible if they need to turn the background music down or control the volume whilst the MC is conducting speeches.

Everybody wants to dance, yet nobody wants to be the first on the dance floor... however, you can guarantee that if the Bride & Groom start dancing, the rest will follow! All it takes is somebody to make the first move, so if you want to see all your guests letting their hair down on the dance floor, be brave and get up there yourselves as soon as the band begins to play. You can get off after the first song if you want to. Something Purple will guarantee the rest will stay on and dance the night away!!

It's also a good idea to take care of the payments early in the night. This includes paying the venue, band, photographer, video person, and/or MC. This is a task that you can usually entrust to the best man, or one of the parents. However, towards the end of the evening, they may be too busy to worry about handing envelopes out. Also, we don't feel comfortable approaching the Parents or Best Man at the end of the night, as they're usually busy saying goodbye to the guests, and are usually very emotional from having seen you off. It's best for all if these things are taken care of at the beginning of the Reception, or at least halfway through the night - then we can all concentrate on having a good time. If you prefer not to carry cash on the night, a good alternative is to have all the payments ready in individual envelopes and hand them to the Reception Venue on your last visit prior to the wedding, or make alternative payment arrangements before the function. In most cases, the Venue manager is happy to hold on to the cash for you and hand it out to the respective operators at the end of the function.

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