Hospital Radio: What's your perfect wedding?

Over the weekend we went to a wedding.

They are not what they used to be are they? When we got married, we went small, Friday at the Bristol Registrar’s office and a mere nine people at the reception. We did have a big party in the evening, but I think it is fair to say the one we just went to was a little different.

Now we didn’t attend the whole thing just the evening, but this was more than we expected and we were so pleased we went. Our daughter’s best friend Laura was marrying Alex, so the main audience was a little younger than us, again as we expected.

The venue had been booked for a long weekend and anyone who has been to North Cadbury Manor (it’s near Castle Cary), will know that it looks as if it should be a National Trust property.

We should have expected something fabulous as the bride is a wedding planner, well we  were not disappointed and the evening we were there was a riot. Looking at the videos and photos on the various social medias outlets it looks like the weekend as a whole was just as good.

So, whether your wedding is big or small you can have a memorable day or weekend. But there seems to be so much to do, much more than on our wedding day. It is of course one of the most magical moments of your life, filled with love, joy, and celebration. Every detail needs careful planning, from the venue to the flowers, one aspect that can truly raise the atmosphere is the music.

Just like everything else creating the ultimate wedding playlist requires careful thought. You need to consider many factors, the mood you want to create, the demographics of your guests, and the music you like personally. Here are my thoughts on how to make your reception is a night to remember!

Before you unleash the playlist and summon the dance floor gods, take a moment to understand your guest list. Are you hosting disco-loving aunties, indie teens, or that one uncle who only dances to ABBA? Age, taste, and cultural oddities matter—unless you fancy a conga line led by confused pensioners and baffled youngsters. To my mind variety is key to keeping everyone entertained is ensuring there's something for everyone to enjoy.

Make sure to have those must-have tunes songs like "I Wanna Dance with Somebody" by Whitney Houston or "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey, they are guaranteed to get guests on their feet. During the evening, steadily increase the tempo to keep the energy levels high.

Don’t forget to leave time for the first dance, I’m not sure we had one at our wedding, but if you are unsure you could do a lot worse than choosing  “First Dance” by the First Time Flyers which talks about true love and won’t leave a dry eye in the house. Failing that “In Case You Didn’t Know” by Brett Young is  a popular choice for weddings, proposals, and anyone trying to say “I love you” without tripping over their own words.

There was a live band at the event we attended and they certainly enhanced the evening with a high energy set, but other couples may feel the simple disco is all that is required. Torbay Hospital Radio do a few events like this and they are always great fun, should you need anyone.

Anyway, it was great to receive an invitation to a wedding, we had the best time, just as you should at what is often the most memorable day of your life. Music is certainly an important part of that and crafting the ultimate wedding playlist is a labour of love that requires careful planning and consideration. But also, it should be something that is fun. Thanks to Alex and Laura for the invite!