A Touch of Vintage Style...

I love Vintage! I mean, who doesn't really? A reflection of the past all wrapped up in modern day chic. A nod to the heroes of Wartime or a hint of the old school done completely with finesse, glamour and so much love. Vintage seems to be all the current rage for weddings, with vintage detail from dresses to flowers, tea cups to bunting. I love it! But what about the music, I hear you say? (Yes, I can hear you learning that in my blog it's all about the music!)

Well, I have an amazing treat for you today as I feature the first of many amazing musicians and acts on offer to you. All of the musicians I am going to feature in forthcoming blogs are fine professional and amateur musicians that I would have no hesitation in supplying and have, actually supplied to our list of amazing clients from couples to corporate.

So, with a nod to the Vintage style, today's featured group is an amazing trio of singers called The Haywood Sisters. They look beautiful to start with, the epitome of Vintage glamour and style and the sounds they produce with sweet sounds and close harmonies are so easy on the ear you can't help but stop and listen.

Singing songs from the 1920s, through the Wartime years and in to the 1960s they offer a huge repertoire of songs that could fit so many themed weddings and events and they add the perfect sparkle wherever they go. Be it the ceremony, wedding breakfast, or the evening reception (or any corporate or other function you can think of), one of the best things is the ladies work with you to create your perfect set-list for you and your guests, and I've said before, it's so important to have the music YOU love.

Working with other musician colleagues, the ladies can even bring along a fantastic big band, which is surely the perfect musical climax to any Vintage themed wedding day? They are all self-sufficient too, down to earth and always ready to assist and perform, just give them a plug socket for their own PA equipment and they'll give you a musical experience you'll not forget.

Have a listen right now via this You Tube video:

Last night was a big event for the ladies as their new website went live, and even the website offers a fantastic feel of Vintage style and chic with that expected glamour and sparkle.  See what I mean? http://www.thehaywoodsisters.com/wp/

Fancy booking The Haywood Sisters for your wonderful Vintage themed event, then you can contact me directly or the ladies themselves and just mention that you heard about them here.

Love Vintage? Then you'll love The Haywood Sister.

Until tomorrow....

Love
Tabby xxx

Thank you Pinterest!

Morning! It's Monday again, but it's a lazy half term Monday with no school runs. I can hear the cheers across the country!

I spent Sunday afternoon familiarising myself with Pinterest, one of the few social network kingdoms I haven't investigated yet.. but now I have. How fabulous are some of the amazing photos and what incredible inspiration, ideas and concepts you can find. I'm quite overwhelmed with what I found!

Musical Inspiration

My interest in Pinterest was only jerked into reality when I was reading another blog when searching musical themed weddings on the internet and I found some incredible ideas using music manuscript, then shortly after there was a re-tweet on Twitter with some fabulous flowers made from manuscript, just like this one.

I'm really quite taken with them and it has become apparent that music in your wedding can play a much bigger role than just the sounds your hear. I've decided that every so often in my blog I'm also going to feature musical inspiration in many forms, and not just the audible sort!

Today's inspiration is a gathering of wedding flower ideas, but with a musical twist and flowers that might not like water, but will last a lifetime. I found a few pics on Pinterest which I've put together for you so have a look and marvel at the creativity of these people. 

Follow this link and it will take you to my little collection. http://pinterest.com/expressivomusic/musical-wedding-flowers/

I'm truly in awe of the artistry, perfection and how such a simple yet clever idea can result in something so unique, stunning and memorable. Enjoy, share and be inspired. Until tomorrow my lovely readers.

Love

Tabby xxx

The new 'Sunday Sounds' featuring Lyndsey and Mark

It's Sunday and it was fantastic waking up with the window open and birds singing; true sounds of spring and I love it!

I'm looking forward to today; a day of musical rehearsals and then relax time for the evening before two weeks of intense music-making. Therefore, I have decided that we need to make the most of the few hours relaxation we get on a Sunday, so I am re-naming Sunday 'Sunday Sounds.' The day when we get to listen to some great sounds and music.

My plan is to find you some great accessible music to listen to from the traditional to a little different, hopefully it will give you some ideas and inspiration, either for your own wedding or just inspiration of some great music to listen to.

So, where shall we start? Let's start at the beginning, with the traditional and for the Processional (the bit where the bride walks down the aisle!) sometimes there is nothing better than the sounds of Trumpet Voluntary by Jeremiah Clarke. Now I might be biased as I'm a trumpet player but it is superb!

This version is the fantastic London Symphony Orchestra performing the classic piece of music.

Lyndsey and Mark and the salute from the Slaithwaite Band

In December 2012 two lovely people, Lyndsey and Mark, married in the beautiful Yorkshire town of Holmfirth and by request from Lyndsey, she walked down the aisle to Trumpet Voluntary, played by me on this occasion and accompanied by the Slaithwaite Brass Band, the band which Mark plays with and Lyndsey is one of the 'WAGS!'

It was a fantastic day, even in December the sun shone and the music was so special, mainly because it was performed by friends and people who love the gorgeous young couple, and they had a fantastic trumpet player too!

Their service music also consisted of hymn tunes including Shine Jesus Shine and a fantastic, but slightly unusual choice of recessional music (the going out bit!) of a march called Killaloe, which is the regimental march of the Royal Irish Regiment.

This was chosen not because of any real connection to the Military but purely because Mark had played it several times when a member of a brass band and loved it. It's a rousing finish to any concert or musical event and I think it made the perfect finale to this wedding. Have a listen here and see what you think:

Music played such an important part in the wedding day of Lyndsey and Mark, with the Slaithwaite Band also playing at the evening reception, before a DJ took over the evening.

A mix of the traditional and unusual, enjoy the Sunday Sounds  that made Lyndsey and Mark's wedding perfect.

Love
Tabby xxx

Picture courtesy of Karen Walton Photography

A Little Bit of Italy...

Happy Saturday everyone and what as Saturday it is! A gorgeous sunny day, the doors and windows are open (complete with duvets hanging out of them!) and I've a day of wedding admin, or "wedmin" as we like to call it, plus I've got some great music playing in the background!

The sunny weather has reminded me of last year's lovely weeks in Italy, a nice little spot myself and the other half have found to hang out on the Tuscan / Umbrian border but we also spent time in Venice, Abruzzo, Rome and Lake Garda.

I found some great venues for weddings whilst we were there and some superb musicians to play at theme too so if you're thinking of marrying in Italy just get in touch for some ideas and gems of inspiration. But what about if you can't afford to travel to Italy, why not bring some of the culture to your wedding day with some fabulous Italian music. 

The home of so many great composers, including Antonio Vivaldi who wrote so much music played at weddings and the home of amazing musicians including singers who so many of us love to listen to such as Andrea Bocelli. I've just had his 'Con te Partiro' on full blast which is a real treat, especially this live version here from "A Night in Tuscany," oh how we could all do with a night in Tuscany right now!

Aside from the fact the song translates as Time to Say Goodbye, this song is special to so many couples as it's the epitome of romance, I know it's a favourite of my brother and sister-in-law who got married in 2011.

In fact, I'm really excited as they still haven't had their honeymoon yet what with one thing and another but we've clubbed together and sending them to our little piece of Umbrian perfection this Summer; so exciting!

Preparing for the Opera in Rome 

Other great music for your church service with an Italian theme could include music from the opera. We went to watch the wonderful outdoor performance of Bellini's 'Norma' in Rome last Summer, but Verdi's 'Grand March from Aida' makes an amazing entrance for any bride (in fact my Mum had it when she married in 1999!).

How about a great Tarantella to get everyone up dancing in the evening or emulate the relaxing feel of life in Italy with an amazing and subtle mandolin or guitar playing during the wedding breakfast, bringing images of the Amalfi coast.

A singer to sing some of the great traditional Italian songs heard at weddings in Italy, such as 'O Sole mio,' 'That's Amore,' 'Ti Amo,' and 'Buona Sera.'

Enough for now but I'll leave you with a few more images from one of the most romantic countries in the world.

Love
Tabby xxx

The Romance of Venice

The Wonder of Rome

The Vatican

Churches of Umbria

Let's Start at the Very Beginning...

What a lovely sunny Friday it is today, a great day for gaining inspiration for weddings! But here's a question, where do you start with finding your inspiration for music for your wedding? Well, to kidnap a line from the Sound of Music, "Let's start at the very beginning...a very good place to start."

You're engaged, congratulations! Maybe, in fact your lovely partner popped the question yesterday on Valentines Day! If so, huge congratulations. Usually the first things that brides and grooms think about are the when and where the wedding will be. Church, hotel, random outside location with an amazing marquee and so on...

Then there's the theme. Not everyone has a particular theme, maybe just  a colour scheme, but some may opt for themes such as Vintage, classical or black tie. The dresses are dreamed about then chosen, the honeymoon is booked, the budget is nearly spent and then comes the thought of music. I've already touched on this in an earlier book saying you should choose music you love, which is all very well but so many times I ask brides and grooms what music they like and they say "I don't know, can you just put something together, we don't know how to choose?"

So, ideas for gaining your musical inspiration can be resolved by asking yourself a few questions:

* What's your wedding theme? 
Can you choose music from that era or style, such as vintage, Italian etc.

A beautiful Italian church - Inspiration in itself xx

* Do you have a 'special' song or piece of music?
Is there a song that brought you and your loved one together
* Did you spend childhood's playing in music groups?
Perhaps you had a childhood playing in the local brass band and have just remembered how much you love the sound after hearing one in the park.
* What's your favourite country?
For instance, you had a romantic trip to Dublin and think a Ceilidh Band to dance to would get your guests on the dance floor, or you visited Rome and the thought of Italian Opera during the signing  of the register would set the mood perfectly.
* Do you want something really amazing to declare the start of the wedding breakfast?
Some people hire a toastmaster, why not use a fanfare trumpeter to declare the start of the wedding breakfast and the speeches.

By just asking yourself a few questions and listening or looking into your past you will find your own unique musical inspiration and for even more ideas you just have to ask me! I'm full of amazing ideas and can put you in touch with a huge host of fabulous musicians.

But for now, I'm off to gain some musical inspiration of my own.

Love
Tabby xxx

Happy Valentines!

Evening everyone! Sorry it's a short and sweet one today but it's been a mega day of music making!

Anyway, Happy Valentines Day! Has it been wonderful or were you forgotten by your loved one?

I've been a lucky girl and what's better is I've spent the day listening to some great sounds and looking at some great live bands for forthcoming weddings.

There is such a hype around Valentines Day and the market for cards and presents is astounding, but what about Valentines musical memories? They can be free.

If you look back on this Valentines Day tomorrow or next year, what piece of music will stick in your mind as your musical memory of today?

Mine has to be "Pussycat, Pussycat, I love you.." As it will forever remind me of an incident with a Valentines rose, a pilfering cat and my other half at 3am this morning! Romance in a fun musical form!

Have a great night everyone and see you tomorrow!

Love
Tabby xxx

Music is what Feelings Sound Like....

2010, Singapore.... one of the most beautiful countries I've visited; it's just clean and tidy and perfect! I remember sitting in our hotel watching a fabulous couple get married and they looked wonderful!

I wasn't there for a wedding but rather some professional musical work (the best bit of being a professional musician...travelling to fabulous places!), judging a major youth music competition and that year myself and my now rather gorgeous partner Simon were two of the four-strong judging panel. The very talented musical soul that he also is, Simon had composed the test-piece for all the bands to play and the organisers had requested the music be composed with the festival theme in mind, which was "Music is what Feelings Sound Like..."

We worked with musicians from Malaysia, Singapore, China and New Zealand delivering workshops and musical activities on this theme, working in several different languages and it was a fabulous trip, which had been confined to the deepest darkest memory bank until I spied this picture on Facebook yesterday that bought it all flooding back.

I know you're wondering how in heavens my reminiscent waffle relates to music for weddings but it really does. I mentioned the other day that you MUST choose music for your wedding which you love, not what you think people want you to choose and this quote sums it up perfectly don't you think?

The music you choose for your wedding has to reflect not just you, but your feelings of the day: love, happiness, excitement and so on....

Every detail of your wedding day reflects your tastes and feelings, so why not your music too? Quite often it seems that musical contributions to the wedding service and reception are not considered until after every other detail is finalised if there is any budget left over, if even considered at all. A DJ for the evening reception comes high up the list of priorities but not music for the rest of the day, but I can't tell you how much of a difference great musical sounds make to the experience and enjoyment of you and all your guests and if it's live music all the better.

Music has a magical effect on us all, pulls at the heartstrings, makes the hair on your neck stand on end, creates and nurtures emotions like nothing else, surely you want that magic and emotion on your wedding day too?

To create the perfect ambience on your wedding day just let all your guests share in the music that YOUR feelings sound like, and they'll remember and hear the day  forever.

Love
Tabby xxx