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Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's Somewhere Over the Rainbow on ukulele

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Electric guitar - I would usually recommend acoustic guitar because it provides the most versatile sound. But If you're really looking a more mellow jazzy tone, I can play my Telecaster or Gold Top Les Paul copy.

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Basically, anything is possible within reason.... just ask.

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My venue won't allow amplification - can you play acoustically?​

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If at all possible, I almost always prefer to use some kind of amplification. Unplugged music can get lost REALLY quickly in a situation where there are lots of guests talking.

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However, I'm more than happy to play unplugged if:

a) You would prefer it for any reason, or

b) The venue has restrictions in place which prohibit amplification in some way.

 

In some cases, the venue will not allow amplification outdoors due to licensing arrangements. This can be annoying when the weather is great and everyone is outside, but in these cases the venue is almost always happy for me to place my amp just inside a doorway so it is still very audible outside. I can quite often even stand outside as well as long as my amp is inside, which kind of makes a mockery of the licensing restriction!

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Sometimes a venue has a complete ban on amplified music (usually due to complaints from neighbours), in which case all music will have to be unplugged.

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In any case, we will check all of this thoroughly before the day to make sure there are no surprises.

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On occasion, it's more appropriate to play unplugged in small wedding ceremonies, if the acoustics are good (small chapels, for example). I can make these kind of judgements when I arrive on the day.

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Do you need a power point?​

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In most cases, yes. I have a 15m extension lead so it doesn't need to be right beside me. On occasions where there is no power source available, my small amp is battery powered, so I can still use amplification. This makes my setup very versatile and I've never encountered a problem powering my equipment.

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My venue has sound level restrictions - would your performance trigger a sound limiter?​

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Please do not worry about this - these things are designed with bands / DJs in mind, and when it's just me and a guitar it won't get anywhere near the limit!

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When I am using loud backing tracks or doing a DJ set, this is of course a consideration, but it won't be any louder than a band.

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My venue requires Public Liability Insurance / PAT testing certificates - can you provide these?​

 

Yes - I am insured for up to £10 million in public liability, and all my equipment is PAT tested at regular intervals.

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What music would you usually recommend for a wedding ceremony?​

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Having done around 70 wedding ceremonies now, I have a good idea of what works and what doesn't work. I honestly think you can't beat live music in a wedding ceremony.

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If you're going to have live music in the ceremony, I would strongly recommend the following:

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• A few songs before the bridal party arrives, as guests are seated. This usually comes out at around 15-20 minutes, but of course if the bride is late by a few minutes (fun fact - they always are) I will continue playing for as long as I need to.

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• Walking down the aisle song - this is usually something special and personal to you. I will adapt the length of the song to fit however long it takes for the bridal party to walk down the aisle. Popular examples: Thinking Out Loud (Ed Sheeran), A Thousand Years (Christina Perri), Stand By Me (Ben E King), All Of Me (John Legend).

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• 2-3 songs as you sign the register (if applicable). This is just background music really, and should be something pleasant and unintrusive. You can choose these songs as well. This can be just instrumental if you wish.

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• Exit song - as you both walk out - almost always something happy and upbeat. Usually over in a flash, but I will typically keep playing until all guests have left the room, so as to provide the smoothest possible transition. Recently I have begin to play recorded songs from Spotify more often here (rather than live music) as it provides a more upbeat experience - so this is also an option.

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Having said all of that, it is 100% up to you what works for your own special moment, and I will always do whatever I possibly can to help realise your personal vision for the ceremony.

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Can I request a song that isn't in your repertoire?

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Absolutely! This is common for wedding ceremonies and first dances.

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I usually offer to learn up to two new songs for all events - so just let me know what you have in mind.

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I will just need a month's notice to learn any new songs before the event.

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I am thinking of a having a specific song for my ceremony / first dance, but I'm not sure how it will sound played by you - is there a way of hearing your version of it in advance?

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Yes indeed - if it is in my repertoire already, let me know and I will either direct you to an existing recording of my version of the song, or do a quick iPhone recording on guitar and vocals to give you an idea.

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If it is a song that isn't in my repertoire and I will have to learn it, I will strive to do the above wherever possible. However some songs with complex guitar parts / melodies do take a long time to learn - so I may have to request an additional £30 payment to demo the song for you. If you choose to go ahead with my version of the song on the day, this will be deducted from your final balance, so it won't end up costing you any extra.

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Can my audience request songs on the day?

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Yes! I have a copy of my full song list which I pass round (when appropriate) to guests at events, allowing them to request songs.

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I am also always happy to take random requests from the audience - in fact, they often don't need my permission to ask! Whether I will be able to do the song off the cuff live will really depend on whether I am actually familiar with how the song goes, and if I can pull of the guitar part on the spot with no preparation. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, but it's usually good fun.

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Can I or one of my friends sing a song?

 

At some events, I do have people ask if they can get on the mic and do a duet with me, or even sometimes play a full song with my guitar on their own. As you can probably imagine, such requests range from very drunk people who can barely stand up let alone sing, to people who are actually seriously talented - and everything in between.

 

I'm not too precious about my equipment and I'm usually happy to allow this, BUT please rest assured that I always exercise maximum discretion in such situations and will only ever allow anything that I am certain is appropriate to an event and that I think the client / venue will be OK with.

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I've also had friends of the couple do pre-prepared duets with me in wedding ceremonies and receptions a few times before - some of whom have been very talented. This is definitely something we can discuss beforehand and I'm always open to.

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What do you wear when performing?

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I will always discuss this with you beforehand and take your direction on dress code. Typically it is either:

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• White shirt with smart trousers and smart shoes, or

• Black T-shirt with smart trousers and smart shoes.

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Sometimes, events are themed and I do my best to match the theme. Or occasionally I do this:

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