My penultimate wedding of a manic 2022 wedding season saw me back in my favourite wedding venue at The Old Hall in Ely, and it didn’t disappoint!
Regular readers will know that I love this venue. I’ve been coming here for years and the theatrical atmosphere of the starlit dance marquee still doesn’t fail to impress me. Add to this that behind the scenes where you as the public don’t necessarily see, it all runs like clockwork for a supplier like me and it’s the ideal venue to work in.
So, to Katie and Tom's big night....
It was another outing for my LOVE letter frontage and as always, it looked good on the stage – especially with a little haze to make the lighting beams stand out.
I’d had a video chat with Katie and Tom several weeks before the wedding and the brief was simple…to play music from the ’80s to the ’00s and with only a couple of “do not plays” and no action dances such as the Macarena.
In other words, I was allowed to play what I thought would work on the night.
It’s nights like this that I live for. I’m trusted to do what I do for a living without the restrictions of a set playlist and without too many “do not play” tracks. Trust me, I use a LOT of discretion when I provide the soundtrack to your evening and I absolutely WON’T play the cheesy “wedding music” unless you want me to!
The First Dance
The Old Hall Ely is fairly unique in that couples get to “practice” their First Dance in private before the curtains between the dining area and the dance marquee are whipped aside to reveal them in the middle of the dance.
It’s spectacular!
It’s also one of the few venues where confetti is allowed, and it makes a really good shot for your photographer/videographer.
In the case of Katie and Tom for those interested, the First Dance track was Dan + Shay – Speechless.
After the First Dance, it was “open season” for me and although the brief was ’80s to ’00s, I started proceedings with a couple of ’70s disco tracks. They rammed the floor! See the playlist a little further down for the rest of the evening’s music.
The photos
Yes, I took a few!
There was rarely a moment where the dance floor was empty and it’s always difficult to show the best photos of the evening, but here goes…
And to the playlist...
As has already been mentioned, this one was entirely down to yours truly with only a couple of caveats.
As you’ll see from the photo’s above, it FILLED the dance floor for the evening!
Dan & Shay – Speechless
Wham! – Freedom
Four Seasons – December, 1963
Kool The Gang – Celebration
O jays – Love train
Trammps – Disco Inferno
Abba – Dancing Queen
Tiffany – I Think Were Alone Now
Wham! – I’m Your Man
Communards With Sarah-Jane Morris – Don’t Leave Me This Way
Whitney Houston – I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
Cindi Lauper – Girls Wanna Have Fun
Kenny loggins – Footloose
The B-52’s – Love Shack
Vengaboys – We Like To Party (The Vengabus)
Rednex – Cotton Eye Joe
DJ Ötzi – Sweet Caroline – Single Version
Geri Halliwell – It’s Raining Men
Gloria Gaynor – I WILL SURVIVE
The Spice Girls – Megamix
S Club 7 – Reach
Steps – Tragedy
Sophie Ellis Bextor – Murder On The Dancefloor
Moloko – Sing It Back
Haddaway – What Is Love
Eiffel 65 – Blue
Bryan Adams – Summer of ´69
The Fratellis – Chelsea Dagger
Chumbawamba – Tubthumping
Happy Mondays – Step On
Katrina & The Waves – Walking On Sunshine
Dexys Midnight Runners – Come On Eileen
Rick Astley – Never Gonna Give You Up
Cher – Shoop Shoop Song
SHANIA TWAIN – MAN! I FEEL LIKE A WOMAN
Cher – Believe
Kylie Minogue – Spinning Around
Robbie Williams – Rock DJ
Vengaboys – We’re Going to Ibiza
PJ & Duncan – Let’s Get Ready To Rhumble
Backstreet Boys – Everybody
S Club 7 – Bring It All Back
B*Witched – C’est La Vie
Bodyrockers – I Like The Way
M People – Movin’ On Up
Shamen – Ebeneezer Goode
Faithless – Insomnia
Darude – Sandstorm
Lmfao feat. Lauren Bennett & Goonrock – Party Rock Anthem
Run DMC V’s Jason Nevins – It’s Like That
Nicki Minaj – Starships
Rihanna Feat. Calvin Harris – We Found Love
Pitbull – Hotel Room Service
Lmfao – Sexy & I Know It
Rihanna – Don’t Stop The Music
Icona Pop feat. Charli XCX – I Love It
Bizarre Inc. Feat. Angie Brown – I’m Gonna Get You
MAJESTIC x BONEY M. – Rasputin
Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Take Me Home
Black Box – Ride On Time
Wheatus – Teenage Dirtbag
The Undertones – Teenage Kicks
The Killers – Mr Brightside
DJ Ötzi – Sweet Caroline
Are YOU getting married at Old Hall Ely?
If so, I’d LOVE to hear from you. I’m one of the DJ’s that works in Old Hall Ely on a very regular basis being based just 8 miles away from their front door. I’ve NEVER had an empty dance floor in there, and I’m certain I can make your evening reception one to remember for all the RIGHT reasons!
