Wedding Ceilidh
Having played at hundreds of weddings across the UK and in France, and with two of the band members having opted for ceilidhs at their own weddings, we have considerable experience in making a wedding ceilidh successful.
By incorporating a ceilidh into your special day, You are choosing to add in an event that can be one of the most memorable parts of the wedding. The ceilidh (usually in the evening) helps create an exciting and inviting atmosphere that encourages your guests to engage and let loose, even some who you might not have expected to! It can also help add a grounding element to your day, with ceilidhs and dance having been part of weddings long before amplification and more modern styles of music.
Read on for some more details on how Levy Folk Collective could be a perfect option for your wedding.
Photos by Russell Lewis
How does a wedding ceilidh work?
As with any of our ceilidhs, your wedding guests are led through the dances by our caller, ensuring even those unfamiliar with ceilidh are able to participate and enjoy. Where we adapt for a wedding is ensuring you are featured in some dances (think a wedding photo of the couple dancing down a set under the arches of their friends and family) and ensuring the pace and timing is matched to your celebrations. We can also assess whether to shift the pace depending on the audience, for example include a romantic waltz or just keep the high pace dances going.
What will it add to my wedding?
Our music alone is exciting to listen to for any audience members watching on, but really the fun is to be had in joining in. With most dances involving hand holding, turns, sometimes swapping of partners, it is a very natural way to link together different generations and different families. For any singletons attending it can also be a great way to meet guests and give some great material to talk about for the rest of the evening!
Will it be a good fit with the venue?
Whether your wedding takes place in a grand hall, a picturesque garden, or a rustic barn, we can adapt to fit. From full-on stages through to the corner of a garden, we've played it all. The versatility of a ceilidh means it fits into all wedding 'vibes', from a more hippy celebration (think flower garlands) through to a black tie setup. Having played in private members clubs in central London through to barns with hay bails in, we've seen it work everywhere.
Can you do last minute requests?
We can usually accommodate requests including on the day. Previous requests have included; playing your chosen first dance track, allowing you to use the microphone to do a couples quiz in the break, shifting set timings due to the meal overrunning. Pausing for cutting of the cake is also very standard and you can just let us know on the night. If there are surprise elements to the event (e.g. a break dance set by the groom) just give us some warning and we look forward to seeing it! If there is a particular song or dance you would like us to include this should be emailed in advance.
Crafting the Perfect Ceilidh Wedding
There is no one way to do a wedding ceilidh, the comments below are simply practical points and suggestions to help you plan leading up to the big day.
In the month before
Planning your wedding timeline is vital to ensure everything runs smoothly, not just the ceilidh! With lots to think about (having been there), at least you know we won't need micromanaging in the build up, having done it many times before - we simply need the venue address and any parking instructions, along with start and end times clear. We can guide you on what timings are usually successful, and when to fit in other key moments such as the cutting of the cake.
On the day itself
We will normally arrive 1 hour before we are due to start, which gives us time to quickly say hello (this can also be with a venue manager if you are fully occupied) bring in equipment, set up and do a quiet sound check. We would typically use back doors where possible to keep out of your way. Should you be overrunning, at this point we will work out the best outcome to ensure you still have a good ceilidh, for example shortening the sets. And then the ceilidh is ready for you!
Next Steps
Still have questions?
If you have further questions, please contact us directly - we understand with a wedding you may have a few specific details to iron out. You may with to check our FAQ section first, which answers some of the more common questions.
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