Live music at your wedding- we meet Chris Hutchison to talk about music, influences, and that soulful sound.

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Wondering about the benefits of having live music at your wedding, over an iPod? We talk to Chris Hutchison about his passion for music, his influences, and why there’s a whole lotta soul that goes into performing on your wedding day.

Chris Hutchison is a singer, musician and DJ whose professional practice encompasses entertaining for well over 10 years as a full time muso.

When asked about how music plays into his daily life, Chris talks about how incredibly lucky he is to have his career in such an amazing industry. Getting to do what you live and love every day is an incredible way to work.

“Music is more than just a passion to me; It’s my entire life. I feel like I have a style that can only be described as my own, but if I had to, I’d say my style is a mix between James Bay meets Keith Urban with a side of Sam Smith.”

When I asked Chris about his influences, I wondered how he he went in the wedding world with a such a specific answer to his James Bay/Keith Urban/Sam Smith trifecta. Surely weddings are a special kind of non-genre, where you might hear The Macarena straight after an Ed Sheeran tear-jerker?

Well, he sent me some music. And yes, those influences might seem genre-specific, but when you hear Chris’ soulful voice, it transcends a genre. It leaves you clinging to the words he’s saying, the tone he’s using, the sounds of the guitar and that is a transportation that I wasn’t prepared for. So I guess he really meant it when he said his sound is his own; He could sing the alphabet, and I’d be wrapped.

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Interestingly, Chris plays most weddings solo. You have the option of having Chris at your ceremony and reception though, and yes, he has a full band if you prefer, too. If Chris is hired to DJ at your wedding reception, you can expect a show. There’s an option to have the band arrive and get the party started- all of your favourites, of course, with singing, guitar, looping tracks, drumming and even sax. Requests are welcomed- I checked.

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But really…

As a ceremony starter, Chris serenades the guests as they arrive, setting the tone with your favourite tunes. It is when you or your significant other begins their walk towards the alter though, that Chris really gets to shine. Your wedding song is an incredibly special, even intimate choice that means so much to you and your partner. You will be asked for years to come which song was playing when you walked down the aisle. And really, there is something so incredible about having that song played to you both by a human with the same capacity to feel, listen, and love those words he is singing. It is such a different experience to the Spotify download. Those little melodic tweaks, the way an artist can make a song sound like it was written just for you in this exact moment- that is what Chris Hutchison can do with a song. It will be yours, forever.

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I’d like to leave you with the two tracks below, and the link to Chris’ website which has several youtube videos of small performances. It is how I first heard his music, and how I felt connected to the songs I had heard a thousand times before, in a new way. If you are on the fence about having live music at your wedding, get in touch with Chris to see if he knows your special song. I’m sure he will do it incredible justice.

Laura x

10 Questions your wedding photographer wishes you would ask (and not the ones the internet tells you to ask)

10 Questions your wedding photographer wishes you would ask (and not the ones the internet tells you to ask)

These are not the usual run-of-the-mill questions that you will find on a wedding blog. Lara Furst of Lara Furst Photography puts her thinking cap on and poses the realistic Qs for you brides-to-be.

How to plan your hair + makeup style for your wedding!

How to plan your hair + makeup style for your wedding!

Guest blogger Katina from Blush and Bangs Beauty gives some insight into what she sees a lot of brides miss when they arrive for their trial.

IT'S ALWAYS WEDDING WEATHER

Living in SEQ we are lucky enough to have beautiful weather year round.  Regardless of Winter quickly looming, here in Brisbane we are about to enter the most beautiful stage of the year.   A perfect combination of clear skies, warm sunshine and men comfortably dressed to the nines in well cut suits.  Not to mention the impeccable array of blooms in season.

We wanted to put together a styling concept which displayed our endless Summer and although we are entering the colder months, a bright, floral wedding is achievable during any time of the year here.  Contrast against monochrome with small touches such as matte black flatware, our poolside couple are sleek, modern and young. (Danielle from Him & Her Events)

MODA EVENTS PORTSIDE

Moda Events Portside is Brisbane’s premier destination for events to remember.

Moda Events Portside has recently finished refurbishments to create an inviting and contemporary event space suitable for any occasion. An impressive location, impeccable service paired with award winning cuisine has earned Moda Events Portside the reputation to be one of the finest event venues in Brisbane. Since its opening, the venue has received many consecutive awards including RCQ Best Wedding Caterer and Best Function/Convention Centre Caterer.

Situated on the top level of Portside Wharf in Hamilton, Moda Events Portside is only 5 kilometres from the CBD and offers elevated waterfront views of the Brisbane River, the city skyline and the sun setting over Mount Coot -tha from your private all weather balcony.
 
Mention “The Wedding Harvest” when enquiring with Moda Events for your special gifts.”

Situated on the top level of Portside Wharf in Hamilton, Moda Events Portside is only 5 kilometres from the CBD and offers elevated waterfront views of the Brisbane River, the city skyline and the sun setting over Mount Coot -tha from your private all weather balcony.
 
Mention “The Wedding Harvest” when enquiring with Moda Events for your special gifts.”

WHIZ BANG WEDDINGS CLUB

Whiz Bang Weddings Club is a hub for modern couples to meet and mingle with rock star celebrants all across Australia and New Zealand. A concept dreamed up by working marriage celebrant Alana Salm of Weddings by Popular Demand.

Whiz Bang Weddings Club is all about making sure fab couples don't get stuck with a dud celebrant and a rubbish impersonal marriage ceremony. Alana Salm and her Whiz Bangers are vibrant, cruisey, funny and best of all - totally authentic people. They believe in doing things 'your' way and are total pros when it comes to creating a happy vibe. For any celebration no matter how big, small, formal or off the hook, there is a Banger for you just waiting to be matched.

At Whiz Bang Weddings Club we know that making a connection with the kind of peeps you want working your wedding matters to our couples.

A generic search on gender and location doesn’t help much with making a deeper level of connection with your celebrant.

Our goal is to guide couples and wedding aficionados through new ways of hooking up without wasting hours attending countless meetings, drinking too much coffee, blind dating your weekends away.

We’re also dedicated to supporting diversity amongst our celebrant community. No two weddings are the same and neither are our celebrants.

Whiz Bang Weddings Club has tough cookie terms and conditions enforceable to all members.

Our couples know that whatever dream team they book from either the Whiz Bang Weddings Club site or any of our hosted events, they will be getting the Real McCoy on their wedding day.

Check out our rockstar celebrants here!

Photo credits:

Celebrants - Alana Salm, Kath Tilly, Kate Veling, Sarah May Alexander, Annie Molenaar.

Photographers - Florido Photography, Soda Photography, Just for Love Photography, Frankly Photography, We are Twine Photography.

Taking the stress out of choosing a wedding caterer

With a myriad of caterers and vendors out there all offering deals and options to brides and their families, knowing that you have made the correct decision can be daunting. However, by following a few simple guidelines you can take some of the stress out of this decision:

1)      Do the research and decide on what you would like

2)      However, keep it simple, but nice – this makes the buying process so much easier

3)      Call for priced offers and options from vendors, but do provide them an outline of your expectations

4)      Then choose a caterer that displays the following characteristics:

a.       Listens and understands what you want and is willing to make that happen for you

b.      Has a track record of satisfying customers

c.       Is flexible and easy to engage and work with

d.      Offers a clear and easy to understand offering and buying process (watch out for extra’s and pricing)

e.      Makes good food!!

At Pizzantica – The Pizza Kombi,  we specialise in wedding catering and we have a strong track record in satisfying our Brides, their families and guests. Our approach focuses on understanding what the Bride really wants and then working with her and her family, being flexible in the way we package a unique offer that is just right for her and then making sure we follow through and delivery to her expectations.  

Our promise is to be flexible and easy to work with, bring great food and service to your special day, while doing this at an affordable price. Our promise ensures that we help make your wedding a memorable one!

Pizzantica 

Let Pizzantica – The Pizza Kombi help make your wedding a memorable one, with Restaurant Style Food and Service at your chosen venue. Our Cool VW Kombi Mounted Red Pizza Oven, together with our professional Pizzaiolo (Italian Pizza Chef), Waiters and Top Quality Italian/Napoli Style pizza - offer you a classy and unique catering experience. Offering: Antipasto, Entrée, Salads, Pizza Mains & Dessert and Italian Gelato.

Urban Spring Styled Shoot

Thank you to the following suppliers:

Photography - White Images

Video - Rabbit and the Bear

Planning & Styling - Enchanted Empire

Dress - Karen Willis Holmes

Headpiece - Shut The Front Door

Bride - Mille from Busy Models

Hair and Make-up - Blush & Bangs

Rings - Amalthea Diamonds

Suit - Black Jacket Suiting

Groom - Wade Boyes

Hire - Enchanted Emporium

Cake - Petal and Peach Bakery

Flowers - Gardenbird Flowers

Stationery - Yesterday Creative Letterpress

Venue - The Joinery