Probably the biggest thing about getting your hair and makeup right for your wedding day is context.
What we mean is, think about the light you’ll be in, whether you’ll be inside or outside (or both),
and any weather factors that might come into play. Trust us, heavy makeup that looks great at night
under soft lights at the wedding reception can look quite frightening in daylight outdoors! Hair too
– long flowing hair looks lovely and feminine in still conditions, but add a little bit of wind and it can
end up a bit more Medusa-style.

One important thing to consider is the balance between what will look good in your wedding photos
versus what looks good in real life – you might be surprised to hear the two styles can be quite
different. Personally, we see the wedding photos as being secondary to looking your best on the
actual day and think it’s possible to find a balance. But if you want to look perfect in the wedding
photos, you may even want to consider organizing a photo shoot on a different day so you can
have heavier makeup to suit (see our earlier blog post about this).

Lastly, make sure you have a wedding hair and makeup trial run before the big day and take your
most honest friend along with you. You will have to pay extra, but truthfully it will be money well
spent. You need to be sure the artist you’ve chosen can interpret what you want and can do a good
job of delivering it – it’s too late if you discover on your wedding day that you’re not happy.

All the best for your special day

Marconi and Lisa

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This might sound obvious, but you might be surprised how many brides get caught up in the fairytale concept of getting married and overlook what style actually makes them look their personal best and still allows them to have a good time.
Although there is a standard sort of wedding dress style that is all the rage, not many of us have model figures, let’s face it! Strapless wedding dresses just don’t suit everyone. Nor do tight bodices. Or big hoop skirts. To look your best, highlight your best features and disguise the ones that don’t do you any favours. One underused example is sleeves, which can actually be very fashionable – just look at Kate Middleton’s wedding dress (photo).
There’s a high price for getting it wrong. One memorable wedding featured a beautiful bride who looked gorgeous in her tight fitting, fish-tailed wedding dress, but only discovered at the reception she couldn’t lift it up high enough to go to the toilet. It took over half an hour for three bridesmaids to get her in and out of the dress each time (it had something like 200 tiny buttons). At another wedding we’ll certainly never forget, the bride was dancing in front of us, arms in the air, having a great time when her sizeable breasts literally popped out of her strapless wedding dress. The worst bit was she didn’t notice straight away!
You want to look good. You will be in the dress for hours. You will eat and drink, you will need to go to the toilet, you will most likely dance. Your wedding dress needs to work for all of these things.
Take an honest friend shopping with you, one who will really give you the truth straight up. You’ll be grateful for years to come, every time you look at your beautiful wedding photos and remember the great time you had.
All the best for your special day
Lisa & Marco
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We have a unique perspective on wedding receptions, having been fortunate enough to be part of a huge variety over the years we’ve been playing together.

We’ve played big ones, small ones and in-between ones. We’ve played almost all of the top Sydney wedding reception venues as well as weddings in the Hunter Valley, Blue Mountains, Central Coast and even further afield. We’ve played wedding receptions involving almost every different nationality and age group.

While we’re playing, we’re usually located in a position where we can see almost everything that’s going in the room and we’re watching all night long. Unlike the other people working at the event, we’re not in and out of the room and we’re not moving around. We always have a bird’s eye view of the whole event and we also see and hear what’s going on behind the scene too. We’re there before anyone arrives and well after the last guest has left.

So, we decided to put together our top ten list of things to consider for prospective brides and grooms. Ways to do things more effectively save money and get great results too. We hope they’re of some help in helping you plan your special day!

Next blog – Tip #1, the most expensive is not always the best....

All the best

Lisa & Marco x

Choosing the right music for your wedding may well seem daunting, especially when you’re looking at live acts. We sometimes meet with brides and grooms who have a fixed idea of what they want, which is absolutely fine by us, but for those still in the planning stages, bear in mind that sometimes it doesn’t quite work on the night.

One particular reception comes to mind where the bride had specifically said she wanted soft pop only during the dancing part of the night, but no matter what we played, no-one was dancing. We were scratching our heads wondering what to do next when we thought we’d sneak something in a bit rockier – we’d already asked the bride if it would be ok to mix it up a bit if things weren’t working.

Within the first minute the dance floor was full and the requests were coming thick and fast. But to our surprise given what the bride had said, the requests were for rock songs and nothing else! We kept the songs coming, the floor stayed packed and the bride was beaming as her guests danced the night away.

The moral of the story is, weddings are not like any other event and that’s why getting a wedding music specialist for your special day is the key to success. There will always be so many different ages and tastes in the room, the act has to be versatile enough to cater for everyone.

If you book a top notch act like Tentrix, you’ll get everything from jazz and easy listening right through to rock, soul, dance, top 40 and everything in between – it’s what people always say sets us apart from the average band. And the very best acts will sense exactly what to play and when, to lift the mood as the night goes along.

Rather than choosing every song, choosing the right act is really the most important choice when it comes to wedding music.

All the best for your special day, 

Lisa & Marco

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The very mention of the bridal waltz ignites fear in the heart of many couples. Dare we even say perhaps this particular phenomenon is more commonly seen in grooms than brides?! This has been top of mind a bit lately for us; it’s obviously awful to watch a couple who really doesn’t want to be dancing in front of everyone having to suffer through an entire 3 minute song (it can really feel like a lifetime).

Not that it is always that way - sometimes we see couples who just love the show. At a wedding a while ago, we could have sworn the bride and groom had rehearsed for ages as they just were so good at it. The three minutes flew by and everyone was transfixed. They were naturals. We were surprised when afterwards the bride told us they’d only had one lesson and only a few subsequent run-throughs!

Then we’ve met couples where one person didn’t want to dance at all, but it was really important to the other. Then there are couples where neither wants to dance but they feel they have to do it for their family’s sake.

We would say, there’s always a way to keep everyone happy!

For couples that decide to dance but one or the other are not really comfortable, we suggest just dancing for the first minute or even thirty seconds, then have the bridal party join you.

For couples where neither wants to do it, just don’t. A heartfelt hug or a genuinely happy photo with your loved ones makes for a much better memory than an embarrassed first-dance performance.

We’ve seen many couples successfully skipping these formalities (including garter and bouquet throwing) in favour of creating their own and unique new ones.

We’re always happy to discuss any reception related issue at length with our couples – after all, it’s all part of the flow of the night and we can sometimes be very creative with suggestions!

Most of all, remember enjoying your special day is the number one priority. Make it one to remember.

All the best

Lisa & Marco
 

We have played quite a few “away” weddings, but last weekend we had the unusual pleasure of two in a row. First stop was the stunning Lindeman’s Winery at the Hunter Valley with the awesome Kate in charge. The real star of the show was the closet rock star groom who got up for a planned jam with us (Ben, you really rock – there’s a video coming!). Second up was Chapel Hill at Kurrajong, Blue Mountains, a beautiful venue with a lot of history and a really switched on team. We were looking forward to this one too as our bride was so lovely from the very first contact, we just knew it would be a good night.

Yes, it was a lot of driving, but a whole lot of fun as well; both weddings were exceptionally well organised and both couples were absolutely gorgeous too. Truth be told, we had a ball and we love getting away too! And all that time driving and talking got us thinking about weddings away from the city.

Of course, it’s not for everyone, but there’s something great about getting away for a wedding, particularly because many of the guests also stay at the same venue and it can turn into a group holiday atmosphere. We think outside of Sydney is nicer than heading overseas - when the wedding is just a couple of hours away, it’s accessible for everyone, even if they do want to head home afterwards, and still affordable if they want to stay. This weekend, both events had buses for the guests, so few people were driving and everyone was really free to let their hair down.

We had emails and texts from both couples already, and for this blog entry, we thought we’d let them do the rest of the talking!

(Emailed unsolicited comments for our website) “I have written some feedback, to add to the already copious amounts of praise on your website - Tentrix were amazing and really made our night something special. They sounded fantastic, with the perfect mix of music to suit easy dinner listening to full on party! But it was not only the big day where they excelled, it was also during the lead up to the event. Marco and Lisa accommodated our special requests with no fuss (which included the groom playing some songs with them), and also provided feedback and expertise to other areas of the wedding that really made planning the day so much simpler. 11/10 from us. Thank you Marco and Lisa for helping make our wedding the best day of our lives. Ben and Bo Searle.”

(Received via text) “Thanks so much for EVERYTHING on Saturday. You were amazing and I will recommend you to EVERYONE. You helped make our wedding day AMAZING. Nic (and Steve) xxxxx”

Thanks to you guys too – we really appreciate your messages!

Marco and Lisa
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We read with interest a story in this morning’s news here in Sydney about an English couple who sued their wedding photographer, saying he completely ruined their day.

Apparently he showed up on the wedding day covered in scars and when asked about them, said he was a cage fighter. The couple said in court that he missed filming the signing of the register, cake cutting, entrance of the bride and groom as well as most of the speeches. On top of this, he actually left the camera sitting on the ground still rolling while he went off to another wedding, so much of the video was taken up by the grass and the guest’s feet! Understandably, the bride Heidi said she was in tears when she watched the video, knowing the opportunity to record the day was lost. What a horror story....

The couple won their case as the judge agreed that indeed, the photographer had failed in his duty. As you read through the story you find out that the couple were awarded a full refund, plus their court and travel costs. Justice was upheld, but it’s a small consolation – no matter how much money they got, the day is gone forever and can never be recaptured.

But here’s the catch – the story goes on to tell us that the amount they were awarded, including the refund of the photographer’s charges, all their court costs plus travel, came to a total of 600 pounds, which is about A$976! Here’s where we lost all sympathy, wondering just how much the guy’s fee was in the first place?

Now, don’t get us wrong, we’re all about value and absolutely disagree with the practice some suppliers have of charging more as soon as the word “wedding” is mentioned. It’s frustrating and we know it. We’ve resisted putting our prices up, even though we know what we deliver is far beyond what most entertainment acts do.

But seriously, it’s clear the guy this couple chose to record their special day was beyond cheap.

It’s a good reminder that you need to find a balance between cost and benefit. More expensive doesn’t necessarily mean better quality of course, but at the same time, you should expect to pay a reasonable price for a decent job. Anything well below market would raise question marks for us – why so cheap? Make sure you look at all the other factors involved, not just cost. And if at all possible, meet the supplier before the day. That way you can vet the cage fighters before they show up at your wedding

All the best,

Lisa & Marco
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It's been a long time between blogs, but here we are! The summer wedding season in Sydney is always a busy time and this year has been no exception. We recently had an experience as we were going about updating the photos for our website which got us to thinking about wedding photos. And it came to us that perhaps there’s another way to approach the subject than tradition dictates.

Just to share our experience first – although we are regularly photographed at the weddings we perform at, we wanted to do some studio shots for various reasons.
The experience couldn’t have been better. They did our hair and makeup (well, Lisa’s hair and makeup!), made us feel really comfortable and easily captured the looks we were after. They also managed to capture the connection between us that people are always saying adds a special element to our show. When we went to view the shots, we were actually shocked – there were so many good photos it was hard to know which ones we liked best!

It suddenly struck us that studio shots before the big day could be an ideal solution for bridal couples who don’t like the idea of being dragged away between the ceremony and the reception for a long photographic session. We know some people like to have outdoor shots, but there’s no reason you couldn’t incorporate that in a pre-wedding photographic session if you wanted to.

Actually, in that instance it could be another good reason to have them done beforehand – we couldn’t count how many times bad weather has meant the couple can’t get the shots they wanted anyway. At one recent event, the bridal party actually resorted to having shots done at an indoor kid’s playground inside the hotel because it was pouring down outside!

At another wedding we played a while ago, the bride and groom had had their photos done beforehand and had a blown-up print on display at the entrance to the reception venue. We thought at the time that it looked really lovely, but hadn’t considered the other benefits we’ve mentioned here.

We reckon you still might want to have a photographer present at the ceremony and reception, maybe even doing a few staged group shots if you wanted, but perhaps in more of a journalistic style – a record of what happened on the day, photos that are on the whole not staged. People dancing, eating, making speeches, the bridal waltz, all those special moments you’ll want to look back on. A good photographer will do just that – and that’s another separate blog post!

It could be another great way to ensure you can relax even more and enjoy the day, knowing you’ve got great photos already in the bag. You don’t have any holdups to joining your guests at the reception, no concerns about weather, none of the anxiety that comes for many about posing for photos.

Something worth thinking about....

All the best

Lisa & Marco
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We’ve blogged before about the importance of the master of ceremonies (MC) and how a good one will help keep your wedding reception on time and on track. But recently we unfortunately again saw firsthand the negative ramifications of having an unprofessional MC. In all the weddings we’ve played, this one was memorable for all the wrong reasons.

First to set the scene – this wedding had been carefully planned over a long period of time. The bride and groom had chosen a five star venue. The food, service, table settings, cake and all the other details were just perfect. The bride looked absolutely stunning, along with the large bridal party. They’d even hired a professional MC to lead the event, or at least they thought they had.

We’d carefully coordinated the entertainment plan with a number of special songs at key moments, all dovetailing with the venue’s run sheet. Just before the guests arrived, we carefully ran through the night’s plan with both the room manager and the MC one last time. Everyone was set to go.

Things began to unravel early. Instead of announcing the bride and groom’s arrival and then inviting everyone to be seated for entrees as planned, the MC started announcing the speeches (which were due after the main course) straightway. More than half an hour later, the entrees were backing up in the kitchen, while the hungry guests had resorted to eating every bread roll on the tables and even the bonbonniere.

When the mistimed speeches finally concluded, we began playing some dinner music and entrees began flowing out to the guests, who unfortunately were already full of bread and lollies. But the trouble was not over. The MC took it upon himself to announce the bridal waltz, which was also scheduled for after the main course, to happen in 5 minutes! We quickly reminded him of the original schedule and he agreed to wait.

But the disarray continued, just as the mains were being served, Mr MC arrived in front of us again and said “Ok, play the bridal waltz now!”

There was no way round it this time - he’d gotten the bride and groom to go and change into the outfits they’d planned for the waltz and they were waiting behind the door to make their big entrance. The lights were duly dimmed and the couple came out, dodging the waiters who were trying to serve main course. Unbelievably, the MC then invited all guests to join the couple on the floor but the guests were in the middle of their meals! Of course, no one did.

The rest of the night was more of the same.

It’s a lesson for anyone planning a wedding – you need to be very careful who you put your trust in. It’s easy for people to talk themselves up prior to the day, but a proven track record and testimonials from other brides and grooms are the best reference.

From our perspective, we’re happy to MC the weddings we play at, for no extra charge – it’s not much extra work for us and we are able to help keep the whole event on schedule in tandem with the room manager.

Weddings are not like other functions. If you do decide to hire an MC, make sure you get one specialising in weddings, along with any other supplier; the venue, the flowers, and especially the entertainment. All things going well, you’re only ever going to have one wedding day so it pays to put your trust in people who deserve it.

All the best

Lisa & Marco
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