After two years of plans being put on hold, it’s shaping up to be a record year for tying the knot, with wedding venues booking up from Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks to Canterbury and Brighton.
Experts are predicting that 2022 could be the biggest year for the wedding industry and that demand for services such as wedding DJs, caterers and photographers will continue to be incredibly strong into 2023.
Wedding DJs in hot demand
Mint DJs have experienced the busiest start to the year since the Kent DJ business started 12 years ago, fielding three times as many enquiries as the same time last year. “A lot of engaged couples have already had to move their wedding date three, four or five times due to Covid lockdowns and restrictions, so it is understandable that many adopted a ‘wait and see’ attitude in 2021,” says Mint DJs founder and renowned international DJ – Tim Cullen.
“When no lockdown was announced in January, people became more confident, and enquiries have boomed. We are based in Tunbridge Wells and have a team of 10 professional DJs for hire across the South-East of the UK, catering to weddings in Kent, East and West Sussex, London, Essex and Surrey. While key summer dates are booking up fast, one advantage of having a team of wedding DJs is that we have more availability than our competitors.”
2022 and 2023 wedding tips
If you are planning your wedding this year or next, Tim has some top insider tips:
- Be as flexible as possible.
Saturdays from July to September are peak UK wedding dates; your preferred venue is likely to be already booked up for 2022 and possibly 2023. Consider an off-season wedding – winter and autumn weddings provide magical photo opportunities! – or a mid-week date. Many couples are now booking Sundays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
- Use video-chatting apps like Zoom or Teams to speed up planning.
One silver lining from the pandemic is how businesses have had to swiftly adapt to video communications – making it possible to review wedding suppliers from the comfort of your sofa. Tim advises engaged couples to take advantage of the convenience of video apps to get all of their suppliers secured as soon as the venue is booked. “This gives you an opportunity to see them face to face and get a sense of who they are as well as their professional experience,” he adds. “Once you know you have the right person for the job, put down the deposit and get that booking done!”
- Think creatively to make your wedding extra special
With so many nuptials taking place this summer, your guests may be a little over weddings by the time September comes around. Make your big day stand out with fabulous extra touches that guests will be talking about for months to come.
Ideas to consider:
- a professional saxophonist serenading you with your favourite song during your first dance
- hiring a selfie mirror or photobooth for a dash of frivolity that your guests will love
- a star-lit dance floor or dramatic up-lighting to add to the ambience
- illuminated letters for a wonderful backdrop to your wedding photos.
Mint DJs are a group of award-winning, highly professional wedding DJs who cover venues throughout the South-East of the UK. We also provide fantastic extras, such as a live saxophonist, selfie mirrors and LED dance floors. To get a quote or find out more, please get in touch.
Follow on: Instagram and Facebook @MintDJs
Writer: Dawn Gibson-Fawcett, Dawn Creative Media