It's less about what I am, more about what happens to your day.
You'll have seen me on Instagram, or at your mate's wedding.
What you saw was the singing. What you didn't see: I'd been hosting that day since the drinks reception.
I learn your room before anyone sits down. I run the entrances. I lift the speeches.
And, yes I sing.
right then, introductions
Hiya. I'm Howard.
When we first meet, I'll talk to you for a good hour before your wedding even comes up. That's not me being polite - the more I know about you two and your crowd, the better your day runs.
I've been doing this twenty years. Not as a turn who arrives, plugs in and performs at your guests - as the person quietly running the room from the moment the drinks are poured.
I don't say yes to every wedding, and neither should you. You only get one shot at this day, be ruthless about who you trust with the atmosphere.
"Best time ever!!!!!! Everyone keeps telling us how unreal you were. Thank you soooo so much" Ashleigh & Matt | Middleton Lodge, Richmond
"It's a collective experience."
Don't let the middle of your day die.
Between your ceremony and your evening there are about three hours to fill. Dinner. Speeches. At most weddings, that's a room full of people quietly eating and waiting for something to happen. You've probably sat through one.
By the time anyone sits down at yours, I'll have been hosting since the drinks reception - so I'll already know your room. Music intros into the wedding breakfast: bridesmaids, groomsmen, best man, then the two of you, lined up and introduced to music we've fitted together. Your speeches introduced properly, with a line for everyone. And my main thing: two performances during your dinner, the atmosphere a wedding breakfast doesn't normally have.
"An absolute blast from start to finish. Thank you so so much Howard. You are incredible and made our day the party that we always dreamed of. So grateful" Alex & Craig | Owen House Barn, Mobberley
Two weddings. Opposite starts. The same ending.
First song, between starter and main, and the whole room is up singing it back at me. Nothing needed warming up - my job was to catch it and keep it.
At our final meeting, a groom told me straight: don't involve me, that's not me. So I left him alone. All day. At the end of the act, he asked for the mic, stood on his chair and sang the whole song.
Sometimes your guests will surprise you.
Some rooms arrive ready. Some need working, and warming, and a bit of patience. Nothing gets pushed on anyone - it unfolds naturally. I'll have a plan from our meetings, I'll know your key characters, and I'll judge the room on the day. Nobody gets singled out, nobody gets pressured - and the end of the night looks the same either way: everybody up, dancing, going nuts.
(The things you're actually wondering)
Straight answers
How long are you with us on the day?
I arrive two or three hours before your ceremony to set up, join your drinks reception, and run your whole daytime: intros, two sets during dinner, speeches, cake. When the day turns into the evening, I pack up and leave you to it.
How far will you travel?
Anywhere. Over a three-hour drive I'll ask for a hotel the night before and about £100 towards fuel. Abroad is travel and expenses. Simple as that.
What exactly are you?
Honestly - I find that one hard myself. Singer, host, hype man, conductor of the whole room. The better question is what your day looks like with me in it. That's what this page is for.
What if our guests are shy?
Nobody gets singled out and nobody gets pressured - that's the whole craft. People join in without noticing they've joined in. And sometimes your guests will surprise you.
"Aside for actually choosing to marry each other, Howard is the best decision we made! The energy he brought to our wedding day made it a party from start to finish! He made the day everything we wanted and so much more! If you do one thing to make your wedding special make Howard that one thing!" Fran & Nicole | The Firehouse, Manchester
Press one. They wrote these, not me.
The best decision we made
Please note:
I only take 30 weddings a year.
When they're gone, they're gone.
(31 if it's one I really can't say no to.)
"People book me because..."
Come on then, let's do this
Tell me about your day - your names, your date, and a line about what you two have in mind.
I reply to every enquiry myself. Then we meet - at my house or online - before I take any booking. I don't work any other way. Once you're booked, we sit down again a few weeks before your day and plan it properly: your key characters, the stories, the music for your intros.
I only take on weddings where I know we'll make history together. When the vibe is right on both sides, that's where the real magic happens.
"It was honestly epic from start to finish and we can't thank you enough. All of our guests have said how good you were and every part from start to finish was insane. Wish we could do that every weekend." Jack & Leah | Hobbit Hill, Clitheroe
