I hope to ease some of the stress you may be feeling if you are struggling with the decision of whether to postpone your wedding or not.

Begin by answering the following questions:

1. Will I sleep better if we postpone the wedding?
2. Would we, as a couple, feel a weight lifted if we postponed the wedding?
3. Would we be more comfortable financially if we postponed the wedding?

If you answered ‘yes’ to any, if not all three of the above questions, then my advice to you would be to postpone your wedding.

Once you have made a decision, you may feel relieved but how you proceed with postponing and in particular choosing a new date, could mean your relief is short-lived.

When postponing, and in particular during COVID 19, where many couples are postponing, its important to be flexible with your new date.

TOP TIP NUMBER 1 : Postpone to a midweek date. 

Of course, this may not be ideal for everyone. However there  are massive benefits if you were to choose a new date which is either off peak ( Nov/Jan/Feb) or midweek ( Sun to Thurs).

The main benefits are that it is more likely that your suppliers will have availability for a midweek or off peak date and most would be happy to transfer over the booking meaning you don’t lose out on deposits and you don’t have to spend hours searching for new suppliers.

Secondly, if you are booking new suppliers, many may offer a midweek or off peak discount.

TOP TIP NUMBER 2: Get a shortlist of dates.

If you are concerned about losing out on suppliers, it is important that you don’t choose a new date without consulting the suppliers who matter most to you.

Here is a step by step guide in terms of how to go about postponing.

1. Contact your venue and check availability for multiple dates. ( Maybe 3 or 4 different dates, include at least 1 midweek or off peak date)
2. Send this shortlist to your must have suppliers immediately. From there you will see which date is most suited.
3. Confirm the date with the hotel and your must have suppliers.
4. Send email to any other suppliers regarding the new date. Some may be available and some may not but by communicating with your must have suppliers first it means you are prioritising. Suppliers who are not available should be able to provide recommendations.

My final tip is the most important.

TOP TIP NUMBER 3: Don’t listen to anyone else only yourselves and your suppliers. 

We live in Ireland. A place where everyone knows someone who knows someone who was meant to get married and they called off the wedding because fo X,Y and Z or they may indeed know someone who went ahead with the wedding. Whether its your sister, Uncle, Mother in Law or postman, Do what makes you sleep better at night. Planning a wedding should be a wonderful exciting experience. Stressful even in normal circumstance, but if you are feeling overwhelmed then listen to your gut and do what helps you get through this time and back to enjoying the planning as much as possible.

Communicate with you suppliers – ask questions

Communicate with your partner.

Whether you postpone or simply want to have a Plan B, know that your day will happen and it will be magical. Give yourself every chance of enjoying the planning.

The post How to Postpone a Wedding. appeared first on Kayla McDonagh.

Intimate weddings are very popular in Ireland. We have some of the most romantic intimate wedding venues in the world which over flow with culture and character.

When planning your intimate wedding in Ireland, it is important to book suppliers who  are warm, personable and who you get on with as unlike larger weddings where suppliers get lost in the bigger crowd, they will now instead be spending more time with you and your smaller number of special guests.

Working with warm, personable suppliers for your intimate weddings will have a massive effect on the entire atmosphere of your wedding day and it wont go unnoticed by your guests either.

Kayla has worked with many couples who have planned and are currently planning they every own intimate weddings and knows the importance of making every guest feel special and of course the couple themselves.

With intimate weddings becoming more popular, Kayla has created a specialist package to suit these smaller venues.

The Intimate Wedding Day Package includes:

• Ceremony Music with guitarist and piano backing track accompaniment
• Pre-reception 2 piece
• 3 piece After Dinner/Reception Band

Couples often struggle to decide on evening after dinner/reception entertainment when having an intimate wedding as usually, the room is much smaller and a large full band ( with drums) would be too loud and could possibly overwhelm your guests. This is why Kayla’s 3 piece acoustic band is perfect for weddings of up to 70 guests.

The 3 piece acoustic wedding band includes 3 vocalists (Kayla and 2 male singers) , guitar,  bass guitar and percussion (stomp box and tambourine) .

The set list includes classics which you and you guest will dance and sing along to but can also be as mellow or lively as you desire.

Kayla makes a huge effort to get to know the couple and their guests throughout the wedding day and this make such a difference to the atmosphere on the night. Interaction with the crowd is important at making any wedding, no matter its size, a success but it is vital for intimate weddings that the guests and couple have fun and feel comfortable.

The post Intimate Weddings in Ireland appeared first on Kayla McDonagh.

The Awards took place in the Inn at Dromoland in November and Kayla was overwhelmed to receive the award. It comes after a hugely successful and exciting year for Kayla with s many wonderful memories from so many special weddings .

Kayla would also like to congratulate her friends in the wedding business who also took home the gold at the Brides of Limerick Awards.

DJ Jonathon – Best DJ – Jonathon also works with Kayla and Lady and the Tramps providing the Full Day for 2K package.

MrsRed Photography – Best Photographer

Cakes by Deborah – Best Cake service

Tony Clancy Photography – Best Personality

McNamara Printers – Best Invitations

The post Best Wedding Ceremony Musician/Singer of the Year 2018 appeared first on Kayla McDonagh.

1. How far do you travel? Kayla travels nationwide and abroad. Of course, a larger travel expense is added for weddings which are more than 2.5hours away or weddings which require and over night stay.
2. What does the price include? Kayla will not give a specific quote until she knows where the wedding will be held.This is so she can factor in the additional travel cost, if any. You will receive multiple quotes for the multiple packages Kayla offers. There are no extra costs. Once Kayla sends you the quote it does not change unless there is a venue change.
3. How many songs do I need? If getting married in a church you will require 7 songs minimum for a full church ceremony or 4 songs for a civil/humanist ceremony. Check out Helpful Tips to see the full ceremony music layout for both church and civil ceremonies.
4. When will you arrive at the ceremony venue? Kayla arrives 1hour or more before the ceremony start time. This is to allow time to set up the sound system before guests arrive.
5. Do you bring your own sound system? Yes and I prefer to use my own because I know how to use it and it takes less set up time to use a system I am familiar with
6. Will you play or sing as guests are arriving? We always do a sound check and run through some fo the songs we will be playing. We do perform while guests are arriving but at a low volume to allow guests to mingle too. Often if we play at full volume people feel as if they should chat and this creates a strict atmosphere. We stop playing 5 to 10 minutes before the bride/grooms arrival as by this point the church is full of people chatting and it makes the  entrance song more special.
7. Do I have to choose my wedding music from your set list? Absolutely NOT! Kayla has a massive repertoire of music – Too many songs to list! The set list which can be found here > Setlist , is just a starting point and will hopefully give you some inspiration. Kayla will learn any amount of new songs if she doesn’t already know them as long as they are emailed to her 4 weeks in advance.
8. Do I need to have religious songs in my church wedding service? Yes. There are certain parts of the mass which require religious hymns. Kayla can help put a set list together that will comply with the majority of parish offices and Priests but you will need to clear song choices with your Priest.
9. Can I change or add accompaniment? Yes of course. Accompaniment can be added to any package at any time up to 1 week before the wedding. Accompaniment cannot be taken or changed 3 weeks before the date. Kayla will always confirm the accompaniment option 3 to 4 weeks before the wedding date. This is because Kayla must be fair to the amazing musicians that she works with. It is not fair to give musicians a date and have them mark it off in their diary and then tell them closer to the time that they are not required.
10. What is the deposit? The deposit is €50 and this can be paid here > Step 1: Book Now
11. How can I pay the balance? The balance can be paid via bank transfer one week prior or by cash on the wedding day itself.

The post Frequently Asked Questions – Ceremony Music appeared first on Kayla McDonagh.

Today I’m discussing what to splurge on and what to save on in terms of your wedding budget.

Firstly lets point out the basics!

1. Every couple have a different budget. Try and stick to yours and ignore everyone else.
2. Every couple have a different “dream wedding” in mind. Prioritize what you have to have and what you don’t!
3. Every wedding may vary in size. Invite people who you want there.
4. Every couple wants to have the best day of their lives!

Where to save?

Whether your budget is on the smaller side or on the bigger side, there are ways to save on your  wedding day.

The first way to save across the board is to choose a date which is ‘Off peak /off season’ or midweek. Suppliers like myself, usually give a discount or special promotion for Midweek weddings and off peak weddings.   So even with just choosing the right date for your wedding you can save some dollars! Then its a case of looking at where further savings can be made..

But where do you save? Here are my tips on deciding what elements to save on!

1. Write a list of what you need. (Venue, dress, band, photographer etc)
2. Highlight what is most important to you.
3. Write a new list of what is most important to you and a second list of the ‘not-needed’ elements.

Once you have the priority list for your dream wedding, start to research suppliers and allocate the appropriate budget amount to each element. I suggest allocating a little more to the elements that are the most important and a little less on the elements that aren’t as high on your list.

Once you have the first list researched and your budget allocated, you might be left with some room in the budget for something that was on the second list. Or you might need to remove something from the priority list… BUT WAIT!

Before you go removing something from the priority list, research and communicate some more with your suppliers and see is there a way to reduce the cost.

How to save

1. A smart guest list: This is an obvious one but an important one. You wouldn’t believe how quickly the numbers can creep up. Be strict and don’t listen to any family members. Only invite who you want there!
2. Packages are your friend: Communicate with your suppliers. Know what they can provide. Often enough suppliers can do more than one thing and a package from one supplier is always cheaper than hiring two individual suppliers. 
3. DIY: Doing stuff yourself is great but make sure you don’t put too much on your plate! As long as it isn’t too much, DIY to your hearts content! 
4. Downsize: The first way you can save by downsizing is by reducing the size of your bridal party. The cost of getting a big bridal party wedding ready can quickly add up. Make sure to only have the really important people stand beside you. In terms of suppliers, You don’t need to go for the most expensive package. Photographers, Videographers and singers like myself often provide more budget friendly packages so you can save but still avail of our services for some part of your day. For example, booking your desired photographer for the ceremony up until the speeches instead of the full evening. Or booking me with the piano backing track option instead of live piano. There are many ways to downsize  and save without skimping on the end product.

Where to splurge?

Its very simple in my mind .. Good Company. Good Food & Good Music but apart from that…

1. Photographer: Good photos will grace the walls of your home, they will be in photo albums that your great great grandchildren will see. A good photographer will capture your day and an experienced photographer will be able to create amazing shots no matter what is thrown at him/her. Photos will last forever and could possibly be the only thing you have to look back on if you are not getting a videographer.. which brings me to my next point….
2. Videographer: If you can afford a videographer then go for it! Even if its just for the ceremony. In years to come it would be wonderful to look back on and see/hear people who may no longer be around.
3. Venue: A good venue will offer an amazing wedding co-ordinator too who will turn in to you life line when it comes close to your wedding. Before finalizing your booking make sure you have been happy with the speed of the communication. If you are waiting for a response now then you will also be waiting one week before your date. You and your guests are also going to spend most of your time here so make sure you pick a venue that is PERFECT! The better venues will also offer things like candy carts and some little extras that other hotels may not provide. So research and splurge on the Venue that offers more in terms of the people and their packages.
4. Music: (I was obviously going to add this one) But seriously! Music while you walk up the aisle, music when you walk out as a newly married couple and the songs in-between,  your first dance and the hours of entertainment needed after your dinner has finished to give you and your guests a night to remember. Music takes up a massive part of your day and is needed at all the important moments to make them even special. Splurge if you can. If you find a band or singer that you love and they are a little outside your budget, find a way to book them! You will not regret it!

I could go on and on but I hope this helps some of you who may be in the early stages of wedding planning. Remember to always do what you want! Its very easy to get carried away when you have people in your ear about what you have to have! You only have to have what is important to you and spend as much as you think appropriate.

and remember … GOOD COMPANY, GOOD FOOD AND GOOD MUSIC!

I offer a midweek and off season price reduction and a full day music package for 2k with Lady and the Tramps which covers all of your music from start to finish!

The post Splurge VS Save appeared first on Kayla McDonagh.

There is a huge debate amongst brides, grooms, bands, DJs and everyone else with an opinion lately about whether a band is better than a full night DJ.

I had a great chat yesterday with a friend of mine who is a fantastic wedding DJ about the band vs full night DJ dilemma. It got me thinking and I thought why not write a post about it and put my opinion out there for all of you to read. I might (probably will) annoy some of my fellow industry colleagues but it wouldn’t be the first time!  muwahaha!

So who wins? First of all lets look at some basics:

1. If you book a crap band  or crap DJ NO ONE WINS!
2. If you book a band who may be amazing at what they do but whose style you or your guests won’t like then NO ONE WINS!
3. If you book a fantastic young DJ who plays all the new techno dance mixes but your guests are on average 50 or older and only want to jive or waltz then NO ONE WINS!
4. If you ask your band or DJ to solely play music that only you like without taking your guests into consideration be prepared to dance alone…. and ultimately NO ONE WINS!
5. If you spend the night chatting in the corridor or at the bar instead of being on the dancefloor then the majority of your guests wont be on the floor either. NO ONE WINS.

Get the picture?

So having said that, here are my thoughts on the wedding band vs full night wedding DJ dilemma.

1. Priorities – If like me, You love live music and love a good live band then book a band! If you don’t care too much for live music then spend your money elsewhere. Book a full night DJ and use some of the money saved on another element of your day that is higher up on your dream list! Maybe another €1,000 on your honeymoon or towards a videographer . If music is your thing and you appreciate good musicians then you will find and book a band that suits you!
2. Budget – Its not all about money but sometimes it is. When it comes to a wedding, we are talking thousands. when it comes to a band we are talking thousands. (2k on average for a 5 piece band) . When it comes to a full night Wedding DJ we are talking hundreds 700 – 900 on average) . So immediately, based on budget alone, your decision can be made for you.
3. Wedding Size – In my opinion the smaller the wedding the more live music you should have. I personally think a live band can capture a smaller crowd and engage them in their performance more easily than a DJ. In saying that , if you book a good DJ then they will do the same.
4. Talking point – I believe that a band can be the highlight of the night. From my own experience, I love having people come up to me and telling me that my voice is X, Y and Z and complimenting the band on our performance. A good band that impresses a crowd with their interaction AND musical talent can be the highlight and talking point of the night. Maybe a lot of your family and friends are in to music or are musicians and you want to impress them with a fantastic live band. A good DJ is also a performer but without an instrument.

Should you book a band or full night DJ?

Ask yourself the following questions:

1. Is live music important to me? (If yes then book a band)
2. Have I got room in the budget for a good band who’s music I like ? (If yes then book a band)
3. Do I want to have the best night of my life dancing with family and friends at my wedding?

If you answered yes to the last question then whether you book a band or go for a full night wedding DJ, Make sure to talk to them, ask questions, know what they do, how they perform, what they perform, read reviews and see them live. ( Don’t just see them live for 20 minutes, make an effort to see their full set as you need to see the big picture and so many things can effect the earlier part of the night that are outside of the band or DJs control) If you do this then whether you book a band or a full night DJ , You will have the best night of your life!

I tell couples all of the time who inquire with my band, Lady and the Tramps, that a wedding band (or DJ) is like a pair of shoes. You need to find the right fit. So find the right fit – Priorities, Budget, Wedding Size and Talking point.

So who wins? Band or Full night DJ?

That is completely up to each couple individually. You cant compare your decision with another couples decision. They may hate live bands, may have a bigger or smaller budget. They may have spent a fortune on another element of their day. You wont please all of your guests with your decision but if you book a professional supplier that works for you and who you trust, then you have made the right decision. Now help them out and get on that dance floor!

A little side note on Bands who offer a Band and DJ Package. Make sure to see their DJ live as well as the band itself. Ask them for available dates where you can see the full package in action.

The post Band VS Full night DJ appeared first on Kayla McDonagh.

Weddings are such a wonderful excuse for family and friends to come together. Unfortunately some of us may not have everyone by our side.

Should you include loved ones who have passed during your wedding day? In my opinion yes. I think it is a beautiful thing to do and if done in a way that doesn’t cause distress to you or your guests then it makes the day more special for everyone.

How do you remember a loved one on your wedding day? There are so many ways to acknowledge loved ones who have passed.

Lighting a special memorial candle is a very common way to do this and can be included in both a religious and civil ceremony. If getting married in a church, a special prayer of the faithful could be included. Or a special reading in a civil ceremony.

A personal favourite of mine is having a small photo on the Brides bouquet or on the inside of the Grooms jacket. This is very subtle in terms of the guests and other family members. It is completely for the Bride or Groom and is not a public remembrance. This intimacy can be so special.

I have also seen couples leave an empty chair with a flower on it in the front row if a very close member of family has passed on. This is a beautiful thing to do however for some people they may find it too emotional on the day itself. Visually, this would have a huge emotional impact on you and your family.

It is so important to remember a loved one in a way that is going to be beautiful and feel special on the day but at the same time, you don’t want to do something that could be too much for you or your family on the day itself when your emotions will be heightened anyhow.

One of the most beautiful ways of included a loved one no longer with us is through music. Using a special song during your ceremony is a wonderful way to remember those who have passed. While the song is being played, You can sit back and be thoughtful of the person. If choosing a song that reminds you of them , it will bring back those happy memories and once the song finishes there is no visual reminder such as an empty chair or candle, which could continue to cause sadness throughout the remainder of the ceremony. You can be as subtle or as bold through the song you choose.

One of my favourite songs to sing in dedication for family members who have passed is ‘Beyond the rainbows end’ .

I have gone from site but I am waiting
waiting just beyond the rainbows end
I’m happy in this place that I have come to                                             Because I’m here with my forever friend

Now all your thoughts of me let them be joyful
of things we’ve done and happy times we’ve shared
so don’t be sad dear ones because I’ve left you
Please laugh and talk of me as if I’m there.

Just look up in the sky I am the sunshine
I’m the mist that rises on a summers morn
I’m the gentle breeze that cools the autumn evening
When the birds sing in the tree’s I am there song

This journey I have made one day you’ll make it
You too will be with my forever friend
It’s then once more that we will be together
I’ll meet you just beyond the rainbows end.

The lyrics of this song deal with death but in a beautiful positive light. Having performed it at many weddings , I have seen the wonderful impact it can have and the beautiful atmosphere it can create for the duration of the song without completely taking over the ceremony.

Losing someone close to you is heart-breaking beyond words. When it comes to your wedding day, it is important to remember them in a way that is comfortable for you and your family. It is also important that it doesn’t take over what is meant to be the happiest day of your life.

‘Where words fail, Music speaks.’

The post Remembering a loved one during your wedding ceremony. appeared first on Kayla McDonagh.

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What a week it has been! Both the Daily Mail and The Irish Post (London based newspaper) have written wonderful posts about me this week after seeing the video of me singing ‘Ave Maria’ (not perfectly but not too badly) on-board a Ryanair flight from Benidorm to Birmingham.

I first posted the video a few weeks back after a wonderful  (and rare) weekend off celebrating my cousin Clare’s hen do! We were flying home when my Auntie Lorraine and cousin Mary Jane, secretly told the flight attendants that there was a ‘famous Irish soprano’ on board. Needless to say after a weekend enjoying myself in Benidorm I certainly didn’t feel like a ‘famous Irish soprano’ … I didn’t even think I had any voice left after all the singing we had already done! So when the flight attendant announced this over the speaker system along with my name, MY FULL NAME, I was ready for the ground to swallow me up!

But As I was among very dear family and since I don’t make many family celebrations AND since the entire flight was expecting a performance – I had to perform! It was great fun and I managed to pull it off pretty well considering the circumstances! You will see me shaking my head a lot in the video – because I couldn’t believe what was happening! It was great to get such a wonderful warm applause and cheer after I had sung!

Here are links to both the Daily Mail article, and The Irish Post article.

Over a year ago I was also blessed enough to feature on Her.ie . Here is a link to the article – Irish Singer gives Adele a run for her money!

See both LIVE videos below.

Unfortunately I wont be able to make the wedding of Clare and Anthony in Lapland this December due to wedding bookings, but I know they will have the most amazing time and I’m sure the rest of the family will manage to sing a song or two without me !

The post Irish singer serenades Ryanair flight… appeared first on Kayla McDonagh.

Location: Church of the Holy Rosary, Doolin, Co.Clare

Well , where do I even start! Firstly, a huge congrats to Lydia and Trevor who were married today. There always a number of couples whom I grow close to every year and Lycia and Trevor are definitely a couple whom I see myself being in contact with for life.

I first met them in person at the Ultimate weddings Live in Limerick where they came especially to hear me sing a requested song for them. There were a few tears and that had them sold I think… The same song was Lydia’s entrance song.. ‘All the Ways you wander’ originally by John Spillane.

Lydia and Trevor had such personal ideas for their ceremony music which made my job even more enjoyable. I love when a couple have their own tastes and are passionate about the songs they pick. That’s how I would describe this couple. Very passionate , fun and madly in love with each other and life.

There was such a lovely atmosphere in the church and how could there not be with all of their family and friends so excited just like Trevor and Lydia were.

Myself and Mike had a little giggle at Trevor as he had an awful case of the shakes lighting the individual candles but by the unity candle he was singing along with me as I sang ‘On raglan Road’.

Lydia’s entrance was breath taking and I have popped a link to that below. You will see in the video that the priest invites the couple to light the individual candles straight away. When and if this happens, we continue with the entrance song until the couple are in their seats as stopping and starting a new song can interrupt the flow. Lydia and Trevor had chosen ‘Mo Ghile Mear’ for the individual candles but instead we moved this to the Sign of Peace as I knew it was an important song for them.

Myself and Mike were also joined by my dear friend and fellow ceremony singer/pianist, Jenny O’Brien. Jenny’s beautiful piano playing and harmonies really added to the music.

Entrance – All the way you wander – Piano

Individual Candle – Mo Ghile Mear (Entrance song continued)

Psalm – You are mine – Guitar

Unity Candle – On Raglan Road – Piano

Offertory – Lydia’s Father performed ‘The lonesome boatman’ on the whistle

Sign of Peace – Ag criost an Siol ( Mo Ghile Mear )

Communion – Nella Fantasia – Piano , How Great Thou Art – Guitar

Register – When we were young, Yours, At Eirinn, Feels like home. ( Only two of these were required)

Exit – Everything.

Lydia and Trevor, Thank you so much for having myself , Jenny and Mike be part of your day. You truly are two wonderful people! Enjoy the honeymoon and Lydia , make sure to send on some more videos of Trevor singing along to all my videos! Ill never let you away with that one Trev!

The post Real Wedding: Lydia & Trevor appeared first on Kayla McDonagh.