Natalie & Andrew

We got married in the summer of 2012 and hired The Get Downs Lite for our wedding day. Before going into more detail, to summarise, we were absolutely thrilled to have The Get Downs Lite play at our wedding. We thought they did a fantastic job and really helped to make our wedding day so special. We have received so my compliments about the band.

Now for a little more detail…

Choosing The Get Downs Lite

We found Mike Paul-Smith Music through internet searches which are a little daunting as they are a step into the unknown. However, Mike’s (the band leader) communication was amazing from the outset. He discussed configurations, set list and prices. Other bands we researched just did not seem to have that level of professionalism, versatility in music and customer focus that Mike Paul-Smith Music have in abundance.

Their website is also fully representative of their ability. How they sound in their videos is how they sound in real life. We just did not get that level of comfort from other bands we looked at. We were even fortunate enough to see the band perform in a South London bar. This made the decision for us very easy as they performed so well and were very approachable and friendly in person.

Mike’s care and attention deserves special merit. Every time we called or emailed we got a near instant response. He was happy to discuss any idea and answer any question swiftly. No other wedding supplier was so helpful, fast and diligent. Mike was also excellent when dealing with the venue. We wanted the 7-piece configuration of the band, but are venue had a rule that restricted bands to 5-pieces. Mike was pro-active and helpful by speaking with the reception venue coordinator and negotiated for us to have the 6-piece as a compromise. This was a relief and it was great to be able to rely upon them for this.

The Big Day

For our first dance, we wanted the Swing number ‘Sing, Sing, Sing’. This was not in the band’s original repertoire for a 6 piece. However, they were happy to accomodate us and even sent us a recording of the song before the wedding.

In terms of the set play list: the song selection was full of energy and well balanced. Our guests, from young to old, had an amazing time and enjoyed all the songs. We had Swing/big band music to start, followed by soul and Motown classics. Everyone enjoyed themselves because of the enthusiasm, the calibre of singing (thank you Nicky, you have an amazing voice, remarkably suited to such a wide range of genres) and the standard of the musicians.

The bands also brought their own lighting which was ideal (not too much that it overwhelmed the room, but enough to create a fabulous atmosphere). Another great benefit of The Get Downs Lite is the “auto-DJ service”. You choose the music you want to be played once the band’s set have finished. Many other bands try to charge you extra for a DJ, but the band do this as a free extra for 30 minutes after their performance.

In addition to excellent communication, we really appreciated the bands flexibility on various issues. From the song list to facilities, and set running times to food, they were extremely accommodating. Even when we wanted to delay the second set to accommodate some timing changes on the day, this was done with no fuss.

The biggest compliment of all and testament to their quality was the fact that our dancefloor was constantly packed throughout the night until the very end. We have heard it said from several friends that “they had never seen a Bride dance so much”.

Anyone who organises a wedding knows how many things there are to do. Mike Paul-Smith Music really took the stress out of hiring a band and did an amazing job.

What makes Mike Paul-Smith Music stand out form other bands? 3 things:

1. Talented singers and musicians
2. Professionalism and lovely people to deal with
3. Excellent value

We could not be happier. Thank you.