Jenny was the first friend I made at University, a fellow survivor of our dingy and isolated halls of residence. The first thing I noticed about her was her cracking music taste - I remember seeing Trent Reznor and Josh Homme posters on her wall (swoon) in freshers’ week, and knowing I HAD to be friends with this girl.
Jenny and I have supported each other through substandard living conditions, broken hearts, and monumental hangovers. Her baking is superb, but she is the absolute queen of disguising penis cakes as other cakes (ask me for photo evidence, I'm trying to keep this blog suitable for work).
Both of us met Chris for the first time at a friend's birthday. I’m not sure if Jenny knew she'd just met her husband at that point, but I bloody well did (though I didn't anticipate Chris falling asleep in the loos halfway through the night and almost missing his chance to make a move). Aside from napping at inappropriate times, Chris is a kind and wonderful soul and an excellent cook, so together they are a culinary force to be reckoned with.
Chris and Jenny got married in September 2023 at the epic Left Bank on Cardigan Road in Leeds. If you're looking for a spacious and effortlessly beautiful venue in the heart of a vibrant area in the outskirts of the city, then I urge you to take a look at this place - it's also a café, community space, and hosts heaps of fun and quirky events day and night.
I think of all the duties I took on as a bridesmaid, DJing the reception with Mig was probably the one I was most nervous about (even my ambitious giant penis cake for the hen party gave me fewer nightmares). Being trusted to be involved in a friend's wedding day is the best feeling, but the pressure is immense! Still, Jenny and I have been dancing on tables and moshing at festival stages for longer than I'd like to admit, so if anyone could deliver a personalised track list, we had it in the bag. I met up with Chris and Jenny to talk about their must-haves and absolute no-nos, and the rest fell into place pretty easily.
I put a daytime playlist together with slower-paced songs from the couple's favourites Frank Turner and Amanda Palmer, mixed with folk, acoustic and romantic indie tracks to help the guests relax and mingle. We enjoyed an incredible meal followed by words from the wedding party, including a tradition-busting bride's speech.
Kiss from a Rose by Seal kicked the evening off with a dramatic flourish for the first dance. The crowd fully immersed themselves in our mix featuring classic 80s electro pop, indie and disco hits; but the really special moments were the ones that showed the couple's unique side and reflected memories of their loved ones – a bit of heavy metal, a sprinkling of 90s garage and ‘our song’, Wuthering Heights.
My favourite tracks on the night:
Wish – Nine Inch Nails
Wuthering Heights – Kate Bush
Never Gonna Give You Up – Rick Astley
Flowers - Sweet Female Attitude
Leeds United - Amanda Palmer
Danger! High Voltage - Electric Six
I'm Shipping Up to Boston - Dropkick Murphys
I Believe in a Thing Called Love - The Darkness
Fat Lip - Sum 41
I Just Can't Get Enough - Depeche Mode
What the bride had to say:
Jenny (via Facebook):
"Cara did an absolutely fantastic job DJing at our wedding!
In the run up to the day we met with Cara and discussed what we liked (and what we definitely didn't) and on the night she didn't disappoint. The dancefloor was always occupied and everyone joined in at some point during the night.
She also helped us put together the playlist for the background music for the day which matched the vibe perfectly and made sure there were no awkward silences.
Highly recommend if you want a DJ who will listen to what kind of day you want."
But why just take the bride's word for it? Let these epic moves doing the talking below! (Images by Leanne Peacock Photography)
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