Ellie & Barry

We held our reception at Northcote House near Ascot in Berkshire, and it turned out to be the perfect backdrop for the day. The interior has this incredible “castle” feel – grand, atmospheric and full of character – which tied in beautifully with the theme we had in mind. As soon as we walked through the doors, we knew it brought exactly the right level of magic and elegance to the celebration.

We honestly could not have asked for a better live band for our wedding reception than The Bees. They exceeded every expectation we had and completely transformed the evening into something unforgettable.

Our theme was a sophisticated, grown-up take on Harry Potter – more “enchanted elegance” than children’s party! We tied in subtle magical touches throughout the day, from the décor to our music choices. One of the most emotional moments was Ellie walking down the aisle to the Harry Potter theme tune. It was such a beautiful and nostalgic piece, and hearing it echo through the room brought a few tears to guests’ eyes.

When it came to choosing a band for the evening, The Bees immediately stood out. Their song list, the performance videos online, and the sheer range of genres they comfortably covered convinced us they were perfect. We wanted a band that could cater to all ages and tastes, and they delivered exactly that and more.

One of the standout moments of the entire wedding – and something we’ll remember forever – was Barry, The Bees’ lead singer, performing an acoustic version of Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls for our first dance. His rendition was absolutely stunning, filled with emotion, and created a moment that felt intimate and cinematic all at once.

The feedback from our guests was incredible. People of all ages – from the teenagers to the grandparents – said they were blown away by how fantastic the band was. The dance floor was full from the very first song right through to the last, which is exactly what we hoped for.

We truly could not have asked for a better band. The Bees are exceptionally talented musicians with brilliant vocals, and their ability to read the room and keep the energy going was outstanding. They offered something for everyone while still keeping the evening feeling cohesive and full of personality.

We also really appreciated how seamlessly they transitioned from their live sets into the DJ portion of the night. The switch was smooth, the playlist was spot-on, and they made sure guest requests were included while still keeping the atmosphere exactly how we wanted it. It took all the stress out of managing the evening entertainment.

We discovered Function Central when searching for Berkshire wedding bands online. Even though The Bees were based further south, they were more than happy to travel, and we’re so glad they did. We found Function Central to be the most user-friendly website, making it easy to narrow down bands based on location, availability and budget. The whole process felt simple and well organised, which is exactly what you need when planning a wedding!