Frequently Asked Ceilidh Questions

Whatever the event — a wedding, birthday, social occasion or fundraiser — you want it hosted professionally so you can relax and enjoy the night.

I host the ceilidh for you: calling the dances and MC'ing your evening so you can properly relax — after all, it's your party! I get everyone together for the first dance, keep them on the floor, coordinate with caterers around food, and make sure moments like the bouquet toss, sparklers or Auld Lang Syne all flow seamlessly.

Calling is simply directing the dancing — I'm the person who does it. Most of your guests will never have been to a ceilidh, so I guide them through each move (left, right, hop, and so on), which means nobody needs any experience.

Half the fun is making mistakes — they're actively encouraged, nobody feels self-conscious, and there's no pressure to get it right. The other half is just having a brilliant time.

Ceilidh dancing isn't so technical that you need teaching — it's all about being fun, social and inclusive. If you did anything like this at school, my style is a lot more fun and a lot less stressful.

If you fancy a go before the big day, I host regular open ceilidh evenings in the East Midlands between September and late April — just rock up, no need to book. Check dates on my Nottingham Ceilidh Club page and follow the Facebook page.

For the ceilidh: fast Scottish/Irish music with a contemporary twist. For DJ sets: a wide variety of playlists — lounge, pop, disco, folk, whatever takes your fancy. My repertoire runs from traditional favourites (Gay Gordons, Dashing White Sergeant) to the more adventurous (Orcadian Strip the Willow) — and requests are welcome.

Unless you'd prefer otherwise, I'm in my traditional Ancient MacInnes kilt (my clan tartan) with shirt and tie. Got a theme — Outlander, Disney, even Charlie & the Chocolate Factory? We can dress to it.

It depends on your package. The Ceilidh-DJ package is just me. The live-band and Whole of the Moon packages bring my full team of Ceilidh Ninjas — live band, pop-up bar and professional dancers.

Unquestionably. Read through my testimonials on Google, Facebook and Pinterest for reassurance. The bands and professionals delivering my packages are all seasoned performers with excellent, longstanding reputations.

Definitely — that's exactly what my role as the caller is for. All the dances are simple enough for beginners, yet paced so that even the seasoned "Ceilidh Ninjas" enjoy themselves. The emphasis is always on having fun, being social and inclusive

It's your day, so you can have whatever you're most comfortable with. Some couples love the first-dance spotlight; others dread it. You can have a ceilidh first dance just as a couple, or get all your guests up to join in — they'll be raving about it long after the big day. Book a ceilidh chat to talk it through (ideally with both of you). It's never a sales call.

My starting price is £877 — my solo Ceilidh-DJ set, and my most popular package. It uses recorded music and includes the option of a disco/playlist towards the end. It's ideal where space is tight, you don't want a whole band set-up, or you'd rather spend your budget elsewhere. It's a one-person act that's every bit as much fun as a live band.

I have three wedding packages, all flexible, with every dance called:

1 · Ceilidh-DJ set — from £877. Recorded music, optional end-of-night disco, PA & mic for speeches, pre-populated playlists, low-key disco lights, and no overtime rate — so we can keep the ceilidh vibe going.

2 · Ceilidh & Disco (live band) — from £1,597. My most popular, signature experience: everything in the DJ package plus a live band (usually three musicians and me calling), from before guests arrive right through to carriages.

3 · The Whole of the Moon — from £4,927. Loads of unique additions — get in touch for a chat to run through what's included

Guide prices are for the East Midlands (NG, DE, LE postcodes); travel is extra beyond that.

No — the fee is the same regardless of the event, so the price doesn't jump the moment the "W" word is mentioned. And all 2026–2028 fees are fixed now, so there are no surprise increases.

Lots of flexible options. The deposit (usually £100) is payable on booking, with the balance due three months before — earlier is fine, and if your event is within three months the full cost is due on booking. Pay by bank transfer, card (SumUp), a monthly plan, or good old-fashioned cash.

I like to have a quick chat first to make sure my style is right for you (you can still book your date and pay a deposit beforehand if you'd rather). Check availability online, then book a ceilidh chat — it won't take long, ideally with both of you. From there I send the booking form, Terms & Conditions and invoice; the booking is confirmed once the form is returned and the deposit paid. The balance is usually settled three months before.

As soon as you can — even just to run through ideas or questions. You don't need a date or venue decided. Prices are fixed to 2028 and you can check my availability up to then. A wedding chat takes about 20 minutes, ideally with both of you. It isn't a sales call.

Per event — I'm yours for the whole day. That covers the ceilidh, plus PA for speeches and background music through your wedding breakfast and a wind-down disco if you'd like. I don't charge for extra time; if the venue's licensing allows (say a field or forest), we can keep going — even to 5 a.m.

Honestly, it doesn't matter much. My packages work for any size — a cosy village hall, a marquee, a garden, an odd-shaped hotel room or a grand castle banqueting hall. I've enough experience to make them all work, so don't let venue size put you off.

Generally two sessions of about an hour and a half, with a break splitting them. It's flexible, so I fit almost any running order, and you can have a wind-down disco at the end of the evening too.

Yes — I cover the whole UK, including the Channel Islands. Travel within the East Midlands (NG, DE, LE postcodes) is included. Beyond that it's £0.55 per mile plus £20 per hour of travel time. I also work with brilliant ceilidh musicians around the country, so often it's only the cost of me travelling from Nottingham.

No — I'm solely yours for the day of your wedding.

Yes — all my packages are available as outdoor options. I've done loads over the years; we always have a wet-weather plan, though.

Yes — my packages include all my own PA and some disco lighting, so I'm fully self-contained and only need two standard power sockets nearby. All kit is PAT tested and I carry public liability insurance.

Yes. All equipment is PAT tested, I hold public liability insurance up to £10 million and indemnity insurance up to £1 million. Copies can be sent straight to your coordinator or venue to save you a job.

Very common these days and no problem — I'm used to working with them. The caller needs to be heard clearly, so ceilidh music tends to be a touch quieter than a rock band; at their loudest my ceilidhs reach about 85 dB, well within limits. Band packages can also play fully acoustic, which is great outdoors.

I usually need about an hour to set up, soundcheck and complete a dynamic risk assessment — so your guests can enjoy themselves and dance safely.

Risk assessments keep your guests safe and comply with the law. I provide a Ceilidh Risk Assessment and Method Statement covering exactly how the ceilidh runs safely, from set-up to clear-down, and I'll work within your venue's existing controls. I'll need a copy of theirs plus details of the first aider and nearest defibrillator.

Absolutely not! It's the social side that sets a ceilidh apart from a disco. You don't need to be Scottish, have Celtic roots or even wear a kilt — it's just great, inclusive fun your guests will love.

I also don't use genders when I call, so think lions and penguins rather than ladies and gentlemen — everyone feels comfortable with who they dance with, and it adds to the hilarity!

Yes — events of all shapes and sizes, and many of the weddings and parties I host are intimate. You usually only need enough guests for a longways set, and I can call and step in to dance as needed, with plenty of couple dances to throw in too.