We hope you are enjoying the blog! Working in the wedding industry means I get to meet some super talented people and Paradiso are no exception! I caught up with guitarist and friend Jonny Boyle about what it’s like to work in the wedding scene in Ireland and their distinctive sound.

Tell us about Paradiso and how you got involved in the wedding industry.

Paradiso started as a guitar duo with me and Emanuele Armaforte, who had recently moved from Cork to Belfast, and who is originally from Sicily.

Our first few performances weren’t at weddings, but at festivals and St. George’s Market. We took our first bookings for weddings when we exhibited at the Quirky Wedding Fair in 2013. Soon after we added double bass, played by my brother Tim Boyle.

We have exhibited at the Quirky Wedding Fair three times now, and it is our main source for wedding engagements.

Explain your sound to the readers…

We play jazz, and our sound is essentially a ‘vintage’ one. Most of our music is in the ‘swing’ style, as would have been heard in the 1930s and 40s. We also play some latin, and more soulful tunes by the likes of Stevie Wonder and Nina Simone.

Overall our sound is quite mellow and well suited for chilled-out drinks receptions.

You guys look really cool at a wedding too! What makes you different from other wedding bands?

One of the main differences we have to other bands is that our music is instrumental. A groom told us recently that, for his drinks reception, he felt our sound was preferable to a singer, which can sometimes be obtrusive.

We also boast a double bass which is visually pleasing as well as sonically and sometimes the main reason that we are booked!

What’s the most unique wedding you’ve ever played?

We have played in a lot of lovely venues in the North and South of Ireland, but one of the more unusual locations was in a large tepee! And although not a wedding, we have played on the deck of a ship during Belfast Maritime Festival.

I’ve always wanted to do a tepee wedding! What’s the most challenging part of your job?

Probably the logistics of making sure we are all available to take a booking, arranging travel and working out how to get to new venues.

What do you think makes a good wedding band?

It’s important to be professional – getting set up on time, being flexible and being friendly to the wedding party and guests. A band’s performance should also be appropriate to the occasion and the audience.