Timing is Everything!
With 20 years experience in the wedding industry as a singer and musician, I’ve seen it all and I know what works best and what doesn’t work at all. So I’ve put this little video together to help all my future wedding couples. Have a listen and see what you think.
A few simple tips will go such a long way in making your wedding entrance perfect. And this applies to all types of wedding ceremonies.
Not a fan of the spotlight?
In contrast to the video above, I recently performed at a wedding ceremony in the intimate surroundings of Fallons of Kilcullen, Co. Kildare. There were 18 guests, the celebrant, a photographer and myself.
At 1pm the Bride & Groom arrived together, yes together! They mingled and chatted with all their guests and at 2pm everyone took their seats, including the Bride and Groom, who were seated at the top of the room, and we started the ceremony with the opening song. No wedding entrance procession, no fuss.
The simplistic approach of the couple and the overall vibe made it one of the nicest wedding ceremonies I’ve had the pleasure of being part of.
So you see, there are no rules! YOU DO YOU and let the social media trends and all the fuss pass you by if you want a more simple and laid back wedding day.

Saying Hello to 2026 and Looking Back at 2025 as a Wedding Singer
this year will bring me to over 60 wedding venues and countless churches and cathedrals. I will be continuing to specialise in wedding ceremonies, afternoon drinks receptions and day 2 parties. Doing what I do best – performing for great people on one the happiest days of their lives!

Drinks Reception Music – everything you need to know
I just want to put together a selection of songs your wedding guests will enjoy. Nothing pretentious with me – let’s just have a good time with good music and great people.

Exiting In Style
The right choice of music is vital for the Recessional piece. Pick something upbeat that will lend itself to a cheerful party vibe.
Here's what my previous wedding couples have said...
Excellent Reception Music
Barry provided the reception music for us in Bellingham Castle. He was a pleasure to deal with, extremely professional, but most importantly his musical performance was top notch. He played from the beginning of the drinks reception right up to the dinner bell. His setlist catered for all tastes, and all our guests were raving about him.
10 out of 10, we are delighted we got Barry to perform.
Claire & Joe. Bellingham Castle, Co. Louth. March 2026
His voice was incredible
We couldn’t have asked for a better wedding singer. From the moment he started singing, Barry created such an amazing atmosphere. His voice was incredible. Barry is very professional and easy to deal with. The short video he created of our day was such a lovely touch and a beautiful memory for us to look back on.
We couldn’t recommend Barry highly enough for anyone looking for a fantastic wedding singer.
Sinead & Darren. St. Patrick's Church, Broomfield, Co. Monaghan. February 2026
Wedding Ceremony / Reception / First Dance Package
We had the pleasure of having Barry perform at our ceremony, drinks reception and for our first dance, and he was absolutely fantastic from start to finish.
He learnt a beautiful song especially for my entrance to the ceremony, and it was honestly one of the most special moments of the day. So many of our guests have commented on it since and said how amazing it sounded.
He was incredibly professional throughout the whole process and so easy to work with. When we arrived at the drinks reception he even played the song we had requested for our entrance, which made the moment feel extra special.
His voice and music created the perfect atmosphere for the entire day and we couldn’t have been happier with our choice. We would highly recommend him to anyone looking for a talented and professional wedding singer.
Thanks again Barry
Amanda & Aaron. Darver Castle Estate & Exclusive Wedding Venue, Co. Louth. February 2026

A heartfelt thank you
Thank you for the incredible music you provided at our wedding. Your voice and performance added so much emotion and joy to the day, and we received so many compliments from our guests about how wonderful you were.
You truly helped set the tone and create such a special atmosphere for our ceremony and celebration. It meant so much to us, and we’re so grateful you were part of such an important day in our lives.
Thank you again for sharing your talent with us and for making our wedding even more memorable.
Kenneth & Louise. Roundfort Church, Co. Mayo & The Salthill Hotel, Galway. December 2025
Barry Made Our Ceremony Truly Magical
We had Barry Hughes sing at our wedding ceremony in Mountbolus, Offaly on New Year’s Eve, and he was absolutely incredible. His voice was stunning, and so many of our guests asked who he was, which says it all! From the very start, Barry was a pleasure to deal with. His communication was excellent, and he shared plenty of examples of his work, which immediately put us at ease. He provided a great selection of song options, but was also more than happy to learn songs that were meaningful and unique to us as a couple, which meant so much.
On the day, Barry was calm, professional, and worked seamlessly with our other suppliers. Everything ran perfectly thanks to his experience and attention to detail.
A few days after the wedding, Barry also shared a beautiful Instagram reel from his own perspective of the day. It was such a special surprise and gave us a lovely new way to relive moments we hadn’t seen before, a really thoughtful extra touch. We honestly couldn’t recommend Barry highly enough to anyone looking for a wedding singer.
Thank you again, Barry, for being such a memorable part of our day!
Mary & Mike. Mountbolus, Co. Offaly. New Years Eve 2025
Fantastic Buzz!
We just want to let you know how grateful we are for the work and effort that you put into our wedding day.
Everyone commented on the pre ceremony music, the ceremony music and the drinks reception. The talent and skill demonstrated on the low whistle, guitar, tin whistle and your voice were honestly amazing.
The ceremony music was timed perfectly with a truly beautiful blend of music on the low whistle for the entrance of the bridal party. It was something that caught everyone’s attention. The music made the ceremony such a personal and memorable experience for us. It was exactly what we wanted to have for our wedding day. The drinks reception music was just as amazing and memorable with such an array of songs to suit all sorts and create a fantastic buzz and atmosphere. Everyone we spoke to commented on how fantastic the music was.
Wishing you all the very best in the future.
We’ll spread the word far and wide.
Sarah & Manus. Brooklodge & Macreddin Village, Co. Wicklow. December 2025
We are so grateful!
Chloe & Paul. Frenchpark, Co. Roscommon. December 2025
Barry was the star of the show!
To say Barry’s performance at our wedding was amazing is an understatement!
His music in the church was probably my favourite moment of the Wedding. I booked Barry having never seen him in person but through his performances on instagram and he completely lived up to the expectation. He was great when we were trying to pick our music and his website has live videos of most of his songs so it really helps when you are picking music. He was also very easy to get in contact with in the lead up to the wedding. On the day we had so many people ask who he was after the church and they all spoke about his range. He performated at our drinks reception and again was absolutely amazing!! I highly recommend him to anyone looking to book for a wedding
Michaela & David. Carbally Church & Waterford Castle. November 2025
the first vendor we booked
We had Barry perform at our wedding last month and it is definitely one of the best decisions we made.
Barry was the first vendor we booked after we secured the venue. I had found him on Instagram after looking into specific genres / songs for the wedding and knew straight away he was going to be amazing.
We had such a mix of songs for our ceremony. From country, to rock and a bit of Disney – for the kids of course, but Barry made them all gel and sound amazing!
My only complaint with the reception music was that I had to mingle a bit too much and didn’t get to enjoy the music as much as I wanted.
Honestly Barry, you’re a dream to work with. Thank you so so much for making our day amazing. Our eldest has your Instagram video on repeat from the day. Wants to do it all over again to hear the wedding songs
Amanda & David. Trim Castle Hotel, Co. Meath. November 2025
A stunning voice
To say Barry is unbelievable is an understatement.
We’re three days past our wedding day now and honestly one of the main things we valued from the day ourselves, and one of the most recieved compliments we get about our wedding, are about Barry. Extremely talented with multiple instruments at his disposal, all played with passion and finesse to really move anyone. A stunning voice and very professional and hassle free. Barry was an absolutely intrinsic part of making our wedding one of the most important and memorable days of our lives.
If you’re considering a performer and you’ve come to the reviews for guidance, look no further, this man is the one you want.
Joanne & Michael. St. Joseph's Church, Dundalk & Darver Castle, Co. Louth. December 2025
His attention to detail…
We had the pleasure of having Barry play at our wedding ceremony in December. He was absolutely amazing. He was already in the church and ready when the groomsmen arrived an hour before the ceremony. He is excellent and brings a wide range of options through the piano, guitar and tin whistle. He also produced a lovely short clip for his social media’s that we were able to share with our guests the following days after the wedding which was lovely. His attention to detail and assistance was above and beyond. We would highly recommend Barry to any couple getting married, he will be a fabulous addition to your big day!
Katie & Denis. St. Beacon's Church, Mullinavat, Co. Kilkenny. December 2025

…utter perfectionist…
We couldn’t have asked for a better wedding singer to make our day so special and magical. From the moment Barry started performing in The Honan Chapel, he filled the atmosphere with warmth and incredible talent. His vocals are outstanding – perfectly capturing the mood of each song. During our drinks reception, Barry created a beautiful atmosphere singing outside in the sunshine. Many of our guests were extremely impressed with not only his talent; but how much fun he added to our wedding day.
Barry is the utter perfectionist and was always a joy to be in contact with. He took the time to understand our vision and made sure everything was seamless on the big day. Many guests commented on how impressed they were and how much his unique music added to our wedding day.
We cannot thank Barry enough and wish him every success in the future.
Tara & Gavin. Honan Chapel UCC & Fota Island Resort, Co. Cork. August 2025
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