Buckie DJ hoping to make it third time lucky at wedding awards
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A POPULAR Buckie DJ is hoping to make it third time lucky at this year's Scottish Wedding Awards.
Paul Tough – known professionally as Paul T – has made the 10-strong shortlist for the Wedding DJ of the Year category at the awards, which are run by Creative Oceanic. He will be aiming to go one better than the Highly Commended honour he won in the same category at last year's contest. It will be his third appearance at the finals in three years, having been nominated in 2020 and 2022, there being no competition in 2021 due to Covid.
Paul said: "Hopefully this'll be third time lucky for me.
"It's a huge accolade just to get to the finals, especially as I'm up against DJs from all over Scotland.
"I won a Highly Commended last year, which was a great honour, but I want to go that extra mile this year.
"Initially you're nominated by brides and grooms and then it goes to a public vote – held between August and November – to see who makes the finals. At the moment I'm gathering supporting evidence to send to the judges. Social media is very important to what I do so I'll be sending on a lot of the reviews brides and grooms have left.
"The judges will also be looking at my work for the community. I sponsor the 1st Buckie Company Boys' Brigade and the Buckie Christmas Kracker. I hosted the Kracker and provided the equipment for free and I also provided the equipment for free at the platinum jubilee celebrations in Buckie and the jubilee beacon lighting at Strathlene organised by the BBs."
Having been spinning tunes since the tender age of 10, a lot of Paul's work is based in an area stretching from Aberdeen to Inverness although he will go wherever his services are needed. Not all of his customers, however, hail from these shores.
He explained: "I've worked with brides from all over the world who're getting married in Scotland, including three or four from America.
"One couple from America are getting married at Drumtochty Castle, south of Aberdeen and they want to have a ceilidh dance, so I'll have to teach them the dance on the floor."
As with the entertainment industry as a whole, Covid lockdowns hit Paul's business hard, and indeed he is still dealing with the backlog the pandemic created.
He added: "I've still got two brides from the Covid years who've still not been able to have their weddings yet.
"One is due to get married this year and the other next year."
Paul will be up against north-east competition in his quest for the Wedding DJ of the Year crown with Huntly's JP the DJ also making the shortlist.
The local area will also be represented in one of the regional contests at the awards. Fochabers-based Twisted Willow Florists are in the running for the Florist of the Year (North) award.
It could be an award-laden February for the firm, which is also bidding to retain the Wedding Florist of the Year category in the Top Tier Wedding Awards.
The shortlisted finalists will make their way to the Glasgow Marriott Hotel on Tuesday, February 28 for the black tie awards ceremony. It is the tenth year the Scottish Wedding Awards have been held.
A spokesperson for the Scottish Wedding Awards 2023 said: “These awards are now recognised as the leading celebration for showcasing those that have demonstrated excellence in the wedding industry.
“This year marks the tenth anniversary of the Scottish Wedding Awards and we are delighted to be celebrating not only the finalists but how far the industry has came in the past decade.
“The competition is tough this year but it is time to acknowledge everyone who has shown dedication and professionalism in their workplace; two key features that make individuals and businesses stand out from the rest.
“With more entries than ever before, we would like to wish the finalists the best of luck and we can’t wait to welcome our guests at the ceremony and celebrate the winners with them.”
To view the full awards shortlists, visit https://creativeoceanicblog.wordpress.com
