July 2021 Weddings!

I’ve been lucky enough to do two weddings in the last two weeks, and I have loved every minute of being back out at work! It made me realise just how much I have missed doing this job. And how I definitely made the right decision to leave my corporate catering role and move to do what I really wanted to do - work on weddings, work in incredible venues and work with amazing couples!

Photo credit: Lewis Bishop Photography

Laura & John

My first wedding this month was at The Orchard at Munsley - a venue I had visited for an Open Day but not yet been lucky enough to work at (although, thanks to Covid, not many weddings had actually happened here since it opened - I am so happy to finally see them up and running!). 

It just happened to be the hottest day I can ever remember in England (there was one time I went to the South of France in a heatwave, it surpassed 46 degrees and we were told to stay indoors as people were literally dying in the heat. This was not quite as bad as that… but man was it HOT).

Whilst we always pray for nice weather at a wedding, the sun was wreaking havoc. The guests were worried they wouldn’t make it through the ceremony without shade, reception drinks were consumed huddled under the branches of willow trees, the poor photographer nearly baked as he did his thing, there was a dog whose water bowl was being refreshed every ten seconds, and the groomsmen were out of their waistcoats almost as soon as the couple said “I Do”. 

But did that spoil a thing? No, it did not!

What a wonderful couple. Looking stunning in their dress and suit, smiles on their faces all day long, they were such a joy to work with. They had made all of their own plans, taken care of everything (making my life super easy), they’d even roped Dad into building signs and games for the reception! It looked wonderful, and everyone had a blast.

For me, it was the first time I had been at an “event” in nearly 18 months. Seeing families coming together again, celebrating and laughing, was such a joy. Hearing speeches and stories and meaningful memories meant all the more after the struggles of the last year and a half. How grateful everyone was to be together and sharing in such a special day was just so wonderful to see!

I met some lovely people on this day, too - great suppliers like the caterers (Taste Events) who made our lives so easy (despite us all panicking when the groom seemed concerned they weren’t going to show. They arrived five minutes later!). Lewis, the photographer, was brilliant and so lovely to work with. And not to mention the amazing team from the Orchard. Jayne, who is just wonderful; her family who live on site who could not have been more delightful, welcoming and helpful; and all the team looking after the bar & site who were just a joy to be with - apologies to them that they never really got to see my face whilst I was hiding behind sunglasses and ten tonnes of Factor 50.

I genuinely hope every couple can be just like Laura & John.
Driving home that evening through the Herefordshire countryside in the most glorious sunset, I couldn’t help but feel all warm and fuzzy inside!

Caroline & Myles

When Elmbridge Farm called me this week and asked if I could support them with a wedding with less than 48 hours notice (thanks, Track & Trace!), it didn’t take me long to say “hell yeah”. I have been so excited to do a wedding here, and couldn’t wait to get going!

I was briefed the day before the wedding on exactly what would be happening, and I made sure to meet the happy couple as they were making their final preparations to make sure everything was in place.

They. Were. Fabulous. 
The nicest, funniest people who I just knew were going to have an epic wedding. Right before the bride walked down the aisle on Thursday, I told her she looked spectacular and she said “yeah, well, better than yesterday”. I said to her, “Caroline, I left here yesterday thinking you could rock up in a t-shirt and jeans and still look absolutely incredible”. And it’s true! 

I left the venue on Wednesday when it was pretty much a blank canvas, and when I came back the next day it had been totally transformed. They’d gone for simple styling that made a big statement, and the tipi was positively glowing. The moment I saw the bridesmaids in their gorgeous outfits and flower crowns, and the groomsmen in their matching beige suits, everything came together perfectly.

The ceremony was stunning and their reception was amazing. After brief thunderstorms just 24 hours before and panic from everyone that an outdoor wedding wasn’t going to work out so well, it ended with almost 100 guests sipping beers & playing games out on the terrace in the sunshine, taking walks beside the lake and getting gorgeous photos on the bridge. 

Again, the suppliers were a joy!
Jim from Dearest Love Photography was brilliant on the day, getting involved with the guests and working his magic on the bride, groom and families. I genuinely can’t wait to see the photos. And what a treat it was to meet him!

The catering also looked phenomenal. After following Paisley Flour online for a while, and knowing how hard they have worked to stay afloat during the pandemic, I was so happy to finally see their food for myself. It was everything I love about food! It looked stylish, delicious and went down a storm with everyone in the room. But, although they did a grand job, I have to say I loved the rather unusual choice of dessert. Guests actually brought (and MADE) their own for an exceptionally tense and exciting Great British Bake Off-style contest. And, man, did they deliver!

End with an evening of cocktails, a packed dancefloor, and fairy lights and firepits by the lake… It was the dreamiest of weddings for a couple who, granted, I only met 24 hours earlier but who seemed genuinely perfect together - and everyone there knew it. 

It has been so much fun to get back to work and see all of these wonderful ideas and moments happening before my eyes. Granted, it’s been exhausting as my legs have forgotten what it’s like to walk 75 miles a day and my brain has almost forgotten how to compute a conversation with so many wonderful people! But I am so grateful to be doing what I do, and so excited for what’s to come!

The ceremony was stunning and their reception was amazing. After brief thunderstorms just 24 hours before and panic from everyone that an outdoor wedding wasn’t going to work out so well, it ended with almost 100 guests sipping beers & playing games out on the terrace in the sunshine, taking walks beside the lake and getting gorgeous photos on the bridge. 

Again, the suppliers were a joy!
Jim from Dearest Love Photography was brilliant on the day, getting involved with the guests and working his magic on the bride, groom and families. I genuinely can’t wait to see the photos. And what a treat it was to meet him!

The catering also looked phenomenal. After following Paisley Flour online for a while, and knowing how hard they have worked to stay afloat during the pandemic, I was so happy to finally see their food for myself. It was everything I love about food! It looked stylish, delicious and went down a storm with everyone in the room. But, although they did a grand job, I have to say I loved the rather unusual choice of dessert. Guests actually brought (and MADE) their own for an exceptionally tense and exciting Great British Bake Off-style contest. And, man, did they deliver!

End with an evening of cocktails, a packed dancefloor, and fairy lights and firepits by the lake… It was the dreamiest of weddings for a couple who, granted, I only met 24 hours earlier but who seemed genuinely perfect together - and everyone there knew it. 

​It has been so much fun to get back to work and see all of these wonderful ideas and moments happening before my eyes. Granted, it’s been exhausting as my legs have forgotten what it’s like to walk 75 miles a day and my brain has almost forgotten how to compute a conversation with so many wonderful people! But I am so grateful to be doing what I do, and so excited for what’s to come!