Tasha-Mae's Events

Langford Farm Wedding Venue

Fri, 02 May 2025 10:52:12 GMT

Woodlands Hidden Gem in the New Forest.

This new and exciting hidden gem of a wedding venue can be found nestled in the quaint little village of Woodlands in the New Forest, Hampshire.

I can’t begin to tell you how much I fell in love with Langford Farm on my first visit. With my love for horses and horsey life, when I drove through the gates and the first thing I saw was the beautiful farmhouse and stables, I knew this would be my kind of venue!

Meeting Sarah, the owner of Langford Farm along with her partner James was an absolute joy. From our first meeting, we instantly clicked, so I knew that couples booking Langford Farm for their wedding would be in safe hands and well looked after.

I am going to kick this blog off by sharing a short film created by Bryony at BCT Films which showcases just how fabulous Langford Farm is…

Also, before I go on, I must mention that all of the incredible photos in this blog have been captured by the ever brilliant duo, Seb and Dave from Lewis & Schofield Photography . Not scared of doing anything for the perfect shot, you will quite often find them laying on the floor or making friends with whoever they are about to photograph...

Whether it's human or animal!

There are so many amazing things about Langford Farm but one of the most unique offerings, is you can bring your own horse. Yes, you heard it right, if you are a horse owner and would love for your four legged friend to be a part of your special day, then you can bring your horse to Langford Farm on full livery for the weekend.

Not only that, but on arrangement, Sarah will groom and tack your horse and bring them out in time for your photos, meaning your friends and family don’t need to worry about making sure your horse is ready once they are all glammed up. This is a service I have never seen offered before and I am certain will be loved by all horse owners planning on getting married.

If you don’t have a horse of your own but would like a horse in your photos, then speak with Sarah, as I am sure, if she can, she will help make this happen!

As a wedding co-ordinator, one question I often get asked is whether I know of any venues with onsite accommodation, and the beauty of Langford Farm is…it does! Not only does it have the beautiful large farmhouse that sleeps 14 guests, but during the summer Sarah has a luxury glamping village that can sleep a further 16 guests. Outside, in the large private garden you will also find a hot tub, which is a really nice and relaxing way to help relieve any nerves the night before your wedding day.

Honestly, you are seriously spoilt at Langford Farm!

Inside the farmhouse is a large dining hall which is the perfect space for a family meal before your special day. This leads into a large cinema lounge with comfy sofas, making the perfect chill out area for your bridal party on the morning of your wedding.

The large family sized kitchen is the perfect gathering space and somewhere your bridal breakfast can be prepped and laid out to pick on throughout the morning. I always tell my couples it’s really important to make sure they eat well on their wedding morning despite the excitement, nerves and anticipation.

If you are planning a ‘First Look’ to your parents or bridal party, then the spacious landing and staircase is the perfect place for the big reveal and a great place to get some good photos.

On the morning of your wedding you will no doubt be woken by the sound of the cockerels, which, in my opinion, is a much nicer alarm clock than an iPhone!

OK, so I know that's a hen, but trust me, there are cockerels on Langford Farm!

Langford Farm is an exclusive wedding venue which gives you the option to choose and book your own style of marquee. Using the central field to put your marquee on and the Pavilion Lawn next to it for your ceremony and drinks reception, there is so much space.

Not only that, but on the Pavilion Lawn you will of course find the Pavilion itself, which you can see in the distance of these photos. The Pavilion is a rustic former equestrian clubhouse which has a large decking area and is home to a hand built bar making it the ideal spot for your caterers to pour your reception drinks and serve from.

Inside the Pavilion is a large chill out lounge, kitchen, bathroom with toilet, play room and additional room for hair and make up top ups and getting changed. Having use of the Pavilion makes the ideal place for your older guests to escape and chill in the evening, as well as somewhere for a wedding crèche or nannie to take the children for some arts and crafts. It is also helpful to your caterers knowing they have a water supply and washing up facilities, as well as a handy space for your suppliers to base themselves.

At Langford Farm there is no need to hire in additional toilets as they have a toilet and shower block for those glamping in the summer months. It’s all these kind of things that usually add additional expense to your wedding budget, but knowing they are included is a huge plus.

Another added bonus is Langford Farm has loads of parking in an onsite field close to the pavilion. Having use of this, means your guests won’t struggle to find a parking spot and they also don’t have to walk a long way, which can sometimes be an issue for guests wearing heels!

Around the grounds of Langford Farm are some beautiful spots for photos. Your photographer will love this and it means you will get an incredible wedding gallery, which is, of course, what every couple wants. Photos in the hay barn are always good fun, in front of the stable block, by the old oak tree, in the Olympic sized arena and why not go just outside the gates to the ford. There is a real mix of beautiful, different and quirky photo spots for you to make the most of on your special day.

If you are as excited about Langford Farm as I am and would like more information, then take a look at their website and get in touch with Sarah to arrange a viewing.

Once you have booked Langford Farm, you may want to consider booking a wedding co-ordinator to ensure all your plans happen on time and your wedding day is stress free.

Working closely with Sarah and knowing Langford Farm well, let me help you!

With me by your side you can focus on having the best day ever and you won’t need to delegate all the jobs to your friends and family. In the run up to your big day we will have a video call and I will write a detailed time plan from all the information you have given me. I will also make suggestions along the way, as well as help with your timings and offer supplier recommendations, if you need them.

Planning a DIY marquee wedding means there will be a long list of jobs to do on the day, such as meeting suppliers, putting last minute decor out, moving ceremony chairs, turning the marquee around, helping with timings, prompting for announcements, cutting up your wedding cake…honestly the list goes on!

So, let me help you have a stress free wedding day and if you bring your horse, I am not afraid to get stuck in with horsey help!

If you would like more information on how I can help you, then take a look through my website, get in touch using the contact form and let’s book a ‘No Obligation’ call in so we can chat in more detail.

Let me be your wedding day sidekick, whilst you enjoy every single minute of your special day with your loved ones around you!

With love from

Venue | Langford Farm | @Langfordfarmweddings

Photography | Lewis & Schofield Photography | @lewis_and_schofield

Videography | BCT Films | @bctvideos

Wedding Co-ordination | Me - Tasha Mae Wedding Co-ordinator | @tasha_mae_events

Hair | Bridal Hair by Abby | @bridalhairbyabby

Make up | Olivia Sharp Makeup Artist | @oliviasharpmakeup

MOB Model | Vanessa | @vanessamodelling

FOB Model | Nigel | @ni_charlescard

Bride Model Amanda with her horse, Monty.

Molly and Tom's Wedding at Kingsettle Stud

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:53:29 GMT

Co-ordinating Molly and Tom's wedding was my first time at Kingsettle Stud...and what a treat that was!

Not only because Molly & Tom were a dream to help, but also because Kingsettle Stud is an incredible wedding venue. With its rustic barn known as 'The Carriage Room' for your wedding breakfast, the 'Archway' for your dance floor and the spacious 'Harness Room' with built in bar, it couldn't be any more perfect for a DIY wedding. Above the bar you will also find a mezzanine area that is perfect for guests to chill out in, as well as lots of unused stables for storage. Honestly, you really are spoilt here!

Not forgetting the most stunning Victorian walled gardens which are the most idyllic setting for your ceremony and where you will most likely be welcomed by the sound of peacocks that roam the grounds. Also, if you time it right, the grass aisle is lined with an abundance of peonies, which Molly was lucky enough to have out in full bloom for her walk down the aisle with her mum.

With this type of blank canvas venue it means you can do what you like with regards to styling and making it your own. However, it also means you are left to make sure everything happens as you have planned and it is down to you and your family to ensure your day runs smoothly. For that reason, having a wedding co-ordinator helps take all that pressure away, resulting in you having a stress free wedding day with all your friends and family. Here is what Molly & Tom said after I helped them in the run up to their big day and on the day itself…

“If you're even considering hiring Tasha to be your wedding co-ordinator please do it, it will be one of the best decisions you make!

Tasha truly was incredible to work with. In the months before Tasha worked with me asking lots of questions I never would have thought of, but without pressure, just working through a document turning all the red writing to black. Tash came up with solutions and suggestions even though she didn't know our quite large and complex venue, and was always available for quick questions and last minute brolly panics in the lead up!

On the day, Tash and Ellie went above and beyond. They worked so hard, and our whole day went so smoothly. From perfect aisle timing, a glass of fizz waiting after the ceremony to finding family members to make announcements and running to get our photographer when she noticed golden hour was perfect. Tash just had all the details under control.

Tash is pragmatic, logical and professional, and it allowed me to feel so confident with her. But as well as that she is positive, excited and brings a gorgeous energy that I know will be perfect for your wedding too”.

So you maybe wondering how we helped Molly and Tom on their big day and when I say ‘We’, I mean Ellie and I. It is really important to me to have an extra pair of hands, so I always bring another team member to help, so between us we can be in two places at once.

Firstly we put the reserved signs on the ceremony seats and met with the caterers, florist and musicians to make sure they were ok. Next, we put the last bits of decor out, such as, the bar signs, the card box, a sip and solve crossword, the table plan and some Poloroid cameras. There are always some things that can’t be done the day before just in case the weather is bad or the air is damp, so don't worry, we will always help with any last minute decor.

Checking in on Tom and the chaps, who I have to say did a sterling job of putting on their buttonholes, I made sure they had everything they needed ready for the ceremony.

Once Susanne from Milston Flower Barn had finished putting up the amazing floral cloud in the Carriage Room ready for the wedding breakfast, we did a last check, making sure all the tables and chairs were back in place and all the place settings were as they should be.

Taking the beautiful bouquets up to the entrance of the walled garden, I waited for Molly to arrive, whilst Ellie made sure everyone was seated ready to watch Molly make her entrance down the aisle.

Once the girls were ready, I gave the thumbs up to the wonderful celebrant Jenny who was waiting at the end with Tom. After the housekeeping was announced, Ellie controlled the music whilst I fluffed Molly’s dress and helped the girls with their timings down the aisle, which I am thrilled to say were spot on!

Once the ceremony was over, I met Molly & Tom at the end of their spectacular peony aisle with a glass of fizz and then left them to have photos, whilst I organised the groomsmen to move all the chairs outside the gardens, ready for collection.

Keeping an eye on the timings, we ushered everyone down to the barn where the music began for the remainder of the drinks reception. Here the caterers served Aperol Spritz, more fizz and the guests could help themselves to a beer or cider from the Booze Bath, if they wanted something different.

When the time was right towards the end of the drinks reception, I prompted Molly’s siblings to present their speech all together in front of the barn. The three of them spilt lots of Molly’s secrets growing up which were really funny, including Christmas tree chocolates, learning about the anatomy and Yorkshire puddings! Not everyone wants to wait until after the meal to say their speech, so splitting them up between your drinks reception and wedding breakfast is a really good idea. I have seen this more and more at the weddings I have co-ordinated, as it means your guests don’t have to sit through lengthy speeches all in one go.

Time for the wedding breakfast, we asked everyone to take a seat and let the caterers know they could start with service.

With everyone tucking into their delicious meal, we tidied up the rest of the walled garden and put the evening decor out for after the meal, such as the blanket baskets, sweet jars and funny prop baskets. We also moved the cards and gifts into the cottage so Molly and Tom knew they would be safe and wouldn’t need to think about them at the end of the night.

The bar team arrived so we made sure they had everything they needed for their bar set up in the Harness Room, aptly named ‘The Modgson Arms’ by Molly and Tom. With pubs being a key topic for their table names, it was only right they used a combination of their names to create their bar name, complete with personalised beer mats!

As the wedding breakfast came to an end, it was time for the rest of the speeches, which a guest accidentally dropped a glass in the middle of them. Being on hand I grabbed a dustpan and brush and swept it up without disrupting anything. With a DIY wedding, I always suggest having a broom, a dustpan and brush, lots of heavy duty binbags and a box for broken glass available for incidents just like this, as you just never know when you might need them.

Checking on the loos, tidying them up and filling up the loo roll, which is of course a very important job on the day, I noticed the sun was setting behind the trees. With everyone now outside chilling on the courtyard and getting drinks from the bar, I found Emmie the photographer who quickly found Molly and Tom to capture those beautiful golden hour shots. If you are lucky enough to have a gorgeous sunset on your big day, it’s a good idea to chat with your photographer beforehand and to schedule it in to your time plan so you don’t miss it. You can always get an approximate time on Google for the sun setting on your special day.

With the guests mingling and sipping on cocktails, it was time for the first dance. Gathering everyone together in the barn, the guests stood around to watch Molly and Tom, which lead very quickly into everyone joining them on the dance floor. Wearing silly hats, funny sunglasses, singing into blow up microphones and playing inflatable guitars, it was now time to party!

Checking all of our jobs were done and the suppliers that were left were happy with everything, we said our goodbyes to Molly, Tom and their families and left them to have the night of their lives.

DIY weddings are so much fun, but can be quite stressful if you don’t have someone behind the scenes making sure everything is running smoothly. If you are planning your big day at a DIY venue similar to Kingsettle Stud or even at home in a family members garden, then get in touch and let’s chat through how I can help you, so you can have a stress free wedding day too, just like Molly and Tom.

With love from...

The fantastic team of suppliers involved in Molly and Tom’s wedding were…

Venue: Kingsettle Stud

Photographer: Emmie Scott Photography

Videographer: The Camera Chap Weddings

Celebrant: Jenny Marks Celebrant

Florist: Milston Flower Barn

Caterers: Bread & Butter Catering

Band: The Roebucks

Hair & Make-up: Lucent Hair & Make up

Katherine and Steve’s Christmas Wedding at Sopley Mill

183:710808326 (Natasha Gilchrist) — Wed, 27 Nov 2024 16:37:13 GMT

All weddings are special, but Christmas weddings have a sprinkling of festive magic added in!

The majority of my co-ordination enquiries are for beautiful summer weddings, which of course I absolutely love. However, when I get an enquiry for a Christmas wedding, I can’t help but get that excited magical feeling. Last year Katherine and Steve chose to get married the week before Christmas at Sopley Mill, which was a real festive treat for me and one wedding I couldn’t wait to co-ordinate.

In the run up to Katherine and Steve’s big day, it was lovely getting to know them both as we worked together on their time plan. Along their wedding planning journey I offered advice and made suggestions, so we could be sure nothing was forgotten. Knowing I can help make my couples big day stress free is what I am here to do, so when I receive kind words afterwards, it makes me one very happy wedding co-ordinator. Here is what Katherine and Steve had to say after their special day…

“When we started to find the whole process of planning the wedding a bit overwhelming, we were recommended Tasha by one of our suppliers. Enlisting her services turned out to be one of the best decisions we made.

Very quickly, she helped us to get back on track, taking real effort to get to know us and ascertain exactly how we wanted the wedding to go. Whether it was contacting suppliers to suggest things that might make things easier or enhance the day, Tasha proved to be a real godsend in the months and weeks leading up to our big day. She came up with an incredibly detailed time plan for our wedding and asked all sorts of questions about details that we hadn’t even considered. This meant that we could have time to think and make sure that everything was exactly how we wanted it.

On the day of the wedding itself, she continued to excel herself, providing a vital conduit between ourselves and the suppliers and venue, helping things move along smoothly and ensuring that we were free to enjoy our day. We genuinely believe that much of the day’s success was down to her.

Tasha’s communication with us was incredible from start to finish. If ever we wanted an opinion or had a question, her reply was always prompt. She gave great suggestions but was never pushy. She gave us real food for thought and gave her professional opinion for things that we weren’t sure about. She was an all-round good egg.

Tasha was an absolutely brilliant wedding coordinator who was worth every penny and more. We wish we knew more people who were getting married so we could recommend her to them! If you’re in any doubts about hiring a wedding coordinator, DO IT and make sure you choose Tasha!”.

So, what jobs did I get up to on Katherine and Steve’s big day?

There are always lots of jobs to do in the morning, such as putting signs out and finishing off the table decor. My team member on the day was Jan, so together we started by adding Katherine and Steve’s table centrepieces. These were made with a fir wreath and a hurricane vase in the middle filled with pine cones. We also added their place names and framed table names to each table. I just loved that they called their tables after Santa’s reindeers, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and of course Rudolph!

A touch of gold from the charger plates supplied by Simply Flower added to the festive colour scheme, which we finished off with a Christmas cracker as the wedding favours. Katherine and Steve also had some business card QR codes printed so their guests could download their photos onto a group gallery. Without wanting these to overpower the table decor, we discreetly popped them under each place name so their guests could find them when they sat down.

Putting out Katherine and Steve's post box, order of the day sign, table plan, outside lanterns and Christmas wreaths on the front doors, we made sure everything was done that was detailed in their time plan.

Styling a Christmas wedding can be a little easier when it comes to choosing how you would like your big day to look. That’s not to say you have to style it with ALL things Christmassy but it can certainly help with ideas. For Katherine and Steve’s ceremony, they chose to have a fairy light wall with Christmas trees either side of a beautiful hexagonal arch adorned with festive foliage and florals, all beautifully styled by Simply Flower.

A Christmas wedding wouldn’t be complete without a bit of snow, so Katherine and Steve hired Simply Flowers snow machine. One of my jobs was to find out how it worked and manage it when it was time for snow, something you don’t get to do every day so I was really excited about that!

Instead of a guest book, Katherine and Steve had ordered a signing tree from Etsy so I displayed that along with some fancy pens, all ready to remind their guests to sign their names on it later.

In between doing the morning jobs, I kept checking in on Katherine and her bridesmaids who were having their hair styled by Blushing Brides and make up done by Michaela Selene Make Up Artist, upstairs in the Avon Suite.

I also made sure Steve, the groomsmen and dads were all ok whilst they sat chilling by the open fire and helped them with their buttonholes.

Making sure all the fairy lights were turned on, the candles were lit and the fire was alight, it wasn’t long before it was time to meet with the registrars and help with the timings of Katherine and Steve’s legal interviews.

While this was taking place, Jan met with their guests who were slowly arriving. Directing them over the bridge to the far entrance and handing out bubble wands to be used in place of confetti, it was soon time for the ceremony.

With Alex from We Perform managing all the music during the ceremony, I helped the bridesmaids with their timings and fluffed Katherine’s dress just before she walked down the aisle. Closing the doors behind them, Jan went to meet John Elliott the magician who was arriving ready to perform magic during the drinks reception, whilst I waited for Katherine and Steve to be announced as husband and wife.

Opening the doors back up, everyone blew their bubbles as Katherine and Steve walked up the aisle as Mr & Mrs!

Heading downstairs, the drinks flowed with a ‘Pimp your Prosecco’ station organised by Tom’s Bars, whilst delicious canapés were served by Red Cherry Catering.

As a co-ordinator, my job is to keep an eye on the timings. Not having seen their finished wedding breakfast room, I took Katherine and Steve upstairs to have a quick look before their guests went in. Although you will have a vision in your head of how you want your room and tables to look, it is nice to take a few minutes to yourselves to see everything come together before your guests take a seat.

Time for the wedding breakfast, we asked everyone to make their way upstairs to find their seat. I found Pete who was Katherine and Steve’s dedicated MC and prepped him with the announcement of Katherine and Steve into their wedding breakfast. I always advise my couples to choose a member of their family or one of their friends to make any announcements throughout the day that I can prompt when the time is right. Generally there will always be someone that is happy to speak in public and it’s also a very good way to give someone close to you a job, so they feel included.

With everyone sat, Katherine and Steve had chosen to have their speeches before their meal was served. This is a great way to ensure everyone enjoys their meal if you feel that nerves may get the better of some of your speakers.

After the speeches and with everyone enjoying their meal catered by Red Cherry Catering, Jan and I got on with some more jobs in preparation for the evening party. We put out the sparkler display and some board games in the quiet room and put the flip flop box out so the guests could change their shoes into something comfier. During this time the Photostars Photobooth arrived, so I showed them where to set up as it was their first time at Sopley Mill. I also met with the band, Weekend Ticket and the resident DJ, We Perform, to check they were ok and then left them to set up.

Whilst everyone was tucking in to their meal, John went around and performed some more mind reading and magic tricks at the tables to keep everyone entertained.

Upstairs the meal had come to an end, so it was time to prompt Katherine and Steve’s MC to announce and do a count down for their cake cutting. Their beautiful cake was made by the very talented Cakey Lulu's who had set it up in the morning and added on Katherine and Steve’s little cake topper of Toby their dog. Such a cute and personal touch including Toby on their big day and he looked so sweet nibbling away on the side of their cake!

Downstairs Tom’s Bars had set up a hot drinks station serving tea, coffee and hot chocolate, the perfect choice of after meal drinks for a winter wedding.

After the cake had been cut everyone made their way downstairs for a hot drink and to have a go in the Photobooth.

During this time Katherine and Steve wanted a professional sparkler shot, so we gathered a group of their friends outside and lit their sparklers ready for their incredible photographer, Robin Goodlad Photography to capture.

Time for the first dance, we checked Katherine and Steve were ready and I helped Katherine bustle her dress so she could dance more freely. Ushering the guests back upstairs, everyone gathered around to watch their first dance. This quickly lead to all the guests joining them on the dance floor and continued into the evening party.

Just before we left, we moved the signing tree upstairs to avoid any spillages on it. With all the jobs done and everyone having fun, it was time for us to say our 'Goodbyes'.

Leaving them all to have a great night, I loved that they chose their last song of the evening to be ‘MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY’ by SLADE.

The perfect ending to a perfect wedding day, just a few days before Christmas!

If you are thinking of having a Christmassy winter wedding, then I say go for it!

At least you know your wedding will be indoors, so you don’t need to think about contingency plans in case the weather is bad. You can also create a warm and cosy feel to your wedding, whether it’s with open log fires, lots of candles and snuggly blankets. Not only that, but you can style your day with festive touches and choose richer winter colours, such as deep reds and forest greens.

Whenever you decide to have your wedding if you need help on the day like Katherine and Steve, then get in touch so we can chat through your wedding ideas. Booking me as your wedding co-ordinator, I will ensure you have a stress free wedding day and that everything goes to plan so you don’t need to worry about a thing!

Lots of love

Suppliers involved in making Katherine and Steve’s day special…

Photographer: Robin Goodlad Photography

Venue: Sopley Mill

Sparkler Display: Mae & Maple Prop & Decor Hire

Videographer: 0730 Media

Florist & Stylist: Simply Flower

Band: Weekend Ticket

Day Music: We Perform

Bar: Tom's Bars

Caterer: Red Cherry Catering

Cake: Cakey Lulu's

Magician: John Elliott Magician

Hair Stylist: Blushing Brides

Make up: Michaela Selene Make Up

Photobooth: Photostars

Georgia and Phil's Wedding at Tournerbury Woods

Fri, 20 Oct 2023 15:49:54 GMT

Images captured by Lucy Dracott Photography

There is something to be said for getting married in May. This year the weather was without doubt better in May than every weekend we had in July!

Georgia and Phil couldn’t have asked for better weather at their DIY marquee wedding venue, Tournerbury Woods on Hayling Island. The sky was blue with a very slight breeze and the sun was shining, just perfect for their outdoor ceremony.

When Georgia and Phil first got in touch, they initially asked for help decorating their marquee as they weren’t sure how they were going to get it all done with limited time on the morning of their big day. After chatting with them both on the phone and going through everything they needed help with, Georgia and Phil decided that in fact they could actually do with all day co-ordination to ensure their whole day ran smoothly. Receiving Georgia and Phil’s kind words after their big day made me really happy to hear how much they valued their decision in booking me to help them for the duration…

“Tasha is INCREDIBLE! I can say for definite that our day wouldn’t have been as perfect as it was without her.

We found Tasha after looking for help to set up the marquee on our wedding day. I had originally planned to do it myself but when I realised how big of a job it was we knew we needed someone who knew what they were doing.

Tasha was extremely friendly and helpful. We video called a few times, had a chat on Whatsapp we could use at any point and she even travelled to see us in person to go over how we wanted everything setting up. She shared ideas of things we hadn’t even thought of and contacted all of our suppliers to make sure everything went to plan.

On the day Tasha and Jan were on site early to set up the marquee and it looked amazing! They brought our visions to life and it looked better than we could ever have imagined. She checked in with us both to make sure we were both okay and clarify last minute details. Everything was timed perfectly and we didn’t have to worry about a thing.

Tasha was highly thought of by all of our suppliers, our venue and our families who helped on the day. We cannot thank her enough for everything she did for us”.

SO, WHAT DID WE DO?

Jan and I arrived first thing and set to decorating the inside of the marquee. Laying the table cloths and putting out the table name centrepieces Georgia and Phil had made, they were now ready for the florist Vanessa Jayne Design to place her pretty wild meadow floral jars.

On the table we also placed the napkins and the place names and added the best favours ever of ‘His and Her’ sweets…Percy Pigs for Georgia and Skittles for Phil.

NO GUEST WOULD BE LEAVING THEIR FAVOUR ON THE TABLE!

We met with the bar The Three Cockerels and the caterers Island Catering Company to check they had everything they needed and carried on with putting out the rest of the decor, such as the welcome sign, the reserved seat signs and the confetti stand.

Georgia and Phil also decided to have an unplugged ceremony meaning guests are asked to turn their phones and cameras off and leave the photos to the professional photographer. I think this is a really good idea, otherwise you end up with your professional gallery back and your ceremony pictures have all your guests holding their phones up in the air. I know your guests are only trying to help by attempting to capture the best shot of you tying the knot, but I say...

LEAVE IT TO THE PROFESSIONALS!

We also set out the very brilliant audio guestbook from Calleo UK . If you are looking for an alternative to a guestbook, I would highly recommend this idea as it means rather than reading a book you can hear your friends and families voices when you listen back in later years.

WHAT AN AMAZING MEMORY FROM YOUR BIG DAY!

About an hour before the ceremony Phil arrived along with some of his friends so they could capture some photos with their photographer Lucy Dracott Photography. The sun was now beginning to hot up, so my emergency trolley was able to assist some of the girls with sun cream and later on with antihistamine tablets and paracetamol…

MY TROLLEY ALWAYS COMES UP TRUMPS FOR MY COUPLES AND THEIR GUESTS!

In between all of the prep I kept checking in on Georgia who was getting ready with her mum and flower girls in the cottage. With hair and make up by Olivia Marshall Make Up Artist booked through Suzanne Dusek Hair & Make Up everyone looked beautiful, especially Georgia.

Upstairs in the cottage Georgia's mum helped her into her wedding dress. I always think it's nice to have a few precious moments with your 'special someone' before you walk down the aisle.

Wearing her nan’s wedding dress which Georgia had altered with a different neckline and style of sleeve, it was a very special and sentimental moment when her dad caught the first glimpse. A dad's first look of their daughter in their wedding dress is always an emotional moment...

NATURALLY A FEW TEARS OF PRIDE, LOVE AND HAPPINESS ARE ALWAYS SHED!

EVEN BUSTER THE DOG WAS PLEASED TO SEE GEORGIA IN HER WEDDING DRESS!

Greeting the registrars is always a job on my list. Once Phil had spoken with them and I had shown them where they could talk with Georgia, I made sure Phil was down at the front of the aisle and asked all the guests to take a seat ready for the ceremony.

Working alongside Ella, Tournerbury’s venue co-ordinator, Ella waited by the PA system ready to control the music whilst I stayed with Georgia, her dad and her flower girls making sure they were happy, calm and ready to walk down the aisle. Giving the thumbs up to Ella to press play I stood with Georgia and helped with timings of when to start walking, reminding her not to walk too fast, to hold her bouquet low and of course to enjoy every moment. It seems natural to want to walk quickly down the aisle and to hold your bouquet up high in front of your chest, so a little reminder just before the big moment is always a good thing.

After a beautiful ceremony in front of the pergola which had been decorated with stunning floral arrangements by Vanessa Jayne Design , along with the floral aisle jars and of course the pretty bouquets and buttonholes, we directed all guests to the safari tent slope to form a confetti tunnel.

Making a confetti tunnel away from your aisle is a good idea as it means all your guests can be involved rather than just your guests in the aisle seats. It also means you have a much longer confetti walk to capture lots of confetti images like these ones by the very talented Lucy Dracott Photography.

ENDING UP WITH IT EVERYWHERE...EVEN DOWN YOUR DRESS!

It was now time for the welcome drinks and canapés to be served which Island Catering Company took care of whilst we moved the ceremony chairs into groups on the lawn for the guests to use and put the rest away that weren’t needed.

Lawn games are very popular at weddings and always welcomed by guests, giving them something to do during the chill times. Earlier in the morning I had met with The Lawn Game Company and chatted with them about where to set up their games which included Welly Wanging, a Coconut Shy and Beat the Buzzer.

In the run up to Georgia and Phil’s wedding we had several conversations about other ideas that may be popular and Phil was really keen on me bringing my coffee sacks and rope markers from my new business venture Mae & Maple Prop Hire . It’s amazing how the old school sports day races can bring so much fun to a wedding. Just look at these awesome images of everyone getting involved…

EVEN GEORGIA'S MUM!

Not wanting any major speeches during their wedding breakfast Georgia and Phil decided to have the father of the bride speech outside just before everyone went in for their meal. By using the slope going up to the safari tent, it meant Georgia could stand with her dad and Phil at the top so everyone could see them. In doing this it felt far more relaxed which is the vibe Georgia and Phil were going for.

At the end of the speech Georgia’s dad asked everyone to make their way into the marquee to find their seat.

With everyone sat down and Georgia and Phil sat at their incredible 'Sweetheart Table' it was time to send everyone up for their food.

Checking the caterers were ready I sent a table up one at a time to collect their delicious…wait for it…

CURRY!

WHAT A CHOICE!

...a yummy curry in a big pan with rice, naan bread, poppadoms and chutneys. Completely different to the norm but that’s why I loved it and it went down an absolute storm with Georgia and Phil’s guests.

After the caterers had cleared the tables I then sent the tables up to collect their pudding from a selection of delicious one pot puddings of eton mess, chocolate brownie and vanilla cheesecake.

With no more speeches, straight after the meal it was time for Georgia and Phil to cut their semi naked wedding cake made by The Pastry Corner .

Keeping a close eye was their cousin’s little boy who had been crowned chief cake taster and was promised first taste from each layer. The winning flavour went to caramel but of course he loved them all and so did everyone else!

Once the cake flavour judging had been announced we took the cake away to cut into smaller pieces and put onto boards, so the guests could help themselves to it throughout the evening.

The guests then headed outside to buy themselves a drink from the bar and chill out on the lawn area.

During this time Georgia and Phil went off to capture some pics with their photographer, Lucy. This is something I always suggest factoring into your time plan and any good photographer will suggest doing this too. Having a bit of ‘You Time’ is really important and means you can capture some wonderful images of the two of you. Whether you choose golden hour or not, you won’t regret taking a few moments to yourselves away from your guests.

MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR VENUE'S GROUNDS!

GEORGIA AND PHIL COULDN'T FORGET SOME PICTURES WITH BUSTER THE BEST DOG TOO!

During the chill time I met with Ashley Riggs DJ who began setting up. Whilst he was doing this I went round to all the guests reminding them to leave their audio message on the phone before the music started up. I would have hated for all of the guest messages to have been drowned out by the loud music!

Jan and I also moved all of the cards and gifts over to the cottage so they were in a safe place and Georgia and Phil wouldn’t need to worry about them later.

With the DJ set up it was time for Georgia’s dad and daughter dance, which is always something very special to see as not everyone does this any more. Gathering all the guests, everyone stood around to watch Georgia and her dad, followed by Georgia and Phil’s first dance.

For their evening food Georgia and Phil opted for pizza also from Island Catering Company , a choice you can’t go wrong with for evening nibbles, especially after a few drinks. Alongside that they set up a s’mores table by the fire pit so guests could toast their own s’mores and marshmallows. If you are having a fire pit at your wedding this is a great idea and something that is always a hit with the guests.

With all the jobs done and everyone having a good time, it was now time to leave. Saying our goodbyes to Georgia, Phil and their families, we headed home leaving everyone to enjoy the evening party.

If you are planning a DIY wedding whether it’s at a wedding venue, in a marquee in a field, a community hall or even at home in your garden and you think you might need some help like Georgia and Phil, then don’t hesitate to get in touch. As a wedding co-ordinator I am here to help take any worry away and provide you with a stress free day. If you have questions along the way and need supplier recommendations then I will be there for you along your wedding planning journey to help in any way I can as your wedding buddy.

SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

LET'S TALK WEDDINGS!

Much Love

Natalie & Jake's Wedding at Bake Barn

Sun, 29 Jan 2023 10:02:29 GMT

It always makes me happy when fellow suppliers recommend me to their couples. Mark and Sara from Atlas Photography were booked to capture Natalie and Jake’s special day and with it being a true DIY wedding they suggested they get in touch with me to see how I could help them. It is great to meet and work with new suppliers but it is always a joy to work with the ones I already know and love. Having worked together before it means we know we work well together and naturally have the same work ethics and couple goals as one another…

ENSURING YOUR DAY IS PERFECT!

Hearing all about Natalie and Jake’s wedding plans and where their wedding was taking place, I was really excited. I had never been to or co-ordinated a wedding at Bake Barn on the Fonthill Estate in Wiltshire before.

Visiting beforehand to look around and see how Natalie and Jake had set it up, I was blown away, it was simply stunning. The most beautiful barn tucked away where no one would pass. Surrounded by open fields and an old open barn there were so many opportunities to have some alone time and capture some beautiful couple shots.

JUST LOOK AT NATALIE AND JAKE'S...

On the morning of Natalie and Jake’s wedding the team and I arrived early to check everything was where it should be and so I could show my team around. Natalie and Jake were using the main barn for their wedding ceremony, wedding breakfast and evening reception, so there would be lots of room changes throughout the day. The ceremony had already been set up and looked incredible with lots of mismatched chairs belonging to Jake’s mum.

Outside the bar area had already been set up as much as possible and all the outdoor styling props were in place. On the lawn area were some garden games from Jake's work which had been positioned next to the haybale seating area which had been supplied by Bales 4 Events .

Both Natalie and Jake were really creative and wanted to make as much as they could for their DIY wedding themselves. In front of the main doors stood the most stunning wooden arch that Jake had been busy making ready for their big day.

Between them they decorated it with fairy lights and Floral Rebellion arranged an incredible dried floral cloud at the top.

Jake had also made the wooden frame for their table-plan.

A VERY HANDY GROOM!

Meeting with some of Natalie and Jake’s family friends who had offered to cater for their wedding, I made sure they were ok and had everything they needed. Not long after, the registrar arrived to speak with Jake in the loft room prior to the ceremony and then to Natalie in her wedding car when she arrived.

The bridesmaids and Natalie’s mum soon arrived in a VW camper van driven by Jake's step-dad...

...with Natalie following behind in a classic car with her dad.

Wanting to save money where they could and with Natalie being extremely creative and a whizz on a sewing machine she made the bridesmaids forest green skirts and headpieces herself.

I JUST LOVE THE COLOUR COMBO!

Not only that but Natalie had also made Jake and the groomsmen's waistcoats.

WHO ALL LOOKED VERY DAPPER.

Frustratingly for Natalie when she arrived she realised she had left her bouquet in the house where she was getting ready. To resolve this there was a quick trip back to pick it up before she could walk down the aisle.

As the guests arrived we greeted them and directed them into the barn ready for the ceremony whilst we waited for the missing bouquet!

With the bouquet handed over and all the guests sat, it was time for Natalie and Jake’s big moment. Whilst their friend played the guitar at the front of the barn, I stood outside and helped with the timings of everyone walking down the aisle. It is always a good idea to leave a short gap in between each person or couple so your photographer can capture your important people individually, rather than a train of people all at once.

No ceremony arch was needed for Natalie and Jake’s wedding as the barn has a very beautiful and grand brick fireplace which you can dress as you wish. Natalie and Jake had decorated it with vases of dried flowers, an array of fairy lights and different sized battery operated candles which we had turned on when we arrived.

Once the ceremony was over and the signing of the register had taken place, Natalie and Jake were now...

OFFICIALLY MARRIED!

Making their way up the aisle and outside as husband and wife, their guests followed behind.

Walking a loop, Natalie and Jake sneaked back inside and upstairs to have a few minutes to themselves whilst I took the ladder down to Mark and Sara who were gathering the guests for the confetti shot. With everyone in place and the confetti handed out, I dashed upstairs to get Natalie and Jake so they could make their way through the confetti tunnel.

YOU HAVE GOT TO LOVE A CONFETTI TUNNEL!

Prosecco and beers at the ready my team kept the guests topped up during the drinks reception whilst the groomsmen did their job of handing around the canapés.

This was also the perfect time for the groomsmen to have some fun on the wall!

During the drinks reception Natalie and Jake also had a little and rather fluffy visitor arrive to congratulate them, their golden retriever Hendricks. I love it when couples include their pets in their big day, I always say ‘why not?’, I mean they are a big part of your lives too.

HOW CUTE IS HENDRICKS?

Whilst the drinks reception took place, myself and the rest of my team set to changing the ceremony room into the wedding breakfast. There was quite a lot to do with wheeling in additional tables, putting the chairs around and laying all the tables with pre-made labelled boxes of what was needed for each one.

TOP TIP!

A good ‘top tip’ to anyone planning room turnarounds. Make up individual table boxes with everything that is needed for each table. When time is limited you will be thankful you did this as it will help ensure your tables are laid quickly and in plenty of time for the next important part of your day.

Adding the centrepieces, children’s activity packs and favours of sloe gin, the room was ready for everyone to take a seat.

With everyone sat it was now time for Natalie and Jake to be announced into their wedding breakfast.

Natalie and Jake had chosen to have a cream tea using a mix of twee crockery, teacups, teapots and cake stands with vintage glassware and cutlery. The fact none of it matched gave it more of a personal touch and it looked perfect in the barn setting.

On the head table sat Natalie and Jake’s wedding cake which had been made by a family friend. Once Natalie and Jake had cut it, it was taken into the kitchen to be cut into smaller pieces and served as one of their cake choices for their cream tea.

NATURALLY HENDRICKS DESERVED A PLACE ON THEIR CAKE!

With my team serving the wedding breakfast we brought out the different elements to the cream tea in stages. We started with the sandwiches and followed on with the scones, cream and jam. Finishing off with a selection of homemade cakes and slices of Natalie and Jake’s wedding cake.

Ensuring the wine and water flowed as well as plenty of tea and coffee, it was soon time to clear the tables ready for the speeches. Finding the mic and putting it on the head table for when they were ready, it wasn’t long before the heartfelt words and funny stories began.

As the speeches came to an end the evening suppliers arrived, so I was able to greet them and show them where to set up. The evening hog roast Salisbury Hog Roast went to the right of the bricked entrance and the crepe van Pan Crepes to the left. Natalie and Jake’s guests were certainly being spoilt with plenty of delicious food to see them through their day.

The portable photo booth company Picture Blast also arrived and I showed them where they could set up their selfie pod, album and props in the entrance hall.

As soon as everyone had finished their cream tea, we asked the guests to make their way outside to get a drink from the Loggia where two of my team were serving from.

Whilst the guests got themselves a drink, mingled and played games in the courtyard the rest of my team moved the room around once again.

Clearing the tables and with the help from the groomsmen we wheeled most of the tables outside and out of the way leaving space for the band Mister Shakes to set up in front of the fireplace. Pushing the rest of the tables and chairs to the sides of the room it gave the guests somewhere to sit during the evening once their dancing feet were sore!

There is one other job I always like to do and that is to make sure guests have signed the wedding book or whatever it is my couples have chosen to do. From signed picture frames, to puzzle pieces, your classic wedding book or wooden hearts, there are so many options to choose from. It always seems such a shame to me when guests don’t realise where they are and they get forgotten. With that in mind and chatting to Jake’s mum, she asked one of the groomsmen to take Natalie and Jake’s box of hearts around to all of their guests so they could each leave them a message to make up their picture frame.

With everyone enjoying their evening food and chilling in the courtyard, the band were soon ready to play and encourage everyone on the dance floor. This was our queue that everyone was happy, all the jobs had been done and it was time for us to say our ‘Goodbyes’. Handing over the bar to two of Natalie and Jake's friends that had come along to help, we packed up our bags and left Natalie and Jake to have an amazing night with their friends and family.

These fabulous images from Atlas Photography say it all...

Receiving Natalie and Jakes review after their big day was a joy to read.

"Tasha helped us to create our perfect dream wedding day!

She was recommended to us by two separate people (including our photographers who work with a LOT of co-ordinators and recommended only her). Tasha and her team made our day run so smoothly - she was working her magic in the background the whole time, and proved to be a necessity on our day. I now have the best memories of our day being just wonderful thanks to her taking on all the work behind the scenes! "

I love to hear how happy my couples are and that we have helped ensure their day is stress free and just as they want it.

AFTERALL, THIS IS WHAT WE ARE HERE TO DO!

The great thing about Bake Barn is it is a true DIY venue and blank canvas for you to do whatever you want with the space. It is these types of venue that mean you might need some additional help with jobs or you just need someone there to take the pressure away and ensure your day runs smoothly. If you think you might need some extra helping hands on your special day, wherever it might be, then don’t hesitate to get in touch so we can chat through how my team and I can help. No one wants to give their loved ones a list of jobs to do, so let me do them for you!

Much Love

Bex & Graham's Wedding at Warborne Farm

Sat, 21 Jan 2023 09:52:20 GMT

...IN THE NEW FOREST.

Bex and Graham's wedding was originally booked for 2020 at a different venue. Having to postpone their wedding twice due to the pandemic, their venue also changed hands during this time. Speaking with the new management team to confirm their wedding plans, things that had been promised to Bex and Graham were sadly now not allowed. Losing faith this pushed Bex and Graham to find a new venue which would accommodate their wedding requirements. Happy to help I was able to recommend the stunning Warborne Farm which had a similar vibe to their original venue and I was certain they would love.

I WAS RIGHT!

After paying Warborne Farm a visit and falling in love with it, Bex and Graham soon booked this totally chilled DIY farm venue for their big day in 2022.

For me, I get asked to travel all over to co-ordinate weddings so it was really nice to be able to co-ordinate a wedding so local to me and at a venue I absolutely love.

Warborne Farm comes as an exclusive blank canvas venue to do what you like with including the most stunning accommodation for up to 40 guests. If you have more guests that want to stay then the owner and farmer, George also allows camping in the field. This is the perfect solution to ensure your guests don’t have to worry about getting home straight after a full day of wedding celebrations. There are even a couple of showers for your camping guests to freshen up the morning after and loos too. Having these different options and facilities was what Bex and Graham wanted to be able to offer their guests, so it was perfect for their big day.

The day before Bex and Graham's wedding I paid a visit to Warborne Farm to see how they were getting on, have a look around and see how they had set it up.

BEAUTIFUL I AM SURE YOU WILL AGREE.

Annoyingly it was very windy and the weather forecast spoke of rain the next day. Just in case the heavens opened we discussed the all important contingency plan, something I always recommend you have in place. Over night there were a few downpours but thankfully after a quick shower in the morning the sun came out for the rest of the day, meaning there was no need for the contingency ceremony marquee!

THE WORDS IN THIS CARD MUST HAVE HELPED!

On the day itself we arrived in plenty of time so I could show my team around and talk them through the plans for the day.

Our first job was to prep the welcome drinks of Bellinis and make sure the blankets were on the haybales ready for the ceremony.

Walking through the gates to the orchard where the ceremony was to take place we were greeted by a group of cute fluffy sheep nibbling on the haybales and chickens hopping from bale to bale. Surrounded by fields with horses grazing, geese waddling around and ducks in their pen, this was enough for anyone to fall in love with this ceremony set up.

As the guests started to arrive we poured and served the Bellinis so they could have a drink before the ceremony.

Welcoming the guests was also Bex and Graham who wanted their day to be totally relaxed, so decided to be out with their guests for a drink before their ceremony. This is what I love about DIY weddings, there is no need to do things as you think they should be done or as people tell you they should be done. This is your day and you can do it your way, so if you and your partner want to get ready together and enjoy every special moment of your day together then...

DO IT!

Whilst Sam and Hayley served the welcome drinks on the lawn, myself and Jan prepped for the wedding breakfast. Bex and Graham had chosen to have a vegan wedding and had ordered in some delicious vegan pasta salads, coleslaw and green salads, as well as some yummy freshly baked vegan bread. All of this was to accompany a selection of vegan cheeses, homemade vegan sausage rolls, crackers, chutneys and vegan butter. One of our jobs was to put all the different components into large cardboard hamper boxes ready to be put on each table.

Adding wine and water to the tables hired from South Coast Marquees they would soon be ready for the guests to take a seat on the natural fold up chairs hired from them too. With the vintage crockery and glassware hired from Swingletree Vintage and the floral arrangements by Kemlo & Kemlo the tables were looking really pretty.

Sharks were a big part of Bex and Graham’s theme with their love of marine life and Bex working for the Manta Trust . With Bex and Graham’s tables named after sharks and a ‘Find your Shark’ table plan, these little touches made Bex and Graham’s wedding really personal to them. It was a joy to see a story being told through styling, especially one linked to raising awareness of the incredible sea life that play a big part in Bex and Graham’s lives.

Taking cakes from the guests as they arrived these would make up the ‘Dessert Cake Table’ which Bex had made a papier-mâché sharks head to go on.

A PIECE OF ART IN ITSELF!

Now time for the ceremony and with Graham’s best man Ollie and his friends playing the guitar and violin, we asked the guests (and chickens) to make their way through the gate, across the track and along the winding path to take a seat on the hay bales in the orchard.

Waiting with Bex who looked beautiful in a deep red dress, blue shoes and her hair in a 1940s victory roll style and Graham in a relaxed open neck shirt and chinos, it was soon time for them to walk down the aisle. Bex arm in arm with her dad and Graham arm in arm with his mum, it was a very special moment seeing them all walk down the aisle together.

Stood in front of the arch which had been beautifully decorated with foliage by Graham’s mum, stood Bex and Graham’s good friend Tony who was acting as their celebrant.

After a beautiful and intimate ceremony Bex and Graham made their way up the aisle so their fabulous photographer Kate Jackson Photography could capture the all important confetti shot.

Making their way back through to the lawn my team were ready to serve everyone more Bellinis whilst they chilled out and played some lawn games.

Once it was time for the wedding breakfast we asked the guests to make their way to the barn to find their shark!

Keeping an eye on everyone during the meal and making sure they had enough wine and water we stocked the DIY bar ready for later. Graham and his friends had their own barrels of home brewed beer which went down an absolute storm and didn't last long!

After the meal came the speeches. I do love listening to the speeches and wow did these ones bring a tear to my eye. Incredibly heartfelt and just beautiful to listen to.

FROM EMOTIONAL TEARS TO TEARS OF LAUGHTER.

As well as Ollie, Graham's best man singing his own funny song…

JUST BRILLIANT!

Once the speeches finished the guests got up to help themselves to the ‘Cake Table’ and tea and coffee. This gave us some time to clear the tables of all the plates, glassware, hampers and leftover picnic food. Scraping the plates, sorting the rubbish and stacking everything in the prep room we made sure it was left as tidy as possible for Bex and Graham. The last thing any couple wants to be faced with the morning after their wedding is a mess to clear up.

Not long after the wedding breakfast finished I met with Tanzie and her Epic Veg burger van and showed her where to set up to serve the evening food.

I can’t say I have ever really tried vegan food before but Bex and Graham's wedding certainly made me realise just how yummy vegan food can be. Epic Veg burgers were delicious and with a choice of either the Epic burger, BBQ Pulled Shroom burger or Mexican Mountain burger, Bex and Graham's guests were spoilt for choice!

Throughout the day Graham’s best man Ollie was in charge of the music. Having his own entertainment agency Band Boutique it meant he could bring a fabulous band The Mayhems to perform for the evening reception. With the band setting up whilst my team put the hay bale seats around the courtyard and served drinks at the bar, it was nearly time for the evening party to begin.

Just before the sun began to set Bex and Graham went off for some quiet time with their photographer Kate Jackson Photography who captured these gorgeous couple shots around the grounds of Warborne Farm.

Checking the toilets and filling up the loo roll which of course is an all important job at a wedding, we continued to tidy, clear glasses and make sure everyone had a drink that wanted one throughout the evening.

It was soon time for us to leave so we stocked the bar ready for the guests to help themselves throughout the rest of the evening.

Saying our goodbyes to the suppliers and friends and family we had gotten to know during the day, we packed up our stuff and left Bex and Graham with their loved ones to party the night away until they could party no more!

Not long after Bex and Graham’s big day they sent me the loveliest of feedback…

"Tash did a wonderful job of helping us prep for our wedding, without her assistance in planning we would have made a lot of crucial mistakes.

On the day her team took care of everything so we could concentrate on enjoying our wedding. I've hired her again for a work event because she was so good. Highly recommend!".

I can't wait to help co-ordinate a Manta Ray awareness event at the Royal Geographical Society in London for Bex and her conservation team. I couldn’t be happier knowing how pleased Bex and Graham were with my on the day co-ordination and that they are recommending me to others.

If you are planning a wedding at Warborne Farm or any other DIY venue and you think you might need some help ensuring your day runs smoothly, then get in touch. I can help you along your wedding planning journey with ideas, timing suggestions, supplier recommendations and I will of course write up a detailed time plan listing everything you would like done and when. On the day itself I will ensure you have nothing to worry about and that your special day is stress free. My team and I will get all your behind the scenes jobs done, making sure you and your guests are happy and having the time of your lives.

If you have any questions regarding on the day co-ordination then please don’t hesitate to ask, I am always happy to answer any queries and chat weddings!

Lots of Love

Emily & Dom's Tipi Wedding

Sat, 10 Dec 2022 16:47:28 GMT

...at their family home and garden.

The Jubilee weekend was certainly one to remember for me, as I had the pleasure of co-ordinating the lovely Emily and Dom’s wedding at their family home in Wiltshire.

Being a DIY wedding there were lots of jobs that needed doing, so in the run up I wrote a very detailed time plan to ensure everything ran as they wanted it to on their big day.

Visiting the day before I was able to get a good feel for Emily & Dom’s day, see the layout and be shown where everything was kept should we need anything. When I arrived I was greeted by a very chilled Emily and Dom and WOW-ed by the incredible tipi from Oakleaf Marquees which fitted perfectly on the lawn.

Inside the tipi were rows of trestle tables decorated with terracotta herb pots and candles. Above the dance floor hung a huge glitter ball and boho style hangings, ready for some serious dancing later on!

Emily and Dom decided to change up the typical wedding order and instead of extra guests coming in the evening they had everyone at the beginning of their day and less guests in the evening.

You see, that is the beauty of planning a DIY wedding…

YOU CAN DO EXACTLY AS YOU PLEASE!

The day started with all of their guests at the church to witness Emily and Dom’s marriage to one another...

CAPTURING A CONFETTI SHOT ON THEIR WAY OUT.

After the ceremony everyone made their way back up the road to the family home for delicious canapés served by Sear Events and plenty of fizz, beer and elderflower cordial served by the Tasha Mae team.

The sun shone while everyone listened to Just Silhouettes perform whilst catching up with one another and playing a selection of garden games.

I JUST LOVE THESE ACTION SHOTS!

It was soon time for everyone to gather around the lawn for the father of the bride and Dom’s speech.

After the speeches followed the cutting of the wedding cake which had been made by Dom’s mum. Soon after, we took it off to cut up in to smaller pieces ready to hand to the guests that were leaving.

Along with handing them a piece of cake we also asked them to sign the guest board which Emily and Dom were planning to frame with a picture of them in the middle.

Saying goodbye to their day guests this left only the closest friends and immediate family for the evening celebrations.

Making sure there was plenty of wine and water on the tables and the candles were lit, it was now time to ask the guests to take a seat for the wedding breakfast.

With an announcement from Emily and Dom’s good friend Blu who was acting as their MC, Emily and Dom made their grand entrance into the tipi…

...AND BOY WHAT AN ENTRANCE!

One of the loudest cheers I have ever heard and with napkins being swirled around everyone’s heads Emily and Dom made their way down to the head table.

Sear Events served a platter of BBQ meats and salads followed by pudding whilst we kept the wine and water topped up. During the meal we also prepped the bar and set up the tea and coffee table for guests to help themselves to after the meal.

Whilst everyone was eating, the very talented DJV & Sax kept the music going and played the saxophone alongside his tunes.

IT WAS SUCH A GREAT ATMOSPHERE!

Helping the caterers clear the tables it was then time for some more speeches from the bride herself and Dom’s best man, James.

The speeches ended with an 'Espresso Martini' game introduced and instructed by the brilliant Blu.

The aim of the game was for the chosen table runner to race across the garden to the greenhouse to collect a hamper from us which we had prepped with all the ingredients. In their tables they had to then follow the instructions on how to make the perfect Espresso Martini.

CHAOTIC AND CRAZY...BUT SO MUCH FUN!

IT WENT DOWN AN ABSOLUTE STORM!

Once the Espresso Martinis were down the hatch it was now time for the first dance, so Emily & Dom made their way to the dance floor.

The first dance was followed by a fun and packed night on the dance floor for everyone with DJ-V playing the saxophone alongside Billy Keane playing his guitar.

Whilst everyone was dancing we cleared all the tables of glasses, hampers, linen, menus and name cards so the guests could sit back down at a clean table when they wanted a break from all the dancing.

On the bar the drinks were being poured with the most popular being the homemade Sloe Gin which Emily’s dad was a dab hand at making. Once this had run dry we kept everyone topped up with beers, wine and a selection of spirits.

As our time at Emily and Dom's wedding came to an end we stocked the bar with as much drink as possible so the guests could help themselves throughout the rest of the evening. Finding Emily and Dom to say Goodbye, it was so lovely when they gave us all a bottle of fizz to say thank you for everything we had done. This is not expected and not something that happens often but when it does it means so much and is extremely appreciated. We really did have the most fantastic day helping them both as well as meeting all their guests who were all so lovely.

WHAT MORE COULD WE ASK FOR?

Leaving everyone to party the night away we drove away knowing Emily and Dom were sure to have the most amazing end to their wedding day…

...AND THESE FANTASTIC IMAGES TELL THE BEST STORY!

The review Emily and Dom left me after their big day made me so happy. I love knowing my team and I can take away any stress so my couples can relax and enjoy having the best day ever...

"Tasha is THE dream!

We couldn’t have had our wedding without her and have already recommended her to friends.

We had a marquee wedding in Emily’s parents garden and didn’t want one of our family having to deal with any disasters, questions from suppliers etc, but also didn’t want a full blown wedding planner as we had that bit covered.

Tasha and her team did the job perfectly!

We had 2 full video call consultations with Tasha to go through the order of the day, what we wanted to happen when and she typed it up for us so that we could share it with our families as well. Plus she came and did a site visit the week before to see the marquee, where everything was and run through any last minute questions, which was amazing.

Tasha was extremely practical - thinking of things we may have forgotten, suggesting timings for drinks/food etc based on her experience of how long everything takes. What your wedding is going to look like is mainly an idea in your head until it happens but I really think she understood what we were trying to achieve and how she could help us get there.

We catered all our own drinks and Tasha brought some super helpers to serve champagne, make sure everyone was topped up at the table, deal with our mad cocktail race and most importantly keep everyone topped up on the dance floor. They were full of energy and enthusiasm all day and nothing was too much trouble.

If you are having a wedding at home, book Tasha NOW!!

Tasha made the whole process so stress free and we didn’t worry about anything on the day".

If you or a family member have a big enough space in your garden for a marquee or tipi then why not consider having your wedding at home like Emily & Dom?

Having a DIY wedding means you can have total flexibility in doing your day as you wish without any restrictions or time limits. It might be harder work to plan and prepare but a DIY wedding is much more personal and can be so much fun to organise. To ensure your day itself is stress free then why not book an ‘on the day’ co-ordinator so you can relax and enjoy yourselves whilst all those behind the scenes jobs are being done for you.

If you would like to chat about your wedding to see how I can help you on your special day, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

MUCH LOVE

Other Suppliers Involved:

Hair: Wendy Stevens Salisbury
Florist: Cornflower and Artichoke