Rebecca & Richard

Private House & Marquee, Cheshire

Having previously planned Rebecca’s sister’s wedding at home, we were so delighted to receive the call to plan Rebecca and Richards wedding too. Whilst some elements would be similar including a marquee at home, one of the biggest challenges was the time of year, as they had their hearts set on a New Year’s Eve wedding, which sounds lovely, but when it comes to marquees and winter… it really isn’t that easy, especially when the site was on a steep hill!

In addition, the marquee company we worked with previously had retired and we had a job on our hands getting anyone else to take on project due to the difficult nature of the build and the time of year. We quickly concluded that we might have to think a bit differently with this one and decided a combination of house party for the wedding breakfast (and yes this did mean removing all their furniture from most of the ground floor to accommodate 150 guests) and converting the garage with marquee extension for the party. As you can imagine, logistically it was very challenging!

And then it came to March 2020 and the world stopped and plans were thrown into chaos! Like all our couples Rebecca and Richard were so disappointed, who knew what the future would hold? Unlike venue weddings marquee weddings really need at least 6 months notice, especially at peak times to be planned, so the uncertainty was tricky to navigate. They formed a plan to marry in Barbados, a favourite family holiday destination with their nearest a dearest for November 2020 – when travel restrictions looked a little more promising and hopefully have a Happy Ever After Party at home. Then a few days before they were due to fly things changed again. They were no longer allowed to leave these shores and their plans, like so many others were put on hold.

We discussed things with them in the New Year and tried to formulate another plan, again having to look at dates later in the year that all their suppliers could do and factor in their postponed Barbados wedding. After much consideration they opted to repeat their 2020 plan and marry in November in Barbados and celebrate with 150 family and friends on NYE at home. Which was all fine and they managed the wedding ok, but sadly the Omicron wave then hit London and as most of the guests were travelling from there, we knew the NYE party had the potential to become a super spreader event! We sadly had to cancel once again!

We set a new date for May 2022, with plans for a Happy Ever After Party taking place 6 months after they had actually got married. We were planning a chilled house party starting late afternoon before moving down to the marquee to party in style. However, as these things do, plans changed and 4 weeks before the party, Rebecca and Richard had a change of heart. They really wanted a sit-down full wedding breakfast with speeches and music, which they hadn’t had chance to do before. I was told in the wedding speeches that my face was a picture on hearing this news, as I knew what would need to happen to enable us to create a full dinner in the house for 150 guests! But as I had the most fantastic team of suppliers, we quickly got to work putting everything in place;  we needed to make enough space for enough tables and chairs for all 150 guests, including erecting a small marquee on the terrace off their kitchen and removing even more furniture than planned, including a chandelier in the kitchen which was in exactly the wrong place for the top table.

A menu had to be agreed with the caterers, who now needed to extend their temporary kitchen, source the extra food and staff; our bar guys had to sort wine to suit the menu, plus source and provide all the table service, crockery, cutlery, linen and glassware.

Table centers designed, not to mention finding a new florist (as our existing one was too over stretched already on the date) to be able to provide all the additional décor that was needed. In addition, stationery was now required, including menus, table numbers, table plan and place cards. A PA system was also added to the list so we could have speeches and musicians who could roam during dinner, all this along with changing the timings for the day so it still flowed well.

But I like a challenge 🙂

After all the disappointment and planning and re-planning and thinking this day was never actually going to happen finally on May 14^th 2022, on the most gorgeous late spring day, Rebecca and Richard finally got their Happily Ever After Party!

Guests enjoyed drinks in the garden, with roaming musicians before moving into the house where they couldn’t believe the transformation; even their billiard table had been covered and converted into a dining table!

They enjoyed a fine feast with the musicians moving between the tables to create the perfect party atmosphere.

We had heartfelt speeches and picture perfect moments. After dinner guests moved downstairs with cocktails to greet them, and the unrecognisable garage had been transformed into the perfect bar with the marquee as the club space, complete with a chill out area.

Everyone danced the night away as the DJ live kept the dance floor jumping. The perfect end, to the perfect party!