Simmone & Chris

Private Marquee, Cheshire

We thought the rain would never stop!!!

Simmone contacted me after being recommended by a couple of previous clients (which is always lovely to hear). She and Chris were planning a marquee wedding at Chris’s family home, somewhere that was no stranger to a marquee party!

Initially they had planned to have their ceremony at a nearby venue, followed by the reception and after party in the marquee. However following a visit together to the venue, Simmone quickly came to the conclusion that this just wasn’t the right place for them! So I got my thinking cap on and between myself, the marquee and the production company we managed to create a way to utilise what was planned to be the nightclub area into a ceremony space! It wasn’t going to be easy and it included some creative logistics particularly to turn the light, bright, pretty ceremony space, into a nightclub, but we love a challenge!

The aesthetics for the day were really important to our bride and groom as they wanted an epic party (4am finish anyone?). Simmone wanted to capture the beautiful location, by having clear windows and roof whilst they were dining; and as we knew it would be going dark during dinner we needed lots of magical lighting as well; so fairy lights and lots of candles on the long wooden tables were the order of the day.

In the lead up to the big day the weather was awful, with torrential rain causing a lot of problems with access to the property and flooding, submerging electrical equipment and playing havoc with our heaters. But as in any tricky situation, the team of suppliers pulled together to ensure everything was in hand in time for guests arrival.

The wedding day was also a momentous day for the England Rugby team and as the groom and all the groomsmen were huge fans, we were on tender hooks to hear how they had done, but the cheers from the house across the way told us everything we needed to know… and I knew was safe to go in and do the boys briefing!

As the ceremony was being held in the marquee, Chris and Simmone got legally married the day before and we had a celebrant to conduct the ceremony. One of the lovely things about this is just how much you can personalise the ceremony, which was exactly what this couple did; having a close friend to sing a special song for them, a bespoke and very funny poem by the bride’s sister; and then a surprise for the groom, when one of his groomsmen got up and started a song which all the guests then joined in. It was a joyous ceremony and completely captured Chris and Simmone’s personalities perfectly!

Fortunately after the ceremony the rain stopped and we actually got a glimpse of the sun so our couple were able to get outside for a few precious family photos. Guests on the other hand stayed inside where the drinks flowed and enjoyed the delicious canapés whilst being entertained by the string quartet.

For dinner guests were given a choice of starter and main, which reflected both Chris and Simmone’s personalities. There was a really tasty and filling beef dish for Chris (and his rugby pals) and a more delicate sea bass option for Simmone. The caterers managed all the combinations along with dietary requirements magnificently.

Simmone wanted to do her own speech which we have to say was nothing short of fabulous… it was certainly a hard act to follow! But half way through she realise some of the pages were missing… Andrea to the rescue!

As well as the food another highlight during dinner was the surprise flash mob entertainment! Once mains had gone out the string quartet who had been playing earlier, reappeared now dressed in glamorous gowns playing electric instruments accompanied by a disco backing track; to say the place erupted was an understatement, with guests (including the bride and groom) stood on their chairs swinging napkins singing along to the Oasis classic Wonderwall (we were in Manchester after all!). It was one of those moments when the hairs on the back of your neck are on end, it was fantastic!

After a round of espresso martinis to accompany the last of the speeches dinner ended and we had a short break before the big nightclub reveal. The team had been busy throughout the drinks reception and dinner transforming this space, removing flowers, adding a bigger stage, putting up black walls, laying a dance floor, positioning poseur tables and chairs as well as adding lighting and sound equipment all to be ready for the band and the first dance.

The evening started with the first dance played by the band and the dance floor was soon full as guests danced the night away. To keep them well fuelled there was an array of cheeses along with a late night serving of tasty kebabs and at midnight the late night DJ came on to keep the hardcore on the dance floor until the small hours. We slipped away once the new DJ took over safe in the knowledge that this had been a day filled with laughter and joy, a true celebration of Chris and Simmone’s marriage.