GEMMA AND MATTHEW’S DREAM TEAM Venue, Southend Barns, https://southendbarns.co.uk | Photographer, Elizabeth Ruby Photography, www.elizabethrubyphotography.com | Dress, Lyn Ashworth, https://lynashworth.co.uk | Groom’s attire, Astares Menswear, https://astares.co.uk | Moss | Boohoo Man | Bridesmaids’ dresses, ASOS | Next | Groomsmen’s attire, Astares Menswear | Wedding rings, Pressleys, https://pressleys.co.uk | Hair and make-up, Polka Dot Hair & Makeup, http://www.polkadothairandmakeup.com | Cake, The Painter’s Pantry, www.thepainterspantry.co.uk | Flowers, Tawny Flower Studios, www.instagram.com/tawnyflowerstudio | Venue styling/prop hire, To Have and To Hire, www.tohaveandtohireweddings.com | The Toast, https://thetoast.co.uk | Candles, LetterboxCandleCo, www.etsy.com/uk/shop/LetterboxCandleCo | Sunglasses, SavannaivyCo, www.etsy.com/uk/shop/SavannaivyCo | Guest book, PartyTouchesUK, www.etsy.com/uk/shop/PartyTouchesUK | Message in a bottle, InspiredbyAlma, www.etsy.com/uk/shop/InspiredbyAlma | Stationery, Camilla Co Studio, www.instagram.com/camillacostudio | Entertainment, Marlon (Toast), https://toastlive.co.uk/acts/marlon | Duchess (Bands for Hire), www.bandsforhire.net | DJ Jamie, www.instagram.com/jamie.mcgreal | Catering, Roots Catering at Southend Barns | Fireworks, Selstar Fireworks, www.selstarfireworks.co.uk Videographer, Devoted Films Weddings, www.devotedfilmswedding.co.uk Steel drum player Marlon performed current music at the drinks reception. He suited the vibe of our festival-style wedding perfectly. In the evening we had the most incredible four-piece band, Duchess. Their vibe was Ibiza dance music, which reflected our taste to a tee! They had three powerhouse female singers and a sax player. To say our guests loved them would be an understatement! Whatever planning style suits you, do that! I had a folder that I used to put all of our paperwork in such as email conversations, booking forms, deposit payments, vision boards and more. Something I wish I had done was to create a separate email account for anything wedding related, it would have helped massively. I’d also recommend allocating one day a week where you sit down and dedicate time to wedmin. We had canapés as our starter to keep guests going as they mingled and enjoyed the venue during the drinks reception; followed by a summer barbecue for our main wedding breakfast. This included sausages, katsu chicken, and rump of lamb, plus vegetarian options of katsu halloumi, onion bhaji burger and not-so pulled pork ragu. We finished with a deconstructed berry Pavlova for our pudding. Matt’s speech had the room in tears, it was so heartfelt, honest, personal and genuine – everywhere I looked I saw tears! We had a gorgeous wooden wagon, which was decorated with disco balls, foliage and polaroid cameras. We then added polaroid pictures of us, white sunglasses with our last name and wedding date on them, a guest book, and a favourite-memory-from-the-couple message in a bottle. Our van was parked at the entrance to the venue with our welcome sign. It’s such a big part of our lives and our engagement story, it needed to be front and centre. We then drove off in it the morning after the wedding. REAL WEDDINGS 45
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