Rhys and Katie's big competition win!

Beautiful shot capturing the moment courtesy of the lovely Katy Cain 

Written by SJ

So what do you do in the dead of winter on a cold sunny afternoon?! Clearly you hit Eastney beach for bacon sandwiches and Champagne! Well, that’s what you do if you are Katie and Rhys who were the lucky winners of our fabulous competition at the end of last year.

Cucddles like these! 

Katie and Rhys met in 2011 when Katie joined the same company as her future hubster. They were friends for eighteen months before they actually got it on! 

Their first dates were spent in the glorious New Forest, where they enjoyed many winter stomps with picnics, dreaming of how one day they would own their very own puppy dog. Fish and chips on Selsey sea front was another of their favourite past times! Now that is definitely the way to a girls heart! Who needs plush 5* meals?! Not I! I would be mortified if I didn’t get fish and chips and prosecco on Valentines night! 

It gets better though.. In May 2015, the first of many of their dreams came true when a tiny puppy Ben, joined their happy little family unit. Katie claims that she knew the nagging would pay off!

I asked Katie to spill the beans on how Rhys popped the mighty question. With absolute delight she said “On 14th September 2013, Rhys told me that I had to be up and ready for 9am to go out. He didn't tell me until we got there what was going on, but he took me to the Aquarium in Portsmouth (I love fish and turtles) for a 'behind the scenes' tour. We got to feed all the fish and animals. It was great fun”

“On the way home he said he had another surprise. We had a couple of hours to chill out at home, with instructions for me to be ready to go out for dinner at 7pm”.

We got in the car and he pulled over next to the playing fields opposite where we live (where we often walked Ben). He said he just wanted to show me something quickly by the cricket stand. As we walked around the corner he got down on one knee and proposed! Of course I said yes and as I was giving him a massive cuddle, lots of fireworks started going off. He had arranged for his brother to hide on the other side of the field and set them off.

When we got back in the car, he blindfolded me, then drove around to confuse me because I kept guessing where we were going! We finally arrived at our local pub/restaurant (where we had spent many a great evening with friends) and my parents and sister were there, with his parents, brother and sister in law. We had a lovely meal and celebrated in style!”

Good work Rhys, we love a man that goes out there like that!
 

So, back to sizzling bacon sarneys and the beach in the dead of winter! This prize was the most exciting prize that we have given away. I still remember sending Katie the message to tell her that she had won, she couldn’t believe it and said “ Oh my life, I have never won anything” She was all alone in the office when she got the news and needed to pick up the phone to call Rhys and give him the good news!

Katie’s day started off by meeting us at ‘Hill Head Hair and Beauty’ where the lovely Rosie Mae was poised to give her a total make over. 

Rosie doing her thang ...Jeez she is goooood! 

Now if you haven’t seen what Rosie is capable of and you are a blushing bride- to- be, I urge you to contact Rosie! The girl is a legend! Her make-up skills really produce works of art! The Lovely Hannah had put out some morning bucks fizz and chocolates for Katie to enjoy whilst Rosie and Katie discussed what sort of Katie look would like for her shoot later that day.

Once her make-up was finished, the excited girls at Hill Head Hair and Beauty made a start on her hair. What a transformation! I went out for a cuppa and when I came back Katie was totally owning long, flowing, absolutely stunning curls! 

What a stunner! 

Katie with the lovely Hannah from Hill Head Hair and Beauty. 

She looked beautiful and ready for Rhys, Ben and her Mummy to see the results! I absolutely loved seeing Rhys’ reaction when he saw his bride-to-be!  ‘Sleepy Jean’ was patiently waiting outside, along with ‘Vinney’ from ‘Vinnies Vintage Vehicles’.

Sleepy Jean

Now, we get to see a lot of wedding vehicles, and a fair few V-dubs, but Sleepy Jean is in a total league of her own. Her owners Karen and Vinney actually view her as part of their family and quite rightly so! Karen spends an inordinate amount of time creating the final finishing touches, making Sleepy Jean unique and special for each couple.

Inside Sleepy Jean 

 Off in convoy, we fought our way through the Friday traffic. Thankfully, the sun was shining to meet little ‘Ella’, Sleepy Jean’s baby, along with, Karen and the hugely talented and super lovely Katy Cain who was poised with her camera.

The lovely Katy Cain

Karen has totally transformed the inside of a beach hut in Eastney and enjoys spending hour’s relentlessly adding little quirky touches to it, it really does look amazeballs! For more pictures follow this link http://www.katycain.com/

There was a table on the beach already laid up, just waiting for us to add the Champagne on ice to it. It was perfect…Where else can you think of right now on a Friday afternoon that can beat that?!

What a view

Now let me tell you a bit more about Vinney, not only is he a V-Dub genius, but boy can he cook a mean bacon sandwich! Katie and Rhys’ Champagne was popped as they devoured their little part of food heaven! You can beat an egg, but you can’t beat a good bacon sarney! Have you gathered I have quite a lot of love for these?!

For me, this was romance at its best! Katie and Rhys went off wandering along the shore, hand in hand they looked gloriously in Lurveeee! Nawwwwww, we love this!

It wasn’t long, of course, before Katy Cain, the fabulous Photographer, joined them to capture their special moments. We absolutely love Katy! Not only is she a most excellent photographer, but she is a scream to be around and I know she made both Katie and Rhys feel totally at ease!

As always, its gets better peeps, Katie and Rhys wanted Ben to be involved with their ‘Save the dates’ so with a bit of bribery and coercion from Katie and a sign around his neck, he did his Mum and Dad proud! 

Katy bribing Ben! 

It really was a wonderful afternoon spent on the beach. How lucky we were with the weather too!

Not only did these guys get the pleasure of Sleepy Jean on that day, but they are also having Sleepy Jean as their bridal transport on their big day!!!!

We had a couple of hours spare before the happy couple’s final stop. I thought it would be rude if we didn’t all hop into my V-Dub bug and hit the pub! May as well end the day in style!

Off we went to again be joined by Sleepy Jean, Vinney and Karen who then escorted Katie and Rhys to Kings Country Bar and Restaurant. Now this place will always be special for me as this is right next to the venue where Simon and I had our very own festival wedding! We have a lot of love for ‘Cliffy’, ‘Steve’ ‘Ian’ ‘Steph’ and the wonderful team at this Venue too.

SJ and Karen having a V-Dub moment! 

Sleepy Jean, Ella and SJ's bug! 

Sleepy Jean homeward bound! 

Katie and Rhys were treated to a luxury three course meal which I believe was a sizzling and succulent steak, whilst they reminisced about their fab day they had had and moved on to planning their next BIG day! The Chef’s at Kings are absolute class, in fact thinking about them is making me want to book up a cream tea there! I must stop thinking about food in this way today, it must be unhealthy! Good job I‘m off out with the girls for an Italian tonight! There I go again…..!

We really had a fantastic day, Katie and Rhys are an absolutely delightful couple, we were so happy that such lovely peeps won this prize. Its days like this when I feel so lucky to have my job! We hope they have the most beautiful day ever next July 16^th!

We were also extremely lucky and hugely grateful to; Vinnies Vintage Vehicles, for providing the transport, not only for this day, but for the wedding day itself.  To, Rosie Mae, as the make-up artist, Hannah from Hill Head Hair and Beauty, Katy Cain for her expert photography and smile,  Kings Country Bar and Restaurant for wining and dining the couple. Last but not by any means least, we would also like to thank Karen from Vinnies, for all the finishing touches and to Vinney for cooking up a cracking bacon sarney! Team, as expected you were a dream team and we love you big lots for making this day so special.

We will certainly be sharing and blogging about the big day itself!

Happy Friday beautiful people! I hope you all have a super lovely weekend. This time next week we will be waking up to Glastonbury Festival Rahhheeeeyyyy!

Do check out some of these fabulous wedding suppliers who I guarantee will perform a top job!

Vinnies Vintage Vehicle – Premier sponsor for this prize http://www.vinniesvintagehire.co.uk/

Rosie Mae http://rosiemaemakeupartist.wix.com/rosiemaemakeup

Hill Head Hair and Beauty http://hillheadhairandbeauty.co.uk/

Katy Cain http://www.katycain.com/ That’s where you will find all the official shots for this, they are just brilliant!

Kings Country Bar and Restaurant http://www.kingscountrybar.co.uk/

Love out 

SJ xx 

Adam and Tutsi's Big Festival Wedding!

Written by SJ 

The Confetti Shot! 

Well here it is our first real festival wedding blog of the year! Welcome to the wedding day of Adam and Tutsi Selvey. Pictures courtesy of the absolutely fabulous ( said Patsy style) Chris Meany, yet again Chris you have blown us away and I know the happy couple are over the moon with how you captured their day. Good work that man! We are so pleased you are involved with all of our other weddings this year too! 

Well this morning it was back to a 6am start for SJ which can only mean one thing, festival season is well and truly underway and rocking! We are all a bit excited here as a few of us are off to the Isle of Wight festival this weekend. Rowan is performing with the blindingly brilliant Kassassin Street, if you are there this weekend check them out! You will find us in true festival style supping cider enjoying the festival to the full!

Chocolate favours! You can't beat them! 

Now back to Adam and Tutsi…There are brides that know exactly what they want with no messin! Tutsi was absolutely no exception to work with from the very first time she called me between Christmas and New Year 2014. This wonderfully creative bride had BIG plans and nobody was stopping her!  What was a first for us is that she wanted it in her back garden. “ Your back garden?” I repeated…      ” Absolutely, I want all of our guests together in our home, where we can remember the day, every day, for years” was her reply. Tusti went on to tell me that her and Adam had recently moved, but that her garden would be ready for their May wedding. As part of our prefest ( just made that word up- it’s staying!!!) inspection, Simon and I trundled to Birmingham in the dead of winter to check out this garden. It was certainly big, but was it going to ready in time? Not a chance! 

The coolest most relaxed bride EVER! 

However Tutsi was adamant that the whole lawn was going to be re- turfed, the existing conservatory knocked down and the large outhouse they have completely decked out to have the bar in. I should add this was about four months before the big day... This bride had nerves of steel! I have to say, during the next couple of months I was almost scared to ask questions on the progress!  However,  needless to say everything she wanted finished was completed in time, by the skin of a nats backside!  The bar area was finished the night before the wedding at 6pm ready for decoration!

Team Wedfest were up and on it for 5am to get to Birmingham,  (leaving plenty of time for a dirty breakfast on the way up) to go at look at this venue which we never thought would happen. We were over the moon to find both marquees fully assembled by Marquee Leisure waiting for us to put our creative magic touches in. 

Myself and Mimi started with bales and bunting while Rowan and Si attached the festoon lighting. By 7.30 that night we decided to call it a day, the venue was almost ready for the final touches. The beautiful flowers had been delivered coutsey of From me to you flowers,  who I think you will agree did a cracking job. The stage was up which was supplied by Sound Kicks,  lanterns in place and love lights on. Now when I mentioned that this bride was getting what she wanted, I should also point out that she had in excess of twenty five suppliers to include six just on props, I told you no messin! All of the suppliers were fantastic and arrived on time with the goods, I am glad for them they did! Oh I’m making Tutsi out to be a diva now, that’s soooo not true or fair. 

Some Wedfest props 

However, Tutsi and I got along just fine and from memory she was so cool, that her and I only had one moment involving her 5 foot cake!

The 5 FOOT CAKE! 

Yup, you can read over those words as many times as you like, but they won’t change, I said 5 FOOT CAKE!!! To be honest, it was worth the moment, for the record Tutsi won, love brides rights!

We fell into our beds pretty late that night ready for the super early day in the morning.  Just after 8am Tutsi called me to tell me her Garden had been ransacked over night, the venue was destroyed. As my eyes welled up I heard her laughing in the background. I have never been more relieved in my life!!! After I had changed my underwear and trousers, ( not really!) we headed over to put the final finsishing touches to the venue. Other than the positioning of the 5 foot cake, along with more cakes than I have ever seen in my life in one place,  everything was on time. That is except for one thing... the bride…Tutsi had wanted to add some of her own inspiring creativity to the day at the church and had a slight issue putting some of it in the ground. “ Has anyone seen Tutsi I asked?” as I walked through her house. One of the guests answered” I think she is at B&Q” That’s where the music from the omen came into my head, “ B&Q?? sweet mother of all mothers, she is going to be in a right state” I thought. Staying as composed as calm as I always do, I picked up my phone to call her with no idea what I was going to be greeted with…Still holding my breath I said “ Tutsi, are you ok? Can we help?” Well, not only was THIS bride still totally composed, but she was still relaxed. I need to find a term harder than nerves of steel! 

The second wedding cake! 

Vintage tea party fun 

Set up of the vintage tea party...

Ok ok so we had to giggle a few things about, SJ went into the church to explain we were running a “tad late”, but everything was fine and our bride finished getting ready all set to make the short trip across her road to the church, still relaxed I hasten to add. Tutsi was so laid back and cool she made a cucumber look like a chilli!

Finally we were all positioned with Pimms poured, the circus performer on Stilts handing out lanyards, the string Trio Amber strings ready to start playing their epic repertoire and canapés ready to roll!

Ok not only have I never seen as many cakes at one wedding, but actually I don’t think I have ever seen as much food. “We all like to eat..A LOT” said Tutsi! I have no idea where this gorgeous bride puts it as there was not an ounce of anything on her! You can go off people Tutsi! Just as the stunning melt in your mouth canapés were coming to an end,provided by Fun Loving Food,Springbok BBQ were ready for action and went to work with round one of their canapés, closely followed by the most magnificent array of BBQ food and salads. These guys are not only bloody lovely guys, but they have a really interesting way of cooking the food with flavoured wood burning pellets, yes I thought I had died and gone to food heaven as did the guests, it was absolutely delightful!

Adam and Tutsi enjoying a welcome drink! 

Springbok BBQ 

Children could be found in the arts and craft room either making badges, boxes or cards or having their faces painted, while the guests had starting partying on down in the main marquee to both Eagle and Weeks and RemedySounds who were on fire I tell you with their live sets!

Dan Eagle 

Child in a prop! Random- Had to be included! 

Remedysounds 

 I did have to stop for a boogie with the bride, I can’t help myself when these guys perform! Others could be found in the smaller marquee that we turned into an ethnic chill out area catching up with friends and family. Some were even having a jam with Remedysounds before his set!

Although there was a lot going on, the atmosphere was both electric and chilled all at the same time, oh just like a festival! Ah the beauty of a wedding festival, all the prettiness, and very little formality, very free spirited.

Before we knew it we were pouring copious amounts of champagne ready for the speeches and tea party and Lights and Beats who did a top job providing the lighting for the live sets and sound engineering were leaving! Was it really that time already?! Wedding day time is always twenty five times the speed for the event managers and the couple! The bride had changed and donned another stunning dress, the speeches were made and the 5ft Cake was cut!

Sam Weeks 

Remedy getting down with the guests! 

The Line up! 

The first dance was as always beautiful and both Adam and Tutsi looked happy and relaxed! Yay fast clapping, they were having a ball as were their guests!

Now, these guys know how to party, this counts from the youngest guest to the oldest. Sound Kicks arrived for the DJ and Karaoke set and the main marquee erupted! What a bunch of party animals, love it! Gavin was a tremendous DJ and got the dance floor absolutely stoked and packed!

Now I know why Tutsi said they will need as much food as possible to keep them going! The scrumptious hog roast was served with all the trimmings provided by Birmingham Hog Roast, followed by popcorn, candyfloss and a chocolate fountain! I can tell you nobody went home either early or hungry at this festival wedding.

The evening ambiance was just idyllic, guests partying hard in the main marquee, people helping themselves to non-stop food and drinks whilst enjoying a moment to relax in the chill out area,  children playing in the arts and crafts area, it was just perfect!

We love THIS pic! 

Our bride getting on down! 

Before we knew it guests were departing, nooooo, it’s always too soon! To be fair we are used to seeing our guests the next morning after dive bombing them in their tents to get them up for breakfast, so I think this is why the day went so super-fast! We had made the decision to break down that night. So we kissed and hugged the stunning couple as they headed for their beds and made a start.

We got home at 7am the next morning and had a cheeky cider before sleeeppppp! We were all over the moon that we had put on an amazing wedding. What really makes it for us is hearing so many guests say that it was the best wedding ever! Of course they are, we run them and we love what we do!

We would like to thank Adam and Tutsi for allowing us to be part of their epic adventure. We had such a great time guys. Thank you to all of the guests that were such a lot of fun! We miss you already! 

We would also like to thank each and every supplier who made this day so magnificent! We would love to work with each and every one of you again! 

Photography – Chris Meany Photography

Caterers – Springbok BBQ, Birmingham Hog Roast and Fun Loving Food
Wedfest - Lanyards 

Lights and Beats Sound Engineers and Lighting 

Florist – From me to you

Marquee, toilets, table and chair hire – Marquee Leisure

Prop Hire – The Wedding Festival Company, Not Just for Hire, Penny Lane Vintage, Vintage Venue Styling, something borrowed and Wedding day hire. 

Live Music –RemedySounds, Eagle and Weeks and Amber Strings

PA Sound Engineer and lighting – Lights and Beats

DJ and stage – Sound Kicks

Chalk Boards – The Chalk Spot

Photobooth – Celebrity Photbooth

Caricaturist – Richard Ellis

Stilt walker and Fire act – The circus people

Cakes -Sweet Fantasies, Miss Lola Bakehouse 

If you would like to plan an epic festival wedding, get in touch with us today by emailing me at sj@weddingfestivalcompany.co.uk 

Love out 

SJ xx