The primary aim of the upcoming Miss Bush event is for couples to find out, in real time with ‘backstage’ access, how to organise a marquee wedding showcasing some of the of the South East’s best suppliers.
The secondary aim is for me to gain real insight to staging the type of marquee weddings so many Miss Bush brides have. The steep learning curve of putting on an event on a plot as awkward as ours, yet with the Miss Bush reputation for excellent parties, is a challenge. There are so many unanswered questions for me about event management, many difficulties with space and access and so many creative opportunities and hurdles I can’t wait to report in real time on how they get resolved and the ‘wow’ factor we create.
1. Re-roof part of The Chapel, restore and redecorate Atelier and office space.
In two weeks… Access to the marquee will be through the Atelier workroom which is going to be transformed into The Wedding Present Company’s showroom for the night. An actual bedroom, with an actual bed. No pressure at all then?
2. Fit a Marquee in the drive to the side of The Chapel that is a mere 2.95 metres wide.
How on earth are Inside Outside going to do this when we are 5cm too narrow for narrowest standard option? On a sloping pitch? Then, when they get the physics right, how are they going to transform the drive into a welcoming, stylish event space?
3. Run a food service from what is normally our back door and bin area.
What does a field kitchen look like? How do Two Many Cooks run a food service from a garden or a field where there is not electricity, light, running water, drainage? I can’t wait to see how this is done, and, marvel that every time I have sat in a marquee, I have never given this any thought!
4. Transform space with light.
We are being ‘lit’ by Luminaire Events and I have zero idea how one would start bathing the Chapel in light and creating additional lighting in The Chapel.
Atmosphere, mood and drama lighting are not concepts that have ever occurred to me, but the events professionals took them for granted. Prepare for enlightenment…
5. Host anxiety.
Not only am I challenged with all the above, I must glide MOB-like through the event meeting & greeting, talking about winter fashion & styling and, in the manner of Hello magazine, welcome guests to my stylish home. The event is being run by Jenna of Jenna Hewitt Weddings so this should be precisely all I have to do. This and this alone. I am testing the wedding planner concept far beyond the Franck of the Bride stereotype. There is still huge resistance to engaging wedding planners in the UK but having this event four weeks after my Luxe Bride Digital School and two weeks after London bridal trade shows I find myself in the same position as many professional couples; time poor with a major event to plan. I have a file of correspondence that Jenna has cc’d me in on, but I have let go of all but the fashion and renovation elements and am working on complete trust.
My host anxiety, desire to panic buy and the upscaling of the interior and exterior design tasks has now kicked in. Two weeks today you can see how A Marquee in Winter team have delivered on these challenges and hopefully you will join us, cocktail in hand, and join us.
Emma x
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Images, from top: Ben Wigglesworth at The Wedding Present Co wedding fair, Photography by Bea at our Sassi Holford event in 2015, Two Many Cooks captured by Sophie Duckworth Photography at our Suzanne Neville designer day 2018, chapel exterior also by Sophie Duckworth Photography, Emma trying on fascinators at our Gill Harvey MOB event by Hayley Bray.