Festival Brides

Last Thursday Laura and I took a trip down to Brighton to see The Hurly Burly Wedding Circus in full swing.

The Hurly Burly ensemble have been touring festivals for many years and have recently tailored their catering performances and ideas for festival weddings! They have formed The Artillery of Love which consists of theatre makers, dancers and acrobats who creatively deliver food and performance during your wedding breakfast right into the early hours of the morning.

The huge circus tent was set out on the Green, South of St Peters Church in central Brighton. The event was part of The Brighton Family Fringe Festival, offering an eclectic mix of performances, visual arts, workshops, live music and silly games. The festival continues until 27th May so if you are near Brighton be sure to visit for some fun and frolics.

The Hurly Burly team gathered a handful of alternative and creative wedding suppliers to exhibit at the circus with the intention of producing an event that inspired ‘wild wedding ideas for the adventure seeking betrothed!’ There were entertaining and quirky performances with dancing throughout the event as well as a vintage beauty parlour, live music with some amazing acoustic sets, and some really cool and unique wedding suppliers.

Read all about The Hurly Burly wedding options here (we plan to post a lot more about them in the future so watch this space for a real Hurly Burly wedding!)

We wanted to showcase all the cool suppliers and ideas we saw during the evening, so here are our top hits of people, things and ideas we loved…

Miss Cake – Funky cake toppers and jewels

We have to say we have never seen cake toppers like it………..a far cry from the floral wedding designs you see at a traditional wedding fair. You can basically choose any message, icon or shape and have it laser cut in bright colours for your cake. Choose from your names, Mr and Mrs, or your own unique slogan!! Sarah (Miss Cake) also designs necklaces, signs and cool props so perfect for a festival wedding.

www.misscake.co.uk

Duke & Lolly – Cool event and decor design

Duke and Lolly is an Events and Decor company based in Brighton, specialising in creative event management and wonderful decor.

Their stand really caught our eye with lots of quirky and unusual  ideas for table settings, favours, wedding notes and table plans. We loved their Sunday paper confetti idea – so simple and very personal to the couple!

We also fell in love with their jar lighting which was very cool. All hand made, you can choose from an array of coloured bulbs which are then encased in different sized mason and jam jars. Perfect for a retro festival wedding!

www.dukeandlolly.com

Candy Queens – The pink ladies

You couldn’t miss these two with hair as bright as the candy floss they were making!

The Candy Queens spin multi coloured, fruit flavoured candy floss and can colour co-ordinate their floss to match your wedding décor or wedding flowers. Choose from a wide array of yummy flavours, toppings and glitter and the girls will spin some sweetastic treats for you and your guests. Who said candy floss is just for kids!

You may well see these girls at various festivals over the summer, they are at Secret Garden Party and Boomtown with some pretty impressive ideas!

www.candyqueens.co.uk

Reginald Spleen’s Travelling Snuff Bar

Looking for an unusual party idea or a unique take on a vintage stag or hen night? Why not offer your guests free snuff from Reginald Spleen’s Travelling Snuff Bar! We simply loved this idea! Fully stocked with eighteen flavours on display, there is enough snuff to last a party of 100 people an entire evening.

The bar is built into a vintage suitcase and really adds a retro atmosphere to any event. Reginald Spleen is on hand to offer advice on each blend helping guests find their favourite flavour and keep them coming back for more.

Tobacco free options are available so everyone can join in.

For those wanting to take snuff home with them sample tins are available to buy.

Quite simply – A Suitcase Stuffed With Sneezes!

www.snuffbar.co.uk

Ma Fleur – Naturally styled flowers with an edge

We loved their fab quirky floral designs that are inspired by nature and the multitude of seasonal shifts that take place throughout the year. Each unique creation has a contemporary artistic edge whilst conveying an air of sophistication influenced by classic period designs.

As well as mixing the modern with the classic, their signature style is natural but luxurious. They use beautiful colours to create chic designs and incorporate raw textures and elements to achieve the most enchanting results.

We simply loved their designs and they are by far our favourite florist on the South Coast!

 www.ma-fleur.co.uk

Sussex LoveBug – Beautiful Belle 

What can we say about Belle, a beautiful bug with equally beautiful owners (Kelly and Joss). If you are looking for unique and cool transport to your festival field then Belle should be your car of choice! We loved the champagne and sheep skin rug in the back coupled with her uber cool cream and green lino seats.

Due to the age of Belle she is limited to how far she can travel. Do get in touch with Kelly and Joss to see if she can travel to your area and to discuss your wedding ideas and plans.

www.sussexlovebug.co.uk

We thoroughly enjoyed the evening at The Hurly Burly Wedding Circus despite the rain! We met some awesome people and more importantly gained quirky inspiration to share with all our festival loving readers.

We hope you have loved reading about it!!

xx

Photography by Wookie Photography and Festival Brides

Over the Easter weekend Hooe’s Yurts hosted a photo shoot and open day to celebrate the completion of their huge new 44ft yurt. It was a fantastic day supported by some excellent local wedding suppliers and enjoyed by a crowd of happy guests. Lots of cake was eaten and the yurt had the joyous christening!!

Hooe’s Yurts provide stunning tents for wedding receptions, hen weekends and wedding nights. They specialise in decorating the yurts with exotic textiles creating beautiful stylish venues. A brilliant alternative to a traditional marquee and perfect for adding the wow factor to your wedding day. Along with large venue tents, Hooe’s Yurts also supply luxury bedroom yurts which are perfect for creating your own wedding hotel and honeymoon bedroom. (How about this for glamping in style!!)

Images via Hooe’s Yurt and credited to Rosie Parsons

Their new 44ft yurt is a cathedral sized structure with the capacity for 120 guests to dine under its majestic high ceiling. This wonderful structure can be linked with other large yurts to create a yurt palace ideal for big weddings. For the open day Hooe’s Yurts added a little chill out snug with a wood burner to show how it is possible to create alcoves off larger yurts. These alcoves are great for entertaining children or for guests to relax in after some serious dancing!

Joining Hooe’s Yurts for the photo shoot and providing all the little touches for a boho country wedding were some lovely local suppliers. The vintage crockery was supplied by the The English Tea Party who specialize in original vintage crockery and accessories. Charlie Scribble who designs simple and unusual wedding stationary made some bespoke yurty place names to adorn the dinner table. The model and actress Daisy Dugmore looked stunning dressed in a vintage inspired gown by Kula Tsurdiu provided by The Ivory Secret in Crediton. She held a hand tied bouquet made by Joanna Game Flowers. Nat Haydon, who recently set up the new wedding planning and venue styling company Jolly Good Wedding, dressed the little chill out sung yurt with her exotic bollywood props and put together a charming vintage table plan ladder. The yurt exterior was decorated with striking bunting from Big Beautiful Bunting, wedding signs from Muddy Creek Signs and huge vintage fabric parasols from Sunbeam Jackie.  Finally and most importantly all the photos were taken by the talented and award winning Devon wedding photographer Rosie Parsons.

Hooe’s Yurts want to thank everyone who took part in the photo shoot and attended the open day. Roll on the summer. xx

Hooes Yurts – Stunningly decorated tents for hire – Devon

www.hooesyurts.co.uk / info@hooesyurts.co.uk / 01837 880334

Joanna Game Flowers – Flowers for weddings, parties and Events – Devon

www.joannagameflowers.com  / jmgame@joannagameflowers.com / 01647231657

Big Beautiful Bunting – Designers, makes and hirers of high quality bunting – Cornwall

www.bigbeautifulbunting.com / info@bigbeautifulbunting.co.uk / 01326 281513

Muddy Creek Signs – Beautiful hand painted wedding signs – Cornwall

www.muddycreeksigns.co.uk / amaryllis-thisbe@fsmail.net / 07861 308858

Sunbeam Jackie – Magnificent and unique handmade vintage fabric parasols – Cornwall

www.sunbeamjackie.com / sunbeamjackie@gmail.com / 07590 019 835

Charlie Scribble – Unusual wedding stationery that is personal individual and simple – Cornwall

www.charliescribble.com / info@charliescribble.com

Jolly Good Wedding – Bespoke Wedding Planning and Venue Styling – Devon

www.jollygoodwedding.com / info@jollygoodwedding.com / 07885264053

The English Tea Party – Hires out a unique collection of high quality vintage crockery and accessories – Devon

www.theenglishteaparty.co.uk / info@theenglishteaparty.co.uk / 01647 432704

The Ivory Secret – Intimate and inspiring bridal boutique – Devon

www.theivorysecret.co.uk / info@theivorysecret.co.uk / 01363 777500

Rosie Parsons – Talented and award winning wedding photographer – Devon

www.rosieparsons.com / rosie@rosieparsons.com / 01404 44506

Cariad Canvas are very excited to be organising their Giant Kata Tipi and Canvas Village Open Day on 23rd of May till the 26th May 2012. Tipi’s, Yurts, Bell Tents and Chill Out Rooms will be on display for all to see!!

Think fairy lights, bunting, fire bowls, flags and stunning canvas structures – the team would love to meet all you festival brides to be and enable you to get a feel for what they offer.

Unlike other open days this one is invitation only and the exact location will be disclosed upon RSVP. (Top Secret!!)

We can tell you that it will be held along the spectacular Pembrokeshire coastline commencing on the 23rd of May till the 26th May 2012.

If you are interested in attending please email Anna at info@cariadcanvas.co.uk

Happy Friday Peeps!

Oh do we have a wedding fair treat for you today! For those of you planning a festival wedding, this is one wedding fair you do not want to miss……….

On Saturday 12th May at 11am, Sparkford Hall, a stunning new Somerset venue located in 23 acres of beautiful parkland, is playing host to a very cool and very alternative FESTIVAL wedding fair.

Now, we’re not talking about your usual traditional wedding fair; we’re not even talking about an alternative wedding fair! No, this my lovelies is 100% festival related through and through and promises to be an event that’s full to the brim with festival wedding suppliers and inspiration.

The organisers of the show, the lovely Laleh from Potent Productions and the very cool James from Over The Moon Tents, wanted to create a wedding fair that allowed couples to experience their event planning services first hand, as well as bring together the festival and wedding industry.

The exhibiton, set up like an actual festival, will give couples the opportunity to explore the very best in festival wedding suppliers such as the fabulous canvas creations from Over The Moon Tents; stylish venue dressing by A Different World and Crescent Moon; awesome festival flags from Alice Fields; fancy dress hire by the amazing Krumble Empire; air inflatables by Designs in Air; uber cool glamping tents from Blue Bell Tents………I could go on!

There will be the opportunity to meet some amazing wedding/festival caterers that offer unique alternatives to your more traditional wedding breakfast. The Beggars Banquet Music Cafe, a regular on the festival scene, will be providing delicious food throughout the event and their ‘mobile’ banquet is available for wedding hire. In the ‘pizza tent’ you can even make your own wood-fired pizza which is an excellent idea for a festival wedding and something your guests will be talking about for years to come!

Of course, no festival is complete without entertainment and Laleh and James have invited the festival crème de la crème to perform at the event. DJ’s will be warming up their turn tables with this summer’s festival tunes and there will also be circus acts, trapeze artists and storytelling performed by the inspirational Whispering Wood Folk. All of these acts and more will be available to book for your festival wedding.

This event promises to illustrate what south-west festival suppliers can offer wedding couples in planning their special day. They will be showcasing the latest styles and trends that the UK’s vibrant outdoor festival culture is taking into the wedding industry. All suppliers exhibiting have worked at some of the UK’s best festivals like Glastonbury, Secret Garden Party, Lovebox, Glade, Big Chill & Bestival – you do not want to miss this people!

Oh did I mention that we will be there too!? Yes, Kelly and I will be on hand to talk all things festival weddings and we are MEGA excited about being part of such an awesome event.

We would love to meet you all so what are you waiting for? Cancel any plans you had for next weekend, grab a pen and jot down these details:

Wedding and Events Open Day: 12 May 11am-5pm at Sparkford Hall, Sparkford, Somerset BA22 7LD

Click for Directions.

If you want to read more about the show then check out this article by Country Calling - there’s a little bit about us in there!

All images are courtesy of Potent Productions.

Big bank holiday love

Festival Brides xx

All-inclusive Wedding Yurt Packages by Wedding Yurts

Wedding Yurts has announced the launch of a special wedding package, designed to provide couples with an all-inclusive wedding day based on the yurt, the highly popular alternative venue to the “traditional” marquee, and set in a stunning countryside location in the Cotswolds called The Old Farmhouse – with more locations also planned.

Wedding Yurts founder Lizzie Jones said “We wanted to make it easier for couples to be able to choose the yurt option for their wedding day and provide not just the setting but an all-in-one package. It’s already proving to be incredibly popular!”. The package includes hire of the yurts and all facilities, catering, bar, floristry, styling, photographer and more. It is designed to make the costs of a yurt wedding clear and affordable with one point of contact to ease the planning stresses.

Lizzie has teamed up with Clare Lee of Lilyfee Floral Designs, a successful wedding florist and stylist, to offer the new package. “As soon as we met we realised we had something very complementary” said Clare “I had experience with styling weddings in yurts and teepees and wanted to do more. When I met Lizzie we conceived the package idea”.

Lizzie and Clare spotted the potential of Clare’s own grounds at The Old Farmhouse for the yurt package. It’s an 18th century farmhouse overlooking miles of unspoilt Cotswolds countryside where the yurts’ vista is to the west where the sun sets over the Malvern Hills. “The location is simply dreamy” said Lizzie “any bride and groom looking for a country-style wedding day will love its magic. Our Wedding Yurts have been designed with our eyes on the details, they are beautiful hand crafted structures made of sweet chestnut wood which looks very stylish against the cream canvas”. That is also where Clare comes in as the florist and stylist. “The yurts are a blank canvas that can be styled to suit the bride’s theme – from hippy and boho to classic English country!”

Wedding Yurts are launching the package with an Open Day at The Old Farmhouse on Sunday 6th May, with an English tea party. Couples are invited to come and see the yurts in their setting, enjoy tea and strawberries and chat to Lizzie and Clare and the team about the package offer.

PLEASE RSVP : gardenparty@weddingyurts.co.uk

For more information please contact:

Lizzie for package and yurt information: lizzie@weddingyurts.co.uk

Clare for package, venue, floral and styling:  clare.lee@lilyfeefloraldesigns.co.uk

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