2021 Wedding Season Round Up

Wow, since coming out of various lockdowns, we suddenly blinked and came to the end of the 2021 wedding season. Somehow completing 61 weddings between May and November. 21 of those involved on the day coordination, 18 fully styled and set up, 3 fully planned, 7 bell tent set ups, and nearly all 61 wanting hire items….it still amazes me that we’ve managed to work part time jobs through super stressful times and juggle young children, family, and general life!

61 weddings!

Completed between May-November 2021

We have been resting up a little and catching up with paperwork and planning for our 2022 season! But we suddenly realised we haven’t written a single blog post about any of these awesome weddings or shared any images. So, let’s do a quick 2021 round up shall we?! (click on images to take you to the photographer)

Wild bright flowers filling our archways in huge converted barns full of fairy lights, haybales and rustic tables. Neon pink signs from Neon Junki and gold edgy modern vibes with graphic prints in old historical ruins. A Gothic 80’s alternative wedding, which included a super cool dip dyed Lucy Can’t Dance wedding dress, black jumpsuits for the bridesmaids and cans of Corona to sip during the ceremony in a boutique self-sufficient Manor House.

We’ve covered most bases and themes this season and we have loved watching couples put they’re own stamp on the various venues across the Island-we’ve even had gold dinosaurs and leafy botanicals making an appearance in centrepieces! It’s refreshing to see just how different each wedding day can be.

It’s safe to say that the most popular colourway choice was natural greens and crisp whites with foliage lined tables, hanging floral installations providing the added wow factor, teamed with clean elegant white linens and cut-glass candle sticks holders. Perspex signage also made a big appearance. A modern take on the more traditional set up, with a touch of Bridgerton vibes.

Private houses and grounds have been popular on the Island this year with Marquees from Coast and Country or Yurts from Island Yurts going up to set the scene. We were also lucky enough to fully plan a wedding (within 7 weeks start to finish!) at Gatcombe House. Unfortunately, shortly after the house went up for sale so there wont be any more weddings held there for some time. East Afton Farmhouse has been our second home, its new events barn has been such a fantastic edition to go alongside the beautiful house and rustic barn.

Archways went out on nearly every hire list. With a growing trend of more couples getting legally married before the day to then be blessed in front of family and friends at their venue. We also grew our stock to accommodate and introduced a new hexagonal arch to our list. Our triangle, and vintage ladder archway stayed popular, and we saw them dressed in various ways. The handmade macramé backdrop featured behind many couples blessings and ceremonies as well.

Chilled seating areas, kids’ zones, and photo backdrops we are here for, this trend is definitely here to stay for the next few seasons. So much so that we have purchased more vintage sofas and seating which will be ready for hire for the 2022 season.

Weddings are a long day and though fun for adults-mainly due to the alcohol consumption! They can be a bit overwhelming and somewhat boring for the kids- we’ve loved setting up kids areas this season and making kids activity packs for them whilst they sit at the tables for food. We can also highly recommend The Sleepover Club for kids bell tents totally set up, providing a safe area for the kids to play, have fun and well just be kids! We unfortunately said goodbye to our bell tents at the end of the season to make room for more hire items in our storage! The adult kids certainly loved our Bride vs Groom football tables and garden games! If there are any games or ideas you have seen that you think we should add to our stock then please drop us a message.

With the lockdowns giving some couples more time away from work and more time to plan smaller details of their big day it meant that we saw a bigger trend in home made favours for guests to take home with them. From handmade soy candles that smelt amazing filling venues with decadent scents. Sloe gins, spirits and home brewed beers bottled and personalised with name tags. Packets of seeds to grow the same wedding flowers at home to remind loved ones of the day. These are just a few ideas we saw in action, but these little touches were so thought out and helped to create that extra little special touch.

Did someone say Cocktails?! Cocktail hour seemed to be a big trend on the Island this year. The perfect way to get the guests out of the way whilst staff cleared down tables and re arranged the venue ready for the evening party antics. With the introduction of The Isle of Wight Cocktail Co throughout lockdown delivering delicious cocktails to doorsteps Island wide, we thought let’s get them involved in Island Weddings! The cocktails not only taste amazing but also look bang on trend. Screen printed amber brown bottles and handmade on the Island-it makes a great talking point for guests while chatting with a martini glass in hand. It also creates a bit of extra theatre with either staff shaking cocktails and pouring the perfect tipple or getting guests involved to shake it  themselves. SHAKE IT, POUR IT, DRINK IT! We set up some awesome insta worthy cocktail displays and they certainly became a talking point-people always congregate around bars or booze-so why not make them stand out and look epic.

did someone say cocktail hour?!

Shake it, Pour it, Drink it!

Isle of Wight Cocktail Co can provide pre mixed cocktails.

We loved coordinating one wedding which did a “bring a bottle of spirit instead of a wedding gift”. It’s different, fun and cost effective. The couple then provided all mixers and staff to serve up the drinks-it meant that there was no left-over warm table wine and needless to say the party definitely got started-there is always one that pushes the limits and cracks open the shots!

We’ve actually supplied a lot of bar staff to this year’s weddings-so if you’re wanting to stock your own bar, but need the staff to serve-message us, Rach is also cocktail trained and has been in the hospitality game for many years so can give plenty of advice. She even had Carrie pulling pints and mixing up the drinks this year whilst coordinating-talk about multi tasking!

Food glorious food…. We have been spoilt this wedding season with the caterers feeding us the most delicious food while working 15-hour straight shifts nibbling our way through all the menus! From sit down elegant 3 course meals, buffets, food trucks, platters, grazing tables, charcuterie cones, snack stations-we’ve seen it all. Couples are really starting to work the food around their guests and think about what people would most appreciate at what time in the day. But also, what will work around the vibe they are trying to achieve over the day and throughout the venue. We love a good snack station set up-so simple cheap and always goes down a treat. Who doesn’t love a hamper filled with childhood crisps-the perfect solution for soaking up some alcohol? Staff at one summer wedding walked about with mini ice cream pots and homemade boozy ice lollies to cool the guests down! An ice pole strawberry daiquiri is a win from us!

Cake Cake Cake! We love cake! We safe to say have some super talented bakers here on our little Island. They cleverly created a vast array of different cake designs this year. We loved the challenge of displaying the wedding cakes in different ways, making sure they took centre stage. From balancing them on barrels to dressing tables and crates. Our vintage gold tea trolley was used and abused lots this past season and the standard log slice cake base was dressed up in numerous ways. Once again, the donut walls remain a firm favourite -Rachel actually had to make another one for the collection as so many people wanted to hire them out! Teamed with our collection of glass jars and plates to set up sweet stations, cookie and party ring platters and even providing Colin the Caterpillar somewhere to rest-Colin made many appearances this year!

We have worked in some brilliant venues and the most gorgeous private households' and grounds this year. We have seen just how hard the suppliers have worked to bounce back after lockdowns and how they have overloaded their schedules to fit all the Covid couples into their diary’s without disappointing anyone. We’ve worked with some amazing suppliers and photographers and met some new ones who have become our friends. We are super proud of the Isle of Wight wedding world this year and cant wait for next year.

We wish all our couples, future clients and amazing suppliers a very Merry Christmas and look out for our next blog - What will 2022 look like.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND Happy new year!

Lets see what 2022 brings in the Isle Of Wight wedding world!

The Venue with a view......

Looking for a wedding venue? We have uncovered an absolute gem. Although we live on an island there are very few venues with a sea view, Beldornie Tower offers this and more.

The property has been completely renovated, providing enviable photo opportunities for your special day. The lawns look straight out over the Solent, with plenty of space for a marquee or a yurt to host your reception. The stunning decked area would make the most amazing location for cocktails overlooking the sea. Inside there is the most beautiful drawing room which would make the perfect space for your ceremony. The garden room with doors out on to the lawn could be used as a bar area or for smaller gatherings. The house also has a self contained apartment which would make a wonderful place for you to get ready with your squad, and then spend your first night as a married couple.

We are honoured to be the exclusive wedding coordinators for this venue and know this is a very special venue and can’t wait to see the first wedding!

Beldornie can meet the current Covid regulations so intimate weddings are very possible, as are larger weddings once we are back to the wedding parties we know and love.

Our recent photoshoot gives a little taste of what this elegant property could offer.

Images courtesy of Holy Cade Photography

Are Intimate Weddings the future?

The effects of Covid have sadly made us adapt to a new world and new norm. (I’m still forever walking back to the car in a hurry after forgetting my mask, it brings a whole new meaning to the phrase walk of shame!)
The weddings and events industry has been hit hard and still yet to really resume, many of our gorgeous couples have already postponed their day by a whole year or more. Alongside this with the most recent review from the government still only allowing up to
30 guests….we find ourselves asking, will intimate weddings be the future?
We have found many of our couples in a logistical nightmare trying to switch dates that agree with venues, suppliers and friends and family. Many have had to lose out on something and can’t have all they wanted. Some have taken it in their stride and thought screw you Covid, I’ve got more time to save up for bigger and better!
For other couples it’s made them question what marriage means to them
and rethink the whole reason behind their initial plans of a huge party, scaling back dramatically or postponing the reception but still getting hitched so that they can become legally bound on paper.
For any newly engaged couple its no surprise that they’ve delayed or been scared off making any set plans and many have mentioned how it’s taken some of the fun and excitement out of the planning stages. Venues haven’t been able to give the usual grand tours,
the usual visits to wedding fairs to get their inspiration and meet and chat to suppliers obviously haven’t been running, and the big shopping trips with the squad have been a challenge, making choosing that dress more stressful than usual.
Don’t get me wrong, suppliers
are doing everything they can to make sure they can still provide some kind of service, adapt their techniques and make it as special as possible, such as virtual tours, virtual wedding fairs, and privately booked appointments. But as suppliers ourselves we can still feel that slight mist of disappointment
in the air.
Which is where the idea of intimate weddings has become a new option for many, it’s made couples question what actually getting married means to them and as for many of us through this pandemic make us question what do we really want?
Weddings of under 50 guests, It just doesn’t seem as scary or risky (or pricey!) For a start you have the family and friends you both really want there to celebrate with you, the expectation from family that you can invite endless people you barely know is removed, one less thing to stress about! Budgets can be tailored to spend on the things important to you, personal touches, go all out on the food and drink or have more for that dream honeymoon. Have you ever found yourself thinking how will I speak to all my guests, the truth is you won’t at a large wedding, it’s impossible but at an intimate wedding, it’s very possible.
Small or big in numbers your wedding can be as spectacular, fun or as quiet as you want. Whatever you decide whether that be postpone for the big gathering, go for it intimate style, all that matters is you have found love and will marry the person of your dreams.
Covid has made us all reassess who we are and what we want and that’s a personal decision for you as a couple.
Intimate weddings were generally out of the ordinary, maybe they will be become the new normal, for a little while at least.

If you want help planning your wedding, working through the regulations, finding suppliers, styling your ceremony or reception or simply want to hire props then The PV Girls are here to help.
 

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