miss oliver
A Bespoke Wedding - Summer 2009
Sometimes we encounter sites that provide challenges all of their own. Difficult access, uneven ground or just simple lack of space are regular problems that we successfully overcome. Our experience allows us to determine these at the initial site visit and design the answer for the client. Whilst we always look to assist, our appraisal (generally carried out by David Walton) will be honest and factual. After all, if we were to do a bad job it would be no advert at all for our services...
Having been let down by another marquee firm just 8 weeks before the wedding, this couple were recommended to us. We met on site on the following Sunday afternoon and the client booked us the following week. A further site meeting firmed up the specification and the plan was set.
The site was roughly 60'(20m) square in layout, part of a Victorian walled garden with no access to power on site. With a requirement to sit around 140 adults and 10 children in high-chairs, there was insufficient length to house the dining in one structure with room for dancing later on.
The answer was to build an 'L' shaped marquee, which filled three-quarters of the lawn - the main body was used for dining, the 'add-on' for a bespoke nightclub area, complete with black and white chequer pro-dancefloor and night sky effect 'star-cloth'. A further cunning twist was to screen off this area until the evening to then ’reveal’ the extra space to the gasps of the surprised guests (okay, we can’t confirm the gasps but you get the idea!).
The 6 tons of equipment required for the build was carried in by hand as access was through a single door into the walled garden. Generators were hired of behalf of the client and brought in with a crane to get close enough to the marquee. A distribution board provided lots of safe and secure sockets for all those requiring power.
A walkway framed the entrance and gave easy access to a covered area used for arrival drinks and later on for a smokers area. The main marquee was equipped with a long run of window walls to offer a view across the gardens and dropping for probably the best day of the summer, these were easily opened to allow the afternoon meal to enjoy the fresh summer air.
After the worries of a few weeks earlier, the event passed in the memorable (in a good way) fashion that all bridal parties would hope. The sun shone, the band played and smiles were in plentiful supply.
