I don’t know if you’ve noticed but we are preeeettty excited to be hosting our first Event Under Canvas this April! With our fabulous tipi and sailcloth tent showcase now just a couple of months away we thought it was about time we started giving you some proper introductions to the lovely bunch of wedding suppliers that will be joining us to make it a weekend to remember. Over the next few weeks we’ll be putting each and every one of them in the spotlight on our blog, giving you an insight into who they are, what they do and why we love them, as well as sharing their top tips for a tip top big day!
This week we’re bringing you all the inside info on the delicious Gather & Feast, the picture perfect Chloe Lee Photography, the bloomin’ lovely Gaye Drummond Flowers and the beautifully boho Starry Eyed Weddings.
Gather & Feast Events
About:
Gather & Feast are a husband and wife team of event caterers with a real ‘can do’ attitude. Linda and her husband Rob love nothing more than working with their couples to create bespoke menus that are truly personal to them. Gather & Feast use the very best ingredients to create dishes that are packed with flavour and served with style. From sharing platters and wood-fired barbeques, to traditional plated menus with a twist, you can guarantee that the food they’ll deliver will be delicious, colourful and plentiful.
This dynamic duo are going to be putting on a spread for the open weekend and we’re already hungry just thinking about it! We asked Linda what sorts of things our visitors can look forward to getting their teeth into come April:
“We’re going to be showcasing our grazing boards which offer an abundant, delicious alternative to canapes or a more traditional starter. They’re the ultimate in casual dining and are guaranteed to get your guests chatting. As well as samples to try we’ll also have smaller boards, perfect for two, available to buy – so no need to worry about lunch! We’ll also be bringing lots of mini desserts and patisserie for a bit of dessert table inspiration.”
With new trends in flowers, styling and bridal wear always emerging, we wanted to find out what foodie fads we can expect to see more of in 2018:
“I think sharing is here to stay” says Linda “and Middle East flavours are still big, but overall there is a movement to eat better and provenance is increasingly important. People really care about where their food has come from. Eating with the seasons and for your location gives us the opportunity to showcase Essex and Suffolk produce and for you to personalise your wedding – we’re featuring local lamb, ham and sausages, as well as wine, honey, cheeses and ice cream on this summer’s menus. We’ll also be using lots of edible flowers for desserts and reception drinks, combined with floral and fruit liqueurs. Taste testing Tiptree’s Fruit Gins was a chore but someone had to step up!”
…YUM!
Top Tip:
“You can’t beat a recommendation and definitely try and meet your suppliers in person before you book, a shared ethos is really important. On the day everything will go so much quicker than you imagine, so relax and enjoy it! Take a moment out for yourselves and make sure you eat!”
How can people get in touch?
Check out their website for menu inspiration at www.gatherandfeastevents.co.uk, Instagram @gatherandfeastevents to see what they’ve been up to recently, or pick up the phone 01621 843113.
Chloe Lee Photography
About:
Chloe Lee is one of Events Under Canvas’ favourite photographers and we knew we just had to ask her to hang out with us in our tipis for the inaugural showcase. One look at her website and it’s clear that Chloe is an absolute genius with the camera and as a result of her huge personality she’s become a firm favourite with quirky, fun loving couples. She is a real advocate of doing your own thing and her images reflect that ethos – you can expect cheese-free, informal and relaxed snapshots of your day as it happens. Perfect, right?!
We wanted to get to know the girl behind the lens, so we asked Chloe to introduce herself… “I love colour!” she says. “Yellow is my favourite but the brighter the better. I’m a huge fan of Harry Potter, Disney & Hello Kitty, to name but a few (I’m also a self-confessed nerd). I love the seaside and fairgrounds and if I’m not photographing weddings during the summer, chances are you’ll find me there! I also love to craft. I spend a lot of non-work time scrapbooking all my adventures. I would love to be able to crochet but I honestly suck so bad at it that I’m better off just cutting and sticking lots of paper together. However, I do love to sew and my aim this year is to make more of my own clothes!”
If you want to get in on the action, Chloe can usually be found documenting her days on her instastories to stop her getting too lonely in the office. One watch and it’s clear that she’s the relaxed type, but we wanted to know how she manages to get her couples and their guests to feel comfortable in front of the camera, too…
“I’m a really laid back person anyway, and I like to really get to know my couples so we’re genuine friends on the day as opposed to just seeing me as a ‘supplier’, it instantly makes it easier for people to relax. I’m a naturally chatty person so I like to chat to guests throughout the day too which also relaxes them when I’m taking candid snaps. I think the main thing is I’m just me, I’ll be cheeky and eat a canape as they go round, I’ll drop the occasional swear word, which to some people may be a huge no-no but that’s just who I am, and guests realise I’m just a normal person!”
She’s already photographed a tonne of super cool couples in some amazing spots so we weren’t sure there’d be much left to check off the list, never-the-less we asked Chloe what her absolute DREAM day to shoot would entail…spoiler alert, it features a tipi!
“Ohh so my dream day would definitely be a tipi wedding, probably with a carnival theme. It would have dodgems, candy floss machines, popcorn carts and maybe even a mini pop-up arcade – I love weddings with quirky entertainment ideas that guests can get involved with. I always find I get great candids this way and couple photos on dodgems are epic!”
Top Tip:
“Stay true to you. Don’t allow yourself to be influenced by other people around you, especially if you’re planning to do things that are a little less traditional. Make sure your wedding reflects you both as a couple. If you love to travel incorporate that into your décor, if you hate the idea of a first dance, don’t have one!”
How can people get in touch?
You can reach Chloe through the contact form on her website, www.chloeleephoto.co.uk, or by emailing [email protected]. She’s always happy to meet couples for a coffee (or a cocktail!) or even just a Skype chat.
Gaye Drummond Flowers
About:
Where do we even start with Gaye?! An absolute gem of a find and my, are we happy we crossed paths. Gaye’s whole life has been flowers and we are chuffed to bits that she’s going to be showing off some of what she’s learned by sprucing up our stunning sailcloth in April. Some background for you – Gaye was brought up in the beautiful Dedham Vale with a family who really allowed her passion for floristry to bloom, before a quick jaunt to London where she opened her own stall on Portabello Road, no less. After a successful return to her Dedham roots, she took the plunge and shipped her tribe over to historic Savannah, Georgia – one of the USA’s most romantic locations for a destination wedding. Having seen her in action we were unsurprised to learn that before long demand for Gaye grew and she was inundated with bookings for weddings, balls, parties and debutante events…you name it, she filled it with blooming lovely displays (OK, we’ll stop once and ‘floral’ we promise).
Luckily for us, she finally made the move back to Blighty and has been proving equally popular with brides across our region ever since. “I was kept very busy in Savannah, producing huge, often ground-breaking, displays on a regular basis but since moving back to East Bergholt in 2014 the beauty of the changing seasons has meant I have still been able to find new inspiration every single day” she says.
Couples choosing to work with Gaye will have her undivided attention. From the very first meeting onwards she works one-to-one with all her clients, looking at photographs, discussing fabric choices and poring over colour schemes. “I don’t mind how many meetings we have!” says Gaye. “I’ll only ever take one wedding for any one day. This way I can be available right up to the very last moment, ready to pin on the buttonholes and hand over the bride’s bouquet before the party begins”.
Suffice to say, we have all the heart eyes for this one and cannot wait to see what will be on display in our sailcloth tent. All Gaye would tell us is that she’s going to be showcasing some of her new ideas for 2018, featuring hordes of beautiful blooms in an array of vibrant colours. Yes to this!
Top Tip:
“My top tip is to collect ideas, Pinterest is a great tool for finding inspiration if you’re technologically inclined, or think about starting a scrapbook to give you a tangible reminder of things you want to incorporate.”
How can people get in touch?
You can reach Gaye on 01206 298293 for a chin wag, find her online at www.gayedrummond.com, @gayedrummondflowers on Instagram or email her with your query; [email protected]
Starry Eyed Weddings
About:
The fabulous Lorna Williams and Hayley Clements are the brains behind Starry Eyed, an in-cred-i-ble team of venue stylists who have created some of the most stunning weddings and parties we’ve ever had the privilege to lay our peepers on. Between them, the pair help couples to pin down exactly how they want their wedding to look, working with them to refine their vision and turn it into a reality. The best part – they leave you lovely lot to get on and enjoy the run up to your big day without being stuck up a ladder with a sweat on, trying to untangle miles and miles of fairy lights! They design and make the most perfect props, before delivering, dressing and primping to give even the humblest of venues the wow factor. We like them. A lot.
In a previous life, Lorna Starry Eyed developed and ran The Vintage Sisters Travelling Tea Rooms, leaving her with a love of all things 1940s and anything with a wartime history. Her passion for the past has even crept into her own styling, with bright red lips her signature look. Meanwhile, Hayley Starry Eyed remains true to her fashion design heritage, with her finger on the pulse of colour and print trends – although she tells us that her heart belongs to the folksy and bohemian. This is certainly reflected in their three most popular themes; ‘Into the Woods’, ‘Peace & Love’, and ‘Modern Romance’ which can all be mix and matched to suit your individual style.
Their versatile looks make them the ideal pairing for our tipis, but Hayley is remaining tight lipped about exactly what we can expect to see during the showcase; “Our idea for the Event Under Canvas is constantly evolving so we can’t tell you too much” she says. “But what we can say is that it will be in-keeping with our romantic, bohemian roots”.
Torture! Alas, we are an impatient bunch so we couldn’t resist probing for a little exclusive insight into what future brides and grooms can expect from Starry Eyed:
“We are always hatching plans for new looks and areas of design to explore. We would love to embrace something with exotic Latino elements. With such a focus on Latin American music last year, we feel this is our next area to concentrate on.”
And with that, all our tipi styling dreams have come true. Goodnight.
Top Tip:
“When decorating for a wedding or big event, do not try to decorate and embellish every square inch. Pick your key focal points and go for it! It’s better to do one thing beautifully than spread yourself too thin and lose impact. Concentrate on your ceremony space, behind the top table or over the dance floor, for example.”
How can people get in touch?
You can contact the ladies with any queries or in search of advice on [email protected], visit the website at www.starryeyedweddings.co.uk, or give your eyes a treat on their inspirational insta @starryeyedweddings .
So there you have it, a window into four of the brilliant businesses that will be doing their thing with us in April! Check back for the next Event Under Canvas Introducing post coming soon and give us a shout on 01206 298074 if you’d like to make an appointment to meet our team during the showcase…