On the Day - Setting Up...
How to decorate your wedding can be a a labour of love, or a real headache - depending on your inclination and how you feel about the more creative elements to the planning process.
Top tips...
- The wedding decor that looks best is that which embraces the style of the venue.
Big round balloons look lovely - party balloons or balloon arches do not suit the venue ambience. Jam jars, anything wooden, bunting etc works great in the barn. - Planning your decor ...if the thought fills you with dread, just book a stylist, seriously it will make such a difference to not only how things look but how you feel about the look of the wedding too - you will feel happy when you see it (probably relieved too!) and having someone else do the hard work will pay off. It would be a shame to not have the photos etc looking pretty and the last thing you want to do is be stressed in the run up, or worse, disappointed on the day that you didn't 'do more'. You are more likely also then to 'get it right first time' rather than buying the odd thing here and there that then you need to sell or don't use as they don't work how you imagined.
- Simple decor can and does work well (more so in the barn than marquee) - but if you want to go all out don't be afraid to.
- In the marquee think bold / big rather than dainty / small. You want a wow factor in what is quite a large space. You can achieve this with either : Volume of items (so if doing pom poms hanging do 30 not 3 for example), Size of items and Height can help. We recommend either tall centrepieces and/or something from the ceiling. This makes a really big different to the wow factor when you enter the room and the overall 'look' will be amazing. Brighter colours carry better than pastels in the marquee.
- Winter Weddings - think lights, the more the better. A warm glow from a LED candle will add a lot of atmosphere and warmth. Your photographer will also be able to get better photos with the pretty glow of lights - especially handy if the weather is not on your side and you cannot get out for photos.
- Picking Decor Related Suppliers... when thinking about suppliers, one thing that can make a surprising difference is your suppliers relationship with each other, ones who have worked together before produce better results generally - for example Idyllic Days & The Flower Company work together on the day to ensure styling elements are combined with the floristry, they then may assist with decorating the cake table to tie this in to the theme of the decor - this is a really underestimated element but it makes a big difference in the overall picture of the wedding, so is something worth thinking about. As a venue we can really tell when the decorator and florist won't work together, it ends up in a disjointed final picture.
- Imagination ... imagining your decor can be really hard, please book to visit if you want to have a walk around to envisage your plan, an appointment if you want to talk it over, and you can also practice table layouts if you wish too.
Items not permitted
Sorry to be a party pooper - but you are not allowed the following...
- Candelabra candles (with real candles)
- Felt tip pens, crayons or stamps for kids packs
- Candles, we premit max 3 tea lights allowed per wedding breakfast table, cake table and guest book table unless LED. No naked flames permitted so all candles must in jam jars where the flame is housed.
- No real candles are permitted anywhere else at the venue, i.e. aisle, ladder display etc.
- Foil confetti or any other type of non-degradable confetti (including on wedding breakfast tables)
- Party poppers or confetti canons
- Anything which attaches to glasses/cups - charms, name cards etc - these are not practical for guests
- No Chinese lanterns or balloon releases
- DIY Sweet tables must not include millions, rainbow drops, refreshers, chalk sweets, drumsticks & palma violets
- Cake boxes - unless of a substantial size, usually they are always tiny and never actually fit any cake in so we don't advise these
- Alcohol favours / any alcohol gifts
- 'Party' Balloons (Round ones or 'wedding' style ones are fine)
- Freshen up kits for toilets are fine but please should not include tablets, sewing needles, candles or razors
- Any guest book (or similar) that you are providing sharpies to write with will be put out on a plain wooden table without table cloth to prevent stain damage
- Glitter
- CD's or USB's for music - unfortunately we can only play from an electrical device (ipod's are not reliable so a phone/ipad is preferred)
- No external dance floors
Hanging items from ceilings
Our table decoration service includes putting out everything you need on the tables, plus putting up signs inside/outside on the patio, bunting outside if you provide, hanging items in the gazebo, or putting any beam decor on as shown in above photos.
Ceiling decor...
Due to the heights involved, Health and Safety rules stipulate a safety license is required to use the ladder heights involved - this needs to be an approved supplier (Balloonatic and Idyllic Days from our supplier list are approved).
If the bunting or pom poms etc is DIY provided, then we can hire in approved safety staff to do this for you at the following rates. Please note we need notifying in advance as these staff need to be contracted to be on site at the correct date and time.
Ceiling decor...
Due to the heights involved, Health and Safety rules stipulate a safety license is required to use the ladder heights involved - this needs to be an approved supplier (Balloonatic and Idyllic Days from our supplier list are approved).
If the bunting or pom poms etc is DIY provided, then we can hire in approved safety staff to do this for you at the following rates. Please note we need notifying in advance as these staff need to be contracted to be on site at the correct date and time.
- Bunting 3 strips £25, 3+ £50
- Poms poms/lanterns throughout 30 = £75, 30+ ask for quote (note we do not recommend less than 30 as they get 'lost' in such a large space and the affect can be disappointing. Although popular we also advise not choosing colours that are ivory, white, or too light for ceiling decor in the marquee as they can get a little lost against the ivory ceiling).
- Hoops or other central hangings - £25 Per Hoop, these create a 'wow' factor as you walk in and are big in trend this year. (*Please note, usually hanging hoops is time consuming as the florists require them left at a working height for some time and usually up/down several times - hanging 'straight up' items may be quicker and therefore charged fairly - this cost covers only the cost of the correctly certified and insured labour to be on site to carry out this work).
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DIY decor...
Our service is a "put out" service, we are not able to make or construct things so depending on the type of décor you plan to use, we ask that certain tasks are carried out before you leave your items with us:
- Centrepieces - We ask that centrepieces arrive pre-arranged or in the case of fish bowls using water, that you organise someone to arrange them on the day (simple construction may be able to be carried out by the FHI, please discuss with your event manager)
- Paper pom-poms/lanterns etc– we are happy to hang them up for you, but they must arrive ‘inflated’ and ready to go and that sufficient string/wire is provided to do so. If these items are to be ceiling hung, or abundant, then the charges mentioned above for ceiling decor will apply.
- Sweet tables - If you have decided to supply a sweet table that has not been provided by us or another supplier, all sweets must come in the jars (or other) ready to be laid out, i.e. not in separate packets for us to arrange, and no millions or rainbow drops are allowed.
- Balloons and all other inflatables must come ready to go and inflated, if you wish to inflate on site you must remove all gas canisters from site as we cannot dispose of them. Round balloons work well with the venue's style - please avoid party balloons as these do not.
- Signs - if you wish to put signs up along the road you may do so, but we insist these are taken down before 10.30am the following day - please take someone in your bridal party who will not forget to do this. As there is also a church on the same road, we advise you use more specific signage than "Wedding" as this can be confusing for guests.
As we discuss your décor plans in your itinerary and final meeting we can always offer advice on specific items that are applicable to your wedding. If in doubt, you can always email before your drop off to double check.
- Centrepieces - We ask that centrepieces arrive pre-arranged or in the case of fish bowls using water, that you organise someone to arrange them on the day (simple construction may be able to be carried out by the FHI, please discuss with your event manager)
- Paper pom-poms/lanterns etc– we are happy to hang them up for you, but they must arrive ‘inflated’ and ready to go and that sufficient string/wire is provided to do so. If these items are to be ceiling hung, or abundant, then the charges mentioned above for ceiling decor will apply.
- Sweet tables - If you have decided to supply a sweet table that has not been provided by us or another supplier, all sweets must come in the jars (or other) ready to be laid out, i.e. not in separate packets for us to arrange, and no millions or rainbow drops are allowed.
- Balloons and all other inflatables must come ready to go and inflated, if you wish to inflate on site you must remove all gas canisters from site as we cannot dispose of them. Round balloons work well with the venue's style - please avoid party balloons as these do not.
- Signs - if you wish to put signs up along the road you may do so, but we insist these are taken down before 10.30am the following day - please take someone in your bridal party who will not forget to do this. As there is also a church on the same road, we advise you use more specific signage than "Wedding" as this can be confusing for guests.
As we discuss your décor plans in your itinerary and final meeting we can always offer advice on specific items that are applicable to your wedding. If in doubt, you can always email before your drop off to double check.
Many brides opt for 'DIY' decor to save on costs, understandably, however please understand that as the venue we are not stylists and apart from setting the tables (including card table/cake table) we do not have the expertise or time on the wedding morning to carry out tasks you would usually hire a styling company to do.
Unfortunately, unless agreed prior in writing under special circumstance, we are not able to assist with:
- Tying chair bows/sashes
- Putting on chair covers
- Swagging beams, tables or the gazebo
- Making centrepieces / floristry
- Blowing up balloons
If you need 'extra' decor put up for you, like crate displays assembled, or lanterns put up, chair bows etc, then feel free to contact us for a price and we can hire in separate staff in to do this for you. We strongly advise you not to send family or friends to do this for you as what is envisaged as being 'idyllic and fun' is usually actually a fraught and stressful time for them, as it always takes a lot longer than people imagine, and with also the need for them to get ready in the morning it is generally not a fun or relaxing atmosphere, but actually quite the opposite start to what is an important day for them too.
The following photos are to demonstrate the difference in capabilities between decor companies and what we can do for you.
We are more than happy to put up your decorations but we like the expectations of what we can deliver to be clear for all.
Unfortunately, unless agreed prior in writing under special circumstance, we are not able to assist with:
- Tying chair bows/sashes
- Putting on chair covers
- Swagging beams, tables or the gazebo
- Making centrepieces / floristry
- Blowing up balloons
If you need 'extra' decor put up for you, like crate displays assembled, or lanterns put up, chair bows etc, then feel free to contact us for a price and we can hire in separate staff in to do this for you. We strongly advise you not to send family or friends to do this for you as what is envisaged as being 'idyllic and fun' is usually actually a fraught and stressful time for them, as it always takes a lot longer than people imagine, and with also the need for them to get ready in the morning it is generally not a fun or relaxing atmosphere, but actually quite the opposite start to what is an important day for them too.
The following photos are to demonstrate the difference in capabilities between decor companies and what we can do for you.
We are more than happy to put up your decorations but we like the expectations of what we can deliver to be clear for all.
