First time and very long post.
Covid cancelled my wedding.
This was it - a beautiful country house and a newer build rented out for 3 days for close family and bridesmaids.
The day before we all relaxed together and got the children staying used to the accommodation.
I'd hired kids entertainer & 5 babysitters for actual day.
Food was provided 24/7.
The actual day bridesmaids and family were offered their hair and makeup done.
Bride (me) was doing my own.
All outfits I'd bought for my bridesmaids from asos.
On invites we stressed no worrying about gifts or dress code or little ones getting stressful, we just want you to have fun.
Small intimate wedding service with family and close pals.
Then guests arrive to a magician/comedian and a glass of champers or cocktail or whatever they want.
Then some really decent canapés, catering for anyone from carnivore only to gluten free plant based.
The kids were enclosed and babysat, they were given a kids table and whole building to play, do crafts, watch films, go outside and also jobs like be in charge of Polaroid photos being taken and the dress up box. They had endless food and drinks and sunscreen applied. My baby sitters were the daughters of friends who worked in nurseries etc.
The adults mingled in/outside.
There were musicians, magicians and flowing free drinks.
Then the main meal, a band played outside and a giant amount of bbq and salads and breads and also dietary required plethora of tasty, homemade food.
Speeches weren't essential for people to gather and watch, there was plenty of cocktails, cakes, different bands, a karaoke and lawn games.
However the man giving me away is a brilliant comedian so it would have been worth the watch.
The elderly guests had rooms to stay in and be together in a quiet part of the house, both hot drinks and booze on tap.
We had fire eaters, dancers in neon facepaint a bunch of alpacas and cows, endless musician mates of ours wanting to perform for us, some wanted to do a live band karaoke.
We had a room for a REAL disco. (My mum was a 70s music queen)
Night Time was comfort foods to soak up the booze, so toasties and a giant cheese wheel cake and breads and homemade chutneys. Bacon butties and cuppa teas.
Other things for the vegans like loaded hash browns or sauasge toasties.
So much wedding cake which was vegan and gluten free.
Kids had a donut wall through out the day and vintage ice cream van showed up.
The whole day was based around food and entertainment and people feeling comfy.
The invites specified "please wear whatever you're feeling happy and comfortable in".
I did all this on a 10k budget.
The food was more expensive than the renting of the buildings.
We tried my best to include the feelings of everyone for this day.
My dress was £50 off ebay. My bridesmaids dresses cost more but I adored my dress!
I know it was traditional but I had everything from disabled toilets, trusted babysitters and just all I could to cover everything from non drinkers such as dp and I, to barrels of cider locally made and local sloe gin.
I'm currently in hospital and this is my first post.
Covid killed off many of the guests we wanted there so now we're eloping one day!
But please tell me, would you have enjoyed our wedding?
Would it have been your idea of hell?