WPC Real Wedding: Sarah & Fergus' Winter Marquee Micro Wedding

Visiting the showroom for our initial appointment (back in the days when that was possible!) was so helpful. It was great to see presents in real life and then add them to our wedding list using the online showroom. By the time we got home, we were already set up and ready to go. It was a very fun experience.

Some of our favourite brands that we added to our wedding list were Pooky, Penny Morrison, Rosanna Lonsdale & Luna Home. We loved there was such a good range of brands available and that some were exclusive to The Wedding Present Company. 

A number of our friends had used The Wedding Present Company in the past and we’d only heard good things. We did a bit of research and they offered everything we wanted and more. We went for a flexible list which was great, as it meant we could add presents from other brands and designers if we wanted. That said, the selection with The Wedding Present Company was brilliant and we hardly added anything extra.

Not yet. We were meant to be going on honeymoon in February, so we were taking our time but we have sadly had to postpone it until October, so we’ve just closed our list and we are already so excited to receive them!

Fergus proposed when we were in Budapest in January 2020. Totally clueless, I unintentionally ruined a couple of his planned proposal opportunities during our second day of the holiday, but he totally kept his cool and surprised me that evening. After I managed to get over initial shock, we called our immediate families and then went out in the evening to celebrate.

An intimate day with our nearest and dearest. We split the day into two celebrations. Our immediate family came to the Church and for lunch, and then our ushers and bridesmaids joined for an evening celebration.

Having planned events including weddings for the last 10 years, I had an idea in my head of my dream team, I just wasn’t sure how attainable that was going to be or what our wedding was even going to look like, given the situation. Our plans changed in every single way possible and more times than we could count. From location, to size, to design, even suppliers. Everything that could have changed, did. We were very lucky that we weren’t pushed to confirm anything until 10 days before the wedding, when the 2nd lockdown was lifted and we were sure that we were able to go ahead. Although it was definitely not the easiest event I’ve planned, we are hugely grateful to everyone we worked with, for enabling us to have the most magical day.

In a stretch tent from the company 10x15 in the garden at my mum’s house in Harrow on the Hill. Duncan, Tom and all the team at 10x15 are incredible. I think of all the people I have ever worked with, they are my longest standing supplier relationship and there’s definitely a reason for that. They managed to fit the perfect sized stretch tent into my mum’s garden and attached the marquee to the walls of the house, so it felt like an extension of her home.

One of the most talented designers I know - Maria Mekhael, did our stationery design. She took my initial brief and made it ten times better than we could have asked for. Jimmy at Redsky Studios printed our wedding stationery.

Our wonderful flowers were created by Scarlet and Violet. Vic, Roma and the Scarlet and Violet team are just so amazing to work with - they always make me feel so at ease. I think we decided on the final floral elements at 5.30pm, two days before the wedding and even if Roma was tearing her hair out, I was none the wiser – she was so calm and helpful throughout and got the design spot on, in fact, better than I could have dreamed of.

My wedding dress was from Laure de Sagazan from The Mews Bridal. My red heels were old from Mango. 

My Veil was from Unveiled by Sophie. 

I wore a Hairband from Claire Bands, which was made by my amazing friend and old colleague Claire. Claire also helped out on the day, ensuring the smooth running of everything. She really is one in a million.

My hair and make up was done by the wonderful Rose Gosling. 

Trousers: Fergus’ family Tartan

Waistcoat: Sir Plus

Shoes: Shipton & Heneage. These were actually a birthday present from myself to Fergus, that hadn’t yet made their debut, so I was very touched when he decided to take them down the aisle for their first outing

My great friend Luciana Berry is a Brazilian chef who trained at Le Cordon Bleu, so it was an amazing Brazilian, French fusion. As with most things, our catering plans dramatically changed and when our location changed, we reached out to Luciana. Having recently won Top Chef Brazil, we weren’t sure she’d be available but were SO happy when she was – her food, attitude and service were faultless

Lunch menu:

Canapés

Tuna tartare served on a tapioca cracker

Rib Croquettes with yuzu mayo

Black bean velouté with smoked sausage & crackling

Crab, coconut and cassava bites

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Main

Wild Bass, mussel velouté, cassava mousseline & spinach

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Pudding

Mini chocolate cheesecake Christmas Puddings, also made by Pleesecakes, to mirror the Wedding Cake

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Cheese platter, coffee & Coronavirus Shortbread Kilted Men from Asher’s Bakery

Supper menu:

Canapés

“Pão de queijo” Cheese and cassava dough with comtè sauce & truffle oil

Black bean velouté with smoked sausage & crackling

Prawn tempura & wasabi mayo

Fried tapioca & cheese “dadinho” with guava & chilli compote

Rib croquette & yuzu mayo.

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Main

Picanha, chimichurri, potato rosti & braised cabbage

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Pudding & Espresso Martinis

Highland Coo cupcakes

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Cheese platter

Our wedding cake ‘Christmas Pudding’, was a chocolate orange cheesecake made by Pleesecakes. We then had 'Highland Coo' cupcakes which were whiskey and ginger cupcakes made by Cuckoo’s Bakery

One of our great friends helped us pick out some delicious wines – one of the best parts of the planning process!

We also had a wonderful barman called Jakub, who kept the cocktails flowing all night

Our wedding phtographer Chloe Ely was actually the only person I hadn’t worked with before. Chloe was recommended by a friend, when we were originally getting married in the Cotswolds, but we couldn’t be happier with our decision. She was absolutely AMAZING and we can’t stop looking through her photos.

First and foremost, we want to fly to America to celebrate with my dad and step-mum who were very sadly unable to be there in person with us on the day.

We will definitely have a celebration with the rest of our friends at some point in the future, but after the millions of changes and numerous plans last year, we’re taking a bit of time to take it all in and so haven’t set a date just yet.

Yes, via Zoom and we were so glad we did - we were SO flattered by the number of people that tuned in to watch it and received loads of photos of everyone from all over the world dressed up to watch it. We were seriously impressed with the amount of effort everyone made.

Meeting my brothers outside the church before they walked me down the aisle. I was worried I wasn’t going to be able to hold it together walking down the aisle without my dad there, but they gave me a shot of whisky at the door and we laughed the whole way down the aisle. A moment I will never forget.

My dad’s speech which was done via Zoom. We were sat on one long table and we popped a TV screen on the bar, so we could all see my dad and step-mum and they could see all of us too. It was about 6am in America when my dad did his speech, so his glass of champagne which he raised a toast with, really was a breakfast of champions.

The general nature of the wedding and how intimate it was. Given all the restrictions, it was obviously nothing like any wedding we’d been to. When we were calling our friends to let them know the latest plan, we jokingly described it as a dinner party rather than a wedding, but that’s really what it felt like. We were able to speak to absolutely everyone there and more than for just a couple of minutes. It was pretty special, but we’re obviously biased.

Do what makes you happy. If the big party with all of your friends is what’s important, then wait it out and it will be worth every minute. But if you’re as stubborn as we were and determined to get married no matter what, then do it. We promise you won’t regret it. We loved every minute of it and although we couldn’t have everyone there that we wanted to, we were able to spend quality time with everyone who was there and the hangover was definitely just as big the next day.

Don’t be afraid of having to scale back and downsize. It is still the most magical day and everyone understands. The amount of support we received from everyone throughout the ever-changing plans, carried us through it. These aren’t normal times and your friends and family just want the best for you.

Wedding List: The Wedding Present Company

Stretch Tent: 10x15

Flowers: Scarlet and Violet

Hair and Make Up: Rose Gosling

Bridal Fashion: Laure de Sagazan from The Mews Bridal, Unveiled by Sophie, Claire Bands & Mango

Groom's Fashion: Sir Plus & Shipton & Heneage

Caterer: Luciana Berry

Wedding Cake: Pleesecakes and Cuckoo’s Bakery

Photographer: Chloe Ely

Wedding Stationery: Maria Mekhael & Redsky Studios