Today’s addition to our interview series with exhibitors who will be at the Tiny Weddings Fair on 30th Sept at the Wycombe Swan. We’re very excited to have the hugely experienced Rik Holmes from Silverball Leisure at our fair. Silverball Leisure was started in 1988 as a simple disco, and over the years they have grown in experience and added more services to their offering, and have supplied discos and services to hundreds, if not thousands of events. They want to help with your tiny wedding, or with the party you have with extended family and friends when you return home from your elopement!
Tell us a bit about yourselves.
Established in 1988 Silverball Leisure has been providing discos for parties, special events and of course weddings for over 30 years. In that time, and with working in the wider hospitality industry we have grown our experience to be able to provide not only the entertainment but advice, support and event management on the day of your wedding. Unlike many disco companies, Silverball Leisure is essentially a one man business – Richard – with Melanie available to event manage when required. We do have a fabulous contacts book though, covering almost every element of the wedding world to provide any extras that you might need.
What do you love about tiny weddings?
We love all weddings! As with any event, its not about the scale, its about who you are with, who is celebrating with you and sharing your day. Tiny weddings allow for an intimate day, focused on the love and the actual marriage – we don’t all need a lavish celebration!
How do you think the couples are different when working with a large wedding versus a tiny wedding?
With a tiny wedding the couples are able to be more in control of the details which matter and tend to be having a far more personal day. Over our thirty years we have hardly ever worked a “cookie cutter” wedding, and that’s what we love about our job!
What are the main differences in the way you do business when dealing with a tiny wedding?
In all honesty we offer the same level of service for every event and function we work – that’s why we don’t offer “packages” as many other companies do. We are always available to give advice or bounce ideas – regardless of what part of the wedding it involves! We provide a very personalised service, and with tiny weddings in particular that tends to be exactly what is needed
Give an example of a tiny wedding you have worked on and what you did for the couple?
We have worked every venue size from manor houses to village halls. With smaller, personal weddings we have found that the bride and groom tend to run everything themselves, with no wedding planner or co-ordinator on hand for them. That’s where we step in! By having a DJ with plenty of experience we can – and have – been able to discreetly and subtly steer the day, ensuring that everything necessary happens. This has ranged from coaching for speeches, making a toast on behalf of a nervous father of the Bride (he forgot!) to opening the drinks and providing the cake knife (yes, we carry a cake knife as standard!)
If you could work on a tiny wedding anywhere in the world, any theme, any couple; where or what or whom would it be?
As a DJ I don’t have quite the range of options! I love working with couples who want to celebrate their love, who want to make their day personalised to them and their characters, who involve their guests and – obviously! – love their music which means the party can be just fun!
Do you feel there has been an increase in tiny weddings in the past few years or have you always worked with a lot of small wedding parties?
I think that, although there are still couples spending large sums on big weddings, there has been a shift toward couples taking more control of the day and of the budget. Moving away from the traditional “Mum and Dad paying” means that couples can exercise control over the guest list and have realise they don’t need to invite all their distant relations! We are seeing more couples wanting something different – be it a tiny wedding, an overseas ceremony or just a different way to party. Our experience and versatility is key here!
Check out Rik’s website in advance of meeting him and his team at the wedding fair on their website. Follow their Facebook page, or the fair Facebook page for helpful and inspiring pictures and information, and show your interest in our Facebook event to see updates. Follow Silverball Leisure on Instagram, or the Tiny Wedding Fair on Instagram for lovely photos and inspiration of small weddings, chat with us on Twitter or with Rik on Twitter. Most importantly, buy yourself a ticket in advance.
Tiny Weddings 