Exhibitors, Talks and Tours Highlights at the Tiny Weddings Fair

We just sent out our fourth newsletter to those who have subscribed to the mailing list for the Tiny Weddings Fair.  It has lots of information about who will be exhibiting at this fair, so we thought it worth our time to post it as a blog and share to all social media followers.  We’ll have over thirty exhibitors, as well as all the other things that are going on.  Our second fair will be held at Unique Venues Birmingham, Library of Birmingham, Centenary Square, Birmingham B1 2SN.  If you haven’t purchased your tickets online yet, you should.  Our goody bags are limited and we’re running out, so if you want one, get your tickets this week.  You will pay half the entry fee charged to those who pay on the day and you will get preferential entry to our talks and tours.

It’s now ten days until our second fair, designed for couples with a small guest list and a big love!  Tickets are selling fast, so if you’re hoping to get a goody bag, then you need to purchase your tickets now.  It will cost you £4 in advance or £8 on the door.  We only have a limited number of goody bags, and they’re full of freebies and discount vouchers from our exhibitors and other wedding vendors.  The goody bags will be going to those who get their tickets earlier.

This fair will be useful to all couples planning a wedding, no matter how big the guestlist, but the focus will be on smaller weddings.  We will have over thirty exhibitors waiting to meet you at the fair.  We will have several photographers and videographers who have experience of, and a passion for smaller weddings and elopements.  And we will have planners who specialise in getting married abroad, including Steph, from Marry Abroad, who will be giving a talk at noon about choosing which country is right for your wedding.  So, if you think you’d like to get married abroad but you’re not sure where, come along to that.

We will have a large selection of bridal gowns for you to try on from the House of Oliver Bridal Boutique.  They will be bringing the contents of their boutique bridal shop specialising in high quality and designer bridal wear at up to 85% off the RRP to our fair!  So you can try on without the expense, commitment and pressure of making a bridal appointment at a boutique.  And there will be rooms set aside for changing.

For anyone looking for an activity to break the ice and ensure that your guests have fun at your wedding, then come along to try out some of the gaming units that Gaming 4 Weddings will be bringing along for couples to try out. Whether you’re looking for the latest blockbusters to keep the kids out of trouble on the day, or multiplayer retro fun for the grownups, we guarantee it’s the perfect way to get the party started.

The fair will be at the lovely new Birmingham library building, which also houses the Rep Theatre on Broad Street.  The building is managed by Unique Venues Birmingham and they will be giving tours of the many and varied beautiful venues where you can hold a wedding or reception in the building.  There will also be venues from the area who welcome smaller groups and have options for weekend-long stay-over celebrations, or a smaller venue for a low-key celebration with your nearest and dearest.

There will be over thirty exhibitors at the fair, all with a passion for the smaller wedding.  If you’re looking for a unique and beautiful bouquet, then you can see examples of felted creations from Eclectica by Sarah, bespoke paper bouquets that will last forever Paper Jackdaw and real blooms from L’homme de Fleurs.  For anyone looking to make their ceremony unique to them, then there will be four celebrants exhibiting at the fair, who can discuss interesting rituals and elements that you could add in to your ceremony, and who will be giving a talk on this at 2pm.

For inspirational photos and helpful articles, you can follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.  And if you want to be in with a chance to win in our prize draws and get preferential entry to our tours, talks and workshops then get your ticket now for just £4.  We’ve almost run out of goody bags, so purchase your ticket in advance this week to be sure of getting one on the day.

Photo credit: DIDEA Weddings and Wed in Central Park

 

 

Talks and Tours at the Tiny Weddings Fair

We just sent out our third newsletter to those who have subscribed to the mailing list for the Tiny Weddings Fair.  It has lots of information about the talks and tours that we will be offering at this fair, so we thought it worth our time to post it as a blog and share to all social media followers.  Our second fair will be held at Unique Venues Birmingham, Library of Birmingham, Centenary Square, Birmingham B1 2SN.  If you haven’t purchased your tickets online yet, you should.  You will pay half the entry fee charged to those who pay on the day and you will get preferential entry to our talks and tours.

We think a shorter guest list is a growing trend and we want to help couples who feel that a smaller wedding or an elopement suits them best.  Recent industry surveys show that couples are reducing their guest lists, and not just to save money.  Many couples are having a smaller wedding to put the emphasis on themselves, and to provide a truly unique and memorable experience for their guests.

There will be so much happening on the 10^th March at the Unique Venues Birmingham to support couples who want a small guestlist but have a big love.

Exhibitor Stands

There will be all the usual wedding suppliers you would expect to see at a wedding fair – stationers, celebrants, bridal gowns, photographers, and so on, but everyone at this fair will be excited and enthusiastic about a small wedding.  There will also be people who specialise in helping couples to get married abroad, and beautiful British venues who welcome smaller groups.  There will also be people who want to help couples with throwing a big party on their return home from an elopement.  No matter how non-traditional your vision is for your wedding, or whether you need some help creating that vision, we will have people who can help you.

Talks and Tours

We will be holding some talks that will give you the knowledge you need to make your small wedding go just how you want it to.  For the timetable, check out this blog post.

The fair opens at 10am, we expect it to be quite busy then, as wedding fairs tend to be at the start of the morning.

Starting at 11am, Carly from Epic Elopement will be talking about hot to get your elopement right for you.  Come alone to listen to all she knows about eloping (and it’s a lot!) and ask her any specific questions that you may have.

At 11:30am UniqueVenues Birmingham will be giving their first tour of the many and varied small wedding venues that they have in the building.  Register at the Unique Venues Birmingham desk for those tours on your arrival.  There will be another tour at 1:30pm, which we expect to be a little quieter.

If you have a feeling that you want to get married abroad, but you’re not sure where, at noon Steph from Marry Abroad will be talking about how to decide where is best for you to tie the knot.  Come alone to listen to all she knows about marrying abroad and ask her any particular queries that you may have.

Josephine Tournebize runs workshops for couples who want to make their own wedding rings! If you think this lovely way to make something truly unique to wear on your finger for the rest of your life would be nice thing to do before you get married then come along and listen to her speak at 12:30.

At 2pm Jon Trevor and his Humanist celebrant colleagues will be talking about how a celebrant can help you to create a unique and meaningful ceremony with rituals that suit you.  The promises made during a wedding ceremony are among the most important that you will ever make, so they will help you to get it right for you as a couple.  You can also ask them questions either after the talk or at their exhibitor stand in the fair at any time during the day.

At 2:30 our elopement expert Carly from Epic Elopement will speak again, telling you everything you ever wanted to know about eloping, and more!  So, if you’re new to the idea of eloping, or if you want to introduce the idea to your nearest and dearest, then come along to this talk to get a beginners’ guide, and of course pick Carly’s brains afterwards.

Then the fair closes at 3pm.  This blog post has that timetable in a nice, clear form for you.

For inspirational photos and helpful articles, you can follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.  And if you want to be in with a chance to win in our prize draws and get preferential entry to our tours, talks and workshops then get your ticket now for just £4.

Image credit: Amazing Bali Events and Jakub Redziniak for Wed in Central Park

 

 

Rose and Rainbow Photography – Tiny Weddings Fair Exhibitor

Samantha Davis from Rose and Rainbow Photography will be exhibiting at the Tiny Weddings Fair on the 10^th March at the Birmingham Rep Theatre.  She is based in the West Midlands, and loves a small wedding or elopement. She specialises in reportage style photography, so if you don’t think you’d like posing all day long, then she’s the one for you. Samantha enjoys working closely with her wedding clients and families to achieve the best images from their time with her. Come along to meet her at the Tiny Weddings Fair, get your tickets now to save 50% off the on the day price.

Please give a brief overview of what you do, and what service you offer.

I am a wedding and family portrait photographer with six years’ experience in mainstream wedding photography. Calm and professional, I work closely with my clients to build rapport, to ensure that any extra stresses (sometimes caused by photography on wedding days) are alleviated.

I strive to make a beautiful and concise account of the special day for my clients. Favouring a reportage style, I capture the ‘real’ moments from your wedding day whilst still being able to add the group shots and posed shots which are essential for your collection of wedding images.

What do you love about small weddings?

Small weddings mean bride and groom are generally more relaxed as each guest is guaranteed to be closer to them. Candid photography relies on emotion… the best way to bring out real emotion is to get a room full of a couples nearest and dearest and capture the fun!

How do you think the couples are different when working with a large wedding versus a tiny wedding?

Couples seem less concerned with ‘keeping up appearances’ and most interested in what THEY actually want, I think tiny weddings allow couples to be more personal and are a lot more beautiful than a ‘one size fits all’ wedding.

What are the main differences in the way you do business when dealing with a couple planning a smaller wedding?

Planning is key as they structure of their day may be completely different to a larger wedding which is generally dictated by larger venues.

If you could work on a tiny wedding anywhere in the world; where would it be?

Cornish weddings… beach weddings or tiny farm venues… cliff top portraits!

Give an example of a tiny wedding you have worked on and what you did for the couple?

Terri and Scott flew over from Chicago to get married in Ledbury (Scott’s original home). I was booked via Skype by Terri, we instantly hit it off as I’m a bit of a hippy at heart and when Terri told me of their plans to marry outside and have the reception in a tepee (!) I was so excited! They did everything themselves and the wedding was attended by friends from the UK, America and as far away as Australia. The day was incredible, intimate, low stress, emotional and really 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?

Since starting out in wedding photography I have thankfully been blessed with smaller weddings, I think the fashion for big showy days has started to become a bit ‘last decade’ and couples are starting to get married later on in life… straggler friends have been culled in your late 20s so by your 30s or 40s you know who is really important to you!

What makes you unique in the service you can offer a couple planning a smaller wedding?

I’m always at the end of the phone and willing to meet up for a cuppa if my couples want a chat. Wedding photography is a massive investment and I like my couples to know I am likewise invested in them.

Come along to meet Samantha at the Tiny Weddings Fair in Birmingham on the 10^th March, get your tickets now to save 50% off the on the day price.  If you just want to keep up to date with news for now, then sign up to our mailing list, or follow the Facebook event.  You can like the Tiny Weddings Facebook page, or the Rose and Rainbow Photography Facebook page, or follow Tiny Weddings on Instagram, or Rose and Rainbow Photography on Instagram.  If you want to learn more about Samantha and what she does, then go over to her website, or come and meet her in person at the Tiny Weddings Fair.

Amazing Bali Events – Tiny Weddings Fair

If you have ever dreamed of having a beach wedding in an idyllic location then you have probably looked at photos of weddings in Bali.  The team at Amazing Bali Events truly make dreams come true by organizing weddings in this stunningly beautiful place.  But they do organize weddings in other locations, it’s not just about beaches!  You can find out more information about them in the brochure we’ll be giving to all couples attending the Tiny Weddings Fair in Birmingham on 10^th March.  Get your tickets for the event now to save 50% off the price on the door, or sign up to our mailing list now.

Please give a brief overview of your business and what areas you specialize in.

We are Amazing Bali Events.  A wedding planner, stylist, and organizer for destination wedding and events in Bali, Indonesia. The Amazing team consists of six professionals, who have been in the industry for over five years. We do elopements and big weddings on an island that offers various venues to everyone, start from clifftops, beachfronts, jungle ambience, rice field view, waterfall scenery, traditional Balinese buildings gates/church/temple architecture, or even underwater vows. Both for legal and/or commitment ceremony. We are also a member of Bali Wedding Association and Bali Tourism Board which empowers us the legitimacy and licensed by the Indonesian Law. You can also check our work on Facebook or Instagram. Our website is currently still under construction as we just underwent a re-branding process, however still the old same amazing team with new name and new spirit!

What do you love about small weddings and elopements?

We love elopements because it gives more flexibility to choose the event venue. Big weddings mostly require a spacious location for a bigger of number guests while elopements can be held even in small areas like at the edge of a waterfall or on clifftop with ocean view. Most of the elopements we have are more intimate between the couple only. The bride could be very detailed when it comes to decoration of the arch as well, since this is the only thing should can be more detailed about, instead of distracted by other elements such as dinners and lighting which only exist in big weddings.

What are the main differences in the way you do business when dealing with a couple planning a smaller wedding?

The elements needed for the wedding. We have also need relatively shorter time for planning. However, for some reason we have bigger number of legal ceremonies for elopements in comparison to big wedding couples.

How do you think the couples are different when working with a large wedding versus a tiny wedding?

Most of our brides are very relaxed as they don’t have to worry about other elements, such as dinners and lighting or guest’s seating, other than the arch decoration and her make-up and hair. This is surely giving a huge difference stress level/tension which we always try to avoid or minimize as one of our main priority as their trusted planner. This is surely easing the couple of budgeting, considering the cost the two have to spend for the wedding, accommodation and trip alone.

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?

Yes. We can say that together with amazing venue in the world, such as Santorini and Colorado, Bali has its own charm and even offer more options when it comes to locations. This has drawn more and more couples who are coming to hold their small wedding/elopements. Like last year for example, we have around ninety weddings where 60% are elopements and the trend has been rising each year considering we began our company from elopements. Our growth in elopements are actually very significant every year. Our highest elopement number was in 2017 where we were more focusing on one market which is our Polish clients on that single year. This number, however, went down due to the raising of big weddings and lack of human power of that time. Now that we have more people on board, our team confident that both events will be given full attention and the number of elopements is expected to align with the trends in previous years.

If you could work on a tiny wedding anywhere in the world, any theme, any couple; where or what or whom would it be?

We wish to have partnerships or hold weddings on the other places that have different characteristic than Bali, which has to be authentically cultural with probably some unique architectures, possibly the couple would be local to the area hence the culture and custom perseverance on wedding still take place. In these could be somewhere in Greece, Poland (which has been a great support to our company’s growth through the years), Malta, Portugal, England, Thailand, or South Korea.

Can you give us an example of a tiny wedding you have worked on and what you did for the couple?

Our latest elopement was on September 2018 for Ewelina and Bartek from Poland. Firstly, we received their inquiry through Facebook and start to discuss about the venue. The two agreed to have their wedding in Sadara Boutique Resort and Spa, which offers a beachfront view. Once settled on the venue, we move forward to explain on the inclusions we have on the wedding which some of them are transport from accommodation to the venue, makeup artists, Priest, flower decoration for bouquet, arch, flower shower and walking aisle petals, boutonniere for the groom, to wine for toast. We have a florist to cater all the decoration and personal flowers need, also provide them wine at the elopement site right after the Blessing Ceremony. We are also arranged the preparation rooms for the couple to dress and make up and last but not least, photographers to capture the moments.

What makes you unique in the service you can offer a couple planning a smaller wedding?

We treat our clients like family. Serious is necessary, but since our job is to have a stress-free wedding, then a fun planner is a must. Bali which is a definitely a paradise on earth offers various of amazing locations for the small weddings starts from ocean view cliffs, tropical ambience (Balinese authentic rice field view, or Jungle), waterfall, beachfront, Balinese Gate and Traditional Architecture Temple/Church which can’t be found anywhere in the world. All at once, and gives our couple the freedom and privilege to choose one of these stunning locations. Not only venues, our strength is in various of tropical flowers the couple can choose as we are working together with various of vendors across Bali to ensure we fulfill the couple’s requests. Most important thing, we work from the heart. Our company is licensed under The Bali Wedding Association hence the business and organization is Legal by Indonesian Law. Apart from the role as a planner, we consider our couples as new family members, before, during and post the event.

Follow our Facebook page for helpful and inspiring articles and information, and Amazing Bali Events’ Facebook page to read stories of their incredible weddings, and show your interest in our Facebook event to see updates. Even better, sign up to our mailing list to make sure that you get all our news. Follow the Tiny Weddings Fair on Instagram or Amazing Bali Events on Instagram for lovely photos and inspiration of their beautiful and unique weddings.  If you’re planning on coming to the fair, and would like to attend the talks and workshops on how to make a wedding abroad happen, wherever in the world you want to do it, then get your tickets in advance, and save 50% off the price you’d pay on the day.

Tiny Weddings Fair Exhibitor – Eaton Manor

At the Tiny Weddings Fair, not only will Unique Venues Birmingham will be offering tours of the venue options within the building, there will also be exhibitors representing some fantastic options for small weddings a little further afield.  Eaton Manor is a beautiful venue that offers lots of options for couples planning a wedding with a small guest list.  One of their popular options is to stay at the estate from Friday to Sunday and make a weekend of it – thus have a small wedding in term of guests, but a big celebration, allowing quality time with all your nearest and dearest.  Come along to the Tiny Weddings Fair at the Birmingham REP on 10^th March to learn more about them.

Please give a brief overview of your venue and what it can offer couples planning a tiny wedding.

Eaton Manor Country Estate is a glorious rural retreat set in 500 acres of peaceful Shropshire countryside.  We are a friendly, family-run business and we have been welcoming guests here since 2001.  We have a collection of 4 and 5 Star Gold self-catering cottages on the estate, sleeping over 50 guests in total, with large, beautiful gardens and first-class on-site amenities, such as a games hall, croquet lawn, summer swimming pool and enormous playing field.  We also have a large, stylish banqueting room which can seat everyone on site and more – ideal for wedding receptions.  Eaton Manor is a place where memories are made: it is the perfect setting for guests wanting an idyllic, short-break wedding in the countryside.

How do you think the couples are different when working with a large wedding versus a tiny wedding?

There is less pressure on the couple when planning a tiny wedding because they don’t need to think of all the logistics, such as travel and accommodation, for a large number of guests. Couples can focus more on exactly what they want from their wedding – it is their day after all.

What do you love about small weddings and/or elopements?

Small weddings and elopements are wonderful because they can be so personal, focusing primarily on the bride and groom and their closest family and friends – making it a truly special day.

What are the main differences in the way you do business when dealing with a couple planning a smaller wedding?

Regardless of the size of wedding our main aim is to give couples our undivided attention – detail is key no matter how large or small the wedding may be.  We want our couples to enjoy every moment of planning their wedding right up to the big day itself, and we are on hand to make their day a truly memorable one.

Can you give us an example of a tiny wedding you have worked on and what you did for the couple?

Here is an example of a small wedding we hosted for sixty people; the couple had exclusive use of the estate for a weekend, hiring all of the self-catering properties on site.  On the Friday evening they had barbecue at Toad Hall (one of our properties).  Breakfast hampers were delivered to each property on the Saturday, which was the morning of the wedding.  The wedding ceremony was held in our local Church, which is opposite The Manor House, another of our properties.  This was then followed by drinks and activities in two of the property gardens with the theme of an Afternoon Fete, at which we had arranged for a magician to do party tricks, a face painter, coconut shy, ‘splat the rat’ and an ice cream van.  Guests then went to our banqueting room to enjoy bespoke catering and the wedding speeches.  We had worked with the couple’s preferred venue stylist, prior to the wedding, to create an English County Garden effect within the banqueting room, with trees and uplighters to line a pathway, textured tablecloths and scented rose centrepieces.  Finally, on the Sunday morning, bacon baps and coffee were served in an informal style at Toad Hall to allow guests to say goodbye to the couple before setting off on their onward journey.

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?

We feel weddings have changed over the years, and there is less of the ‘norm’.  Having celebrations after the marriage, when couples get married overseas for example, mid-week wedding celebrations and informal weekend long celebrations are all becoming more popular, and we have hosted a variety of themed weddings, including garden party and skiing themes.

If you could work on a tiny wedding anywhere in the world, any theme, any couple; where or what or whom would it be?

It would have to be here at Eaton Manor, our home, offering couples a short break away enjoying the company of family and friends in a relaxed country setting on our estate, which would be exclusively for the wedding party.  Eaton Manor is the perfect venue for couples who want something a bit different, love the countryside and want their own space and privacy.

What makes you unique in the service you can offer a couple planning a smaller wedding?

We pride ourselves on providing a very personal service and couples will have the dedicated services of an Event Manager throughout the preparation.  We believe that every wedding is totally unique and will work with couples and be as flexible as we can to help them create their perfect day.

Follow our Facebook page for helpful and inspiring articles and information, and the Eaton Manor Facebook page to keep up with everything taking place at this lovely venue, and show your interest in our Facebook event to see updates. Event better, sign up to our mailing list to make sure that you get all our news. Follow the Tiny Weddings Fair on Instagram or Eaton Manor on Instagram for stunning photos of the venue and weddings they host, or just check out their website.  If you’re planning on coming to the Tiny Weddings Fair in Birmingham on 10th March, then get your tickets now for 50% off the price you’d pay on the door.