Final Update on the Tiny Weddings Fair this Sunday

We’re sending out the final email to those who have signed up for our mailing list for the Tiny Weddings Fair.  Our second fair is almost upon us!  It will take place this Sunday 10^th March at the Birmingham Library and Rep Theatre, Centenary Square, Broad Street, Birmingham, B1 2EP.  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 door.  Tickets are just £4 in advance, and we have so much awesome stuff planned for you, we wanted to share the newsletter as a blog post so everyone can read it!

There’s more than one type of Tiny Wedding, and we’re hoping to be able to help you plan the one that suits you.  We will have more than thirty exhibitors and speakers, all of whom believe small is beautiful when it comes to weddings!

You might want to elope, or bring a small group to somewhere far away; exotic and exciting.  If you do, we have planners and photographers that specialise in far away places.  Come to the talk at noon, about how to choose the right country for your wedding, and then meet with people who can help you to make it happen.

Maybe you want to take a small group of your close family and friends to a beautiful location just a drive away and take a whole weekend to share the experience and send quality time together.  We have several beautiful venues that would welcome you to stay with them for the whole weekend, or to hold a day’s celebration with them.

We have several more local venues and country estates that are not too far away, who welcome small groups for a more low-key affair, including a local restaurant who can host weddings, and the hosts; Unique Venues Birmingham, who will be giving tours of the locations where you can hold a wedding or receptionin the building.  These will be at 11:30 and 1:30.  We also have a private chef and a mobile bar who can cater for your small wedding, wherever it may be!

Wherever and however you get married, if you’re a bride, then you’ll probably need a dress.  We will have several racks of designer bridalwear at up to 85% off the RRP to our fair that you can try on in the private changing rooms set aside.  So, you’ll get the chance to try out some dresses without the hassle of a bridal appointment.  We have two jewellers and vendors who can supply you with beautiful paper or felt bouquets or accessories that will last a lifetime, as well as a florist who can supply real blooms.

For the planning on eloping, then the talks on how to make that happen – with either practical advice on the legalities of it all, tips on how to manage family members and suggestions of awesome locations, then come along to hear one of the talks being given our elopement expert, at either 11:00 or 2:30.

We will have four celebrants from the humanist society who will be able to offer suggestions on unique elements and rituals that you can put in to your ceremony so that your wedding is totally tailored to you as a couple.  They’ll be giving a talk on this at 2:00 and they will also have an exhibitor stand.

If you do get married close to home, or plan of throwing  a party at home after an elopement, then you’ll probably want to meet Gaming4Weddings, who will be in the lobby with two of their gaming units, for you to try out the entertainment they could bring to you wedding (or for you to leave your groom to happily play while you try on dresses!).  We have photographers and videographers who want to travel, and have a passion for smaller weddings.

Aside from the talks and tours, come along to meet some of the thirty exhibitors we will have at the fair.  There will be so much experience and knowledge of unique weddings in this room.  Coming to this fair on this day could hugely affect the choices you make for your wedding.  And you’re only going to do it once, so make sure that your wedding is exactly how you want it to be!

Perhaps you are already following our social media posts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.  We’re posting lots of updates there, but the fair is just a few days away, so 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 today to be sure of getting one on the day.

Photo credit: Peach Perfect Weddings and Pauntley Court

Tiny Weddings Fair Exhibitor – Bowness Wedding Photography

The most popular elopement destination in England is the Lake District.  If you’d like to learn more about how to get married there and what your options are then come along to the Tiny Weddings Fair in Birmingham on Sunday 10^th March.  Lorraine from Bowness Wedding Photography will be there, and she will be exhibiting alongside Macdonald Old England Hotel and Spa, so both of them will be able to answer any questions about getting married there.

Please introduce yourself and tell us what you do.

I am Lorraine. A female, affordable, professional wedding photographer based in the Lake District and have been for some fifteen years.  The vast majority of my work is as a wedding photographer (although I do undertake fashion, food and hotel work).  Therefore my experience, coupled why my innovative style, makes me both flexible and adaptable – no two couples are the same and each have their own unique requirements which I am happy to accommodate.

What do you love about small weddings and elopements? 

I love the intimacy of the couple getting just the wedding they want – it is much more personal.  I love the opportunity to show couples secret, beautiful and accessible areas of the Lake District for some great photo backdrops.  Overall such an occasion is much less stressful and relaxed for everyone concerned.

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

The couple can definitely spend more time sharing the intimacy of the occasion both between themselves and with their chosen friends and family. It is easier for them to spend time involving everyone in the highlights of their day.  At large weddings a bride or groom can get separated and “trapped” with a group of friends.  Sometimes couples choose to just sit and talk in the evening or chat around the dinner table and create a friendly, relaxed atmosphere.  Small weddings are less expensive so couples can treat themselves and their guests. For example, more expensive better champagne, a more sumptuous meal or spend the money on honeymoon.

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 have always worked on small weddings over the years. However there has definitely been an increase in the Tiny Weddings market in recent years. This in my view has both to do with cost and couples looking for a unique experience.  However, it should be borne in mind that weddings away from home do require guests to commit to attending, potentially book leave from work and making travel and accommodation plans and their costs should be taken into account.

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

Larger weddings require more planning and thinking about moving people around for group shots and often have longer photo lists to ensure I get the images the couple wants.  With fewer guests there are less time pressures and everyone is more relaxed. I often get to learn everyone’s first names and can be seen more as a guest that blends in and take more casual shots.

Tell us about a tiny wedding you have worked on and what you did for the couple. 

Often on the small and intimate Lake District weddings I can quickly release an “official” set of images for couple to share.  It is easier to be flexible with timings and I can pop back at dinner to see a different outfit or to go for an evening shoot.  At the small weddings I do at The Old England Hotel they include a cruise on the lake I often jump aboard with the guests for some different fun photos.  At a same sex wedding I was able to add in a free additional boudoir shoot that was last minute and fun to do as a secret wedding gift for his partner.  Also, tiny weddings have more flexibility so that allows me to work around the Lake District weather.

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

I offer a clear set price:

£299 for an intimate ceremony in the UK

£849 for full coverage anywhere in the world with no additional expenses for travel or accommodation.

I am female with lots of experience and I am very flexible. I love shooting weddings and whilst I am so lucky to live and work in the Lake District, I love the excitement of visiting other places in both the UK and abroad.  I have shot in India, Ibiza, Czech Republic and the Seychelles and I would love the opportunity to do more foreign location work to expand my international portfolio.  I love to travel, therefore I just make my travel plans fit with the couples.

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

I loved visiting Fiji and that would be my choice as an ideal shoot location. The sun, the sea, the coral colours and the scenery is both romantic and idyllic and would create fabulous photo opportunities.

You can follow the Tiny Weddings Fair page on Facebook for updates, but at this point we’d suggest just buying your tickets.  You can follow Bowness Wedding Photography on Facebook, or the Macdonald Old England Hotel and Spa on Facebook, too.  You can also show interest in our Facebook event for more updates and reminders.  Check out Lorraine’s website or the hotel website, too.  If you’re still not sure if you’re coming, sign up to our mailing list, but if you know you want to come and meet some of our fabulous 30+ exhibitors then get your ticket now to save 50% off on-the day prices.

 

Tiny Weddings Fair Exhibitor – Pauntley Court

At the Tiny Weddings Fair, Unique Venues Birmingham will be offering to take couples on tours of the various venue options within the building, and there will also be several exhibitors representing some fantastic venue options for small weddings a little further afield.

Pauntley Court is a beautiful venue located in Gloucestershire on the Worcestershire and Herefordshire borders.  They offer many options for couples planning a wedding with a small guest list.  One of their popular offerings is to stay with them for the whole weekend – thus having a smaller guest list, but a big celebration, allowing quality time with the people you really want to be with for your celebrations.  Come along to the Tiny Weddings Fair in Birmingham on 10^th March to learn more about them.

Please give a brief overview of your venue and what you do there.

Pauntley Court is a historic, family owned private house, which is now available as a wedding venue.  Mark and I have lived at Pauntley Court for ten years with our three children and we were also married here at the 800 year old Norman church next door. We provide our brides and grooms with a blank canvas to create their perfect wedding, be it a blessing in one of the secret places in the formal gardens and grounds or a humanist ceremony in the glorious ballroom. The birth place of Dick Whittington, this exclusive and secluded estate, allows weekend weddings over three days and can accommodate up to twenty-four of your family and close friends in beautifully appointed rooms.   Intimate wedding parties of up to forty guests can be catered for in the main house, and as we have only just launched this year, we are offering free corkage for all bookings made for 2019/2020.  Pauntley is a very unique and idyllic rural estate with far reaching views across the Gloucestershire countryside. It is an enchanting and magical place where a bespoke and timeless wedding weekend can be enjoyed by you and your close family and friends.

What do you love about small weddings?

We love the intimacy and the romanticism associated with small weddings or elopements, and we know how wonderful and beautiful the Estate at Pauntley Court is, allowing any bride and groom to create a unique and special moment in their lives, with stunning backdrops for the wedding photographs. Pauntley Court is a historic country house full of character and charm, which for a small wedding gives our guests an indelible set of magical memories.

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

Large weddings are all about managing large-scale logistics and couples tend to be extremely focused on how to ensure the large numbers of guests are managed throughout the day. Whereas small wedding couples, tend not to have to be as conscious or stressed about the logistical side of things and are more focused on quality and uniqueness of the occasion.  As we offer a three day wedding weekend, couples have time to enjoy being with their family and friends.

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

We tend to start with a blank sheet of paper as we know that our couples will have a greater degree of flexibility on how they want the day to be planned out. As such we have no preconceptions on what each small wedding might entail and we are completely open to any ideas, which a larger wedding may not allow due to the numbers involved and associated costs. We take the view that no two small weddings are the same and so offering complete flexibility with our formula, has meant that couples are relaxed and are able to reach their dream wedding more easily.  There are so many special and secluded areas in the gardens and there is a lake and small woodland offering endless photographic possibilities.  We also have a list of preferred suppliers that we know and trust and who we can personally introduce to our brides.

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 have only just launched so it is difficult for us to gauge, but since we launched at the end of last year, we are getting more and more small wedding enquiries coming through from discerning couples looking for a destination wedding location.

If you could work on a tiny wedding anywhere in the world, with any theme, what would it be?

We’d love to be involved with an Alice in Wonderland themed wedding here at Pauntley Court.

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

The couple wanted a humanist ceremony and wanted it all self-contained in the main house, with access out into the formal gardens for post ceremony drinks. The Ballroom at Pauntley Court was the perfect space to make the ceremony both intimate and special. They also wanted the celebration to be over three days, so being able to offer luxurious rooms for twenty-four of their family and close friends to all stay on site at the property, meant that it was all self-contained, very private and exclusive.  They had some younger members in the party who loved wandering down to our beautiful lake, hunting out any wildlife and quietly watching the swans.  They also had time to enjoy some tennis and play croquet on the Friday afternoon while the bride was busy preparing with her bridesmaids.   The feedback from the bride and groom and guests alike made us very happy, and a small wedding of this nature exacerbates this feeling.

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

Because this is our family home, Pauntley Court has none of the corporate or commercial trappings of other venues. We are all about ‘unique’ at Pauntley Court or as we describe the estate, it is ‘a one off’. As such the service we provide small wedding parties, is access to a truly magical location at a property dating back to 1300s, oozing character and romance.

Follow the Tiny Weddings Fair on Instagram or Pauntley Court on Instagram to see lovely images of the venue and weddings they host, or check out their website for lots more information.  Follow our Facebook page for helpful and inspiring articles and information, and the Pauntley Court Facebook page to keep up with the events that place at this beautiful 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. 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.

 

 

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

 

 

Tiny Weddings Fair Exhibitors – Humanist Celebrants

Often, keeping your guest list short can mean that you are free to be more of your true selves during the ceremony.  When all your guests know you well, you can often feel more comfortable with showing your personalities when making your promises to each other.  A celebrant can help you to create a ceremony that reflects you as a couple, and incorporates the traditions and rituals that suit you.  There will be a group of humanist celebrants exhibiting together at the Tiny Weddings Fair on the 10^th March.  They are Jon Trevor, Eliza Johnson, Victoria Denning and Wendy Weavin.  We spoke to Jon in the interview below.  Come along to meet them all and chat with them about how they can help you to have the wedding you want.

Please introduce yourselves and what you do.

We are four very experienced Humanist Wedding celebrants based in the West Midlands.  We are all trained, accredited and insured by Humanists UK, to create bespoke, non-religious weddings and vow renewals.

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

They are much more focused on the ceremony rather than fretting about some huge reception to follow.  For them it is all about the vows, what they are going to say in front of their invited friends and family, where and how.

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

None!  Every couple gets full attention, a bespoke ceremony written especially for them, encompassing all their wishes and hopes for their relationship, with vows that they can write themselves, if they so wish, and with an unlimited choice of symbolic acts, such as hand-fasting, sand-blending, tree planting, etc.

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

The intimacy, and the palpable love and joy expressed by the couple.

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

Beach ceremony in the Caribbean, towards the end of the day with sunset approaching.

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

An older couple each on their second wedding.  The venue was a local bistro-café run by a friend of theirs.  They made their way over the bridge across the canal separating their home from the café, and entered as two other of their friends played sweet music on cello and violin.  They wrote their own vows, and I told the beautiful story of how they met.

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

All Humanist UK wedding celebrants are trained to create tailor-made wedding ceremonies that perfectly match the couple and their needs, whether they are adventure seekers wanting to get married on a bungie jump, or a quiet couple wanting an intimate ceremony for just them and one or two close friends or family members as witnesses.

If you want to find out more about each of these four humanist celebrants in advance of the Tiny Weddings Fair on 10^th March, then you can check out their websites and social media using the links below.  To keep up with the Tiny Weddings Fair, you can follow our event on Facebook, like our page on Facebook or follow us on Instagram. The way to be sure that you won’t miss the headlines of what we are planning is to sign up to our mailing list.

These celebrants will be speaking on the day about humanist weddings.  If you want to be sure of entry to their talk, then buy your tickets in advance now, and save 50% off the price we charge on the day.

Jon Trevor

Website
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Twitter
Instagram

Victoria Denning

Website
Facebook

Wendy Weavin

Website
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Eliza Johnson

Website
Facebook
Instagram