The Sun Inn Wedding Fair.

Do you know why I love my job? Well, there are lots of reasons but launching a venue is made fantastic by all the brilliant Wedding Vendors Festoon endorses. I only ask people to exhibit whom I would use personally and crucially they must be cheerful, happy folk! No moody wedding fair exhibitors here, only those willing to have a 'Smile Off' (as coined by the lovely Claire of Waterbaby Flowers)!

So, as ever, the launch of The Sun Inn Leintwardine as a Wedding and Party venue last Sunday was a cheery affair. The beautiful pub is such a cool place to hold a wedding with original 50's wallpaper in the Victorian parlour and an eco build extension on the back that can seat up to 70 guests on long wooden tables. Up to 100 can be seated in the lovely herb garden under a funky marquee from local chap Rob. Although we are not yet licensed for weddings you could have a Celebrant host your own beautifully crafted ceremony with Awen Clement of Wild Magpie (awen.clement@gmail.com).

The pub has been voted Sawday's Authentic Pub of the Year 2014, which is quite an accolade coming from the highly regarded http://www.sawdays.co.uk/

The aim of the day was to show locals and guests how the pub may look and function as a Wedding Venue. We had one of the three long trestle tables set up as it may look to seat wedding guests; a Photo Booth in the front parlour room from That Photo Booth Company using the Pub's wallpaper as a backdrop, Omie the make up artist making everyone look beautiful as they walked in, Dresses from award winning The Looking Glass, Bridgnorth, a delicious Hog Roast (available through myself at Festoon), Stationary by the lovely Sam Brett Atkin, and lots of great music from Portlights and Boomdogz. Not to mention these beautiful photos from the super talented Andy Li!

That Photo Booth Company

That Photo Booth Company

Naked Cake available through Festoon

Festoon's decor, all available as part of a package at The Sun

Omie's fab Make Up

Sam Brett Atkin Art

Portlights

 The brilliant Leintwardine locals Boomdogz

Ruth x

Festoon

festoon@live.co.uk

Vintage Pub Weddings!

The beautiful Sun Inn at Leintwardine has been taken over by a local man with some serious vision and passion for authentic, real ale pubs. Steve Illidge is the landlord at Dolphin in Shrewsbury and also the Black Boy in Bridgnorth and is bringing them back to life. The Sun Inn is his third and it has been whispered his big passion. Alistair Sawday has awarded The Sun it's 'Authentic Pub of the Year' award 2014, and once you step inside you will see why.

Faded original vintage wallpaper, wobbly stone floors, a Victorian parlour and a grade 1 listed parlour room that makes The Sun one of the last original parlour pubs in the UK, it looks like no one has set foot in it since the 60's.

Festoon was over the moon when Steve approached us to decorate and bring even more vintage charm into the already fantastic space. So underway is a little project bringing more original furniture, some upcycled pieces, a splash of colour and just a little more love to The Sun.

Festoon appears to be right at home as we will also be launching the pub's new(ish) eco build extension as a wedding and party venue. Think real ale, hog roast, vintage tea parties, bunting, wild flowers and traditional little weddings at great prices. Sunday 16th November 12 till 4 we are having an open day to show off The Sun at it's most lively. Festoon will be decorating the space as a wedding may look, cake & tea will be served on vintage china, Andy Li will be our roaming photographer, a photo booth by That Photobooth Company will be using the vintage wallpaper as a backdrop and Omie Megan Wedding make up artist will be providing free make overs to all! It's going to be a good one!

For any enquiries about using The Sun Inn at Leintwardine as a Wedding venue do contact me festoon@live.co.uk

Big Love x

Wyldwood Woodland Weddings!

You have no idea how excited I am about this one!! An incredible new project between myself and Wyldwoods near Broseley, Shropshire, means the fashion for woodland weddings is not going to leave Shropshire behind. I'll let the photos do the talking...

See what I mean?? Oh yes, and press release details..

Two eco-friendly Shropshire businesses have teamed up to provide bespoke woodland weddings for couples looking to add a more rustic feel to their big day.

To  celebrate the new partnership between Branching Out and Festoon an official launch party and wedding fayre is being held on Sunday July 27 2014 to explore the beautiful woodland venue at Dean Corner, Broseley.

Steph Brett and Julian Evans set up their business venture Branching Out at Wyldwoods last year to develop greater use of the three acre site, which also includes a Mongolian yurt, converted barn, catering facilities, toilets and paddock area for weddings, parties, events and other private functions.

They have been searching for some time for an event planner to help turn people’s wedding and party dreams into reality. A recent serendipitous meeting with Ruth Tilley of Festoon revealed a match made in heaven.

Ms Brett said: “We are so excited to be working with Ruth. She shares the same passion for all things beautiful, rural, vintage and rustic.

“The businesses are a perfect match and we are sure those looking for something ‘a bit different’ for their celebration will be blown away with Ruth’s magical touches and our beautiful venue. Ruth and her team can make any event extra special.

“Ruth and Festoon have the ability to transform spaces and create a unique range of different looks. She is truly gifted and will be on hand to help coordinate weddings and other private functions here at Wyldwoods, so anyone can celebrate in style.”

The wedding fayre and launch party will take place between 2pm and 5pm and will be an opportunity to explore the site at Dean Corner and talk to Ms Tilley about celebration ideas.

“This will be the first time ever that we have held an event like this and it will be the official launch of Branching Out at Wyldwoods as an exciting alternative wedding and event venue,” said Ms Brett.

“We know how important and what a big decision it is to choose the right place for special celebrations and we hope everyone will come and have a look at what we have to offer.”

Ms Tilley, who previously owned a vintage clothes shop, set up Festoon 2 years ago.

Now specialising in foraged flowers, hand made decorations, unique event styling and decoration she believes woodland weddings will be a real hit in 2015.

“People are getting a bit bored with weddings in a barn and are looking for something a bit more unusual and quirky. For those, a rustic woodland wedding  could be the perfect solution.

“The yurt at Dean Corner is an ideal ready-made honeymoon suite, the converted stables make a perfect area for a buffet or bar and there is plenty of space to put up marquees, bell tents, tipis or large yurts.

“People can really let their imaginations run free and we will do all the hard work to make sure their dream day becomes reality.”

For further information about Branching Out at Wyldwoods visit the website at www.wyldwoods.co.uk and for more details on Festoon visit https://festoon.jux.com.

Eek!

Ruth x

A Very Scottish Affair

Brilliant family friend and super hot-shot big-wig at River Island Gemma Rehill & adorable husband Graham had a beautifully moving wedding on the shore of Loch Lomond. Festoon was asked to decorate and here are some of the pictures. What a joyful day.

Festoon has many of the items seen here to hire, we can also put together styling and decorating packages to suit you. 

www.festoon.jux.com

Ruth x

A May Gardenwarming Party by Festoon

Festoon decorated and hosted a Gardenwarming party on a (mostly) sunny bank holiday Sunday. Rustic foraged flowers and most of Festoon's vintage hire items were utilised to give a relaxed yet pretty look against the scrubbed barn backdrop. Oh, and check out the ice cubes frozen with lemon, mint, raspberries & edible flowers - gorgeous!

 

 

 

 

www.festoon.jux.com 

Celebrate Your Child's Birthday Without The Stress!

For those of you sans-kids you may be unaware just how much work is involved with a child's birthday party: the planning; invites, theme, cake, food, decor, balloons, party bags, presents. Not to mention the clearing up after! All this around your 'everyday' child-centered life that ends when they are asleep (in my case around 10pm some nights).. so you have around 2 hours per day to put in the leg work, after clearing up and doing everything else you can't do with the little people around! 

Then it comes to the day itself. The children have every expectation and the build up in their mind is enormous. So how do you juggle the food and setting up the party with spending time with your loved one on their birthday? Ask Festoon to do it for you! 

Festoon can provide a ready made child's party with themes such as The Circus or A Rainbow or you can work with us to create the perfect theme for your child. All parties include a soundtrack, decor, chalk board & chalk and table ware (table cloth, napkins, plates, cutlery, milk bottle cups & straws). Add-ons include inventive invites, sweetie table & weighing scales, party food, cake and party bags. 

Shropshire based will travel. 

Sit back - enjoy your little person's birthday! 

www.festoon.jux.com

How to make your other half become your future - Speak to her heart.

Once again creativity is key here. Your aim? To show her (or him) just how much they mean to you with a proposal that can be told for generations. Start as you mean to go on in your life together and think long and hard; apply ideas that mean something special to the two of you, and make a sweeping, confident statement.

Here are some of my favourites:

I'll start with a classy, elegant idea for the bride who would love something from Tiffanys and for the groom who wants to start things off on that sort of foot. You organise a photoshoot with a professional photographer and hide the ring from your love. She sees the photos when they come through from the photographer and you get down on your knee. 

 

 

For a more informal photo engagement idea (that costs a fraction of the first idea) how about this? You take your love to the nearest photobooth for a fun photo session in between a really lovely day out. You pop the ring out when the second picture is about to shoot and the reaction is recorded beautifully.

For couples who love nature and regularly are out walking why not arrange for your local farmer to help out with spray painted silage bales? If your local farmer is not so forthcoming you could arrange before the walk for a sign to be written in the mud of the path you will be walking along or use large stones with the question written on to be strewn across your path. 

 On to your passions and loves (outside of each other of course). If your dog is the 2nd love of your partner's life why not order a new tag for their collar....

Another passion - Books! Find that first edition (don't cut that one!) or buy a copy of their favourite book and cut out a space for the ring. Replace the copy they are always dipping into with this one. 

If you are a tattoo nut (or even if you are not!) but most importantly if you are sure she will say yes, why not get it tattooed? The shock of revealing your newest tattoo will never fade and the happy memories will be with you forever.

Crazy about rollercoasters? Was your first date to a fun fair? This is the one for you! She will see your proposal only when you all get off the ride. 

Or there is the old fashioned romantic - rose petal and candle idea. So intimate and beautiful.

Whatever you decide, make it personal and meaningful so you will remember it for all the right reasons.

Big love - Valentines 2014 xxx

www.festoon.jux.com