There’s something special about a simplistic wedding style, with elegant touches and pops of soft colours. That’s what we loved about Mel and Oli’s big day!
Turn back the clock, and Mel and Oli were planning their big day at Farnham Castle and they knew that there was an element they couldn’t go without, and that’s live entertainment. We’re so glad that we could provide a really amazing band for everyone to dance the night away with. But more on that later!
We delved into the wedding details and found out all the little bits that made their day, THEIR day!
Photos from Alex Buckland Photography
A Bit Of Background:
How did you propose?
He proposed whilst we were in holiday in Kos. He booked a secluded table in a restaurant.
How did you choose your venue?
I always had Farnham Castle in mind. We looked at a handful of venues but instantly fell in love with Farnham Castle when we visited.
How did your wedding reflect you as a couple?
We tried to make our wedding fun and relaxed, as we like to think that’s what we are like!
Did you have a style or theme?
We tried to keep it simple & elegant, Oli wore a tux and we had splashes of navy/dusty blue throughout.
Who joined you for your big day?
We had 85 days guests and an additional 50 evening.
How did you personalise your wedding?
We had small details that reflected us – like donuts as the cake as it’s my favourite & a BBQ evening meal as Oli loves BBQs.
Getting Ready:
The morning of the wedding, Mel, Oli and their nearest and dearest dressed for the occasion. The guys were in crisp black tuxedos and the girls wore powdered blue soft pleat dresses.
Mel’s gown was a picture of elegance with a fitted bodice with gorgeous lace detailing into a plunge neckline and a flare skirt. She went for a loose curled up do, framed with a floor length veil.
The florals touched on the blue accents in the dresses, along with white and natural green foliage. Symbolising something, old, new, borrowed and blue for their big day, Mel had a keepsake safety pin attached to her bouquet which was a beautiful little detail that we just LOVE.
The Ceremony:
Time to tie the knot! Mel and Oli’s ceremony hall was decked out with white petals, white candles and matching floral arrangements to the wedding bouquets. The sun was shining as they arrived and walked across the gravel driveway. Once inside the hall, Mel was walked down the aisle by her mum, towards a very happy groom.
Beaming from ear to ear, Mel and Oli exchanged vows, rings and a kiss and were finally Mr and Mrs! They head outside into the bright summer’s day and walked through a flurry of confetti as man and wife for the first time. We love a confetti shot!
Tell us about…
The Dresses
The dress was a fit & flare style from Confetti bridal in Wokingham. The Bridesmaids wore Chi Chi London dresses.
The Weather
We were so lucky with the weather on the day! It was gloriously sunny and not a cloud in the sky! Not what we were expecting – the end of May can sometimes go one way or the other!
Hair and Makeup
The bridal party hair & make up was done by Rosie Hart. She was absolutely wonderful and kept everyone relaxed. I went for a relaxed updo, whilst the bridesmaids chose a half up half down look. Make up was kept quite natural.
The Flowers
The flowers were done by Kimberley Shaw Flowers. We went to school with Kim’s daughter, so we always had her in mind when it came to the flowers. She did the most amazing job & we had so many compliments about them. We went for whites/blues and foliage as the general theme.
The Photographer
Our photographer was Alex Buckland. He was truly amazing and we are so glad we chose him. We couldn’t meet him face to face beforehand, so it was daunting picking someone you hadn’t met before, without knowing if you would get along. We did manage to have a pre-wedding shoot & Alex made us feel so relaxed in front of the camera which eased the pressure for the actual day!
The Food and Drink
The food & drink were provided by our venue. They did an incredible job and we had so many great compliments on the food specifically, with some saying it was the best wedding food they’d had.
The Videographer
Our photographer recommended our videographer, Burton Media, to us. We are so glad we went with Paul, as he & Alex had such a great relationship and knew where each other needed to be. You barely knew Paul was there on the day – it didn’t feel like he was in your space which is exactly what we wanted. We have just received our video from him and we are SO happy with it.
The honeymoon
We really wanted to go to the Maldives for our honeymoon but wanted to pick the best time of year. We decided on a minimoon to Santorini straight after the wedding & we had the Maldives in January to still look forward to (longing it all out as much as possible!)
The Evening:
Following a day full of celebrations, the evening didn’t disappoint. Arguably the wedding reception is where the party begins! A typical evening will consist of cake cutting, a first dance, perhaps groups dances singalongs and more dancing!
Mel and Oli booked Dance Floor Fillers for their reception and we’re so pleased they did. The 4-piece pop and rock wedding band got everyone on the dance floor, guests old and young. We’ll let the pictures do the talking!
What was your first dance?
Our first dance was to You & Me by Lifehouse. When we were picking our band, it was really important that we found someone who would be able to perform it live for us. It was so incredible & definitely took some of the pressure of us having to dance in front of everyone with a live performance too.
What was your wedding playlist:
- Processional: Turning Page Instrumental – Sleeping At Last
- Signing the register: Came Here for Love (Acoustic) – Sigala, Ella Eyre
- Recessional: Beautiful Day – U2
- First Dance: You & Me – Lifehouse
- Final Song: Shut Up & Dance – Walk The Moon
What did your entertainment bring to the big day?
We are so glad we decided on a live band instead of a DJ. We debated it for quite a while but based on previous weddings we had been to we loved the feel & energy that a live band brought. They kept everyone on the dance floor and made it feel much more special.
How was it booking entertainment through Entertainment Nation?
Super easy! They came back to my request really quickly & confirmed that the band were available. We booked straight away and they were really quick at coming back with any questions.
What was your favourite moment?
So hard to choose! We loved having a moment to ourselves after the ceremony to take everything in. The drinks reception and mingling with everyone and having them all in the same place together was so amazing.
Is there anything you’d change?
Nothing!
What tips do you have for other couples planning their wedding?
Our one piece of advice would be to make sure you get a videographer. It might seem a bit extra and more money involved, however it’s the best thing we did! Our pictures are so amazing, but the video just makes you relive the day.
Their Wedding Highlights Video:
A round up of their suppliers:
- Venue – Farnham Castle
- Catering – Farnham Castle
- Photographer – Alex Buckland Photography
- Videographer – Burton Media
- Wedding Band – Dance Floor Fillers
- Flowers – Kimberley Shaw Flowers
- Bridesmaid Dresses – Chi Chi London
- Hair & Make Up – Rosie Hart Hair & Make Up
We’d like to say a massive thank you to Mel and Oli for letting us delve deeper into their wedding day. It looks and sounds like they had the most amazing evening and we’re thrilled about it!
Thank you also to Burton Media and Alex Buckland Photography for the stunning imagery from this magical wedding.
Get In Touch:
If Mel and Oli’s big day has inspired you to get wedding planning and you’re on the hunt for some show-stopping wedding entertainment, then please feel free to get in touch with our friendly team via email on info@entertainment-nation.co.uk or by phone on 0800 53 000 35. We look forward to hearing from you!
