Hello,
welcome back
guys to another week of your favorite wedding podcast.
Craziness of Wedding Season.
We are in the depths of it.
I'm just about sane
I am not.
should we get started.
do it.
Hi, I am
And I'm Haley.
and we are your wedding planning experts.
the tea on the inside of wedding planning and everything that goes with it,
Expect our honest opinions, the real juice in what happens on a wedding day,
a few tips thrown in between.
and also just a chat between friends
And of course, make sure you hit that subscribe button and let's get you word,
in.
woo.
woo. So just to start the podcast, make sure you are following us, reviewing us. Send it in your questions. You them are the assholes, the rants, the
love a rant.
Mate, can I please start this podcast with a rant?
Oh my God, yes. It wouldn't be the podcast if you didn't.
one, right? We're in the day, like when I tell you I have had the most stressful day
Oh my.
and is just been such like a stressful couple of weeks. And then I look in my inbox and I have emails from suppliers and emails from like people that wanna be wedding planners, like, lovely, great
Yeah,
tell me about your services. Tell me you wanna be a wedding planner. But guys, is peak season.
I'm not getting back to you this week or the next week or the next month,
I, I'll be really, if you are emailing me right now to try and tell me that you're a photographer or a videographer or a live painter and you wanna work with me, it's going in the bin. Like, and that sounds really harsh,
so.
sorry. Like are you not just as busy? Like who's got the time to do that right
They're obviously not busy. That's why they're trying to get work with you, as in like, they might be starting out. Have some,
Well, yeah, true, true. But seriously, you know, if you're trying to get in the, if you're working in the wedding industry that it's so busy right now and I'm just like, come on.
for me, being freelance florist, now's the time to like be dropping in a little email like, do you need freelance help? Because they, they'll be looking, but it's different. That's different for me, but.
asking me for advice, I really wanna become a wedding planner. I wondered if you
Oh, my advice is, do not email me during peak season.
not
No.
And my second in rant is invoices.
Oh,
still today chasing invoices for a wedding on Sunday, like, and it's Tuesday, and I,
so. Is this, is this, um, sorry. These suppliers that haven't sent their final invoices, that's mad.
the supply of
Well, then they'll just have to not get paid.
Well, this is what Martin said earlier, but I'll tell you exactly what happens. If I don't chase it the day before the wedding, they'll be ringing me unless they get the payment.
coming. Yeah. That's not right.
gotta go to a couple who it's the day before the
Yeah.
guys. I know you're really having, trying to have a nice time with your family. Or in this case, they have two days of
Oh, of course.
sorry. I need to, uh, I need, I need you to get this payment. Like, so if I don't chase it and it's infuriating and one supplier, I've been chasing him for weeks and I'm like, come on, do you not
That's, yeah. That is bizarre. like,
like, not just like a a something that happens every now and again. This happens on a regular basis. And I'm like, do people not have systems like with mine? I know when my payments are
yeah.
And especially if you're a supplier, it's quite really, it's only probably Florist Cater. No, there's a few other bits where the, where the invoice changes, but like photographers is the same price,
Yeah,
same price planners
like a set price, so
send set up a system that it just
automatically sends it when it's like how on the date or whatever. Yeah, yeah.
So they are my
Oh, that is really annoying actually.
driving me insane at the minute. I feel like it's a big chunk of my time. It's just chasing people for their invoices and I'm, I'm like, I'm not your fricking
you've got other things to be doing with your time at the moment. Yeah, that is actually really quite annoying. I, I, I don't like it. So when, for me, on the other hand, it's like, so I've done all my, obviously the wedding, the weekend,
Yeah.
and then I'm, I've got freelancers that I need to pay and then it's like, so, you know, let me know your hours. And then like, they haven't let me know their hours and stuff.
me. I had, I've had freelancers leave at six months before they send me an invoice and obviously I don't remember
That's mad.
that. I'm not gonna chase your invoice.
That's mad.
months later they're like, oh, sorry, I never sent this to you. And I'm like, it's a fricking new year.
Now. Yeah, exactly. But you just,
But you feel like you still gotta
yeah. Yeah. That is a really weird, like how much money are you earning that you've forgotten to invoice someone?
I.
I'm not there the next day, like invoicing people.
happened to me a few times as
really weird.
I just, I don't get it. I
Oh,
surely people want pay in, like I just, yeah, no,
crazy. Crazy.
But How are you,
Um.
been?
My day has been busy.
the weekend,
Yes,
wedding in
big time. We had a big time wedding.
We did. We did.
It's good.
was a, I had three weddings
Oh
the last week and Well, all I will say is I'm gonna top it with single one. We're very happy and had the best day. CECs. All that matters at the end of the day,
that's it?
We might be traumatized,
might be, I think I will be for a long time after
oh, me too.
we basically, me and Hannah worked in, it was, uh, so if you're in the UK this weekend was particularly hot. It was 30 degrees. We had, we had a heat wave. It was
two know that.
so hot.
this weekend. So I have a two day Indian
Oh, mate.
a heat wave on Sunday, Monday. I'm like, are you are?
It's always when you're really busy, I swear, like, oh.
me as well was I worked six days last week we had three weddings, and Sunday the weather was,
Rubbish your day off. Yeah.
are you
I was pleased for that. Yes. Um, whatever day Sunday was, I dunno when it was.
Two days. Yeah,
Yeah. But, um, but yeah, no, it was, uh, but now I'm good. I'm good. I'm recovering. I, I'm really pleased because the wedding, it looked incredible. Um,
uh, uh, yeah,
pulled off.
just need to top the podcast with Haley. Absolutely. Smashed it on
Thanks guys. I mean,
know, was, it was a real tricky one. Let's start with that wedding. It was, it was.
yeah,
It's a stunning
beautiful.
beautiful venue, but the restrictions because it is a point of interest. Um, so it has tours during, in the day. It's part of the university, so there's students there and whatever. And so you kept, we could not access till 4:00 PM and the guests were arriving to go into the ceremony room at 4 45 and
Rush
walk through the main room. The guests have to go through the main room to get to the ceremony. So Haley had set the ceremony and
and the,
to
yeah.
by 6 45. But actually we had to have it in a fair state for the guests to walk through by 4 45, which actually massively goes against anything that I would, I normally, I would just not allow guests to walk through a room that's being set up. But in this
There's no other way. There is literally, there's no other route unless you walk 'em through like a kitchen or something, which you're not gonna do.
you're getting set up a ceremony room and a full wedding breakfast in 45 minutes.
it's the impossible. It's the impossible. So you just have to make the best of a, of a, of a, not a bad situation, but like an an awkward situation, I guess. But.
we just flag as well, we had told the couple that this was gonna happen.
were well aware
They were su
and actually
and they were happy
they were fine about it.
'cause if not, we would've said, you cannot have the flowers
Yeah.
wanna have.
Exactly, but they, um, but the nice thing about it was, 'cause obviously we, so I had like Dutch trolleys full of flour and obviously as the guests were walking through to the ceremony, they were like, oh wow. Like looking at the flowers on the stand, stuff like that. And it was actually really nice for them. I think they quite liked it and they were getting like really cold glasses of water as they went in and they were really happy. So they quite liked it.
think that that was a mistake though, that the War of Station
Oh, the water station.
If I'd, I think in such a rush, I didn't notice, but thinking back, I would've had
It. Slow them up.
because yeah, then they're
Yeah.
aren't they? Whereas actually, in my head, I was thinking, right, we're just going to
Yeah.
They're not gonna see. Do
So that was at the caterer that decided to put them there.
Yeah. But I just hadn't, hadn't. I thought about it, like I hadn't really seen it be set up because there was just so much going on in that first 45
It was mad.
do the, the mom's messaging me. We were getting in the
Oh God.
out the ceremony room. Everybody's asking me different questions
a moment for seeing me sweat more than I've ever sw.
Oh yeah, Jesus,
I was like, addle. I was like, hi,
and hello. I mean, I'm not surprised because there was
heavy
flower
se, we reckon they weigh each one. We reckon they weighed about 10, 10 to 15 kilo
Wow. Yeah,
each arrangement. And there was 20, there was 21.
ah,
Yeah, so they were huge, massive, massive arrangements, and that wasn't the only thing they had either. They had loads of other stuff, but
yeah,
yeah, the, the setup was incredible. It was,
it looked so beautiful. And also, I hate that way, you have to walk through the room. 'cause I don't feel like people get that full wow factor 'cause they've seen it being set up. Do you know what I mean? But
but I, I, do you know what, though? They didn't
venue.
when they were coming through, there wasn't much up. We had only got the stands up.
Which was probably a benefit. 'cause actually the caterer wanted us to be further forward than
Yeah.
But actually, and you did still finish with 45 minutes to spare. Can I
Yeah, we did.
six? 'cause Haley was then helping me with, uh, the venue.
Oh
the couple decided, they told me that they were having these little jars of homemade jam. Right. And, um, I went to see her at a hotel. We'd agreed, you know, I was going to pick up some bits
yeah.
including these jars of jam. Well, what she didn't tell me is she'd named, she'd put little name tags on them all, which I wasn't really sure why she did that, because we had names on the menus.
Yeah. So yeah,
yeah, it kind of was
confusing.
Yeah. But they were in no order. And when I tell you to put. 80 of anything into order. So, so for example, Thursday night I had a wedding on Friday and I had, um, a hundred, menus to put in order and I knew I was gonna have to do it, and it took me two hours to get them in order. So that, that's the kind of level
Yeah,
you're looking at. So make sure that they're all in
it's not easy.
had like 20
Wait, there was, there was me, there was my freelancer and then there was you, the girl helping you as well,
Yeah. and
uh, kitty. Yeah.
um, and the celebrant
And even Richard got involved at one point
It was not
Mad. It's hard.
It was a mad rush.
Yeah. But we did it.
But we did it and you had time to help me,
Exactly.
very well
have to say, yeah, it really, it, it just looked, I, I think we're gonna have to share some photos on our, on our socials because it looked insane. It was probably the best, I think it's the biggest wedding I've done for sure. Like in terms of the amount of flower, but the impact it had in the room, it was just so just to give the listeners an idea of what it was, it was um, 80 centimeter plimp.
Um, so you've probably seen the sort of plimp they are, they're like, I dunno, how would you, they're like. Square, aren't they? Rectangular
White
white
Mel, which I
metal. Yeah. Oh my god. The white went so well with that room and the tablecloths.
I'm
Um,
white, not
yeah, me too. Actually. I think I might recommend that again as well to other weddings. So, um, it looked, it was just, it seemed to blend, almost disappear more. It was just like, yeah, very light, very neutral.
table, wasn't it?
So there was two blimps per table. S and two plints per table. So there was three lengths of tables that were each 30 foot long, so it's 90 foot of these PLIs and on top was just full of flour, like massive arrangements.
dad had his tape measure
Oh my God. It was a proper, proper, like precision
were lined up,
big. Yeah. I knew you'd like that. Yeah.
you put, then the arrangements on the top. It was like a full wooden panel running all the way
Yeah.
And then they then went
cause we had to do it like that so that the weight was evenly distributed across because the size of the, the just the um, the troughs alone that the flowers were in were, were, were a meat along and that, so, you know, and then obviously they sag in the middle. So anyway, this, it was just insane. It was so much flour. It looked incredible. It smelled amazing. 'cause there was garden roses, peonies, um, stocks. Uh, yes.
And then the tableware, we had some
Oh my God.
Um, the glassware was like, it all matched
Yeah, the plates were insane. I hadn't seen plates like this before, so it was almost like, um, what would you call that pattern? It's got like a, normally comes like blue and white, doesn't it? And it's got like a,
Yeah. I think it's just
like wedge, like, it's almost like wedgewood, but it was sage, green and white, rather than being blue and white. Wasn't it?
was so
Oh my god. The color and it, you had like these like dusty kind of smoky green glasses did Oh.
Yeah.
Oh,
We did really, really nice. Beautiful.
got to mention because I think it makes a massive, massive difference, is having a decent linen that is not white. It's like an off, it was like off white, wasn't it?
color.
God.
nice.
like just changing your linen up makes such a big difference to the the table. I think it looked so nice.
Yeah, it did. We're very excited
we've, yes. It's amazing. It was amazing.
and I loved the ceremony setup. You did. They
Oh, the,
leveled
uh, yeah, yeah,
heights.
That's it. Different heights of, um, RNs and arrangements on plys, and then they had all of the meadows down the aisle. So it was like, it was kind of like a garden, wasn't it? It had just sort of been brought inside.
and oh, and then we moved the meadows and they were at the ends of the tables and in front of the cake and all
Uh.
Yeah, in front of the band.
made great use of the flowers after the ceremony and moved them throughout, so
Yeah, it was great. It was a good
it was so good.
um, uh, we had a Kaley
Ah, yeah. See, this is really interesting.
Mm,
I've never seen, obviously I got to catch the end of it because I'd come for the pack dance, so, but I'd never, I'd never really looked up what a Kaley band was, to be honest.
I've done what I've done a couple before.
It's quite interesting.
events
yeah,
no, yeah. Uh, Kayleigh Bands, I've actually had a couple of weddings before as well.
Ah,
they are really fun, but the bride Blesser hadn't fully fought it through and she was trying to dance in her dress. The first song she did, she slipped and like ripped her
oh no.
um, which was actually, it wasn't a new dress, it was there Loom. So
Oh, of course.
family have got married in this dress. It was like her great NAN'S or something. It was like an heirloom. So yeah, it was very old. So there's me trying to pin this dress up
Oh, bless you.
in the end she came to me. She was like, I need to find some spare clothes. And I was like.
Oh, no.
I don't, I thought, I kept thinking to myself, I've got a spare outfit in my
Yeah.
was from, that was from, yesterday's wedding in 30 degree
Oh no.
I
It's gonna stank.
No. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
I'll do anything for you, but I won't do that.
I was like, I don't, I don't, I don't really know. And this was like quite late, so it was like 10:00 PM so it's not, I could just whip over to next, you know?
No,
so I was like, oh, uh, and I was trying to think, and then we kind of went out the back and looked in some bags and, um,
you should have given me a call. I had my suitcase on me. 'cause we had,
Oh yeah. I mean, she was like a stick though. She's
yeah,
She's like half
my, my clothes would've been like a sheet on her.
So even if she'd have borrowed mine there, it'd have been like a she on her Anyway, she ended up wearing the groom, had a pair of shorts and a t-shirt, uh, which were also massive on her, but thankfully had a belt. And, uh, he took his belt off I had to wear and she just spent the rest of the evening. Like, I'm like, like a, a, a small boy. She didn't care. She was dancing away. She had a great time. So, yeah,
Oh,
that was
that's it though, as though she enjoyed it.
They actually planned to leave halfway through the second set of the Kaley. So they were gonna, so they'd extended till 1:00 AM and then they came to me early in the day and was like, yeah, we're gonna leave halfway through. Second set, I think was like 11 till 12, so they were gonna leave at like half 11, quarter to 12.
Yeah.
were like, oh, can you sort the taxi? I was like, let's see how you get on. We'll pick a taxi later. Well, um, music wasn't due to go till half midnight, and I honestly, what I'm gonna say now, guys, is if you decide to leave before your guests. Your wedding dies. No one stays
when the, yeah, the, when the bride and groom go, that's it. It's, it's game over. Pick the vibe goes, you know, sort of a bit like me, you know, we're here to celebrate you, you know? And you are gone.
I once had a couple, they extended their night till 2:00 AM and they left at midnight and I was like, you've basically just wasted the money
Yeah. Everyone's just going.
but in the end they actually did stick it out till the end. Her mum convinced her she wanted to stay on party and so yeah, it was really nice and Haley came back. I love that. I get a lot of my forest to do this now, so. came back, we were pulling the, the road, the, the flowers out, weren't
Yeah, we were,
we, not the foliage, the flowers and making them into poke,
yeah.
ribbon around them. We've laid them all on a table and then when people were leaving, they could tell themselves. And that actually got rid of a lot of the, I know we had a lot of foliage left, but there was a lot of
Uh,
go, didn't it?
we made loads of bouquets. Yeah. So, and they were so nice because they'd like really opened up. So the flat, they smelt incredible and they looked really nice. So,
Well, I had, I took four bunches. I've got one in my kitchen. They are starting to brown a little bit already, but I mean, oh, that is still a couple of days that it got
yeah. Yeah.
I took some to my friends and again, they'd kind of treat, I had to put, do you know what? I got home at two 30 in the morning and I still got, went out into my garden and filled a bucket up
Fair play.
I.
That's dedication.
Took them to my friends the next day. They've gone a bit chewy, but one of them, as soon as they cut them and put them in water, they like
They were all right. Yeah. It'd been so hot though, hadn't it? So
had, and once they're
I.
well, they do just go a bit, don't they? I think mine will last this week. They'll definitely last. They're starting to brown slightly at some of the edges,
Yeah,
last for the week I think,
yeah, That's fine.
So yeah, people loved that. And I, we gave some massive bunches to the couple, um. So yeah, they were
Oh
Unfortunately, the rest has to just toddle
yeah. Back to
didn't it?
off it went. See you later.
As as soon as as 'cause that was a big set down as well, wasn't it? But as soon as the couple had left, you were like straight in there, weren't
I was in there
off to
rid of those. Yeah.
she went in and got the
Got to get 'em off.
it's nice 'cause people say to me sometimes, oh no, but you shouldn't sit down before the couple leave, but pull in the flowers out. And I completely agree. I'm completely with you. You should never, ever,
No,
down
not, not until they've gone. Yeah.
But. And if your venue ever do, if you'll get married and your venue do that, like that's, that's not
It's a big no no.
But the flowers out or, or if there's certain arrangements that people wanna take, I do encourage that because I think rid of taking flowers out, which means they're gonna have something done with them is much more worth it than wait until the bitter end and then everyone's gone And
And then they don't get them. Exactly. Because people normally, when the night finishes, people just go, don't they? They get the ta They don't, they won't hang around. So you really need to have them,
them out to
you have to have them ready. So there's also of things that we can do and like obviously like, uh, you as well, like as wedding planners, supplies, whatever, there's loads of things that we can do, but sometimes, like as a couple, like couples. Because the couples are really up for it anyway normally, but like, you know, they have to understand. But. We, we can't be invisible,
Yeah.
but there's certain things that like we have to do. Like if you want your, your guests to take flowers, home, things like that, you wanna have them reused. Like we, we have to kind of do it in a cer
mantle
the venue will have time restrictions on when we can pack down at the end. So say if I had waited until like last knockins and done it, I, I would've gone over the time. And then if you go over the time, sometimes the venue will charge the couple. Um,
But
so.
in a really nice discrete way. 'cause we were just
No one saw us.
the,
Nobody see, nobody see us. We were obviously wearing blacks. We just sort of like blended in.
normally, so I did the same for a wedding on Friday, and we did exactly the same thing. And actually no one was sat at the tables. Everyone was on the dance
That's it. Normally people are, yes. So no one knows that you're there. Because I've done so many weddings before where like the venue's taken off the centerpieces and they're actually ducked to one side.
yeah, yeah,
They're out the way. Like it's only that this, this was probably one of the rare occasions where they're actually still up on the tables, to be honest with you. Because there's no way, no way they're gonna lift them off.
I mean, personally, I wouldn't
No, no, no.
venues do.
know it is. I know most of them, a lot of places do. I've done,
I just feel like if you're doing any kind of dismantling, it's almost like you're being like, yeah, could you go now?
yeah. It is awkward, isn't it?
Yeah. But if it's for a positive like that, you can take
Yeah, different. But like we, like you say, we, we took them out of the arrangements while they were still in situ, so
One of my favorite parts of that day was when we'd basically been, they'd locked the gates behind us, and your husband pulls out a massive bag of snacks and, and drinks. It's, it's one o'clock in the morning or about, it's probably about half one. By that point, wasn't it? Caught past
yeah.
and we'd just all sit in the, on the, on
Side of the road.
in Oxford, just drinking fricking cans of fan eating Kit. Kats
then this,
life.
then this homeless guy walked past and started asking my husband if, if he could give him, he could, could he give him,
him any
it was money in exchange for a $20 note or something. And he was like, no. And then he was like, oh, you can transfer. He goes, I've got, he goes, you,
me.
no cash. He goes, you can trans bank transfer.
Oh, it's so funny. But it's just like hilarious. Like you're
Oh,
to get home, but at the same time you're also just
you are just like spaced out. Need to take a minute before I drive home at like two in the morning, half asleep. I need some chalky.
I don't think I got sleep till about half free. 'cause you are so awake, can't you? Even though you're like tired on the drive. I'm sorry but I don't know who any, if anyone can get home from work a wedding and not
Oh.
a shower. Like, no,
Uh,
to
I had to wash, I actually washed twice because,
I
so we'd actually, I'd actually booked a hotel room for the night nearby. 'cause I thought, you know, between, like, so we went there after the wedding, well, we'd done a setup, then we to come back for pat down. But then, so I'd had a shower then. But then actually time-wise, we decided to just go home,
yeah,
But it was, it was great for that in-between bit to have somewhere to go.
a benefit really, wasn't it?
But, um, but I showered then and then I showered again when I got home because it's, I just felt grim.
till like 11:00 PM did you? So sitting around like a restaurant or something, that would've
Yeah, yeah,
could chill
exactly.
a bit.
exactly. It was worth it, even though in the end it was, we just decided to go, I think we were there for like three hours at the end, so it was definitely worth the,
Yeah. Did
to have that time.
were checking out or did you just be like, yeah, bye-bye.
Yeah, I did. Yeah. I was like, oh, we, I was, it was really awkward though. Richard was like,
think that you like weren't happy or something?
like, they might think that I was a
Oh
of the night.
Yeah. Just stopping in for a couple hours.
know what I mean? I, I walked out and I was like, oh, we're wedding florist. I've just gotta go. We just going back to P I'd felt like I had to overexplain myself.
yeah, yeah, yeah, They're like, yeah, she's full of shit.
literally came in looking like a tramp though. And then I left looking like pretty disheveled as well, so I don't think,
They're like, she ain't making no
no hope he's getting a refund.
Oh dear. But yeah. Is it
Uh
how the, how's the rest of your week been? Other than our crazy wedding?
oh. It's been good. Yes. I, uh, I've, I had a, a quite a big funeral, uh, yesterday, funeral, uh, flowers to do so. Well, not, not.
Not for
Not for me, I suppose, but it was, do you know what that, sorry, that sounds terrible, but like,
does. They're so last minute as well. Funerals, aren't they? Well, is that a last minute?
um, they'd got in touch with me two weeks ago, which is in, is quite, it is quite last minute really. But, um,
Yeah. 'cause funerals are, aren't
yeah, sometimes, yeah, normally you get like two, three weeks notice. So, but um, but yeah, no, it was lovely. So the, um, the. Customer had given me a long list of flowers that were in the person who passed away's garden,
Aw.
so I managed to get all of them. Including some, I think they'd taken
go and rob a garden?
No, no I didn't. I'm not that bad. Um, I used loads of stuff there. I managed to get pretty much everything that was on this list, which was really good going then.
a load of roses from Saturday Night
Oh dear. So, um, but it was different colors, you see. So I did couldn't, but I, I wouldn't do that 'cause um, you know, I have, I have standards, have standards. Um, but uh, yeah, it was lovely and I got a really nice message actually yesterday evening, saying thank you. Basically captured my mom's garden. It was amazing. So that was, that was really nice. I felt really good. And, um, just, just catching up to be honest. Catching up on admin, catching up on invoices, um, and then
your daughter.
yeah, catching up with my daughter. So I had a day with sort of half a day with her yesterday, which was really nice. And then I was back to work Today I've been freelancing, so I'm freelancing for a week.
there at the end of the night of our Kit Kats and fan, and I looked at her, dad was with her, and I said, uh, you've really drawn the short straw here, ain't you? Because you, her mom had the kid and he was there till the end of the night. So I was like, you're gonna be woken up early and you
Yeah.
till ridiculous o'clock. He was like, yeah, yeah, I have,
I am. Yeah. I'm,
really have.
oh,
Oh,
but no, it was all good. Bless it. My, my, I can't say thanks enough to my, my family. Very supportive. To be fair. We're
is good. Now he's
all like a team
he's an engineer,
proper, like Yeah.
mindset.
And that's what you need with, with.
logistically, how
Yeah,
work?
because to be honest with you, the flowers are the easy bit. The actual arranging of the flowers is easy. It is all the other stuff like the setting up, making sure things can be carried in a certain way, how they're gonna be displayed, logistics, it's all that stuff that's,
there's a lot going
and it was over, I, I was trying to work it out, but basically it was about just under, I think, 2000 stems of roses alone. That was just roses.
That's
So there was.
ask the question that's gonna be on everyone's lips that, uh, we, we don't wanna know, but I'm gonna ask. So all of that that was left.
Yeah.
it gone?
Into compost.
Oh, okay.
Yeah. I've got a massive compost heap.
Oh, okay. Jesus, I've, that's
Yeah.
How long did it take you to like pull all that apart? It
Um, you'd be surprised to be honest. You'd be surprised.
job? Did
Yeah. So.
your workshop and do it
Sunday. I spent all day Sunday. Yeah. I didn't have a day off. Sunday. Sunday I, 'cause I had to do the funeral work and I had to pack down.
aren't thinking about the next day, or she's done, she's done her flowers.
No,
She's emptying that lorry, which was full of flowers. I can tell you right now,
it is so full.
the lorry, backing all the
Because I had to take all of the flowers out, separate the oasis, um, compost, all the, like, flour and foliage. Then I have to clean down all of the trays, pack them away. I had to tidy up my workshop. I had to do my funeral work for the Monday. I had to then take the higher vans back yesterday. So that was two days later. So is, it's a massive, it was about, it's about a week and a half's work for one day where the wedding of that scale.
Did your mom get some roses?
My mum did get some roses. Yeah. Yeah. Sh
we probably got rid of majority of the actual
there wasn't a lot of, it was a lot of foliage, but to be honest with you, all the foliage that was, that was left had, had seen its stay. 'cause it was, fingers were foliage
hot.
was English cut foliage. Um, it, it goes a lot quicker than. The Dutch stuff, so yeah, it was, it, it did go and it was great for compost though, so
Oh, that's so
yeah.
happy about that. 'cause they're very like environmental
Yeah,
that was one of their worries is they wanted this beautiful day, but they also wanted to know that,
it's sustainable.
Yeah.
And,
Yeah. So,
and the thing is, the wedding a centerpiece of that scale. Unfortunately, there's not really much you can do at height without using Oasis.
Yeah.
we do use the biodegradable one, but that's, you can use things that, I mean, in that heat, you just, you've, you've gotta make a decision. Like you just, I decided to use, go ahead and use Oasis, but I used a lot of chicken wire and moss and stuff where, and everywhere else, but those centerpiece, they were thirsty.
yeah. I
No one was dead flowers at their wedding. They,
they really don't. They really don't.
but yeah. So that was, that was, that was my week. Other than that wedding, but how, how are you getting on this week? How, because you, you are really busy now, aren't you? For this, I mean, mega busy.
we're in our busiest three weeks of the year. I'm about halfway through. but even the rest, to be honest, I mean, the rest of June was busy as well, but it's just that, that we've got so much going on
Yeah.
three weeks. But, um, yeah, we've been going for about a full week every weekend now for four weekends, so it's
Mental.
Um, so yeah, we've got, um, we had another two beds, so we had Friday, we few gardens. Um, Chloe was also an old, old sessions house this week. Um, so yeah, it was a lot,
Really full on. Huh?
really, really great days. Friday was just, I was really nervous about Friday, I think just because there was, there wasn't a lot going on, but it was just, um, yeah, I don't, I dunno, I dunno why. Just weird really. But, um, it just went, so, I don't think there was a single thing that I could comment on that we would've done
Yeah. That's really nice.
You know,
What, um, flowers did they have at Q Gardens? Because I wondered what they would, the florist would do there.
things that you can't have. I don't know what, because I'm not a florist,
Oh,
florist is, I know one of them, I think it's lavender. You can't
oh,
But yeah, no, she had all like. blue tones, lavender tones,
oh,
it was beautiful. The colors, I think there's a lot of like fox gloves
Oh my God. I love a fox glove.
and
yeah.
um, but they just, they weren't quite simple. We had, um, the low footed bowls and they had two long tables. Low fitted bowls and Bud Fires is all the way down the centers of the tables. We had, we really went to town with the flower meadows down the
Yeah.
they had a really nice piece up the lectern, um, for their ceremony. And then we moved the, um, the meadows to in front of the band and, um, at the end of the table. So when you walked in, just it really looked amazing.
that sounds incredible.
room incredible was when he walked in, there was a big round bar. And we hired a massive grand green tree.
Oh, yes, yes.
Obviously they're not real, but yeah. Beautiful. And you can get various varieties, but the greenleaf one, like the na, the one that looks
Yeah,
is the best one you
that sounds lovely.
you can get a wisteria one, but that one is the
Chef's Kiss Grand tig.
from Twilight Trees,
Oh.
called. Um, oh, it looked, it just looked. Amazing. You might have seen the picture if anyone wants to see us on my story, on my Instagram, but yeah, it just, it just really looked amazing. It's just such a wow factor. Um, definitely worth the price. I think. Definitely I would prefer that over like one of the hoops. I think they're quite done now. the price. You pay to have a full flower hoop, you can get one of these trees. So yeah, it just looked amazing. The band were great.
It was really, really hot. I had a man on the dance floor with his top off
Oh my God.
all sweaty.
Dust jokes.
hours out. Fair play.
Isn't it like a greenhouse though? It is like a conservatory, isn't it? Orangery, that's what it meant. Yeah. Greenhouse
you've got the, well, no, there is a conservatory for the, um, conservatory for the ceremony and then the orangery for the, but it was really funny 'cause they really wanted their drinks reception outside. So we did it on the banks outside. Um, but everyone was just, everyone was like, oh yeah, great sunny. But everyone was just literally stood in. There was
and the shade.
of
Yeah.
was stood
It was too hot.
The pose tables just sat in the middle. So there's me like getting, saying to caterers, come on, let's move these pose tables. 'cause everyone stood in the shade. There's no point in having a mirror. Um, that do you know, one thing that they did that I really, really, really loved was they sat down for their meal. They had starter, they had Maine and then they had canapes for. Cannae desserts.
that's,
had normal cannae during drink reception, but yeah.
yeah.
of being a seated dessert, because they wanted to get up and start the party, they had little, um,
Do you know what? That's a really good idea.
nice.
I like that.
And they did a little shots of, um, they had shots of baby Guinness with it and espresso martinis went round. So it was a real, like we could just get going.
I love that.
They also didn't want a first dance. And I actually think it's very rare that I've ever, I don't think I've ever had a couple not have a first dance. And if they have, it's just the part that they've just started. We did it. So the canapes was, uh, dessert, canapes was
Yeah.
served the baby Guinness, the espresso martinis, and then about 15 minutes later, you know, there was all a bit of mingling. The band started, they were like, ladies and gentlemen announced the bride and groom to the dance floor. They came up and everyone followed them and the, and they started and everyone
Ah,
dancing
her.
it was so good. It worked so well because they entered the dance floor first, but everyone was behind them joining
That's really cool.
a first
I bet they got some epic photos as well.
It
That sounds really cool.
Having a look on my Instagram, you can
That's,
from that
that's awesome. And I think actually the weddings from this weekend, a lot of the, like the, the couples. Did things that might not be usual or um, commonplace, but actually it was things that they really liked and that worked for them and they were really happy with, like you say, like with the heirloom dress and things like that.
Yeah.
and also like the cake, wasn't it on, um, Saturday? It was just a bit different, wasn't it? Wasn't,
a lot of people are saying to me like, what's with the cake? Because the couple didn't like buttercream and they were gluten-free, so we basically gluten-free sponge with jam in it.
yeah.
a completely bare naked cake. There wasn't really a lot you could do with it, and I'm like. You raise a good point though. It's like that's what the couple
Yeah.
there can be these conversations of, oh, but it's gotta look like what everybody else does and you've
Yeah, but they don't like that.
does. But actually, yeah, screw it. Do what
Do what
do.
want. Exactly.
grand, grand grand flowers and you haven't got a grand cake, but that's what they were. If even if they'd just stuck a call in the caterpillar in there, I'd have been like,
Fair play because that's what you wanted. Yeah, exactly. Exactly.
sometimes there's just so much on, you know, on social media and just talk in the wedding industry where it's like, oh, well, oh, well, you've gone, why cut costs there
Yeah,
you know, oh, you've spent all the money on the flowers, but you haven't got a decent cake. Like, no, that's just what they wanted. You
exactly. That's it. So they shouldn't, yeah, I feel like there is a lot of suppliers.
how things look and
Yeah.
judged
But a lot of suppliers go in thinking, well this isn't gonna look great when it's on my Instagram. Do you know what I mean? So they're happy to make comments about it, but actually the, the couples done what they wanna do, so, you know.
cares?
Exactly. And that's what we are, you know, we like to, um, advocate for couples here that do wanna do what they wanna do, And we are happy
might not
for anyone. Yeah, exactly.
wanted to
it. So. Bus. That's it.
Oh, well, how's your week looking this week? Uh, have you got anything coming up this weekend
so I'm actually working on a, I'm freelancing all this week, um, and I'm working on a wedding on Saturday.
Yeah. Nice,
this week I'm back in their, uh, main workshop doing flowers and helping towards Wimbledon.
nice,
Um, and then Saturday I am gonna be going out on a wedding. So I've got a day off on Sunday, and then I'm back in working Monday. So Sunday I'm planning on not doing a lot to be honest with you.
don't blame
Um,
I'm jealous 'cause I'm gonna be doing
I know,
No, I'm not jealous.
uh,
I
no, that wedding's gonna be really cool. I really wanna, I can't wait to hear about this because it's, it's quite a,
When it
too dare, isn't it? Yeah.
me a lot of stress. I'm not gonna lie. Um,
a lot of different components, isn't it? 'cause you're having to manage two days, right?
a lot of last minute things
Yeah. Oh dear. Can you, can you tell us any last minute things that you're,
of fires right
oh dear. Oh dear.
Yeah.
I
and
I just remember the one last year where the guy had to come on that, you know, the thing that they get carried in with. Do you remember that? And they didn't turn up or they were late.
He did. He turned up. But they didn't bring the actual like wheels for it. It
it.
had to carry it. They
Oh,
no. The bike. The bike.
it.
the bike. Yeah. And
Oh.
all the way from London or some somewhere far away, basically
Oh, no.
we didn't have the bike and they. Basically, I just quickly grabbed his friends to
Carry him in.
that was a nightmare. Oh,
Oh, no.
But that was the only bad
Yeah.
happened with that one, which was good. So touch wood, we don't have any.
Anything like that.
stuff now, which is good,
Yeah.
causing a
Stress.
today, they're coming over. The other big thing is, um, guests drop it out, left, right, and center because of the wars that are happening. We've got people come from India, from Dubai,
Oh, of course.
of, um, you know, because obviously America's got, I, I don't really know what happens, I'm not gonna lie, but basically yeah, it's causing a lot of, um, travel lag.
Yeah.
so yeah, we're, that's causing a lot of issues. Um, yeah, it's all fun and games,
Oh dear. Well,
my
if anyone's gonna pull it off, it'll be you.
Oh, thanks darling. Thank you. Thank you. See you. That's my week is just fully focused on that. Um, so yeah, and then we've got another two weddings next week.
Bye. Me?
like final details and questions and whatever are coming in for that as well. So yeah,
Oh,
that this point for a wedding this weekend, it kind of be at the point where we're
you're done? Yeah. Waiting for it.
it's just not really happening with this one. But there we go. We're used to it.
Well, I'm really looking forward to hearing about it next week and the next episode to be fair. So
me too.
we, so this is once is over. Yay.
I haven't got, I'm looking for, I haven't got a day off now until the sick of July, so, um,
Oh,
it'll be nice to get to that. It's just, doesn't it screw you up though, because Friday, Saturday, both days I think I got to bed at like three half, three in the morning
oh. So.
like by Sunday I was just so tired. But I woke up really
Yeah,
I dunno why.
I was up at like five in the morning like, ah, am awake.
I slept like a trooper, but I slept until really late and now I'm probably not gonna sleep tonight. It's just one of them. I'm just all over the
Just gotta catch up. It's so stress as well. Stress does things to your body.
I'm very out of routine, I'm
Yeah.
And it's annoying me, but it
You'll get it back. You'll get it back in August.
Get it, get it back on the 7th of July. We've got a couple of
It's great.
then, so yeah. I, I feel like I'm gonna need it by then,
Oh, this? Yeah.
Yeah. Should
Oh
the listers questions and messages?
yeah. Let's do it. Um, so we've got one first one here. We've got Hi Hannah and Hailey. I've just discovered your podcast and I'm listening to all past episodes. I love it.
Woo.
Woo-hoo.
remember to listen
Yeah, there's plenty to catch up on.
Yep.
Um, Hannah, you are very vocal about no kids at a wedding, so I thought you might enjoy this,
yes.
this wedding I went to a few years ago, the child, about five, ran, jumped and stamped around the church through the entire ceremony, chatting nonstop. The vicar had to tell him to calm down. At one point, he was the ring bearer, so he was allowed up the front the whole time, even though he kept interrupting.
Hey, really?
There was another child who didn't stop talking in the church either. Eventually her dad took her outside, but stood right in the entrance so we could still hear her. That's really annoying.
Yeah.
Typical dad. Anyway, I'm joking
super.
through all four speeches. The first child sprinted around the room talking to people and giving them pictures. He'd been drawing in the middle of the floor even interrupting.
This
No, they don't.
They don't
They don't. And you can't be annoyed at 'em 'cause they, they don't understand. And it is, well you can, but you know.
be more annoyed with the parents for bringing them.
Well, yeah, there is that, that's what I mean. Like, it is not fair for them 'cause they're bored. It's boring for a kid
don't understand. They have
and be quiet for hours.
Yeah.
Um, even interrupted the groom speech to give him a picture. That's quite cute.
like this are quite funny moments. Are they? I'll never forget I did this wedding once and, and they had a celebrant that was their friend and he was telling quite a lot of jokes and the adults would kind of be like, laugh and he would go, ha really loud. And it was. So funny, funny. It was like, because he didn't know what he was
No
and they were telling quite like, you know, jokes that a
rude Jake.
It was so funny.
that's funny.
that can be quite
Yeah.
it's like, all
Gets a bit old hat.
you now. Yeah. Yeah.
Um, uh, not once did a parent or relative tell him to be quiet and sit down. My, my table didn't hear any of the speeches because of, in his incessant noise, the church ceremony was ruined in my opinion too. The kids of my most vivid memory of the day, apart from the photographer who was insane, he Oh, I meant, I thought she,
actually
thought they meant insane. Yeah,
like,
Oh dear. He barked orders at the guests like, like an army major during the group shots. He, he got in the way the entire day was really rude and icing on the cake. Stood on a stepladder right next to the couple for their first dance,
What
the guest view of them completely.
Oh, Jesus.
If anything else, that's really bad health and safety.
Well, yeah. I'm surprised he was allowed to do it.
I would love to hear your reaction. Well, I think you've got, uh, true reactions here. Thanks for your brilliant podcast, love Anon.
I, uh, first up, please write into BBC Radio London to the woman I spoke to the other day with your story about children,
Oh, that's hilarious.
is exactly what I would mean.
Well on, even on Saturday they had the, the, 'cause obviously we were in the other room setting up still by the ceremony and the guy, um, I dunno who it was, but they had a child, like a young child that was screaming, he had to keep coming out with him, you know, then they missed the whole ceremony, which is, you know, kind of the main point of the wedding.
Yeah, literally. Yeah. And then they're just
Uh.
oh, it is. And it's so frustrating as well. And do you know what really bugs me of people with kids is when like, they think, so she was saying, you know, during the ceremony he's handing out pictures and the
Yeah.
like, oh, they're so cute, they're so funny. And you are sitting there like, oh my
No, it's not funny.
off.
Yeah.
don't get that. Like, like I get that a lot when I'm not, I'm not a. Big fan of kids, right? When you're walking around that supermarket and this kid is like doing something, the kids look at you, the parent look at you like you're gonna smile or laugh or like interact with the child. And I just look at them like,
Scum.
like, no, no. Like why are, why are you being look
Oh, I'm really bad at like entertaining kids. Like, you know what I mean? Like if a kid was like. I couldn't think of anything worse than I find it really weird, right? When people sit in a room and there's a kid in the middle of the room doing something and they're all like, ah, look at the,
Yeah.
I just like, nah, fuck off.
Ah. Says the
it's Lily. Lily. But Lily's got personality.
Oh yeah. See, they all parents
No, she has though. She's gonna be a star.
oh God, here we go.
No, but she's like, do you know what I mean? But in my own home,
in a wedding
in my.
oh my God, she's So we gonna, my baby funny. And everyone else sit there thinking, shut up.
I'd be like, she's got personality. No,
Oh
But I wouldn't take her to a wedding. I wouldn't. I'd get her someone to have her. 'cause it's not fair on her. 'cause she would understand that it's boring
Yeah.
and she'd play up.
Jesus, I mean, I've seen some photographers in my, in, in my,
That's actually hilarious.
recently, I've gotta tell you about
Oh my God.
um. I don't really know what they did all day because there was a lot of sitting down, feet up blankets on.
What?
Yeah,
What?
was a marque wedding and it was very, I was a bit like, ah, have you got, got those shots of the people and the,
What.
know, and uh, another supplier was telling me that they were quite quick to tell them that they have a really big following on social media. I then
No,
media. There wasn't a big following on the
really cringe.
um,
Oh, that's cringe.
about this when the other supplier was like, Hmm, should you be getting photos?
Oh my God.
So, yeah, I get what you mean about, uh, dodgy photographers.
It's actually hilarious.
shouted at me, I'd be like, excuse
Pipe down.
Yeah.
Get, get, get alive.
Yeah. Okay. Next up we've got looking for advice on wedding cars. We only need a card to get us from church to our reception venue, which is a 15 minute drive away. We have a family car for the bridal party, which will drive us separately with our bridesmaids and groomsmen, and they will return to the Venue Inn Bridal cars are so expensive. How are other people doing this? Are you forking out the 400 pound plus for a 15 minute drive around the corner, or looking at other options? Can't seem.
Can't work out anyway. To do it cheaper. Just seems such a waste. I am a big believer in this one, right? I actually had this situation this weekend just gone. So my couple that got married at QI was like, look, you are arriving. a ceremony that everyone's already gonna be sat in,
Yeah,
see you get out the car.
yeah,
lover of cars that you want photos with the car afterwards, they are so expensive for something that you can just get a taxi.
yeah. If you are not bothered about it. Yeah, no, I agree.
someone, if
Someone with a nice car. Yeah, exactly.
Honestly, I just, honestly, I don't, I've never fought cars away. I turned up to my wedding in a taxi because I turned up and guess what? Nobody saw
no
gonna see you
it depends what you want. No one saw me before my wedding, but I had photos with it. 'cause Amir and Richard had photos after. But that's because we like the car. Like we had,
Exactly.
camper van. Like it was really cool.
and you don't wanna spend those of time getting photos, 'cause then you feel like you've gotta have photos with the car afterwards
yeah.
you want your other photos with the venue and stuff, is it, it ends up being a little bit, you
Yeah.
I just honestly, sorry to all the wedding car people out there. I'm sure there are lots of people that love having wedding cars and it's really important to them, but
It's more for photos, isn't it? I think. Yeah. You gotta work out.
do
Yeah, work out what's important to you. If it's not, then don't do it just because what you think you have to, I guess. But I don't really think, yeah, no,
Who cares?
one really, like you say, you make a good point there. No one sees you, so don't matter.
no. I've had grooms before turn up in cars. 'cause obviously they, they are then seen, you know, out front with their car or whatever. 'cause if they're into cars.
yeah,
yeah, You know what? It's actually very rare nowadays that I have couples hard cars.
Really
Yeah.
actually. Would you say that a lot of the time you're like, oh, they're getting a taxi and stuff? Yeah. Or the buses when it's like to get guests somewhere.
The buses are cool or they are like already getting married on the same,
Do you know what? I did a wedding last year and they had, um, horse and carriage.
Oh, no, I am
That's reminds me of funerals at a little bit.
the couple on Saturday, right? So they were turning up, they were getting married in the same place as their reception. So you're not gonna hire a cuff from your hotel to your ceremony and that's it. And then it leaves if to, even for that 15 minute journey, would've cost about four or 500 pounds.
that, um, that had a hired a car to come. They didn't even, they literally got married where they were getting ready and there were where the ceremony and their reception was. It was in a hotel and they hired a car to come just to get photos with it after the ceremony.
I mean, you got, if you're into cars, your car lover
But they're not. And it was a limo.
yeah. That's weird.
It is weird, isn't it? Limos is, sorry.
like you, then you have to go off for a drive in here and it's just time out of your drinks reception.
just think that that is a waste of money.
Such a waste of money and time.
Yeah. Oh, right. Well, I think that's us for today.
Put the world to rights,
We have, we always do.
for another week,
Yes.
be back if we're still alive.
Oh, it was great. Great knowing you.
I literally get back from my Indian wedding next week and then we're recording. So yeah, hopefully I'll have lots to tell you.
Oh, I can't wait to hear about it.
Yeah.
Alright,
guys. We'll see you next
see you next week. Bye.