Monthly Round Up | May 2016

Hello! Hope you have all had a wonderful May, which seems to have incorporated all seasons and weather conditions available…but I’m so pleased that at least some hints of summer have finally arrived, as it’s felt like we have been in the depths of Winter for far too long now!

This month has been very busy indeed, so prepare for a long post….!

BUSINESS

This month I have been busy with meetings and admin, finalising arrangements for June weddings. I have been creating super detailed schedules, confirming a few last details and logistics with key suppliers, finalising the floral and tablescape designs, on the day stationery, and collating final numbers and guest menu choices and dietary requirements, before arranging the seating plans to send to the catering team. The last four weeks leading up to each wedding are crucial in ensuring every last detail has been thought of and covered, and planning deliveries and setup times so that everything runs as seamlessly as possible on the day itself.

Consultations with couples planning their wedding for 2017 have been popular this month, with a few planning celebrations at home, and the others in beautiful Oxfordshire venues. In addition to a couple of exciting new weddings for next year, a luxury Oxford wedding for later this summer, a bohemian summer office party is also now in the planning for early summer, so something a little different for me, but an exciting challenge!

At the beginning of the month I travelled to Norfolk with some clients to meet with potential caterers for their wedding next year at Voewood. We had such a wonderful day, and travelled to all four corners of Norfolk in a day to see everyone, so a long day but super productive. It was so lovely to see their venue again, and at the same time of year as their wedding day (Top Tip: try to do this with your wedding venue if planning more than a year in advance, as it will be invaluable to you when planning what the gardens will look like, and where the sun/light is throughout the day).

I held a final run through of timings for my first two weddings in June with the venue teams to ensure everyone is up to speed with the plans, and of course to identify any logistical issues that may occur or have been missed.

Excitingly, I have now found an Assistant to work alongside me for this summer. I spent a lot of time earlier this month reading carefully through all of the applications I received. It was a really hard decision, as every single person I interviewed would have been amazing, and I’d love to have worked with them all, but I only had one position available, so please welcome the lovely Esmee to the VRW team!

FAMILY

The main event from this month is that my little girl turned 3 at the weekend! I’m not entirely sure where the last 3 years have gone, but I’m so proud of the clever, thoughtful and caring little girl that Bella has become. She makes me laugh every single day, and although she is without doubt a challenge most days too, I wouldn’t have her any other way! We had a family day on Friday last week at London Zoo to celebrate her birthday, followed by a full bank holiday weekend of celebrations and all round spoiling! We spent the afternoon on Saturday at Blenheim Palace for their Food & Drink Festival, and Bella thoroughly enjoyed the Pleasure Gardens and live music!

I spent 4 days in Las Vegas mid month too with friends to celebrate a Hen Party. I’m not quite sure how I expected Vegas to be, but it was a truly amazing fun-packed long weekend! Walking along the Strip almost feels like you have dived right into a film set; with the most elaborate hotels, fountains, gardens and signage. We took some time to explore some of the hotels, and one of my favourites was the Venetian, with it’s gondola filled canals, ornate wall murals and huge shopping centre! We stayed in the Aria, which was amazing, and contained everything you could ever need (and some….!). We dined at some incredible restaurants, with my favourite being Hakkasan. I’ve never been to the London venue, as it’s not the type of cuisine I would normally choose, but I will definitely be visiting after experiencing it’s Vegas establishment. So Delicious!

The Fountains at The Bellagio

Gondolas at The Venetian

HOME

We have spent some time this month getting to grips with the garden, and finally starting our decking area and pizza oven base, ready to take delivery of a wood fired oven in June. Our Summer House has looked a little lonely at the end of the garden for the past year, so I’m really looking forward to making the most of it this summer as it becomes part of our outdoor entertaining area.

A few months ago I planted up a cutting flower bed, full of pretty blooms to cut later in the summer. There’s nothing better than filling the house with fresh flowers, and the peonies are doing especially well at the moment, almost ready to burst with colour!

June is a super busy month for me, as it’s when my peak wedding season begins. I have two beautiful and very different weddings, a corporate bohemian party and I’m also Bridesmaid for a friends wedding!

Hope you have all had a great May, see you again in a month!

Jeni x