Monthly Round Ups

Monthly Round Up | July 2016

A slightly belated round up for July today, as I’ve had such a busy month I haven’t had the time to sit down and write this post! Hope you have all had a lovely July – the weather has finally perked up a little (sporadically!), and it’s felt much more like Summer at last! Here’s an overview of what I have been up to recently:

BUSINESS

I was back at the gorgeous Aynhoe Park at the beginning of the month for R & S’ super fun tipi wedding. Aynhoe is truly the best place to party and this wedding didn’t disappoint, with delicious cocktails, two evening bands, and a glitter station for guests to be made up with amazing glitter designs! It really was a spectacular wedding, and it was lovely to work alongside so many great suppliers again. Here’s a sneak peek at the glitter station, but I’ll blog about this wedding separately another time!

Glitter Station by Wish Upon a Sparkle | Image by McKinley Rodgers Photography

Image by McKinley-Rodgers Photography

Later that week I attended the launch of the new Bridal Suite at Oxfordshire venue Caswell House. They have beautifully restored an old storage barn into a stunning Bridal Suite, and also created a special Bridal Preparations barn to get ready with your girls on the morning of your wedding! It’s often something that’s forgotten about by venues, so I’m delighted that Caswell House have taken extra care to ensure the spaces have everything you could possibly need!

I have been visiting a few other new Oxfordshire/Cotswolds venues over the last few weeks too. We are so spoilt to be surrounded by beautiful countryside, and one venue in particular really stood out for me. Primrose Hill Farm is owned by John Jeffries, a property developer from London, and it’s clear he has really poured his heart and soul into this project. Taking on a run down farmhouse and outbuildings and turning it into a wedding venue must have come with its challenges, but it’s absolutely been worth the hard work, and I’m really looking forward to working with them over the coming years!

Amongst final planning preparations and meetings for upcoming weddings, and driving back and forth from London for client meetings with Caterers, Bar Managers, Florists, and stopping off at my absolute fave; Ham Yard Hotel for a catch up with the lovely Lucy Davenport, I have been meeting with a couple of new clients for weddings later this year, as well as next Summer. Sometimes I really do have to stop and count my blessings for how far I have come over the past four years. I’ve worked so hard to build my business and reputation within the wedding industry; 2016 has been my busiest year yet, and it doesn’t look to be slowing down any time soon! I’ve been lucky enough to have my glamorous Assistant Esmee by my side for this summer season, and I honestly couldn’t have done it without her!

This weekend was the wedding of R&A in South Oxfordshire. I’ve been working with them for little over a year, and it really was a truly lovely, fun, natural day. Things by Laura knocked it out of the park with her beautiful paper crafts, The Chipping Norton Catering Company were a dream to work with, as always, and Hannah McClune Photography is just a gem! Here’s a sneak peek of the beautiful couple from Hannah, and a few iPhone shots, but I’m sure I won’t be able to resist sharing a selection of images from Hannah when they’re ready later in the year!

Image by Hannah McClune Photography

FAMILY

July will always be a month of celebrations in our house, as it’s my birthday month and also our wedding anniversary! This year I turned the big 3-0, so we held a garden party at home with all of my family and closest friends. I literally had just the best day, the weather was absolutely amazing, and it was so lovely to catch up with all of my favourite people in one place. Our pizza oven is finally finished, so we had a pizza station set up for everyone to make up their own toppings to their hearts content, delicious cocktails, two mouth watering birthday cakes, baked by Little Cow Creative Cakes, and the best background music performed by Chip, who also played for our wedding reception two years ago. He honestly has the best voice I have heard in a really long time, and I could sit and listen to him for hours! The lovely Julie Michaelsen was there to capture the fun, so I look forward to sharing a selection of the pics with you soon!

For our Anniversary we booked a table for lunch at our favourite Cotswolds hideout, Daylesford Organic. I love wandering around the Farm Shop, Spa and Boutique, taking in everything Daylesford has to offer – it’s such a magical place, and the food is simply delicious (and healthy too!), plus the car park rivals The Emirates Stadium on training days…..!

One of my favourite images from our wedding at Aynhoe Park

Somewhere in-between all of this, I managed to escape for a couple of days with the husband to Ibiza. Working in the drinks industry requires him to travel a lot, particularly over the Summer when everywhere is in full swing, so I joined him on a trip to see their new yacht (although I mostly had my laptop with me – the benefits and perils of having your own business!)

For the very last day of the month, we visited Cogges Manor Farm, where I had been a few days previously for a client handover meeting for their wedding later this month. Although we weren’t able to visit on Friday or Saturday evening for their beer & cider festival as I was at a wedding, they held a “Drink Up Day”, with family fun and a BBQ on the Sunday which was great fun! Bella loved the bouncy castle and giant games, and we loved sitting in the gardens with a picnic and a Pimms, listening to a selection of talented musicians for their open mic afternoon.

HOME

Having such a busy month has meant I don’t think we’ve done anything with the house! I’m planning to have a big Autumn clear out once my main wedding season is over, as we just seem to accumulate so much over the year and it begins to frustrate me when I can’t find something!

Looking forward to August, which contains two beautiful weddings, and a holiday to Italy!

Lots of love,

Jeni x