REAL WEDDING: OLIVIA & ANTHONY

Welcome to our HOPP Real Wedding series, where we speak to brides & grooms about how they planned and prepared for their big day, featuring an array of our magnificent HOPP party professionals. For the first in this series, we spoke to Anthony and Olivia, who were married at their family home. Here’s how their special day went… 

1. How far in advance did you start planning your wedding? We got engaged in April and married in December so started planning right away
2. How/Why did you choose your location? It was a family home, so a very special place
3. What entertainment did you organise? 4-piece quartet during reception, 10-piece band after dinner followed by a DJ - all supplied by ALR Music. We also had an amazing photo booth done by Jon X 
4. How did you keep your guests entertained all day as this can often be the challenge with weddings? Our wedding wasn't a full day and therefore not too long. The church service was late afternoon and dark outside by the time we arrived for the reception. The quartet entertained during the reception and we didn't have sit-down dessert. We wanted to focus on people enjoying the dancefloor and the photo booth after speeches 
5. Did you give your guests party favours? No
6. Who made your cake? A godmother
7. What was your first dance song? Grease by Frankie Valli
8. Who gave the best speech and what tips do you have for the speechmakers out there? The best men were incredible as a duo. Main tip: Prepare and practice together well in advance, which is what they did
9. Did you offer vegan and vegetarian options for meals and canapes? Yes, vegetarian for meals. Starter: roast squash and beetroot salad. Main: imam bayeldi aubergine
10. How did you decide on your final menu? As it was a winter wedding, we wanted warm, delicious food but at the same time not stodgy and heavy
11. Who were your dress and veil designed by? Galvan
12. Did you have a theme for your bridesmaids? No
13. How many dresses did you try on before you found the one? 
14. This was the first dress tried on with many other dresses tried on afterwards
15. Did you have a Band or DJ? Band then DJ afterwards
16. What flowers did you go for and how did you choose? Tattie Rose Flowers. After meeting her and showing her pictures of the marquees, she put together a fantastic proposal and mood board for the church and marquees, which included Christmas trees and an amazing spectacle of flowers and leaves hanging from the marquees
17. What was your wedding vibe/theme? Black tie dress. Winter wedding all encapsulated 
18. Who did your makeup? (Did you do any skincare or wellbeing prep ahead of the wedding?) Need to ask my wife!
19. What was your favourite moment(s)? The candlelit church service, entrance to the dining marquee, music on the dancefloor, and of course the speeches