Sophie & Alex’s Sailcloth Tent Wedding

Summary

It is such a privilege to provide our tents for some of the most amazing weddings imaginable, including a medium Sailcloth tent for Sophie & Alex’s fabulous wedding at Helmingham Hall, Suffolk.

Do take some time to read Sophie’s insights and tips leading up to her big day, and do please get in touch if you are planning a wedding for next year anywhere in the South and East of England.

Best Memory of The Day

“One of our favourite and funniest memories of the day was the children accidentally taking the ‘Elderflower Collins’ gin shots we placed on the tables for everybody to take just before the speeches. We hadn’t placed them on the children’s place settings, however at some point I think additional shots had been added without realising they were children. The parents of the children realised it was alcohol in the shots before it was too late! Our photographer caught our reactions to realising and it was just priceless! A memory we will always tell and remind those children.”

TELL US ABOUT YOUR ORIGINAL WEDDING DAY VISION

Our vision for our wedding day was a traditional, elegant, English countryside wedding. We envisioned a wedding day that was us through and through; fun, relaxed and easy going. We also wanted a wedding that and wouldn’t date in time and would be timeless.

YOUR TOP TIPS ON PLANNING YOUR WEDDING:

Do no worry about the weather! We had the hottest day of the year the day before and then had the biggest thunderstorm we’ve ever seen on the night of our wedding! It was so memorable to party under the storm. Helmingham Hall was lit up by lightning strikes all night and we could hear the claps of thunder over the music. We also had grey skies and a couple of showers throughout the day, but it just meant the lighting for our photos and video was perfect. So do not worry about the weather, the day is just as special regardless, no one is struggling in the heat and cloudy skies make for more gorgeous pictures anyway!

IF YOU HAD YOUR TIME AGAIN WHAT WOULD YOU DO DIFFERENTLY?

Get a wedding planner!! We planned this all ourselves, and it really was a wedding that could have done with a planner. However, by the time we had realised this, most planners and ‘on-the-day’ coordinators we loved were sadly booked due to the covid-backlog. In the end, everything did go so perfectly (besides the weather), however the two years of planning and organisation were stressful and tough at times. Organising a ‘dry event’ wedding, whereby you have to source toilets, electricity, drinking water, tables, chairs, decor etc, can feel like you’re spinning 100 plates at once. Events Under Canvas were super-stars in helping us out though, their professional nature and ‘anything is possible’ attitude was so appreciated!

SHOUT OUT TO YOUR FAVOURITE SUPPLIER!

This is so tough to answer, all of them! However, if we had to chose one it would be our photographer. Rosie was absolutely incredible on the day, especially given she was 7 months pregnant! The most easy-going chilled out professional, who made us laugh and feel so comfortable on the day. One of those people you meet and you feel like you’ve known forever. The pictures speak for themselves, truly beautiful.

WHAT MUSIC FEATURED IN YOUR BIG DAY?

Arrival of Birds – London Cinematic Orchestra (Processional)
L-O-V-E – Nat King Cole (Recessional)
Lovely Day – Bill Withers (Reception entrance)
Stand by Me – Florence and the Machine (First dance)
This will Be – Natalie King Cole (Song after first dance)

BEST MEMORY?

One of our favourite and funniest memories of the day was the children accidentally taking the ‘Elderflower Collins’ gin shots we placed on the tables for everybody to take just before the speeches. We hadn’t placed them on the children’s place settings, however at some point I think additional shots had been added without realising they were children. The parents of the children realised it was alcohol in the shots before it was too late! Our photographer caught our reactions to realising and it was just priceless! A memory we will always tell and remind those children.