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Fergus and Sarah leaving the Church after their intimate ceremony walking to their stretch tent reception in Sarah's mother's garden.
Chloe Ely

WPC Real Wedding: Sarah & Fergus' Winter Marquee Micro Wedding

Join us today as we relive the beautiful micro wedding of wonderful Real WPC couple Sarah and Fergus. Determined to make the very best of their day, despite Covid restrictions, Sarah and Fergus had a stunning December wedding that was full of the most beautiful detail (unsurprising, seeing as bride Sarah is an event planner!). A traditional church wedding was followed by an intimate wedding breakfast in a stunning stretch tent in the garden, full of beautiful winter florals and bespoke wedding stationery and the day was streamed on Zoom to guests that couldn't make it (including Sarah's father who delivered his Father of the Bride’s speech from America!). Join lovely Bride Sarah as she shares her favourite wedding presents with us and highlights her wonderful wedding suppliers that helped keep their wedding dream alive during the unknowns of 2020.

Sarah and Fergus celebrate as they are officially pronounced husband and wife.
Chloe Ely
Fergus and Sarah laugh during the speeches in their stretch tent wedding reception.
Chloe Ely
Sarah and Fergus after their wedding reception. The bride wears a short sleeve wedding dress by Laure de Sagazan and Fergus wears a morning suit with his family tartan trousers.
Chloe Ely

What has been highlight of your experience with The Wedding Present Company so far?

Visiting the showroom for our initial appointment (back in the days when that was possible!) was so helpful. It was great to see presents in real life and then add them to our wedding list using the online showroom. By the time we got home, we were already set up and ready to go. It was a very fun experience.

A corner of the Kitchen in The Wedding Present Company Showroom.
Nick Smith

What were your favourite brands available within The Wedding Present Company?

Some of our favourite brands that we added to our wedding list were Pooky, Penny Morrison, Rosanna Lonsdale & Luna Home. We loved there was such a good range of brands available and that some were exclusive to The Wedding Present Company. 

A tablescape featuring Penny Morrison's pink Summer starter plate paired with a Costa Nova Pearl Dinner plate and a Sarah K block print tablecloth.
Nicole Hains

Why did you choose The Wedding Present Company for your wedding list?

A number of our friends had used The Wedding Present Company in the past and we’d only heard good things. We did a bit of research and they offered everything we wanted and more. We went for a flexible list which was great, as it meant we could add presents from other brands and designers if we wanted. That said, the selection with The Wedding Present Company was brilliant and we hardly added anything extra.

Sarah and Fergus outside the Church after their intimate Church wedding in December.
Chloe Ely

Have you had your presents delivered?

Not yet. We were meant to be going on honeymoon in February, so we were taking our time but we have sadly had to postpone it until October, so we’ve just closed our list and we are already so excited to receive them!

Sarah and Fergus on the evening of their small winter wedding outside their stretch tent - guests hold sparklers for their exit.
Chloe Ely

Sarah and Fergus' Favourite Wedding Presents

Mirror, Round Ship's, 52cm
Luna Home
£138.00
Smaller bedside lamp - base only, Lottie, Cobalt Blue Stripes
Pooky
£113.00
Table Lambase, Gingembre, Blue/White, 44cm
Pooky
£130.00
Cook Book Stand, Cast Iron, Green
Victor
£68.00
Kitchen scale & pear shaped brass pan, Green
Victor
£114.00
Gas Powered Pizza Oven, Koda 12, Black
Ooni
£349.00
Lamp Base, Quite The Catch, Blue, 36 x 15cm
Rosanna Lonsdale
£445.00
Candlestick, H30cm, Thebes, Green
Issy Granger
£42.00

Engagement Story

Sarah and Fergus outside the Church after their intimate covid-secure wedding ceremony.
Chloe Ely

Fergus proposed when we were in Budapest in January 2020. Totally clueless, I unintentionally ruined a couple of his planned proposal opportunities during our second day of the holiday, but he totally kept his cool and surprised me that evening. After I managed to get over initial shock, we called our immediate families and then went out in the evening to celebrate.

Wedding Date: 12.12.20

Sarah and Fergus signing the register.
Chloe Ely

Describe your wedding

Details on the table at Sarah and Fergus' micro December wedding.
Chloe Ely

An intimate day with our nearest and dearest. We split the day into two celebrations. Our immediate family came to the Church and for lunch, and then our ushers and bridesmaids joined for an evening celebration.

Sarah and Fergus shared an intimate dinner with their friends on the evening of their wedding.
Chloe Ely

How you did you find your key suppliers, and why did you choose them?

Sarah and Fergus walking to their wedding reception in Sarah's mother's garden.
Chloe Ely

Having planned events including weddings for the last 10 years, I had an idea in my head of my dream team, I just wasn’t sure how attainable that was going to be or what our wedding was even going to look like, given the situation. Our plans changed in every single way possible and more times than we could count. From location, to size, to design, even suppliers. Everything that could have changed, did. We were very lucky that we weren’t pushed to confirm anything until 10 days before the wedding, when the 2nd lockdown was lifted and we were sure that we were able to go ahead. Although it was definitely not the easiest event I’ve planned, we are hugely grateful to everyone we worked with, for enabling us to have the most magical day.

Sarah and Fergus at the alter next to two Christmas trees.
Chloe Ely
Sarah and Fergus getting married in a Church.
Chloe Ely

Location

Sarah and Fergus's stretch tent reception decorated in an elegant winter theme.
Chloe Ely

In a stretch tent from the company 10x15 in the garden at my mum’s house in Harrow on the Hill. Duncan, Tom and all the team at 10x15 are incredible. I think of all the people I have ever worked with, they are my longest standing supplier relationship and there’s definitely a reason for that. They managed to fit the perfect sized stretch tent into my mum’s garden and attached the marquee to the walls of the house, so it felt like an extension of her home.

Fergus doing his speech.
Chloe Ely

Decor & Flowers

The Wedding Stationery was hand illustrated with highland cows and scottish flowers.
Chloe Ely
A cracker was laid one each place setting with each person's name in calligraphy.
Chloe Ely

One of the most talented designers I know - Maria Mekhael, did our stationery design. She took my initial brief and made it ten times better than we could have asked for. Jimmy at Redsky Studios printed our wedding stationery.

Details on the wedding breakfast table include a deep red linen tablecloth, crackers, winter florals and lots of candlesticks.
Chloe Ely
Details of the winter florals on the tables.
Chloe Ely

Our wonderful flowers were created by Scarlet and Violet. Vic, Roma and the Scarlet and Violet team are just so amazing to work with - they always make me feel so at ease. I think we decided on the final floral elements at 5.30pm, two days before the wedding and even if Roma was tearing her hair out, I was none the wiser – she was so calm and helpful throughout and got the design spot on, in fact, better than I could have dreamed of.

The bride's bouquet was made up of seasonal white flowers including anemones.
Chloe Ely

Bridal Fashion

Sarah's wedding dress from Laure de Sagazan with short sleeves and lace detailing.
Chloe Ely

My wedding dress was from Laure de Sagazan from The Mews Bridal. My red heels were old from Mango

Sarah and Fergus leaving the Church.
Chloe Ely
Sarah wore a veil and a custom white head band.
Chloe Ely

My Veil was from Unveiled by Sophie

I wore a Hairband from Claire Bands, which was made by my amazing friend and old colleague Claire. Claire also helped out on the day, ensuring the smooth running of everything. She really is one in a million.

Sarah arriving at the Church in a car.
Chloe Ely

Hair & Make Up

Sarah wore natural make up and had her hair loosely curled.
Chloe Ely

My hair and make up was done by the wonderful Rose Gosling

Sarah and Fergus laughing during the speeches.
Chloe Ely

Groom's Fashion

Fergus wore trousers in his family tartan.
Chloe Ely

Trousers: Fergus’ family Tartan

Waistcoat: Sir Plus

Shoes: Shipton & Heneage. These were actually a birthday present from myself to Fergus, that hadn’t yet made their debut, so I was very touched when he decided to take them down the aisle for their first outing

Sarah and Fergus by a large Christmas tree outdoors after their church wedding.
Chloe Ely
Furgus wore a blue shirt and tie, a yellow waistcoat and a morning suit.
Chloe Ely

Caterer

Canapés served at Sarah and Fergus' intimate wedding.
Chloe Ely
Smoked salmon Canapés served at Sarah and Fergus' intimate wedding.
Chloe Ely

My great friend Luciana Berry is a Brazilian chef who trained at Le Cordon Bleu, so it was an amazing Brazilian, French fusion. As with most things, our catering plans dramatically changed and when our location changed, we reached out to Luciana. Having recently won Top Chef Brazil, we weren’t sure she’d be available but were SO happy when she was – her food, attitude and service were faultless

Canapés served in individual spoons.
Chloe Ely

Lunch menu:

Canapés

Tuna tartare served on a tapioca cracker

Rib Croquettes with yuzu mayo

Black bean velouté with smoked sausage & crackling

Crab, coconut and cassava bites

***

Main

Wild Bass, mussel velouté, cassava mousseline & spinach

***

Pudding

Mini chocolate cheesecake Christmas Puddings, also made by Pleesecakes, to mirror the Wedding Cake

***

Cheese platter, coffee & Coronavirus Shortbread Kilted Men from Asher’s Bakery

Shortbread decorated with kilts and masks.
Chloe Ely

Supper menu:

Canapés

“Pão de queijo” Cheese and cassava dough with comtè sauce & truffle oil

Black bean velouté with smoked sausage & crackling

Prawn tempura & wasabi mayo

Fried tapioca & cheese “dadinho” with guava & chilli compote

Rib croquette & yuzu mayo.

***

Main

Picanha, chimichurri, potato rosti & braised cabbage

***

Pudding & Espresso Martinis

Highland Coo cupcakes

***

Cheese platter

Sarah and Fergus' Christmas Pudding Cake surrounded by individual cupcakes.
Chloe Ely

Our wedding cake ‘Christmas Pudding’, was a chocolate orange cheesecake made by Pleesecakes. We then had 'Highland Coo' cupcakes which were whiskey and ginger cupcakes made by Cuckoo’s Bakery

Individual cupcakes iced to look like a highland cow.
Chloe Ely

Wine & Cocktails

Champagne and cocktails were served.
Chloe Ely
Wine served at Sarah and Fergus' reception.
Chloe Ely

One of our great friends helped us pick out some delicious wines – one of the best parts of the planning process!

We also had a wonderful barman called Jakub, who kept the cocktails flowing all night

A wide selection of cocktails were served at the reception including espresso martinis.
Chloe Ely
Champagne on ice and details of the table.
Chloe Ely

Photographer

Sarah and Fergus outside the Church.
Chloe Ely

Our wedding phtographer Chloe Ely was actually the only person I hadn’t worked with before. Chloe was recommended by a friend, when we were originally getting married in the Cotswolds, but we couldn’t be happier with our decision. She was absolutely AMAZING and we can’t stop looking through her photos.

Sarah and Fergus Exit to their guests all holding sparkers.
Chloe Ely

Are you planning on having another wedding celebration in the future?

Fergus celebration with his guests.
Chloe Ely

First and foremost, we want to fly to America to celebrate with my dad and step-mum who were very sadly unable to be there in person with us on the day.

We will definitely have a celebration with the rest of our friends at some point in the future, but after the millions of changes and numerous plans last year, we’re taking a bit of time to take it all in and so haven’t set a date just yet.

Did you live stream any of your wedding for guests that weren't able to attend?

Sarah and Fergus laughing during the speeches.
Chloe Ely

Yes, via Zoom and we were so glad we did - we were SO flattered by the number of people that tuned in to watch it and received loads of photos of everyone from all over the world dressed up to watch it. We were seriously impressed with the amount of effort everyone made.

Stand Out Moments

Sarah walking down the aisle with her two brothers.
Chloe Ely

Meeting my brothers outside the church before they walked me down the aisle. I was worried I wasn’t going to be able to hold it together walking down the aisle without my dad there, but they gave me a shot of whisky at the door and we laughed the whole way down the aisle. A moment I will never forget.

Sarah's father doing the father of the bride speech via zoom.
Chloe Ely

My dad’s speech which was done via Zoom. We were sat on one long table and we popped a TV screen on the bar, so we could all see my dad and step-mum and they could see all of us too. It was about 6am in America when my dad did his speech, so his glass of champagne which he raised a toast with, really was a breakfast of champions.

Guests enjoying dinner.
Chloe Ely

The general nature of the wedding and how intimate it was. Given all the restrictions, it was obviously nothing like any wedding we’d been to. When we were calling our friends to let them know the latest plan, we jokingly described it as a dinner party rather than a wedding, but that’s really what it felt like. We were able to speak to absolutely everyone there and more than for just a couple of minutes. It was pretty special, but we’re obviously biased.

Sarah and Fergus' intimate stretch tent wedding reception.
Chloe Ely

Advice to Future Couples

The bride and groom both wearing hats from their christmas crackers.
Chloe Ely

Do what makes you happy. If the big party with all of your friends is what’s important, then wait it out and it will be worth every minute. But if you’re as stubborn as we were and determined to get married no matter what, then do it. We promise you won’t regret it. We loved every minute of it and although we couldn’t have everyone there that we wanted to, we were able to spend quality time with everyone who was there and the hangover was definitely just as big the next day.

Details of the tables in the stretch tent.
Chloe Ely

Don’t be afraid of having to scale back and downsize. It is still the most magical day and everyone understands. The amount of support we received from everyone throughout the ever-changing plans, carried us through it. These aren’t normal times and your friends and family just want the best for you.

Suppliers

Wedding List: The Wedding Present Company

Stretch Tent: 10x15

Flowers: Scarlet and Violet

Hair and Make Up: Rose Gosling

Bridal Fashion: Laure de Sagazan from The Mews BridalUnveiled by SophieClaire Bands & Mango

Groom's Fashion: Sir Plus & Shipton & Heneage

Caterer: Luciana Berry

Wedding Cake: Pleesecakes and Cuckoo’s Bakery

Photographer: Chloe Ely

Wedding Stationery: Maria Mekhael & Redsky Studios