If You Go Down To The Woods Today

If you go down to the woods today, you’ll be sure of a big surprise…

Denise and Pete from @bandrdining finally got hitched…it’s been many years in the making, but…wow, was it worth the wait!!!

We first met back in 2018, I reckon at a wedding fair in Suffolk. We were set up next to each other and just got chatting, as you do with fellow suppliers. Denise said to me then, if we ever get around to getting married, you’re doing the ceremony!

For sure I agreed and then totally forgot about it until an out of the blue Instagram message from her in April 2022, ‘Do you remember us?’

Working in the wedding industry themselves, they had finally decided to set some time aside to allow them to tie their own knot in August 2024, and so the 2 years of planning commenced…

When you work in the industry yourself you get to meet and occasionally work with (on the day) some fabulous people, and it’s as a result of this Denise and Pete cultivated the most talented team of people to surround them on their special day.

(see full list at the end of this blog) and I got to meet some new suppliers who it was an absolute dream and a pleasure to work with and I would recommend in a heartbeat.

So, let’s get to their day…

In the planning stages, we all decided that we had to play to their strengths without making it all about food…just a little bit! And their love of cake was discussed, so I thought, as I do with my random thought processes why don’t we set a table during the ceremony so they can eat cake and drink prosecco?

They, well Denise, loved the idea…and Pete had to see it all written down before he too fell in love with it.

Now to put the idea into action and work out how setting a table would actually fit into a ceremony!

But before we get to the cake eating, let’s talk about the absolutely stunning décor for their woodland ceremony. Val and Pete from Samphire Vintage Props and Suzi from Doesn’t Cost the Earth, pulled out all the stops to make it look magical. My heart always skips a beat when I see just what can be achieved with a little bit of know -how and imagination.

And as the guests arrived they were treated to some bodacious tunes from Three Mile Hill. We have crossed paths at many a wedding fair, and I’ve always loved listening to the boys when we have shared spaces at fairs, so it was a total delight to actually work with them at a wedding, and I wasn’t disappointed. If you ever need a band, check them out, utter professionals, and a total celebration for the ears too.

During the ceremony we weaved Pete’s practical no nonsense approach to life into their love story as we giggled at their engagement tale before Alan, one of his friends from his Army Catering Corp days delivered the Corp prayer for them. His ACC days were very important to Pete so it was nice to be able to incorporate that for him as a nod to where it all began

What manner of men are these

These skilled chefs of the Queen

They keep the army stocked and fed

And the meals they cook just have to be seen

To join their ranks you have to prove

You can pass the course without a tear

To know that you can be trusted

To fight by their sides and show no fear

These men are hard but still can show

Compassion to a beaten foe

They fight hard and fight to win

Surrender is a word they don’t know

The catering soldier is hard to beat

They are warriors of a special breed

“We sustain” is their motto

The motto that says all it need

If you have one for a friend

Then a friend indeed he will be too

Treat him right and you will find

That he will sacrifice himself for you

These men have a code of honour

That you might not understand

But once you get to know them

You will wish you were part of that band.

After they exchanged vows and rings (delivered superbly by best man Riley, one of Pete’s grandsons) and formalised their contract as Managing Director and Company Secretary, a little in joke, they signed their certificate with potluck witnesses. It was then time to set the table.

Setting the Table

We had rehearsed this the day before at the practice, as none of us knew in reality how it would go, but we needn’t have worried because Jacob their senior wedding co-ordinator and Connor, their co-ordinator brought this part of the ceremony to life. Something no one has ever seen before, but so fitting for a couple whose love language is acts of service.

To be able to sit there and have a table set for them as I made the analogy that marriage it just like setting a table was great fun for us all.

First came the tablecloth, followed by a vase of flowers, coincidently Denise’s wedding flowers from her legal ceremony. Plates and cake forks followed ( one left-handed and one right-handed (it’s the attention to detail for us south paw folk that makes all the difference!)

Then came the champagne flutes, napkins and finally the cupcakes, courtesy of the Iced Vegan Wedding Cake, before Prosecco was served with a flourish and Pete and Denise literally got to have their cake and enjoy it as Paige, granddaughter and bridesmaid ready Captain Corelli’s Mandolin beautifully for them before the closing address and a walk back down the aisle.

A nicely set table with cake and champagne on a gingham table cloth

A fabulous ceremony, enjoyed on so many levels by all who were present.

Back to the tipi for drinks, ice creams and canapes, as well as entertainment from Dean the magician, as guests milled about in the afternoon sun, enjoying catching up, playing garden games and just chilling.

Speeches before a tasty wedding breakfast followed by Wellington Wood’s traditional vodka shots for the happy couple.

Denise and Pete ensured their guests (and on the day suppliers) were well fed, (they’re caterers, their day was always going to be food led!) well entertained and wanting for nothing on their special day. Every time you looked around there was something to do, or see, and I think they can safely say it really was the best day for all who came.

When you get the dream team of suppliers assembled, it is like having superheroes on your side.

Every single one of us, did what we do best, made a wedding day dream come true…and the fact, certainly for me, and I hope I speak for all the others too, the fact that Denise and Pete work in the industry, made it that little bit more special because we knew they had a whole host of folk they COULD have chosen, but we were the ones who got to deliver.

Thanks Denise and Pete for such an amazing day. Enjoy the rest of married life…and I’m here for the vow renewal…just let me know, where and when.