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Nonsuch Mansion Wedding Fairs

Posted by Nonsuch Mansion

If you’ve ever wondered what it is like to attend one of our wedding fairs, here is a report from Emma Woodhouse, AKA The Wedding Reporter. Just as a photographer captures the day in celluoid, Emma captures the day in prose giving you a unique literary legacy of your day.

Here is Emma’s report on what it is like to be at a Nonsuch Mansion wedding fair with beautiful illustrations by events illustrator Sarah Godsil…

Welcome the coming, speed the passing guest, friendship for many, love for some, greeting for all, welcome ever smiles and farewell goes out sighing…

It wasn’t quite the spring day everyone had envisaged as exhibitors hurried inside the porch with their wares under these poetic words, but even the lashing rain couldn’t deter engaged couples and their entourages from visiting Nonsuch Mansion’s wedding fair.

As soon as the clock chimed 11 on the fourth day of March, the first wave of betrothed individuals arrived for registration, shaking droplets from umbrellas as the friendly events team welcomed them with warm smiles. A world of wedding inspiration awaited visitors within the historic walls of the Grade II* listed mansion.

Clutching their goodie bags, couples surveyed their options as they stood in the middle of the south porch entry hall. Music floated throughout the series of rooms and the sound of excited chatter from suppliers bubbled up on to the notes of love songs.

Nonsuch Mansion & Cars

From the porches through to the snug, the Orchid Room and Rose Room as well as the library, every nook and cranny of the venue had been utilised to showcase the vast array of recommended vendors that Nonsuch Mansion include within their ‘Little White Book.’ Outside on the lawn terrace, a parade of bridal vehicles from classic cars to limos stood sentry in front of the long Georgian sash windows of the house.

From cake sculptors to DJs, florists to photographers, dress designers to live event illustrators 1 the team had scoured the region and further a field to bring together a diverse and exciting range of wedding suppliers. With wonderfully imagined styled stands, each of the exhibitors provided their own snippet of inspiration, not only about the services they could add to each couple’s wedding, but also to invigorate their imaginations into seeing alternative ways to utilise the space within Nonsuch.

Whilst the exhibitors chatted merrily within the opulent surroundings, the elegance of the golden chandeliers, feature fireplaces, long panel mirrors and intricate plasterwork throughout the venue dazzled of its own accord. The combination of beautifully restored period features amidst stylish contemporary decoration offered a light, sumptuous space in which to imagine saying one’s vows.

Venturing up the winding oak staircase, further treasures waited to be discovered as designer  had set up shop in the gorgeously feminine bridal suite. A host of mannequins sported her magnificent creations, providing elegant fur trimmed satin gowns next to sumptuous silver silk dresses 2 for brides-to-be to coo over.

angelinafrocks

Prams and pensioners were equally as prevalent as bridesmaids in the entourage of betrothed couples, indicating that weddings at Nonsuch are very much a family affair. Excited brides who had already booked the venue gave guided tours to their friends and family, indicating the large oak Gothic doorway through which they’d be making their grand entrance.

The photographic display of previous weddings at the venue in the North Porch 3 garnered great interest as couples sought an image of how their own big day might look when decked out for a wedding breakfast or ceremony.

Mark Colombus

From the big items like photographers and florists to the tinier details of jewellery and millinery, 4 the entire planning process had an expert in every field to help guide prospective brides and grooms in their decision-making. Couples sought out members of the Nonsuch events team in order to enquire about booking their own wedding in the hallowed halls of such an exquisite venue.

daisydaisy

Stilt-walking musicians 5 ducked beneath the arches of doorways to serenade visitors from their lofty elevation, frightening pensioners and mesmerising children in equal measures. Clad in top hats and trailing tailcoats with an accordion and ukulele, their quirky form of crooning enlightened couples of the various ways of keeping their wedding guests entertained.

More orthodox forms of musical accompaniment prevailed throughout the other rooms of the house. An electric string quartet 6 reimagined modern songs in a classical nature in the Orchid Room; an acoustic duo 7 drew crowds in the Rose Room and a suavely suited guitar-playing male singer 8 charmed guests on their arrival in the South Porch.

bluetopaz

The sweet scent of freshly selected flowers pervaded the ground floor with a different florist in each of the largest rooms. Being both aesthetically pleasing and tantalisingly sumptuous with their smell, their displays invigorated the senses to such a degree that sensitive noses just had to stop in their tracks to absorb the gorgeous floral displays. 9

flowerscakebykrishanthi

A small audience gathered in the corner of the Rose Room to watch the sample films of a videographer 11 mesmerised by the plot of a story that would soon become their own. Couples with buggies became engrossed in conversation as they debated the idea of providing a crèche for their younger wedding guests. Light streamed in through stained glass windows whilst intrigued grooms took advice from a male wedding blog 12.

The key to making the most of a wedding fair is to try and make it as interactive as possible. At Nonsuch, guests sampled cakes, 13 made song requests to musicians, flicked through wedding report books and gleefully jumped in and out of the photo booth14 with squeals of laughter. There could be no doubt that this was a collection of suppliers only too willing to let potential clients road test their services whilst harbouring their feedback in order to offer the best possible help.

restoration cakes

Whether specifically looking for a certain supplier to finish off their wedding plans or simply browsing for ideas, it would be hard to say that any visitor to the Nonsuch wedding fair departed feeling anything but inspired. As the final couple left hand-in-hand, exhibitors began breaking down their stands and loading up a convoy of cars in the chilling rain, knowing that today had been a good day for providing style for the Nonsuch aisle.

The Wedding Reporter
www.theweddingreporter.co.uk

weddingreporter

Wedding Fair suppliers mentioned…

  1. Sarah Godsill www.eventsillustration.co.uk
  2. Angelina Colarusso www.angelinacolarusso.com
  3. Kjirsten Madsen www.kjrstenmadsen.com
    Lloyd Dobbie www.lloyddobbie.com
    Mark Colombus www.markcolombus.com
    Simon J Coulson www.simonjcoulson.com
  4. Daisy Daisy Millinery www.daisydaisymillinery.co.uk
  5. Top Bananas www.tkachenko.co.uk/topbananas/TheTopBananas.htm
  6. Blue Topaz www.bluetopazmusic.com
  7. MIB Music www.mibmusicltd.com
  8. James Taylor jamestaylormusic@hotmail.co.uk
  9. Conservatory Florist www.theconservatoryflorist.co.uk
    Florian Flowers www.florianflowers.co.uk
    Lucy Holdsworth www.lucyholdsworthflowers.co.uk
  10. John Harris www.ivpweddings.com
  11. I Am Staggered www.iamstaggered.com
  12. Cakeology www.cakeology.net
    Cakes by Krishanthi www.cakesbykrishanthi.co.uk
    Restoration Cake www.restorationcake.co.uk
  13. Say Fromage www.sayfromage.co.uk

Other suppliers:

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