Marquee Wedding Derbyshire: Estelle & Joe – Behind The Scenes On Their Planning

Planning Services: Partial Planning
Planning Services Commenced: January 2019
Wedding Date: September 2021
Location: Derbyshire, UK
Couple: Estelle & Joe

From first meeting Joe & Estelle, I knew they were made for each other and would have the most incredible celebration. Their warmth and love for each other was so obvious and the love and support they had around them from their friends and family too, was so clear to see.

When Estelle & Joe first approached me, they had booked some of their key suppliers and needed support in (what we thought would be!) the final few months of their planning. They had their venue, marquee, florist and catering team booked however, knew they needed both reassurance on their booked elements and support sourcing and designing the remaining elements. This was perfect for my partial planning service and we set to work on this.

As I’d not worked at this particular site before, a task high on my priority list was to arrange a venue visit and to understand not only the available spaces but to also understand any restrictions which would need to be considered. I then began working with Estelle & Joe on their overall design, souring additional elements to produce the overall look of the marquee. As part of my partial planning service, I also needed to understand their gaps; for Joe and Estelle this was loos, bar and service staff and evening food as priorities.

And then, as we all know all too well, March 2020 hits and as the pandemic progressed we unfortunately had to postpone the wedding (initially planned for September 2020). My role then for Joe & Estelle became about finding solutions and managing any changes that were happening as a result of this. In addition, as a result of the pandemic, the originally booked marquee company went into liquidation. Fortunately, because of my network of fellow planners within the industry, I was made aware of this prior to the general public. This allowed me to move quickly and efficiently, to get Joe & Estelle the best alternative marquee solution. Within wedding planning, things do crop up that can present challenges. My role is to guide and support you though this, giving you the decision making power, but presenting you with solutions rather than problems.

My work with Joe & Estelle, didn’t stop there and we kept in regular contact via messages and planning meetings. We had our final meeting in August 2021 to confirm final timings, numbers and any additional details. From this point, I finalised my production schedule and distributed to on site suppliers. During their weekend, I was on site Thursday-Saturday. Thursday, saw the build of the marquee, with Friday being set up day and Saturday wedding day.

Being on site for those crucial days prior to the wedding, ensured Joe & Estelle could enjoy the company of their friends and family as they had access to the accommodation to those prior days too. This created a lovely relaxed feel to the weekend, as I dealt with suppliers, details and the logistics of creating their wedding day. On the day itself, my role was to coordinate all of those important details that really made the magic happen! And what an incredible day and weekend it was too!

Here’s what they had to say about their experience planning with me.

I’m not quite sure how I’m ever going to thank you for giving us such a wonderful day……but I’m going to try. As I said in the card we gave you, you are such a credit to your wonderful profession, and the industry is so very lucky to have your knowledge and skills available to anyone!!! Every person I know who’s getting married I will definitely be pointing them in your direction!!

Going back to 2019 when we were first thinking about choosing a wedding planner… I must admit I wasn’t so sure I needed one. I had no idea how to pull off the type of wedding we wanted, and as soon as we met you I just knew you understood us both and saw our vision perfectly. It was the best decision we ever made and I’m so glad I found you and that you walked into our lives! If you asked me now about wedding planners I would say it’s the first thing before setting a date that you need to think about and that it was indispensable to planning our wedding – we would not have been able to do what you’ve done for us!

Your organisation is outstanding…..I know you’ve got to be organised but you are on another level and our family would often comment on how you have everything so together! Joe’s mum would often come up to him and pester for information and each time we would say ‘go and ask Jess’ – worked every time! He was especially pleased with this! The three days before the wedding I was half-dreading, half-excited… but we both came away saying how chilled and lovely those days were too. Having time to chat with friends/join them in the hot tubs and just be relaxed was something we weren’t anticipating the day before, and so every minute of that we just loved. Thank you for giving us that time!

I also wanted to tell you how much we both felt like you were a friend throughout the process, and how much we appreciated that you always knew who we were individually and together!

Not many people have such great skills at reading people….but you just got us! My vision through Pinterest and over the postponement was always at your heart too – and the day looked like I had walked into a fairy tale of my wedding Pinterest goals! The pictures that we are now seeing through everyone’s photos are just beautiful and I can’t believe we created such a beautiful wedding!!! (I know I’m biased).

I also just want to acknowledge your hard work. Coming from a nurse I thought I did long hours – however you do immensely long hard hours and always no matter what you were faced with you kept a lovely smile and beautiful chatty soul. Our friends and family consistently spoke of how lovely and hardworking you are and it was an honour to have you as our wedding planner.

I’ve said it a few times now, but I’m seriously going to miss planning and catching up with you. I can’t wait to see what you have to follow in the future of The Wedding Help. Whatever you do Joe and I will always be fans! All our love – thank you again!

If you’d like to learn more about my partial planning services, or any of my other wedding planning services – drop me a message here and we can chat more! Jess X

Full Supplier Credits

Planning – Jessica Sharpe Weddings and Events
Photography – Ania Oska Photography
Marquee – Elite Tents
Florals – Tineke
Caterer – Zest
Crockery – Whitehouse Crockery
Linen – 88 Events
Bar – Drinks Now
Venue – Shiningford Cottages
Band – The Majestix
Evening Food – Cheeky Pancakes