Roll up, roll up
Vicki Freeman married Hamish Coleman at Old Forest School, Te Puke on Saturday, February 1, 2014
Will you marry me? Hamish and I met at a ‘young professionals’ night in a Tauranga pub, and he proposed five years later while we were holidaying in Hawaii. We had just swum back to shore after a snorkelling session when he dropped to one knee and took the ring from a tightly zipped pocket! Much to his delight – and that of our 200 tourist spectators – I said yes. A special spot A restored 1930s school house set on three acres of tree-covered land, Old Forest School was the first venue we visited. We loved its flexibility: we could bring our own drinks, choose our own caterer and there were no neighbours to complain about noise. It was ideal for the fun-filled party we had in mind and we booked it immediately! Our wedding vibe With the help of styling and events company On My Hand, we chose a vintage circus wedding theme. We hired circus-themed artwork, candyfloss and popcorn machines and a host of performers including acrobats, stilt walkers and a swing band. Red and white decor with soft blue accents strengthened the theme, while bright clusters of blooms added to the festive feel. Surprise, surprise As big fans of dress-up parties and surprises we wanted our wedding to feel like one big surprise after another. Buses collected our guests from a central spot and took them to a ‘mystery location’. Organising liquor licenses for the buses meant people could get into the swing of things early! Aisle style I found my Cinderella-esque gown at Modes – featuring a sweetheart neckline and an above-floor hem it was both practical and pretty. The guys wore Crane Brothers shirts and powder blue-coloured trousers. Brown braces and red-and-white bow ties made for a theme-appropriate finish to their look. For our guests Midway through post-ceremony drinks our MC announced each guest had a gift to open. The parcels contained specially selected circus costumes – from lions to clowns – for each of our 88 guests to change into and keep. There were even facepainters on hand! The costumes were an immediate icebreaker and throughout the night people ‘costume-swapped’, meaning you could never be too sure who was under each mask! My advice for brides to be Aim for your wedding to be fun, not perfect. When else will you get the chance to spend this much time planning a party for this many of your favourite people?