Forget “Orange is the New Black” … Wednesday Weddings are about to start trending in 2020.

During our work-from-home staycation, we’re keeping in touch with our sister venues and suppliers and the whole wedding industry knows we’re in for a busy few months ahead.

As we batten down the hatches and weather the storm, we wonder if we could turn this tragedy into a new trend and plant mid-week weddings on the map. David Beahm, Harper Bazaar’s Event Designer, says “Perhaps Wednesday weddings are going to be the new thing for a while, and there’s nothing wrong with that”.

As many weekend dates are already booked in 2020 & choosing a weekend in 2021 could leave a venue or supplier’s business unable to sustain events next year, what if we took that off the table and got #wednesdayweddings #WW20 #wednesdaysforthewin #WW21 trending?

Why should I become a mid-week trend setter?

• Availability - practically speaking, most venues are booked up 1-2 years in advance and suppliers now have the huge task of re-arranging their whole calendar. Realistically, there will be much more availability mid-week now than at any weekend.

• Ease of travel - trains will be quieter, flights will be cheaper, traffic will be lighter and extra, local accommodation will be on offer. This actually makes it a lot easier for your guests to get to your wedding. Yes, they’ll need to take a day off but bosses will be aware of the situation and everyone needs an excuse to party after this.

• Social act of kindness - tourism, hospitality and leisure industries are on a knife-edge. To prevent them from falling into the abyss, postponing to a mid-week wedding could save their business and protect job security for their staff. Remember the words “In a world where we can be anything, be kind”?

What would my mid-week wedding look like?

This is the fun part and where our Pinterest addiction is put to good use!

• Themes - why not be creative and come dressed for an après-ski wedding? Or, in true Autumn style, adorn the barns in pumpkins and lanterns? Lots of bohemian and festival weddings are held in the autumn and the photos are breath-taking, as is the backdrop at Happy Valley this time of year.

• Treats - we love the idea of having a hot drinks bar. If that doesn’t do the trick, a whiskey bar will always be welcome and children will queue up for a s’more session, roasting marshmallows over the fire pit. At Happy Valley, to allow you and your gets to save money, we will permit guests to bring their own drink of choice to the venue so they can stock up on the bubbly en route. Don’t forget, with our luxurious hot tubs, you can keep warm whilst gazing at the stars which is the best treat your guests can have.

• Accessories - what woman doesn’t love to accessorise and this is where we can have some fun with umbrellas, wellies, blankets, hand warmers or ear muffs. Consider using this as an excuse to indulge yourself with a hand-painted, custom leather jacket for the bride, a hand-crocheted shawl or a beautiful, faux-fur statement piece.

• Making a statement - imagine faux-fur draping over haystacks, vintage rugs taking centre stage in the barn, fairy lights wrapped around the trees, lanterns in every nook and cranny and fire pits and log burners providing that cosy, warm feeling. You could even add a touch of magic with some hand-held sparklers.

Look through our vision board to inspire you (thank you to our talented photographers for permission to use your work) and use this time at home to let your imagination run wild. We’re up for the mid-week mayhem if you are!

With love,

Katy, Kirsty and the team at Happy Valley xx

hello@happyvalleynorfolk.co.uk

01485 600 719

Instagram - @HappyValleyNorfolk

Facebook - Happy Valley Norfolk

Darina Stoda Photography

Paper Antler Photography

@matildasodphotography

Shanon Rosan Photography

@liveviewstudios

@brandwold

The Road to Happy Valley x

Happy Valley Norfolk

Autumn at Happy Valley is breath taking.

Hand-painted, leather jacket for the bride @wolfandrosie

Misty Blues

Indulge in a walk in nature and beat those Winter blues. Even on a grey, wet autumn day you’ll tend to return with more then you’d hoped for.

Nature Meditation in the forest which felt like a little bit of Norfolk Narnia   

Find Happy Valley on Instagram - @happyvnorfolk

Toad Hall in the morning mist stands quietly  

Happy Valley on Twitter - @norfolkvenue

The infamous Black Shuck

Winter walks bring on a different kind of magic. Natures palette never fails to inspire. We are now going into our third winter here as Happy Valley & one thing I’ve learnt is to allow myself to slow down through the winter months just like the landscape that surrounds. This is a contrast to the rest of the year when it seems to never stop. Adapting to this change can be tricky but required for growth.

🎄Christmas Vouchers available 🎄

hello@happyvalleynorfolk.co.uk

Words that came to mind after this walk -

Reflection

contemplation

mindfulness  

gratitude

XXX

A Jane Bourvis Gown a Lovettes’ Rustic and Whimsical Woodland Wedding

Recently we welcomed back the gorgeous Carragher Family as they grabbed a weekend away with their beautiful baby girl.

This Wedding was one of my favourites. Since then we've added the Glamping cabins and Dutch Party Barn and Hot Tub to the Venue. 

 Posted by Annora Sutton For Love My Dress Blog

Our couple held their reception in a marquee at the wonderfully named Happy Valley…

“Finding Happy Valley was such a relief and a joy. It was brilliant discovering that our wild and natural venue actually existed – a beautiful house surrounded by trees, fields and a pond with a ‘secret’ island.”

Hannah, a doctor, married Chris, a project manager, on the 11th of July, 2015, at All Saints Church in Thornham, Norfolk, followed by a reception at Happy Valley. The couple’s big day was captured on camera by Red on Blonde, but let’s begin by taking a look at the couple’s captivating wedding film – and by the way, be prepared to wipe a tear or two away as the film was created by one of our absolute favourite film makers in the universe, the utterly wonderful Jon Aleksander of Happy Wedding Films.

“I had always dreamed of a wild and natural forest wedding (think Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves!). The venue initially proved elusive but once we found Happy Valley, the rest fell into place (with a lot of hard work, obviously). Our videographer was one of several Love My Dressfinds. We chose Jon of Happy Wedding Films after spotting a film of his on the blog. We received our trailer last month and we adore it – we are so very lucky to have such a special reminder of our day. I also love the music Jon chose – as soon as the first chords started I was in tears. He is such a very talented man.”

Hannah looked absolutely stunning in an ethereal gown crafted by the one and only Jane Bourvis. Our bride fell in love with Jane’sbespoke creations after spotting one of her gowns on Love My Dress…

“I came across Jane Bourvis after seeing this real wedding feature on Love My Dress. Jane and her lovely assistant, Edel, were so very patient and welcoming. Jane creates all of her dresses as one-offs, mostly from vintage lace. My dress was created using a 100 year old veil.”

“I loved the fact that it had a story, a ‘past’, but that it was now part of something more, something new and unique, just for me – It was such a special feeling and a total privilege. Maybe one day I can hand it down a generation to add to its story.”

Isn’t that naked cake below just the most spectacular? It was created and decorated by a friend.

“Chris and I met at a Scotland rugby game when I was at university in Edinburgh – my stylish tartan trousers obviously made an impression! We had been together for around four years when Chris proposed on a boat while we were sailing the Whitsundays. It was a total surprise, only my dad had been pre-warned.”

Hannah finished her look with Rachel Simpson’s mint green, ‘Mimosa’ T-bars and her scent was Orange Blossom Cologne by Jo Malone.

Hannah and Chris knew they’d found the perfect photographers for them, after spying this real wedding, captured by duo behind Red on Blonde, on Love My Dress. You can find Red on Blonde listed in our Little Book for Brides, a carefully curated directory of wonderful and hardworking wedding suppliers.

“Han and Toby were great on the day – inconspicuous enough to capture some super natural shots, whilst making their presence known enough to organise our families for group pictures – not an easy task! They embraced our craziness and fit into our day as though they were guests, whilst being total professionals. Our photos came beautifully presented and I will always remember watching the slideshow with Chris and both laughing and crying (happy tears of course!) at their attention to detail.”

“My mum had arranged with my friend, and riding instructor, Sarah, a surprise four-legged guest in the form of Harvey, the horse I learnt to ride on from the age of 13, and had competed on and had on loan. He is the epitome of ‘not judging a book by its cover’ – the most special horse and he scrubbed up so well.”

“For our décor, we collected lampshades from charity shops, recycled bottles from a local café and encouraged everyone we knew to stockpile jars for the flowers. We borrowed vintage teacups and saucers from my auntie and a talented cousin made the hessian bunting and table runners.”

“We dismantled pallets for signage and hired some amazing festoon lights and garden games from Penny at The Little Lending Company(who have recently joined Little Book For Brides). Penny has such an amazing selection of props to hire out and was so helpful with our last minute additions.”

“During the afternoon, our brilliant band, The Woodleys, played some covers as well as their own songs. A lasting memory is when they played Mumford and Sons ‘I will Wait’ for the second time (as an encore) and we all piled onto the dancefloor and grass outside the marquee and danced and danced – my mum, in particular, showcasing some ridiculously high quality moves!”

Hannah and Chris’ relaxed wedding breakfast was catered by Purple Plum and their gorgeous flower covered, naked wedding cake was lovingly made by a friend.

“During my dad’s speech we released some Tortoiseshell butterflies that my dad had nurtured through the summer, in memory of those that couldn’t be with us on the day. It wasn’t until we saw our photos that we realised my Dad and I each had one on our shoulders during the rest of the speeches.”

Words of Wedded Wisdom

“Surround yourself with positive people, who know you best – the sort that will listen to you patiently when you need to download. Don’t be too disappointed, or take it personally, when some people don’t behave with the social ‘etiquette’ you perhaps expect.

Go with your gut on suppliers, don’t try to cut costs at the expense of your own sanity. Find your creative friends and relatives and harness and celebrate their talents, without abusing them. And, as many brides before me have said, take a moment to breathe it all in together on the day itself.

And Love My Dress was a great resource throughout the planning process. A huge thank you to Annabel and Lyndsey for fielding various queries and stresses. It was an honour to be a Lovette!”

Great advice from our lovely Lovette! A huge thanks to Hannah and her husband Chris for sharing the details of their big day, as well Red on Blonde for documenting it so very beautifully. If you’d like to see other bride’s wearing Jane Bourvis’ beautiful gowns, please follow this link.

Have a great week!

Annora x

Photographer – Red on Blonde
Film – Happy Wedding Films
Venue – Ceremony at All Saints Church in Thornham, Norfolk, followed by a reception nearby at Happy Valley
Wedding Dress + Veil – Jane Bourvis
Headpiece – Fresh flower crown created by Jo Flowers
Shoes – ‘Mimosa’ by Rachel Simpson
Bride’s Scent/perfume – Orange Blossom Cologne by Jo Malone
Groom – Kilt and jacket purchased from The Kilt Company
Bridesmaids – H&M dresses
Flowergirls – ‘Estella’ dress from Monsoon + gold sandals from Debenhams
Florist – Jo Flowers
Cake – Created by a friend of the bride
Transport – A vintage Jaguar from The Marriage Carriage Company
Entertainment – Dave Harper + The Woodleys + 

Rings – Tustains
Catering – Purple Plum
Décor – Favours, signage and guest book from Stag Design; festoon lights and garden games from The Little Lending Company; petal confetti from Shropshire Petals
Stationery – Created by the couple, using a Noolibird stamp and printed by TW Printing, Leamington