Right Here, Right Now
The events of last year have held a looking glass to our society, and never has our inherent need for social connection been more acutely apparent. Our delicate sentience is what makes us human, we live because we feel, we laugh, we cry, and we love. Despite being fortunate in Australia, the impacts of the pandemic are still reverberating across the globe, and many of us have been forced to confront what we hold close to our hearts. In a landscape where marriages have at times been restricted, the desire to formalise the love we hold for our partners remains the same. Pop-up weddings have become a popular choice for those seeking to be wed without the hassle of extensive planning. Here, Emma Warner Allen discusses the merits of pop-up weddings with the experts: Jane Field, director of Ferguson Valley Pop Up Weddings, and Paul Hurford, owner of Peel Manor House.
Images courtesy of Ferguson Valley Pop up Weddings and Peel Manor House
It is undeniable that COVID-19 has impacted our society and the way we conduct our lives. Joining effects such as working from home and better hygiene practices, small, intimate weddings have gained popularity and are here to stay. Taking the stress of coordinating a wedding out of the planning experience, pop-up weddings offer couples a deeply personal experience without the fanfare often associated with a larger affair. Additionally, pop-up weddings are a budget-friendly option, allowing couples to use that money for other adventures such as a larger party with friends and family after the ceremony, or a magnificent honeymoon.
POPPING UP
Pop-up weddings are certainly the words on everyone’s lips at the moment, but what exactly is a pop-up wedding and what does it entail? Simply put, “a pop-up wedding is something pre-prepared”, Hurford enlightens. “It’s not such a drawn-out process, you’ve had the time of being engaged, you know it’s right to get married and you want it all to run as smoothly as possible with little fuss, little effort, in a beautiful setting that means something to your own self,” Field continues.
Unlike a last-minute wedding which is, as the name implies, organised at the last minute. Pop-up weddings don’t have to have a short planning timeframe as “you can book a year in advance”. Rather, what it tends to entail is minimal planning and organisation of the event, as instead you will have, “someone else put an event together for you,” Field notes. Hurford agrees that pop-up weddings are an “all-encompassing service”, and as a result, couples have little choice when it comes to vendors as it is typically a package deal with the venue – such is the case with Ferguson Valley Pop Up Weddings. Having said that, Hurford concedes, “I believe every venue has preferred suppliers but at the end of the day it’s the clients that can choose who they want for their special day.”
With a more intimate affair, “your personality can shine through more” which can even further enhance your connection to your partner. “You’re doing this together, you’re not doing this elaborate ceremony of arriving separately with hours of preparation beforehand – it’s really relaxed,” Field attests. Hurford also concurs, almost verbatim, by agreeing, “your personalities can shine through more as your nerves are less.” He further elaborates, “the most intimate wedding can be the most amazing and you don’t have to go overboard. Trust the advice your wedding planner gives you to help keep to the budget.”
TRUST THE PROCESS
One of the many reasons why pop-up weddings have recently gained in popularity is the overwhelming ease of planning, removing the notorious stress that often accompanies wedding preparation. Staying true to its nature, booking the pop-up wedding is just as easy as the planning process and will run as smooth as silk – just like the day itself. Both the industry professionals agree that the booking process will look similar, involving: “Booking the date, allowing the necessary administration times to do the paperwork – no less than a month in advance – meeting with the celebrant, checking out the venue [and] being comfortable with the venue. [Before] selecting the limited guests and providing your own outfit,” Hurford explains. “The venue will provide the flowers, the cake, the champagne and the setting,” Field elaborates, meaning you have very little to plan yourself when the day comes around.
MOMENTS TO REMEMBER
Standing as a testament to this, each wedding professional shares their favourite pop-up wedding moment. For Hurford, this included an incredible reaction from the groom. “The first pop-up wedding we did was in April 2021. When the groom saw his beautiful bride walking down the stairs – and seeing him become so emotional… it set everyone off, there was not a dry eye in the house. The music and the intimate atmosphere was just perfect.” While for Field, hers was also her first pop-up wedding. “[The couple] had a panic attack the week before the wedding and came down early and eloped,” she explains. “We went off round the valley and made it a special day together, having lunch at one of the wineries – just the four of us. We booked llamas for their wedding because they’d always wanted llamas and that was the following week. Nobody had known we’d done the deed. The couple was so much more relaxed because they’d done the official part first. They got to hold the llamas and it finished beautifully because it was ‘kiss the bride’ and then the llamas also kissed – so it couldn’t have happened better.”
Whatever your style, pop-up weddings are a special, intimate affair that is a beautiful reflection of the unique connection between you and your partner. Whether you want a llama-filled ceremony or a more traditional affair, pop-up weddings allow your personality to shine while taking away the stress and intricate planning from a day that should ultimately be filled with love and happiness. Speaking with the industry professionals to gain the best advice will leave you in excellent stead to make your dreams into a delightful reality.
AMPLE BENEFITS
While many couples choose to have an elaborate affair to celebrate their love and commitment to each other, in a partnership where only you and your loved one are involved, why involve many others for what is deeply personal and intimate to you if you don’t want to? While some may argue that a pop-up wedding doesn’t allow for a personalised and unique experience that is tailored to your wishes, this is far from the reality of the situation. Even though the vendors have been organised already, Hurford asserts that every couple is different, and his team “need to see what they are wanting for their special day and [we will] make that happen”. “You have to be prepared for anything. If anyone wants this at a pop-up wedding, we can have an alpaca wander through. They roam everywhere, don’t you worry. There will be a dog that wanders through – if you’ve got a dog, you can bring your dog! Whatever reflects your personality,” Field explains.