The Aisle Diaries x Capesthorne Hall

Welcome back to The Aisle Diaries Podcast - the wedding podcast that spills the truth about what really happens behind the scenes of your big day 💍

In this episode, Sophie and Joella are joined by two incredible wedding industry insiders from Capesthorne Hall - Lucy (Senior Events Manager) and Beth (Marketing & Events Coordinator). From planning chaos to career highlights, they reveal what it really takes to run luxury weddings at one of Cheshire’s most stunning venues.

✨ Expect honest chat, hilarious behind-the-scenes moments, and expert advice including:

• How to get into the wedding industry
• What venue coordinators actually do
• The biggest wedding day mistakes couples make
• Why your supplier team can make or break your day
• The truth about wedding trends (and what’s worth your budget 👀)
• Real wedding horror stories (including the cake disaster you won’t believe 😅)

Plus, we dive into:
💡 Top tips for couples planning their wedding
💡 What NOT to waste your money on
💡 The pressures of working in weddings
💡 Why no wedding day is ever “perfect” - and why that’s okay

If you’re planning your wedding, working in the industry, or just LOVE a good behind-the-scenes story - this one’s for you.

🎙️ Because someone’s got to tell you the truth… and it’s never boring.

Produced by TAEPodcast - www.taepodcast.co.uk

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:02

Welcome to the IOL Diaries Podcast, the place where you find out what really happens behind the chaos and pathetic. Because someone's got to tell you the truth. And it's never boring. With tips for your big day, I'm Sophie and I'm Joella. Hi! Welcome back! Welcome back! This week we've got some incredible guests. Two of my absolute favourite people on the planet.

SPEAKER_01 0:26

Just being biased here. Says it to everyone.

SPEAKER_02 0:30

I don't actually. Oh sorry, sir. No, like you actually are two of my favourite people. I think we actually I hope we get on. Yeah, no, we do. Oh, wait, scalar. That's good. That's fine. No. Love you too. Um, so for everyone that's listening and watching, please can you tell us individually who you are? Where you've come. Not is actually like where you've come from, but where you've come from like what company you've come from, like who you work for, what you do, and what your job title is.

SPEAKER_05 1:04

You gotta go first.

SPEAKER_00 1:05

So I'm Lucy, I'm the senior events manager at Cape Thorn Hall. Oh, sorry, I was a little dazing out there.

SPEAKER_04 1:15

I am Beth. I also work at Cape Thorn and I am the marketing and events coordinator.

SPEAKER_02 1:23

So, what do you both do actually for your jobs? Oh gosh, or don't we don't care?

SPEAKER_04 1:29

I was gonna say we wear lots of hats, but we do have like specific things we should be doing.

SPEAKER_00 1:34

So, majority I look after like the large events and majority of the weddings, yeah, um, as well as all like the small little things that go on behind um closed doors at Cape Storm. Um, but yeah, a mixture of everything and anything, to be honest.

SPEAKER_04 1:51

Yeah, I'm a bit the same, but I do mainly like marketing, socials, style shoots, weddings as well. So I kind of like the pick up some weddings, Lucy does. I kind of do like 50-50 weddings. 50-50 weddings.

SPEAKER_02 2:04

Three of you, isn't there? Yeah, there's Lynn as well.

SPEAKER_00 2:06

So Lynn's our business manager, um, she's does like a lot of the operation side of things as well. Um, but then we do like open to the public from like April to October, so we have like stewards we have to sort out like the public as well is a lot.

SPEAKER_01 2:22

So there's a lot of different things. Um I'm always like, yeah, let's go walk the dark ground capes on hole, and then I'm like, no, I see it enough. Yeah, yeah, I don't want to go back to that place.

SPEAKER_00 2:31

So yeah, so we all like pick up each other's rolls. That's to be honest.

SPEAKER_02 2:36

It's really a small, nice knit team.

SPEAKER_00 2:39

Yeah. How old are you both out of curiosity? I'm 27. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 2:43

I'm 26. Okay, yeah. I had to think about it.

SPEAKER_00 2:48

Younger, I think. Oh god, I feel like I'm 27. When I turned 27, I was like, ugh, yeah. I'm getting old now. That's closer to 13. I know I know. Everyone says that to you, but I'm like, I feel like I'm getting there. But but at 27, you've said I feel old.

SPEAKER_02 3:04

I I think as well, the jump from I don't know about you, but I feel like the jump from 25 to 30 hit me, like, well, turning 25, I think, hits me more than turning 30 now. Yeah. Like, I think I think I was like, oh my god, it's a quarter life crisis. Yeah, that hit me right now. Yeah, I saw it. Like, it's it's rough. But then like 30, I'm like, oh 30.

SPEAKER_00 3:25

Yeah, it is what it is. Yeah. Everybody says life gets better when you're 30. Well, you'll have to tell us. Yeah. Well, come back when you're 30, you can tell us all about it.

SPEAKER_03 3:34

I'm 30 in August, so yeah, I'll hit you up. Post wedding season. Oh my god.

SPEAKER_01 3:41

Turn into a zombie.

SPEAKER_03 3:45

What about like just telling us something like about you personally? Like, what what are your favourite things to do outside of work? Oh my word.

SPEAKER_00 3:53

When I actually have time to time. If you're in the wedding industry, you know that you don't really get much time. Um, to be honest, mine's like spending time with my fiance. Yeah. Um, my family, of course. Um, I'm very close to all my family. Yeah. Um and the precious once you think about what you're on the side of it. What's on my own? I go to bed. Oh my god. Yeah. I'm going out with my friends, obviously. And I love just like a wholesome walk on like a Sunday morning. Like all me and my friends live like 10 minutes from each other. And if we're not hungover, we'll go for a nice like wholesome walk, like country bump. Yeah, love it. What about you?

SPEAKER_04 4:36

Oh my gosh. I like so I live on my own like 70% of the time.

SPEAKER_02 4:41

I think you need to give everybody a context into this then. Oh, it's there's too much context to like put in.

SPEAKER_04 4:47

So my fiance is in the military, so I like um I'm not a military wife, I refuse to say that, but like you will be soon. Well, whenever. Whenever. Um so like I spend like Mondays to Fridays on my own, which is actually quite good because I'm quite like a homebody. Yeah. Um so I just do like Pilates a lot, a lot of like Pilates princess. Um I'd actually say that's probably like my main thing I do during the week, like after work.

SPEAKER_00 5:12

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 5:13

And then like most of my friends still live down south, live in London. So if I have weekends on my own, I tend to go down to London.

SPEAKER_03 5:20

I've got your ring and it's gorgeous. There's a story behind that ring, isn't it?

SPEAKER_04 5:26

This is still a fake one. Okay. Until we go get the wrong one. This is my holding place one. The story is just I'm a very fussy woman. Yeah. Um, do you know why? I think it's a really nice thing.

SPEAKER_02 5:41

I think it's a really nice story.

SPEAKER_04 5:43

Um so I have like a holding ring, which is just like and by the way, if you aren't watching this, it's absolutely incredible.

SPEAKER_02 5:49

But even you said it's nice to have because you've managed to get used to like whether you knock it or things like that, and and then you two can go ring shopping together. That's right, isn't it? Yeah, and actually pick one together.

SPEAKER_00 6:01

It's so unusual to like people, I feel like that should be more popular.

SPEAKER_03 6:05

Yeah, quite a lot. Have you? Is it not? Yeah, I know. Oh, I haven't heard of it. Like, yeah, I I feel like lots of brides do you go into the I'm quite fussy. So now I've got like I know I've chosen mine already. Yeah, so far. I know who's making this. I was so particular, I was like, listen, if you're gonna put that question, it needs to be that. Yeah, exactly. That's that's mixed. Yeah, that's so gone.

SPEAKER_01 6:28

Johnny's touching on to like John Johnny knows to go to Gemma. Exactly. Gemma getting it through Gemma knows what we can say, Gemma knows on.

SPEAKER_03 6:36

Try in different styles, and I've told you I'm wearing I know what I want. Yeah, I love it.

SPEAKER_02 6:42

I love that you're gonna go together. Yeah, I've been looking at it.

SPEAKER_03 6:45

But that doesn't really suit you if that's not the real deal.

SPEAKER_04 6:48

It's gonna be very similar. Either this or slightly like an elongated solitaire, I think it's called. Yeah, I love solid.

SPEAKER_01 7:00

She's been on it. Monday to Friday in the laki on her own. Go to every wedding fair secretly and just trying on that cross.

SPEAKER_00 7:14

Yeah, she's actually at jewelers every week. Yeah, and on the line.

SPEAKER_04 7:19

Yeah, that's a line.

SPEAKER_03 7:20

Yes. No, yes. I love that. Oh god. Amazing. Right, okay. Let's move on.

SPEAKER_02 7:28

How did you both get into the wedding industry?

SPEAKER_00 7:31

So for me, um, so I actually used to be like a hotel receptionist at a hotel. Yeah, cottons in Nutsford. No way! Yeah, um, and I was there for like 18 months, two years. Um, but the shift work was just different. Yeah, it's a lot. Um it was like early mornings, real like late nights, some like night shifts as well.

SPEAKER_03 7:58

And it fluctuates, doesn't it? I guess as well, like times. Whether you come in again, really, do you think it's a few? No, exactly.

SPEAKER_00 8:05

Yeah, and then but when I was there, if ever they had like weddings and they needed like help or something, I'd be like the first person. Yeah, I'll do that, I'll do that. Like I feel like from such a young age, when everybody always used to say, What do you want to be when you grow up? And I was like, I have no idea, but I just love like events and weddings, and I love planning. I'm such a planner, like all my friends are like if you plan to like fatigue, yeah, it's crazy. Um so yeah, whenever I like worked there, I was like, I want to do the weddings, like I'll help out, no problem. And then a job came up at Cape Zorn, but it was just like events assistant, like office admin events assistant. And I thought, you know what, I'm not enjoying cottons that much. I really wanted to try something new. Yeah, but went there in yeah, 2019, which now I'm like, oh my gosh, I can't believe how long I've been there for. I feel like I've grown up at Cape Storm. Like I feel like so much changes in like your twins within COVID. So I got I got like thrown into the deep end after obviously COVID, like because I hadn't actually done a season, I joined like October 2019, and then obviously COVID happened like January, and then obviously all their weddings got postponed. So then when I like was back in 2021, I was like, oh my god, we've got so many weddings now because like they all got postponed. Um, but you know what, it was the best thing because I learned so much so fast. Yeah, I got thrown in the deep end. Um so yeah, and then just worked my way up. Amazing.

SPEAKER_03 9:43

It's amazing.

SPEAKER_00 9:43

How about you, Beth?

SPEAKER_04 9:44

Do you know what's so weird is that we've actually spoken about this before. It's so similar. Like I remember so clear at school, like literally year 10 careers week, we had to like plug everything into a computer, like what you like to do, and it would tell you a job, and people get the nice rogue jobs like fire and man.

SPEAKER_01 10:03

Bear in mind the right school. Oh god man.

SPEAKER_00 10:09

She's trying to send northern. Yeah, just trying to blend in everyone.

SPEAKER_04 10:13

Um yeah, and mine was literally like a wedding planner, and I remember the teacher was like, that's like a really good, like nice job, but you won't like no one can really do that. Like, you don't really, it's not a job that you can get into. And I was like, oh, sweet, just ignores. Um carried on, like normal. And then I went to uni actually and did events management at uni. So kind of wrapped that one up. Um that was like during COVID, so COVID hit when I was in my like final year, honestly.

SPEAKER_02 10:41

That must have been tough though. Like, yeah, it was quite crap actually. Going in, but doing your exams, I'm guessing from the yeah.

SPEAKER_04 10:46

Yeah, so the whole last year, other than like the first term, was just like Teams. Like that Teams like sound gives me like PTSD.

SPEAKER_01 10:58

Oh we're gonna go like Bell and Bell. Yeah, you actually don't do quizzes in COVID.

SPEAKER_00 11:04

Oh no, yeah, no. She didn't do a quiz in COVID. Yeah, she's nice on the city.

SPEAKER_04 11:11

Oh, you're so rogue. So yeah, I actually had to do my like final event was meant to be like a live production. Like I did, yeah. And then it never was. Like, we had to do like me and my like little group, we actually did like an online food festival thing. It was like a map.

SPEAKER_03 11:27

Wow.

SPEAKER_04 11:27

Like we had to like do a map of a festival, and then we did it like pre-recorded videos and stuff of like chefs cooking food and stuff like that. Rather than doing a live production, it was literally hot so hard. We had to like got bonus points if they even did that. It was like painful, and then on the day we just had to be like, the event's live, and we had to watch people like go on to like the and we could see like people were like clicking on because one of my like closest friends, she's like very we use it to our advantage, she's like an expat family, okay, and so she'd like put it on her Facebook, and we were like, people from like Japan, Australia were like greeting our websites, but it's just like her mum's like pals, like that she would be coming on it on the day for that.

SPEAKER_01 12:08

Sam Barbara from Dallara.

SPEAKER_04 12:09

Yeah, yeah, literally. Um yeah, so that was it. But the funniest thing was when I was at uni, I actually worked with like a wedding, like a couple of wedding people for like my whole three years like there, and at the time I was like, I'm not gonna do this. I was like, after uni, like daffo not going into the wedding industry, like too much effort, and then I've literally ended up here.

SPEAKER_02 12:30

There's actually a fun fact in that story as well. I think you're missing about the job situation when and so fun fact on how we know each other.

SPEAKER_04 12:40

Oh my god, yeah, how we knew each other is when I moved up here, I actually was messaging those different companies, like, oh, I work at events, blah blah blah. And there was a job going at the added extra, and this is when I was on my final straw with the North. Like, I was going home if I didn't get a job in the next two weeks. But I told my mum, get that bedroom door back open. I'm going back down south. I'm going back down south.

SPEAKER_01 13:04

And then there was Jamella like, yeah, do you want to go for a job again? Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 13:07

Jamilla was like, yeah, I'll meet you for like coffee, like for a job at the added extra. And that was the same week I literally have an interview at Cape Thorn.

SPEAKER_01 13:14

Um, like Pied her off, and I literally was like, I was like, Oh, she came to Lucy instead of James and Wan. I must have ticked all the boxes. Yeah, I had never even met.

SPEAKER_04 13:28

I remember you literally saying, like, oh well, I'm around sometimes at Cape Thorn, so I'll see you there.

SPEAKER_02 13:32

I was like, and then when did when did we we actually officially met though when I came to was it an open day?

SPEAKER_04 13:39

It must have been yeah, an open day or something.

SPEAKER_02 13:42

So it was like a full it was like a weird full circle, but it's not such a small world though.

SPEAKER_00 13:46

Yeah, that is I feel like the wedding industry and like even just events, yeah. You everybody knows everybody. Yeah, it's crazy. Yeah, or heard of.

SPEAKER_02 13:56

Or knows of through somebody like that. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 13:58

Even though it's such a big industry, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 14:01

Like and with us being in Cheshire, like oh Cheshire's huge. It's good for it.

SPEAKER_02 14:06

Huge for it. And the bonus is you're literally like three minutes away from my house. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You can roll out of bed to Cape Thorn.

SPEAKER_00 14:14

It does. Then commute. Yeah, we hate the commute. Yeah, the commutes.

SPEAKER_03 14:19

So I guess just quickly, individually, off the top of your head, what is the biggest career highlight?

SPEAKER_00 14:28

So I would say for myself, like at Cape Thorn, being like the senior events manager, was getting um Lapland Manchester. Um so if you don't know what Lapland is, it's like an immersive experience for kids. Um, obviously all to do with Lapland and Father Christmas and everything. And it's been down south in Ascot for like 18 years now. They really wanted like a location up north. Um, they went and saw like loads of different sites. I picked a cape store, they're amazing. Yeah, honestly. It's yeah, it's the best thing.

SPEAKER_02 15:10

Even just when you see them taking them other stuff down, like even when I've been on site and just seen it take it down and open it, the actual D-rig is insane. Like the amount of like the whole of like the land like now, it's just like you can see for like miles, and I'm like, I don't actually remember being able to see that much, but yeah, you can. And it's uh it was just insane, like watching them take it that down on that open day. Yeah, the first time, and I was like, oh my god, and then came back for the show in February. And I was like, oh my god, it's gone.

SPEAKER_04 15:39

Yeah, yeah, they paste it down, they did a show then.

SPEAKER_00 15:43

And how long does it take to sell it down? So they actually start like towards the end of September, and then live shows don't start until like second week in November, and then it's on until Christmas Eve, and then literally they have like Christmas Day, Boxing Day off, they were back in on the 27th, they take it down, and it was down by like the 31st of Jan. So it was it's the biggest temporary event in Europe. Wow, so that you can just like visualize the actual.

SPEAKER_02 16:14

Because it is so fascinating because like when you come down, like you know when monks safe traffic lights, and you come you come down, you can actually see it, and then around the corner as well, you can see all the lights when it's dark and everything and the walkways and everything like that. Yeah, so when you're driving, you can actually see the the how big it is.

SPEAKER_00 16:31

Yeah, yeah. It was huge. Well, it is huge. So it's amazing, that's so good.

SPEAKER_03 16:35

You should be proud of that because everybody talks about it.

SPEAKER_00 16:38

I know. I feel like the first year, obviously, we've just had like the first year, and because maybe I know a lot of people like it's sold out straight away. I know a lot of people like knew of it, but I feel like now it's actually had one year up north, like the publicity really want to go. Yeah, which is just incredible, and it's so nice to give the people up north like an opportunity to go to something like that as well. Like, I feel like everything's down south. I'm like, more people need to tell me.

SPEAKER_02 17:10

You are not team south, you're you're team north now. Maybe in your heart, but not in your north.

SPEAKER_01 17:16

So what shows then best?

SPEAKER_04 17:17

I'd say, as well as Lapland, it's probably just like managing to whip out those styled shoes. Because I do feel like I used to see things like that on Instagram and be like, oh wow, like that's amazing. And then when I'm doing it, I'm like so stressed. But then I think like actually when you've got the images back and everything, I'm like, oh my god, I'm like, I actually did that. Like, you know, like people are like, oh, this looks so good. Yeah, and I think like that was me actually.

SPEAKER_00 17:42

Um you're giving so many people like an opportunity to do their work as well, and it always looks stunning. Yeah, oh my god, the last one was so good. It was really good. It's like goals. We pulled it off. We didn't know.

SPEAKER_04 17:57

Yeah, loads of people were botting about that one, aren't they?

SPEAKER_02 17:59

As well as me um falling downstairs, we pulled it off. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. Jamel had a lovely trip that day. Still recovering. Can I actually share that CCTV?

SPEAKER_00 18:09

Yeah, if you really want. Yeah, I suppose it's only us three on it, so yeah, okay. I just don't care.

SPEAKER_01 18:14

I'm like, you're right.

SPEAKER_00 18:16

You're right. I'm like running down the stairs after you. No, I think that CCTV was a bit uh brain registers stuff that fast.

SPEAKER_04 18:27

Like, I just don't register.

SPEAKER_01 18:30

So you I think you've reacted like, oh Joella, like on the floor. But you know what?

SPEAKER_00 18:39

It's a lethal stats. And we now actually have like a minute. We haven't before. I mean it's any blame. Yeah, maybe maybe you actually needed to wear them glasses on that day that were on top of your head because you didn't see the strip that like is meant to stop you from falling. Yes, yes.

SPEAKER_03 18:58

I wasn't on the show. I said to the model, I was like, Joella has tripped twice, I've seen, and she's only been here 10 minutes.

SPEAKER_02 19:06

I'm so clumsy! Slow down! I'm so clumsy.

SPEAKER_03 19:10

I've never been jumping.

SPEAKER_02 19:11

I'm like, oh you're fine. I am so clumsy, but when it comes to a wedding day, I am nothing like that. Like you don't think at all. Like I've never fallen out of the way. Maybe you just won't relax. Yeah. Maybe I'm just in great company with it.

SPEAKER_00 19:25

Maybe I'll let Katie's.

SPEAKER_01 19:33

I saved the bloody poker. And then she broke it.

SPEAKER_00 19:37

She broke it. Broke it with excitement and like grabbed it out of your hand and I was like, I won the bouquet, and I like flew up out of that.

SPEAKER_02 19:45

I'm just going back to the office shooting carry on that. That's me dumb. No, those style shoots are definitely something you should be really proud of. Because every no matter what you do, like all the suppliers that are involved every single time pull out the bag massively, and you should be really good at that. I know. You should be really, really proud. They look insane. Thank you. So, Cape's Thorn as a venue. Can you talk us through Capes Thorn in itself? What it is, what's there? I don't want to say too much because I'm gonna do it for you. Um, and like how you do weddings, just talk us through everything basically.

SPEAKER_04 20:27

Okay, so it's um you kind of got two choices, or one choice, depends what you want. You've it's like obviously stately home vibes, very like sort of if you're going for the trends like old money, like if we're talking like trendy wise. But then we've also got like as well as like the main we'd say like that's the main part of your of the venue, obviously. But we've got like a more modern part of the venue called the Lakeside as well, which you tend to have your even in there, like no matter what your wedding is, the even's always there, there's nothing to damage in there, like in terms of like valuable breakable.

SPEAKER_02 20:59

Yeah, it's so nice, it's quite contained, whereas like I feel like if you sometimes when you go to a venue, if there's too many rooms, you lose your room.

SPEAKER_00 21:09

And uh like the bars within like the lakeside. And I feel like I've been to so many weddings, and the bar's just like slightly out of like where the dance floor is, and it's usually like the lads or just go and stand there with like the pints, and then everyone's like, where is it?

SPEAKER_03 21:28

So they'll always opt to be near or away from the dance floor.

SPEAKER_00 21:32

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 21:33

It is a really nice floor.

SPEAKER_04 21:34

Yeah, because like the way we set it up, like we literally have like tables and stuff like basically on the dance floor, if that even makes any sense, like away from the dance floor on it, yeah. Yeah, so like the older generation can like sit, like watch the dancing going on and taking a seat.

SPEAKER_03 21:48

I like that though, because everybody's still in bed but they've sat where they clean it. Yeah, and then you've got obviously the main bed house.

SPEAKER_04 21:55

Yeah, obviously the main house, you've got like it's not everyone's taste, but I think it's got like. Like the wow factor, to be honest. Like we always say, like when and you hear it, like when you do viewings, like even though I did one this morning, you'll open the door and they're like, Oh wow, because it's like very like impactful students to come in. Yeah, but I feel like we get used to it now. Yeah, if we enter and we open the door and we're like, Oh, this is the office.

SPEAKER_00 22:17

Yeah, but yeah, when you show people and their faces like they're like all the things.

SPEAKER_03 22:25

They do react like that.

SPEAKER_04 22:26

It's quite nice as well. That I also think that we get a lot of feedback in terms of although it's like stately home and there are different rooms, so kind of like in the main hall bit, you've got what three rooms and like a big hallway, is probably like the main bit. But people say like it feels like it flows really nicely. Like you know, a lot of wedding venues are kind of like stuck in that, like so like stuck in the blue room for like four hours. Then you move to like a green room and you're stuck there for literally like another four. Otherwise, ours is very like open, yeah. Like you can still close off the rooms, but yeah, they're very open, it flows very nicely, and then obviously we've got all of the gardens and everything in outside, like the terrace. So that kind of just works like perfectly really.

SPEAKER_02 23:03

It's like a bad cameras, really, because you can do marquee outside, I've seen it before. But you can obviously have then like lakeside, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 23:11

You've got loads of different options, and that's and that's what people want, do you? Yeah, they do. So if like our maximum capacity for like the civil ceremonies in the main hall is a hundred, but then we can have up to a hundred and sixty in the lakeside. So you've got like diff different options. Then say you went for the lakeside for your ceremony and wedding breakfast, you could have your drinks reception in the hall, so your guests still can see like the stately home side. Because I feel like a lot of people come into Cape Zorn, they want the stately home, or else they'd go to a barn or you know, like a country house, which doesn't have that like Bridgetton kind of vibe, should we say? Um, and then obviously you've got like the terrace which leads out onto the lawns and everything, and then just all the grounds, like for photos, the grounds.

SPEAKER_02 23:58

And how big are the grounds?

SPEAKER_04 23:59

Oh we've got a hundred acres. We've got a hundred acres on like the like that is our like that's the immediate land. Yeah, that's our immediate land. And then it just keeps on hall, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 24:11

Keeps going and keeps going and keeps going. But for your weddings, I mean of the acres of we're not waiting acres. No, we're not going. Well, I feel like sometimes I am doing that. On the holiday day, I'm like running. Running around, like you saying ball.

SPEAKER_02 24:25

And you can can you hire them separately as well as together? Obviously, so say for example if somebody wanted to use lakeside the candy, if somebody just wanted to use the house and then the marquee the candle.

SPEAKER_00 24:34

Yes, so yes, or yeah, so usually um obviously, like Beth said, all of the evening receptions are always in the lakeside, so you can either have the hall or the lakeside, or you can just hire the lakeside on its own. We don't tend to do, unless, for example, someone didn't want an evening reception, maybe they just wanted civil ceremony and like a meal or even just drinks and canopies. Yeah, you could just have the hall, but we don't allow like a big party in the hall. Likeable things, yeah, yeah, ornaments and everything, statues.

SPEAKER_02 25:06

They've been there for a very long time. Yeah, exactly. They're precious. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 25:10

Very damage it.

SPEAKER_00 25:12

Um, bedrooms. Yeah, so we've got on-site accommodation, not actually in the main hall, it's like in the surrounding areas. Um we've got three cotton. Somewhere within the hundred acres. Yeah, yeah, yeah. No, no, they are they are nearby.

SPEAKER_04 25:25

We're not making you walk, don't worry. We're not 100 acres away now.

SPEAKER_00 25:29

Um we've got three cottages, one can sleep eight people, and the other two can sleep six, and then we have like six lodges, which all can sleep like two guests, and then we have like a big kitchen dining area, so it's really nice, like the morning after the wedding. Everyone can go and like have a big breakfast together.

SPEAKER_03 25:48

Do you find that the um like family or whoever do you stay the night before and the night afterwards? Yeah, most of the time.

SPEAKER_00 25:55

So we um like I think we mentioned previously, because we're like quite a small team as well, um, and like we really um what's the word? Pride ourselves on. Yeah, pride ourselves on like our couples and everything like that. We don't do loads of weddings, so we'll never do a wedding on like consecutive days. Okay, right. So you've always got that choice to have the accommodation the night before, which I think like Is there a limit limitation on how many weddings you do a week, a month, or whatever? Not really, but obviously we just need to make sure we can like manage it, manage it and give the couples like they're spending so much money with us, we want to make sure they get the best experience possible. So if we thought like, oh right, we're getting really busy this week, we wouldn't turn one down, yeah, yeah. Exactly.

SPEAKER_03 26:42

Make sure that one's accommodated for us.

SPEAKER_00 26:44

Yeah, and I think just like from a bride's point of view, like staying on site the night before gives them so much like relief. They're like, at least I'm here now, like they don't need to stress about getting to the venue in the morning.

SPEAKER_02 26:57

I think that's I think that's a a kind of I I know a lot of venues don't do it, but I feel like it's it is it's got to be a must-have in my eyes personally. Yeah, for me, that is like one thing. Because you don't I know a lot of like our couples they stress about like trying to get to the venue, but some venues don't open until 11 o'clock. Yeah, and it's like if you open at 11 o'clock and you've got your ceremony at 12, like it just doesn't work to speak to me about that. Oh, I can imagine with you.

SPEAKER_01 27:25

Oh my god.

SPEAKER_02 27:25

I can literally do another app next week's act. Yeah, but it's like you though as well as a few. No, it's a joke.

SPEAKER_03 27:32

So I'm just gonna put it out there, it's a joke.

SPEAKER_02 27:35

No, it's like if you've got a four o'clock start, for example, like you have to leave the house at four to be at a venue for five, and then you then have to move an hour beforehand to then do your top-ups at a venue, you've then got to take that into consideration. You've got to think okay, it's not just like quickly move him.

SPEAKER_00 27:51

Like it's it's just you've booked your wedding day. So wedding five hours. No, literally.

SPEAKER_03 27:58

No, no, I I totally agree on that one. If you are designing a wedding venue, you seriously need to think about the prep for you prior to that. Do not put the bridal suite next door because I understand that's why we can't open early. Yeah, that is because of the noise, but why are you locating it right next door to the prep for him?

SPEAKER_01 28:18

It needs to be a shiny self into the street.

SPEAKER_03 28:22

I just think like the noise is gonna travel. Yeah. That means the bridal prep room can be opened up whatever time, and there's no.

SPEAKER_02 28:30

But that comes back to the whole like churning it out like as a venue, and like I know you guys aren't like that. Like, don't get me wrong, like every venue sometimes will have like back to what back to back weddings on like maybe a Saturday and a Sunday kind of thing, because they might want certain dates, but there's no, like I know with you guys, there's no feel of like okay, next wedding, yeah, okay, next wedding. There's no like there's no constant, like, oh my god, we've got seven weddings. No, it's not the same, it's not even like no, every wedding's so different as well. Like, every couple does things so differently, and that's what it's all about.

SPEAKER_00 29:06

And you want your couples to be able to have everything different and the time because otherwise, everyone's wedding at that one venue will just look the same, yeah. Like, oh yeah, that person got married yesterday, oh and this this person's getting exactly.

SPEAKER_02 29:20

Yeah, yeah. And it doesn't give you like I had a final details appointment at a venue, and they were they turned around to my couple and was like, Yeah, so we wanted to come back with the florists and stuff like that. And they turned round and they were um just like, yeah, so we've got uh a wedding every single day that month. And I was like, Why would you say that A to a couple?

SPEAKER_00 29:41

But also that doesn't give them a feel of their special, yeah, no, and that's what I at all make sure our couple uh couples do feel special, and that we know what they want from the day because usually as well, like the way we work from that first initial viewing all the way up until the day. I know obviously some circumstances change if you get invited to a wedding or whatever, um you might not be able to be there on the day, but if we can, we will be there from that first initial view. Not high dweller, they literally will have all the way up until the day. And I feel like if that was me getting married, I would want that person. And I also think even if we're not, we're such a small team, like they probably have spoken to Beth on the phone, they've spoken to Lynn on an email. If like we're on holiday one day.

SPEAKER_02 30:39

I've seen you guys when you have been one of you has been on holiday, and then you've just introduced that couple to you who's exactly so. Say for example, if it is you, Beth, who's on holiday, you'll introduce them to Lucy or you'll introduce them to Lynn.

SPEAKER_00 30:52

No, it's not just they turn up on the day and it's like, oh, you've got seven-seven.

SPEAKER_02 30:56

Yeah, but also because you're such a a nice knit team, you know each other's weddings probably, yeah. Exactly. How big is the team then? So just us right. So, we settling, yeah, yeah. Yeah, I think that's really nice.

SPEAKER_00 31:11

It is really nice.

SPEAKER_02 31:12

So what can couples expect then in terms of from inquiry, like right up until the day that they're getting married, and afterwards as well from you guys. So I know you've obviously just touched base on that you're there on the day and everything like that, but how does it work from them right from the inquiry right to so we normally say like get in touch, obviously email, telephone, like a lot of them DM us now, to be honest, on Instagram?

SPEAKER_03 31:36

Like, is that where you'd say that's that's where they find you on Instagram or I'd say Instagram Google?

SPEAKER_00 31:42

Yeah, Instagram, Google, and then obviously like Bridebook and Hitched. Yeah, they're usually the two, correct?

SPEAKER_04 31:48

Which is good, and obviously we get a lot of inquiries through Bridebook and Hitch, but then that's kind of on the emails anyway, like links in with emails. Yeah, um, and then once you've obviously we've picked that email up, we'll like message you back and say, like, do you want an appointment? Like we offer them on these days, or if we've got any open days coming up, we'll say that these are our open days because we normally do them as like drop-in, like you don't have to book an appointment. Um, you can just sort of turn up at the time.

SPEAKER_03 32:12

So you could have like 10 people turn up.

SPEAKER_04 32:14

Yeah, it does hurt my heart because it uh we just run the risk every time.

SPEAKER_01 32:19

But your face idea.

SPEAKER_04 32:21

Yeah, most of the time it pulled off, but but like yeah.

SPEAKER_00 32:26

And they could all come up like once. No, colour with the red flag.

SPEAKER_03 32:33

I know you went there at the wedding fair, like 500 people came in the room and I was like, Oh yeah, that was I'm not gonna repeat myself, I'm just gonna take ones, everybody gather around. Oh my word.

SPEAKER_02 32:42

I was here down with the sheet, you were in the managing nuts, and you were managing and I was like, and everyone was just like, could you just have to repeating himself to one person that you were just like, come on, and you just made like a bit of a joke about it.

SPEAKER_01 32:57

Like, come on, we'll just do it on the roll with it, roll with it. Did you bowl of your book? And who's gonna drive all the time?

SPEAKER_04 33:09

Just vlog what you can. Sorry, come on.

SPEAKER_01 33:13

But it's like ah, inquiries, make inquiries, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 33:16

We'll email them through, obviously, open days, whatever like that. And then normally obviously they'll respond saying when they can. We'll do like a full venue show around, so that includes like both sides of the venue, outside areas, discussing.

SPEAKER_05 33:28

What does that take?

SPEAKER_04 33:28

Normally, I'd say that up to an hour. It depends how so if some of them are like we literally have half an hour on our lunch break, like we'll just pace it and be fast. But like some people down the steps, not pull down the steps. And it depends, like we have loads of different options as well. Like, we do have like an on-site chapel where you can have like a blessing, but not like so you can bless the marriage but not actually get married like legally there. So if they're like interested in the chapel, interested in an outdoor wedding, like you can't it can take longer. Um, but obviously we'll show them around like the whole venue. Normally kind of discuss the day, discuss like pricing. We give them obviously like brochures at the beginning, but if they want to go through that, we can go through that with them. And then it's in terms of so like at our venue, we can hold a date, like seven days, no obligation to book. So that if they actually are interested, especially in those like high season, like August Saturdays and stuff like that, if we've got one free a lot of the time, they're like, Yeah, can you hold it for me? And then obviously we'll follow up with them second viewings. We can do second viewings if we're not second viewing.

SPEAKER_00 34:22

Usually we want to bring like the parents or bridesmaids or anything like that.

SPEAKER_04 34:27

And then, yeah, in terms of like booking, if they book, like Lucy said, we'll then try, say, like I did the viewing, I'd then try and hold on to them for like the whole journey, then like from like all the way through the viewing, yeah, and up to the wedding day and be that on the wedding day. It's like unless like Lu said, let's say that my brother was getting married.

SPEAKER_00 34:44

Yeah, and that you know that you're not gonna be available for that day. Like and we'll always we'll always tell them as well. It'll never be like the day before they find out they don't have us, like they'll know as soon as we dramatic has happened, like you're ill on the day or something like that.

SPEAKER_02 34:58

Like that they're things that you touch what that would have.

SPEAKER_00 35:00

Yeah, that has never happened to be. My worst worst nightmare.

SPEAKER_02 35:03

But you it's things that you like can't control out of your hands. So that's really nice. So on the day you're there, yeah. Talk us through kind of how that looks and what that is, and then afterwards.

SPEAKER_00 35:14

So um there's always like obviously one of us there from literally first thing in the morning, usually, like welcoming all the suppliers. So as well, we'll ask, like with Cape Sawn, you don't have to book like certain suppliers, you can kind of book whoever you want. But we ask for all the details, um, and then like two weeks before we'll give like all of your suppliers a call, we'll make sure they know what time they can arrive from, and we'll make sure like it fits within the schedule, like all the rooms are going to be ready with your flowers by the time it needs to, um, because we'll have like the running order by that point. And then on the day, obviously, just overseeing all the suppliers arriving, then all the guests, bride, etc. etc. Um, we do also have a Toastmaster always at the weddings. Oh no. Um yeah, that was something we added on. Yeah, we added on like last year.

SPEAKER_03 36:08

Why did you add that on?

SPEAKER_00 36:09

We just thought because the venue is such a big venue in if you have like a hundred. They do as well.

SPEAKER_03 36:17

And if you have like a hundred dollars, no, I just meant why I know I know what they do, I just meant why did you feel like needed? Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 36:23

So I feel like when we do have like weddings for like 160, say they were over in the lakeside, then they needed to get to the hall, it can be like trying to like round up sheep sometimes, like it can be quite disappointed. Yeah, it is, especially after a drink, like the gas that to go to. Let's go on.

SPEAKER_03 36:41

Like we just kind of look let's look at you and carry on.

SPEAKER_00 36:44

Yeah, and I feel like a toastmaster just really helps, and I feel like a toastmaster really suits Cape Thorn.

SPEAKER_03 36:50

Like yeah, definitely. Okay.

SPEAKER_00 36:51

So yeah, love that. It was something we added on. So we've got yeah, like our first year we've always having a Toastmaster, which is great, as well.

SPEAKER_02 36:58

Yes, yeah, love that.

SPEAKER_03 37:00

Um so then afterwards, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 37:01

What's that after the follow-up?

SPEAKER_00 37:03

Like so you don't just be like, Hey, go you married, I'm dropping in our bye. Yeah, no, we'll always so the day after, like they get married, obviously, anything that they've like cards or gifts and stuff, we like put in a secure cupboard so they'll come the morning after. Um they yeah, they come and pick all of their stuff up and then we'll like obviously usually email them like afterwards, like I hope you had the best day.

SPEAKER_03 37:27

How would you say it is the the following day with the couples? Are they a bit flat? Like, or are they like just still buzzing? Like usually still buzzing.

SPEAKER_00 37:34

Yeah, some of the like sometimes the grooms are like looking at you and they're just like looking through you, and they're so hungover. The brides usually like still got makeup on, like hairs, like bobby pins hanging out of like the hair and stuff, but usually they're just like on cloud now, and if obviously they're going on like the honeymoon, yeah, they're like even more buzzing. Um but yeah, no, so it's really really nice.

SPEAKER_03 37:57

I love that idiom. So, have you got anything else to ask on that that question? No, I no, I'm fine.

SPEAKER_02 38:04

No, no, no. I was gonna ask something, but then it was like it went out of my mind and then it came back again. And I was like, no, it was like two sentences ago, it's fine. You want to ask her. No, so what would be your top tip advice then I would say for kind of like couples on their wedding day? Um, other than obviously than other than having like a really strong supplier team.

SPEAKER_00 38:26

Because I feel like that's so important for a hundred, but like also like any wedding, no matter what like having and don't have too many suppliers, don't overcomplicate your wedding, you don't need to. Yeah. Like I always say to my couples, like, concentrate on obviously making sure the day runs smoothly.

SPEAKER_01 38:50

Basically like Joella, and if I came from me, I came from Lucy Lucy with Lucy.

SPEAKER_00 38:58

Yeah, right, but just say I'll run the day myself, don't worry about it.

SPEAKER_02 39:01

It does no how good does it go though, like when we are all on a day? Like this is what this episode came out today, didn't it? And it was something that I was like, I don't know if you guys have had a listen yet, but like I was such an advocate about it because like so many venue coordinators don't understand the advantage of having a wedding planner or a wedding coordinator.

SPEAKER_03 39:21

I don't think as I'm outside it, like I didn't know that's why I was asking you like what is the difference between yeah the two.

SPEAKER_02 39:27

But it just like I know that when we've all been on a wedding, it runs so smoothly, 100% unbelievably. And I know that like there's no um I can't even get my words up, but like amosity, whatever the word is, like there's no like negative vibes with any of us like at all because we all just pick up what each other 100%, and I feel like as like a wedding coordinator on the day, there are so many different elements to the day.

SPEAKER_00 39:53

Yeah, you can't do that. You can't, and like I was saying before, I feel like sometimes, especially Cape Sun being such a big venue, I'm running from like groom prep, bride prep, and then I need to be in the hall with the suppliers, like and you constantly feel like, especially because you've kind of learned about that couple and you want the day to be so amazing for them, like that's the most important thing, yeah, always like you need to make sure that they're in the best interest, yeah, exactly. Yeah, everything is going right for the ball.

SPEAKER_04 40:23

I always worry they'll be like, where the hell is Beth?

SPEAKER_01 40:25

But like behind the team on the ball, 2000, literally, and that might be the when I see them, you're like I don't care because I think you've got a brilliant and you're looking at a supplier, like yesterday I did it to you on the cube.

SPEAKER_03 40:46

Yeah, are you alright? You're like, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 40:51

Not okay.

SPEAKER_02 40:56

So you have to put on such an app. Like I know that when we've had a conversation as well, Beth, like you've been like, I've seen your name on the paper. It was like me and Charlotte and you out of 18.

SPEAKER_04 41:10

I know you like it. Just don't want to offend any other ones, but like when you see that list of like suppliers that you like you personally know. Yeah, and they know the venue. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 41:20

Because if they don't know the venue, yeah, that's also like do you feel like you're like babysitting them as well? Because also I'm like, Yeah, yeah, and I if for example, I feel like photographers are uh the big big ones because they need to know that venue to get the best photos. And if we get a photographer who's never been there before, even though Do you not have any any many like scope out the venue beforehand? So I always say, like, to my couples, if they've booked anyone who's like not been there before, get the job, make sure they come round. But I feel like sometimes photographers think that's my job, I'll be alright, kind of thing. And they don't know.

SPEAKER_02 41:53

Some are really good at just being like, okay, no, I'll take it as it comes, but then some do you think it's like some so big you can't really scope, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 42:01

And like as well, in terms of like how big it is, sometimes I don't think they understand like timings for the day, like they're oh, we'll take them off and do shots, and then like you're ringing them and ringing them, like we're now like 20 minutes down.

SPEAKER_02 42:12

I'd see this is where like it comes in really handy because like it's like where you have like you guys are trying to get like the venue set up and like everything like that, and you're concentrating on getting like your canopy sorted and drink reception sorted and everything like that. Say, for example, they've gone off with them, and sometimes they'll be gone for like two hours. If you haven't got an external person, like your toastmaster's then looking after all of the guests, and say, for example, your wedding coordinator or planner is actually gone with the couple to make sure that they're on time to come back. Yeah, it works so well having your venue coordinator, a toastmaster, and an actual external wedding coordinator. Just for the sake of like even your photographer and videographer it not falling on them, and just meaning that from you guys' point of view, you're not having to walk around like a hundred acres of land, like, where's this couple going? Yeah, are you in this room? Are you in that field?

SPEAKER_00 43:02

No, definitely. Like, I'm sure you've done it probably many times. So many times. Yeah, yeah, so many. And you'll always say like a time, and then I feel like sometimes a photographer can get like, oh, it's amazing, like what?

SPEAKER_02 43:14

Yeah, yeah, which is which is what you want because that's what they've paid for. Yeah, 100%, but also the future going hold. Yeah, it's the communication of the key kind of thing, isn't it? So, what would be your top tip then from both of you? Just one tip each that oh one.

SPEAKER_00 43:28

I know it's hard to pick, sorry. I honestly do think for a couple, do not worry about the little things, like things are gonna go wrong. Like, no matter what happens, things are gonna go wrong. But I'll tell you what, you're never ever gonna notice on the day. The day goes like that. Before you know it, you believe.

SPEAKER_03 43:44

But even when it does, you're just not bothered. No, I know that myself from being a bride. My my the same advice on my episode about my wedding was literally that 100%. Like things are going to go wrong, and that is okay. Yeah. And you won't even care like seriously, you You feel like you're in some kind of getting married and she'll be like, ah, I'm gonna come back.

SPEAKER_01 44:06

She'll be shouting at me in the corridor. Sort it out!

SPEAKER_03 44:12

Like you, like I am renowned in my group for being that planner. I planned everything to a T and things that went wrong were completely out of my hand. Couldn't get less. Yeah, I was shot as an outsider seeing my reaction. I'm like, who is that?

SPEAKER_00 44:24

But on the day, I'll just like Yeah, it is what it is at the end of the day as well. Like Yeah, it is what it is. Um but you've spent all that time, you've spent all that money. If you're then not gonna enjoy it, what's the point? Yeah, yeah. So that would be mine. Just enjoy every single second of it. And also, I always say like enjoy the planning because soon it'll be over. And you'll then really engage once. Exactly. Well, hopefully that about you.

SPEAKER_04 44:56

Have you got any things? I would say almost in a similar phrase but different things, like be careful in what you're like investing. If you've got a budget, invest it into good things, like in terms of like the little things in terms of there's little things to worry about. But I'd say like, I personally am so against like tic-tac favours, like little bubbles. Do you know what I mean?

SPEAKER_01 45:18

Like, why are you spending your money on little little products? Really want to put yeah, but can I have tic-tac? God, we've got tic-tac favours.

SPEAKER_04 45:31

Yeah, just£300 on.

SPEAKER_03 45:38

Yeah, you can agree, but guests will remember food, drink, and entertainment. Yeah, that's what I've always said.

SPEAKER_04 45:43

Mega DJ stats, we don't need bubbles and ticks.

SPEAKER_00 45:47

Sorry. And the photos, like you could say your memory is that last lifetime, but I'm completely with you.

SPEAKER_04 45:54

Banned photos. I'd even say like, I mean, some people are foodies, but I'm not a foodie, that I'm not you're having a chicken roast dinner. I'd rather like eat a chicken roasted dinner because most people have to do that. I'll tell you what, as much as I'm going to right groove.

SPEAKER_00 46:14

Yeah. And I feel like with food, like sometimes when I go to weddings, and I'm like, I'm not being funny. Why am I eating soup? Like, I'd rather just a pizza. Yeah. Yeah. Like why why don't give me a good old burger instead of like cheesy garlic bread and pizza?

SPEAKER_01 46:36

What do you mean after I just already married you at that point? I can't say it actually. No, I can't. So other than garlic red tip, I'm going to say it.

SPEAKER_03 46:51

No, I don't want fucking fish and chips. Have you been even in meal? Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 46:58

Do you want a slice of pizza? Pizza. I love a pizza. I love a pizza. And I feel like that's such a thing. You know, when you're drinking, I'm like, what do you eat after a night?

SPEAKER_01 47:14

No, but spinning around in the background. We're getting giddy world.

SPEAKER_03 47:22

So on the giddy world. My favourite bit. Yes, let's bring it on. A bridal spiral.

SPEAKER_02 47:29

Yeah, do you have like a bridal spiral, something that's like chaotic, stressful, that's happened, or like a funny thing from a previous wedding?

SPEAKER_00 47:37

So yeah, give me the bag. No, I feel like I've got quite a few, but it does. But um submit them.

unknown 47:47

Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 47:48

I'll send them in every week. Yeah, yeah. No, one, and it's kind of like, I feel like this is such well, it was a very, very chilled couple, and um the bride actually sent the groom to go and pick up the cake. But obviously, men being men, he didn't check the cake that he collected. It was just like a friends moment. So I've never watched friends. Sorry, I probably really shouldn't say that. I'm probably gonna get loaded. Yeah, I'm at Sorry.

SPEAKER_01 48:15

She's gonna cry. Now I'm back.

SPEAKER_00 48:20

And about the fact she'd not watched friends than if you went. Sorry.

SPEAKER_01 48:24

Well, I come on, carry on. That's actually very loose.

SPEAKER_00 48:27

No, I don't really watch much TV, I'm not gonna lie. That's why. You don't have time. No, I don't think it came out. Um but anyway, yeah. Mem being men didn't check the cake. So anyway, they came obviously the day before, like we always let our couples come, drop things off, and they said, could we bring the cake and like store it in the fridge? So I was like, Yeah, yeah, no problem. Um and the bride met him like at the venue. Um and she was like, Oh, we best open the cake and check it. Obviously, they opened it. It wasn't I I I think it was actually their cake, but it was not what they ordered had asked for in the slices. Yeah, everything just everything.

SPEAKER_04 49:09

It's like those like memes easy, like what I asked them versus what I got.

SPEAKER_02 49:12

Yeah, yeah. So the one it was like a B10 cake, like Rachel, who has like cake. She had like a little girl called Emma, and it's I think it's her first birthday, and she sends Ross, who's the dad to go, I think it's Ross to go and get the cake, comes back, opens the box, and it's like a stripper cake. I think it's a strip of cake, where it's supposed to be like a bunny or something.

SPEAKER_05 49:33

Those varsity.

SPEAKER_02 49:37

That's what I had in my mind.

SPEAKER_00 49:38

And it was like, I am not having that on show. Like, there is no way. Like it was off, yeah, it was not good. Did they have a barney? Um, I think because they were getting married the next day, I don't think they could have had a barney and I was stood in the middle of them. So I was a bit like, please don't, please don't. No, I think I would have a melt of them. But then I wouldn't trust, I wouldn't trust a man to go and pick up a cake and shake anyway.

SPEAKER_03 50:05

So then I'm like, well then the teacher, would you? Thinking about it, like I know it's your wedding, but you're just like, thank you, but you're just in a bit of a daze, aren't you? Yeah, I suppose if you're literally getting married the next day, yeah, that's so true.

SPEAKER_00 50:18

So anyway, we then um I was like, oh my word, like what are we gonna do? We need to sort this like right now. So I was like, do you want me to go to MS and pick up, you know, one of them like plain cakes? At least then they can like cut that. Because I thought the cake will probably still taste nice. They can cut that up, but it's not like horrendous. Um when they showed me the inspo compared to the cake, I was like, okay, yeah, I can see. Like and it wasn't probably a cake that you would want to have on show, I'm not gonna lie. But then I do kind of think wedding cakes, I'm a bit like, yeah, yeah, have them in wedding cakes.

SPEAKER_03 50:49

Yeah, that champagne towering girls. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 50:52

I'm a bit over wedding cakes, but a good cake.

SPEAKER_03 50:54

Anyway.

SPEAKER_04 50:56

Oh, so we did that. We did that. Oh I know, so I was just so sad I never got to eat that.

SPEAKER_02 51:01

Did you not? No. Did you have one? No, it had gluten in it. Um, sad times, sad time. I could have really gotten it.

SPEAKER_00 51:07

So sorry, just how how did we solve it? So, anyway, um sorry. Um they actually managed to find a bakery who would make one overnight for them, and the bridesmaid, one of the bridesmaids, went and picked it up in the morning. So they got the cake that they wanted in the end. But we were like, I was like, on MS, like, I can get you a cake. You know, like doing anything because you could just see like her face was like, and that'd be the only thing you think about as well for the whole day.

SPEAKER_02 51:33

Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 51:33

Yeah, I should be thinking about it at night, like a bird. What's that you think we were talking about this earlier?

SPEAKER_03 51:39

Like, I honestly Or would you say it's probably the same one? When you get put on the spot, yeah you can't.

SPEAKER_04 51:45

Yeah, so there's so many, and it's also some that we were like, no, we couldn't actually say it. Like we couldn't actually say it because they would literally be like, No, yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 51:52

So I think then, Beth, you can probably start answering this one then. The big question that we kind of always ask is what's the worst thing about working within the wedding industry and what's the best?

SPEAKER_04 52:04

Okay, so I always think the worst is like the pressure, like we were saying earlier. Like, and you know, like it's like running around, and you're at the back of my head, I'm always thinking what's going wrong over there, or like what's happening over there when you're doing something else. Because I always think like at the end of the day, it falls on like you. It might not even be your fault what's happened, but at the end, everyone looks at you and they're like, You're the venue, you're the way you coordinate it at the venue, this is your fault. It could not even be our fault, but like I do think that if anything went wrong, it's down to you. So I always think that's pressure. Like, when I'm in bed, I'm always thinking like I'm just going to work tomorrow, but it's not someone's actual wedding day. This is the biggest day of someone's life tomorrow. Like, I better get it right.

SPEAKER_03 52:40

Not not all the time, but like people's mentality some people kind of just not understand the bigger picture, can they? Like I know why I've been like in the bridal prep room, and something might have happened with a venue and they might have changed a rule on something, and the bridal party are going in about it. Yeah, yeah. And I'm like, let's just chill. Like maybe they've done that for a reason. Yeah, they probably have. That's why the rules have been changed.

SPEAKER_04 53:08

And I just feel like horrible. Let's say, like, for example, we don't allow like real candles in the hall, and I feel like a horrible person just said.

SPEAKER_02 53:14

But also, could you imagine if you had a fire? Well, exactly.

SPEAKER_04 53:16

So that's why we don't. So we're not covered on insurance. Yeah, so that's why.

SPEAKER_00 53:19

So it's in their T's and C's, but then don't know what T's and C's are like. People are getting so excited, the book in the venue, they just sign them, but then on the day when that venue dresser comes, I mean, usually we would always speak to them, but even that two weeks before, if we've told the venue dresser, oh, they can't have real candles, so it needs to be LED. And send the pressure that comes, it comes back onto the city.

SPEAKER_04 53:37

And it's kind of a bit like, well, you should have read the case.

SPEAKER_01 53:44

I know what I do. There's a lot of pressure that comes. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 53:49

And then I and then I'm like, I think I take things quite personally, and I'm like, oh no, well, I'm the bad guy. I'm thinking oh I'm the bad guy.

SPEAKER_02 53:55

Yeah, that's because I think if you were in the wedding industry and you didn't care about somebody's day, and you didn't care you're not in the right industry, yeah, yeah. Then you are exactly that. You are not in the right industry. Like I think about my couples left, right, and centre till it's coming out. Yeah, like there's no tomorrow. Like, I feel guilty if I take a day off, like I feel guilty if like I don't reply to somebody quick enough, or if I've not done something, like or like yeah, like the pressure that comes with it is very, very high. Would you say that's the worst? Yeah, I would.

SPEAKER_00 54:26

And I always find as well, like if something went absolutely perfectly, yeah, like the guests and the bride and groom usually just think like, oh, it was easy, but then if anything goes wrong, it's like the fault is yeah, all hell broken literally. Yeah, but like a hat on that literally. But if everything went fine, they wouldn't I know some people do recognise it. Yeah, um, some people do recognise it, but yeah, like the guests will just be like, Oh, that was an easy job for them.

SPEAKER_04 54:56

You know, just like or do you know what actually this is completely irrelevant, but what grinds my gears? It's like on the day you're stressed, you make everything's going right, and then there's a guest that asking questions like, Oh, can I have a diet coke? Yeah, ask the caterers. Can I have a diet coke? Yeah, ask the caterers, and then you'll see them 20 minutes later. I still haven't had my diet coke, and I'm thinking, do you understand the list of things I've got to do? Like the catering team, I'll get you the diet coke, but like I'm thinking that now I'm not, oh my god, they're gonna leave a bad review because I never got that diet coke, and it's in the back of my head, but I'm thinking, I need to move like 50 flower center pieces to the other side.

SPEAKER_00 55:30

Yeah, because we're not the like we have an exclusive cater of barrett, so that we don't actually run the bar. So as much as we can say, like, go into feature barrett, or like there's the bar, go and ask.

SPEAKER_02 55:43

Because it falls onto like the venue house, it all assumes that it all comes out. 100%. It's even like from an external supplier, everybody always thinks that you just work there rather than actually. They're all separate companies, separate companies just working together to make sure that 100% the best day. So, what would you say is the best thing then?

SPEAKER_04 56:01

I love like seeing from my sort of job and my perspective on lights is like seeing like things on the socials, like trends coming in, trends coming out, watching them like play out in real life, like in front of me. Um especially like things that you've got like normal trends like colours and stuff, but I love like seeing things like you know, at the moment you've got like the whole like weathering type trend, and like I know that's gonna be coming through in the summer. And I love seeing that come from like a screen basically to like real life. Yeah, and again seeing sometimes I love it when a bride goes mental and does like something completely different. Like we had a bride a couple of years ago, and it sounds like absolutely bonkers, but she had like almost like neon pink, like fuchsia pink bridesmaids dresses, which sounds mad, but uh on the day it just looks mega, and I thought it was in a sea of sage green weddings.

SPEAKER_00 56:50

I didn't realise that, yeah, and the flowers that they had they had like bright oranges and pigs, and it you know, when you see it and you're like wow, and it really reflected their personalities as well, like they were such like fun, like bubbly couple, and I just thought, do you know what?

SPEAKER_04 57:04

In like sage green, sage green, sage green, like I love a bit of sage green, but like when it's been all the same.

SPEAKER_03 57:10

Because we're in the industry, it's not like sage sucker, is it? Yeah, then when you see something that's like that, wow, yeah, you remember it.

SPEAKER_04 57:17

And it's literally ingrained in my brain because I'm like, oh, it was just like that.

SPEAKER_03 57:21

They were so nice yesterday. Like, I know like lemon is like a colour, but seeing that on the shoe, yeah, like unreal. It was really good yesterday, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 57:30

What about you?

SPEAKER_03 57:31

What's like the best?

SPEAKER_00 57:32

Um, I would say um literally just being there from the first initial review with a couple and seeing them get married on the day and being part of that special, the most important day of their lives. Um yeah, it just gives me so much joy and happiness.

SPEAKER_02 57:47

Yeah, and making an impact. That's cute.

SPEAKER_00 57:49

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 57:50

So for everyone who is listening and watching, where can everybody find you though? Um socials, website.

SPEAKER_00 57:57

Yeah, so um Instagram is just Capes on Hall as well.

SPEAKER_04 58:01

Oh, we've got two. This doesn't get tricky, I should know this. Um I want to say like yeah, I want to say it's like it up. Yeah, we can change it. At one point we changed them, the underscores, and the one because we've got two. We've got an estate account and a weddings account. And the estate account I want to say is capes on.estate, but the weddings one I can't remember what we changed.

SPEAKER_02 58:20

Capselnhall.estate is the actual estate one. Yeah, absolutely. And then capes on underscore hall is the weddings one.

SPEAKER_04 58:27

So that's they do have two different colour brandings. Yeah. Oh, and that's the sage green actually.

SPEAKER_01 58:33

I'm just sitting there slagging, actually. The sage green logo that's been switched to fusion.

SPEAKER_00 58:40

And then our website is just www.capesone.com. Super easy, easy.

SPEAKER_03 58:46

Oh, that's been so fun. It has been. Thanks so much for coming on. Oh no, thank you so much for having us. And where can everyone find us off? So TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, um, all the Isle Diaries podcast, and then they can find your personal page, which is Serafina Weddings underscore on Instagram and Serafina Weddings on TikTok. Yeah, mine's Sophie.brown.makeup, or the sister pages SB dot bridal makeup.

unknown 59:12

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 59:12

And we'll see you next week. Bye!