Sustainable Wedding Trends

Planning a wedding can seem like a million tasks thrown into one day and when you add making your event as eco- friendly and sustainable as possible… it can seem like a whole other world!

We’ve put together some top tips on making your day as eco as possible while keeping it as easy for you (and cost effective!) as possible…

Rent your wedding dress!

Not only does this save a on your budget - it is an excellent way to stay sustainable. Now, I know many of you will have your heart set on a dress already - so how about selling it on to someone else once you have made your memories? Wedding dresses are such beautiful and intricate pieces of design that it seems a shame that they get worn once! Why not share the joy your dress has brought to you and your wedding and give someone else the chance to have a beautiful dress on their big day! It is such a good way to reduce your weddings footprint.

 
 

Confetti…

This is always a controversial discussion, there are so many different views out there. One idea that I have seen and LOVE is ‘Leaf Confetti’ - we already know that they are biodegradable, they won’t harm the environment and there is no need for extra resources as leaves are readily available! That raked up pile of leaves is suddenly looking quite inviting, right?

The Theme

Millions of outfits are bought every year for weddings, some that are never worn again. Challenge your guests to reuse clothes they already have, only buy from charity shops or up-cycle! Up-cycled fashion can be great fun and a reason to get out and do some stress free shopping with your ‘I do’ crew!

 

Photo by Sam Gee

Photo by Jarek Lepak

 

Decor

It is very easy to be hooked into the single use wedding market but there are some great sustainable options out there! Hiring props is a great place to start, you get to create the wedding of your dreams without having to start from scratch! Prop companies are such a great resource and can offer lots of styling advice. Another great option is buying items which you can reuse or sell on, houseplants for table decor that guests can take with them as a memento of the day, or perhaps raid your local charity shop for decor items that you can either sell on or donate after the big day!

How to Make a Mid-Week Wedding Work for You!

Planning a wedding can come with many big decisions and the pressure is on especially now that availability is fading fast! Picking the perfect date can seem like it’s always an arms length away…we’re here to tell you, it’s not!

Picking up speed as a 2022 trend is the ‘Mid-Week Wedding’.

Now, I know what you’re thinking - ‘will people be able to make a Wednesday?’, ‘I’d always imagined a weekend’.

Well, mid-week IS the new weekend!

Why Mid-Week is the best option,

  1. Give friends and family an excuse to have a couple days off work! A day off for your besties wedding sure beats a day off to catch up on laundry! (The trick is - send out the ‘Save the Dates’ as soon as possible so they have a chance to get it booked).

  2. Mid-week weddings are typically lower in price, the same great venue for a smaller price tag…which leaves more budget left to spend on entertainment, food, drinks and wedding day festivities.

  3. Your ideal suppliers are more likely to be available…the post lockdown wedding boom has seen weekends snapped up. Week days give you much more flexibility to ensure your day is exactly as you want!

  4. Fancy a micro wedding? Small, intimate, just you and your nearest and dearest. Micro-weddings are more likely to be available for mid-week dates! A simple way to get out of inviting Great-Aunt Mildred…


Get in touch with Megan, our Wedding Coordinator, to discuss your options!

A Great British Summer of Weddings

The leaves are on the turn and the smell of Autumn in the air, so we decided it's the perfect time to reminisce about the beautiful summer weddings we’ve had...

Our hearts have been full this summer watching the venue come alive once again! After so much uncertainty in the wedding industry, I know not only for us but for all of the wonderful suppliers we work with - it has been a pleasure and relief to get back to doing what we do best! 

It’s been a particularly special season as not only have we had some magical weddings - we have been the destination that these families reunite. It has been so lovely to witness the joy on each couples face as their dream wedding comes together and to see the love on the faces of families who have spent 18 months apart. 

And with the Great British Summer comes the array of Great British weather. One word of advice when planning your wedding day is to have every weather eventuality covered. Here at Happy Valley there’s a beautiful space come rain or shine for every aspect of your day. This year we’ve seen it all but in true HV style the sun has shone down for all the outdoor “I dos”.

We want to share with you our favourite moments so far…

The Courtyard

Alfresco dining in the most colourful setting you can imagine, the barns as the backdrop and the sun shining down. This really is the spot for outdoor lovers - there is no better way to appreciate the outdoors than to sit, eat and revel in its’ greatness.

The Dutch Barn

It was so refreshing to see the Dutch Barn full to the brim with love and laughter on this special day!

The Dutch Barn is the ideal place to gather and watch the sun go down…the golden haze captured here encapsulates the warmth we hope every couple experiences on their big day.

With space to seat 175 people, it’s a great spot to escape the weather and admire the panoramic views of Happy Valley.

The Hay Barn

The snug ambience of the Hay Barn is the perfect place for intimate weddings! We were and still are completely in awe of the Hay Barn set up for this micro-wedding. The walls have such character that only minimal decor is needed to make it a really special place.

Throw open the doors and dance until your heart in content no matter the weather! The cosy atmosphere of the Hay Barn is perfect for when the nights draw in and the air becomes frosty.

Photo Credits - Aurora Grey Photography, Tori Hancock Photography, Sam Gee Photography, Killer Filler Workshop

Suppliers - Wildfolk Flowers, Hannah Hunnam, Charlotte Rowland,

A Huge Welcome Back

Here’s to the beginning of the end of Covid and the start of a happier, healthier future for us all.

We cannot express how much we are looking forward to opening our proverbial doors again on the 12th April!

Can’t wait any longer to say, ‘I do’? We have limited availability for intimate elopements and micro-weddings! After a year of uncertainty, there is one thing we can guarantee you – a magical ceremony surrounded by serene woodlands, setting the perfect scene for your special day.

We currently have Micro-Wedding packages available for up to 15 guests from the 12th April, 30 people from the 17th May until the 21st June – the ideal intimate gathering of family and friends that we have so missed over the past months.

Thereafter we have a few dates for a larger gathering this Summer.

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 What can a wedding at Happy Valley offer you?

-      A blank canvas, a space for you to make your wedding yours! There are no limits, let your creativity flow freely and create the wedding you’ve always dreamed of.

-      Space to explore – let your senses run wild whilst roaming the acres of land at Happy Valley! Stroll hand in hand through the countryside and bask in the glory of nature.

-      Medicine for the soul – in addition to the happiness and joy of marrying your other half, being in the woodland is proven to help reduce stress, strengthen the immune system, and improve your mood!

-      Live in the moment! There is no better way to disconnect from the outside world and live in the moment than to surround yourself by nature, ground yourself at Happy Valley, relax and enjoy the experience.

 

If this has sparked your curiosity, email us at weddings@happyvalleynorfolk.co.uk and let us know how we can help!