1. Can you tell us a little bit about House of Lemon?  

House of Lemon (previously Lemon Entertainment), is a boutique agency based in Surrey, providing hand picked, high end entertainment to weddings and events worldwide. From a solo harpist to a 13-piece band, we have some of the best musicians in the UK on our books. House of Lemon offers a personal service – everything is managed under one roof, through one dedicated point of contact.

 

2. When and why did you setup House of Lemon?

I set up House of Lemon six years ago, after eight years of working in the music industry in various roles – mainly running live music and entertainment events such as festival stages and music venues. I worked with some fantastic artists and on some epic events including Ed Sheeran’s ‘Live At The Bedford’ EP recording, a secret Paolo Nutini show in Hammersmith, SXSW, Hop Farm Festival, Cornbury Festival and loads more. House of Lemon came about after realising how hard it is for people to book a high-quality band for their wedding or event. Other agencies offer hundreds of different bands but seem to have no filter when it comes to quality. 

 

3. How would you describe the artists that you represent and manage?

I pride myself in supplying my clients with fantastic musicians who make their living from recording and touring with established, well-known artists as well as playing at high-end events. Not only are our musicians the best that money can buy – they are all charming, lovely people who make my office one of my favourite places to be. Some of our musicians play and have toured with well known artists such as Florence & The Machine, The Spice Girls, James, Paloma Faith, Lulu, Sigala and Sam Smith.

 

4. How have you selected the artists and bands that have become a part of the House of Lemon Family over the years? 

Most of the musicians I work with I’ve known for years and worked with them previously when I worked in the commercial music industry. I only work with musicians and entertainers that I trust and know are at the top of their game. Quality is really important to me as is service and professionalism.

 

5. What can couples expect when they enquire with you regarding finding the perfect musicians for their Big Day? 

Initially I like to try to get to know the clients and what they have in mind entertainment wise for their Big Day. Once I get an idea of the kind of vibe they are going for, I send over some options for them to consider. I also offer ‘on the house’ phone consultations should clients request one. Once a decision has been made as to what entertainment they’d like to go with, I look after the logistics side of the booking, so everything from where the band needs to load in and power requirements to making sure they have any special song requests that the client has asked for.

We give each of our clients the most personal and attentive service, responding to their needs and any changes to the plan quickly and efficiently – and often recommending actions and ideas before they have had a chance to think of them. Our clients say what they love most (apart from our crowd-pleasing performers) is feeling in safe hands. 

 

6. What advice would you give to those couples who are about to embark on choosing their Wedding Entertainment but are unsure where to begin?

I always think personal recommendations are a great way to start. Perhaps asking friends and family if they have seen any great live acts recently at weddings or events. It’s also a great starting point to watch some videos of wedding bands online so you get an idea of the kind of thing you want/do not want – so when you contact an agency or ask for advice you have narrowed down the type of entertainment that you’d like. You can see videos of our bands, DJ’s and entertainers on our website.

 

7. What do you love most about what you do?

Being able to go to some absolutely stunning venues, listen to some of the best musicians in the country perform whilst watching our clients and their guests having the time of their lives. I love doing what I do because I can actually see the memories being made whilst the service that I provide is happening – it’s a great feeling.

 

8. What do you love the most about Millbridge Court? 

I absolutely love the décor at Millbridge. Every time I visit it makes me want to redo my whole home in the style of the venue. The breakfast room is definitely one of my favourite rooms as well as the garden, which is breathtaking in the summer for outdoor weddings.

I also think the atmosphere at the venue is lovely – the staff are friendly and details are important to them (it’s all in the details!)

 

9. What are your three favourite industry professionals/ brands to follow on Instagram?

@Dostiemposuk – these guys are one of my acts and are brilliant – they are massive characters and always bring such energy to events they perform at. Their stories always make me laugh and dance at the same time.

 

@Confetti_and_silk_films – Stu and Dan are AMAZING videographers who I work with a lot. They are lovely chaps and make stunning visuals. I love looking at the videos on their page.

 

@Veronikaward – Veronika has to be one of my favourite ever photographers. She works on a lot of weddings but also lifestyle and travel. Her shots are absolutely stunning. I often get her in to my events to take live shots of my musicians and I’m always thrilled with her work.

 

10. What are you seeing as the trends in wedding entertainment at the moment?

It’s really refreshing to see that people are starting to place more importance on the entertainment for their big day. They are spending more time considering the type of entertainment they would like for various points throughout the day. More people are now booking live music for their ceremony – there really is nothing like walking down the aisle to a live performance.

We are also seeing people considering their guests during the drinks reception part of the the day. I think this can be the longest part of the day for guests and having some live entertainment gets them in the mood for the evening reception.  Our roaming bands have been very popular for daytime entertainment this year – they are versatile and can move around the drinks reception interacting with guests and bringing some fun to this part of the day. I’ve also seen a rise in people looking for something a little different for their evening reception. For example, instead of going for just a DJ they want that live music element in there too – so might go for a DJ/Drum duo or a band that is totally different from the standard party band that their guests may have never seen before. We have an amazing act called Contempo who has to be seen to be believed. If you want to see something truly impressive and different head to the website to check him out!

To find out more about House of Lemon & their talented acts, head to: www.houseoflemon.co.uk

Here on the MBC Journal, we love sharing posts featuring gorgeous flowers, delicious food & oodles of styling inspiration for the Halls & Arbor Ceremonies- this week however we wanted to focus on some of the smaller styling details, so we’re sharing a selection of imagery showcasing some of the beautiful Signage that Couples have had created for their Wedding Days at Millbridge Court.

For the creation of ‘Welcome’ signs, Ceremony signage, ‘Order of the Day’s’ & Table Plans, some Couples have called upon the expertise of talented Stationers, Calligraphers & Graphic Designers, with others seeing it as a fabulous opportunity for some DIY Decor & we always find it so wonderful seeing how perfectly these details tie in to the overall decor once they’re put in place on The Big Day itself, whether that be through the colour palette, the addition of beautiful florals or giant balloons.

So, if you’re at a stage in your planning process where you’re beginning to think about Stationery & Signage & are looking for inspiration regarding designs, styles or potential Suppliers, then look no further than the gorgeous images below.

Xx

(Links to Supplier’s websites can be found at the bottom of the post).

(Top- Photographer: Sophie Duckworth, Florist: Boutique Blooms, Second Image- Photographer: Benjamin Wheeler, Sign: Loupaper Wedding Stationery, Third Image- Photographer: The Springles, Bottom: Photographer: Kate Gray Photography, sign: Loupaper Wedding Stationery)

(Top- Photographer: Paul Rogers, Florist: White Lilac; Bottom Left- Photographer: Claire Penn Photography, Sign: Soo Yeah Studio; Bottom Right- Photographer: VLA Photography, Sign: Me & Es Designs)

(Top Left- Photographer: Philippa Sian Photography, Florist: Boutique Blooms, Sign: Love Lane Events, Bottom Left- Joe Burford Photography, Sign: Love lane Events, Florist: Lily & Myrtle; Top Right- Photographer: Nataly J Photography; Bottom Right- Photographer: Philippa Sian Photography, Bubblegum Balloons, Designed by Bride)

(Top- Sign: 2 Little Birds, Photography: Leanne Jade Photography; Middle- Photographer: The Springles, Sign: 2 Little Birds, Flowers: Still Life Flowers; Bottom- Photographer: Emma Russell Photography, Sign: 2 Little Birds)

(Top- Sign: Farnham Sound & Light, Florist: Blush Floral Design, Photographer: Philippa Sian Photography; Bottom- Sign: Love Inc Ltd, Florist: Boutique Blooms, Photographer: Anneli Marinovich Photography)

(Top Left- Photographer: Jamie Dunn Photography, Table Plan: 2 Little Birds, Florist: Lavender Hill Company; Top Right- Photographer: Benjamin Wheeler, Table Plan: 2 Loupaper Wedding Stationery; Bottom- Photographer: Kate Gray Photography, Table Plan: Loupaper Wedding Stationery)

(Top Left- Photographer: Lincoln Pictures, Table Plan: Nats Paper Studio, Florist: Hannah Berry Flowers; Top Right- Photographer: RS Brown Photography, Table Plan: 2 Little Birds, Florist: Hannah Berry Flowers; Bottom- Photographer: The Springles, Florist: Still Life Flowers, Table Plan: Nats Paper Studio)

(Left- Photographer: Philippa Sian Photography; Right: Photographer: Emma Russell Photography, Florist: Topiary Tree by Carrie Macey, Table Plan: 2 Little Birds; Bottom Left- Photographer: Kate Gray Photography, Order of the Day: Loupaper Wedding Stationery; Bottom Right- Photographer: Rebecca Searle Photography, Mirror: Owned by Couple, Lettering: Decal from Etsy, Florist: Hannah Berry Flowers)

(Top Left- Photographer: VLA Photography, Florist: Blush Floral Design, Sign: Stationery made by Couple, Hoop from Bramblesky (Etsy); Top Right- Photographer: Nataly J Photography, Table Plan: by Couple; Bottom- Photographer: DM Photography, Florist: Hannah Martin, Sign: Hoop, Couples own, Stationery: Vista Print)

(Left- Photographer: Philippa Sian Photography, Lettering: Beyond V, Florist: A Wild Handful; Top Right- Photographer: Lemonade Pictures, Quote board: Made by Groom, Florist: Hannah Berry Flowers; Bottom- Photographer: Emma Russell Photography, Sign: 2 Little Birds)

 

Stationers:

2 Little Birds

Beyond V

Bramblesky

Loupaper Wedding Stationery

Love Lane Events

Nats Paper Studio

Soo Yeah Studio

Lighting Hire:

Farnham Sound & Light

Love Inc Ltd

Me & Es Designs

Photographers:

Anneli Marinovich, Benjamin Wheeler Photography, Claire Penn Photography, DM Photography, Emma Russell Photography, Jamie Dunn Photography, Kate Gray Photography, Leanne Jade Photography, Lemonade Pictures, Lincoln Pictures, Nataly J Photography, Paul Rogers Photography, Philippa Sian Photography, Rebecca Searle Photography, RS Brown Photography, Sophie Duckworth Photography, The Springles, VLA Photography

Florists:

A Wild Handful, Blush Floral Design, Boutique Blooms, Hannah Berry Flowers, Hannah Martin Flowers, Lily & Myrtle, Still Life Flowers, Topiary Tree by Carrie Macey

Seeing utterly stunning Millbridge Court Wedding Days grace the pages of glossy Bridal Magazines is always so immensely exciting & seeing L&A’s Summer Wedding Day in the July Issue of Wedding Ideas Magazine was certainly no exception.

Their day included a host of immensely talented MBC Partners who brought a vibrant, romantic & elegant Wedding Day to life, so to see lots of gorgeous Summertime Wedding inspiration courtesy of Boutique Blooms, Spongeworks, Kalm Kitchen, Bubblegum Balloons & Sarah Legge Photography & to read all about L&A’s celebrations, click on the link below:

Wedding Ideas Magazine Real Wedding Feature- Lizzie & Ashley

Last month, we hosted our very first Details Date Night at Millbridge Court, a brand new event exclusively for all of our recently booked couples.

The aim of the evening is to give those Brides and Grooms who have recently secured their Wedding Date the chance to see the Venue once again and begin to think about the details of their day in finer detail. They can chat with our Planning Team who are on hand to offer advise and answer any questions that they might have and there is also the opportunity to meet and speak with a handful of talented MBC Partner’s who have a great understanding of the Venue and how Millbridge Court Wedding Days flow. Couples also have the chance to see all the bedrooms, measure items (measuring tapes and detailed floor plans are provided by us), see the Ceremony Room set up, eat some delicious Kalm Kitchen food and of course, have some bubbles!

For our first Details Date Night we had with us the wonderful Hannah Berry Flowers and Boutique Blooms creating stunning and inspiring floral arrangements, Spongeworks and Forever Cakes who displayed beautiful Cakes and Macaron Towers with utterly delicious samples for our couples to try, guests were serenaded by Laura’s Paper Heart and Music by Kate & Dave throughout & in The Loft (our Bridal Changing Room) we had Wedding Dress Designer Sophie Rose showcasing her gorgeous gowns and Wedding Hairstylist and Makeup Artist Hanna Wildman. Last but not least, we also had wonderful MBC Partner Photographers Matthew Lawrence and Philippa Sian displaying their stunning images and thank you to Philippa for kindly capturing all of the breathtaking details of the Date Night, a handful of which we have shared below to give you an insight in to our exciting new event. Xx

 

Boutique Blooms

Hannah Berry Flowers

Hannah Berry Flowers

(Left) Spongeworks, (Right) Forever Cakes

Kalm Kitchen Cheese Table

Kalm Kitchen Cookie Corner

 

Here at Millbridge Court we are so excited to announce a new development & brand new addition to MBC Wedding Days, The Lodge.

The Lodge is a separate building next to the Main House & on the first floor is The Den, a space for members of the Wedding Party to get ready on the morning of the Wedding. Designed with warm interiors, comfy seating & a fully stocked help-yourself bar with drinks & snacks, it really is the perfect place to spend quality time before the celebrations get underway. There is also a private garden which can be utilised in the warmer months.

On the ground floor of the Lodge is an additional bedroom which features a king-size bed, cosy seating area & en-suite bathroom which will be well suited for a member of the Wedding Party to spend the night following the days celebrations.

We will be sharing imagery & videos of The Lodge once it is completed over the course of the next week, so be sure to keep an eye on our Social Media channels to catch a glimpse. Xx

Image: Hannah Duffy Photography

 

Here at Millbridge Court, we currently have a few Wedding Dates available in late Summer & Autumn of this year for those couples who would love to get married in 2019.

With the build-up to a Wedding typically being a year or more in advance of the Big Day, organising a Wedding in a matter of months can seem intimidating to some, so we’ve been chatting to luxury Wedding Planner Louise Perry Weddings, co-founder of Planning Redefined, about her Top Tips for couples who wish to plan a ‘last minute’ Wedding. We’re also sharing some information on the offers we currently have for our remaining dates here at Millbridge Court, so without further a do, these are the fabulous Louise Perry’s Top 10 Tips:

 

1. Write a guest list and collate contact details for them. Keep these on a spreadsheet. The spreadsheet is king when it comes to wedding planning.

2. Create a budget, always. Put on the spreadsheet when all your payments are due, that way you can keep on top of everything.

3. Make sure you let the important people, like bridesmaids and family know immediately.

4. The big advantage when you have a short lead time, is that you have to make decisions quicker and this can make the planning less stressful.

5. If the lead time is short, use something like paperless post for your invites as it will be quicker and guests can RSVP back to you straight away online.

6. If you are having a civil ceremony, make sure you contact your local registrar as soon as the venue is booked to make sure they are free.

7. Look for sample sales for your dress. All of the big designers and boutiques have them, you can save a fortune this way

8. Ask friends and family for help.

9. Hire a wedding planner. It will be worth its weight in gold, as they will know where to go to help you find your suppliers and pull your wedding day schedule together.

10.You will often get great deals from venues when you book only a short time ahead, as venues want to fill any remaining dates.

 

For those couples wishing to enquire with us regarding remaining Wedding Dates for 2019, please do not hesitate to get in touch on team@millbridgecourt.co.uk or call us on 01252 792572 to receive our last minute Wedding Package rates which include The Hideaway (our Bridal Suite) as complimentary, as well as Kalm Kitchen’s brand new Food Stall, Cookie Corner, as a complimentary & fabulous addition to your day. Xx

 

For information regarding ‘Planning Redefined 2019’, a 2 day workshop hosted at Millbridge Court for new & aspiring Wedding Planners, click the link https://planningredefined.co.uk/our-workshops/redefined-2019/