Welcome to I'll marry you, a podcast with me, Olivia Colman, full of tips and tricks from the UK wedding scene, interviews with industry experts, and a whole lot of oversharing.
Olivia ColmanHot man.
Olivia ColmanCan I take this off?
Olivia ColmanNo.
Olivia ColmanToo much tit.
Olivia ColmanSo welcome.
Olivia ColmanWelcome back to season three of the I'll marry you podcast.
Olivia ColmanAnd in case you've missed the news on my socials, we are now adding video to sound.
Olivia ColmanAnd so if you are, in fact listening to this in the car or in your earphones as you're walking to work or you're commuting, or if you're listening to it on your old Alexa, I always feel like I have to whisper Alexa in case she hears and then suddenly does something I don't want her to do.
Olivia ColmanActually, I've got a fun Alexa story.
Olivia ColmanCan I tell you it?
Olivia ColmanI'll tell you in a minute.
Olivia ColmanSo if you're listening to this, then nothing's changed.
Olivia ColmanBut if you are watching this on YouTube, I've got my own YouTube channel.
Olivia ColmanCan you believe?
Olivia ColmanAnd this is the first episode.
Olivia ColmanSo this is the first time that Drew has.
Olivia ColmanProducer Drew has left me to set everything up myself, which is why I was getting in a flap with the camera and the mic and everything.
Olivia ColmanAnd I've said to him all along, I don't want to go on video because I like to record in comfort.
Olivia ColmanI like to record, preferably on my ass without makeup on, which is still very much the case today.
Olivia ColmanAnd also probably not wearing an underwire bra, which is, to be honest, common.
Olivia ColmanI very, very rarely wear a wire, both as a spy and as a woman.
Olivia ColmanSo I've been reluctant to go on to video.
Olivia ColmanBut I'm here and it's happening, and I'm on YouTube now.
Olivia ColmanAnd it's the first episode.
Olivia ColmanIt's the first time I've done it, and I'm already regretting it because I already can't be asked.
Olivia ColmanSo what I thought I'd do, I was going to do this yesterday, and I couldn't be asked to put makeup on because also, in case you've missed every single moment of the last seven months, I'm up the duff.
Olivia ColmanSo I'm not just lazy, I'm bloody exhausted.
Olivia ColmanAnd I can't be asked to present myself in any half decent way, not even for the fit dad at school, who, by the way, I saw today, and it's a little wet outside, and he was wearing a dry robe, which I struggle with.
Olivia ColmanHe doesn't have a dog, and he wasn't surfing at the time.
Olivia ColmanBut he was wearing a dry robe and it was bright blue, and it instantly gave me the ick.
Olivia ColmanSo the potential of having the affair with the fit dad from school has gone out the window completely.
Olivia ColmanI'll find someone else.
Olivia ColmanSo I can't even be asked to do the school run with some slap on.
Olivia ColmanBut I couldn't be asked to do it yesterday whilst recording.
Olivia ColmanSo I thought what I would do, like an influencer, is I would do this whilst I have to put makeup on, because I have a wedding today.
Olivia ColmanSo I thought, I'll wash me air, I'll wash my hair, and I'll.
Olivia ColmanI'll sort myself out, and I'll do that whilst I chat to you, because that's relaxing, isn't it?
Olivia ColmanStomach hurts.
Olivia ColmanI tell you, this growing human life is not always cracked up to me.
Olivia ColmanSo if you're listening in the car, if you're listening remotely, you're not watching on YouTube, then.
Olivia ColmanThen more for you, because you don't have to see me attempt makeup like an influencer, which I'm very aware I'm not.
Olivia ColmanIt's really more of a time saving, convenience, I'm a lazy bitch kind of thing.
Olivia ColmanBut it's happening.
Olivia ColmanI promise that this season, it will be helpful, and I will have lots to talk to you about.
Olivia ColmanAnd I've got some incredible guests lined up to interview.
Olivia ColmanAnd I had a season, a summer season full of weddings to tell you all about.
Olivia ColmanI've just realized that I put the microphone in front of the drawer where all my makeup is.
Olivia ColmanSo that wasn't.
Olivia ColmanThat's my first major error.
Olivia ColmanBear with.
Olivia ColmanBear with.
Olivia ColmanIt's a lot of makeup.
Olivia ColmanYou know, it's like, it turns out that, in fact, you can polish a turdip.
Olivia ColmanSo I've got lots coming up, and I've got lots in the works, and I've been harassing people on social media to get them to agree to come on the podcast.
Olivia ColmanBut also, people are.
Olivia ColmanPeople are still sliding into my DM's and wanting to be involved, which is amazing.
Olivia ColmanSo what I will tell you right off the bat is if you are an industry professional or if you are someone who is getting engaged and you think, ah, that supplier would be a brilliant person to interview for me, if I'm honest, the interviews, obviously, it matters that they know what they're talking about, even though I don't.
Olivia ColmanAnd yet you lot still listen, but it's more, oh, my God.
Olivia ColmanI'm literally doing my makeup as I record a podcast.
Olivia ColmanI don't know who on God's green earth.
Olivia ColmanI think I am.
Olivia ColmanI'm gonna have to phone my.
Olivia ColmanDo you remember I told you about my friend Jack, who every time I finish a wedding and people tell me how wonderful I am, I have to send him a message so he brings me back down to earth.
Olivia ColmanI'm gonna have to call him after this and tell him what I've just done.
Olivia ColmanHe's not gonna.
Olivia ColmanHe's not gonna cope with it well.
Olivia ColmanSo, for me, with the interviews, it's sort of less about how many followers they have or how influential they are.
Olivia ColmanAll that stuff.
Olivia ColmanIt's more about, do I like them as a person?
Olivia ColmanBecause I think that's actually the most important thing when you book a supplier, that you have to like them as people.
Olivia ColmanAnd I know I've said this a million times, and I'm going to keep saying it, especially your photographer, your planner, your celebrant.
Olivia ColmanBut that's me.
Olivia ColmanThere's no other choices out there, is there?
Olivia ColmanYour photographer in your planner and your videographer or anyone, really, that's going to be around you on the day.
Olivia ColmanYou have to like them.
Olivia ColmanSo I want to interview people who are not only good at what they do and have experience in it and are able to offer helpful advice, unlike myself, but professionals who are easy to talk to and have got good banter.
Olivia ColmanThat's what I want.
Olivia ColmanSo I've got a few lined up, and I'm in the works with some more.
Olivia ColmanThey all want to do it live.
Olivia ColmanIt's this YouTube malarkey that Drew's making me do.
Olivia ColmanSo I've got to go places.
Olivia ColmanI've got to get out the house.
Olivia ColmanUgh.
Olivia ColmanThe effort.
Olivia ColmanBut I'll do it for you.
Olivia ColmanDo you know why?
Olivia ColmanAlso because I bloody love it.
Olivia ColmanSo that's exciting.
Olivia ColmanI've already recorded.
Olivia ColmanI've pre recorded, as we say in the biz, next week's episode.
Olivia ColmanAlso very annoying if you're not watching it because you can hear me rustle in my bag.
Olivia ColmanNot a euphemism.
Olivia ColmanActual rustling in my bag.
Olivia ColmanMy makeup bag.
Olivia ColmanLost my brush.
Olivia ColmanLet's hear.
Olivia ColmanCalm down, everyone.
Olivia ColmanCalm down, everyone.
Olivia ColmanI've pre recorded next the next episode with Cousin Al.
Olivia ColmanCousin Al is back.
Olivia ColmanGod, he's fun.
Olivia ColmanHe's one of my favorite people in the entire world.
Olivia ColmanAnd I'm not just saying that because he listens, because he doesn't listen.
Olivia ColmanHe only listens to his episodes with me.
Olivia ColmanHe doesn't listen to any of the others.
Olivia ColmanAnd I put on my socials the other day when we finished recording it.
Olivia ColmanWe recorded it, and I regretted 95% of everything I said.
Olivia ColmanAnd I'd thought about these things and I thought, livy, that's too much.
Olivia ColmanYou're known for your oversharing, but that is just beyond.
Olivia ColmanSo let's not do that.
Olivia ColmanSo this product today that I'm using because, you know, people are going to follow this and they're going to offer me free gifts.
Olivia ColmanAt what point in the influencing world do people offer you freebies?
Olivia ColmanThat's what I want to know.
Olivia ColmanThat's really what I'm here for.
Olivia ColmanSo I've got loads and loads lined up, and I've got to tell you, but I'm going to wait and tell you at the end of this episode all about how you can get involved with the R Mario podcast.
Olivia ColmanBecause we have opened up our gates, again, not a euphemism, we have opened up our doors, both front and back, and we are bringing in members.
Olivia ColmanMy front gate is open for members.
Olivia ColmanMy front gate is closed.
Olivia ColmanIt's been closed for the last seven months, and it'll be closed for forever.
Olivia ColmanNow, there are memberships.
Olivia ColmanThere are two memberships, and also there are advertising opportunities.
Olivia ColmanSo I will tell you all about that at the end of this episode.
Olivia ColmanSo stay tuned because that's really, really exciting.
Olivia ColmanIt's the next level.
Olivia ColmanI need a lot of makeup today because I'm very tired.
Olivia ColmanSo stay tuned until the end.
Olivia ColmanShould we continue to try and make me look half decent?
Olivia ColmanSo today, I just want to ease you in.
Olivia ColmanI want to ease you in to the new season of the Almighty podcast.
Olivia ColmanAnd I want to tell you all about a wedding I had in the summer.
Olivia ColmanAnd it was one that I not only was celebrant for, but I also was on the day coordinator.
Olivia ColmanAnd it was beautiful, and it was local ish, and it was for Ella and Dan.
Olivia ColmanAnd the whole day was bloody gorgeous.
Olivia ColmanSo, Ella and Dan, they are local to me.
Olivia ColmanThey live in Bath.
Olivia ColmanShe is from bath.
Olivia ColmanHe is from Wales.
Olivia ColmanHe doesn't sound Welsh, which not super Welsh, anyway.
Olivia ColmanAnd so when I got there on the day and there were all these people that sounded really welsh, it surprised me, which is stupid, I know, because, hello.
Olivia ColmanYou know, in theory, half the guests are Welsh, but I was like, oh, hello, lovely.
Olivia ColmanThat is because I have this thing, apparently, it's the thing with empathy.
Olivia ColmanIf you have a lot of empathy, which I do, I'm incredibly empathetic.
Olivia ColmanWhere you.
Olivia ColmanIt's not mocking people's accents, you mimic people's accents.
Olivia ColmanAnd it's kind of a wait.
Olivia ColmanWhy isn't it?
Olivia ColmanIt's kind of a way to, like to bond with them or connect with them, maybe.
Olivia ColmanI don't know.
Olivia ColmanSo as soon as I sort of got there and realized that everyone was very welsh, that was it, then.
Olivia ColmanGood morning.
Olivia ColmanHang on, I can't do it now.
Olivia ColmanI have to say certain things to get into accents.
Olivia ColmanLike if I.
Olivia ColmanIf I'm doing an irish accent, I have to go Louis Walsh, bewitched Westlife.
Olivia ColmanIf I'm doing a welsh accent, I have to go Tom Jones.
Olivia ColmanTom Jones.
Olivia ColmanSo everyone was very welsh anyway, so he's Welsh, so she's from bath.
Olivia ColmanSo we'd met up a couple of times because we could.
Olivia ColmanBecause they're so local, which is really, really nice for me, you know, because as we've established, I'm pregnant and lazy.
Olivia ColmanBut also, it's just.
Olivia ColmanIt's convenient, isn't it?
Olivia ColmanIt means that we've got a lot more sort of options in terms of when and where.
Olivia ColmanSo they're gorgeous.
Olivia ColmanThey met five ish years ago.
Olivia ColmanThey met on Tinder, which is so common now.
Olivia ColmanI think people.
Olivia ColmanSome people are still a bit sort of embarrassed when they say that they've met online, but I would.
Olivia ColmanI would say at least 60% of my couples, especially the younger ones, meet online, because also, where else are you going to meet?
Olivia ColmanDo you know what I mean?
Olivia ColmanWe're busy people.
Olivia ColmanSo they met online and then just before lockdown, like, just before lockdown, they actually met on Bumble first.
Olivia ColmanAnd Dan did whatever you do on Bumble to, like, hi wave bumble, I don't know.
Olivia ColmanTo Ella and Ella.
Olivia ColmanTime lapsed.
Olivia ColmanElla didn't get back to him before the time lapsed.
Olivia ColmanTerribly awkward.
Olivia ColmanAnd then Dan was like, I'm not giving up.
Olivia ColmanSo he went on to Tinder.
Olivia ColmanReal keen bean.
Olivia ColmanAnd swiped, or whatever you do on Tinder with her there and there, she realized that she made a mistake on Bumble.
Olivia ColmanSo they met on Tinder.
Olivia ColmanThey went on their first date, they just went for a walk.
Olivia ColmanAnd that was before lockdown.
Olivia ColmanIsn't that nice?
Olivia ColmanBecause I think that some people, you know, not me, because I'm a classy bird, but I think some people just jump into bed with people and that's fine because you've got to make sure that, you know, everything works, haven't you?
Olivia ColmanBut I think with a lot of lockdown romances where you couldn't jump into bed with someone or you shouldn't, at least, you know, because chlamydia wasn't the only thing you could catch.
Olivia ColmanBut you had this distance thing and the bubble thing, and you just.
Olivia ColmanYou had to go for walks, you had to talk on the phone, you had to have Zoom calls or whatever.
Olivia ColmanI'm already looking better, by the way, if you're listening, not watching, I've just.
Olivia ColmanI just applied my foundation.
Olivia ColmanSo they met, they had a walk, and they had hot chocolate.
Olivia ColmanTook her dog again.
Olivia ColmanNow, that's quite clever, actually, thinking about it, thinking aloud.
Olivia ColmanIt's like when you have a baby, people, there's always something to talk about.
Olivia ColmanDo you know what I mean?
Olivia ColmanSo she took her dog, and she probably didn't even think this in her mind.
Olivia ColmanShe actually was taking the dog for protection.
Olivia ColmanAnd it's a tiny little dog.
Olivia ColmanI don't know what she thinks she was protecting herself from, if not but a smurf.
Olivia ColmanAnd so she took it for protection.
Olivia ColmanBut actually, that's a really.
Olivia ColmanCause if the date was really awkward, you could just be like, oh, I like your dog.
Olivia ColmanCheers, mate.
Olivia ColmanDo you know what I mean?
Olivia ColmanAnd anyway, the date was wonderful, and it went really well, and they started dating, and then lockdown happened.
Olivia ColmanAnd this is.
Olivia ColmanI love this.
Olivia ColmanSo he basically, he would come and visit her.
Olivia ColmanShe was living back with her parents, who were just the dreamiest of pairs, and he would come and visit her and he would sit at the end of the garden.
Olivia ColmanDon't you remember those days?
Olivia ColmanWe had to sit at the end of the garden and sort of, as the time went on to.
Olivia ColmanAnd I suppose people became a bit more relaxed and things.
Olivia ColmanHe just got closer and closer to the house, and in the end, he just moved in.
Olivia ColmanJust moved in, didn't he?
Olivia ColmanSo that's their meet cute and that's their story.
Olivia ColmanThey're gorgeous.
Olivia ColmanPeople live and work in bath.
Olivia ColmanDan is.
Olivia ColmanWhen he was at uni, he was part of the Bath University big band.
Olivia ColmanI know, right?
Olivia ColmanLove a big band also, you know, partial to a small, bandaid, medium sized band, sure, but love a big band.
Olivia ColmanBig gastric band.
Olivia ColmanI'm sorry, I'm very weight obsessed.
Olivia ColmanIt's because I'm so large.
Olivia ColmanSo he was part of a big band and he has all these little hobbies, like he goes mountain biking and he plays these instruments.
Olivia ColmanHe conducts as well.
Olivia ColmanHow cool is that?
Olivia ColmanElla is, like, totally a bit of me.
Olivia ColmanLoves musical theater, loves performing, loves shows, but she's not showy, you know, she's just really cool.
Olivia ColmanGot a lot of time for them.
Olivia ColmanSo when they booked me, they booked me for celebrancy.
Olivia ColmanAnd on the day coordination.
Olivia ColmanAnd it was Saturday, the 24 August.
Olivia ColmanYou'd expect it to be sunny.
Olivia ColmanNo, no, my friends, no, no.
Olivia ColmanIt was pissing it down, wasn't it?
Olivia ColmanAbsolutely pissing it down.
Olivia ColmanIt was also a weekend.
Olivia ColmanNow, I know I've told you this a million times, just putting a little setting powder on.
Olivia ColmanBut it was the August weekend where I had three in a row, so it was quite intense.
Olivia ColmanSo their wedding, the Saturday was in the middle, I had a Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and the Friday weather wasn't great.
Olivia ColmanIt hadn't been great that week.
Olivia ColmanOur british summers are shit, if I'm honest with you, especially this year.
Olivia ColmanAnd do I need bronzer?
Olivia ColmanNo, I don't think I do, because I've not faked tanned in a while.
Olivia ColmanI was going to fake tan earlier, but I couldn't reach my own legs, but it was raining and I thought, oh, God.
Olivia ColmanAnd I literally, that night, we were staying at my in laws.
Olivia ColmanCause they were looking after Lola.
Olivia ColmanAnd I said to my mother in law, I was like, it's all outside, it's all like proper diye in a field.
Olivia ColmanSo the venue is called Poplar Farm, which is sort of in between Bristol and western super mare.
Olivia ColmanVery, very cool.
Olivia ColmanLiterally a field.
Olivia ColmanSo there's no getting round the weather.
Olivia ColmanThey didn't really have a wet weather plan.
Olivia ColmanI'm sure I would have told them to, but sometimes people ignore me.
Olivia ColmanAnd so the night before, I was quite anxious about it because I just thought, oh, God, you know, not for me, but for them.
Olivia ColmanBecause you plan all this and then it just doesn't goes planned, does it?
Olivia ColmanWhich is just so disappointing.
Olivia ColmanAnyway, woke up absolutely pissing down cats and dogs.
Olivia ColmanAnimals were lining up, you know, the drill, and got there at ten, I think.
Olivia ColmanNine.
Olivia ColmanNo, got there at nine.
Olivia ColmanIt was quite an early start to the day.
Olivia ColmanSo they.
Olivia ColmanThe venue is Poplar farm, which is literally a field.
Olivia ColmanIt's next door to a house where the couple who own the venue live.
Olivia ColmanAnd they've got like a little orchard sort of next to the main field that you hire out.
Olivia ColmanAnd it's got a.
Olivia ColmanIs it a bomb shelter, air raid shelter, army hut, hunker down.
Olivia ColmanI don't know.
Olivia ColmanI think they call.
Olivia ColmanI think they called it the air raid shelter, but it's essentially like a hut, right, but it's been styled to look like you'd escape from war.
Olivia ColmanVery cool.
Olivia ColmanAnd actually quite a lot of people were getting married there, getting married there, getting ready there.
Olivia ColmanSo they had that venue for, I think maybe for a week, if not four or five days, which, when you're doing a di wedding, you do need.
Olivia ColmanIf you're having a wedding on a Saturday, odds are the marquee tent company people will want to erect on the Thursday, because Thursday is known in the business as erection day.
Olivia ColmanDefinitely not Monday and not Sunday.
Olivia ColmanThat's God's day.
Olivia ColmanSo the teepee, they used buffalo teepees, who are an amazing supplier.
Olivia ColmanThey're local to us here in the southwest, but they're a big deal.
Olivia ColmanEveryone knows of them, and they just do.
Olivia ColmanThey're a really good team.
Olivia ColmanThey're really efficient.
Olivia ColmanThey're really quick on response time and stuff like that.
Olivia ColmanAnd the teepees are gorgeous, and you can really dress them up or down.
Olivia ColmanIt is obviously, by nature, a more rustic than glam look, because it's a teepee.
Olivia ColmanBut they're lovely, lovely things.
Olivia ColmanAnd so they had buffalo teepees.
Olivia ColmanSo buffalo teepees came and they arrived and they erected.
Olivia ColmanAnd they also erected several little sort of mini teepees.
Olivia ColmanWhat are they called?
Olivia ColmanAre they called yurts?
Olivia ColmanI don't know.
Olivia ColmanSort of next to the main teepee, where the wedding was going to be.
Olivia ColmanAnd that's where people were staying.
Olivia ColmanSo the night before, a few people went there and they'd all started to set up, because it's dry high, it's completely.
Olivia ColmanThere's nothing there.
Olivia ColmanSo they had to do everything themselves.
Olivia ColmanAnd then they sort of did loads of setup in the afternoon, that afternoon.
Olivia ColmanAnd then they had some food, and they sat around the fire pit, which I think was from buffalo teepees as well.
Olivia ColmanAnd they just had a few drinks and chatted and then went off to their tent.
Olivia ColmanVery cool.
Olivia ColmanYou know what's not so cool is when you're sleeping in a tent and it's pissing down with rain.
Olivia ColmanAbsolutely pissing it down.
Olivia ColmanSo when I got there, it was all systems go.
Olivia ColmanEveryone was sort of running around, doing their bit.
Olivia ColmanFirst thing I did was walk into the main teepee, which was supposed to be just for the drinks reception.
Olivia ColmanWell, the drinks reception, ideally, would be outside, but it was supposed to be there for the wedding breakfast and for the dancing.
Olivia ColmanBut because of the weather, they couldn't have the ceremony in the orchard as planned.
Olivia ColmanSo we had to move it inside to the teepee.
Olivia ColmanSo when I got there, Dan and his guy mates, and thank God for everyone, one very sensible and incredibly helpful young lady, were rejigging the space, and they were putting the floorboards down to create the ceremony space, which was, I suppose, where the dance floor would be.
Olivia ColmanThey had to do all that.
Olivia ColmanAnd there was one that wouldn't fit.
Olivia ColmanIt was like a puzzle.
Olivia ColmanIt was all very stressful.
Olivia ColmanSo they were doing that.
Olivia ColmanEveryone's wearing wellies.
Olivia ColmanDan and Ella had set up croissants and coffee in the air raid shelter.
Olivia ColmanLet's call it a shepherd's hut.
Olivia ColmanAnd so everyone was sort of coming and going.
Olivia ColmanWhat is so good about these weddings, these dIy weddings, is that everyone mucks in and it's fun, you know?
Olivia ColmanAnd so everyone was sort of walking around and they had.
Olivia ColmanThey had portaloos and they had porter showers.
Olivia ColmanSo everyone was getting ready, really.
Olivia ColmanIt was just a really fun atmosphere.
Olivia ColmanAnd the fact that it was pouring with rain was not ideal, but it kind of added to the funeral.
Olivia ColmanCause it was kind of like.
Olivia ColmanEveryone was like, oh, God, isn't this a nightmare?
Olivia ColmanBlah, blah, blah.
Olivia ColmanElla was already getting hair and makeup done.
Olivia ColmanShe had a few bridesmaids.
Olivia ColmanSo they were all in this one little tent behind the main teepee, getting their hair and makeup done in the rain, in their matching pajamas, drinking fizz.
Olivia ColmanGod, I love it.
Olivia ColmanAnd the florist, who was honeysuckle, they were there, and I.
Olivia ColmanThey're amazing.
Olivia ColmanI've worked with them before, and their flowers are gorgeous.
Olivia ColmanWhat some people don't think about is sort of.
Olivia ColmanAnd they shouldn't need to, I suppose.
Olivia ColmanWhy would you?
Olivia ColmanYou just pay for a service and you expect a service, but with all your suppliers, especially the ones that are good and that consider all the different options and the different circumstances, is that you have to plan for these things.
Olivia ColmanIf it's baking hot, cake makers struggle because the cake will melt.
Olivia ColmanIf it's pissing down with rain and you've suddenly got to change your ceremony location from outside with an archway to inside with no space in a teepee, so you've got, like, a funny shaped roof.
Olivia ColmanThat florist then has to completely rejig the plan and use the flowers.
Olivia ColmanThey've got to sort of arrange something because you paid for it.
Olivia ColmanYou want it to look good.
Olivia ColmanOf course you do.
Olivia ColmanThey want it to look good.
Olivia ColmanBut that wasn't in the plan.
Olivia ColmanThat wasn't what they sort of decided upon.
Olivia ColmanSo they've just got to go with their instincts and create something off the cuff equally.
Olivia ColmanIf it's baking hot for florists, it's a nightmare, because flowers wilt.
Olivia ColmanBut they were amazing.
Olivia ColmanAnd honey.
Olivia ColmanHoneysuckle are just.
Olivia ColmanThey're great girls.
Olivia ColmanAnd they were just getting on with it.
Olivia ColmanIt was, again, quite stressful, but fun.
Olivia ColmanSo I was sort of, you know, sauntering around, pretending like I knew what I was doing and that I was being helpful.
Olivia ColmanIt's just having someone there on the day to, you know, make sure everyone's happy, make sure everyone knows what they're doing, make sure everyone is in the right place at the right time doing the right thing.
Olivia ColmanPretty soon after I got there, the photographer arrived.
Olivia ColmanPhil Brown photography, he's from Birmingham.
Olivia ColmanSo straight away I was like, Phil.
Olivia ColmanPhil Brown, what a boring name.
Olivia ColmanHe was brilliant.
Olivia ColmanI'm not being a total bitch, he's brilliant.
Olivia ColmanHe is coming on the podcast.
Olivia ColmanI'm excited about that.
Olivia ColmanI think I might get him on in a couple of weeks, actually.
Olivia ColmanHe was great fun.
Olivia ColmanSo he was there, so met up with him and we were sort of instantly became best, best friends.
Olivia ColmanThe sound guy is someone who Dan had worked with in the past with his affiliation to the big band, their music, because a lot of the members of the big band were guests on the day.
Olivia ColmanIt was, there were, there were people that were just like, oh, yeah, I could just, you know, tinkle the ivories, tingle them.
Olivia ColmanFor example, Dan, Ella said to me, has Dan told you about the song?
Olivia ColmanI was like, no, no, he hasn't.
Olivia ColmanNo.
Olivia ColmanYou'd be amazed how often I'm told something on the day that they.
Olivia ColmanOne assumed, the other told me, absolutely not.
Olivia ColmanI was like, no, no idea about the song.
Olivia ColmanSo about.
Olivia ColmanSo basically Dan and Ella had decided last minute that they wanted to add in a sing song.
Olivia ColmanYeah, cool, okay, great, great.
Olivia ColmanAnd so we did that last minute, but because they had all these talented people there as guests, this guy was like, yeah, I'll just play it on the piano.
Olivia ColmanI was like, cool, okay, great.
Olivia ColmanSo we had a sound guy who was there who was really fun and really like, had this, he had a huge deck, the sound man.
Olivia ColmanAnd then we had like other people playing piano and they were just like doing sound check and stuff.
Olivia ColmanIt was very cool.
Olivia ColmanIt was like being backstage at a gig.
Olivia ColmanBit of a geeky gig, if I'm honest, but a gig nonetheless.
Olivia ColmanSo eventually they sorted out the flooring, eventually the florists did their thing and the flowers looked amazing.
Olivia ColmanAnd obviously half an hour before the ceremony was due to start, it stopped raining, didn't it?
Olivia ColmanBecause that's always the way.
Olivia ColmanBut it looked so pretty.
Olivia ColmanWe'd set up, I'd set up the tables with the catering team.
Olivia ColmanThe catering team were full flavour and they were brilliant, really good.
Olivia ColmanSo they set up, they arrived with their team and they said they'd already been the day before to set up the catering tent, but they arrived with their team to help me do the tables.
Olivia ColmanSo all the tables were set.
Olivia ColmanSo the tables were sort of long trestle tables to one side of the teepee as you look in on the left.
Olivia ColmanAnd then on the right was the dance floor slash ceremony space.
Olivia ColmanAnd then the band set up.
Olivia ColmanAnd so even though the sun came out, we weren't gonna.
Olivia ColmanObviously, with half an hour to go, we weren't gonna change the plan again.
Olivia ColmanSo we had the ceremony inside.
Olivia ColmanAnd I always say to people who book me for on the day coordination as well as celebrancy, absolutely fine.
Olivia ColmanLove it.
Olivia ColmanLove to do it, actually.
Olivia ColmanReally love to do it because it means I'm there longer and I can spend more time with you, be a bit more invested.
Olivia ColmanBut it is very stressful just before the ceremony, because that is the part where celebrate me needs to chill out and get focused and get in the zone and coordinated.
Olivia ColmanMe is flapping around, running around, making sure that bridesmaids are ready and dad's ready and groomsmen and grooms, and it's stressful.
Olivia ColmanThat's, like, one of the most stressful times for any coordinator.
Olivia ColmanSo it's real heavy balance to try and get.
Olivia ColmanThey were.
Olivia ColmanThey all lined up outside, the girls and Ella and her dad.
Olivia ColmanOh, my God, Ella's dress.
Olivia ColmanI don't actually know where she got it from.
Olivia ColmanI can find out.
Olivia ColmanShe looked unbelievable.
Olivia ColmanI mean, I've seen a lot of dresses and I've seen a lot of beautiful brides, obviously, but it was just something about this dress and her and the whole setting, and it just worked.
Olivia ColmanShe honestly took my breath away.
Olivia ColmanIt was.
Olivia ColmanShe just looked bloody gorgeous.
Olivia ColmanAnd she was wearing white, I want to say, converse trainers, which is amazing.
Olivia ColmanSo everyone was set up, all systems go.
Olivia ColmanPeople were late.
Olivia ColmanBut that, you know, it is what it is.
Olivia ColmanAgain, the beauty of a celebrant ceremony is that it doesn't matter if you're a bit late.
Olivia ColmanWe don't have other ceremonies to do.
Olivia ColmanThat day the ceremony started, it went down a storm, pardon the pun, and we did the song at the end of which went down really well, because I suppose she's musical theatre y, he's big bandy, and their guests all know that about them, so everyone got really into it and it was just.
Olivia ColmanIt was really fun.
Olivia ColmanYou do have to print out lyrics if you're gonna sing a song, even if it's a song that everyone knows, because you just.
Olivia ColmanYou do.
Olivia ColmanYou absolutely do.
Olivia ColmanAnd it helps when you have a few people who have good singers to sing really loudly as well.
Olivia ColmanSo the ceremony went brilliantly and then the sun came out and then it was a gorgeous, sunny day and sort of a bit nippy, you know, a little nip in the air, a bit chilly later on, but gorgeous.
Olivia ColmanAnd they'd set up sort of hay bales with mismatched y, sort of folk style blankets on them, and they'd got loads of garden games.
Olivia ColmanAnd normally I'm not a big garden game person, but these garden games were, like, old school, vintagey and they were just really cool.
Olivia ColmanIt just worked.
Olivia ColmanThe whole thing really worked.
Olivia ColmanAnd then in the evening, so they had their meal.
Olivia ColmanOh, my God.
Olivia ColmanI must tell you, the speeches were brilliant.
Olivia ColmanHer dad is an absolute card.
Olivia ColmanHer parents.
Olivia ColmanI want them to adopt me.
Olivia ColmanHer dad looks like the old man from up, which I'm not being really saying that, because I said that to Dan.
Olivia ColmanHe was like, yeah, I know.
Olivia ColmanHe was like.
Olivia ColmanEveryone says that.
Olivia ColmanI was like, well, he really does.
Olivia ColmanSo all the speeches were great, but Ella's sister, who really tickled me, her opening line to her speech was, I'd like to thank everyone who can't be here today.
Olivia ColmanNot everyone's dead.
Olivia ColmanJust some of them weren't invited.
Olivia ColmanI tell you, that really, really got me.
Olivia ColmanThat did.
Olivia ColmanI thought that was brilliant.
Olivia ColmanOpening gambit so Ella's sister and Dan's brother did a speech, which was really nice, because who's to say?
Olivia ColmanIt has to be the traditional people, you know, I think whoever has something they want to say and is confident saying it should say something if that's what you want, as the couple.
Olivia ColmanSo the food was delicious, sort of sharing style, very relaxed, the drinks were flowing.
Olivia ColmanThey had, obviously, drinks with dinner, and then they had set up a bar just outside the main teepee and they did something quite fun.
Olivia ColmanSo, because they're so into music on a big board, they'd written like, which song is our first dance song?
Olivia ColmanAnd they'd put, oh, God, loads, maybe like 20 different songs on this board.
Olivia ColmanAnd then a little jarved, and you would put a pound in and you would guess which song it is.
Olivia ColmanAnd then the winners would split the profits.
Olivia ColmanAnd that was really fun because that was something quite interactive, something for people to talk about.
Olivia ColmanAnd with the bar, it was all.
Olivia ColmanThey bought it all in because it's a dry hire wedding.
Olivia ColmanBut they had little signs saying any donations towards the bar would be great.
Olivia ColmanSuggested price would be like a pound for soft drinks and two for alcoholic and people were just putting in, like, 1020 50 pound notes.
Olivia ColmanAnd then just.
Olivia ColmanAnd then at the beginning and then just drinking for the rest of the evening.
Olivia ColmanSo literally three or four times I had to empty that box and I put it in an envelope.
Olivia ColmanAnd now I can tell you because the moments passed, but I hid it under the marital pillow and I said to them, please, I know you're drunk.
Olivia ColmanAt the end, I was like, don't forget that.
Olivia ColmanLike, I've been walking around with wads of cash all day and I haven't done that since I was a working girl.
Olivia ColmanSo don't forget that's there.
Olivia ColmanI did text the next morning and say, please tell me you've got the wad of cash I left by your bedside.
Olivia ColmanAnd so they had lots of little touches like that.
Olivia ColmanAnd then the big band started.
Olivia ColmanOh, my God, it was so good.
Olivia ColmanAny live music's brilliant, but a brass band and.
Olivia ColmanOr a big band are something else.
Olivia ColmanIt's so fun.
Olivia ColmanMy cheeks hurt from smiling.
Olivia ColmanAnd then I don't know how many there were maybe twelve.
Olivia ColmanAnd they had, like, the black sheets of music on the stands, and they were sort of in three different tiers.
Olivia ColmanAnd so it looked really professional.
Olivia ColmanAnd they are professional.
Olivia ColmanThey're brilliant.
Olivia ColmanThe female singer, she does that for a living now, but the others sort of diphtherez in and out of it.
Olivia ColmanAnd she was amazing.
Olivia ColmanAnd they were amazing.
Olivia ColmanAnd they were, like, jamming and it was so, so fun.
Olivia ColmanIt was so good.
Olivia ColmanAnd then by the time they had their first dance, obviously because of the interactive game that they'd had on all day, guess our first dance song, everyone was like, oh, my God, what's gonna be?
Olivia ColmanWhat's it gonna be?
Olivia ColmanAnd that was brilliant as well.
Olivia ColmanIt was so good.
Olivia ColmanIt was so lovely and fun.
Olivia ColmanAnd even though I was exhausted, because it was during August, which, as we all know, twelve weddings in that one month, and it was my one between three.
Olivia ColmanAnd I was up the duff.
Olivia ColmanStill am.
Olivia ColmanIt was just.
Olivia ColmanIt was joyful.
Olivia ColmanAnd they were such lovely people, really.
Olivia ColmanOh, I just remembered one more thing.
Olivia ColmanHang on, I'll tell you later.
Olivia ColmanI need to do my eyebrows, but I can't do it at this distance from the camera.
Olivia ColmanNo, I'm gonna wait.
Olivia ColmanI'm gonna wait.
Olivia ColmanNo, I just wanted to tell you one more thing about this wedding between you and I.
Olivia ColmanOne of the guests, the family friend, her daughter's a registrar, and she came.
Olivia ColmanThe mum came up to me in the Danes after the ceremony and said, that was so wonderful.
Olivia ColmanThat was brilliant.
Olivia ColmanBlah, blah, blah.
Olivia ColmanMy daughter's a registrar.
Olivia ColmanShe's actually an evening guest tonight, so you'll get.
Olivia ColmanI'd love for you to meet her because she said, oh, you know, I wonder who the celebrant is and what the celebrants like.
Olivia ColmanSo I said to the mum, I said, people, registrars don't like us.
Olivia ColmanShe was like, oh, don't be silly.
Olivia ColmanAnyway, so in the evening, I met this young lady.
Olivia ColmanI think the first thing I said to her was, you're far too young and attractive to be a registrar.
Olivia ColmanWe didn't talk for long, but we did chat, and I might get in touch with her because I think it might be.
Olivia ColmanThat might be a very interesting debate, actually, because she sort of slightly got her point across, pro registrars, and I slightly got my pro celebrant point across.
Olivia ColmanBut it wasn't obviously the time or the place to have, like, a proper, you know, tete a tete.
Olivia ColmanBut it was.
Olivia ColmanYeah, I was really scared to, like, meet her, actually.
Olivia ColmanCause I was like, oh, my God, she's gonna be like, bloody celebrants.
Olivia ColmanPain in my arse.
Olivia ColmanBut no, she was lovely and very attractive and young for a registrar.
Olivia ColmanAh, good times.
Olivia ColmanOkay, so this week's RSVP, it's less for question, it's more of just playing smoke at my own ass.
Olivia ColmanBut I got a gorgeous DM on the Instagram podcast.
Olivia ColmanPodcast.
Olivia ColmanInstagram.
Olivia ColmanOne caffeine from the gorgeous Jenny, and she messaged the most wonderful thing, so I wanted to share it with you.
Olivia ColmanSo Jenny writes.
Olivia ColmanHello.
Olivia ColmanI've just listened to your episode on how to handle wedding nerves.
Olivia ColmanWe get married in just over three weeks at time, and it was exactly what I needed to hear right now, as I'm having lots of anxiety dreams.
Olivia ColmanWe are having a DIY wedding, and there's been so much to organize, but now that's all behind us.
Olivia ColmanAnd you are right.
Olivia ColmanWe just need to leave it to the people we've chosen to help us.
Olivia ColmanI need to focus on enjoying the build up now.
Olivia ColmanThank you.
Olivia ColmanYour podcast is so entertaining and has kept me going on many a long run.
Olivia ColmanYou should definitely do a TED talk.
Olivia ColmanOh, I don't even know really what a TED talk is.
Olivia ColmanMaybe I should do one.
Olivia ColmanThanks, Jenny.
Olivia ColmanAnd, yeah, I'm with you, angsa.
Olivia ColmanI had an anxiety dream last night about weddings.
Olivia ColmanDo you know what I mean?
Olivia ColmanI'm so glad you enjoyed the podcast.
Olivia ColmanKeep listening.
Olivia ColmanEven once you're married and have the best wedding day ever, it's going to be perfect.
Olivia ColmanEven if it's not for you, it will be magnificent.
Olivia ColmanSo just enjoy it.
Olivia ColmanSo that's it.
Olivia ColmanEnd of episode one, season three of the I'll marry you podcast storytime.
Olivia ColmanI hope you've loved it.
Olivia ColmanLike I say, we've got loads coming up, but stay tuned because I'm going to tell you all about the ways that you can get involved and support the podcast.
Olivia ColmanI am so excited to be back for another season.
Olivia ColmanHow did the YouTube thing go?
Olivia ColmanIf you're watching this, be kind.
Olivia ColmanI may come across as a cocky little thing, but I'm actually very insecure.
Olivia ColmanSo.
Olivia ColmanYes, but I mean, I'd be interested.
Olivia ColmanIf you are watching this, send me a DM and let me know how it comes across because I.
Olivia ColmanAnd I don't think I can watch it.
Olivia ColmanI listen to my podcast because I have to make sure that they're somewhat suitable to go out into the world.
Olivia ColmanBut I don't want.
Olivia ColmanI don't think I'm going to watch them.
Olivia ColmanI think that's going to be too awkward.
Olivia ColmanRight?
Olivia ColmanI've got to get ready now because I've got this wonderful wedding today.
Olivia ColmanBut stay tuned because I'm going to tell you all about how you can get involved, and I will see you next Tuesday.
Olivia ColmanLove ya.
Olivia ColmanThank you so much for listening to another episode of the R Maru podcast.
Olivia ColmanProducer drew and I are both super, super busy, but we are making the show for you.
Olivia ColmanHowever, to keep doing it, we need a little bit of help from all you gorgeous listeners.
Olivia ColmanSo we are offering memberships.
Olivia ColmanThere is a wedding party tier, which is currently limited to just 20 of the most gorgeous listeners, and the family and friends tier, which is open to as many of you as want to join.
Olivia ColmanNow, the company we host will only do this in dollars, which is annoying, but, you know, it also makes me feel international.
Olivia ColmanSo for the family and Friends membership, it is just $5 a month, which is about three pounds 60.
Olivia ColmanAnd that gives you permanent access to a private WhatsApp group with myself and other engaged folk to share ideas and stories, advice and tips.
Olivia ColmanI'll be there along with everyone else, so we can discuss anything you want at all hours of the day.
Olivia ColmanThe wedding party membership is $20 a month, which is about 15 pounds, and that gives you everything in the friends and family membership, the WhatsApp group.
Olivia ColmanPlus, I'm gonna do a wedding advice general talking nonsense with preferably alcohol video calls once a month for members in groups of ten, which is why there are only 20 slots available because I'm a very busy woman, and that's a lot of multitasking.
Olivia ColmanBasically, think of it as a group wedding consultation with alcohol and access to the community on WhatsApp, which I think is pretty good value for just 15 pounds.
Olivia ColmanYou can stay in the memberships for as long or as short a time as you want, and anyone who has joined can stay in the WhatsApp community forever if you are a member of the wedding industry, we are also going to start running adverts on this season of the Ill marry you podcast.
Olivia ColmanI know ads and podcasts aren't the most popular thing, so anyone who signs up for a membership will be able to get out all our episodes without the adverts.
Olivia ColmanBut also anyone can buy an ad.
Olivia ColmanIf you go to the membership section in the show notes, you'll see wedding party, family, friends, and three advertising slots.
Olivia ColmanThey're the same as memberships.
Olivia ColmanSo if you want to advertise your business yourself, or maybe just send a congratulations on your wedding message to another listener, you can do it if you want to, but we mostly recommend it to be for businesses.
Olivia ColmanIt's an opportunity to get your business out there to all the fabulous engaged couples that listen to the podcast.
Olivia ColmanFor any more information, please slide into my DM's at I'll marry you podcast on Instagram.
Olivia ColmanEmail thepodcast at oliviacolmancelebrant dot co dot UK or leave us a comment in the show notes.
Olivia ColmanThanks for listening guys.
Olivia ColmanSee you next Tuesday.
Olivia ColmanThank you so much for listening.
Olivia ColmanIt really does mean the world.
Olivia ColmanIf you find this podcast even remotely helpful or moderately entertaining, share with all your friends and family.
Olivia ColmanYou can dm me any questions, queries, if you want to share any stories on the podcast Instagram I'll marry you podcast.
Olivia ColmanGet in touch.
Olivia ColmanI want to hear all your tall tales.
Olivia ColmanSee you soon.
Olivia ColmanI'll marry you is a podcast by Olivia Colman.
Olivia ColmanThe music is Mister Sunny face by Wayne Jones, and the show is produced and edited by Drew Toynbee.
Olivia ColmanHello.
Olivia ColmanSo stressful.
Olivia ColmanI've been recording for eight for over eight minutes and it's just me shouting Drew because I didn't know what I was doing.
Olivia ColmanThis is too much.