Creating the Perfect Party Atmosphere: Bianca and Matt Dawes' Wedding

With tambourines and maracas at the ready, guests welcomed newlyweds Bianca and Matt to their marquee reception in true party style. Think St Tropez meets Ibiza in the heart of Staffordshire. Everything about Bianca and Matt's special day spoke to the couple's love for laughter and joyous fun.

Bianca and Matt also infused their flair for character into their wedding gift list choices. They opted for a mix of gifts, including dinnerware from renowned Nicholas Mosse to travel and interior design books. Their gift list truly reflected their personality, and helped them fill their new home with things they love.

As well as planning her wedding, Bianca is also the website director for Glamour UK, and has many tips and tricks for infusing personality into your wedding planning journey. We're so happy to share her top advice with you today.

"Details were important to us, but ultimately, we wanted our guests to have the best time. So we focused on creating a "party" atmosphere inspired by our favourite beach clubs in St. Tropez, where you're likely dancing on the table before your main course has arrived.

We created "party packs" for our wedding favours. These were bespoke boxes filled with objects and musical instruments to create a great atmosphere. We also included a note to everyone, a shot of Jagermister to take during the speeches, confetti poppers to let off and a little something to take to the dancefloor (face glitter, a whistle, sunglasses, Hawaiian leis, inflatable saxophones). Our guests got really stuck in!"

"Pinterest and Instagram are great places to find wedding inspiration, but it's those personal touches that will make your day truly special. You could use your stationery to tell your story or decorate your venue with photos and handmade crafts. These personal touches will really make your day stand out.

After waiting 13 years, my favourite memory is saying yes. We married in a church surrounded by 180 guests, but it felt like we were the only ones there. (Cheesy, I know!)"

The Townhouse
"The townhouse itself is incredibly chic. It felt like a lovely (Prosecco-fuelled) day out at a swanky London home. Seeing everything in situ in the curated rooms was hugely inspiring. It gave us a feel for what we'd like in our own home.

Our Gift Guru was so helpful too. She really understood our style and which gifts may fit into our home. She even suggested items we hadn't even considered but now can't live without (that bath caddy)."

Building Our Gift List
"We'd just bought our first family home. Having moved from a small flat, we needed lots of lovely things to fill it. We were literally starting from scratch! Our guests kindly bought us everything from bath mats and knife sets to tea towels and bedside tables.

Using a gift list really helped us make our new house a home and meant we didn't need to worry about sourcing everything. We love using things from our gift list and knowing exactly who bought it for us."

Unexpected Favourite Wedding Gift
"I am obsessed with The White Company breakfast in bed tray. It was something I would never have considered if our Gift Guru hadn't suggested it but we use it for all our celebrations (read: I demand my husband brings me breakfast in bed!)."

What Our Guests Said
"We didn't expect any gifts, but our friends and family were so generous and keen to buy something. We're so grateful for their thoughtfulness! Gift lists are genius because they take the stress away from guests who might be unsure what to get.

Buying a wedding gift can be difficult. You never know how much to spend, and there's always the fear of doubling up with another guest. That's why gift lists are so helpful. They ensure that the bride and groom get something they'll love and use for years to come."

Why We Chose The Wedding Shop
"⁠I always trust a recommendation. Plenty of my friends had used it and had a great experience. Planning a wedding is such a special time and a day out at The Townhouse is part of that exciting process. I also love the brands they stock, from Pooky Lighting to Soho Home. I couldn't find these brands elsewhere."

Wedding photography by Phillipa Sian