Chelsea & Tommy: A Colourful, Quirky Wedding at The Canary Shed, Burnham-on-Crouch
Chelsea and Tommy knew they didn’t want a standard wedding. No stately manor, no classic boho barn. They wanted something fun, colourful and a bit different, so when they saw The Canary Shed and its quirky birds at Creeksea Place Farm in Burnham-on-Crouch, they said, “Yep, this is it.” The result was a joyful, relaxed day full of colour and laughter, with a first dance you won’t forget in a hurry.
Eight years in the making
Chelsea and Tommy first met at a house party when they were about 14 or 15. They moved in the same friendship circles but didn’t get together. Around eight years later, Tommy spotted Chelsea commenting on a friend’s Facebook status and messaged her: “Omg Chelsea, how has life been?!” The rest is history.
They describe themselves as quite different people, but they share a love of gaming and the Pokémon trading card game (“very nerdy”, in their words). They both work at universities, and their music tastes run from Tommy’s hip-hop and rock to Chelsea’s rock and metal. Mostly, though, they laugh: at the weird things their dog does, at doing voice-overs for him, and at a huge list of in-jokes built up over the years.
Why The Canary Shed?
“We’re not super serious and like a bit of fun and colour, so this felt perfect.” The Canary Shed is bursting with character, and having everything on site meant the couple could stay the night before and start the day right where it would all happen. There was no transport to worry about and plenty of time to enjoy the morning.
Sage, beige and a riot of colour
The bridal party wore sage green. Chelsea’s bridesmaids, led by Maid of Honour Nicole, wore sage green dresses, and Tommy’s groomsmen, alongside Best Man Ben, wore beige suits with sage green ties. Tommy looked sharp in a brown suit. Chelsea kept her dress firmly under wraps beforehand so Tommy wouldn’t be tempted to peek. Everything around them was “super colourful”, with bright flowers from C Taylors Floristry bringing the whole venue to life. Hair and make-up was by Brides by Rose and Marilyn Morris MUA.
A day about the people
Chelsea and Tommy wanted their photos to be candid rather than formal. Their priority was the people who matter most: Chelsea’s dad, Alan, and Tommy’s parents and grandparents. Moments like Alan seeing his daughter for the first time are exactly what this day was about. Reggie had a starring role too.
They were married in front of 70 guests, and the vows were followed by a confetti exit and a well-earned first drink at the bar. Then it was time for some relaxed photos with family and friends before the celebrations got going.
BBQ, cake and a first dance to remember
Dinner was cooked by Meat Street BBQ, with cake by Bridie’s Cakes. In the evening the guest list grew to 100, and Evan from Fox and Braces kept the dance floor busy.
Then came the first dance: “Life Is a Rollercoaster” by Ronan Keating. It started as an ironic joke. After they got engaged, they’d hear it on the radio, sing along and say, “First dance?” When the time came to actually choose a song, they realised it had to be that one. It sums up these two perfectly: fun, a bit silly and completely them.
Chelsea and Tommy, thank you so much for having me there to capture your wonderfully colourful day. It was an absolute joy.
Suppliers
- Venue: The Canary Shed, Creeksea Place Farm (@thecanaryshed)
- Venue coordinator: Jade, The Canary Shed
- Hair & make-up: Brides by Rose (@bridesbyrose) and Marilyn Morris MUA (@marilynmorris_mua)
- Florist: C Taylors Floristry (@ctaylorsfloristry)
- DJ: Fox and Braces (@foxandbraces)
- Catering: Meat Street BBQ (@meatstreetbbq)
- Cake: Bridie’s Cakes (@bridiescakes)
- Invitations: Joy (withjoy)
- Photography: Teddy Photo Co