Planning a secret wedding in 2 weeks 5  days and 18 hours…. Easy. With the help and commitment of 25 local companies and Didsbury Life.

I had gone along to make an introduction to Didsbury life with a great friend Eliot Goldstone, Eliot has just launched a wine website ‘Subtle wine’. The site reviews wine for the real world and the 99% of the population that want a good bottle of wine not to be spoken down to by a wine buff who is more than happy to tell you the life history of the seed that was planted 200 years ago by Phillip Rothchild on his 16^th birthday. I know how great ‘Didsbury life’ are at helping and promoting local businesses so I thought the meeting was a must.

After the meeting Helen innocently asked ‘what are you doing now you have sold Carcare Express’. So I went on to explain our wedding adventure plans. Helen asked if we had seen the westfest wedding fair they had done earlier in the year. I had really wanted to go but I was out of town that weekend.

Helen showed me the video ‘pearls and lace’ had produced and it was like a simultaneous light bulb going off. Helen looked at Pete who looked at me and I looked at Eliot. The question was asked ‘how quick could a wedding be turned around’?

Everyone turned to the oversized calendar on the wall. 2 weeks 5 days and 18 hours it was!

The decision was made; and why not keep it a secret from Lisa!? I love a bit of romance and surprise. Helen emailed out all of her contacts she has through ‘Didsbury life’ and I went home for a restless night’s sleep.

The next 2 and a half weeks where the maddest I’ve ever had, trying to explain what we were trying to do over and over. Needless to say I got the pitch sorted in the end and the companies started to flood in. The first was White closet with the commitment of Charlotte Balbier, next Jonny Draper the world’s best wedding photographer! That was lucky. The reception venue ‘Rhubarb’, catering ‘Thyme out’, flowers ‘Flower Lounge’, wedding cake ‘The dish ran away with the spoon’ and ‘Pearls and lace’ to film it all.

Soon enough we had over 20 companies involved. See my list of ‘thanks’ for all the amazing people and companies that became part of the secret wedding.

I had to leave my gorgeous now fiance over in Yorkshire 5 days before the wedding and come back to Manchester to sort the final preparations. Lisa asked what I was up to. I told her I was tying up loose ends with the business and had a few meetings etc etc and that she should make the most of her time with her family. I bought her some additional memory for her laptop which needed ‘fitting’ so that she couldn’t go online as everyone was tweeting everyone and putting messages on facebook .

Two days to go and all I had to sort out was my wedding suit and someone to hold the ceremony, my luck held out for the suit, I walked into Debenhams of all places and there was a gold cravat, vintage off white shirt and light gold waist coat with paisley detailing. Easy!

The toast master on the other hand was not easy I started with toast masters, who passed me on to the master speakers who passed me on to independent seminar speakers….. 53 calls and 36 hours later I followed a recommendation of a recommendation of a recommendation and I got to speak to ‘Phil the funnel’. ‘Sorry I am busy Monday but give me 30 minutes and I will get it sorted for you. 6 minutes later Phil called back. ‘Jim Gregory will be calling you within half an hour’. I couldn’t believe it this man was amazing! Phil said ‘I’m the man who can sort anything’! I believe him.

Jim called as promised and he was perfect! Jim owns an internet company called ‘Grosvenor media’ and is a master speaker.

I awoke on Monday morning, I got up and made Lisa the usual cup of coffee and toast in bed and as nervous as I have ever been I told her that today she would be walking down the aisle for our first wedding ceremony! Laughter, disbelief and then tears. The journey had finally begun…

See what happens next on our wedding travel adventure!