Em ’n’ M’s Events: Our First Wedding
Sticking with the theme of firsts — and learning as we go — I wanted to share the story of our very first wedding.
Back in 2021, we were still trying to find our feet with the business. The plan at the time was to focus on children’s event planning and equipment hire, mostly birthday parties and small celebrations. But as with most things in our journey, we’ve ended up on a slightly different pathway.
When my brother-in-law announced his upcoming wedding, we offered to “gift” a bespoke package to help make their day extra special — and we took the opportunity to run it as a bit of a business experiment.
It felt like the perfect opportunity: a beautiful family wedding, lots of children attending (all of whom we knew well), and a chance to experiment creatively while seeing what worked in a real-world setting.
Setting the Scene
We wanted to create something fun, family-friendly, and memorable — especially for the kids, who can sometimes be forgotten in the whirlwind of a wedding day.
We decided on two key elements:
Giant garden games for the outdoor space.
Activity packs for the table for the quieter moments during the reception.
Simple in concept, but a surprisingly big job in practice!
The Garden Games
We handmade everything. And I mean everything.
Our lineup included:
Toppling Tower (a giant Jenga-style game)
Four in a Row
Bean Bag Toss (with handmade bean bags)
Bouncy Hoppers
It sounded straightforward enough, but the Four in a Row nearly defeated us!
I had spent time searching online for templates and guides — and found plenty — but my husband had already made a plan in his head, and that’s what we went with. (Let’s just say, sometimes improvisation leads to... creative engineering.)
Still, after some trial, error, sanding, and a fair bit of sawdust, we stood back proudly and realised we’d done it. It wasn’t perfect, but it was ours. Seeing the kids enjoying themselves, running between games, and challenging each other to bouncy hopper races made every bit all worth it.
Table Activities
Next came the table activities. We wanted something that felt thoughtful and personal — not just a collection of colouring pages thrown together.
Each child received a bespoke activity pack, which included:
A custom booklet, themed to the wedding and filled with fun games and colouring pages.
Colouring pencils (because no pack is complete without them).
A sweet Cotton Twist craft activity, chosen specifically to reflect the couple’s love of monkeys. *Not an affiliate link
A hand-crafted Tic Tac Toe game, made from wooden hearts and a mini hessian bag.
A jar of sweets, each filled with the bride’s favourite, the groom’s favourite, and topped off with a gummy heart or ring to “unite” the two — a tiny symbolic touch that guests loved.
Bubbles, because every wedding (and every child) needs a bit of magic floating through the air.
We didn’t know it at the time, but these small details would end up shaping our future direction as a business.
The Reaction
The feedback was wonderful. Guests commented on how thoughtful and creative the setup was, and how lovely it was to see the children genuinely included in the day rather than being left to entertain themselves.
The couple were thrilled, and the kids had a great time — which, for us, was the biggest win of all.
In fact, this setup has since become our signature wedding gift for family members — a mix of games, activities, and bespoke details that bring a personal touch to the day.
And even more importantly, it was the moment of realisation for us: this is what we love doing.
Reflection
That first wedding was such an eye-opener. It reminded us that:
Creativity doesn’t need to be perfect — it just needs heart.
Personal touches matter most. Guests remember the details that make them feel included.
DIY can be powerful — when done with intention, it becomes part of the story.
And sometimes, your true business direction finds you, not the other way around.
We started out thinking we’d focus on birthday parties, but this experience shifted our thinking. Weddings offered the same creative possibilities — and just as much joy — but with the added emotional depth of being part of someone’s most special day.
Looking Back
When I think about that day now, I still smile. It was chaotic, heartfelt, and filled with learning curves — exactly what a “first” should be.
It wasn’t just our first wedding as Em ’n’ M’s Parties — it was the day that helped us see our business for what it could become.
From the handmade games to the sweet jars topped with gummy hearts, it was a labour of love that sparked a sense of direction we hadn’t quite found before.
And best of all, it showed us that our events can do more than fill time — they can bring families together, spark laughter, and create memories that last long after the day is done.
Looking Forward
Since then, every project has built on what we learned that day. More weddings, more creativity, and more confidence in our ability to make things magical — even on a budget and with a lot of improvisation along the way.
Our first wedding taught us that success doesn’t have to look polished; it just has to feel genuine.
And that’s exactly what we plan to keep doing.
*This post has been written with the support of ChatGPT for formatting
