Vivienne Pearson
This new word may not have hit the dictionary yet but ask any person of marriageable age and they will confirm that ‘wedfest’ is a thing. A cute portmanteau of wedding and festival, a wedfest describes turning your wedding from a simple ceremony plus reception into a multi-layered event. I was introduced to the word by Jade Morecom-Phoenix, owner of Little Bonnie Dot, a cute vintage caravan set up for catering.
The idea of catering wedfest events delights Jade as she remembers her creative wedding fondly. ‘Our ceremony was at the park behind Torakina in Bruns, then took the Magic Bus to Kohinhur Hall where there were picnic rugs, a buffet food spread including a cheese grazing table, accompanied by a harpist outside and a band inside. We reckon we were one of the first to use the Magic Bus for a wedding and now they do them all the time!’ says Jade.
Jade and Michael’s connection with weddings runs deep. They met on Hamilton Island where Jade was a boat manager and Michael was cheffing. ‘People would get married in the chapel or on Whitehaven Beach, then we would host their reception as a cruise’, says Jade. ‘We saw a lot of weddings.’
So Jade and Michael – who now runs the Courthouse Hotel restaurant in Mullum and Mix Catering – love being involved in weddings. ‘Little Bonnie Dot was one of four food vans at a wedding,’ says Jade. ‘One had pizza, one had paella, one was a bar, and we offered dessert and hot drinks.’
Little Bonnie Dot is different to many food vans in that they have access to the team and facilities of Mix Catering. ‘We have great flexibility in what we offer,’ says Jade. ‘As well as the assurance of high-quality food and service.’
Jade and Michael recently celebrated their eighth wedding anniversary. ‘We were married on the 11th of the 11th, 2011,’ says Jade. ‘Given that I was born at 11:11am on that same date, you could say that 11 is my lucky number.’ She notes that Michael, very considerately, organised for their wedding guests to sing happy birthday to her before the ceremony got fully underway.
So, if you know someone who is keen on a wedfest style of tying the knot, consider how Little Bonnie Dot might bring Jade and Michael’s love of weddings to the party.
Little Bonnie Dot available for functions and events.
See www.littlebonniedot.com or Instagram @little.bonnie.dot
or phone 0448 114 504.
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