If you are planning a wedding, know someone organising a wedding, or even if you just like weddings then this is for you!

A one of a kind event is taking place in Orange on May 30 and it is the place to be.

You might be engaged, but are you fully engaged? 

We recently spoke with Henry Paul who is the mastermind behind this fantastic idea to find out where the idea came from, why we should go and who is involved!

The Nest: We love this idea Henry! What is Fully Engaged?

Henry: Fully Engaged is a cross between a wedding expo and a mock wedding. We’re inviting people to take part in this one of a kind event to experience, interact and ENGAGE with some of the best wedding vendors from the Central West. Not only will you get the chance to ask questions, but also you’ll literally be attending a wedding (just with no official-ness).

The Nest: Sounds fabulous, where did the idea come from?

Henry: The idea actually came to me on Christmas Day last year! My sister had just gotten married and my brother’s wedding was 10 days away. The whole family was in some kind of wedding head-spin. After hearing some of their frustrations of planning a wedding, I thought to myself ‘there must be a better way of getting to know your wedding photographer before hiring them’. I mean, websites are great and Facebook is good, but none of that compares to actually experiencing somebody’s work ethic to help you decide if they’re worth it and I think that applies across the board for every wedding vendor. Whether you’re looking for a florist, a decorator, or a photographer it is great if you can build a relationship before your own big day!

The Nest: Why should people attend Fully Engaged?

Henry: I put out to all those hipsters out there: In five years this kind of thing will be mainstream. Don’t you wanna be the person that went before it was cool?

Seriously, Fully Engaged has never been done before. This is exciting and scary at the same time. I think everybody loves to be a part of something new and bold, and this time it happens to be raising money for an awesome cause!

The Nest: So exactly, what makes Fully Engaged different to the other bridal fairs?

Henry: There are so many things that set Fully Engaged apart from your typical bridal fair. One of the biggest things people will notice is the limited number of vendors who are involved. This allows for an intimate experience with our  Fully Engaged Team. We have about 13 different businesses contributing to the event. At bridal fairs, there’ll often be 19 different photographers all competing for the same clients, and couples can often feel a little overwhelmed. At Fully Engaged it’s not a competition. It’s a wedding.

The Nest: We love that this is local, what vendors will be there?

Henry: Through Fully Engaged I have had the privilege of getting to know some of the best in the business! Of course we have Mayfield Vineyard on board, that’s where the event will be hosted! But the list of businesses involved keeps growing!

Here are some of the vendors available to meet on the day:

Venue: Mayfield Vineyard

Photography: Henry Paul Photography (Parkes) & Danni Evans Photography (Bathurst)

Video: Typography & Photobooth: Calicove Creative Studio (Dubbo)

Decorations: Bombira Weddings (Mudgee) and All Sorted Party Hire (Forbes)

Florist: The Meadow (Dubbo)

Bridal Gown: LMH Couture (Bathurst)

Millinery: Julie Herbert Millinery (Orange)

Suit: Bent Threads (Bathurst)

Celebrant: Tanya McDonald, Building Forevers (Millthorpe)

Entertainment: Renate Jane Music (Bathurst)

As you can see, this is an extremely regional effort, with vendors coming from at least 8 different towns to make this happen!

The Nest: Tell us a little more about you Henry, what is your background?

I grew up in Canberra with an incredible family! Through every life decision and business decision I made they have always been supportive, and are always looking for ways to help. Two years ago I made the decision to leave the nest and move to Parkes, and I’m sure they all thought I was a little crazy! But nevertheless, they supported me. It is now two years on, and I am running an exciting and thriving wedding photography business in the Central West, and I love every moment of it!

 The Nest: Well welcome to the area! So why wedding photography?

Henry: When I was in high school, I had a friend from church who was a wedding photographer. He offered to train me as his right-hand man. Before then I had never touched an SLR camera, let alone shot with one. But, as my friend said, I had a major creative personality that was just dying for a way to express itself.

When I moved to the country I also moved away from the photography business. And funnily enough, I had absolutely no intention of returning to the industry! But, of course, I was still in love with the art of photography. So with my newfound freedom I began exploring a whole range of other styles and types of photography.  Last Easter I was asked to stand in as wedding photographer for a couple in Forbes, and I fell in love with weddings all over again. Thus Henry Paul Photography was born.

The Nest: Money raised from the day will go to Ronald McDonald House Charity in Orange, why is this an important charity to you/ why was it chosen?

Henry: To be honest, this is what gets me most excited about Fully Engaged: $30 from every ticket sold will be donated to RMHC in Orange!

All our vendors are donating their time so that most of the ticket sale price can be donated directly to Ronald McDonald House. If you spend even just 5 minutes in a Ronald McDonald House you’ll understand why we’ve partnered with them. Fully Engaged is all about ‘spreading the love’ to help provide hope and healing to seriously ill children and their families.

The Nest: Okay Henry, so tell us the details!

Henry: Fully Engaged will begin at 3:30pm on 31 May at Mayfield Vineyard in Orange.

Tickets are available for $35 and can be purchased from www.henrypaul.com.au/fully-engaged-tickets/

The Nest: If our beautiful nesters have any questions how can they get in contact?

 

Henry: If you would like more information, would like to partner with us, or perhaps just make a donation, then please don’t hesitate to contact me. I am best contacted via email, henrypaulproductions@me.com, or through my Facebook page. 

So get to it nesters, not only are you supporting a brilliant cause you can also be part of something completely new for this area! Happy wedding planning Nesters x