When a bride-to-be found it difficult to plan her own wedding, she decided it was time to make another dream come true by starting her own business helping others to plan their celebrations.

Hayley Tinnion left the travel industry she had been working in and with her mother, Ann, started – or nearly started – Grace and Annie’s Event Hire.

“We are a large family and always planning some event or the other," Hayley said.

"My mother is so creative and we have talked about running our own business for a while and then just decided to go for it."

The coronavirus pandemic hit, putting a stop to many events in the county, so the pair have dedicated the past 14 months to research and planning to ensure their business meets needs.

They will not fully launch their business until June but have been picking up work that is going to keep them busy this summer.

“We are keen to stress that we are not just wedding planners," Hayley added.

"We will cater for any event and for as many or as few people as required, whether it is two or 102.”

Hayley Tinnion works on an outdoor arrangement and (inset) mother and daughter Ann and Hayley

Hayley Tinnion works on an outdoor arrangement and (inset) mother and daughter Ann and Hayley

Grace and Annie was named after Hayley’s little girl and her grandmother, Annie.

Other members of the family, including her dad Allan Car and fiancé Scott Moffatt, are also helping out building the things they need to provide the perfect event.

It has been a steep learning curve.

Hayley said: “It's the simple things, like do you know how many different kinds of balloons there are on the market?”

As well as promoting their own business, Hayley and Ann are planning an events fair – again, not just a wedding fair, but for any business involved in any type of event.

“Events such as weddings engagement parties and more have been so badly hit by the pandemic," Hayley said. "We wanted a chance to promote local businesses as well as to show what we can provide."

The fair will be a non-profit event with free entry for the public.

It will be held on July 24 in Gosforth Village Hall from 10.30am to 4.30pm.

“We already have 12 businesses signed up, including photographers, invitation makers, cake decorators and a couple of people who do floral art," Hayley added.

“Again, this is a chance to promote the local businesses that have been so hard hit during the pandemic and we continue to emphasise that it is not just about weddings.

“We even have an event planned where we know in advance that someone is going to be proposed to – and there will only be two people there.”