'We love Bournville so much it was our wedding theme - we got the whole village involved'

-Credit: (Image: Sam Frank Wood)
-Credit: (Image: Sam Frank Wood)


Lifelong Brummie Susie Boden spent an idyllic childhood in Bournville, so when she was planning her wedding to partner Silas Wood this year it was a no-brainer to base it on Birmingham's beloved model village. Susie, the daughter of Cadbury workers, got married in Bournville on Saturday, September 7, and everything from the cake to the flowers was either sourced from or based on the historic village.

The quaint village was founded by the Cadbury family to look after its factory employees and continues to be a sought-after spot with charming independents, a popular farmer's market and the thing that most visitors are after - chocolate. Chatting to BirminghamLive the day before her wedding, Susie, 58, said: "I was born in Bournville both of my parents worked for Cadbury's for over 40 years. We lived in a Bournville Trust House.

"We've made sure it's a Bournville affair, we're getting married at Selly Manor. I went to the local school and grew up around Bournville. It is a lot of Bournville history. I have been a Bournviller all my life."

READ MORE:I visited a Birmingham market on an old green and one stall was wiped out in 90 minutes

Get breaking news on BirminghamLive WhatsApp

'Silas has fallen in love with the Bournville story'

Mum-of-three Susie met Silas, 58, three years ago in a music audition and he soon "fell in love" with the Bournville story. She said: "Silas is a musician, I auditioned to be a singer in his band. He is from Oxford, he came up here to work.

"We met three years ago. He has fallen in love with the Bournville story. We are looking to move here ourselves." Susie and Silas' special day involved the whole village, with local vendors making the cake, food and arranging the flowers. Susie even had her pre-wedding dental check done at the local surgery.

Explaining the significance of Bournville, Susie said: "It is so important to me as soon as I showed Bournville [to Silas] he felt the same as me, it is a really special place. When my brother and sister left home my parents were transferred to a lovely smaller home. I felt like my parents had been looked after it worked really well for the workers.

"It was just a wonderful place to grow up."

Susie and Silas' Bournville-themed wedding

Got married at Selly Manor Teeth checked at Bournville dentist Hair done at Sas & Co Hair and Beauty Famous Bournville musician Trevor Workman played the Carillon Invitation and poster created by local Bournville illustrator Milan Topolovic Cadbury's wedding chocolate Canapes from The Bournville Breadbasket Flowers from Daffodillys Florist Named all the wedding tables after the Bournville tree-named roads Afternoon tea at Old Farm Hotel

'Bournville is like going back in time'

"[Bournville] is just like going back in time, it's still so nice that you can find those areas where people create a nice community.

"Living in Bournville would be a nice end to our story" explained Susie. "We have just about managed to get everything in Bournville involved, we are even going to Kafenion [cafe] with anyone left over the morning after.

"[We are] staying in a local hotel, we have a vintage car it is a very private ceremony at Selly Manor. Prosecco and canapes will be from The Bournville Breadbasket. "

After the ceremony, Susie said gelato will be served at 2pm in a nod to Silas' Italian proposal in February. "After that, Trevor Workman will blast the bells out for us."

Susie Boden and Silas Wood tied the knot in Bournville on Saturday September 7, and everything for the wedding was either sourced from or based on the historic Birmingham village for a very special reason. Pictured: Their local wedding cake -Credit:Sam Frank Wood
Susie Boden and Silas Wood tied the knot in Bournville on Saturday September 7, and everything for the wedding was either sourced from or based on the historic Birmingham village for a very special reason. Pictured: Their local wedding cake -Credit:Sam Frank Wood

Susie explained how her connection to Bournville grew even stronger when quit her high-powered job to work at the retirement village. "When I was 50 years old I decided I had enough of working as an events organiser" said Susie.

"I went to work in Bournville Gardens Retirement Village. I wanted to give back to Bournville." Currently, Susie lives just outside of Bournville, but hopes to move into the village soon.

"Bournville is in my heart all the time, my parents started the Bournville story. It has never left me, that's why I wanted to work at the retirement village. A lot of Cadbury workers are there."

Susie Boden and Silas Wood tied the knot in Bournville on Saturday September 7, and everything for the wedding was either sourced from or based on the historic Birmingham village for a very special reason -Credit:Sam Frank Wood
Susie Boden and Silas Wood tied the knot in Bournville on Saturday September 7, and everything for the wedding was either sourced from or based on the historic Birmingham village for a very special reason -Credit:Sam Frank Wood

Susie explained her parents were relocated to a smaller home in Bournville after she and her two siblings left home, which they love. "A lot of people worked at the Cadbury factory or British Leyland factory.

"We had Cadbury houses when my brother went to university he had a grant. The Cadbury brothers, it's just a wonderful story. They are just warm, welcoming people."

Chatting to BirminghamLive after her big day, a delighted Susie said: "The Bournville team did me proud every single one of them.

"Residents from Bournville Gardens Retirement Village were on the green to wish me well and the bells from the Carillon rang out gloriously. Silas and I had a wonderful Bournville wedding experience."