Summer love in Solihull: A newly married couple share their first dance with thousands of festival goers!

When Midlands business leader Gerald Manton finally tied the knot with Sareena Jones after more than two decades of partnership, they celebrated in style … in front of thousands.

The romantic couple from Sheldon, Birmingham got married at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Solihull, where 160 guests joined them for the ceremony. For their reception, they hired their own VIP marquee for 200 guests at the Solihull Summer Fest 2023, an event which attracted more than 20,000 visitors to the town’s Tudor Grange Park on the weekend of 22 and 23 July.

And thousands of those festival goers ended up watching what had become the happy Mantons taking their first dance on one of the main stages on Saturday 22 July. Mr Manton, chair of Westside Business Improvement District (BID), said: “My love for Sareena has only grown over the years, and so I wanted to do something really special for our wedding.

“It rained most of the day, but no one seemed to care, and it certainly did dampen anyone’s spirits! Having Lisa Stanfield, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Pixie Lott, Blue, Kenny Thomas and the Artful Dodger play at your wedding reception was a massive bonus.”

Gerald explained how he and the local Round Table have helped organise the annual Solihull Fireworks Display at Tudor Grange Park over the last decade, raising thousands of pounds for charity. He said: “Having our first dance in front of thousands of festival guests was a special moment, especially with being at the park that means so much to me after all the annual fireworks displays I’ve helped to organise here.”

Gerald and Sareena, both aged 44, have three sons: Harrison, aged 22 next month, Charlie, 18, and Oliver, 15. Born in Castle Vale in 1979, Gerald became a property developer after studying Civil and Structural Engineering at Coventry University. He then worked for WSP, one of the world’s leading engineering professional services firms, before joining his father’s property development company.

As well as chairing Westside BID, Gerald has run his own company called GNM Developments Ltd for the last five years, specialising in the residential, care homes and student accommodation sectors, with a string of properties on Gas Street in the heart of Westside.

He added: “After 24 years together and now married, Sareena and I stand at the threshold of the rest of our lives together, and I’m filled with anticipation for our future chapters. The possibility of becoming grandparents in the future and just the two of us exploring the world are things to look forward to.

“We have spent more than half our lives together, and I can’t wait to spend the rest of it by Sareena’s side. Our journey, our bond, is a testament to our love, a love that I am fortunate to call mine.” Mr Manton made a point of thanking Ian Rogers and the Solihull Festival team for “helping to make our day unforgettable”.