 |
BLOG |
That’s right folks, the festive season is upon us so it is time for me to start winding down and take my annual break:
Saturday 17th December – Friday 23rd December: Limited opening with access to e-mails
Saturday 24th December – Monday 2nd January: Office closed
Tuesday 3rd January – Friday 13th January: Limited opening with access to e-mails
Have a fantabulous Christmas everyone!
So, there I am on Friday night, not feeling 100% so curled up on the sofa with the cat and a cup of tea, and I pop upstairs to find a text from the lovely Lucinda George (fellow wedding planner with whom I work – and party – a lot) and a voicemail from the oh so fabulous Kaz Fernando (AMAZING hair and make-up artist) saying ‘congratulations!’.
Turns out, that just when you think you’re clocking off for the day, you’ve won a blooming award!
I am absolutely shocked, thrilled and honoured to have been voted the Best Independent Wedding Planner for London and the South East in the 2012 Wedding Industry Awards.
Having been nominated by a past client, voted for by all my clients over the past 18 months or so, and selected from a panel of wedding industry experts, I feel simply bowled over at this recognition of my work!
The national winners in each category will be announced at the awards ceremony (which I am nicknaming the ‘wedding Oscars’) in January – just before my 6 year anniversary of being in the wedding industry – so win or lose, I just don’t think I can beat this feeling!
Thank you so much!
And many many congratulations to the winners in the other categories for the region, as well as the planners who won in their regions (including 2 fellow UK Alliance of Wedding Planners Members – Fabulous Day for the North West, and Planned for Perfection in the South West).
I look forward to seeing you all in the New Year!
I was flicking through a few of my readings and poetry books over the weekend for a client and, as well as finding the perfect text for them, came across this by Walter Winchell:
“Never above you. Never below you. Always beside you.”
A little short for a ceremony reading perhaps, but just think how lovely this would be to have as your wedding’s motto. I can see it in stunning calligraphy on the invitations, on personalised fans for your summer ceremony, embroidered onto your napkins – everywhere!
Great words to live your married life by – just don’t let the best man get at any of Winchell’s other quotes. Somehow ‘she’s been on more laps than a napkin’ might spoil the mood during the speeches!
I’ve had a lot of press requests surrounding Winter weddings recently (’tis the season of course!), so I’ve made a few comments regarding warming up your guests with hot treats – like hot soup shot canapes. But I have just re-discovered an old Christmas favourite of mine – and boy would your guests be in for a treat:
‘Poor Knights of Windsor’ is essentially French Toast with Sherry (so far, so yummy!). If one manages to overlook the gazillion calories in each bite, it makes for a really delicious warm dessert canape:
POOR KNIGHTS OF WINDSOR
8 slices of white bread, about 2.5cm thick
300ml of milk
75g of caster sugar
30ml of sweet sherry
3 egg yolks
125g of English Butter
2.5ml of ground cinnamon
1) Remove the crusts from the bread and cut each slice into 2 triangles
2) Pour half the milk into a shallow dish and add 25g of the caster sugar and the sherry. Stir well together.
3) Dip the bread into the sherry mixture until each slice has been soaked completely then drain on a wire rack.
4) Beat the egg yolks and remaining milk together and dip the bread in this mixture.
5) Heat the butter in a large pan and fry the bread slices until golden. Place on a warmed serving dish. Mix the remaining caster sugar with the cinnamon and sprinkle over the dish. Delicious served with chilled whipped fresh cream.
Totally irresistible!
Recipe taken from: The Dairy Book of Family Cookery – Ebury Press – 1983
I’ve long since had a slight obsession with teal – an obsession not helped by seeing those GORGEOUS chairs at Greathire in September.
Whilst it isn’t the most classic of colours of course, it lends itself really nicely to both fun and funky daytime parties as well as elegant evening receptions:
With yellow, I feel like teal looks so fresh and young – the same can be said of teal with raspberry or mauve – just so much fun to play with!
Alternatively, teamed with black, teal becomes much more sophisticated – a touch of the timeless with a more modern twist.
In essence, I am a classicist, but sometimes, it is worth thinking outside of the box when it comes to colourways.
Photo credits.
Teal and yellow:
http://wickedcakeshop.com/blog/?paged=2
http://www.myfancystyle.com/tag/short-yellow-bridesmaid-dress/
http://www.theeburycollection.com/wedding-directory?Beau-Wedding-Stationery-109
http://preparetowed.com/blog/2011/03/design-with-dutch-bloemen-winkle-designing-for-a-25k-budget.html
http://www.greatweddingshoes.info/Teal-Wedding-Shoes-18965758
Teal and black:
http://www.greathire.co.uk/showroom/seating/french_black_teal_chair.htm
http://www.weddingbycolor.com/tags/table
http://www.partysuppliesdecorations.co.uk/view-product.php?category_id=106&product_id=46
http://www.hanginglanterns.co.uk/hanging-lantern-products/12-inch-teal-chinese-paper-lantern
http://www.weddinginvitations100.com/wedding-invitations-161439279665570814
http://boards.weddingbee.com/topic/what-will-your-bridesmaids-wear-post-pics
For a couple looking to get married, there are about a dozen or so truly iconic properties available in the UK: Cliveden – my old stomping ground, The Royal Crescent in Bath and Blenheim Palace to name a few. I have always counted Goodwood House amongst them but, until recently, had never had the opportunity to visit.
Well, that all changed last Sunday and I can’t say that I was disappointed! Here is a property that has it all for your wedding day, on a site that has it all for your wedding party!
The History
The first house was built by the 9th Earl of Northumberland in around 1616 – a fairly modest affair with the central space being what is now called ‘The Long Hall’. The house and grounds were then bought by the 1st Duke of Richmond in 1697, sparking an ongoing growth project throughout the generations to give us the amazing property we see today. The estate remains in the family, now being owned by the 10th Duke of Richmond, and occupied by his eldest son, the Earl of March and his family.
The House
Enough of the history lesson – what about weddings today! Well, if you’re looking for a grand, opulent, historical English venue, you’ll be knocking on the right door! The sweeping driveway takes you past the house, meaning you get a good look at that front facade.
Once inside, you’re greeted by the marble pillars, high ceilings and stunning fireplaces that one expects from a Regency country estate, and yet the multitude of paintings and huge fireplaces of the Front Hall helps to makes it feel welcoming and cosy despite its size.
But it is the fantastic range of rooms beyond the Front Hall which makes Goodwood such a fantastic venue. Having a wedding for 40-50 guests? No problem: ceremony in the rich red music room with its classic five-octave keyboard and harp followed by dinner in the Egyptian Dining Room whose stunning hand-finished walls and cornicing was only very recently restored by Lord and Lady March using only written guidebooks from 1829 and 1839 to guide the work.
And for a larger wedding? Greet 150 guests in the Front Hall before having the butler take them through to the Yellow Drawing Room for your ceremony (this was my favourite room – deliciously girly – reminded me of Versailles).
Your wedding breakfast would then take place in the Ballroom – another rich red room covered in priceless paintings including the original Van Dyck of Charles I and his family. There is a charming minstrel’s gallery at one end for your musicians and photographer to work from, and fantastic light coming from the huge sash windows that run the length of the room.
For your evening reception, Goodwood offers the Supper Room. Take it as it is with its pretty arches and even prettier patterned wallpaper, or opt to have it decked out like a nightclub, complete with starcloth walls and ceiling.
Beyond this, you have a wealth of other spaces: Offer your guests a traditional tour of the original building’s Long Hall, make use of the warm and cosy Tapestry Drawing Room as a bridal space, spend 10 minutes alone with your new husband in intimate card room….the list goes on and on! And this is before you open up the possibility of a marquee on the grounds to accommodate really large parties!
The Service
With my hotel background, I am a real stickler for excellent service but the whole team at Goodwood really impressed me. The in-house events team are all really knowledgeable about the estate and passionate about the weddings they take on – don’t forget, this is the team that brings you the annual Festival of Speed.
The waiters and waitresses were friendly, smiling and attentive without being obtrusive. There are no agency staff (even for the marquee events of over 1000!) since the head butlers (the word ‘expert’ just doesn’t cover how fab these guys are at their work!) know and train everyone, and all meals are served by a team bringing out each course, standing behind the guests and then walking as one to place the plates down – charming.
The food, much of which is produced on the estate, was delicious and prettily presented but substantial so that you didn’t feel hungry after the meal. Another lovely touch is that the head chef – a amiable and wholly approachable gentleman – works with each couple to get their menu just right – the sort of meeting that can be a real battle to get at some venues.
The Estate
And if all of that wasn’t enough, you have everything you need for a weekend’s worth of entertainment: A fabulous and recently refurbished 4 star hotel on the estate – complete with spa for the girls, Goodwood race course with its stunning views of the park for the boys and acres of grounds to play on, with very few of the restrictions you often find at historic properties.
All in all, I was totally sold! Like any venue, it has to be the right place for the right couple (the grandeur and ornate decor isn’t for everyone and at £10,000 + VAT for exclusive use on a Saturday and 3 course menus from £92 + VAT per person, it certainly isn’t a budget venue), but if this is your style, Goodwood has the substance to back it up!
Well, what a lovely treat I encountered last week when I found that a client nominated me for an award!
The Wedding Industry Awards looks to recognise excellence within the wedding world (much of which is unregulated) and I am thrilled to have been nominated within the independent planner category.
Judging is based on a mix of client votes (you can vote for me here!) and a panel of experts (an excellent way of doing things in my view), with regional and national awards being up for grabs. Of course, planners with large teams or larger production companies who can take on more weddings each year will have a leg-up since they will have more past clients to vote for them, but for me, the huge honour lies in the fact that a past client who was thrilled with my services took the time to notice that the awards were taking place, and nominate me for them.
So a huge thank you to the lovely Leah (more about Leah, her fab new hubby and their wedding will feature in the coming months) – I am pleased as punch that you were satisfied with my services to this extent! I will keep you posted on how I get on.
Happy Monday everyone!
Personally, I absolutely HATE having my photograph taken. Family events, special occasions and even nights out become a tragi-comedy as I weave through the evening, taking care to turn my head away at the slightest hint of a camera.
If this sounds like you, then your wedding day may bring a challenge you hadn’t thought much about. You’ll be looking your absolute best and you’ll want to record the day – so there’ll be no avoiding the cameras this time.
My top tips for the perfect shots:
1. Choose your photographer carefully.
Whilst it is important to trust any supplier that you choose for your wedding services, this doesn’t mean you have to like them – who cares if your florist is a little snooty as long as they deliver on the day? Your photographer however is there, with you, all day. It is vital that you click with them (if you’ll pardon the pun).
2. Have a pre shoot.
A lot of photographers offer an opportunity to spend an hour or so with them before the wedding day, in clothes and at a place you feel comfortable. This gets you used to the camera and how they work but also re-assures you that you do look good in photographs. If your photographer doesn’t usually throw this in with the deal, I do think it is worth paying for.
3. Visit the venue.
Take your photographer along with you to the venue – especially if they haven’t been there before. You can then suss out where the best places are in terms of aesthetics and lighting. It will also mean you know where you are going on site on the day.
4. Make a list of formal shots.
Let your photographer know well in advance which formal shots you would like to take on the day, and who should be in each. It will help them advise how long the set pieces will take which will leave you much more relaxed on the day – vital for a great photograph.
5. Get help ferrying guests.
My biggest pet hate is photographers that become drill sergeants on the day – shouting out names of guests that need to be in the next photo. Allocate one of your ushers or bridesmaids to help get the right people to the right places at the right time. Remember, your photographer doesn’t know who your guests are so allocate a helper who will recognise the majority of the family.
Photo credit: http://gizmodo.com/5064885/lubitel-166%252B-improves-on-classic-lomographer-camera
Yep, that’s it, I felt a chill in the night – it is officially autumn!
But before we put away the ice cream for winter, take a look at some wedding inspiration along the lines of my favourite flavour!
Photo credits:
http://www.jlmcouture.com/Jim-Hjelm-Occasions/Bridesmaid/Additional/Style-5078
http://www.thisnext.com/tag/swarovski-pearls-earrings/
http://www.polyvore.com/pink_brown_color_scheme_wedding/thing?id=32498911
http://recipes.howstuffworks.com/mini-neapolitan-ice-cream-cakes-recipe.htm
http://www.stockphotopro.com/photo_of/Pink/B2650H/Glass_of_Pink_Champagne
http://www.chefgeorgehirsch.com/dailyfood/classic-champagne-cocktail.html
More and more, I find myself planning the sorts of weddings I really really like: Marquee or blank canvas venue weddings, where the design side of things really come into play and the logistics get more complicated.
You have to think through (and speak to the individual experts) on everything from the infrastructure to the lighting, the furniture to the table-ware, the flowers to the stationery etc, as well as how all these things will work together to create a stunning effect.
Luckily, there are a fair few fabulous suppliers who make this process much easier, and super fun! Greathire is one such company.
Having worked with Greathire on Laura and Mark’s wedding last year, I was absolutely bowled over by the range of furniture they stock, the excellent condition they keep it in and the flawless customer service they offer.
Owner Aundrea has a real eye for style – not only choosing items that she finds ‘off the shelf’, but also designing, updating and customising the majority of the pieces as trends demand. Take this, Great Hire’s classic French dining chair (in the white and ivory form I used last year):
Not only is it already available in a great range of colourways, Aundrea had this incarnation commissioned at the request of a client – and boy does it look striking with their black tables and silverware!
I had the absolute pleasure of popping along to one of their showroom open evenings on Tuesday last week, so I finally managed to meet the rest of the charming team. The space looks fantastic, with different looks laid out so that visitors can get a real feel for how the furniture can be used to make their wedding different. I could rave all day, but here are just a few of my favourite set-ups:
1 sofa, 2 ways:
And my other fav’s:
Take it from a woman who is currently house-hunting and obsessed with interiors, if they could stick a truckle-bed in the corner of the warehouse, I would move in in a heartbeat!
Recent Comments