Last night I stayed with a lovely photographer - Jemma from Pearl Pictures http://www.pearl-pictures.com who will be shooting Pamela and Roberts wedding today. We were chatting about the services we offer and how they add value and it lead on to discussing why couples choose a wedding planner over a venue co-ordinator. Many venue co-ordinaries feel there isn't a need for an independent wedding planner and can sometimes feel a little put out by this taking place, like I'm straying into their territory.
This is a problem I come up against a fair amount and I strongly feel it can work really well as we focus on very different areas and can support each other - should the venue be open to this of course. I'm not employed to take over their venue, they are the expert here and I am simply here to support them and assist where I can, add a pair of hands when required.
Of course this isn't the only area of my support, a venue co-ordinator is an expert in their field, they know how you can make the best of your day and by using their skills you can ensure your reception is perfect.
However a wedding planner can add so much more to this, they work with many different suppliers every weekend and can offer varied advice on those suppliers, they are out and about every day and keeping up with what's new. They are visiting bridal shops, fairs, events all of which give extra influence and outside influence, they can visit suppliers and collect samples, read over supplier contracts and put together timelines and calendars.
More than this though they offer something only an independent wedding planner can truly offer.... 24 support. Being on the end of the phone for every concern or worry, advising on everything from style to family arguments. They are there for you and can be called upon at anytime day or night.
This emotional support is by far the most important role I offer and one my couples value above everything else.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Saturday 28 May 2011
Thursday 19 May 2011
Retro v Vintage
I love retro, I blame my husband of course. I see myself in a camper van, wearing polka dots and a satchel, listening to Dean Martin and enjoying lots of colourific treats. For this blog I wanted to look at weddings with both themes ...
Take a look here for some fab Retro wedding ideas ...
http://www.mrs2be.com/retro-wedding-theme.php
But then there's vintage, I have to confess I'm not sure I ever knew the big differences... Vintage is more twee, more Cath Kidston than the recent Retro glamour of Drew Barrymore ( or dare I say it Austin Powers!) you can have vintage lace on your dress and table cloths and not feel you've overdone it. Afternoon tea and scones will secure your Ode to Vintage where as you are looking more at a candy bar come jelly bean jar to pull off true Retro.
What about the cars? Surely an ice cream van tops a classic 1926 Bentley? Or does it.
Officially I'm told that the 'vintage era' was from 1919-1930 whereas Retro brings about images of the swinging 60's doesn't it? So why do we get the two mixed up? Maybe it's our love of the past, when we lived without convenience and with good, homemade clothes and jams. Where neighbours spoke and hard living meant something very different.
Here is a lovely vintage wedding site I found : http://www.vintagewedding.com/
I find it amusing that we all love our mod cons but we do yearn for those bygone years of our grandparents.
So which do you love more? Can you choose? I am a vintage girl but can see my husbands influence creeping into my wardrobe too. Let's just embrace our love of all things that are not the here and now? Maybe.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Take a look here for some fab Retro wedding ideas ...
http://www.mrs2be.com/retro-wedding-theme.php
But then there's vintage, I have to confess I'm not sure I ever knew the big differences... Vintage is more twee, more Cath Kidston than the recent Retro glamour of Drew Barrymore ( or dare I say it Austin Powers!) you can have vintage lace on your dress and table cloths and not feel you've overdone it. Afternoon tea and scones will secure your Ode to Vintage where as you are looking more at a candy bar come jelly bean jar to pull off true Retro.
What about the cars? Surely an ice cream van tops a classic 1926 Bentley? Or does it.
Officially I'm told that the 'vintage era' was from 1919-1930 whereas Retro brings about images of the swinging 60's doesn't it? So why do we get the two mixed up? Maybe it's our love of the past, when we lived without convenience and with good, homemade clothes and jams. Where neighbours spoke and hard living meant something very different.
Here is a lovely vintage wedding site I found : http://www.vintagewedding.com/
I find it amusing that we all love our mod cons but we do yearn for those bygone years of our grandparents.
So which do you love more? Can you choose? I am a vintage girl but can see my husbands influence creeping into my wardrobe too. Let's just embrace our love of all things that are not the here and now? Maybe.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Tuesday 17 May 2011
I-cycle
Matt Benecci Icycle.
I love this idea! Why not hire a Trike Bike Ice Cream visit for your wedding?! Yum!
"It's difficult to be original these days and still maintain a standing in the marketplace. In 2005 Matt Benecci Ice Cream Co. was formed by Simon and Kerry Wells with the aim of providing the serving and distribution of quality Ice Cream from an Ice Cream Trike. The name was taken from their children 'Matt, Ben and Becci' and the trikes were quickly and lovingly called 'Icycles'. From a single unit serving at a local wedding five years ago, Matt Benecci Ice Cream Co has expanded into all counties covering the South East of England."
(....taken from their website...)
When looking for something unusual, this is perfect. Their cycles are used in many television campaigns and they are increasingly popular for weddings and events alike.
http://www.icecreamtrikebike.co.uk look them up today.
I love this idea! Why not hire a Trike Bike Ice Cream visit for your wedding?! Yum!
"It's difficult to be original these days and still maintain a standing in the marketplace. In 2005 Matt Benecci Ice Cream Co. was formed by Simon and Kerry Wells with the aim of providing the serving and distribution of quality Ice Cream from an Ice Cream Trike. The name was taken from their children 'Matt, Ben and Becci' and the trikes were quickly and lovingly called 'Icycles'. From a single unit serving at a local wedding five years ago, Matt Benecci Ice Cream Co has expanded into all counties covering the South East of England."
(....taken from their website...)
When looking for something unusual, this is perfect. Their cycles are used in many television campaigns and they are increasingly popular for weddings and events alike.
http://www.icecreamtrikebike.co.uk look them up today.
On Sunday I was lucky enough to be invited along to co-ordinate a beautiful Hindu wedding. This was to be a busy yet fun filled day with lots of organising on my side.
I arrive (with Hannah a student of mine) at 9am with instructions to 'ensure the venue has set up the table plan correctly and dress those tables and the Mandap'.
As we arrive we are shown upstairs where we meet a very angry and put-upon cleaner, his job was only half complete at the time we turned up, the table plan hadn't even been looked at let alone set up and the place was a tip.
Upon investigating it turned out there was no staff on duty in the function room let alone a manager, so we had simply an irate cleaner and a handyman to help us, it was clear we would have to work fast and alone to get this venue ready for our bridal party in just a few hours.
The morning progresses in much the same vein, there is no linen and no sign of the catering staff and time is ticking, I make some swift phonecalls and we adapt rather quickly so that we can set the entire venue up and get to the church on time!
The caterers are nearly two hours late so this too requires some quick thinking so that they are not laying tables whilst the party are arriving. We are an hour behind schedule but by 3pm we have made up time, myself and Hannah (in at the deep end somewhat) have cleaned floors, tied flowers, dressed and laid tables and cleaned up with the catering team, we have darted from venue to venue, begged borrowed and almost stolen to ensure our couples plans are carried out perfectly, we have shed many calories and gained a few grey hairs along the way. What could have gone wrong went wrong at this wedding but we coped totally ....
.... And all without the couple ever knowing a thing.
If you, or you know someone, who has ever doubted the need for a wedding co-ordinator on their wedding day, let this be proof of the need!!
(by the way, the wedding -once we got there - was amazing and so very beautiful)
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
I arrive (with Hannah a student of mine) at 9am with instructions to 'ensure the venue has set up the table plan correctly and dress those tables and the Mandap'.
As we arrive we are shown upstairs where we meet a very angry and put-upon cleaner, his job was only half complete at the time we turned up, the table plan hadn't even been looked at let alone set up and the place was a tip.
Upon investigating it turned out there was no staff on duty in the function room let alone a manager, so we had simply an irate cleaner and a handyman to help us, it was clear we would have to work fast and alone to get this venue ready for our bridal party in just a few hours.
The morning progresses in much the same vein, there is no linen and no sign of the catering staff and time is ticking, I make some swift phonecalls and we adapt rather quickly so that we can set the entire venue up and get to the church on time!
The caterers are nearly two hours late so this too requires some quick thinking so that they are not laying tables whilst the party are arriving. We are an hour behind schedule but by 3pm we have made up time, myself and Hannah (in at the deep end somewhat) have cleaned floors, tied flowers, dressed and laid tables and cleaned up with the catering team, we have darted from venue to venue, begged borrowed and almost stolen to ensure our couples plans are carried out perfectly, we have shed many calories and gained a few grey hairs along the way. What could have gone wrong went wrong at this wedding but we coped totally ....
.... And all without the couple ever knowing a thing.
If you, or you know someone, who has ever doubted the need for a wedding co-ordinator on their wedding day, let this be proof of the need!!
(by the way, the wedding -once we got there - was amazing and so very beautiful)
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
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