So what does a wedding planner do?

The sorts of things I will work on for a client are so varied as each couple have such different requirements. The below will give you an idea of some of the things I do for clients depending upon their requirements, in no particular order, and by no means exhaustive:

• Sourcing and coordinating suppliers: venue, caterer, celebrant, florist, photographer, cake, stationery, DJ, harpist, guitarist, string quartet, bagpiper, caricaturist, casino, candy buffet, band, hair stylist, makeup artist, table decor, venue decor, chair hire, glassware, linen, crockery, vintage bus, London bus, chauffeur service, childcare, lighting, PA system, drinks, confetti, ribbons…
• Preparing and keeping track of the wedding budget
• Keeping track and sending reminders to clients of supplier payments due
• Preparing a wedding planning timeline and keeping on track
• Keeping a summary of suppliers who have been booked, their contracts and service details
• Ensuring all contracts and payments are complete and fair for both parties
• Providing suitable supplier options with enough information for clients to make a decision as to who they wish to choose for their wedding
• Supplier meetings
• Venue visits
• Advice on colours, fabrics, style and design
• Inspiration board for wedding style and design
• Sourcing of items to complete the style and design
• Suggesting options for alternative ways to do things
• Suggesting ways to make the most of the budget
• Advice on menus, drinks and how much to provide
• Collecting and returning hired items where required
• Organising guests around the wedding day, perhaps a meal the night before or a brunch the day after
• Providing suggestions for readings
• Providing suggestions for music
• Providing guidance around wedding party roles and responsibilities and informing them of the wedding day schedule
• Coordinating requests from Groomsmen and Bridesmaids
• Advice on guest lists
• Guest management – tracking RSVPs, dietary, transport, accommodation etc
• Advice on wording for invitations and other stationery items
• Advice on accommodation and transport for guests
• Devising seating and floor plans for ceremony and wedding breakfast for clients to complete
• Providing etiquette advice
• Providing emotional support and diplomatic advice through any political or difficult family and friend situations
• Advice and help with the Bride’s wedding dress and accessories
• Advice and help with Bridesmaids dresses and accessories
• Advice and help with the Groom and Groomsmen’s style
• Making decorations, tying ribbons to jars, chairs and napkins, tying tags to glasses, painting “Love” onto a parasol, filling bottles with alcohol, filling tins with sweets and teabags, filling pouches with duck food…
• Advising on the order of the wedding day and suitable timings
• Confirming all wedding day details with the venue and all suppliers
• Acting as the couples’ ears and eyes on the wedding day, ensuring every detail is as they want it to be
• Point of contact for the venue, suppliers and wedding party on the day
• Facilitating all supplier requirements on the wedding day to make sure everything runs seamlessly
• Provide full set up, support to the couple, family and wedding party, supplier and venue coordination, guest communication, any ‘hiccup’ resolution, emergency kit, clear down and an assistant on the wedding day

The above are the practical and professional elements that I carry out for clients. Over the course of planning a client wedding I also provide emotional and friendly support, as well as guidance to ensure the couple are happy with their decisions.

The benefit to my couples is that I am their sounding board and a single point of contact for everything they could possibly think of to do with their wedding (aside from the legal aspects which must be carried out by the couple). I save them lots of time by taking away all of the administrative aspects, save them worry by finding reliable options which suit their requirements and budget and save them stress by providing knowledgeable advice on various elements. I don’t take over and make all the decisions; the couple remain in complete control and have a wedding day which is truly about them.

I love what I do and I love the couples I work with. Being a wedding planner you have to be passionate about what you do, it is an all encompassing role, during which you become quite close to your couples. It is always sad when the wedding planning comes to a close (I think I suffer a little from the wedding blues too!)

I thought it might also be useful to try and put some figures around what I provide for my clients with regards to hours and resources. So I have looked across my full wedding planning clients and have summarised the average stats per wedding below:

• Comprehensive communication and support spanning between 7 weeks and 12 months before the wedding date
• 700 Emails (approx.) between clients, suppliers, potential suppliers and the venue
• 213 Hours of work per wedding (I’m sure there are some hours I don’t keep a record of too)
• 15 Suppliers to source, communicate with and coordinate
• 12 Face-to-face or Skype meetings with clients, suppliers and the venue
• 1,800 (approx.) Minutes of phone calls to clients, suppliers and the venue
• 15.75 Hours attendance on the day of the wedding

Bearing in mind the above figures are average, so some weddings will be much more or less complex and involved than others.

Hopefully this puts a bit more understanding around the sometimes ‘unknown’ of what a wedding planner does.

x

Photo credits:
Wedding Guide and Wedding Sign by Juliet McKee Photography
Tanya and Anthony thanking me by Guy Collier Photography

I find the tradition interesting, especially as we now live in an age where women and men are predominantly seen as equals, so why is it that women don’t propose more often? Perhaps despite wanting to be ‘equals’ we secretly enjoy the chivalry and tradition of being proposed too?

So why is it that the 29th February is seen as the date for women to propose?

It is believed the tradition started in 5th century Ireland when St. Bridget complained to St. Patrick about women having to wait for so long for a man to propose. Also, according to English law, February 29th was ignored and had no legal status, therefore traditions would also have no status on that day. Hence the tradition of only the man being able to propose was temporarily ‘removed’. Some also believed that since the leap year day existed to solve a calendar problem, it could also be used to fix an old and unjust custom that only let men propose.

Tradition also states that any man who declined a proposal in a leap year must pay a fine, such as a kiss or payment for a silk dress or a pair of gloves!

So how many of us ladies will be proposing on the 29th February this year? Or doesn’t the leap year tradition have any bearing on whether you will propose or not?

Happy Valentine’s Day! Perhaps the love of your life will beat you to it today!?

x

Photo credit: Juliet McKee Photography

Then come along to Miss Bush Bridal Wear this Saturday, 4th February!

We will be around to chat through any thoughts and ideas you may have and provide you with help with your plans such as:

• Setting and keeping to your budget
• How to stay organised and avoid Bridezilla moments
• Design and styling ideas
• Tips for finding your ideal suppliers

Also, come and see the lovely Juliet, of Juliet McKee Photography, who will be around to chat through your wedding photography and answer any questions you may have. Photography is one of the most precious elements of your wedding day, your photos will be a beautiful reminder of your wedding for years to come.

So after trying on some stunning bridal gowns with the help of Miss Bush’s wonderful team, gathering some top wedding planning and photography tips, you will be well on your way to wedding planning success and happiness!

To top it off, you’ll also be able to enjoy a glass of bubbly and a little sweet treat! Why not, after all it’s a wonderful exciting time and you deserve it!

x

We very much look forward to chatting with you and hearing all about your exciting wedding plans! x

Image and Photo Shoot Credits:
Photography: Juliet McKee Photography
Venue: Pendell House
Dresses and accessories: Miss Bush Bridal Wear
Cake: Janet Mohapi-Banks
Flowers: Fairy Nuff Flowers
Stationery: August Moon
Sweet Buffet: Creative Candi
Hair and Makeup: Gemma Sutton
Models: Gemma Underhay and Kitty Sage
Glassware with lemons and limes: Nest
Tableware: Jones Hire

You can find Cherry Topped on page 66 contributing to the Hot Topic column! We argued “Yes” to the question “Is it okay for bridesmaids to wear white?”

“If a bride wants her bridesmaids to wear white then why shouldn’t they? There’s an increasing amount of freedom and movement away from traditional rules in weddings today. The late Victorian tradition of bridesmaids wearing colour so as not to distract from the bride has been famously challenged by Catherine, The Duchess of Cambridge, as her sister, Pippa Middleton, walked down the aisle in a stunning white Alexander McQueen gown.

Even if you aren’t one to break tradition, then you could still dress your bridesmaids in white. There’s an old superstition that says the wedding party should all be in white because it confuses and wards off evil spirits so they can’t harm, the bride.

An entirely white wedding party, if done well, can look extremely elegant. If you want to have a hint of colour, then bring it in with accessories for your bridesmaids. If Catherine, and even Princess Diana, can have their bridesmaids wearing white, then so can you!”

Where did your passion for photography begin?

 After graduating from uni I started looking for a job. I studied International Relations, so I was looking for something that would match my education. The recession hit and companies no longer were looking for individuals; they were looking for sales people who could bring money in. I realised that wasn’t my cup of tea and that I didn’t want to be a part of the corporate machine.

I started to look at different creative jobs and soon I was hired as a full-time assistant in a photographic studio. I enjoyed taking photos before as photography was my hobby, but this job gave me a real passion for photographing people. I learned composition, lighting and the main thing – how to engage with people during photo shoots and bring out their personality.

Then my husband and I went travelling around Australia, which was an unforgettable experience, and I quit my job. I wanted more. I wanted to develop my style and I wanted to see smiles on people’s faces when they look at my work. That’s when my hubby got me my first professional camera and I started learning. Everything I know I learned myself by reading and practicing. I learned how to see the light, how to use my camera to capture that light, how to ‘see’ people and capture who they are.

I photographed my first wedding in July 2009 and it’s been a roller-coaster ride since then!

What or who inspires your photography?

I think people I work with – my couples – inspire me more than anyone or anything. I love to see how different every couple is and how perfect some people are for each other. It makes me want to document that. Also nature is very inspiring – it’s pure, strong, real and beautiful, just like love between two people.

If you could photograph a wedding in another country other than the UK, where would it be?

Well, so far I photographed weddings in UK, Russia and Ireland, and have an engagement photoshoot in Paris this year which I’m really excited about. I would love to photograph a wedding/weddings in warm countries, somewhere on a beach or in the countryside maybe, for example on vineyards in France or Italy. I could imagine a wedding like that would be all about love, family, friends, having a great time, good food, good wine and a beautiful place – my ideal wedding! Most of the time though the light is more important to me than the actual location. I absolutely love that soft airy sunlight in the early hours of the morning, or late in the evenings. Makes perfect photographs!

Having an eco-friendly photography business is important to you, why is this?

I think everyone should think about the impact we have on our environment these days. We should take care of the place we live in and preserve all the best what’s left. Ever since I remember myself I always loved documentaries about nature. While growing up I started to realise how devastating us humans are to our planet. So, when I started my photography business 2 years ago, it was only natural for it to be as eco-friendly as possible. It’s not only about business; it’s about our lifestyle choices. I’m also trying to inspire all my couples to be eco friendly when planning their weddings. Incorporating even one eco element to your wedding makes a difference in the long run. And it’s not even that hard!

How do you make your photography business eco-friendly?

Here is how I contribute to make everything a bit greener:

• My business cards are printed on 100% recycled and recyclable paper *so if you want to get rid of my card – please recycle! *
• If you are my bride you will receive your engagement and wedding photos on a dvd in a case made from sustainable organic paper, recycled card or hemp
• Wedding albums for my couples are handcrafted in UK (cutting down the jet fuel) and are the most ‘green’ wedding albums out there. The album presentation box is made of recycled card. Real leather cover is a by-product of meat industry. Archival fine art paper is recycled or bought from sustainable sources. Your album is carefully wrapped up in a sleeve made of natural unbleached cotton
• I communicate with my clients mostly online, and I try not to print anything out unless I really need to. If I do, I make sure it’s printed on paper that is carbon neutral and comes from sustainable forests. Even the wedding contract is filled in by my clients online through my website
• I work from home, and if I need to meet my couples I travel by public transport which helps to reduce carbon emissions
• I do most of my work on a laptop. I charge it, then unplug and only plug it back in when my battery is dying, helps to save electricity
• I buy organic food and try to support local suppliers when I can
• I recycle everything including food leftovers

What changes are you making to your album sourcing in order for it to be more eco-friendly?

When I started to look for eco friendly wedding albums, I wanted to find something beautiful and I didn’t want to compromise on quality for my couples. After a long search I think I’ve found a perfect fine art wedding album. It’s handcrafted in UK, so it helps to cut carbon footprint by not jetting it to you from across the world. The album has environmentally friendly packaging that protects your album, while keeping waste to the minimum. The beautiful presentation box is made of recycled card, fine art paper is recycled or bought from sustainable sources, and real leather cover is a by-product of meat industry. Your album will be wrapped in a sleeve made from natural, unbleached cotton that’s been washed in spring water.

What is the most rewarding aspect of what you do?

I guess the most rewarding aspect of my job is after the wedding, when my couple sees their wedding photographs for the first time. I just love to see how happy they are and happy tears in their eyes! In these moments I get all emotional and teary myself – it’s one of the best feelings in the whole world, honestly! I also get to meet so many different people from all over the world, coming from different backgrounds, with their own stories – I love it!

I’m sure you can see from Dasha’s responses that she is a very down to earth lady, full of passion and creativity! I hope you have enjoyed finding out a little bit about Dasha, her wedding photography and her approach to being an eco-friendly business! Let us know, with your comments below, what your thoughts are on wedding suppliers operating in an environmentally conscious way!

Thank you so much Dasha for taking the time to answer these questions and letting us know a bit about you, your wedding photography business, and for providing some of your beautiful images!

x

These little retro-styled and colourful cake boxes are perfect for filling with leftover wedding cake to hand out to your guests at the end of the evening.

If you’re having an intimate Christmas wedding these crepe surprise balls tied beautifully with ribbon are prefect as favours for your guests.

If you love travelling and want to bring this into your wedding day, why not have these luggage tags as your place names tied to the chairs or napkins.

Another little idea for a Christmas wedding are these numbered baubles as your table numbers which could also hold a menu or even a picture which represents the table name/ number.

Are you and your fiance childhood sweethearts? If so, you could hand out these old school style badges for your wedding party to wear or as part of your speeches as awards.

These cutlery charms are quirky and adorable as a napkin tie and favour for your guests. Perfect if you share a love for good food.

There are lots more adorable finds on Cox & Cox to help you with your wedding styling ideas!

Happy shopping!

x

Discover Vintage is hosting a fabulous Vintage Wedding Fair on Sunday 19 June at Chiswick Town Hall from 11am-4pm. The fair promises to be the best yet and brides will be coming from all over the country to see how they can bring a vintage feel to their special day. Exhibitors will be bringing a huge variety of high-quality genuine vintage and vintage-inspired products from gowns, shoes and jewels to bunting and campervans.

If you dream of walking down the aisle in a delicate 1920s silk gown or a tea-length 1950s prom dress just like the one your grandmother wore, this is the place to find it as there will be over 300 genuine vintage wedding dresses from the likes of Heavenly Vintage Brides and The Vintage Emporium. We are lucky enough to have met some of the original brides so ask us about the history of your favourite dress.

How about a bouquet made of jewels? Debbie Carlisle creates unique bouquets, hair-pieces and buttonholes out of jewels and can even wire in a sentimental piece of jewellery of your own. For hair and make-up advice, see Belle of the Ball – they take inspiration from vintage hairstyles in film and want to make you look and feel like a glamour-puss on your special day. Brides can contact them to book a 30 minute hair or make-up demonstration.

For ideas on how to decorate your venue, visit the Bunting Queen who makes handmade cotton bunting in a huge selection of styles and designs. And as for your getaway car? Why not choose a campervan or Morris Minor? Vantastic will be there with Clover, their very special VW.

Throughout the day, vintage DJ Mouthful O’Jam will be playing original records from the 1920s-1960s in one room and the gorgeous Marjorie Belles – who describe themselves as The Andrews Sisters reincarnated – will be entertaining us in the other, whisking us back in time with heavenly harmonies and dazzling jazz and swing arrangements.

After all of the exhibitor excitement it may well be time for a sit down and a cup of tea, so Joyful Food will be serving up a very yummy afternoon tea in our Tea Room.

Creator Keeley Harris says of the event “the vintage wedding fair is something particularly special for Discover Vintage because this kind of event is extremely rare, and we were the first to do it. Brides have responded really well and we’re now getting photographs through from ladies who came 18 months ago and have just gotten married in one of our dresses!”

Entry is just £5, so come along on the day for some inspiration on planning the perfect vintage wedding. For more inside information visit the Vintage Wedding Fair website, follow @vtgweddingfair or search on Facebook.

What’s the average client budget?

Quite often people imagine that wedding planners are only for couples with huge budgets, yet the results of the survey said:

Considering the average wedding budget is around £22,000, this highlights that you don’t have to have a huge budget to hire a wedding planner.

What’s the average number of guests?

We aren’t always only needed for the larger guest list weddings either, we are quite often involved in more intimate weddings and ‘average’ sized weddings, as the survey said:

What’s the average number of suppliers that wedding planners manage?

One of the biggest benefits of hiring a wedding planner is that they take away all of the time consuming admin and research when it comes to your wedding suppliers. So how many suppliers do we coordinate on your behalf? The survey said:

I found these results interesting in that they provide wedding planners with some meaningful facts around the broad range of our clientele and how the reality can be different from the perception; at least for the majority of UKAWP wedding planners.

Have some of these results surprised you?

Banner image: Lloyd Dobbie Photography

So what is airbrush makeup and how is it different to traditional makeup?

Why should you consider it for your wedding day?

I’ve asked Mariam some questions to find out a bit more and to help you decide, she’s also kindly shared some images of her work, taken by photographers she has worked with on photo shoots or at weddings (please see the credits at the end):

Where did your passion for being a makeup artist begin?

My passion for makeup and beauty began in my father’s hair salon where I have many early memories. I think these early roots in beauty always left an impression on me.

What training and experience has it taken to become a well established airbrush makeup artist?

I have been a makeup artist for many years, but in 2008 I went to Los Angeles to take an airbrush course for a few weeks at Make Up Designory (MUD) where I was taught everything there is to know about the equipment, kit, uses, etc.

What are the key benefits of a bride having airbrush makeup over ‘traditional’ makeup?

Airbrush makeup feels like nothing on the skin, so women (and men) love the feel and of course the results of perfect, natural skin. The products I use are also very long wearing and are used on film and TV sets around the globe, my clients love knowing that they are getting the same star-treatment as so many celebs.

Does airbrush makeup take longer to apply?

I have been airbrushing for quite a few years now and am able to do a clients base, cheeks, contour, highlight, and brows with airbrush in just a few minutes, no longer than with traditional makeup.

Are there situations when you would advise a bride not to have airbrush makeup?

Airbrush makeup is safe and hygienic; however it is not advised for pregnant women due to the micro fine particles that might be inhaled. There is usually an airbrush makeup formulation for everyone; I stock water base and silicone base in my kit, which usually works for most clients.

What do you ask a bride when you first meet her/ talk to her?

I ask about any skin conditions/concerns, how they normally wear their makeup, what kind of look do they envision for their wedding?

What is the most rewarding element of what you do?

The most rewarding element would have to be the big hug and thank you from a bride when she is setting off to her ceremony. You can feel the sincerity and it’s a lovely feeling.

Is airbrush makeup the future of bridal makeup?

Airbrush makeup transcends so many different genres for makeup and is used in film, TV, photo shoots, and fashion. I think many brides are hearing all the benefits and seeing amazing results that they can not help but want this for their wedding day! I definitely feel airbrush makeup is the future in wedding makeup with High Def wedding videos and Digital Photography that show so much detail and any imperfections.

As you can see from the images, airbrush makeup is flawless and provides such a perfectly finished look. You can have your wedding makeup look as natural, as smoky, as vintage or as alternative as you would wish for! It also works a treat in your wedding photos!

Will you be considering having airbrush makeup rather than traditional makeup for your wedding?

Thank you Mariam for your insight into the art of airbrush makeup and how it provides a truly special experience and a beautiful finish for brides.

x

Photo Credits:
Images 1 & 2 – Lukasz Rajchert Photography, Shanna Melville Bridal Couture
Images 3 & 4 – Alex Beadon Photography
Images 6 & 9 - Exhibit Emotions
Images 5 & 8 – Mariam Jensen
Image 7 – Moments Captured Photography, Edwina Ibbotson Millinery
Image 10 – Alexander Leaman Photography