Over the years I have been fortunate to have many weddings featured in magazines and blogs, despite this it is still a thrill every time. Therefore I was delighted when Wedding Venues and Services contacted me asking if they could include Poppy & Rob’s wedding in their April issue.

With thanks to the following key suppliers

Photography – Kerry Morgan
Flowers – Jades Flowers
Bar – ibarco
Stationery – A Bespoke Design
Lighting & Draping – Wedding Creative
Furniture – Great Hire
Marquee – American Marquees
Band – Flood the Floor
Cake – Maisie Fantaise
Caterers – The Moveable Feast

Earlier in the week I showed you the photoshoot for Bruisyard Hall, part of the shoot concentrated on images to highlight the venues use for the weekend of the wedding, thus the couple relaxing the “morning after”. I couldn’t fit all the images in the previous post so I hope you enjoy them below instead!

With Thanks.

Photography – Kerry Morgan

Padded Jackets – Lavenham Jackets

In November I was contacted by the marketing company for Bruisyard Hall, a new wedding venue in Suffolk. They asked whether I would consider helping to organise a shoot which highlighted the feel of a wedding day at Bruisyard (which includes both the hall and barn). To learn more about this beautiful venue please see my venue focus report

There are many planners that organise photoshoots that concentrate on design concepts and hot new trends whose images are then published on wedding blogs or magazines. However that’s not really my style, my strengths lay in the organisation of weddings utilising my 10 years knowledge. After spending that many years viewing venue websites and brochures, I know what sort of shots a bride would expect and what images are important in order to help sell the venue to future clients.

When discussing the relevant style it was agreed understated elegance were our key terms. Although the barn had been totally renovated and was now ready for weddings, the hall was pre renovation (the interior designers are in the hall now!) so we needed to show the beauty and history of the hall, but not concentrate on any of the interior touches.

It was important we showed how a wedding would flow at Bruisyard from using the hall to get ready to the different rooms in the barn for the ceremony and wedding breakfast + the expanse acres of land available to wander through the morning after. It was vital that all those involved in the shoot didn’t over do the design, future brides needed to see the space available and visualise their own wedding theme rather then adopting a design already in place. The beauty of barns in particular is you have a blank canvas to work with thus pretty much any design will work.  We decided to create 2 very simple designs on the day to reflect the elegance and rural setting of the barn.

With Thanks.

When I was asked to organise the shoot I knew it was vital to bring in some of my trusted suppliers to help create the look, they all worked so hard on the day so I cannot thank them enough.

Photography – Kerry Morgan

Flowers – Jades Flowers

Chair Covers – Extravorganza

Table Settings – Chimneys

Bridal Dress & Accessories – Terry Fox

Padded Jackets – Lavenham Jackets

Back in November I was asked to organise a photo shoot for a new fabulous venue in Suffolk called Bruisyard Hall . Although the Hall has been used as a country retreat for many years the barn had been newly renovated and makes a stunning choice for weddings in Suffolk. I must thank Kerry Morgan for being our photographer on the day whose images are shown below. Next week I will talk about the shoot in more detail but first I want to introduce you to the venue…

The History

The Hall has been owned for an impressive 400 years by the same local family – the Rous family – whose heritage in the local area dates back to 14th century. Once serving as a Abbey, many original features from the Hall’s construction remain today, including oak staircases, oak-beamed attics and even a ‘Sweet-toned Bell’. Following the dissolution of the monasteries in the 1500s the Hall was rebuilt – this time to include a ‘Priest’s Hole’ – a feature that remains to this day. 

17th Century Barn

New for 2012 is the beautifully renovated 17th century barn, although ‘barn’ doesn’t do this venue justice. The barn can accommodate events up to 400 people within its three rooms with under floor heating throughout (fuelled by a wood chip burner using the estate’s wood). Licensed and soundproofed, offering a Banqueting Hall, Medieval Hall and Minstrels Gallery on the mezzanine floor, parking for over 100 cars and a floor to ceiling window with views out to the gardens.

Accommodation

The barn has two en suite bedrooms and the Hall offers a further ten bedrooms, accommodating up to 24 guests in total and allowing you to have the run of Bruisyard Hall’s historic Estate exclusively for your stay.

The Location

Bruisyard Hall is located in Bruisyard, Suffolk. The closest main towns are Framlingham and Saxmundham.

The Ceremony

You have a choice of a small ceremony in the drawing room inside the hall or on the minstrels gallery in the barn. Or for larger weddings the ceremonies can take place in the medieval hall or banqueting hall.

What I love

There are so many aspects I love about this venue but here is a taster:
o Under floor heating in the barn using fuel by a wood chip burner using the estate’s wood – now that’s what I call recycling!
o The dual venue possibility of having the barn & the hall from Friday – Monday
o The fact dogs are welcome – so many of my clients have more then 1 dog so I know they will love this little ‘added bonus’
o The managers dedication to choosing top quality suppliers to work with them
o The setting, sigh, this is 700 acres of Suffolk countryside at its best.

Prices

• 2012 = £6,500
• 2013 = £7000

Price includes Hall and Barn, furniture, corkage, exclusive use of 700 acre estate from Fri to Mon. For more information call Paul Daws on 01728 639 000 or complete the contact form here

Check back next week for a summary of the shoot organisation and list of fabulous suppliers that assisted us.

Photo Credit: The gorgeous Kerry Morgan
 

The beginning of the year is a busy time for wedding planners, we are meeting with potential clients and finalising the planning for current clients. We are spending time on our business marketing before the busy period really kicks in and wishing our suppliers a ‘Happy New Year’.

The start of a year is the time people start to reassess their career, maybe this is the year they will make that step to change their life. To some the career of an event planner is glamorous so perhaps it’s unsurprising I get contacted frequently by those wishing to enter this exciting industry. The questions I am asked are invariably the same each time, in fact it was from advising so many ‘newbie’s’ that the idea of the UK Alliance of Wedding Planners first came about back in 2004.

So if you wish to become an event planner read on for my advice:

Approaching other wedding planners for advice

Ok I mentioned I get contacted a lot? So here are the pet hates of mine, a sure way for me and no doubt other planners, to hit delete! 

• “I REALLY enjoyed planning my wedding; everyone said I’d make a fantastic planner.” Do you know HOW many times I have heard this line? Go on, take a guess… lets estimate 5 x p/w x say 50 weeks x 9 years = 1,250. Can you hear me scream? Please don’t say that line to me!
• Dear Sir/Madam – I have a name and yes it is plastered all over my website, twitter, facebook. Please just call me Bernadette
• I really want to be a planner, how do I do it, where do you get your clients, what should I charge, what services should I offer, where should I advertise….. the list goes on. Any planner out there will tell you I’m always happy to give advice but be specific, ask me a question and I’ll normally answer you but within reason!
• Can I see a copy of your proposal – err no! When conducting the training courses for the UKAWP we teach you what should be IN a proposal but don’t give you one to use. Imagine if we did, they’d be hundreds of planners out there using the same format – it needs to sure your creativity and personality.
• Can I see a copy of your contract – again no but you can purchase one via the UKAWP
• What is your profit? Just why would I tell you, seriously?!
• Pretending to be a bride – big no no, it’s disrespectful to small businesses out there. I know some online training courses suggest you do this but at the UKAWP we feel this is very bad practice.

Can I get a job?

Very few planners in the UK take on staff, some have part time assistants and freelancers in the peak summer season but if you think you will get a lovely, well paid job working for a planner think again. Unless you want to relocate to the US perhaps? It is for this reason that most planners start their own business but be patient – I’m coming onto that shortly!

So, if you don’t want to start your own business I suggest you contact large event companies or venues in your area that cater for weddings.  This gives you the opportunity to gain some experience whilst receiving the security of a regular salary.

What about work experience?

Well this is tricky, I get probably 5 C.V’s per week from people wanting to work for free to gain some experience. But in the government’s wisdom of supporting small businesses & young entrepreneurs like YOU, this is not possible as we would have to pay the minimum wage  of £6.08 p/h  

So even though YOU want to work for free for just a week or two part time, you can’t. Another possibility is to be a volunteer whereby you choose the hours & days you assist the planner, for more information on the definition go to here. It is frustrating as planners know you want to see what it is like for a wedding planner day to day but independent planners can rarely afford to pay £6.08 for an untrained helper.

So how can I become a wedding planner?

If you are serious about becoming a wedding planner and not approaching this as a hobby or whim then you need to do some serious research and get prepared! Here are my top tips but I have seriously condensed it (for proper training go to the UKAWP) 

1. First step is sign up to the UKAWP Business Practicalities course, I know I’m biased as the training director but I think the courses are fabulous. This course really explains how to launch as a wedding planning business. View here for more information. Don’t believe me? Just look at how super fabulous our members are, most of whom have attended our training courses. We run the courses spring and autumn, all the tutors have been in business for at least 9 years so we do know what we are talking about. We pass on real life experiences throughout the weekend and answer any questions you or the other students have. Do view the brochure for more information; don’t forget if you don’t attend the spring courses you will have to wait until the autumn….

2. Research into planners in your area, what is their websites like? What services do they offer and what prices do they charge? What is their USP? How can YOU be different? How can you stand out from them?

3. Start playing with company names, jot down ideas on a notepad and keep with you for those random moments when in bed/on the train/cooking dinner when you suddenly think of an idea! Then check if this name is taken via companies house + also check if the domain name is free. Don’t choose a name you can’t have the matching website to! Make sure it is easily spelt, not too similar to another and not cheesy as the name needs to grow with you as a business.

4. Ensure your website is professionally designed, after all you want to start your business professionally.

5. Meet other planners for coffee in your area, far better to be friendly then start your business under animosity. Attend events run by the UKAWP which include an annual seminar, evening workshops and social evenings.

6. Subscribe to the UKAWP blog for tips and information on industry events

7. Sign up to twitter and start following some respected planners & suppliers out there.

8. Really think about your pricing and take into account any costs, i.e telephone, broadband, travel, stationery & your time

9. Attend the UKAWP training courses – did I mention that already?

10.  Be patient, it wont happen over night

I hope this helps – best of luck for those embarking on this rewarding career.

Photo Credit

Kerry Morgan and Lloyd Dobbie

You may remember some of the beautiful shots from Sarah & Tom wedding in July and their twilight style engagement shoot.  The photographer used was the gorgeous, talented Kerry Morgan, someone I have worked with for 5 years and whose work just keeps getting better and better. Sarah & Tom wanted to create some romantic shots again so Kerry was happy to take them off on their own, the videographer also created some wonderful footage which I cant wait to show you at some point. Ok onto the pictures, I’m not going to comment, more let you enjoy the scene set by Kerry.

Recently I answered some questions for the lovely Kerry Morgan photography. Those familiar with my website and blog will notice many of her photos feature within my real weddings. Do take some time to read the post over on Kerrys blog and enjoy looking at her beautiful images.

Kerry Morgan