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Autumn 2008 £2.75

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Couples’ gift list headache By Mary Ferguson GIFT list providers Wrapit have gone into administration – owing £1.5m to trade suppliers and leaving 60,000 gifts undelivered. And embarrassed couples are being forced to ring guests to tell them to contact credit cards companies to reclaim the money spent on presents. Run by Pepita Diamand and Peter Gerardi, the company had been trading six years, and was behind the successful Wrapit industry awards. But administrators KPMG were called in following unsuccessful attempts by the directors to find a buyer for the business, and they have confirmed that trade suppliers are owed around £1.5m. Couples and guests can make claims for missing presents by writing to the administrators, who will publish a full report in October. Wedding planner Siobhan Craven-Robins said: “One of my couples haven’t got their gifts yet and obviously this is really inconvenient and disappointing.

“It will put other couples off using a gift list as Wrapit were so high profile. “In my 13 years in the industry, I have seen other gift list companies who have folded , so from my point of view, I now question recommending such a service to my clients.” And Andy Hickey, co-director of The Alternative Wedding List, believes the situation with Wrapit may force couples to think twice about who they use for their gift list. He added: “It worries me that a business like Wrapit has been able to operate in such a way for so long, but I’m not worried that it will put people off using gift lists. “What it will do is force them to be more careful about who they use, and I expect couples will opt for department store lists, or notfor-profit lists like ours – the middle of the market will be flushed out.” I For more on the situation, Page 3

Planner Debbie in crash shock

Coronation Street star Tupele Dorgu has set up an entertainments business providing performances for wedding receptions. Tupele, who plays Kelly in the soap, has launched Sugarstorm with partner Mark Flanagan in Manchester, drawing on her connections from her time performing in the West End.

A SHAKEN wedding planner has described how she was caught up in a car crash on the way back from visiting clients. Debbie Diggle, director of Wedding Wonders, was travelling back from London to Hertfordshire when she was hit headon by a drink driver. She told Wedding Professional: “Both my car and the van are write-offs and I have been told that if I was driving a less substantial car, I would not be here to tell the tale.” Both Debbie and the driver were taken to hospital on spinal boards, but later released – the driver straight to the police station. Debbie added: “I’m badly bruised and battered but that’s not really surprising.”

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weddingprofessionalnews The news of Wrapit’s demise came as a shock to many in the wedding industry – including those who worked for the company. Mary Ferguson reports.

‘It is incredibly sad to see Wrapit vanish in days and bring unhappiness to so many people’ SILKE Lohmann, director of Exclamation PR – who used to handle public relations for Wrapit – said she found out about them going into administration from a Sunday Times article. She told Wedding Professional: “Although we were aware of the refunding and that things were more difficult than first expected, we were all made to believe that we were just a few days away from securing a deal with an investor. “Even when it was announced that Wrapit was in financial difficulties and KPMG were called in to help, we were still made to believe that someone would rescue the company.” Silke said that once the administrators were appointed, there was nothing that staff could do. “It is incredibly sad to see Wrapit vanish in days and bring unhappiness to so many people. I can't tell you how much we all felt for the brides and grooms, and everyone at Wrapit tried to help as much as they could, but once KPMG were appointed as administrators staff had no access to files and weren't able to help any more.” There are rumours that Wrapit’s financial difficulties were caused by HSBC blocking card payments and holding £1 million of the company’s money, but this has not been confirmed. A few days after the collapse was announced, two dozen brides – some in their wedding outfits – marched on HSBC’s head office in Canary Wharf to deliver a

“Wrapit seemed to be doing so well, or at least their PR companies had us believing so. Therefore to discover this was all a lie was shocking. “One of my clients has lost out on thousands of pounds worth of presents

Holly creates Jamelia’s dream day ... Page 10&11

Corrie’s Kelly issues wedding entertainment invitation Page 4

Asian weddings

Civil partnerships

Venue directory

Contacts EDITORIAL Andrew Harrod – group editor – 01226 734639 ah@whpl.net Nicola Hyde – news editor – 01226 734459 nl@whpl.net Mary Ferguson – editor – 01226 734712 mf@whpl.net

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Angry brides at HSBC petition demanding refunds. In a statement on Wrapit’s website, KPMG said: “(We) are aware that Wrapit had been struggling for some time and had been seeking funding from other sources but without success. (HSBC) has advised that it regrets the failure of the company but it had taken professional advice and believes it acted wholly appropriately in the circumstances.” Silke said that not all newspaper reports have been correct, but confirmed the

anger amongst couples affected by the situation. She added: “Some brides have been sending over-the-top e-mails to staff, calling them some awful names – and one of the worst the worst read: “I hope (if there is a God) that you and your families all die in absolutely horrible circumstances. “But there have obviously been quite a lot of newspaper articles and some of them are simply mis-reporting what's been going on.”

What wedding planners think ... “I was asked to talk about the situation on BBC Radio Oxford, as they had had lots of calls from concerned brides. “I believed Wrapit to be a pillar in the wedding industry, but I suppose nobody is immune from the present financial turmoil.” Sarah Ducker, SJD Events

Inside ...

and needless to say I'll only recommend department stores from now on.” Bernadette Chapman, Dream Occasions

some time." Amanda Sherlock, Giles Sherlock Event Design

"The news came as a great shock to us; the company seemed to be at the top of their field and only seemed to be moving onwards and upwards in a very positive way. “Fortunately we did not have any brides affected by this, but we have friends who have been. I don't think this will put future brides off of having a wedding list, but I think it will leave a scar on the industry for

“The demise of Wrapit sets the industry back as a whole and not only gives couples a less inspiring choice on the gift list front, but may lead to general mistrust of wedding industry companies on the whole, planners included – at least in the short term.” Kelly Chandler, The Bespoke Wedding Company

Judith Halkerston – group deputy editor – 01226 734458 jhalkerston@whpl.net Kyle Wilkinson – designer – 01226 734711 kw@whpl.net

ADVERTISING Tony Barry – sales and marketing director tb@whpl.net Paul Allott – group sales manager – 01226 734484 pa@whpl.net Kizzy Mugridge – assistant manager – 01226 734710 kam@whpl.net Danielle Hornby – sales executive – 01226 734707 dlh@whpl.net

CIRCULATION Kelly Tarff 01226 734695 kt@whpl.net Fax: 01226 734477 www.weddingprofessional.co.uk

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Corrie’s Kelly issues wedding entertainment invitation ... By Mary Ferguson CORONATION Street star Tupele Dorgu has set up an entertainments business providing performances for wedding receptions. Tupele, who plays Kelly in the soap, has launched Sugarstorm with partner Mark Flanagan in Manchester, drawing on her connections from her time performing in the West End. As well as having other soap stars on the company’s books, the pair have developed an act called ‘The Final Bow’, designed to bring wedding entertainment out of the shadows. The performance involves singers of different genres having a ‘face-off’ on stage, before coming together for a surprise performance, joined by other singers who have disguised themselves in the room as waiters or guests. Tupele said: “The element of surprise works really well and helps us to bring entertainment to the forefront and involve the guests. “And because of my background in the

West End, I still have a lot of friends down there and know who is good and who isn’t. We only want quality people on our books, and it’s not just about famous faces. “We can work with what the client wants – some couples may want a soap star to mingle with guests while the photos are being taken, others will want a staged performance – we can be very flexible. Tupele said that some people come to them with a face in mind, but many ask them to recommend a star to fit with the theme or style of the event. She added: “I’ve done personal appearances myself and that’s one of the reasons I wanted to set up the company – I have often been messed about when it comes to fees and travelling, and Sugarstorm is fully professional. “It’s also a great opportunity for West End performers to gain work inbetween shows – and clients benefit because they know they are getting the best.” The launch party for the company took place at The Hilton Hotel in Manchester, attended by stars from the soap world, alongside local and national media.

Coronation Street star Tupele Dorgu with Sugarstorm partner Mark Flanagan

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Katya in guard honour ... By Mary Ferguson A LONDON wedding planner put together her dream wedding when she managed to secure the Queen’s Coldstream Guards for the event. Katya Nunziati, resident events organiser at the Renaissance Chancery Court, was delighted when the guards agreed to attend the wedding this summer. She said: “After meeting the couple I was let into a little secret that the father of the bride had made initial enquiries with the band from the Queen’s Coldstream Guards. “Once the Easter holidays had passed and the guards had returned from being on tour they were able to confirm that they were available to perform at the wedding of my client. “I confess that when I found out over the phone I jumped up and down with excitement as it was a first for me as a wedding planner. I later found out that the hotel had never had the honour before of hosting the Guards and this made it even more special.” Katya had to keep the performance secret from everyone apart from the bride’s parents, in order for it to be a surprise. “As the months passed we discussed floor plans and timings at length but it still seemed a little surreal to me. It was not really until I invited my client’s parents and a representative of the Guards along to the hotel for dinner that it all began to feel real.” They had to discuss a wet weather option and contingency plan should it be required, but decided the ideal option would be for the Guards to be able to perform in the courtyard as the sun set. On the day of the wedding, guests were directed to the Courtyard, yet still had no

Above: the guards at the wedding and, right: the couple Pictures: Steven Gemmell idea what was going on. Twenty seven guards struck the first chord as they marched under the arches and into the courtyard. Katya added: “Curtains twitched as hotel guests heard the performance, cars stopped on High Holborn and pedestrians peeked through the front gates to catch a glimpse of their red coats. “The atmosphere was incredible, the sun was shining and it was perfect.” When guests returned to the dinner tables, they were greeted by little toy soldiers placed on every seat.

Club offers icing on the cake THE Commonwealth Club in London has teamed up with celebrity cake designer Peggy Porschen for its forthcoming wedding season. To celebrate, newlyweds at every wedding reception booked at the venue in 2008-09 will enjoy a complimentary Peggy Porschen wedding cake worth up to £1,000. Couples will have a private consultation with either Peggy or one of her team and will be able to choose a unique design, including

tier sizes, colours and fresh flower combinations. Ulli Frauscher, weddings and events manager at The Commonwealth Club, said: “Cutting the wedding cake is symbolically the first task that the couple will perform as husband and wife. “Attention to detail is paramount when it comes to weddings, which is why The Club always works alongside suppliers with equally high standards.”

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Children are missing out on the big day ... By Mary Ferguson CHILDREN are becoming increasingly unwelcome at weddings, according to research. A poll by WeddingChaos showed that 13 per cent of couples planning a wedding are refusing to allow children to the event, concerned they will ruin the big day. However, just over two in five brides said they would accept children, but only those of their immediate family. David Cartlidge, co-director of WeddingChaos said: “To limit the children to immediate family only could be a compromise, the bride and groom may have their own children, or they may want to avoid confrontation with close relatives or the restriction may simply be down to economical reasons.” The research highlighted the two

David Cartlidge major factors which have fuelled the trend of having a child-free wedding – the fear of the children spoiling things with noisy and disruptive behaviour, and the additional cost involved in feeding children, who often don’t eat the meal anyway.”

Wedding planner Kathryn Lloyd said children at weddings are like marmite – you either love them or hate them. She said: “Usually our clients have a pretty strong view one way or the other on children being included at a wedding. We are finding a trend for more couples not to include children however this is often a result of the type of celebration they are planning, we are finding clients are doing more elegant evening celebrations in formal surroundings.” She added: “Kids can be wonderful at weddings as it is after all the start of a new family of which children are often a part, but they need proper facilities and care. “Offering to arrange a reputable creche service or baby sitters for your clients can add work in the planning but make things so much more manageable on the day.”

Children are increasingly unwelcome at weddings

Wedding expert launches new awards scheme A NEW awards scheme voted for by the industry has been launched by wedding expert James Love, pictured left. The Wedding Retailer Awards will take place at Boreham House near Chelmsford, Essex on September 27. Guests will enjoy a four course menu before the award ceremony begins, and will be entertained by the number one Luther Vandross

impersonator in the world. A charity auction will be held for the Helen Rollerson Cancer Charity and dancing will continue late into the night. James, who is a wedding planner and author, said: “I am really excited about the awards and I think that they will fast become the most respected wedding awards in the UK. And the ceremony will be ‘the’

event in the wedding industry calendar.” The ceremony will feature 18 awards and all winners will receive a laser engraved glass trophy , photographs and visual icon for their website. For award category details, to book a table or to enter your business, visit www.theweddingretailerawards.co.uk

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How Laura’s day came together like a dream ... By Mary Ferguson

Laura (left)with business partner Amy on her wedding day

A MANCHESTER event planner has organised her most challenging wedding yet – her own. Laura Kelly is co-director of ilove Event Management and planned her big day together with business partner Amy Hapgood. The wedding took place at Thornton Manor in Cheshire, after Kit Stockton proposed to Laura in an underwater restaurant in Dubai. The bride wore a Benjamin Roberts dress and main course at dinner was deluxe fish and chips, with entertainment for 140 guests provided by The Three Waiters. After dinner the room was turned around for the evening, featuring a white illuminated dancefloor, white illuminated bar, chocolate fountain and a beatboxing band. Amy said: “Having controlled

dozens of events, including weddings for up to and above 400 guests, you’d think the day would have been a breeze, but a combination of nerves and emotion made it a really tough task. “I knew all eyes would be on me to pull off a flawless event and I was determined to make Laura the happiest bride ever. “Thankfully, it was a perfect day, and I only cried twice.” Laura added: “Having experienced so many fantastic events over the years, I had been collecting ideas for my own wedding for a while. “It came together like a dream. “I’m so pleased that I could sit back and enjoy the day whilst simultaneously proving to family and friends that Amy and I run a very successful company and are really good at what we do.”

The happy couple on their wedding day

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Split theme for £70k reception By Mary Ferguson

London wedding planner Mark Niemierko is branching out on his own with a new company. As one half of Smith and Niemierko he was responsible for organising big-budget, high-profile weddings, and he told Wedding Professional that his new company – Niemierko Weddings – will also be aimed at stylish couples with high standards. He said: “Offering a bespoke luxury service to each client, I’m aiming for the company to be

even more elite and exclusive than that of Smith and Niemierko. Having previously arranged the weddings of Russian oligarchs, Premiership football players and high society couples from both New York and Paris my experience and knowledge of the industry is second to none. After a great experience at Smith and Niemierko it was time for a fresh approach." I Mark is pictured with one of his previous clients.

A WEDDING planner has organised a reception to remember for a generous couple – five years after they got married. Toni Davey, director of Isis Events, put together a £70,000 party for Bruce and XinMei Collins, after meeting the groom when he was best man at a previous client’s wedding. The event took place at the couple’s home, dressed in two themed styles to incorporate XinMei’s Chinese heritage. A huge marquee, which took four days to construct, ran from the house to the pool, then down to the tennis courts – where 135 guests dined before enjoying a vocal performance by the host’s daughter. Chinese lanterns were hung around the pool and silk cushions were scattered everywhere, while wrought iron white garden furniture was hired for an English touch. As guests arrived, a string quartet played before Chinese Lion Dancers made their way down the path to surprise guests to the sound of beating drums. And after dinner, people made their way

out to the garden area, greeted by a huge fireworks display. Although the event came together well, it wasn’t without its difficulties. Toni said: “Delivery and set-up was a big challenge as although the house and grounds were extensive, the area down the side of the house was not, so no lorries could get passed. “Everything had to be handballed off them, except the piano and air conditioning, that came with a pallet truck.” The day before the party, the couple decided they would need air conditioning after all, and after a frantic search, Toni and her team secured three units for just £1,000. She added: “The biggest thing I learned from this event was to be prepared for anything. The night before the party, we had two extra guests arrive who said they were not coming, and although the invitations stated cocktails and canapés at 4pm, people started arriving at three. “Luckily though we were all ready – apart from a few waiters whipping off their jeans and getting into their uniforms.”

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Wayne and Colleen’s wedding may have grabbed the column inches, but when singer Jamelia tied the knot on the same weekend, it took just as much planning. Mary Ferguson reports.

Guests at the wedding

Holly creates Jamelia’s dream day JAMELIA and footballer Darren Byfield held their wedding at Eastlands Estate in West Sussex, where in-house planner Holly Offord helped create the couple’s dream day. Holly said: “The couple approached me seven weeks before the wedding, which is quite a short lead time considering we normally have about nine months. “However because we have such a good relationship with our suppliers, they were all happy to step in at short notice and it didn’t cause any problems. “Jamelia had been to New York and bought a book on weddings – in it she had seen an image she loved and she asked us to recreate it. “Although the image looked like a marquee, it was actually a room with draping, but because of the number of guests we had to re-create the image in a marquee in our grounds.” The wedding breakfast for 220 was held here, then everyone moved inside to the function room for dancing. A further 100 guests arrived for the reception, so Holly

installed an extended bar within another marquee. “There were no problems or challenges on the actual day but one of the difficulties when working with celebrities is that they tend to be very busy people, so it’s hard to pin them down during the run-up. “Jamelia was travelling around a lot, and especially with such a short lead time, we had to do a lot of the planning via telephone and email. “It also meant that she trusted me to make a lot of decisions without her, but that’s the whole point of having a wedding planner.” Jamelia and Darren decided to have their wedding at the same time as Wayne and Colleeen, to minimise any media attention. No extra security was needed at the estate, and although some paparazzi shots were taken from over the fences, the couple managed to have a very private day. Holly added: “We had a great working relationship and Jamelia is such a fun girl. And the day itself was just perfect.”

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Success is in the detail ... COMPLETE Events provided the marquee structure for the wedding, which was draped and decorated to resemble a night sky. Clear panoramic windows, a blue carpet and square tables with silver chairs all added to the theme. Shelley Godfrey of Complete Events said: “Holly came to us with a very clear idea of what Darren and Jamelia wanted and we were onsite building for about a week, but that was partly due to our busy scheduling. The style and look that the couple chose for the marquee is very popular, and we have noticed many brides moving away from silk and ivory in a bid to buck tradition. “The night sky design makes the

Darren and Jamelia and, below, the couple walked down a white carpet. Pictures: Ken Buist Photography

Suppliers Caterer – RED Anywhere Marquee – Complete Event Marquees Florist – Euphoric Flowers Photography – Ken Buist Photography Videographer – FX Films Wedding Cake – Peggy Porschen Crèche – Artfull Splodgers

The table centre pieces

marquee take on the feel of a nightclub, so it’s very popular with younger couples.” Ken Buist was responsible for capturing the day on film. He said: “I put a lot of effort into capturing beautiful moments and was really pleased with the images I achieved, as were the couple. My style is a fusion of reportage, fashion and portrait – but is ultimately about expression.” He added: “Wedding photography is different from a fashion shoot or paparazzi. Although Jamelia’s wedding was a tough job – there were some beautiful images and the couple were stunned.”

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Ballad takes number one spot BALLAD ‘Amazed’ by Lonestar has beaten Bryan Adams and Robbie Williams to top a list of the UK's most popular first wedding dance tunes in 2007. UK wedding DJs voted for their top ten wedding songs and the Performing Right Society then sorted the tracks by number of uses into the final chart. Number two was Everything I Do, by Bryan Adams, followed by Robbie Williams hit Angels. James Blunt was at number four with You're Beautiful, while Aerosmith's Don't Want To Miss A Thing came in at five. Shania Twain was the only artist to appear in the list twice with Still The One, at six, and From This Moment On, at nine. Number seven was Truly, Madly, Deeply, by Savage Garden, while Van Morrison's classic Have I Told You Lately reached number eight. Rounding off the list at ten was Whitney Houston's I Will Always Love You.

Last issue, Amanda Sherlock described setting up wedding planning company Giles Sherlock Event Design, with business partner Germaine Giles. Four months down the line, she tells us the hard work is paying off and the bookings are rolling in. Amanda (left) and Germaine

Passion pays off for pair THESE past weeks have been filled with wonderful opportunities and exciting new projects. It goes without saying that we have been concentrating our efforts on the marketing of the company and we are extremely happy with the progress that we are making and the way in which the profile of Giles Sherlock continues to rise. Some of the exciting things that we have been getting up to include being given the honour of being asked to give professional advice during a live online web chat, and working with one of the UK’s leading consumer wedding magazines to offer our services in a reader competition. Every opportunity that presents itself seems to open another door and the word ‘excitement’ doesn’t even begin to describe the jubilant mood in our office at the moment. Any business owner will understand just how much administration is involved during the beginning stages; from all the

legal documentation that needs to be put in to place, to balancing the company accounts, so I cannot express just how thrilled Germaine and I were when the enquiries started to roll in and we began booking wedding clients. It was a feeling of pure exhilaration to get our teeth back in to what we do best – planning and designing amazing weddings and special events. We are delighted to say that 100 per cent of the clients that we have met so far for a consultation proceeded with booking our services and we are now working on weddings throughout 2009. Our hard work, passion and enthusiasm for the industry that we love seem to be paying off. As with any new business we have had a few teething problems. We have had ongoing technical problems with our telephone and internet services and right in the middle of it all we also found ourselves faced with the task of having to find a new company to support us with

the maintenance of our website and our online marketing. But all’s well that ends well – after hours on the phone to the telephone company, our telephone lines have now been running smoothly with no problems for the last couple of months and the internet is chugging away happily. We were also extremely fortunate to discover an amazing web design and support company who we met at the recent re-launch of Hedsor House. They have turned our online marketing in to a finely tuned machine which has resulted in a number of confirmed clients and a reduction in the number of headache tablets Germaine and I were previously relying on before we met them. The coming months are set to be just as exciting with our first wedding taking place in January at One Great George Street, and we will be getting stuck in with our competition winners who are being announced in the magazine in late October.

weddingprofessionalasian weddings Food is one of the most important ingredients in Asian weddings. Why then, asks Anita Patel, do so many venues get it wrong? An Asian wedding at Harewood House

Asian couples are Why venues miss out opting for stately home choice By Dominic Musgrave THE stately homes of England are becoming venues of choice for a new generation of Asian brides, according to a wedding planner. Raj Somaiya of Manchester-based Payal Prestige said they are among the few preferred venues that offer enough space for Asian celebrations – which are typically up to five times the size of an average UK wedding. In the last four months Raj has organised receptions at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, Cliveden in Berkshire, Harewood House in Yorkshire and Knowsley Hall on Merseyside. He said: “Asian couples don’t just invite family and friends – they invite whole communities, so a wedding becomes a get-together of almost everyone they have ever known. “But we just can’t find enough large venues. That’s why the Asian market is moving towards country estates which have the right amount of space as well as car parks that sometimes need to take over 120 vehicles.” The trend is welcomed by Britain’s Historic Houses Association. President James Hervey-Bathurst said: “We are delighted whenever we can help bridal couples and their families to find the right

Raj Somaiya venue for their wedding. “It is particularly welcome that more and more Asian families see historic houses as the right place for a wedding, because of their romance, tradition, hospitality and spirit of continuity. That is the way their owners see them too.” Nicholas Bromley-Davenport owns Capesthorne Hall, set in 100 acres of Cheshire parkland. He added: “Couples are growing bored with the same old hotel circuit. They are discovering more romantic and photogenic places that offer alternative benefits of country space and exclusive privacy.”

VENUES across the UK, particularly hotels, are content to miss out continually on what is a lucrative source of additional income. An example arose in the Tania-Tapel offices just a few weeks ago. We were asked by a client to find them a wedding venue that would meet specific criteria, and their overall budget for the event was between £25,000 to £32,000 for approximately 100 guests. Through a mixture of enthusiasm and the desire to offer the widest possible choice, we compiled a target list of no less than 100 possible venues – from major hotels to beautiful stately homes. We then proceeded to negotiate with each of them, seeking to confirm that they could meet our client's needs of outside catering and allowing an Indian ceremony. After just a few days, our list had been reduced to fewer than ten. When it came to the rejects, in almost every case the sticking point was the same – not the lack of available dates, or cost issues, but food. Or more specifically, our client's wish to bring in outside caterers for their wedding banquet. Most of the venues trotted out the usual line: We have a fine English/French/Italian/Hungarian/ Russian chef who will be able to provide the style of food you need, and we don't allow outsiders into our kitchens. Which is fine if these venues have decided they simply do not want this business – therefore I can only wonder if these venues fully appreciate the

absolute importance of food at Indian weddings? While it might be a fairly extreme example, this is certainly not a one-off. Time and again I deal with clients who are desperate to use a particular venue but, equally, do not want to compromise on the need for a fully authentic menu. In almost every case they will take their money elsewhere. Our experience on numerous occasions over the years is that the venue insists on a deposit suggesting they can accommodate the menu requirements, and then fail almost every time to meet the expectations of the family for authentic Indian food. Having sat in on tasters with clients, I see the reactions first hand and they are then forced at that stage to take a traditional English banquet because they cannot afford to lose their deposits. Really the venues who insist on this scenario should be in a position to offer food tasters prior to any commitments being made by the clients so an informed decision can be made, but in most instances like these, the hotel insist on a booking first. When it comes to Indian food, the myriad number of subtle variations in terms of preparation, flavours, regional styles and overall presentation are such that no single chef could be expected to meet every need. Those hotels which have sought to meet the Asian marketplace half way by using one specific Asian caterer also seem to miss this point – but that's another story.

weddingprofessionalnews International clients can be a real challenge for wedding planners, as UKAWP director Kelly Chandler explains.

Tips on dealing with ‘international’ clients

Take That have been voted the top band to perform at wedding receptions with 50 per cent of brides and grooms-to-be opting for the comeback kings if money was no object. Research by The National Wedding Show also revealed that three out of ten couples dream of Abba’s cheesy tunes at their reception. The top songs for the first dance are Frank Sinatra’s ‘I get a kick out of you’ and ‘I don’t want to miss a thing’ by Aerosmith.

On the wings of love ... A DARING couple had their heads in the clouds when they tied the knot 1,000 feet above ground on the wing of an aeroplane. Katie Hodgson and Darren McWalters said their vows while strapped to the top wings of biplanes operated by stunt pilots Team Guinot.

Rev. George Bringham — flying ahead of the couple — married them over an airborne communications system and the bride wore a full wedding gown. Special microphones relayed the ceremony to Rendcomb Airfield near Cirencester, where the wedding guests were waiting.

MOST overseas couples will come through the internet rather than any other source as they are unlikely to be familiar or have access to magazines and other local sources. Finding out their needs can be a tough one as the option of a face to face meeting can sometimes not be possible and I’ve had many a long conference call at an unearthly hour. Access to conference call facilities can help or alternatively cheap international dialling numbers can keep the cost down. I’ve learned over the years never to make any assumptions about etiquette, tradition, format and styling. Even though most planners tend to work on some unconventional and often unique wedding celebrations, often without realising it we work from some kind of fairly traditional basis and build on that. With the international client, it can be a lot of fun and hard work in equal measure trying to work out what traditions the couple are applying and what we have to organise for them. This can be made more complicated but also so special and personal, when the couple themselves come from two different parts of the world and bring two lots of traditions with them. It is good to ask as many questions as possible about rituals and customs that will be taking place. For one ceremony I had to arrange for some very last minute heating of coals on which incense was burnt; there was a quick dash with the tray from the kitchen to the arms of the dancer as she announced the bride. It’s also good to know whether there is a chance you’ll have extra guests pitching up on the day unannounced and if you’ll have any language issues with any of the guests

Kelly Chandler – that way you can plan for translation in some way if it’s needed. Make sure that costs and payments are sorted early on, particularly when dealing with clients who work in a different currency. Setting up a sterling account is something that I often recommend as I have encountered many suppliers, particularly smaller companies who will refuse a bank transfer from abroad or who will have to pay charges at their end for incoming transfers. Despite, some fairly big challenges, I love the international client as quite often it gives us a chance to show off our great organisation skills as planners. It’s a great opportunity for us to showcase all that’s good about the UK – I love it when I get the chance to show off London and all it has to offer.”

The West country Wedding Awards are now open for entries for 2009. Following the success of this years ceremony, wedding planner Samm Riley is inviting even more West Country businesses to put themselves forward for recognition. To enter, visit www.westcountryweddingawards.co.uk.

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When London florist William Clarke married partner Dorian Langridge at The Commonwealth Club, everything was planned to the finest detail. Paola Cubillos reports.

The future bright for couple THE couple’s attention to detail was immaculate – especially when it came to colour. Orange, brown and gold are synonymous with the couple’s life together and they’ve used it to decorated their home and parties over the years. The ceremony took place in the auditorium, which was transformed by white canvasfor an intimate ceremony for 70 guests using orange lighting and curtains of orange and brown Singapore orchids suspended in test tubes from copper wiring. The order of ceremony was printed on to metallic brown paper with a transparent orange insert and placed on each chair along with small hand made brown paper confetti bags tied with orange ribbon. The boys wore suits that were tailored for them especially by Scott Dunn Bespoke Tailoring with orange lining and stitching, and the wedding party had mango calla lily button holes with copper wire detailing. The ceremony was followed by a sparkling reception in the same room where pianist Johan Cromhout, who was flown in from South Africa, played on a baby grand piano while a rolling projection of photos from the couple’s life together showed in the background. Each glass of Graham Beck Brut sparkling from Robertson, Capetown, contained a marinated wild Australian hibiscus flower. At the end of the reception, guests were asked to collect their place card before heading to the restaurant for the breakfast. The place cards were small traditional African spoons with orange and gold beading to which a set of seven cards were attached. The top card showed the guest’s name, the second card was a thank you from the couple, the third to sixth cards showed the name of a London tube station with either starter, main and dessert, and the last two cards showed a picture of the happy couple by illustrator James Daw and a quote. The ladies also received a small goody bag of Elizabeth Arden products. The colour theme continued in the restaurant where the double height ceilings were bathed in orange and the suspended glass dining room that hangs over the restaurant glowed like a giant orange pod. Each of the six foot round tables were dressed with brown floor length cloths with cream napkins and tall retro orange water goblets. The centrepiece of each table was a head of 120 roses graded from orange and apricot at the top through to cream at the bottom. From beneath the head came a dress of 120

mango calla lilies cascading down to the table. Table names were in the form of tube signs, with each tube station holds a special significance for the couple. Guests were required to find the correct station for their starter and it soon became apparent that they would be changing tables for each course. William and Dorian wanted to make sure that with so many international guests, everyone would get the chance to meet everyone else. Each guest had an individual menu printed on transparent orange paper at their place setting. The menu had English and South African influences and had been chosen and tasted a year in advance in order to remain seasonal and have the best produce available. The starter was a Pressed Guinea Fowl and Pistachio Terrine, Red Wine and Saffron Cape Pears served with soft toasted Brioche. For the main; guests ate Cumin Clay Baked Lamb, Preserved Lemon Tagine, Green Herb Cous Cous and dessert was a very English Eton Mess with Almond Biscuit. The wines served were a Wild Rush Colombar Sauvignon Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon and Tinta Barocca, both from Rietvallei, Robertson, South Africa.

Just cruising ... AFTER some very emotional speeches, the guests all walked down to the Embankment where they were joined by a further 40 guests for an evening cruise along the Thames. Waiting on board was a seven tier fruit cake weighing almost 50kg made by Dorian’s sister back in October of 2007. The shape was an inspired leaning mad hatter with each layer designed in a different retro pattern in the theme colours for the day. Fourteen individual mini cakes were sent to South Africa, America and Canada for those who could not attend on the day. The day in its entirety was caught on camera by Kelvin Brown, who the boys met when he snapped them unawares at another civil partnership and they loved the resulting picture. Guests on the boat were also entertained by over three hours of songs about London that the couple had sourced. After 18 months of organising, the happy couple took a well deserved holiday driving a Mustang convertible along the Californian coastline.

Above: the centrepiece. Right: the wedding cake and, top right: the groom’s button hole.

Suppliers Venue Commonwealth Club Flowers William Clarke Flowers Photographer Kelvin Brown Photography

Tailor Bespoke Tailoring Company Pianist Johan Cromhout Linen Northfields Glassware Jones Hire

‘Civil partnerships are still building up to be mainstream’ By Mary Ferguson ROB Jordan, business development manager for The Commonwealth Club, helped the boys plan their big day. As director of William Clarke Flowers, William had been providing floristry for the venue for years, so already had a good relationship with the staff. Rob said: “He rang me pretty much as soon as he got engaged, 18 months before the wedding. “Of all the weddings I have done, I was least active with this one as William did pretty much everything himself as he has built up so many relationships with suppliers through his own business.”

William and Dorian wanted to buck tradition a little bit so they met with all the guests before the ceremony and they all walked up to Trafalgar Square to watch the trooping of the colours, before heading back to the venue. “They were aware that some people had flown around the globe to be there so it was nice to make introductions. “The guys acted like ushers, making sure everyone had a seat in the auditorium – you wouldn’t find a bride doing that as they are so concerned about making a big entrance in their dress.” Rob said there were no real problems with the wedding, and that even the parts he was worried about turned out ok.

“William had the idea that he wanted everyone to change seats halfway through the meal to make it more sociable, but I was worried about the logistics – would people take their drinks with them? Would they need new napkins? “But it actually went really smoothly and none of the guests cared about the details – they were just happy to mingle.” Rob is expecting a lot more of their business to come from civil partnerships, but said that people’s perceptions about the unions need to change. He added: “The pink pound is actually very classy and elegant – a lot of people have the wrong idea and think it’s all about flamboyance and pink.

Rob Jordan “It may be because it’s still a fairly new concept, but same sex couples seem keen not to make too much of a big deal of their day – civil partnerships are still building up to be mainstream.”

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In a special feature for Wedding Professional, Grace Dewhurst looks at two of the couture designers exhibiting at this season’s wedding shows.

Sarah loves the creative journey

Jonquil Morely and one of her Jonquil Bridal creations

Theme dream for Jonquil BASED in Nottinghamshire, Jonquil Morely specialises in designing exquisite one-off bridal creations. Her focus on the entire bridal outfit allows complete continuity, from headdress and jewellery, to the gown and coat, through to handbag and shoes. She has been designing bridalwear since 2000, and has exhibited at The National Wedding Show seven times. She said: “I love to design for themed weddings. I recently designed the entire bridal party’s outfits for a ‘Lord of The Rings’ themed extravaganza. “I take my inspiration from history and in particular the Edwardian and Victorian periods. I am also intrigued by unusual fabrics and patterns. Many of my designs often have a gothic influence which results in romantic and opulent gowns.”

Jonquil said she tries not to follow trends, as the clients that come to her are looking for something completely original. “However, silver is definitely a popular colour for 2009. Parasols are proving a hit for summer brides and tints and colours are playing a much more prominent role. Wedding dresses are becoming more adventurous and it is about the complete outfit whether that is a trouser suit or a full on gown and cloak.” She added: “The bridal market is changing so much – brides are pushing the boundaries on what a wedding outfit should or should not be, and this gives me as a designer great scope and variation when designing and sourcing fabrics and colours.”

BASED in Staffordshire, Sarah Willard is passionate about fashion and the art of couture and specialises in pure understated elegance. She trained in couture techniques in London in the 1990s and subsequently studied Fashion and Design, launching her own business at the National Wedding Show in February 2005. She said: “I am heavily influenced by vintage eras in particular the 1920s and 30s. The dresses in those periods oozed soft, feminine glamour and made women look and feel incredibly sexy. “I tend to take ideas with hemlines, patterns or fabrics and add them into my designs with a modern/ contemporary twist. I usually cut my designs on the bias which gives a soft, flowing shape.” Sarah said that she has noticed a significant move away from strapless gowns, with lace and vintage styles proving more popular than ever. Vintage inspired accessories, beaded flowers on combs, wired lace headdresses and fascinators, flowers made from fabric and petals pulled from silk flowers, accessorise Sarah’s designs. She added: “Taking a bride on a creative journey and making something truly beautiful and unique that reflects her style and personality on her wedding day is the best part of my job.”

Sarah Willard and, right, one of her designs on the catwalk

weddingprofessionalnews Barnsley is better known for whippets than wedding planners, but Sharon Woolsey-Hibberd is carving a successful career in the town. Mary Ferguson paid a visit to find out more.

How bride Sharon was bitten by the wedding bug in Cyprus ... WHEN Sharon got married in a dream ceremony in Cyprus, she was bitten by the wedding bug in a big way. Returning to South Yorkshire after her honeymoon, she left her accountancy job behind and set up business as a wedding planner in the rural town of Penistone. Running Fairytale Weddings from her home, she has spent the last year helping couples prepare for their big day, organising everything from the dress to the venue, transport to flowers – and everything in-between. Sharon says she is the only planner in Barnsley and is working hard to convince people of the benefits of hiring someone to take the stress out of marriage arrangements. She said: “People around here need convincing of the benefit of wedding planners. The working profile of the area is changing and more and more couples have less time but high expectations – which is where I can help. “If I ran my business in London I would have more customers, but I’d also be up against more competition.” Sharon advertises on local websites and in local newspapers and is looking into strengthening her national presence by advertising on bridal websites.

She also exhibits at local wedding fairs. “Word of mouth and netwroking has been very successful for me so far and I’m a member of some local business groups. My suppliers and I also work together to promote each other.” Wherever possible, Sharon stays loyal to Barnsley suppliers, although admits she sometimes has to travel further afield for the right dress. She also conducts regular ‘mystery shopper’ trips approaching suppliers posing as a bride, and said she has been shocked by some of the service she has received, but mostly it is of a high standard. The bridal market has changed and generally I can find what I want in the area – I tend to use the same suppliers as I trust them and we have great relationships. “Barnsley may be smaller than the cities surrounding it but it has a lot to offer brides-to-be and the service is often a lot better than in city centres.” She added: “In the last year I have increased in confidence, learned to carefully vet any suppliers I take on and I’m looking forward to the next 12 months. “I promised myself I would have my own business by the time I was 40 and now I have achieved that dream.”

Sharon Woolsey-Hibberd

Gina’s hoping to get massage message across By Mary Ferguson A NEW massage company has launched in the capital, specialising in high-end functions and wedding receptions. Divine London are offering their services at weddings across the UK, and have even had interest from abroad.

Gina Varela, a former actress, set up the company with her partner after moving to London from New Zealand. She said: “Unlike some massage companies, we don’t charge the guests for our services – it’s all complimentary. “And we put a lot of emphasis on appearance – we picked the uniforms so

they will fit with any theme and our staff are well qualified and articulate.” Divine’s routine consists of a 12-minute shoulder, back, hand and arm massage, aiming to relax guests and provide ‘time out’ from the celebrations. “We don’t do Indian head massages because when people have had a drink it

can actually be quite dangerous. And we are not intrusive either – we don’t rove around interrupting people, we have a designated area so guests can come to us. “People are happy to queue – massage is a luxury than no-one ever affords themselves the time for.”

weddingprofessionalnews There is no such thing as a ‘typical’ American wedding – but every bride wants to wear a white dress. New Jersey based planner Jean Picard explains.

Why white dresses never go out of fashion The Howard is an intimate wedding venue

Increased demand for hotel A FIVE star hotel in London has reported an increase in demand for civil partnerships – because it is small. The Howard, part of the Swissotel group, is located in WC2 and can host up to 120 people for a wedding or civil partnership ceremony and reception. Food and beverage manager James Aswin said: “We are ideal for more intimate events and as civil partnerships tend to be smaller affairs, we can accommodate them well. It’s unusual for a five star hotel to offer such intimate facilities and we are becoming very popular as a venue for civil partnerships.” The rooms in the hotel look out over the Thames, and one of the wedding suites has a patio area that can accommodate up to 60 people for a private celebration.

BEING asked to describe a typical American wedding is as difficult as being asked to describe a typical American. A country known as a ‘melting pot’ encompasses a wide range of cultures and ethnicities. Today’s wedding professionals can expect to deal with a diverse clientele and must be knowledgeable about many religions and cultures. It can be enough of a challenge when the bride and groom are of two different backgrounds. But when each is a blend of two or more ethnicities, the wedding consultant is called upon to mix many customs in a tasteful and harmonious way. Interfaith marriages, though sometimes performed in a house of worship, have contributed to the trend of ceremonies being held at other venues. Having the ceremony at the same place as the reception is very popular. Often the ceremony will be held outdoors followed by the reception inside. Officiates of some religions, such as Roman Catholic and Orthodox Judaism, do not perform ceremonies outside their place of worship. Those of other faiths, such as Protestant or Reform Judaism, may perform ceremonies at other venues. Interfaith couples often hire a nondenominational minister who will

Jean Picard customize a ceremony to represent the beliefs of both. Or they might engage one of each, such as a Reform Jewish rabbi and an American Catholic priest, to co-officiate. Every couple want to make their wedding unique, and they know that incorporating one’s heritage is one of the most effective ways to personalise a wedding.

Whether it’s an invitation printed in two languages or a croquembouche alongside the traditional wedding cake, when the heritage of both bride and groom play a part in the wedding, it marks the beginning of a successful merger of two families. At the same time, it makes their wedding “different.” And we all know wedding clients expect their consultants to make their wedding different from those of their friends. But one thing remains the same. The “typical” American bride wears the traditional white gown. Whatever her race, religion or culture, she has always envisioned herself in the long white gown. Even the tattooed, body-pierced, spikehaired bride seems seldom veers from the norm when it comes to the dress. Forty-year-old brides on their second marriages may start out thinking they’ll wear something else, and then find themselves irresistibly drawn to the traditional gown. It’s the one trend that seems to be here to stay. Even a few of my Asian brides have worn the traditional bridal dress of their country of origin for the ceremony and then changed into the white “Western” gown for the reception.

weddingprofessionalnews As wedding planner at Wyboston Lakes in Bedford, one of Laura Footner’s biggest challenges was to bring together two families from opposite ends of the country. She tells Wedding Professional how she did it.

Laura helps couple bridge the distance Laura Footner

MICHAEL Thomas from Cornwall and Jennifer Morgan, originally from Edinburgh, first telephoned me in February 2007. They were planning to marry in September 2007 and, having both come from big families and opposite ends of the country, they wanted a traditional wedding accessible for both families. The brief was clear; they wanted an elegant, romantic and tranquil setting for 120 guests, 28 of whom were children with on-site accommodation and ample car parking. They also wanted a white wedding with a dominant colour of red to be featured throughout as a symbol of love. The bride and groom allocated the majority of the budget to the catering, as both families enjoy sitting down and having good food together. Michael, Jennifer and myself had a detailed meeting with our executive chef, Fergus Martin, and he designed a three course menu that drew elements from Scottish and Cornish cuisine which was requested by the couple. Michael and Jennifer were invited to a complimentary full tasting of the wedding breakfast together with two guests. This gave the wedding party the opportunity to sample the breakfast, choose wines to complement the food and make any changes to the menu. The menu included Cornish crab salad with garden leaves for starter, pan fried fillet of Aberdeen Angus steak with herb mashed potato, roasted carrots, green beans, Swede and Cote du Rhone jus and for dessert summer pudding with Scottish hedgerow fruits. After the midday wedding ceremony everybody headed off to the reception at The Willows and was greeted with a glass of Champagne or chilled Cornish mead and canapés. Whilst photographs were taken, a saxophonist entertained the guests. Later on, everyone made their way to The Willow’s restaurant for the three course wedding breakfast. Guests were

The happy couple toast their special day. directed to their seats and, in keeping with the white and red colour scheme, the chairs had white covers featuring white ribbons on the back; each table had a flower arrangement with red roses and white lilies and the table was scattered with red rose petals. Once the traditional speeches had taken place and the wedding breakfast was complete, the bride and groom cut a three-tier white wedding cake, bejewelled with crystal beads. The bride and groom took to the floor for their first dance and the disco got the celebrations going even more. At 9pm, an Italian banquette was served

which included porketta carved by chef with foccacia and ciabatta bread and accompaniments. Roasted vegetable tarts, crispy carrot and spring onion cakes with feta and black olives and salmon coulibiac were served to keep hunger at bay and spirits high. The dessert station featured a chocolate fountain, Scottish pancakes with ice cream, strawberry and champagne jelly in shot glasses, a fruit basket and cheese platter. As most of the guests stayed overnight, the couple were able to enjoy a late brunch with their guests in the courtyard at The Willows before leaving for their honeymoon.

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