Suppliers Archives - Page 9 of 9

3 Ways to Survive Wedding Season 2018 (that don’t involve wine)

It’s lurking on the horizon…peak wedding season 2018. And whilst we can’t really complain about being busy, we also are.

Fortunately we’ve rustled up three essential survival tips to help you face wedding season 2018 head on. We’re ready for you…

Savvy wedding suppliers know that the best time to build their business is during the quieter months, and that the most surefire way to guarantee optimum efficiency during the peak wedding season is to plan well ahead of time.

Well wave goodbye to spring and brace yourselves folks; the wedding season is upon us!

Whether you’re ready and raring to get started or are a little apprehensive about how well prepared you are for the marital mayhem that lies ahead, we’ve got three essential survival tips to help you make sure that wedding season 2018 is your best yet.

1.Get your house in order

Don’t panic! There’s still time to take stock and make sure you’re organised and prepared for peak wedding season.

Tick these 5 quick wins off your to-do list…

Address those niggly admin tasks that you’re always tempted to leave until the last minute. Stop putting them off…
Renew or sign up for relevant, professional wedding licences, memberships and certifications, like The UK Alliance of Wedding Planners or the National Association of Wedding Professionals.
Wedding venues may need to renew music licences and check insurance premiums.
Dust off your equipment and check that all of your wedding supplies are still suitable and in good condition.
Conduct a quick stock count to make sure you’ve enough of everything to easily meet demand (with contingency built in too of course).

Is your website up to date?

It’s easy to let things slip in quieter periods but actually maintaining your online presence all year round is essential, as although most weddings may take place between now and October, the wedding supplier ‘window shopping period’ for couples happens all year round.

And if you’ve been a little quiet on social media, it’s time to start a conversation and get your followers excited for wedding season 2018/2019.

Did you know that leaving your website stagnant and not updating it with new awards and wedding portfolio pictures can seriously affect your rankings in search results?

Google rates your site based on relevance and freshness, and an easy way to keep things fresh is to start a blog on your website and / or regularly update your portfolio with photographs and editorial coverage of weddings you’ve catered for. Try not to save all your updates and bulk upload them to your website. Drip feeding fresh content onto your site is always best.

Do you have an online presence elsewhere?

It’s also essential that you keep your online profile consistent across all platforms.

Is your Bridebook business profile complete, relevant and up to date?

Your professional image could suffer if you’re telling a different story about your product or services in different corners of the web.

2. Check your resources

As you’re gearing up for the get go, conduct a quick SWOT analysis of your team and identify where any strengths and weaknesses lie in your team’s skill sets. If necessary, provide training. Otherwise, make sure every member of your team understands the valuable role they play in delivering the best possible service and ensuring this year’s wedding season is one to remember.

Your people are your best brand assets and advocates so ensuring that they are confident, organised and fully informed of their duties will reflect well on your brand when they’re working at your events.

Try and coach your team to a level of efficiency and mastery that enables you to delegate some of the ‘doing’ to them, therefore freeing up more of your time during the busy wedding season. You can then dedicate your efforts on building your business, winning bookings, being present at events and developing your brand.

You could consider outsourcing certain tasks and responsibilities without adding the pressure of a full time overhead. Look into using virtual assistants or freelance / part time receptionists, bookkeepers and marketers. If you think your time is better spent on managing and developing your craft, enlist the help of administrative support to help you keep on top of the day to day necessities. A freelance junior marketer or admin assistant could keep your website, social media channels and online profiles up to date.

3. Prepare a plan

Use your bookings calendar to work backwards from each wedding you’re booked for and ensure you’ve plenty of time to complete all the tasks you need before each of your client’s big days. You should go into the wedding season with a clear idea of what is needed and by when to avoid any last minute panicking.

Don’t allow your schedule to get out of hand and make sure you build in some time to actually run your business and complete necessary tasks like emails, calls and website and social media updates. You should also schedule in weekly or monthly business performance recaps if possible to ensure everything is on track and that your wedding business is running as smoothly as possible.

And lastly but by no means least. be sure to book in some ‘me time’ to help you recharge your batteries. If you don’t give yourself the down time you deserve, you won’t perform to the best of your abilities and you could risk burning out.

You’re ready to take the wedding season 2018 by storm

Peak wedding season is a really exciting time to be a wedding supplier and you deserve to enjoy it too.

The key to sailing through the season and having your best year yet lies in the preparations you make today. Remember, those who fail to plan, plan to fail.

We plan to sail.

Want more tips and tricks as to how to grow and market your wedding business? Like the Bridebook Business Facebook Page and receive weekly updates from industry experts and thought leaders across the UK.

Keep your Bridebook profile up to date and relevant by logging in and editing your Business Account HERE. Once updated, you will instantly increase your profile searchability and are able to connect with our community of 40,000 couples. In short, spend a little time adding photos, videos, and information you love about your business now, and benefit later!

How to deliver personalised weddings in an impersonal online world

Here are a few easy ways in which wedding suppliers can offer couples a detailed and personalised experience online with very little effort required!

The internet opens minds; that’s undoubtedly true. It provides answers to questions we’d once ponder but perhaps never resolve. It provides inspiration for pretty much everything we do – or could do. And it encourages many of us to share our own stories, dreams and desires with the world.

Indeed, this applies to all people in all industries but we’re struggling to think of a dreamier one than the wedding industry. In a time when heads are firmly in the clouds and couples are on an engagement high, envisioning their big day and all the little details that will make it personal to them, where will they turn in an attempt to make their dream a reality?

They’ll head online, of course.

Wait…where are you?

As wedding suppliers, you need to be where your brides and grooms are and you need to be available ‘in theory’ as their ‘personal consultant’ whenever they need you.

Modern couples are conditioned to expect fast responses and unlimited access to whatever important information they need, as and when they need it.

Now, we’re not suggesting that you have the time (or inclination) to be at the beck and call of all potential clients and their wedding whims but there are a few easy ways in which you can offer couples a detailed and personalised experience online whilst you’re busy doing other things.

1.Ensure online information about your wedding services is current and comprehensive

Make sure that your website and all other online listings (that includes your Bridebook profile and social networks) are up-to-date and clearly communicate all the essential information couples will want to see, such as galleries, reviews, contact details and pricing.

2. Add a little personality to your online portfolio

Don’t be afraid to advertise your wedding business in a tone of voice and style that reflects who you are and what you’re about.

Personality and a unique take on age-old wedding traditions will guarantee that you stand out against other wedding suppliers who play it safe and ‘stick to what they know’. Stay abreast of the latest online wedding trends and add your own, expert flair.

3. Listen to the needs of modern day couples

Weddings in 2017 and beyond are all about personalised experiences which are subject to wedding suppliers *listening *to the needs and preferences of the couples they work with.

Brides and grooms are expressing themselves online throughout their wedding journey; from the planning stage to their actual wedding day and afterwards too.

It all begins with couples announcing their engagement on social media. Digital save the date invitations are probably next – perhaps linked to a personalised wedding website where guests can informally RSVP prior to the official invitations.

Did you know, an estimated 64% of brides are now opting to use paperless invitations for at least some part of their wedding journey?

If you’re a wedding stationery supplier, it’s vital that you listen to these industry changes and adapt your offering. Showcase your products elegantly and stylishly online (because printed wedding stationery will likely never go completely out of fashion) and if possible, develop your offering to include digital invitations, ‘evites’ and save the date cards to avoid isolating the ‘pro paperless’ segment of the Millennial wedding market. For inspiration, Paperless Post specialise in beautiful online invitations.

4. Join the #wedding conversation

We’re seeing more couples than ever before embracing personalised wedding hashtags as an accompaniment to their big day, so that guests can upload their shots to Twitter and Instagram for the entire wedding party to enjoy.

Hashtags are a great way of organising wedding snaps and of documenting real-time footage of a couple’s wedding day.

All wedding suppliers – but particularly wedding venues – should look at creating their own #wedding hashtag and you should encourage couples to use it when they’re sharing content online. This acts as free advertising and brand promotion for your wedding business, and the most impactful form of promotion for any business is that which uses raw emotion to convey a message.

Couples captured enjoying the best day of their lives at your wedding venue, eating your wedding cake or wearing a wedding dress from your collection is one of the best ways possible for you to advertise your product or services online.

Be sure to engage with online comments from your clients so that third party viewers can see that you’re emotionally invested in the couples you work with, and to show that you personally care about making their wedding day completely perfect.

Get personal with your couples and the online wedding world will notice

Couples in 2017 / 2018 are fully embracing the digital age and as wedding suppliers of today and tomorrow, we need to take note.

Listen to industry changes and the couples you work with, and don’t forget that you have a voice too. Talk about your experiences online, share good feedback and join in with the conversation!

Your couples dreams are just dreams before they meet you. Help them make their ideas a reality and challenge yourself to try new things and offer something different.

Because it’s time to get personal.

Why reviews and recommendations are a wedding suppliers best friend

According to the latest UK Wedding Report 2018, couples now rank reviews (62%) as the most important resource when finding wedding suppliers.

Think about it. Whether you’re married or not, wouldn’t you choose a venue, photographer or florist that has 5-star reviews over another very similar supplier that has no documented feedback on their services?

And whilst advertising your supplier products or services online via your website, through paid and organic social media posts or at wedding fairs is important for building awareness and supporting decision making, couples are likely to base their final booking decisions on recommendations and reviews.

So we’ve gathered that they’re important. Now it’s time to consider how we best request and collect the feedback from our dearly beloved clients.

Whilst many elated couples will assure you that they are going to write you a review after the big day, wedding suppliers often find that actually getting clients to follow through with writing the recommendation can be difficult and time-consuming.

Why not remind brides and grooms to leave you a review using one of these decidedly different tactics:

1. Put it on Paper

Send your happy clients a ‘congratulations on your wedding day’ card and inside it, just after you sign off the card, ask them if they’d kindly post a review for you. This may cost money and demand a little extra thought and time than an email would but it is far more personal and will mean more to couples, which is likely to inspire action.

Plus the cost of a congrats card far outweighs the benefits of a great review. Think of it as your next potential booking costing 99p!

You could even go one step further and send your clients a first-year anniversary card. The likelihood is that they’ll have engaged friends of a similar age and this gesture could result in a personal recommendation and potential new client coming your way.

2. Subtly remind the world of how great you are

Use social media to share some of your existing reviews. Not only does this act as promotion for your wedding business but – assuming that they have followed you or liked your page – your latest clients will come across this feedback on their feeds which will act as a subtle memory jog for them to write you that stonking review at long last.

Tip – if you pressure people too much it can actually put them off of leaving you a review. Similarly, be careful not to make your social media accounts too self-promotional. Let past, ‘happy clients’ do most of the talking for you.

The trick to building reviews is to perfect at which point you verbally ask for a review (when your client is happy, relaxed and impressed) and in how you follow up this request. You’ll have gotten to know the personalities of your clients and whether they’re more ‘formal email’ people or social media savvy millennials, so tailor your communications to suit each of them for the best chance at succeeding.

Did you know that registered venues on Bridebook with reviews and testimonials are 2.3 times as likely to receive an enquiry?

Ping out your Bridebook URL on social media channels and ask couples you’ve worked with to share their feedback, just as wedding venue Hedsor House has.

So once you’ve gathered your reviews, where to post them?

The first place to post any reviews is on your wedding website – and not just on the testimonials page. Be sure to leave reviews and recommendations on all pages to maximise the chances of them being seen, and to validate your wedding supplier services throughout the customer journey.

Next, make sure you include good feedback on all marketing collateral. Everything you send out or use to promote your business should be supported by the opinions of happy clients.

That includes featuring reviews on pricing information, business cards, promotional content and videos, emails, blogs, social media posts and even at wedding shows.

Wedding venues should remember to take a photo of any thank you cards and upload them to their website too. Remember reviews come in all formats, and as couples read an average of 7.6 reviews before booking a wedding supplier it’s important that you collect as many as you can and ensure that your reviews are easy to find.

Tip: don’t forget to upload your reviews on Bridebook and then share your profile URL with the world.

Reviews are the best way to showcase your business

Knowing that a supplier has been ‘pre-approved’ naturally gives couples confidence in your ability to provide top notch wedding services for the most important day of their lives.

Get out there are start building your online credibility to win business – and ‘likes’ – in 2017 and beyond.

As Featured On: Personalised Bridebook Business Badges For Your Business.

You’re a part of the Bridebook Business Community and we couldn’t be more thrilled to have you as part of our family.

The Bridebook Business team strives to help and support venues and suppliers pack their calendars full of wedding bookings. We do this daily by matching your business profile to relevant couples searching directly for your business type.

But, what’s the best way to get even more wedding bookings? Spreading the word, of course! Bridebook has launched 3 types of digital badges that can be personalised to your business which, once added, link directly to your Bridebook profile.

Instantly build your industry reputation by adding your personalised Bridebook.co.uk badge to your website or email signature and showcase your profile to potential couples and fellow suppliers.

Here’s a little more about how to find and add your badge:

Where do I find my Bridebook badge?

Your badge is waiting for you in your Bridebook Business account. Simply head to business.bridebook.co.uk, login to your account and select ‘Profile Settings and badges’.

Which badge should I use?

We would recommend using the third badge given that it’s small, link-filled and definitely packs a bright blue Bridebook punch!

However, you have three badges to choose from (lucky you!) and the choice is completely yours. Whether you choose to use one badge or all three, we are happy for you to edit and share them all.

Where should I add my badge?

That is once again up to you! We would recommend sharing the badge proudly on your homepage, but alternatively, if you have a page specifically about weddings that would be great too.

How do I add my Bridebook Badge to my website?

Select the badge you wish to use.
Add your business name to the text box provided and your badge will be ready to integrate into your website faster than you can say ‘wedding booking’!
Select ‘copy to clipboard
Paste the code directly into your webpage’s HTML code.

Sound confusing? Not to worry! You can either contact us at business@bridebook.co.uk OR ask your website developer for a quick helping hand.

How do I add my Bridebook Badge to my email signature?

Copy the second badge image.
Go to your email settings, and paste the image into your signature text box.
Highlight the image and select ‘add link’.
Choose either your bridebook profile url or the bridebook.co.uk url and paste the url into the web address link box.
Select save and you’re good to go.

Over to you!

To update your Bridebook profile and get your brand new badge, login to your Business Account HERE.

Want more tips and tricks as to how to grow and marketing your business? Like the Bridebook Business Facebook Page and receive weekly updates from industry experts and thought leaders across the UK.

Who can I contact for help?

For any questions about your Bridebook Business or your free wedding business account on suppliers.bridebook.co.uk, email our friendly supplier success team at business@bridebook.co.uk who always want to hear from you. We look forward to helping make 2017-2018 a fantastic year for your wedding business!

Bridebook Business: Are we in the midst of a Wedding Industry Revolution?

It’s fair to say that technology and digital innovation has already changed pretty much every industry in some way, and the wedding industry is no exception.

Sure, we can blame ‘the rise of online’ for the outlandish requests we receive as wedding suppliers (I’d like a unicorn, please) or we can accept the challenges and opportunities it presents for us to develop our business, offer something new and drive the UK wedding industry to the next level.

Millennial couples today are presented with an abundance of choice when it comes to perusing wedding venues, photographers and themes (to name a few), and limitless information sharing between couples and wedding suppliers online opens us all up to the latest (and often most outlandish) trends that people are indulging in all around the world.

For couples, the pressure to achieve wedding perfection has intensified as a result of what is shared online because they can see what others have achieved on their big day and naturally, these ‘budget-less’ wedding ideals affect their own wedding expectations.

We seem to exist in a world of ‘wedding extremes’ more than ever before.

On the one hand, we have ‘the spenders’ who’re looking to compete with celebrity-esque wedding ideals. They want the great wall of white flowers showcased at Kim Kardashian’s wedding and the hair and makeup modelled by Michelle Keegan on her big day. On the other hand, we have ‘the savers’ who are rebelling against the idea that you have to spend a year’s’ salary to achieve your dream wedding. These guys aim to create a super modest, stripped back and trendy, low-key day.

It’s fair to say that the wedding industry is a great example of an industry in transition, spurred on by digital advancements and our natural, human responses to them as soon-to-be brides and grooms, and as suppliers too.

Many wedding venues and suppliers are embracing this change and are responding favourably to how the digital revolution has influenced how brides find inspiration, how couples find a venue, and how local wedding suppliers connect and communicate with each other and with newly (and even soon-to-be) engaged couples.

Here are 4 key areas of the wedding industry that we’ve identified as ‘in transition’ and which we think deserve our attention as wedding suppliers of tomorrow.

**1.Are Couples expecting more because of social media?**

In the experience of one of our very own ‘Bridebook’ bride-to-be’s, a discrepancy exists between what couples want from their wedding day based on what they find on social media, and what they can actually get from UK venues and suppliers.

This particular bride to be has been frantically saving pins and posts, and requesting decorations, tableware and dresses from UK wedding suppliers when to her dismay, she discovered that those products only existed in the US at present!

Increased social engagement from across the pond and the use of idea board tools (such as Pinterest) means that UK suppliers face increased pressure to stay innovative on a global level, and it helps to have an eye for trends that seem to be taking off before you’re even asked to cater to them.

Wedding suppliers have to get better at keeping up to date with wedding innovations and quicker at realising change and being able to deliver what couples of 2017 and beyond demand.

It is essential that suppliers are ‘present’ online in terms of advertising their services and monitoring trends. Social media is here to stay and we predict that it will only become more impactful for the wedding industry. Wedding venues in particular (but all suppliers in general) should invest in expert photography and post high-quality images to showcase their products or services online and to help garner greater interest from inspiration seekers.

Image pinning platform Pinterest commissioned a study in February 2017 which found that over 40 million people still “turn to Pinterest for guidance across the wedding planner journey” every year. This Pinterest study also states that 81% of engaged Pinners start planning their wedding on Pinterest before they’re even engaged.

This is proof that focusing your efforts on the ‘engagement’ stage of the client attraction funnel is key, and that if you grab the attention of people in this early ‘ideation’ stage you’re much more likely to convert them into bookings later on in the wedding planning process.

Being noticeable on Pinterest and Instagram, in particular, is proven to sell products in the longer term and garner attention from couples in the inspiration stage.

For further guidance on social growth, visit Bridebook Business Live on YouTube to find out how Bridebook.co.uk grew to 350,000 social media followers in just 12 months!

2.Innovative wedding venues

When our very own Bridebook Bride was planning her wedding, she drove for 35 hours around France to visit 11 venues within 5 days. But what if the venues she’d planned to visit had offered a detailed online look at their building and grounds? She would have been able to spend more quality time looking around a couple of shortlisted wedding venues and with greater intent to place a booking.

Websites with better quality galleries and a larger selection of images of their wedding venue will, of course, impress more couples than those which cannot offer a high quality first and second look during the decision-making stage.

In 2017 and beyond, it is essential that couples can peruse your venue easily, in a detailed fashion and from the comfort of their own home. Couples today will shortlist venues to view and make booking decisions based on what can be discovered and viewed online.

Over the next few years, more and more venue finder tools will exist online and if you fail to secure a presence you’ll fail to be discovered by couples and will, therefore, fail to receive bookings. Featuring your wedding venue on Bridebook is free and can help you get discovered and increase your business leads.

Beyond this, super savvy wedding venues like Brookfield Barn in West Sussex have begun to offer immersive online experiences that enable couples to take 3D virtual reality tours of their venue – helping both in the decision making process and in helping couples to organise their wedding online post-booking.

Imagine how much of a selling point it is for busy couples to be able to show their florist exactly where they’d like certain flowers positioned, digitally, saving all parties concerned a trip to the venue, and preventing wedding venue staff from having to take the time to accompany individuals around their building and grounds. This kind of digital-experiential wedding planning signals the future for the global wedding industry, not just the UK.

3. Live streaming

Many couples are also choosing to live stream their wedding day using tools such as Periscope and Facebook Live – enabling them to share footage of their big day in real time with those who couldn’t make it.

Wedding venues, in particular, should make the most of this trend and ensure that they have a social presence online; advertising the appropriate #hashtag or @handle to enable couples to tag them in live wedding day footage.

This is one of the quickest and easiest ways in which venues can add valuable media footage to their portfolio. It works as free advertising for the wedding venue in question; showing other engaged couples what a wedding at their venue could look like in reality.

4.The latest in wedding photography and videography

Gone are the days of digital cameras on dinner tables. Now the vast majority of couples will engage a professional photographer to capture their entire wedding day at an average cost of around £1,211.

Couples are placing greater importance on capturing their big day in style and are investing more time (and often money) in selecting the right wedding photographer AND videographer.

Do you specialise in both photography and videography?

If you specialise in one or the other, you may want to consider expanding, partnering with another supplier or upskilling to include both as an option in your product portfolio. Videography is fast becoming a wedding standard of the future, and if couples can select one supplier that offers both services at an improved package price, you’ll stand out in the online crowd.

Something you can also expect to be asked more frequently in 2017 and beyond is whether you provide the option to shoot using a drone. Yes, wedding drones! They’re really ‘taking off’ as a photography must-have in the weddings of tomorrow because couples are increasingly keen on having aerial videos and photos of all of their guests with their venue in the background.

Here are 10 of the best RC Drones with a camera if you’re keen to be seen as a forward thinking picture perfect supplier of the skies!

In the world of ‘image capturing,’ it is also worth considering the fact that wedding guests will also be acting as amateur photographers on your client’s big day, and organising digital photographs can be an arduous job for happy couples to face.

You could take your business one step further and depending on your budget and resource, consider offering photo montage services or even developing your own app similar to WedPics, that enables your client’s guests to upload all of their photos in one place. Offering automated ways for your clients to collect, organise and publish their pictures will put your business at a huge advantage in the wedding industry of tomorrow.

Are we in the midst of a Wedding Industry Revolution?

Absolutely, and it’s such an exciting time to exist in the UK wedding industry.

As with all businesses in all industries, those who fail to innovate and keep a finger on the pulse where the latest trends are concerned will struggle to compete for bookings over the coming years.

Be aware of what changes are happening around you because, in the fast-paced world of online, today’s news is tomorrow’s lesson.

Supplier Stories: Wedding Trends and Insights with Historic Ashridge House

Welcome to this week’s Supplier Story! ‘Supplier Stories’ is an original Bridebook Business article series, where we go behind-the-scenes and into the wedding world through those that know it best – the experienced and talented venues and suppliers across the UK.

So whether this is your first story or 10th, enjoy as we look into the industry as a whole, and celebrate a true story in itself! Who says couples have all the fun?

Ashridge House’s Story:

This week we’re talking to Katie Hurrell, Senior Business Development Executive in Wedding & Events for the gorgeous Ashridge House. With a history stretching back to 1283, the dramatic design of the house and the immaculate grounds, make it a popular choice for couples who are looking for that wow-factor. As a result, the Ashridge House team has developed a keen understanding of what modern couples need and how to manage every aspect of a country house wedding.

So without further ado, Katie over to you!

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself?

We are an established private business school and conference centre that opens and welcomes happy couples for weekend weddings.

2. Share the story of Ashridge House?

Steeped in history and nestled in a 190 acre estate in the Hertfordshire countryside, Ashridge House is the perfect setting for weddings whatever the season.

Our spectacular Grade I listed country house has a fascinating history spanning over 730 years. It started life in 1283 as a Benedictine monastery, and following the Dissolution it became a royal residence for the children of King Henry VIII. It then passed into the hands of the Egertons who became the Dukes and Earls of Bridgewater. This rather formidable and well-connected family retained ownership until after the First World War, when it became The Bonar Law College. Today the world-renowned Hult International Business School and Ashridge Executive Education call it home.

3. What drew you to the wedding world?

The venue is so beautiful and unique, and as we have a chapel on-site some of our staff chose to get married here. The idea of going out to the public was driven by the enthusiastic and talented members of our Food & Beverage team.

4. What do you see as the biggest challenge in the wedding industry currently?

A lot of people, we find, want to create their own day with different suppliers for styles of food service and entertainment, including some very unique ideas. As a result, we find there is a need to adapt our traditional all-inclusive package to accommodate the needs of ever more creative couples.

5. What wedding venue trends are you seeing in the industry?

There are a lot of enquiries for less formal meals (i.e. not a 3 course sit down), including canapés only, food stations, buffets, hog roasts etc. DIY finishing touches, Chiavari chairs and cocktail stations are a few other unusual touches that are becoming more popular.

6. What is the biggest challenge you face on the wedding day itself?

Ensuring that everything runs on time!

7. How do you feel technology is changing the industry?

The likes of Pinterest and other social media platforms are really helping people develop a clear vision of what they want for their big day with endless possibilities.

8. What has been your biggest time saver this year?

Ensuring that the website and directories have as much as information as possible so that couples can match their requirements with ours even before they contact us.

9. How do reviews affect the industry?

I think that a lot of people look to reviews on online directories or via word of mouth prior to going ahead. This is very important for us too – as a hidden gem, reviews really do draw people in.

10. How do you get to know your couples before the big day?

A couple can meet with their allocated coordinator as many times as they would like to in the lead-up to the big day. They can be in constant contact so that they can talk through ideas, budgets, logistics and so on whenever they need to. We ensure that there are three meetings on-site (6 months prior, 3 months’ prior (for the menu tasting) and 6 weeks’ prior (to go over logistics). The meetings with the coordinator is a friendly, safe place to discuss ideas with no judgement. A lot of our couples do gain really great relationships with their coordinator whereby trust is built in the lead-up to the big day. This helps the couples to relax on the big day, knowing that their expectations and needs for the day will be exceeded.

11. What do you think makes Ashridge House unique?

It is an extremely unique venue, with thousands of excellent photo opportunities. We really are a hidden gem, and couples can get a sense of that atmosphere instantly on arrival due to the calm environment – this really feels like your castle for the day. We pride ourselves on service and are constantly receiving comments on how friendly the staff are and how they will all go above and beyond to ensure the day is perfect for the couple. The food is all done in-house by our team of creative chefs, and our traditional British menu is impressive in terms of both variety and quality. Our coordinators really are with couples every step of the way and will do everything they can to make the planning process stress-free. If a supplier is running late or has a problem, the coordinator will be on hand straight away so that the couple will not even have to know about the delay or misplaced suppliers!

12. What do you think makes for the perfect wedding?

An understanding (from the venue and other suppliers) of exactly what the couple want from their big day.

13. What’s your favourite wedding memory?

In February this year, we hosted a wedding that had been booked three years in advanced. The whole time we knew the bride – she would joke about how she wanted a white wedding. On the morning of the wedding, we had a substantial snowfall! The photos were beautiful and there was no snow to be seen the day before or prior – it was a complete dream come true!

14. What do you love about Bridebook?

We love the useful shortlist, the clear layout of the Bridebook profiles and how the site truly is a one-stop shop for couples.

A huge thank you to Katie for sharing her Supplier Story. Check out the beautiful Ashridge House in their Bridebook profile.

Want to feature in your own Supplier Story? Get in touch with Beth at beth@bridebook.co.uk.

Supplier Stories – Industry Insights From Wedding Stylist, The Vintage House That Could

Welcome to this week’s Supplier Story! ‘Supplier Stories’ are an original Bridebook Business article series, where we go behind-the-scenes and into the wedding world through those that know it best – the experienced and talented venues and suppliers across the UK.

So whether this is your first story or 10th, enjoy as we look into the industry as a whole, and celebrate a true story in itself! Who says couples have all the fun?

The Vintage House That Could’s Story:

This week we’re shining the spotlight on the brilliant Katie Sutton from The Vintage House That Could. Katie uses her inspired imagination, incredible artistry and a thorough knowledge of her clients to create bespoke, fun and quirky styling for every wedding she does. Her work has led her to be nominated for the Amara Interior Blog Awards, and she has been featured on Rock My Wedding and in Vogue.

So without further ado, Katie over to you!

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself?

Hello! I am Katie and I am 41, a proud mummy of two lovely children, aged 16 and 11, and the wife of a very understanding and helpful-up-a-ladder husband. We live in Leicestershire with our sausage dog Slinky in the real Vintage House That Could.

2. Share your story?

I trained as a children’s illustrator many years ago and then spent 17 years as an art teacher, and then assistant head in a secondary school. I have always had a love for vintage and have spent many a happy hour trawling vintage fairs and car boots to style our home. People took an interest in my interior styling which led to styling events – which I absolutely love – and here we are today! I left my full-time teaching post in July 2016 and haven’t looked back.

3. What drew you to the wedding world?

As with many stylists, I first realised the huge need for my services after I planned and styled our own wedding 3 years ago. Although a DIY wedding is fantastic, it can be a huge stress and stopped me from enjoying fully the run up to our big day. I knew that if I could help other people to enjoy a relaxed day and allow me to do all the work for them then I would be happy.

4. What do you see as the biggest challenge in the wedding industry currently?

For me, I think that many couples can be too inspired! Pinterest is a wonderful tool but it can hinder the process and give people unrealistic ideas, especially when it comes to budgets.

5. What trends are you seeing in the industry?

There is still a huge trend for tropical vibes and botanicals, which I don’t see going away anytime soon. I am more than happy with this as I love using hanging baskets and lots of greenery in my styling.

6. What is the biggest challenge you face on the wedding day itself?

I am much happier if I can get into the venue the day before the wedding and do the majority of my decoration then. I can then go to bed happy that most of the work is done (not that I sleep)! My biggest challenge is time and how little some venues are willing to give me.

7. How do you feel technology is changing the industry?

I love technology and how it can bring suppliers and clients together. My Instagram account has been an amazing resource for bringing in new leads and sharing with others the work that I am doing. Couples sharing their weddings on social media is also brill.

8. What has been your biggest time saver this year?

I am a big list writer and spend Sunday nights planning out my coming week. I try to schedule something on each day and leading up to a wedding I schedule every last detail.

9. How do blogs affect the industry?

I think wedding blogs are a great source of inspiration and obviously getting featured on a blog can be massively helpful for your business. I think the only downside to seeing so much online is that it’s very difficult to keep coming up with new and original ideas.

10. How do you get to know your couples before the big day?

I meet my couples at the venue firstly and before going into wedding details I try and encourage them to tell me lots about themselves: hobbies, interests, hates! I always try and include something specific to them in the styling so that it is truly unique to them as a couple. After the initial meeting, I produce a Pinterest board for them and encourage them to keep adding to it during the planning process so that I am really getting their true ideas.

11. What do you think makes The Vintage House That Could unique?

I think TVHTC is unique because every wedding is unique. I don’t have a styling package; I don’t hire out my props to other companies so you can be sure that what I source for your wedding is special to you. No two weddings are the same and I treat every event individually. I like to think that clients can see from my website and social media that I truly love what I do and that if something isn’t beautiful then I won’t use it. If I have to go to the other end of the country to find a piece then I will!

12. What do you think makes for the perfect wedding?

Every wedding is perfect in its own way because essentially it’s just about love. However, a wedding that is full special detail will have your guests talking for years to come. Our own guests still tell me that our wedding was the best they had ever been to. Why? Because we strayed from tradition: no speeches, no seating plan and everyone was so relaxed – although maybe the Strawberry Vodka favours had something to do with that!

13. What’s your favourite wedding memory?

Walking down the aisle to Bruno Mars ‘Marry You’ with my dad and trying very hard not to cry.

14. What do you love about Bridebook?

I wish I had Bridebook when I got married rather than just aimlessly googling! Everything in one place and so easy to use. There are some really cool suppliers too.

A huge thank you to Katie for sharing her Supplier Story. Check out The Vintage House That Could’s amazing styling in her Bridebook profile.

Want to feature in your own Supplier Story? Get in touch with Beth at beth@bridebook.co.uk.

Supplier Stories – The Blushing Cook’s Wedding Cake Journey

Introducing Supplier Stories!

Supplier Stories is an original Bridebook Business article series, which will go behind-the-scenes and into the wedding world through those that know it best – the experienced and talented venues and suppliers across the UK.

Whether the ‘story’ is that of a venue owner, photographer, cake designer or anyone who is involved in the big day, we strive to recognise the devotion and skill that goes into piecing together one of the most memorable days in 2 people’s lives. These Supplier Stories will take a look into the individual’s experience and the industry as a whole, as well as a true story in itself that is most definitely worth celebrating.

Blushing Cook’s Story:

This week we’re shining the spotlight on Blushing Cook Sammi-Jo Gascoyne. A true artist, Sammi combines outstanding and contemporary baking skills with stunning decoration, using fresh flowers to make natural, delicate and eye-popping wedding cakes. After working for Michelin star chefs and award-winning bespoke cake companies, Sammi is now embracing her own vision and is definitely one to watch! So without further ado, over to Sammi!

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself!

I am obsessed with anything floral. Floral prints, flower markets, growing flowers on my balcony and my flowery Doc Martens which I wear everywhere. I love cooking, simple delicious food and finding new places to sample other people’s hard work and talents.

I am also a huge Sausage Dog fan! Being a cake maker makes that hard to have one, but my family have 7 so I sneak back there for cuddles!

2. Share your story? How did you get to where you are today?

I was always very creative. When I left school I was offered a place at university to study Fine Art and suddenly realised that as much as I loved art, I loved food and I wanted to cook. I started working as a pastry chef and after a few years I went to train at Le Cordon Bleu Cookery School. I have worked for various cake companies, including Peggy Porschen. I set up Blushing Cook last year as a new venture with the intention to create natural, delicious and beautifully decorated cakes, combining all the skills I had learnt through the duration of my training as well as my love for botany.

3. What drew you to the wedding world?

For myself, the most important element of cooking anything is bringing happiness to other people, however momentary it is. I love the idea that I am responsible for probably the most important cake of two people’s lives. I still feel the same adrenaline delivering a cake now that I did on my first delivery.

4. What’s the most memorable wedding you’ve attended?

I went to a beautiful wedding in Tuscany last year. Two school friends got married there and the views were spectacular, the food delicious and the Negronis flowing. They were childhood sweethearts and I don’t think there was dry eye in the room through the speeches. I made them some wedding favour biscuits with edible flowers as their wedding gift as I couldn’t get a cake to Tuscany that easily, so it was lovely to be a part of it somehow.

5. What’s your favourite wedding memory?

Running across a room full of people stopping my friends from toppling their cake over after trying to slice it with a sword very precariously, looking completely bonkers myself!

6. What do you see as the biggest challenge in the wedding industry currently?

I think that traditions are changing and people are very often funding their own weddings. They don’t want to spend fortunes on unnecessary thing, so I try my hardest to make my cakes affordable as I can without compromising the quality, as I am very particular about my work (which is usually why I am awake at 2am decorating cakes!).

7. What trends are you seeing in the industry?

People are definitely favouring a more natural approach to cakes. I use Italian Meringue Buttercream instead of the traditional fondant or Royal Icing and people seem to love it. I also use fresh flowers and my clients are more than happy to have these as opposed to the traditional sugar ones.

8. How do you feel technology is changing the industry?

People know what they want! Pinterest boards and screen shots are so helpful to me when a couple are describing what they want. It’s an amazing platform for advertising and you can plan your wedding on your commute to work – it’s fantastic.

9. What do you think makes Blushing Cook unique?

For myself, the taste of the cake is just as important as how it looks. I have had so many people comment that they didn’t normally like cake, but they loved mine. I try not to make it too sweet and always moist and fluffy. My approach to my relationship with clients is to imagine I was ordering a cake. I want them to trust me and my product. I love meeting new people, often we get distracted from cake discussions and end up discussing their new puppy or something silly. I stay in contact with lots of my clients and I love to hear that they were happy with their cake.

10. What do you think makes for the perfect wedding?

Fun and laughter! You can have the most amazing setting but the most important factor for myself is that everyone feels relaxed and enjoys themselves …. and delicious CAKE of course!

11. What do you love about Bridebook?

I think Bridebook is fantastic. It’s so easy to use and such a great way for people to find exactly what they are looking for. It’s always one step ahead with their knowledge of suppliers and if I was planning a wedding it would be the first place I would look for everything and anything, which is the beauty of it – it covers everything!

A huge thank you to Sammi for sharing her supplier story. Check out Sammi’s beautiful Blushing Cook’s cake designs in her Bridebook profile.

Want to feature in your own Supplier Story? Get in touch with Beth at beth@bridebook.co.uk.

National Wedding Survey 2018

The Average Total Cost For A UK Wedding Soars More Than 12% In A Year As Millennials Embrace Hyper-Personalisation of Their Weddings

Results are in from the Bridebook.co.uk National Wedding Survey 2018

In the most comprehensive annual wedding industry study carried out in the UK, findings from Bridebook.co.uk’s National Wedding Survey 2018 show that the average cost of a wedding, when including every type of supplier, has reached a new all-time high of £30,355 (up £3,365 or 12% from £26,989 in previous year). The leading wedding planning app has revealed that supplier costs have increased by an average of 12%, year over year. Even when a wedding doesn’t include every type of supplier (such as videographers and entertainment), the average spend on UK weddings still reaches a whopping £17,913 per couple.

Hamish Shephard, Bridebook.co.uk founder says, “The hyper-personal wedding has arrived. The influence of inspirational social media is resulting in suppliers diversifying their offering in a bid to attract millennials. Personalisation and sustainability are becoming increasingly important, as couples look to do things their own way to reflect themselves as a couple.”

“If Meghan and Harry can have a 70kg deconstructed lemon and elderflower wedding cake and Stand By Me sung in the Royal chapel, couples no longer need be to bound by tradition and are free to embrace the endless inspiration that is easily accessible to them… which all adds to the budget.”

Supplier Cost Increases:

The costs of Marquee Hire (24%), Food & Drink (23%), and Venue dressing (22%) grew the most year over year
The average spent on a wedding venue has risen from £5,189 to £6,152, up 19%
The average spent on marquee hire has risen from £4,413 to £5,468
The average spent on venue dressing has risen from £723 to £882
The average spent on wedding food and drink has risen from £4,727 to £5,862. Food & Drink (33%) represents the area in which most couples now overspend
The average spent on wedding flowers has risen from £777 to £858, up 10%
The average spent on wedding cake has risen from £318 to £323, up 2%
The average spent on a music and entertainment has risen from £941 to £1039, up 10%.

Shephard says, “There are now over 139,000 small businesses and suppliers for couples to choose from in the British wedding industry, which is the largest amount there has ever been, employing over half a million professionals. We can see a direct correlation between the diversity of suppliers in each area and the regional differences in budget. The diversity of suppliers in London is unparalleled, with a higher concentration of medium to high price point companies servicing the area than any other. This has a direct impact on the average spend.”

“Whether you want multi-coloured alpacas roaming with your guests, or an animatronic velociraptor to join you on the dancefloor, the incredible diversity of wedding suppliers ensures that however wild your wedding dreams are, everything can now be made a reality.”

The most expensive regions in the UK to get married are London (£31,837) and Scotland (£19,791)
Venue hire in London is £4,833 more expensive than the national average
Food and drink in London is £3,904 more expensive than the national average
The least expensive regions to get married are Northern Ireland (£12,738) and Abroad (£14,151)
Wedding couples in Wales are more likely than average to go over budget (46% in Wales, compared to the national average)
Couples in Scotland are less likely than average to go over budget (33% in Scotland, compared to the national average).

Personalisation And Sustainability:

New figures reveal that couples are spending an increasing amount of time and money on personalising their wedding as well as considering the environment:

39% of couples considered sustainablilty when planning their wedding
21% of couples chose to serve organic food
17% of couples reused their flowers/decorations
52% of couples opted for ‘DIY’ decorations
52% of couples opted for ‘DIY’ favours
33% of couples made their own wedding stationery
Stationery showed average costs that decreased year over year, now at £276
16% brides chose a wedding dress they hope to wear again, in-keeping with the millennial backlash against ‘wear-once’ fashion.

Wedding Traditions:

Whist some traditions continue to stick, such as taking your partner’s name and asking the brides’ Father for permission to propose, some antiquated traditions are on the decline and couples are taking a more modern approach to wedding planning.

56% ask the Father’s permission before proposing
27% of couples chose to get married in a church or religious building. 45% got married at the reception venue
20% of couples saw each other the morning of the wedding
15% wrote their own vows
23% of brides made a speech
11% of brides did not wear white
82% didn’t use a traditional gift list
52% asked for a contribution to the cost of their honeymoon
20% requested donations be made to charity
16% brought their pet to their wedding
57% allowed guests to bring plus 1s
94% of couples both will wear rings
80% took their partners name
85% did a seating plan with 76% having a ‘top table’
33% sat the bride and groom parties separately
82% of couples paid for part of their wedding using personal savings
62% received a contribution to the costs from the bride’s parents
45% received a contribution to the costs from the groom’s parents
27% of couples met through friends, 19% met through a dating app.

Technology/Social Media:

While social media continues to play a key role in wedding planning and post-wedding sharing, use on the day itself is in decline:

67% of couples find ideas on social media or online, which they share with suppliers
30% of couples thought about what guests would post on social media
25% of couples had a wedding website
24% of couples had a wedding hashtag
13% of couples banned social media at their wedding
30% of couples asked guests to refrain from posting photos on social media on their wedding day
23% of couples posted on social media on their wedding day

Other Key Take-Outs:

The most popular wedding dates were Saturdays in July, August and September
The single most popular dates were 9th September and 26th August
Two thirds (65%) of couples go over budget or have no budget at all.
A quarter of couples (26%) were able to stay on budget, and a quarter of couples (26%) report having no budget.
68% of couples worried about the costs of their wedding
35% withheld the total amount they were spending from friends and family
Besides venue and catering, Bridalwear & Accessories is the largest wedding expense. The average amount spent on bridalwear & accessories = £1,537.
27% of couples held their ceremony at a place of worship (down from 29% in previous year).
Couples report spending the highest venue hire cost at Stately Homes (£7,353) and Country/Manor Houses (£7,188)
The largest proportion of couples paid for their venues with a Per Head Price, which included food & drink (42%)
28% of couples had an open bar (up from 21% last year)
The average amount spent on venue hire, according to venue pricing:
- Per Head: £6,758
- Package: £6,298
- Fixed Hire Cost: £4,727

Hamish Shephard, Founder of Bridebook.co.uk, says:

“We are fortunate that over a third of UK couples now plan their weddings on the Bridebook.co.uk app, and are delighted to share the most up-to-date and insightful facts about this brilliant industry.”

“The British wedding industry is booming. Over 139,000 small businesses make up this amazing industry which employs over half a million talented individuals and is worth over £10 billion to the British economy. Britain is iconic for introducing the white wedding to the world, and the Royal weddings of recent generations have cemented Britain as the wedding capital of the world.”

“From the provenance of their menu, to the sustainability of their fashion, to the personalisation of every detail, the millennial couple care more about every little detail of their wedding than any previous generation. And with more disposable income than any previous generation when getting married, they have the ability to pay for it.”

“Parents can breathe a little easy, as whilst the average cost of weddings is growing rapidly, the millennial couple is contributing more and more.”

————————————————————————————-

For further information, interviews and images please contact

Harriet at Hunt Communications

harriet@hunt-communications.com M: 07886 96908

Notes To Editor:

One in three engaged couples in the UK are now using Bridebook.co.uk to plan their wedding. With over 100,000 weddings planned in the first year since its launch, the comprehensive digital platform has taken the bridal industry by storm.

The site helps brides and grooms realise their perfect day providing everything needed to plan a stress-free celebration, all in one place with state-of-the-art planning tools:

The Checklist breaks down tasks by the week to help you stay on track.
The Budget Calculator helps you keep on top of your spending.
The Guestlist manages your invitations and RSVPs.
Experts including Mary Berry, Bobbi Brown and Jimmy Choo provide expert advise, tricks and inspiration.

Bridebok.co.uk is replacing spreadsheets, so couples have even more time for tasting cake and drinking champagne!

Bridebook was founded by Hamish Shephard, wedding expert with over a decade of experience in the British wedding industry. A Co-Founder of Hedsor House, one of the UK’s most prestigious royal wedding venues, he has become a highly respected and influential voice in the wedding industry, regularly providing information on weddings to the industry and the world media.

Find Bridebook at:

https://www.bridebook.co.uk, iTunes App Store and the Google Playstore.

10 things brides (might) hate about you!

What are the top 10 things brides and grooms (might) hate about YOU – their wedding suppliers – in the run up to their big day?

Couples complain throughout the wedding planning process. Fact. It’s a stressful and exciting time for them but it’s also a time where expectations are challenged – as are wedding suppliers.

So what are the top 10 things brides and grooms (might) hate about YOU – their wedding suppliers – in the run up to their big day and how can you help ease any tension and ensure a smooth running wedding season for yourself and your couples?

10 things couples (might) hate about wedding suppliers

1. You don’t communicate as well as we’d like

You can put couples at ease during the wedding planning process by keeping close contact with them, even if it’s just a reassuring email to let the bride or her mother know that everything is in hand.

Responding within 12-24 hours is pretty standard and most brides and grooms will simply not tolerate having to wait a week or more to hear back from you.

You should also make an effort to respond to Millennials in a suitable way. Be available on Whatsapp and monitor social channels to check you haven’t missed any enquiries on Facebook; check Pinterest to see if the couples you work with have shared Pins with you on ideas they’re hoping to discuss or themes they’d like your help to recreate.

Be sure to respond within a few days, at most. For goodness sake don’t anger them …

2. You don’t appear to be listening

It’s not your day and despite having helped plan a-thousand-and-one weddings yourself, you must first and foremost please the couple you’re working with.

Advice is great but there comes a time when you just have to go with the photographs, flowers or food combinations your soon-to-be-newlywed couple asks for, even if you disagree with their choices.

Remember every couple is different and you must start anew with each of them – no matter how bizarre some of their requests may be!

3. You sometimes seem short with me when we speak

No matter how demanding a bride or groom is, you should always maintain a friendly, professional tone when responding to emails, texts or calls. It’s ok to answer succinctly but make sure your response doesn’t border on snappy.

You should take the time to respond to their questions with more than yes or no answers so that the couple you’re working with feel loved, not like a nuisance. Chances are this is their first time planning a wedding and they need your reassurance, not to sense your frustration.

4. You aren’t bringing many ideas to the table

Lots of brides know exactly what they want but most will need some ideas and suggestions from a professional who’s been here before. That’s you.

Ask your couples lots of questions to get to know them and gauge their style. By finding out more about ‘their story’, that is, how they met and how they got engaged, you’re more likely to come up with ideas that suit their vision.

Be prepared to share a few photos you like from weddings you’ve photographed, a few example bouquets from the last wedding you were really proud of or a few bridal hair pictures from a previous wedding similar to the one you’re helping plan for this couple.

The more examples you give and the more helpful you can be, the less you should expect to hear from couples as they’ll trust your professionalism and won’t need to keep checking in.

5. You’re not being transparent on pricing and inclusions

Budgeting is one of the most stressful but important elements of wedding planning and brides and grooms need to know who and what they can afford to hire. If you’re reluctant to share your prices or are avoiding being completely clear on what ‘extras’ couples can expect to pay more for they’ll have no idea what to expect from you.

The clearer you can be at this stage the more respect you’re likely to earn from couples and the less time you’ll have to waste going back and forth clarifying things.

Tip: you can include pricing details on your Bridebook profile so a lot of couples will come to you knowing what you charge already.

6. You’ve not won my trust

It’s all well and good putting together the ideal wedding in theory but couples genuinely fear that you’ll forget something major on their wedding day or even just not show up at all!

Whilst we know this is unlikely, you can reassure couples that you’ve got everything in hand by keeping in regular contact throughout the wedding planning process to help ease any worry and to make them feel better about your plan for their big day.

Think of yourself as your next couples ‘wedding dream team’ and make an effort to make them feel special and comfortable. Their wedding is in your hands!

7. You haven’t stuck to your word

If you offered the bride and groom an enormous choice of table linens to pick from and assured them that you could get any decorations they wanted, don’t disappoint them with a measly choice of tableware and props.

The best way to keep the couple happy and ensure you’re left with good reviews not a bad reputation is to ensure that you don’t make promises you aren’t certain you can keep.

If you think a bride’s demands are outlandish or her timeline is too tight, don’t say “Absolutely! It’ll be fine.” Be honest upfront and your couples will respect you and trust you more for it.

8. You don’t seem to be acting very professionally

Professionalism constitutes many of the points we’ve already discussed, like communication, tone of reply and support.

But it also means being on time to meetings, arriving early to the wedding and delivering on your promises.

It’s much easier to win new bookings through recommendations than to attempt to attract couples through cold forms of marketing and with questionable reviews about your services circulating the internet!

9. You’re not dressed for the occasion

Some wedding suppliers assume that because they’re behind the scenes at a wedding, they’re not on show.

Nothing makes a person stand out more at a wedding than being drastically underdressed. Dress like the professional you are so that couples don’t have to look through their wedding album and forever see that you wore jeans and a t-shirt on their big day.

10. You haven’t made us feel special

Every couple deserve to feel special in the run up to their wedding day. For them, it’s only happening once and they need you to understand their excitement, their fears, their frustrations and their uncertainties.

Treat each couple as though you care; not as if they’re just another booking. Make an effort to remember the small details, and make sure that you smile and enjoy yourself.

A happy couple will want you to seem as though you’re genuinely happy to be a part of their big day – which hopefully you are! And happy couples leave good recommendations, remember.

Do these complaints sound familiar?

Share your stories with us at business@bridebook.co.uk