‘We alter our destiny by altering our thoughts’.
Dennis Deaton
The UK Alliance of Wedding Planners – The leading industry body for the UK Wedding Planning Market | Promoting professionalism in Wedding Planning
The leading industry body for the UK Wedding Planning Market | Promoting professionalism in Wedding Planning
Pocket Positive
May 16th, 2012 by Sandy
Summer/Autumn dates now released!
May 15th, 2012 by adminWe are delighted to announce new dates for our summer/autumn training courses AND with a brand new location of Gloucestershire in November.
The UKAWP are well known for our in depth and honest training courses for those wishing to become wedding planners. With so many training schools out there it can be hard to know which one is right for you. We believe the most successful way to learn a new skill is by interacting with likeminded individuals. We are registered by the UK Government’s Register of Learning Providers (UKRLP). All tutors are full time wedding planners so can teach you honestly about the industry, giving tips about what works and what doesn’t.
The support we give you doesn’t stop with our courses as we hold regular events throughout the year including an annual seminar, educational workshops and social evenings. The UKAWP are very much a community and this is why our courses are so popular.
Bigger & Better
We believe it is our responsibility to give you the latest information relating to the wedding planning industry which is why the course content has been updated to make it even better for future students.
What training courses do we offer?
‘Business Practicalities’ is recommended for those thinking of becoming a planner or to newly launched companies. It goes through the practical elements of how to conduct your research and how to ensure you launch successfully.
‘Step by Step’ is designed to help students understand the process of planning a wedding day to day. We run through from the moment you are hired until the wedding day itself.
What is the cost?
£599 or £1,078 if booking both courses
Earlybird Offer
Students booking the course 8 weeks in advance will receive a bonus booklet of discount vouchers to use on future UKAWP services.
What is included?
• Full lunch & refreshments on both days
• Concise bound notes to take away
• Certificate of attendance
• Logo to use on future marketing material
• CD of useful templates
• Do your own PR workbook (BP) Flower Handbook (SBS)
How to register
To register please complete our booking form which will then take you to the payment page
Recent Feedback
Thank you! Really helpful & inspired me to get going! Jeni Crabb – April 2012
Everything was amazing thank you. Matthew Hiscutt April 2012
Membership for more established Planners
May 9th, 2012 by SandyIn the final section of our recent series explaining why certain planners choose to apply for UKAWP membership, we turn to those planners who have been trading for a year or more: sometimes for many years.
If you are trading successfully in your target location and taking bookings from sufficient of your chosen bridal audience, you may not feel that UKAWP membership is necessary. However, we get applications from many such businesses whose owners, when asked, cite a variety of reasons for applying, such as:
- desire to be part of a community of like minded business owners
- networking opportunities and ability to ‘help one another out’
- listing on the UKAWP website, to which many brides go having read UKAWP advertisements or articles
- keenness to be a part of an organisation which aims to bring professionalism to an unregulated industry
- wish to demonstrate their adherence to our Code of Business Practice, which many follow even when not members
If you have been in business for a year or more, and perhaps have questions about whether UKAWP membership is for you, please contact Sandy on membership@ukawp.com or 01442 828061 who will make every effort to help you decide one way or the other. You are also most welcome to contact any of our members to ask them about their own experience with the UKAWP.
Associate Membership
May 7th, 2012 by SandyWe are often asked why new planning businesses should apply for membership, or Associate membership as we call the first step.
Well, the answer may occasionally be you shouldn’t – if you don’t plan to adhere to our Code Of Business Practice for example – but in most cases new planners are keen to be associated with an organisation with a great reputation in the industry, whose website listings often generate the majority of their members’ business opportunities.
You don’t have to have trained with us to become an Associate member …. we are well aware that some courses, other than our own, are very sound, and for this reason we welcome those who have successfully completed them.
Sandy, Membership Director, explains ‘I often get new planners calling or emailing who feel that they will never get their first booking if they are listed alongside more established planners ….. this is understandable, but in fact we have learned over the years that people buy people and will meet the planners in their location and make a decision based on ‘likeability’ and trust rather than necessarily always experience’.
If you are a new planner and have a host of questions about the UKAWP, you are not alone. Please contact sandy@ukawp.com to ask those questions – she’s a real person, a real planner, and will make every effort to help you make your decision.
Member Focus
May 4th, 2012 by SandyToday we are very pleased to introduce Dominique Douglas who runs Stylish Events ….
How did it all start?
After a long career in legal marketing I decided that I wanted to do something that I really loved. Events were always my favourite part of the job, so it seemed fairly logical. It has been 10 years since I made that decision and I have never regretted it.
Do you have a favourite venue?
Kew Gardens – without doubt if I were organising my own wedding today I would choose Kew, I just love it. I have been married for 12 years and now I would do so many things differently for my wedding day (except change the groom).
How would clients describe you?
I would hope it would be a combination of “calm, caring, professional and dedicated.”
Wedding planner you admire?
They are not wedding planners and I don’t mean to sound soppy, but my inspiration for everything I do has to be my parents. My mother, for her natural style and class when she arranges anything and my father, for his ruthless devotion to paying attention to the details.
How do you unwind?
I spend time with my husband, Dan, and my gorgeous golden retriever, Barkley.
What themes are you working on for 2011/12?
I did an amazing Latin themed wedding last year, which was great fun and I learnt a lot about South American food.
What trends are you seeing?
Wedding dresses with sleeves! Yeah, I am so happy about this and I have written a lot about it.
What is your signature dish?
Mainly desserts, I do a really good vodka and chilli cake, which is so light and a cross between a pudding and a cake.
Whose celebrity wedding (dead or alive) would you love to design?
Oprah – if she ever did get married.
Is the job as glamorous as you thought?
Nothing ever is, but I love it.
What is your vice?
I have a secret addiction for two TV shows – Judge Judy and The Dog Whisperer (Cesar Millan).
Pocket Positive
May 2nd, 2012 by SandyWhy become a UKAWP Destination Member?
April 30th, 2012 by SandyThe UKAWP is proud to be a UK company offering membership and training to UK based wedding planning businesses and those wishing to work with UK brides.
For many years we hung our hats on the fact that we were there for UK planners and UK brides, however the latter is the reason why we recently began to take on Destination Members – i.e. we very much want to offer access to professional, high quality planning for all UK brides, regardless of where they wish to marry.
To date we have just a couple, but we hope very much to build this number, particularly in key destination markets for UK couples.
So, if you are an experienced, reputable wedding planner based abroad, and you are looking to attract UK brides and grooms, why not have a look at our membership criteria and Code of Business Practice.
If you are interested in applying, but have further questions, please don’t hesitate to email Sandy on membership@ukawp.com .
Pocket Positive
April 27th, 2012 by Sandy“It’s okay to make mistakes.
Mistakes are our teachers – they help us to learn.”
John Bradshaw
Member Focus – Roseberry Weddings
April 25th, 2012 by SandyIntroducing another of our lovely member planners – Kim Price who runs Roseberry Weddings in London…
How did it all start?
After enjoying an exciting career in financial markets, I was keen to change industries and start my own business in something I am passionate about while still putting to use all the skills and experience I had gained. Wedding planning was a perfect fit! To learn more about my background, please see my blog post with the back-story here.
Do you have a favourite venue?
I fell deeply in love with Syon Park the minute I saw it! The grounds are stunning, the Great Hall is beautiful and, despite it’s grand first impression and generous guest capacity, it actually allows for very intimate ceremonies. When guests turn the corner and the breathtaking Great Conservatory reveals itself, they know they are in for a very special celebration. The Great Conservatory is a “dry hire” venue so just about any style is possible in there. Couples can tailor their wedding to suit their unique vision.
How would clients describe you?
Professional, reliable and calm. It’s music to my ears when I hear my clients describe the benefits of hiring an experienced wedding planner as “invaluable” and that my enthusiasm for all things wedding made their planning experience enjoyable throughout.
How do you unwind?
Playing guitar, cooking and spending quality time with my 2 year old son.
What themes are you working on for 2012/13?
A year on from last year’s Royal Wedding, the interest to return to traditional themes remains. However, even with preferences for traditional style, this year’s couples aim to inject as many personal touches as possible, keeping away from that “cookie cutter” wedding and having a classic & elegant wedding that still entirely reflects them as individuals.
What trends are you seeing?
I am still seeing interest in quirky and informal themes but I feel this trend is starting to lose steam after a good run the last few years.
My couples are increasingly eco-conscious. I love this and thoroughly enjoy incorporating eco-friendly ideas when working together to design their big day.
What is your signature dish?
Chicken adobo & rice. I am half Filipino and grew up with this comfort food. I try hard to copy my mum’s recipe although sadly I never get it quite like hers. Making it myself is the next best thing though.
Whose celebrity wedding (dead or alive) would you love to design?
I would have loved to design Kate Moss & Jamie Hince’s wedding. They brought together glamour, style and informality perfectly. Their wedding was high-end yet down-to-earth, a balance not easily achieved, and the party was jam packed with fun for their guests!
Is the job as glamorous as you thought?
Glamour is something planners work to create for their clients rather than experience personally. The work of a wedding planner is exactly as I expected…6-12months of very hard graft followed by a day of being fortunate enough to witness the heartwarming union of a loving couple followed by their beautiful celebration (all while working flat out behind the scenes on the day of course!).
What is your vice? The too much time on the internet!
Great course over the weekend
April 23rd, 2012 by SandyKelly and Sandy, ably assisted by the ever energetic Isabel Smith, had a great weekend course training 11 delightful students.
As ever we were thrilled not only to see the dedication of a lovely bunch of new planners, but also how well everyone got on/ hopes to collaborate etc.
Good luck to all who plan to launch soon – we look forward to seeing you again at one of our upcoming courses and/ or other events.
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About Us
Welcome to the UKAWP Blog. The UK Alliance of Wedding Planners was founded in order to promote professionalism in wedding planning. We aim to do this through training, mentoring, membership, business tools and importantly our Code of Ethics to which all members adhere. To find out more about us please visit our main site
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The UKAWP Directors are delighted to be part of the judging panel for the Wedding Industry Awards 2012.
