We have been overwhelmed by how quickly our Spring courses sold out this year and feel honoured to have helped so many people with their new career paths. The Autumn dates will be released very soon so watch this space.
Archive for March, 2009
London and Manchester Courses Now SOLD OUT
Tuesday, March 31st, 2009Scams
Monday, March 30th, 2009Sadly, we’ve been inundated with correspondence from planners who’ve been targeted by the scams we mentioned here and here. Below are a few more that have been received over the last few days, if you receive any similar emails please contact us and we will post them here.
“Hello,
My Name is Dr Ford Anderson i need an experienced wedding planner who will handle my wedding and arrange the reception dinner for a group of people who will be attending the wedding ceremony.
The wedding is expected to hold on the 29th of August 2009 and 50 to 70 guests are expected to attend. As i do not know what the guests might choose for their meals and drinks, i will make a prepayment as initial deposit for this booking via credit card once availability is confirmed by you.
All checks and balances will be made with you on 29th of July 2009 which is the final day of the booking. You are to arrange for a a venue for the wedding a place for the reception ,Videography, Music Entertainment,Photography,cake and flowers.
If there is any these items that is beyond your capability, you let us know so that another company can handle it the part you cannot handle. Get back to me with your response as we don’t have much time with us so that we can process our accommodation within the region more convenient for you and us.
Pleas get back to me via my personal email which is drfanderson@rocketmail.com
Best Regards,
Dr. Ford Anderson
drfanderson@rocketmail.com”
“Hello,
My Name is Mr Gregory Davis i need an experienced wedding planner who
will handle my wedding and arrange the reception dinner for a group of
people who will be attending the wedding ceremony.
The wedding is expected to hold on the 9th of May 2009 and 50 to 70
guests are expected to attend. As i do not know what the guests might
choose for their meals and drinks, i will make a prepayment as initial
deposit for this booking via credit card once availability is
confirmed by you.All checks and balances will be made with you on 17th
of April which is the final day of the booking, You are to arrange for
a a venue for the wedding a place for the reception ,Videography,
Music Entertainment,Photography,cake and flowers.
If there is any these items that is beyond your capability, you let us
know so that another company can handle it. Get back to me with your
response as we don’t have much time with us so that we can process our
accommodation within the region more convenient for you and us.”
“Hi,
Hope my email reaches you in good faith. I am looking for an experienced wedding planner who will handle my wedding and arrange dinner for the guest who will be attending the wedding ceremony.Seven will arrive few days before the wedding day.
The wedding is expected to hold on the 23rd of May, 2009 and 50-65 guests are expected to attend. As i do not know what the guests might choose for their meals and drinks, i will make a prepayment as initial deposit for this booking via credit card.
All checks and balances will be made with you on 22nd of May, 2009 which is the final day of the booking, You are to arrange for a Videography,Music Entertainment,Photography,Officiant/Priest & Church,cake,flowers and the venue.If there is any these items that is beyond your capability,you let us know so that another company can handle it. Get back to me with your response as we don’t have much time with us so that we can process our accommodation within the region more convenient for you and us.
Best Regards,
Dr Karl Busche.
Email:blessmywedding@ymail.com
Yahoo chart ID is karl_karl@ymail.com”
“Hello,
My Name is George Anderson, I am looking for an experienced wedding
planner who will handle my wedding and arrange the reception dinner
for a group of people who will be attending the wedding ceremony.
The wedding is expected to hold on the 13th of June. 2009 and 25 to
40 guests are expected to attend. As i do not know what the guests
might choose for their meals and drinks, i will make a prepayment as
initial deposit for this booking via credit card once availability is
confirmed by you.
You are to arrange for a venue for the wedding (its a civil wedding),
a place for the reception ,Videography, Music
Entertainment,Photography,cake and flowers.
If there is any these items that is beyond your capability,you let us
know so that another company can handle it.
Get back to me with your response as we don’t have much time with us
so that we can process our accommodation within the region more
convenient for you and us.
Best Regards,
George”
“My name is Jennifer Kenth from Quebec,CANADA. I will be coming over to United Kingdom with my Husband Eric Phillips who’s French by nature but has actually naturalised in Canada
We’ll be moving to the UK to start a new life because my husband to be just got a job with the Coca-cola Co. in London and i have made plans of opening my new kiddies fashion store in as soon as we are settled.
Just before then we will be getting married on the 28th of April 2009 and we have decided to get married in the city since we’re moving on and we pretty know our new move would be wonderful.
We will be needin’ a good wedding planner to take care of our wedding event both ceremony and reception for our guests and our convenience because we require the best for the best memories fost on our wedding day.
We prefer the ceremony and reception event to take place in a location and we are expecting at most 70 guests on the day of our occasion because most of our families in Canada and in the USA will be present for this wonderful occassion.
Also, we would like you to know we prefer the reception and ceremony to take place in a location for the convenience of our guests and would love the ceremony to be in a garden setting and the reception in an indoor location in London or surrounding areas because the weather is unpredictable at this time of the year.
We haven’t made any venue reservations yet but we are sure the wedding planner can do that on on our behalf as we are looking for a customized wedding planning package that involves virtually every aspect of planning except the band which we are already making arrangements for. The total wedding budget is £ 20,000.
Please let us know if you can help work with us for the success of our event and can help work within our budget as we’re not opened to spending a pound more than the above bidget?
Thanks and God bless,
Jennifer “
March Training Course
Friday, March 27th, 2009
Last weekend I led a training course for a fabulous group of ladies, from all sorts of career backgrounds, who are looking to launch as planners. As always, one of the best things to come out of the weekend was a real feeling of cooperation, and a desire for everyone to stay in touch and generally help one another. As those of us who have been doing this for a while know, it can sometimes be a lonely business. Knowing there is a group of people out there who understand your issues and will make the time to listen is invaluable.
The lovely Zoe Lingard, Full Member of the UKAWP, helped out on Day Two and was a real inspiration to students. Having launched within the last couple of years, Zoe was able to explain to would be planners what to expect – the ups and the downs - the pros and the cons. Thank you Zoe – we will doubtless call upon you again soon.
Book Review: Wedding Season by Katie Fforde
Friday, March 20th, 2009
I have a confession to make - I love chicklit. I must admit it’s a bit of an obsession so I limit myself and won’t buy more than 10 a year. Why? Because I get so absorbed I won’t put the book down, won’t talk to anyone and HAVE to finish the book.
So imagine my delight standing at the Waterstones counter when I saw a book called ‘Wedding Season’, well of course my radar is set to anything to do with weddings so I start reading the back. I nearly topple over when I see it’s about a wedding planner, so I had to buy it.
The first paragraph opens as:
“Sarah is a wedding planner hiding a rather inconvenient truth – she doesn’t believe in love. Or not for herself, anyway. But as the confetti flutters away on the June breeze of yet another successful wedding she somehow finds herself agreeing to organise two more, on the same day and only two months away. And whilst her celebrity bride is all sweetness and light, her own sister soon starts driving her mad with her high expectations but very limited budget.”
So what did I think? I loved it even though the reality of the story is totally out. She doesn’t seem to have a wedding between June & August, she plans budget weddings & big weddings yet has her own flat/house - er, how does she pay the rent?! Then there is the celebrity client who hired her via her agent without meeting her. Or the fact the dress designer & hair stylist accompany her on every meeting. Well my florist is my ‘right-hand’ woman not hairdresser, no offense.
BUT - I loved it, yes it was predictable but then aren’t all girly books? I think all wedding loving girls should buy it, for a sneak of the first chapter visit the author’s site Katie Fforde.
London Training Courses
Friday, March 20th, 2009On Tuesday we released a new London date for May due to selling the March course so fast. We are astonished to see we only have 3 spaces remaining already and anticipate being sold out by early next week. This will be the last course before September so if you’re interested please don’t leave it until the last minute before booking as there will be no spaces left. To register click here
Bridal Fairs – a new planner’s perspective
Wednesday, March 18th, 2009Today we welcome Andri Benson of Always Andri Wedding Design. Andri has recently launched her company and joins us today to share her experience of a bridal fair.
“On Sunday 1st March I launched my wedding planning company Always Andri Wedding Design at the Best Brides Wedding fair at Dulwich College. Having worked hard to prepare for the fair and make sure everything was perfect it would have been easy to get very nervous about it but I found that it was quite fun and a great opportunity to talk about my business to potential customers. I think small local wedding fairs are not the natural choice for brides to find a wedding planner; if they have the time to attend a fair they probably have the time to plan their own wedding. Instead I used it as a chance to talk about the advantages of hiring a wedding planner to help them on the day. I made the point that no matter how well you’ve organised your wedding, do you really want to be thinking about the time the suppliers turn up and leave, have the place cards been laid correctly, particularly if you have vegetarian guests or is Mum wearing the correct corsage.
Having also just returned from Wedding Planning Excellence 09 the day before and feeling thoroughly inspired and excited by the event, I found talking about the UKAWP and the professionalism it encourages was a great benefit too as it gave me the confidence to talk about wedding planning as my career rather than a hobby.
On a final note the fair also proved an invaluable opportunity to introduce myself to local suppliers. I had hoped to make a good impression and was, obviously pleased when one supplier recommended a couple of attendees to come and talk to me. Only time will tell whether I will get any work from the fair but the experience none the less was well worth it. I’ll be exhibiting again at the Croydon Clocktower on Sunday 15th March and hope it goes just as well.”
Many thanks to Andri for joining us today, we hope to hear more about your first experiences as a planner over the coming months.
Scams
Tuesday, March 17th, 2009We mentioned wedding planner scams back at the beginning of the month. Below are some that have come to our attention in the last few weeks:
“I am David Roy, from London England. I am writing to get more information on wedding/ reception venues and also so in need of the services of a wedding planner.
Daisy and I are planning to have a wedding in July 2009 (any date in July will be fine) and will require more information on this as we plan also to have the wedding in your region We are looking for venue and a planner to help us plan our wedding/reception.
So far, we have not made any arrangement. 30 to 40 guests are expected to attend. We are considering a budget of $45, 000 USD but will allow a few extra if necessary. I will make a prepayment as initial deposit for this booking via credit card once you confirm availability. Please note that you (wedding planner) are to arrange for a Videography, Music Entertainment, Photography, Officiant, cake and flowers.
Please do confirm this date and get back to me.
Thanks for your anticipated response
Best regards,
David.”
“My Name is Dr. TOM GREEN,
I am looking for an experienced wedding planner who will handle my wedding and arrange the reception dinner for a group of people who will be attending the wedding ceremony. The wedding is expected to hold on the 30th of May. 2009 and 25 to 40 guests are expected to attend.
As I do not know what the guests might choose for their meals and drinks, i will make a prepayment as initial deposit for this booking via credit card once availability is confirmed by you. You are to arrange for a venue for the wedding (its a civil wedding), a place for the reception ,Videography, Music Entertainment,Photography,cake and flowers.
If there is any these items that is beyond your capability,you let us know so that another company can handle it. Get back to me with your response as we don’t have much time with us so that we can process our accommodation within the region more convenient for you and us.
Best Regards,
Dr. TOM GREEN”
“Hello,
My name is Mr .Booby, I am an Medical consultant by profession. Presently i
am in WoolWich.I am contacting with respect to the my daughters wedding
scheduled to hold on the 3rd June,2009.
I want you to handle the wedding arrangements on their behalf as my would-be
son in law is a citizen of your country and as a result, i need the blessing
ceremony,reception and wedding party to be in his country. Please get back
to me with any of the services which you can provide as regards the wedding
arrangement of my daughter.
- Vehicles /hotel transfers for the guests - ( coaches transportation)
- Limousine hire for the couples
- location for the wedding and reception.
- lodging for the guests for an estimate of sixty people(2nd - 6th
June)2009
- Wedding cakes and decorations
- Sight seeing tours for the guest
- Yacht charters for the couples
The wedding Budget is at the range of EUR 65,000 for now and it remains very
flexible pending our final conclusion.Please do let me have the details of
all i should know so we can make about the services you can provide as
regards the arrangment. Estimates and calculations should be based on the
quoted budget.
Do get back to me asap through my yahoo email:boobyg22@yahoo.com
Mr Booby.”
“Hello,
I am contacting your property so that you can help in organising my daughter’s wedding in your location which will be coming up in July,2009 and i have decided to solely sponsor the event as a gift to the couple.Kindly see below the wedding details;
Wedding Arrangement: Dates will be July 23rd to July 27th 2009.But we will appreciate if there will be availabilty on the 25th July,2009.
Total Number of Guests: 60-70 Adults.
The reception will be a total of 60 to 70 Adults And food arrangement will be Buffet Style.
Please be informed that you will take care of the whole event including reception venue,catering, accommodation…ect excluding the transportation & civil matters that will been taken care of.
We have already made arrangements as regards our Flight and automobile needs for the event the with a transportation Logistics Agent. I hope to have informed you enough to get started,Kindly get back to me with a proposal for the entire arrangements so that i can advise payment details.. Be advised that i shall be making payment via my Credit Card.
Regards,
Dr. Collin Small.
40 Lothian Road
EH3 9BY,
Edinburgh,
SCOTLAND
+447035966378
+447024076538″
If you recieve any scam emails, please help to stamp out this practise by contacting us.
Your Default Diary
Monday, March 16th, 2009
How many of you block your time out each week? Now I know most of you will have ‘to do lists’ but do you also plan time each week for reviewing finances or planning your sales & marketing? Until the end of 2008 I simply wrote my list each day and didn’t properly plan ahead, that was until I met ActionCoach.
So what do I mean by a default diary? This a diary for the week whereby you block out time for tasks according to the hours available for you. For example because I have children my day starts at 9am and finishes at 3pm but I then schedule time 3 evenings per week and time over the weekend for additional work. My diary includes:
Working on the business
- Increasing my knowledge, reading books or visiting business websites
- Planning my sales & marketing
- Financial reviews
Working in the business
- Planning my clients events
- Processing emails
- Doing the sales & marketing (i.e writing a newsletter, posting press releases)
- UKAWP
- Dream Occasions Hire work
- Researching & writing new posts for my blog
- Family time
- Timeslot for meetings (although flexible to clients needs)
Now there will be weeks when the diary won’t work, for example if you have a project that week you will be understandably busy with that. But in theory it will help you focus on the task at hand. Do you have a system like this for your business? I’d love to hear from you on what works best for you.
Do also read the SmartPlanner post on ‘using a block diary’ which is the same principle.
Bernadette Chapman is the UKAWP’s training director and also owns Dream Occasions, operating throughout South East England.
WPE 09 Overview II
Friday, March 13th, 2009
Saturday 28th February
The day started early with coffee available from 8:30, whilst the directors got the rooms ready, most planners were having a wonderful full breakfast, much needed after the night before.
After a quick directors welcome at 9am we handed over to Ranj from Tania-Tapel Ltd who in fact had been an attendee on Friday as well. She talked through the different cultures and religions in Asian weddings. I think it highlighted what a minefield Asian weddings are and not to be taken on without proper research.
At 9:45 Brian from BDJC gave 2 presentations on venue dressing and health & safety. His presentation was very honest and down to earth with lots of inspiring pictures. There was so much to say that actually the hour wasn’t enough so his presentation has been posted to attendees so they haven’t lost out on anything he said.
After a quick coffee break Zoë Lingard from Weddings by Zoë Lingard gave a very interesting & interactive talk on blogging. This is still such a new phenomenon in the UK and baffles most of us, however Zoe was able to not only explain but could demonstrate how blogging works. She gave many useful tips and as such the planners were firing questions at her. Not surprising her powerpoint presentation design was beautiful as well!
We then handed over to Charlotte from Chartula who had a horrendous journey from London but we were so thankful to have her with us. She talked about the printing processes available in order that we might explain to our clients more easily. She gave us pointers on what to include in our emergency kits and finally we were able to make the invitations available from her Create range. Think she was surprised at how many of us seemed incapable of tying a simple bow neatly, oh well better practice.
The seminar ended with lunch where planners said their goodbyes before heading home.
Thank you to everyone who attended whether as a planner or speaker.
Book Review: William Yeoward on Entertaining
Friday, March 13th, 2009
I recently received a very lovely and unexpected gift from my mother in law who thought this was a perfect book for me and she was right. Although the book is intended for home entertaining, I see it as a perfect inspiration book for clients weddings which have more scope (and budget) for decadent theming than my own little home soirées.
Each theme takes 6 full colour pages to showcase a theme with particular attention to the very precise table setting, incorporating some beautiful linens (I wish we could get such unusual linens in the UK), crystal-wear, cutlery and unique finishing touches. There are even menu suggestions for every theme. My favourite is City Dining which uses the ever-popular white and fresh green combo to exude lots of contemporary style; I just want to be at that party! The section on ‘Entertaining at the Pool’ is also really lovely but probably a little ambitious for the UK; we can dream!
I’m really keen to get myself down to William Yeoward’s store on the Kings Road soon and take a look at some of the beautiful pieces in person!
Published by Cico Books, 2008
Kelly Chandler is the UKAWP’s Marketing and Finance Director and also owns The Bespoke Wedding Company, operating throughout the South East of England
