Archive for the ‘Book Review’ Category

Book review: Wedding Wisdom

Monday, March 8th, 2010

wedding-wisdomAndri Benson has kindly written a review of  Wedding Wisdom by Mary Dann-Mcnamee with Leila Khalil

‘Wedding Wisdom ‘An Insightful Approach to Wedding Planning and Life’ is written by Mary Dann-Mcnamee a US wedding planner that has over 20 year experience in the industry, she is also a trained marriage and family therapist which makes this book a little different from the other  how to be a wedding planner books.

The book is split into three parts:

  • Foundation of Wisdom: Balance
  • Wedding Wisdom for the Planner
  • Wedding Wisdom for the Bride and Planner

Parts 2 and 3 contain useful advice and helpful tips on setting up a wedding planning business, how to attract clients and deal with challenging ones and on planning weddings including timelines  and examples of various forms

For me the first part looking at the ‘Foundation of Wisdom’ was really valuable as it looked at how to keep your business and personal life in balance and relate it to your brides. The four elements of balance discussed are Physical, Mental, Spiritual and Emotional; in the midst of a busy wedding season these areas can be easily overlooked so by being aware of the signals that show we are out of balance and learning to act on them we can be better planners and have a more balanced life. 

Wedding Wisdom is a handy little book giving advice not only about how to plan a wedding but about keeping a healthy outlook in life and business.  Though clearly aimed at aspiring planners and brides planning their own weddings the advice given about balance and wellbeing in our lives and their impact on our business can be useful whatever stage of your career you are at.

On an additional note Leila Khahil who wrote this with Mary Dann-McNamee is a wedding PR guru and her blog Inspired By This often provides some very useful information regarding the wedding industry and PR.

There are a number of inspirational quotes throughout the book:

“Take small steps to chip away at your tasks and then recognise your accomplishments”

“Being the best at what you do means doing one thing at a time and accepting with a sense of peace that it will get done and that you can do it.”

“Birthing a “wedding day” feels somewhat similar to birthing a baby. It is very personal, very special and very exciting!”

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The Flower Council Booklet

Monday, August 24th, 2009

Recently in our new Step by Step training course  we have been giving students a book from the Flower Council  , it has an alphabetical listing of flowers within it and most importantly includes an image of said flower. I particularly find this useful when trying to decipher florist proposals as I can visualize better what flowers they want to use.

Since using the book myself I have even begun to recognize some of the flowers making me more knowledgeable in meetings with florists and clients.

What additional industry booklets do you use?

The Flower Council

The Flower Council

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Book review: How to talk to anyone

Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009

I have just finished reading this great book (How to talk to anyone) and thought I would share my thoughts about it with you.

how-to-talk-to-anyone

Although a friend of mine who spied it in my handbag laughed out loud at the title as she knows I can talk for England, I found it full of fabulous, simple hints and tips.

In a sense, my friend hit the nail on the head ….. we can all talk nineteen to the dozen with our closest friends, knowing that it doesn’t matter too much what we say, because we are totally comfortable and can rant, complain and generally gossip in safety.

However, if I walked into a client meeting or a networking event and wittered the way I do on a Friday evening with my girlfriends, I would not only fail to get the job/ good contacts, but make myself and everyone else feel very uncomfortable.

Author Leil Lowndes gives lots of insightful, simple ideas and suggestions for ensuring  you can walk into any situation and feel at ease doing the things we all have to do sometimes, like making small talk, getting an introduction to the person you really want to speak to and desperately trying to keep a potentially dire conversation going, because there is nowhere to hide. Importantly she also talks about how to make the sale.

She introduces you to fun techniques, described as things like ‘Always Wear a Whatzit’ and ‘Accidental Adulation’ which are hard not to try out on everyone you meet once you have read the book.

 

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Preston Bailey: Inspirations

Wednesday, June 24th, 2009

When my Mum went to America at the end of 2008 I begged her to bring back some US bridal magazines but also gave specific instructions to get me ‘Preston Bailey, Inspirations‘. For those that do not know he is a celebrity event designer in the US renowned for his elaborate floral creations. She duly returned home with said book moaning somewhat by the size (and price) of it. But boy was it worth every penny to see inside the mind of this amazing designer.

Preston Bailey Inspirations

Preston Bailey Inspirations

The book starts with his introduction ‘Sometimes it’s as easy as taking a breath. Inspiration can come from anywhere. It can come at any time‘ I for one can relate to that, I have been in the most obscure places  when suddenly a flash of inspiration comes to me for a clients wedding, I could be on holiday, talking with friends or just watching a film but when it comes I take note and write my ideas down.

The chapters within the book are listed below and should give you an understanding of how varied his designs are. 

  1. Contemporary Conservatory in Texas
  2. Autumnal Artistry in Virginia
  3. A Royal Wedding
  4. Pink Fantasy at the Waldorf - Astoria
  5. Four Seasons Finesse
  6. Scene clearly in Niagara Falls
  7. Post-Impressionistic at the Met
  8. Timeless Elegance in the Hamptons
  9. Star Studded Cabaret at the Pierre
  10.  Mar-a-Lago Grandeur
  11.  Signature Preston Bailey

 The combination of his floral displays, exquisite table linen and lighting make the designs inspirational. Whenever I look at American receptions I get a little jealous over the choice of linen available whereas we only seem to have plain, brocade or Milan stripe! The variety of linen is just astonishing and really finishes his designs perfectly.

If you are looking for a book to inspire you with an event you are organising then you really cant go wrong with this book, it truly is inspirational.

Useful links: Preston Bailey & Amazon

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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.

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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

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