UKAWP - THE LEADING INDUSTRY BODY FOR THE UK WEDDING MARKET

Archive for August, 2010

Blogging – 4 ways to vastly improve your blog’s success and readability

Tuesday, August 31st, 2010

We are delighted to welcome back Keren Lerner as our social media guest blogger and director of Top Left Design

We love blogs and want lots of people to blog on their websites. Having a blog changes your site from a static one to one which gets updated regularly. But many people misuse this opportunity and end up with blogs on their sites that look unprofessional and out of date.

So, in order to simplify things I thought I would highlight the Golden Rules of Blogging

  1. For each post, always use at least one picture, and make the picture the same width as the column. You can splurge a little and spend £1-£30 pounds on buying an image from Istockphoto - or you can find SOME good free images on Stock Exchange. I would recommend you resize the images and make them the same width as the column of text within the blog - this looks a lot neater and more impactful. Have a look at our blog for an example.
  2. Blog regularly - at least 3 times a month! This way anyone looking at your blog will see a blog post written within the last 2 weeks.
  3. Make sure you break up your posts with subheadings and bullets. Aim for no more than 2 paragraphs of text before you put in a subheading or a bulleted list or an image. This will make your blog post easier to read as people tend to scan things online. By having useful well written subheadings, people will get an idea of what your post is about just by scanning the page.
  4. Vary the types of posts - there are many types of posts you can use - including case studies, roundups, how tos, best ofs, interviews, and reviews. Have a look at our post Types of Blog Posts that Make Blogging Easy

Please send me links to your blogs when you have put these golden rules into practice, as I am happy to have a look and give further advice. You can email me on keren@topleftdesign.com

Tags: , ,
Posted in PR, Uncategorized | No Comments »

Member Focus: Nikki Foster

Monday, August 30th, 2010

Today I am pleased to introduce Nikki Foster from I Do Designer Weddings Ltd one of our associate members based in Leeds.

Why did you become a wedding planner?

Hmmm – interesting question. My background is actually in financial services; eight years of top level investment management. However, throughout my career I have been heavily involved in arranging events and weddings for people around me. I guess I became an ‘unofficial’ wedding planner a long time before I became an official one!

It wasn’t until my mother got ill and challenged my career that I realised that I was in the wrong job. She gave me the courage to walk away from a successful career and set up my dream business – I haven’t looked back!

What’s your USP?

So many of them! If I can only pick one little thing I guess it has to be my ability to listen. It might sound irrelevant, but I have an exceptional ability to ‘hear’ what people are saying when they are describing their dream day.

Understanding a vision is the key to being able to transform it into reality for a couple. Setting to work to design, plan and manage the day is the easy bit.

Do you have a favourite venue?

There are so many amazing venues around Yorkshire and Cheshire. Swinton Park, Allerton Castle, The Star Inn – they are all beautiful and all different. However my absolute favourite venue has to be a marquee on private land. There is nothing better than a blank canvas to inject the bride and grooms personalities into. My current favourites are Papakata tents – just brilliant for a really different look and feel – when dressed for a wedding they have the Wow factor in spades.

How would your clients describe you?

It has to be as a perfectionist.

Design is very important to our weddings; we aim to make each one very different and representative of the bride and groom - I am relentless until we have it absolutely right!

If you could plan a celebrity wedding (alive or dead) whose would it be?

Well, the obvious one is a Royal Wedding – I would revel in planning a wedding for Prince Harry. It would be fabulous to be able to really go to town with no restriction on budget. I have picked Harry because his personality would surely allow for some real fun elements to be injected into the day!

When you’re ready Harry – you know where we are!

Which wedding planner’s work do you respect/admire and why?

There are so many! Zoe Lingard’s website inspired me when I was initially investigating changing careers and I like to keep abreast of what Mark Niemierko is up to.

What’s your biggest achievement since launching?

Everything! I set up my business during a very difficult period in my life – losing my mother. So for me, ‘I Do Designer Weddings’ is a huge achievement in itself.

I would also say that my biggest achievement is always changing as it’s my last wedding - seeing the months of planning and management culminate in a fabulous event provides the most amazing buzz.

Every happy client is a big achievement!

Tags:
Posted in Life as a Planner, Member Focus | No Comments »

Want to become a wedding planner?

Tuesday, August 24th, 2010

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. Today I would like to talk to you a little about our original, and ever popular , Business Practicalities. The 3 directors of the UKAWP teach the courses personally, and on the second day we are accompanied by some of our full members. The courses are held in spring and autumn as naturally, summer months are rather busy for full time wedding planners.

When can I attend

25th & 26th Sep (London)

23rd & 24th Oct (Northamptonshire)

6th & 7th Nov (Cheshire)

To sign up please go to our booking form

What topics are covered on this weekend course?

This course is aimed at those wishing to start their own business. For that reason we cover everything you should do pre-launch. Primarily your research and marketing before moving onto the type of services you wish to offer and how to decide what to charge. We take you through the basics of PR and why this is so important for small businesses. One element that is always popular is the mock consultations we undertake with the students, this gives students the chance to understand how important it is to ask the right questions in a consultation. And finally we go through how to produce your proposal.

To view the full list of topics please download our brochure

What is the cost

£599 inc. vat

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

Recent Feedback

March 2010   Diane Kay
“The course exceeded my expectations and has really spurred me on to move forward to set up my own company.”
 
“Kelly’s experience and anecdotes were extremely funny and invaluable.”
  
April 2010     Stacey Marie Chalk
“I loved the practicals – even if the consultation was scary – it makes the course more real.”

Tags:
Posted in Becoming a Planner, Training | No Comments »

Pocket Positive

Monday, August 23rd, 2010

Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence.

Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb.

Education will not; the world is full of educated failures.

Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.

Calvin Coolidge, 1872 – 1933

Posted in Pocket Positive | No Comments »

UKAWP Social Evenings – why join us?

Thursday, August 19th, 2010

Places are selling fast for our annual UKAWP social evenings in London and Shropshire. And if you’re not sure, here are some reasons why we think you’ll like it:

  • A chance to meet face to face with other wedding planners - meet the face behind the Twitter friend!
  • A chance to compare notes on difficult issues and situations with others who do the exact same job and encounter the exact same issues
  • Share tips and trends on weddings in general and on the state of the market and running a wedding planning business
  • Complimentary drinks and canapés in glorious venue settings in both London and Shropshire
  • An opportunity to get to know another venue for your portfolio
  • A chance to meet Directors of the UK Alliance of Wedding Planners and find out about some of the many obvious and subtle benefits of membership in an informal setting
  • Be the first to hear news on upcoming events and activities in the industry and with UKAWP

The evenings are open to wedding planners only, no suppliers. We usually have a great mix of old and established industry faces, newer planners and some recent students right at the beginning of their journey. Whilst the format will largely be informal, we will be using some techniques to ensure that planners get to mingle and mix.

We have over 25 planners registered for the London evening so far, we hope you’ll join us for two really fun nights!

To book your ticket please go to our events page

Photo Credit

Lloyd Dobbie

Tags:
Posted in Industry News, UKAWP News | No Comments »

Career opening at Mercure Hotels

Wednesday, August 18th, 2010

‘Mercure Wedding Angel’

We are very excited to tell you about a wonderful opportunity with Mercure hotels. The hotel chain plays host to hundreds of wedding celebrations every year at its hotels around the UK - and is scouring the nation to find budding wedding planners to take up two newly created posts as ‘Mercure Wedding Angels’. The hotel chain is looking for someone to bring their own unique touch to the wedding event services offered at the hotels and is offering two full-time contracts to the right candidates.

For details of how to apply, please visit the website .

But if you are not successful and you still want to become a wedding planner why not book onto one of the UKAWP courses?

Posted in Becoming a Planner, Uncategorized | No Comments »

PR tips for the summer

Tuesday, August 17th, 2010

Today we hear from our regular PR expert Paula Gardner on what she thinks we should be doing this summer (aside from planning weddings of course)

1. Tip Sheets Write a “7 ways to”, or “The Top 5 Myths about” article. Break up those 7, 5 or whatever number of points into separate emails and schedule one tip or piece of advice to go out each week as a series over the summer months. Even if you have no press releases going out and are making no follow up calls, the press are still getting regular contact from you and you are continuing to build your brand.

2. Schedule in some Networking Events You might think that it’s not worth it as there will be fewer attendees, but the reality is that you are more likely to strike up a quality conversation when people are relaxed and there’s less of a crowd competing for your attention.
3. Use an Intern If you’re anything like me you may well have projects that you just never seem to have to finish, or ideas that you haven’t got around to implementing. Using an intern, whether it’s a student or a keen teenager, for the summer, might be one way of getting them off your to-do list.

4. Boost Your Blog Many of my clients know that doing a blog would be a wise move, and many of those actually enjoy writing so it won’t be too much of a chore. What they haven’t yet got is the habit of writing their blog. Why not use these quieter summer months as a time to create that habit by blogging first thing every morning. It doesn’t have to be a full scale article, just a comment on what’s in the news or even a think piece will do..and think how much juicy search engine friendly content you will have by the end of the summer.

5. Learn About The Press Take advantage of the summer sun to sit in pavement cafes, sip a smoothie or cappuccino and really get to grips with the difference between The Telegraph and The Guardian, or just immerse yourself in the trade mags and the language they use, ready for a fresh approach in the Autumn.

6. Take a Day Off Book out some time to plan your campaign for the Autumn so that everything - your press releases, Twitter, Facebook, article writing, tips, product shots - works together to promote the brand. Take a look at my Get Noticed consultation if you want help with this.

7. Look Out for Media Requests These are requests put out by journalists who are looking for case studies, experts and products for review or goodie bags. You can sometimes spot them on business forums or get sent them by trade associations. Alternatively, you can join our Publicity Club and get them sent direct to you. Replying to these as and when relevant ones come in is a great low-key way to garner coverage and help build a cracking media list at the same time.

Tags: ,
Posted in PR, Uncategorized | 2 Comments »

New potential scam 070 mobile numbers

Friday, August 13th, 2010

Kelly Chandler from The Bespoke Wedding Company & our marketing/finance director has kindly informed us of a new potential scam asking planners to call them on a 070 phone number, the actual message is below.

Kelly was suspicious of the email tone so did a quick search on the internet and found out that 070 phone numbers are premium rate redirected numbers. More information can be found via yahoo answers.

If ever you are unsure on a particular email we always advise you conduct a search of that persons name, email address, postal address or telephone number. If it is a scam it will invariably have been reported online somewhere!

—-Original Message—-
From: peter.t.mansfield@gmail.com [mailto:peter.t.mansfield@gmail.com]
Sent: 12 August 2010 13:06
To: weddings@thebespokeweddingco.com
Subject: Wedding

Hi

I need to get an organiser for my wedding. Can you give me a call?

Thanks

Peter Mansfield
07031964948

Tags:
Posted in Scams | 48 Comments »

Member Focus: Boutique Weddings

Thursday, August 12th, 2010

Today we invite associate member, Marine Kerivel-Brown from Boutique Wedding to share a little more about her and her company with us.

Why did you become a wedding planner?

It’s not something I actually carefully planned. It just happened. I first started working on weddings when I moved to the U.A.E over 15 years ago. I had the amazing opportunity to work on a few big royal weddings and that was it….. I was hooked! After strengthening my skills by organising big corporate events in the middle East, Africa and Europe (I have travelled a fair bit), it was only natural to revert back to my first passion: wedding planning.

What’s your USP?

I seem to mainly attract ‘unusual’ situations such as foreign nationalities getting married in the UK, overseas-based couples, etc, as well as Civil Partnerships, which actually suits me perfectly well. I always love a new challenge and can get bored easily!

What’s your signature dish?


I’m French so don’t get me started on food or I’ll still be talking about it in 2 hours! But nothing can beat a good tarte tatin.

Do you have a favourite venue?

No, simply because each wedding I plan is so unique in its context that I rarely have a chance to consider the same venue twice. However, my clients seem to want the big mansions and castles around London as opposed to marquee weddings.

How would your clients describe you?

Very organised, professional, passionate and with a strong ‘can do’ approach. I have a very practical approach to life and handle each project in exactly the same way. I also have very strong professional ethics and I’m a bit of a perfectionist too.

Have you ever had a challenging client and how did you deal with it?

Having worked with clients across two continents, I have faced at times some demanding situations, especially in the Middle East. Those who’ve met me might have heard some of my stories about brides wanting to recreate orchids’ gardens in the middle of the desert (which we did by the way)! However, I always handle those difficult situations the same way: stay focused on the end result, keep calm, manage clients’ expectations and always remember that all I can do is my very best. I do believe in honesty and I believe my clients always trust me as a result.

How do you unwind?

Running and reading, although not at the same time! And spending time with my family.

If you could plan a celebrity wedding (alive or dead) whose would it be?

Johny Depp and Vanessa Paradis. They’re such an unusual couple it would be quite an interesting project!

Is the job as glamorous as you thought?
I never expected it to be glamorous so that’s fine. Anyone who wants to be a wedding planner because they fancy being the next J-Lo need to reconsider their choice!

Which wedding planner’s work do you respect/admire and why?

I really like Zoe Lingard’s work and obviously Kelly Chandler of The Bespoke Wedding Company. I don’t seem to be able to pick up a single magazine without Kelly being featured in it! In both cases, it’s the attention to detail and all the small finishing touches that I really like. It all seems to be so easy yet we all know that it probably took 12 months of planning to achieve such results!

What themes are you working on for 2010/2011?

At the moment, my clients seem to opt for understated elegance rather than quirky themes and I’m currently trying to create a theme involving an English castle with injecting a bit of French and Russian themes.

What’s your biggest achievement since launching? Having a child! Honestly, I have become a master at multi-tasking!

What is your vice?

Oh, where do I start? Champagne, dark chocolate, cheese, red wine, nougatine and Green & Black ice cream. I believe that a little bit of everything in moderation is the answer.

What trends are you seeing for 2010/2011? I’m seeing a return to classic themes. I think the recession might have made people want to go back to more traditional themes rather than wanting extravagance. A lot of my clients also seem to be very environmentally-aware and are trying to inject a more ethical approach to their big day.

Thank you Marine.

Tags:
Posted in Life as a Planner, Member Focus | 1 Comment »

Pocket Positive

Monday, August 9th, 2010

Sometimes the only way for me to find out what it is I want to do is go ahead and do something. Then the moment I start to act, my feelings become clear.

Hugh Prather, b. 1938

Posted in Pocket Positive | No Comments »