Monthly Archives: September 2013

Member Focus - Caper & Berry

30 September, 2013

Over the next few weeks we will begin introducing some of our new Wedding Supplier Members.

Today we say hello to Libby Summers and all the team at Caper & Berry, our first caterer member…..

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How did it all start?

Caper & Berry was founded in 2005 by the owner Tim Brennan who is still very much involved in the business. Tim in one of the very rare people who are trained as a chef and front of house so is perfectly placed for events.

Do you have a favourite venue?

Absolutely not – One of the perks of our job is that we get to work anywhere from amazing stately homes like Hedsor House, Aynhoe Park and Petworth Park to gorgeous outdoor spaces like the Walled garden in Cowdray.

How would clients describe you?

We are very privileged to have received some amazing feedback so I will let our clients speak for us!

“Caper & Berry are the perfect combination of catering and event co-ordination all at a fair price. Our guests all loved the food and the handful of special requests we had were no problem. Working with Libby was like having a mini wedding planner on hand with tips and advice for our wedding day.”

“Quite honestly, Caper and Berry made our wedding what it was. They absolutely exceeded all expectations on every single level. The food was 6*, the service was better than any top London restaurant and the presentation was phenomenal. This company deserves every award going - perfect in every way.”

“The quality of food, presentation and service were outstanding. The range of menu options and the ability of Tim’s team to create dishes as per our requirements was exceptional and great value for money. The quality of food and service on the day was perfect and there were only positive comments.”

Wedding planner/s you admire?

This year we have worked with some really inspirational people and I would love to name them all but in particular Isabel Smith of Isabel Smith Wedding Design and Melanie Helen of Cranberry Blue have really impressed us – their calmness and enthusiasm is fab.

How do you unwind?

We eat! Food plays a huge role here at Caper & Berry not just for our clients but us as well! If we need to relax we whip out the ice-cream, stressed we have chocolate brownie (fresh out of the oven of course!) and to celebrate Matt our head chef will design a new dish for our lunch!

What trends are you seeing for 2013/14?

Next year has a very traditional feel for us. Many of our clients are opting for the formal three courses, moving away from the very popular shared platter ideas we have seen in 2013. Also funky reception drinks are coming back with brides and grooms preferring a gin and tonic or Bloody Mary rather than champagne!

What is your signature dish?

The team designed the following dish in 2012 and it has fast become the most popular main course and for good reason – the flavours are stunning, the presentation is beautiful and we can’t get enough of it! ……

Our Beef Wellington

Fillet of sous vide cooked Hampshire beef, on a wild mushroom tart tatin and fondant potato, with wilted spinach, slow braised oxtail beignet and an intense truffle infused jus

Whose celebrity wedding (dead or alive) would you love work on?

We have been very fortunate to be a part of some incredible weddings, but we would love to work with someone from the fashion Industry – Kate Moss, Emma Watson, Emma Hill (Mulberry designer) for example. We can take care of the wonderful food and service and let them design something truly stunning and ultra cool!

What is your vice?

Did you see our answer for how do you unwind? Food is definitely biggest vice – We cant get enough of it!

 

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The Wedding Industry Awards 2014

25 September, 2013

For the third year running, the UKAWP Directors are proud to be on the judging panel for The Wedding Industry Awards 2014.

The reason we got involved in these awards, rather than any others, is that we felt from the outset that they are the most independent, fair awards around in the UK wedding industry.

We are really looking forward to reviewing entries soon once the judging process begins and would urge any wedding industry supplier who has yet to enter, to do so: the deadline is 5pm on 24th October 2013.

It is a great opportunity to showcase your work, your website and the wonderful comments your clients have to say about you.

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Training to be a Wedding Planner with the UKAWP

23 September, 2013

A couple of weekends ago we trained a delightful group of ladies at various stages in launching their wedding planning businesses. The directors of the UKAWP are passionate about training and simply love meeting those starting their path into wedding planning.

We train 121 as well as in groups but we still believe that group learning is usually the best way to train for this particular type of business. Why? Well because the students bond together throughout the weekend, they begin to see that they needn’t be competition to each other and simply put, we are all different thus our future clientele will be different.

With ladies of all ages, from all backgrounds and careers, at different points in their business planning, just listening to everyone interacting and learning from each other, as well as the three different trainers, each of whom had over 10 years of experience, was a joy.

I would like to say how much I did enjoy the weekend. The course was very informative & very professional. I have come away with a lot of ideas & tips about launching my business. Laura, Sep 2013

Business Practicalities has been updated yet again, making it even more vital to those launching as wedding planners. As the industry changes, so does our course, we feel we have a duty to move with trends ensuring we are giving you the most up to date business advice for this sector. New for this year is even more emphasis on branding and why this is so important for wedding planning businesses. We covered pricing, breaking down the different services and how you should work out your business costs before even starting on how to charge clients.

After a very full day on the Saturday, marketing and a mock consultation on the Sunday morning, by Sunday afternoon it was fun to see our students cutting and sticking to create mood boards.

If you are interested in training as a wedding planner, our courses get excellent feedback and we would love the opportunity to meet and train you. We can also confirm that the Step by Step course is in the middle of a facelift and will be even bigger and better for the next date on the 19th - 20th October. All tutors have been wedding planners for 10 years, we are passionate and knowledgeable and we feel confident our course equals amazingly successful planners. If you’re still unsure give Bernadette a call or speak to any of our members, did the course work for them?

Business Practicalities

Manchester 5th and 6th October

Bristol 9th and 10th November

Step By Step

London 19th and 20th October

Manchester 23rd and 24th November

See here for more details and to book your place.

 

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Brides - The Show

18 September, 2013


From 11th-13th October Brides - The Show takes place in Battersea Park. The UKAWP and three of our members, Always Andri, The Bespoke Wedding Company and Louise Perry Weddings will all be giving talks about various aspects of wedding planning to help you with your choices and planning.

Your favourite bridal magazine is coming to life!

Imagine if you could actually touch the dresses in Brides magazine (the UK’s no.1 bridal magazine), feel their luxurious quality and see the craftsmanship and care that had gone into the hand-sewn detailing. What if you could sample that incredibly creative cake to be sure it tastes as good as it looks, smell that blossomy bridal bouquet and see for yourself how that glimmering statement necklace would look on you?

Well now you can with Brides - The Show, where every element of your wedding planning will come to life before you in a way no other wedding show has ever been able to offer.

From dresses to diamonds, flowers to Champagne, Brides - The Show will bring together the very best bridal experts and over 150 luxury suppliers from across the industry, ready to inspire you with the latest trends and ideas and eager to share their expertise towards helping you create your perfect day.

Grab your front-row seat at the Catwalk and see the latest collections from the best UK and international designers, be inspired in the Imagination Room where bridal experts will share unique collaborations with displays, workshops and Q&As. Sip bubbles in the Laurent-Perrier Champagne Bar or why not try out your big day look in the Bobbi Brown Bridal Beauty Studio.

With this and a whole range of other exciting interactive features to experience, a visit to Brides The Show is the perfect luxury day out to share with mum, friends or your fiancé – make sure it’s the only other date in your wedding planning diary this October!

We’ll be there and are delighted to be able to offer our readers a special 2 for 1 ticket offer to the show. Simple enter the code ‘UKAWP’ when booking.

For more information or to book tickets visit Brides - The Show.

 

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