The UK Alliance of Wedding Planners - The leading industry body for the UK Wedding Market | Promoting professionalism in Wedding Planning

Today we introduce the lovely Zoe Clark who runs Zoe Clark Cakes. Zoe will be presenting at WPE 11 and sharing her inside knowledge of ‘all things wedding cake’. Yum!

What’s your USP?

Great attention to detail without being over-complicated

What’s your signature dish (personality or food)?

Lasagne

Do you have a favourite restaurant?

Caffe Latte- a lovely little Italian restaurant in Melbourne.

How would your clients describe you?

Easy-going but professional

What’s your biggest achievement since launching?

Writing 3 books and opening a shop

What is your vice?

Eat more cake, drink lots of wine

Describe yourself in 3 words

Perfectionist, busy, creative

Name one blog you follow religiously

Style me pretty- I love all the mood boards.

Introducing Ray Hutchin of Cloud 9 who will be one of our speakers at WPE 11 in March. Ray has been a regular contributor and firm favourite at this annual event and we very much look forward to him sharing his business coaching insight with us this year…..

What’s your USP?

Truly putting our clients first, I feel so many companies say they do and actually believe they do, but I believe they don’t. We make all our business decisions based on our Vision Statement, which includes “putting our clients’ needs first” even if it mean we will make no fee or receive a reduced fee.

What’s your signature dish (personality or food)?

Bread & Butter Pudding

Do you have a favourite restaurant?

Haven’t got one - I have three - Belgro Centraal, London, Equilibrium at Fawsly Hall and Scarletta’s in Nerja, Spain

How would your clients describe you?

Obi-Wan Kenobi and Guru are amongst some of the flattering names I have been called, also one client calls me Coach - that always makes me feel good.

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

Yes, I sacked them. Because it wasn’t benefitting them or me and was the right thing to do for both of us.

What’s your biggest achievement since launching?

Setting up my new business coaching company now I have left a franchise and coaching team. As now with my partner we can put our stamp on the business and do it the way we believe it should be done (as we are both very passionate about our business)

What is your vice?

Chicken & Chips

Describe yourself in 3 words

Down to earth

Name one blog you follow religiously

UKAWP (seriously)

Today I am very pleased to introduce you to David Wise of WISE Productions who will be presenting at WPE 11 in March. We love to find out a bit more about our speakers and share this with delegates…

What’s your signature dish (personality or food)?

Kids: Dad’s pasta sauce (tomatoes, chorizo)

Taller kids: cassoulet

Do you have a favourite restaurant?

Normally the one I am in right now (it’s the company I’m with that makes my day). The best dining experience I have ever had was at Catalina, Rose Bay Sydney.

How would your clients describe you?

Safe pair of hands, helpful

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

On reflection my favourite clients are the professionally challenging - the ones who want the bar raised, new creative ideas, better value for the Bride and Groom.

What has been your most memorable wedding that you have worked on?

Three will always have a place:-

Marquee in Suffolk - amazing love and happiness

The Orangery - the sense of fun and warmth, everyone smiled ALL THE TIME

Marquee in Sussex - many years ago, the first time I felt that lighting makes an amazing difference.

What’s your biggest achievement since launching?

Weathering three recessions without making redundancies.

What is your vice?

The West Wing

Describe yourself in 5 words

Tall, loyal, short attention span

What are you reading?

Julian Barnes

This speaker for WPE needs very little introduction as of course she our colleague here at the UKAWP Bernadette Chapman. However today I would like to introduce Bernadette in her role as Director of Dream Occasions where she plans and manages beautiful weddings and specializes in marquee receptions…

What’s your USP?

I specialise in marquee events in East Anglia and have become well known for using a twist on ‘Country English’ functions.

What’s your signature dish (personality or food)?

A big pot of hot chili - perfect for minimal effort at parties, strange thing for a party planner to say I know!

How would your clients describe you?

Clients always comment on how calm I am both in the planning process and on the day itself, they have said this in turn helps them stay calm!

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

There have been a few! I remember one controlling groom a few years ago was incredibly rude to me and suppliers we were meeting that day. The final straw was when he questioned every suggestion I made. I decided to cancel the contract as I won’t work with anyone who deems it acceptable to talk down to me or disregard any advice that they are paying me for. I agree with Siobhan that you need to set boundaries from the start; if you answer your mobile from clients at 11pm then they will feel this is acceptable for future calls.

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

I would love to plan a wedding for any member of Take That, I’m not fussy! I think they would be a lot of fun to work with, I’d have no trouble finding a good evening band + lets face it looking at them (any of them) during planning meetings would be a joy J

What’s your biggest achievement since launching?

One of my biggest achievements was recognizing the need for an alliance of wedding planners in the UK. I am so proud of what the UKAWP has done over the years, the dedication of my fellow directors and the enthusiasm of our members.

Whenever I have a large marquee event with 30+ suppliers I feel proud that everyone arrives on time and the schedule go according to plan - at the end of the evening I breath a huge sigh of relief because with marquees you never know what ‘could happen’! I hope to cover some of these scenarios at WPE….

What is your vice?

Reading far too many Romance Novels - just as well I work in the industry for romance!

Describe yourself in 3 words

Professional, loyal, imaginative (I have too many ideas floating around sometimes)

Name one blog you follow religiously

Oh gosh, only one that is difficult. Can I cheat and say I love reading www.kerrymorgan.com/photoblog & www.lloyddobbie.com/blog to have a peak at their recent weddings + www.stylemepretty.com to see what those creative US brides are doing AND www.lovemydress.net to see what creative brides in the UK are doing.

Following on in our series of introductions to WPE 11 speakers, I am very pleased to introduce one of our UKAWP members, Melanie Kiani of Bellissimo Events, who will be drawing on her previous career to present the legal issues surrounding weddings……….

What’s your USP?

Giving my clients the highest possible level of service and attention to detail in everything that I do with an experienced legal brain thrown in to ensure all the legal considerations of any wedding or event is covered.

What’s your signature dish?

I am a big foodie so I have lots of dishes I love cooking for friends and family - whatever I do I just love having the house full of people enjoying themselves and eating my homemade food and drinking plenty of good wine. Savoury is definitely my thing but I do also made a mean chocolate brownie.

Do you have a favourite restaurant?

Depends on what food I am in the mood for but a nice meal out with my husband or friends has to be The Guildhall Tavern, Poole Quay - wonderful fish with an ice cold bottle of Muscadet and they always look after you and remember what you like.

How would your clients describe you?

I am honoured to say that my clients say that I am one of the my organized and efficient people they have ever met and really enjoy having me on board and working with me which is hugely satisfying. Having had a 12 year career in the law leading up to starting my business which is now in its third year certainly helped develop those skills. I am a “details” person so I am always looking for the detail in everything. That’s very important to me and I like to think that my clients notice that and like that about me.

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

All clients are challenging in their own way as each wedding or event you plan and each couple you deal with is completely different and may require different skills. I find that good communication with my clients from the outset to establish what they can expect from me and what I can do for them is a great way to get the relationship off on the right food. There will always be challenges along the way but I thrive on dealing with those and turning around any difficult situations. Good people skills is essential for this job.

What’s your biggest achievement since launching?

You have to look back quite often to see where you were in the beginning and where you are now to remind yourself of the achievements in launching a business from nothing - during hard economic times which some people would say is crazy! Going into profit in year three is an achievement and I was pleased to be asked to present the last series of Three Grand Weddings due to be shown on Wedding TV during 2011. However, most of all I feel a huge sense of achievement with the weddings and events that we have helped to plan and co-ordinate and the lovely comments we get as feedback afterwards and knowing that our clients have had the day they wanted and your involvement has made a big difference. Seeing the photographs or videos and receiving those thank yous afterwards is very satisfying and at a lot of weddings since launching we have had special “thank yous” and mentions during wedding speeches which is a real honour to be included at such an important part of the proceedings.

What is your vice?

Wine, cheese and bread - all the things I shouldn’t have! Plus anything for the kitchen and shoes!

Describe yourself in 3 words

Organised, hard-working and efficient

Name one blog you follow religiously

Ok hands up - I have lots of great blogs on my reader account but I am not great at religiously following them! I try to concentrate more on keeping my own up to date and spending time on my Twitter and Facebook pages and when I get a free hour or so I have a hunt to see whats new and whats around. I do prefer bridal magazines to keep in touch - old fashioned kind of girl in some ways!

I am so very pleased to introduce to you Alice Chorley of Sternberg Clarke who will be presenting on the subject of entertainment at weddings at WPE 11. Read on to find out about Alice before meeting her at the big event……

What’s your USP?

It would be our knowledge and understanding of the entertainment industry. From this, we can not only provide our clients with fantastic and talented acts but we are also able to offer them unique ideas or even just helpful advice.

What’s your signature dish (personality or food)?

I would say a rare steak…although when I say ’signature dish’ I actually mean ‘dish that I like to be cooked for me’!

Do you have a favourite restaurant?

I love The Endiboro Castle in Camden, although it is more of a pub than a restaurant.

It’s really friendly and you can just relax on the big leather sofas. Plus they do a great Sunday lunch. (I am very food orientated!)

How would your clients describe you?

I’d like to think that they think I’m approachable, helpful and imaginative.

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

Every client is unique, and I wouldn’t say that I have had challenging clients, but just different ones. Every bride has their idea of what they want their wedding to be like, and the key is to really understand the vision in their head and then do whatever we can to get as close to that ideal as possible.

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

The Royal Wedding, of course! I think it would be simple and classic, yet stunning. The real test here is to do something that’s timeless because the pictures of it will be around for decades. In that way, it’s no different from a normal wedding because you’re trying to create something that’s going to be memorable without making people cringe when they look back on it.

On the other end of the spectrum, Katy Perry and Russell Brand’s wedding looked really fun and having the Indian theme would create fantastic entertainment opportunities!

What’s your biggest achievement since launching?

I wasn’t actually around for it but we did the entertainment at Posh and Becks’ wedding. It was (obviously) very extravagant and a great way to show our attributes.

Personally, just getting the job was a dream come true!

What is your vice?

I’d probably say silly 80’s films! My boyfriend hates me for it but I love all the classics; When Harry Met Sally, Pretty Woman and Dirty Dancing.

Describe yourself in 3 words

Kind, hard working (does that count as two words?!) and unique!

Name one blog you follow religiously

I love rock my wedding. It’s a very well produced blog, but also features some really beautiful and original weddings. Our own blog is pretty good too!

It is our pleasure to introduce you to Tom Shurville of Distinctly Digital who will be sharing his expertise on Search Engine Optimisation with us at WPE in March…

What’s your USP?

I focus on increasing the amount of money businesses generate through the internet.

What’s your signature dish (personality or food)?

Spanish style rabbit stew

Do you have a favourite restaurant?

The Nags Head, Great Missenden (http://www.nagsheadbucks.com/)

How would your clients describe you?

A difficult one! Knowledgeable and realistic

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

People are often sceptical of the benefits of promoting their businesses on the internet, which is understandable considering the comparative length of time it’s been around compared to other marketing medians such as telesales or direct mail. I’m now fortunate enough to have a large number of successful case studies that can demonstrate how other clients have succeeded and achieved a good Return on Investment through online marketing and this is often enough to change opinions.

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

As an Arsenal fan, I’d like to plan Theo Walcotts wedding – just so I could mingle with all the players afterwards!

What is your vice?

Cigarettes - I gave up on New Year’s Day!

Describe yourself in 3 words

Determined, personable, tall!

Name one blog you follow religiously

SEO Moz - http://www.seomoz.org/blog A great place to keep up to date with all the changes in the world of search engine optimisation (SEO)

We are currently introducing our speakers for WPE 11 which is to take place 4^th and 5^th March 2011. Today we are pleased to introduce you to Diane Malone of Diamond Insurance.

What’s your USP?

We are there to hold our client’s hand throughout the policy year, including and especially if a claim occurs. We will negotiate between client and insurer.

What’s your signature dish (personality or food)?

Sue (who’s worked with me for years) tells me turkey soup which I make after Christmas and bring in for the staff.

Do you have a favourite restaurant?

Buddies

How would your clients describe you?

Determined and conscientious.

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

I pass them to Sue, she has a soothing manner about her which I do not! I take things too personally but Sue remains calm in a crisis and gets the matter resolved to the satisfaction of all involved.

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

Cliff Richard.

What’s your biggest achievement since launching?

Surviving two recessions.

What is your vice?

Hoarding.

Describe yourself in 3 words

Wife Mum Friend

Name one blog you follow religiously

None - don’t have time!

We are introducing our WPE 11 speakers in order that you may get to know them a little better before attending. Today, for those of you who did not meet this wonderful, inspiring lady at WPE 10, I am delighted to introduce Tamin Fox-Davis of Enthuse Marketing.

What’s your USP?

My USP is that I guide small businesses to do their marketing - in plain English! I am a jargon-free zone.

What’s your signature dish (personality or food)?

Vegetarian toad-in-the-hole. It never fails to please.

Do you have a favourite restaurant?

Normally the one I last went to. Most recently, Chutneys near Euston station. They are a veggie Indian place and do the best naan bread I’ve ever eaten.

How would your clients describe you?

Supportive, knowledgeable, experienced, understanding, and caring.

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

More than one! I hate conflict and I always do my best to give the client what they want, but sometimes what they want is not the best thing, and so I have to tell them that I can’t help them. For me, one of the keys to effective marketing is weeding out the clients that you don’t want, so that you have space and time for the clients that you do want. Feeling that you have to take on everyone who walks through your door is professional insecurity (and perfectly normal, by the way!), and you have to move through that to be successful.

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

So many to choose from! I’d probably have to say Paris Hiltons dogs’ wedding. She would spend a lot of money on it, and I can’t think of anything funnier than dogs in wedding outfits.

What’s your biggest achievement since launching?

The development of my speaking career, one of the highlights being my day as a business mentor at The British Library and being on the same bill as Deborah Meaden of Dragons Den.

What is your vice?

CAKE! …and pancakes, and waffles, but mostly cake.

Describe yourself in 3 words

Experienced, friendly, fun.

Name one blog you follow religiously

Life Just Keeps Getting Weirder. Anna Lefler is an award winning blogger and truly laugh-out-loud funny.