8 Random facts about Kim Rix – Your London Wedding PlannerPosted by Kim Rix on September 30th, 2009

Dear Bride & Groom,

For a bit of light-hearted fun, I thought I’d give you the opportunity to get to know more about me.  Here are 8 random truths:

 - I was adopted at 3 months old.  My birth name was Ruby.

 - When I was young, I aspired to be a famous opera singer. Whilst on a skiing holiday, I sang on stage in front of more than 2,000 people at Club Med.  Later, I joined the Philharmonia Chorus and sang on stage at the Royal Albert Hall, London.

 - In the days of needing pocketmoney to pay for my teenage lifestyle, I used to work on a local battery farm collecting eggs, despite being allergic and not being able to stand the smell!

- I’ve para-glided off the South Downs, scuba-dived off the Great Barrier Reef, swum with sharks, climbed Ayers Rock and Ben Nevis, but you couldn’t pay me enough do a bungee jump!

 - Back on stage, in 2001, I played a rat in the Dick Whittington pantomime in the West End of London.

- Invited by the Independent Adoption Society, I met HRH Princess Alexandra at the premier screening of Jaws in 1975. I curtsied, gave her a bouquet of flowers and have a vague recollection of asking ‘where’s your crown’?

- I’m a gem collector. My favourite stone is Tanzanian Ruby.

 - My party-trick: I can curl my tongue.

If you’d like to meet me in person, to discuss your wedding, please give me a call on 0208 989 4886.

Kind regards,

Kim Rix

Your London Wedding Planner

Choosing Wedding FlowersPosted by Kim Rix on September 22nd, 2009

Dear Bride & Groom,

To make a wedding truly special, it’s all about the details. Small and large, these details are remembered forever for both positive and negative reasons. That’s why you must cover all of the bases when it comes to preparing a wedding. Be sure to thoroughly research all of the vendors in order to assure yourself that you’re getting the very best for your money.

Luckily, there are many professional companies in London, who specialise exclusively in Wedding Flowers, including floral gifts for the bridesmaid and Mother of the Bride.  I can certainly recommend a few florists with whom I’ve had the pleasure of working with.

It’s always a good idea to ask friends for recommendations, check websites for testimonials and I would personally advise that, you give yourself plenty of time, to really shop around.  If you’re using a Wedding Planner, make sure that you involve them with all aspects of the wedding right from the start.

If you were considering ordering online, it’d be more than advisable to visit the store personally, in order to gain an idea of what the vendor is offering. This is rudimentary, however some may book services online, and leave it very late to check out their products – giving them no choice if they’re not happy. Because the Wedding Flowers are such a large and important matter– this element of the planning stages needs to occur very early in the preparation stages, say between months 7-12 (if you’ve got a year to plan).

Kim’s Tip: When choosing a florist, make sure you speak to the person who will personally be doing your wedding flowers on the day. And don’t be afraid to ask for references (for any of your vendors, not just the florist).

The florist will need to be notified of any last minute changes in schedule, as they are providing plants, which are inevitably deteriorating from the moment of being cut – so it’s essential that everything runs like clockwork where the flowers are concerned.

But if you’ve decided to go it alone, be sure to collaborate with your multitude of wedding service vendors, ensuring that your flowers, dress and even the upholstery at your reception venue do not clash.  Remember, on the best day of your life, even the little details need to be perfect.

 Kind Regards,

Kim Rix

Your London Wedding Planner

Making Speeches at WeddingsPosted by Kim Rix on September 15th, 2009

Dear Bestmen and Father of the Bride,

Some of the most appealing, yet daunting aspects of a wedding are the speeches. Often the best friends of the Bridegroom are fighting over the position of ‘Best Man’; that is, until they realise that they have to prepare what’s traditionally seen as ‘the funniest’ of all the speeches of the day. Very often Fathers of the Bride are conflicted with both pride and nerves when standing and presenting their daughter to the room. Nerves are natural; but the act of making the speech doesn’t start at the wedding reception. No; in fact – it starts months and months in advance. It doesn’t seem like an easy task – but it can be with a little thought, preparation and practice.

Firstly, when Thinking about your speech; ensure that what you’re saying is relevant to the occasion. The more precise and honed your ideas are, the better the speech will flow. Do be sure to give it a lot of thought before you begin to structure your speech; for Fathers of the Bride – this means sentimentality, and possibly one or two little embarrassing numbers about both the Bride and the Bridegroom. For the Best Man, it’s a whole other story; be sure to make your speech appropriate for the expected audience. Do take into consideration the presence of small children and elderly people who may not take kindly to crude stories. Keep it smart, snappy and witty – this is your chance to toast your best friend and his new wife. A day that everyone will remember; so make sure it’s remembered for the right reasons!

Secondly, a little Preparation can help you structure the speech to suit the occasion. It’s more than likely been a very long and tiring day for everyone, just before your speeches – so try not to be too longwinded or heavy – upbeat and quirky is key. Be sure to edit, and rework your speech so you’re not telling too many similar stories, and that your overall message features from start to finish. For the Best Men, the preparatory element may include gathering stories from parents and such – do be sure to choose the best ones, as one can only successfully present a handful of stories in one sitting without their audience becoming restless.

Lastly, it’s important to Practice your speech. Whether it’s practiced on your partner, a small, select group of family members (after all, you don’t want to spoil it) or even just the dog! It’s a huge cliché, but practice really does make perfect. If you think, prepare and practice the speech in due time – then you won’t even need cue cards on the day; after all, there’s nothing more annoying than someone fiddling with a piece of paper whilst giving a speech.

Make sure you’re comfortable with all of the relevant content of the speech – cut out any words that trip you up, or unnecessary statements. Before you know it, you’ll be standing in front of a grand audience toasting your friends/family and giving a duly pleasing speech indeed.

I hope that helps.  Good luck!

Kind regards,

Kim Rix

Your London Wedding Planner

Three Top London Wedding VenuesPosted by Kim Rix on September 8th, 2009

Dear Bride and Groom,

 For every woman, her wedding is probably the truly special day of her life. A celebration of the union between two people, a union of love and honour; a bond to last for eternity. And surely, something that lasts for eternity should be remembered forever. Here are three of the most stylish of Wedding Locations in London for your consideration.

 The Dorchester Hotel

 With a capacity of up to one thousand guests, the Dorchester Hotel has brilliant hosted literally thousands of weddings in its 75 years. Located on Park Lane, it’s a very exclusive setting for the perfect day. With the beautiful, opulent Ballroom or the modern Crystal Room – you have a marvelous, magical setting for a most memorable day. With fine dining, and ample rooms for any of your guests who require accommodation – The Dorchester is ideal for all of your needs. They also offer exquisite suites for the newlyweds, providing a beautiful place to spend your first night as man and wife.

 Eltham Palace

 Eltham Palace offers another beautiful setting for a truly stylish wedding. Built in the Art Deco style of the 1930’s, it screams unique glamour and exclusive, fashionable society. With the most lavish and wonderful interiors, your wedding will be the envy of all.  With Nineteen acres of beautiful grounds behind a stunning mansion, it’s a truly unique setting for what will be, the most wonderful day of your life.

 HMS Belfast

 Not everyone’s idea of a wedding venue, but this is great for military weddings or for wedding ceremonies for servicemen and women.  A stunning reminder of the old armored warships of the Royal Navy, HMS Belfast is extremely popular with couples engaging in civil partnership ceremonies. With memorable views of Tower Bridge and the Thames, vows can be exchanged on the deck of the warship. With a capacity for up to three hundred and fifty guests – HMS Belfast can provide a special memorable setting for your day. 

 Kind Regards,

 Kim Rix

Your London Wedding Planner

What kind of Wedding do you want?Posted by Kim Rix on September 2nd, 2009

Dear Bride & Groom,

Firstly, my warmest congratulations on your decision to tie the knot!  So what type of wedding would you like?  Perhaps I can give you some guidance to help you decide…

Wedding ceremonies come in all shapes and sizes. It’s important to thoroughly research and explore the advantages of whichever type of wedding you’d prefer. This will allow you to gain a valuable insight, not only with regards to the planning of the event – but also for the overall reception of your union.

Civil Partnerships

Due to the lack of endorsement by the Church, and the majority of religious organizations – many gay couples are restricted to wedding in a civil ceremony, in a venue that is unlikely to be a church. This is unfortunate, but there are many ways in which you can overcome this obstacle. Search for venues that hold the same grandeur of Religious buildings; grand high ceilings and ornate furnishings, along with perhaps an alter can be found in buildings such as castles, mansions and even disused churches or churches that have been converted. Many venues cater for civil partnerships and provide the most lavish and beautiful catering – so curb any anxiety you may have, and relax knowing that you can secure your dream wedding, with a little effort and planning.

Religious Weddings

Certainly the most common of wedding ceremonies, a religious wedding can come in many shapes and sizes; whether it be Hindu, Islamic, Roman Catholic, Jewish or Protestant. Many couples nowadays marry partners of differing faiths, and this need not be a worry for those who are struggling to decide where and how to be married.

Very often nowadays, different religious practitioners will work together in order to create an inter-faith ceremony wherein both of your families can be content with the blessings of both religious organizations.  Nonetheless, not all faiths are as flexible as others, so make sure you research this early on.

Of course a religious ceremony doesn’t have to occur in a place of worship, you can still hold this kind of ceremony in a castle, outdoors – anywhere the religious body will accept and that can legally serve as a wedding location.

Non-Traditional Weddings

Very much similar to the above, a non traditional ceremony can be non-specific to any religion, or if one of your is more religious – some of the overtones can be addressed to that particular religion to suit your tastes. Non-traditional weddings take many forms and can often be a huge relief in the length of the ceremony for those who choose not to rely on the religious aspects of the ceremony.  Humanist Weddings are increasingly popular and worth looking into if you want a special ceremony but without the religion thrown in.

Regardless of how you decide to wed – at Your London Wedding Planner, we can give you as much or as little help as you want. It really depends on how much control (and fun) you want to have.  It also depends on how much time you’ve got!

Drop us a line to discuss the possibilities?

Kind Regards,

Kim Rix

Your London Wedding Planner