Matchmaking The Bride To The VendorsPosted by Kim Rix on February 24th, 2010

Dear Bride and Groom,

Have you ever had that experience when you are engaging someone to carry out some work for you – whether its fitting a bathroom, servicing your car or excavating your garden – that you have a ‘feeling’ you are not going to get on with them?

That is not you being picky. That’s just your common sense kicking in highlighting that in some way your personalities clash. It could be something small and it may not affect the job at all, but you hesitate nonetheless. I’m not necessarily talking about trust here, but about the way you can communicate.

When you are engaging someone to provide a product or service for your wedding I think it’s important that your personalities match. Why? Because you are probably going to have to speak to them a lot – and during some times when you are fairly stressed out!

I would always advise my brides (or grooms) to ‘interview’ at least 3 different vendors before making a decision. A simple conversation can be enough and usually your gut instinct will tell you who you should work with.

Let me give you an example.

I was working with a fairly successful, strong-willed and organized bride about 6 months ago. We were visiting a number of florists that day and I had picked 2 for the morning that I thought she might like.

The first florist was a local vendor, fairly new to the area having just branched out on her own, but very experienced in wedding flowers. She talked through all the ideas with the bride, explained different options and showed examples. She then talked through how she would sketch out designs and send email them to her for approval so they could discuss changes without having to see each other face to face. Everything was very detailed, clear and the florist seemed totally in control.

The second florist, also a local vendor, but more established with a number of awards under her belt was much more informal. She asked about colours and flower types, took an address and said she’d be happy to send on a quote. She offered a few books to look at and point out anything that the bride liked. The whole encounter was very informal, chatty and pleasant.

Can you guess which florist my bride chose? Of course, the first! Although she thought the second florist seemed great she realized that her laid back personality would just send her into a panic. She felt the first had a reassuring business-like quality that she could relate to.

Don’t worry about judging people. They completely understand! And remember its just as hard for them to do their job if your personalities are clashing!

Kind regards,

Kim Rix

Your London Wedding Planner

Luxury Weddings in London, South East and the UK

The role of a Wedding PlannerPosted by Kim Rix on February 18th, 2010

Dear Bride and Groom,

You may have been reading this blog for a little while, or perhaps this is your first visit but you may have noticed that I offer up a lot of advice to you here. I imagined that you were perhaps starting to wonder what you could use me for if I’m giving you all my tips! Well here are a few things to demonstrate exactly what a wedding planner does for you.

Where has the time gone?

Whether you have 2 years or 2 months to plan your wedding, you never have enough time. If one or both of you are working it is even harder to find the time to call venues, suppliers etc to organize meetings, check details etc – especially when most of them are working the same hours as you are!

As a wedding planner I have the time to get information, check details, call, meet, negotiate and secure all the services you need. Believe me, it’s a lot of work and you don’t want to feel like you are making decisions in a rush!

Delegate Delegate Delegate

If you are planning a wedding on your own it is most likely that you will delegate some tasks out to friends and family to help you. But when and how do you check up on them? And what if they haven’t completed what they asked you to? Or it’s not the way you would like it to be?

If I were helping you to plan your wedding you would know every detail would be catered for and every request met, at a timetable to suit you!

Idea Generator

It can be difficult to think or be imaginative about what you want your wedding to be like when you are under pressure to get dates set, write guest lists etc. Maybe you have an idea but you have no idea how to make it a reality.

I would be at your side to translate your ideas into reality. You tell me what you are looking for, I research some ideas for you and all you have to do is choose! I can pick up on all the little details that will make it extra special for you. And you can focus on that invite list!

Contracts and Negotiation

As I have a good reputation with many suppliers, contractors and venues I can secure you great rates, excellent service and the best in the business. Negotiating can be nerve wracking and time consuming. I can take that swiftly off of your hands!

The Day

The Big Day, is your day. You should be able to enjoy it. If you are stressing about timetables, deliveries, schedules etc you will not be concentrating on enjoying yourself!

As your wedding planner I will be there to ensure that everything runs perfectly smoothly. I am your go to person, so if you have a question or request you just need to whisper in my ear and its done!

And the beauty of it is your guests won’t have a clue – they’ll just be having a wonderful time!

Kind regards,

Kim Rix

Your London Wedding Planner

Delivering the Personal Service

The Art of Negotiating ContractsPosted by Kim Rix on February 10th, 2010

Dear Bride and Groom,

I know that some of you will have read the title and panicked already! I find that, generally speaking, a lot of people are afraid of negotiation. There is a fear that you won’t get what you want or you will be overpowered by the other party’s persuasiveness or slick style.

First of all…Everyone can negotiate! It’s all about knowing what you want, what you are willing to back down on and how to arm yourself for success! Think about it. You negotiate with your partner all the time. It might be about the destination of your holiday, the date of your wedding or which restaurant you want to go to that weekend.

Think about these simple things when you are negotiating a contract and you will be cool, confident and come out with what you want.

Prepare!

- Make a list of exactly what you want from the supplier or service provider. (As much detail as possible if you can!)

- Make a list of a few things that you would be happy to compromise on if it came to it. Eg. A change in delivery time, one less vegetarian option, eustoma instead of sweet peas.

- Set a limit to how much you are willing to spend.

- Shop around and get a few separate quotes and recommendations.

- Shortlist your favourite suppliers and arrange meetings.

Discuss

- Take your notes with you to the meeting.

- Take plenty of notes about what they tell you and discuss any comparisons with other companies / suppliers with them. They will work hard to secure your business – especially if it’s over a small price difference!

- Don’t be taken in by any incentives to ‘sign that day’. Make it clear to them that you are speaking to a number of people and that you will make a decision when you have spoken to everyone you wish to.

- Do not compromise on anything that is on your ‘must have’ list. If they can’t or won’t provide this, walk away. Or if they say they can but there is conditions attached, be clear that you would rather go with a company that can assure you of delivery.

- Listen. Remember they are the experts. They may be able to offer you insightful input to make things easier for you.

Sign

-  Contact your favourite supplier and have them draw up a quote or contract stipulating all of your preferences and the terms you have agreed upon.

And that’s it, you’ve negotiated your contracts without fuss or pain!

Kind regards,

Kim Rix

Your London Wedding Planner

Give Your Wedding The Personal TouchPosted by Kim Rix on January 12th, 2010

Dear Bride and Groom,

I want to help you take care of the detail. It’s the little things that we do in life which seem to get the most attention and it’s much the same during a wedding. It’s always the little touches you add that make the day extra special – and people always comment on afterwards.

The ‘detail’ itself doesn’t have to be small. I’m thinking more about a detail as in a personal touch or thought which you add to the day and completes the picture. I like to work with a couple’s personality and find out what things are important to them to suggest some extra little details to make their day special.

The ‘Green’ Couple

The first thing I would suggest to this couple is that biodegradable confetti is a must! It is completely soluble in water and contains no chemicals or pollutants that could harm the environment. Venues love it as well because it’s a quick and easy clean up with a little water. It comes in all colours – so you can match with your theme – and are also available with real petals, lavender buds and other dried flowers to give a beautiful fragrance when thrown.

You can have the confetti ready wrapped in colourful or textured recycled paper for your guests to pick up.

The ‘Child Friendly’ Couple

For those people who would love to have children at their wedding I would always recommend a special children’s corner in your venue. It’s a place just for them where they have little fun packs with activities like drawing, puzzles and craft to keep them occupied. A little disposable camera will also give them plenty of fun and the parents will love their first photographs!

The ‘Thankful’ Couple

I work with a lot of couples who don’t get to see that many of the people they invite to their wedding too often. This may be because they are very busy but mostly because our friends and family are split over the globe. A beautiful touch to tell your guests how pleased you are that they could come is a simple note on their dinner place. A little postcard size or smaller which recalls a personal moment of you together and how pleased you are that they are with you to share this moment too. If you have a big wedding then make sure you have plenty of time!!

The ‘Fun and Games’ Couple

Your guests are not going to have a chance to get bored, but if you want to bring in that extra feeling of fun and relaxation then why not introduce a few games. If you have a nice outdoor area then you can rent some great garden games like giant Jenga and Connect 4. Inside you can conduct a little table quiz! Each table acts as a team and whoever gets the most questions right (you can theme it around the happy couple) can win a prize! It could be a little novelty gift or something the whole table can enjoy together.

Its great to inject some of your personality! Be bold and creative and make your day special.

Kind regards,

Kim Rix

Your London Wedding Planner

Wedding Celebrations – It’s Not All Over!Posted by Kim Rix on January 5th, 2010

Dear Bride and Groom,

I hear a lot of couples (and their parents) talking about the wedding being only one day. That in 24 hours it has been and gone and then you just seamlessly roll on into married life.

I would like to dispel this myth! I have rarely (actually, probably never) been to or planned a wedding where there hasn’t been some social occasion directly related to it before or after the ‘ big day’ itself. It is an important time and it isn’t very often that you get to celebrate with friends and family in such a way so I would always encourage you to make the most of it. Here are a few of my suggestions.

Engagement Party

Starting right at the very beginning! It is becoming customary to have a party to officially announce your engagement. Naturally people want to celebrate the good news with you so why not make it easier. You could have an intimate dinner in the private dining room of your favourite restaurant, or a simple champagne and canapé reception in a nearby hotel or classy bar. If you want to keep things very low key you can have drinks and nibbles at your house (or your parent’s house for the more traditional couples).

Stag and Hen Parties

Wherever you are in the world it seems traditional to have a final separate ‘send off’ for the bride and groom. Organised predominantly by the Best Man and Maid/Matron of Honour the Stag or Hen celebration is a great warm up to your big day. All of your friends get to meet together – some for the first time – and throw caution to the wind.

If your idea of a good time is not dressing up in matching printed t-shirts and horns then that is absolutely ok! For the gents why not think about a day of paintballing or racetrack driving followed by a great hearty meal and drinks. Perhaps the ladies might like a pampering and photography session or a cocktail and chocolate making class followed by drinks and dancing.

You can always make a weekend out of it – I would always recommend a city break to your favourite European capital. You are almost certainly guaranteed good food and wine!

Mehndi Parties

Traditionally, Indian brides would get together with all of her female friends and family the night before the wedding and have a Mehndi Party. During this evening the bride would have beautifully, intricate henna tattoos painted on her hands and feet to be especially beautiful for her wedding.

Many UK brides are becoming more interested in Mehndi parties for their traditional wedding celebrations – sometimes playing a part in their hen party. Remember if you don’t want to have the tattoo on the day of your wedding then you should plan the party at least 6 weeks in advance to make sure it has worn off in time.

Rehearsal Dinner

I think that a rehearsal dinner is a very important part of your wedding planning and celebrations. It gives your bridal party an opportunity to settle into their roles and your family and friends an opportunity to get to know each other a little before the celebrations. Ideally it should be the evening before the wedding and not go on too late so you can be refreshed in the morning.

It should definitely have a relaxed atmosphere and a little of the couple’s personality shining through! Again, your favourite restaurant (or even your parent’s back garden) is a great way to get everyone together and talking.

And if you can’t manage the day before, why not consider a brunch the day after your wedding to thank your guests again for coming and let them look fondly on the previous days events.

Kind regards

Kim Rix

Your London Wedding Planner

Luxury Weddings in London & Home Counties

Keeping Children Occupied At WeddingsPosted by Kim Rix on December 1st, 2009

Dear Bride and Groom,

You may not have even discussed whether you are happy to have children coming to your wedding, or not, yet. If you have chosen to have a young flower girl (or bridesmaid) and a pageboy then you have made this decision without a second thought.

Some parents like to leave the kids at home when they go to a wedding. They may see it as an opportunity to catch up with friends or family they haven’t seen in years, and let their hair down a little. On the other side, it’s a great chance to show off the family and they can certainly add to the atmosphere of the wedding – and lets not forget the adorable photo moments they create.

It is a long day for children, and even the best-behaved will eventually get a little restless. Here are a few ideas for entertaining and occupying them on your big day.

Garden Games

If you are having your reception in a venue, which has an outside area, garden, or grounds then you might want to consider hiring a few garden games. Giant Connect 4 or Jenga are instant winners. Easy to set up, easy to manage and the adults get a kick out of it too!

Craft Table

Ask your venue to set up a small table for you in a corner of the reception. Provide some colouring books, crayons and ‘dry’ art materials so they can colour, make and play. You might consider some ‘wedding’ themed crafts like decorating a lucky horseshoe or designing a wedding dress. There are plenty of ready-made sets out there so you don’t have to make activities up yourself!

Candid Camera

If they are old enough (5 or 6 years +) then you could consider buying a couple of disposable cameras to allow them to take a few pictures themselves. You could set them a checklist of images to shoot or things they have to find. They will feel really important and you will get lovely pictures from their view of the wedding.

Special Treats

Young people have great fun pretending to be adults. They will see your guests sipping on champagne, eating canapés and nibbling on decadent treats. Ask your venue or caterer to create some children friendly treats and cocktails. Ask them to make sure they are healthy and low in sugar (so they don’t get too hyper) and lay them out specially.

I would also recommend designating a child friendly person to watch over your younger guests and make sure they are having a good time – and not getting into any trouble. Knowing you have someone watching over them while make you feel much more comfortable.

Kind regards,

Kim Rix

Your London Wedding Planner

Wedding Shows, Are They For You?Posted by Kim Rix on November 3rd, 2009

Dear Bride and Groom,

How is your planning going? Stuck for ideas? Not sure what to plan next? Scared of leaving something out? Can’t find the supplier you need?

You are probably considering visiting a wedding show for ideas, inspiration or suppliers and that’s not a bad idea. Wedding shows are great for being able to see and speak to a lot of predominantly local suppliers. You get to see, touch and even taste some products on offer without the pressure of being in a shop environment.

There is also a lot of inspiration about! From venues to floral arrangements and favours you can see a diverse range of styles and choices and steal all the best bits to make your own.

On the down side it is a high-pressure environment. Wedding shows are often crowded and busy, mostly with women so the groom might want to give it a miss – or you might want to set him a mission to complete with his best man!

All the companies there want you to buy their product or service so there can be a bit of pressure to buy if you are showing interest. In the bigger fairs where there are so many stalls, shows and salespeople it can become quite overwhelming. The sheer realisation of all the different people who need to be engaged to make your wedding go off without a hitch can leave you feeling stressed and under a fair bit of pressure.

My advice would be to go to the smaller local fairs to start with. Don’t go with any intention to buy on the day, just go to take it all in and get some inspiration. You will end up walking out with a bag of samples, business cards and other materials so you will never forget the things you like.

If you can, try to go with a list of things that you really want to learn more about and stick to it. This will keep you focussed and hopefully get any of those burning questions answered. Set appointments to see people you like in the next few weeks and enjoy shopping around.

I am happy to give my couples advice on good wedding shows in London to visit and a strategy for getting through the day!  With my extensive contacts you can talk me through your newfound ideas and I can match you with my trusted suppliers.

Kind regards,

Kim Rix- Your London Wedding Planner

ps – Come and meet me!  I’ll be exhibiting at the Hampstead Wedding Show on Sunday 22 November.  See you there!

Choosing Your Wedding CakePosted by Kim Rix on October 27th, 2009

Dear Bride & Groom,

You may have a very clear idea of what you would like your wedding cake to look and taste like. However, here are a few things to consider when choosing or designing your cake.

1.      Flavours and Fillings

Wedding Cakes are available in many more types and flavours than the traditional fruit or the simple vanilla sponge. In order to cater for all tastes many brides choose to have different cake types for different tiers. Not only does it keep everyone happy but also allows you to be a bit adventurous!  Why not enquire about a chocolate sponge with a maraschino cherry crème. Perhaps a carrot cake is more your taste? Or maybe you’d like to try your favourite cheesecake.  

2.      Presentation

There are more possibilities than you would think for presenting your cake. You have the traditional stacked or pillared cakes, the stand option or the increasingly popular multiple cupcakes.  The stacked cake sees each layer placed directly one on top of each other – you need to make sure your top layers aren’t too heavy to support. The pillar cakes create a grand, tall cake with each layer rested expertly on top of pillars of your choice.  

Kim’s advice: icing sugar softens in warm weather (25°C+++). Despite the grand tier effect, it is advisable not to stack all three layers on top of each other to avoid the possibility of the top layer accidentally sliding off!

You may also choose a decorative stand, which can present multiple layers at different heights or layers without sinking into each other! Individual cupcakes displayed on modern or ‘classic’ cake stands can be eye-catching. You could choose different icings or toppings for each layer or even present them in your own formation.

3.             Theme

Obviously your theme should be carried through into your cake. Whether this is a colour scheme, a particular flower or motif. Even if you would like simple and classic, white, royal icing you could use coloured ribbon, sugar flowers or fresh flowers to carry on your colour theme and add a wow factor. It is incredible what can be made with delicate sugar craft.

You can ask your cake designer to give you ideas or present your own to see if it can be made. The best thing is that you can keep this edible delight for years to come.  Have a look through cake magazines for adventurous ideas and put your own spin on it.

4.             One Cake or Two?

This may not be too big a problem if you are having an intimate wedding, but if you are cutting your cake during the evening ‘party’ then you might need to consider having a ‘cutting cake’ in the kitchen to meet the demand of the guests.  This is especially helpful if you wish to keep the top tier for your 1^st wedding anniversary or your first child’s Christening – in which case you should make absolutely sure the cake is freshly made so it is safe to be frozen again!

Oh! And don’t forget that the tastings are the best part!

Kind regards

Kim Rix

Your London Wedding Planner

Wedding Entertainment for your ReceptionPosted by Kim Rix on October 20th, 2009

Dear Bride & Groom,

When planning your wedding – you’re going to want to make sure that it’s as classy and stylish as they come! It’s no secret that this takes time, effort and a lot of patience – but one particularly enjoyable aspect of your wedding planning, can be searching for your reception entertainment.

Local Bands

Don’t go with a boring old DJ – there are so many talented and brilliant bands out there! Make a point of going to see some local talent – you’ll find that despite your apprehensions – some of these guys really can put on a fantastic show! Although, do be careful – the worst possible mistake you could make with regards to reception entertainment, is booking a bad cover band.

Cover bands are fun and they’ll no doubt churn out a few classics – but they often have a tendency to be quite bad. You want everyone to be excited and celebrating for the entire evening.  Search around – attend a few local gigs and find the best band for your reception.

String Quartets

If you’d rather keep it elegant and stylish – there’s always the option of the string quartet. Now, this is something that a lot of couples getting married have to delegate carefully. You have to remember that at a wedding – everyone loves to boogie. Unfortunately, you can’t really jive to Pachelbel’s Canon and Fugue; so perhaps if you are looking to hire a string quartet – you may want to make it a hybrid gig and perhaps use a band later when people want to cut loose and dance the night away.

Comedians

Very recently, there’s been a boom in the number of Wedding Receptions hosted by comedians. This is something that may not apply to your tastes, and again – you may want to go hybrid with this one. But a comedian would certainly be a very unique choice for entertainment. Just be sure to veto him first – making sure that he’s right for your big day! With a few hefty chuckles, your guests will be warmed up and in high spirits for the evening ahead so this could be just the thing you’re looking for!

Whatever you choose – make sure that you don’t forget to enjoy yourself! Planning doesn’t have to be stressful. A well-negotiated plan will ensure that your have fun throughout the organisation process!

Kind Regards,

 Kim Rix

Your London Wedding Planner

Extra Special Wedding FavoursPosted by Kim Rix on October 13th, 2009

Dear Bride & Groom,

When preparing for a wedding, couples often come to a standstill when deciding on whether or not to prepare wedding favours for their guests. This tradition stands as a mark of appreciation for the blessing given to the bride and groom by the guests in attendance at the ceremony. Wedding favours can be as elaborate or simple as you like. We thought it would be useful to provide a few great ideas for extra special wedding favours in order to make your preparations a little less stressful!

1. Personalised Bottles of Champagne

Not only is champagne universal; it screams luxury and will go down an absolute treat with guests. There are many websites and companies that offer a personalization service – however, if you find a decent designer – you could have your own labels printed to put onto some fine bottles of champagne. An extra touch of class for an extra special day! Again, it’s all about planning and organization in getting this sort of thing organised early.

2. Luxury Chocolates.

Chocolatiers offer some unique and wonderful favours for your guests. Avoid the high street chocolate shops – an independently owned chocolate shop will help you taste, choose and wrap special handmade chocolate favours to your desire. This way – your guests get to experience the luxury of some of the finest handmade chocolates; making them feel all the more special in being a part of your big day! A tasty treat for all, and you can almost guarantee that when ordering in bulk – you’ll more than likely receive a special discount!

3. Swarovski Crystal

A little pricier, but your guests are well worth it. Why not treat your guests to a little piece of Swarovski crystal as a favour to remind them of your wonderful day! If you’re feeling ambitious, why not get the date engraved along with your initials!

Swarovski comes in many shapes and sizes so make sure that you seek this one out well in advance in order to find the right piece for your wedding. Complete with a delicate little gift box and some fine tissue paper – this favour(able) idea is one that will live on for a long time. A beautiful and stylish gesture of appreciation for your guests.

Kind Regards,

Kim Rix

Your London Wedding Planner