It's the 'WHERE' that counts!

Right, so where did I leave you last (yes I had to sneakily re-read my last post to remember, lol) ah that's it! I had created my first ever 'professional' mood board for a client and had been tasked with researching casino's for hire and locating a hotel and Coach car park for the Bat Mitzah Coach drivers - well how did I get? on I heart you ask; Well it went like this;
Moodboard: The client was happy with it and decided to take the elements of the blue and yellow flowers from my board and use them for the centrepieces; so that made me happy... well actually very happy really, was nice to know I managed to create something that a client liked on some level!

Casino's for hire: After much 'Columbo' style researching, I managed to find 3x reputable Casino's who could provide the service we required, on the day that we required it! I then had to put all the information I gathered into a proposal for the client to look at in the next meeting; where they could make a decision, on which company to go with - if at all (you know clients can be fickle things, today's 'MUST HAVE' request can be yesterday's bad idea - kind of like leg warmers and back-combing your hair! lol). So at the next client meeting the topic of the Casino's came up, my proposal was put forward and considered, but fate would have it that during my research, Dominique happened to find out that company we were using for the AV Equipment for the Bat Mitzvah, also happen to have Casino equipment for hire too - go figure! it seems everyone has fingers in all sorts of pie's now-a-days and they could beat the prices I found, so of course the decision was made to go with them!

Coach Park and Hotel for the Drivers: Now this task really tested me! now it's sounds like a simple job right? finding a parking facility for a coach in central London, they MUST have one right? considering the coach loads of tourist we get filling the streets of London each year!......ermmmm 'COMPUTER SAY'S NO' lol. Ok well not a complete no exactly, you see I required a 24 hour Coach Park as they would be staying for 2x nights in London, well I managed to find one - very close to venue actually, but the parking wasn't really the issue as such, it was finding a hotel CLOSE to the Coach Park, in CENTRAL LONDON, that had 2x SINGLE ROOMS available (as the Drivers, did not want to share a room) on the DATES we required and that came WITHIN BUDGET! HAH finding a hotel that matched all those stipulations, for a date so close to the olympics, was like trying to find a pair of genuine Louboutins shoe's on ebay for under £50 - that's right virtually impossible! I swear it's a good thing my hair is already cut in a very short style, otherwise I would have pulled my hair out! This task was driving me NUT'S! we had to start moving our search field further and further away from the venue, but where we could find a hotel within budget (and everything else we needed) we couldn't find a Coach Park! Did you know there is only ONE 24 hour Coach Park in central London! no? neither did I til now! and it's not something I will forget too soon either. I tried to consider almost every option, what about the hotel's car park? nope, they either won't allow coaches to park over night, or it's on a 'first come, first serve' basis - which we couldn't risk, imagine the drivers turning up and them not being able to park!, I even  - at the suggestion of a close friend of mine- called Car Giant in Holloway to ask if they would consider allowing our Coach to park in their forecourt - for an amount of course! - but they said no! At one point I almost thought I succeeded, when I found out that we could park the coach in the Earl Court parking facility... only for the 'not so sharp' Parking Attendant to realise that-wait for it- they're an olympic venue and therefore will be closed during the dates we need to park the Coach! So finally I had to admit defeat to Dominique and let her know about my fruitless hunting for a Coach Parking, she was great and told me not to stress and that we will figure it out, as we had to! lol Well I came back the next day and Dominique said she had a think about it and said that I should trying calling the Coach Company we're using, to ask where their drivers park when they have a London based Job.... WELL DERRRRRR ANGIE.. I know it's sounds like an obvious thing to do, but I actually hadn't considered it... it showed at that point who was the professional and who was the apprentice... so I called them and what do you know?! the lovely lovely man I spoke with at the Coach Company just simply said, that they always use the Travelodge on the M4 and just like that, I had found somewhere, they could park - FOR FREE -and stay in single rooms, on the dates required and very much under budget! to say I was glad that was all sorted would be a mega understatement.

So that was the Bat Mitzvah jobs done and completed for that week, I'm know there is still much more for me to learn and do with this Bat Mitzvah, which I will keep you apprised as they come up. But moving onto more wedding related news, I finally got to meet the 'Wedding in Jamaica' couple!, they are just so lovely! it was so nice to meet two people who are really looking forward to becoming husband and wife, kind of puts a bit of faith back into the whole 'real love' thing it's not something you get to see very often. In this day and age people (including myself) can be quite cynical and negative about love and marriage, but seeing a couple who want to get married and are very much happy to be getting wed, gives you a very positive feeling and it was another moment that reinforced my feeling's about this new career path I've chosen. Ok so gushy moment over with....I was privileged  enough to be allowed to accompany - along with Dominique - the Bride, her Maid-Of-Honour and the Brides Mother to the Bride's Dress fitting! Me and Dominique arrived early on a Friday morning at the brides home, where we all travelled together to the Bridal Boutique 'Confetti & Lace' in Lakeside Shopping Centre. Now I don't how many people can say they're working day was spent looking at gorgeous dresses and bridal accessories, but I CAN! lol it was lovely day, I got touch and see glittery, shimmery dresses, jewellery and shoes! Come on, look at these shoes and tell me they are not just plain BLING-TASTIC! In public we might all say that we would never wear such T.O.W.I.E'esque heels ( That's The Only Way Is Essex by the way) but secretly we would!.. ok well I would so there!


I was in girly heaven so many pretty things!, I could literally spend all day in there! but the real high point was seeing the Bride try on her dress, it was the first time she'd seen it since she chose the design and it really was just like in the films, the Maid-of-Honour and Bride's mother all had tear's in their eyes as she stepped out in the gown and though I didn't cry, it really was a touching moment! Like I said before, I felt truly privileged to be able to be there for such a personal moment in a bride's journey!

so that was that! and I almost felt like nothing could really top that, but boy was I wrong! Dominique gave me the task of having creative control over the design of the Dinner Menu's and Order of Service for the Wedding! now that may not be such a big deal, in the bigger scheme of things, but for me It was a really, really big deal! I was given the job of creating something that was to used in their wedding! - I went home that day and slightly hyperventilated (typical drama queen that I am) but once I wooosssaaa'd and calmed down, I put my idea hat and got to thinking - for obvious reasons I won't be able to show you what I come up with - but I sent over what I designed on Thursday to Dominique, which she then passed onto the Bride and Groom to review, so fingers crossed they like something about it! Dominique also asked if I could create another mood board for couple, showing what the decor they have chosen will look like on the day and maybe the board will be something that they could keep as a mento! so have to get started on that next week!

I was also lucky enough to be able to attend Dominique's 1x day course, called 'Life of a Wedding Planner' the course title is self explanatory, so don't really need to bore you with that information - but Dominique will be hosting the course on various dates, throughout the year, so check out her website for the details, it's a definite must for those considering a career within the Even Planning industry. On the day I attended course it was small group of us, so it was very intimate, which allowed for Dominique, to take more time and allow for a slightly more informal feel to the course. but I found it extremely interesting and learnt A LOT! So many things you never know about, when it comes to planning an event, especially weddings! did you know that 60% of a wedding budgets is spent on the venue... that's it just the venue, 60%! that is madness - well I thought so anyway lol - but when Dominique started breaking down what that 60% covered, you really began to understand, imagine; you need to cover the venue hire cost, the food, drink, if it's a hotel you might wants the guests to stay a night or two! and the list goes on! but it's amazing, she explained that finding the venue is the very first task you do with the couple and you really have to get to know venues of ALL kinds to be able to give the clients what they want! Domimique showed us a range of venue brochures and some of them are just gorgeous! so much detail and effort went into some these brochures, I loved it! venue hunting is definitely something I look forward to! But I just had to show you couple of these brochures, some really are quite fantastic - almost works of art! My favourite is the Bovey Castle Brochure, the red 'snake skin' exterior is so luxuriant! and my other favourite has to be the Four Season's Hotel Brochure; they really spent  money on those venue photo's - just beautiful!










Well that's everything... I think! lol I'm sure I missed out a whole bunch; but you'll have to forgive me, I'm only human (plus I have a memory of a sieve! lol) until next time then.

Stay blessed and we'll speak again soon.

x