Welcome to this week's Wedding Tip Wednesday video. I'm focusing on the importance of thoroughly researching, and preparing, a Plan B today. It might sound pessimistic but it is only when every possible outcome has been thought through and prepared for that you can truly relax, knowing that whatever happens, you'll be ready for it!



Until next time,

Labels: tips, wedding-tip-video

If you're a regular reader of this blog you will know that, at Magic Dust, we are big believers in personalising your wedding celebrations with your personalities rather than your bank accounts. So we just love it when we work with couples who have taken this philosophy to heart!

Yesterday, the results of over a year's planning came to fruition for Helen & Peter, on a beautifully sunny day in Brighton. The attention to detail, love and care that they sank into every single aspect of their wedding celebration was a joy to witness and it was a real honour to provide On The Day co-ordination for this lovely couple.

The personal touches were everywhere, from choosing Brighton for their wedding as it was somewhere special to them as a couple, to the stunning 'tree' table plan handmade by Helen to perfectly complement the place name cards, table names and menu cards that she had obviously spent hours designing and making, and which looked more professional than some professional ones I've seen!

It's impossible to pinpoint an absolute favourite part of the day so I'm going to share 2 with you! The heart-felt wedding vows that left not a dry eye in the house - thank goodness for waterproof mascara - and the groom's speech that was an unexpected but utterly brilliant ode to his new wife, will stay with me for a very long time.

Catching up with Helen after the wedding breakfast, she smiled as she told me how lovely it was that her guests were telling her how relaxed they were, and how much they were enjoying every minute of the day. And that's the real, and unavoidable, benefit of infusing your wedding celebration with your personalities - guests immediately relax because they recognise the couple whose wedding they have been invited to in every aspect of the event, and consequently the whole day takes on a relaxed and joyous air that, if it could be bottled, would be worth an absolute fortune!

Helen & Peter, I'd like to thank you for choosing to work with Magic Dust and to wish you a long, happy and healthy marriage - you most definitely deserve it.

Until next time

Labels: budget, style, tips

It's Wedding Tip Wednesday again and this week I'm giving you a few tips for managing any receiving lines you are contemplating having at your wedding celebration. This is one area where a lack of planning can throw your timings for the whole day into disarray - we'll help you prevent that happening!



Enjoy what is predicted to be the hottest day of the year today and try to take at least 5 minutes to let the sunshine recharge your batteries!

Until next time,

Labels: tips, wedding-tip-video

At Magic Dust we don't just help couples to have the wedding they want, rather than the one other people think they should have, we also coach and develop new wedding planners as they set up their own businesses. We're passionate about changing the, often justified, reputation of wedding planners and the wedding industry in general, by focusing on the importance of keeping the couple getting married as your sole focus at all times.

Our Master Classes buck the trend in traditional wedding planning courses because they're face-to-face with an experienced, working wedding planner, there are never more than 8 people on each course, and they don't cost a fortune.

The day is full of really useful tips & advice, based on actual experience, and here's just 3 of the things course attendees enjoy...

1) The knowledge that a piece of paper saying that you have completed an online, distance-learning course in wedding planning and paid a lot of money for the privilege, is of little or no value to couples getting married where relationships, experience & integrity count for so much more.

2) The understanding of the importance of treating your wedding planning company as a business rather than a hobby right from the start. Taking the time to research your idea thoroughly, build a strong business strategy around your findings and give people what they want rather than what you think they want, is crucial. If you want to be a wedding planner just because you loved planning your own wedding it's time to stop and think about the long-term plans for what currently sounds like a hobby rather than a business.

3) Being a wedding planner is a hugely rewarding career but it's hard work over a long period of time and is most definitely not a get rich quick scheme. You are only as good as the last wedding you planned and, unlike most businesses, you need to be able to constantly attract new customers because the ones you have will only use you once, hopefully! We give you tried and tested tips for the best ways to do this.

I received an email yesterday from one of the wedding planners on our Mentoring Programme, sending me her first client testimonial. It's these moments, as much as receiving our own client testimonials, that makes us so sure that we are doing the right thing by challenging the wedding planning industry to change. A thank you letter, full of praise, from a happy couple is worth so much more than a framed 'certificate' on your office wall - I know which we would rather show potential clients!

If you're interested in booking a place on our "Be a Wedding Planner Master Class" please do get in touch and we'll happily chat about how this will help you. To introduce our new private Master Classes where you'll enjoy one-to-one tuition with me, you can book one at the same price as the group Master Class (to take place Monday-Friday before the end of September 2009).

We look forward to helping you build the wedding planning company that you want to run, not the one that the industry thinks you should have.

Until next time,

Labels: becoming-a-wedding-planner, tips

It's Wedding Tip Wednesday and this week I wanted to share a couple of questions that, asked at the right time and in the right way, could save you a lot of stress and untold problems closer to your wedding day.



Until next time,

Labels: supplier, tips, venue, wedding-tip-video

We are in the thick of wedding season and it's lovely to take a few minutes to write this blog and reflect on the last few days!

One of the joys of our work are the Thank You cards that drop onto the Magic Dust doormat at this time of year. This week has seen a flurry of them and they never fail to bring a smile to my face and sometimes, even a tear to my eye. We know how lucky we are to work with such fabulous couples and so we'd like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of your for putting your faith in Magic Dust and letting us take the strain on your wedding day!

You may well be attending more than 1 wedding this summer and so I thought I'd introduce you to one of my favourite online suppliers for quirky, stylish and good quality wedding gifts. If you've left it too late to choose anything more exciting than a tea-towel and wooden spoons from the wedding list, or if you're looking for something special for your own bridesmaids, look no further than this treasure trove... Not On The High Street.

I particularly love these bespoke framed map hearts - it's is a wonderful idea that I will definitely be buying for someone special in the not too distant future...

Here's to a sunny, if entirely unpredictable, remainder of August!

Until next time,

Labels: style, supplier, testimonial

In this week's Wedding Tip Wednesday video, we talk about the benefits of having a smaller, more intimate wedding - and how to make it personal & stylish.



Come back next week to see tips on questions you really must ask potential venues.

Until next time,

Labels: budget, style, tips, wedding-tip-video

You have been ticking tasks off your wedding 'To Do' list every day and the time has come to find really special gifts for your bridesmaids!

Here are a few tips to make this as easy and enjoyable as possible...

- Save yourself time and aching feet by making the internet your first port of call. There are lots of fabulous sites out there so you will be spoilt for choice. Do ask retailers to gift wrap your items - many offer this as a complimentary service and it saves you yet more time.

- Consider personalising the gifts to suit the colours/personality of the recipient. Hearts are always a popular choice and certainly appropriate! Our glass heart charm bracelets for example come in an array of different colours from classic crystal to vibrant lime and we also give you options for adding pewter charms include a high heeled shoe, handbag, or butterfly - there's something for everyone.

- 'Flower Power' is back with a vengeance and we are finding flowers in great demand within our bespoke range. For ideas look at our multi-coloured flower bracelet in hot tropical colours which are fabulous for the summer and will definitely complement any vibrant wedding colour scheme. Stretchy bracelets like these are ideal as they fit all sizes. And for that extra special gift why not add a matching necklace - our Tropical Flower necklace is proving to be a best seller!

- For more classic types pearls are a must - small touches like a pewter heart added to a stretch pearl bracelet or a cluster of semi-precious beads can add that something special and ensure your gift is worn for years to come.

- Bling is still the 'In Thing' - for the glamorous at heart look out for simple crystal earrings and bracelets, they will dress up any outfit beautifully!

Whatever your budget there are fabulous gifts out there that will delight even the most discerning bridesmaid, and chances are you'll find something to treat yourself to as well. Perhaps a little something to wear on your honeymoon! If you would like any advice or suggestions do contact us at Ladies Who Lunch and we will be only too happy to help.

Happy Shopping!

Labels: guest-blogger, jewellery, style, supplier, tips