Your First Dance!

There is just one dance teacher and choreographer I entrust my clients to, and have done for years, and that is Jamie Meek. Over the years, he has created routines from the simple to the acrobatic for my clients' first dances. I always suggest at least one dance lesson to my clients, even if they are proficient dancers. It gives confidence while all eyes are on them if they have a rehearsed routine that they can relax and enjoy performing. I have had many grooms claim that they have two left feet and no swing in their hips, but it would seem none of them have been a challenge to Jamie. I always enjoy seeing the pleasure the couple take from dancing together, it's a rare opportunity and one to be cherished, so make the most of it! Jamie has recently launched his 'Star of the Party' service. Aside from First Dances, Jamie can also choreograph 'Flash Mob' sequences for proposals, ceremonies and receptions. A fun addition to your special day. For more information on Jamie's service go to www.staroftheparty.com

The Hair Tye!

I was recently sent a sample of The Tye as an idea for co-ordinate bridesmaids' hair decoration with their dresses. I think it's great! Here's some information on it: The Tye is a wonderful new way to add some style to your ponytail, pigtails, or braids. It is a hand dyed tie dye hair tie that is super gentle on your hair and doubles as a cute bracelet! The Tye is tie dyed with safe and vibrant pigments, ensuring the boldest of colors offered in tie dye hair ties and headbands and each one is unique! Check out this video to learn more about The Tye: http://vimeo.com/40427907 For more information on my wedding planning service go to www.siobhancraven-robins.co.uk

The City says 'I do' at 1 Lombard Street

The City says 'I Do' at 1 Lombard Street
On Monday 6th February from 7:30am to 9pm, 1 Lombard Street will be hosting the City's largest wedding fair. Designed to provide ideas and solutions for couples planning to get married, it will include representatives from some of the country’s most experienced companies catering to the wedding market.

The event will encompass changing themes throughout the day, including Breakfast at Tiffany’s through to a Bridget Bardot evening motif. The day will be punctuated with fashion shows to cater for brides to be as well as mothers of the brides and more.

Expert speakers are scheduled to speak throughout the day. I will be giving a presentation on inspiring ideas for your wedding.

This is an inaugural event and one not to be missed!
For more information go to http://www.1lombardstreet.com/wedding-show

Top tips for Marquee Hire Guide

Marquee Hire


The Marquee Hire Guide have launched an downloadable e-book full of top tips from Wedding Planners. You can download it at www.marqueehireguide.com
The website lists marquee suppliers throughout the UK. A useful guide for any bride and groom planning a marquee wedding.
Marquee weddings are amongst my favourite as you can, more or less, create just what you want as they offer a blank canvas and moveable floor space.
These images are from one of my favourites from 2011.

The London Wedding Event - VOWS

I am pleased to be part of the hand picked team for the VOWS event on 11th October in London.

VOWS - Visualise Our Wedding Secrets is an exciting new approach to communicating the best in wedding information to engaged couples without any hard selling. It has been created by Chelsea Bidwell of Beyond Weddings Limited. The evening will give brides and grooms an opportunity to chat freely to top wedding industry professionals. The professionals -photographers, caterers, stylists, wedding planners, florists and jewellers will be able to share their hints and tips gained from a wealth of knowledge and experience.

The launch event takes place on Tuesday 11th October 2011 at the London showrooms of de la Cuona - 150 Walton Street, SW3.

Check out the VOWS blog at www.vowsblog.co.uk. Tickets are available at £15 through the webiste.

Scent for your wedding day

Scent never fails to evoke memories. Without realising, our olfactory sense identifies and stores this memory or association. How many times have you turned to look as a stranger passes you, thinking you will know them, purely because you identify the scent they are wearing as familiar? I like to incoporate a scent into my clients' wedding day to create another evocative memory for them to easily recall. This can be in a variety of ways, from the flowers used in a bouquet, the perfume or after shave they choose to wear or the scented candles burning in the Ladies loo!SENTI opened in Wimbledon Village last December and I discovered it this summer through a client. It is the brainchild of Debbie Knight who fell in love with the Dr Vranjes fragrances on checking into a hotel room in Florence. She liked them so much, she became the UK distributor!

The range includes candles, diffusers and body products. The candles and room diffusers are perfect for weddings, either in the drinks reception area or in the restrooms. Many of my bridess have bought the body products as a treat for their relaxing night prior to the wedding.

To read more about Debbie, Senti and the fabulous products available go to http://www.senti.co.uk/

Fabulous tiaras

Donna is a long time wedding associate of mine and this year she launched her company 'Top hat and veils'. My clients have been delighted with their wedding accessories and the personal service she offers.

A little bit about them : 'Top Hat & Veils specialise in a large range of wedding accessories.
We are passionate about supplying only the finest of accessories at affordable prices. Our fantastic collections are ideal for brides, bridesmaids and the mother of the bride. We offer advise over the phone, e-mail and in person by appointment - so that we can give you personal advise in finding the ideal accessory for your outfit.'

As a wedding planner, for me, it is all about offering my clients personal service and Donna and her team embody that principle.

Take a look at http://www.weddingtiarasuk.co.uk/

Radio schedule for 28th July

Station Name Area Covered Time
BBC Radio Lincolnshire Lincoln 08:30 - 08:40
Colourful London 09:50 - 10:00
U105 Belfast, Antrim, Omagh 10:10 - 10:20
BBC Radio Guernsey Guernsey 10:40 - 10:50
Swansea Sound 1170 MW Swansea 11.45 - 12.00

Pre-recorded interviews will also feature at some point during the day on:
Adfero, Radio Wave Blackpool, BBC Radio Solent, BBC Radio Stoke, Kingdom FM, 107 The Bee, 2BR, BBC Radio Bristol, BBC Radio Somerset, Premier Christian Radio, Northern Media Group, BBC South West

The most romantic job - the search is on!

On Wednesday 28th July 2010, I launch the search for the 'Mercure Wedding Angel'. I will be doing a series of nationwide radio interviews with Mercure Hotels to begin the search for 2 candidates for 'the most romantic job' - the wedding co-ordinators at two of their flagship hotels. I will be guest judging the competition which provides a fantastic opportunity for anyone wanting to break into the wedding industry.
The website will be live tomorrow and I will post up a list of the interview times and stations in order that you can listen in to get the details if you are interested entering.
Off the back of this launch, Mercure have collated some interesting wedding facts and figures that I will discuss on air tomorrow.

Lincolnshire Pride Interview

The July issue of Lincolnshire Pride is out now. You can read my interview online at http://www.lincolnshirepride.co.uk

Confetti Confidential on sale now!

Confetti Confidential by Holly McQueen on sale now!
Holly contacted me a couple of years ago when she was researching the role of a wedding planner for her new book. We met a few times and I also took her to the Designer Wedding Show to experience all things weddings! I had great fun talking with and advising her -it is wonderful to see some of it in print now in this hilarious book.

Visit to Magenta Ink HQ!

I recently visited Scotland's leading stationery designer, Adrienne Kerr, at her Magenta Ink!studios. I have worked with Adrienne for 14 years and we have come up with some original designs in that time! I like the fact that, for each client, the creation is totally bespoke. Adrienne's flair combined with the paper and print knowledge, make her the ultimate one stop for any stationery requests. She has recently become a stockist for USA favourite Vera Wang. For more information and to see her designs go to www.magentaink.co.uk

As recommended by Ten Lifestyle!

I am delighted to have been selected by Ten Lifestyle as their recommended wedding planner for London and the South East.
Ten Lifestyle is the ultimate concierge service - a lifestyle management company that helps members get the most from their lives. They organise anything that their members don't have the time, inclination or expertise to organise themselves, such as entertainment, restaurants, travel and home refurbishments. Ten’s experts can deal with any kind of request.
For more information go to http://www.tenlifestyle.com/

Special Events Feature

Special Events magazine interviewed me this week for their online magazine. http://specialevents.com/weddings/newbie-wedding-planners-plague-the-professionals

Claridges wedding with Mary Jane Vaughan

Mary Jane Vaughan Designs (http://www.maryjanevaughan.co.uk/) featured one of my weddings at Claridges in their latest newsletter. Mary Jane and her team are always a pleasure to work with, her enthusiasm for each and every job is infectious and mirrors my own.

First Connections Speed Networking Event

I am one of the industry professionals at The Event School London Speed Networking Event on Wednesday 24th March at 6.30pm. The event takes place at Waterfront Studios in Excel. Tickets are £10 + VAT and available via http://www.theeventschool.com/ or email risingstarevents@hotmail.co.uk
This is an ideal opportunity for anyone wanting to work in the event industry to meet, talk to and get advice from some of the industry's top professionals.
See you there!

BRIDES Jan/Feb on sale

Brides January/February issue features the wedding of Corrie Jackson and James Butcher. I organised the wedding last July at Brocket Hall. The magazine features some great images of the flowers, fly past and stationery.

Click here to view testimonials of some of the other weddings I have planned.

HUDSONS DREAM WEDDINGS ON SALE

Hudsons Dream Weddings Guide is now on sale at WH Smith. It is a handy guide with essential and up to date information on the finest UK locations for civil ceremonies and receptions. I have contributed an article on how to find the right venue for your wedding and reception aswell as a full 'run down', with images, of a wedding from last year.

Click here to view other publications which have featured my wedding planner service.

Yell.com

You can view my advice on choosing music and entertainment for your wedding at http://www.yell.com/weddings/blog/wedding-music-entertainment-how-do-i-choose-wedding-music-and-entertainment-that-everyone-will-like/

Welcome

Welcome to my Blog site.

Starting 2010 this site will keep you up to date on the latest wedding planning news. So remember to add it to your bookmarks and check back in the New Year.

Best Wishes

Siobhan Craven-Robins