Wedding Planning: Introducing Carmen

I’m a creative so my organisational mood needs some severe coaxing to come out. Its somewhere deep in there suppressed by the floaty ideas about my next sewing project and pantone colours.

So no matter how overflowing you are with ideas for your wedding, we could all do with a little helping hand.

Now when I look at quite a few of wedding planners websites, all they say to me is Corporate with a big boring capital C. I would never fancy handing over the look of my wedding to someone who looks as if they have as much style as my accountant.

So I was rather pleased when I found local girl, Carmen. We met when she was coordinating the other wedding planners at Hampton Manor! Thankfully there are people out there who have the organisational skills of a colonel but still like know how to match their pastels.

Photo credit:  Jada Alana

So lets introduce the lady…

My name’s Carmen (but do feel free to call me Carms!) and I run a wedding planning company based in the Midlands. I was born in The Netherlands and both my parents originated from Hong Kong; my family and I finally settled in the Midlands when I was 7. I now live with my husband and our little dog Pugsie.

What made you turn your attention to wedding planning?

Back in 2009, a month prior to my own wedding, my husband and I were both made redundant. After one of the most amazing days of my life, I was fortunate enough to have a little time to re-evaluate where I wanted to go with my future and career. I took a little time off and I knew there were only two career choices for me. One was to train as a midwife (that was a dream when I was a teenager yet due to circumstances, I couldn’t fulfil when I was younger) or with my previous event and hospitality experience, I wanted to become a wedding planner. I, of course chose the latter. I went with my heart and I have absolutely no regrets!

How do you help couples personalise their wedding?

I believe really getting to know as much as I can about the couple right from our first consultation is high priority. I truly believe a couple should never book their wedding planner until they have met them personally (unless they are located outside of the UK – where we will always have a Skype meeting). Once we’ve had our first consultation, we will know whether I’m the right planner for them and their wedding – it’s so important to me that we all understand each other well. Most of my initial consultations take 2 hours and this is where I get the opportunity in getting to know the couple. Once I’m able to actually call the couple ‘clients’, this is where we will really go into depth about their ideas and vision. I’ll find out what they like to do out of work, where they like to travel and what inspires them both on a day to day basis. In the past I’ll create handmade mood boards but nowadays, most of my clients and I prefer digital mood boards such as on Pinterest. They are simple to use, can be edited quickly and have an array of images which are up to date and styish! This is such a fun process and clients can tell me straight away what their likes and dislikes are.

Give us some sneaky insiders tips into wedding planning.

Make a list all your dislikes and rule out all the things you definitely don’t want for your day.

Ensure you keep on top of all your planning worksheets and update as soon as you have any confirmations or updates (sorry, this is the not so pretty side to wedding planning!) From keeping track of your finances to every guest number and if they have special dietary requirements – it is all equally important. Keeping on top of it all will save you a lot of heartache … and headache in the long run!

Don’t forget to back everything up – I personally use Cloud backup, however, I’m also considering using an external hard drive also just to be sure! Wedding planning can be a long process so don’t risk losing any of your hard work and contacts.

And last but not least, I once read when planning a wedding, make sure you touch all five senses. This is the secret to making sure everyone remembers your amazing day!

Ooh, I like that one about the senses. You must have some good stories about weddings. What has particularly moved you at a wedding?

Every couple I work for always have me drop a tear or two on their wedding day. I’m actually getting increasingly emotional as I’m becoming older! A particular wedding I remember well was on a very hot summer day back in 2010. The gorgeous bride originally from England and the groom from the USA – they met while working in Hong Kong. As the father of the bride gave his speech, the amazing story of how they met gripped me but also as to how both the bride and grooms mother both originated from the same village in China! This couple are so meant to be.

Now this blog is all about inspiration…get us dreaming with your ideal wedding…

Now this would be very interesting! It would have to be a most elegant and romantic wedding in a venue that was there one day, gone the next. A wedding venue created uniquely and tailored to the bride and grooms vision. From the moment you reach the entrance to the grounds, lanterns and flowers planted especially for the wedding will be lining the road up to the main house. The ceremony will be an outdoor blessing, under the blue sky (may I also order the sunshine please with my unlimited budget?!) One by one, guests are shown to their seats as the gentle sounds of a string quartet play in the background. As the bride makes her entrance, she walks down a carefully laid out rose petal aisle. Large and small floral designs line the side of her aisle. As she reaches her groom, the only sounds you will hear is the flowing water from a large water fountain…

The drinks reception will then begin on the lawn with live music playing. Bespoke cocktails and canapés (all created to complement the wedding colours) are served on trays.

When the bride and groom enter their marquee, they will instantly be greeting by hanging floral designs from the ceiling of the marquee, surrounding the crystal chandeliers. One side of the marquee will be a wall of hanging escort cards attached to strands of laser cut paper and flowers which shall be the curtain that covers the unseen wedding breakfast area. As I draw the beautiful curtain, all will be greeted by a comfortably spaced area of elegantly designed tables with either Louis or Ghost chairs and a mixture of tall and low table centrepieces of blush pink flowers in antique gold vases of individual shapes and size. The marquee ceiling will also have hanging pink flowers and exquisitely designed laser cut décor. Live but soft music will be played right from the moment you walk in and the most mouth-watering wedding breakfast is served along with the choice of fine wine.

When sun begins to set, the gentle flicker of candlelight begin to glow. Guests will flow into the third undiscovered area for the evening reception, where a band will begin to play until the end. Outside will now have been transformed into an undercover lounge area. The fountain is lit up, heaters to keep the area warm, waiting staff to bring guests their drinks and evening light bites are served. The whole area is lit by candles and lanterns … and of course the bride and groom will be dancing the night away … the first time as man and wife…

You’re married yourself, aren’t you? Tell us some of your favourite things about being married

Being able to share our thoughts and experiences with one another and our long country walks with our dog!  Paul has also not just been amazing to me but to my family also. Despite at times there is a little language difficulty between him and my parents, they still manage to understand each other well and he helps my parents in many ways, even when I’m not around. Likewise, I hope he feels the same about me and the way I am with my in-laws. We didn’t just marry each other. I’m so happy to say we are truly one big happy family. It makes me feel so content.

For our brides to be, what is your tuppence worth on a good marriage?

Supporting and trusting each other 110% and keeping our own identity.

I know most already know this but I can honestly say without the two-way support, we wouldn’t have got through losing our jobs at one of the worst times in recent years. It wasn’t just having to face losing our jobs – it was losing the whole security and lifestyle we were accustomed to.  It could have been a difficult beginning to our marriage but we learnt that having less luxuries and cooking at home more often meant we had more quality time together.

As for keeping your own identity… we spend quality time apart also. He likes to play golf every week with his friends and going for a drink or two! I like to dine out with girlfriends, see my family every week and reading on and offline about weddings! We like to keep our own little space and maintaining it. But for all the important occasions, we will always celebrate together and for all those important decisions, we make them together.

And never forgetting to say please and thank you – it’s as important to each other as to strangers. Respecting one another is key.

Guilty Pleasures?

So, so many! Such as the predictable ones of being a girl… but I do so love Crème brulee, Eton Mess, and Mcdonalds! {yes, I love food and I’m easily pleased!} Whenever I hit road for a long journey, I like to stop for a chocolate milkshake and french fries.

Like our lady?! Find her at http://www.carmenweddings.co.uk or on her blog http://www.carmenweddings.co.uk/smitten