Listen Up Wedding Industry

This blog post is not related to my wedding but I have felt the need to have a little rant about a few problems with the wedding industry! I’m not writing this to annoy or upset anyone, and although I know a lot of Twitter folks agree, the views are my own.

To me there are three main types of wedding blogs. The big, worldwide known ones that make profit from advertising and have many many followers,  those blogs which simply share with others the bride to be journey, and those blogs that are a mixture of the two.  

In my view it’s only the first one’s that seem to cause offense. If I was a well known wedding blogger, what would matter to me most would be bride to be’s, followed by suppliers.  I understand that suppliers need to have some priority due to advertising, but if brides stop reading your blog, surely that’s no good to advertisers either?

As a bride to be what I want to see is real weddings, don’t they say variety is the spice of life? How can you use blogs for inspiration if they all look the same?

There are also things called manners. If my job was to be a blogger then I would think I need to be professional, I wouldn’t have slanging matches all over my blog and twitter and encourage others to bully those that don’t agree with me. I have seen it so many times and it makes me feel sick that bullying is alive and well within the wedding industry. I haveeven  seen one blogger, who I once respected, take a picture of someone on the street and tweet it to mock that person. The person that should be being mocked in that situation is the tweeter herself!

I have to say that blogs aren’t alone on this. I have seen a well known wedding magazine sending abusive tweets to a blogger and then saw them get deleted before other people could see them. I have also crossed suppliers off my ‘maybe’ list due to their true colours coming out on Twitter.

Let’s face it the wedding industry is massive and as human beings we all have our own opinions and views on what is or isn’t acceptable. But as a bride to be, I think my view, and others like me, should count. Business works on listening to your customers, so don’t get too comfortable folks, you may turn around to find no customers standing behind you!

Want some advice on how to make your blog or wedding business succeed on Twitter???

http://shabbychicsigns.co.uk



 

It really is that simple! All of ours suppliers booked for our wedding day were all picked because of their talent and the ability to be nice! If you don't think you can manage to be proffessional and be nice then why not have a private account instead?

Please don't get me wrong, there are so many fantastic people, blogs, magazines around!

Some other's suggested some titles for this blog post that I wanted to share...
Too Much About The Blogger And Not Enough Blog
Saying It Like It Is
Thought's That Would Make My Head Explode If I Don't Let Them Out
And my favourite: Never Stick Your Head Up Your Chuff And Get Too Big For Your Designer Boots As Your Punters Will Think You're A Twonk And So Will People Who Advertise With You


I think we need a 'BE NICE' badge made up for all of those people who aim to be nice! Who wants to make one?

Putting yourself first!

Looking back on the wedding planning so far, and especially this week, it's struck me that I have been doing it wrong! We have spent a lot of time and thought on other people but now I've had enough!
I know I'm not alone on this one as lots of twitter brides to be express problems with those involved in the wedding who you would expect to support you. I do want to think of my guests needs because we have invited them to be our guests, but I think there should be a limit.

Over the past few weeks, I have spent hours looking for accommodation for the night before, that would meet all the different needs of those staying with me the night before.It was getting me stressed out, so when someone changed their mind, yet again, about the night before, I decided that enough was enough. I was sorting myself out and that was that! And I have found a beauty...

www.riverviewcottage.co.uk

This cute B&B cottage opens to a garden overlooking the river; the perfect calming scenery for the morning of our wedding.

So although it feels strange to be just thinking about my needs, it feels really good!! So to any brides to be who are struggling with making everyone happy....stop...think about you!

Happy Sunday everyone!



Wedding Cake Decisions!

Well all the talk of food has got me eager to write about cake now!

From the beginning of our wedding planning I had been planning to make our own wedding cupcakes for our cake on the big day. As time went I on, I got worried that it would be a lot of pressure close to the wedding, so I decided that my bridesmaids and mum could help. However about a month and a half ago I started to get concerned. Although my planning is going really well, I know me, and I know my stress levels will be struggling the week before the wedding, I decided I didn’t want to add more pressure with cake duties.

There are few cakes that stop me in my tracks, but in January, we went to a wedding fair at Epsom Downs and I stopped and stared at Jess Hill Cakes. So many display cakes look unlike people pictures but Jess Hill Cakes display cakes were amazing. I personally love the detail on this cake

Ivory Fair by Jess Hill Cakes

Once I recalled my stop and stare moment, I sent a email over to Sue at Jess Hill cakes and arranged a consultation. A couple of weeks ago we had our appointment. We were greeted by the lovely Sue, who showed us her room full of display cakes, and then sat us down for some tasters. The cakes were unlike any, either of us had tasted before!

So after filling up on cake we went back to the cake room, as I call it, and set about designing our cake. Sue went over so many details and gave us countless options. We also got to see how a dummy of our cake would look and collectively came to a decision on the design. I have to say that the only stipulation the OH wanted for the cake was enough room for little people on top!



White Duchess by Jess Hill Cakes

To be honest, I was nervous before our cake appointment and wasn’t sure I would be able to think of a cake that I would be truly happy with, so I can’t tell you how great it was to come out of our appointment knowing that the cake we had designed was the only cake I wanted!

www.jesshillcakes.co.uk



Food Glorious Food!

Last night we went to our venue, The Talbot, and had our menu tasting. Picking our food to taste was a lot more difficult than we both expected. With a lot of our guests liking quite simple food, we were allowed to ask for meals that weren’t on the breakfast menu selector. Unfortunately I didn’t take any pictures, as we were far too busy eating all the food! Between four of us we polished off a 3 course meal for 6 people!  

So would you like to know what our lovely guests will be tucking into on our big day??

Starters

Chicken liver and foie gras parfait with fig chutney and croutes

Goats cheese and cherry tomato tart (V)

Main

A selection of sausages with chive mash and Yorkshire pudding

Pesto Fettuccine with roasted pine nuts & creamed spinach (V)

Dessert

Scotch pancakes with blueberries, vanilla pod ice cream and maple syrup

I have to say that all the food we tasted was gorgeous and it was lovely to meet the head chef!